Monday, December 22, 2014

Weeks of December 15th and December 22nd


"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." - William Butler Yeats

The goal of this English class is to produce critical thinkers. Students are not only reading for comprehension but for meaning and relevancy of the work as a whole. Literature is also an example of good writing. The writing improves when a student reads. Vocabulary also improves because the student is learning to read in context. We want successful students who can think critically and communicate effectively.    

Hoping you all have a very Happy Holiday and a joyous New Year with family and friends!
Be safe and warm, surrounded with the ones you love.  Time, after all, is all we have.  Create memories, for that is our legacy.  Rest, Relax, and Enjoy! 

Academic English 9: Students will analyze and apply vocabulary.  They will identify subject/verb in independent clauses.  They will identify clauses and phrases with specific attention given to prepositional phrases.  Students will read, analyze, and respond to poetry and to informational articles on authors/culture. 

Practical English Literature 10:   Students will read and respond to a variety of informational passages and literature.  They will be responsible for identifying and applying literary elements and devices for understanding, meaning, and relevancy.

Public Speaking: Speeches will commence.  Students will be responsible for preparation for the Reflective Speech due upon return.

SAT Prep: Students will continue to utilize technology for practice.

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Weeks of December 1st and 8th, 2014

 

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." - William Butler Yeats

The goal of this English class is to produce critical thinkers. Students are not only reading for comprehension but for meaning and relevancy of the work as a whole. Literature is also an example of good writing. The writing improves when a student reads. Vocabulary also improves because the student is learning to read in context. We want successful students who can think critically and communicate effectively.   
    
Academic English 9:  All Poetry Projects must be printed or emailed to me by December 8th.  Students will be working on Vocabulary Unit 4:  Negative Judgments, Complaints.  They will be required to analyze the word through its breakdown and dissection.  Students will need to identify and use the word in context.  Vocabulary Unit 4 and Grammar Test will be on Monday, December 8th.  Students will work on the Poetry Unit.  They will be required to read and respond to poetry.  Students will need to identify and apply poetical elements and devices.  There will be a quiz on the poetical devices on Thursday, December 11th. 

Practical English Literature 10: Students will be working on Literary elements and devices, responding to literature, analyzing informational texts, and reading in context.  All Friday Night Lights Requirements are due by Thursday, December 12th, with a test on 12/15.  Students will be assigned Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 which will be due on December 22nd. 
 
Public Speaking: Students will be working on the Persuasive/Argumentative Speech.  Speeches will commence on 12/16.

SAT Prep: Students will be working on strategies and skills to be utilized on the SAT.  Subject /Verb Agreement, Subordinate Clause/Phrase Identification, Pronoun/Antecedent Agreement, Vocabulary, Reading and Responding to literature will be practiced through sample tests and interactive websites.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Weeks of November 17th and November 24th, 2014


"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." - William Butler Yeats

The goal of this English class is to produce critical thinkers. Students are not only reading for comprehension but for meaning and relevancy of the work as a whole. Literature is also an example of good writing. The writing improves when a student reads. Vocabulary also improves because the student is learning to read in context. We want successful students who can think critically and communicate effectively.  
 
Academic English 9: Students will complete the Grammar Portion of the Vocabulary Unit 3 Test.  They will be responsible for identifying subject and verb in the independent clause.  Ideally, students should be able to identify subordinate clauses and phrases as well.  They will use the phrases and clauses charts, the notes, and the Warriner's text to help them identify, differentiate between the two,  and label each  phrase and subordinate clause.  Students will begin work on the Poetry Project.  They will be responsible for identifying poetic elements/devices, applying the poetic elements/devices, and creating two poems.  The students have been given a prompt/requirements, a rubric, and a list of the required poetic elements/devices.  The due date is November 26th.

Practical English Literature 10: Students are working on reading, analyzing, responding, and identifying and applying literary devices in Friday Night Lights.  They will also specifically work on responding to literature questions in preparation for the Keystones.

Public Speaking: Students are working on the Persuasive/Argumentative Speech.  They will be required to use reliable/valid sources in a logical organization.  Speeches will commence in mid-December.

SAT Prep: Students will be practicing strategies and skills to help them succeed on the SAT:  identifying words/ vocabulary in context, agreement (pronoun/antecedent, subject/verb), parallelism, sentence structure, and identifying key words in the questions.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Weeks of November 3rd and November 10th, 2014

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." - William Butler Yeats

The goal of this English class is to produce critical thinkers. Students are not only reading for comprehension but for meaning and relevancy of the work as a whole. Literature is also an example of good writing. The writing improves when a student reads. Vocabulary also improves because the student is learning to read in context. We want successful students who can think critically and communicate effectively.       
                
Academic English 9: Students will be working on the literary analysis.  They will be required to identify literary devices, show how they support the message of the novel/movie, create a thesis, show relevancy, and apply critical thinking skills through the analyses.  Students will experience the writing process:  brainstorming/freewriting, outline, rough draft, editing/proofreading, and final copy.  They will be completing 2 literary analyses.  The final drafts need to be uploaded to edmodo.com.  The Night essay is due November 3rd and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is due November 10th.  Students will be responsible for Vocabulary Unit 3 Positive Judgments, Agreements:  identifying affixes, origin/root, synonym, antonym, creating sentences, and completing a review sheet.  They will need to identify subjects/verbs, and they will be introduced to subordinate clauses, phrases.  There will be a Vocabulary Unit 3 Test on Friday, November 14th.

Practical English Literature 10: Students are working on reading, analyzing, responding, and identifying and applying literary devices in Friday Night Lights.  They will also specifically work on responding to literature questions in preparation for the Keystones.

Public Speaking: Chapters 16 and 17 are due by November 7th.  Students will be working on the Persuasive Speech.  They will be required to identify statements as fact, policy, or ethic to help them create a purpose statement for the speech. Students will critique JFK's Inaugural Address.  They will be responsible for identifying rhetoric skills.

SAT Prep: Strategies and skills will be applied to practice tests.  Analysis of answers through review.

Friday, October 24, 2014

Week of October 20th and 27th 2014

   

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." - William Butler Yeats

The goal of this English class is to produce critical thinkers. Students are not only reading for comprehension but for meaning and relevancy of the work as a whole. Literature is also an example of good writing. The writing improves when a student reads. Vocabulary also improves because the student is learning to read in context. We want successful students who can think critically and communicate effectively.       
                

                                     **** ATTENTION ACADEMIC ENGLISH 9****

I want to thank the students for their openness to learning, to their diligence, and to their patience!  I want to continue the relaxed environment where questioning and discussion are primary to learning and for there to be a continued  line of open communication.  In pursuant of that goal, I want the students to bring in their essays so that I may personally review the theses and help them apply literary analysis.  THE ESSAYS WILL NOT BE FORMALLY DUE ON SUNDAY!  PLEASE BRING IN A THESIS, AN OUTLINE, AND A ROUGH DRAFT FOR MONDAY.

Academic English 9: The students have been identifying theme and identifying perspective through the review and critiquing of the Documentaries.  The students have been assigned an essay that will need to be turned in through edmodo.com.  The prompt, outline template, and rubric can be found on this site.  The assignment is due by Sunday, October 26th.  The students will finally watch The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.  They will be responsible for responding to the movie in a written response which will be due by Sunday, November 3rd on edmodo.com.

Practical English Literature 10:  The students will continue reading and responding to the novel, Friday Night Lights.  They will work on identifying tone when responding to passages.

Public Speaking: Informational Speeches will commence nextweek.  Speech dates  have been given.

10th Grade SAT Prep: The students will take a final practice test to demonstrate their use of skills and strategies.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Week of October 13th, 2014

Academic English 9:  Students will complete the Propaganda Poster Projects.  They will review and critique the Documentaries. Students will identify Vocabulary and Subject/Verb Agreement through review of the Vocabulary Test.  They will also be introduced to phrases and clauses.  A new vocabulary list will be distributed.  Word dissection and analysis is necessary for identifying and using a word in context.  Through the viewing of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, the students will be required to identify and apply literary devices from the novel, Night.  Meaning and relevancy may then be applied to the message of the literary work.

Practical English Literature 10: Students will work on word dissection and analysis and vocabulary in context.  They will identify tone for fiction and nonfiction literature.  Students will read and respond to literature in the Short Story Unit.  The novel, Friday Night Lights and the accompanying study guide will be distributed.  Reading Assignment dates will be discussed and assigned.  Students are reading for meaning and relevancy of the literature.   

Public Speaking:  Students will continue working of the Informative Speech.  They will be required to read and respond to Chapters 13-15 in the text.  Speeches will commence on October 20th.

10th Grade SAT Prep: Students will continue to identify and apply reading and writing strategies. 

Monday, October 6, 2014

Week of October 6th, 2014

Academic English 9:  Due to my absence,  the Vocabulary Unit 2 Test has been moved to Monday, October 6th.  The students will be able to differentiate between perspective and bias.  They will be given the requirements for the Propaganda Poster Project.  Students will need to identify and apply propaganda techniques to create a poster which will impact today's society to promote particular ideas, doctrines, or practices.  They will be using Microsoft Publisher and/or Drawing the poster.  The project will be due on Friday, October 10th.

Practical English Literature 10: Review and application of literary devices:  genre, theme, allegory, alliteration, imagery, symbols, characterization (flat, round, dynamic, static, foil), hyperbole, conflict, climax, resolution, tone, personification, foreshadowing, assonance, and consonance.

Public Speaking: Students are working on the Informative Speech.  They will need to research and organize information, complete outlines, produce MLA citations, create visual aids, and write hard copies.  Utilization of their sources will be required.  Continue note taking for Chapters 10-12 and Chapters 13-15.

SAT Prep: Students will use their strategies and skills to complete practice tests.

Monday, September 29, 2014

Week of September 29th, 2014

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." - William Butler Yeats


The goal of this English class is to produce critical thinkers. Students are not only reading for comprehension but for meaning and relevancy of the work as a whole. Literature is also an example of good writing. The writing improves when a student reads. Vocabulary also improves because the student is learning to read in context. We want successful students who can think critically and communicate effectively.


Academic English 9:  Students will continue reading and responding to the novel, Night. The students will be required to add to their novel notes due on Thursday, October 2nd.  They will be required to identify conflict, climax, metaphor, symbolism, allusion, foreshadowing, character development, major and minor themes.  Vocabulary Unit 2 and Grammar Test is on Wednesday, October 1st.  The students will complete the Documentary for Thursday, October 2nd.  Creation requires critical thinking skills, application of knowledge, use of creativity, and attention to detail.  They will demonstrate the relevancy of Night for today's reader through the parallelism of meaning found in the novel and current conditions in the world today.

Practical English Literature 10: Students will focus on applying literary devices and elements for relevancy of Poes' "Masque of the Red Death".  They will be able to identify and apply allegory, the use of metaphor, and imagery.  Students will be responsible for demonstrating meaning for today's reader by applying it to modern times. 

Public Speaking:  Students have begun preliminary research for the Informative Speech.  They will locate and identify valid sources.  They will create purpose statements.  They will identify topic and audience.  They will create theses statements.  They will organize and synthesize information.  They will be required to create visual aids for their speech presentations.  MLA citation will be required for the hard copies of the speech.

10th Grade SAT Prep: Students will identify colleges to which they will apply.  They will be given criteria to research to help their search become more focused.  They will apply the strategies and skills they have learned to timed practice tests.  They will practice strategies with online websites.

Monday, September 22, 2014

Weeks of September 15th and 22nd

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." - William Butler Yeats


The goal of this English class is to produce critical thinkers. Students are not only reading for comprehension but for meaning and relevancy of the work as a whole. Literature is also an example of good writing. The writing improves when a student reads. Vocabulary also improves because the student is learning to read in context. We want successful students who can think critically and communicate effectively.
 
Academic English 9: Students will continue reading and responding to the novel, Night. RA 2 is due on September 22nd and RA 3 is due on Friday, September 26th.  Vocabulary Unit 2 is due by Tuesday, September 23rd.  The students have begun work in their groups on the Documentary.  Creation requires critical thinking skills, application of knowledge, use of creativity, and attention to detail.  They will demonstrate the relevancy of Night for today's reader through the parallelism of meaning found in the novel and current conditions in the world today.

Practical 10 Literature: Students will create alternative endings for the short story, the "Monkey's Paw". They will be required to demonstrate knowledge of tone and theme when creating the ending.  Students will then read, respond, and analyze Edgar Allan Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death".

Public Speaking: Students will be required to read and respond to the text.  Chapter 7 due on Monday, 9/22.  Chapter 4 due on Wednesday, 9/24.  Chapter 6 due on Monday, 9/29.  They will watch and critique Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" Speech which will be due on Friday, 9/26.  Students will be required to create an introductory speech for a peer based on the speech that they have heard.  This will assess their listening skills.

SAT Prep: Students will continue to learn strategies and hone skills.  Responding to informational articles will be the focus this week.  Using facts, identifying implication and inference questions, and identifying organization of an article will be practiced.  They will also be using the internet sites for prep. The College Board site, Number 2 site, and StudyStack will be used. 

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Week of September 8th, 2014

Academic English 9: Students will be assigned the novel Night.  There will be research and discussion on the culture and time period of the book.  The research will serve as a beginning point for their group projects.  They will be required to read and respond to informational articles, research valid sources on the internet, complete a documentary, and create a propaganda poster for current events.  Reading Assignment 1 will be due on Monday, September 15th.

Public Speaking and Research:  Students will complete and practice their Introductory Speeches.  Chapter 3 will be due on Wednesday, September 9th.  Chapter 5 will be due on Monday, September 15th. Speeches will commence on Monday, the 15th.

Practical English Literature 10:  Students will read and respond to the Short Story Unit.  The analysis and discussion on literary devices will be necessary for application to the literature.  The students will read and analyze "The Monkey's Paw".  They will be responsible for responding to the literature in a reading prompt which will be due on Friday, September 12th.

SAT Prep: The students have identified the differences between reading in context and fact based questions. Hint words and strategies have been introduced and reviewed for use on the SAT. The students will complete practice tests. They will be required to answer the "question of the day". They will also be given vocabulary that may be tested on the SAT.

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Week of September 1, 2014

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." - William Butler Yeats


The goal of this English class is to produce critical thinkers. Students are not only reading for comprehension but for meaning and relevancy of the work as a whole. Literature is also an example of good writing. The writing improves when a student reads. Vocabulary also improves because the student is learning to read in context. We want successful students who can think critically and communicate effectively.

9th Academic English: Due to the Assemblies, the Pep Rally, and the Fire Drill, the Grammar and Vocabulary Unit 1 Test has been moved to Wednesday, September 2nd.  Students will be required to identify, define, and use the vocabulary in context.  They will also be required to identify subject(s) and verb(s) in the sentences.  We will begin the novel, Night by Elie Wiesel.  The students will be required to complete reading assignments, notes, and a study guide for the novel.  They will be given informational texts on the time period, watch The Boy in the Striped Pajamas for parallelism and literary devices, and complete a group project.  Reading Assignment 1 will be due on Friday, September 11th. 

Public Speaking and Research: The students will have read and discussed Chapters 1 and 2 of the textbook by September 4th.  They will be able to identify at least one weakness they have while presenting information in front of an audience.  The goal is effective communication, therefore, planning and preparation are imperative to good speech presentations.  Their first speech is due on Septembers 15th, 16th, and 17th.

SAT Prep 10th Grade:  The students have identified the differences between reading in context and fact based questions.  Hint words and strategies have been introduced and reviewed for use on the SAT.  The students will visit the College Board site to setup accounts for the SAT.  They will be required to answer the "question of the day".

10th Grade Practical Literature:  The students will be working on the short story "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson.  We will be focusing on theme, relevancy, and tone.  They will be given informational literature on the time period to help them understand and respond to the story.  The students should be using their critical thinking skills to make connections to the importance of the author's message for today's culture.  There will be a reading response question on Friday, September 5th.

Monday, August 25, 2014

Week of August 25th, 2014

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." - William Butler Yeats


The goal of this English class is to produce critical thinkers. Students are not only reading for comprehension but for meaning and relevancy of the work as a whole. Literature is also an example of good writing. The writing improves when a student reads. Vocabulary also improves because the student is learning to read in context. We want successful students who can think critically and communicate effectively.

Welcome Back!  I look forward to your continued success in school and hope to facilitate the positive and productive educational experience you can each receive here at NS.  Diligence, dedication, and determination by both the teacher and the student are necessary for academic achievement.  Please reach out to me with any concerns at jhoppel@northschuylkill.net...acknowledgements are welcome too!

 
9th Academic English: Students will be introduced to the expectations of the class on Monday. The students will be working on Vocabulary Unit 1.  The vocabulary unit incorporates knowledge of the word from its origin to its definition and application.  The creation of sentences demonstrates knowledge and effective communication.  The review through sentence completion applies reading in context.  The application incorporates knowledge and utilization of grammar through sentence dissection.  There will be a Vocabulary Unit 1/Grammar Test on Friday, August 29th.

Public Speaking and Research: In the beginning, students will be required to read, comprehend and take notes on the text, preparing them for the requirements of Public Speaking, which includes the utilization of research skills that they will need for the semester.

Reading Assignment 1:  Chapter 1 due on 8/28
Reading Assignment 2:  Chapter 2 due on 9/2

SAT Prep 10th Grade: The goal of this class is to teach the students strategies which will help them during the completion of the SAT.  They will become familiar with the structure of the test, study words and word meanings, identify good sentence structure, understand the types of organization for writing, identify types of questions, and complete practice tests.

10th Grade Practical Literature:  Students will be introduced to the elements of the Short Story.  They will need to be able to identify these elements when reading, analyzing, and responding to the literature. At this time, they will also review/be introduced to literary devices. There will be a quiz on Friday, August 29th on Short Story Elements and literary devices.

Monday, May 19, 2014

Week of May 12th, May 19th, and May 26th

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." - William Butler Yeats



The goal of this English class is to produce critical thinkers. Students are not only reading for comprehension but for meaning and relevancy of the work as a whole. Literature is also an example of good writing. The writing improves when a student reads. Vocabulary also improves because the student is learning to read in context. We want successful students who can think critically and communicate effectively.

Finals Week of May 26th

May 27th:  Periods 4 & 7
May 28th:  Periods 1 & 3
May 29th:  Periods 6 & 2
May 30th:  Period 5

Academic English 9:  Students have been working on the Time Capsule Documentary.  This project will be due on Tuesday, May 20th. They will be responsible for identifying the social, economic, and political culture of their generation.  Students will be using a variety of media to create the project.  Vocabulary for the final will be given on Wednesday, May 21st.  There will be a review for Finals on the 22nd and 23rd.

Practical English 11:  Students have been working on reading, responding, and anlayzing Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher".  They will view Shakespeare's Hamlet this week.  There will be a review for the final on Thursday and Friday, May 22nd and May 23rd.

English 11:  Students have been working on reading, responding, and analyzing Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher".  They will view Shakespeare's Hamlet this week.  There will be a review for the final on Wednesday and Thursday, May 21st and 22nd. 

Practical English 12:  Students have researched, written, revised, and edited the Research Paper. They have read, discussed, and analyzed The Lord of the FliesThe Final will be on Friday, May 23rd.

Monday, April 28, 2014

Week of April 28th, 2014


"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." - William Butler Yeats




The goal of this English class is to produce critical thinkers. Students are not only reading for comprehension but for meaning and relevancy of the work as a whole. Literature is also an example of good writing. The writing improves when a student reads. Vocabulary also improves because the student is learning to read in context. We want successful students who can think critically and communicate effectively.

Academic English 9:  Students will be working on Vocabulary Unit 8. Vocabulary Unit 8 Test will be on Thursday, May 1st. Reading Assignment 2 (Chapters 9-19) for Great Expectations will be due on May 2nd. Students will be responsible for taking notes and titling the Chapters. Literary analysis and device application will be necessary in their notes.

Practical English 11: Students will complete work on the Aphorisms project which will be due on Tuesday April 29th. They will be identifying values that reflect today's culture and create 10 aphorisms for each virtue. Students will begin the Short Story Unit. They will read and respond to Informational article on the Civil War. Students will then read, analyze, and discuss "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce. They will answer a response question to demonstrate their application of literary analysis on Friday, May 2nd.

English 11:  Students will be working on Vocabulary Unit 12. The Catcher in the Rye Reading Assignment 1 (Chapters 1-4) due on Monday, April 28th. Reading Assignment 2 ( Chapters 5-9) due Friday, May 2nd. The students will be working on Vocabulary Unit 12. Vocabulary Squares worksheet due on Wednesday, April 30th. Vocabulary Quiz on Friday, May 2nd.

Practical English 12: Students will be working on their Rough Draft for the Argumentative Research Paper. They will be responsible for Reading Assignment 3 for Lord of the Flies.

 

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Week of April 21st, 2014

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." - William Butler Yeats

The goal of this English class is to produce critical thinkers. Students are not only reading for comprehension but for meaning and relevancy of the work as a whole. Literature is also an example of good writing. The writing improves when a student reads. Vocabulary also improves because the student is learning to read in context. We want successful students who can think critically and communicate effectively.
 
Academic English 9: Students will be required to read, analyze, and discuss the article on the Industrial Revolution. The information will aide in the comprehension of the novel, Great Expectations.  They will be using the information to help respond to the analytical questions in the Study Guide. 

Practical English 11:  The students will be working on the Ben Franklin Unit.  They will be responsible for reading and responding to from the Autobiography and aphorisms from Poor Richard's Almanack.  Students will be required to read and interpret a list of Franklin's common aphorisms. They will then create a list of 10 aphorisms for today's culture.

English 11: The students will be completing the Analytical Research Paper.  The paper must be completed no later than Friday, April 25th.  The Catcher in the Rye:  Reading assignment 1 for Monday (April 28), Reading Assignment 2 for May 2, Reading Assignment 3 for May 9, Reading Assignment 4 for May 16, Reading Assignment 5 for May 23, Reading Assignment 6 for May 28.

Practical English 12:  The students will continue working on the Argumentative Research Paper.  They will also be required to read and respond to Lord of the Flies.

Week of April 13th, 2014

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." - William Butler Yeats

The goal of this English class is to produce critical thinkers. Students are not only reading for comprehension but for meaning and relevancy of the work as a whole. Literature is also an example of good writing. The writing improves when a student reads. Vocabulary also improves because the student is learning to read in context. We want successful students who can think critically and communicate effectively.
 
Academic English 9:  The students will be tested on Vocabulary Unit 7 on Tuesday, April 14th.  They will be expected to dissect sentences and apply the rules of grammar for subjects, verbs, direct objects, indirect objects, phrases, and clauses.  Students will receive background information on the Industrial Revolution in preparation for Great Expectations.  The first Reading Assignment will be due on Friday, April 25th.

Practical English 11:  Students will read, analyze, and discuss the Age of Enlightenment articles.  They will be required to respond to the informational articles.  The knowledge of the time period will help with the comprehension of the Ben Franklin Unit. 

English 11: The students will be working on their Research Papers. Final Copies are due on April 25th. The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger has been distributed. Students will be required to read and answer study guide questions according to the Reading Assignments. There will be a response question due on the day of discussion.

Practical English 12: Students are working on the Argumentative Research Paper.  They will also be required to read Lord of the Flies.  They have been given a study guide which will need to be completed for each Reading Assignment.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Week of March 31st, 2014

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." - William Butler Yeats

The goal of this English class is to produce critical thinkers. Students are not only reading for comprehension but for meaning and relevancy of the work as a whole. Literature is also an example of good writing. The writing improves when a student reads. Vocabulary also improves because the student is learning to read in context. We want successful students who can think critically and communicate effectively.

Academic English 9:  The students will continue to work in groups to create their Newspapers for their short story on laptops, computers in the Library and the Computer Lab.  They will need to create an idea for a  newsworthy article, produce a journalistic article, and  apply themes, characters, setting, culture/time period of the short story.  A picture with a caption must accompany their article.  Students will also be responsible for producing a Print advertisement.  They will need to identify and apply several propaganda techniques for persuasive writing.  The format of a modern-day newspaper will be followed.  The project will be due on Monday, April 7th.

Practical English 11:  The students will be working on a final project for The Crucible in the Library.  They have been given 4 options of assessment:  The Documentary, The PowerPoint Presentation, The Soundtrack, and The Alternate Ending.  The students have been given the Rubrics for each assessment.  They will work in pairs.  The students will interpret and analyze the play through the creation of their project.  Meaning and relevancy is attained through critical thinking and application.

English 11:  The students will  continue to work on the Analytical Research Paper.  Analyzing and Critiquing sources is necessary to support a thesis.  The students will need to create a thesis which answers a how or why question on their topic.  At this point, some students will realize that their sources do not meet the requirements of a research paper.  There will be frustration and confusion on their part.  They will need to work through these to actually learn to create a thesis which has meaning and supports an actual idea.  Stamina is necessary to complete the process of the Research Paper.  The students will need to organize their support of their idea into a logical order.  Due dates have been given... Hang in there!

Practical English 12:  The students will be working on Vocabulary Unit 5.  There will be a test on Friday, April 4th.  They will also be required to pick a topic for the Argumentative Research Paper.  The topic must have meaning and relevancy for the student.  They will need to logically argue a topic where they will need to pick a side.  Valid sources from reliable sites are necessary.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Week of March 24th, 2014

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." - William Butler Yeats

The goal of this English class is to produce critical thinkers. Students are not only reading for comprehension but for meaning and relevancy of the work as a whole. Literature is also an example of good writing. The writing improves when a student reads. Vocabulary also improves because the student is learning to read in context. We want successful students who can think critically and communicate effectively.

Academic English 9: Students will be working on writing Newspaper Articles and Creating Print Adverisements for the front page of a Newspaper.  In groups, they will be producing a newspaper using the assigned Short Story to demonstrate knowledge and comprehension of the literature and culture and applying it to the modern-day format of the newspaper.  They will learn to work in groups, write journalistically, interpret and analyze literature, apply relevancy of literature and understand the importance of the communication of information through perspectives and bias.

Practical English 11: Students will be working on the final Act of The Crucible.  There will be a quiz on Act IV on Thursday, March 27th.  The students will be introduced to the Final Assessment for the play on Friday, March 28th.  There will be 4 options for assessement:  Presentation, Documentary, Soundtrack, and Creative Writing (Poetry, Rap).  They will have 1 1/2 weeks to produce the final project, the due date will be April, 9th. 

English 11: Students will be working on the Analytical Research Paper. Annotated Bibliographies will be due on Thursday, March 27th. MLA Citation and critiques are incorporated in the Annotations. Through Annotations, students are required to read and validate a source. They will become knowledgeable on their topic resulting in the creation of an analytical thesis, which is due on March 28th. 

Practical English 12:  Students will begin work on the Argumentative Research Paper. They will be required to pick a topic and argue a side. Topics will be due on Wednesday, March 26th. Specific Topics due on Thursday, March 27th. Students will be required to find 5 valid and reliable sources using the North Schuylkill Junior/Senior High School Library Database. MLA Citations and Annotations will be due on Friday, April 10th. Vocabulary Unit 5 will be due Monday March 31st.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Week of March 10th, 2014

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." - William Butler Yeats

The goal of this English class is to produce critical thinkers. Students are not only reading for comprehension but for meaning and relevancy of the work as a whole. Literature is also an example of good writing. The writing improves when a student reads. Vocabulary also improves because the student is learning to read in context. We want successful students who can think critically and communicate effectively.
 
Academic English 9: The students will be responsible for reading, comprehending, and analyzing the short story.  They will need to identify and apply theme, using literary devices to support the message and meaning of the story by Guy de Maupassant.  There will be a short answer response question on Friday, 3/14.

Practical  English 11: The students will read, comprehend, and analyze Act II of The Crucible.  There will be a quiz on Friday, March 12th.  They will be responsible for identifying plot, characters, characterization, motivation, conflict, foreshadowing, allusion, irony, symbolism, and allegory.

English 11: The students will begin preliminary research for the Research Paper.  They will be required to pick a topic related to the Age of Enlightenment/Age of Reason.  The Specific Topic will need to be picked by the beginning of class on  Thursday 3/13.  Students will need to complete an Annotated Bibliography, Outline, Rough Draft, and Final Copy.  They have been given a Due Date Sheet with the necessary dates of completion. Students will have Thursday and Friday to begin research for their paper.

Practical English 12: Students are responsible for defining, identifying, and utilizing vocabulary for Unit 4.  They will be required to identify the subjects and verbs in the sentences on the Review Sheet.  There will be a test on Friday, 3/14 which will assess their knowledge on Vocabulary and grammar.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Week of February 24th, 2014

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." - William Butler Yeats

The goal of this English class is to produce critical thinkers. Students are not only reading for comprehension but for meaning and relevancy of the work as a whole. Literature is also an example of good writing. The writing improves when a student reads. Vocabulary also improves because the student is learning to read in context. We want successful students who can think critically and communicate effectively.
 
Academic English 9: Students will be working on literary analysis.  They will be reading, analyzing, and responding to Edgar Allan Poe's "Cask of Amontillado".  Students will be required to apply literary devices and ultimately, respond to a short answer question on Justice.  They will be graded on thesis, support, and active voice.  The short answer question will be due on Monday, March 3rd.

Practical English 11:  Students will be finishing the Informational articles on McCarthyism and The Salem Witch Trials.  They will begin reading, analyzing, and responding to Arthur Miller's The Crucible.  Recognition of the abuse of power and the relevancy of the work in today's society is crucial for critical thinking.

English 11: Students will be working on the Aphorism assignment. They will be required to interpret aphorisms, identify and apply an aphorism to the 13 virtues identified by Ben Frankilin in his autobiography, create 10 virtues to reflect today's society/culture, and create an aphorism for each virtue. The assignment will be due on Monday, March 3rd.

Practical English 12: Students will complete work on Vocabulary Unit 3.  The worksheets will be due by Friday, February 28th. They will be required to identify subject and verb, apply subject and verb agreement rules to the sentences.  Students will begin work on the Expository Essay.  They will be responsible for creating a strong thesis, organizing information, using support/examples for their thesis, and using active voice.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Week of February 17th, 2014

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." - William Butler Yeats

The goal of this English class is to produce critical thinkers. Students are not only reading for comprehension but for meaning and relevancy of the work as a whole. Literature is also an example of good writing. The writing improves when a student reads. Vocabulary also improves because the student is learning to read in context. We want successful students who can think critically and communicate effectively.
 
Academic English 9: The students will continue to read and analyze the short story.  They will be responsible for completing a short answer question on conflict.  The response will be due on Monday, February 24th.
Practical English 11:  The students will begin the Unit on Puritanism. They will be required to read, comprehend, and analyze informational articles on Puritanism, The Salem Witch Trials, and McCarthyism in preparation for the reading and analysis of "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" and The Crucible.

English 11:  The students will continue reading the literature from the Enlightenment. They will read the an excerpt from Ben Franklin's Autobiography and Aphorisms from Poor Richard's Almanack. Students will be required to read and interpret a list of Franklin's common aphorisms. They will then create a list of 10 aphorisms for today's culture.  There will be a vocabulary review on Thursday, February 20th for the Unit 9 test on Friday, February 21st.

Practical English 12:  Work on Vocabualry Unit 2 will continueon Tuesday and be due on Wednesday, February 19th. There will be a review of Vocabulary Squares and worksheets on Thursday. The Vocabulary Unit 2 Test will be on Friday, February 21st. 

Monday, February 10, 2014

Week of February 10th, 2014

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." - William Butler Yeats

The goal of this English class is to produce critical thinkers. Students are not only reading for comprehension but for meaning and relevancy of the work as a whole. Literature is also an example of good writing. The writing improves when a student reads. Vocabulary also improves because the student is learning to read in context. We want successful students who can think critically and communicate effectively.
 
Academic English 9:  The students will begin working on the short story, "The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell.  They will be responsible for reading, comprehending, and analyzing the literature.  They will be able to apply literary elements and devices to the short story.  Students will begin to make connections to the importance of learning and understanding human nature which is necessary for the interpretation and analysis of literature.   

Practical English 11:  The students will begin the Unit on Puritanism.  They will be required to read, comprehend, and analyze informational articles on Puritanism, The Salem Witch Trials, and McCarthyism in preparation for the reading and analysis of "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"  and The Crucible.

English 11:  The students will need to define, dissect, and apply vocabulary for unit 9.  The students will begin reading the literature from the Enlightenment.  They will read the an excerpt from Ben Franklin's Autobiography and Aphorisms from Poor Richard's Almanack.  Students will be required to read and interpret a list of Franklin's common aphorisms. They will then create a list of 10 aphorisms for today's culture.

Practical English 12:  The students will be completing the written assignment on Anglo-Saxon elegies which will be due on Tuesday, February 11th.  Work on Vocabualry Unit 2 will begin on Tuesday and be due on Wednesday, February 12th.  There will be a review of  Vocabulary Squares and worksheets  on Thursday.  The Vocabulary Unit 2 Test will be on Friday, February 14th. 

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Week of February 3, 2014

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." - William Butler Yeats


The goal of this English class is to produce critical thinkers. Students are not only reading for comprehension but for meaning and relevancy of the work as a whole. Literature is also an example of good writing. The writing improves when a student reads. Vocabulary also improves because the student is learning to read in context. We want successful students who can think critically and communicate effectively.

Academic English 9: The students will be completing the grammar portion of the Vocabulary test.  They will identify the subject and verb in the independent clause and all phrases and all subordinate clauses.  They will begin to classify sentences as simple, complex, compound, or compound/complex.  Students will be introduced to the elements and structure of the Short Story.  They will be responsible for reading, comprehending, analyzing, and responding to the literature. 

Practical English 11 Literature: The students will be applying the elements and structure of the Native American Myth to the creation of their own Manifest Destiny Myth. The elements and structure of literature are indicative of its genre.  Understanding and applying the necessary elements of literature is important to its comprehension and relevancy.

English 11: The students are responding to Informational Texts on the Age of Enlightenment. They are required to write a Compare/Contrast Essay based on the information found in the two articles. They will need to identify important elements of the Age of Enlightenment and how it affected change. Students will be responsible for handing in the Venn Diagram, an outline, and a completed essay.

Practical English 12: The students will be responding to the cultural importance of the Anlo-Saxon elegy.  They will be required to write an essay using the literature to show the relevancy of the literature.  They will need to create a thesis, utilize correct subject/verb agreement, write in active voice, use transitions, and support the thesis.

Friday, January 24, 2014

Week of January 20th and January 27th, 2014

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." - William Butler Yeats


The goal of this English class is to produce critical thinkers. Students are not only reading for comprehension but for meaning and relevancy of the work as a whole. Literature is also an example of good writing. The writing improves when a student reads. Vocabulary also improves because the student is learning to read in context. We want successful students who can think critically and communicate effectively.

9th Grade English: Students will be working on Vocabulary.  They will be required to dissect, define, and apply vocabulary.  Students will also be responsible for dissecting sentences.  They will need to identify subject and verbs, phrases (prepositional, participial, gerunds, and infinitives), and clauses (independent and subordinate). The Vocabulary Review Sheet with the dissection of sentences is due on Tuesday, January 28th.  We will review vocabulary and grammar on Tuesday and Wednesday.  There will be a Vocabulary/Grammar Test on Friday, January 31st. 

Practical 11 English:   Students will be completing a Diagnostic Review of Grammar to help identify their weaknesses and strengths. Students will be starting Native American Myths this week. They will be required to identify and apply elements of myths through reading and discussion. Students will be introduced to the project of creating their own myths using the loss of their culture as a basis.  They will work on Vocabulary Unit 1. Students will be responsible for defining, dissecting and applying vocabulary.  There will be a Vocabulary Unit 1 test on Friday, February 7th. 
 
English 11: Students will begin Informational Reading on The Age of Enlightenment. They will be required to give meaning to the information when they actively engage in the reading through notetaking. A second article on The Age of Enlightenment will be given to them. They will read and respond to that text as well. They will use the information in both articles to organize,write, proofread, and edit a Compare/Contrast Essay. The grammatical focus will be on writing in active voice.

Practical English 12:  Students will be working on Vocabulary Unit 1. They will be required to dissect, define, and apply vocabulary. Students will also be responsible for dissecting sentences. They will need to identify subject and verbs.The Vocabulary Review Sheet with the dissection of sentences is due on Tuesday, January 28th. We will review vocabulary and grammar on Tuesday and Wednesday. There will be a Vocabulary/Grammar Test on Friday, January 31st. 

Week of January 13th, 2014

Midterms

Good Luck!

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Week of January 6th, 2014

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." - William Butler Yeats

The goal of this English class is to produce critical thinkers. Students are not only reading for comprehension but for meaning and relevancy of the work as a whole. Literature is also an example of good writing. The writing improves when a student reads. Vocabulary also improves because the student is learning to read in context. We want successful students who can think critically and communicate effectively.

Academic English 9:  Review for Midterms---
Night
Romeo & Juliet
Dramatic and Literary Terms
Vocabulary
Grammar:  Subject and Verb, Phrases, and Subordinate Clauses

Practical English 10: Review for Midterms---
Types of Writing
Types of Organizational Structure in Writing
Parallelism
Vocabulary

English 11: Review for Midterms---
Native American Myths & Legends
The Crucible
Vocabulary

Public Speaking: Final Speech Presentations.  Reflective Speeches commence on Wednesday
Review for Midterms---
The Necessary Tools needed for the utilization of Speech Skills