Thursday 4/30/15: Homework

Block G:
Using your schema, complete the KWL chart we made on the Vietnam war.

Block B:
1. Read and annotate the article "A Whole Heap of Ashes" for Monday. As you read, try to determine the author's central argument. What is he trying to say about the novel as a whole? What is Foster's position?

Block C:
Write your own version of "The Things I Carry" using the model essay I gave you in class. Type your response in a Google document, print it out, and bring it to class on Tuesday.

Wednesday 4/29/15: Homework

Block B:
Read your independent reading book. We will finish the film tomorrow.

Block C:
Write a one-page (typed) reflection on the film Big Fish, using the prompts below to guide your thinking:

1. What does the film teach us about storytelling? 

2. How do we use stories to make sense of our experiences? 

3. Do stories have to be "true" to tell "the truth."?

3. What resonated with you? Why?

Block D:
Your Juno/Frankenstein essays will be due on MONDAY! (If you are taking an AP exam, you may leave your essay in my mailbox in the main office.)

Bring your childhood photo to class on Friday. 

Block E:
Read and annotate "A Whole Heap of Ashes" for class on Friday.

Tuesday 4/28/15: homework

Block C:

We will finish Big Fish tomorrow. Bring your noes! 

Block D:

Prepare for tomorrow's essay writing workshop by bringing in your ideas, notes, and working thesis so that you can maximize your time during the Charette protocol. 

Block E:

We will finish watching Gatsby tomorrow. Bring your notes to class! 

Block G:

Write a one-page reflection on the film Big Fish.  Consider the following questions as you write your reflection:

1. What does the film teach us about storytelling? 

2. How do we use stories to make sense of our experiences? 

3. What resonated with you? 

Also, remember to study your vocabulary words for the quiz on Thursday. 

Monday 4/27: Homework

Block E:
Study for your vocab quiz!

Block G:
Study for your vocab quiz!

Block B:
Study for your vocab quiz!

Friday 4/17/15: Homework

Block G and C and B and E Juniors:
Study for your vocabulary quiz when we return.
Read your independent reading book!

Block D:
Begin to plan your essay on Juno/Frankenstein connections.
Work on pre-writing steps for your "Stranger in the Photo is Me" final essay.

Enjoy the break!

Thursday 4/16/15: Homework

Block B: 

Read your independent reading book. 

Block C: 

Bring your Strength books to be collected tomorrow. 

Study for the vocabulary quiz tomorrow. 

Block D:

Prepare for book club tomorrow. 

Block E:

Read your independent reading book. 

Wednesday 4/15/15: Homework

Block D:
1. You took your Frankenstein test today! Hooray! Tomorrow we will discuss the end of the novel and begin Juno. Bring your graphic organizer/reading agenda (it's bright green!)


Block E:
1. Study for your Gatsby test tomorrow! We talked about the type of questions you can expect to see tomorrow. See the slides from our discussion below. Review your notes, your annotations, and your "power" maps.

Block G:
1. You took your Strength in What Remains test today! Hooray! We will be starting a film on Friday. Study your vocabulary words tonight, and read your independent reading book!

Tuesday 4/14/15: Homework

Block G:
1. Study for your exam on Strength in What Remains tomorrow.
2. Bring your reading materials and notes to class to be turned in tomorrow as well.
3. Study vocabulary!

Block B:
1. Study for your exam on The Great Gatsby on Thursday! Below is an example of the close reading task that you will be asked to do on the exam:

Block C:
1. Study for your exam on Strength in What Remains on Thursday,  Below is an example of the close reading task that you will be asked to do on the exam.
2. Study for your vocabulary quiz on Friday.

Homework Monday 4/13/15

Block B:
1. Finish reading Gatsby Chapter 9.

Block C:
Study for the test on Strength tomorrow. Bring your notes and materials tomorrow as well.

Block D:
Finish reading and annotating Frankenstein for Wednesday. You will be doing some writing in class on the book as a whole.

Block E:
1. Finish Chapter 9 in Gatsby. 
2. Complete the Opinionnaire. Use at least one quote from the novel for each question.

Friday 4/10/15: Homework

Block C:
1. Begin to prepare for Tuesday's exam on The Strength in What Remains. Organize your notes and materials.
2. Study your vocabulary--the quiz will be on Thursday.

Block D:
1. Read and annotate Frankenstein through Chapter 23.
2. Study your new vocabulary words for the quiz on Monday!

Block E:
1. Finish your Motif cartoon that you started in class today. Remember, you should have 4 scenes and 4 quotations  that connect to a motif that you've observed in Chapter 8.

2. Study your vocabulary words

Block G:
1. Begin to prepare for Tuesday's exam on The Strength in What Remains. Organize your notes and materials.
2. Study your vocabulary--the quiz will be on Wednesday.

Thursday 4/9/15: Homework

Block E: 

• Finish reading and annotating The Great Gatsby!
• The Gatsby exam is on Thursday 4/16.
• Study your vocabulary words!

Block G:

• Gather notes and study for the exam on The Strength in What Remains on Tuesday 4/14.

Block B:

• Finish reading and annotating The Great Gatsby!
• The Gatsby exam is on Wednesday 4/15.
• Study your vocabulary words!

Wednesday 4/8/15: Homework

Block G:
1. Prepare your chapter notes and materials for next week's exam:

2. Respond to today's writing task, using your new vocabulary knowledge:

An excerpt from Strength in What Remains:

Anyone who has been far away from home has felt the oddness of its seeming at once very close and very far away. Home as he’d known it was right there in the light of dawn at the windows in Nancy and Charlie’s front room, in the thoughts that arose as he bent over the radio in the Black Hole late at night, listening for news of Burundi. But he was conscious—it felt like grief—of the great physical distance and the impossibility of actually being home (107).

Your task: Analyze the language of this excerpt from Chapter 8. What do we learn about Deo in this passage? Apply your understanding of the two vocabulary words we’ve just learned (VESTIGE and VISCERAL) in your response. 

Block B:


1. Read and annotate Chapter 8 in Gatsby for tomorrow. Keep in mind all that you've noticed about who has POWER, as the situation is going to fall apart in a BIG way!






Block C:
1. Prepare your chapter notes and materials for next week's exam:

2. Respond to today's writing task, using your new vocabulary knowledge:

An excerpt from Strength in What Remains:

Anyone who has been far away from home has felt the oddness of its seeming at once very close and very far away. Home as he’d known it was right there in the light of dawn at the windows in Nancy and Charlie’s front room, in the thoughts that arose as he bent over the radio in the Black Hole late at night, listening for news of Burundi. But he was conscious—it felt like grief—of the great physical distance and the impossibility of actually being home (107).

Your task: Analyze the language of this excerpt from Chapter 8. What do we learn about Deo in this passage? Apply your understanding of the two vocabulary words we’ve just learned (VESTIGE and VISCERAL) in your response. 

Block D:

1. Complete the reading assignment according to the bright green reading agenda that I gave you today!


Keep in mind that you have book club on Friday (4/10) as well!

Tuesday 4/7/15: Homework

Block B:
Today in class we started tracing the power shift in Chapter 7. Using the technique I modeled today in class, create your power chart, using the instruction listed on the slide below:

Block C:

Today in class we discussed the power of memory in Deo's story. Consider the following question, and write a well-supported response, due on Wednesday:

Block D:
Read Chapter 17 and answer the questions on the take-home quiz as you read. Consider the arguments of both Victor and the Creature as you read and weigh the decision.


Block E:
Today in class we started tracing the power shift in Chapter 7. Using the technique I modeled today in class, create your power chart, using the instruction listed on the slide below:

Monday 4/6/15: Homework

Block D:
1. Read Chapter 16 in Frankenstein. The Creature has a mighty big request for Victor. What should Victor do?
2. As Chapter 16 serves as the last chapter of the Creature's narrative, be sure to finish charting your impressions of his experience on your character chart.


Block E:
1. Today we took a quiz on Chapter 6 and 7 in Gatsby. Tomorrow we will be looking closer at who has power in Chapter 7. Tonight, reread the section of the chapter that takes place in the hotel room. Consider the dialogue and what it reveals about who has power in the scene. Where does the power shift? When? Why?


Block G:
1. Gather ALL of your notes for each of the chapters in the novel. I will  be collecting them as part of  your reading assessment.
2. Respond to the following question in a thoughtful and well-supported short essay:

Thursday 4/2/15: Homework

Block G:
1. Finish the SAT in-class writing practice prompt that you started in class on Thursday. Bring your completed response with you to class on Monday.
2. Finish reading and taking notes on the final chapters (including the epilogue) of Strength.

Block B:
1. Review and annotate Chapter 7 for an in-class activity on Monday. Based on your quizzes today, it looks like a lot of you may need to finish reading!

Block C:
1. Finish the SAT in-class writing practice prompt that you started in class on Thursday. Bring your completed response with you to class on Tuesday.
2. Finish reading and taking notes on the final chapters (including the epilogue) of Strength.

Thursday 4/1/15: Homework

Block D:
Today in class we watched a TED talk! Who doesn't love a good TED talk, really?



Pretty crazy stuff, eh? Think about what you heard, and prepare for a discussion that we will have when we meet next. Please answer the following questions in a thoughtful, well-supported response:

What questions does this TED talk raise for you? What impact do these ideas have on our understanding of Shelley’s text? What connections can you make? Locate some important passages in the text that align with the ideas presented in the TED talk.

Block E:

Read and annotate Chapter 7 in Gatsby.  Complete the reading questions I gave you in class today as well.