Homework: December 23

Honors English 11 (B and F block)

• Work on your Gatsby essay if you'd like to get some work done. It'll be due at the end of the week when we return.
• You can study your vocabulary, too...and, remember that we'll have a 1-50 test before the midterm. So, review 'em all!
• Finally, if you didn't complete "The Great Thanksgiving Listen" over Thanksgiving break, you have this time to do that, too. We'll do a reflection in class during the week we return from break. 

Homework: December 22

English 12 (D block)

• If you haven't already done so, read and mark up the article called "The Mythic Journey in 'The Body.'" We'll study this when we return from break.

Honors English 11 (F block)

• Work on your essay. Remember, if you have anything you'd like me to look at, have it printed out by the time you get to class tomorrow.

Honors English 11 (G block)

• Read and mark up "Hell-Heaven" and be ready to discuss the aspects of fiction when we return. 
• You should also spend some time studying your vocabulary and working on your essay--both will be due at the end of the week when we return.

English 11 (A block)

• Complete the "Great Thanksgiving Listen" assignment, if you haven't already done so. You just need to do the interview/discussion. We'll write a reflection in class when we return.
• Complete the Reader Response for "The Man I Killed/Ambush"--it's due on Tuesday, 1/5.

Homework: December 21

Honors English 11 (F block AND B block)

• Put in some time on your Gatsby essay. Write a body paragraph, refine your thesis, prepare an organizer...whatever will help you complete a strong essay.

Honors English 12 (G block)

• Read "Death by Landscape" and mark it up...we'll talk about it tomorrow!
• Work on your essay.

English 11 (A block)

• Finish reading and marking up "The Man I Killed." 
• Then, complete the "iceberg" organizer, and answer the first question on the back of the handout.

Homework: December 18

English 11 (A block)

Study your vocabulary! You have a quiz on Monday.

Honors English 11 (B block)

Find and mark up a couple of passages for your Gatsby essay. (See assignment sheet for directions.)

English 12 (D block)

Study for your The Body test--identify motifs, make connections between events, and practice passage analysis. The test is Tuesday! Read the essay I gave you in class, too...it might help.

Homework: December 17

English 12 (D block)

• Spend some time tonight reviewing the "Hero's Journey"/Monomyth chart. Match events from The Body with events/moments on the chart--this will help you review, and will help you connect the story to this bigger idea of the monomyth.

Honors English 11 (F block)

• Complete your "list of morality"--rank the characters in The Great Gatsby from most to least moral. Good luck with that!
• Also, do the "first step" on the characterization handout you received today--pick out a couple passages, type them up, and annotate them.
• AND, study for vocab quiz...it's Monday!

Honors English 12 (G block)

• Spend AT LEAST a half hour working on your essay. Refine thesis idea, plan/map out analysis, start drafting--whatever works...but do it!

Homework: December 16

Honors English 11 (F block

• Complete the "opinionnaire" for The Great Gatsby.

H. English 12 (G block)

• Tomorrow, we try to form book clubs. Think about what you want to read. My slide from class today is below. These are recommendations that I pulled from a number of different lists...they're not necessarily endorsements. (The ones with * next to them are ones I've read, so feel free to ask me about them!)
  
• Tomorrow, we try to form essay topics. Bring your prep work in with you, and be ready to think.
• Tomorrow, you take a quiz. Make sure to study!

English 11 (A block)

• Complete the paragraph on the "Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong" handout.

Honors English 11 (B block)

• Finish reading The Great Gatsby!

Homework: December 15

Honors English 12 (G block)

• Start mapping out some ideas for your essay. You'll be developing your own paper topic, and then you'll write the paper. Hooray! Your paper must include 3 texts. One of the three must be The Body, and then you can choose 2 of these 3: Moonlight Kingdom, Stand by Me, and the Biddle article.

English 11 (A block)

• Finish reading "Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong," and mark it up. 
• Complete the Venn diagrams...we'll talk more about this in class tomorrow.

Honors English 11 (B block)

• Finish reading chapter 8!

English 12 (D block)

• Be ready for your presentation Thursday, and your quiz.

Homework: December 14

Honors English 11 (B block)

• Complete your Chapter 7 power chart and write a paragraph in which you answer this question: How and why does power shift between characters in chapter 7?

English 12 (D block)

• Prepare for your student-led discussion. If you haven't already gone, you should be ready for tomorrow.
• Study your vocabulary for a quiz on Thursday.

Honors English 11 (F block)

• Finish the book! Savor that epic final line. We'll talk on Wednesday.

Homework: December 11

English 12 (D block)

• Continue to work on your student-led discussion preparation--be ready to go starting on Monday.

Honors English 11 (F block)

• Finish reading and marking up chapter 8. Keep an eye on those dashes! We'll talk about them on Monday!

Honors English 12 (G block)

• Prepare for book club using the organizers provided. You'll talk on Tuesday.

English 11 (A block)

• Read to the break on page 97 in "Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong" and complete the first Venn diagram on your handout.

Homework: December 9 and 10

English 12 (D block)

• Make sure you've finished reading The Body. Also, presentations start tomorrow. You can check out the example passage/questions. You should have something with you tomorrow that looks like this, if you're one of the first people to go. (You'll mark it up under the projector, so bring in a clean copy!)

Honors English 11 (F block)

• Complete your paragraph for the "power shift" activity. Essentially, answer this question: How and why does power shift between characters in Chapter 7?
• You can start reading chapter 8--we'll talk more about it in class tomorrow, and you'll have time to read.

Honors English 12 (G block)

• Write a one-pager for Moonrise Kingdom. The topic is up to you--relate to other texts if you'd like, examine the Hero's Journey, consider the style/aesthetic...

Honors English 11 (B block)

• Chart out your Power Shift chart for chapter 7 of Gatsby. Make sure you have at least 7 "shifts" for each character.

Homework: December 8

Honors English 11 (F block)

• Study vocab, and finish up your Gatsby power map.

Honors English 12 (G block)

• Study vocab and finish up your book club book.

English 11 (A block)

• Study vocab and make sure you've chosen 6-8 important quotations for your "On the Rainy River" map--you should have all your planning/prep work done for Thursday.

Honors English 11 (B block)

• Study vocab and make sure you finish reading chapter 7!

Homework: December 7

Honors English 12 (G block)

• Make sure you're ready for your vocab quiz on Thursday, and book club on Friday.

English 11 (A block)

• Finish reading and marking up "On the Rainy River"--we'll work with it tomorrow in class.
• Make sure you're studying for vocabulary--your quiz is on Thursday.

Honors English 11 (B block)

• We'll keep working with Chapter 6 tomorrow in class. 
• For THURSDAY: Finish chapter 7, and be ready for a vocabulary quiz.

English 12 (D block)

• Vocab quiz on Wednesday. 
• By Friday (I said Thursday in class today, but--silly me!--we don't have class on Thursday), make sure you've finished reading The Body.
• Make sure you're working to prepare for your student-led discussion.

Homework: December 4

Honors English 11 (B block)

• Check Wednesday's post for the schedule for next week. Make sure you keep up with the reading--did I mention chapter 7 is long?

English 12 (D block)

• Some of you owe me work. Yikes! Get it to me. You should know what it is, and who you are.
• For Monday, read through chapter 25 in The Body. 
• Make sure you're studying for your vocabulary quiz (it's Wednesday), and preparing for your presentation. (They'll start on Thursday.)

Honors English 11 (F block)

• Finish reading Chapter 7. You'll complete your power chart on Tuesday.
• You have a vocab quiz coming up next Thursday. You're already studying for that, I'm sure.

Homework: December 3

English 12 (D block)

• Tomorrow, make sure you have completed these two assignments:
• Read and mark up The Body chapters 20-24.
• Write a paragraph response about one of the Significant Events on your chart/handout (instructions are at the bottom).

Honors English 11 (F block)

• Continue reading and marking up chapter 7 of Gatsby. By tomorrow, you should be at least 2/3 of the way through the chapter. You don't have to finish it.

Honors English 12 (G block)

• Write a one-pager for Stand by Me--be ready to discuss on Monday!

English 11 (A block)

• Read "On the Rainy River"--to the break on page 4. Make sure you're marking it up!
• Also, start studying your vocabulary.

Homework: December 2

Honors English 11 (F block)

• Start reading chapter 7--keep an eye on POWER SHIFTS as you read. Tomorrow in class we'll be doing some mind-mapping of chapters 1-6 of the story, so bring your glitter pens if you've got 'em!

Honors English 12 (G block)

• We'll finish Stand by Me tomorrow...you should be working on your Critical Essay response to the Biddle article. It's due tomorrow.

English 11 (A block)

• If you need to finish your journal response from today's class, do so. Remember, you wrote about an important decision you've made. (What was the decision? How did you make the decision? Do you feel you made the right decision? Why/why not?) Make sure you've answered all the questions.
• Start reading the story "On the Rainy River." You only have to read to the FIRST text break (on the back of the 1st page), so make sure you read carefully and identify your questions, your observations and your connections.
• We'll be collecting money for our Holiday Coalition sponsorship. Please bring whatever you'd like to donate (maybe $2-$5) to class tomorrow.

Honors English 11 (B block)

• Next class, we'll be working with chapters 1-5 of the novel. Here's your upcoming schedule...make sure you organize yourself to make sure you are prepared on the following dates:
• Read chapter 6 for MONDAY.
• Read chapter 7 (it's long!) for THURSDAY. 
• Prepare to take a vocab quiz on THURSDAY.
• I'd suggest: read some of 6 tonight, and finish it tomorrow/over the weekend. And, study for your test. Next week, spend some time Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday tackling chapter 7, and study a little bit each night. And voila, you'll be ready for Thursday!

Homework: December 1

English 11 (A block)

• Study your vocab--you have a quiz tomorrow!
• And, there will be some questions about "The Things They Carried" on the quiz, so make sure you've read the story.

Honors English 11 (B block)

• Complete the "pursued/pursuing/busy/tired" handout. It says chapters 1-4, but you can include 5 since you've read it, too.
• Make sure you're ready for your vocabulary quiz tomorrow!

English 12 (D block)

• For Thursday, read through chapter 19 in The Body, and complete the "Reading Check: Significant Events..." handout.

Homework: November 30

English 12 (D block)

• Complete the handout from class today (Significant Events in The Body)--you should do all the ones on the front, and the first two on the back (both columns).
• Make sure you've read through chapter 16 in the novel.

Honors English 11 (F block)

• You have a quiz on Wednesday, and you should have finished reading through chapter 6. There will be a passage or two to analyze on the quiz, so make sure you're prepared!

Honors English 12 (G block)

• Work on the Biddle literary criticism response--due Thursday.
• Make sure you're reading your IR book.

Homework: November 24

Honors English 11 (B block)

• Finish up your Gatsby characterization paragraph(s) in your journal.
• For Tuesday, read and mark up chapter 5 in Gatsby, and complete the "scavenger hunt" handout.

English 12 (D block)

• Finish reading and marking up The Body, through chapter 15. 
• Study for your vocabulary quiz--it's Monday when we return. Get your family to help you study! :)

Honors English 11 (F block)

• Read and mark up Gatsby chapter 6. 
• Complete the Thanksgiving Listen (sometime this term...but over the weekend would be great)! 

Homework: November 23

English 12 (D block): finish your map of chapters 1-12. Read chapters 13 & 14.

Honors English 11 (F block): read ch. 5 and complete "scavenger hunt"

Honors English 12 (G block): we'll do informal book club discussions Wednesday, so bring your book (no need for an RR). Start reading the Biddle article so you don't have to read it over the Thanksgiving break!

English 11 (A block): Finish reading and marking up "The Things They Carried."

Homework: November 20

Honors English 11 (F block)

• For Tuesday, read chapter 5 and complete the "Scavenger Hunt" handout.
• If you missed the 2nd half of class today, pick up the packet that's hanging outside of F204, choose TWO (2) "stations" and make some notes. If you choose the one that asks for a close reading organizer, use the one attached.

Honors English 12 (G block)

• Make sure you have completed your reading of The Body, and, if you haven't presented yet, be ready on Monday.
• Make some good progress in your Book Club book. You'll have some time to talk on Wednesday.

English 11 (A block)

• Read and annotate/mark up "The Things They Carried" to page 17 (there's a break in the middle of the page...stop there).

Honors English 11 (B block)

• Read chapter 4 of Gatsby. Make sure you're reading carefully, making notes, and keeping track of the storyline.

Homework: November 19

English 11 (A block)

• Read The Things They Carried to the bottom of page 7. Mark up/annotate your QUESTIONS, OBSERVATIONS and CONNECTIONS.
• Study--you have a vocab quiz!

Honors English 11 (B block)

• Complete the first part of the Gatsby characterization handout, marking up the  text and making notes in the space on the back. Identify a working thesis. You do not have to write the paragraph.
• Study--you have a vocab quiz!

English 12 (D block)

• Finish chapter 12 of The Body.
• Finish the front side of the "Mapping The Body" handout.

Homework: November 18

English 12 (D block)

• Read and mark up The Body, chapter 10-11.

Honors English 11 (F block)

• Complete the "pursued/pursuing/busy/tired" handout, if you didn't already.
• Study vocab--you have a quiz!

Honors English 12 (G block)

• You're reading, so use your reading schedule. Be ready to discuss next class. Make sure you're caught up...there were some pretty bogus answers on that last quiz question today...if yours was one of them, make sure you get yourself caught up.

Homework: November 17

Honors English 11 (F block)

• Read chapter 4, to at least the point I pointed out in class (the flashback..."One summer day in 1917...")

Honors English 12 (G block)

• Use the reading and presentation schedule to make sure you're prepared for tomorrow.
• Also, you have a vocab quiz. So be ready for that, too!

English 11 (A block)

• Considering the model essay we examined in class, as well as our discussion about physical (tangible) and mental/emotional (intangible) things we carry, revise your "The Things I Carry" personal essay and bring a final draft with you next class.

Honors English 11 (B block)

• Read and mark up chapter 3 of Gatsby.

Homework: November 16

Honors English 12 (G block)

• Use your reading schedule to make sure you're up to date with The Body reading. 
• If it's your turn to lead discussion, make sure you're ready to do that, too!

English 11 (A block)

• Using the model "The THings I Carry," write your own version. Instructions are on the bottom of the handout.

Honors English 11 (B block)

• Complete the Character development handout--notes and paragraph.

English 12 (D block)

• By next class, you should have the following things complete: 
• Character development handout and paragraph
• Read and mark up through chapter 9 (you can skip chapter 7).
• Study vocabulary for your quiz.

 Here's the slide on characterization--use it to help you choose effective passages!

Homework: November 13

Honors English 11 (B block)

• Read and mark up chapter 2 of Gatsby.

English 12 (D block)

• Complete your character writing assignment.

Honors English 11 (F block)

• Complete the prep work handout for the Close reading: The Character of The Great Gatsby in The Great Gatsby assignment.

Homework: November 12

English 12 (D block)

• Read The Body through chapter 5. 

Honors English 11 (F block)

• Read Gatsby chapter 3, to at least the point we noted in class. Mark it up!

Honors English 12 (G block)

• Read The Body--use you reading schedule!

English 11 (A block)

• Finish your Big Fish paragraph.

Homework: November 10

Honors English 11 (F block)

• Read and mark up Chapter 2 of Gatsby.

Honors English 12 (G block)

• Use your reading schedule to keep on track with The Body. We'll discuss through chapter 12 on Thursday.

English 11 (A block)

• Finish the front side of the Big Fish handout.
• Make flashcards and start studying vocabulary.

Honors English 11 (B block)

• Finish reading and marking up Gatsby, chapter 1. 

Homework: November 9

English 11 (A block)

• Study for your vocabulary quiz!
• Finish up your Big Fish "reading reaction" 3-paragraph response. You only need to add a couple of sentences to each paragraph.

Honors English 11 (B block)

• Study for your vocabulary quiz!
• Read and mark up Gatsby, at least to the bottom of page 8. Remember to mark/annotate OBSERVATIONS, QUESTIONS and CONNECTIONS, as well as connotation and structure. We'll talk more tomorrow.

English 12 (D block)

• Read and mark up Chapters 1-3 of The Body. Mark your OBSERVATIONS, QUESTIONS and CONNECTIONS, and make note of new characters as you're introduced to them.

Homework: November 6

English 12 (D block)

• Finish your 2-3 paragraph essay.

Honors English 11 (F block)

• Finish reading chapter 1 of Gatsby...mark up:
• Language/connotation
• Structure of the chapter
• Look for places where characters MOVE, and how they move
• Study for your test...it's Tuesday!

Honors English 12 (G block)

• You have your reading schedule for The Body. It's here, too. Get readin'!

Homework: November 5

Honors English 11 (F block)

• Read the first half of chapter 1 of Gatsby. Remember, don't panic...when you start any new book, you're going to have questions.
• Mark up the text with your OBSERVATIONS, QUESTIONS and CONNECTIONS.
• Also make notes about words that may have an additional CONNOTATIVE meaning, as well as tracking a "TIMELINE" like we did with Serial.

Honors English 12 (G block)

• Finish up your "Comparing Room" review. 
• Also, you have a quiz tomorrow! Don't forget to study!
• And, if you weren't in class today, do a quick write-up about yesterday's seminar: What were some big take-aways for you from the discussions? Summarize some big ideas/claims. Then, reflect on your own participation, referring to at least one Habit of Mind.

English 11 (A block)

• Complete a 3-paragraph response for Big Fish. I know we're not done yet. Leave 3 lines between paragraph 1 and 2, and between paragraph 2 and 3, so you'll be able to complete your response when we finish watching the film.

Honors English 11 (B block)

• Using your notes, identify a timeline of HOW Sarah Koenig structures the first episode of Serial. Consider WHAT she says, in what order, and for what PURPOSE. For example, she starts by point out that it's hard to track down what teenagers are up to...why does she start there, do you think? You can revisit parts of the story here: http://serialpodcast.org/season-one/1/the-alibi

Homework: November 4

Honors English 12 (G block)

• We'll have time in class tomorrow to work on your "Comparing and Connecting Room" responses. To prepare:
• Make sure you have read the model texts. 
• Make sure you have a text to connect to.
• Plan out your response/essay. What thematic/main idea will you examine? Which model essay resonated most with you, and what "moves" did that writer make in order to develop his/her essay? 
• Start writing your essay. 
• Good job on today's seminar. We'll do some reflection in class tomorrow to wrap up that activity. Make sure you have your prep notes with you as well as the notes you took during the discussion.

English 11 (A block)

• Make flashcards and write sentences for your vocabulary.
• Fill in any information on the Big Fish organizer you can from what we've seen so far.

Honors English 11 (B block)

• Complete the handout about connotation and denotation in Serial, including the paragraph on the back. We'll finish listening to the episode tomorrow.

English 12 (D block)

• Prepare/start writing your 2-3 paragraph response on the Room/poem seminar (handout given in class today). Here's a link to the transcript (those are initials at the beginning of each line to help you figure out who said what...remember, it's notes, so it's not always exact language and complete sentences).

Two GREAT writing opportunities!

You may have heard that November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). It's a really cool challenge, to do just what the title suggests--write a novel in a month! You can find resources here and here if you're looking for more information. Check it out and try it out...wouldn't it be really cool if you wrote a novel this month?

ALSO, the call for submissions for the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is out. Deadline for submission is December 15, and you do need a teacher to sponsor you. (Pick me!) It's a great program and really worth your time...see me if you have any questions beyond the information shared here: http://www.artandwriting.org/ and http://www.artandwriting.org/Affiliate/MA001W

Homework: November 2

Honors English 11 (B block)

• Complete your revision of your Alexie, using what you learned from reading/discussing the model essays as well as your own revision ideas. I expect that your 2nd draft will be substantially different from the first--not just a few small corrections. Make sure it's better!

English 12 (D block)

• Your conversations today were fantastic. Thank you for putting so much thought and effort into preparing and discussing with each other.
• Tonight, complete the reflection handout, thoroughly.
• You should also have your personal narrative completed and ready to pass in on Wednesday.

Honors English 11 (F block)

• Finish listening to Serial episode 1. You'll find it here: http://serialpodcast.org/season-one/1/the-alibi
• (Just go to the play button, and scroll ahead until minute 41. There's about 11 minutes left...)
• Complete the paragraph on the back of the handout. Make sure you use information from the second half of the show, not just the examples that are already on the handout (though you can use those too!). 

Homework: October 30

English 12 (D block)

• Prepare for the Socratic Seminar discussion on Monday, by marking up the two poems and by making connections between ideas in the poem and Room. 
• You should be finishing a final draft of your personal narrative, due by Wednesday.

Honors English 11 (F block)

• Essay revision is due Monday.

Honors English 12 (G block)

• Essay revisions are due by MIDNIGHT on Monday--upload to turnitin.com.
• Prepare for the Socratic Seminar on Wednesday--read, mark up both poems, and make specific connections between Room and the poems. You might make a mind map, chart, freewrite, etc. I will check your prep when you arrive to class.

English 11 (A block)

• You're working on a revision of your essay. Use the model paragraph and the checklist to help you revise. Your revision is due on Wednesday. 

Homework: October 29

Honors English 11 (F block)

• You're working on essay revisions. I'm around after school tomorrow if you have questions or need help. Your revision is due Monday.

Honors English 12 (G block)

• Prepare for Book club--it's tomorrow, and it's the last one.
• Other things you're working on: a final draft of your COA DBQ.
• A final draft of your personal narrative/college essay.

English 11 (A block)

• You're working on a final draft of your essay, due Wednesday. Remember to use the model paragraph provided to help you revise your own paragraph. 

Honors English 11 (B block)

• You're working on essay revisions. I'm around after school tomorrow if you have questions or need help. Your revision is due Wednesday.

Homework: October 28

English 11 (A block)

• Study for your quiz! You have one tomorrow.

Honors English 11 (B block)

• In class, you looked at and discussed three different essays, examining what they did well. Your job now is to take what you learned (both about what you liked and what frustrated you about the model essays), and use that knowledge to help you revise your own essay.
• **As I mentioned in class, please maintain a copy of your first draft, so you'll be able to distinguish between first, second, etc.
• You have a vocab quiz tomorrow. Don't forget to study!

English 12 (D block)

• Book club is next class. Finish up Room and write your RR.
• Work on your personal narrative.

Homework: October 27

English 12 (D block)

• Complete a draft of your personal essay for tomorrow.
• Read Room--book club is Friday!

Honors English 11 (F block)

• In class, you looked at and discussed three different essays, examining what they did well. Your job now is to take what you learned (both about what you liked and what frustrated you about the model essays), and use that knowledge to help you revise your own essay.
• **As I mentioned in class, please maintain a copy of your first draft, so you'll be able to distinguish between first, second, etc.

Honors English 12 (G block)

• If you want to watch the end of that clip we started in class today (it is thematically relevant to the passage, connecting as it does to the idea of nostalgia), you can find it here.
• Read the excerpt from "Remembrance of Things Past," mark it up, and be ready to discuss it tomorrow.
• You should be working on a revision of your "DBQ" essay. Get it in by Monday.

Homework: October 26

Honors English 11 (F block)

• Complete your "Habits of Mind" reflection for your essay first draft. (You can do this in your journal.) 
• Address these two questions:
• What habit(s) of mind were specifically addressed for you in your 1st drafting process for your Alexie essay?
• What habit(s) of mind do you plan to keep close as you work through the revision process?
• Read the example essay I gave you in class today. Mark it on the Checklist, honestly considering where you think it falls in each category. Then, make notes on the essay, noting strengths and areas for growth/revision. Remember, these are some of the strongest essays, so you're looking at what they do well, while also recognizing that they're still drafts and have room for improvement.

Honors English 12 (G block)

• Study for your quiz--it's tomorrow!
• Start revising your Coming of Age DBQ essay, USING WHAT YOU LEARNED from reading/analyzing your classmates' essays. Each of these essays had strengths and weaknesses--consider what you think of as strengths when you do your revisions, as well as considering the weaknesses to avoid.

English 11 (A block)

• Write practice sentences for your vocabulary words--you have a quiz on Thursday!
• Finish your First Draft Habits of Mind reflection (we started this in class).

Honors English 11 (B block)

• Read the example essay I gave you in class today. Mark it on the Checklist, honestly considering where you think it falls in each category. Then, make notes on the essay, noting strengths and areas for growth/revision. Remember, these are some of the strongest essays, so you're looking at what they do well, while also recognizing that they're still drafts and have room for improvement.

Homework: October 23

Honors English 12 (G block)

• Finish reading and marking up the essay you received in class today, and use the checklist to evaluate it.
• Write a 1-2 paragraph story about the rally and/or homecoming game. Within it, use all five of our current vocabulary words. Keep VOICE in mind...establish an interesting one.

English 11 (A block)

• You have a first draft of your essay due on Monday. It can be fully typed, partially typed/partially handwritten, or entirely handwritten. All that matters is that it's done! Use your organizers to help you with directions.

Honors English 11 (B block)

• You finished your essay. Hooray for you! You must be as happy as this dog:

• Over the weekend, read your IR book and study your vocabulary.

Homework: October 22

Honors English 11 (B block)

• Work on your essay! It's due tomorrow, at the end of the block. You'll need to make sure it's uploaded to Google Classroom (I'll go over this tomorrow) by the end of the block. Use the checklist provided to help you do a self-edit.

English 12 (D block)

• You have TWO assignments, both due on Tuesday.
• Read 3 of the personal narratives in the packet of essays I gave you. Mark up what you like about each one, paying special attention to the VOICE of the essay (the PERSONALITY/ATTITUDE…look for ways the author shares their personality)
• Write a 1-2 paragraph response about this question:

Honors English 11 (F block)

• You finished your essay! Breathe a sigh of relief...
• Spend some time this weekend reading your book and studying your vocabulary.

Homework: October 21

English 12 (D block)

• Finish your 3-paragraph response for Pleasantville. You already wrote the summary, so now you need to write the Respond paragraph and the Connect paragraph. You have a handout (Reading Reactions) with specifics.
• Remember, part of this task is to use your new vocabulary words in your response!

Honors English 11 (F block)

• Continue to work on your essay. It's due at the END of the block tomorrow. You will have time to work on it in class.

Honors English 12 (G block)

• You're doing a "style and voice" study. You picked your favorite College Essay from the packet I gave you--the one that has the best "voice" in your opinion. You're going to look at specific words, phrases, and other choices the writer makes to establish ATTITUDE, PERSONALITY and CHARACTER. Style and voice are closely intertwined, so you may consider some stylistic choices that lead to a strong narrative voice. Write an analysis of the ways the writer establishes voice--BE SPECIFIC. Then, choose one that you don't necessarily like the voice of, and talk about why. (The writing guide is online if you want to refer to it--you can find the link from the high school website.)

English 11 (A block)

• Make flashcards for your new vocab words.
• Continue to work on your essay by EITHER:
• Completing the whole graphic organizer, 
• Or, writing a second body paragraph.

Homework: October 20

Honors English 11 (B and F blocks)

• Continue to work on your essay. Take into account the feedback you received in class today--questions about your theme idea, and suggestions/connections from your classmates. Work on developing strong, analytical paragraphs, with strong analytical CLAIMS. 
• We'll have time in class tomorrow (F block)/Thursday (B block). F block, your essays are due at the end of class on Thursday. B block, your essays are due at the end of class Friday.

Honors English 12 (G block)

• You have book club tomorrow, so complete your RR.
• Make sure you're studying vocab!

English 11 (A block)

• Complete one paragraph for your essay (OR, the first page of the writing graphic organizer). If you have questions, do your very best and we'll talk tomorrow. Don't skip it--do something!
• Remember, your CLAIM (topic statement) should relate to your THESIS (THEME idea). Your EVIDENCE should support your CLAIM, and your REASONING should explain how your EVIDENCE supports your CLAIM.

Homework: October 19

English 11 (A block)

• Complete the graphic organizer on the back of the "theme statement" page. (The four boxes.) Write down as many ideas as you can, even if you're not sure if they're correct.
• Study for your vocabulary quiz--it's tomorrow!

Honors English 11 (B block)

• Work on your Alexie essay. It'll be due on FRIDAY. We'll have some time in class over the next couple days to work, but you should also be working at home. I'm around after school on Wednesday if you need help or have questions!
• Study for your vocabulary quiz--it's tomorrow!

English 12 (D block)

• Write a summary of Pleasantville--one paragraph.
• Write your RR for Room--we have book club on Wednesday!

B block exit ticket 10/19

Homework: October 16

English 12 (D block)

• Work on your personal narrative. Use the activity we did in class today (sentences/opening line study) to help you out...model your opening sentence off of the model sentence that you like the best.
• Make sure you're reading Room--book club RRs are due on Wednesday!

Honors English 11 (F block)

• Continue to work on your essay, making sure you have a clear THEME (not just a topic). Check out this video if you need some help. By Tuesday, you should have a theme, and at least a couple of body paragraphs drafted.
• Study your vocab! You have a quiz on Tuesday. 

Honors English 12 (G block)

• Finish your literary DBQ and use the checklist to self-edit.
• Make sure you "turn it in" on Google Classroom by Tuesday. Do this by clicking into the assignment on Google Classroom, choosing the document (you may need to "Add" the right assignment if it's in Google Docs--you'll do this using the "Add" option), and clicking the blue "Turn In" button. Stop by Monday afternoon if you have questions.
• Read Room--you have an RR due Wednesday.

Homework: October 15

Honors English 11 (B and F block)

• Continue to work on your Alexie essay. Remember the goal is to develop a theme idea, then look at the ways he develops the idea.

Honors English 12 (G block)

• Work on your Intro texts "DBQ"--it's in your Google classroom account. We'll have some time to work again in class tomorrow.
• Study for your vocab quiz--it's tomorrow!

English 11 (A block)

• Complete the front side of the blue graphic organizer (you don't need to do the last question...)

Homework: October 9

Honors English 11 (B and F block)

• You're starting to work on your essay! We'll do more work next class. Over the weekend, you should do the following:
• Map out your initial ideas about a topic you'd like to explore.
• Develop a WORKING thesis statement. Remember, it might grow and change. 
• Do some writing and/or planning based on your working thesis statement. Remember that your goal is going to be to discuss the WHAT (theme), and the HOW (strategies that Alexie uses). You should spend about 30 minutes, at least, getting started. Bring all your work with you to class on Thursday so we can keep working.
• I've posted pictures of my initial work in class. Remember, it's just the beginning, and it's messy! (The good kind...the thinking kind...) I'll continue to develop and refine these ideas.

Honors English 12 (G block)

• Write a response to the statement here:
  
• Start brainstorming/mapping out connections between and among our three major texts, Room, "St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves" and Pleasantville.

English 11 (A block)

• Use the organizer provided in class to map out connections--look for specific details in our Sherman Alexie texts that fit each motif on the organizer. 
• You folks had a great analytical discussion today in class. Below are pictures of the notes.
  
  

Homework: October 8

Honors English 12 (G block)

• Write a one-pager for Pleasantville.
• If you want me to look at your personal narrative/college essay this weekend, give it to me tomorrow!

English 11 (A block)

• Write a 3-paragraph response to Smoke Signals, using the handout for Reading Responses. Remember, we started writing some bullet points in class today. Make sure you consider the important events and moments from the story, and tell them in order for your summary.

Honors English 11 (B block)

• Complete the Seminar Reflection handout. You should write about any/all seminars--the one you participated in and the one you watched.
• Tomorrow we'll do some writing in class. You'll pick a motif you're interested in, and you'll examine it through a number of Alexie texts. Be thinking about what you'd like to write about--it could be one of the three topics we discussed today, or one you choose.

English 12 (D block)

• Study your vocabulary--you have a quiz next Friday! 
• Work on your narrative essay assignment.

Homework: October 7

Honors English 11 (B block)

• Tomorrow in class we'll have a Socratic Seminar. To prepare, map out your thoughts on these MOTIFS: comfort, confinement, heroism/heroes. Remember that you should be looking for specific details, and important big ideas that connect these topics.

English 12 (D block)

• Complete the Prewriting handout you were given in class.
• Make sure you're reading Room!
• Study your vocab!

Honors English 11 (F block)

• Complete the seminar reflection handout.
• On Friday, in class, you'll write! Prepare yourself by identifying a motif you'll explore. Be ready to trace it through at least 3 Alexie texts. You should bring all texts and prep work with you. You can write about one of the ones we discussed today, or another.

Homework: October 6

English 12 (D block)

• Start working on your personal essay assignment--do some "I remember..." freewrites, like you did in class today.
• Study vocabulary and read Room.

Honors English 11 (F block)

• Complete a web/mind map to track the motifs of COMFORT and CONFINEMENT in Alexie's texts. Tomorrow, we'll do a seminar discussion where you'll be responsible for examining one of those ideas.

Honors English 12 (G block)

• Bring a draft of a personal essay to class on Thursday for peer review.
• Read Room and study your vocabulary.

English 11 (A block)

• Make flashcards for your new vocabulary words and start studying!
• Read your independent reading book.

Homework: October 5

Honors English 11 (F block)

• Make a web or organizer in which you identify at least 5 motifs in Sherman Alexie's work, and make notes about how that motif is developed in at least 3 texts for each. This is preparation for some in-class writing you'll do on Wednesday.
• Study your vocab and read your IR book!

Honors English 12 (G block)

• We'll start next class with book club. If you haven't completed your RR, do so!
• Work on your college essay/personal narrative draft. We'll have some time to discuss and peer-review on Thursday. Your essay is due to me either on Friday the 9th or Thursday the 15th--check in with me if you need further clarification.
• Study your vocab and read your IR book!

English 11 (A block)

• Study your vocabulary!
• Complete the back page of your Smoke Signals handout.

Honors English 11 (B block)

• Write your one pager! Use the handout for instructions. We'll discuss them in class next time, but we won't read them out loud.
• Study your vocab and read your IR book!

Homework: October 2

English 11 (A block)

• You're going to fill out part of the Smoke Signals organizer. Please complete: 
• the first page 
• the second page
• Remember, the chart works across. Somebody Wanted But So...
• (Ex. Ms. McMaster wanted to get ice cream but she had to work. So, she was very sad all day long, and left school as soon as the bell rang to head to New City.)
• at least one action and analysis per character on the third page.
• Study your vocabulary. We'll have our quiz on Tuesday next week.

Honors English 11 (B block)

• If you didn't finish watching Smoke Signals, do that! It's on Netflix.
• Complete the handout called "Reading Notes," modifying as necessary for film. (Meaning, I don't expect quotations, just specific events, etc.)
• Remember, you don't have to do a ton with the first section (reader response) and the second section (summarizing). Your focus should be on the third section, called "ANALYZING."
• You have a vocab quiz on Monday...use your old quiz to help you study for the new one!

English 12 (D block)

• Book club prep.
• Make sure you're studying that vocab!

Homework: October 1

English 12 (D block)

• Finish watching the "St. Lucy's" film...there's about 5 minutes left.
• Then, write a thorough and thoughtful comparative paragraph, in which you focus on one of these four topics--the nuns, clothes/shoes, Jeanette, or Mirabella--and compare/contrast its portrayal in the film and in the story text. Make sure you include specific details from both the story and the film.
• Start studying that new vocabulary!

St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves from house of dÜrt on Vimeo.

Honors English 11 (F block)

• Write your one pager for Smoke Signals.
• Study vocabulary--you have a quiz on Monday!

Honors English 12 (G block)

• Make sure you're drafting your personal narrative/college essay.
• You have book club next class, so prepare for it by writing your RR.

Homework: September 30

Honors English 12 (G block)

• You have a vocabulary quiz tomorrow! Study for it!
• Make sure you've read the college essay models I gave you. And, be working on your own essay!

English 11 (A block)

• Make sure you finish any of the vocabulary organizers that you didn't complete in class. And study those words!

Honors English 11 (B block)

• We've watched the first hour of Smoke Signals--we'll finish next class. For homework, write a 3-2-1 response.
• 3 observations--be detailed, and go beyond the obvious! Look for things that are unique, compelling, and interesting.
• 2 connections--explain two connections between this film and other texts. Again, go beyond the obvious!
• 1 question--this can be clarifying or discussion in nature.

Homework: September 29

Honors English 11 (B block and F block)

• Finish reading Black Elk Speaks. Mark up for main idea and supporting details, as well as for Questions, Observations, and Connections.
• Study your vocabulary!

English 12 (D block)

• You have a quiz next class (Day 7!). Make sure you study, keeping in mind that you'll be asked to use the words in sentences, to compare them to other words, and to connect them to texts we've studied. Remember, too, that old friends (i.e. last week's words) might reappear!
• Part of your studying, and your homework assignment, is to choose the vocabulary organizer that worked the best for you in class today, recreate it in your journal (twice!), and complete it for the remaining two words that we didn't cover in class today (infrastructure and reciprocal). 

Homework: September 28

English 12 (D block)

** A reminder: Many of you were unprepared for class today, and you need to work on being ready to go! We went over a reading schedule for our next book club, to help make sure you're prepared. Make sure you set yourself a schedule and stick to it.**

• Tonight, you should finish the front side of the Close Reading Organizer, filling it out about a quotation from Room. Then, complete the back side, with a quotation and response regarding "St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves."
• Read Room to prepare for the next book club.
• Study your vocabulary!

Honors English 11 (F block)

• You should be reading the excerpts from Black Elk Speaks. 
• Study for your next vocabulary quiz.

Honors English 12 (G block)

• Read over the college essays I gave you, marking a couple of things you like about each.
• Study your vocabulary.
• Read Room to prepare for the next book club. 

English 11 (A block)

• Make a list of as many connections as you can find between/among:
• Smoke Signals (the first 10 minutes or so)
• True Diary
• "Reservation Mathematics"
• "Superman and Me"
• Study your vocabulary!

Homework: September 25

Honors English 11 (F and B blocks)

• Work on reading "Black Elk"--mark it up to identify main ideas and important details, as well as Observations, Questions and Connections. (Due Wed. for B block, Thurs. for F block.)
• Start studying your new vocabulary. And don't forget the ones you were quizzed on today--they'll be with you all year!

Honors English 12 (G block)

• Book club is Monday--make sure you complete your RR before you arrive to class. 
• Take some time to read over the college essay packet I gave you today--make notes of what what you like and what works. These essays come from the websites of a couple of different schools, Johns Hopkins and Connecticut College. They're real essays that the admissions office has chosen as models. Notice what each says, and how it says it! (We won't have time to talk about these on Monday, so no rush...
• Make sure you're studying your vocab! 
• (Just FYI: We'll do book club and then another Student-led discussion on Monday, and we'll start Pleasantville on Wednesday! Hooray!)

English 11 (A block)

• Go over your new vocabulary words. Fill out the yellow sheet, and make flashcards. (Add your new flashcards to the pile you started last time...remember to keep studying old words as well as new!)
• Read your IR book!

Homework: September 24

English 11 (A block)

• Complete the handout for "Reservation Mathematics." Remember, some of the "topics" we talked about for Step 2 included PAIN and ANGER. You can talk about one of those if you want. For Step 3, you're choosing ONE topic, and asking what the poem tells us about that topic. So, you might start by saying "The poem shows that anger is a very physical emotion. It shows this by..." (and then you add in some details). Then you could say, "Pain is also..." to keep going.
• You have a vocabulary quiz tomorrow. We know you just can't wait! Make sure you study study study.

Honors English 11 (B block)

• You have a vocab quiz tomorrow. We'll also start watching Smoke Signals tomorrow, I hope!
• I gave you a reading called "excerpts from Black Elk Speaks." So, read it and mark it up! You don't need to have it completed until next Wednesday. We'll talk more about the context here, but remember that overall, we're looking at how different pieces of literature help us understand the Native American experience. This text is Black Elk's story, told to John Neihardt starting around 1930, on the Pine Ridge Reservation. You can find more information here. 

English 12 (D block)

• Prepare for book club: Write your READER RESPONSE. Remember, you MUST have your RR with you when you arrive in class, in order to participate in book club. (See the handout with directions for more information.)
• If you need to finish reading "St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves" and complete your 3-paragraph response, make sure you do it!

Homework: September 23

English 12 (D block)

• Remember your quiz is tomorrow! Study that vocab!
• Make sure you're reading Room! You'll have your next book club on Monday, and you'll need to write your RR before you come into class this time around.

Honors English 11 (F block)

• Study your vocabulary and read your IR book.

Honors English 12 (G block)

• Sorry about the technical glitches today--I know you're all anxious to see the film! Here's your assignment: Watch the film version of “St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves.” Take notes as you do, and write a 1-2 paragraph response: What does it say, how does it say it, and how does it relate to the printed text?

St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves from house of dÜrt on Vimeo.

Homework: September 22

Honors English 11 (F block)

• Complete your 3-paragraph response to "In the Shadow of Wounded Knee" using the guidelines from the handout.
• Make sure you're studying your vocabulary!
• Here's the link to CBS Sunday Morning's recent piece on water issues on the Navajo Nation. Check it out!

Honors English 12 (G block)

• We have a bunch of things coming up! Make sure your one pager is all done, and make sure you're ready to possibly read it out loud as part of our student-led discussion tomorrow.
• Make sure you're ready for your vocabulary quiz. It's happening tomorrow!

English 11 (A block)

• Study your vocabulary, and read your IR book.

Honors English 11 (B block)

• Study your vocabulary, and read your IR book. 
• Here's the link to CBS Sunday Morning's recent piece on water issues on the Navajo Nation. Check it out if you're interested!

Homework: September 21

Honors English 12 (G block)

(Note: We'll have a guidance meeting during class tomorrow, so work on all of the stuff below for Wednesday...)

• Write your one pager for "St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves."
• You have a vocab quiz on Wednesday. It will also cover course content, stories, etc.
• Write a final draft of your "On Turning Eighteen" poem.
• Continue to read Room--"Unlying"--and make sure your RR is ready to go for the next meeting.

English 11 (A block)

• Complete your 3-paragraph response for the Children of the Plains documentary. You can find it linked here if you need to rewatch parts. Below are the intro we wrote in class and the notes regarding names and observations from the board.
• Make sure you're studying your vocabulary--quiz is Friday!
  

Honors English 11 (B block)

• Finish reading "In the Shadow of Wounded Knee" and write a 3-paragraph response using the guidelines on the handout.
• Make sure you're studying your vocabulary.

English 12 (D block)

• Finish reading "St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves" and write a 3-paragraph response using the guidelines on the handout.
• Make sure you're studying vocabulary--quiz is on Thursday this week because we have a guidance meeting Wednesday.
• Continue to read Room--"Unlying."

Homework: September 18

Honors English 11 (B block)

• Read and mark up the first half of the article "In the Shadow of Wounded Knee." Mark your Questions, Observations and Connections. As you read, identify the article's main idea(s) and significant supporting details. The text is also available online here, and you'll find links to photos and audio from the reservation.
• Study vocabulary and read your independent reading book!

English 12 (D block)

• Start reading "St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves"--you should read Stage 1 and Stage 2 (to the bottom of page 235). Mark up your observations, questions and connections, as directed on the front of the story.
• Create a draft of your "On Turning Eighteen" poem.
• Study vocabulary!

Honors English 11 (F block)

• If you need to add to/redo that was due today, do that!
• Read and mark up the first half of the article "In the Shadow of Wounded Knee." Mark your Questions, Observations and Connections. As you read, identify the article's main idea(s) and significant supporting details. The text is also available online here, and you'll find links to photos and audio from the reservation.
• Study vocabulary and read your independent reading book!

Homework: September 17

English 12 (D block)

• Make notes/draft for “On Turning Eighteen” poem.
• Start reading the second section of Room ("Unlying").
• Study vocab.

Honors English 11 (F block)

• Choose ONE element of your group work map from today. (a theme/motif or element of style)
• Find 3 quotations (one quotation from three different texts, for a total of three) that address the element you've chosen. (So, if you choose basketball, find three different passages where basketball is significant.)
• Analyze each quotation, addressing its connection to the element you've chosen. (Ex. HOW does it address basketball [or humor, or family]? What language does it use?)
• Make sure you're studying your vocab and reading your IR book!

Honors English 12 (G block)

• Draft of "On Turning Eighteen" poem for Monday.
• Read and mark up "St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves" and be ready to discuss on Monday.
• Study vocabulary.
• Start reading the second section of Room ("Unlying").

English 11 (A block)

• Write a response to the first part of the documentary we watched today. You should write AT LEAST 2-3 sentences FOR EACH of the prompts, below:
• "I noticed..."
• "I wonder..."
• "I think..."
• Make sure you're studying your vocabulary!

Homework: September 16

Honors English 11 (F and B blocks)

• Hey folks! We started into some really good conversations today about Sherman Alexie's work. We'll continue those discussions tomorrow.
• For homework: Complete the reading assignment called "Sherman Alexie's Many Tribes." 
• Additionally, start studying those vocabulary words!

Honors English 12 (G block)

• Due tomorrow: Complete section one of Room and write your RR. (See blue paper for instructions.)
• Tomorrow in class, we'll talk about your "On Turning Eighteen" poems.
• For Monday, read and mark up "St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves." 

English 11 (A block)

• Finish reading "Superman and Me" and answer the questions on the back.
• Start studying your vocabulary.

Homework: September 15

English 11 (A block)

• Fill in the yellow vocabulary sheet with your notes about each word, and an attempt at writing a sentence. Remember to use vocabulary.com to do this work! You can get the list here.
• Make flashcards (either on paper, or on an app like Quizlet) for these five words.

Honors English 11 (B block)

• Complete the packet called "Sherman Alexie's Many Tribes."

English 12 (D block)

• Read Room--finish section 1 for Thursday, and be ready to discuss with your group.
• Start a draft of your own version of "On Turning Ten"--yours will be "On Turning Eighteen." Draft is due on Friday.

Homework: September 14

English 12 (D block)

• Read Room--first section due Thursday.
• Study your vocabulary! First test next Thursday.

Honors English 11 (F block)

• Check Friday's post!

Honors English 12 (G block)

• Read the rest of the packet of readings I gave out in class (starts with "The Journey")--note observations, questions and connections. Be ready to talk on Wednesday.
• For Thursday, you're going to be a poet. Using Billy Collins's poem "On Turning Ten" as a model, you're going to write a  poem called "On Turning Eighteen." Start thinking it through, be ready to ask questions on Wednesday, and be ready with a draft on Thursday.
• For Thursday, you should complete section 1 of Room and write a RR. (See blue sheet for instructions.)

Homework: September 11

Honors English 11 (F block)

• Complete the "Sherman Alexie's Many Tribes" reading assignment--due Wednesday.
• Be ready to write about summer reading on Monday!

Honors English 12 (G block)

• Read Room. Book clubs will meet on Thursday next week, and will cover the first section of the book.
• Revisit your vignette. Ask yourself the following questions:
• What does this vignette show about the topic I've chosen, and what does it show about me? (Consider our discussion about "The Earl of Tennessee," where we discussed how the author tells a lot about Earl, and we also learn about the narrator.)
• Revise your vignette, considering--what do you want it to show about your topic and about you? And, pick a couple of sentences from Cisneros that you love, and use them as models for some sentences of your own in your revision.

English 11 (A block)

• Spend at least 10 minutes reading your independent reading book.
• Spend at least 5 minutes writing a response to your IR book. You can use prompts like "I think..." "I notice..." "I wonder..."

Honors English 11 (B block)

• Check yesterday's post!

Homework: September 10

Honors English 12 (G block)

• Today you wrote about your summer reading book. Tomorrow, we'll talk about vignettes!

English 11 (A block)

• Be ready to write about your summer reading. And, make sure you get a composition book if you don't already have one!

Honors English 11 (B block)

• Be ready to write about summer reading tomorrow!
• For Tuesday: Give those Sherman Alexie poems a "first read"--annotate/mark up your QUESTIONS, OBSERVATIONS and CONNECTIONS.
• For Tuesday: Write a "final draft" of your story, considering the elements we discussed in class. I'll collect both your first draft and your final on Tuesday.

English 12 (D block)

• Read and mark up the packet of readings I gave you. Mark your QUESTIONS, OBSERVATIONS, and CONNECTIONS.
• Some of the readings are more challenging than others. Do your best to read and understand each one, and we'll talk in class on Monday.

Homework: September 9

Honors English 11 (B block)

• We talked the other day about qualities of a good story/storyteller. Your observations fell into three categories:
• EMOTION
• DETAILS
• AUDIENCE CONSIDERATION 
• For homework, pick one of the "events" off of your Summer Vacation A-Z brainstorming sheet, and write it up. Tell that story! A page or two will do, probably. You should spend about 20 minutes on this.
• Make sure you're ready to write about True Diary on Friday.

English 12 (D block)

• Make sure you're ready to write about your summer reading book tomorrow. That involves reviewing characters, making sure you remember the plot line, etc.

Honors English 11 (F block)

• We talked today about qualities of a good story/storyteller. Your observations fell into three categories:
• EMOTION
• DETAILS
• AUDIENCE CONSIDERATION 
• For homework, pick one element of good storytelling that you think your story draft is lacking. Revise, keeping that element in mind. On Friday, you'll bring your original draft, your notes from Wednesday, and your final draft to class, and you'll pass them all in.
• Also for homework, give the Sherman Alexie poems a first read. ANNOTATE (by writing notes in the margins) your observations, questions and connections. (Specifically, if lines in the poem remind you of True Diary, make note of how.)
• Make sure you're ready to write about True Diary on Monday.

Homework: September 8

English 12 (D block)

• Get your syllabus signed, and your intro letter completed. Get a composition book. (Ms. McMahon checked at the dollar store and said there are tons!)
• You have a choice for HW tonight. (Whichever you don't do tonight, you'll do tomorrow to start class.) Either:
• Write a first draft of a vignette (short little "snapshot" story, about 4-6 paragraphs), based on one of your neighborhood stories; OR
• Read AND MARK UP the three stories I gave you in class (they're examples of vignettes). Look at WHAT the author is saying, and HOW she is saying it.  

Honors English 11 (F block)

• Get your syllabus signed, and your intro letter completed. Get a composition book.
• Pick one of the stories from your "What I Did Over Summer Vacation" handout, and write it up!

Honors English 12 (G block)

• Get your syllabus signed, and your intro letter completed. Get a composition book.
• Be prepared to write about your summer reading books in class on Thursday.
• Read the three vignettes I gave you, marking them up to notice WHAT the author is saying, and HOW she is saying it.
• Write your own vignette about an aspect of your neighborhood--a person, a place, an event...choose one!

English 11 (A block)

• Get your syllabus signed, and your intro letter completed. Get a composition book.
• Write up a story about one of the events on your "What I Did on My Summer Vacation" handout. It should be about a page long. Remember what we discussed about qualities of "good stories"!

Independent reading--juniors and seniors, respond to this one!

So, you're back in the swing of things at school! That means that you're looking for an independent reading book, or you've just started a new one. Hopefully you're enjoying it!

Your assignment: In a comment on this post, please write a response that's at least 4 sentences. In this response, share:

• The title and author of the book you're currently reading for independent reading (or, one you've read recently if you're involved in book club right now!)
• How/why you chose the book you did.
• A really quick overview of the book so far. 
• Your opinion so far--what do you think about it? Does it remind you of any other books you've read?

I'll start here:

At the end of last year, I started reading a book called The Secret Side of Empty by Maria Andreau. I saw this book displayed in a bookstore--it was a bit of a "judging the book by its cover" situation, but in a good way. I checked reviews online and they looked good, so I went for it. It's about a girl named MT who's starting her senior year in high school. Her family immigrated to the US from Argentina when MT was a baby, So far, the narrative voice is really compelling, as is the dynamic that's established between MT and her friends. MT is a really interesting character with a very important story. It's a great read!

Homework: September 3

All classes: Don't forget to acquire your school supplies! You should arrive to school next week with a composition book, writing utensils, a binder/folder, and some paper!

Honors English 11 (F block)

• Print out your Letter to Next Year's Teacher/intro letter assignment and bring in on Tuesday.
• Start looking over the syllabus--be ready to ask questions on Tuesday.
• Hold on to that Summer Vacation A-Z handout--add to it if you think of things.
• You will write about your summer reading book, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian in class on Friday, September 11.

Honors English 12 (G block)

• It was great to see you all today for about 10 minutes--sorry we didn't get to color in class! You'll have to do that over the weekend. The instructions are below. Have fun coloring, and remember that this will be an important foundation for us to talk about your experience of "coming-of-age." Make sure you create a map of some sort--don't just draw your house! Label things, like "the tree I fell out of when I was 9" and  "my babysitter's house." If you grew up in two neighborhoods, draw both. Or pick one. If you have questions or concerns, shoot me an email.
  
• Print out your Letter to Next Year's Teacher/intro letter.
• Look over the syllabus.
• Be prepared to write about your summer reading books on Thursday, September 10.

English 11 (A block)

• Finish your intro letter.
• Have folks at home look over your syllabus, and sign off on that last page.
• Think about books you'd like to read for independent reading.
• Be prepared to write about your summer reading book, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian, on Friday, September 11.

Honors English 11 (B block)

• Finish your intro letter.
• Have folks at home look over your syllabus, and sign off on that last page.
• Do some "research" about potential independent reading books. (Instructions on blue IR handout.)
• Be prepared to write about your summer reading book, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian, on Friday, September 11.

Homework: September 2

English 11 (A block)

• Work on your letter to next year's teacher/introduction letter. Remember, you have a handout with directions.
• Start looking over the course syllabus.

Honors English 11 (B block)

• Work on your letter to next year's teacher/introduction letter. Remember, you have a handout with directions.
• Start looking over the course syllabus.

English 12 (D block)

• Work on your letter to next year's teacher/introduction letter. Remember, you have a handout with directions.
• Start looking over the course syllabus.

Welcome back!

Hope you're all ready for a great school year! 

Homework: June 17--FINALS PREP

English 11 (A and G blocks)

• Work on your portfolios. A block, yours is due THURSDAY at 7:30. G block, yours is due FRIDAY by noon.
• Prepare for your final exam. Here's the information on the exam:
• As you know, THESE ARE OUR COURSE ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
•  What is the power of the individual voice to make change?
• What roles do stories play in our lives?
• What is the story and who gets to tell it?
• How have stories made us who we are?
• How do the stories we tell and the language we use define who we are and how we think?
• To prepare for your final, revisit the major texts we’ve studied this year. They are:
• Sherman Alexie: True Diary (novel), Smoke Signals (film)
•  Tim Burton: Big Fish (film)
•  Tim O’Brien: The Things They Carried (novel)
• Sebastian Junger: Restrepo (film)
• Sarah Koenig: Serial (podcast)
•  F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby (novel)
• Shakespeare: Twelfth Night (play)
• Additionally, make a list of independent reading books you read! Next, start thinking about those essential questions and those texts, as well as common themes/motifs we’ve studied this year. Really think through the messages these texts share, and the strategies they use to share those messages.
• In class, for your final, you will be asked to write an essay. I’m not going to give you the exact prompt ahead of time, but it is directly connected to the essential questions. You will use at least three class texts, and maybe even independent reading books, to answer the prompt. You’ll need to use specific details!

Honors English 11 (C block)

• Complete your portfolio.
• Complete your "This I Believe" essay and be ready to read it aloud Friday morning in class! Make sure you're on time...7:30!

Creative Writing II (F block)

• Work on your writing portfolio. You'll have time in class on Monday to finish it up.