Homework: December 22

Readers/Writers Workshop (F block)

• Finish up your profile draft! Tomorrow in class, we do final edits.

English 11 (G and A block)

• Finish reading and marking up "The Ghost Soldiers."
• Over break, read and mark up "The Lives of the Dead."

Honors English 11 (C block)

• If you didn't do so over the weekend, you should read and mark up the articles in the critical essays packet. You're reading essays #1, 3, 4, and 5. Identify the main argument, and supporting details, of each.
• Read and mark up the profile "20 Minutes at Rucker Park." We'll have a Socratic seminar after break, in which your two texts will be Gatsby and this article.

Homework: December 19

English 11 (A block)

You have a vocabulary quiz on Monday--study study study! Use vocabulary.com to practice, too--Top 100 SAT words list, sorted easy to hard. We've done the first 40 (plus resonate and juxtapose).

Additionally, read "The Gost Soldiers" to the asterisk on page 6.

Honors English 11 (C block)

You have a vocab quiz on Monday. See above for the details regarding using vocabulary.com to study. 

Also, if you want to get a jump on reading those essays, you should! In the packet I gave you, it's essays 1, 3, 4 and 5. We'll be working with them after break.

English 12 (E block)

You should spend a good amount of time reading your book club book--which means you have to get your book club book! Check in with your group members if you don't have the page breakdown. 

Have a great vacation!

Homework: December 18

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Finish up your response for "A Whole Heap of Ashes."
• Study your vocabulary!

English 12 (E block)

• Study vocab!
• If you can, get a copy of your book club book to class tomorrow.

Readers/Writers Workshop (F block)

• Continue to work on your profile assignment.

English 11 (G block)

• Continue to read "The Ghost Soldiers"--read up to the asterisk on page 6.
• Study your vocabulary!

Homework: December 17

English 12 (E block)

• Read and mark up the story "Hell-Heaven." Use the handout that I gave you for "Death by Landscape" to guide you--keep an eye on characters, use of time, narration, etc.

English 11 (G and A block)

• Complete a thoughtful, detailed paragraph response to the story "In the Field." Remember, the prompt is on the handout, and we did a lot of prep work and discussion in class. Your paragraph should be 6-8 sentences long, at least. 

Homework: December 16

English 11 (G and A blocks)

• Read and mark up the story "In the Field." Just as we did when we started reading "The Man I Killed," you should spend a minute looking over that title, considering its meaning and identifying questions that could guide your reading. 
• Review your vocabulary words, 1-40. We'll have a unit test before break.

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Finish your Gatsby essay--it's due Thursday. I'm around after school the next two afternoons if you have questions or need help. I'll magnet up a checklist for writing outside of F204 if you want to stop by and grab it. 

Here's the Gatsby writing I did in class today. Remember, this is just a quick bit of writing, off the cuff during class today as an example. I'd revise, edit, make sure my analysis was strong and my word choice was effective. But, it'll give you an idea of the type of analysis you're looking for as you identify and describe the use of figurative language in the novel.

Homework: December 15

English 11 (C block)

• Work on your draft of your analytic essay. Remember, I posted the link to the Writer's Guide if you need to review figurative language (figures of speech). Work on analysis, and be ready to work/discuss tomorrow.

English 12 (E block)

• Prepare for an in-class one pager on "Death by Landscape" tomorrow. You might want to consider: What are the big ideas/takeaways from the story? What is a major theme?
• Study your vocabulary words, 1-40, in preparation for a vocabulary Unit test on Friday.
• Start reading "Hell-Heaven"--due Thursday.

Readers/Writers Workshop (F block)

• Write your profile draft. It's due on Thursday!

HHS writing guide--

Here's the link to the HHS writing guide:

Check page 36 for more information regarding figurative language (figures of speech), if you need a review!

Homework: December 12

English 12 (E block)

• Finish reading the story "Death by Landscape" and complete the 10 observations handout. Make sure you read carefully. Make sure you complete the observations handout thoughtfully.

Readers/Writers Workshop (F block)

• This weekend, you should wrap up your interviews (unless you've already spoken with me). Start writing those profiles! Drafts are due on Thursday.

English 11 (G block)

• Complete the iceberg handout, front and back. 
• Study your vocabulary--you have a quiz on Tuesday!

English 11 (A block)

• Complete the iceberg handout--do the front, and the first question on the back.

Have a great weekend, says this dinosaur (who is also my new best friend).

Homework: December 11

Readers/Writers Workshop 8 (F block)

• Work on your profile! You might:
• Conduct your interview.
• Start writing your introduction.
• Write down all your notes and/or organize your information.

English 11 (G block)

• Start studying your vocabulary. Your quiz is TUESDAY.
• Complete blue sheets for "How to Tell a True War Story" and "Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong." Make sure you put in a lot of thought and detail.

English 11 (A block)

• Study your vocabulary. You have a quiz tomorrow.
• Fully complete the blue sheet for "Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong."

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Start working on your essay! Complete the first couple of steps on the handout I gave you in class today--identify a couple of passages you will close read, type them up, mark them up, and identify the figurative language that you'll use to help develop your essay.

Book clubs: Senior English

Here are some of the book club ideas for senior English. Take a look over some of these books (recommended by your classmates...I haven't read them all!) and do a little research. Which one(s) might you be interested in?

Divergent/others in the series
The Lord of the Rings series
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Tell the Wolves I'm Home
The Virgin Suicides
Thirteen Reasons Why
Awaken/Middle Ground
My Sister's Keeper
When She Woke
The Fault in Our Stars
Unbroken
Twelve
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Green Mile
The Stand
A Clockwork Orange
Apt Pupil/Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption/The Breathing Method
Cinder
The Knife of Never Letting Go
Shine
Ready Player One
To Kill a Mockingbird
In Cold Blood
The Catcher in the Rye
Columbine
The Enemy by Charlie Higson
Never Let Me Go
The Death of Bees
The Kite Runner
Reconstructing Amelia
The Circle
The Sea of Tranquility
The Yellow Birds
Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk
Me Before You

Homework: December 10

Honors English 11 (C block)

• You have a number of things to be working on--check earlier posts and make sure you have all the pieces together and ready to go for Friday.

English 12 (E block)

• Read the first half of "Death by Landscape"--up to the break on the bottom of p. 106 (206?). Make sure you read and mark carefully.

Homework: December 9

English 12 (E block)

• Study your vocabulary.
• Research some potential book club books. What would you like to read? I'll post more resources later...check back.

Readers/Writers Workshop (F block)

• Work on your profile...develop questions! I'll post Buffy's advice in a later post.

English 11 (G block)

• Finish reading "Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong" and finish the chart you started in class today.

English 11 (A block)

• Finish reading "Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong" and finish the blue sheet you started in class today.

Homework: December 8

English 11 (G and A block)

• Read "Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong" to the STOP sign on page 6. Draw a picture, as directed!

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Complete the "Close reading--response" handout you received in class today. To do so, pick ONE passage from somewhere in chapter 7, 8, or 9, and perform a close reading, following the directions on the handout. You are welcome to choose any passage, but I'd suggest finding one that focuses on characterization of Gatsby, since that's what you'll be writing your essay on. I returned your first paragraphs, so you could refer to your original idea...remember, the characterization may have shifted substantially. That's ok--that's what you'll be writing about!
• For the 1-2 paragraph response, focus on how the passage helps us understand Gatsby, within the context of the story overall. Focus on the language specifically.

Homework: December 5

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Read and mark up the article, "A Whole Heap of Ashes." Remember to discern the main claims, as well as the evidence Thomas Foster uses to support his claims. Also, make note of places where you agree, and maybe where you disagree, with Foster's claims/analysis.
• Study those vocab words. You should know them SO WELL, after the extended time!

English 12 (E block)

• Complete your formal, 2-paragraph response to the Biddle article. You should type it.

Readers/Writers Workshop (F block)

• If you haven't already contacted your profile subject, make sure you do so!
• Set up an interview with your profile subject.
• If you are ready, complete your interview! Make sure you take careful notes. If you're going to record, make sure you ask permission first!
• (Check the post before this one for some notes on interviewing, along with the Couric video we watched in class today.)

Interviewing!

We watched Katie Couric's advice for interviewing. Now, her advice is meant for on camera interviews, but it's just as relevant to your work as profile writers. Here 7 pieces of advice, as identified by our class, that Ms. Couric shared about interviewing. Keep these in mind as you complete your own interview:

1. Adjust the way you speak and the questions you ask depending on the person you're interviewing. 
2. Don't ask yes/no questions or questions that are really obvious or off-topic.
3. Know who you're interviewing...do a little bit of research.
4. Have follow up questions--don't just read from a list.
5. Listen to the person you're interviewing--be engaged. And, make sure you sound engaged.
6. Be ready for anything/everything that might happen.
7. Make them feel comfortable--positive body language.

Homework: December 4

English 12 (E block)

• You've read the Biddle article, which analyzes elements of Stephen King's "The Body."
• Now, you're going to do some writing about it. For class tomorrow, you should write up thoughtful, formal notes, based on the assignment sheet you received in class. You may not do "mental notes"--create an organizer, or a purposeful method of marking and identifying evidence. No written work, no credit.
• Your final version of your response will be due on Monday.
• Study your vocab!

Readers/Writers Workshop (F block)

• If you haven't asked your profile subject about the assignment, make sure you ask!
• Start developing some questions you might ask in your interview.

English 11 (G and A block)

• Write your "How to Tell a True ____ Story" assignment. You might write "true football stories" or "true babysitting stories." Use "How to Tell a True War Story" as an example. Just as O'Brien tells a story, then gives "instructions," you should do the same. 
• Study your vocabulary!

Homework: December 3

Readers/Writers Workshop (F block)

• Identify 3 potential profile subjects! Be ready to make some decisions tomorrow, and to start writing up some questions.
• Here's the link to the Caine's Arcade profile, if you want to check it out. You can find the 2nd and 3rd part linked from this one.

English 11 (G and A block)

• Make sure you have carefully read and annotated the story "How to Tell a True War Story." Especially, make sure you know what's up with these three things:
• The buffalo
• The "cocktail party"
• Curt Lemon's death
• Study your vocabulary for Monday.
• Consider what topic you'll write your own "How to Tell a True ___________ Story" about. In the past, students have written true football stories, true dance stories, true childhood stories, true high school stories, true babysitting stories, true work stories...  Your task will be to write some "instructions," along with some illustrating vignettes, a la Tim O'Brien's "How to Tell a True War Story."

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Study your vocabulary! In order to maximize our ability to watch and analyze the film, I'M MOVING THE VOCABULARY TEST FROM FRIDAY TO MONDAY. Please meet in the minitheater at the beginning of class on Friday.
• Read the article "A Whole Heap of Ashes" and mark it up.
• Identify: The author's main argument, as well as connected arguments.
• Identify: Where do you agree with his argument and evidence, and where do you disagree with it?

Homework: December 2

English 11 (A block)

• Read and mark up the story "How to Tell a True War Story"--remember we talked about how we might expect "instructions" from a story with a title like that!

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Make sure you've fully completed the "opinionnaire" assignment.
• If you haven't carefully read and marked up Gatsby, make sure you do that!

English 12 (E block)

• Finish reading the Biddle article, and marking it up. Be ready to discuss it on Thursday!

Homework: December 1

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Some of you haven't finished reading Gatsby. Uh oh! Get on that! Make sure you have carefully read and marked up the text.
• Complete the "Opinionnaire" assignment you received in class today.

English 12 (E block)

• Start reading the "Biddle article" that you received in class today. We marked off a stopping point in class. Make sure you make careful annotations, and identify: 
• What's Biddle's argument?
• With what do you agree, and with what do you disagree?

Readers/Writers Workshop (F block)

• If you haven't already completed/shared your character profile, do so!
• Start thinking about who you'll write a profile on!

English 11 (G block)

• Finish reading and marking up the story "How to Tell a True War Story" in your The Things They Carried packet.

Homework: November 25

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Finish reading The Great Gatsby! Mark it up and annotate.

English 12 (E block)

• Read your independent book!

Reading/Writing Workshop (F block)

• Finish up the draft of your character profile--type it!

Homework: November 24

English 12 (E block)

• Study for your test!

Readers/Writers Workshop (F block)

• Complete a draft of your independent reading character's profile. Remember that we had two mentor texts, "A Fisherman in New York's Sea of Faces" and the ESPN E:60 documentary "Catching Kayla."

English 11 (A and G block)

• Respond to the essay prompt you received in class. Notes from today's discussion are below--click to expand!
• A block--if you didn't complete the multiple choice questions in class, do so for homework. Remember to write your reason for choosing the answers.

Homework: November 21

Readers/Writers Workshop (F block)

• Complete at least 1 page of your profile of a character from your independent reading book. Remember, you have a mentor text, "A Fisherman in New York's Sea of Faces."
• You should include:
1. A title, (with a metaphor?)
2. Information about the character's background
3. An opening paragraph that sets the tone and establishes important information about the subject of the profile
4. Important events, achievements and/or challenges
5. Quotations from others about the subject of the profile
6. Quotations from the subject of the profile him or herself 

English 11 (A and G block)

• Read the story "Beginning," which is the nonfiction version of the story "On the Rainy River." As you read, keep this focus question in mind: 
• Which story--"On the Rainy River" or "Beginning"--does a more effective job of helping you understand the experience of the main character? Why? 

Honors English 11 (C block)

• By the day you return from Thanksgiving break, you should finish reading and annotating Gatsby!
• Remember to review chapter 7, considering why Tom is ok with letting Gatsby and Daisy head back home in the car together.

Homework: November 20

English 11 (A block)

• Finish reading and marking up the story "On the Rainy River." Remember, this is a story about someone making a big decision, though in a lot of ways, he doesn't have a choice at all. As you read, keep an eye on information that will help you answer these questions:
• Why does he make the decision he does?
• Who, if anyone, helps?
• What's so important about a fishing trip?
• Study your vocab! You have a quiz tomorrow.

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Continue reading crazy chapter 7. Keep an eye on shifting power dynamics in the story.
• You should make sure to read to at least the top of page 145.
• Study vocabulary! You have a quiz.

English 12 (E block)

• Write a reflection on today's discussion activity. 
• If you were part of the discussion, consider: What did you talk about as a group? What did you contribute individually? What else would you have liked to add? What insight do you now have into the question? 
• If you were watching the discussion, consider: What did the group discuss? What did you notice about the process of the discussion? What would you have liked to add?
• Study your vocabulary--quiz Monday!
• If you haven't finished reading The Body carefully, you should do so. You'll have a test on Tuesday, in which you'll need to know plot events, characterization, major motifs, significance of structure, etc.

Homework: November 19

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Read Gatsby, to page 133...stop at the end of the paragraph that begins "There is no confusion like the confusion of a simple mind..." (By the way, what a great sentence that one is, don't you think?)
• Study your vocabulary!

English 12 (E block)

• You should prepare for the discussion tomorrow, by completing steps 1 and 2 on the handout you received in class today. Remember, there are steps on the back. You don't need to write a formal paragraph...instead, you should make a lot of notes.

Readers/Writers Workshop (F block)

• In the Google Classroom, you should upload your Choice Piece to the assignment titled "Choice piece--FINAL DRAFT." Then, complete the reflection called Choice Piece Reflection. Make sure you TURN IN the response by clicking the blue turn in button. You can access Google Classroom at this link: classroom.google.com
• Complete the handout for the article "A Fisherman in a Sea of Faces."Honors English 11 (C block)

English 11 (G block)

• If you didn't finish reading "On the Rainy River" as you were directed to do, please do so tonight.
• Complete your blue sheet. Identify the rest of the important plot points, write about two motifs, give five significant quotations and make connections (at least one--consider, relationship of mentors, someone who needs guidance to go on a certain path, etc.) to other texts.
• Prepare for your vocabulary quiz.

Homework: November 17

English 11 (G block)

• Read "On the Rainy River" in your The Things They Carried story packet. You should read and annotate up to the asterisk on page 6. 
• If you did not complete the blue sheet for "Spin," you need to complete that assignment as well.
• Study your vocabulary!

English 11 (A block)

• Complete the blue sheet for the story "Spin."
• Study your vocabulary!

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Make sure you have read through chapter 6 in Gatsby, and prepare for a quiz on chapters 1-6. You will be asked to identify significant passages from the story, and tell about why they are important. In order to be prepared, you just need to make sure that you have carefully read and annotated chapters 1-6.
• Study your vocabulary!

Homework: November 14

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Read and annotate chapter 6 in Gatsby. On Monday, we'll discuss both chapters 5 and 6 in detail, so if you haven't completed the chapter 5 Scavenger Hunt, make sure you do!

English 12 (E block)

• We put together checklists and plans in class today--make sure you complete them! You should be through chapter 27, at least...read more if you have time, because we'll finish next week.

Readers/Writers Workshop (F block)

• If you haven't already uploaded your Choice Piece to the Google Classroom, make sure you do so by Sunday night. Remember to upload it to the one called Choice Piece--FINAL DRAFT! 
• Complete the reflection in the Google Classroom by Tuesday.

Homework: November 13

English 12 (E block)

• Read and annotate chapters 26 and 27 in "The Body."

Readers/Writers Workshop (F block)

• Work on your choice piece--you'll do a final edit in class tomorrow and will pass it in!

English 11 (G block)

• Complete the blue organizer for "Spin." Remember, we're going to share them on Monday!
• Start studying your vocabulary--your quiz will be next week.

English 11 (A block)

• Complete a second draft of your "Pony Problem" essay. Use the guidelines we discussed today in class. Below is my handout with the notes on it...use them to guide you, and consider "The Pony Problem" as your mentor text.
• Start studying your vocabulary--your quiz will be next week.
  
   

Homework: November 12

Readers/Writers Workshop 8 (F block)

• Today, we took a look at some of the images of "Humans of New York" and read the very small, important "insights" that the subjects shared with the interviewer. We'll continue to discuss these images tomorrow.
• You should finish off your "Character animal" tonight. Make sure you have:
• The animal itself.
• The name of the character, and the title/author of the book.
• The three characteristics you've identified, labeled.
• Three quotations from the book, one to accompany each characteristic.

English 11 (G block)

• Today, we reviewed "The Pony Problem" and talked about how it is a model for your own writing about a collection you have. Remember, we went through the story and identified some of the moves this writer makes. Check out the photo, below. You should revise your first draft, incorporating these "moves" into your own writing. I want to see draft two tomorrow!
                

English 11 (A block)

• Some of you are behind on your work! We made a list of tasks to complete...you should do whichever of these tasks you need to, making sure that ALL are complete when you come to class tomorrow.
• Read and annotate "The Pony Problem"
• Make notes regarding the STRUCTURE of "The Pony Problem"
• Identify 2-3 examples of strong writing in "The Pony Problem"
• Complete the organizer for the personal essay 
• Complete a first draft of your own "version" of "The Pony Problem," about a collection of your own
• Finish reading "Spin" (the story we started today in class)
• Remember, if you were prepared for class today, the last thing on this list is the only thing you should have to do for homework tonight!

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Catch up on reading and annotating--you should have read through chapter 5, carefully.
• Complete the Chapter 5 "scavenger hunt" assignment
• Start studying your new vocab words. The quiz is next week.

Homework: November 7

English 11 (A block)

• Complete the brainstorming worksheet for your own "The Pony Problem" essay, and write a draft of your own version. Consider a "collection" that you have, and talk about what it represents and why it's significant. This isn't an analytical essay...it's a personal narrative. Use your own narrative voice and talk about your experience. Use "The Pony Problem" as a model.

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Finish reading and annotating chapter 5. It's a big chapter, and it's SO AWESOMELY AWKWARD!!!

English 12 (E block)

• Write a thesis statement and then 2-body-paragraph analysis of the close-reading passage you worked with in class today. Here's what it should look like:
• In the scene __________, Stephen King uses (imagery? personification? metaphor?) to...
• Body paragraph 1: Talk  about the language of the passage itself--analyze the significance of the language.
• Body paragraph 2: Analyze how this scene helps us understand the whole story.

Homework: November 6

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Study your vocabulary!
• Start reading chapter 5--read the first half.

English 12 (E block)

• Write a 1-to-2-paragraph response about the reading passage we discussed today.
• You can start with: "A close reading of this passage reveals..."
• You should include specific language
• You should include some analysis
  

Readers/Writers Workshop (F block)

• Make sure your character animal is finished, and make sure you've chosen three quotations to go with it, one quotation for each characteristic.
• Work on revising your choice piece!!!

English 11 (G block)

• Complete the brainstorming worksheet for your own "The Pony Problem" essay, and write a draft of your own version. Consider a "collection" that you have, and talk about what it represents and why it's significant. This isn't an analytical essay...it's a personal narrative. Use your own narrative voice and talk about your experience. Use "The Pony Problem" as a model.

VOCABULARY challenge!

Hello all!

If you're interested in taking on the NY Times Learning Network's vocabulary video challenge, the instructions are linked here.

If you can, do the challenge by November 11 and post to the NY Times Learning blog (the linked one). Post a link to the comments on this page, too!

If you can't get it done by November 11, you can do one by next Friday the 14th at 5 p.m. If that's the case, INSTEAD of a word from the NY Times list, use one from this list that we HAVEN'T studied yet. Post a link to it in the comments on this page.

Homework: November 5

English 12 (E block)

• Read chapters 21-25 in "The Body." Mark it up!

Readers/Writers Workshop (F block)

• Finish your "character animal" illustration.
• Find a quotation to go with each characteristic you've identified. So, if your character is "brave," find a quotation that shows that she's brave.

English 11 (A and G block)

• Read "The Pony Problem"! Mark it up.
• STUDY YOUR VOCABULARY. Seriously. Use vocabulary.com to look up words and sentences if you have questions. Come work with me after school if you want help!

Homework: November 4

English 11 (G block)

• Start studying your vocabulary! Quiz on Friday.

English 11 (A block)

• Make sure you come to class with another question for "The Things They Carried."
• Start reading and annotating "The Pony Problem." Remember--what do we carry with us, and how do those things affect us?
• Start studying your vocabulary! Quiz on Friday.

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Complete your draft of the "How does Nick Carraway portray Gatsby" analytical response. Remember to get some specific language in there. Remember how much time we spent analyzing words in class? Look for some words you can analyze in depth to support your argument.
• Be ready to discuss the characters in Gatsby, and which of the categories they fit into: "the pursued, the pursuing, the busy, the tired"

Homework: November 3

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Work on your analytical response: How does Fitzgerald/Carraway portray Gatsby in the opening 3 chapters of the book?--Draft due Thursday
• Start reading Chapter 5...we'll talk in class on Tuesday.--Complete reading for Thursday

English 12 (E block)

• Read and annotate chapter 19 and 20 of "The Body."
• Complete the "Reading Check: Events in chapters 12-19" assignment if you haven't already done so.

Readers/Writers Workshop (F block)

• Work on your "REVISION" mini-project--remember, you had to choose a new way to tell your story--a poem? Sci fi? Drama/script? A series of text messages? Use this link to revisit the example we discussed in class.
• If I told you on Monday that your choice piece was not yet submitted, here's the problem--you need to make sure you click "TURN IN" after you upload your paper. So, do that!

Homework: October 31

Have a great Halloween! I hope you're handing out candy and being friendly!

English 12 (E block)

• Check the list in an earlier post, to make sure you have all of the work for "The Body" completed. If not, complete it!
• Write your own version of the Halloween of the 70s vs. Today personal essay. If you need a refresher, you can find it here. Remember, you should choose 3 "categories" and write a Then v. Now story about your own experience.

Readers/Writers Workshop (F block)

• Log into your Google Classroom account at classroom.google.com
• Submit your "Choice piece" draft to the assignment--you'll see it listed!

English 11 (A and G block)

• Complete a response for Big Fish...here are the instructions: 
• 1) Summary of the film "Big Fish;" 
• 2) Respond to film: here's what I noticed, here's what I feel, etc.; 
• 3) Make connections with other things we are reading, seeing (Alexie, independent reading book)

Homework: October 30

Readers/Writers Workshop (F block)

• Read your independent book!

English 11 (A and G block)

• Make sure you've completed the reading "The Things They Carried."
• Make sure you've answered the focus question with details and information from the story.

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Identify a thesis statement, then write up a paragraph in which you consider how Fitzgerald/Carraway portrays Gatsby.
• Remember, Michaela had the idea that Carraway portrays Gatsby as the "peace in the chaos." You'll want to develop your own idea--how does Carraway portray that character?
• Then, find some evidence and write up a draft paragraph. What LANGUAGE is significant? What helps us, as readers, understand who this guy is?

A and G block: Macbeth performance

Hello everyone! I hope you've had a great week.

During class tomorrow, you'll attend the Macbeth performance (unless your A block teacher didn't approve). It's going to be awesome!

Homework: October 27-29

Hello folks!

Sorry I'm out for these three days--I'm off doing some peer review of another school nearby. You should be working on the following things over the next couple of days. If you have questions, you can shoot me an email--I might not respond right away, because my schedule is super busy, but I will get back to you!

English 11 (A and G Block)

• You folks are watching Big Fish in class. It's a really important movie and helps us answer two big questions:
• What role do STORIES play in our lives? What purpose do STORIES have in our lives?
• What do we carry with us, and how does that weight affect us?
• For homework, finish up the story "The Things They Carried" and answer that focus question (it's the second one, above...see how these two texts overlap?).

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Over the next couple of days, you folks will get into reading chapter 4 of Gatsby. You'll also examine closely some of the language that introduces the character of Gatsby himself.

English 12 (E block)

• You're continuing to read and annotate "The Body." By Wednesday, you'll want to be at the end of chapter 18. You'll also complete an assignment called "Mapping 'The Body'" and an analysis of some key scenes.
• Don't forget to study those vocabulary words! You'll have a quiz on Friday.

Readers/Writers Workshop (F block)

• It seems we're in a bit of a "Johnny Depp film festival." You'll watch Finding Neverland, keeping an eye on the message of the film, and the way(s) the filmmaker shares that message.
• If you need to do any work on your choice piece, do it!

Homework: October 24

English 11 (A block and G block)

• Finish reading "The Things They Carried" and write a 1-2 paragraph response to the question below, using the story as your text. (Don't answer it with personal examples--you've already done that! Instead, use "The Things They Carried.")
• Here's the question: What do we carry with us, and how does that weight affect us?

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Read and mark up chapter 3 of Gatsby. Remember, you're keeping an eye out for:
• An important meeting
• An owl-eyed man
• A car accident
• For each, try to figure out not just WHAT happens, but what it means, and why it matters.

Homework: October 23

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Study your vocabulary! Remember, we're not taking on the new list yet--it's review time.
• Finish reading chapter 2 of Gatsby.

English 12 (E block)

• Read and mark up through chapter 12 in "The Body."
• Complete the front side of the handout you received in class today, in order to be prepared for an in-class activity on Monday.
• Study your vocabulary! Words 1-20 for Monday.

Readers/Writers Workshop (F block)

• Work on finishing the draft of your choice piece.

Homework: October 22

Readers/Writers Workshop (F block)

• Work on your choice piece!

English 11 (A and G block)

• Study your vocabulary! There will be a cumulative test on words 1-20 on Friday.
• Complete the response to the articles--you have a handout with instructions.

Homework: October 21

English 11 (A block)

• Find another article about the ebola situation--read about something you're interested in or want to learn about. Make sure you've already read the article I gave you last week. We'll be working on an assignment that will ask you to identify what information the two articles share, and what information is different. 
• Here are some articles you could check out if you're interested:
• http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/21/health/ebola-outbreak/index.html
• http://www.forbes.com/sites/dandiamond/2014/10/21/the-ebola-number-you-havent-heard-80-of-u-s-ebola-patients-have-survived/
• http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/10/20/cdc-new-protocol/17638161/
• Also, don't forget about your portfolio post! There are instructions in a previous post.
• Study your vocabulary. Many of you need to review the vocab we've been working on.

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Read Gatsby! Finish chapter 1.
• And, study your vocabulary. Many of you need to review the vocab we've been working on. There will be a test on Friday.

English 12 (E block)

• Read "The Body"!

Homework: October 20

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Read and annotate the article "Nobel Peace Prize honors Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Sat- yarthi"
• Read to the break on page 9 in Gatsby that we marked in class. Annotate your Questions, Observations and Connections.

English 12 (E block)

• Read and annotate chapter 6. Go back through chapter 5 if you didn't do it!
• There is an audio version on YouTube. Google "Stephen King The Body audio" and you'll find it. You can listen along as the narrator reads...just make sure you annotate.

Readers/Writers Workshop (F block)

• Between now and Thursday, spend at least 20 minutes working on your choice piece. On Thursday, we'll work to finish up a draft.

English 11 (G block)

• Study all of your old vocab words. We need practice on those, people!
• Find another article about the ebola situation, and read it/annotate it. Bring it with you to class on Wednesday. I'll be asking you to identify which information overlaps with the first article we read, and which information differs. Remember, some might be opinion articles, some might be reports...make sure you pay attention to the source and type of article you're choosing!
• Here are a couple of links...check these out if you want!
• http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/20/health/ebola-outbreak-roundup/index.html
• http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/20/health/ebola-overreaction/index.html
• http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/12/opinion/what-were-afraid-to-say-about-ebola.html?_r=0
• http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/07/31/world/africa/ebola-virus-outbreak-qa.html
• Lastly, you should be working on your portfolio post! Check the earlier homework post to find more information if you need it!

Homework: October 17

English 12 (E block)

• Start reading "The Body." Keep in mind the conversation we had today--remember what it was like to be TWELVE.
• As you read, MARK UP THE TEXT. Notice:
• Who is telling the story?
• Who are the characters?
• What is the setting?

Readers/Writers Workshop (F block)

• Write a 1-page response to Edward Scissorhands. You can talk about your observations, questions and/or opinions. Check out the notes below, too--you could write about some of those topics if you don't know what else to say!

English 11 (A and G block)

• For next class: read and mark up the article, "Against Rules, Amber Vinson, Dallas Worker with Ebola, Boarded Plane." Identify the main idea and supporting details.
• By Wednesday, complete a post on your portfolio. To do so:
• Sign into your portfolio website.
• Go to the Learning Expectation you want to post about (Critical Thinking).
• Use the bullet points on the yellow handout, along with the guiding question, to help you write a full, thoughtful paragraph about your progress in that Learning Expectation so far this year. 
• Remember to be specific, include evidence, and analyze your progress.

Homework: October 16

English 11 (A and G block)

• Complete your "The Things I Carry" 1-page personal essay. Check out the marked-up copy, below. You may use the same/similar format as the writer of this essay, or you may find your own structure/organization. Remember to talk about both tangible and intangible "things." We talked in class about how you might brainstorm: You could make a chart where you write down tangible and intangible things, then incorporate them into a narrative.
• Study for your vocab quiz! It's tomorrow, and it's awesome.

Honors English 11 (C block)

• For Monday: Complete the "character sketch" of the 2010s assignment. Have fun with it! Remember, you're telling a STORY. Don't write me an essay!
• For Tuesday: Read and annotate the article "Nobel Peace Prize honors Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi."

Homework: October 14

English 12 (E block)

• Complete a draft of a personal essay, and bring it with you to class on Friday. Use the checklist as well as the model texts to help you.
• Study your vocabulary for a quiz on Friday.

Readers/Writers Workshop (F block)

• Between now and Friday, spend at least 20 minutes working on your "Choice" writing assignment. Be ready to report out and show me what you did!

English 11 (A and G block)

• Read and mark up "The Things I Carry."
• Due Friday: Write your own version of "The Things I Carry"--instructions are on the handout; use the model text to guide you.
• On Friday: Vocabulary quiz!

Homework: October 10

Readers/Writers Workshop 8 (F block)

• Write your one-page letter...remember, it should be to, or from, something that's not human. Remember this little film/commercial that we used as a model today:

English 11 (A and G block)

• Read your independent book!

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Thank you for your participation in today's activity. I really enjoyed hearing from each of you, and I appreciate your willingness to share a little bit about yourself!
• Over the weekend, make sure to do your portfolio post if you haven't already.
• Also, pick 3 of the aspects on the "Formal Aspects of Fiction" handout, and reflect on your independent reading book. You should end up with 3 paragraphs.
• Finally, don't forget to study your vocab! We'll have a quiz on Thursday, which is the only time I'll see you folks next week!

Academic 11th grade English: Alexie writing assignment resources

Here are some resources that might be helpful for you as you prepare to write tomorrow! We've been working on this in class, and you should have your own notes. Here are our class notes to help, too!

Here's the mind map we worked on in class:

And here are notes on turning a motif into a theme:

Homework: October 9

English 11 (block A)

• Prepare for your writing assignment--you'll write in class tomorrow! Go over your motif and theme(s). Make sure your map is all set to go. Don't forget to bring your Alexie texts with you to class.
• Check the post above this one for more information!

Honors English 11 (C block)

• On your portfolio, complete one POST about your work and progress in English class so far. You may do it for any of the 5 learning expectation categories. To do this, you should go to the page (so, Communication, or Critical Thinking, etc.) and click "new post." Change the title of the new post to the date, then write at least a paragraph of specific reflection. Finally, make sure you publish the post (don't just save it).

English 12 (E block)

• Complete a one-pager for the film Pleasantville. Use your handouts and organizer/brainstorming to pick a focus. Remember what we talked about in class. Remember: your one pager should be ONE FULL page...use paragraphs to help you organize. Include details, and analysis. Write about something interesting!

Homework: October 8

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Read your independent reading book! 
• Enjoy the lovely weather!

English 12 (E block)

• Write a 3-paragraph response to Pleasantville. Use that bright pink sheet to guide you!
• Summarize
• Respond
• Connect

Readers/Writers Workshop (F block)

• If you need to spend more time on today's in class writing, do so!

English 11 (G block)

• Prepare to write on Friday. Gather your texts, work on writing themes. Check back tomorrow for more information, model themes, and the mind map we developed in class.

Homework: October 7

English 12 (E block)

• Read and mark up the personal essay I gave you in class today. Consider:
• What is the essay about? (Topic)
• How does the author develop the essay? (What moves does the writer make?)

Readers/Writers Workshop (F block)

• Write one page in the perspective of a character in a story who doesn't get a voice! You wrote one today in class--for homework, you can either add to that story, or start a different one. Remember to keep in mind: What does the character want to tell everyone? What does his/her "voice" sound like?

English 11 (G block)

• I know that instructions were a little unclear at the end of the block. If you're checking this blog, that's good!
• Here's what I'm trying to have you spend some time working on today:
• You've identified a motif (confinement, comfort, hero/adventure).
• I asked you to write about that motif, to explore it.
• Now, you'll want to work on developing an idea about what Alexie SAYS about that motif. 
• So, if you're working with the motif of CONFINEMENT, you could ask: What does Alexie want us to understand about confinement? Think about who is confined, and where. How does this confinement matter?

English 11 (A block)

• Here's what I'm trying to have you spend some time working on today:
• You've identified a motif (confinement, comfort, hero/adventure).
• I asked you to write about that motif, to explore it.
• Now, you'll want to work on developing an idea about what Alexie SAYS about that motif. 
• So, if you're working with the motif of CONFINEMENT, you could ask: What does Alexie want us to understand about confinement? Think about who is confined, and where. How does this confinement matter? 
• Here are the notes, below, from class today. Try it out. Give it your full effort. We'll talk more about it on Thursday.

• 
  

Homework: October 6

English 11 (G AND A block)

• Study your vocabulary words! We'll have that quiz tomorrow.
• If you didn't do so over the weekend, finish your Mind Map/chart for the words COMFORT, CONFINEMENT and HEROES/ADVENTURE. (Check the earlier post/images if you have questions.)
• Write a 1-page freewrite (writing to explore/discover) in which you CHOOSE ONE of the three topics above, and write a full page exploring it. Use your mind map, make connections, and write about your ideas.
• You should start with, "Sherman Alexie explores the idea of comfort/confinement/adventure/heroism. I noticed...   I wondered.... In this text (name), he talks about ..."
• Write a full page. If you run out of things to say:
• Keep pushing! Look for an example in a text you haven't explored yet...
• Add specific details--go back and find quotations
• Pick a different topic and write a little bit about that....

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Wednesday in class, we'll write! Today, we practiced and explored some of the topics you've chosen. You should be prepared Wednesday to think and write. You should spend your time over the next couple of days:
• Adding to your map
• Talking with other folks--what are some things you might not have thought of? What specific details can you add to your collection of information? What are you still confused about that you might clarify?
•  Bring all of your texts with you--that's copies of the poems/short stories/article, your True Diary book if you have one, and your Smoke Signals notes.
• If you feel unsure about your understanding of Alexie's work, or your ability to write about his exploration of a motif, you should plan to stay with me after school on Tuesday.

Homework: October 3

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Study those vocab words!
• Complete your mind maps.
• Read your independent reading book!

English 12 (E block)

• Keep working on your personal essay. 
• Read your independent book!

Readers/Writers Workshop (F block)

• If I don't have your "Great Showdown" picture, finish it up for Tuesday!
• If you didn't write a page about one of the things on your list that you like or dislike,, do it!

Homework: October 2

English 12 (E block)

• Continue working on your personal essay.
• You have a vocab quiz tomorrow! Study those words.

Readers/Writers Workshop 8 (F block)

• Pick one of the topics on your list of things you love, or the list of things you don't love. Write one page in your journal about it. Describe it, talk about how you feel about it, write a little story about it...whatever you want! If you can't write a full page about that one topic, you can pick another topic from your list and write some more about it.

English 11 (G block AND A block)

• Complete your mind map! There are pictures below to remind you of what you should be adding. and how you might go about doing so. Remember, this assignment is preparation for a writing assignment next week!

Homework: October 1

Readers/Writers Workshop 8 (F block)

• Journal homework: Due tomorrow: Make a list of 40 things you love, OR, of 40 things you don't really love so much...
• Note: :You can do this assignment on a separate sheet of paper (or in your journal), OR you can do it in Google classroom.

English 11 (G block)

• Write a 1-page response to the film Smoke Signals. It doesn't have to be formal, and you don't have to establish a thesis statement. This is WRITING TO EXPLORE. Tackle some of the questions you had about the film, and try to come up with some thoughts/connections. You can write about your observations, questions and connections. You can use your notes and your 3-2-1 response from class. 

English 11 (A block)

• Finish up the assignment: "Syria's civil war" article.

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Start working on your mind map! Below, there's a picture of the requirements. Remember, I started one of my own to show you one way you might tackle this task. But you might have a different way of organizing your information. You should make sure that you've started this task by Friday, so we can check in. Remember, your goal is always to add more, to expand your thinking. It's unlikely that you'll ever be fully done.
• 

Homework: September 30

English 11 (A)

• Complete the article "Saving Syria's history from civil war" as directed on the handout. You have two nights to complete this assignment, which I suggest breaking up as follows:
• Tonight, read the article, research terms, write the summary.
• Tomorrow night, write the connections paragraph and the multiple choice question.
• Read your independent book!

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Complete a 3-paragraph response to the film Smoke Signals. (Use the bright pink handout for more specific instructions.)
• Summarize
• Respond
• Connect
• Read your independent book!

English 12 (E block)

• Task one: Write for at least 10 minutes (a full page) about a personal essay prompt.
• …if you don’t have specific one for your school/program, pick one of these, from the Common App. You need to write a personal essay, even if you're not applying to a college that requires an essay! Remember, these are broad, so focus just on telling a story that is interesting/important:
• Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
• Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure.  How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?
• Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea.  What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
• Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content.  What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?
• Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.
• This list of prompts, and the Common App itself, 

• Task two: Make a list of 5 coming of age movies you’ve seen (about a character who grows/journeys/changes), and 5 you want to see—get recommendations!
• Read your independent book!

Homework: September 29

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Start studying your new vocabulary!
• Finish reading and marking up the article on the "decolonized diet"--remember, you're marking up to identify main idea, supporting details, and questions you have. Tomorrow in class, you'll take a 4-question multiple choice quiz. If you don't mark it up, you can't receive credit for the assignment!
• Read your independent book.

English 12 (E block)

• Write your comparison/contrast response to the film "St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves." Is the film "St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves" and effective "translation" of the story by the same name? The questions to consider are: What are the similarities between the film and the story? What are some differences? What does the text in the short story SAY, and how does that connect with the film? Please write a fully detailed 1-2 paragraph response, citing specific examples from both texts. 
• Here's a link to the film if you want to watch it again, or check for specific details!
• Study your vocab!
• Read your independent reading book!

Readers/Writers Workshop 8 (F block)

• Your narrative is due as a final draft on Wednesday. Work on it!
• If you need to, finish up your "Great Showdown" illustration for your current independent reading book.
• Read your independent reading book!

English 11 (G block)

• Complete the reading "Saving Syria's history from civil war." Complete the assignment as explained on the handout.
• Read your independent reading book!

Homework: September 26

English 12 (E block)

• Respond to this question: In what ways does the story "St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves" meet the definition of the monomyth/hero's journey as defined in the video we watched in class today. (Posted below for your reference.)
• Remember, PLAN OUT an idea, then write a full, thoughtful paragraph in response to the question. You can identify where it does and where it doesn't meet the criteria. Most of you need to put more time and effort into this response than you did for your 3-paragraph response earlier this week.

Readers/Writers Workshop 8 (F block)

• You should come to class on Monday with your "great showdown" sketched out. If you want to spend some time drawing it out and making it official on white paper, go for it! Here's a fun one:

English 11 (G block)

• Read your independent reading book!

English 11 (A block)

• Read your independent reading book!

Money for the Navajo--check out this current events article:

Check out this article about a US government payment to the Navajo nation.

Homework: September 25

English 11 (G block)

• You have a vocab quiz tomorrow--study for it!

English 11 (A block)

• Study those vocab words! Be diligent about it...

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Read and mark up the "Decolonized diet..." article--for Tuesday.
• Study your vocab!

Homework: September 24

Mrs. Dusseault sent this out in an email today, and I like it so much that I'm sharing it with all of you!

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Complete your reading and response to "In the Shadow of Wounded Knee." It's a complex text, but none of you have come to work with me after school, so I assume you're handling it. Remember that I posted a link in an earlier blog post to the National Geographic website, where you can find many other resources--audio, photos, video, etc. Use your resources to help you understand!
• Study your vocab words! You'll have a quiz on Monday.

English 12 (E block)

• Study your vocabulary--you have a quiz (and class check-in) on Friday.
• Add to your list of prior knowledge/schema/connections.
• Look up the essay requirements for any schools/programs you're hoping to apply to.

Readers/Writers Workshop (F block)

• Work on your narrative. A final draft is due next Wednesday. Use the checklist to monitor your writing progress.

Readers/Writers Workshop: Directions for our work today in the lab

You are near the end of a fairly long writing process that started with listing, brainstorming and freewriting. You have crafted a thoughtful narrative, and you're now revising and editing your draft. Today, do the following things:

1. Take out your copy of the narrative checklist. 
2. Revisit your narrative, checking your own writing and comparing it to the checklist.
3. Identify parts of your narrative that could be stronger, and work on changing them. Remember you have a lot of models to use: "Cold Tree Hill" and "Fireflies" are both narratives we examined, and you also sought out models in your independent reading book. "Steal" what you can from other texts--not by copying word-for-word, but by identifying what you love, and using that to inspire your own text. 
4. Lastly, use the Conventions section at the bottom of the checklist to help you edit your work. Look for spelling and grammar mistakes. Look for sentences that might not be clear. 
5. Once done, with all of that, you can print out a copy, and/or you can share with a partner via Google Drive. Partners, take a look at what the writer has written, and use your checklist to give suggestions.
6. If you finish all of these things, let me know!
7. Please complete this survey:

Homework: September 23

English 12 (E block)

• You're finishing up your 3-paragraph response to "St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves." Remember, you've had a while to work on this, so I want to see some good thought and effort behind this work. 
• Remind me to give you your vocab words!

Readers/Writers Workshop 8 (F block)

• Work on your narrative--remember, we worked with the checklist in class today, and you should be using it to make revisions to your narrative.

English 11 (G block)

• We spent some time working with the poem today--here's a picture of our notes. 
• For homework, you are completing Step 1 and Step 2 of the handout "Writing about 'Reservation Mathematics.'" Remember, we changed the directions in class for Step 2! You should choose one word, then explain it (instead of discussing the words and taking notes in class).
• Study your vocab!

English 11 (A block)

• We spent some time working with the poem today--here's a picture of our notes!
• For homework, you are completing Step 3 of the handout "Writing about 'Reservation Mathematics.'" Remember, you should develop an idea, and then use DETAILS from the poem to explain.
• Study your vocab!

Homework: September 22

Readers/Writers Workshop 8 (F block)

• In class, I gave you a checklist for narrative writing. I asked you to check off where your narrative essay is in each category at this point. Next, I asked you to pick 2 things from each category, and spend some time working on editing tonight.
• If you can't type tonight, handwrite some ideas/details.

English 11 (G block)

• Start studying your vocab! Quiz Friday.
• Mark up the poem "Reservation Mathematics" and write down: 
• 3 important words/phrases/sentences, and a reason why you chose each one
• 3 questions you have

English 11 (A block)

• Start studying your vocab! Quiz Friday.
• Mark up the poem "Reservation Mathematics" and write down: 
• 3 important words/phrases/sentences, and a reason why you chose each one
• 3 questions you have

Honors English 11 (C block)

• For WEDNESDAY: Response to "Why We Play Basketball." Use the prompts on the handout that you completed for "Reservation Mathematics"--do STEP ONE, the WORD part of STEP TWO, and map out/organize your response for part 3 (you can write it as a paragraph or as a web/map).
  
• For THURSDAY: Finish reading and responding to the article "In the Shadow of Wounded Knee." Use the 3-paragraph response handout.
• For MONDAY: Vocabulary quiz/weekly check in.
• For TUESDAY: "Native Americans embracing "decolonized diet"..." article: Read and mark up--main idea and supporting details.

Attention 11th grade poets!

Princeton University is holding a poetry contest for high school juniors. Winners receive cash prizes! If you're interested, check out the information here: Milberg Poetry Prize. I can help you put together your submission, and Ms. Hobbs has offered to help you, too. (I'd suggest working with her--she's a published poet herself!)

The deadline for the contest is November 28, 2014.

Homework: September 19

It's going to be nice this weekend--enjoy it! Hang out with a pumpkin...take one to the beach!

English 11 (A block)

• Finish up your "Sherman Alexie connections" assignment--fill in the boxes, identify motifs (the "topics" at the bottom of each column), and write the paragraph. There's a model of the assignment posted in an earlier post, and here's the prompt to write the paragraph:

• Some of you haven't finished the tasks on the "Back to School" checklist. Do that!

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Complete the Steps 2 and 3 of the handout you received in class for "Reservation Mathematics." 
• Additionally, start reading the article "In the Shadow of Wounded Knee." I posted some resources for that article yesterday, so take a look!

English 12 (E block)

• For Wednesday, complete a thoughtful, detailed, well-written 3-paragraph response to the story "St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves." Use the handout provided in class for guidance. Each paragraph should be 5-7 sentences...at least!

Tom Brady's resume!

This is too good not to share...check out Tom Brady's resume! He was drafted late, so he may have needed a back up plan, right? He certainly prepared himself in case the football thing didn't work out--he had a great GPA, and a whole lot of internship/work experience. Not surprising, right?

Here's a link to the ESPN article if you want to check it out...

Homework: September 18

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Study for your vocab quiz! It's tomorrow.
• Read and annotate "Reservation Mathematics" (click the link if you forgot your copy at school!). Make note of your OBSERVATIONS, QUESTIONS, and CONNECTIONS. We'll talk about the poem tomorrow in class. This work that we did in class today might be helpful: 

• By next Thursday (sorry, folks, we don't have class next Friday, so Thursday it will be...), read the article "In the Shadow of Wounded Knee," mark it up as you read, and write a response using the 3-paragraph response format. I'll show you this in class, but if you want a little background information and some pictures, check out this site. You can access the text here, but there are also tabs to access some photos and audio from the Pine Ridge Reservation.

English 12 (E block)

• Study for your vocab quiz! It's tomorrow. I'll also be asking you to check in about other content from this week.
• Finish reading and marking up "St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves."

Readers/Writers Workshop 8 (F block)

• Finish up your two alternate beginnings for your narrative. Reread your original beginning, consider the two new ones, then decide which one you'd like to use for your narrative.
• Start looking for a piece of writing that you think is strong. I'll want you to bring something in that you think represents good writing--a short story, article, poem, section of a book...
• Read your independent reading book!

English 11 (G block)

• Study your vocab! 
• If you need to, finish up your response to the "Sherman Alexie Connections" assignment. Here's the prompt (click on it to enlarge it):