Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Tuesday 11/30

Period 1: Great job finding poetic devices in the songs you found.  HW: keep reading/logging and writing Cornell Notes

Period 2,7,8:
We talked about songs today, reviewed poetic devices and checked in on Cornell notes.  Remember just 13 days left to get the notes DONE!! HW: keep reading/logging and writing Cornell Notes

Monday, November 29, 2010

Monday 11/29

Welcome back my groggy-eyed students! We're still talking poetry and looking deeply for the symbolism and the reasons for particular word choices.
Period 1:  We looked at the music you brought in in small groups and began explicating the songs.  Tonight you will need to take notes on and finish the explication on your own so you are prepared to discuss it fully with your partner tomorrow before you present to the class. Be sure also to be reading/logging and taking your Cornell Notes.

Period 2, 7,8: We finished our discussion of the second and third poem of the packet today.  HW for tonight is to read/log and take Cornell notes--you should have at least 8 already!

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Monday and Tuesday 11/22 and 23

  HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Don't forget--I will collect reading logs on Monday 11/29 and your three weeks with this new book have begun.  Reading Logs should include the date you read, the level of your book, pages read, minutes  read , your rating (1--10) and at least on parent initial.

STILL LOOKING?  Check out this ap for i-pods http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kids-book-review/id380057894?mt=8 it's got some great reviews and lots of choices for teens.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Thursday and Friday 11/18 and 11/19

We worked on Poetry both days in all periods.  We looked at poetic devices and how poets manipulate language.  Homework for all classes is to be sure you have chosen an IR book at your level and begin reading, logging your reading time and taking Cornell notes again.  Have a great weekend--Mrs. C

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Wednesday 11/17

Period 1:  I collected some awesome Cornell notes!  We worked through some vocab words and read Maryln Krysl's "Saying Things" from the poetry packets and discussed her celebration of words and language.  HW: choose two words you have not heard from your vocab packet and write sentences for them include a ton of context!

Period 2,7,8:  I collected reading logs and Cornell Notes.  Nice job.  We read over vocab words from page 2 of the vocab packet.  We then read "Always Bring a Pencil" by Naomi Shihab Nye.  HW: Write a sentence teeming with context for each of the two words you circled in class today.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Tuesday 11/16/10

Period 1:  We shared stories and tricks--nice creativity.  We also began to explore what poetry is and what it means to each of us.  We read Naomi Shihab Nye's poem "Always Bring a  Pencil" and explored its meaning and how it uses language to construct meaning.  HW: Organize and finish Cornell notes and reading logs, also write two additional sentences using two new vocab words--do this in daily notes section of binder.

Period 2,7,8:  We also shared our stories, nice job using the tricks.  Students also worked together on crafting two more sentences using tow additional vocab words from page 1.  We then discussed what poetry means then read "Saying Things" by Marylin Krysl.  This poem is really a celebration of words, "a birthday party for the mouth".  HW: Organize and finish Cornell notes and be sure to have a completed reading log to turn in tomorrow (requires one parent signature).

Monday, November 15, 2010

Monday 11/15

Period 1, 2, 7, 8:  We looked at some vocabulary words we will be using for our next interdisciplinary project and spent time organizing IR work and Connections work. HW is to write a story in your writer's notebook using 2 Smiley Face Tricks and 2 vocabulary words.  Underline the vocab words and draw a smiley face for each trick.  Also --Cornell Notes are due on Wednesday!

Friday, November 12, 2010

Friday 11/12

Period 1: Great job in literature circles today. It seems most of you truly embraced the task of finding connections between the stories and some good conversations grew out of that struggle.  HW: Read in IR books and work on Cornell Notes which will be collected next Wednesday.  Reminder--FILL OUT READING LOGS as you read!  This is a weekly assignment.

Period 2,7,8--Today students put on their editor's glasses and read over and corrected their essays from Wednesday.  They then moved on to reading in their IR books. HW: Read in IR books and work on Cornell Notes which will be collected next Wednesday.  Reminder--FILL OUT READING LOGS as you read!  This is a weekly assignment.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Wednesday 11/10/10

Period 1: Great job in lit circles today discussing the story.  You really referred to the text to support your assertions well and consistently.  Keep it up.  Your hw for tonight is to read your IR books, complete more Cornell Notes and we will try to make connections between all the short stories on Friday.

Period 2,7,8:  Well be glad you have tomorrow to rest your hands. I haven't yet looked at your essays but you did write for hte whole period.  Some of you will require more time and will get it on Friday in class.  be sure to have your Ir books and a good pair of "editor's glasses".  For hw you should continue reading in your IR books and plugging away at the Cornell notes--7 days left!

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Tuesday 11/9/10

Period 1:  We discussed Tolstoy's quote, "Seize the moments of happiness, love and be loved! That is the only reality in the world, all else is folly."  We then began reading and annotating "God Sees the Truth but Waits" by Tolstoy.  The hw assignment is to complete reading the story and to also work on COrnell notes books and notes are due on the 17th.

Period 2, 7, 8:  Today we spent the period discussing why people change.  This is how we began the short story unit.  Tomorrow in class students will be asked to answer the question:  Based on the short stories we read in class, why do people change?  Use evidence from the stories to support your answer to the question.  In your answer, you will be expected to provide the title and author of each short story and relevant details that support your opinion.
Also students were reminded that Cornell notes and IR books are due by Nov 17.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Monday 11/8/10

Period 1:  Today we worked in our lit circles and really investigated the idea of illusion in the story.  We also looked at and tried to determine the theme of the story.  Tonight's homework is to reflect on today's and Friday's discussion and write the answer to the question "Were the effects of the experiment real or just an illusion?" Students are reminded to use examples from the text to support their opinions.  Also a reminder was given that Cornell notes are due on November 17th!

Period 2, 7, 8:  We spent the period today discussing theme and students were placed in cooperative groups where they discussed the theme of "Thank You, M'am" by Langston Hughes.  HW for tonight is to list all of the characters from each of the four short stories we have read and to tell how any of the characters have changed.  htey were also reminded Cornell notes are due on November 17.

The short story titles for which students are responsible include the following:
"Raymond's Run"
"Thank You, M'am"
"A Retrieved Reformation"
"Charles"

Friday, November 5, 2010

Friday 11/5/10

Period 1: Nice job finding hints that the effects of the Fountain of Youth may well be illusion.  Your homework is to read your IR books and to complete Cornell notes.

Period 2,7,8: Nice job using the text today to find the hints Langston Hughes gave his readers in the story.  Reading text carefully is demanding work.  Your Homework is to read your IR books and to complete Cornell notes.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Wednesday 11/3/10

Unfortunately I have a sick child and have stayed home today.  While Ms. Lieb was in as the substitute teacher the following work was completed in classes (I hope!)
Period 1:  Students met in lit circles and discussed "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment" after they read it last night.  They then began their second read and began adding more annotations.  HW: Finish role specific assignments and read in IR books.

Period 2,7,8:  In class today students filled out notes on the short story "Thank You M'am" and then read in their IR books. HW is to continue reading and to complete several more Cornell Notes.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Tuesday 11/2/10--ELECTION DAY

Period 1: I checked Cornell notes today while you wrote stories about the Fountain of Youth.  Be sure you are reacting in your Cornell notes --don't just retell.  We also started reading "Dr. Heideggers Experiment" by Nathaniel Hawthorne.  You read a bit with your class mates and began annotating the first read through.  The annotations should be brief and be a combination of vocab defintions and reactions to what your are reading.  In asking you to do this I am begging you to SLOW DOWN and check for understanding!  I know you all can read the words I want to be convinced you are trying hard to understand them as well.

Period 2, 7,8: We read "Thank You M'am" by Langston Hughes today.  As you were reading you were encouraged to stop and discuss the story as you came to the end of paragraphs and pages to ensure understanding.  Your homework is to read in your IR books and complete several Cornell Notes--your book is due Nov. 17!!

Monday 11/1/10


Period 1:  We did not meet today so the hw remains to read in your IR books and to complete Cornell Notes—20 are due by Nov 17 when your IR books need to be complete.

Period 2--No class today due to the delayed start. HW remains to read in your IR books and to complete Cornell Notes—20 are due by Nov 17 when your IR books need to be complete.

Period 7,8--We did meet today and you wrote some pretty funny stories about Harlem, purse snatching and shaking him until his teeth rattled.  Your HW is also to read in your IR books and to complete Cornell Notes—20 are due by Nov 17 when your IR books need to be complete.