Fantastic Friday!

Block A: Congratulations my lovely grade 12s. You have worked so hard this semester and you deserve to do well on the Provincial on Monday. It has been such an honour to a small part of your life's journey. Best of luck next semester! I will stop by to check in with you before you write - take it easy this weekend!!!

Block C: Congratulations on finishing up your in-class essays! English 9 is done - and you are ready for English 10!

Block D: Yay! You did it! Your very first high school English class is done! Congratulations and good luck next semester!!!

Penultimate Thursday:

Block A: One more day - that's all it will take. One more day to talk about the Provincial before you write on Monday. We will mark the compositions you wrote in class today - and then examine the exemplars of others to see what constitutes a 3, 4, 5, or 6.

Block C: I was really impressed by the steps you were all taking today in class to prepare yourselves for the in class essay tomorrow. You may not bring any outside resources to class - just a pen to write with. We have been working on your writing skills all semester long - I know you can do this!!!

Block D: A great start to your hero's journey presentations so far today!!! If you didn't get a chance to present today - we will finish up tomorrow. Great job everyone!!!

Where did the time go Wednesday?!

We're on the official countdown people - 2 more days left in first semester!!!

Block A: Preparation continues for the Provincial exam - we'll tackle the personal narrative tomorrow.

Block C: Thank you all for your hard work and creativity in your Romeo and Juliet  presentations. Tomorrow we start working on our in-class essay. I will give out the topics and allow you the rest of class to prepare your point form outline.

Block D: I hope that you and your partner and well on your way to being finished your hero's journey presentations - because we start tomorrow! Numbers will be drawn to indicate which order. Remember minimum of 12 clicks through and 100 words max on your slides. You may not have any notes or cue cards either. You should be familiar with your material.

Take That, Tuesday!

Block A: Our journey into Provincial exam preparation continues tomorrow. In class today - we reviewed synthesis essay writing. I will give you some more time to finish up your essay tomorrow. Cargo ships... fun times!

Block C: A good start to literary analysis essay writing today. We significant aspects of this type of writing - and then started to practice with "Mother to Son." Complete the outline for homework if you did not get a chance in class today. Don't forget - tomorrow we perform our play from Act 1 - 5!!!

Block D: Good job working in the library computer lab today. Your hero's journey presentations are starting to take form! We present on Thursday!

Mega-Watt Monday!

Block A: So... you say you have to write a Provincial Exam worth 40% of your final exam, hey? Well, don't worry - we've got you covered! Today I explained the exam specs as posted on the board in class and tried to alleviate some of your anxieties. I have been your teacher for a whole semester - some of you even longer - and I KNOW that you are all capable of passing this exam. Time is going to be the major factor that you are up against. WATCH YOUR TIME MANAGEMENT!!!! We will continue with our prep tomorrow in class.

Block C: Presentations will be postponed for all groups until Wednesday the 22nd so that we can run through the play in its entirety - hopefully no one else gets sick!

Block D: I hope you took good notes on the hero's journey today - as you are now getting started on your final project. We will be doing oral presentations in class on Thursday. You and your partner will have the next couple of classes to prepare. How does your chosen movie fit into the the hero's journey? Meet in class tomorrow to take attendance and set behaviour expectations in the library computer lab.

Thoughts on Thursday:

Block A: WOW - let me say that again. WOW!!! I'm so proud of all of your hard work on your Tempest presentations - such creativity and courage. Fantastic. There is no homework tonight - our intensive exam prep starts tomorrow!

Block C: Preparation continues for Monday's show. Tomorrow will be your LAST in class rehearsal time - so make it count!!!

Block D: Finish reading the myth of "Theseus" and complete the separate sheet of notes. Point form is fine - so long as it is organized! I will be doing a homework check of your notes tomorrow!

Wallflower Wednesday

Block A: Hazzah essay writers! Your last literary analysis essay is done and handed in. I'll try to mark them and get those back to you as soon as possible. In the mean time - get yourselves psyched up for tomorrow!!! It's showtime! Presentations start at the beginning of class - can't wait to see what you've been working so hard on!

Block C: Work continues on your final dramatic performance - I would expect that you're script is just about done and that you are commencing with rehearsals during tomorrow's work block.

Block D: EXTRA special thank you to S.S. for her outstanding lesson today on the myth of Persephone!!! We have one more group to present their skits tomorrow. Homework tonight is to finish your own natural phenomena myth that you started in class - we will collect first thing tomorrow.

Terrific Tuesday!

Block A: Literary analysis continues tomorrow - it will be your LAST block to write!

Block C: Creative files are ALL due tomorrow. Make sure to hand in the pink criteria sheet along with the good copies of your entries. Each entry should have the file choice clearly labeled. You will have group time to work on your final project tomorrow - make sure that you finish up the planning guide as it is due tomorrow.

Block D: Good start to Myths - there is no homework tonight!

Mega-Monday!

Block A: Yay!!! Tomorrow is literary analysis day! You have left your point form outline and copy of your play in my room. Get ready to write first thing in the morning!

Block C: The good copy of your creative files is due on Wednesday. Make sure to clearly label each entry with the corresponding question to entry you have completed. Read them over to catch any mistakes! Good copy means - typed or printed in ink - in whatever format the entry takes i.e. letter, newspaper article, poem or text conversation. I also assigned the final dramatic performance. You were put into your groups and each group was assigned an act to interpret. You will have work blocks to prepare - and presentations start on Monday the 20th!

Block D: Fun times with The Outsiders movie. Your ticket out the door today was a handout and a reflection on heroes. No homework tonight!

Fierce Friday!

Block A: It is essay day on Monday - review the best practices for literary analysis essay writing! There will not be any more in class time to work on your TEMPEST presentations - we start on Thursday!

Block C: We did it! We finished reading Romeo and Juliet! And what a treat it was - some fabulous reading and lots of enthusiastic volunteers today. On Monday I will be doing a homework check of your 4th and 5th creative file entries. Due date TBA.

Block D: Great work on your peer editing today! I hope you found the feedback helpful and that you are able to use it to make this character analysis your best paragraph yet! The double-spaced good copy is due on Monday along with your rough draft, outline and green peer editing sheet. We will finish up the movie on Monday.

Thunderous Thursday!

Block A: Tempest packages are due tomorrow! You will have one final class tomorrow to work on your final dramatic presentation - which will take place on Thursday Jan 16.

Block C: Great work reading Act 4 today! Poor Juliet - she has quite the imagination doesn't she?! Well, I can't really blame her - I wouldn't want to wake up in a stinky old tomb either! Complete the Act 4 study guide in preparation for the quiz tomorrow. The Act 4 creative file entry is due on Monday for a homework check.

Block D: Loved the atmosphere in class today! My writers were all focused and on task - fantastic work everyone!!! If you did not finish the double-spaced rough draft of your character analysis, it is due tomorrow for peer editing.

Wash-away Wednesday

Block A: The movie is done - now all that is left is to complete your TEMPEST package - due on Friday and your presentation that is due on Thursday Jan 16th. Essay writing starts on Monday!

Block C: Nice work on the Act 3 quiz today! We watched the movie up to the end of where our current reading lies - and we will read Act 4 tomorrow in class. There is no specific homework tonight - revise and work on your creative files - you will need to hand them in next week - so don't fall behind!

Block D: Excellent tone to the class today. Much focus and concentration on the outline for your character analysis. Follow the guide of the yellow sheet to help you with the process. Choose your character and details wisely - make sure the details your provide are rich in their illumination of who your character is. Try to go beyond the obvious - push yourself to find inferences that reveal who your character really is.

Torrential Tuesday

Block A: Your TEMPEST project is due on Friday - keep working on your group presentations - as they are due on Thursday January16th!

Block C: Today in class we read finished reading Act 3 of R&J - work on completing the study guide in preparation for the quiz tomorrow. In addition, I will be doing a homework check on your creative task #3.

Block D: We learned about the process of character analysis in class today - this is going to be your final project for The Outsiders. Make sure you review the notes as a guide. Keep in mind all of the things we have been learning this semester about what makes good writing! Please do not get started on this assignment tonight. I will give you time in class to work on the outline that I will provide. Your homework tonight is to complete the wanted posters for each of the characters on the worksheet - I will be completing a homework check on that tomorrow!

Ring in the New Year - with Homework!

Block A: Congratulations - we've finished the play!!! We'll continue watching the movie tomorrow - but you should be working on your Tempest package (due on Friday) or your group dramatic presentation (due on Thursday the 16th).

Block C: Complete the study guide for Act 3 - up to and including the scenes we read today: i, ii, and iii.

Block D: Great work on completing your text codes for the rest of the novel! Finish the worksheets on conflict, setting and plot for homework tonight!