Week of October 31st, 2016

"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. 

English 12: How do people come to have different view of society?

Students have begun reading their assigned characters from "The Prologue" to Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.  They will be required to identify the direct and indirect characterization for each assigned pilgrim(s). Students will then need to work with each other as they meet and share the characterizations of the other pilgrims.  They will then each need to create a satirical cartoon using the direct and indirect characterizations of their assigned pilgrim(s) which identify criticisms of substance and a need for reform.  Students have been given a packet that contains Rubric requirements, examples of satirical cartoons, and a list of requirements for political cartoons.  They will be given time in the Library to print out the necessary items for completion.  The satirical cartoon will be due by Friday, November 4th.

Public Speaking:  How do you move from general and abstract ideas to specific and concrete details effectively?

The topic for the Informative Speech is due on Monday, October 31st.  Students will view Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream Speech".  They will be required to respond to the speech through a written critique.  The critique will be due no later than Friday, Nov. 4th. Students will read and respond to Chapter 8 in the textbook which will be due by Friday, Nov. 4th. They will be able to describe nine types of support materials and why they are necessary in a speech. Students will be able to discuss the use and abuse of statistics in speeches.  They will begin research for their Informative Speeches.

Keystone Literature Remediation:  Why is self-assessment important?

Students will work on identified/assigned individual goals.  They are  working in the Opened.com app/site. Students will need to retake an assessment on the Opened.com site if they received a score less than 85%. They will need to complete one assessment a day.  They have also been assigned an assessment on the site to help them strengthen an area of weakness. Students will also be assigned fiction and nonfiction passages with accompanying questions to help prepare them for the Keystones. Students are responsible for charting their progress in their files.  The ultimate benchmark is for the students to reach an initial goal of Proficient on Study Island Assessments (Nov. 14 - Dec. 6) and the Literature Keystones (Dec. 7th and 8th).

Week of October 24th, 2016

"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. 

English 12:  How do people come to have different views of society?
Students will continue to work on Unit 2.  Self-reflection, historical context, and discussion are necessary for the analysis of satire.  In preparation for Chaucer's "Prologue...", the students will be required to read background summaries on the focus period:  1066-1485. They will be required to pick one of the subtopics and research it.  Students will be required to create an explanatory PowePoint Presentation which will be due on Friday, October 26th.  Students will need to cite a valid website. They will be introduced to Chaucer's "Prologue..."  Students will then be assigned a character from Chaucer's "Prologue...".  They will be required to analyze the author's choice of character development through the use of direct and indirect characterization.

Public Speaking:   Why should the use of valid and reliable sources be necessary?
Students will be responsible for reading, analyzing and responding to Chapter 6 in their textbook. by Friday, Oct. 28th.  They will view and critique their Introductory Speeches.  Students will discuss key strengths and weaknesses.  Reflection and self-assessment are necessary for improvement.

Keystone Literature Remediation:  Why is self-assessment important?
Students will work on identified/assigned individual goals.  They will be required to complete Key 7 by Friday, October 28th. Students will be required to take, correct, and identify answers. They are also working in the Opened.com app/site. Students will need to retake an assessment on the Opened.com site if they received a score less than 85%. They have also been assigned an assessment on the site to help them strengthen an area of weakness. Students are responsible for charting their progress in their files.  The ultimate benchmark is for the students to reach an initial goal of Proficient on Study Island Assessments (Nov. 14 - Dec. 6).

Week of October 17th, 2016

"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. 

English 12:  How do people come to have different views of society?
Students will begin work on Unit 2.  Self-reflection, historical context, and discussion are necessary for the analysis of satire.  In preparation for Chaucer's "Prologue...", the students will be required to read an explanatory text on the English Barons to understand the need for change.  They will be required to write a summary of the text identifying the thesis, the support, and the organization/structure, due on Wednesday 10/19 at the beginning of the period.  There should be no opinion or analysis. Students will then read background summaries on the focus period:  1066-1485. They will be required to pick one of the subtopics and research it.  Students will be required to create an explanatory PowePoint Presentation which will be due on Friday, October 21st.  Students will need to cite a valid website.

Public Speaking:  What are the structural elements of a speech and what strategies can be used to enhance each part?
Students will need to organize their speech, write a rough draft, edit, and practice their speeches.They will need to hand in an outline, a finalized speech, and podium cards.  Students will finalize their speeches by Thursday, October 20th..  Speeches will commence on Friday, October 21st.

Keystone Literature Remediation:  Why is self-assessment important?
Students will work on identified/assigned individual goals.  They will be required to complete Key 6 by Friday, October 21st. Students will be required to take, correct, and identify answers. They will be responsible for identifying the type of question they need to work on.  Students will use the "Question Stems" handout to help identify a question type. They are also working in the Opened.com app/site. Students will need to retake an assessment on the Opened.com site if they received a score less than 85%. They have also been assigned an assessment on the site to help them strengthen an area of weakness. Students are responsible for charting their progress in their files.  The ultimate benchmark is for the students to reach an initial goal of Proficient on Study Island Assessments.

Week of October 10th, 2016

"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. 

English 12:  How do heroes continue to affect our world?
Students will read, analyze, reflect and respond to the variety of literature written on heroism and leadership. Their responses will be completed in the form of a PowerPoint which will be due on Thursday, October 13th.

Public Speaking:  Why should the use of valid and reliable sources be necessary?
Students will be responsible for reading, analyzing and responding to Chapter 6 in their textbook. by Friday, Oct. 28th.  They will view and critique their Introductory Speeches.  Students will discuss key strengths and weaknesses.  Reflection and self-assessment are necessary for improvement.

Keystone Literature Remediation:  Why is self-assessment important?
Students will work on identified/assigned individual goals.  They will be required to complete Key 5 by Friday, October 14th.. Students will be required to take, correct, and identify answers. They will be responsible for identifying the type of question they need to work on.  Students will use the "Question Stems" handout to help identify a question type. They are also working in the Opened.com app/site.  Students will need to retake an assessment on the Opened.com site if they received a score less than 77%. They have also been assigned an assessment on the site to help them strengthen an area of weakness. Students are responsible for charting their progress in their files.  The ultimate benchmark is for the students to reach an initial goal of Proficient on Study Island Assessments.

Week of October 3rd, 2016

"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. 

English 12:  Why do heroes exist?
Students will be responding to the Argumentative prompt.  They will be required to identify a claim, the counterclaim, use literary evidence, and create a strong conclusion.  These short responses will be due on Tuesday, October 4th.  Students will then read, analyze, and respond to an informational article on heroism and leadership.  Their responses will be completed in the form of a PowerPoint which will be due on Friday, October 7th.

Public Speaking:  Why are ethics invaluable to a speaker?
Students will identify topic and purpose of their Introductory Speech.  Outlines will be due the beginning of next week, October 10th.  Rough draft swill be due the following Monday.  Students will read and respond to Chapter 7 in their textbooks.  They will identify false claims, recognize the fallibility of polls and experts, and scrutinize the validity of organizations and internet sources.  Ch. 7 notes will be due by Friday, October 7th.

Keystone Literature Remediation:  Why is self-assessment important?
Students will work on identified/assigned individual goals.  They will be required to complete Key 4 by Friday, October 7th.. Students will be required to take, correct, and identify answers. They will be responsible for identifying the type of question they need to work on.  Students will use the "Question Stems" handout to help identify a question type. They are also working in the Opened.com app/site.  Students will need to retake an assessment on the Opened.com site if they received a score less than 77%. They have also been assigned an assessment on the site to help them strengthen an area of weakness. Students are responsible for charting their progress in their files.  The ultimate benchmark is for the students to reach an initial goal of Proficient on Study Island Assessments.