English 8

In the final minutes of class, we spoke briefly about the 79 A.D. eruption of Mount Vesuvius, which is in modern day Italy.  Your task is to write a page or two about the life of the dog whose effigy we viewed.  Do not do any research about this dog.  We're going to read a story about it next week.  This assignment is for you to use your creativity and imagine what kind of life this dog had.

Do make sure that your story is written in clear, grammatically correct English.  I will mark you on the Using Language and Producing Text rubrics.  The Producing Text rubric will assess your engagement with this exercise.  If you would like more information on this, refer to the salmon coloured sheets that I distributed on Thursday.  If you do not have these sheets and would like to see them, please email me for the PDFs.

Here is an image of the dog:

Your next ten vocabulary words are as follows:

1. Dwelling (n): a place where someone lives; a home
2. Stodgy (adj): dull, uninspired; (when talking about food) heavy and starchy
3. Villa (n): a large luxurious country house (associated with Roman times, but $people still have villas today)
4. Agonize (v): undergo great mental strain through worrying about something.
5. Dislodge (v): to knock or force out of place or position
6. Cameo (n): a piece of jewellry (often an oval pendant) with a person’s silhouette
7. Ponder (v): to think carefully and deeply about a subject before taking action or reaching a conclusion
8. Vapors (n):  a substance diffused or suspended in the air, esp. one that is usually liquid or solid (smoke/steam/toxic fumes)
9. Sham (adj): false; bogus (n): a thing that is not what it is presented to be
10. Trappings (n): the outward signs, features, or objects associated with a particular situation, role, or thing.

English 11

You will have 25 minutes on Monday morning to finish/proofread your essays.  Also, the vocabulary sheet on synonyms and antonyms is due.

Comm 11/12

Today, students wrote a quiz and read a new story.  The questions on the story are due on Monday.  Email me if you need a copy of it.

Comm 11/12

Do exercise 3 in Vocabulary Package 3.  Also, answer questions 1-5, 7, 9, 10, 14, 16, and 19 of "The Landlady" for tomorrow.

English 11

Pose three questions about the short story "A Lady's Beaded Bag".  We will discuss possible answers tomorrow.  Also, do questions 2, 5, and 6 that are found on the page of vocabulary.

English 8

Your paragraph on how the two stories "The Golden Pants" and "The Hockey Sweater" are due on Wednesday.

English 8

Complete the handout on paragraph writing that was given out in class and write the paragraph on what makes Canada a good country in which to live.  This will be due on Monday.

Comm 11/12

On Monday, we will mark the rest of Vocabulary Package #2.  Make sure you complete the journal on "the creepiest thing that ever happened", and answer questions 1 - 4 on the short story "The Landlady".

English 11

On Monday, your next five vocabulary words and definitions are due.  Also, make sure that you have completed the synonym/antonym handout.

English 8

Today, we watched the NFB's animation of Roch Carrier's "The Hockey Sweater".  Tonight, write down as many similarities and differences between the stories as you can.  Try for 10 of each.  Most students will write this on a Venn diagram, but you can also write it as a t-chart.

Also, please complete your spelling crossword in anticipation of tomorrow's spelling quiz.

English 11

Tomorrow, you will write an in-class essay.  Bring your completed planning sheet and a paper dictionary.  You may also bring a copy of the story if you need it, but you should have already selected your quotes to save time while writing.

Also, make sure that the sheet on synonyms and antonyms for the vocabulary words is complete.  I'll collect it tomorrow while you write.

Comm 11/12

Many of you handed in your business letters today; but if you have not done so, you must submit yours tomorrow in class.  Also, finish package #2 of the vocabulary words.  Finally, the journals you began today in class are due on Monday.  Here is the topic:  the creepiest thing that has ever happened to me.

English 11

Keep reviewing the class vocabulary list AND adding to your personal vocab list.  The next five words will be due on Monday as Friday is a professional day.

For the short story, do the following two things:

1. Explain what the dates symbolize.

2. Now that you have made a one-word list of what the story is about, choose three of the words on the list and state specifically WHAT the story is saying about each word.

To refresh your memory, we said that the story was about...

1. growth, maturity, change
2. poverty, wealth
3. hatred, revenge
4. mercy
5. innocence
6. jealousy
7. role models

Comm 11/12

Today, we went over the grammar homework, and I handed out the second vocabulary package.  Students need to do the Exercise 3 from that package for tomorrow.  Also, if you have not already done so, you must hand in your "Gentlemen, Your Verdict" answers tomorrow.

Finally, I handed out a package on writing business communications.  Come to school tomorrow with the name of a program they would like to go into after graduating from Sutherland.  Later this week, you will write a letter to this institution asking for information.

English 8

Review your spelling words and your new vocabulary words which are as follows:

1. heretic (noun):  a person holding opinions that are at odds with what is generally accepted
2. gusto (noun): a feeling of vigor, enthusiasm, or enjoyment when doing something
3. askew (adverb and adjective): something that has gone off course; not in a straight or level position
4. shudder (verb): to tremble convulsively because of fear or revulsion
5. remorse (noun):  deep regret or guilt because of a wrong the person has committed
6. obliged (verb): do as (someone) asks or desires in order to help or please them; be indebted or grateful.
7. flinch (verb): to draw back quickly from pain or shock; a nervous movement to protect self
8. redoubled (verb):  to double again; to make or become much greater, more intense, more numerous
9. dowdy (adjective): unfashionable, unattractive, dull in appearance
10. catastrophic (adjective): involving or causing sudden great damage or suffering; extremely unfortunate or unsuccessful; disastrous 

English 11

Complete the questions on "A Handful of Dates" for Monday.  You first ten class vocabulary words are as follows:

1. ambiguity (noun):  doubtfulness/uncertainty in meaning or intention; the quality of being open to more than one interpretation; inexactness
2. contrite (adjective):  feeling guilty; feeling or expressing remorse 
3. junction (noun):  a place or point of meeting or joining
4. understatement (noun):  the downplaying of a subject’s importance: the presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less significant than it actually is.
5. gratitude (noun):  thankfulness: readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness
6. conceited (adjective):  feeling full of oneself; excessively proud; vain
7. unflinchingly (adverb):  not showing fear in the face of danger
8. amicable (adj):  having a spirit of friendliness
9. inconsequential (adj):  lacking worth or importance
10. serendipity (noun):  happy circumstance; good luck; the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.

Comm 11/12

Do the handout on fragments and run-ons, and make sure you complete the questions on the short story.

Comm 11/12

Bring your vocabulary packet to class tomorrow as we'll go over the answers.  Also, write a brief response to the story, "Gentlemen, Your Verdict".  Did you like or dislike the story?  Did you find anything surprising or disturbing about the story?  Do you agree with Captain Oram's decision?

English 11

Bring your five vocabulary words and definitions to class tomorrow. Also, write a short response to the story "A Handful of Dates".  In this response, you could mention what you liked or did not like about the story, whether it reminded you of any other stories, or what you found curious or odd about the it.

English 8

Tonight, look over the short story, "The Golden Pants" and find five words that you think would make good, academic vocabulary terms for the class.  If you don't know the meaning of a word, that would make it a good candidate for your list!  Bring you list to class tomorrow.

English 8

Please complete the crossword that you received today.  This is to help reinforce the spelling words you'll need to know on Thursday.
Also, tomorrow you can finish your posters in Focus.  In groups, students will present their posters during class.

English 11

In the handout I gave you today, pay special attention to any bolded words as these will be terms you will need to know for the unit exam.  Also, complete the grammar paragraph that you received today.

Comm 11/12

Tonight, please complete the first exercise in your vocabulary package.

English 11

Tonight, answer the Grade 11 question sheet on "Hills Like White Elephants", paying close attention to questions six and nine. I will collect these tomorrow.  Also, begin to note new vocabulary words that you come across.  On Friday, bring in your list of five good, academic vocabulary words.  An example of a poor vocabulary word would be "twerk (verb)".  An example of a good vocabulary word would be "ebullience (noun):  high-spirited, bubbly happiness".

English 8

Your spelling test is on Thursday.  Today in class, students worked in groups to plot familiar fairy tales.

English 8

Your first spelling test will be on Thursday, so review your words.  Also, come to class with a list of at least three different fairy tales that you feel you know quite well.

English 11

If you were not in class today, please email me so that I can send you today's handouts. For the rest of you, read the story and answer the seven questions to the best of your ability.  This is a thinking exercise and you will not be penalized for being incorrect.  I will, however, be most displeased if you research the story on-line or discuss it with friends!  Just know that we will do a lesson on Monday where ALL WILL BE REVEALED! Therefore, DO NOT RESEARCH THIS STORY IN ANY WAY!  Just think about it and see what you come up with.

English 8

Next week's spelling test will be on Thursday.  Your words are as follows:

1. already
2. aloud
3. allowed
4. advisable
5. actually
6. achievement
7. accompanying
8. accelerate
9. absorption
10. absentee

Also, if you have not yet completed the Student Information Sheet, please do so and hand it in tomorrow.

Comm 11/12

Tonight, write your first impressions of the story we read today.  Then write one question that you have about the story or write a question that I could ask about it.

English 11

Tonight, please complete the flip side of the handout "Building Strong Sentences".  Also, here are the journal topics students were given today...

1. People can sometimes surprise us
2. I was stronger than I had thought
3. In the battle of the sexes, the winners are...(choose a side).

For your journals, choose one of the topics.  Try to write 3/4 to one page of thoughtful content.   I will read these for content, and I will not be marking grammar.  However, do try to write as clearly as possible.

I will collect the journals tomorrow.

Hello and welcome to the 2017-2018 semester!

Today in English 11, Comm 11/12, and English 8 we discussed class outlines, procedures and expectations.  Then, we introduced ourselves.  I'm looking forward to working with you all this semester--fingers crossed that I can remember everyone's name tomorrow!.