Tuesday - 12/15/09

First day of finals! I hope everyone did spectacular on your 1st period final exam! In order to better prepare you for the exam in this class, please following the directions below. It will be worth your while. :)

1. Click on the "handouts" link to the left of this post.
2. Look through the 1st semester handouts to find "Final Exam Review Presentation" and open the presentation.
3. View the presentation, while taking notes.
4. When you are done taking notes and viewing the presentation, open an empty email.
5. Address the email to mrs.lusher@gmail.com. In the subject of the email, type "your name - period".
6. In the body of the email type your notes from the review presentation.
7. Send the email. Once I receieve the email, with your notes, I will reply with a quick response to let you know I received it.

I must receive the email BEFORE you take your exam. Good luck!

Monday - 12/14/09

Today we took the Huck Finn test and turned in the Character Chart and Study Guide. Students also continued their non-fiction presentations.

Friday - 12/11/09

Today the non-fiction projects are due. Students will be completing their Huck Finn in-class essay as well. While students are finishing their essay, their peers will be presenting their projects. Group 13 will also review Huck Finn for the class in preparation for the test on Monday. The study guide and character chart are also due on Monday.

Thursday - 12/10/09

Today Groups 11-12 presented the remainer of Huck Finn. Students then finished working on their in-class essays. Tomorrow the Huck Finn journals are due, as well as the non-fiction reading projects.

Wednesday - 12/9/09

Today Groups 9-10 presented chapters 26-32 of Huck Finn. Students were then given an in-class essay prompt on Huck Finn. They began writing their planning page today, and will be finishing the essay tomorrow. No essays are allowed to leave class.

Tuesday - 12/8/09

Today groups 7-8 presented chapters 19-25 of Huck Finn. Students then read silently the remainer of the period. The final exam review was also handed out.

Monday - 12/7/09

Today Group 6 presented their chapters of Huck Finn. We then took a reading quiz. This quiz was composed of passages of Huck Finn, along with questions. Students then read silently the remainer of the period.

Friday - 12/4/09

We started off the period by discussing the GHSGWT and I passed back score reports for all 11th graders who took the test. All of my students passed, so congratulations!!! Then students were asked to complete a survey about this class and their experience during first semester. This survey provides me with important information, and helps me to plan for next semester and next year. Thank you for your imput! We also completed Ch. 14-16 in Huck Finn today and Group 5 presented.

Thursday - 12/3/09

We started off the period by passing back graded work and folders today. We then went over Ch. 11-13 with Group 4. Make sure you read Ch. 14-16 for homework!

Wednesday - 12/2/09

Performance Final Day! If y0u were absent, please make plans to make up the exam as soon as possible. Students also handed in the performance final review today.

Tuesday - 12/1/09

Today we went over Ch. 8-10 of Huck Finn. Group 5 presented their information. We also continued working on the Performance Final review. Don't forget it is due tomorrow and the Performance Final is tomorrow!

Monday - 11/30/09

Today we officially began our study of Huck Finn. Groups 1 and 2 presented chapters 1-7. Students had to complete one journal topic per group. The review for the performance exam was also given out. Students had time in class to work on the review, and it is due on Wednesday (the day of the exam). For homework the students need to read Ch. 8-10. Reminder: pop reading quizzes can be given at any time.

Tuesday - 11/24/09

Students turned in the Huck Finn Pre-Reading Activity today. We then began reading the first couple chapters of the novel together. We discussed the difficulty of the language and the element of realism in the text. Students were told they have to read through Ch. 7 over the break. We ended the period with some leftover Edgar Allan Poe presentations.

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday!

Monday - 11/23/09

Today we started the period with the Vocabulary Quiz #5. All work for this unit was also turned in. Students also picked up copies of Huck Finn and were assigned to their groups for this unit. All handouts for this unit were given, and students were given time to meet in their groups. Don't forget the pre-reading assignment is due tomorrow!

Friday - 11/20/09

Today we finished presenting the Edgar Allan Poe projects that were due yesterday. Then we began discussing the background on Huck Finn and took notes. The Huck Finn Pre-Reading assignment was also given, and it is due on Tuesday. Don't forget the vocab quiz on Monday!

Thursday - 11/19/09

Today we all shared our Edgar Allan Poe movies. They were fantastic! Awesome job everyone!

Wednesday - 11/18/09

Today we took the Unit 3 -Romanticism, Dark Romanticism, and Transcendentalism test. Students also handed in the Unit 3 study guides given out last week.

Edgar Allan Poe Project presentations are tomorrow!

Tuesday - 11/17/09

Today we are in Lab 810 working on the Edgar Allan Poe Projects. These projects are due on Thursday. Remember, projects should be in finished format and saved to a CD or flashdrive. You will not be able to access your student number.

Tomorrow is the Unit 3 Test. Your study guide is also due tomorrow.

Monday - 11/16/09

Today we took the Scarlet Letter test and turned in all study guides and symbol charts for this novel. If you didn't finish the test, you will need to come in during lunch or after school sometime this week. Also, if you were absent and need to make up the test, please plan to do so this week.

Friday - 11/13/09

Today we are in the computer lab working on the Edgar Allan Poe movies. Students are collecting images and music to support their short stories and poems. We will also be in the computer lab next Tuesday. Students were also reminded today that the Scarlet Letter test is on Monday and their study guide and symbols chart are also due.

Thursday - 11/12/09

Today the students received their Unit 3 review and began working on their Edgar Allan Poe projects with their partners. Students were expected to read their short stories and poems with their partner and start brainstorming ideas.

Wednesday - 11/11/09

Today we finished watching The Scarlet Letter. We also discussed the essay that is due tomorrow. We finished going over the answers to the study guide, and I assigned the Edgar Allan Poe Project. Students signed up for the short story and poem they want to complete for their project on for Edgar Allan Poe.

Tuesday - 11/10/09

Today students watched the first half of The Scarlet Letter. This version of the movie is in black and white, but closely following the novel's plot structure. Vocabulary Unit 5 work is also now posted. Students will be tested on this vocab on Nov. 20th, and the work is also due at that time.

Students interested in joining NEHS for Spring Semester - applications are now available in T-10. All applications and fees are due by January 9, 2010. See Mrs. Lusher for more details.

Monday - 11/9/09

We started the period with DGP today. DGP sentence #12 is: cannibal canoe hurricane and barbecue were some of the first words borrowed from native americans. After DGP we had the final Scarlet Letter presentations on themes, symbols, characters, conflicts, and plot. Students should have filled in the symbol chart during the presentations and taken notes. We then went over the study guide. I talked the students through each question, while they took notes. Answers can also be found on the handouts page. I also have posted the review game for Scarlet Letter. The test will be on Monday, Nov. 16th.

Friday - 11/6/09

We started the period with Scarlet Letter Journal #3 in our writer's notebooks:

"In what ways does society demand that we conform to certain conventions? What expectations foes our society have about how we (1) behave in public? (2) treat other people? (3) make a living? What happens to people who do not meet society's expectations?"

After the journal, students took the Scarlet Letter Reading Quiz.

Here is the schedule for next week:

M- Literary Theme Presentations, Symbol Chart, Study Guide

T- Scarlet Letter Movie

W- Scarlet Letter Movie

Th - Begin Edgar Allan Poe Projects, Scarlet Letter essays due

F - Work on Edgar Allan Poe Projects in Lab 610

Thursday - 11/5/09

The class started with DGP. We then had the last of the chapter Scarlet Letter presentations. Vocab Unit #4 work was due today, and we took the Unit 4 quiz. There will be a reading quiz on Scarlet Letter tomorrow.

Wednesday - 11/4/09

We started off the period with DGP. We then had all Scarlet Letter presentations through Ch. 21. The remaining presentations will be tomorrow. I also assigned the 2nd non-fiction reading assignment, which is due Dec. 10th. Students then had the opportunity to catch up on their reading and work on the study guide.

Tuesday - 11/3/09

Today the DGP sentence #11 was assigned: "give a yearbook to whoever paid for one". We then read two Walt Whitman poems in the textbook, "Leaves of Grass" and "Song of Myself". The questions after each were answered and added on to yesterday's Emily Dickinson work. We finished the period with more Scarlet Letter presentations.

Monday - 11/2/09

Today students read the following poems by Emily Dickinson in their textbooks, and then answered the questions following the poems.

• Because I could not stop for Death
• I heard a Fly buzz-when I died-
• There's a certain Slant of light,
• My life closed twice before its close-
• The Soul selects her own Society-
• The Brain-is wider than the Sky-
• There is a solitude of space
• Water, is taught by thirst

Friday - 10/30/09

DGP was due and we went over the sentence from this week and last week. Students turned in their DGP #9-10. We then continued with the Scarlet Letter presentations. I also assigned the Scarlet Letter formal essay. We discussed the topics and began to outline the paper's topic.

Henry David Thoreau

Watch a quick bio of his life:



Read some of Thoreau's famous quotes from Walden:

"Age is no better, hardly so well, qualified for an instructor as youth, for it has not profited so much as it has lost. One may almost doubt if the wisest man has learned anything of absolute value by living." - Walden

"A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone." - Walden

"As if you could kill time without injuring eternity." - Walden

"Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes." - Walden

"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away." - Walden

"If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them." - Walden

"I have a great deal of company in my house; especially in the morning, when nobody calls." - Walden

"I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by a conscious endeavor." - Walden

"I learned this, at least, by my experiment; that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours." - Walden

"In any weather, at any hour of the day or night, I have been anxious to improve the nick of time, and notch it on my stick too; to stand on the meeting of two eternities, the past and future, which is precisely the present moment; to toe that line." - Walden

"I should not talk so much about myself if there were anybody else whom I knew as well. Unfortunately, I am confined to this theme by the narrowness of my experience." - Walden

"It is never too late to give up your prejudices." - Walden

"I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion." - Walden

"However mean your life is, meet it and live it; do not shun it and call it hard names." - Walden

"Most of the luxuries and many of the so-called comforts of life are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind." - Walden

"No way of thinking or doing, however ancient, can be trusted without proof. What everybody echoes or in silence passes by as true today may turn out to be falsehood tomorrow, mere smoke of opinion, which some had trusted for a cloud that would sprinkle fertilizing rain on their fields." - Walden

"Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth." - Walden

"Simplify, simplify." - also: "Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity!" - Walden

"The finest qualities of our nature, like the bloom on fruits, can be preserved only by the most delicate handling. Yet we do not treat ourselves nor one another thus tenderly." - Walden

"The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." - Walden

"There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root." - Walden

"The universe is wider than our views of it." - Walden

"To be a philosopher is not merely to have subtle thoughts, nor even to found a school, but so to love wisdom as to live according to its dictates, a life of simplicity, independence, magnanimity, and trust." - Walden

"What old people say you cannot do, you try and find that you can. Old deeds for old people, and new deeds for new." - Walden

And you have my favorite Thoreau quote: "The faultfinder will find faults even in paradise."

Thursday - 10/29/09

After DGP, we had presentations for Chapters 7-9 of The Scarlet Letter. The following are the notable parts of these chapters:

Chapter 7 - Hester is taking Pearl to Governor Billingham's house because she has heard he is the head of the group that wants to have Pearl taken away and she has to deliver some gloves to him. On the way Hester and Pearl encounter some children who want to throw mud at them. Pearl takes off after them and scares them away. Upon entering the Governor's house, Pearl points out Hester's reflection in some armor. Hester is mortified that the scarlet letter is magnified.

Chapter 8 - Governor Billingham, Reverend Wilson, Reverend Dimmsdale, and Dr. Chillingsworth all find Pearl in the garden and question her. They decide Hester is not a fit mother, and want to take Pearl away. Hester is outraged and pleads with Dimmsdale to speak on her behalf (as her minister). He does, and they allow Pearl to stay with Hester. Pearl also has a moment of connection with the minister, where she shows affection towards him.

Chapter 9 - Dr. Chillingsworth is caring for an ailing Reverend Dimmsdale. Dimmsdale refuses to get married, so he and Chillingworth live together. Chillingsworth says he is committed to healing Dimmsdale - but the townspeople soon see Chillingsworth's evil in his face. They think that Chillingsworth is the devil trying to conquer the minister's soul.

After our presentations we read an excerpt from Henry David Thoreau's Walden in the Reader's Companion. As we read, students answered the guided reading questions in their books.

Reminder: DGP #9-10 is due tomorrow.

Wednesday - 10/28/09

Today we started off the period once again with DGP. Then we moved into today's Scarlet Letter presentations. These are some of the central ideas presented in these chapters:

Chapter 4 - A doctor, Roger Chillingsworth, is called for Hester and Pearl in the prison. He speaks with Hester and displays his hatred for the father of Pearl. His main goal now is to find that man. However, he says he does not hate Pearl and Hester.

Chapter 5 - Hester is able to move into a house of her own. She chooses to live by herself (with Pearl) on the outside of town. She employs herself as a seamstress and does needlework for all the most important people in town, except for brides-to-be. Hester also starts making clothes for the needy as a way to deal with her guilt.

Chapter 6 - This chapter is all about Pearl and her relationship to Hester. She is now older and is beginning to realize what the scarlet letter is and what it means. This embarrasses her mother. Pearl also is sometimes a handful to her mother and when Hester asks "Who made you?", Pearl replies "no one".

After reviewing Ch. 4-6, we read "Nature" and "Self Reliance" by the transcendentalist writer, Ralph Waldo Emerson. We talked about how "Nature" was about the relationship between people and nature, while exhibiting all the beliefs of the transcendentalists of the time. "Self Reliance" is about Emerson's beliefs, pertaining to how we are all individuals and should embrace that. The students then answered the book questions on pgs. 390 and 392.

Tuesday - 10/27/09

Today we started off working on DGP #10: "mark twain was born on november 30 1835 in florida missouri but moved to hannibal missouri when he was five". We then discussed the introduction to Scarlet Letter, "Custom House". We talked about how the narrator found the manuscript for when Hester Prynne lived (and her scarlet letter) and made a fictional story about the situation.

Students then presented Chapters 1-3 of The Scarlet Letter. We had posters, powerpoints, quizzes, games, and outlines. Here is the important items to note:

Chapter 1 - This sets the mood. We realize that the prison represents the loss of hope, and the prisoner's entrapment. The only symbol of hope is the rose bush blooming outside the prison door.

Chapter 2 - We are introduced to Hester and her 3 month old, Pearl. We also hear what the women of the village think of Hester and how she is punished. We also see Roger Chillingsworth for the first time. He was Hester's husband, who had been lost at sea for 2 years. He did not reveal his identity, but did mention his want of revenge.

Chapter 3 - The governor and ministers are trying to counsel Hester to tell them the father's name. She refuses. Reverend Dimmsdale (the baby's father) pleads with her to reveal the father, and release him of guilt. She refuses.

After reviewing Scarlet Letter we read the poem, "Thanatopsis" by William Cullen Bryant. This poem dealt with dying and life after death. After we read the poem together, students had to go line by line and translate the poem in their own words.

Tomorrow we will review Ch. 4-6 of The Scarlet Letter.

Comment Questions: What are your first impressions from Ch. 1-3? Do you think Hester will reveal the father's name? Do you think Chillingsworth will keep quiet about being Hester's husband? Do you think Dimmsdale will admit to being Pearl's father?

Monday - 10/26/09

Today we got DGP sentence #10 and handed in The Scarlet Letter homework assignment. We then read "The Devil and Tom Walker" by Washington Irving in our Reader's Companion books. Students listened to a recording of the story, while answering questions as we read. In some classes we did not finish our discussion and will pick it up again tomorrow.

"The Devil and Tom Walker" is a take on the Faust legend, where the devil offers a man riches in exchange for his soul. Check out this animated video of the tale...



Leave a comment and let me know what you thought of the film.

Friday - 10/23/09

Today you should have finished the questions for "Psalm of Life" in your Reader's Companions. Also, we read "The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Afterwards, the students completed several exercises using both Longfellow's poems. All work was due by the end of the period. Students should have also looked over their DGP for the week and made sure it was done.

Don't forget The Scarlet Letter Pre-reading Assignment is due on Monday!

Thursday - 10/22/09

Today we began Unit 3. This unit embraces many different writers and philosophies all in one. We started by taking notes. If you were absent, you will need to get them from a friend. These notes covered:

• Romanticism
• Dark Romanticism
• Transcendentalism
• Fireside Poets
• New American Poets
• Scarlet Letter Background

After completing the notes, we read "Psalm of Life" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. We then briefly discussed the poem and answered the questions. Here is a particularly good reading of the poem...listen and enjoy Longfellow's powerful words.

Wednesday - 10/21/09

Today we began the unit on The Scarlet Letter. We started class answering the following journal question in our writer's notebooks:

"Do you believe humans control their own destiny (future), or are we simply following a path that is controlled by a higher power?"

Afterwards, three handouts were given. The first handout was a pre-reading homework activity. For this activity students have to first answer five questions using their own knowledge and beliefs. Next, they have to choose challenge 1 or 2 and do some research on the internet. The second handout contained the reading and presenting assignments. Each student is responsible for covering and presenting one chapter in any manner they choose. The chapters were assigned. Also, on that handout was a symbols chart for students to complete while reading the novel. The third handout was a study guide for students to complete while reading.

Novels were also checked out to students who did not already have a copy. The text is also available online (check my handouts page), as well as on audio here. The audio can be downloaded in many formats, including MP3.

For the last 15 minutes of class we watched an intro video to Scarlet Letter. It introduced us to some of the symbols (ex. the forest and the letter 'A') and some main characters (Hester Prynne, Pearl, Arthur Dimmsdale, Roger Chillingsworth).

Students need to have at least Ch. 1-3 read by next Tuesday and the Pre-Reading Homework is due on Monday. Vocabulary Unit #4 work is also posted, and the quiz will be on Nov. 5th.

Tuesday - 10/20/09

Crucible Test Day! Today we took the Cruicble Test and it lasted the entire period. Also, students had to turn in their study guides and character charts for a grade.

Monday - 10/19/09

We started off today by beginning DGP for the week. This is sentence #9: reading arthur millers play the crucible our class learned about the witch trials in salem massachusetts

Newspapers were due today. We also reviewed the study guide in preparation for our test tomorrow. On the handouts website (look to the left link) click on the file "Crucible Review". This powerpoint is a Jepardy style review for the test tomorrow. Please leave a comment and let me know if you think this helped you review. Once you open the powerpoint play the review in order to play the game.

Don't forget your study guide and character chart are also due tomorrow with your test!

Friday - 10/16/09

Today we took the 9 week benchmark. This test counts as 5% of your total grade for the semester. If you were not in class today you will need to come in during your lunch or after school next weekend to make it up. The last day to make-up the benchmark is next Friday. I also collected the benchmark reviews in class today. Don't forget the Newspaper Projects are due on Monday!

3rd Period - Remember your signed progress reports are due to me on Monday.

Thursday - 10/15/09

Today in class we watched Acts III and IV of The Crucible. Students were also given an additional benchmark review to finish for homework and help them study. The benchmark will be tomorrow in Lab 610. The benchmark reviews are also due tomorrow.

Wednesday - 10/14/09

Today we stayed in our 1st Period classes until 10:04am, skipping 2nd & 3rd Period. My 4th & 5th Period classes watched Act 3-4 of The Crucible. The newspaper rough drafts were also handed back. Because all newspaper rough drafts were not handed back today, the assignment has been pushed back until Monday when we have our Crucible Test. Here is the schedule for the week:

• Thursday - Finish movie, review for test
• Friday - Take 9 week Benchmark in Lab 610, Benchmark Review Due
• Monday - Crucible Test, Newspapers Due, Study Guide & Character Chart Due

Tuesday - 10/13/09

The Outside Reading Projects were due today, as well as the Vocab Unit 3 assignment. Students also took the Unit 3 Vocab Quiz today. The benchmark review for Friday's benchmark was also handed out today. The review is due the day of the benchmark, and covers all AKS we have gone over so far this semester.

Thursday - 10/8/09

Today the outside reading groups had a chance to get together and discuss their novels. The groups had to complete the journals, assignments, and discussion during their meeting today. The project is due when we return on Tuesday. Each group must complete one packet to turn in, with all parts of the project included. Students were reminded that their Vocab Quiz 3 is on Tuesday and the pracice activities for that unit are also due at that time.

Wednesday - 10/7/09

Students used the class period to work in their newspaper groups. They finished up their rough drafts and turned them in by the end of the period. The groups also discussed their strategy for completing the final draft of the newspaper by Thursday. Students were also reminded to bring their outside reading materials to class for tomorrow.

Tuesday - 10/6/09

Today we finished reading The Crucible and worked on the character chart and study questions. Students were reminded to bring their newspaper rough draft to turn in tomorrow.

Monday - 10/5/09

In class today we discussed the schedule for the rest of the week.

• Tuesday - Finish reading Act IV
• Wednesday - Newspaper Day, Newspaper Rough Drafts Due
• Thursday - Outside Reading Day

Today we are watching Acts I-II of The Crucible.

Friday - 10/2/09

Today we finished reading Act III and students had a chance to answer their study guide and character chart questions.

Thursday - 10/1/09

We assigned roles for Act III today and read the first half.

Wednesday - 9/30/09

Today we passed back all graded work and created graded work folders. Students also had a chance to meet with their newspaper and outside reading groups to discuss their progress.

Tuesday - 9/29/09

Today we finished reading Act II of The Crucible and then completed the character chart and study questions for this act.

Tomorrow is the GHSGWT for all 11th graders. Students will be taking the test during 2nd-3rd period. Good luck!

Monday - 9/28/09

This morning we started working on the DGP for Week #8. The weeks seem to be flying by now! The October calendar is now also posted under the handouts, as well as Vocabulary Unit #3 which is due on 10/13 (the quiz will also be that day!).

We also assigned roles for Act II of The Crucible today, and began reading. We got about halfway through the act and will hopefully finish it up tomorrow.

The persuasive essays have been graded and handed back. We discussed common mistakes and what to do on the GHSGWT for Juniors on Wednesday (during 2nd and 3rd period). Newspaper groups also got to meet and discuss their progress for the last 10 minutes of class.

Friday - 9/25/09

Today we finished up DGP #7 and then began working on the Crucible Study Guide for Act I. Students worked in groups to answer these questions, as well as begin their character chart. For the character chart students had to list all the characters from Act I and complete any information they have learned about them. The following characters are in Act I:

• Susanna
• Tituba
• Parris
• Abigail
• Mary
• Giles
• Betty
• Mr. Putnam
• Proctor
• Hale
• Mrs. Putnam
• Mercy
• Rebecca

Thursday - 9/24/09

Today we finished reading Act I in The Crucible, and worked on Week #7 DGP. Homework tonight is to complete the final draft of your presuasive essay.

Wednesday - 9/25/09

I hope everyone stayed dry and safe during our extended weekend! Today we played catch up and turned in the Crucible Research Homework assignment, took the Vocab #2 quiz and turned in the practice exercises, and turned in DGP for weeks #5-6. Students also had time to peer edit their persuasive essays in class, and prepare them to be turned in on Friday. The September calendar was updated and posted in on the handouts page.

Friday - 9/18/09

Class is being held today in Lab 610. We spent the first part of the period registering for the online textbook. Once reigistered, students can access the textbook at home online at www.pearsonsuccessnet.com - or click on the link on the left side of this page. Student then began typing the test of their persuasive essays. By the end of the period the essay had to be emailed to mrs.lusher @ gmail.com (no spaces). Students also received a peer review sheet today for their essay. By Monday they need to have their essay printed out, with this sheet attached. We will be peer reviewing on Monday.

Students also received "The Cruicible" Study Guide today and the book order form. Students are able to order all the novels, plays, and vocab book for the year. Order forms must be accompanied by check only, and they are due September 30th.

Thursday - 9/17/09

We started out the period today assigning roles for Act I of the "The Crucible". We then began reading the text (pg. 1234). All periods ended in different parts of Act I. However, we all stopped the last 10 minutes of class to give groups time to meet and talk about their newspaper projects. Every group handed in their newspaper name and group member assignments.

Wednesday - 9/16/09

Today we started "The Crucible" Unit. In this unit we will be going back to the Puritain times and reading Arthur Miller's play "The Crucible". We started off by taking notes on the author and play today. We also completed Persausive Writing #5. The Crucible Newspaper Project was also assigned today, and groups were formed.

Tuesday - 9/15/09

Test Day! Today we took our Unit 2 Test on the Rationalist and Persuasive Devices. The test took the entire period.

Monday - 9/14/09

Today the students are starting the period by writing their fourth persuasive practice essay and using four different persuasive devices. Afterwards we are going to have a publishing day with our Writer's Notebooks. We also discussed the material that will be on the Unit 2 test tomorrow:

• Rhetorical/Persuasive Devices
• Declaration of Independence
• Crisis, Number 1
• Speech in the VA Convention
• Autobioghy by Benjamin Franklin
• Logical Fallacies

Friday - 9/11/09

Friday was a busy day finishing up the Rationalist writers. We started by reading a piece of Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography and noting the number of times he used the pronoun "I". This piece we read discussed Franklin's plan to become perfect, which highlighted the Rationalists' belief that all people were born good and through hard work, could become perfect.

We then divided into groups and started working on reviewing for the upcoming test, by going back to look at the selections we read and discussing the emotion and rational appeal and giving examples.

For homework, students had to find the transcript of a speech online and print it out. They then had to highlight and label all the persuasive devices the speaker used. This was due on Monday.

Thursday - 9/10/09

We started class by writing our third persuasive practice essay in class today. This time we used three persuasive devices and highlighted them in the essay. Afterwards, we read Speech in the Virginia Convention by Patrick Henry. We looked through the different persuasive techniques he used and talked about his famous line, "Give me liberty or give me death."

Wednesday - 9/9/09

We started by reading Crisis, Number 1 by Thomas Paine and discussing the piece by looking at the different persuasive devices and answering questions as we read. The second half of the class we wrote our second persuasive essay practice, using two different rhetorical devices in the essay.

Tuesday - 9/8/09

After a nice, long relaxing weekend we started reading the Declaration of Independence today. As we read, we highlighted the different persuasive devices and answered some questions. Afterwards, in our Writer's Notebooks, we wrote our declarations from something we want to be free.

Football Friday - 9/4/09

Today is the first home football game...which is exciting...but not as exciting as the Rationalists!

Today we finished up sentences #3 and #4 of the DGP and turned them in for a grade. We then took notes on the Rationalists and Persuasive Devices. The rationalists begin Unit 2, along with our study of persuasive writing. This is perfect timing for the GHSGWT, which is in a couple of weeks and deals with persuasive writing.

After taking notes the students were assigned their first outside reading assignment. This assignment will be done in literary circles. Students need to pick their book this weekend and have their parents fill out the permission form and return it on Tuesday.

Have a happy 3 day weekend!

Thursday - 9/3/09

Today we are starting our Persuasive/Rationalist Unit. In this unit we will be studying the Rationalists, while examining their persuasive techniques and incorporating them into our own writing. We will also be preparing for the GHSGWT, which is persuasive.

Today we are taking notes on persausive writing and then writing the first persuasive essay, and getting in some practive for the GHSGWT. Students will also be encouraged to complete their essays in 25 minutes to help with SAT essay practice.

Wednesday - 9/2/09

Today we took the Unit One Test. After the test, students used their Writer's Notebooks to complete a brief writing assignment. Here is the assignment:

Pick a topic you feel very strongly about and write a 10 line poem in the Puritan Plain Style. (Think "Huswifery" or "To My Dear and Loving Husband") Make sure your poem has a title!

Tuesday - 9/1/09

Today we read "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" by Jonathan Edwards. This piece is in the Reader's Companion workbook. As we read, we highlighted and identified the persuasive devices that he used in his sermon. We also answered all the questions. At the end of the period we took some time in class to review for the Unit One test on Wednesday. This test will include:

• Native Americans: "Earth on Turtle's Back" and "When Grizzlies Walked Upright"
• Narrative/Explorers: "Equiano" and "First Voyage"
• Puritans: "Huswifery", "To My Dear and Loving Husband", and "Sinnners in the Hands of an Angry God"

Rainy Monday - 8/31/09

Today we read "Huswifery" and "To My Dear and Loving Husband", which are both pieces of puritan poetry. We also studied the authors of these poems. The puritan study guide was distributed today and we went over the questions for the above poems. Students also spent time working on their historical fiction pieces and finished them up today.

Vocabulary Unit #2 work and the September Calendar are now available for download.

Rainy Friday - 8/28/09

Today we took our first vocabulary quiz. The quiz took the majority of the period. When students finished the quiz they worked on their historical fiction piece in their writer's notebook. Grade reports will be sent home today. They do not include the Tone Quiz or the Summer Reading Essay or Assignment yet.

Thursday - 8/27/09

Today we took notes over the puritans for the majority of the period. We looked at their history, their society, and their writing. Once we have a firm understanding of those aspects, we can then begin to read and understand their writing.

We also began the historial fiction assignment today in our writer's notebooks. The assignment will last over several days and be due on Monday. This is the assignment:

Create a piece of historical fiction that is set during the time of the first explorers or the first settlers to the American colonies. Your main characters must be your own creation, but they can meet and interact with actual, historical personalities. They can also participate in actual, historical events.

Rubic:
setting (10)
characters ( 10)
conflict (10)
tone (10)
mood (10)
style (10)
organization (20)
mechanics (20)

Wednesday - 8/26/09

Today we took our first quiz on the Native Americans and Narratives from Unit 1. The quiz was 24 questions and covered:

• "Earth on Turtle's Back"
• "When Grizzlies Walked Upright"
• "Equiano"
• "First Voyage"

After the quiz we watched a background video on the pilgrams and puritans and took notes. Tomorrow we are beginning the Puritan unit within Unit 1.

Tuesday - 8/25/09

We continued learning about early American narratives today by reading an excerpt from Christopher Columbus's journal, titled First Voyage. Afterwards we talked about the piece and what it meant. We then went back and review all the Native American myths and American narratives to help prepare for the quiz tomorrow. To end the period we wrote about one of our extreme experiences in our writer's notebook.

Monday - 8/24/09

Today we started talking about narratives and persuasive devices. After completing DGP we took notes on common persuasive devices and then read an excerpt from Equiano. While reading, everyone had to highlight the loaded words. This made the piece more descriptive and powerful. We also talked about how this was an example of emotional appeal. After reading we broke up into groups and found examples for the persusaive devices within the piece. We then discussed these examples as a class.

Friday - 8/21/09

Today our Summer Reading assignment came to an end. Everyone turned in their notes and packets at the end of class. We also wrote our summer reading essays in class today. If you were not in class, please make sure you make plans to make up this assignment. Also, DGP for weeks 1-2 was collected today.

The 1st grade reports were also emailed home today!

"Smile Pretty" Thursday - 8/20/09

Today is Picture Day, which means all students go to the Theater during their LA class to take pictures. We went towards the end of the period, while completing the following assignment:

• DGP
• Read "When Grizzlies Walked Upright" and "Navajo Legend" pgs. 19-23
• Answer the questions on pg. 23 and turn in
• HW: Finish up summer reading assignments to bring tomorrow to class, summer reading essay is tomorrow in class.

Wednesday - 8/19/09

In class today we read about four tribes of Native Americans and where they resided. We then read the myth "Earth of Turtle's Back" which is from the Onondaga tribe. It discusses the origins of the earth. After reading we talked about what the myth explained and how the Native Americans felt about nature and animals, based on this myth. Students then wrote their own origin myth on their writer's notebooks.

Reminder: Tomorrow is Picture Day! We will be taking pictures in each LA class.

Tedious Tuesday - 8/18/09

Today we started off the period taking notes on Unit 1. We covered the Native Americans, Explorers, Slave Narratives, Puritans, and Southern Writers. We also went over the historical importance of these groups and how they affected literature. Literary terms for this unit were also given.

After taking notes we read pgs. 2-11 in the literature book. This included the timeline and notes for the period. Students continued to add on to their notes while reading.

Just another manic Monday - 8/17/09

Test Day! I usually try NOT to give tests on Mondays...but sometimes there is no way around it. Today was the test over Tone, Theme, and Technique. It lasted the first half of the period. Afterwards, we all got our writing notebooks and comment sheets and got ready for Publishing Day. On Publishing Day we all go around and read each other's writing and make positive comments about what we've read. We did this for about 20 minutes before returning to our desks. After having a chance to read the comments written about our writing, we stapled the comment sheet to the page of writing and returned the writing notebooks to the bin.

What did you think of Publishing Day? Did you like? Hate it? Any other suggestions?

Reminder - The National English Honor Society information meeting was today. If you could not attend and would like to join, please stop by and ask me for an application. Applications and fees are due next Monday, 8/24.

First Friday - 8/14/09

We made it to Friday! Today we went over week #1 DGP (you will hand it in next Friday). We also got into groups and discussed our Summer Reading books. First we discussed the book we chose from List A and then the book we chose from List B. We also took notes on our discussions and finished up the packets for each book. The packets will be due on Friday, when you take your in-class writing assessment of your books. You may use your notes and packet during the assessment.

On Monday, we will have our first test. It is on tone, technique, and theme. We are also having our first publishing day. We will be sharing our favorite piece from the first week of school. Starting Tuesday, we will begin Unit 1 in the text which is all about myths and Native Americans. Get ready!

Hyperbolic Thursday - 8/13/09

Today we had some laughs as we read Dave Berry's memories of dating. Isn't he a hoot? We also look at the story and spotted the many, many hyerboles he used to get his point across. Then we attended to write our memory story, trying to emulate the writing style of Dave Barry. That was tough!

We also complete the DGP sentence for the week and I will be going-ove it tomorrow. DGP is due every other week, so its not due until next Friday. Today everyone also signed up for whichever summer reading books they read. Everyone was supposed to read one book from each column on the assignment. Tomorrow we will be discussing summer reading in class and breaking out into groups to discuss the novels and complete the packet.

We also talked today about the National English Honor Society. This is a service-based club for students who have a 3.0 GPA or higher (grades 10-12 only). We do a lot of community service, take trips to see plays, have public speakers, movies days, and the list goes on. It looks great on your college application and you earn a cord for graduation. Our information meeting is Monday (8/17) at 2:30pm in T-10. If you have any questions, please ask!

Wednesday - 8/12/09

Today we ended up focusing on tone again...although I had other plans initially. Sometimes you think an assignment will take about 15 minutes and it ends of up taking the whole period. But that is ok! It was a worthwhile assignment and will definitely help you with your understanding of literature throughout the year. Here is what we covered today:

• DGP
• Finished up the Tone Exercise - You had 12 sentences in which you had to find the tone, content clues, and style clues. This was collected for your first grade.

Hopefully tomorrow we will catch up!

Tone, Tone, and more Tone - 8/11/09

Today in class we focused on learning more about tone vs mood. Hopefully, it is now clear to everyone! Please, please ask questions if you don't get it. Better now than in April...know what I mean? :o)

Here is what we covered in class today:

• DGP (download and print if you still haven't!)
• Ice Breaker: Where are you from? I could not believe all the places you guys were born! So many of you are from countries so far away. Awesome!
  
• Read poem "Where I am from" and discuss the 3 T's
• Categorize all the items from the poem, and then add your own
• Create a poem that mirrors "Where I am from", but all about you
• Tone Exercise (We will finish this tomorrow!)

Also, a shout out to my 3rd period...our first advisement was fun! I liked playing our version of "20 questions" with all of you!

First Day of School - 8/10/09

The first day back to school is always a scary one. What to wear? What will my teachers be like? Will I have the same lunch as my friends? Well, its also scary for teachers! What will my classes be like? What if I forget something? Not to mention we have to get up in front of 150 strangers and talk all day...

Today was AWESOME though! I enjoyed meeting all of you and think this year is going to rock!

Here's what we covered (all handouts are on the website):

• DGP (make sure you download the notes and form!)
• Syllabus
• August Calendar
• Three T's and Intro Powerpoint
• Read "My Name" and talk about theme, tone, technique
• Write your own name history in your Writer's Notebook (pick one up if you haven't!)
• Homework - Vocabulary Unit #1 (due 8/28), leave comment on webpage

Let me know if you have any questions! Don't forget you can ALWAYS email me, or stop by. I am available before school, after school, and during 1st, 6th, and 7th Period.

Welcome!

Welcome to the 2009-2010 school year! This blog is designed to accompany Mrs. Lusher's American Lit classes for this school year (AP Lang and AP Lit will have a separate website). If you have any questions, please feel free to email me any time. My email address is located on the right hand side of the screen.

Each day I post what we covered in class. This is an excellent way for you to review what we talked about, or to make-up the assignments when you are absent. All handouts and notes from class are also posted here. Look to the top of the right column and click on search handouts. These documents are available for printing or downloading, but please do not publish or distribute these files for any reason without my permission (this includes posting items on facebook).

Looking ahead to class on Monday, you will need to print the DGP Notes and the DGP Form for class. Please bring them along with you on Monday. You will also need a composition book for Monday.

I look forward to meeting all of you, and I know we will have a fantastic year!

Wednesday - 4/29/09

2nd - 5th Period

• Work on Multi-Genre Project

7th Period

• Begin reading Double Indemnity

Tuesday - 2/28/09

2nd - 5th Period

• Powerpoint on EOCT Review (see handouts)

7th Period

• Powerpoint on AP Exam - MC Review (see handouts)
• Powerpoint on Double Indemnity (see handouts)

Monday - 4/26/09

2nd - 5th Period

• Performance Final

7th Period

• Performance Final
• AP Exam Review (see handout)
• Return Practice AP Exams

Friday - 4/23/09

2nd - 5th Period

• EOCT Review
• Performance Final Review (see handout)

7th Period

• AP Practice Exam - Essay #3

Thursday - 4/23/09

2nd - 5th Period

• EOCT Practice
• Multi-Genre Project

7th Period

• AP Practice Exam - Essay #2

Wednesday - 4/22/09

2nd - 5th Period

• EOCT Practice
• Mulit-Genre Project

7th Period

• Pratice AP Exam - Essay #1

Tuesday - 4/21/09

2nd - 5th Period

• Multi-Genre Project (see handout)
• EOCT Review

7th Period

• Practice AP Exam - Multiple Choice

Monday - 4/20/09

2nd - 5th Period

• EOCT Practice and Review

7th Period

• Finish Presentations

Friday - 4/17/09

2nd - 5th Period

• Review for Postmodernism Test
• Turn in Review
• Take the Postmodernism Test

7th Period

• Literature Time Period Project Due
• Presentations

Thursday - 4/16/09

2nd - 5th Period

• Postmodernism test review (see handouts)

7th Period

• Finish Literary Time Period Project

Wednesday - 4/15/09

2nd - 3rd Period

• Read author background on pg. 1178 for Sylvia Plath and Gwendolyn Brooks
• Read "Mirror" on pg. 1180 and answer questions on pg. 1181
• Read "Explorer" on pg. 1182 and asnwer questions on pg. 1182
• Read background on Flannery O'Connor on pg. 970
• Read "The Life You Save May Be Your Own" on pg. 972
• Answer the questions on pg. 982
• Finish for homework, and turn in on Thursday

4th - 5th Period

• Read background on Flannery O'Connor on pg. 970
• Read "The Life You Save May Be Your Own" on pg. 972
• Answer the questions on pg. 982
• Due by the end of the period

7th Period

• Worked on Literary Time Period Project

Tuesday - 4/14/09

2nd - 5th Period

• Research Papers and Folders due today by 2:30pm
• Presentations

7th Period

• Begin working on the Literary Time Period Project (see handouts)

Monday - 4/13/09

2nd - 5th Period

Honors Classes

• Wordmasters Quiz
• Discuss what is due tomorrow for the Research Project and Presentation

CP Classes

• Discuss what is due tomorrow for the Research Project and Presentation
• Read author background on pg. 1178 on Sylvia Plath, Adrienna Rich, and Gwendolyn Brooks
• Read "Mirror" pg. 1180, "In A Classroom" pg. 1181, and "The Explorer" pg. 1182
• Answer questions #1-6 on pg. 1181 and #1-5 on pg. 1182

7th Period

• Wordmasters Quiz
• Assign the Literary Time Period Project

Friday - 4/3/09

Happy Spring Break!

2nd-5th Period

• Honors classes will need to hand in their work from Monday-Thursday
• Notes on Postmodernism
• If time permits, pass back graded work

7th Period

• Conclude all presentations

Thursday - 4/2/09

2nd - 5th Period

• Congrats on your 4th and final day of testing! You made it!
• Read "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker on pg. 1056
• Answer the questions on pg. 1064
• "Everyday Use" Journal (min. 200 words): After reading the background on Alice Walker (located on the page before the story begins), how do you think her life influenced this story?

7th Period

• We will continue the Poetry Project Presentations today

Wednesday - 4/1/09

2nd - 5th Period

• Good luck on your 3rd day of GHSGT testing!
• Read "Mortgaged Heart" on pg. 1112
• Answer all questions on pg. 1114
• Complete the journal (min. 200 words): Have you ever felt alone, even though you were around other people? How have you made yourself part of a group again? Do you ever notice others are left out somtimes? Do you make an effort to include them? How?

7th Period

• Poetry Projects are due!!
• Presentations will begin today

Tuesday - 3/31/09

2nd - 5th Period

• Good luck on your 2nd day of GHSGT testing!
• Read "Mint Snowball" on pg. 1047
• Complete the handout on the author and story (see handouts)

7th Period

• Data Packets and Study Guides are due today
• Make sure you have handed in your film activity
• Rebecca written test is today
• Don't forget your Poetry Project and Presentation are due tomorrow!

Monday - 3/30/09

2nd - 5th Period

• I hope everyone did their best on the GHSGT this morning!
• Finish the Unit 6 Study Guide (hw from Friday) and turn it in.
• Read "Hiroshima" pg. 1162
• Read "Loses" pg. 1173
• Read "The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner" pg. 1174
• Read "Camouflaging the Chimera" pg. 1220
• Read "Ambush" pg. 1222
• Complete the study guide questions (Study Guide - Social Protest) over the stories/poems (see handouts)

7th Period

• Finish Rebecca
• Turn in film assignment (see handouts)
• Data Sheet and Study Guide due tomorrow
• Test on Rebecca is tomorrow

Friday - 3/27/09

2nd-5th Period

• We are taking the EOCT Predictor Test today. It should take the majority of the period.
• All students need to pick up their rough drafts today.
• If time permits we will go over the postmoderism notes.
• Study Guide for postmodernism will be assigned and is due on Monday (except for H).
• H classes will receive packet for work they will be missing next week.

7th Period

• We will be viewing film clips from Rebecca today.
• Reminder that all data sheets and study guides for Rebecca are due on Tuesday.
• Your Rebecca test will also be on Tuesday.

Thursday - 3/26/09

2nd - 5th Period

• Research Paper rough drafts are due today!
• In class we will be peer editing the rough drafts. Everyone MUST have a peer edit sheet on their rough draft when it is turned in, in order to receive credit (see handouts for a copy).
• We will also begin going over the postmodernism notes today in class, and finish them tomorrow.
• Honors - The Wordmasters vocab list was handed out today and the quiz will be on April 13th.

7th Period

• We will be taking notes on Alfred Hitchcock today.
• We will also begin watching film clips of Rebecca in class today. You will also receive your assignment for this film (see handouts for a copy).
• The Wordmasters vocab list was handed out today and the quiz will be on April 13th.
• Don't forget to be working on your Rebecca study guide and data packet. Both are due at the beginnings of next week!

Tuesday - Wednesday 3/24-25/09

2nd - 5th Period

• We are in Lab 909 working on the rough drafts for the Research Paper.
• At the end of each period, you need to email me what you have worked on today.

7th Period

• We are in Lab 909 working on the Poetry Paper.
• At the end of the period, you will need to email me what you have worked on today.

Monday - 3/23/09

2nd - 5th Period

• Part 2 of the GHSGT practice test
• Tomorrow we are in lab 909

7th Period

• Finish reading Rebecca Ch. 26-27
• Tomorrow we are in lab 909, bring all parts of your poetry paper to finish

Friday - 3/20/09 - Virtual Day #2

Welcome to your second and final virtual day! Yesterday was a success (for most people) and I hope you realized how important communitcation is, and the importance of reading directions. If you plan on going to college, chances are that in today's educational world, you will take at least one online class. Hopefully, this is giving you a taste of what they will involve and help to prepare you. Please read today's assignment and get started! If you have questions, like yesterday, you need to me email - Mrs.Lusher@gmail.com.

2nd - 5th Period

• Today you will need to write the introduction to your essay. Please look to your outline for what information should be included in this paragraph. This should be one of your longer paragraphs since it includes an overview of everything that will be in your paper. When you have completed your intro paragraph, you will need to email it to me. In order to receive full credit, you must do the following: copy and paste your paragraph into an email addressed to mrs.lusher@gmail.com., in the subject of the email type "Research Paper - Intro Paragraph", and make sure your name and subject precede your paragraph in the body of the email.


• After you have completed that assignment, you need to read this article. Make sure you click on the next page/section.


• When you have completed your paragraph and it is emailed to me, you will then need to answer the following questions in a comment on this post. Make sure you select name/url (like yesterday) and use your student number and leave URL blank. Make sure all answers are appropiate and respectful, as they will be mediated before being posted. Here are the questions: What is your research topic? How much time have your spent working on your reseach project? Do you have all three of your literary pieces read? When have you answered those questions, then write a paragraph of 4-6 sentences summarizing the article you just read.

When you have finished these tasks, you are done for today. Have a nice weekend!

7th Period

• You should be almost 100% done with your powerpoint. Finish working on it this period. Make sure your timings are also completed. You should not have to click anything after it starts, to view the entire show.


• You should also now be done with your poetry project. Pleas email me (mrs.lusher@gmail.com) your powerpoint and music file before the class is over.


• Please read this article, pages 15-21.


• When you have finished reading the article, click on comment and post a comment answering the following questions. It should be a paragraph, 4-6 sentences. Here are your questions: What did you learn from this article you did not know before? What are your plans for studying for the AP Lit exam?

When you have finished these tasks, you are done for today. Don't forget you need have read through Ch. 25 in Rebecca by Monday. Have a nice weekend!

Thursday - 3/19/09 - Virtual Day #1

Welcome to Day #1 of our Virtual Classroom! Today you will need to read all the instructions and complete the activities online. Scroll down to find your class period and please read all directions thoroughly. Tomorrow we will be in Lab 620, not in here. It is also our last day in the lab. Good luck!

2nd -5th Period

Welcome! Today you will be working on and finishing up your research paper outline and annotated bibliography. Both of these are due by the end of the period. You will need to print them out, staple if needed, and put them in the trays in the front of the room. The top tray is for your outline and the middle tray is for your bibs. Turn around and locate this stacked tray (without leaving your seat) on my desk now so you know where to turn everything in today. You will also need to give some feedback about your research project online, so leave enough time in class for that assignment. Here is what you will need to do today during class:

• Begin by finishing up your outline and annotated bib. Don't forget a sample outline is posted on this website, under handouts. Also, there is a sample annotated bib in the packet given out on the beginning of our research process. A copy of this packet is located in the handouts section of this website. The PowerPoint we reviewed in class on how to make an annotated bib is also located in the handout section of the website. Please email me (Mrs.Lusher@gmail.com) if you have any questions!


• After finishing your outline and annotated bib, please print out both, staple, and hand them in to the tray. (If this was a true virtual environment, you would email them to me, but for this project I need a hard copy.)
  
• Once you have turned everything else in, please complete the following task. At the bottom of this post, please click on comment. You will need to enter in your student number in order to get credit. DO NOT ENTER YOUR NAME. Once you have the comment box open, in a well written, thoughtful, 100+ word response, answer these questions - What is your research topic? Was this topic easy to research, or difficult? Would you change it if you could? What would you change it to? What is your plan for getting your rough draft done by next Thursday when it is due? When you are done answering those questions, please proofread your response and then click, submit. Don't worry if your comment doesn't show up right away. I have to approve and moderate all comments before they post.
  

That's it! You have completed your first day of Virtual 11th Grade LA! See you tomorrow!

7th Period

Welcome to 7th Period! Make sure you read all these directions before beginning your work for today. Today you will be continuing to work on your poetry project and the PowerPoint that accompanies your project. Please complete the following tasks before the end of the period:

• Continue working on your PowerPoint. A sample PowerPoint (without the music) is located in the handouts section of this website. You should be almost done with your PowerPoint today. Don't forget to save your music and powerpoint in the same folder!


• You also need to finish up your poem parody. For instructions on writing a parody, please see the attachments in your original poetry project packet. If you do not have this packet, it is located on this website, under handouts.
  
• Email me (Mrs.Lusher@gmail.com) by the end of the period: what you have so far for your PowerPoint (don't worry about the music for now), and your parody poem. This is what you will be graded on today, along with the task below.
  
• When both of those have been emailed to me, you will need to then click on the comment button at the end of this post. Make sure you enter your student number. DO NOT ENTER YOUR NAME. You will need to write a well written, thoughtful, AP quality response to the following questions. Make sure your comment is at least 100 words. The questions you should answer are: What is the topic and poem of your poetry project? Why did you pick this topic? Given the chance would you change your author or poem? What would you change it to? What is your plan for finishing your project and PowerPoint by April 1st? Hit submit. Don't worry if you don't see your comment right away. I have to moderate and approve all comments before they are posted.

That's it! You have completed your first day of virtual class! Let me know if you have any problems or questions (via email). See you tomorrow!

Monday - Wednesday 3/16-18/09

2nd - 5th Period

• Computer Lab day (rm. 610)
• Working on research paper outline and annotated bib
• Both are due on Thursday
• See the sample outline (in handouts)

7th Period

• Computer Lab day (rm. 610)
• Working on poetry project powerpoints
• See sample powerpoint w/o music (in handouts)

Rebecca reading schedule for the week:

Monday - Ch. 15-16

Tuesday - Ch. 17-18

Wednesday - Ch. 19-21

Thursday - Ch. 22-23

Friday - Ch. 24-25

Friday - 3/13/09

2nd, 3rd, and 5th Period

• Turn in Vocab Unit 3 Work
• Take the Vocab Unit 3 Quiz
• Take the first half of the GHSGT Practice Test #1
• Reminder: Computer Lab 610 on Monday, bring all research materials!

4th Period

• Take the first half of the GHSGT Practice Test #1
• Vocab work and quiz on Monday
  
• Reminder: Computer Lab 610 on Monday, bring all research materials!

7th Period

• Group work for Rebecca chapters 11-14
• Group Presentations of Chapter Summaries and questions
• Groups for Ch. 13-14 will present on Monday
• Reminder: Computer Lab 610 on Monday, bring all Poetry Project materials!
  

Thursday - 3/12/09

2nd - 5th Period

• Go over DGP #25 and turn in DGP #24-25
• View and take notes on Research Powerpoint (see handout section)
• Answer all questions on the research project
• Turn in a summary of what you have done, and are going to do for the research project
• HW: Prepare for Vocab Quiz #3

7th Period

• Read Chapters 9-10 in Rebecca
• Assign groups for Ch. 11-14 project
• Assign project (see handouts)
• Read your assigned chapter for HW

Wednesday - 3/11/09

2nd-5th Period

• Library Day
• Continue gathering your sources and information
• You should be almost done with your research by the end of today

7th Period

• Read Chapters 6-8 in Rebecca

Tuesday - 3/10/09

2nd - 5th Period

• Library Day
• Powerpoint on Reseach Techniques and Databases (see handout)
• Start researching your topic (internet and book sources)
• Library Day again tomorrow

7th Period

• Hand out study guide for Rebecca (see handout)
• Read Chapter 1 of Rebecca
• Complete analysis of Chap. 1 (see handout)
• Read Ch. 2-5 (finish for HW)

Monday - 3/9/09

2nd - 5th Period

• Begin DGP #25: langston hughes who lived from 1902 to 1967 read works by the great twentieth century midwestern poets vachel lindsay edgar lee masters and carl sandburg and used their influence in writing his own poetry
• All information for the research project was discussed (see handout)
• All students chose their topic for the project. Only one topic per student, per class. Done on a first come, first serve basis.
• Students began brainstorming what they plan on researching about their topic.
• We will be in the Library Tuesday - Wednesday of this week for reserach.

7th Period

• Notes on Gothic Literature and Rebecca were given.
• Competition on how many Gothic forms of media can you identify
• We will start reading Chap. 1 tomorrow

Friday - 3/6/09

2nd - 5th Period

• Go over DGP #24
• Finish Unit 3 Vocab Work (handouts, CP and Honors)
• Complete Domain 3 in the GHSGT Review Packet and turn in.

Reminder: Unit 3 Vocab Quiz is next Friday, 3/13

7th Period

• Turn in Poetry Response #9
• Peer/Edit grade classmate's Stranger Timed Writing

Reminder: You will need Rebecca on Monday, 3/9

Thursday - 3/5/09

2nd - 5th Period

• Finish DGP #24 for the week
• Take the Unit 5, Moderism Test
• Turn in the test review sheet
• Complete Domains 1-2 in the GHSGT Review Packet

7th Period

• Turn in The Stranger Data Packet
• Timed Writing on The Stranger

Wednesday - 3/4/09

2nd - 5th Period

• DGP
• Modernism Test Review (see handout) - The test review is due tomorrow and is worth 30% of your points.
• HW: Study for test tomorrow
• Remember to bring your GHSGT packet tomorrow and Friday

*The Modernism Review Game is posted under the handouts, play and see how high you can score!

7th Period

• The Stranger Test
• Study Guide is due today
• HW: Prepare for your Timed Writing and Data Packet due tomorrow.

Availability for Make-up Tomorrow

• None available

Tuesday - 3/3/09

2nd - 5th Period

• DGP #24: i hope we will get to study emerson and thoreau because i like transcendentalism
• Read about Ernest Hemingway on pg. 806
• Read "In Another Country" on pg. 809
• Answer the questions on pg. 814

Reminders: Bring your book the rest of the week and bring your GHSGT packet on Thursday and Friday!

7th Period

• Take The Strange, Part II Quiz
• Finish your study guide
• Work on your data packet

Availability for Make-up Work Tomorrow

• Before school (7:00-7:10am)
• 6th Period
• After School (2:10-3:00pm)

Monday - 3/2/09

No school today! I hope everyone enjoyed the snow! :o)

Friday - 2/27/09

Happy TGIF!

2nd - 5th Period

• Go over DGP #22-23 and turn in.
• Poetry Cafe - Share and turn in your poems

7th Period

• Turn in Poetry Response #8
• Finish reading The Stranger
• Work in groups to discuss "Accusations of Callousness" and "Focus on the Trial"
• Part II Quiz on Monday, Test and Study Guide due on Tuesday, and Timed Writing and Data Packet due on Wednesday.
• If you don't already have a copy, please get Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurer ASAP!

Make-up Work Availability for Monday

• Before School (7:00-7:10am)
• During 6th Period
• No after school help is offered on this day

"A Worn Path" Film

There was a short 10 minute film made about the short story "A Worn Path" by Eudora Welty. Enjoy!

Thursday - 2/26/09

2nd - 5th Period

• "Journey" Journal - What is a journey? Is it only physical - or can it also be mental? Describe a journey you or someone you know has taken. Describe the journey's process and the outcome. (minimum 200 words)
• Read "A Worn Path" on pg. 821
• Answer Discussion Questions at the end of the story
• Answer Part 2 of the journal - How does the journey you described compare to that we just read about?
• Reminder: Poetry Cafe is tomorrow!

7th Period

• Reading Day - Read Part II of The Stranger
• Reminder: Poetry Response #8 is due tomorow!

Make-up Work Availability for Tomorrow

• Before school (7:00-7:10am)
• During 6th Period
• I am not available after school. If you need to turn something in, I will be in Room 614 until 4:00pm.

Wednesday - 2/25/09

This is what we are doing in class today:

2nd - 5th Period

• DGP #23
• Read background on T.S. Elliot on pg. 716
• Look over terms on pg. 717
• Read "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" on pg. 718
• Complete chart for the poem (handout)
• Answer discussion questions on pg. 722 (finish for HW)

7th Period

• Turn in Part 5 of the Poetry Project
• Take Quiz on Part 1 of The Stranger
• Begin reading Part 2

Availability for Make-up Tomorrow

• Before school (7:00-7:10am)
• During 6th Period
• After school (2:10-3:00pm)

Tuesday - 2/24/09

This is what we are doing today in class:

2nd - 5th Period

• DGP #23
• Notes on Unit 5: Modernism (handout)
• Study the poetry of e.e. cummings, Carl Sandburg, and Robert Frost (handout)
• Turn in Poetry Handout sheet for a daily grade
• Don't forget to bring lit books for the rest of the week

7th Period

• Finish reading Ch. 6 and Part I of The Stranger
• Start HW assignment: "Camus's Philosophy" and "The Absurd Crime of Meursault" (handout)
• Part 5 of the Poetry Project is due tomorrow
• Part 1 Quiz of The Stranger is tomorrow. The quiz is a combination of MC questions and short response.

Make-up Work Availability for Tomorrow

• Before school (7:00-7:10am)
• During 6th Period
• No after school help available for Wednesday