English 8

Your 8-12 sentence expository paragraphs are due on Tuesday.  Here are the class writing prompt options:

1. Life is complicated.  What are the biggest problems facing the world today?
2. Friends are important.  Is it better to have a large group of friends or a small group of close friends?
3. Everyone has a favourite food.  Explain why your favourite should be named "best food in the world".
4. Rules are important.  Explain what three rules every school should have.
5. Pets are important.  Explain why your favourite pet (or kind of pet) is the best.
6. Climate change is frightening.  Explain what three things everyone should do in order to help the planet.

Remember to give three good reasons (2-3 sentences each) for the opinion you have.

Also, review your vocabulary words for the quiz on Wednesday. Here are the words you need to know:

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. pitch-black  (adj):  dark, dark black (pitch is tar) 
4. foreman (n): a worker who supervises other workers at a job site  
5. remorse (noun):  deep regret or guilt because of a wrong the person has committed  
6. plausible (adj):  believable  
7. to defraud (v):  to cheat, to swindle  
8. genial (adj):  happy, good-natured  
9. conspicuous (adj):  obvious; easily noticeable   
10. precariously (adv):  in a way that is not secure or in danger of collapsing  
11. to scrutinize (v):  to study closely  
12. judiciously (adv):  wisely, like a judge  
13. to reap (v):  to collect, especially collect crops at harvest time  
14. incurious (adj):  lacking curiosity  
15. to lurch (v):  to move in a jerky, stumbling manner  
16. to boast (v):  to brag  
17. panic-stricken (adj):  feeling great panic and anxiety because of a nasty shock  
18. hobble (v):  to walk with a limp  
19. to smother (v):  to suffocate  
20. cataract ** (n):  1) a cause of blindness because of clouded lenses 2) a waterfall 

**for cataract, I'll expect you to know that it is a cause of blindness.

English 11

This weekend, review your vocabulary words for the quiz on Tuesday.  Also, look for quotations to use for the in-class essay on symbolism on Wednesday.  The planning sheet I gave you this can be brought to that class. 
When writing about how symbols reveal theme, you can talk about three different symbols in a story OR three aspects of one symbol within a story.

English 11

Complete the questions on the short story for Tuesday.  Friday will be used as a work period for the short story group presentations.

Also, remember that the vocabulary quiz will be on Tuesday.  May graciously offered to put up her Quizlet on this blog.  You can find it by clicking here.

English 8

Complete the expository paragraph that we began to day.  It is due on Tuesday.  Also, start reviewing your vocabulary words.  The chart on the vocab sheet needs to be completed.  Finally, begin reviewing the short story terms sheet that was distributed in class today.

English 11

The vocabulary quiz has been postponed until Tuesday, October 9th.  On Friday, short story groups will have the class to work on their presentations.

English 8

Tonight, finish questions 1-3 on "A Secret for Two".  Remember to use full sentences.

English 11

Today, students had a debate on whether or not the trash picker was of sound mind.  The class also took down the final ten vocabulary words from Set One; the vocab quiz will be next Tuesday, October 9th. Here are all 30 words:

1. to loathe (v) – to feel intense dislike or disgust for something 
2. contention (n) –  (1) a heated disagreement; (2) an assertion, esp made in an argument 
3. to emerge (v) – (1) to become apparent, important or known; (2) to come into view 
4. transience (n) – lasting only for a short time, fleeting, momentary, passing 
5. to digress (v) – to leave the main subject temporarily in speech or writing 
6. indolent (adj) -- lazy 
7. ablutions (n) -- the washing/cleansing of the body, especially connected with religious practices
8. surfeit (n & v) -- (n) an excessive amount/a surplus of something; (v) to stuff to the maximum capacity
9. callous (adj) -- cold, uncaring, insensitive (callus the noun is the hardened patch of skin, perhaps resulting from friction/hard work)
10. malevolent (adj)  -- evil, having or showing an intent to do evil to others
11. layman (n) - an everyday person; someone who is not an expert in a particular area 
12. entrails (n) - guts; viscera 
13. swinish (adjective) - like a pig; boorish 
14. sadist (n) - one who enjoys inflicting pain on others 
15. infamy (n) - an extremely bad reputation because of shameful, criminal, or outrageous  behaviour 
16. macabre (adj) - gruesome and horrifying 
17. don (verb) - to put on an article of clothing 
18. dissuade (v) - to persuade someone not to do something  
19. impetuous (adj) - impulsive; acting without thinking 
20. amass (v) - to collect; to gather 
21. maniacal (adj) – like a maniac (aggressive, high-energy)     
22. to delve (v) – to reach into to something (physically or intellectually)     
23. pittance (n) – a small amount (usually money)
24. inviolable (adj) – something which cannot be altered or violated    
25. to traverse (v) – to travel across or through
26. nonchalance (n) – pretended indifference
27. to hasten (v) – to hurry
28. wrathful (adj) -- angry
29. austerely (adv) – severely    
30. diaphanous (adj) – gauzy, translucent, delicate    

English 11

Tonight, answer questions 1-3 and 5-6 on "The Lady's Beaded Bag".
Also, here are your vocabulary words to date:

1. to loathe (v) – to feel intense dislike or disgust for something 
2. contention (n) –  (1) a heated disagreement; (2) an assertion, esp made in an argument 
3. to emerge (v) – (1) to become apparent, important or known; (2) to come into view 
4. transience (n) – lasting only for a short time, fleeting, momentary, passing 
5. to digress (v) – to leave the main subject temporarily in speech or writing 
6. indolent (adj) -- lazy 
7. ablutions (n) -- the washing/cleansing of the body, especially connected with religious practices
8. surfeit (n & v) -- (n) an excessive amount/a surplus of something; (v) to stuff to the maximum capacity
9. callous (adj) -- cold, uncaring, insensitive (callus the noun is the hardened patch of skin, perhaps resulting from friction/hard work)
10. malevolent (adj)  -- evil, having or showing an intent to do evil to others
11. layman (n) - an everyday person; someone who is not an expert in a particular area 
12. entrails (n) - guts; viscera 
13. swinish (adjective) - like a pig; boorish 
14. sadist (n) - one who enjoys inflicting pain on others 
15. infamy (n) - an extremely bad reputation because of shameful, criminal, or outrageous  behaviour 
16. macabre (adj) - gruesome and horrifying 
17. don (verb) - to put on an article of clothing 
18. dissuade (v) - to persuade someone not to do something  
19. impetuous (adj) - impulsive; acting without thinking 
20. amass (v) - to collect; to gather 

English 8

Tonight, answer questions 1-3 on "The Old Man".  For question #3, a character trait is a descriptive word.  For example, you might think that Knocker is suspicious.  Write down suspicious in the Character Trait column.  Then, you have to give evidence of his being suspicious, which might be that he has difficulty believing that the old man wants to give him something for free.  Write that down, and then come up with two more traits with evidence.

English 8

On Friday, students will have a regular spelling quiz on 15 commonly misspelled words.  They will also have a quiz on nouns and verbs, similar to the sheet the class worked on today.

For homework, students need to complete the journal they were given today (if they didn't finish during class).  The three writing prompt options are as follows:
1. If I could predict the future...
2. The cheater
3. The eeriest experience...

I've asked students to try to use at least one of the following vocabulary words in bold (from "The Golden Pants") in their journal:
1. pinnacle (noun) -- the highest point
2. remorse (noun) -- a feeling of guilt
3. maternal (adjective) -- relating to mothers
4. luster (noun) -- a gentle shine or soft glow
5. dowdy (adjective) -- dull, unstylish, ordinary
6. gusto (noun) -- great enthusiasm
7. heretic (noun) -- an unbeliever

English 11

Tonight, read the short story distributed in class.  Do not do the questions; just come up with one question about the story that puzzles or intrigues you. Also, please do not look up the story online.  I will not be marking you on your answers to the questions; it's more important that you come up with ideas about the story yourself.

Email me tonight if you need a copy of the story.

English 8

For homework, complete the Venn diagram (two interlocking circles) distributed in class by listing the similarities and differences between the two stories "The Golden Pants" and "The Sweater".  When you have done this, complete the following sentences:  The message of "The Sweater" is __________________.  This message is different from the one in "The Golden Pants" because ____________________.
If you want to see the video of "The Sweater", you can do so by clicking here.

Finally, begin to study the next 15 commonly misspelled  words for Friday:

• belief -- note the "ie"
• bruise  -- note the "ui"
• bought  
• brake  -- this word can be a verb meaning to slow down or stop or it can be a noun meaning the device used to stop a vehicle
• break -- this word can mean the verb to fragment into pieces or it can be a noun that has two meanings i) a fragmenting of something  ii) a pause or rest during an activity
• business  -- remember to spell the word this way:  busy, busy, bus + iness = business
• busy  
• buy  -- remember the "u" when you are writing about purchasing something
• bye  -- this is what you say when saying farewell
• by  -- this is the preposition to tell you where something is (e.g. The cat is by the door.)
• emigrate -- to leave one country and move permanently to another (e.g. Terry's dad emigrated from France in 1989; he has lived in Vancouver ever since then.)
• immigrate -- to come to one country and establish a home, leaving an old country behind (e.g. Terry's dad immigrated to Canada in 1989; he originally came from France.)
• environment -- note the "nm" in this word
• eerie -- this word means spooky or inspiring fear (e.g. Jena left when eerie music began to play.)
• aerie-- the nest of a large bird of prey built high up on a cliff (e.g. High above the forest, the eagle watched the world from his lofty aerie.)

There are two different words (eerie and aerie) on this list than on the green class list because I mistakenly used two words you have already studied.

English 11

For homework, read the short story distributed in class and answer the corresponding questions for Monday.

English 11

On Thursday, classes will be reduced to 65 minutes to accommodate the Terry Fox Run.  As a result, the in-class essay has been moved to this Wednesday.  The topic will be the following:

Show how character helps reveal theme in Tayeb Salih's short story "A Handful of Dates".

You will write your essay on one of the three characters in the story--the narrator, the grandfather, or Masoud--and explain how that person is important to revealing the theme.

Tonight, write the theme statement you will use in your essay.  Use the handout entitled "Theme and the Short Story" for more guidance.  I'll be available at lunch or after school if you want to discuss your preparations.  Just make arrangements to see me.

English 8

Tonight, complete the plot diagram for the short story "The Golden Pants".  I'll do a homework check at the start of the next class.  Also, begin reviewing the next group of tricky spelling words (see previous post).

English 11

We finished the questions on "A Handful of Dates" and then students worked in groups to write a paragraph on the theme of the story. 

I also gave the class a planning sheet for an in-class essay that students will write on Thursday.  I'll explain this more on Monday in class; but if you did not get a copy of this, please email me.

English 8

On Friday, students wrote their weekly spelling test, finished the fairy tale plot project, and were given the class' short story textbook.  No reading was assigned. For homework, students should begin to review the next 15 tricky words:

• already -- this is an adverb used to describe something that has happened before a certain time (e.g. Joe had already finished his homework before his friends invited him out.) 
• all ready -- this is a phrase meaning completely prepared (e.g. As soon as I put on my coat, I'll be all ready to go.)
• all right  -- this term means something is acceptable or satisfactory (e.g. It is not all right to use alright in a written sentence because alright is slang)
• a lot -- this term means many or a great number of something (It is always spelled as two separate words)
• allot -- this verb means to give or allocate something to a group of people (e.g. Students were allotted ten minutes to complete the task.)
• answer -- note the "sw" in this word
• appearance  -- watch the double p and vowels in this word
• appreciate  -- watch the double p
• argument  
• athlete  
• awful  -- remember the w
• awhile -- remember the h
• because  -- if you have trouble remembering how to spell this, say it in a rhythm
• beginning  -- remember this word as "begin" + "ning" (note the double n)
• behaviour  -- the u makes this the Canadian spelling

English 8

Tomorrow, we'll have the spelling test that we've been reviewing for all week.  Students will also present their group posters.  My room will be open at lunch for people who want to put the finishing touches on their assignment.

English 8

Today in class, students worked on their plot diagram posters, reviewed common and proper nouns, learned about concrete and abstract nouns, played some word games, and did some review for the spelling quiz on Friday. 

Yesterday, the students wrote a journal on one of the following writing prompt options:

1. My favourite teacher or coach from elementary school
2. How to deal with difficult people

Please make sure that the journal has been handed in to the #4 bin at the back of the room.

English 11

Tonight, complete questions 1-5 on "A Handful of Dates".  Also, note new words #6-10 of the class vocabulary list:

1. to loathe (v) – to feel intense dislike or disgust for something 
2. contention (n) –  (1) a heated disagreement; (2) an assertion, esp made in an argument 
3. to emerge (v) – (1) to become apparent, important or known; (2) to come into view 
4. transience (n) – lasting only for a short time, fleeting, momentary, passing 
5. to digress (v) – to leave the main subject temporarily in speech or writing 
6. indolent (adj) -- lazy 
7. ablutions (n) -- the washing/cleansing of the body, especially connected with religious practices
8. surfeit (n & v) -- (n) an excessive amount/a surplus of something; (v) to stuff to the maximum capacity
9. callous (adj) -- cold, uncaring, insensitive (callus the noun is the hardened patch of skin, perhaps resulting from friction/hard work)
10. malevolent (adj)  -- evil, having or showing an intent to do evil to others

Yesterday, the students wrote a journal on one of the following writing prompt options:

1. People can sometimes surprise us.
2. Describe favourite place from childhood.

Please make sure that the journal has been handed in to the appropriate bin at the back of the room.

English 8

Each week, students will learn 15 of some of the most misspelled words in English.  When I write these words in my blog, I will sometimes provide definitions as this will help the students tell the difference between similar looking terms.  Additionally, sometimes I will note a word's part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, adverb, etc.) if I think it can help the students learn the term more easily.

For homework this weekend, study these 15 words from the "Tricky Words" list:  

1. accept -- to approve of something; to willingly receive something that is given
2. except -- not including; other than
3. accidentally -- note the double letters
4. advice -- (noun)  John gives the advice, and we all follow it. 
5. advise  -- (verb) Often, you advise me to eat vegetables, yet you never eat them yourself.
6. affect  -- (verb) You affect the outcome of the game when you yell so loudly.
7. effect  -- (noun) The effect my kindergarten teacher had was impressive.
8. aisle  -- a passage between shelves or chairs
9. isle  -- a small island (note that this word is very similar to "island")
10. achievement -- note the vowels here, especially "ie"
11. ache -- note the "k" sound made by the "ch"
12. address  -- note the double letters
13. allowed  -- give permission to do something
14. aloud  -- audible; out loud (note the "loud" in aloud)
15. although --note the "gh" at the end

There will be a quiz next Friday on these words.

English 11

Please answer questions 6 - 9 on the second "Hills Like White Elephants" sheet that I distributed today.  I'll do a homework check on Monday.

Also, please note down our first five vocabulary words, which are as follows:

1. to loathe – to feel intense dislike or disgust for something 
2. contention –  (1) a heated disagreement; (2) an assertion, esp made in an argument 
3. to emerge – (1) to become apparent, important or known; (2) to come into view 
4. transience – lasting only for a short time/fleeting/momentary/passing 
5. to digress – to leave the main subject temporarily in speech or writing 

There will be a quiz in a few weeks once we reach 30 class vocabulary terms.

English 8

Look over the first 15 words on the handout entitled Tricky Words.  There will be a quiz on them next Friday.  Also, come to class tomorrow with a list of five traditional fairy tales that you know.

English 11

Tonight, answer the seven questions at the end of "Hills Like White Elephants" to the best of your ability.  Do not worry about being wrong.  This is an exercise in understanding challenging, interpretive literature.  Do not discuss your answers with anyone tonight, and do not look up answers online--doing either would be worse than answering the questions incorrectly.  We'll discuss the story tomorrow.

Communications 11

Your Communications 11 exam will consist of the following:
1. a short story followed by multiple choice questions (reading comprehension and short story terms)
2. a news article followed by multiple choice questions (reading comprehension)
3. a business letter OR a visual design assignment (go over your letter formats)
4. a three-paragraph minimum composition (like we've been doing this week)

English 8

The novel test will be on Monday.  Tonight, complete the handout entitled "How to Review for a Novel:  The Outsiders".  Don't worry about answering the first page of 50 questions or so.  These are student questions that we will discuss tomorrow.

English 10

On Wednesday, we looked at poetry and poetic devices.  Students who were away camping can get these handouts on their return.  Today, we discussed more poetic devices, answered the Act 11 questions, and watched some of the 1996 version of Romeo and Juliet (I, iv and v).

English 8

Complete the yellow sheet entitled "Important Objects and Their Meanings".  Also, make sure that your Chapter 8 and 9 questions are complete.

English 10

Answer questions 6 and 7 from I, i and then answer all the questions for I, ii.

English 8

Your Body Bios are due on Tuesday.  Also, complete the following for Tuesday:

1. Finish the pink vocabulary package.
2. Complete the first page of the green handout on adjectives.
3. Read Chapter 9.
4. Answer the yellow sheet questions on Chapters 8 and 9.

English 10

Answer the questions on the prologue to Romeo and Juliet, as well as questions #1-5 on Act One, Scene One (I, i).

Communications 11/12

This is your assignment for the weekend (due Tuesday):

Lord of the Flies Captain’s Report

You are Captain Smith of the HMS Valiant.  Write a report to your commanding officer, Admiral Jones of the Royal Navy, about finding 37 English school boys on an uninhabited island in the Pacific (Uninhabited Island #14).

Here is what you should put in your paragraphs:

• Explain what the boys seemed to be doing when you arrived.
• Explain the boys’ physical condition.
• Report on what two boys say about their lives on the island (how they got there and what they’ve been doing)
• Make a recommendation for what should be done about the boys.

English 8

Tonight, finish the questions on Chapter 6 and review those vocabulary words.  The test on Wednesday will include the following:

1. a word bank
2. multiple choice questions and fill in the blank sentences

There will be 6 or 7 multiple questions on synonyms and 4 or 5 questions on antonyms, and about 8 or 9 fill in the blank sentences.  Every word will be used just once.

English 8

Students' news articles are due on Friday (tomorrow), and there will be quiz on verbs on Monday.  The quiz will look very similar to the pre-quiz we had today.  Finally, next Wednesday, there will be a quiz on the vocabulary words from Chapters 1-6.   Here they are for your convenience:

1. acquire (verb) – to obtain; to accomplish; to get as one’s own
2. clammy (adj) - cold and damp; covered with a cold, sticky moisture
3. defiance (noun) - daring or bold resistance to authority or an opposing force
4. contemptuous (adj) - showing disdain, scorn, or disrespect
5. reckless (adj) - utterly unconcerned with the consequences of an action; without caution; carelessness
6. premonition (noun) - feeling or anticipation or anxiety for a future event
7. gingerly (adv) - done with great care or caution; warily
8. incredulous (adj) - skeptical; showing disbelief
9. nonchalantly (adv) - coolly unconcerned; indifferent; casual; unexcited
10. gallantly (adv) - brave, noble, chivalrous
11. clad (v): dressed; wearing an article of clothing
12. ruefully (adv): done with sorrow or regret
13. reformatory (n): an institution for youths who break the law
14. implore (v): to beg
15. apprehensive (adj): nervous and uneasy
16. hue (n):  a particular variety of a colour; a shade
17. indignant (adj):  expressing strong displeasure at something considered to be insulting or offensive
18. sullen (adj):  gloomy; resentfully silent
19. elude (v): to avoid or escape by being quick or skillful
20. doggedly (adv): in a persistent or stubborn manner 

English 8

Today, students were give a news article assignment that is due on Friday.  See the handout for more information.  Also, students handed in their homework on the poem "Richard Cory".  Some did not finish the last part of the handout which asked them to note the similarities between the poem and The Outsiders and then list the differences between the two works.  Please complete this tonight if you have not already finished it.  Here is a copy of the poem to help you.

Richard Cory
by Edwin Arlington Robinson


Whenever Richard Cory went down town,
We people on the pavement looked at him:
He was a gentleman from sole to crown,
Clean favored, and imperially slim.
And he was always quietly arrayed,
And he was always human when he talked;
But still he fluttered pulses when he said,
“Good-morning,” and he glittered when he walked.
And he was rich—yes, richer than a king—
And admirably schooled in every grace:
In fine, we thought that he was everything
To make us wish that we were in his place.
So on we worked, and waited for the light,
And went without the meat, and cursed the bread;
And Richard Cory, on calm summer night,
Went home and put a bullet through his head.

Communications 11/12

Today, we wrote the vocabulary quiz and read Chapter 9 and most of Chapter 10 of the novel.  Your character biographies are due on Thursday.

English 10

Today, we watched the movie of To Kill A Mockingbird.  Students need to hand in their statements on the different broad themes of the novel (see Friday's blog post).

English 10

Finish the novel this weekend if you have not already done so. Begin preparing for these five essay questions:
1. In what ways is this a novel about courage?
2. What values does Atticus teach his children?
3. What major life lessons does Scout learn over the course of the novel?
4. How is this a novel about growing up?
5. How are the Boo Radley and Tom Robinson plot lines connected?

To begin preparing for these questions write down one-sentence or two-sentence responses to each question:
1. What is the novel saying about courage?
2. What is the novel saying about values?
3. What is the novel saying about life lessons?
4. What is the novel saying about growing up?
5. What is the novel saying about scapegoats or victims?

Looking at the essay topics in this way will help you focus your thinking and help you write a stronger essay.

English 8

Read Chapter 4 and complete the questions that I distributed in class.  Also, finish the handout on the poem, "Richard Cory".

Communications 11/12

Your body bios are due next Thursday, May 10th.  You will also have a vocabulary test on the 30 terms from Chapters 1-6 of Lord of the Flies, which are as follows:

1. effulgence: brightness or a brilliant light radiating from something
2. clambering: climbing with difficulty
3. enmity: extreme ill will or hatred that exists between enemies
4. contemptuously: behaving as though other people are inferior or useless
5. astern: positioned behind a boat
6. smart: to feel a stinging pain
7. conspiratorial: two or more people joining together for an immoral reason
8. indignant: being upset over something that is unfair
9. recrimination: accusing someone who has previously charged you with wrongdoing.
10. festooned: decorated with a string or garland
11. inscrutable (adj): impenetrable
12. heed (v): to pay careful attention to something
13. vicissitudes (n): unexpected changes or conditions
14. contrite (adj): feeling sorrow or regret
15. tacit (adj): implied or believed without being spoken aloud
16. furtive (adj): secret or hidden
17. loom (v): to appear in shadowy form; to hover in a threatening manner; to seem to be on the verge of happening
18. discount (v): to ignore or to doubt
19. detritus (n): any disintegrated material or debris
20. malevolently (adv): doing something with ill will or intent
21. atavistic (adj): characterized by reverting back to something ancient or primitive
22. taboo (adj):  forbidden; something that goes against the standards of a society
23. sinewy (adj):  lean and muscular
24. reverence: a deep feeling of respect
25. lamentation: an audible expression of deep grief and sorrow
26. mimicry: the act of imitating someone’s speech or behavior
27. emphatic: strongly expressive in speech or action
28. diffidently: lacking confidence in one’s own ability
29. leviathan: anything of immense size and power
30. mutinously: with a feeling of rebellion

English 8

Answer the questions on Chapter 2.  In addition, fill in the chart for the differences between Socs and Greasers for Chapter 2 only.

English 10

Read Chapters 22 and 23 tonight.

Communications 11/12

Today in class, we read Chapter 7.  Your business letters are due on Wednesday.  There will be a vocabulary quiz on Friday.

English 8

Finish reading Chapter 2 for homework, and complete the fill-in-the-blank section on the vocabulary handout.
There will also be a quiz on nouns on Monday.  The first section will be a matching exercise asking you to pair terms to the correct definition, so know what common, proper, concrete, abstract, count, non-count, and collective nouns are.  The second section will be a short paragraph where you will have to identify different kinds of nouns (just like we did in class on Friday).  Finally, remember that the word the can help you identify nouns.

English 10

We had a vocabulary quiz and read Chapter 18 on Friday.  Read Chapters 19-21 for Monday. If you have not done so already, feel free to read on in the book.

Communications

We read Chapter 5 in class on Friday.  Make sure your vocab sheet for Chapters 5 and 6 is complete for Monday.  In addition, a new business letter was assigned that is due next Wednesday.  There will be a vocabulary quiz next Friday on the 30 vocabulary words that we have been studying.

English 10

Today, we read Chapter 17.  Your visual narrative journals are due tomorrow.  We will also be having a vocabulary quiz tomorrow, so review those words tonight!

English 8

For homework, do the synonym/antonym section of the vocabulary sheet and answer the Chapter 1 questions.  There will be a quiz on nouns early next week, so review your handout.  Know the definition of a noun and be able to define and give one example each of the following:  common, proper, count, non-count, concrete, abstract, and collective nouns)

Comm 11/12

We finished the questions on Chapter 5 today and worked on the next vocabulary sheet.  The visual design assignment is due tomorrow.

Communications 11/12

We finished reading Chapter Five of the novel.  Do questions 2-5 on the study guide.  The Visual Design assignment is due on Friday.

English 10

Study those vocab words!!! Also, the due date for the visual narrative journals has been extended to Friday.

English 8

Finish reading Chapter One of the novel, and complete the second page of the handout on nouns.

English 10

Tonight, read Chapter 14 and do the questions.  There will be a homework check.  We'll go over your answers for Chapters 13 and 14 tomorrow.
In addition, your first narrative journal is due on Wednesday and there will be a vocabulary test on Friday.

Communications 11/12

Complete Chapter 4 questions #1-5 tonight, plus the fill-in-the-blanks section of the vocabulary sheet.

English 8

Complete the vocabulary mix-and-match worksheet tonight.  There will be a homework check tomorrow.

English 8

Your poetry projects are due tomorrow.  Also, you will have a short quiz on poetry terms such as narrative and lyric poems, ballads, epics, haikus, limericks, free verse and concrete poems.

Communications 11/12

Today, we went over answers to questions on Chapter 2, wrote a grammar quiz, were introduced to a new set of vocabulary words from the novel, and read Chapter 3.  If you missed class, make sure to read what we covered today.

English 10

Today, we went over the answers to the questions on Chapter 10 and read Chapter 11.  Please do the Chapter 11 questions tonight for homework. 
The first entry for the visual/narrative journals is next Wednesday, April 25th. Also, the vocabulary test on Chapters 1-11 is on Friday, April 27th--so make sure to start studying those words!!

English 8

The final poetry quiz (#3) will be on Thursday. Makes sure you know terms like lyric and narrative poetry, limerick, concrete poem, haiku, blackout poetry.

Tomorrow, bring what you need to work on your final project in class.

English 10

Read Chapter 10 tonight.  Begin working on the visual narrative journal; the first one is due on Wednesday, April 25th.

Communications 11/12

Tonight, answer the questions on Chapter 2 of the novel.  Also, fill in as much as you can about the fire and Piggy's glasses on the Important Object Chart.

Communications 11/12

Today we read the first ten pages of Lord of the Flies.  Please answer questions #1-3 and finish the vocabulary sheet.

English 10

Finish writing the paragraph on Miss. Maudie for tomorrow.

English 8

Write a list of 10 things you know to be true. 

Write a poem on one of these things. 

The poem does not have to be complete for tomorrow, but at least have the list of 10 things.

English 10

Your response to "A Class Divided" is due tomorrow.  Submit the completed handout with your response.  The topic of your response is to explain the three most memorable aspects of the documentary.

English 8

There will be a small quiz on metaphor, simile, personification, and hyperbole tomorrow.  Review your notes on these terms.

Communications 11/12

Marks cut off is this Friday.  If you have not written the short story test, the rewrite is after school on Thursday in PIVOT.

Communications 11/12

As you all know, the Short Story Unit test is Monday.  Study your short story terms.  You will be applying these to a story you have not seen yet.  The test will include multiple choice questions, fill-in-the-blanks, and some short answers.  There will also be a letter of enquiry task, so review all handouts on this as well as previous writing assignments.

English 10

Read Chapter 6 this weekend.

English 10

Read Chapter 5 tonight.

English 10

Read TKAM Ch 2-3 for tomorrow (Wed)

Read TKAM Ch 4 for Thursday

English 8

Finish writing 3 limericks if you didn't hand them in at the end of class. 

1st limerick: about a friend of yours

2nd limerick: about a meme

3rd limerick: about anything

Communications 11/12

The vocabulary test on Chapters 4-6 will be tomorrow.  There will be a short story test on Monday, so know your terms.  The test will consist of a story you have not seen, multiple choice comprehension questions, fill in the blanks questions on the story and on terms, short answer responses, and a business letter response.

English 8

Your movie must be submitted electronically before the start of class tomorrow (Friday). 

Send your movie file to Ms. Thorpe by clicking the link below and uploading the file:

Click here.

PUT YOUR NAME in the file name. This is very important so I know it's yours.

English 10

Tomorrow be ready to give a short presentation on your research topic and pictures from Wednesday.

Have the character chart completed for Scout, Jem, Dill, Boo, Mr. Radley, and Atticus.

Communications 11/12

Your articles (hard copy and write up) are due tomorrow.

English 8

Here is the format for Thursday's test on short stories:

The first section of the test is based on knowing the short story terms.  A sheet was given out on Friday with all the terms. The format of this first section is fill in the blanks, plus a few short answers.  Students should make sure that they know the plot diagram and its component parts. 

The second section is short answers (one or two points each) about the individual stories (who is the protagonist/antagonist, what is the conflict, what is the moral in story X, etc.). All this should be covered in the class' review sheets. 

The final section is a paragraph response.  If the students remember one story well, they will be able to write this paragraph.

English 8

Today we finished filling in the Short Story Review sheets for all the stories from the unit. Students should finish them for homework if they did not complete them today in class. The test is scheduled for Thursday, March 15th.

English 10

Today we finished reviewing for the short stories unit test and started To Kill a Mockingbird. We did a small in-class journal entry on the question "Where does prejudice come from?" The test is tomorrow, Tuesday, March 13th.

Communications 11/12

Write a character sketch of  the barber in "Just Lather, That's All".  Make sure you cover three character traits that the barber exhibits. Write the sketch according to the expository format that you used for the last composition on student cell phones. 

English 10

The first draft of the character essay has been extended by one day to Thursday, March 8th.

English 8

Finish the questions from "The Monkey's Paw".

English 8

Your paragraph on "The Golden Pants" is due on Monday.  In addition, fill out the review sheet for "The Sentry" for Monday.

English 10

Your character essay was assigned on Friday.  The first draft is due on March 7.  The final draft will be due on March 12.  Begin studying short stories and short story terms (including epiphany and dilemma) short story test on Friday, March 9.

Communications 11/12

Bring your articles (hard copy and write up) to class on Monday.

Communications 11/12

Bring your articles to class tomorrow, as well as the completed handout.

English 10

Answer the questions #4 and #5 for "Harrison Bergeron" in Inside Stories.

For Monday, find something that relates to the story of "Harrison Bergeron" and be ready to explain how it does so. 

English 8

Tonight, finish the writing activity, which asks the following: what is one way in which I am similar to Roger? What is one way in which I am different from Roger?