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?

Communications 11/12

Please finish for tomorrow the paragraph you began writing in class today.

English 10

Today, students wrote a journal on one of these three questions: 

1. What’s the difference between being equal and being the same? 
2. If I were to design an ideal society, I would make sure that everyone was equal by taking these steps…
3. Tell me about a time a stronger opponent let you win at a game. How did this make you feel? Conversely, tell me about a time you let a less able opponent win at a game.  Why did you let him or her win, and how did this make you feel?

English 8

No homework tonight.

English 10

Finish the character analysis sheet, hybrid sentence sheet, and short story review sheets for "The Metaphor" and "The Tell-tale Heart".

English 8

Study for the vocabulary test on Friday.

English 8

Grade 8: 

1) Writing assignment, "What are my golden pants?" (something that happened to me which has made me the strong person I am today) Due March 2nd

2) Final projects for short story unit assigned Due March 16

Communications 11/12

Make sure you complete the first page of the grammar handout for tomorrow.  Also, write down a couple sentences about your impressions about the barber in "Just Lather, That's All".  Is he a coward, a hero, or neither?  Explain.

English 10

Nothing for homework today.

English 8

Answer the questions on "The Golden Pants" for Monday.

English 10

Study for your vocabulary test on Monday.  Your cohesive paragraphs using a minimum of ten vocab words is also due on Monday.

Communications 11/12

Study for your vocabulary test on Monday.

English 10

Your scary stories are due tomorrow (Thursday).  The vocabulary paragraph is due on Monday, Feb. 26th, the same day as the vocabulary quiz.

English 8

Your "Story with a Moral" assignment is due Monday, Feb. 26th.

Communications 11/12

Tomorrow, there will be a quiz on fragments and run-on sentences.  We will also go over the questions on "Genesis and Catastrophe" by Roald Dahl.  On the question sheet, please add this question to the flip side of the handout:

7. What factors mentioned in the story could have affected the baby's development?  Specifically, focus on the characters and emotional states of the parents as well as their relationship.

The vocabulary test on Vocab Packages #1-3 is scheduled for Monday.

Communications 11/12

The sentence sense quiz is postponed until Thursday because of the course programming we did today.  We will read the short story "Genesis and Catastrophe" tomorrow in class.  Also, begin reviewing for your vocabulary quiz next Monday.

Communications 11/12

There will be a quiz on Wednesday on fragments and run-on sentences.  Also, the rewrites of your business letters are due on Wednesday.  Next Monday, Feb. 26, there will be a vocabulary test on the following words:

1. conceal (v):  to hide from view
2. dash (v): to throw something against the floor or a wall
3. drawback (n):  a negative quality
4. imp (n): a small fiend; a naughty little child
5. meddle (v):  to interfere in other people's business
6. particle (n): a small fragment of a larger thing
7. prolong (v): to extend the duration of something
8. slay (v): to kill
9. temper (v): to harden by heating and then cooling
10. utter (v): to say
11. aggravate (v): to irritate or annoy
12. bellow (v): to yell
13. hardhearted (adj): unfeeling or unmoved by others' pain
14. inclined (adj): likely to do something
15. rile (v): annoy; anger
16. sprawl (v): to lie with arms and legs spread out
17. swagger (v): to walk with extreme confidence or arrogance
18. tormentor (n): one who inflicts pain on another
19. trademark (n): a stamp of authenticity
20. vice (n): illegal or grossly immoral conduct
21. affliction (n): physical or mental distress
22. compassion (n): pity or sympathy for the suffering of others
23. despise (v): hate
24. dungeon (n): a prison cell usually located underground
25. lash (n): a whip
26. passport (n): an official document of identification that allows one to travel abroad
27. plank (n): a board
28. refuge (n): a place of safety
29. repentant (adj): full of remorse for a past sin
30. salvation (n): the act of being saved from harm or destruction; the saving of a soul from deliverance of sin

English 10

Complete the questions for "The Metaphor" for tomorrow.  Also, your scary stories are due on February 22nd.

Here are the vocabulary words that you will have to know for next Monday's test:

Vocabulary Words—February 2018 English 10

You were assigned last Friday to write a cohesive paragraph using a minimum of 10 of the following words.  This paragraph is due no later than Monday, Feb. 26th.

1. desolation (noun): devastation, ruin, barrenness, dreariness, depopulation
2. refuge (n): a place of safety
3. vernacular (n): plain, everyday ordinary language of a specific place
4. rear (verb):- when an animal goes up on its hind legs
5. obliquely (adverb): indirectly, evasively, coming at an angle and not straight on
6. divert (v): to change direction or redirect attention
7. perversion (n): a change from what is natural and normal to what is unnatural and abnormal
8. exquisite (adjective): special beauty or charm, intense feeling such as pleasure or pain
9. indomitable (adj): unbeatable, cannot be conquered
10. lacerated (v): savagely cut or sliced, mangled/jagged/torn
11. propinquity (n): nearness (in place, relationship, or time)
12. inimical (adj): harmful, hostile, unfriendly
13. ochre (noun/adjective): yellow/orange earth or pigments, yellow/orange colour
14. trussed (v): tied tightly, bound up to prevent movement
15. fleece (noun): the soft, wooly hair of a sheep
16. inherit (v): receive money or a title as an heir at the death of the previous holder; to receive or be left with a situation or object from a predecessor or former owner
17. congeal (v): to thicken; to set; to solidify (esp. because of cooling); to coagulate (as in blood)
18. plush (adj): rich, luxurious fabric
19. beam (v): to smile broadly
20. spry (adj): active; lively (esp. an older person)
21. conspicuous (adj): obvious; glaringly apparent
22. quill (n): a feather
23. mutton (n): sheep meat
24. audacity (noun): boldness; gall
25. derision (noun): ridicule; scorn
26. dissemble (verb): to lie
27. sagacity (noun): wisdom
28. tattoo (noun): rhythmic rapping
29. vex (verb): to irritate or annoy
30. epiphany (n): the point in a work of literature where a character has a sudden insight or realization that changes his or her understanding

English 8

Paragraph: Tell me about a power you have that can also be a weapon.

Due Thurs, Feb 22

Communications

Begin searching for another article.  Vocabulary Package sections 4 and 5 are due Monday.  Also, finish the questions on "Supertoys Last All Summer Long".

English 10

Homework:
Write a creepy/scary story about something that happened to you (doesn’t have to entirely true) which was scary at the time, but ended up being funny.

Requirements:

1. 10 powerful adjectives
2. Vivid verbs
3. At least one simile or metaphor
4. Underline #2 and #3
5. Summarize the plotline of your story in point form:

• Event:
• Setting:
• Hook/inciting incident:
• Rising action:
• Climax:
• Falling action:
• Resolution:

English 8

No homework this weekend.

Communications 11/12

Bring your articles to school for discussion tomorrow.  Finish Section #3 of Vocabulary Pack #3. 

English 10

Students read "The Telltale Heart" and looked at questions #1-5.  No specific homework tonight.

English 8

No homework tonight.

English 8

Today in class, students discussed "The Weapon", the difference between a moral and a theme, and completed an activity using children's literature.

English 10

Students who did not finish today's journal must do so tonight.

Comm 11/12

Business letters were handed in today.  Students need to complete the short paragraph about the article on stem cells.  In addition, they need to come up with three questions (not answers) that occurred to them while reading the article.

English 8

We had a spelling test on the words from the last English 8 post. We also read "The Weapon," and discussed questions as a class. 

English 10

Tonight, write a well-organized paragraph on whether "The Doll's House" is an optimistic or pessimistic story.

Communications 11/12

Tomorrow, your business letters are due.

English 8

If you did not complete the writing assignment in class on Friday, do so this weekend.  Have it ready to hand in on Tuesday.  Also, here are the answers to the pre-quiz that were discussed at the end of last class.  The quiz itself will be on Tuesday, so study these words.

Spelling and Usage Pre-Quiz

Sentry Words--know how to spell and use these!

1. I am afraid the enemy will infiltrate our camp.
2. The infantry was no match for the airplanes and tanks.
3. The soldier’s wound was disgusting, ghastly, and repulsive.
4. The process of taking over and settling in a new land is called colonization.  

Tricky Words--know how to spell and use these!

1. In the end, the other team had to accept defeat. (verb)
2. Everyone loves spaghetti except me.
3. I accidentally spilled spaghetti last time I ate it.
4. I have some good advice for you. (noun)
5. I would advise you to take your driver’s test when you’re young. (verb)
6. The rainy weather doesn’t affect me.
7. A sunburn is one effect of staying out in the sun too long.
8. The cereal can be found in aisle number 3.
9. Ireland is one of the British Isles.
10. I got an A in English and it was quite an achievement.  

English 10

Complete the questions on "The Doll's House" for Tuesday.  If you don't understand some of the questions, move on to the ones that you can answer.

Communications 11/12

Complete the vocabulary package for Tuesday, and the business letter for Wednesday.

English 10

No homework tonight.

Communications 11/12

Bring your articles to class on Friday.

English 8

No homework tonight.

English 10

Complete questions #1-7 on "The Inheritor" for tomorrow.  There will be a homework check.

Communications

Make sure your vocabulary package is complete, and collect a new article for Friday's class.  You will have to bring in a copy of it.

English 8

There is no homework for tonight.  Be prepared to know your vocabulary words well enough to compose super sentences with them tomorrow.

English 10

Hello 10s!

As soon as I figure out how to post a video on this blog, I'll put up the scene we viewed on Thursday. 
This weekend for homework, imagine you are the main character in "The Inheritor".  At the point in the story where we left off, the man is about to endanger his own well being to protect a ewe from being attacked by a dingo.  If you were on this ever-shrinking island, would you make a similar choice?  Why or why not?  Write down your thoughts in 3-5 sentences and be prepared to discuss them on Monday.  We will finish reading the story then.

You will see the vocabulary words we discussed today, so start learning them now!

Communications 11/12

Hello 11s and 12s!
You should be in the process of selecting a good novel to read by April 28th.  Also, as every Friday we will be discussing news articles, make sure to scan the papers so that you have a stunning story to present next Friday!

English 8

Hello 8s!
Welcome to my blog.  We've had a good start to the semester, and students are already delving into our short story unit.  Ms. Thorpe will be keeping me up to date on your homework assignments, and I will post them here when I receive them.

I hope you are all thinking about the book you have to choose and read on your own for the Book Talk assignment.  You have until April 28 to find and read a book you like.  On April 28th, students will come to class prepared to say a few words about their novel.  Then, I will make a class list of great books to read, so you'll never have to be without great reading material!