Mrs. Stubbs's English Blog: End of September...Beautiful!

Isn't September a beautiful month? I love that my flowers and vegetables are still going strong, and I'll take 90 degrees over 30 degrees any day...even in my un-airconditioned classroom with 30 teenagers at a time. The weather was about the best I've ever seen for a Homecoming football game last night, and I hope everyone had a good time.

Speaking of Homecoming, I took a few photos of students dressed up this week, so here they are. Happy hunting to find your student:

Masquerade Monday

Wacky Tourists from 1st Hour

Blue and Gold Day - 2nd Hour

Blue and Gold Day - 3rd Hour

Freshman Representative on the Homecoming Court - 3rd Hour

Blue and Gold Day - 5th Hour

Sophomore Homecoming Court Representative - 5th Hour

Blue and Gold Day - 4th Hour

While we celebrated with Spirit Week, academic work continued. Last week my freshmen finally started reading "St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves" and are finishing Stage 2 of five stages. While they read we annotated, then we worked on the study guide and vocabulary packet. My Sophomores read two of three pieces that go together: "A Passionate Shepherd to His Love" and "They Nymph's Reply to the Passionate Shepherd." We annotated them, did some Cornell notes, and completed a study guide and vocabulary packet. We ended the week with silent reading of their independent reading books. In 5th Hour on Friday, since the room was beastly hot, they opted to try to read outdoors - with mixed results. They got a little reading in while battling the distractions of bugs, acorns falling out of trees, heat, and each other. At first I thought, "Well, we tried it and we don't need to do that again." But while standing in the stadium last night, I was looking at the trees behind the weight room - a more secluded and shady spot - and decided that if we are roasting in the classroom again, it might be worth trying one more time out there. We'll see. In the meantime, here are some photos from our experience:

He was the smart one and went off by himself with a tree to lean on.

Trying to read upside down.

Plugging in to ignore the distraction of her neighbors.

Sitting with friends.

This group had a little trouble ignoring the acorns since they make great missiles. Kids will be kids.

Friends battling the heat.

Friends battling the bees.

These two tried to battle the sun, but eventually gave up and moved to the shade.

Anyway, we had a great week, but now it's time to move forward. Here's what's coming up:

English 9

Monday, 9/25 - we start our grammar unit with an introduction to Preposition Packet #1; finish Stage 2 of "St. Lucy's" and take a quiz (except for co-taught - they'll do their quiz on Tuesday) - the quiz is open note/open text; read Stage 3 if there is time; go over the work on this week's reading log.
Tuesday, 9/26 - Academic Advisory Day - Preposition Packet #1; Stage 3 - read/annotate/study guide/vocabulary packet; Type 1.
Wednesday, 9/27 - 1/2 Day - Half-hour Classes - we'll read and annotate Stage 4.
Thursday, 9/28 - Activity Advisory - Reading Logs are due; Preposition Packet #1; finish Stage 4 - study guide and vocabulary packet; read and annotate Stage 5; Type 1 - turn in for the week.
Friday, 9/29 - book share; get a new reading log; silent reading.

English 10

Monday, 9/25 - grammar review packet; finish Cornell notes for "Nymph"; quiz for "Shepherd/Nymph" - open note/open text; go over reading log for this week; if time, connect "Picture" to the poems and identify the Central Idea in annotations.
Tuesday, 9/26 - Academic Advisory Day - grammar review packet; finish "Picture"; outline the assessment for Unit 1 - an analytical essay.
Wednesday, 9/27 - 1/2 Day - Half-hour Classes - write the essay.
Thursday, 9/28 - Activity Advisory - Reading Logs are due; grammar review packet; finish the essay. Homework - whatever is not done on the essay - turn in by Friday.
Friday - 9/29 - book share; get a new reading log; silent reading.