New Blog Sites for English 10 and English 12

To keep you from getting confused between English 10 and English 12 posts, I have created class-specific blogs.

English 10 students should check here: http://woodliffenglish10.blogspot.com/
English 12 students should check here: http://woodliffenglish12.blogspot.com/

General information and links will still be posted on this main blog.

I will begin using the class-specific blogs starting today, Tuesday, September 9.

5 & 8 September. English 12-4th period & 1st

Vocabulary: Strategies and Activities
Students received a packet with a variety of vocabulary strategies/activities they will be able to choose from for future vocabulary assignments.

There are 4 quotes on front of the packet. Students were to choose one quote and respond to it.

There are also 4 words on the front. At their tables, each student chose one of the words and completed several of these activities. They worked individually and later moved to groups according to vocabulary words. They had the opportunity to share activities and complete the handout.

Next class, students will share definitions of all words at their tables.

Text book distribution
Text books were distributed. Seniors will be able to keep their books in the classroom. Books will need to be covered. The spine of the cover should be labeled so students can take their own book from the bookshelf. They will have the opportunity to do this next class.

MLA Notes and Practice: DVD movie
Students took a few notes on how to create a Works Cited entry for a movie on DVD. They were given a variety of DVD covers from which they could choose to create 2 works cited entried.

Students were then given a DVD cover project assignment. This assignment "My Life (up to this point): A Movie" is worth a quiz grade and is due September 12 for 4th period.

Students turned in the following:

• vocabulary quote response
• MLA works cited practice entries
• vocabulary handout with completed activities for 1 word

Homework: DVD cover project due September 15 for 4th period; September 18 for 1st period.

5 & 8 September. English 10-2nd, 6th, & 3rd periods

Vocabulary: Strategies and Activities
Students received a packet with a variety of vocabulary strategies/activities they will be able to choose from for future vocabulary assignments.

There are 4 quotes on front of the packet. Students were to choose one quote and respond to it.

There are also 4 words on the front. At their tables, each student chose one of the words and completed several of these activities. They worked individually and later moved to groups according to vocabulary words. They had the opportunity to share activities and complete the handout.

Next class, students will share definitions of all words at their tables.
Students turned in:

• vocabulary quote response
• vocabulary handout with activities completed for 1 vocabulary word
  

2nd & 6th periods: Myths and Folktales: Notes
At the end of class, students began taking notes (filling in blanks and answering questions on a handout) from a PowerPoint on Myths and Folktales, the first literature unit. They will finish taking notes these notes next class.
3rd period will take these notes on Wednesday.

Homework
There was no homework.

Announcement:
Class pictures will be taken in English class on September 8 & 9. Order forms were given on Wednesday. If students want to order pictures, they must pre-pay (bring a check on Tuesday).

3 & 4 September 2008. Internet Safety Training

Wednesday and Thursday all students received Internet Safety Training. After the training...

The student will recognize behaviors that support and violate the division’s AUP.
The student will identify behaviors of an on-line predator.
The student will identify cybersecurity concerns.
The student will describe appropriate on-line behaviors.

First Day: 2 September 2008

English 10 & English 12 students were given and read the syllabus.

Students "assignment" for the first week:
Go to the blog entry “Ideas & Suggestions: English 12” or “Ideas & Suggestions: English 10." Leave a comment with any ideas &/or suggestions you would like to see us do in class this year. You do not have to leave your name. If you want to, leave only your first name or initials.

Class e-mail distribution lists: As students worked on an in-class PostSecret activity, they individually entered names and e-mail addresses into a spreadsheet that I will use to create an e-mail distribution list. Later this week, I will send out a survey that students can fill out and e-mail back to me. If students don't have an e-mail address or choose not to use e-mail, they can find the survey on this blog (the previous entry to this one).

Wednesday and Thursday, students can expect Internet Safety Training.

Student Survey

If I have your e-mail address, you will receive this student information survey as an attachment in an e-mail. If you did not give me your e-mail address, you may copy and paste this survey into either a Word document or an e-mail, fill it out, and e-mail it to me. Remember to save it as a Rich Text document (rtf). Do NOT leave your answers in a comment!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Name:

Phone #:

Address:

Parents names:

Parents’ phone #s:

1. Do you have a job? If so, what do you do? What hours do you work?

2. Your favorites:
1. Movie?
2. Song?
3. TV show?
4. Restaurant?

3. What time do you go to bed during the school year?
4. On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 meaning a LOT), answer the following:
1. How much do you like to read?
2. To write?
3. Science?
4. Math?
5. What are your hobbies?
6. Your Future
1. What are your future goals?
2. Do you plan on going to college? If so, where?
3. What do you want to study?
4. What is your dream job?
7. What grade do you expect to earn in this class?
8. Three words that describe you:
1. –
2. –
3. –
9. One object that best represents you is ________________ because
10. One thing teachers should know about you is
11. The most influential person in your life is ________________ because
12. One academic goal that you have for this school year is
13. One personal goal that you have for this school year is
14. Where have you traveled?
15. Where have you lived?
16. What would you like to learn in this class?

Ideas & Suggestions: English 10

English 10 students, please leave a comment with any ideas you have for English 10 this 2008-2009 school year. Please be creative AND realistic!

Thanks,
Mrs. W

Ideas & Suggestions: English 12

Seniors, please leave a comment with any ideas you have for English 12 this 2008-2009 year. Please be creative AND realistic!

Thanks,
Mrs. W

Summer!

Have a safe and fun summer!

Monday, June 9

Students had the opportunity to look at their Fahrenheit 451 tests and answer sheets. They had to turn these back in but have the opportunity to get them after school today or before school tomorrow.

Students were given a final exam review and a works cited practice sheet. A key to the works cited practice sheet is on the Y-Drive in the "FINAL EXAM REVIEW" folder.

Students were directed to go to the following website and watch the 3 videos for a review on plagiarism: http://library.camden.rutgers.edu/EducationalModule/Plagiarism/

The final exam will include: Julius Caesar, Fahrenheit 451, a new reading selection with questions, MLA format, plagiarism, and vocabulary.

Items students should be able to identify on a Works Cited Page include:
∞ URL
∞ Webpage title
∞ Publisher
∞ Date accessed
∞ Author
∞ Date published
∞ Publication title (i.e. magazine, newspaper, including online periodicals)
∞ Book title
∞ Date the Webpage was last updated
∞ Place of publication
∞ Website Title
∞ Title of an online newspaper or magazine article

Vocabulary to study

∞ odious
∞ diversion
∞ mores
∞ discourse
∞ litany
∞ imperatives
∞ concerted
∞ trivial
∞ canonical
∞ coherent
∞ ascent
∞ entreat
∞ visage
∞ emulation
∞ frivolous
∞ aesthetic
∞ eulogize
∞ marshal
∞ ascend
∞ digress
∞ puissant
∞ solipsistic
∞ emulation
∞ appertain
∞ stolid
∞ proclivities
∞ manifested
∞ juggernaut

Thursday, June 5

Afterword & Coda vocabulary

•Stacks: the area or part of a library in which the books and other holdings are stored or kept.
•Tiffin – midday meal; luncheon
•Litany – liturgical prayer/recitation
•Uncle Tom: a black man considered by other blacks to be subservient to or to curry favor with whites. ("curry favor” - to seek to advance oneself through flattery)
•Blanc-mange – “white food” or bland food
•Aesthetics – study of mind and emotions in relation to beauty
•Imperatives – commands, authorities
•Digress – deviate or wander away from the main topic

Afterword Questions:

•Have you ever finished a book (or movie) and wanted to know more about the characters? Wanted to know more about what was happening while the story was taking place or before the story took place? (If you watch the movie instead of read the book, you will have these questions!)
•What does Bradbury tell us in the Afterword?
•Why did Beatty choose to be a fireman?
•How does Bradbury feel about Clarisse’s character?

Grade sheets were given to students. Final grades were written on the bottom. These will change after the final exam is entered.

2nd and 4th returned books. I will take 6th's books on Monday. Replacement cost for textbooks is $65.05 and must be paid through the front office.

Brief Exam Review:
•Julius Caesar
•Fahrenheit 451
•MLA format
•Plagiarism
•Vocabulary – Julius Caesar, “Can U Read Kant?” & Afterword/Coda.

Detailed review will be given on Monday.

Tuesday, June 3

• Students took the test over Fahrenheit 451.
• Students turned in the writing assignment (worth 20 points on the test).
• Students turned in optional journal and any late projects that were due last class.
• Students turned in books they purchased for an extra 10 test points.

Homework: Read the Afterword and Coda from Fahrenheit 451. (copies were given to each student). Notes and assignment are as follows:

Afterword - a concluding section, commentary, etc., as of a book, treatise, or the like; closing statement
Coda - anything that serves as a concluding part
1.Read the afterword and coda.
2.Highlight unfamiliar words.
3.Make notes in the margins as you read.
4.Summarize the afterword in 2 paragraphs.
5.Summarize the coda in 1 paragraph.
Due next class.

Textbooks will be turned in next class (and following class days). Students may turn in their books to my office AFTER school (while space permits. I don't have room for all 80 books!)

Additional Test Review

Quotes. Who said it? Of what is s/he speaking?

“I must admit that your blind raging invigorated me. God, how young I felt! But now – I want you to feel old, I want a little of my cowardice to be distilled in you tonight.”

"I just want someone to hear what I have to say. And maybe if I talk long enough, it'll make sense."


“The show’s got to have a snap ending, quick! If they started searching the whole damn river it might take all night. So they’re sniffing for a scapegoat to end things with a bang. Watch. They’ll catch Montag in the next five minutes!”

Do you remember the toothpaste jingle?

What is the allusion to Alice in Wonderland?

Friday, May 30

• Optional Journal: Choose any journal topic since May 6. Write it in paragraph form with topic sentence and strong supporting details. Revise and edit. Type. Due Tuesday. This is optional. Remember, journals are quiz grades (30% of your grade). If you made low quiz grades (including source annotations, paper outline and revised/edited rough draft), you should do this assignment. It will only help your grade.

• Students defined "Can U Read Kant" active reading vocabulary and were given the opportunity to finish the active reading assignment.

• Students were given a chart to write all missed vocabulary words on and fill out.

• Students took Quiz #4 over Fahrenheit 451. They were told they could get the graded quiz after school or come by my office on Monday so they can have it to study for the test on Tuesday.

• Students were given a test review.

• Students turned in Fahrenheit 451 projects. They were given the opportunity to present their project for 5 extra points.

• The Fahrenheit 451 test is on Tuesday, June 3!
  

Wednesday, May 28

JOURNAL: If Fahrenheit 451 were made into a movie today, who would play Guy? Clarisse? Mildred? Beatty? Faber? Why would you cast these actors in these roles?

We finished reading the book. The quiz is postponed until next class, Friday, May 30.

ACTIVE READING #2: “Can U Read Kant?” Due Friday.

• Vocabulary 1 (if your birthday is Jan. - June). Vocabulary 2 (July - Dec.) Assignment: Make a graphic organizer or cinquain for each word. Give an example &/or 2 synonyms for each word.
• As you read, compare the article to Beatty’s explanation of the history of books in “The Hearth and the Salamander.”
• Mark Bauerlein is the author of the book The Dumbest Generation that this article reviews. What do you think of him? What are your assumptions of him? (Age? Race? Religion? Married? Single?) Why?

WRITING ASSIGNMENT: Due Tuesday with test. This is worth 20 points of your test grade. This will be done outside of class (regardless of what the assignment says). You will not receive credit if it is illegible. If you have bad handwriting, type it!

HOMEWORK:

• Study for quiz over part 3 "Burning Bright"
• Active Reading #2 – vocabulary, comparison, questions
• Projects are due Friday.
  
  

Friday, May 23

Journal: Write about something you are passionate or feel strongly about. 1/2 page

We finished reading Part 2 of Fahrenheit 451, "The Sieve and the Sand." We took a quiz over Part 2.

Homework:

• Read the copied selection of Part 3 "Burning Bright" (These copies were given in class. If you weren't in class, you should read through page 136 of Part 3 ending with "He ran very fast away from the house, down toward the river." If you don't have a book, the reading can be found here: http://kisi.deu.edu.tr/murat.goc/451.pdf - pages 52-63 in this pdf).
• For all vocabulary words (green packet, page 37), complete 1 of the 4 vocabulary activities. Remember, I will be dropping the lowest quiz grade. HOWEVER, if you fail to turn in this vocabulary homework at the beginning of class, and Wednesday's quiz is your lowest, it will NOT be dropped.
• Be prepared for a quiz over Part 3 on Wednesday, May 28. This includes vocabulary.

Grade sheets were given to each student. If you have questions concerning your grade, you need to see me AFTER school. You may also e-mail me with any questions.

Papers were also handed back. If you want to continue improving your paper and grade, you can see me after school Tuesday - Thursday (May 27 - 29), and we will work something out.

Friday, May 16

• Journal: Write about “something” that has made you THINK (this could be a book, movie, event, quote, etc.) ½ page
• Turn in homework (Vocabulary & Active Reading)

• We finished reading “The Hearth and the Salamander” (part 1 of the novel)

• Fahrenheit 451 project assigned (major grade)

Tentative Calendar

• May 23 – finish part 2. assign part 3 reading for homework
• May 28 – finish part 3
• May 30: Project due & Test Review
• June 3 – Fahrenheit 451 test
  
• June 5 – Final Exam Review

Homework: Read Part 2 “The Sieve and the Sand” through page 93 (copies provided). Expect a quiz, including vocabulary (pages 35 & 36 in green packet – study however is best for you).

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

• Journal: Write about a day in your life you would like to live over again. ½ page minimum

• Vocabulary: packet pages 33 & 34. Read the sentences on page 33. Then try to answer 1-8 on page 34.
• Vocabulary Homework: Define each word using a dictionary or dictionary.com. Choose a vocab activity (from the packet) to complete for 4 of the most difficult words.
  

• All classes read through the top of page 56 (ending….”fitting nuts and bolts”)

Active Reading Homework: Article “All Fired Up”

• Indicate (circle, highlight, underline) unfamiliar words. Then define them.
• Jot down thoughts as you read.
• Respond to the article in at least 100 words. Consider: Have you read anything so far that warrants this book to be banned? Why or why not? What do you think of the people who want the book banned? The student? The father?

Next class, we will finish reading part 1 (reading assignments 1 & 2), "The Hearth and the Salamander." There will be a quiz when we finish reading - this includes vocabulary from reading assignments 1 & 2.

Fahrenheit 451 online

The text of Fahrenheit 451 can be found online here:

http://kisi.deu.edu.tr/murat.goc/451.pdf

Monday, May 12, 2008

Journal: Make a chart in which you compare & contrast things that are similar & different in the world of Fahrenheit 451 and our world.

Vocabulary: Write an acrostic poem for each of the remaining vocabulary words. Add this to last week's vocabulary (cinquains & graphic organizers) and turn in when you finish.

Reading: We finished reading assignment #1 (through page 34 "...put a stop to his plans")

QUESTIONS
What is the significance of the temperature "fahrenheit 451"?
How do we know that history has changed?
How is conformity “forced” on the people?

• How do the parlor walls promote conformity?
• How does the burning of books/illegality of reading books promote conformity?
• How does driving fast promote conformity?

TECHNOLOGY & ITS FUNCTIONS

• What is the function of the technology in the book? Parlor walls? Electric bees? Transportation system?
• How are these functions compared/contrasted to today’s technologies & how we are affected by them?
• How does watching tv/listening to music/driving fast prevent someone from thinking?
  

Symbolism
Salamander: mythological reptile, resembling a lizard, that was said to live in fire. It endures the flames without burning.
Phoenix: in Egyptian mythology, a lone bird that lives in the Arabian desert for 500 or 600 years and then sets itself on fire, rising renewed from the ashes to start another long life; a symbol of immortality

RESEARCH PAPER CORRECTIONS DUE WEDNESDAY, MAY 14!

• If you made below 84, you may make corrections.
• You can receive up to ½ a point for each point missed.
• The maximum grade you can get for corrections is 83.
• Corrections due Wednesday, May 14.
• If your major mistake was not having a Works Cited, you can turn in the Works Cited page for -15 today.
• Turn in the original final draft, the new final draft, and the blue rubric.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 14: THERE IS A QUIZ OVER READING ASSIGNMENT #1 (through page 34, "...put a stop to his plans.") Vocabulary will be included on this quiz.

Thursday, 8 May 2008

Journal: Write about your childhood memory/memories of books. 1/2 page

Vocabulary:

• (in class) Choose 3 of the words (packet page 32) and write a cinquain for each.
• (homework) Choose 3 more words and make a graphic organizer for each.

Quiz: tentatively set for Wednesday, 14 May

In-class reading: Read through page 24, “and opened his mouth….”

Tuesday, 6 May 2008

Research papers, folders, and note cards were turned in at the beginning of class.
Thursday, 8 May 2008 is the last day to turn these in (for -15 points).

Today, we began reading Fahrenheit 451.
•2nd & 4th periods read through page 14 (ending at …let his lips go on moving and moving.)
•6th read through page 12 (ending …separate, and therefore cold bed.)
•Homework: Vocabulary packet – pages 31 & 32. Also, define words using a dictionary or on dictionary.com.

English 10 Extra Credit Options

Purchase Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury and donate to the school for an extra 10 test points. Books due by May 8. (We will begin reading this book on Tuesday, May 6.)

Freerice.com extra credit due by May 30.
1. Log on to Freerice.com

2. Answer vocabulary questions: every correct answer donates 20 grains of rice through the UN World Food Program to help end world hunger.

3. Highlight your rice bowl, the number of grains you have donated, and the banner below them. Print the selected text. DO NOT copy and paste the text into a word document, just print the highlighted sections directly from the website. You may only have one printout from any given day (the date along with the URL will automatically print at the bottom of the page when you print directly from the website).

4. When you have collected all of your grains of rice, you may submit all of your totals together for extra credit.

∞ Additional HW Grade of 100 = 2,500 grains of rice.

∞ Additional Quiz Grade of 100 = 7,500 grains of rice

∞ +10 test ponts = 10,000 grains of rice


You may receive the above grades and test points only once. After that, you will receive 10 daily points for each additional 2,500 grains of rice.

English 10

Starting May 6, check here for daily assignments and class announcements.