Thursday, December 21, 2017

December 21

I met with just 2nd period today due to the early release schedule. We wrapped up our work with To Kill a Mockingbird and watched the film version.

I hope everyone has a restful break! Be careful out there, and I'll see you next year!


Wednesday, December 20, 2017

December 20

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Outside entry

We discussed the theme and questions for Chapter 10 of To Kill a Mockingbird. I recapped the book leading up to Chapter 20, then we read Chapter 20 and answered questions.

Today's Board

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

December 19

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Yesterday, we learned a little about Scout's neighborhood (pages 5-6). Write about your neighborhood. Who can you count on to be in the front yard every Saturday morning? Who is always at the mailboxes when you check your mail? What dogs do you meet when you're out for a walk?

We reviewed the SAT Writing multiple choice from yesterday and read more passages (from chapters 8 & 10) from To Kill a Mockingbird.

(I forgot to take a picture of the board before I erased it, so here's a picture of my dogs with Santa instead.)

Monday, December 18, 2017

December 18

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB:
today's notebook entry
We discussed some important dates and themes relating to To Kill a Mockingbird and began reading passages and answering AP-style multiple choice questions. We also discussed which themes are covered in the passages. We'll use this book for the rest of the week.

Today's Board
Week at a Glance

Friday, December 15, 2017

December 15

We visited the library today so students could find books to read over the holiday.

We checked our answers for the last passages from Lord of the Flies and read passages from Life of Pi and answered questions.

Today's Board


Thursday, December 14, 2017

December 14

Students had the first 30 minutes of class to complete the work for today's Writer's Notebook check. Today's entry: This entry is just 1 word long. What 1 word sums up the year 2017 for you? Students had time to read when they finished the notebook check.

We checked answers for the last passage from Oedipus Rex. We read passages from Lord of the Flies and completed practice AP multiple choice questions.

Today's Board

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

December 13

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Imagine it's 100 years in the future and an archeologist has somehow discovered the entire contents of your digital life. What does your "digital footprint" reveal about you? If you think of your online presence as a historical artifact, what will future historians know and think about you? And how do you think the contents of your digital life match up with what you would want to be known about you? After thinking about a future person discovering your entire digital life, are there any changes you would want to make to what you do and share online?

We continued looking at AP-style multiple choice questions, reading excerpts from Oedipus Rex today. I reminded students not to be discouraged if they're not getting every question right--the work we're doing right now is just practice for when it will count next year if they take AP and in the future when they take the PSAT, SAT, or ACT.

Today's Board

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

December 12

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Today's entry was inspired by the 1000 Awesome Things blog. Students had 3 minutes to make a list of things they think are awesome. They then selected one thing from the list and wrote about why it's so awesome.

We revisited Antigone and completed AP-style multiple choice questions. We checked our answers using Socrative and discussed questions that we had difficulty with.

Today's Board

Monday, December 11, 2017

December 11

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." - John Dalberg-Acton

I passed back the persuasive essay that students submitted for a major grade and the Socratic packets from Friday. I'll have the minor grade essays complete by the end of the week. Students will have a notebook check on Thursday.

We revisited Julius Caesar and completed some practice SAT questions.

Today's Board
Week-at-a-Glance

Friday, December 8, 2017

December 8

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Outside entry -- Next notebook check is Thursday, 12/14.

Students participated in a Socratic Seminar and discussed our essential question for this unit: How do texts connect the human experience across time and culture? We had great discussions about family, fear, and how we connect with books.

Next week, we'll begin reviewing some of the major works from this term and studying sections of new pieces.

Today's Board

Thursday, December 7, 2017

December 7

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: If you were not scared, how would you live your life? (from https://www.theodysseyonline.com/9-questions-for-humanity)

Today's Notebook Entry
Students read/listened to three more short essays ("Roll Away the Stone," "Our Lives are Ephemeral," and an excerpt from an interview with Cheryl Strayed) in preparation for tomorrow's Socratic seminar. We discussed the process and how it will be graded and began writing questions and statements for tomorrow's discussion. The prep sheet and rubric are posted on Classroom.

Today's Board

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

December 6

Students took the STAAR English II EOC test today!!!

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

December 5

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: What does it mean to be human?

We reviewed the reading section of the STAAR practice test from last week and discussed different strategies for answering questions.

Today's Board

Monday, December 4, 2017

December 4

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Horror movie or comedy movie? Create an argument!

We discussed the notebook entry and built an outline for both sides. We reviewed the revising and editing section of the STAAR test from last week and discussed different skills. We completed a few activities on Chomp Chomp over word choice as part of this review. Check out the Grammar Quizzes site for more practice on commonly confused words.

Today's Board
Week-at-a-Glance



Friday, December 1, 2017

December 1

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: What kind of traditions do you and your family have during the holidays?

Students completed a reflection activity over the last two essays and determined which one they would like to submit for a major grade.

Students who had not completed the STAAR practice had time to do so. We'll go over this in class beginning Monday.

Today's Board

Thursday, November 30, 2017

November 30

We reviewed the structure of a persuasive essay, and students wrote their last persuasive essay before the STAAR test next week. Tomorrow, students will decide which essay (between this essay and the one from before Thanksgiving break) they would like to submit as a major grade.

essay structure & prewriting options

Students who finished before the end of class had time to complete the STAAR practice from yesterday or read. 

Today's Board


Tuesday, November 28, 2017

November 28

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Article of the Week - "Attention, Students: Put Your Laptops Away" (Bonus - A professor's perspective)

Cartoon from The New York Times

Students reread Antigone's speech from Scene 2 and Martin Luther King, Jr.'s, "Letter from Birmingham Jail" and completed a SOAPSTone analysis.

Today's Board
I will be out tomorrow, so students will be completing a practice STAAR test. We'll go over this when I return and look at commonly missed questions.


Monday, November 27, 2017

November 27

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: What if your government declared you the enemy? Read page 952 and write a response in your notebook.
page 952

Students read an excerpt from Farewell to Manzanar and tracked cultural characteristics. We discussed how the story is similar to Antigone.

Today's Board

Week-at-a-Glance

Friday, November 17, 2017

November 17

We had a few groups who needed to present their Antigone scenes. Students did a really good job on this project!

We continued watching Bend It Like Beckham, looking for similar conflicts as we saw in Antigone.

Homework: READ! And have a great Thanksgiving break!

Not much on the board today, so here's a cartoon from one of my favorites, Liz Climo.

Thursday, November 16, 2017

November 16

Students wrote a persuasive essay inspired by Antigone. Absent students should plan to attend tutorials A block Tuesday, 11/28, to complete this assignment.

Today's Board

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

November 15

Students had 20 minutes at the beginning of class to practice their scenes before presenting to the class. Second period has 2 groups that will present on Friday, and 4th period has a few groups who still need to present, also.

Tomorrow, students will write a persuasive essay inspired by Antigone. We reviewed the outline for a persuasive essay. Students will be allowed to use their notes and writer's notebooks as they write.
Outline review

Our big question this semester is "How do texts connect the human experience across time and culture?" We discussed 4 conflicts in Antigone (conflicts caused by society's expectations, conflicts caused by youth, conflicts caused by gender, and conflicts caused by family). We began watching Bend It Like Beckham to compare and contrast the same conflicts. We will finish the film on Friday.

Today's Board (we did not have IRT or a notebook entry today)



Tuesday, November 14, 2017

November 14

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: What is the difference between what is right and what is fair?

Students used the remaining class time to plan their scenes, write their scripts, and practice their presentations. We will begin presenting tomorrow!

Today's Board

Monday, November 13, 2017

November 13

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Are there present-day rules or laws that you feel are unjust? What laws would you like to see changed and why? What are some ways to protest an unjust law?

Students worked in groups to create a scene to add to Antigone. I hope to start these presentations on Wednesday! (Mrs. Nickerson stayed with 4th period today so I could leave early for an appointment.)

Today's Board
Week-at-a-Glance



Friday, November 10, 2017

Thursday, November 9, 2017

November 9

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Outside Entry

We recapped our reading of Antigone yesterday and finished the literary devices page in the packet. Students then worked with their groups to find allusions in Scene 4 and Ode 4 and to apply elements of the tragic hero to Creon and Antigone. Students handed in the packet before the end of class.

Students will spend the next few days creating a scene to add to the play. They will present their scenes to the class on Wednesday.

Students will have a substitute tomorrow, and we're on a weird schedule because of the Veteran's Day assembly during 2nd period and pep rally at the end of the day. I'll still post a recap of the day.

Today's Board

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

November 8

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Some people believe that there is no such thing as a truly unselfish act, that even when we do something to help others, we're seeking glory and satisfaction for ourselves. What do you think?

We finished reading Antigone (Scene 4, Scene 5, Paean, and Exodos) today! We will complete the packet tomorrow before handing it in.

Students will begin working on a group project tomorrow, so they spent some time deciding whom they would like to work with.

Today's Board

November 7

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: "If I am young, and right, what does my age matter?" - Haemon // Discuss this question in your entry today. You may choose to apply it to your own life instead of what Haemon is experiencing.

Students completed a Greek roots quiz today.

We recapped and analyzed Scene 3 of Antigone then read Ode 3. We *will* finish reading tomorrow!

Today's Board

Monday, November 6, 2017

November 6

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Choice--Reflect on / respond to news about yesterday's shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas; or write about whatever is on your mind.

We calculated our reading rate for the book we're currently reading. Here's the formula (the numbers in color represent my book and rate; students should use their own information to calculate).

Reading Rate Formula
Students received notes about stichomythia and looked for more examples in our reading. We recapped Scene 2 of Antigone and filled in literary devices. We read Scene 3--we'll begin this analysis tomorrow.

I shared a few more words with Greek roots to remind students about tomorrow's quiz. Don't forget your iPad!

Today's Board
Week-at-a-Glance

Friday, November 3, 2017

November 3

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Outside entry

We continued reading and analyzing Antigone, concentrating on Ode 1 and Scene 2 today.

Greek roots quiz on Tuesday! Bring your iPad!

Today's Board

Thursday, November 2, 2017

November 2

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Recall your most and least important values from the last two entries. How could those two ideas come into conflict with one another?

We reviewed the Greek roots handout and looked at some sample quiz questions.

We recapped Scene 1 and took some time to finish up the analysis charts for the Prologue and Parados and began the Scene 1 chart.

Today's Board (We did not read Ode 1 today.)

Wednesday, November 1, 2017

November 1

IRT: 20 minutes
WNB: Of these five values (loyalty to family, obedience to local and national laws, observance of religious beliefs and customs, following your own conscience, achieving respect and recognition), which one do you believe is least important? Explain your response.

Antigone: We recapped the Prologue and analysis from yesterday. We read and analyzed tone in the Parados. We read Scene 1 and will begin the analysis tomorrow.

Students will have a quiz over Greek roots on Tuesday, 11/7.

Today's Board

Tuesday, October 31, 2017

October 31

Happy Halloween!

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Of these five values (loyalty to family, obedience to local and national laws, observance of religious beliefs and customs, following your own conscience, achieving respect and recognition), which one do you believe is most important? Explain your response.

Students should read a book from the AP list this 9 weeks. I've shared a highlighted list on Classroom to help them narrow down their choices. I also have copies available of many of the options.

Students began studying Greek roots. We will have a quiz next Tuesday (11/17).

Students received an analysis packet that we will complete as we read Antigone. The first two pages are notes about Greek drama that students need to fill in using the Slides on Classroom.

We read the Prologue and completed the character comparison chart in the packet.

I totally forgot to take a picture of the board before preparing it for tomorrow, so here's a festive picture instead! Be careful out there tonight!

Happy Halloween!

Monday, October 30, 2017

October 30

IRT: We visited the library during our reading time today.
WNB: In your own words, define the word "tragedy" and give examples. Why are movies, books, the news, etc. so concerned with tragedies? How are they used as a form of entertainment in our society?

Students read and filled in an outline about Greek drama and checked their notes with their tablemates. We filled in more notes about the story of Oedipus Rex so we'll be prepared to begin reading Antigone tomorrow.

Today's Board
Week-at-a-Glance

Friday, October 27, 2017

October 27

Fourth period students took their midterm exam today.

I intended to have all grades finalized before I left today, but a few meetings got in the way of that plan. All grades will be finalized by Sunday evening. Sorry for any inconvenience!

Thursday, October 26, 2017

October 26

2nd
Students handed in their revised persuasive essays before we began the midterm exam. Students who needed more time to complete the test stayed during A block to finish.

4th
IRT: ~20 minutes

We reviewed items for the midterm exam. These slides are also available on classroom.

Students handed in their revised persuasive essays.

Our exam is tomorrow!

Today's Board
(I just noticed that I forgot to change the date...sorry!)

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

October 25

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: How can ordinary people be heroic? What could motivate them?

I advised students to draw a line on their currently reading page to indicate the beginning of the new 9 weeks. This will be helpful when we get to the end of the semester.

2nd
We reviewed items for the midterm exam. These slides are also available on Classroom.

Students had time to work on their revisions of their persuasive essays. Those who chose to revise handed them in before the end of class.

Our midterm exam is tomorrow!

4th
Students received their persuasive essays and began working on revisions. Students who choose to revise should hand those in tomorrow.

We watched another version of Julius Caesar and looked for similarities and differences.

We will do an in-class midterm review tomorrow.

Today's Board

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

October 24

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Outside entry

We finished up our analysis of the persuasive speeches in Act III of Julius Caesar.

Students began working on the midterm reading reflection on Google Classroom. This is due today (before 11:59pm).

I returned the persuasive essay to 2nd period students today. We will take time in class tomorrow to work on revision. Band students who will be absent may hand in their revisions on Thursday.

Today's Board

Monday, October 23, 2017

October 23

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Outside entry

After reviewing the literary terms test, we continued reading Julius Caesar and watched the funeral speeches in Act III, Scene 2. We will continue this work tomorrow.

Students received a copy of the midterm review (also available on Classroom).

Today's Board
Week-at-a-Glance