Fabulous Friday!

Block A: Today you took some time to reflect on the Core Competencies and how you have demonstrated them in our Great Poetry Unit. I then introduced the novel options for our lit circle groups this semester. I will do my best to give you one of your top selections - but I can't make any promises!!! There is no homework this weekend!

Blocks B&D: Wow what a mad scramble at the end. It is the worst when technology works against us instead of FOR us!!! But it's over now - the analysis projects are done - and we get to enjoy them on Tuesday. Study the green sheet of short story terminology and your plot lines in preparation for the quiz on Wednesday.

Thoughtfully Thursday:

Block A: Phew! Essays are done... almost. If you need extra time to finish up your essay - you can come in at lunch tomorrow.

Blocks B&D: It looks like most people need a little more time to put together their presentations - so you will have until the end of the block tomorrow. This means we will present on Tuesday - but you will hand your project in on Friday at the end of class.

Work on a Wednesday!

Block A: We will write our good copies of our great poetry essays in class tomorrow. If you need extra time - I'll be here by 8:00.

Blocks B&D: Make sure you are on-track with your project - the time is tight to finish!

Tell us about Tuesday!

Block A: There will be some time tomorrow to finish the rough draft of your great poetry essay, along with your self and possibly some peer editing. Good copy to follow!

Blocks B&D: You should now have a pretty good handle on the overall analysis of your story. Tasks are divided up and you will be coming to class tomorrow ready to start inputting your analysis into the Explain Everything app. You are essentially screen casting your presentation - so make sure that you have the most important information represented!

Made for Mondays!

Block A: Some good progress has been made on your outlines and rough drafts!!! We will have time tomorrow in class to work on our rough drafts and to do some self-editing. If you have a laptop and would like to bring it to class on Wednesday to type your good copy you may do that. However - you will need to disable wi-fi while we are working on it, then reenable wi-fi to email me the final copy at the end of class. We have had problems in the past with academic dishonesty - so all writing must be done in class.

Blocks B&D: You are now in your groups for your short story analysis project. Homework tonight is to read your chosen short story and come to class tomorrow ready to discuss it. You will have limited time to work on this project - so make sure you're focused and on task.

Fun-times Friday!

Block A: Thank you poetry performers for taking such big risks and reading your poems for the class! Homework this weekend is to finish your point-form outlines of the great poetry composition.

Block B: Homework this weekend is to finish your micro-fiction stories if you didn't finish them in class - we'll talk metaphors for life on Monday.

Block D: If you didn't finish the plot diagram for "The Rules of the Game" please do so for homework this weekend.

Thoroughly on Thursday!

Block A: Finally - tomorrow we finally get to hear your poetry recitations - and I'm super excited!!!! We will draw numbers to choose the order of presentations. If you did not finish the first bubble (thesis statement) on your graphic organizer it is for homework tonight - we'll continue the rest tomorrow after presentations - if we have time.

Blocks B&D: If you did not finish the plot diagram for "Saturday Climbing" in class today - please complete it tonight. Also tonight is to brainstorm a list of activities, sports and hobbies that can be seen as having the same symbolic quality as the rock climbing metaphor.

Walk Around on a Wednesday

Block A: Due to a field trip tomorrow - we are now going to perform our poems on FRIDAY. Those of you attending class tomorrow will have the opportunity to get some peer feedback on your poem so please bring your original poem, and the script of things you are planning to say about your poem to class tomorrow. Additionally, you need to complete the yellow S.I.F.T.T. sheet that provides a guideline for analysis of your "great" poem. Please be as detailed as you can be.

Blocks B&D: Homework for tonight is to complete the 4 theme statements for "Saturday Climbing" and the questions for further analysis 1-6 on the same sheet. I will be collecting these tomorrow to check your progress.

Terrific Tuesday:

Block A: Thank you for your good behaviour during our opportunity to listen to 2 authors speak in the library today. If you did not fully label your chosen poem for the great poetry multi-paragraph composition please do so tonight.

Blocks B&D: We didn't get to finish the story "Saturday Climbing" in class today so we'll pick up where we left off tomorrow! No homework tonight.

Thoughtful Thursday:

Block A: Hopefully you're thinking about the poem that you are going to recite to the class on Thursday next week!

Today, we started the process of our culminating assignment for poetry: The Great Poetry Composition. You will write a 4 paragraph composition explaining what you have learned about what great poetry is and why this poem is an example of it. I demonstrated what it looks like to label a poem to break down the parts of it - then turned the rest of the class over to you. Your challenge is to choose a poem (of at least 14 lines) that you think is an example of truly great poetry. Once you have chosen the poem copy it down (or print it off) and label your poem just like I did on the overhead projector - I'll be checking your poem on Tuesday.

Blocks B&D: Our further investigation of "Identities" continues! If you haven't finished the questions regarding the literary techniques of the author, please do so for Tuesday. Additionally, you will need to complete the making connections chart and summary of the TED talk that we watched by Chimamanda Adichie.

Have a great long weekend everybody!

Wondering about Wednesday?

Block A: Poetry stations are done! I hope you had some fun being creative and getting the opportunity to try some different types of poetry! Homework tonight is to finish any of the poems you didn't finish in class - tomorrow you should have 7 completed poems.

After poetry stations were finished I handed out a new assignment CLS#6 a poetry recitation assignment. You will be tasked with performing an original piece of your own poetry (of at least 15 lines) for the class next Wednesday April 18th. I know that performing in front of the class is a very nerve wracking experience - but it is also a very important skill. When you present your poem you must:

1. Introduce yourself
2. Introduce the title of your poem
3. 4-5 sentences about why you wrote the poem (explain your inspiration)
4. Performance

Blocks B&D: Homework tonight is all related to "Identities" make sure you have used quotations to fully support your answers. I'll be doing a homework check on this tomorrow.

Talk about Tuesday!

Block A: I hope you enjoyed your time a the various poetry stations today! If you didn't finish the work from the stations that you went to today - please do so for homework tonight!

Blocks B&D: We are all finished with our "A&P" paragraphs - I'm looking forward to reading them. We're on to our next story tomorrow - so there is no homework tonight.

Masterful Monday!

Block A: If you did not get a chance to finish the depth of meaning poem and reflection in class today - please do so for homework tonight.

Blocks B&D: Rough drafts and peer editing are done! You will have one class tomorrow to complete your good copy.

Our fabulous Friday!

Block A: Thank you for handing in your found poems today - they look great! Thank you also for your excellent, on-task behaviour displayed in the library today! You chose your art books and got down to the task of writing a poem with depth of meaning, without needing any prompts from me. You will have time on Monday to keep working on your poem and the reflection. Make sure you spend some time studying the poetic devices we've been working with on our journey to find great poetry - the quiz will be first thing on Monday.

Blocks B&D: Oh Sammy - who even cares if you have undergone a major change or not?! Well, unfortunately for you, the task to analyze this change is not done yet! You will have Monday to finish the draft and complete some peer editing before we write the good copy on Tuesday!

Thoughts on Thursday!

Block A: Will you be an explorer or a conqueror of poetry? This is the question I leave you with for the last part of our journey towards great poetry. Homework tonight is to complete your found poem with visual and hand it in tomorrow.

Blocks B&D: Today in class you worked on your outline of the literary analysis of Sammy. I've collected your outline and you will be starting the rough draft in class tomorrow.

Walkabout Wednesday!

Block A: keep working on your found poem - the good copy is due on Friday. This means that the poem is done - in pen or typed and you've completed your visual to support it. Make sure you make a note in your agenda that you will have a quiz on poetic devices on Monday!

Blocks B&D: We will continue the brainstorm and outline of the literary analysis paragraph in class tomorrow. Due to issues with academic dishonesty - all written work needs to be done in class. I encourage you to think about your topic and bring any questions or concerns you have with you to class tomorrow.

Tangible Tuesday!

Block A: In response to the question of form - we spent some time creating a found poem using our silent reading novel. Homework tonight is to choose your topic and copy out the passage from your novel. Don't forget to include the page number!

Blocks B&D: The characterization chart for Sammy is due tomorrow. Make sure you have 2 quotes that show direct characterization, explain what is told and 6 quotes that show indirect characterization with explanations of what you inferred. You will need this for tomorrow's writing task.

Make this your Monday!

Block A: If you didn't finish your new novel fortune teller sheet - please complete it for homework tonight! We will continue our discussion of form tomorrow.

Blocks B&D: The only homework tonight is to finish up your "A&P" plot structure and diagram - we'll discuss Sammy and his various attitudes/rebellions tomorrow!