Thursday - 2.25.10

Today students are beginning to write their outlines and annotated bibs. Directions were given on how to complete each. There are templates in the handouts folder, under research project. Both of these are due tomorrow.

We will be in Lab 610 again tomorrow.

Wednesday - 2.24.10

Today we are in the Media Center, beginning the research process. Mr. Stewart did a brief presentation on where to find research for your projects, and how to access online databases.

Tomorrow we will be back in the computer lab, Room 610.

Tuesday - 2.23.10

We are in Lab 620 today. I began the period by passing back all four essays we have completed for SAT Writing practice. Also, students were given the instructions for their research paper.

SAT Writing - Students had to pick the best of their four rough drafts, and make corrections. Then they typed up that essay and submitted with their rough drafts.

Research Paper - Students looked through the online textbook and picked one author they would like to research. Students had to sign up for this author before leaving.

Remember, tomorrow we are in the Media Center for research!

Monday - 2.22.10

Test day! We began the period by turning in the test review for Unit 5, students then took the test. After the finished the test, they used the remainder of the period to complete SAT Writing Pratice #4.

Reminder - We will be in Lab 620 tomorrow!

Friday - 2.19.10

Wohoo! TGIF! :)

Today we began the period with a practice SAT timed writing. Students were given a practice topic and 25 minutes to write an essay. This was the third practice.

After the timed writing, students began to work on the Modernism test review. This is due on Monday.

Also, students should not forget to study for their test on Monday. Also, students should watch the videos on Prufrock below and answer the questions for an additional 10 points on their test.

"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"

I promised a video, and I have two for you. Neither are exactly what I was looking for, and if you find a better one online somewhere, please send me a link! And now...for an extra 10 points on your Modernism Test (on Monday!), watch both videos and leave a comment answering the following questions:

These videos are completely different - one creating images from the poem and one is a dramatic reading of the poem. Which one do you like better, and why? Which video helps you to clearly understand the poem? If you were to create a video for this dramatic monologue written by T.S Eliot, what would you incorporate? How would you get your understanding of the poem across?

Thursday - 2.18.10

Today we studied a modern poem, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Eliot. We began the period by going over the author's life, and reading about his accomplishments on pg. 716 in the literature book.

The poem is located on pg. 718. We listened to a recording of poem, noting the rhyme and rhythm of the poem. Before we began I went over a few key notes:

• This poem is a dramatic monologue...think like a soliloquy in a play (maybe Hamlet which is referenced several times).
• This is not free verse - there is a rhyme, although irregular. There is also a refrain that is repeated throughout.
• Eliot uses concrete images at the beginning of the poem, and then moves to abstract ideas.
• Tons of classical references throughout...beginning with Dante's Inferno, demonstrating how he is a lost man in the modern world.

After we listened to the poem, we answered the book questions together. Then students were given a handout to dissect the poem and its literary devices. This handout will be finished for homework and turned in tomorrow.

Don't forget - if you did not watch the video and comment yesterday, make sure you do so tonight!

"A Worn Path"

For homework today you need to watch the following video and post a comment answering the following questions:

After reading this story in class today, how does the video add to your understanding? Would do something similar for someone else, like Phoenix did for her grandson? Why, or why not?

Wednesday - 2.17.10

Today we are starting the period by discussing "In Another Country" and "A Rose for Emily". Students will be turning in their questions over "A Rose for Emily". We will then read "A Worn Path" together. Tonight for homework, students should view the video on "A Worn Path" and answer the questions posted in a comment. Please follow the directions for leaving a comment to receive credit.

We have had a lot of work for the modernism unit, and the grades break down as follows:

• Benjamin Button - 20
• In Another Country - 10
• A Rose for Emily - 20
• A Worn Path - 10
• A Worn Path Video Comment - 10
• The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock - 20
• Modernism Test Review - 10

Tuesday - 2.16.10

Today I was not at school due to illness, so the students had a substitute. They read "A Rose for Emily" together and answered questions about the story. We will discuss the story and turn in the questions when I return on Wednesday.

Monday - 2.15.10

Students finished up the questions for Benjamin Button today, and turned them in before leaving. We also read In Another Country by Earnest Hemingway in the Reader's Companion. Students answered the questions as we read.

Today students also selected their LA class for next year. If you were absent today, or have additional questions that were not asked in class, please see or email me.

Friday - 2.12.10

Today we began the period with Vocab Quiz #7. Students also handed in their work for this unit. After the quiz students completed the questions on Benjamin Button. We also began our discussion of how this piece ties in with Modernism. We will finish this discussion on Monday.

Thursday - 2.11.10

We finished reading Benjamin Button today, and students received questions to answer on the story. They will have time in class tomorrow to finish the questions.

Reminder - Vocab Quiz 7 tomorrow!

Wednesday - 2.10.10

We started Unit 5, Modernism today. We took notes on Modernism to begin the period. These were guided notes, and students received a handout with blanks in the notes for them to complete. Much of the notes on Modernism were review, as we already covered much of the background while reading Great Gatsby.

We also started reading a second piece by F. Scott Fitzgerald today - Benjamin Button. This is a short story written during the modernist time period. We will complete the story tomorrow.

Tuesday - 2.9.10

Today was the Unit 4 Realism Test! It lasted the entire period. If you were absent today, please make arrangements to make-up the test after school.

Monday - 2.8.10

We used today's class to review for the Unit 4 Realism test. Students spent the first half of the period going over a review sheet, using their textbooks and notes from the unit. The second half of the class we played some realism bingo. Students were given bingo cards with different realism terms, and then I called out the definitions and they had to figure out which word they the definition went with on their card.

Scrabble Tournament

On March 1st NEHS will be hosting a Scrabble Tournament to benefit Relay for Life and the NEHS Senior Scholarship. There will be a cash prize for the winner of the tournament. Click on the flyer below to view in a larger size!

Friday - 2.5.10

Today we finished the Dunbar and Douglass questions from yesterday and turned them in. We then talked about annotation, and students practice it with "Story of an Hour" by Kate Copin. The test was moved to Tuesday to give us Monday to review. The soldier journals will be scored while students take the Realism test.

Updated Calendar

Above is the updated calendar for February. Please make adjustments for the new dates. Click on the image to view larger.

Thursday - 2.4.10

Students began the period by writing their Soldier Journal #5. They then read the following excerpts in the literature book:

• Paul Laurence Dunbar (pg. 656)
• "We Wear the Mask" (pg. 660)
• Fredrick Douglass (pg. 494)
• "My Bondage and My Freedom" (pg. 497)
• "Douglass" pg. 659

Students answered questions over these selections, and then we disucssed the answers.

Wednesday - 2.3.10

Today we read started the period by going over the Gettysburg Address. After that students read The Outcasts of Poker Flat. We talked about how the piece represented regionalism. Students also wrote the Soldier Journal #4.

Tuesday - 2.2.10

Today students completed the second SAT practice timed writing. We also completed the 3rd Soldier Journal. We read together background on Abraham Lincoln and then read "The Gettysburg Address". Students completed questions on this in class.

Monday - 2.1.10

We began the period by watching a short 15 minute film on "The Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge". Students then completed Soldier Journal #3. Students then read "An Episode of War" and answered questions as they read.