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.