October 12

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Share your thoughts regarding Mr. Finch's announcement about the cancellation of block lunch. Do you agree or disagree with this decision? Why? What can students do to earn back the privilege?

I reminded students about the literary terms test that is tomorrow. I also passed back the "On Nuclear Disarmament" packet.

We resumed our discussion of the Anna Quindlen speech by applying the SOAPSTone strategy.

We read Adlai Stevenson's "Cat Bill Veto," and students worked in groups to analyze it using SOAPSTone. We will pick up this work on Monday.

Today's Board

We had a bit of a "tough love" discussion about our reading habits. I've told students all semester that they always have homework for my class--read their choice book for 20 minutes. I showed them the math for this 6 weeks of in-class reading (28 days x 20 minutes/day = 560 minutes total). More than half of all students have not met the minimum requirement that the equation revealed (560 minutes x.75 pages/minute = 420 pages). On the other hand, about 7 students have surpassed that number, which is awesome! I believe independent reading time holds considerable value, which is why I make time for it in my classes. I hope students will renew their commitment and begin reading more outside of class.

October 11

All sophomores took the PSAT this morning, so I didn't see 2nd period today. In 4th period, we had 20 minutes of independent reading time. We also discussed techniques that advertisers use to persuade us to buy a product or think a certain way.

This Week
Literary Terms test on Friday!

Today's Board

Week-at-a-Glance

October 6

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: The notebook check is today's entry, completed on a Google form.

Students who did not hand in the "On Nuclear Disarmament" work yesterday were reminded to do so today.

Students received a review sheet for next Friday's literature terms test (also available on Classroom). We learned about gerunds and infinitives to prepare for a few questions on the test.

We continued our discussion of Anna Quindlen's speech from Wednesday, looking for examples of repetition, parallelism, analogy, and allusion. We began working on a SOAPSTone chart to analyze the speech, and this is where we will start our work next time.

Today's Board

October 5

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: The newspapers are full of reports about war, epidemics, terrorism, and environmental crises. Some problems are so serious that they may threaten civilization. What can be done to make the world safer?

Students read "On Nuclear Disarmament" and answered questions. Students who did not finish in class will need to complete it at home and hand it in tomorrow. The story is posted on Classroom for students to use outside of class.

Notebook check tomorrow!

(Second period had a substitute today; however, they were given an agenda to follow that included the same information posted here.)

October 4

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Outside entry

We visited the library during independent reading time today. I reminded students that they need to read a nonfiction book of at least 200 pages before the end of the 9 weeks. They'll be writing about it on their midterm.

We will have a notebook check Friday. Students who have been absent should check the blog for missing entries.

We continued our discussion of argument and persuasion. Students practiced writing a claim statement that could serve as the anchor for a persuasive essay. We then read Anna Quindlen's commencement speech and looked for examples of repetition, parallelism, analogy, and allusion. Since I will be absent tomorrow morning, we will finish this work on Friday.

Today's Board

October 3

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: What's on your mind? Write about anything that you're feeling strongly about right now: politics, yesterday's topics, or anything else you've been thinking about.

We will have a notebook check on Friday.

We completed a PSAT writing practice and discussed the answers.

We took notes over argument and persuasion (day 1 notes posted to Classroom). We will continue this work tomorrow.

Today's Board

October 2

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Choose one to respond to in your notebook: "A stumble may prevent a fall" or "Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness"

We recapped our evaluating sources notes from Friday, and students worked to find sources on different controversial topics. We discussed what made those articles persuasive: this conversation will work as an introduction to what we will be talking about for the next few weeks.

Today's Board

Week at a Glance