Moaning Monday...

Happy Halloween Everyone - BE SAFE TONIGHT!!!! Actually when you think about it, you are much better off staying inside and doing some homework, so here it is:

Block A:  Print off and bring in the poems you have collected so far for your book. We will be starting to write the criteria tomorrow.

Block C:  We looked at contrasting devices today and were looking for examples of contrast as well as writing our own.

Block D:  Finish writing your improved theme statements, and your setting/mood worksheet. Print, or copy out clean lyrics to a song you like and bring them to class tomorrow.

Fabulous Friday!

Block A:  Today we completed our poetry reading challenge on Robert Frosts' "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening." Once you completed your questions, I asked you to summarize your understanding of the poem in 1-2 sentences. Homework for the weekend is to study for the quiz on poetry terms, and keep searching for your poems worth stopping for.

Block C:  Today we assessed Billy Collins' use of comparison devices in the poem "Introduction to Poetry." We answered the questions: How does Collins use these devices to extend, enrich, or qualify the literal meaning of the text? Was he successful?

Once that was completed we completed the following task:
Goal: To demonstrate that you understand how writers use literary devices purposefully to extend, enrich, or qualify the literal meaning of text.
Task: Write a poem that makes use of at least three of these devices from our previous lesson. Highlight your use of these devices and then briefly explain how you hope they extend, enrich, or qualify the literal meaning of the text.

Then we went back to the beginning for the final reflection: Take a moment to reflect on the two poems you read yesterday and today, "Television" and "Introduction to Poetry." What do they have in common in terms of message? How does each poem use figurative comparison to get that idea across? Once you've completed your reflection, create a concise response to the lesson's key question: how can figurative comparison between two objects add to the literal meaning of a text?

Block D: For homework this weekend - write 3 setting haikus on "August 2026: There Will Come Soft Rains"

Have a safe weekend - and I'm looking forward to seeing you all in your costumes on Monday!

Thoughts for Thursday!

Block A:  Study your blue sheet of poetry terminology for the quiz on Monday. Also please start choosing and printing off your poems for your poetry book.

Block C:  You need to get started on your ongoing poetry project. Completing the lessons and the tasks.

Block D:  I will be doing a homework check on your two cinquain character poems tomorrow.

Enjoy the sunshine!

Wednesday Work:

Block A:  Study your poetry terms, and complete the crossword - I'll be doing a homework check tomorrow.

Block C:  Complete your 2 reflections - 1 on the performance and the 2nd on the key question of the lesson:  what impact does the sound of the words in a text have on the reader?

Block D:  No homework! Enjoy your evening!

Dance, dance Tuesday!

Block A:  No homework!

Block C:  No homework!

Block D:  Finish your letter of advice 3/4 of a page to the father in the story, about how he can fix his relationship with his son.

Have a great time at the dance tonight - be safe and have fun!

Terrific Tuesday!

Block A: If you did not finish the worksheet on incorporating quotations - then please hand it in tomorrow. Keep working on your draft the rough copy is due on Thursday.

Block C:  The rough draft of your literary analysis essay is due tomorrow! Make sure you bring your essay - double-spaced please!

Block D: Presentations tomorrow! I'll open the classroom early for those who want to get organized.

Marvellous Monday!

Block A:  Please print off your research for your essay and bring it to class tomorrow. In addition, if you did not finish the worksheet on incorporating quotations please have that finished and ready to hand in tomorrow.

Block C:  Aim to have your outline finished tomorrow - the rough draft of your essay is due on Wednesday for peer editing.

Block D:  Print off and bring any bits and pieces you need for your lit circle final project - so that you and your group can work together to put the final product together. Also you will need to spend some time tomorrow preparing the 2 minute talk sharing your project with the class on Wednesday.

Fabulous Friday!

Block A:  Outlines and research for your essay are due on Monday.

Block C:  Your visual/verbal essay is due on Monday. Rough draft of literary analysis essay is due on Wednesday.

Block D:  You are responsible for your sections of your lit circle project.  You will have some time on Monday - not the whole block and all of Tuesday to put it together.

Have a wonderful weekend! Enjoy the sunshine!

Sun-shiny Thursday!

Block A:  Review the possible essay topics - and think about how you would like narrow then down into an argument - we shall continue our essay journey tomorrow.

Block C:  Bring all materials that you will need for your verbal visual essay - as you will have a work block to put it all together.

Block D:  Keep in contact with your group to make sure that you have the tasks completed for the work block tomorrow.

Work for Wednesday:

Block A:  The good copy of your short story is due tomorrow! If you didn't finish your sentence variety worksheet - please hand in it first thing tomorrow.

Block C:  The last set of journals for your novel are due tomorrow. We will be reviewing Literary Analysis essay writing tomorrow.

Block D:  The outline of your descriptive paragraph is due tomorrow. Not the rough draft - just the outline.

Turkey left-over Tuesday!

Block A:  Good work editing short stories today!  The good copy will be due on Thursday.  Tomorrow we will be starting essay writing! :)

Block C:  Your last set of journals is due on Thursday - so you should be working on your personal responses to get feedback from your group tomorrow.

Block D:  We had our last group meeting today - some groups are already working on their final project - for the rest I'll hand it out on Thursday - tomorrow your rough draft of your narrative paragraph is due. We will be starting descriptive paragraphs tomorrow!

Fabulous Friday!

Block A:  Make sure that you have a double-spaced rough draft of your short story ready to be peer edited on Tuesday!

Block C:  For Tuesday, make sure your book is done and that you are starting on your last set of journals - as they will be due on Thursday. You will have some time on Wednesday to work on your group responses. Also you should be thinking about topics for your verbal/visual essay.

Block D:  Your novel needs to be finished on Tuesday! For the groups that are done - I will be handing out the options for the final project.

Enjoy the three day weekend! I for one, am thankful to all of you, for making my classes so awesome!

Thoughtful Thursday

Block A:  Because I am the kindest and most understanding teacher on the planet - you all have an extension on the rough draft of your short story - which will now be due after the long weekend on Tuesday Oct. 11.

Block C:  If you need extra time to work on the Archetypes - you will have time in class tomorrow. In addition I'll be handing out and explaining the verbal visual essay component for this unit.

Block D:  Homework for tonight is to complete the rough draft of your persuasive paragraph. Some groups are already finished their novels - and others will have one more meeting. For those who still have another meeting make sure you finish your book for Tuesday!

Work for Wednesday!

Block A:  Keep working on your short story drafts - you will get more time tomorrow in class - but remember that the rough draft is due on Friday for peer editing.

Block C:  Make sure that you have your reading done for the meeting tomorrow and that you hand in your 4 completed journals.

Block D:  Have your reading done for tomorrow. The rough draft of your persuasive paragraph is due on Friday.

Totally Tuesday:

Block A:  Keep working on your plot lines for your short story. You will have class time to work on it, but keep in mind that the double-spaced draft is due on Friday - ready to be peer edited.

Block C:  You get a bonus day to continue working on your journals. You will have time in class to finish up your group discussions, and also get further feedback on your personal responses. Your second set of 4 journals is due on Thursday.

Block D:  Please keep up with your reading. We will continue working on persuasive paragraphs tomorrow in class.

Mellow Monday

Block A:  If you did not get your short story proposal signed by me in class today - make sure you run it past me first thing tomorrow!

Block C:  You should be working on your personal responses for your journals in preparation to share with your group. You will also get some extra time to finish the task of the day if you did not get a chance to finish it in class.

Block D:  Make sure you have your reading done for tomorrow's meeting. We will have more class time on Wednesday to finish the persuasive paragraph outline.