Wonderful Wednesday!

Early Dismissal Day today and tomorrow!

Block A: Awesome work on the challenge today!!! So much fun! Read chapter 7 and complete your sticky notes for HW tonight.

Block C: Read the document on "characterization" and read the LONG short story "A Good Man is Hard to Find." for tomorrow.

Block D: The found poem and visual are due on Monday.

Mega-Sunny Monday!

Block A: great work with the painted faces today!! Challenge #4 is done. Read chapter 5 for the work to be assigned tomorrow.

Block C: Tonight you need to read the document on Point of View and use the assisted notes as a guide. Also read the super short story "Barbie-Q" in preparation for tomorrow's class.

Block D: Today we looked at form - and if form is what makes great poetry. You were given a found poem assignment on blue paper. Tomorrow you will continue working on the poem and the visual. The poem and visual should be united. Not two separate parts.

Fun-times Friday!

Block A: Things are sometimes more complicated than they seem! Good work on the challenge today - read chapter 4 and complete your sticky notes in preparation for challenge #4 on Monday. The doing the challenge must be ready to get a little messy!

Block C: I know that "The Yellow Wallpaper" is a tricky story - but you're doing great! This weekend, finish up the discussion questions for the story and write your paragraph. Here is what was written on the board in case you missed it:

In a well-constructed paragraph of at least 150 words, discuss the role that setting plays in "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Yellow Wallpaper" (make note of how long this takes you as the Provincial exam allows for 25 mins)

Block D: Depth of Meaning library task today. We looked through a variety of art and photography books in order to see beyond the surface and explore the layers of interpretation underneath. Your poem should be at least 12 lines and utilize the poetic devices that we've been learning about where possible. After your poem is finished, write a paragraph reflecting on the experience. See the pink sheet for the questions to answer. Please hand in your poem and your reflection on Monday.

Thunderous Thursday!

Block A: Great work on your group discussions today! I am very pleased with the high level of engagement with this novel so far - well done! Read chapter 3 tonight in preparation for the challenge tomorrow!

Block C: Today's lesson was on the importance of setting in a short story. We learned some background information on our author Charlotte Perkins Gilman and explored the gothic genre of literature. Tonight for homework read the story - we will tackle the questions tomorrow.

Block D: GREAT class today!!! Sound poems are off and running, and then the last part of class was around a rousing discussion of the depth of meaning in poetry. Who will you be an explorer or a conqueror? Assignment tomorrow around the depth of meaning, but for tonight, if you didn't finish your sound poem - 10 lines using a rhyme scheme, onomatopoeia, and alliteration it is due tomorrow.

Wonderful Wednesday!

Block A: Great work on your LOTF survivor challenge #2! Your islands look great!!! Check twitter for pictures. Homework tonight is to read chapter 2 and complete your sticky notes. Refer to yesterday's blog post to recall the types of reading strategies to use on your notes.

Block C: And so the plot thickens... homework tonight is to finish the plot line for Tell Tale Heart if not done in class, and to complete the creative writing exercise on plot points.

Block D: Today we made an inquiry into the sound that poetry makes - we listened to a collection of poets read their poems and then wrote about our reactions to the process. If you did not complete the response, here are the questions:

1. Name 2 things you found interesting - what did you think was cool or good about hearing the poets? You must explain why and be specific!

2. Name something specific you thought was weird or not good about hearing the poets. And please explain why.

3.  What did you think of hearing the poets read their own work? Explain what the experience was like for you.

4. Which poem or poet was your favourite? Explain why.

Tuesday, Terrific!

Block A: We started our novel study survivor challenges today! Tribes were formed, symbols were made and names were negotiated. Your second challenge will take place tomorrow so make sure you have your reading done - chapter 1 with your 4 sticky notes completed. No sticky notes = no challenge!

Here are the notes from class about what kinds of things to note down on your sticky notes as you are reading. Remember 4 notes is the minimum - more is fantastic!!!

• Questions about the novel
• Something you liked and enjoyed
• Something you disliked or disagreed with
• Funny parts
• Sad parts
• Appeals to other emotions (empathy,...)
• A connection (t-t, t-s, t-w)
• Literary elements: character traits, setting, theme, mood, conflict and point of view
• Descriptive words or phrases that paint a mental picture that you can illustrate
• Symbols
• Predictions
• Problems / solutions
• Comparisons / contrasts
• Oddities (strange and different items)
• Figurative language: simile, metaphor, personification, oxymoron, or alliteration
• Quotes related to themes: survival, leadership, civilization vs. savagery, and loss of innocence

Block C: The investigation of short stories continues. Today you read a document on plot - using the assisted notes provided. Keep these as a study guide for the provincial! When that is done - read the The Tell-Tale Heart by Poe - the task will be completed in class tomorrow.

Block D: I'm very excited about our poetry quest! First question: is it imagery that makes poetry great? We took some notes, and studied some examples, and then your task was to write a poem using all 4 of the terms discussed in class today. The poem must be at least 10 lines and you need to highlight and label each of the devices that you use. The poem is due for homework if not done in class.

Make it great Monday!

Block A: New unit today! Novel study: Lord of the Flies, we did some pre-reading discussion, and stage setting, and tomorrow we will get on with the show! This means, no homework tonight!

Block C: Short stories - your enthusiasm was overwhelming... Regardless, I am undeterred! Homework tonight is all about interpretation and perspective taking. One image with 2 interpretations for a story. Don't write the whole story... Just the idea for them is fine.

Block D: Fun times with poetry! No homework tonight - our inquiry into great poetry continues tomorrow.

Fabulous Friday!

Block A: Phew! What a week! Great work on presentations, and I saw A LOT of hard work on your in-class poetry critiques today. Give yourself a break this weekend, with no homework!!!

Block C: Congratulations presenters! You are all done! Final poetry projects are due on Monday - but those have been done for ages, right?!

Block D: Great work on the novel experiences! Just one more group to present on Monday then we are ready to start poetry!!!

Thoughts on Thursday!

Block A: In-class poetry writing assignment tomorrow. You may bring in an annotated copy of your poem and a point form outline for your paragraphs.

Block C: Hopefully *fingers crossed* we will get all of the presentations for your analysis finished tomorrow.

Block D: Great start to the novel experiences today - hopefully we will finish them up tomorrow!

Work for Wednesday:

Block A: Due to technical glitches - we still have one more presentation tomorrow. The rest of the block will be yours to prepare for the in-class poetry critique writing assignment on Friday.

Block C: Presentations continue tomorrow! Keep up the good work :)

Block D: Be prepared to wow us with your novel experiences tomorrow! Presentations start at the beginning of the block.

Tuesday Tasks:

Block A: Great work on the presentations so far! Just a couple more for tomorrow - then it is on to the critique assignment!

Block C: Looking forward to your oral analysis presentations tomorrow!

Block D: Work continues on your novel experience presentations which will be starting on Thursday!

Lest We Forget

Take some time this weekend to remember the sacrifices that men and women have made so that we can have the privilege to live in this beautiful country.

Block A: Think about the presentation we saw during the Remembrance Day Assembly today - how the choir and the art students were able to bring that poem to life! Very effective. Presentations start on Tuesday.

Block C: Be happy my poets! Extensions all around!!! Presentations start on Wednesday and Your poetry project (duo-tang) is not due until Monday Nov. 19. You are all working so hard - you deserve it!

Block D: Keep up the good work on your novel "experience" presentations! We will see all of your hard work on Thursday!

Thoughts on Thursday:

Block A: Scheduling problem solved! Work continues on your poetry project tomorrow - presentations on Tuesday! I can't wait to see what and how you are able to bring your poem to life!!!

Block C: I am loving the anonymous poems and concrete poems that I'm seeing so far - you will have masterpieces to hand in next week I know it!

Block D: Today I gave out the final group project for your lit circle - you will be creating an experience for the class to bring them into the world of your novel! Work continues tomorrow!

Work for Wednesday:

Block A: I'm seeing some GREAT work on your poetry projects - can't wait to see your presentations where you bring your poem to life!

Block C: Some amazing creativity happening around poetry! Two ongoing projects - the oral analysis and the continued work on your poetry project. Anonymous Poetry and Concrete poems need to be in to me by Friday!

Block D: Hope you had a fun time in the work world! Final projects assigned for novel study tomorrow.

Mostly-Sunny Monday!

Block A: Work on your visual representation of your poem continues tomorrow. Presentations start on Tuesday!!! You will have one more in-class work block tomorrow, then we start preparation for your written poetry critique.

Block C: Today I assigned your oral analysis project - most of you chose the poem that you would like to analyze and you will have work blocks for the rest of the week. Presentations start on Tuesday!

Block D: You were given time today to take notes and summarize the responses of your group to your 2 personal response journal entires. The completed journals are due tomorrow! If you did not finish the work on your discussion log and T.O.T.D. you will have time to finish up in class tomorrow.

Fast-forward Friday

Block A: Poetry challenge #3 is done for "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening." For the rest of the class we worked on getting organized for our oral presentations, which will start on November 13th - the same day as block rotation.

Block C: Today we started the TP-CASTT method for poetry analysis. We worked together on "I wandered Lonely as a Cloud" then you were set on your own for practice. I gave you the option to find your own poem of at least 10 lines, then in point form, follow the TP-CASTT outline. The only full sentence is your theme statement - try to avoid cliches at ALL cost! If you didn't finish in class, then please complete it for homework.

Block D: For Monday: finish your novel and last set of sticky notes! In addition you need to have 2 personal responses ready for discussion with your group.

Thoughts on Thursday:

Block A: Great work on the poetry challenge today! I handed out the oral poetry project in class, if you have not chosen your poet and poem yet - you can do so tomorrow. No homework tonight!

Block C: Work on your project continues - other than that - you have no homework tonight!

Block D: You will have time in class tomorrow to work on your 2 personal responses due on Monday for group discussion - make sure your novel is done for Monday!