Work our Way Through Wednesday!

Block B: Today we continued to work on our identity webs. Make sure that each point in your web matches the criteria set forth on the "If you Really Knew Me" handout. There will be some time in class tomorrow to continue working on your web or coat of arms if you are at that stage.

Block C: A lot of great work today on the story of your name! I am looking forward to reading these over the weekend. For tomorrow - you will have time in class to edit or continue drafting or to work on visual component to the project - the decorations if you will. Final product with the rough draft and criteria are due on Friday.

Block D: When inspiration hits - go with it! A lot of great ideas for your metaphors today in class! Tomorrow you will have time to complete the draft get some feedback from an editor and work on the accompanying visual design. The good copy, rough draft and criteria are due on Friday.

Totally Tuesday!

Block B: Would you rather... just kidding! But it was a great way to start the class! We've started to talk IDENTITY. What does your identity say about you? We got started on the Identity web in class today - but it is not homework - there will be time at the beginning of class to work on it tomorrow. If you didn't hand in your salmon coloured letter - please do so tomorrow.

Block C: What's in a name? That is what you are going to tell me. What is the story of your name? Ask some questions at home tonight to see if you can add on to what you already know. We will continue working on this tomorrow - the good copy with the visual is due on Friday. If you didn't get a chance to get your yellow letter signed - then you can do that while asking about your name! Multitasking!!!

Block D: What is your metaphor? What object represents you? This is the challenge of your first writing assignment. Write an extended metaphor that reveals who you are in the description of your metaphor. Paragraph and visual due on Friday. Any green letters not signed need to get in ASAP!

Marvelous Way to Start Second Semester Monday!

Block B: I can feel the community taking form and starting to build! Great job today on the two difficult group tasks. If you did not finish the reflection on the cup stacking activity please do so for homework tonight. Also you need to return your salmon coloured sheet by Thursday - sooner is better!!!

Block C: Love your keen attitude in class today - you did a great job sharing and learning about each other in your people search today. Thank you for your letters - I look forward to reading them tonight. Please return your yellow letters as soon as possible. Latest on Friday.

Block D: A lot of interesting ideas and connections made during the people search today. Glad there was so much mixing and mingling! Thanks for the letters - I'm going to read them tonight - to learn more about you all. Please bring your green letters back to class as soon as possible - Friday by the latest!

Here is the letter criteria off the overhead if you didn't finish in class:

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 a 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.

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

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!