Week of February 25, 2013

 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 English & 9th Grade Academic English: Students will begin work on the Persuasive Writing Assignment.  They will apply persuasive techniques to create an Infomercial.  They will begin by researching a product and a company during the British Industrial Revolution.  They will need to find valid sources and research culture.  They will compile notes, apply persuasive techniques, knowledge of audience, product, and company, work cooperatively, and utilize technology to produce the modern-day format of the Infomercial.  The knowledge gained will help them to apply meaning to the novel by Charles Dickens, Great Expectations.

11th Grade Practical: Students will continue work on the Documentary.  They will research their topic/person to create the informational format of the Documentary.  They will need to find valid sources, compile notes, apply information to the documentary format, credit their sources, work cooperatively, and utilize technology to produce the Documentary.  The themes found in The Crucible from their Literature class will need to be applied, understanding the relevancy of meaning throughout history, and in current times. 

12th Grade Practical:  Students will be engaged in the process of research.  They will locate valid/reliable sources, compile notes, make a claim, create a thesis, argue a claim, credit their sources, make a connection, apply relevancy, and utilize technology. 

Week of February 18, 2013

 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 English & 9th Academic English:  Students will continue applying vocabulary, reading in context, and dissecting sentences.  There will be a Vocabulary Unit 7 Test on Thursday, February 21st.  The students will be introduced to the next written project.  The project will focus on purpose and audience.  They will be creating commercials and advertisements for a product that was produced during the 19th century.  They will be utilizing technology in order to complete the project.

11th Practical:  Students will be working on the documentary.  They will be responsible for utilizing technology, applying information and techniques.  The focus of the documentary is the comprehension of power and individualism.  They will have the opportunity to apply these themes to the informational medium that they have chosen. 

12th Grade Practical: Students will be working on a response to the writing prompt on the Archetypal Hero.  They will be responsible for applying writing skills,  grammar usage skills, and  incorporating grammar.  There will be an introduction to the Research Paper. On Thursday and Friday, they will be given the necessary requirements for the paper.  

Week of February 4, 2013

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 English & 9th Grade Academic:  Students will demonstrate their knowledge of literature, vocabulary, and usage by responding to a prompt.  They will need to apply the literature for support of their thesis, write in active voice and apply vocabulary.  There will be a test on Vocabulary Unit 6 on Wednesday, February 6th.  They will be assessed on word knowledge and application and will need to identify all  phrases and clauses.

11th Grade Practical:  In order to establish the importance of the literature, many writing prompts will be based on the readings, time periods, and themes.  Students will be required to respond to a writing prompt on "McCarthyism" as a parallel to The Crucible.  They will be responsible for applying critical thinking skills to support their answer to the writing prompt.  They will  also need to include a strong thesis, demonstrate correct subject/verb agreement, and incorporate vocabulary.  There will be a Vocabulary Unit 1 Test on Wednesday, February 6th.  On Thursday, students will be required to answer a writing prompt relating to the Harlem Renaissance in celebration of Black History Month.  They will be need to include a strong thesis, supporting details, and correct subject/verb agreement.

12th Grade Practical:  Strong paragraph structure will be the focus so that we can work towards the creation of the essay.  The students will be responding to writing prompts on Anglo-Saxon poetry, Beowulf, and the Archetypal Hero, all subjects that are being taught in their Literature class.  The students will be required to have strong paragraph structure, use active voice and correct subject/verb agreement, support their thesis, and apply vocabulary from 1B. On Friday, students will be required to answer a writing prompt about African-American Heroes in celebration of Black History Month.

Week of January 28, 2013

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 English & 9th Grade Academic: Students will be reading and analyzing the Short Story. They will be responsible for applying the elements of the short story and identifying the author's use of literary devices.  At the conclusion of the story, students will be required to identify and support the author's message and its relevancy today.  The students will also be working on Vocabulary.  The vocabulary unit incorporates knowledge of the word from its origin to its definition and application.  The creation of sentences demonstrates knowledge and effective communication.  The review through sentence completion applies reading in context.  The application incorporates knowledge and utilization of grammar through sentence dissection. The students will also be required to respond to a writing prompt, demonstrating analysis of the relevancy of the literature, grammar usage, and vocabulary application.  There willbe a vocabulary test on Monday, February 4th.

11th Grade Practical:  The students will be working on Vocabulary which will also be incorporated in their writing.  Students will be required to respond to a writing prompt on "McCarthyism" as a parallel to The Crucible.  They will be responsible for applying critical thinking skills to support their answer to the writing prompt.  They will  also need to include a strong thesis, demonstrate correct subject/verb agreement, and incorporate vocabulary.  There will be a Vocabulary Test on Friday, February 1st.

12th Grade Practical:  Strong paragraph structure will be the focus so that we can work towards the creation of the essay.  The students will be responding to writing prompts on Anglo-Saxon poetry, Beowulf, and the Archetypal Hero, all subjects that are being taught in their Literature class.  The students will be required to have strong paragraph structure, use active voice and correct subject/verb agreement, support their thesis, and apply vocabulary from 1A. A quiz on Vocabulary 1A will be on Friday, February 1st.

Week of January 21, 2013

  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 & 9th Grade Academic:  Students will be reading and analyzing the Short Story. They will be responsible for applying the elements of the short story and identifying the author's use of literary devices.  At the conclusion of the story, students will be required to identify and support the author's message and its relevancy today.  The students will also be working on Vocabulary.  The vocabulary unit incorporates knowledge of the word from its origin to its definition and application.  The creation of sentences demonstrates knowledge and effective communication.  The review through sentence completion applies reading in context.  The application incorporates knowledge and utilization of grammar through sentence dissection.  

 All 9th Grade English classes will be on Vocabulary Unit 6

9th English:  "The Black Cat" and "The Most Dangerous Game"
9th Academic English:  "Bartleby the Scrivener" and "The Most Dangerous Game"


11th Practical:  The students will be working on Vocabulary.  The vocabulary unit incorporates knowledge of the word from its origin to its definition and application.  The creation of sentences demonstrates knowledge and effective communication.  The review through sentence completion applies reading in context.  The application incorporates knowledge and utilization of grammar through sentence dissection.

The students will be responsible for creating a documentary on the Puritans.  Through the production of the documentary, students will learn how to write for an informational  medium.  The required research will help them with the comprehension and analysis of The Crucible for their Literature class. This will be a group project and a due date will be forthcoming.

12th Grade Practical:  The students will begin work on Vocabulary Unit 1.  The students will be required to complete the assignment for Unit 1 List 1 which will include the definition and use of the word.  The Vocabulary assignment will be due on Monday, January 28.  They will also begin work on grammar.  Students will be required to demonstrate their knowledge in the foundations of grammar, beginning with the Parts of Speech.

The first writing assignment will be on problem-solving.  The students need to be able identify a problem and analyze it for solutions, a real world application necessary for success.  They will need to use logic and reason to support their thesis.  The writing assignment will be due on Friday, February 1st.

Week of January 14, 2013

9th Grade English & 9th Grade Academic:  Midterms will continue on Monday and Tuesday.  Students will be reviewing the Midterm in order to comprehend strengths and weaknesses which need to be addressed.  A comprehensive exam assesses what a student knows and how to apply the knowledge.  Interpretation and analysis are skills necessary for critical thinking.  The goal of English is to create critical thinkers who can use their skills for success in all academics and in life. 

Public Speaking:  Midterms will continue on Monday and Tuesday.  The Persuasive Speeches will finish on Thursday, January 17th.  Success in Persuasive Speaking relies on the responsibility of the student to use logic and reason to persuade the audience to DO something.  I look forward to their presentations and hope for the movement of the audience from apathy to one of action!   

Week of January 7, 2013

9th Grade English & 9th Grade Academic: Students will be concentrating on preparation for Midterm Exams.  Students will be responsible for demonstrating knowledge of literary elements and devices through application.  Interpretation and analysis of literature (short story and novel) will be assessed.  Usage in grammar will be a focus in order to increase their reading and writing skills.  Vocabulary will also be tested for reading in context. 

Public Speaking: Presentation of the Persuasive Speeches will commence on Monday, January 7, 2013.  A final exam demonstrating knowledge and application of rhetoric skills and techniques will be given.

The Midterm Exams are as follows:

Thursday, January 10:  Periods 1 and 2
Friday, January 11:  Periods 6 and 7
Monday, January 14:  Periods 3 and 4
Tuesday, January 15:  Period 5