Graduation Transitions

Wednesday's lunchtime speaker will be discussing careers in real estate.

Make sure you have your work/volunteer forms signed and in your binder by the 19th of April.

Monday/Tuesday class
You will have an open-book quiz on the concepts we discussed concerning personal finances.
The quiz will ask you about loans, credit/debit, and renting.

English 11

In addition to your quotation assignment, read chapter 8 of the novel.

English 11

Tonight, complete your journals and make sure that one has been polished for tomorrow.  Also, make sure you have read chapter 7 for tomorrow. Also, start collecting your vocabulary words for chapters 5-8 (second column on the blue package on the novel).

On Monday, you will need to hand in two paragraphs, each highlighting a different quotation.  Make sure you write the quote at the top of your sheet (and provide a page number).  In your paragraph, you can relate the passage to character, theme, symbol, irony, or mood.  For at least one of these quotations, relate it to something that you have noticed about life in 2013.

English 11

Tonight, read Chapter 5 of the novel.  Also, complete the symbolism chart on the back of the blue novel package.
The vocabulary quiz will be on Wednesday.

This weekend, answer the questions to Chapter four in full sentences and on a separate piece of paper.

What's coming up in English:
On Monday, April 8th, you will have a quiz on Chapters 2-4.  You will also have to come with your homework completed up to the end of Chapter Four.
On Wednesday, you will have a vocabulary quiz on the first column of words.
On Friday, April 12, I'll take in your six journals.  I'll give you a mark for completion of all of them (to my satisfaction - ask me if you have questions).  Then, I'll give you a mark for the one journal topic you have chosen to develop into a one-page composition (150-200 words typed or neatly written).  Journals 5 and 6 will be easy to develop.  See me about how to develop the other journal topics into longer compositions.

Again, your journal topics are:

Journal #1 "The Charmer" Feb.12.  

1. What about this story did you find a) realistic b) unrealistic c)confusing?  Explain.  (Note: if you found nothing confusing or unrealistic, just say so.  As long as you have a thoughtful response for the first option, that will be fine with me.
2. Did this story remind you of any similar story you have heard of or person you have known?  Explain.
3. What do you think is the most important line in this story?  Explain.

"A Handful of Dates" for your Journal #2 Feb.19:

1. What things or ideas did the grandson value at the start of the story?

2. Which of these values changed after the date harvest?  Explain.
3. Give the quote where the boy's values change (i.e. his epiphany).  Explain why he had his epiphany at this point in the story.

Journal #3 Feb 22

"The Man Who Finds His Son Is A Thief"

1. Draw a small cartoon for each stanza (artistic quality is not essential)
2. List the physical descriptions of pain and discomfort.  How do these sensory images add to the poem's overall meaning?
3. Underline the metaphors ( at least four of them)
4. Explain why the poet included the last two lines.

Journal #4 March 1
"Hills Like White Elephants"

1. Answer #9 on the question sheet.
2. Write a theme statement for the story
3. Select one quote from the story and explain why you think it is important.

Journal #5

What makes a good leader?

Journal #6:
What frightened you when you were a child?  Why do you think childhood fears are universal?

English 11

Tonight, answer the questions to Chapter Three in full sentences.  Also, read another 15 pages (that should be your daily task until you finish the book).

Your Journal #6 topic today was...
What frightened you when you were a child?  Why do you think childhood fears are universal?

What's coming up in English:

Tomorrow, you will have 15 minutes to share your vocabulary words with your vocab partners.  You will have time to read and do various assignments in silence as others in your class will be completing work they missed in the last three days of school.

On Monday, April 8th, you will have a quiz on Chapters 2-4.  You will also have to come with your homework completed.
On Wednesday, you will have a vocabulary quiz on the first column of words.
On Friday, April 12, I'll take in your six journals.  I'll give you a mark for completion of all of them (to my satisfaction - ask me if you have questions).  Then, I'll give you a mark for the one journal topic you have chosen to develop into a one-page composition (150-200 words typed or neatly written).  Journals 5 and 6 will be easy to develop.  See me about how to develop the other journal topics into longer compositions.

English 11

Tonight, read Chapter Three and answer Questions #1-4 on Chapter Two.

If you have to complete one of the tests we wrote in the last week before break, the date for rewrites is this Friday.  If you cannot make Friday, you must see me to discuss this.

Journal topics to date:

Journal #1 "The Charmer" Feb.12.  

1. What about this story did you find a) realistic b) unrealistic c)confusing?  Explain.  (Note: if you found nothing confusing or unrealistic, just say so.  As long as you have a thoughtful response for the first option, that will be fine with me.
2. Did this story remind you of any similar story you have heard of or person you have known?  Explain.
3. What do you think is the most important line in this story?  Explain.

"A Handful of Dates" for your Journal #2 Feb.19:

1. What things or ideas did the grandson value at the start of the story?

2. Which of these values changed after the date harvest?  Explain.
3. Give the quote where the boy's values change (i.e. his epiphany).  Explain why he had his epiphany at this point in the story.

Journal #3 Feb 22

"The Man Who Finds His Son Is A Thief"

1. Draw a small cartoon for each stanza (artistic quality is not essential)
2. List the physical descriptions of pain and discomfort.  How do these sensory images add to the poem's overall meaning?
3. Underline the metaphors ( at least four of them)
4. Explain why the poet included the last two lines.

Journal #4 March 1
"Hills Like White Elephants"

1. Answer #9 on the question sheet.
2. Write a theme statement for the story
3. Select one quote from the story and explain why you think it is important.

Journal #5

What makes a good leader?

English 11

Today, students received a package of vocabulary and questions on Lord of the Flies. For Friday, students will be responsible for knowing their assigned vocabulary words from this list by Friday.  They will share their words with others in their group.  Here are the words for Chapters 1-4:
sombre, enmity, decorous, interminable, hiatus, ebullience, recrimination, tumult, tirade, composite, myriad, torrid, susurration, oppressive, inscrutable, vicissitudes, tacit, blatant, taboo, sinewy, malevolently, dilate.

For tonight, read Chapter Two.  You will have some reading time in BOB tomorrow, plus an extra 10 minutes to read 18 pages.

Students also began work on a chart outlining the various characters in the novel.  They will continue with this chart tomorrow.

Graduation Transitions

Guest speaker:

All Grad Trans students will be required to go to four lunchtime career presentations where professional people from the community come to talk about their respective careers.  Tomorrow's speaker will talk about engineering.  See this speaker at lunch in C202 -- Ms. Ireland's room.  You may eat your lunch in the room, but as it is designated for technology, you must be very careful about not making a mess or leaving any remnants of your lunch. I will be at the presentation with extra copies of the information sheet about the speaker that you need to fill and hand in.


Check out Career Explorations/Career Spotlight to see what speakers are coming to Sutherland at this address:
http://www.sutherlandcareercenter.blogspot.ca/


Grad Trans - Monday/Tuesday group

Today we began discussing personal finances.  Next Monday, each group will present their findings about how to budget for a specific car, college, or cell phone. These presentations will not take very long, but every group member will receive a mark.

English

Review your yellow sheets in preparation for the sight test tomorrow.

English 11

Tonight, finish the Story Review sheet (pay special attention to the point of view, theme, and symbol/irony sections.  We will review this tomorrow in class.

Grad Trans

Monday/Tuesday Group and Thursday/Friday Group

Here is a checklist of items that you will need to hand in for your first portfolio submission on March 15th:

 1.  Binder  

• Four tabs, 
• Four title pages, 
• Label on the spine
• Wordle
• Attributes of the Ideal BC Graduate (I'll hand them back to you this week)

2.  Career and life section 

• Career Cruising site sheets (The first four must be completed; the fifth is for bonus marks in planning)
• Employability Skills 2000+ (Conference Board) hand out and reflection
• I'll confirm with Mrs. Clark that the scholarship questionnaire is completed
• Myers-Briggs information
• Reference letter
• Resume 
• Cover letter

3.  DPA's for the first six weeks of the semester

English 11

Tonight, read "A Lady's Beaded Bag" and find five new-to-you vocabulary words.  Record these words and their definitions.  Do not answer the questions--we will complete them in class.  I will give a short comprehension quiz on this story tomorrow just to ensure that everyone has read it.

On Friday, we will have a short quiz on commas and semicolons.

On Wednesday of next week, you will have a sight reading test with a short story you have never before read.  I will ask you short paragraph questions on this story concerning such things as characterization, symbol, irony, theme, point of view and the other terms we have covered in this unit.  Make sure that you have all the yellow sheets and that you start reviewing them (Purpose and the Short Story, Plot..., Character..., Symbol and Irony..., Theme..., Point of View....).  Terms we have covered that do not appear on the yellow sheets are allusion, parable, epiphany, infer, imply, connotation, and denotation.

On Friday of next week, you will have the short story unit final test.  I will ask you questions on the terms we have covered and the stories we have read.

English 11

Complete all the questions on "The Story of an Hour".

Grad Trans Monday class

Here is a checklist of items that you will need to hand in for your first portfolio submission on March 15th:

 1.  Binder  

• Four tabs, 
• Four title pages, 
• Label on the spine
• Wordle
• Attributes of the Ideal BC Graduate (I'll hand them back to you this week)

2.  Career and life section 

• Career Cruising site sheets (The first four must be completed; the fifth is for bonus marks in planning)
• Conference board hand out and reflection
• I'll confirm with Mrs. Clark that the scholarship questionnaire is completed
• Myers-Briggs information
• Reference letter
• Resume 
• Cover letter

3.  DPA's for the first six weeks of the semester

English 11

Complete Journal #4 on "Hills Like White Elephants"

Answer  #9 on the question sheet.  Write a theme statement for this story. Finally, select a quotation from anywhere in the story and explain why you think it is important.

English 11

There will be a short test on commas tomorrow -- review the handouts.  Also, read "Hills Like White Elephants" for tomorrow.

Graduation Transitions

Monday/Tuesday group:
Make sure all four Career Cruising sheets are completed by Monday.  You will be handing them in with a fifth sheet on Tuesday.  If you have not already done so, secure a person who will write you a letter of reference. This letter will be due the day before March break.  See me if you need any of the handouts.

English 11

Write a theme statement for "The Charmer". Make sure you write it according to the criteria outlined on the handout I gave you today in class.

English 11

Read over the newest yellow sheet "Theme and the Short Story".  Make note of the bolded items.
Also, answer these questions on the poem "The Man Who Finds His Son Is A Thief" for Journal #3...

1. Draw a small cartoon for each stanza (artistic quality is not essential)

2. List the physical descriptions of pain and discomfort.  How do these sensory images add to the poem's overall meaning?

3. Underline the metaphors ( at least four of them)

4. Explain why the poet included the last two lines.

Graduation Transitions

Thursday/Friday group.
Tomorrow we will begin looking at a career site and investigating different career and vocational paths.  Please finish the personality index.  If you still must complete the scholarship and bursary form, make sure you have your PEN (Provincial Education Number), student number and Social Insurance Number.  Know whether you live in the City of North Vancouver or the District of North Vancouver.  Also, have a copy of your resume handy so that you can refer to it.  Then, go to 

sutherlandscholarship.wikispaces.com.

Answer all the questions.  If you have to leave any of the boxes blank, put "n/a" inside them.  If you don't put n/a inside them, you won't be able to submit your information.  At the end of the form, hit "submit" and you will be done.

I'll check with Mrs. Clark to make sure that you have completed this form.  You will receive 5 marks for completing it.  All Grade 12's have to complete this before the end of February.

Monday/Tuesday group.
Ask someone you know for a letter of reference that you will include in your portfolio.  This person can be a family friend (character reference), a teacher or counselor (character/academic reference) or a supervisor/employer (work reference).

Also, please make sure that you have signed up for the Daily Activity Plan (DPA) tracker at www.learnnowbc.ca.  This will make tracking all your activities much easier.  When you sign up, make your start date the first week of February (when the semester began).

English 11

Tonight, review the terms on the yellow short story sheets (Purpose and the Short Story, Character and the Short Story, and Plot and the Short Story).  Also make sure you know allusion, parable, and epiphany.  We will have a short quiz on these terms.

Also, please complete the sheet on commas.  If you were not in class today, here are the comma questions:

COMMAS - PART THREE: REVIEW

Part A:

Are the following three sentences correct or incorrect?  If any are incorrect, please make the necessary amendments:

1. The free swimming lessons, were held at the William Griffin Aquatic Centre.


2. The camp brochure says that kids in the program can canoe on the lake or go sailing\

at a nearby beach or try horseback riding in the adjacent fields.

3. Listen I need that report by Friday.


4. Graham lifted the couch, Stuart grabbed the hamster, and the cat dashed between my

legs, just to get at the fluffy little rodent!

5. Capilano University which used to be a college has a very good reputation for its

talented instructors and small class sizes.

6. You realize, of course, that the tension between you and your parents will only lead to

trouble.

7. I do not like driving in the snow nor do I enjoy walking in the rain.


8. “To err is human,” my mother would say “but to forgive is devine.”


9. When the cat’s away, the mice will play!


10. I will clean the house for you, because you are always so good to me.


Part B:

Please put commas in the following two sentences where needed. .

1. I know you wanted fish for dinner but the price of chicken was too good to pass up.

2. I will however get some salmon for your dinner tomorrow.

Graduation Transitions

Thursday/Friday group:

If you were unable to submit your information you might have to do the entire questionnaire again.  There may be a way for you to merge information given on two separate occasions, but you will have to check this with Mrs. Clark.

If you have extra information to add to you submission, please see Mrs. Clark once, with all the new information you want to add.  This will simplify the process for both you and her.

Two things will be due on Thursday:

1. The Attributes of the Ideal BC Graduate collage will be due at the start of class next Thursday.  
2. Your title pages (Personal Health, Community Connections, Career and Life, Appendix).

Monday/Tuesday group:

Ask someone you know for a letter of reference that you will include in your portfolio.  This person can be a family friend (character reference), a teacher or counselor (character/academic reference) or a supervisor/employer (work reference).

Also, please make sure that you have signed up for the Daily Activity Plan (DPA) tracker at www.learnnowbc.ca.  This will make tracking all your activities much easier.  When you sign up, make your start date the first week of February (when the semester began).

English 11

Tonight, complete these questions on "A Handful of Dates" for your Journal #2:

1. What things or ideas did the grandson value at the start of the story?
2. Which of these values changed after the date harvest?  Explain.
3. Give the quote where the boy's values change (i.e. his epiphany).  Explain why he had his epiphany at this point in the story.

On Thursday, you will write an in-class essay on character in "A Handful of Dates".  I will explain the format and give the question tomorrow in class.  Also, on Friday, you will have a quiz on the terms on the yellow sheets (including epiphany, allusion, and parable).

Graduation Transitions

Monday/Tuesday group

Tomorrow you will fill out the Sutherland Scholarship and Bursary form. Remember to bring the following:

1. your resume 
2. your PEN number 
3. your student number 
4. your Social Insurance Number (if you don't want to provide your SIN, you will have to supply your email address).

Know the courses you took in Grades 11 and 12, your parents' place of employment/union membership or professional association, as well as any service clubs to which they may belong.

Also due tomorrow:

1. The Attributes of the Ideal BC Graduate collage - due at the start of class.  

English 11

Make sure you have read "A Handful of Dates", on page 123 of your text, as we will be working on it tomorrow in class.  On Friday, you will have a quiz on the terms explained in the yellow short story handouts that I have given you so far.  The handouts I will ask you questions on are "Purpose and the Short Story", "Character and the Short Story" and "Plot and the Short Story".

The vocabulary words for "A Handful of Dates" are ewer, ablutions, indolent, lilting, gurgling, dilapidated, jostling, sickle, stance, bray and rasping.  You will have a quiz on these at a later date.

English 11

Please read "A Handful of Dates" on page 123 of your textbook for Monday.

Graduation Transitions

I am sorry that today's class was interrupted by the fire drill.  I did not realize that we would have one until about 20 minutes into the class, and by then everyone had started the Sutherland Scholarship and Bursary questionnaire.

If you were unable to submit your information you might have to do the entire questionnaire again.  There may be a way for you to merge information given on two separate occasions, but you will have to check this with Mrs. Clark.

If you have extra information to add to you submission, please see Mrs. Clark once, with all the new information you want to add.  This will simplify the process for both you and her.

Two things will be due on Thursday:

1. The Attributes of the Ideal BC Graduate collage will be due at the start of class next Thursday.  
2. Your title pages (Personal Health, Community Connections, Career and Life, Appendix).

Monday/Tuesday group:

For next Monday...

1. Hand in your completed collage of the Ideal BC Graduate.
2. Have title pages for your portfolio tabs:  Personal Health, Community Connections, Career and Life, and Appendix.
3. Please bring a copy of your current resume to class.
4. All Wordles must be submitted.
5. Ask someone you know (a teacher/counselor, supervisor or employer) to write you a letter of reference.  This letter will be due in your portfolio just before spring break.

English 11

Today in class, students wrote paragraphs that answered this question:
Given that Winnie is the protagonist and the conflict is internal (character versus self), explain how the resolution of the conflict relates to why Budge Wilson wrote this story.

Some students are finishing this paragraph at home tonight.

We also looked at the parable "The Prodigal Son" and made a list of the similarities and differences between it and "The Charmer".  Students then had to come up with three ways that knowing the parable helped them understand the story better.

Graduation Transitions

Thursday/Friday group:

For tomorrow (Friday)...

1. Bring your labelled binders to class tomorrow. 

Also, tomorrow you will fill out the Sutherland Scholarship and Bursary form. Remember to bring the following:

1. your resume 
2. your PEN number 
3. your student number 
4. your Social Insurance Number (if you don't want to provide your SIN, you will have to supply your email address).

Two things will be due on Thursday:

1. The Attributes of the Ideal BC Graduate collage will be due at the start of class next Thursday.  
2. Your title pages (Personal Health, Community Connections, Career and Life, Appendix).

Monday/Tuesday group:

For next Monday...

1. Hand in your completed collage of the Ideal BC Graduate.
2. Have title pages for your portfolio tabs:  Personal Health, Community Connections, Career and Life, and Appendix.
3. Please bring a copy of your current resume to class.
4. All Wordles must be submitted.
5. Ask someone you know (a teacher/counselor, supervisor or employer) to write you a letter of reference.  This letter will be due in your portfolio just before spring break.

English 11

Tonight, read both sides of the yellow handout "Plot and the Short Story" and "Character and the Short Story".  Make sure that you have definitions for the terms allusion, parable and epiphany as they are words you will need to know for the final.

Tomorrow you will be answering the question: Given that Winnie is the protagonist and the conflict is internal (character versus self), explain how the resolution of the conflict relates to why Budge Wilson wrote this story.

For those of you who will be absent tomorrow, we will look at the story of the prodigal son and then look at how familiarity with this story informs our understanding of the short story "The Charmer".  We will also look at the difference between direct and indirect characterization.

English 11

Tonight, find the definitions for allusion, parable, and epiphany.  Also, complete Journal #1 "The Charmer" Feb.12.  It consists of the following questions:

1. What about this story did you find a) realistic b) unrealistic c)confusing?  Explain.  (Note: if you found nothing confusing or unrealistic, just say so.  As long as you have a thoughtful response for the first option, that will be fine with me.
2. Did this story remind you of any similar story you have heard of or person you have known?  Explain.
3. What do you think is the most important line in this story?  Explain.

Graduation Transitions

Thursday/Friday group (who I will see later this week):

Please bring the following to class...

1. The Wordle (wordle.net) that includes words that pertain to these elements: what things are important to you, the personal traits you have that will serve you well in the future, the things that will occupy your time after graduation.
2. Your 13 sentences about the ideal BC graduate and your evidence (in one or two points) of how you demonstrate this attribute...just the sentences, the collage itself will be due the following week.
3. A new, clean binder with a name label along the spine and four dividers (Personal Health, Community Connections, Life and Career, and Appendix)

Monday/Tuesday group (who I just saw today):

For next Monday...

1. Hand in your completed collage of the Ideal BC Graduate.
2. Have title pages for your portfolio tabs:  Personal Health, Community Connections, Career and Life, and Appendix.
3. Please bring a copy of your current resume to class.
4. All Wordles must be submitted.
5. Ask someone you know (a teacher/counselor, supervisor or employer) to write you a letter of reference.  This letter will be due in your portfolio just before spring break.

Graduation Transitions (Mon/Tues)

For the students who I saw today, you will be my Monday/Tuesday class.  I will see you on Tuesday because Monday is a holiday.  The assignments that are due on Tuesday, February 12th are threefold:

1. The Wordle (wordle.net) that includes words that pertain to these elements: what things are important to you, the personal traits you have that will serve you well in the future, the things that will occupy your time after graduation.
2. Your 13 sentences about the ideal BC graduate and your evidence (in one or two points) of how you demonstrate this attribute...just the sentences, the collage itself will be due the following week.
3. A new, clean binder with a name label along the spine and four dividers (Personal Health, Community Connections, Life and Career, and Appendix)

English 11

Look up the nine vocabulary words for the short story, "Gentlemen, Your Verdict".

Graduation Transitions

For all of the students who were in class today, I will see you on Thursday. The "Attributes of the Ideal BC Graduate" collage is due on Thursday, February 14th.

English 11

Please complete the orange student questionnaire for homework tonight.

Graduation Transitions

For all of the students who were in class today, I will see you on Wednesday.  I look forward to meeting the rest of my Grad Trans students tomorrow (Tuesday).

English 8

Your masks of a mythological creature, god or goddess will be due on Friday.  Along with the mask, you must provide a brief story concerning your character.  You will present this to class on Friday and then hand in your mask and write up.

English 12

Students were given a performance assignment on Othello, which is due on Monday, January 21st.

English 8

Today we worked on adverbs.  Students were also given time to prepare for the poetry project, which is due on Friday.

English 8

English 8 Poetry Project
Due:  Friday, January 11th

Your assignment is to choose two of the following options:

1. Be a poem
Write or find a poem

• come to class dressed as that poem
• recite it to the class from memory and with an appropriate level of feeling

2.  Poetry book

Submit a book of your own poetry, with a minimum of five poems.  All work should be well presented in      a book/diary format.

3.  Theme assignment
Select a one word theme (e.g. fear, love, nature, death, war, hope, family, animals) and then find five      poems on that subject (theme).  You may choose a maximum of two songs to include in this particular assignment.  Write approximately 35 words about each poem.  Submit it either as a book or as a poster.

This is for a total of 30 marks.

I will give you rubrics on the first day we return to class.  

English 12

Finish the questions on Act III of Othello.

English 8

Write four questions about adjectives that you think might be included on Thursday's adjective quiz. Also, finish the second section of the poetic devices sheet. Finally, look up Ozymandias. Who was he? Why is he famous?

English 12

Please finish the questions we began in class and read up to line 325 in Act III, scene iii.

English 8

Please complete your paragraphs that state whether you are for or against changing the words tos"'Twas the Night Before Christmas" to omit the references to smoking.  Torrow, we will review your answers to "The Highwayman".

English 8 - a reminder of the Poetry Journal topics assigned so far

Here are the topics:

"Poetry Journal #1":  Tell me about a time when you were greatly disappointed.  What happened?  Why did it happen?  Describe the emotions you experienced.  Did you learn anything from this?

"Poetry Journal #2": 
Choose one of the items listed below and write the story (7-10 sentences) that it might tell.  Personify this item by giving it several human qualities.
a. an ancient fir tree b. an old swingset c. a beach ball
d. Crosby’s hockey stick e. a retired space shuttle f. a guitar

"Poetry Journal #3": 
Once you have written the above story, choose one of the animals listed below.  Then, write the story it might tell about the people in its life (7-10 sentences).
a. a plant-eating slug in a garden b. a pigeon in a city c. a duck in a pond
d. an ant at a picnic e. a spider in a girl’s bedroom f. a moth in a closet

"Poetry Journal #4":
Describe a memory of a fantastic sunny (or snowy) day. Where were you? What were you doing? Who were you with? Include descriptions of sense images from three different senses (6 sentences at least).

English 8 - Questions for "The Highwayman"

Questions on “The Highwayman” by Alfred Noyes

1. Does this poem have a regular rhythm and rhyme scheme?  What kind of poem is it? How do you know this?

2. List 5 words that are repeated.  Why does the poet emphasize these words?

3. Give an example of sight imagery, sound imagery, and touch imagery.

4. Name 4 colours that appear in the story more than once?  Why has the poet

highlighted these colours (State their connotations).

5. How does the speaker describe the highwayman? How does he describe Bess?

How does he describe Tim?  How does he describe the red-coats?

 
6. What is the mood of this poem?  What makes you feel this way?

7. List three metaphors, two similes, two examples of alliteration, an example of

hyperbole and an example of personification.

Spirit Week

Hello everyone,

In case you were wondering, next week is Spirit Week - Monday is Christmas hat day, Tuesday is Santa's helpers day, Wednesday is tacky shirt day, Thursday is red and green day, and Friday is pajama day.

English 12

Complete Handout #7: In Other Words for homework.  Also, read Act III, scene iii up to line 256 for Monday.

English 8

I'll collect your Poetry Journal entries #1-4 on Monday.  I will post the journal topics a little later today.  Also, I'll collect the "I Am From" poem, the three poems you wrote with the "This Is Just To Say" package, the two haikus you wrote for yesterday, PLUS one CONCRETE POEM that you must write this weekend. Your concrete poem does not have to rhyme.

You will have a poetry "quest" (quiz/test) next week.  Begin reviewing your poetry terms.

Finally, please make certain that your answers for "The Highwayman" are complete and ready to hand in on Monday.  Most of you should be almost finished this.

English 8

Complete the sheet on haikus tonight.  Also, finish Poetry Journal #4:  Describe a memory of a fantastic sunny (or snowy) day.  Where were you?  What were you doing?  Who were you with?  Give sense images from three different senses.

English 12

Complete the questions on Act II, scene i of Othello (#3, 7-10).  Also, state the two things we learn in Act II, scene ii.

English 12

This weekend, complete the quotation sheets on Othello, Iago, and Desdamona.  Also, take a look through Act I.  On Monday, I'll give you and some partners (2-3) people 10 min to prepare some dialogue from the play.  Everyone should speak about 5-6 lines with emphasis and feeling.

English 8

Look at the yellow sheets on verbs. From them, come up with four questions that you think I might put in a quiz on verbs.
Also, complete Poetry Journals #1 for Monday and #2 for Tuesday.  The journals are the two paragraphs on the green sheet on personification.  Remember, personification is when a writer or poet gives human qualities to non-human entities.

Journalism

Today, you were given a package of the stories that have been entered into Publisher to date.  Please make sure that you have completed the following notes on each story on the back of each page:

Headline notes - are the headlines and opening sentences catchy/appealing? Suggestions?
Images/photos - do we have good quality photos? Are they well-placed on the page?  Do they have appropriate captions?  Suggestions?
Layout - How does the printed story appear on the page?  Does the layout appeal to readers or dissuade them from reading the story?
Content - Do the stories need extra or fewer details? Are there any factual errors?  Are citations needed?

Please also make grammatical and stylistic edits right on the printed page.
This is Workbook Exercise #16 and it will be marked out of 10 -- 5 marks for completion and 5 marks for thoroughness.

English 12

We will continue reading Othello tomorrow.  Please ensure that you have completed the questions on Act I, scene i.  Also, please have the quiz ready for the start of class tomorrow.

English 8

Tomorrow, we will finish looking at the yellow sheet on verbs.  Then, we will continue with our poetry unit.  So far, in the poetry section of your binder, you should have three items:  an "I Am From" poem, the Poetry Journal #1 entry, and the worksheet on Langston Hughes' poem "Harlem".

English 12

For Thursday, finish the questions on I,i of Othello. Also, make sure you have completed the take home quiz.  If you missed class on Tuesday, see me an pick up copies of the handouts you missed.

English 8

Tomorrow, you will be given a quiz consisting of five words.  You must determine whether or not they are mass or count nouns and then put them in a sentence of your own composition using "fewer" or "less".

Also, please ensure that your verb sheets are complete and that you have finished the "I Am From" poem.

English 12

This weekend, plan out the narrative essay you will write on Monday.  In you essay you can tell me about a particularly painful or frightening or happy or embarrassing experience.  This should be one scene--with a beginning, middle and and end--from the movie of your life that takes place over the space of minutes or hours.  Be sure that you include sensory experiences from at least three different senses, and use at least three examples of figurative language (metaphors, similes, hyperbole, personification, understatement, etc.)  Review your hand out on narrative essays and try to include as many elements as you can (a hook, dialogue, vivid verbs, figurative language, imagery, rhetorical questions, suspense/humour, and an echo). You may bring a planning sheet into class on Monday.

Also, in preparation for the Provincial Exam, create a personal timeline listing 5-10 important events in your life to date and 5-10 important or influential people in your life (try to make sure these people are of different ages).

English 8

Review the package on nouns as we will have a quiz on Monday.  The quiz will ask questions very similar to those posed in the package.

Also, please complete "Poetry Journal #1".
Here is the subject:  Tell me about a time when you were greatly disappointed.  What happened?  Why did it happen?  Describe the emotions you experienced.  Did you learn anything from this?

Please write at least 8-10 sentences for your response.

English 8

Review all questions, notes, and handouts to prepare for tomorrow's test on the class novel.

English 12

Tomorrow we will be writing the in-class synthesis essay on All Quiet on the Western Front and Kathryn Bigelow's movie The Hurt Locker.  You may bring one page of planning notes (not your entire essay) to class tomorrow.  I will give you marks for good evidence of planning.

English 12 questions to focus your thoughts

Why was Specialist Eldridge, the youngest member of the bomb disposal team, seeing a doctor? What were the worries he expressed to the doctor?

How did Sgt. William James react when Eldridge started to lose his composure during the desert ambush?

Why does James call his wife but not speak to her.

Why does James decide to deactivate the body bomb rather than detonate the bomb.

What motivates James to take the risks he does?

English 12

On Monday, we will finish watching The Hurt Locker.  The synthesis question which you will answer in class on Tuesday will be as follows:

Although they are set almost a century apart in wars which are vastly different, the two protagonists --Paul Baumer and Sergeant William James -- are affected by war in surprisingly similar ways.  Discuss in a 400-500 word synthesis essay.

Some topics which you might want to cover in your essay are alienation, desensitization, the loss of personal identity, camaraderie, the struggle to maintain humanity.

Look at my next post to see some guiding questions.

English 8

Complete your good copies of your newspaper for Monday.  Review your questions for the test on the novel on Tuesday.

English 12

On Friday, you must hand in the compositions about the most memorable aspects of the class novel.  I will be marking you on the quality of your written expression and the thoughtfulness of your response.

English 8

Tonight, answer the following questions:

1.  Why is the novel that we just finished called The Outsiders?  What is an outsider?  What does it mean to be one?
2.  What was the author's purpose in writing this novel?

I will give you some time in class to work on your newspaper articles tomorrow.  The rough copy of all your work is due on Friday.

Remember, too, to study for the spelling test on Friday.

English 8

Your good copy of the Ponyboy paragraph is due on Monday. Your peer editing sheet must be attached to it.   Also, your poster of two symbols from the story is due on Tuesday.  Part of  the assignment is to include a written explanation of the symbol (just a few sentences). Finally, because this is a poster project, artistic presentation is a must!!
Your spelling words for next Friday are as follows: mileage, moral, morale, murmur, naughty, necessary, neither, nervous, ninetieth, ninth, noticeable, obstacle, opposite, performance, permissible.

English 12

Our last lit circle has been postponed until Monday. Wow me with your investigations and connections.

English 8

Finish the questions on Chapter 12. Remember to write the 3 things you like best about the book.

Also, please write the rough draft of the paragraph explaining how Ponyboy is a dynamic character.

English 12

There will be a quiz on semicolons tomorrow.

Continue working on your literature circle role sheets for Friday.

English 8

Remember to review for the vocabulary test tomorrow.

Finish reading Chapter Seven of The Outsiders. Your words are clammy, gingerly, incredulous, nonchalantly, rarities, roguishly, sagely, stocky, resignedly, defiance, contemptuous, sheepish, premonition, ember, and apprehensive.

On Friday, you will have to hand in one acrostic poem of at least nine lines (or two smaller ones adding up to nine lines) which describes the character of one of the characters in the novel.  Your acrostic must be made up of complete sentences, not individual words or phrases.  You will also have to hand in two extended metaphors like the ones we wrote today in class. You will begin your metaphors like this:  "Ponyboy is lion because..."  You will have to give three qualities of your animal that are shared by your character.

These acrostic poems and extended metaphors (three items in total) must be handed in on Friday, and must be attractively presented so that I may post them in my classroom.

On Friday, too, there will be a spelling test on the words written, on our side whiteboard.  The words are:  incident, incredible, influential, inoculated, inseparable, justice, liquid, lacquer, laughter, largely, launder, laundry, liaison, mattress, maximum

Journalism

Get your stories in. We will start to desktop publish tomorrow.

English 8

Please read Chapter 5 of The Outsiders and do the corresponding questions. I will check your vocabulary words tomorrow - there will be a quiz on Wednesday. On Friday, we will have another spelling test. You should have written the words down today in class. I will add them to this blog later tonight.

English 12

Continue to read the novel and work on the next lit circle.  You must finish Chapter 8 by the end of the week.  Complete the six sentences on semicolons.  We'll have a quiz on semicolons on Thursday.
Read the poem "Base Details" and answer questions #1-4.

Journalism

Your workbooks will be due in on Tuesday.  The exercises are as follows:
1. Vivid verb sentences - The man walked down the street.  The bird landed on the pond.  The player scored a goal. The toddler was upset.
2. Field trip suggestions - your suggestions must include an educational rationale
3. Strengths and weaknesses of the last edition (I have seen everyone's but those belonging to Julian, Harrison, and Kyle)
4. Photo scavenger hunt - 4 photos of school life.  The categories are people, common sights, events and activities, and a free category.
5. Self-evaluation - this will be handed out and completed on Monday

Continue to file your stories.  Second articles should have been filed today.

English 12

Continue to read the novel and work on your lit circle.