Thursday, December 1, 2005

Can you believe it's already December? Goodness.

Here are my sub plans; I have that lovely meeting with the district peoples.

Stu,

I really can’t thank you enough for covering these classes again. You are awesome.

Roll sheets are the same as the other day; here are the lesson objectives I’d like the kids to cover:

AP Literature, Periods 1 and 5—

I went over a lot of the Romantic poetry things yesterday; in the burgundy book on the shelf by the refrigerator, the students need to read “The Lamb” and “The Tyger” on page 789 (you might want to select a student reader to read them aloud) and then turn back to page 602 to read “The Sick Rose” and answer the three questions in small groups. There is a brief essay following the poem they may want to reference. If there is time left over, have them turn to 793 and read “Kubla Khan” by Coleridge—the poem I read to them yesterday, but in fuller form. Tell them we will finish assessing Blake’s “Chimney Sweep” on Friday when I return, and remind them that their paper on Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is due tomorrow as well.

Gifted English IV, period 2—

Watch BBC.

This class started Hamlet yesterday; we barely got through Act I, scene i. Today, have them read Act I, scene ii—they can divide up the parts—preparatory to analysis and deconstruction of the first major soliloquy tomorrow. If they get off-task, have them read silently and work through the packet I gave them yesterday. (Extra copies are in the folder.)

Gifted English II—

After the Author of the Day presentation, please distribute the Edusoft answer sheets and test booklets. The kids will know what to do. Assure them that they A) get a grade for doing this and B) are very, very appreciated for cooperating.

Also, please remind them that they are taking a teeny little quiz on Things Fall Apart tomorrow. Thanks!!!!

I am at a district-level meeting today at Jones High School and will return to campus tomorrow. Again, thanks so much for your help. If anyone gives you an ounce of trouble, let me know ASAP.

Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Today is the last day of National Novel Writing Month!!! So far at BHS we have three winners--Sarah Beehner, Sergio, and me. Yay us for writing over 150,000 words in the space of a month. Hopefully more will stagger across the finish line by midnight tonight. . .

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition: Go over William Blake poem from yesterday and further discuss Romanticism.

Gifted English IV: Wrap up final thoughts on Macbeth and transition into Hamlet. I have a neato packet for each of you. This is an enormously difficult play, but it's worth it.

Gifted English II: Revisit the Yeats poem, review grammar, set a timeline for the Candide paper, and look at short piece by William Stafford called "Traveling Through the Dark."

Note: I will be taping for National Boards this week and next week, and I need a permission slip for every student who is on-camera. If you'd rather not be taped (no one is going to really watch it, I swear) then I can send you someplace else during that particular lesson.

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Here is the lesson plan I'm leaving for my substitute tomorrow. I hope the formatting transfers over clearly.

Thank you for covering my classes today. Here is the lesson plan:

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition:

We are beginning a unit on Romantic poetry, beginning with the work of William Blake. Interestingly enough, Blake’s “The Chimney Sweep” was a prominent element of last year’s AP exam. First, give them the handout with the poem “The Chimney Sweep” on it and have them read the poem and answer the questions on the bottom of the page. Then, please distribute the green booklets and have the students look over the actual AP test, with emphasis on Question 1. While they do not need to construct the actual essay as requested by that prompt, they do need to accomplish two things: 1. They must construct a reasonable writing plan or pre-write indicating how they would address the prompt, and they then need to 2. pair up (or in groups of three) and discuss the question and their approaches to it. I will pick up with them upon my return tomorrow and we will get to know Mr. Blake quite well. DO NOT LET THE GREEN FORMS LEAVE THIS CLASSROOM. College Board allows their use in the classroom, but they are not for widespread distribution. Please collect and count the booklets at the end of first and fifth periods.

Gifted English IV

These students are taking the Macbeth unit test. There is a short essay at the end, so they will each need one sheet of paper. Scantron sheets are in the folder provided. Please circulate casually and watch out for wandering eyes. It’s a small class, and the front row is terrific.

Gifted English II

These students will be reading Things Fall Apart after the Author of the Day presentation by a pre-scheduled student each period. I will get feedback on the presentation itself upon my return; it’s really informal and involves a student sharing data on an assigned author, followed by reading. Near the end of the period, distribute the journal prompt and have them write a response to be turned in. (It’s like a reading journal slip—just something to ensure that they are reading actively and to let me know if they have any questions.)


Thanks so much for doing this. I have student assistants throughout the day to help you—they are VCC students who don’t have class on Tuesdays or Thursdays. Most of them will quietly work on their calculus, but if you need assistance they can help you. Sarah Beehner will probably be with you all day—she crochets, so just let her. She’s very good at it.

I am off fourth period and this room is open for students who need to use it as an annex to the Writing Center.

Monday, November 28, 2005

We are having an adjusted bell schedule today due to the SOS presentation (suicide prevention) mandated by the state legislature. The presentation will take place in 2nd period, and will feature a prepared video and four handouts.

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition: Peer Review for the Stoppard paper. Also, I have a handout of Stoppard quotes for your delectation.

Gifted English IV: Review for Mactest and collect Macscavenger Hunts.

Gifted English II: Return a TON of work to you and offer a resubmit opportunity for your last paper. You will have a chance today to work on your Candide essay, and we will do a brief grammar activity on appositive phrases.

Friendly Reminder

We will gather at Cinemark Festival Bay on Saturday, November 26 for Meet Me at the Movies Part II: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, loosely retitled Saved By the Bell: The Magical Years.

According to the website at www.cinemark.com, the film is playing at 2:30, but I'd like to meet at 2 just to make sure that we all have a chance to get in to the show.

Wednesday, November 22, 2005

As you prepare to gather as a family and have turkey, kosher turkey, or tofurkey, take a moment and think about what you have that the rest of the world doesn't. Reflect in a moment of gratitude. If you are reading this message, then you somehow accessed a computer--an act that places you above and beyond many of the world's citizens in prosperity. And for that, if nothing else, we should be grateful--that we are here, and recipients of a free (mostly) education, and together.

The great American writer Stephen King (just kidding, but I do think he's pretty cool) wrote an essay called "What You Pass On." In this essay, he refers to the car accident that almost killed him in 1999 and the epiphany he experienced while lying in a ditch on the side of a quiet road with glass in his hair and a bone protruding through the skin of his leg. He realized that he had a MasterCard in his pocket, and that the credit card would do him no good at that moment. He further states that we are only as good as what we pass on--the non-physical elements that we leave behind, the vestiges of our best. So on this Thanksgiving holiday, embrace your family, your friends, your faith (whatever that may be) and relax. Let gratitude sweep over you before you return to the grind.

Today in school:

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition: Writing workshop. You have a focus draft due Monday in class on Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.

Gifted English IV: Make-up work and review for the Mactest on Tuesday.

Gifted English II: "Janet Waking" by John Crowe Ransom (I thought it poetic to do a poem about a dead chicken on the day before Thanksgiving) and misplaced modifiers.

Have a safe and blessed long weekend!!!!

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Before we begin: On this day in history, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. Many older Americans remember where they were when Kennedy was shot; I wasn't born yet, but perhaps your parents or grandparents remember. For many, it became a defining moment of their generation. I think my defining moment came when the Challenger exploded over the Florida sky; I was in ninth grade Gifted biology class at the time, and our teacher had taken us outside to watch with binoculars. What is your defining moment? Many could argue that 9/11 defines this generation. Do you agree? Can you think of anything else?

AP English: Finish Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead; consciousness-raising and working on focus paper. The draft for that paper is due Monday, 11/28 for peer review.

Gifted English IV: Finish the final bit of Scotland, PA and compare and contrast to Macbeth. We are having a major unit test on Tuesday, 11/29 on the first part of our Shakespearean tragedy unit. Macessays can be resubmitted until next Tuesday.

Gifted English II: Yesterday, we started talking seriously about the writing process. Today, you will get back your graded Candide essay tests; you may use these tests to help guide your writing for the next paper we have due. Also, we are going to do a grammar review in class today.

Monday, November 21, 2005

Happy Birthday, Mrs. Alami! (Our ESOL coordinator and my best friend.)

AP Literature: Distribute R and G focus paper assignments and finish the film.

Gifted English IV: Finish Scotland, PA and go over Macessays.

Gifted English II: Author of the Day presentation, followed by discussion of the nature of writing. Featured elements: Quality of textbook debate (from The Orlando Sentinel), "Writing is Easy!" essay by Steve Martin.

UPDATES

Potential Travelers: As many of you know, I chaperone trips through Art Events Orlando, a non-profit that values cultural international travel. In the past, we've done London, Rome, Paris, New York City, and Frankfurt. Upcoming trips are England, Scotland, and Wales this spring (only two spots open due to cancellations), Florence next Thanksgiving (graduates and adults only), Paris, Rouen, and Chartres next spring break (2007), and Venice and Florence in the future and beyond. Anyway, we are having an informational meeting DECEMBER 8 at 7 p.m. in my classroom, room 313 for anyone who'd like further information. I want to clarify: These trips are not sponsored by OCPS, but Art Events is a licensed vendor for OCPS and I will be chaperoning all trips.

APees: Your reading journals are due Monday by 3 p.m.

Friday, November 18, 2005

HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE COMES OUT TODAY!!!!!!!!!!

For any interested parties--Ms. Miles and I will be hosting a Meet Me at the Movies on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m., Cinemark Festival Bay, to watch this film. I'm sure many of you are seeing it on opening night, but I'd rather not hang out with legions of eight-year-olds in pointy hats, so we're going two days into the theatrical release. Any and all are welcome, provided you TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONE and know how to conduct yourself in a theater. A follow-up movie date will be held Saturday, November 26--same location, same time. If you are enough of a geek to want to see a movie with your teacher, JOIN US. We're a party in a box.

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition: Screening of R and G Are Dead, directed and written by Stoppard himself. And there was much rejoicing.

Gifted English IV: Macessays due, with continued discussion of the tragedy and another small sequence from Scotland, P.A.

Gifted English II: Candide was so much fun, and "Pit" was such a happy tale--why not jump back into satire and horror for one more little look? Literature never had such a receptive and willing audience. . .

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition: Finish R and G Are Dead in class; final quiz. Your reading journals for this play will be due Monday. You will receive the next FP assignment today, as well.

Gifted English IV: Macessays will be due tomorrow; today we are going to discuss elements of this tragedy and watch a key sequence from the adaptation Scotland, P.A. Macbeth questions are due.

Gifted English II: Author of the Day presentation followed by a timed writing and cookie. The cookie might be metaphorical. (I'm posting in advance, so I'm not sure if my baking skills will be at their sharpest preparatory to Thursday's writing exercises.)

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition: Practice Session for the Multiple Choice on the AP exam out of the DMS workbook (10 points) followed by Q&A on R&G. We're reading two passages--one from Milton, one from Sinclair--on pp. 68-75.

Gifted English IV: Finish Act V and address any final issues with this tragedy; check for progress on Macessays and look at completion of supplemental texts and content vocabulary.

Gifted English II: District mandated administration of the DRP (10 points). I love you guys.

NOTE: My tour guide, Russ Russell of Art Events, will be here after school today to meet with me--if you have any questions for him regarding the spring break trip for this year OR next year, you can ask at this time. Otherwise, you can always contact him at russ@artevents.org or russ@iag.net.

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

AP Lit: R and G quiz; progress check on reading journals; continue reading in the play.

Gifted IV: Macbeth, Act IV quiz, and reading in Act V. H.W.--Make sure you are keeping up with your questions, since I am collecting them one day after we finish the play itself.

Gifted II: Wrapping up elements from "Pit" and looking closely at Poe's use of diction and syntax. Grammar review and Author of the Day presentation.

I will be available after school for make-up work or anyone who needs help with their progress on National Novel Writing Month. Today is the halfway point! We have an unprecedented number of Boonies participating this year--how many words do you have?

Monday, November 14, 2005

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition: We're continuing with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Act II. Expect a quiz tomorrow, and please continue developing your reading journals.

Gifted English IV: Macbeth, finishing Act IV, scene iii--a particularly confusing act, since it is largely expository and contains Malcolm's deceitful snare as applied to the puzzled Macduff. I have some supplemental reading for you regarding this tragedy, and want to see how your Macpaper is developing.

Gifted English II: Author of the Day presentations, followed by the conclusion of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Pit and the Pendulum." I am collecting your essays today by 3 p.m. at the latest--an extension from Friday--and assigning a syntactical analysis of Poe's writing. Upcoming event reminder: DRP on Wednesday (10 points) and timed writing on Thursday (40 points.) If you need to make up the Candide check-reading test, see me ASAP.

Friday, November 11, 2005

AP Lit: Continue with R and G Are Dead, through the end of Act I.

Gifted English IV: Macbeth--with cool sound effects.

Gifted English II: NO ONE CAN ESCAPE THE SPANISH INQUISITION. At least not Edgar Allan Poe.

Thursday, November 10, 2005

If you are missing any assignments due to absences, please see me ASAP. Progress report grades need to be exported by next Tuesday so that you can receive an update in print for all six of your classes by Thursday.

NOTE: I am noticing--as are some of my colleagues--a slip in student performance of late. There have been many things conspiring to make us distracted, certainly--between the chaos of Homecoming Week and Halloween, some students get lost in the shuffle. Don't be one of them. Focus in your classes and you will have smooth sailing between now and Winter Break. TIME TO RE-ENERGIZE!!!

AP Literature: Continue with R and G Are Dead, and maybe take a little quiz on it. Just maybe.

Gifted English IV: Continue with Act IV, scene i and its prophecies--A) Beware Macduff! B) None of woman born shall harm Macbeth! C) Till Birnam Wood do come to Dunsinane Hill Macbeth shall rule as king. . . but are the witches telling him the truth? Inquiring minds want to know!

Gifted English II: TWO Author of the Day presentations each period, followed by rambunctiouness as we finish discussing the nature of Horror in Literature. Then. . .brace yourself. . .Edgar. Allan. Poe. "The Pit and the Pendulum" will change your life, or, at least, scar it.

Wednesday, November 9, 2005

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition: Hamlet obituaries are due and we'll share! Continue with R and G Are Dead. Anyone have a quarter? Heads. Heads. Heads. (See Act I of this play if this doesn't make sense to you. . .)

Gifted English IV: Macbeth, with the first Macessay assigned to you today.

Gifted English II: Candide check-reading test. Good luck, everyone!

Tuesday, November 8, 2005

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition: Our Hamlet unit test is today, followed by our introduction to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.

Gifted English IV: Macbeth Vocabulary Quiz, followed by further reading of the text.

Gifted English II: Continue with the Literature of Horror and a friendly reminder about the Candide check-reading test on 11/9. We will start with Mr. Poe today, too.

Monday, November 7, 2005

Advanced Placement Literature: Read "Gertrude Speaks" by Margaret Atwood and finish Hamlet review for our Amazing Test on Tuesday!

Gifted English IV: Macbeth, Act III.

Gifted English II: Introduction to the Literature of Horror.

Friday, November 4, 2005

AP Literature: Review for Hamlet Unit Test. And try to moderate a fascinating discussion with Shahier about. . .every element of the tragedy.

Gifted English IV: After administering a quiz to see who read Act II, scene ii, we go over vocabulary list, then get through the rest of Act II, including the famous Porter sequence.

Gifted English II: Read Mark Twain's "The Lowest Animal" in the text and pass out the Monty Python writing assignment.

Note: I am updating grades on Monday after grading through a veritable slew of make-up work this weekend. Check K12 Planet if you have any questions.

Thursday, November 4, 2005

I am not here today. Be nice to Stu.

Wednesday, November 2, 2005

Short day!

AP Lit: Today, we finish Hamlet.

Gifted IV: Quiz on Macbeth, Act I will be tomorrow--today, we will read through that act and start Act II (through Macbeth's soliloquy.)

Gifted II: Satire unit wraps up with a screening of Monty Python's Quest for the Holy Grail, carefully edited for your delectation.

NOTE: I WILL NOT BE AT SCHOOL TOMORROW. You can reach me by e-mail tomorrow evening, or come find me before school Friday if you are having an existential crisis. Focus papers are still due by 3 p.m. on Friday, seniors.