Tuesday December 15, 2009

Comp/Lit 10: Short Stories

• Study, study! Grammar's your Buddy! We started the class with our final grammar review. We reviewed the types of sentences (imperative, declarative interrogative, exclamatory), run-ons and fragments. On the quiz, the student will need to be able to list the four ways to correct a run-on sentence [1. (;), 2. (; conjunctive adverb,), 3. (, coordinating conjunction), 4. (:)]. They will also need to be able to identify a complete sentence, a fragment and a run-on.
• The students took the quiz on the short story "Anteaus", then we corrected it as a class.
• The "Anteaus" presentation took place, then the students completed an evaluation of the group.
• We then moved on to "Harrison Bergeron"
• The students took the quiz on the short story "Harrison Bergeron", then we corrected it as a class.
• The "Harrison Bergeron" presentation took place, then the students completed an evaluation of the group.
• Homework: Read "By the Waters of Babylon", complete the outside reading log #3 by Friday @ tutorial, study for the grammar quiz.

Monday December 15, 2009

Comp/Lit 9: Romeo & Juliet

• Okay, so the countdown has begun. We only have five days of regular class left. Stay healthy, get lots of rest and stay on top of your school work. Be sure to get your assignments made up if you've been absent. All make up work must be in by Friday December 18, 2009.

• We started with a game of Preposition BINGO. The students put 24 prepositions on to the BINGO card from memory (this is the challenging part). After we finished the first game, they had to put 24 different prepositions on to the 2nd BINGO card. At this point they need to have utilized 48 of the 53 prepositions.
• We then reviewed the requirements for the 3rd Outside Reading Log. We practiced starting sentences with prepositional phrases and reviewed the punctuation rules and definitions of phrases.
• I then turned on the audio for Act IV of Romeo & Juliet. The students took notes about the main events and character development
• We ended the period by starting to look for quotes that illustrate the 4 main topics (Fate, Prejudice, Hate and Loyalty) that we will be exploring for the Romeo & Juliet Essay.
• Homework: Work on OR Log #3; Finish Act IV Notes (these should already be finished); Finish Cue Cards for your performance; Work on Act IV Visual-->DUE Friday Dec. 18; Study Prepositions #1-53; Complete the Theme Mapping Chart (find quotes and examples for each topic, and develop a theme statement for your assigned topic).

Friday December 11, 2009

Comp/Lit 10: Short Stories

• Okay, so the countdown has begun. We only have five days of regular class left. Stay healthy, get lots of rest and stay on top of your school work. Be sure to get your assignments made up if you've been absent. All make up work must be in by Friday December 18, 2009.

• We started the class period with a quiz covering "A Pair of Silk Stockings". We then corrected it as a class.
• The group presentation took place next. "A Pair of Silk Stockings" group took the class through a series of activities covering the necessary content for the presentation assignment.
• At the conclusion of the presentation, the class completed evaluations of the group presentations.
• We then moved onto the next portion of the class period (our typical Friday routine).
• The students took their final Vocabulary & Spelling Quiz (#15 & 16) of the semester.
• When they completed the quiz, they worked on a grammar activity in their workbook-pages 199-123 odd #'s only covering types of sentences, run-ons and fragments
• They finished up the period by reading silently in their outside reading book
• Homework: Read: "Anteaus," Read: "Harrison Bergeron", Work on your outside reading log #3-->DUE Thursday December 17; work on your short story presentation.

• Outside Reading Log #3 Information:
• **Visual: 1st period - Character Collage; 5th period - Book Jacket
• **Special Grammar Requirements: a compound sentence and a compound-complex sentence (utilize different punctuation)

Thursday December 10, 2009

Comp/Lit 9: Romeo and Juliet

• We started class with a quiz on Prepositions #27-53. While the students took the quiz, I checked homework-Act III Notes for R&J.
• We then corrected the Prepositions #27-53 Quiz as a class.
• The students then signed up for their performance group/scene.
• We then finished listening to Romeo and Juliet Act III.
• While the news broadcast group prepared outside, we reviewed the details of Act III
• The Act III New Broadcast group gave their presentation.
• The students then worked on a QuickWrite called: Imagine. They had to write a one page diary-type entry from the perspective of the character they will be playing in their scene. This is the first step is understanding their character and motivation. Once they completed the quick write, they worked on the questions about their character in the performance packet.
• We ended the period by having a discussion about theme and the theme essay that they will be writing after we finish reading Romeo and Juliet.
• Homework: Act III Visual; VFA # 15 & 16; study prepositions #1-53; work on your news broadcast; work on cue cards for your performance-->DUE Wed. 12/16; work on your outside reading log #3-->DUE Fri. 12/18

Wednesday December 9, 2009

Comp/Lit 10: Short Stories

• Class started with two quizzes. The students took a grammar quiz on clauses and sentence structure.
• After the grammar quiz, they took a quiz on the short story "All Summer in a Day."
• While the students took their quizzes, I check homework and homework cards. The notes on "All Summer in a Day" were due.
• After the students completed both quizzes, they had two options:
• 1. they could read/review the assigned short story for their group project.
• 2. or they could work on organizing their portfolio.
• We then corrected both quizzes as a class. We used this as an opportunity to review the grammar concepts and the plot details of the short story "All Summer in a Day".
• I then took the students through a power point presentation to review the "All Summer in a Day" notes.
• The students then had the last 30 minutes of class to work with the group for their short story presentation.
• Homework: Study vocabulary & spelling #15 & 16; bring your OR Book; Read "A Pair of Silk Stockings"; work on your presentation

Tuesday December 8, 2008

Comp/Lit 9: Romeo & Juliet and Preposition Practice

• We started the period by working on a Preposition Scramble for #27-53. The students were required to complete this assignment without referring to the list of prepositions. The students then completed a practice quiz for #27-53. The students will have a quiz next time on prepositions #27-53.
• I spent a few moments talking to the students about the extra credit opportunity tonight. Attend the Teen Forum at City Hall and take notes. Completed notes and reflections will earn up to 15 points of extra credit.
• I then introduced the Romeo & Juliet Performance Assignment. The students will sign-up for a group/scene next class period. They will need to memorize their lines and rehearse with their group. The in class preparation will happen on Tuesday January 5. The scene summary and character motivation analysis is due on the day of the performance-Thursday January 7.
• We spent a bit of time reviewing Acts I & II. We specifically discussed the characteristics of Romeo, Juliet, Tybalt, Mercutio, Benvolio, Lady Capulet, Nurse and the Prince.
• We then spent the remaining part of the period listening to Act III.

Monday December 7, 2009

• It has been a while since I've updated my Blog, so I apologize for my oversight. After being out sick for almost a week, I got very behind, and this was one of the things I had to overlook for a time in order to stay afloat.

Comp/Lit 10: Short Stories

• The students took a quiz on the short story "The Lady or the Tiger?" While they took their quiz, I check the homework-VFA #15 & 16 (the last one of the semester), and "The Lady or the Tiger?" Questions.
• After the quiz, we discussed grammar-The types of sentences. The students took notes on phrases, clauses (independent and dependent), simple sentences, compound sentences, complex sentences and compound-complex sentences. We then reviewed pages 103-106 in the grammar workbook (the students had completed the work last week).
• There will be a grammar quiz next time. The quiz will ask the students to identify groups of words as either an independent clause or a dependent clause. The section section will ask students to identify a sentence as either simple, compound, complex or compound-complex.
• I then introduced the Short Story Presentation Project. The students will work in groups of 6-8 to teach a story ("A Pair of Silk Stockings", "Anteaus", "Harrison Bergeron", or "By the Waters of Babylon") to the class. See the full explanation on my website.
• I assigned each student to a story.
• The students them took notes on the elements of the short story based on a power point presentation. They will be responsible for all of this information.
• We then began our discussion of "The Lady or The Tiger?" I handed out "charges" to selected students in the class. Each "charged" student came to the front of the room and read the "charges" to the class. They, then, had the choice of one of two cups. If they picked the cup with no candy underneath, they were considered guilty. If they found the candy, they were considered innocent. This is a reenactment of the king's justice system in the story.
• We ended by reviewing the discussion questions for the story..
• Homework: Read "All Summer in a Day" and complete the notes in the back of the packet. Study for the grammar quiz. Read your assigned short story to be prepared for working with your group on Wednesday. You will have about 45 minutes to work as a group on December 9.