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.