For April 12, 2017

English 12
Our first book club meeting is for tomorrow. Be ready to discuss your novel in your groups. Have at least 3 good discussion questions prepared.

English 8
Fill in your character sheet for Toy Story. You can now start filling in the plot graph as well.

Creative Writing
Wednesday is Silent Reading Day
Poems....we are working on them tomorrow. Working on our presentations, that is.
We are looking at our next writing assignment. Short stories?

For Tuesday, April 11, 2017

English 8
Bring your silent reading book for tomorrow.
Your poem is due on Wednesday. Remember to:
Type it and include a picture of your activity. If you can't type it, you can write it by hand, but make sure your writing is neat.
Review your character types and emotional intelligence types. We are connecting what we are learning to Toy Story 3.

Creative Writing
Wish list poems are due tomorrow for reading in class. We will do silent reading on Thursday this week.

English 12
Great time today at the poetry slam. So many good ideas to be had. Here is the link for: Hullabaloo. Check it out.
Reading for tomorrow. Book club for Wednesday.

For Monday April 10, 2017

English 12
Totally forgot that we are going to hear poetry in the theatre on Monday in block B. Please come to class without your books and we will go directly to the theatre.

Bring your independent novel for Monday's class. We will be reading and we will be working on our double-sided journals.
Book club meeting is for Tuesday. You will be handing in your journals every week.

English 8
Type your 2nd draft of your poem for Monday. Please print it or have it on your phone for editing on Monday. You need to think about your line length, your use of imagery, metaphor, simile, or personification. The final version will be due on Wednesday. We are all looking forward to sharing them. Remember to take out all the extra words. Focus on the images when you are writing. Less is more.

Also: Highlight the sheet that I handed out in class about character types. We will discuss this in class.

Read this one:

The Dogs at Live Oak Beach, Santa Cruz A
Alicia Ostriker

As if there could be a world
Of absolute innocence
In which we forget ourselves
 The owners throw sticks
 And half-bald tennis balls
Toward the surf
 And the happy dogs leap after them
 As if catapulted—
 Black dogs, tan dogs,
Tubes of glorious muscle— Pursuing pleasure
 More than obedience
They race, skid to a halt in the wet sand,
 Sometimes they’ll plunge straight into
The foaming breakers
Like diving birds, letting the green turbulence
Toss them, until they snap and sink
Teeth into floating wood
Then bound back to their owners
 Shining wet, with passionate speed
For nothing, For absolutely nothing but joy.

Notice how the poet has used imagery that creates a gorgeous sense of movement. The scene is described brilliantly. The words are simple, yet vivid.


Creative Writing
Our monologues should be ready for Monday's tea party. Remember what you are bringing for class. You need to come prepared to be your character.
Your Wish List poem is due on Tuesday. We will be reading them in class.

For Friday, April 7, 2017

English 8
 Silent Reading tomorrow.
Second draft of your poem about your favorite activity. Good copy will be due on Monday

English 12
Anticipation sheet for your novel study.

Creative Writing
Bring silent reading book for tomorrow
We will share our monologues. Monologues are due for Monday.
Good copy of your poem: Wish list on Tuesday

For Thursday, April 6, 2017

Reminder: Parent- teacher interviews are tonight: 3:00-4:30  (with an appointment) and 6:00-7:30 open/no appointment needed.

English 8

We read a poem today about playing basketball and being persistent. Tonight, write a paragraph describing yourself doing an activity that is important to you. Describe the action: use imagery: appeal to the senses, uses metaphors, similes, or personification.
We will be working with your paragraph to create a poem.

What was the word we learned today? enjambement.....do you remember what it is? If not, look it up....

English 12

We are going to do our Socratic Seminar tomorrow in class. Have your notes ready for collection.
Remember it is the proposition: Mankind should invest in space exploration.

Creative Writing

Bring your silent reading book for tomorrow

We will be reading our monologues in groups tomorrow.

Monday is tea as our characters
Tuesday you are reading your Wish List poem

For Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Reminder that parent teacher interviews are on Thursday. Do come with your parent if you can.

English 8

Read the poem: Fast Break by Edward Hirsch

Note images that you liked. Find examples of personification. We will re-read the poem: My box of Letters again tomorrow to look at examples of personification.
Make a list of activities that you do/like to do. We will be drafting a poem tomorrow.
Try to think about how your Emotional Intelligence helps you with the activity you like.

English 12

Note: the main idea for each paragraph

Pros and cons of the article we read

Find other articles to support your opinion about space travel. Our debate topic will be:

 mankind should invest in the exploration of space

For Tuesday, April 4, 2017

If you haven't read your interim, please go to the student portal to see it. The login is the same a course selection. Grade 12 students got a separate paper regarding login information.

English 8
Remember: Silent Reading tomorrow
Please bring your book to class!

Write a journal reflection: how true or not true is the multiple intelligences survey? You should write a short paragraph.

English 12
Finish the questions for "Mars is Heaven" for tomorrow.

Creative Writing
Continue to work on your character profiles. Begin drafting your character monologues.
Some dialogue assignments are now overdue.