Study guide for the final exam: click here!

Here is the final exam grammar review handout: click! Answers are at the end of the document.

Here's a Quizlet that reviews the parts of speech too! Click!

Day Forty-Four

Tuesday December 3
Period D

Wednesday December 4
Period C

Today I checked your conjunction homework.

We went over how to write a paragraph, using your in-class timed writings as examples.

You added to your list of motifs in your groups.

You got your review sheet for the final exam (also in handouts folder).

Homework: Read pages 107-119 for next class.

Day Forty-Three

Monday December 2
Period D

Tuesday December 3
Period C

Today we went over Part 2 of Fahrenheit.

You had grammar homework: pages 37-40 in your workbook, all exercises. This is due next class.

Day Forty-Two

Tuesday November 26
Period C

Monday December 2
Period D

Today we went over more prepositions and took the quiz.

Then you had time to read Part 2 and answer the study guide questions, which are due next class.

If you need a copy of the study guide questions, they are in the handouts folder over on the right.

Day Forty-One

Monday November 25
Periods C, D

Today we took our first timed writing over Part 1 of Fahrenheit 451.

Your papers are due at 9:00 p.m. tonight on Google Drive.

Day Forty

Thursday November 21
Period C

Friday November 22
Period D

Today we read more of Beatty's...speech?...conversation?...and you got into groups to discuss some of the more interesting points. :)

Your homework is to finish reading Part 1.

Day Thirty-Nine

Wednesday November 20
Periods C & D

·     Grammar homework: In workbook: (if you need a copy, see me)

Page 33, Exercise 1 & 2

Page 34, Exercise 2

Page 35, Exercise 1 & 2

Page 36, Exercise 1

Day Thirty-Eight

Monday November 18
Pd. C

Tuesday November 19
Pd. D

Today we read pages 50-60 together.

Day Thirty-Seven

Friday, November 15
Pd. C, D

Today we went over the adverb practice quiz (the real one this time!). Quiz is next class.

Then we discussed the reading so far in small groups, then as a class. NO READING HOMEWORK this weekend!

Day Thirty-Six

Wednesday November 13
Period C

Thursday November 14
Period D

Today we worked more with adverbs. We'll have a practice quiz next class.

Next, we discussed the reading so far. You got into your motif groups and created a shared document so you could keep track of motif sightings!

Homework: Read pages 29-49 and complete one bookmark. Be sure you have edited your partner's phase autobiography on Google Drive!

Day Thirty-Five

Tuesday, November 12
Periods C, D

Today we went over the adverb pages in your workbook that you did last week when I was out. Then we took a practice practice quiz...then we took the actual practice quiz over adjectives and adverbs. We didn't go over it yet, but we will next time we have class.

Next, you received a partner so you could peer review his or her phase autobiography. If you didn't share a phase autobiography with me you have a 0 for that assignment and a 0 for this assignment...so you'd better share it with me ASAP. The editing is explained on the handout you received in class (also in the handouts folder) and should be done for the next time you have class. No Fahrenheit homework tonight.

Day Thirty-Four

Friday November 8
Period C

Monday November 11
Period D

You turned in your bookmark for the reading, which was through page 18.

We discussed the story so far, using the questions you answered in your groups on Tuesday.

You got into your new MOTIF groups and began looking for the motif that I assigned to you. You can get this handout in the handouts folder.

Your homework is to complete two bookmarks: one for pages 19-21 and one for the bottom of 21 to the middle of 25.

Top 50 Dystopian Movies of All Time

Ender's Game

Day Twenty-Nine

Monday, October 28
Periods C, D

Today we spent some time going over adjectives again. If you're looking for the answers to the worksheet questions we DIDN'T do in class, look under "handouts" over on the right! The adjective quiz is next class.

We went over your preliminary work for the Phase Autobiography and you made sure you are happy with your topic. If you aren't, you'll need to repeat the steps with your new topic. Remember to keep ALL PRELIMINARY WORK to turn in!

Day Twenty-Four

Tuesday, October 15
Period C

Thursday, October 17
Period D

Today we went over verbs...again...and you are ready to take your verb quiz next period. (Linking vs. action practice answers are here: click!)

We started reading "Rules of the Game" by Amy Tan. We will finish next class period.

You also received another article to annotate. You'll have to get it in class if you were absent. It's due on Friday.

Day Twenty-Three

Friday, October 11
Pd. C, D

Today we went over your verb homework. We also went over the practice verb quiz. No homework this weekend--we'll practice verbs again next week. Make sure your narrative is up on your blog and that you've sent me the link!

Day Twenty-Two

Wednesday, October 9
Period C

Thursday, October 10
Period D

Today we started talking about Narrative Writing. Here's Bill Cosby telling a nice story:

Your assignment was to write a story about something interesting that has happened to you on your blog. Yes, it must be true! Make sure it's about a specific event--that it has a point. That it's a story...not about a huge, long, trip with no point. Google "narrative writing ideas" for some ideas if you can't think of any!

Day Twenty-One

Tuesday, October 8
Periods C, D

Today you took your short story test. I'm sure you all got 100% on it. You looked pretty good taking it. No one was crying.

Your homework is in your grammar workbook, and is as follows:

Pages 13-17: All of the exercises
Page 18: Exercise 1
Page 19: All of the exercises
Page 20: Exercises 1 & 2

This is due on Friday for both periods!

Day Twenty

Friday, October 4
Period C

Monday, October 5
Period D

Today you took your noun quiz.

We reviewed for your short story test, which will be next class period. The handout for this is in the handouts folder (link over on the right!). Use all the handouts from class, your notes, and ... you'll do great!

Day Nineteen

Thursday, October 3

Period C & D

Today you took your practice noun quiz, so you could see what the actual quiz will look like.

We did some work on foreshadowing and suspense with "Cask of Amontillado." 

And you had some time in class to make a blog using blogger.com. Email me the address at my school email address!

Pd. D: Your annotated article of the week was due!

Day Fifteen

Tuesday, September 24
Periods C, D

Today you had a tour of different parts of the Information Commons.

You also had a chance to improve you score on the plot diagram quiz by drawing out the plot diagram on "The Interlopers."

Day Fourteen

Today in class you did a project for the story we read.

Your homework is to read "The Interlopers," which is on the front of our class Edline page under "Contents" if you didn't finish reading it in class!

Day Thirteen

Thursday, September 19
Periods C & D

Today we reinforced our knowledge of characterization, conflict, and plot by applying those terms to the two stories we've already read. We did this in small groups, then went over it as a class.

Then we read our next story, "The Most Dangerous Game." Your homework is to finish it for next class (link is here). (Click the word "here"!)

Day Twelve

Tuesday, September 17
Period C

Wednesday, September 18
Period D

Today we read the short story "Through the Tunnel" by Doris Lessing. We discussed the literary terms conflict, plot (including the plot diagram), and we reviewed characterization. The handout we used today is in the handouts folder.

Day Eleven

Monday, September 16
Periods C, D

Today we went over the Active Reading test.

Then we finished reading "The Necklace" (period C) and discussed what characterization is in a short story or other literary work. We also talked about the difference between indirect and direct characterization. Then we worked on indirectly characterizing the two characters in "The Necklace." The handouts from today are in the classroom.

Day Ten

Thursday, September 12
Period C

Friday, September 13
Period D

Today you took the Active Reading test.

Then you finished reading "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant. If you didn't get a chance to read it, I put a link to it over under "links"--please have it read for next week!

Day Nine

Wednesday, September 11
Periods C & D

I pushed the Active Reading test back to next class. We completed a unit wrap-up (the handout is in the handouts folder--make sure you do one) that included questions for you to reflect upon.

Then we started the Short Story unit. You took notes from a Power Point (I put a copy in the handouts folder, over on the right). Period D was able to start reading the story "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant --we'll finish it during the next class, after the test.

Day Eight

Monday, September 9
Period C

Tuesday, September 10
Period D

Today we finished up synthesizing with an activity that involved reading an article about showering after gym class, and then we started getting ready for the test over these skills, which will be next class. The test will be open-note.

Day Seven

Friday, September 6
Periods C, D

Today we started our last active reading term: synthesizing!

You'll need to get notes from someone in class, and we did a few short exercises. We also watched two short videos:

Day Six

Wednesday, September 4: Period C
Thursday, September 5: Period D

Today we talked about the next two active reading skills: determining importance and visualizing. You can get the notes from someone in class if you missed them, and copies of the articles in the classroom.

Day Five

Tuesday, September 3
Periods C & D

Today we finished the active reading skill we worked on last class period--questioning. We looked over the rest of the pre-annotated article on plastic sandwich bags and talked about when it would be a good idea to annotate.

Next we learned about three different types of questions you'll encounter in school. There's a handout for this; you can get it in the handouts folder. We did an activity with this handout. It involved Justin Bieber. Sorry if you missed it. :)

Finally, you were assigned an article to read an annotate, and also to practice your questioning skills with. It's kind of a mid-point assessment for your active reading skills, so it will be worth five points. You can get a copy of it in the handouts folder.

Sunday night reminders

Dear students and parents,

Look, I hated Sunday nights, too. This is what I grew up fearing/loathing/dreading:

When that sound came on the TV, I knew my weekend was over. I also knew that I'd have to do all the dishes by myself because my parents would be sitting in front of the TV watching what looked to be the world's most boring program.

I'm not here to rain on your Sunday night of leisure and fun...I just want to remind you of a few things so that you get all of your points tomorrow.

You have three things due on Monday (period C) or Tuesday (period D):

1. The Words of Wisdom assignment if you haven't turned in in yet. If you don't have yours with you, it's on the right-hand side of this page under "handouts"--or just click on this link right here (clllllllllick!). Please make sure you follow the MLA formatting guidelines the best you can--I won't be crazy when I grade you on them, but you do need to try. It cannot be handwritten! I put a copy of the MLA guidelines (and how to set your computer up to do them) on the front of our Edline page, or you can get them in the handouts folder over on the right. ALL RIGHT, FINE, I'll link to them here, too. Click!

2. The "I Am" poem. You must use the colored paper I gave you. Check the Day Three entry down below for more reminders, or look over in the handouts folder for the assignment itself.

2. You will need your 1.5" binder and everything that goes in it when you walk through the door. If you are missing just one element (a pencil...the index cards...the dividers...), you will lose all five points. This is spelled out for you on the back of your procedure sheet (which I just linked to, but is also on Edline, and is also in the handouts folder). Please assemble it BEFORE class begins. We will write on the dividers in class--just have them in place and ready to go!

Have a great Sunday night. I hope your first week at Carmel wasn't too brutal, and that you'll come back tomorrow feeling confident and as if you belong...because you do! I look forward to seeing you!

Day Four

Friday, August 23:
Pd. C, D

Today we learned about the next active reading skills: schema. Please get notes from someone in class if you were absent. I assigned you an article to read and annotate using the sentence starters for both metacognition and schema. You can find the article in the "handouts for class" folder under "links" over on the right if you lost yours (or click here).  This is due on Monday for period C and on Tuesday for period D. The "I Am" poems are due on Monday as well.

Then we finished up the classroom policies and procedures by playing a review game and taking a quiz over what we learned. Have a great weekend!

Day Three

Wednesday August 21: Period C
Thursday August 22: Period D

Today we took a diagnostic grammar exam so I could see where you're at, skills-wise, with grammar. You come from very different grammar backgrounds, so it's important for me to know what your range is so I can accommodate all of you when I plan grammar instruction.

I gave your Words of Wisdom assignments back to you if they needed work with the formatting. Please don't take this personally--I just want to be sure you know how to properly use MLA style, as you will use it both here and in college! Turn the assignment in again on Monday. :)

The "I Am" poem is due on Monday, too. Remember:

• Write/print out only on one side
• No MLA heading for this--your name goes in the title
• Don't cut up your paper

Day Two

Tuesday August 20
Period C, D

First, we looked over the class procedure sheet a little more thoroughly (There's a link to it on our class Edline page if you lost your copy). Please sign (and have your parents sign) the parent/student agreement and bring it back to class ASAP.

Next we took notes on our first concept in the Active Reading unit: Metacognition. We did a few activities (nice salad construction!), and we'll do some more with this unit later in the week.

Finally, I went over the Words of Wisdom assignment again--just in case you had any questions. Again, this is due on Friday. A sample of an MLA formatted paper is on the front of our Edline page under "Content."

Day One

Monday August 19
Periods C, D

Hi everyone!

First, we had an introduction to the classroom, and you learned about some of my policies and procedures. You were assigned a few things to purchase for class, including a binder, a pencil pouch, and other necessary items. (See the procedure sheet for details!)

We talked about your first assignment: Words of Wisdom. This is due on Friday.