Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Tuesday, January 28

It's freezing outside.

AP Language and Composition
In class today, we continued a discussion started last week about media responsibility and the perception they force upon the uninformed viewers of the news.

Homework:  Students need to read Part II of Columbine by Monday, February 3.

Pre-AP English 9 (1st)
Students took their first Romeo and Juliet test in class today.

Homework: Students need to read Act II of Romeo and Juliet by tomorrow. They should also go ahead and obtain their copy of The Glass Menagerie, by Tennessee Williams.  They will need it by February 10.

Pre-AP English 9 (5th)
We focused on annotation in class today, annotating Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech.  We also started annotating "The Scarlet Ibis."

Homework:  Students need to finish reading To Kill a Mockingbird by Monday, February 3.  They should also obtain their copy of A Separate Peace, by John Knowles, by February 7 and Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, by February 14.

Monday, January 27, 2014

Monday, January 27

AP Language and Composition
Students took a reading quiz on Columbine in class today.

Pre-AP English 9 (1st)
After studying through Act I of Romeo and Juliet, students performed their own adaptations of the famous "Balcony Scene" from Act II of the play.

Homework:  Students need to review Act I of Romeo and Juliet and the Shakespeare PowerPoint notes (they can be downloaded from last Tuesday's blog post) for the test that will be given tomorrow.

Pre-AP English 9 (5th)
Students took the second To Kill a Mockingbird test in class today.

Homework:  Students need to read the remainder of the book (chapter 22-31) by Monday, February  3.

AP Language and Composition Current Events Blog for Week of January 27

Read the following article:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_FOOD_STAMPS_INCOME_INEQUALITY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-01-26-10-54-18

Answer the following article:

1. According to the article, what demographic group has the fastest growing dependency on the food stamp program?
2. How much more does the government spend on food stamps than it did five years ago?
3. Why does the article call the food stamp program a "safety net"?
4. How long has the Congressional Budget Office estimated that it will take before there is a reduction in the number of participants in the program due to a decrease in unemployment?
5. Based on first or second-hand experience, do you agree with Eric Cantor, who says that the anti-poverty program promotes dependency and abuse?

Ninth Grade Current Events Blog for Week of January 27

Read the following article:

http://news.yahoo.com/nsa-serves-economic-interests-snowden-interview-220424512.html

Answer the following questions:
1. Who is Edward Snowden?
2. Why does he live in Russia now?
3. Who now has the leaked documents that Snowden was carrying with him?
4. Is Snowden a hero or a criminal?  Why?

Friday, January 24, 2014

Friday, January 24

AP Language and Composition
Students took a multiple choice practice exam in class today.

Homework:  Students need to read Part I of Columbine by Monday, January 27.

Pre-AP English 9 (1st)
Students recited the first twelve lines of The Canterbury Tales prologue in class today.  They also "translated" the "Balcony Scene" into modern-day vernacular.

Homework:  Students need to read Act I of Romeo and Juliet by Monday, January 27.

Pre-AP English 9 (5th)
Students finished presenting their research in class today.  Then, we finished analyzing and annotating Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech.

Homework:  Students need to read chapters 11-21 of To Kill a Mockingbird by Monday, January 27.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Thursday, January 23

AP Language and Composition
We discussed the implications of photography taken out of context today, reading several articles from Boston Magazine and The New Yorker, as well as primary source material that relates to our subject matter.

Homework:  Students need to read Part I of Columbine by Monday, January 27.

Pre-AP English 9 (1st)
We finished discussing the life and times of Shakespeare in class today.

Homework:  Students need to memorize the first twelve lines of The Canterbury Tales in Middle English by tomorrow.

Pre-AP English 9 (5th)
Students continued presenting their research in class today.

Homework: Students need to read chapters 11-21 in To Kill a Mockingbird by Monday, January 27.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Wednesday, January 22

AP Language and Composition
In class today we continued talking about the stigmas and preconceptions that surround domestic violence in preparation for our reading of Columbine.

Homework:  Students need to read Part I of Columbine (pages 1-98 for students with a hard copy) by Monday, January 27.

Pre-AP English 9 (1st)
We continued to discuss the life and times of Williams Shakespeare and the evolution of the English language in class today. A copy of the Shakespeare PPT can be downloaded from yesterday's blog post.

Homework:  Students must memorize the first twelve lines of Canterbury Tales in Middle English by Friday, January 24.  A link to a YouTube video containing the pronunciation can be found by clicking here.  Students need to bring their copy of Romeo and Juliet to class every day, starting tomorrow.

Pre-AP English 9 (5th)
Students took their first To Kill a Mockingbird test in class today.  We also began our research presentations.

Homework:  Students need to read chapters 11-21 in To Kill a Mockingbird by Monday, January 27.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Monday, January 21

AP Language and Composition
We began talking about Columbine, the book and the event, in class today.

Homework:  Students need to have their copies of Columbine in class with them tomorrow.

Pre-AP English 9 (1st)
We began our study of Shakespeare in class today.

For a copy of the Shakespeare PowerPoint, click here.

Homework:  Students must memorize the first twelve lines of The Canterbury Tales in Middle English.  They will recite this to me on Friday, January 24.

Pre-AP English 9 (5th)
We began discussing and reading To Kill a Mockingbird in class today.

Homework:  Students need to finish reading chapters 1-10 of To Kill a Mockingbird by tomorrow, when their first TKAM test will be given.  They will also begin their presentations tomorrow.

Sunday, January 19, 2014

AP Language and Composition Current Events Blog for Week of January 20

Read through the following article:

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/terror-surprise-sochi-olympics-purported-suicide-bombers-threat/story?id=21589469

Answer the following questions:

1. In what city will the 2014 Winter Olympics be held?
2. What role is the US playing in trying to make sure the Olympics will be safe?
3. How much access is the US getting to the Olympic security effort?  How much access SHOULD they get?
4. Considering the threat, what actions should the Russian and international tourists coming to the Olympics take, if any?  In other words, with the imminent threat of a terror attack, should the participants and spectators continue their plans as normal, or should they cancel the entire event (and give in to the terrorists' demands)?

Ninth Grade Current Events Blog for Week of Week of January 20

Read through page 1 of the following article:

http://www.alternet.org/drugs/americas-number-one-prescription-sleep-aid-could-trigger-zombies-murder-and-other-disturbing?ak_proof=1&akid=.1121926.wDJK8-&rd=1&src=newsletter948677&t=11

After reading the article, answer the following questions (MAKE SURE TO PUT YOUR NAME IN YOUR RESPONSE):

1. Who is Robert Stewart?
2. What class of medication is Ambien?
3. Who is Patrick Kennedy?
4. The article claims that, "In addition to giving consumers extra information so they could take the medication more carefully, the warning labels also gave legitimacy to the Ambien (or Zombie) defense."  PARAPHRASE this statement in your own words.
5. If someone commits a crime while under the influence of this medicine, ultimately, who is responsible for the crime?

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Thursday, January 16

AP Language and Composition
We finished our study of fast-food conglomerates in class today.  Afterward, we read a letter from Oscar Wilde and completed a quick activity with it.

Homework:  Students need to procure their copies of Columbine by Dave Cullen by Wednesday, January 22.  They also need to study for their Word of the Day quiz, which will be given tomorrow.

Pre-AP English 9 (1st)
We continued our research projects in class today.

Homework:  Students need to procure their copies of Romeo and Juliet by tomorrow.  They also need to study for their Word of the Day quiz, which will also be given tomorrow.  Finally, they need to finish their abstracts and annotated bibliographies by Tuesday, January 21.

Pre-AP English 9 (5th)
We studied through the parts of speech and annotated Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech in class today.

Homework:  Students need to finish reading chapters 1-10 of To Kill a Mockingbird by Tuesday, January 21, when they will take a quiz on these chapters.  They also need to study for their Word of the Day quiz, which will be given tomorrow.  Finally, they need to finish their research projects by Wednesday, January 22, when we will begin presenting them.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Wednesday, January 15

AP Language and Composition
Today, we continued our study of the modern, American fast-food conglomerates.

Homework:  Students need to obtain their copies of Columbine by Wednesday, January 22.  Students also need to study for their Word of the Day quiz, which will be given on Friday, January 17.

Pre-AP English 9 (1st)
We debated in class today over themes related to Romeo and Juliet.

Homework:  Students need to have their copy of Romeo and Juliet by Friday, January 17.  Students also need to study for their Word of the Day quiz, which will be given on Friday, January 17.

Pre-AP English 9 (5th)
We continued our research in the library today.

Homework:  Students need to finish reading chapters 1-10 in To Kill a Mockingbird by Tuesday, January 21.  Students also need to study for their Word of the Day quiz, which will be given on Friday, January 17.  Finally, students need to be ready to present their research findings by Wednesday, January 22.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Tuesday, January 14

AP Language and Composition
Students practiced identifying rhetorical devices in class today, before continuing our discussion of the modern fast-food conglomerations in America.

Homework: Students need to obtain their copies of Columbine by Wednesday, January 22.

Pre-AP English (1st)
Students continued their research in the library today.

Homework:  Students need to have their copies of Romeo and Juliet by Friday, January 17.

Pre-AP English (5th)
Students continued their research in the library today.

Homework:  Students need to read chapters 1-10 in To Kill a Mockingbird by Tuesday, January 21.

Monday, January 13, 2014

Monday, January 13

AP Language and Composition
Students wrote their nine weeks novel essay in class today.

Homework:  Students need to obtain their copy of Columbine by Wednesday, January 22.


Pre-AP English 9 (1st)
Students began research in the library today.

Homework: Students need to obtain their copy of Romeo and Juliet by Friday, January 17.

Pre-AP English 9 (5th)
Students began research in the library today.

Homework:  Students need to read chapters 1-10 in To Kill a Mockingbird by Tuesday, January 21.

Saturday, January 11, 2014

AP Language Current Events Blog for Week of January 13

Read the following news article:


In at least a paragraph, make a case, citing whether or not Target is responsible for the data breach that has affected so many of its customers. According to what the article says Target is doing for its customers, are they doing enough to compensate their customers for their trouble?

Ninth Grade Current Events Blog for Week of January 13

Read the following news article about the effects of TV on the development of the brain:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2537240/Children-watch-TV-damaged-brain-structures.html

After reading the article, answer the following questions:

1. What part of the brain does viewing too much TV most affect?
2. Besides the TV viewing, what other factors that are mentioned may directly or indirectly affect brain development?
3. How much TV did you watch as a child?  Do you believe that it has affected you in any way?  How about your friends or siblings?

Friday, January 10, 2014

Friday, January 10

AP
Students reviewed for the mock exam in class today.

Don't forget that the mock exam is THIS Saturday (January 11).  You must be at the school no later than 7:45 am and be picked up no later than noon.  Bring #2 pencils, black ink pens, a jacket or sweater, and a snack or money for a snack.

Also, AP students need to go ahead and get their copy of Columbine by Dave Cullen.  They should have it no later than Wednesday, January 22.

Finally, your nine weeks novel essay will be on Monday, January 13.  MAKE SURE to BRING you novel with you to class that day.


Pre-AP English 9 (1st)
Students wrote their Nine Weeks Novel Essay in class today.

Finally, you need to obtain your copy of Romeo and Juliet  by Friday, January 17.

Homework:  Finish the Romeo and Juliet debate sheet.

Pre-AP English (5th)
In today's class, students began their character journals.  Afterward, we began our debate about issues that are raised in To Kill a Mockingbird.

Make sure to have your syllabus page and your plagiarism contract signed by your parents.  Also, make sure it is returned no later than Monday, January 13. 

Homework:  Students need to begin reading To Kill a Mockingbird.  The first ten chapters need to be read by Monday, January 20.

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Thursday, January 9

AP
Students took their Fast Food Nation test in class today.

Don't forget that the mock exam is THIS Saturday (January 11).  You must be at the school no later than 7:45 am and be picked up no later than noon.  Bring #2 pencils, black ink pens, a jacket or sweater, and a snack or money for a snack.

Also, AP students need to go ahead and get their copy of Columbine by Dave Cullen.  They should have it no later than Wednesday, January 22.

Finally, your nine weeks novel essay will be on Monday, January 13.  MAKE SURE to BRING you novel with you to class that day.


Pre-AP English 9 (1st)
Students took their Fablehaven test in class today.

Your nine week novel essay will be tomorrow (Friday, January 10).  You WILL be able to use your book on the essay, so make sure to bring it with you!

Finally, you need to obtain your copy of Romeo and Juliet  by Friday, January 17.



Homework:  Finish the Romeo and Juliet debate sheet tonight if you did not finish it in class today.

Pre-AP English (5th)
In today's class, students began their character journals.  Afterward, we began our debate about issues that are raised in To Kill a Mockingbird.

Make sure to have your syllabus page and your plagiarism contract signed by your parents.  Also, make sure it is returned no later than Monday, January 13. 

Homework:  Students need to begin reading To Kill a Mockingbird.  The first ten chapters need to be read by Monday, January 20.

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Wednesday, January 8

Welcome to the second half of our year!  (Or for 5th period, welcome to the class for the first time.  All the bad things you've heard about it are true!)

I hope that everyone had a great Christmas Break.  There are a few announcements that each class needs to know.

AP
Don't forget that the mock exam is THIS Saturday (January 11).  You must be at the school no later than 7:45 am and be picked up no later than noon.  Bring #2 pencils, black ink pens, a jacket or sweater, and a snack or money for a snack.

Also, AP students need to go ahead and get their copy of Columbine by Dave Cullen.  They should have it no later than Wednesday, January 22.

Finally, your quiz on Fast Food Nation will be tomorrow (January 9), and you WILL be able to use your book on the quiz, so make sure to bring it with you!

Pre-AP English 9 (1st)
Your test on Fablehaven will be tomorrow (January 9) and you CAN use your novel on the test, so make sure to bring it with you!

In the same regard, your nine week novel essay will be on Friday, January 10.  You WILL be able to use your book on the quiz, so make sure to bring it with you!

Finally, you need to obtain your copy of Romeo and Juliet  by Friday, January 17.

Pre-AP English (5th)
Welcome to class.  I'm glad you're here!

Make sure to have your syllabus page and your plagiarism contract signed by your parents.  Also, make sure it is returned no later than Monday, January 13.