Week of 14 May 2018

"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 can we use narratives to understand ourselves, others, and the world?

Students will continue to read, annotate, and analyze the  assigned short stories.  They will be required to identify and apply short story elements and literary devices through note-taking, annotations, and a plotline for each story.  Students will create summaries, research the author, and the time period in which the story was written*Due before7 May.  They will complete annotated bibliographies for valid analyses that support their findings*Due 11 May .  The annotated bibs will require MLA citation.  Students will write a literary analysis, with parenthetical citation, which will require an outline *Due 18 May, a rough draft *Due 21 May, and a final copy *Due25 May.  This unit is the culmination of yearlong work.  Through the completion of this writing assignment, students will apply the critical thinking skills they have been asked to practice throughout the year.


English 11:  Can one (apparently) have all the right information and make the wrong decisions?

Students will dive into the world of Hamlet.  As students read at their own pace (**ideally, an Act a week), they will analyze, respond, and later view the famous tragedy by William Shakespeare (if time allows).  During the week of 14 May, students will be required to collaborate, create, present and teach an Act analysis of the drama *Due 21 May.  They will be required to share ideas, work cooperatively, summarize plot, identify and apply literary elements and devices, analyze characters, and interpret meaning.  Students will be given Rubrics for the PowerPoint Presentation, the Oral Presentation, and for Collaboration. Hamlet summary with study guide questions will be due by Tuesday, 29 May.

Public Speaking:  How do basic speaking and listening skills help us to communicate?

Students will work on the Persuasive Speech.  MLK critique due by 7 May.  Reasoning Exercise Worksheet due by 9 May. Fact, Value, or Policy Worksheet due 11 May.  Persuasive Speech Preparation Worksheet due by 21 May.  Logic and reason are necessary tools for the success of the Persuasive/Argumentative speech.  Students will need to find 6-8 valid resources.  They will need to organize their information in an outline.  Students will be required to write a hard copy of their speech.  Podium cards are necessary.  A PowerPoint is the required visual aid. Speeches will commence during Senior Finals Week.

Keystone Literature Workshop:  How does my interaction with the text provoke thinking and
                                                      response?

Students will continue to learn word dissection and analysis.  They will be working on advanced root word development.  Students will take quizzes on Affixes and Roots.  Over the next marking period/semester, they will work on a variety of ways to improve skills to improve reading, interpreting, and analyzing texts.  Students need to join the Opened classroom, create accounts for the College Board site, and download the Practice Question of the Day app.  These online sites and apps will help students work on reading comprehension, sentence structure, vocabulary in context, types of writing, writing organization, and interpretation.  The Literature Keystones will be on Thursday, May 17th and Friday, May 18th.

Week of 7 May 2018

"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 can we use narratives to understand ourselves, others, and the world?

Students will continue to read, annotate, and analyze the  assigned short stories.  They will be required to identify and apply short story elements and literary devices through note-taking, annotations, and a plotline for each story.  Students will create summaries, research the author, and the time period in which the story was written*Due before7 May.  They will complete annotated bibliographies for valid analyses that support their findings*Due 11 May .  The annotated bibs will require MLA citation.  Students will write a literary analysis, with parenthetical citation, which will require an outline *Due 18 May, a rough draft *Due 21 May, and a final copy *Due25 May.  This unit is the culmination of yearlong work.  Through the completion of this writing assignment, students will apply the critical thinking skills they have been asked to practice throughout the year.


English 11:  Can one (apparently) have all the right information and make the wrong decisions?

Students will dive into the world of Hamlet.  As students read at their own pace (**ideally, an Act a week), they will analyze, respond, and later view the famous tragedy by William Shakespeare (if time allows).  During the week of 14 May, students will be required to collaborate, create, present and teach an Act analysis of the drama *Due 21 May.  They will be required to share ideas, work cooperatively, summarize plot, identify and apply literary elements and devices, analyze characters, and interpret meaning.  Students will be given Rubrics for the PowerPoint Presentation, the Oral Presentation, and for Collaboration. Hamlet summary with study guide questions will be due by Tuesday, 29 May.

Public Speaking:  How do basic speaking and listening skills help us to communicate?

Students will work on the Persuasive Speech.  MLK critique due by 7 May.  Reasoning Exercise Worksheet due by 9 May. Fact, Value, or Policy Worksheet due 11 May.  Persuasive Speech Preparation Worksheet due by 21 May.  Logic and reason are necessary tools for the success of the Persuasive/Argumentative speech.  Students will need to find 6-8 valid resources.  They will need to organize their information in an outline.  Students will be required to write a hard copy of their speech.  Podium cards are necessary.  A PowerPoint is the required visual aid. Speeches will commence during Senior Finals Week.

Keystone Literature Workshop:  How does my interaction with the text provoke thinking and
                                                      response?

Students will continue to learn word dissection and analysis.  They will be working on advanced root word development.  Students will take quizzes on Affixes and Roots.  Over the next marking period/semester, they will work on a variety of ways to improve skills to improve reading, interpreting, and analyzing texts.  Students need to join the Opened classroom, create accounts for the College Board site, and download the Practice Question of the Day app.  These online sites and apps will help students work on reading comprehension, sentence structure, vocabulary in context, types of writing, writing organization, and interpretation.  The Literature Keystones will be on Thursday, May 17th and Friday, May 18th.

Week of 30 April 2018

"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 can we use narratives to understand ourselves, others, and the world?

Students will continue to read, annotate, and analyze the  assigned short stories.  They will be required to identify and apply short story elements and literary devices through note-taking, annotations, and a plotline for each story.  Students will create summaries, research the author, and the time period in which the story was written*Due before7 May.  They will complete annotated bibliographies for valid analyses that support their findings*Due 11 May .  The annotated bibs will require MLA citation.  Students will write a literary analysis, with parenthetical citation, which will require an outline *Due 18 May, a rough draft *Due 21 May, and a final copy *Due25 May.  This unit is the culmination of yearlong work.  Through the completion of this writing assignment, students will apply the critical thinking skills they have been asked to practice throughout the year.


English 11:  Can one (apparently) have all the right information and make the wrong decisions?

Students will dive into the world of Hamlet.  As students read at their own pace (**ideally, an Act a week), they will analyze, respond, and later view the famous tragedy by William Shakespeare (if time allows).  During the week of 14 May, students will be required to collaborate, create, present and teach an Act analysis of the drama *Due 21 May.  They will be required to share ideas, work cooperatively, summarize plot, identify and apply literary elements and devices, analyze characters, and interpret meaning.  Students will be given Rubrics for the PowerPoint Presentation, the Oral Presentation, and for Collaboration. Hamlet summary with study guide questions will be due by Tuesday, 29 May.

Public Speaking:  How do basic speaking and listening skills help us to communicate?

Students will finish up the Panel Discussion Presentations.  The purpose of the Panel Discussion is for students to experience the need to synthesize new information or differing views/perspectives with existing knowledge.  Engagement, turn-taking, clarification, and acceptance demonstrate  speaking and listening skills which are necessary for public speaking.  Panel Discussions should be led with the necessity to answer several topic questions.  Panel Members will be graded on personal involvement when delivering opinions and reflections and when fielding questions. Communication of meaning, involving the audience, physical gestures, and vocal quality will also be graded.  Audience members are required to show evidence of critical thinking and personal involvement through the questioning process.  ***Reminder:  Chapters 16-18 due by 4 May. MLK critique due by 7 May.  Reasoning Exercise Worksheet due by 9 May. Fact, Value, or Policy Worksheet due 11 May.  Persuasive Speech Preparation Worksheet due by 21 May. 

Keystone Literature Workshop:  How does my interaction with the text provoke thinking and
                                                      response?

Students will continue to learn word dissection and analysis.  They will be working on advanced root word development.  Students will take quizzes on Affixes and Roots.  Over the next marking period/semester, they will work on a variety of ways to improve skills to improve reading, interpreting, and analyzing texts.  Students need to join the Opened classroom, create accounts for the College Board site, and download the Practice Question of the Day app.  These online sites and apps will help students work on reading comprehension, sentence structure, vocabulary in context, types of writing, writing organization, and interpretation.

Week of 23 April 2018

"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 can we use narratives to understand ourselves, others, and the world?

Students will continue to read, annotate, and analyze the  assigned short stories.  They will be required to identify and apply short story elements and literary devices through note-taking, annotations, and a plotline for each story.  Students will create summaries, research the author, and the time period in which the story was written*Due 7 May.  They will complete annotated bibliographies for valid analyses that support their findings*Due 11 May .  The annotated bibs will require MLA citation.  Students will write a literary analysis, with parenthetical citation, which will require an outline *Due 18 May, a rough draft *Due 21 May, and a final copy *Due25 May.  This unit is the culmination of yearlong work.  Through the completion of this writing assignment, students will apply the critical thinking skills they have been asked to practice throughout the year.


English 11:  Can one (apparently) have all the right information and make the wrong decisions?

Students will dive into the world of Hamlet.  As students read at their own pace (**ideally, an Act a week), they will analyze, respond, and later view the famous tragedy by William Shakespeare (if time allows).  During the week of 14 May, students will be required to collaborate, create, present and teach an Act analysis of the drama *Due 21 May.  They will be required to share ideas, work cooperatively, summarize plot, identify and apply literary elements and devices, analyze characters, and interpret meaning.  Students will be given Rubrics for the PowerPoint Presentation, the Oral Presentation, and for Collaboration.

Public Speaking:  How do basic speaking and listening skills help us to communicate?

Students will continue the Panel Discussion Presentations.  The purpose of the Panel Discussion is for students to experience the need to synthesize new information or differing views/perspectives with existing knowledge.  Engagement, turn-taking, clarification, and acceptance demonstrate  speaking and listening skills which are necessary for public speaking.  Panel Discussions should be led with the necessity to answer several topic questions.  Panel Members will be graded on personal involvement when delivering opinions and reflections and when fielding questions. Communication of meaning, involving the audience, physical gestures, and vocal quality will also be graded.  Audience members are required to show evidence of critical thinking and personal involvement through the questioning process.  ***Reminder:  Chapters 16-18 due by 4 May.

Keystone Literature Workshop:  How does my interaction with the text provoke thinking and
                                                      response?

Students will continue to learn word dissection and analysis.  They will be working on advanced root word development.  Students will take quizzes on Affixes and Roots.  Over the next marking period/semester, they will work on a variety of ways to improve skills to improve reading, interpreting, and analyzing texts.  Students need to join the Opened classroom, create accounts for the College Board site, and download the Practice Question of the Day app.  These online sites and apps will help students work on reading comprehension, sentence structure, vocabulary in context, types of writing, writing organization, and interpretation.

Week of 16 April 2018

"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 can we use narratives to understand ourselves, others, and the world?

Over the next marking period, students will read and respond to fiction.  Students will read a variety of short stories.  They will be required to identify and apply short story elements and literary devices through note-taking, annotations, and a plotline for each story.  Students will research the author and the works.  They will complete annotated bibliographies for valid analyses that support their findings.  The annotated bibs will require MLA citation.  Students will write a literary analysis, with parenthetical citation, which will require an outline, a rough draft, and a final copy.  This unit is the culmination of yearlong work.  Through the completion of this writing assignment, students will apply the critical thinking skills they have been asked to practice throughout the year.


English 11:  What does it mean to be world-ready?

Students will continue work on 21st Century student/work resumes.  Student resumes will aid students who will go directly into the work force, as well as with the completion of college applications. They will be preparing resumes for Mock Interviews on May 2nd.  Students will create a student resume summary/profile and one for each prospective business interview.  They will learn to create summaries/profiles that include a career path, education, job skills, and transferable skills.  Students will research the businesses in order to create appropriate summaries/profiles and resumes.  Researching businesses will help students complete job-specific resumes and prepare them for the upcoming interviews.  Self-reflection on one's strengths and weaknesses and goal setting are necessary skills for future success, wherever that may be.

Public Speaking:  How do basic speaking and listening skills help us to communicate?

Students will continue work on the Panel Discussion.  This collaborative presentation requires students to research, share, and present perspectives/ideas on both a local topic and on a national topic. They must become “experts” in their fields, sharing their expertise in front of the class.  Student should support information with examples, facts, and statistics, integrating research into the speech. They should comment on other students’ comments and make transitions to their comments.  Students will be required to create Visual Aids.  Discussion Panels will commence on Tuesday, April 17th.  Students will view, read, and respond to JFK's Inaugural Address.  Analysis and Critiques for the speech will be due on Friday, April 20th.

Keystone Literature Workshop:  How does my interaction with the text provoke thinking and
                                                      response?

Students will continue to learn word dissection and analysis.  They will be working on advanced root word development.  Students will take quizzes on Affixes and Roots.  Over the next semester, they will work on a variety of ways to improve skills to improve reading, interpreting, and analyzing texts.  Students need to join the Opened classroom, create accounts for the College Board site, and download the Practice Question of the Day app.  These online sites and apps will help students work on reading comprehension, sentence structure, vocabulary in context, types of writing, writing organization, and interpretation.

Week of 9 April 2018

"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 can we use narratives to understand ourselves, others, and the world?

Over the next marking period, students will read and respond to fiction.  Students will read a variety of short stories.  They will be required to identify and apply short story elements and literary devices through note-taking, annotations, and a plotline for each story.  Students will research the author and the works.  They will complete annotated bibliographies for valid analyses that support their findings.  The annotated bibs will require MLA citation.  Students will write a literary analysis, with parenthetical citation, which will require an outline, a rough draft, and a final copy.  This unit is the culmination of yearlong work.  Through the completion of this writing assignment, students will apply the critical thinking skills they have been asked to practice throughout the year.


English 11:  What does it mean to be world-ready?

Students will take a break from Hamlet and begin work on 21st Century student/work resumes.  Student resumes will aid students who will go directly into the work force, as well as with the completion of college applications. They will be preparing resumes for Mock Interviews on May 2nd.  Students will create a student resume summary/profile and one for each prospective business interview.  They will learn to create summaries/profiles that include a career path, education, job skills, and transferable skills.  Students will research the businesses in order to create appropriate summaries/profiles and resumes.  Researching businesses will help students complete job-specific resumes and prepare them for the upcoming interviews.  Self-reflection on one's strengths and weaknesses and goal setting are necessary skills for future success, wherever that may be. 

Public Speaking:  How do basic speaking and listening skills help us to communicate?

Students will continue work on the Panel Discussion.  This collaborative presentation requires students to research, share, and present perspectives/ideas on both a local topic and on a national topic. They must become “experts” in their fields, sharing their expertise in front of the class.  Student should support information with examples, facts, and statistics, integrating research into the speech. They should comment on other students’ comments and make transitions to their comments.  Students will be required to create Visual Aids.  Discussion Panels will commence on Monday, April 16th.  Students will view, read, and respond to Commencement Speeches.  Analysis and Critiques for the speeches will be due on Friday, April 13th.

Keystone Literature Workshop:  How does my interaction with the text provoke thinking and
                                                      response?

Students will continue to learn word dissection and analysis.  They will be working on advanced root word development.  Students will take quizzes on Affixes and Roots.  Over the next semester, they will work on a variety of ways to improve skills to improve reading, interpreting, and analyzing texts.  Students need to join the Opened classroom, create accounts for the College Board site, and download the Practice Question of the Day app.  These online sites and apps will help students work on reading comprehension, sentence structure, vocabulary in context, types of writing, writing organization, and interpretation.

Week of 2 April 2018

"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 can we use narratives to understand ourselves, others, and the world?

Over the next marking period, students will read and respond to fiction.  Students will read a variety of short stories.  They will be required to identify and apply short story elements and literary devices through note-taking, annotations, and a plotline for each story.  Students will research the author and the works.  They will complete annotated bibliographies for valid analyses that support their findings.  The annotated bibs will require MLA citation.  Students will write a literary analysis, with parenthetical citation, which will require an outline, a rough draft, and a final copy.  This unit is the culmination of yearlong work.  Through the completion of this writing assignment, students will apply the critical thinking skills they have been asked to practice throughout the year.


English 11:  Can one (apparently) have all the right information and make the wrong decisions?

Students will dive into the world of Hamlet.  As students read at their own pace, they will analyze, respond, and later view the famous tragedy by William Shakespeare.  Students will be required to collaborate, create, present and teach an Act analysis of the drama.  They will be required to share ideas, work cooperatively, summarize plot, identify and apply literary elements and devices, analyze characters, and interpret meaning.  Students will be given Rubrics for the PowerPoint Presentation, the Oral Presentation, and for Collaboration.

Public Speaking:  How do basic speaking and listening skills help us to communicate?

Students will begin work on the Panel Discussion.  This collaborative presentation requires students to research, share, and present perspectives/ideas on both a local topic and on a national topic. They must become “experts” in their fields, sharing their expertise in front of the class.  Student should support information with examples, facts, and statistics, integrating research into the speech. They should comment on other students’ comments and make transitions to their comments.  Students will be required to create Visual Aids.

Keystone Literature Workshop:  How does my interaction with the text provoke thinking and
                                                      response?

Students will continue to learn word dissection and analysis.  They will be working on advanced root word development.  Students will take quizzes on Affixes and Roots.  Over the next semester, they will work on a variety of ways to improve skills to improve reading, interpreting, and analyzing texts.  Students need to join the Opened classroom, create accounts for the College Board site, and download the Practice Question of the Day app.  These online sites and apps will help students work on reading comprehension, sentence structure, vocabulary in context, types of writing, writing organization, and interpretation.