Friday 10/29/10

IN CLASS:
Classes today spent some time on independent reading. Then they took vocab quiz 20.

ASSIGNMENT:
Hours 2, 4, 8--none
Hours 3, 5--Read chapters 9, 10, 11

Thursday 10/28/10

IN CLASS:
Hours 2, 8--Today students listened to chapter 4 of The Outsiders.

Hour 4--Due to the MADD presentation tomorrow, hour 4 took Vocab Quiz 20 during class today.

Hours 3, 5--Today students shared their posters and moved into a discussion about symbolism in The Outsiders.

ASSIGNMENT:
All classes-Prepare for vocab quiz 20 tomorrow
Hours 3, 5--Read Chapter 8

Wednesday 10/27/10

IN CLASS:
Hours 2, 4, 8--Today we checked the assignment for Vocab Lesson 20. Then we did a relay summary of chapter 3 highlighting some of the important events in the chapter.

Hours 3, 5--Today we checked Vocab Lesson 20. Then students got some work time to catch up on reading or work on an Ad Poster for the book. Students combined text and images to "sell" the book. Here is what is required for the poster:

• Title and Author
• One of the selected significant DQ's
• Image
• All on an 8.5x11 paper
  

ASSIGNMENT:
Hours 2, 4, 8--none
Hours 3, 5--Read chapter 7 & complete Ad Poster (see above)

Tuesday 10/26/10

IN CLASS:
Hours 2, 4, 8--I had a substitute today as I was at a leadership workshop with the student council in St. Paul. During class today, classes listened to chapter 3 of the book on CD for The Outsiders. Students also received a crossword puzzle reviewing key ideas from chapters 1-3 as well as the vocabulary words for this week.

Hours 3, 5--Today students discussed Robert Frost's famous poem, "Nothing Gold Can Stay" as it pertains to The Outsiders. Students then wrote a critical response connecting the theme of the poem to Ponyboy's experience in the novel.

• Re-read from the bottom of page 76 “One morning I work up earlier than usual…” though to the bottom of page 78 “Shoot,” I said blowing a perfect smoke ring, “maybe they are.”
• Consider the passage when Ponyboy recites “Nothing Gold Can Stay” for Johnny. How does the theme of the poem fit with Ponyboy’s experience in the novel?
• Use at least 2 direct quotations to prove your point.

ASSIGNMENT:
All hours--Vocab Lesson 20 due tomorrow
Hours 3, 5 only--Select three significant DQ's in preparation for class tomorrow.

Monday 10/25/10

IN CLASS:
Hours 2, 4, 8--Today we went over the root words for this week's vocab exam:

• Petros=stone or rock (as in petrified, petroglyph, Peter)
• Lithos=stone or rock (as in lithosphere, lithography, lithology)
• Astron=star (as in astronaut, astronomer, astrology)

We also began reading chapter 3 in The Outsiders.

Hours 3, 5--Students took a reading quiz over chapters 3-5 in The Outsiders. We also went over the root words for this week (see above).

ASSIGNMENT:
Hours 2, 4, 8--none
Hours 3, 5--read chapter 6

Wednesday 10/20/10

IN CLASS:
Hours 2, 4, 8--These classes finished reading chapter 1 and completed the character chart. After a little time to work on vocab lesson 20 (which was handed out today) we started reading chapter 2.

Hours 3, 5--Students began reading chapter 2 and then had some partner question and answer time.

ASSIGNMENT:
All Hours--Vocab Lesson 20 due Wednesday, October 27th
Hours 3, 5--Read chapters 2-5

Tuesday 10/19/10

IN CLASS:
All classes today began reading chapter 1 in The Outsiders. They also began tracking the characters using a character chart.

ASSIGNMENT:
Hours 2, 4, 8--none
Hours 3, 5--Finish reading chapter 1 and complete character chart

The Outsiders Intro

Here is the PowerPoint slide show from class today.

The Outsiders Intro

View more presentations from keaslinganne.

Monday 10/18/10

IN CLASS:
Today we began with an introduction to The Outsiders. This involved a slide show and discussion helping to acquaint the students to the 1960s when the story is set. Tomorrow we'll begin reading.

• The PowerPoint slideshow from class is available for viewing in the post above.
• To visit S.E. Hinton's web page, click here.

ASSIGNMENT:
none

Thursday 10/14/10

IN CLASS:
All students wrote their theme paragraphs for the Elements of Fiction exam today.

ASSIGNMENT:
Bring Independent Reading Book for class tomorrow

Wednesday 10/13/10

IN CLASS:
All classes today took part 1 of the Elements of Fiction exam.

ASSIGNMENT:
Prepare for part 2 of the Elements of Fiction exam. Come ready to write a theme statement for the story you read and PROVE that that theme is present in the story in a complete and well-constructed paragraph. You will need to use at least 3 direct quotations in your answer.

Tuesday 10/12/10

IN CLASS:
All classes spent time reviewing today for tomorrow's exam over the Elements of Fiction. I recommend that students re-read their assigned story, review their Elements of Fiction notes, try to apply and identify all of the elements in the story, and begin constructing their theme paragraph. Hours 3, 5 also watched part of an episode from The Twilight Zone. To watch the ending, click here.

Terms covered on the exam:
Situation
Complications
Climax
Resolution
Protagonist
Antagonist
Internal Conflict
External Conflict
Foreshadowing
Setting
Irony
Point of View

ASSIGNMENT:

• Prepare for the Elements of Fiction exam tomorrow
• See yesterday's blog entry for the story and Elements of Fiction notes

Monday 10/11/10

IN CLASS:
Hours 2, 4, 8--Today we went over the work students did reviewing the elements of fiction in "The Bet." We also looked at writing theme paragraphs in preparation for the exam this week on Wednesday. Students received a copy of Leo Tolstoy's story "God Sees the Truth But Waits" and some reading questions to accompany the text. Students should read the story and answer the questions in preparation for class tomorrow. If the work is not done, I will expect students to stay after school tomorrow so that they are prepared for the test on Wednesday.

Links and Downloads for Today:

• Read "God Sees the Truth but Waits" online
• Download the reading questions for "God Sees the Truth but Waits"
• Download Elements of Fiction Notes
  

Hours 3, 5--Today students had their first foray into Dancing Definitions. Ask your student how many they remember from class today. After that they received the story selection for their test, Kate Mansfield's "The Garden Party," and some reading questions to accompany the text. Students should read the story and answer the questions in preparation for class tomorrow. If the work is not done, I will expect students to stay after school tomorrow so that they are prepared for the test on Wednesday.

Downloads and Links for Today:

• Read "The Garden Party" online
• Download the reading questions for "The Garden Party"
• Download Elements of Fiction Notes (HL)

ASSIGNMENT
All classes--Read your assigned short story and complete reading questions (due tomorrow)

Friday 10/8/10

IN CLASS:
Hours 2, 4, 8--Class started today with independent reading. Then after a few minutes to review, students took vocab quiz 19. There's no homework for the weekend, but next week there is a big exam over the elements of fiction. It would be a good idea to spend some time reviewing notes. If you don't have notes at home, download these:

• Elements of Fiction Notes

Hours 3, 5--Today students turned in their theme paragraphs on "The Bet" so I could read through them while they were taking vocab quiz 19. Then students had time for independent reading.

ASSIGNMENT:
Review Elements of Fiction notes in preparation for next week's exam

Thursday 10/7/10

IN CLASS:
Hours 2, 4, 8--Today these classes checked their vocab for lesson 19. Then they finished reading "The Bet." They also worked on identifying the the elements of fiction in the story (elements added today are starred, elements from yesterday are italics).

• CLICK HERE to download a worksheet of the assignment
• CLICK HERE to download notes for the Elements of Fiction
  

This work is due tomorrow.

• Situation
• Complications* (5 total)
• Climax*
• Resolution*
• Point of View
• Characters (Protagonist and Antagonist)
• Conflict* (External and Internal)
• Irony*

Hours 3, 5--Today we talked through the elements of fiction that students identified in "The Bet." Then students began work on a theme paragraph for the story. This is due tomorrow.

• CLICK HERE to download notes for the Elements of Fiction

ASSIGNMENT:
Hours 2, 4, 8--

• Bring Independent Reading Book tomorrow
• Study for vocab quiz 19
• Finish elements of fiction in "The Bet" (see above)

Hours 3, 5--

• Bring Independent Reading Book tomorrow
• Study for vocab quiz 19
• Finish theme paragraph for "The Bet"

Wednesday 10/6/10

IN CLASS:
Hours 2, 4, 8--Today I checked for completion on the vocab assignment. Many students did not have the assignment complete. We will check them in class tomorrow. Following that we checked the worksheet on the Elements of Fiction for "The Lady or the Tiger." Finally, we began reading the final short story for the unit: Anton Chekov's story, "The Bet." Students worked on identifying the situation and complications, protagonist, antagonist, and point of view.

Hours 3, 5--First we checked vocab.Then in 3rd hour we lost about 10 minutes to a fire drill. After that students started reading the last short story for the unit: Anton Chekov's "The Bet." They also got an assortment of elements to identify within the story. This work is starting to prep them for the exam next week.


ASSIGNMENT:
Hours 2, 4, 8*

• Identify the situation, 3 complications, protagonist, antagonist, and point of view for "The Bet." Due tomorrow
• (8th hour does not need to identify complications for tomorrow)

Hours 3, 5

• Finish reading "The Bet"
• Identify the following elements of fiction listed below within the story, OR use this worksheet
• Due tomorrow

1. Situation
2. Complications (4)
3. Climax
4. Resolution
5. Characters (Protagonist & Antagonist--and what kind)
6. Conflict (example of internal and external)
7. Point of View (be specific if 3rd person)
   
8. Foreshadowing
9. Irony
10. Theme Statement

Tuesday 10/5/10

IN CLASS:
Hours 2, 4--Today students shared their answers to the question at the end of "The Lady or the Tiger." They also did a little practice applying and identifying the elements of fiction in the story. If students did not finish the worksheet, then it is their homework. At the end of class, 2nd hour read Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour," and 4th hour read the first paragraph of tomorrow's short story "The Bet" by Anton Chekov.

Hour 8--Today this class finished reading "The Lady or the Tiger" and worked on their answer paragraphs. Some students finished before the end of the hour. If they didn't, it's homework.

Hours 3, 5--Today students did a bit of writers workshop reading and responding to their peers' critical response assignments. They had the option of turning them in on the spot, or taking them home to rework them. No one turned them in today. Following that, we read Kate Chopin's very short story, "The Story of an Hour."

ASSIGNMENT:

• All classes--Vocab Lesson 19 due tomorrow
• Hours 2, 4--Elements of Fiction worksheet due tomorrow
• Hour 8--Answer paragraph due tomorrow
• Hours 3, 5--Reworked Critical Response #2 due tomorrow

Monday 10/4/10

IN CLASS:
Hours 2, 4, 8--Today classes finished reading "The Lady or the Tiger." Each student chose a partner. Then one partner would read a paragraph, and the other would summarize what was read. This text is somewhat difficult so this method of reading is meant to help each student comprehend the general plot of the story even if each word is not understood. At the end of the story is a question. The assignment is for each student to decide the answer to the question and write up a paragraph response defending his or her answer.

Click here to read "The Lady or the Tiger."


Hours 3, 5--Today students took a comprehension quiz on the story "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment" by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Then they worked on their second critical response answering the following question:

What does Dr. Heidegger learn about human nature through his experiment? Use at least 2 DQs to support your answer.

Remember, you need to explain WHAT he learned, not just THAT he learned something. Do not use the following words in your answer:

• I think
• Direct Quotation
• you

ASSIGNMENT:
Hours 2, 4--(Hour 8 did not finish the reading in class, so they cannot do the assignment)
Answer the question at the end of the story in a full paragraph:
"Which came out of the opened door--the lady, or the tiger?"


Hours 3, 5--Answer the following question in critical response form*:
What does Dr. Heidegger learn about human nature through his experiment?
Use at least 2 DQs to support your answer.

*Helpful reminders for critical response:
When writing a critical response, you are looking to RESPOND with something CRITICAL or important. Get beyond the “Duh” answer and say something thoughtful that matters. The Critical Response should take the form of a paragraph using correct punctuation and capitalization. Be sure to include the following things:

--Begin with a TOPIC SENTENCE that restates the question.
--Use DIRECT QUOTATIONS to support your answer.
--Answer using YOUR OWN IDEAS and COMMENTS. Do not just reword the DQ.

Friday 10/1/10

IN CLASS:
Hours 2, 4, 8--Today all students had time for independent reading. Following that, I handed out the vocab assignment for lesson 20. If there is some question, the assignment says it's lesson 20, but it's really 19. Sorry for any confusion. I checked in with some students about their grades, allowed others to go to the media center, recognized students with outstanding performance so far this year, and provided a little work time for the class.

Hours 3, 5--Today students had time for independent reading. Then we had a discussion about "The Lady or the Tiger." Most students ended up on Team Tiger which surprised me. One student made a very keen observation that everyone who chose the tiger was seeing the negative side of human nature by assuming the princess was inherently selfish. Finally, we checked out "Realms of Gold 3" books. The reading assignment for the weekend comes from that text.

ASSIGNMENT:
Hours 2, 4, 8--vocab lesson 19 due Wednesday, October 6
Hours 3, 5--Read "Dr. Heiddeger's Experiment" in Realms of Gold 3