November 1-November 4- -Have a Blessed week!

November, November, November, 

I hope you all are ready and excited about getting into quarter 2.  Quarter 1 flew by in the blink of an eye.  Please remember that we are going to be working even harder than we worked in quarter 1.   You will have homework most nights.  Some extra credit opportunities will come along at some point during the marking period.  Please remember that "dessert" is only for those who have attempted all of their regular assignments. 

Please note that these are the assignments for 5th period only. My other classes will appear further down the blog, so keep going...

Tuesday

                                                      5^th period ONLY

Tears of A Tiger is your Independent reading piece.  I expect you to read every single night.  The novel should be finished by November 10.  Assignments will be assigned for TOAT, AND your reading quizzes will come from your assigned readings.  Pgs 61-120 are due Tuesday, November 8. 

1.     What issues are beginning to emerge in the reading, Tears of a Tiger?

2.    List and discuss issues like:  depressions, underage drinking, guilt, fear, physical and mental pain

3.  What are some pros and cons to the novel so far?

4.    Read a nonfiction article “History of Hip Hop” 

Hw:  Tiered assignment due Thursday; “History of Hip Hop” due tomorrow

 Wednesday

1.     Agree/Disagree Disagree/Strongly disagree (15 minutes)

2.    Memoirs (Define the term in notebook)

personal narratives (characteristics)

3.    Read some biographical incidents together, aloud

4.    On chart paper, we will look at similarities and differences that each memoirist used to maintain the interest of the readers

5.    Add attributes of a good story to our chart

6.  Reflection on quarter 1 (Due tomorrow)

Hw:   Tiered assignment due Thursday; Read in TOAT pages 61-90 by Friday.  Think about an incident from your own life that could be used for a memoir or a biographical incident; reread pages 33-34 in TOAT

Thursday

1.     Tiered assignment due today     

Personal Essay vs Personal memoir (While the personal essay can be about almost anything, the memoir tends to discuss past events. Memoir is similar to the personal essay, except that the memoir tends to focus more on striking or life-changing events)

2.    Define "Profound"
Explain the 6 word memoir " Nothing profound, I just sat around."
Ernest Hemingway wrote the shortest short story in a bar, on a dare, that looked like this:

For Sale: Baby Shoes, Never Worn

3.    Practice with 6 word memoirs

Student Examples

I only live to impress girls

Make believe is still my game

Waiting for my chance to explore

4.    How would you change the world if you could change it?

5.    Memoirs are moments of an author's life that illuminated something, brought to the foreground what was hidden in the recesses of the author's mind, raises consciousness.

6.    Think of experiences  you had that shed light on an idea.  Discussion topics for Gerald’s essay:  consider why Gerald included particular events and details, what those details suggest.

Hw:  finish 6 word memoir with pictures and color

Friday

1.    Frederick Douglass's Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

2.   Begin writing rough draft for personal memoirs (1 page memoir) about an experience where a major lesson plays a role.

Hw:  61-120

November 15, Independent Reading assignment due

We will begin "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "Othello" after we've completed The Giver. These two plays will be read during the month of December.  Please go ahead and make plans to reserve them.  Check Ligon's library first.

Periods 2, 4, 6, and 7

Tuesday

November 1

Tuesday

Class time:

Tiered assignment- -due Thursday

Euphemisms  (The author creates a very unique world by having the characters use words in a very unique way.  As you read, make mental notes about how the characters use words to distance themselves from reality.  Use a “nice” word to say something…)

"detention" might be "mandatory after-school behavioral modification

George Carlin Euphemism

Check I.R. book signatures

Hw:  Euphemisms (as you read, make mental notes); Read Chapters 1-5 by Friday; you may bring in your comfort object if you wish; Tiered assignment Thursday

November 2

Wednesday

Euphemism (think pair share)

1.lying on a resume

2. cheating on a test

4. cheating the IRS

5. death penalty

6. failing to graduate from high school

7. flunking out of college

8. divorce

9. shoplifting

Euthanasia

Predetermined job slips

Song 2112 by Rush

Hw:  Tiered assignment; I. R. one pager (Nov 15)

Thursday

 Memoir Introduction

Nonfiction articles

Agree/ strongly agree disagree/strongly disagree

Hw:  Read in novels; I.R. one pager (Nov 15)

Friday

1.     Define Memoir

2.    The Giver reading quiz/discussion

3.    Define "Profound"
Explain the 6 word memoir " Nothing profound, I just sat around."
Ernest Hemingway wrote the shortest short story in a bar, on a dare, that looked like this:

For Sale: Baby Shoes, Never Worn

4.     Read Frederick Douglass excerpt from his memoir

Hw:  6 word memoir; Pose 10 Blooms Taxonomy questions from F.D. reading

October 24-October 28

On Hallowe’en the thing
you must do
Is pretend that nothing
can frighten you
An’ if something scares you
and you want to run
Jus’ let on like
it’s Hallowe’en fun.
~from an early nineteenth century Halloween postcard

Howdy!

I hope you are excited to start another wonderful week at Ligon!  We have around 140 days of school left but again, who is counting...

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle said, “Where there is no imagination there is no horror.”

Smiles,

 Mrs. Greene

                          Period 5

We will get our first I.R (independent reading) novel on Tuesday.  It is called Tears of a Tiger.    It will be mostly read outside of class.  Please make sure you are reading the assigned chapters.  If you want to bring a treat to share with your classmates on Friday, then you are certainly allowed to do so!

Monday

October 24, 2011

Class time:

The Door Slammed pass around

Poe nonfiction article  (use SOAPSTONE!) (use the article below for tonight's SOAPSTONE!)
http://labyrinth13.com/Poe_Toaster.htm

Read about the mysterious fan of Poe who for sixty years celebrated Poe's death by performing the same ritual.  Then, suddenly in 2010, the ritual stopped.  Make inferences about why the ritual is "nevermore."

“The Tell-tale Heart” (audio)

See “The Tell-tale Heart” video 10 minutes

Put the narrator on trial:  you are to be the prosecutor or defense attorney for the narrator in the story.   If you are the prosecutor, then you must argue that the narrator isn’t insane, providing evidence from the text to support your position.  If you choose to be a defense attorney, then you must argue that the narrator  is insane, providing evidence from the text to support your argument.  For both sides of the argument, include a list of witnesses if available to support your argument.  Then, you must decide on a punishment for the narrator’s crimes. 

Hw:  Finish your argument for insanity or sanity (1 PAGE minimum); see handout; Halloween short story due Thursday

Tuesday

Class time:

-The Door Slammed pass around

-media center to get Tears of a Tiger, I.R. novel

-Assignment for Wednesday’s Mock trial

“The Black Cat”

Mock Trial for the narrator format

1. 15 minutes: Prosecution: presentation of arguments and witnesses (What happened, when it happened, and who was responsible)
2. 15 minutes: Defense: presentation of arguments and witnesses
3. 5 minutes: Prosecution: cross-examination of defense witnesses or return to prosecution witnesses for rebuttal
4. 5 minutes: Defense: cross-examination of prosecution witnesses or return to defense witnesses for rebuttal
5. 10 minutes: jury: open discussion among jurors with the option of questioning anyone from the defense or the prosecution

Hw:  prepare for Wednesday’s trial;   Halloween short story due Thursday; I.R. novel chapters 1-5 due 

Tuesday, November 1st

 

Wednesday

Class Time:

The Door Slammed pass around
"The Tell-tale Artichoke"
http://pbskids.org/video/index.html?category=Martha Speaks&pid=VMwvIwCRYjUQby9gutXen_h4gpCVNOMB


Mock Trial

Hw:  Trial reflection (What went well?  What good points did the opposing side make?  What is your final opinion:  Was the narrator insane or not?)  ;  Poe fill in the blank and "The Murders in the Rue Morgue"

Thursday

Class Time:

Halloween stories due TODAY

Collect homework:  Poe fill-in-the-blank; and typed/handwritten reflection

Computer lab:

Rewrite “The Black Cat” from the cat’s point of view (250 words due at the end of class)

"The Black Cat" poster:  What are the dangers of having an insane owner, if you're a cat?

Hw:  Finish posters to be displayed outside on walls in hallway.

Friday

Scary stories share!
"The Babysitter"

N.C. ghost stories;

Halloween treats!

*************************************

Monday- -NO SCHOOL!  HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

                       Periods 2, 4, 6, and 7

Please get a copy of The Giver by November 1.  The media center has copies but not enough for 4 language arts classes.  So, stop by there when you get a chance; they are checking them out on a first come, first serve basis.  Ms. Carley’s classes just finished The Giver.  They are starting Fahrenheit 451 next week.  This might be a good opportunity for you to get with one of her students to make a trade, until we’re done with The Giver.  We will finish our Poe stations this week.  Please make sure you are using your time wisely and not goofing off.  If I feel that you all don’t need the time that I’ve allotted to finish the stations, then adjustments will be made in our schedule.  If you want to bring a treat to share with your classmates on Friday, then you are certainly invited to do so!  You need to be looking for an I.R. reading novel.  It should fit into the science fiction and/or historical fiction genre, since those are the two that we've looked at so far this year.  Bring your self-selected novel to class with you on Tuesday, November 1st.

Monday

-Poe Learning stations
-Use this medical article to complete the SOAPSTONE tonight for homework

http://www.umm.edu/news/releases/news-releases-17.htm

There are many ideas floating around about Poe's cause of death.  See if you can solve the mystery- -okay, not really, but read another group's opinions about his cause of death.

Hw:  Poe Learning stations readings/work; Halloween story; Poe article analysis (SOAPSTONE!) due tomorrow

Tuesday

-Poe Learning stations

-Two stations due at the end of Tuesday’s class

-I.R. rubric distributed, due on Tuesday November 1st

Hw:  Halloween scary story; Find an I.R. novel; see above in yellow

Wednesday

-Poe Learning stations

-Poe musical theater (Poem performance with Poe group; 3 min max.)

Hw:  Halloween story; Learning stations; find I.R. novel; see above in yellow

Thursday

-Poe Learning stations

-Poe musical theater (remaining groups will perform 3 min max)

-Halloween story due TODAY!

Hw:  finish Poe stations work , due FRIDAY; find I.R. novel; see above in yellow          

Friday

-Final Poe work due TODAY!
-"The Babysitter" by Jane Yolen
-"A Rose for Emily" (maybe, if time allows!)

-share Halloween stories

-NC Ghost stories/haunts (Bring your favorite stories to share!)

-Halloween treats

find I.R. novel; see above in yellow; Poe Theme Analysis Essay due November 1st (This could change; stay posted!)

Monday:
NO SCHOOL!  HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Week of October 17-21

PTA REFLECTIONS CONTEST WEBSITE

http://www.ptareflections.org/cs/about_reflections


This week promises to be rewarding and challenging for all involved.  Please make sure that you are keeping up with all assigned readings this week.  You should be working on your Halloween short story nightly!  It is due 10-27-11.  Have a blessed week!

Mondayay

Periods 2, 4, 6, and 7

EOGish assessment
E.A. Poe video intro
mood/tone

Hw:  Essay due tomorrow (include outline and rubric too!); short story due 10-27; Part III F451 quiz tomorrow. EOG assessment due tomorrow if you didn't finish in class.  Bring Declaration of Independence work for SS tomorrow too!

Tuesday

·         Bring Declaration of Independence work

·         Poe Video

·         Collect essays

·         Hw:  Halloween short story;

Wednesday -Friday(2, 4, 6, and 7)

·         Learning stations begin (Students will be rotating through 5 or 6 learning stations for E.A. Poe short stories.  Daily and nightly work will be assigned and it will vary from group to group.  The rotation is independent and not teacher facilitated, though I will monitor noise levels, etc.)

·         Short stories and poems to be read (“The Mask of the Red Death,” “The Murders in the Rue Morgue,” “Hop Frog,” “The Tell-tale Heart,” “The Fall of the House of Usher” “Bells, Bells, Bells,” “The Raven,” )

Hw:  Learning station work that wasn’t completed during class- -Read the short story or poem that your group was assigned for the day; short story due 10-27; Poe Vocabulary due Friday 10-21

                                          5 period

Monday

EOGish assessment
The Pearl
E.A. POE video intro.
mood/tone

Hw:  finish the novel by Friday; Declaration of Independence work; bring colored pencils/markers;   EOG ASSESSMENT DUE TOMORROW, IF YOU DIDN'T FINISH IN CLASS.

Tuesday

·         Bring declaration of Independence work

·         Kino before/Kino After (small group work-Body Biography)

·         Poe Video

·         Poe vocabulary

                                                Wednesday-Friday

·         Work on finishing Kino before/after (due at the end of Wednesday)

·         Learning stations begin (Students will be rotating through 5 or 6 learning stations for E.A. Poe short stories.  Daily and nightly work will be assigned and it will vary from group to group.  The rotation is independent and not teacher facilitated, though I will monitor noise levels, etc.)

·         Short stories and poems to be read (“The Tell-tale Heart”  “The Black Cat” “The Raven” “The Bells” “Hop Frog” )

Hw:  Learning stations work that wasn’t completed during class.  Finish reading the story and completing the work that goes with it.  Poe Vocabulary due Friday (Write sentences using the words correctly.) short story (Halloween 10-27)

October 10-14

This promises to be a wonderful week at Ligon Middle School.  I hope you had a restful weekend!  This week we will continue our studies in our assigned novel.  We will read supplemental texts that consist of both fiction and nonfiction pieces.  You are expected to hand in assignments when they are due.  Please see me if you have concerns or need further guidance/information about my expectations.  We will continue to look at grammar and how it functions.  We will look at more dialect this week and its impact on literature.  Have a blessed week!

5^th period

You should be completing the discussion questions in your packet for each assigned reading chapter.  Come to class prepared to discuss what you've read on your own.

1.      Monday

 SOAPSTONE - -nonfiction article

2.       myth

3.       “Coyote Steals the Sun and Moon”

4.       Coyote and Eagle are far from heroic. In fact, they show some human traits that are not appealing. Can we learn anything from such characters anyway? In 1 page response, explain why we can or cannot. Give examples from the myth to support your point of view.

5.       Review the intentional names given to Kino, Coyotito, Juana, La Paz

Hw:  Written response, due Wed.  See above!  SOAPSTONE due tomorrow

Tuesday

1.      

 The Pearl PPT presentation

2.       Listen to Chapter 5

3.       Look at nonfiction articles

4.       The Pearl parables questions

Hw:  Read chapters 4 and 5 by Friday; Coyote Steals the Sun and Moon Response; myth outline due Thursday (If it isn't neatly written out, then you will not participate during computer time.  You'll spend your time writing our outline.)

Wednesday

1.      

Collect homework

2.       “Why Waves Have White Caps” myth

3.       Modernizing a parable rough draft:

Write your own parable or myth.   Either select and modernize an adventure from The Pearl, or create one of your own.   Remember also that parables are told to teach truth or moral lessons.  Determine what lessons you will highlight and how the lesson will be emphasized.  Your parable must represent one of the seven deadly sins.  A myth is a made-up story that explains the existence of a natural phenomenon — such as where thunder comes from or why snow falls from the sky.  Some other examples are:  How the lion became the king of the jungle or How Zebras got black stripes.

Hw:  for myths:  Write a brainstorm “draft:”  Who are the characters, describe the setting, what is the conflict, how is the conflict resolved?; For parables:  Yours should make people understand why things should be done a certain way.  For instance, if you’re lazy in school, then your parable could be about a lazy student and a diligent one.  Later in life, the more dedicated student becomes more successful than the other one.

Thursday

Computer lab; working on myth or parable

Hw:  Read ; packet questions

Friday

Computer lab working on myth or parable

Parables/myths are due at the end of class

 Hw:  Read; packet questions

Periods 2, 4, 6, and 7

Homework is light this week because I want to give you time to finish the novel, which must be completed by Friday.  Please don't take advantage!  If I suspect that you aren't using that time to read, then I will assign additional writing pieces to encourage you to stay on track.

According to statistics, by age 65, a person will have spent 9 years of his life watch t.v.!  Is this alarming to you?  A recent study that came out of California (UCLA) found that on average people between 15 years old and 24 years old read on average 10 minutes per day for please.  The same group of t.v. watchers watch an average of 2-2.5 hours of t.v. a day. 

1.     

Monday

 In today’s world, what would the world be like without books?  Would it matter?

2.       How does Montag take steps away from conformity? Who has he established an alliance with?  Is there any anxiety stirred up in the reader while reading part II?  What is the meaning behind the section’s title?

3.       Bright Phoenix intro PPT

4.       Kanye West allusions in his rap song

Hw:  Finish Part III of the novel. 

Tuesday

1.        Reading quiz Part II of F451

2.       Finish reading “Bright Phoenix”

ALLUSIONS part II due Friday.

Hw:  Finish reading part III; Allusions part II due Friday; Bring colored pencils/markers

Wednesday

1.      

 Read excerpt from an essay:  F451 and dystopian tradition

2.       Respond to it individually; then share in small groups

3.       Montag before/Montag after  (draw him)

Hw:  Finish the novel; BODY BIOGRAPHY

Thursday

1.      

 Finish Montag sketch in groups  (Share Friday)

Hw:  Found Poem  due Monday;  

1.        Share sketches

2.       Discus part III
          Dystopia Tradition
         Essay assigned:  due Monday ?

Hw:  Found poem due Monday

October 3-7 (Friday is early release!)

I hope you are keeping up with your assigned readings.  The October calendar will be distributed tomorrow.  Interims are due tomorrow.  Please make sure you are completing a "Permission to Miss Class" form if you are missing class due to a school related event, i.e. field trip; Encore setup, etc.  Friday is an early release day.  Have a blessed week!

PERIODS 2, 4, 6, AND 7

Monday

1.        Reading quiz on part I of F451

2.       Discuss text

3.  GO OVER EOG practice from last week

4.  Discuss “There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury

Hw:    “There Will Come Soft Rains” writing, due Wednesday; Part II F451 due 10/10

Tuesday

1.        Allusions in Part I of the text-Friday(mini-project) introduced and assigned

2.       Template for Allusions mini-project will be presented

3.       crossword puzzle on part I, due Wednesday.
4.  EXTRA CREDIT ALERT:  physically design your own house of the future.  What services will it provide?  What things will you continue to do for yourself?  Due October 17 OPTIONAL, of course!

Hw:  mini-essay due Wednesday; vocabulary quiz on Wed.; puzzle; Allusions mini-project due Friday

Wednesday

1.        Collect homework

2.       Vocabulary quiz

3.       Dialect/poetry(Paul Laurence Dunbar- -"We Wear the Mask")
What mask are we wearing?

4.       How would the characters that you’ve met so far react to the dialect used in the poem?
5.  "Unintended Consequence" John Stossel  ("There oughta be a law" response sometimes only adds to the problem)

Hw:  Calvin and Hobbs allusion and Camel Ad allusions.  Write a response

Thursday

1.          Discuss responses to allusion homework “Calvin and Hobbs”

2.  Share Homework/collect homework
3.       EOG style diagnostic

4.       “Bright Phoenix” by Ray Bradbury

Hw:  finish short story; Finish part II over weekend

Friday

early Release

1.         Discuss text “Bright Phoenix” 

2.      Venn Diagram, comparing the short stories read by Ray Bradbury

3.      Allusions project due; volunteers share

Hw: Part II due Monday;

5th period

Visual Journal- -The Pearl is a very visual novel.  Several times throughout the reading, I will ask you to complete a visual journal of what you’ve read.  Your visual representation should represent what you have learned in the assigned pages of reading.  You should create a combination of words, sentences, reflections, pictures, drawings, and/or summaries.  Make sure your journal is neat and clearly communicates what you learned in the assigned pages. 

Monday

1.       Warm up quiz chapter 1 The Pearl

2.      go over Chapter 1 vocabulary (Wednesday, vocabulary quiz)

3.      The song of the family/the song of the evil  (typed, neat, finalized copy of your song lyrics- -practice because you’re going to sing/perform them on Wednesday)

Hw:  bring colored pencils/markers tomorrow; chapters 2 and 3 are due Friday, along with a Visual Journal for chapters 1-3

 d

Tuesday

1.    analogies

2.    Group Assignment: Kino and the doctor (visually contrast them)  - -appearance, lifestyle, values, culture?  "dialect"

3.    Chapter 2 due Thursday

Hw:  songs due Wednesday;  analogies:  Write 5 analogies that relate to the novel  (ex:  Kino:______

Lion: cub;  then explain the analogy- -Kino is Coyotito’s protector, just like a lion protects its cub)

Wednesday

1.     Share songs (25 minutes total of class time)

2.    Vocabulary quiz

3.    Collect homework analogies/share some aloud

4.    Introduce parable and fable  (Parables are similar to fables because they both use short stories to teach a valuable, powerful lesson.  However, fables use animals instead of humans- -Aesop’s fables- -Aesop used nonhuman characters to represent human emotions, flaws

5.    Parable about greed and evil

6.    Read some fables from your childhood

Hw:  Analyze and interpret what is being criticized and condemned in the novel so far in order to correct social attitudes, traditions, and behaviors.  Write a paragraph (5-7 sentences) about your analysis.  Then, make a prediction (in another paragraph 5-7 sentences) about what will happen in the novel.  2 paragraphs total

Extra credit:  Write a true story that describes the same social attitude, tradition, or behavior that is described in the novel.  (2 paragraphs minimum)

Thursday

1.    Review parable, fable

2.    Fables/dialect/allegory  (3 Little Pigs isn’t just about 3 little pigs)

3.    Oral Traditions in storytelling (Steinbeck, the author of The Pearl, heard the story of The Pearl while in Mexico in the 40s)

4.    Listen to:  “Brer Possum’s Dilemma” pg 959 in textbooks
5.  EOG style diagnostic
6.  End of Chapter 2: What is the role of money in your life? Does/would it solve your problems? Can it bring happiness? What negatives and positives come with instant wealth?

Hw:  Make a connection to the text.  Write about a dilemma that you’ve had in your life and how you overcame it or learned from it.

Friday

1.     Discuss the text chapters 2 and 3

2.    Myths/legends

Hw:  Read chapter 4 and 5