Work for Wednesday:

Block A:  Please read and complete your sticky notes for chapter 11 of Lord of the Flies.

Block C:  Your characterization poem for "A Good Man is Hard to Find" and your motivation creative writing piece is due tomorrow.

Block D:  If you did not have your introduction and first body paragraph check by me yesterday - I would like to see them at the beginning of class tomorrow. We will continue with the outline of the 2nd body paragraph tomorrow.

Blue and Gold Tuesday!

Good luck to both the senior boys and senior girls basketball teams tonight in your home openers!!!  For those not partaking in the evening festivities.... how about some homework?!

Block A:  No reading tonight - go and support your teams!

Block C:  Today in class we discussed our various reactions to the short story "A Good Man is Hard to Find." Then the task was assigned, the instructions for which you will find below. Don't panic though, it is not due until Thursday.

Goal: to demonstrate your understanding of characterization in the construction of a short story.


Task: write an original poem about the character of the grandmother in Flannery O'Connor's "A Good Man is Hard to Find."


Criteria:

• Must be at least 17 lines
• Must use phrases - and or words found directly from the story (but is NOT a found poem)
• Must clearly capture the essence of your interpretation of the grandmother's character.

Block D: If you didn't finish it in class, then please complete the introductory paragraph on your "Great Poetry Essay" outline. We will continue the body paragraphs tomorrow.

Fabulous Friday!

I hope you all have a wonderful and restful 3-day weekend! It is spirit week next week - so make sure you wear your blue and gold on Tuesday!

Block A:  Read and complete your sticky notes for chapter 10 in preparation for Survivor Challenge #7.

Block C:  Today we read the story "A Good Man is Hard to Find" and completed the reading response questions. If you were unable to finish the questions, please do so for homework and be prepared to discuss the story on Tuesday.

Block D:  Your found poem with collage, and depth of meaning poem with reflection are due on Tuesday. Please ensure that you have your blue criteria sheet to hand in along with your poems.

SLSS and the Blustery Day!

Block A:  Read and complete your sticky notes for chapter 9.

Block C:  If you did not finish the creative writing task for the art school photo - then please complete it tonight. Also read the "Characterization" section of the photocopied pages from The Art of the Short Story. We will begin our new story tomorrow.

Block D:  Your found poem and collage are due on Tuesday, as is the depth of meaning poem and its reflection.

Wednesday Work:

Block A:  Read chapter 8 of Lord of the Flies and complete your sticky notes in preparation for the challenge tomorrow.  We will be reading out some of our sticky notes in class - so make sure they are good ones!

Block C:  Finish the paragraph response for "Barbie-Q." You are examining the author's choice of point of view, and the impact it has on the reader.

Block D:  Think about the two poems you are writing in class right now: the found poem, and the depth of meaning poem. Bring in any materials you might need to enhance the visual component of the found poem, you will have time to work on both poems tomorrow.

Back to normal Tuesday:

Glad you all survived my absence yesterday! Here is the work you need to have done for tomorrow.

Block A:  Read chapter 7 of Lord of the Flies and complete your sticky notes.

Block C:  Finish the response questions for "Barbie-Q," and be ready to discuss them tomorrow in class.

Block D:  Bring all materials for your found poem and your depth of meaning poem. You will have a work block tomorrow to being putting together your work.

Fabulous Friday!

Block A:  Great work tribes on your Survivor Challenge #4! Your painted faces looked amazing!! Your homework over the weekend is to read chapter 5 and complete your sticky notes.

Block C:  After reading and analyzing "The Yellow Wallpaper" and "The Tell Tale Heart," your task is to write a journal response of about 1-2 paragraphs comparing the settings of Poe's "The Tell Tale Heart" and Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper." Discuss the role setting plays in the construction of both short stories. Due on Monday.

Block D:  Choose a poetic sounding passage from your current silent reading novel, or another novel of your choice. Write down the passage in full - with all the same punctuation - and record the source - author, title and page number. Bring this passage to class on Monday to begin the found poem process.

Thoughts for Thursday:

Block A:  Please read chapter 4 and complete your sticky notes in preparation for Survivor Challenge #4.

Block C:  Read and complete the guided reading questions for "The Yellow Wallpaper" Come prepared to discuss the story tomorrow.

Block D:  You'll be posting your haiku tomorrow, and we will go over the cliche handout from the end of class today.

Windy Wet Wednesday:

Block A: Read and complete your sticky notes for chapter 3 in preparation for Survivor Challenge #3. You will have some time to complete your work from today if possible, as well I will be returning your essays.

Block C:  Complete the work for "The Tell-Tale Heart" for class tomorrow. I will be collecting the plot line, the questions from The Simpsons and the reflection.  After reading Forster's quote: "The king died and then the queen died is a story. The king died, and then the queen died of grief is a plot." Create a concise response to the lesson's key question: why is the "plot" essential to the construction of a short story?


Block D:  The good copy of your short story is due tomorrow. Make sure that you have your story package, your rough draft, your peer editing sheet, and good copy ready to be handed in tomorrow.
Your haiku for the wall is due on Friday.

Tasks for Tuesday:

Sorry for a later than usual post!

Block A:  Great work on Challenge #2! Your islands look amazing!  Read and complete your sticky notes for chapter 2 for class tomorrow.

Block C:  Your homework tonight is "The Tell-Tale Heart" task:  Create an accurate plot diagram for "The Tell-Tale Heart." 

Criteria:

• must clearly identify the inciting incident and climax
• must justify the reason for identifying that moment as inciting incident and climax
• must identify the cause-and-effect relationship of the plot -  meaning explain how one event leads into the next.

Block D:  Continue writing your haiku. Choose one to make awesome and post in our class.  The good copy of your short story is due on Thursday.

Magical Monday

Block A:  We have officially begun our Survivor Challenges for Lord of the Flies. Today you took notes on the reading strategies that you will be expected to use throughout the rest of the unit. Your homework for tonight is to read chapter 1 of the novel and complete 4 sticky notes. If you do not complete your sticky notes - you will not be allowed to participate in Challenge #2.

Block C:  Today we finished up our poetry presentations - many thanks to all for your hard work interpreting your poems. We started our short story unit today thinking about multiple interpretations. For homework tonight - you will be brainstorming as many different interpretations for possible stories as you can to the photo shown in class. From that list choose 2 that you like and develop a short story "pitch" for what the story would be about. Imagine you had someone in the elevator and you had 5 floors to tell them about your idea - that's all the writing you need to do. I'll be collecting these tomorrow.

Block D:  Great work on the revision of your own work today. I will give you some time tomorrow for peer editing, so please come to class with a fresh copy of your story to get some feedback on. We will start our poetry journey once that is done.

Lest We Forget

A well deserved 3 day weekend to all - and while you are enjoying the time off - why not do some homework?!

Block A:  No homework! Survivor Challenge starts on Monday - think about how you want to organize your tribes.

Block C:  Your poetry project is due on Monday!!! Can't wait to see what you have all been working on!

Block D:  The rough draft of your short story is due on Monday - so please bring a copy to class that is ready to be peer edited!

Karma-chameleon Wednesday!

Block A:  Yay!!! Poetry critique is finished! No homework tonight - we start our super fun novel study tomorrow!  Volunteers will be coming around to class tomorrow to collect donations for the Poppy Fund - so please bring a donation if you can.

Block C:  Great work on the presentations so far. The Remembrance Day Assembly will be in our block tomorrow, but we will have 2 presentations when we finish those. Have a copy of your concrete poem ready to be posted on Monday.

Block D:  The rough draft of your short story is due on Monday - please bring whatever materials you need to work on it in class tomorrow.

Take it or Leave it Tuesday:

Block A: You will have your in-class poetry critique tomorrow. Remember that all you will be able to bring into class is your annotated poem. Three paragraphs - an intro with a TAG sentence, your analysis with citations, and finally your personal reaction of the poem.

Block C:  Presentations start tomorrow! Rehearse your analysis - and come prepared to wow us!

Block D:  We will continue writing the rough draft of your short story in class tomorrow. The rough draft is due on Monday. Make sure you double-space!!!

Just Another Manic Monday!

Sorry the post is late today - really busy!

Block A:  You should study the notes on writing a poetry critique - and how to annotate poetry. You will be given time in class to continue prepping for your in-class writing assignment on Wednesday.

Block C:  The countdown in on until it is time to present your poetry analysis! You will have one last work block tomorrow to prepare.

Block D:  If you are able to complete your story board for tomorrow then please do - there will be some time provided in class to complete it if necessary.

Fabulous Friday!

Block A:  Your poetry book is due on Monday - make sure that you edit carefully - decorate thoughtfully - and create a works cited page with precise detail!

Block C:  Your poetry project is now due on Monday Nov. 14. However your oral analysis presentations are still happening on Wed. You will have work blocks on Monday and Tuesday to get your work done.

Block D:  Complete your "Penny in the Dust" questions. I will be collecting all 5 story maps and 4 short story tasks on Monday. Think about ideas for your own original short story over the weekend, and we will be starting the process of writing on Monday.

Enjoy the weekend everyone! Don't forget to turn your clocks back before you go to bed on Saturday night!

Thorough Thursday:

Block A:  For tomorrow, aim to have your one page double-spaced criteria of what makes poetry worth stopping for. In addition try to see if you can explain each of your poem choices and how each poem (including your own) meets your criteria. Your peer editor will be looking for clarity of ideas, and explanation in addition to writing mechanics.  The finished project is due on Monday.

Block C:  Keep working on your poetry project - you should be getting your anonymous poem approved pretty soon... In addition, you now have an oral presentation on the poem that you've chosen - begin your analysis and start thinking about how you are going to present this to the class.

Block D:  If you did not finish your Audio Themes worksheet in class today - them make sure it is finished and ready to hand in tomorrow with the lyrics attached. Also I will be doing a homework check on your story map for "Penny in the Dust." Make sure to answer the question: who did what to whom and why.

Work for Wednesday:

Block A:  Keep working on your poetry book. You will have tomorrow to start writing your criteria, so make sure you bring all necessary materials to class.

Block C:  You are to work through a practice TP-CASTT poetry analysis on a poem of your choice for tomorrow. You had the option to complete it in point form, the only full sentence needs to be about theme.  Remember that theme is the message the author is trying to say about life, and what it means to be human.

Block D:  Hope you all had a great day at work today! Just a reminder to have your theme statements finished for tomorrow, as well as your popular themes worksheet.  Don't forget to bring your song lyrics to class.

Terrific Tuesday!

Block A:  Keep working on your poetry book. It is due on Monday Nov. 7 - so you should have your poems chosen by now and you should be starting to think about your own poem and criteria.

Block C:  Today we finished up contrast - and tomorrow we will be starting formal poetry analysis. For tonight, you should be working on your ongoing poetry project.

Block D:  If you did not finish your theme statements for the stories we have read so far - then please do so tonight. In addition you have the worksheet on popular themes. Choose 2 and draw cartoons showing what those themes mean to you.