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.

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. 

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.