Week of September 16th, 2013

"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 Academic English:  Students will be continue to create a documentary in a medium of their choice.  They are learning to find and use valid sources, apply MLA format, and identify and apply the elements of the documentary. Class time will be given until the end of the period on Wednesday; however, the project will not be due until Friday, 9/20.  The use and abuse of power is the focus/theme of this unit.  The project will allow students to have information and insight of the time period for understanding and analysis of The Boy in Striped Pajamas and Night.  Vocabulary Unit 2 definitions, breakdowns, and sentences will be due on Friday, September 20th.  The grammar usage focus will continue to be subject/verb agreement.

Practical 10:  Students will be required to complete an annotation on Monday, 9/16.  They will learn MLA citation to be used on the Annotation Assignment.  Students will learn to research, validate, summarize, and critique their sources.  They will be required to use these sources to write an argumentative essay based on one of the articles from The New York Times Upfront Magazine.  The assignment is due by Friday, 9/20.
Vocabulary Unit 2 has been assigned.

English 11:  Students have identified and discussed elements of Native American Myths.  They have participated in the discussion of relevancy to modern literature, specifically superheroes, recognizing the similarities of genres and identifying and applying man's need to make sense of himself and the world around him.  Students will look at the importance of culture and its contribution to history through the reading and analysis of the informational article on the oral tradition of storytelling and the written literature of Native Americans.  They will be required to identify and discuss the main points of the article.  They will then use the elements of the myth, the information from the article, and their analysis to create a unique myth to tell of the loss of their heritage. Vocabulary Unit 2 has been assigned.

Public Speaking:  Students have viewed, analyzed and critiqued Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech.  They will be responsible for completing outlines, podium cards, conferencing, and practice, all in preparation for their Introductory Speech to be delivered at the end of this week.  The goal is to prepare students for speaking well in public which is a necessary skill for success in and out of the classroom.

Critiques due 9/16
Outlines due by 9/17
Chapter 7 Notes due 9/18
Podium Cards due by 9/17
Practices begin on 9/17 and  9/18
Speeches commence on 9/19