We've finally made it to the holidays! I don't know about anyone else, but it seems like I'm noticing more people already set up for Christmas this year than I've ever seen before...way before Thanksgiving! I'm thinking everyone is just really ready for holidays, festivities, relaxation, celebration, and family. I know I am! I love Thanksgiving because it's not about presents and stress...it's just about gathering together and being thankful for what we have...a wonderful idea!
Last week both of my classes made great headway into their texts. English 9 is now through Chapter 10 of To Kill a Mockingbird. We're almost at the end of Part I, which means this week we'll pause to reflect and do some creative writings with it. I'd also like to put in a couple of activities that get them up and moving...we'll see, since the week is so short. They have read the whole thing on their own. I prefer to mix in some reading in class, but time constraints have prevented this. Hopefully they're all taking care of this in a responsible fashion. I keep telling them that the academic habits they form now will carry them into their post-high school future!
English 11 classes are reading a book independently (due date December 6th) since we're working on Macbeth in class together. We did the preliminary background work this week, and we're into Act I. My goal for this short week is to finish this act, and do some kinesthetic activities to get them up and moving. I'm adding a video here of my 1st and 3rd Hours doing a game that involved them calling out a word from the play and tossing a ball to someone across from them. I had two goals: get them moving, and speaking/hearing Shakespeare's words. I want them to play, play, PLAY with the language - it makes Shakespeare so much more fun.
The Language of Macbeth
I hope everyone has a very easy, fun short work week, and a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Saturday, November 16, 2013
One More Full Week, and then VACATION!
Another busy week has come and gone, and with it the leaves left the trees (for the most part). I'm so relieved to have made it through a "normal" week, however, because we get so much more done! This week was full of projects, tests, new books, work, and fun. It had everything!
In English 9 we completed and turned in the Romeo and Juliet projects. I took some pictures of the kids who created models of the Globe Theatre, including one made out of cake! Of course, after I took the picture and made a quick evaluation, they had to eat the cake at 8:30 A.M. I think it was a big hit! Then we quickly turned our attention to our new text: To Kill a Mockingbird. They have gotten some background information on the history and author, and are now reading the book. So far, I've assigned through chapter 4 for reading. Expect them to bring their books home every night to read about two chapters; there will also be written work that they'll need to complete. It's my favorite novel of all time, so I'm very excited that we're reading it right now!
In English 11, we're completing the Canterbury Tales unit. They have been tested and turned in their study guides and are now writing their own poetic tale - in couplets! It's a struggle to get going, but I'm encouraging them to embrace the silly and ridiculous and to have fun with it. On Friday, they seemed to relax into it a bit and a few even came back later in the day to share with me what they had accomplished so far. It is due on Monday, and then we'll turn our attention to Macbeth - another favorite of mine. I can't wait! I hope to have them not just reading and listening, but getting up out of their chairs and speaking lines. (I love Shakespeare if you can't tell.) They will read the play in class, so their homework is to read a book of their choosing; it needs to be read by December 6th.
The weather looks like it's going to cooperate for the most part for the week (which in my book means it's not going to be overly chilly), so I hope everyone has a great full week, and then we'll all be ready to prepare for the holiday season! Have a good one!
In English 9 we completed and turned in the Romeo and Juliet projects. I took some pictures of the kids who created models of the Globe Theatre, including one made out of cake! Of course, after I took the picture and made a quick evaluation, they had to eat the cake at 8:30 A.M. I think it was a big hit! Then we quickly turned our attention to our new text: To Kill a Mockingbird. They have gotten some background information on the history and author, and are now reading the book. So far, I've assigned through chapter 4 for reading. Expect them to bring their books home every night to read about two chapters; there will also be written work that they'll need to complete. It's my favorite novel of all time, so I'm very excited that we're reading it right now!
In English 11, we're completing the Canterbury Tales unit. They have been tested and turned in their study guides and are now writing their own poetic tale - in couplets! It's a struggle to get going, but I'm encouraging them to embrace the silly and ridiculous and to have fun with it. On Friday, they seemed to relax into it a bit and a few even came back later in the day to share with me what they had accomplished so far. It is due on Monday, and then we'll turn our attention to Macbeth - another favorite of mine. I can't wait! I hope to have them not just reading and listening, but getting up out of their chairs and speaking lines. (I love Shakespeare if you can't tell.) They will read the play in class, so their homework is to read a book of their choosing; it needs to be read by December 6th.
The weather looks like it's going to cooperate for the most part for the week (which in my book means it's not going to be overly chilly), so I hope everyone has a great full week, and then we'll all be ready to prepare for the holiday season! Have a good one!
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Two Weeks of Normal (Maybe?)
I was so happy to meet so many parents last week at conferences! Thank you so much for caring enough to come in and meet with me. I truly love working with your children and I thank you for sharing them with me. If you were unable to come to conferences, but would like to set something up, please let me know.
Last week was short as far as time in the classroom, so here are just a couple of highlights: in English 9 we are finishing up our Romeo and Juliet unit by completing creative projects. They are due on Monday, and some have even already turned them in! In English 11 we're working on completing the "Prologue" for The Canterbury Tales. Third Hour English 11 also completed a second independent novel, had a donut party (thanks to those who contributed), and have moved on to their third independent novel.
Coming up this week, English 9 will be turning their attention to the novel To Kill a Mockingbird - a personal favorite of mine. Expect more homework - both reading and writing - since they will all have a book signed out to them. In English 11 we will complete the "Prologue" and move on to the "Pardoner's Tale." Expect a test mid- to late-week, and then they will be writing their own tale - in poetic couplets no less! They will also be working on another independent novel for Term 2, since our reading from the textbook is still all done in class.
Just as an FYI, I think I have Edmodo up and running. I'm attempting to keep a calendar with assignments on it, so that if they're absent they can look up what we are doing. I'm also going to attempt to use it this week for a poll and a discussion forum for English 9.
That's about all I've got for this week. I hope everyone has a wonderful one as we start to get prepped for the holidays!
Last week was short as far as time in the classroom, so here are just a couple of highlights: in English 9 we are finishing up our Romeo and Juliet unit by completing creative projects. They are due on Monday, and some have even already turned them in! In English 11 we're working on completing the "Prologue" for The Canterbury Tales. Third Hour English 11 also completed a second independent novel, had a donut party (thanks to those who contributed), and have moved on to their third independent novel.
Coming up this week, English 9 will be turning their attention to the novel To Kill a Mockingbird - a personal favorite of mine. Expect more homework - both reading and writing - since they will all have a book signed out to them. In English 11 we will complete the "Prologue" and move on to the "Pardoner's Tale." Expect a test mid- to late-week, and then they will be writing their own tale - in poetic couplets no less! They will also be working on another independent novel for Term 2, since our reading from the textbook is still all done in class.
Just as an FYI, I think I have Edmodo up and running. I'm attempting to keep a calendar with assignments on it, so that if they're absent they can look up what we are doing. I'm also going to attempt to use it this week for a poll and a discussion forum for English 9.
That's about all I've got for this week. I hope everyone has a wonderful one as we start to get prepped for the holidays!
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Term 1 is Done!
Well, we've made it through the first term. Grades are not due for the teachers until Tuesday, so I'm still finalizing things. I hope everyone remembers that this is a benchmark of how they're doing; it's only 50% of their semester grade, and that's the one that earns credit and goes on record. So if your student's grades are not where they should be, we have another term to try it again and to push it up. If the grade is looking great...fantastic! Let's hold it there. Conferences are Thursday from 12:00 to 7:15 and I'm looking forward to seeing many of you. If you cannot make it, but want to meet with me, drop me a line and I'll arrange it with you.
Looking back at English 9 we accomplished two things: an independent reading book and review, and Romeo and Juliet. The tests are in HAC, and I'm finalizing all of the remaining writing assignments. Looking forward, they're doing a creative project that will be completed this coming week, and then we'll move into reading To Kill a Mockingbird as our major text of Term 2.
Here is a video of my 6th Hour doing a kinesthetic punctuation activity:
6th Hour Shakespeare Punctuation Activity
Looking back at English 11, we also accomplished two things: an independent reading book and review, although my 3rd Hour is in process of finishing a second book, and Beowulf. I'm still working on their final papers; if I can't get them done they'll go on 2nd term. From here we're doing a very short unit on The Canterbury Tales which includes the medieval times, and then we move to Macbeth - one of my favorite Shakespeare plays. I've been investigating fun activities and ways to get them more involved in the play in order to make it more interesting to them. I'm hoping to have an evening celebration to share their many projects sometime in December. I'd like to invite all the parents in to see our Shakespearean projects, including the freshmen group. I'll let you know more as I get closer to it.
This week's schedule goes as follows:
Looking back at English 9 we accomplished two things: an independent reading book and review, and Romeo and Juliet. The tests are in HAC, and I'm finalizing all of the remaining writing assignments. Looking forward, they're doing a creative project that will be completed this coming week, and then we'll move into reading To Kill a Mockingbird as our major text of Term 2.
Here is a video of my 6th Hour doing a kinesthetic punctuation activity:
6th Hour Shakespeare Punctuation Activity
Looking back at English 11, we also accomplished two things: an independent reading book and review, although my 3rd Hour is in process of finishing a second book, and Beowulf. I'm still working on their final papers; if I can't get them done they'll go on 2nd term. From here we're doing a very short unit on The Canterbury Tales which includes the medieval times, and then we move to Macbeth - one of my favorite Shakespeare plays. I've been investigating fun activities and ways to get them more involved in the play in order to make it more interesting to them. I'm hoping to have an evening celebration to share their many projects sometime in December. I'd like to invite all the parents in to see our Shakespearean projects, including the freshmen group. I'll let you know more as I get closer to it.
This week's schedule goes as follows:
- Monday - regular school day
- Tuesday - regular school day
- Wednesday - ms/hs professional development day; no school for students
- Thursday - ms/hs conferences 12:00 - 7:15; no school for students
- Friday - regular school day
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