DailyNotesArchive


 * Manic Monday, Feb. 23rd:**
 * 1) WOW: nonchalant. //Because the hare considered the race against the tortoise a non-challenge, he was **nonchalant** about it and ended up losing.//
 * 2) **Finish Friday's essay. Due at the end of the period.**


 * Finally Friday!, Feb. 20th:**
 * 1) Persuasive Essay/Timed Writing: Students chose a movie and then wrote a persuasive essay on why it is the best movie of all time.
 * 2) Don't forget the counter-argument!


 * This Thursday, Feb. 19th:**
 * 1) SSR
 * 2) Finish essay.

Terrifying Tuesday, Jan. 27th:
 * 1) Review for finals.
 * 2) Continue reading //A Raisini in the Sun// as much as you can.
 * 3) Continue watching movie.
 * HW: STUDY FOR FINALS!!! GOOD LUCK!! :)


 * Thinking Thursday, Jan. 22nd:**
 * 1) Continue reading //A Raisin in the Sun//.


 * Terrific Tuesday, Jan. 20th:**
 * 1) Watch the Inauguration on T.V.
 * 2) Write similies, metaphors, personifications, and alliterations about the inauguration.


 * Thankful Thursday, Dec. 11th:**
 * 1) Get into groups and share your fabulous stories with one another.
 * 2) Vocabulary Roots Game: Write and define words.


 * Wrong Wednesday, Dec. 10th:**
 * 1) Write a story about a Christmas gone wrong by yourself or with a partner.
 * HW: Finish writing story.


 * Timed Tuesday, Dec. 9th:**
 * 1) Timed essay.


 * Functioning Friday, Dec. 5th:**
 * 1) Finish presentations.
 * 2) Start mini group project: Are grades an accurate measure of academic ability? Yes/No/Explain. Presentations Monday!
 * HW: Finish poster if needed.


 * Thoughtful Thursday, Dec. 4th:**
 * 1) More presentations!


 * Wacky Wednesday, Dec. 3rd:**
 * 1) Presentations!


 * Terrific Tuesday, Dec. 2nd:**
 * 1) SSR
 * 2) Answer First Reading Questions.
 * 3) Finish writing speech. Presentations TOMORROW!!!


 * Merry Monday, Dec. 1st:**
 * 1) Read __The Stranger in the Photo is Me__ by yourself or with a partner.
 * 2) Answer Second Reading Multiple Choice Questions.
 * HW: Finish writing speech. Presentations on Wednesday.


 * Thalamic Thursday, Nov. 20th:**
 * 1) Finish Harlem Renaissance Projects/Papers. Good job everyone!
 * 2) Finish Langston Hughes poetry project.
 * 3) Sacred Silent Sustained Reading.


 * Wonderful Wednesday, Nov. 19th:**
 * 1) SWITCH! Half the class conducted internet research, and the other half worked on their posters/papers.


 * Typing Tuesday, Nov. 18th:**
 * 1) Super-Mini Research Project on the Harlem Renaissance. See Handouts for assignment. Students were placed in pairs and assigned specific topics. Half the groups conducted internet research while the other half worked on a poetry assignment. Tomorrow, the two groups will switch.
 * 2) Groups are required to have at least two reliable internet sources. In order to make sure that your sites are reliable, fill out an Internet Checklist (found on the Handouts page). Please turn in with your project.
 * 3) Project: Each group has two options. First option: partners can write a 1-2 page paper (MLA formatted) on their topic. Second option: partners will work together to produce an informative poster on their topic. DUE THURSDAY.


 * Mighty Mighty Monday, Nov. 17th:**
 * 1) WOW: jocund. The jocund judge joyfully jailed the jolly janitor.
 * 2) What is the name of the poetic device where consonant sounds are repeated?
 * 3) In-class Assignment. Check Handouts page to download a copy.


 * Finally Friday! Nov. 14th:**
 * 1) Read around/aloud: Emily Dickinson poems.
 * 2) Group Project: Collage/poster/illustration of a Dickinson poem.


 * Thoracic Thursday, Nov. 13th:**
 * 1) SSR
 * 2) Check Reading Logs. How many pages have you read? By the end of first semester, you should have read about 500 pages!
 * 3) More poetry.
 * 4) Book count.
 * HW: Find an Emily Dickinson poem. Print it out. Bring to class tomorrow. Be prepared to share what you think the poem means.


 * What a Wednesday, Nov. 12th:**
 * 1) Emily Dickinson. :)

(It's also Pocky Day!)
 * Veteran's Day, Nov. 11th:**
 * 1) Read. Fantastic.
 * 2) Read. Awesome!
 * 3) Read. Magnificent!


 * Massive Monday, Nov. 10th:**
 * 1) Class Discussion: happy, fun, awesome, not-so-fun
 * 2) Quiz
 * 3) WOW: ignoble. The photographer was offered a princely sum for the picture of the self-proclaimed ethicist in the __ignoble__ act of pick-pocketing.
 * 4) Review of poems we've covered thus far!
 * 5) Group work: more poems!


 * Frugal Friday, Nov. 7th:**
 * 1) Dramatic Readings of Dylan Thomas' poem: "Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night."
 * 2) Review of Histrionics: "Dreams"
 * HW: Memorize "Dreams" by Langston Hughes
 * HW: Memorize your group's stanza from Thomas' poem.
 * 1) Collect: Venn Diagram and 1/2-1 page paper analyzing Thomas' poem.
 * 2) Copy/Print a copy of Robert Frost's poem, "The Road Not Taken." Click [|here] for a copy of the poem.


 * Thorough Thursday, Nov. 6th:**
 * 1) Watch Obama's Victory Speech: [|Obama's Speech]. Look for his ethos, logos, pathos arguments.
 * 2) Watch Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Speech "I've Been to the Mountaintop." For full text and clip, click [|here]. This speech was given the night before he was assassinated. Obviously, MLK, Jr. did not know when he would get assassinated, but the speech (especially the ending) makes it seem like he did know his end was near.
 * HW: Venn diagram or chart. Compare and Contrast Obama's Victory Speech with that of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Speech.
 * 1) Dylan Thomas' poem, "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night." Check Handouts page for a copy.
 * HW: Write a 1/2-1 page paper explaining the Dylan Thomas poem. MLA format please.


 * What a Wednesday! Nov. 5th:**
 * 1) Langston Hughes' "Dreams"
 * 2) Histrionics to the poem!
 * 3) Discussion: Election Recap


 * Tumultuous Tuesday, Nov. 4th:**
 * 1) WOW: imperturbable. Despite the loud and raucous children running through the house, the baby remained __imperturbable__.
 * 2) Discussion: Election Day!
 * 3) Discussion: Is the media biased?
 * 4) Bob Dylan: "Blowin in the Wind"
 * HW: Write 1/2-1 page reviewing your favorite song. Avoid using personal pronouns like //I, me,// and //my.//


 * Monday MONDAY! Nov. 3rd:**
 * 1) COLLECT: Halloween Horror Story--WOW!
 * 2) What is an oxymoron?
 * 3) What is a paradox?
 * 4) What is alliteration?
 * 5) Read "A Beautiful Mess" by Jason Mraz
 * 6) Listen to the song!
 * 7) Welcome to Poetry Week!


 * Thrasher Thursday, Oct. 30th:**
 * 1) Quickwrite: Write a Halloween story using all of the WOWs. Due Monday!
 * 2) Puzzle and Oven Mitt Madness!


 * Wiley Wednesday, Oct. 29th:**
 * 1) Spelling quiz: //duchess, expectorate, promiscuous, connoisseur, spittle, sputum, noxious, cuspidor, spittoon, coiffeur//
 * 2) What do these words mean?
 * 3) LISTEN: Frank Deford's Sports Commentary. [|Duchess].


 * Terrific Tuesday, Oct. 28th:**
 * 1) College Fair: Discussion
 * 2) Reading.


 * Manic Monday, Oct. 27th:**
 * 1) WOW: histrionics.
 * 2) Alternate ending to //Of Mice and Men// with James Franco. :)
 * 3) What is the American Dream?
 * 4) What is Steinbeck's message about the American Dream?
 * 5) Read Around: Letters to Steinbeck


 * Freaky Friday, Oct. 24th:**
 * 1) Teams: COUNTRIES! Discuss the end of the novel.
 * 2) Earn the movie: 10 facts in 10 seconds.
 * 3) Watch the end of the movie.
 * 4) Discussion: Was it okay for George to kill Lenny? Why? Why not?
 * 5) Discussion: Themes of the novel.
 * HW: Write a letter to John Steinbeck--Introduce yourself, Review the novel, Review the movie version, Questions for the author.
 * 1) Balderdash!


 * That's what I call THURSDAY, Oct. 23rd:**
 * 1) Drive-in Theaters. :)
 * 2) Car Road Trip Discussion: What do you remember about the movie? How is it similar to the book? Different?
 * 3) Watch more of the movie
 * HW: Finish reading the novel!

More of the movie!
 * Wiley Wednesday, Oct. 22nd:**

MOVIE TIME! We watched Part I of the movie //Of Mice and Men//, starring Gary Sinese and John Malkovich.
 * Tempestuous Tuesday, Oct. 21st:**


 * Mighty Monday, Oct. 20th:**
 * 1) WOW: germane. "Germany is not __germane__ to our discussion today," said the history professor. "Today, we shall discuss last night's episode of __Friends__ instead."
 * 2) Fruitful class discussions! Check Home page to revisit some of our topics.
 * 3) Video: Hiphopopatomus vs. Rhymnocerous!
 * 4) Video: Laughing Baby. What don't we laugh like that anymore?
 * 5) Began reading Chapter 5 of __Of Mice and Men__.
 * HW: FINISH reading the chapter!


 * FREAKY Friday!!! Oct. 17th:**
 * 1) Esteemed Colleagues have a discussion
 * 2) Can I hear a "What, what???"
 * 3) Story with Holes: "Victory is MINE!!!"
 * 4) Begin reading Chapter 5 (starting on pg. 84).


 * Thesaurus Thursday, Oct. 16th:**
 * 1) Sacred Silent Sustained Reading!
 * 2) Reading logs! How far are you? 20 pages? 50? 100? 1000???
 * 3) Story-time: Mice brains and schizophreniform
 * 4) Story-time: By the end of the summer, 24 rabbits in my backyard!
 * 5) Hip-hopopotamus vs. Rhymnocerous!
 * 6) Answer questions on separate sheet of paper:
 * What do mice, rabbits and puppies have in common?
 * What references are made to mice or rabbits or dogs in the title and chapter One of the novel?
 * What is a symbol?


 * Wacky Wednesday, Oct. 15th:**
 * 1) What are Double-entry Journals?
 * 2) What is double-entendre?
 * 3) What is diction?
 * 4) Emil walked. Tyler sauntered. James skipped. Paul slithered. What's the difference???
 * 5) Read Chapter Four. Write four double-entry journal entries.


 * TOTALLY Tuesday, Oct. 14th:**
 * 1) SACRED Silent Sustained Reading
 * 2) Reading Logs
 * 3) "I remember that..." Chapter 3 review with Apes, Beasts, Cockatoos, and Dragons.
 * 4) Discussion: Why did they kill the dog? Was it okay to kill the dog? Why or why not? George speaks for Lenny. Why? Is it okay for him to speak for Lenny? Evaluate the friendship between George and Lenny--are they good friends? Best friends? Is George using Lenny? Lenny using George?


 * Mollifying Monday, Oct. 13th:**
 * 1) WOW: feign. Though she had discovered they were planning a party, she __feigned__ surprise so as not to spoil the festivities.
 * 2) Vocabulary words: //bemused, receptive, solemnly, derision, reprehensible, wryly, raptly, scuttled//
 * 3) //Of Mice and Men//, Chapter 3.


 * Finally Friday, Oct. 10th:**
 * 1) GAME TIME! 5 Football teams competed to be Touchdown champions. Teammates answered questions in order to gain yardage.
 * 2) No homework!


 * Thoroughly Thursday, Oct. 9th:**
 * 1) Silent Sustained Reading
 * 2) Reading Log entries.
 * 3) Read //Of Mice and Men//, up to Chapter 3.
 * 4) Think-Pair-Share: Apples and Bananas!


 * What a Wednesday! Oct. 8th:**
 * 1) Read article about Migrant Workers after the Great Depression.
 * 2) Define challenging vocabulary words from article.
 * 3) Read Chapter 2, //Of Mice and Men//.


 * Terrific Tuesday, Oct. 7th:**
 * 1) Checked vocabulary homework.
 * 2) Began reading //Of Mice and Men// Chapter 1.
 * HW: Answer the following Reading Questions for Chapter 1 on a separate sheet of paper.
 * Chapter One introduces setting. How does Steinbeck do this?
 * Chapter One introduces characters. How is Lennie characterized when he is first introduced? How does he act that leads to this impression?
 * What is the relationship between Lennie and George? What evidence do you have for your conclusion?
 * Where are Lennie and George headed? Where have they come from and why did they have to leave?
 * There are several clues in chapter one as to what might happen later in the book. This is called foreshadowing. Identify what you think may be a clue, and make a prediction about what will happen later in the book based on this example.


 * Manic Monday, Oct. 6th:**
 * 1) WOW: espouse. Because of his religious beliefs, the preacher could not __espouse__ the use of capital punishment.
 * 2) Write a letter (or speech) that will be given to your parents. You would like permission to go to a party this weekend, and you need to convince them to let you go! Write an argument that uses ethos, logos and pathos. BONUS: Use as many WOWs in the assignment as possible!
 * 3) //Of Mice and Men// has arrived! Students received their new copies.
 * 4) Vocabulary: **bindle, dejectedly, lumbered, recumbent, brusquely, imperiously, morosely, contemplated, juncture, mottled.** Please define these words and write a sentence using the word.


 * Friday, Oct. 3rd:**
 * 1) //Teen Impact// magazines for free! Interested in writing an article for submission? Come see Ms. P!
 * 2) Collect book money. Monday is the last day to pay!
 * 3) Rhetoric Lesson: Students took notes while Ms. P explained **ethos, logos,** and **pathos**.
 * 4) Students came up with ethos, logos, pathos arguments for selected debate topics.
 * 5) Brief discussion on the Vice-Presidential Debate that aired last night.


 * Thursday, Oct. 2nd:**
 * 1) Book order sign-up sheet. It's not too late to order a copy of your own! Just message Ms. P with your request. $6 by this Friday (tomorrow!).
 * 2) Benchmark: Business Letter


 * Wednesday, Oct. 1st:**
 * 1) DISCUSSION: What makes for a good presentation?
 * 2) Fantastic group presentations!
 * 3) Review wikispaces rules.
 * 4) Order //Of Mice and Men// copies for $6.00 each!


 * Tuesday, Sept. 30th:**
 * 1) SACRED Silent Sustained Reading.
 * 2) Reading Log. How do you enter the information after you've read?
 * 3) //Of Mice and Men//, suggested Study Skill: You still have till tomorrow to purchase your own copy!
 * 4) Students (who do not get their own copy) will have the opportunity to check out a copy from the school media center tomorrow. Please bring your I.D. card!
 * 5) //Of Mice and Men// [[file:miceanticipatory.doc]]. Please read and follow directions. When you have finished writing your 400+ words (MLA formatted) response for homework, please go on to the "Discussion" page and copy/paste your response to the discussion titled, "Anticipatory Guide."
 * 6) Group Work: Students put their finishing touches on their "The Rocking-Horse Winner" projects started yesterday.


 * Monday, September 29th**:
 * 1) WOW: dearth
 * 2) Group Work: Students worked as a team to become experts on a section (assigned by teacher) of "The Rocking-Horse Winner." Each team worked on a poster depicting a scene from their section. A quote from the section that best represented their section was chosen by the group, and written on the poster.

**In an effort to keep this page nice and tidy, the previous weeks' notes are listed on an archive page. Click on DailyNotesArchive to be redirected to that page.**


 * Friday, September 26th:**
 * 1) ROTATION 1: Students met in the Literacy Center to learn how to use Wikispaces. Students created accounts and participated in the first Discussion Forum thread.
 * 2) ROTATION 2: Students finished reading "The Rocking-Horse Winner"
 * 3) ROTATION 3: Students walked around class and had the options of working on the Word Wall, "Unscrambling" Wall, or reading the Six Word Autobiography Gallery. Students also had the chance to familiarize themselves with the books in the class library.


 * Thursday, September 25th:**
 * 1) Share our masterpieces! Students got into groups and took turns sharing their illustrations of "The Rocking-Horse Winner."
 * 2) Each group chose one person to share with the rest of the class.
 * 3) Sequential Ordered Sharing of the story.
 * 4) Silent Sustained Reading

HOMEWORK: Please print out the Reading Log located on the Handouts page, or you can just click here: [|ReadingLog.doc] Place in your English binder. Continue printing out copies of this log as needed.


 * Wednesday, September 24th:**
 * 1) WOW Review :)
 * 2) Read: "The Rocking-Horse Winner," first four pages
 * 3) We start //Of Mice and Men// next week. Recommended (but not mandatory) Study Skill: Buy your own copy!!!

HOMEWORK: After reading the first four pages of "The Rocking-Horse Winner," illustrate a scene from the short story. Choose a quote from the story that you feel best represents what you've imagined, and include it somewhere on the illustration. Don't forget the quotation marks! (10 points)


 * Tuesday, September 23, 2008:**
 * 1) MEDIA CENTER: Introduction to Wikispaces
 * 2) Set up a wikispaces account--Please use your class period number, then first name and first initial of your last name. For example, "2VickieP" would be my User Name if I were in Period 2.
 * 3) Six Word Autobiographies using Skitch!

NO HOMEWORK. :) //**Thank you Parents for coming to Back-to-School Night!**//


 * Monday, September 22, 2008:**
 * 1) Where have you heard this music before?
 * 2) COLLECT: Final Drafts from "Yellow/Red Light" Group :)
 * 3) Review "The Rocking-Horse Winner" Handout from Friday
 * 4) Begin reading "[|The Rocking-Horse Winner]" by D.H. Lawrence
 * 5) No homework tonight!

Period 4...please come to class for SSR, and we will travel down to the media center together.**
 * Everyone (but 4th period), PLEASE COME TO THE COMPUTER LAB IN THE MEDIA CENTER TOMORROW W/YOUR I.D. CARDS.