Wednesday 11/25/14 half day!

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Block G: 

Finish reading and annotating Gatsby over the weekend! 

Tuesday 11/25/14: Homework

Block B:
1. Read and annotate "How to Tell a True War Story" for Monday.
2. Read your independent reading book too!

Block C:
Finish reading and annotating The Great Gatsby (chapters 8 and 9) for Monday. Keep track of your character's behavioral/emotional state as the novel concludes--you will record your observations on your chart when we return!

Block D:
Your presentations ROCKED today! Excellent work! We will resume the debate/discussion portion of our work when we return from the break.

A special thanks to Amanda Cavicchi for taking the time to visit our class today!

For homework this weekend, please read and annotate the article by Arthur Biddle, and then follow the directions on the handout to write a precis of the article. Bring both the article and the precis for class when we return.


Block E:
Over the break, please read the first half of the next story in O'Brien's collection titled "The Sweetheart of the Song Tra-Bong." Stop at the stop sign  on the bottom of the page and follow the directions that ask you to create an illustration of the story up to that point. Bring your annotations, questions, and illustration to class with you on Monday.

Lastly, happy Thanksgiving to you! I will see you after the break!  

Monday 11/24/14: homework

Block D:

1. Prep notes for debate tomorrow. 

2. Study vocabulary

Block E:

1. Read and annotate "How to Tell a True War Story."

Block G:

1. Finish reading and annotating Chapter 7 in Gatsby. 

Friday 11/21/14: Homework

Block G: 

1. Read and annotate Ch. 7 in Gatsby up to the bottom of page 144. 

2. Study for the vocab quiz on Monday. 

Block B:

1. Study for the vocab quiz on Monday. 

2. Write a 1 page reflection on today's discussion in your journal. 

Block C: 

1. Finish reading and annotating Chapter 7 in Gatsby. 

2. Sort through your annotations thus far for good material for your character graphs. Bring your notes and ideas to class. 

Thursday 11/20/14

Block B:
1. For the group that worked together next door this morning, please read and annotate "Beginnings" and consider the guiding question: Which version of the story is more effective?
2. For the group that worked with Mr. Lawton today, please finish the story "On the Rainy River" and complete your story organizer.
3. For the remaining students, please work at your pace on the individual assignments that I gave you before the block ended.

Everyone should study their vocabulary words!

Block C:

1. Read and annotate Chapter 7 to the bottom of page 144. 
2. Study for your vocabulary quiz on Friday

Block D:

1. Continue to gather evidence for your debate project.
2. Study for your vocabulary quiz next week.

Block E:

1. Finish reading and annotating "Beginning."
2.  Respond to this guiding question in a thoughtful and well supported paragraph: Which version of the story is more effective? Why? 

Wednesday 11/19/14: Homework

Block C Honors English 11:

1. Read and annotate Chapter 7 in Gatsby from pages 120 to the bottom of page 128.  Be on the look out for the tension that will develop in this chapter.
2. Study your vocabulary words!

Block D Honors English 12:

Excellent discussion today, folks! I'm so impressed by your insight and connections!
Tonight, study your new vocabulary words. We will begin our group project tomorrow.

Block E Academic English 11:

1. Read and annotate the first part of "On the Rainy River" (stop at the * on page 5)
2. Continue to develop your story organizers as you read.
3. Study for your vocabulary quiz on Monday.

Block G Honors English 11:
1. Read and annotate Chapter 7 in Gatsby from pages 120 to the bottom of page 128. Be on the look out for the tension that will develop in this chapter.
2. Study your vocabulary words!

Tuesday 11/18/14: Homework

Block E:
1. Study your vocabulary words for this Thursday's quiz. Make flashcards!
2. Re-do your story maps on "Spin" for tomorrow, being sure to follow all of the directions!!

Block G:
1. Read and annotate Chapter 6 in Gatsby. Be prepared for a quiz on Chapters 1-6 tomorrow.
2. Study your new vocabulary words for next week's quiz.

Block B:
1. Read and annotate "On the Rainy River" and complete a blue story map for class on Thursday.
2. Study your vocabulary words for Friday's quiz.

MTV "Cribs" and Gatsby! Find the Connections!

Check out the similarities between this episode of "Cribs" and Chapter 5 in Gatsby:

MTV "Cribs" NBA edition

Monday 11/17/14: Homework

Block G:

1. Read and annotate Chapter 6 in Gatsby for Wednesday. You can expect a reading quiz on Chapters 1-6 on Wednesday as well, so be sure to read carefully and review the annotations that you've made thus far in the novel. You will be expected to identify significant passages in the novel, as well as explain why they are important.
2. Study your vocabulary words!

Block B:

1. Many of you did not complete the blue story organizer for the story "Spin." Follow the directions and get it done tonight! 
2. Write a sentence for each of your vocabulary words this week on your yellow sheet. Keep in mind what we reviewed today in class. 

Block C:

1. Read and annotate Chapter 6 in Gatsby for Wednesday. You can expect a reading quiz on Chapters 1-6 on Wednesday as well, so be sure to read carefully and review the annotations that you've made thus far in the novel. You will be expected to identify significant passages in the novel, as well as explain why they are important.
2. Study your vocabulary words!

Block D:

1. Read and annotate through Chapter 33 in "The Body" for Wednesday.

Friday 11.14.14: Homework

Block B:

Go see the play this weekend! Support the arts
in our community!

1. Complete the blue story map for "Spin." Use a method that captures the required elements, as well as your understanding of the story. You will be sharing your maps with the class, so be sure that they are neat and legible. 
2. Study your vocabulary words for next week's quiz.

Block C:

1. Finish reading and annotating Chapter 5 in Gatsby.
2. Complete the "Scavenger Hunt" using details from the chapter.
3. Study your vocabulary words for next week's quiz

Block D:

1. Read and annotate Chapters 27 and 28 in "The Body" for Monday.

Block E:

1. Complete the blue story map for "Spin." Use a method that captures the required elements, as well as your understanding of the story. You will be sharing your maps with the class, so be sure that they are neat and legible. 
2. Study your vocabulary words for next week's quiz.

Homework for Thursday 11.13.14

Honors English 12  Block D:

1. Working with the passage you and your partners examined in class today, write two analytical paragraphs that explain what your close reading yielded:

********************Capture the WHAT and the HOW*****************************

Start with:  In this passage, King uses ________________________(strategies)  to _________________(big idea/purpose).

Paragraph 1: Examine the language and NAME the strategies/writer moves/author's craft.
Paragraph 2: Explain how this passage helps us to understand the rest of the story.

**If you were taking the Accuplacer test during today's class block, you can make up this assignment over the weekend with a passage that I will give you in class tomorrow.

English 11 Block E:

1. Study your new vocabulary words for next week's quiz. Use vocabulary.com to help you!
2. Read and annotate "Spin" in The Things They Carried for tomorrow.

Honors English 11 Block G:

1. Finish reading and annotating Chapter 5 in Gatsby. Complete the "Scavenger Hunt" activity.
2. Study your new vocabulary words for next week's quiz.

Wednesday 11/12/14: Homework

Honors English 11 

Block G and C:
1. Read and annotate the most awesomely awkward chapter in American literature--Chapter 5 in The Great Gastby. In this chapter you will witness the long-anticipated reunion of Gastby and Daisy (Nick is a most unfortunate third-wheel). Pay attention to the small details in setting, as well as the dialogue. Read and annotate to midway on page 96 (stop when Gastby says "Absolutely, old sport").

Academic English 11

Block B:
1. Write a SPA paragraph response using the notes on the handout we started in class.
2. Read and annotate "Spin" in The Things They Carried story collection.

Friday 11/7/14

Block B:

• Use the green half sheet of instructions to write a thoughtful, well-supported response to the film Big Fish. You should TYPE three solid paragraphs and save your response to your Google drive. Print it out before you arrive to class on Wednesday.

Block C:

• Write an analytical response that explores how Fitzgerald develops the character of Gatsby through figurative language. Follow the steps on the hand-out we looked at in class. Be sure to save your response to your Google drive, and print out a copy to bring to class on Wednesday.

Block D:

• Read and annotate Chapters 20-26 in "The Body" for Thursday. 

Block E:

• Use the green half sheet of instructions to write a thoughtful, well-supported response to the film Big Fish. You should TYPE three solid paragraphs and save your response to your Google drive. Print it out before you arrive to class on Thursday.

Thursday 11.6.14

Block C:

• Study for your vocabulary quiz tomorrow!
• Read your independent reading book

Block D:

• Read and mark up the close reading passage that I gave you in class today from Chapter 19 (page 391 starting with "Chris threw me a despairing glance...). 

Consider the following questions as you examine the language closely:
1. How does this language conjure up a variety of ideas that have been established earlier in the text, and in the ideas your presented today in class?
2. What does Gordie's dream reveal?


Block E:

• Study for your vocabulary quiz tomorrow!
• Read your independent reading book

Block G:

• Finish reading and annotating Chapter 4--answer the questions on the Reading Road Map sheet.
• Write an analytical response on Gatsby's characterization. Follow the steps on the handout I gave you in class. Type your response and bring it to class on Wednesday!
• Study for your vocabulary quiz on Wednesday

Homework Wednesday 11.5.14

Block E:

• Study your vocabulary words for the quiz on Friday
• Organize your ideas and reactions for the reading response on Big Fish that you will write and bring to class on Friday.

Block G:

• Read and annotate Chapter 4--stop at the break we marked on page 80. Be on the look out for the aspects of Gatsby's story that seem problematic or suspicious. 
• Study your vocabulary words for the quiz on Wednesday of next week!

Block B:

• Write a reading response (use the green recipe card!) on the film Big Fish for Friday. 
• Study your vocabulary words for the quiz on Friday as well!

Tuesday 11.4.14

Block G:

• Read and annotate Chapter 3, keeping in mind the items I told you to look out for! 
• Study your vocabulary words

Block B:

• Study your vocabulary words for this week's quiz.
• Read your independent reading book too

Block C:

• Complete the hand-out on Chapter 1-4: "The pursued, the pursuing, the busy, and the tired."
• Finish reading and annotating Chapter 4 in Gatsby.
• Study your vocabulary words too!

Block D:

• Write a solid analytical paragraph on a topic from today's group quiz activity. Be sure to use the evidence in the text as your support. I should see quotes!
• Read and annotate Chapters 17-19 for Thursday as well.
• Study your vocabulary words

Monday 11.3.14: Homework

Block B:

Study your new vocabulary words for this week. Make flash cards and write practice sentences. 

Block C:

Read and annotateCh 4 in Gatsby up to page 80 (stop when the flashback begins). 

Answer the questions I gave you as you read. 

Block D:

Read and annotate Chapters 15 and 16 in "The Body" keeping in mind the focus question I gave you regarding the purpose of the inter text. 

Block E: 

Study your new vocabulary words for this week. Make flash cards and write practice sentences.