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!