See you all in 1 year!!!

Happy Spring Break Sharks!!!

Thank you all for the lovely wishes for me and the new little one I'll be having in April!  I will see you all after Spring Break 2017!!!

Best of luck to all of you!!!!

Wonderful Wednesday:

Block A: Thank you for the thoughtful responses to the Nature of Things documentary "Surviving the Teenage Brain." Hopefully you got a lot out of the experience. One more day, and we'll wrap up before Spring Break!

Block B: We will have time in class tomorrow to finish Iron Will and the making connections practice chart. Don't forget that for each event you need to explain what you are connecting to and clearly explain how making this connections helps to increase your understanding. There is no homework tonight!

Block D: Impressive work today crew! If you did not finish your double-spaced rough draft of the theme analysis paragraph in class today, please have it done for tomorrow. I will also be collecting your short story textbooks so make sure you have that with you too!

Take Away Tuesday:

Block A: Thank you for the reflections on the project! We'll continue the work on the teenage brain tomorrow.

Block B: If you did not finish your THIEVES, Text-coding, and Linear Notes assignment in class today - please make sure it is done tonight - I'm collecting it first thing tomorrow.

Block D: Work continues today on the graphic organizer for your theme analysis paragraph. If you did not finish the graphic organizer in class, please make sure it is done for tomorrow!

Monday Musings

Block A: We are SO proud of you guys!!! Your Top 10s were so fun today!!! Thank you all for your hard work. We'll wrap up this unit together tomorrow!!

Block B: We're half-way through the THIEVES, text-coding and Linear Notes CLS assignment. One more work block tomorrow - they are due on Wednesday!

Block D: Day one in the books of our responding to literature formal theme analysis paragraph. By tomorrow you should choose your story, decide on your theme and start thinking of the proofs/evidence from the story. Planning starts tomorrow!

Fun on a Friday!

Block A: Our YouTube channel is looking SO great!!! I can't WAIT to see your Top 10s projects in our Showcase Monday!!!

Block B: Great work on the re-design of your linear notes!!! I hope you found it useful today. I'll give you your CLS assignment on Monday.

Block D: Why are theme statements so hard to write?!!! It is just a little sentence! For the weekend: study your short story terminology for the quiz and write 5 beautiful theme statements - 1 for each story we've read.

Thoughts on Thursday:

Block A: One more day to polish your Top 10 iMovie and then we're going to upload them to our private YouTube channel - so excited for Monday!!!

Block B: Great work today on the group discussion! We ran out of time to view all the notes and vote on the best ones - but we'll do that tomorrow. No homework tonight!

Block D: I know that writing theme statements is not exactly easy work - but we're at least on the right track! We'll continue tomorrow - no homework tonight!

Mull-it-over Monday!

Block A: Only ONE more class to work on your Top 10 project!!! Goal for tomorrow is to make sure you've met all the criteria for the project - images, subtitles, voice over and music!

Block B: There is no specific homework for tonight - just make sure that parts A, B and C of your "What is it?" inference activity are done for Wednesday. You may or may not get time in class tomorrow to work on it!

Block D: If you did not complete your setting Haiku for "The Veldt" please do so for homework tonight. You need to write your best 2 on the index card provided (in pen) and put your name on the back. I'll collect tomorrow. If you missed the instructions here they are:

Fun-times Friday!

Block A: Keep up the good work! We're making the big push to the March 2nd due date!!!

Block B: Your "What is it" sentences are due on Monday. Don't forget to study for the noun quiz as well!!!

Block D: Great work on the questions for further analysis today. Such thoughtful responses. Homework this weekend is to complete the first analyzing setting chart - the front side only.

Thoughtfully Thursday!

Block A: I know that music is causing some issues right now - we'll stick with it and see what we can learn!!!

Block B: The noun quiz will be on Monday. Make sure you are prepared by studying your notes and completing the review worksheet from class today. Homework tonight was to complete 3 of the 4 text-message inference tasks. There will be a homework check on this tomorrow.

Block D: A lot of interesting thoughts on the story today! Please finish questions 1-8 on "The Veldt" for tomorrow's class. We'll finish the rest in class.

Think Pink! Anti-bulling Wednesday!

Block A: Our work continues on the Top 10s project. Most people are at the script writing stage and starting to do their voice recordings. We'll continue this tomorrow.

Block B: Great job on becoming THIEVES of information! No homework tonight!

Block D: If you did not finish the story map for "The Veldt" please do so tonight!

Talk about our Tuesday:

Block A: Work continues on the Top 10s. You should have all of your images chosen today - and be working on subtitles and imputing your criteria. Tomorrow everyone should be working on script writing. The project is going to be due Wed. March 2nd - one week from tomorrow!

Block B: Good work on the inferences chart today! If you did not finish both sides of the chart - it is homework for tonight!

Block D: We have barely gotten started on our story - but not to worry - we'll finish it in class tomorrow. No homework tonight!

Mega Monday!

Block A: Top 10s are still ongoing! People are working on script writing and movie making. Keep up the good work!

Block B: Great work on making inferences today! Homework for tonight is to complete the nouns worksheet - we'll take up the answers together tomorrow.

Block D: Very interesting and engaging cinquain characters! Homework tonight is to finish your 2 cinquain poems and choose your best one to put on the index card provided. The front of your card will feature your best cinquain (in pen) decorations are optional. The back of the card will have your name. I'll collect tomorrow! If you missed the instructions - here they are:

That's it for Thursday!

Block A: We're making progress on our Top 10s project!!! Keep up the good work! Enjoy your three day weekend!!!

Block B: Great work with making inferences today! We will continue on Monday - no homework this weekend!!!

Block D: By now you should have finished reading "The Necklace" and completed the story map. We debriefed the story map together in class today. We then started to look closer at how the author creates characters through direct and indirect presentation. Check out your yellow handout if you need a refresher. The homework for the weekend is to finish the front side of the characterization chart for Mme. Loisel. We will finish the backside of the handout for M. Loisel on Monday. Here is a copy of the Characterization Chart if you need one!

Wonderful Wednesday:

Block A: We will keep working on our Top 10 projects tomorrow - the goal is to have everyone on the iPads and starting to find their images.

Block B: Homework tonight is the double-spaced good copy (typed or in pen) of your zoo paragraph. Tomorrow you will hand in the good copy, rough draft, green peer editing sheet and the graphic organizer.

Block D: There is no homework tonight - we will finish the story map for "The Necklace" in class tomorrow.

Talking About Tuesday:

Block A: We will keep working on our Top 10s tomorrow. Hopefully, everybody will be ready to get started on the iPads!

Block B: The double-spaced rough draft of your zoo paragraph is due tomorrow for peer editing. The nouns worksheet is NOT homework!

Block D: Please complete the good copy of your advice letter to John Sr. I will also be collecting the rough draft.

Make the Most of your Monday!

Block A: Wow. You guys are making awesome progress on your Top 10s projects! We'll continue working tomorrow - finding images is the next priority.

Block B: Please finish the graphic organizer of your Zoo expository paragraph - I'll be checking it over tomorrow.

Block D: Finish the rough draft of your advice letter to John Purcell from "The Father" for tomorrow. Here are the slides from class:

Fun-times Friday!

Block A: Awesome start to your own Top 10 Project today!!! In class you had the opportunity to work on a proposal and start planning criteria and start choosing the items on your list. We will start putting together our images with the iPad cart on Monday!

Block B: If you did not finish the practice section #3 of the paragraph worksheet, please do so for Monday. Choose one of the topic sentences and three of the supporting details to write your paragraph, adding transition words and a concluding sentence.

Block D: The double-spaced good copy (in pen or typed) of your "Wish You Were Here" creative task is due on Monday. There will be time in class on Monday to finish the story map for "The Father" it is not homework this weekend.

Think about Thursday:

Block A: Great job on the Top 10 Fast Food restaurants today! We'll try another list tomorrow.

Block B: We'll continue tomorrow working on the parts of a paragraph! No homework tonight :)

Block D: Please finish the creative response to "Wish You Were Here." The rough draft is due tomorrow for peer review/editing.

Wondering about Wednesday?

Block A: Great job on the Top 10s today! We will finish our list of the Top 10 fast food restaurants together in class tomorrow. No homework tonight!

Block B: Excellent work on parts of a paragraph today! We'll continue our work tomorrow. No homework tonight!

Block D: So that is what an ambiguous ending feels like hey? If you didn't finish your story map for "Wish You Were Here" please do so tonight. The 3 creative options for responding to the story are NOT for homework tonight. I'll give you time in class tomorrow to work on them.

Terrific Tuesday!

Block A: Great job on the non-fiction reading today! We'll get into the Top 10 Series tomorrow. No homework tonight.

Block B: Hopefully you are finding the documentary on zoos interesting! We'll take up part 4 together tomorrow - no homework tonight!

Block D: No time to read our first story in class today - we'll take it up together tomorrow. No homework tonight!

Follow us to Friday!

Block A: If you didn't hand in your Coat of Arms in class today - it is your homework for Tuesday.

Block B: The good copy of your Bio Poem is due on Tuesday. Please hand in: the good copy, rough draft, planning page and purple criteria.

Block D: The good copy of your Where I'm From poem is due on Tuesday. Please hand in: the good copy, rough draft and blue criteria sheet.

Think about your Thursday:

Block A: We will have one more class to work on the Coat of Arms - final copy is due at the end of block tomorrow.

Block B: Homework tonight is the rough draft of your Bio Poem. You will have time for peer editing and work on the good copy in class tomorrow! Good copy with planning sheet, rough draft and criteria are due on Tuesday.

Block D: Homework tonight is the rough draft of your Where I'm From Poem. You will have time for peer editing and work on the good copy in class tomorrow! Good copy, rough draft and criteria are due on Tuesday.

Wonderful Wednesday!

Block A: Food for thought today - some interesting insights into your learning profiles! It is not perfect - but it is something to consider. We then started to delve deeper into this whole idea of identity - and what identity means. We are going to keep working on your webs for the start of your Coat of Arms assignment in class tomorrow. No homework tonight!

Block B: If you haven't handed in your pink letter - please hand that in ASAP!!! There is no homework tonight, there will be time in class tomorrow to work on your brainstorming boxes and planning sheet for your "Bio Poem" assignment. The rough draft of your poem is due on Friday for peer feedback and the good copy is due on Tuesday.

Block D: If you haven't handed in your green letter - please hand that in ASAP!!! There is no homework tonight, there will be time in class tomorrow to work on your template or ideas for the "Where I'm From" poem assignment. The rough draft of your poem is due on Friday for peer feedback and the good copy is due on Tuesday.

Talk about Tuesday:

Block A: Great work on the two community building challenges today! Your towers and cup stacking efforts were impressive!!! Please get your yellow letters in as soon as possible.

Blocks B & D: Today we went to the library and chose silent reading novels. Please make sure you are bringing your novel to class each day as we will start the class with silent reading. Your homework tonight is to complete the letter to me in which you introduce yourself and let me know a little bit about you as a learner. Here are the instructions from the overhead:

Part A: Explain to me a little bit about you. What kinds of things do you like doing outside of school? Do you belong to clubs or sports teams? Anything that will help to give me better picture of who you are.

Part B: What do you expect to get out of my class? What makes a good teacher? What expectations do you have of me as your teacher?

Part C: Tell me about the kind of student you are. Do you hate to be called on in front of class? Do you sometimes need extra help? Do you need help keeping your work organized? Extra reminders about homework and due dates?

Part D: Think seriously about who would be a good person for you to sit near in order to benefit your learning. I'll take your reasons into consideration when I make my seating plan tonight. You must provide a good reason - s'he's my bff is not a good reason! You may also tell me who you think you might need some space from - with a good reason. For example, I am easily distracted by ............. and I want to do better academically this semester. I'm not making any promises - but I'll do the best I can.

Finally, in your letter feel free to include anything else you think might be helpful for me to know about you.

Master Your Monday!

Block A: Thanks for playing along with our "Would You Rather" Game today! Please have your yellow parent/guardian letter signed and returned by Friday.

Block B: Thanks for the name tags - you will have a new seat tomorrow! Homework tonight - please have your pink parent/guardian letter signed and returned by Friday, and your 21 Questions Survey needs to be done for tomorrow.

Block D: Your names tags look great - find your name tomorrow to have your seating arrangement for the day! Homework tonight is to have your green parent/guardian letter signed and returned by Friday, and your 21 Questions Survey needs to be done for tomorrow.

Fortunately Friday!

Well, this is it! The end of another semester. Thank you all for your energy, enthusiasm and willingness to work hard. You've made this a great semester for all of us.

English 12: Good luck on the Provincial on Monday. You've worked hard for this and deserve to do well. Review the yellow hand out and try to manage your time well.

English 11: You've been an absolute treat. Thank you for saying yes - to all of my crazy ideas. I'll never forget our first Poetry Slam Competition. It was a career highlight for sure.

English 8: I wish you all the best as you continue your grade 8 journey next semester. Make sure you keep up all the wonderful study skills we've learned together to use in your other classes.

If any of you find yourselves in the 500 wing - come on by to say hi!!!

Thoughts on Thursday:

Block A: There will be a little more time in class tomorrow to finish your Part D: Original Composition. We'll mark in class and look at some student examples.

Block B: Macbeth test tomorrow - make sure you are ready! I'll be collecting your copies of the play as well.

Block D: Poetry presentations start first thing - make sure you have your speaking parts and poster finished!

Walk Away Wednesday:

Block A: Practice Provincials continue! We've had our second attempt at synthesis essay writing in class today. We'll mark the multiple choice and the synthesis tomorrow.

Block B: This is it! Tomorrow is showtime!!! We'll start right away, so make sure you are ready to perform!!!

Block D: You are now in your groups for your poetry presentations. You have your individual role as well. Hopefully in class you decided on what homework each member needs to complete in order to be ready for class tomorrow. We present our poems on Friday.

Talking About Tuesday:

Block A: We'll mark the multiple-choice and the synthesis essay together in class tomorrow.

Block B: I'll be collecting the figurative language worksheet first thing tomorrow. You will have the full class to work on and rehearse your translated scene from Macbeth - looking forward to performances on Thursday!!!

Block D: For tomorrow you should have 3 poems and one song each written on their own piece of paper. On each poem and song you need to highlight and label the poetic and figurative language the author uses. In addition, you need to be able to talk about imagery, tone, and mood. I'll assign your groups tomorrow.

Mega-Monday!

Block A: Thanks for returning your copies of the play - the English 12 content stuff is all done now - it is just on to the Provincial Exam. Today we talked about the structure of the exam and all of the various skills that you will be assessed on. Remember this is a skills based exam. You have the skills - we've been practicing them all semester. The challenge is going to be time management, and handling what ever the texts and writing prompts are going to be. Remember the qualities of good literary analysis writing. You need to be clear, concise and intentional in your understanding. Come and talk to me if you want to review any part of the exam together.

Block B: We're done the play!!! For homework tonight, please complete the Act 5 review sheet, using quotes where necessary. I'll collect these tomorrow. Please be advised that the Finding Figurative language worksheet will be due on Wednesday.

Block D: Great work on the quiz today! Good copies of your current events poem are due tomorrow. Good copy is typed or in pen, with a rough draft and the green criteria attached at the back.

Fancy Friday!

Block A: Phew! The test is done. I'll collect your plays on Monday, when we will start exclusive prep for the Provincial Exam!!!

Block B: Today in class we read Act 4 of the play. Homework tonight is to finish the Act 4 worksheet - dealing with the apparitions that Macbeth saw during his visit to see the 3 witches.

Block D: Put your current events poem to the side for now - the good copy is not due until Tuesday. For the weekend, finish the study sheet of jumbled literary terms for Monday in preparation for the ELO 4 poetry terms quiz.

Thoughtfully Thursday:

Block A: Study for The Tempest test tomorrow! We've been working with play for awhile. I think you'll all be fine!

Block B: No homework tonight :)

Block D: Lots of hard work today on your current events poems - I'll give you time in class to continue working on the rough draft - no homework tonight :)

Wonderful Wednesday!

Block A: Translated Tempest performances are tomorrow!!! Sharpen those accents people!

Block B: We are so close to being finished Act 3 - just one more scene tomorrow. No homework tonight!

Block D: Homework tonight is to visit http://www.cbc.ca and choose a news article that interests you. Once you've chosen the article, print it off and bring it to class tomorrow. Make sure you check how many pages you are printing! Choose a printer friendly version if you can.

Tell me about Tuesday:

Block A: Just a reminder that your poems for The Tempest are due tomorrow. Make sure you have a good copy (labeled with devices) a rough draft and your pink criteria sheet. You will have a work block tomorrow to write and rehearse your translated lines as well. We perform on Thursday!

Block B: If you didn't hand in your headlines from Act 2 - please do so tomorrow - other than that - no homework tonight!

Block D: Hope you had a great time during Social Responsibility Day today - see you all tomorrow!

Monday Musings:

Block A: The Tempest poem assignment is due on Wednesday. Make sure your good copy is clearly labeled with the 5 poetic devices you used.

Block B: If you do not have at least 3 quotes with explanation on each side of the To Kill A King T-chart that is your only homework tonight!

Block D: We'll continue poetry on Wednesday - learn lots at social responsibility today tomorrow!

Thoughtfully Thursday:

Block A: If you did not finish your figurative language handout - please do so for tomorrow. In class today, we read to the end of Act 4. According to Prospero, all will be resolved soon as his enemies are right where he wants them. Here are the discussion questions for Act 4, please hand them in tomorrow.

1. Based on Act 4, scene 1, how old would you guess Ferdinand to be? We know that Miranda is 15 years old. Based on this, do you think Prospero is acting justly when he lectures them on chastity?

2. With a partner, discuss and write your response. "We are such stuff / As dreams are made on," says Prospero in Act 4 scene1. What does he mean? What is he referring to? Is this soliloquy consistent with Prospero's character thus far?

3. Do you think that Prospero will take revenge on the men who wronged him? Why or why not?

4. What does Caliban begin to realize about Stephano at the end of Act 4? What did Caliban think of Stephano earlier in the play?

5. The beginning of this act, along with parts of the masque, concerns two of the plays key themes: the importance of self-control and the conflict between reason and passion. In what ways has Prospero himself not always shown the complete self-control her praises? How might one achieve a balance between self-control and passion?

Block B: Hopefully you are all looking forward to getting started with our play tomorrow! Tonight, for homework, make sure you have the definitions completed for the dramatic terminology on the bottom of the pink handout. There will be a homework check on these tomorrow.

Block D: You guys were AMAZING today!!! I know you were feeling nervous about this in-class writing assignment. But from what I saw on your outlines - you've got this!!! There is NO homework tonight as this is an in-class writing assignment. However, by the end of the block tomorrow, you will have completed and handed in:
1. A double-spaced good copy (in pen)
2. A blue self-reflection
3. A double-spaced rough draft
4. Your point form outline/graphic organizer
5. Green criteria sheet.

Take Away Tuesday!

Block A: The Unraveling a Quote assignment is due tomorrow - make sure it is typed or in pen please!

Block B: Your last day of essay writing is tomorrow! You may have extra time at lunch if you need it.

Block D: We'll continue watching the movie tomorrow - no homework tonight :)

Make it your Monday!

Block A: Thank you so much for handing in your novel studies! In class today, we read Act 3 - and are no closer to solving any of the convoluted plots taking place in this play! I then assigned the Unravelling a Quote assignment. You chose your quote and started working on the annotation or unravelling of the quote. All of your judgements and investigations will lead to a 250-300 word conclusion about the significance and overall meaning of the quote. This is due on Wednesday - don't forget a creative title!

Block B: We started planning our novel study literary analysis essays in class today. Hopefully you had enough time to get a general plan together for your essay, if not you have two full classes and lunch time on Wednesday to write - so if you need to sketch out a rough outline at the beginning of class tomorrow you may want to do that.

Block D: Well, we're all finished the novel! I hope you enjoyed the reading of it! Due tomorrow:
1. All of your text-codes from chapters 1-12
2. Character wanted posters - filled with quotes and examples of the personalities of all characters
3. Conflicts and characterization chart. Be creative with your types of conflict. Think about technology as in man-mad (cars etc). For the chart on the back - it is best if you fill out the whole thing, but if you need to leave 1 square blank per line I'll still accept it!