New Year Resolutions: Blogging and Such

As many of you know, I ended 2007 by being very, very sick. I missed four days of work and was still ill in the days I attended, and this blog's updates suffered more than anything else.

One of my major New Year resolutions is to get back on track!!!

Check this site for updated lesson plans over the next few weeks and watch the progress unfold before your very eyes.

Love to everyone; I hope 2008 is amazing for everyone!

Love,

Ms. Hilley

E-mail Contact Info

If you need to e-mail me (or any other BHS instructor, btw) our e-mail addresses have all changed. Personally, I fear and loathe such changes--it took me long enough to memorize hilleyj@ocps.net, thank you, and its attendant passwords--but the district has decided that for security reasons our addresses have to shift to something more complicated. And the best part is that soon they are changing our passwords, too!!!! WOW!!!!

Perhaps our original e-mail addresses were flammable.

Anyhoo, you can now reach me by clicking on my name on the BHS website, or by writing to jennifer.hilley@ocps.net.

That's all for now!

Monday, December 10, 2007

Reminder to seniors: Check the list for the Senior Breakfast on Wednesday. Oh, and the Honors Breakfast is Thursday. This week always drives me crazy with interruptions. . .

APees: Today--"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Eliot. We're going to look for Shakespearean implications in the characterization of J. Alfred and discuss allusions, anthropomorphism, similes, and metaphors today.

Gifted English II: Julius Caesar--finishing Act I. Reminder that tomorrow is Benchmark Testing and that Wednesday you have TWO quizzes--one on content, one on vocabulary. Both are brief and scintillating.

Friday, December 7, 2007

AP Literature and Composition: Finish R and G Are Dead; reading journals due; diploma forms due to Guidance today.

Gifted English II: Julius Caesar, Act I, scenes i and ii; Senior Snake during sixth period!

Good luck tonight, Braves!

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Project XMas is going very well! We have over four hundred dollars--halfway to our goal!!!

Mary Claire and Ava will be collecting at the football game Friday night, so bring any spare change you have to help out. Our custodians don't know about it--we've kept it beautifully on the downlow thus far--and we'd really like to give each of them one hundred dollars for holiday shopping with a card of appreciation.

APees: Friendly reminder that your reading journals are due tomorrow! 3 p.m.!
Today in class we are watching Act II of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. Good times!

Gifted English II: Introduction to Julius Caesar; bring your green textbook!

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

FLU SEASON IS STILL UPON US!!!!!!

I feel like a barely-warmed-over puppy. I hope you are all feeling better--use hand sanitizers, wash your hands thoroughly, and don't share drinking glasses with ANYONE!

APees: Act I of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern: The Film. Of course, we'll be interrupted in fourth period by a forty-minute fire drill, but, hey--we do what we can do.

Gifted English II: Coin counting for Project XMas and lecture materials preparatory to understanding Julius Caesar.

*I will be here after school today for a considerable period of time for anyone who needs assistance with college essays.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

APees: Finish Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and go over requirements for the reading journal.

Gifted English II: Finish discussing themes and ideas inherent to Candide and make a transition into Shakespearean studies.

Monday, December 3, 2007

Happy Birthday to my little brother! He's 32. I can't believe that. I bought him this amazing toy called a Cat-a-Pult--it's like a traditional catapult but it flings little rubber cats all over the place.

APees: Finish R and G Are Dead, Act II and speed through Act III, addressing any questions and prepping for the incredible reading journals. Whoot!

Gifted English II: Notes and discussion on Candide, and a new SAT vocabulary list.

NOTES ON CANDIDE: OUTLINE

Garden Imagery
The Journey Motif
The Nature of Satire
Candide=naive protagonist, quest mythology, the lady Cunegonde as his "grail"
Voltaire as rabble-rouser
Social commentary/use of language

Friday, November 30, 2007

APees: R and G Are Dead again; reading journal expectations.

Gifted English II: Continuation of the Tudor Dynasty Story. (See below.)

NOTE: Tonight--Boynton Beach to take on a playoff team! Good luck, Boone Braves!

Helpful Notes for Sophys (especially those who have to miss the session sixth period due to the band):

To remember the six wives of Henry VIII: A rhymed couplet!

Divorced, beheaded, died
Divorced, beheaded, survived.

What a nice guy.

The three dominant forms of entertainment for the Elizabethan time period:

*ballet (kidding)
*public executions
*cruelty to animals--cockfighting and bear-baiting
*theater! (so theater had to keep up with the bloodthirstiness)

Lineage:

*Henry VIII
*Edward VI
*Mary I
*Elizabeth I
*James I

*Shakespeare published under both Elizabeth and James's reigns

*James was really only known for two contributions to the artistic world--his sponsorship of the King's Men (1603) and the organization of a committee of learned scholars who would ultimately publish the King James Bible, which is used in some churches to this day.

Thursday, November 29, 2007

I am back at school today, after my longest absence ever. I'd be out today, too, but for residual guilt for being out, so I'm here, but I probably won't be really nice.

The flu is a serious thing, people. Get a flu shot if your health practitioner thinks it's advisable; take vitamins; wash your hands thoroughly. This thing kicked my rear end in a serious way.

Love to all; glad to be back.

NOTE: The Christmas tree is going up, and I encourage everyone to bring something festive to park on the tree. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, or Diwali, or if you're just coming off of the Eid celebration, December is a traditional month for celebration, friendship, and festivity. Bring something weird to stick on our tree! Last year we had forks and band-aids.

APees: R&G Are Dead--Where are we? Mr. Bailey had you reading assiduously, but do we understand what's going on? Discussion and clarification.

Gifted English II: Candide activity; catch-up on makeup work for others out with the flu, too, and lecture/transition into the Tudor Dynasty. In other words--story time! Be prepared to draw a chart.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Out again. Not that this is relevant, but I've been through two boxes of tissues, two cans of chicken-n-stars soup, one thing of sugar-free Jello, and a lot of Sprite Zero. Never mind all of the other happy medications, too. The flu is not to be taken lightly, so if it's appropriate for you and your family really think about that flu shot. This hasn't been fun!!!!

Be nice to Mr. Bailey.

AP Lit: Continue with R&G Are Dead.

Gifted II: Discussion questions on Candide, in small groups. We will go over the novel and its allusions in class tomorrow.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Dear Students: I seriously DO have the London flu--it isn't strep throat, and is viral, and is making me feel like a weak kitten. I will be back at school as soon as possible. In the meantime, a few things need to go on in my absence. PROJECT X-MAS begins this week; see Mary Claire if you have any questions. Also, I need a handful of ushers for the preview night showing of A Christmas Tuna on Thursday night at 6 p.m. You will be finished by nine, and will earn SIX community service hours for your efforts. Warning: The show is definitely PG-13 and features some adult humor. It should be a hoot, however.

Mr. Bailey will be with you until I get the all-clear to come back.

AP Lit: Go over the reading journal assignment and begin reading R&G Are Dead by Stoppard. If you can stay focused, you can enact/read aloud. If not--you're on your own!

Gifted English II: Candide timed writing. You'll thank me later--this is in lieu of a test.

Monday, November 26, 2007

I have the London flu and won't be here today. Mr. Bailey is your substitute.

APees: Multiple Choice Practice Session, Test #3 on page 185 of the CLIFF book. You will earn ten points for doing this and then we will score your results--and remember that we are "going for" fifty percent correct or higher. The passages are provocative and interesting.

Gifted English II: Today, you are watching a short film called "The Wave." We will be discussing the content of this film tomorrow in class, so pay attention to the details.

THANKSGIVING WEEK

Dear Ones,

Happy Thanksgiving! For the first time in recent memory, OCPS is "off" for the whole week of Thanksgiving--thanks in no small part to the new, delayed school calendar. Enjoy this week and spend time with family and friends.

I will be in London.

HW for the Week Off:

APees: If you desire your own copy of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard, now is the time to buy one. I have a class set and some extras, so you don't technically NEED to buy one, but if you are one of the students who prefers to write in the margins of your own text then you might want to get one. The version I prefer is twelve dollars and features ISBN # 0-8021-3275-8.

Gifted English II: Finish reading Candide!!! I'm not kidding--you have a test the week after break, and we are wrapping up the Satire Unit with this novel. It's hilarious. You know.

Friday, November 16, 2007

TODAY IS BAKED GOODS DAY.

APees: Make-up Hamlet tests, if necessary, followed by a cross-cultural communication exercise in Hamlet-related mass media (re: two scenes from The Lion King and two scenes from the 2000 Michael Almereyda-directed version.)

Gifted English II: Creative writing exercise, followed by more Voltaire. You will have a check-reading test on Candide after Thanksgiving, so plan accordingly. It's a short read and some of you might even be finished by now.

Note to sophys: The Author of the Day projects have been completely re-aligned. See the new sign-up sheet and we will commence after Thanksgiving.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

APees: Hamlet Unit Test. Some of you will require the whole period to finish this task, and others will rip through it very quickly. I will have an introductory handout for you re: R and G Are Dead when you finish.

Gifted English II: Grammar Fun followed by Candide State-Sponsored Reading Day (with read-aloud by your instructor.)

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Early day!!! For you, not for me--I have a department meeting. I'll be around after the meeting, though, if anyone needs help with anything.

APees: Review for Hamlet Unit Test tomorrow. The test is 70 questions ranging from multiple choice to short answer, and we will be reviewing extensively today. Also, we will be discussing/evaluating the following statement from T. S. Eliot regarding Hamlet: "So far from being Shakespeare's masterpiece, the play is most certainly an artistic failure. . .both workmanship and thought are in an unstable condition." Refute? Defend?

(Also, Mrs. Pleicones will be popping by to give you your diploma forms.)

Gifted English II: Grammar review on correct usage, followed by an introductory discussion of Candide and the following elements: A) Pangloss; B) the Lisbon earthquake; C) Leibniz; and D) the concepts of picaresque and bildungsroman.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

APees: Obituary Creative Writing Assignments due periods 1, 4, and 5. 2nd period's will be due tomorrow in light of the Senior Assembly today during your class. Go to the auditorium after BBC to get info on caps, gowns, and announcements.

Gifted English II: SAT Vocabulary quiz, followed by a syntactical analysis of Poe. If time: Begin discussion of Candide by Voltaire.

Monday, November 12, 2007

Happy Veterans Day!!! (Technically, it was yesterday, but since 11-11 fell on a Sunday many businesses and organizations are honoring our vets today. We have a special presentation on BBC this morning to commemorate the sacrifices that some of our staff members have made for the US military.)

APees: Discussion of Hamlet's characterization, with respect to the critical essay I gave you last Friday. We'll be looking specifically at the three possible modes of interpretation listed in that essay: A) Hamlet as noble, surrounded by corruption; B) Hamlet as the source of death, decay, and disease in his kingdom, and C) the world as the corrupting element. Also, we'll be creating a "resume" for Hamlet to aid in the construction of your obituary/creative writing assignment due tomorrow.

Gifted English II: Review "The Pit and the Pendulum" by Poe and discuss thematic threads between Count of Monte Cristo, Candide, and Poe. Quick-quiz and hand turkey art on Poe, followed by a friendly reminder of the vocabulary quiz tomorrow for the SAT words we rec'd last week.

Friday, November 9, 2007

Tonight is the Edgewater Game, and Senior Night!!! Pre-show starts at 6:55 p.m. I am so excited. I just can't hide it.

Come to the game!!!!!!

NOTE: I will not be here today at school, but I will be at the game. So exciting! Mr. Bailey is your substitute, so be nice to him.

APees: Critical analysis of Hamlet. Happy reading.

Gifted English II: Finish Poe's story and read Candide. Fun times!

Thursday, November 8, 2007

APees: FINISH HAMLET. Also, assign creative writing task, due Tuesday: Hamlet's obituary!

Gifted English II: Finish SAT Vocabulary, collect focus papers, and read "The Pit and the Pendulum" by Poe.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Short day!!!

I will be showing The Count of Monte Cristo after school today for any interested parties.

APees: Act V, scene ii. Almost finished. . .

Gifted English II: Review SAT Vocabulary List #1 and finish the Horror Literature handout together.

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

APees: Act V, scene i and predictive discussion: What will happen next? Oh, my.

Gifted English II: Reminder of focus paper assignment and continuation of horror literature discussion, including a cartoon bio of Edgar Allan Poe.

I will be available after school for essay consults if necessary.

Focus Paper Assignment for Sophys

In the event that you lost the handout, here it is on the blog for students in my tenth grade Gifted English course:

Gifted English II
Focus Paper: The Count of Monte Cristo

Now that most of you have read Dumas’s classic tale, you will focus on one aspect of that novel for written reflection. Your first focus paper this year will be due Thursday, November 8, by 3 p.m. Papers submitted electronically will be accepted, but will automatically lose 10 points. (Still better than a zero for a late paper if you forget it at home!) If you are absent that day, YOUR PAPER IS STILL DUE. Send it by fax (407.897.2455, attention Hilley), FedEx, mule, or a trusted friend—but it is due. Mwahahahahahaha.

YOU WILL ALSO NEED TO SUBMIT THIS PAPER ON WWW.TURNITIN.COM by Thursday, November 8 at midnight.

WHAT IS A FOCUS PAPER?
A focus paper is a short paper on one topic, generally without outside sources. Most focus papers do not exceed one typed, double-spaced page, and are generally no longer than 400 words in length. A focus paper imitates the essay style that you will be expected to generate in a timed-writing session for FCAT Writes! or, more significantly, any Advanced Placement essay you may be asked to compose. College admission essays are generally of this type as well—one well-defined thesis statement, followed by support. A focus paper’s brevity forces you to eliminate unnecessary verbiage and go straight to the point, which is never a bad thing. As Strunk and White stated so elegantly in The Elements of Style, “Brevity is the byproduct of vigor.”

PAPER GUIDELINES:
Ø Papers will be between 300 and 400 words in length.
Ø Papers will be typed, double-spaced, in a professional font (Times New Roman, Calisto, etc.)
Ø Your name will appear in the upper right hand corner of the back side of your last page; in other words, your name will NOT appear on the front.
Ø Your title should be centered at the top of your first page; no title page is necessary. Hopefully, your title will be more imaginative than “Monte Cristo Focus Paper.”
Ø Underline your thesis statement.
Ø Proofread carefully before submitting.

YOUR TOPIC
The most difficult aspect of this assignment may be, for some of you, in the creation of a topic on which to focus. The Writing Center is a terrific resource to go over topics, but here are some ideas to get you started:

Edmond Dantes as the avenging angel. What kind of religious imagery is apparent in the text? Does he truly become a “sword of vengeance”? What elements of his revenge offer him spiritual satisfaction? Does he use religion as a tool to help him achieve his revenge?
The roles of female characters in the novel. Which characters are integral to the development of the narrative? Which women—Mercedes, Valentine, Mme. Danglars, Mme. DeVillefort—serve multiple roles? How are these women characterized? Are they believable?
The importance of setting in this novel. Could this work have taken place in any other time or era? How did the political climate of the time affect aspects of the plot? How critical is setting in establishing mood and tone?

I will be available before and after school to help you if you are having problems. Remember: If you quote something directly from the book, be sure to use the page number after the quotation: (98).

Monday, November 5, 2007

Can you believe our team is 9-0? Don't forget that the EDGEWATER GAME is this Friday night, and it's also Senior Night! Be there--I will!!!

APees: Exciting response quiz on Act IV, with the play as your guide--we will "massage" the language, as Mrs. Covert puts it. Good times. Afterward, we'll watch the mad sequence in Hamlet and discuss the role of Ophelia as the metaphorical flower in the garden.

Gifted English II: Author of the Day presentation, followed by a neato lecture/discussion on horror literature, Carl Jung, and Stephen King's theories of fright and fear. Learn to draw and iceberg! Near, far, wherever you are. . . Also, SAT Vocabulary List #1--20 words you should already know.

Friendly reminder: Sophys have a focus paper due THURSDAY. Don't forget!!!

Friday, November 2, 2007

APees: After a brief, cursory discussion of Act IV and collection of the FPs, we are going to do a practice session for the AP exam that involves a fairly controversial passage. Bring a pencil and be prepared to be challenged--and shocked!

Gifted English II: Whew--aren't you glad that the CMC test is over? You will get the tests back on Monday. Friendly reminder that your CMC paper is still due next Thursday and must be submitted on www.turnitin.com. See me if you have technical difficulties with uploading this.

Also: Please acquire Candide by Voltaire--from a bookstore, the library, or a junior/senior who is no longer reading it. It is a hoot and we will read some of it together in class. For those of you taking AP Euro this year, Candide will complement your studies of all of the "isms" nicely.

Today in class--Author of the Day presentation, and introduction to the Literature of Horror. (Packet ready to go, and it has clip art!!!!!!!)

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Welcome to November--only a couple of days left until we Fall Back!!!

APees: Hamlet, Act IV--discussions including the following motifs: poison, disease, garden imagery, and flowers. Focus heavily on Claudius's emotional state in your re-reading. Friendly reminder: Your first focus paper this quarter is due tomorrow by 3 p.m. in hard copy format (unless you're on the crew team, in which case you can bring it Monday.) ALL are due by midnight tomorrow on http://www.turnitin.com/. The Hamlet paper file is up and should be working; if not, e-mail me a Word attachment (not wordpad or works, please) and I will upload it for you.

Gifted English II: Essay test on The Count of Monte Cristo is today. You may use your book to help you. Due to the nature of the test and its time constraints, we will have no Author of the Day today.

I will be here after school to help any last-minute hysterical applications to UF. Your deadline is midnight tonight, but hopefully you are all already there!!!!!!

HALLOWEEN!!!! Wednesday, October 31, 2007

APees: Please don't forget that the Writing Center is open today during both lunch shifts if you need last-minute guidance for your UF application. Today in class: Review Act III and then take the amazingly insightful Act III quiz--six action-packed questions that will change your life, for a total of 18 points.

Gifted English II: Author of the Day today is HP Lovecraft, a genius from Rhode Island. Afterwards, we will discuss the satire of The Simpsons and then review the villains from The Count of Monte Cristo for tomorrow's test.

Note to Sophys: Next Wednesday after school (November 7) I will have popcorn and the 2002 version of The Count of Monte Cristo for anyone who would like to come watch it. Bring a friend!

I will be here after school--no meetings have been scheduled yet to interrupt this--to help anyone with college application essays or Hamlet focus papers.

Monday, October 30, 2007

Ahhhh--the eve of Halloween!!!

A note of caution to everyone, paraphrased from today's lecture in class: BE CAREFUL on Halloween night!!! Some of you are trick-or-treating and enjoying the last shreds of childhood, and others are vaulting right into party territory. Regardless, any excuse for people to get together and act stupidly--like Halloween--can elevate your safety risks, so please be careful, let your parental units know exactly where you are going to be, and allow common sense to be your guide.

APees: Act II and III--we'll read over the sequences and then watch the Zifferelli portrayal via film. Quiz Wednesday! Oh, and as a welcome present to the new grading period, I have a FOCUS PAPER ASSIGNMENT for ye. You have a choice of three topics (the role of women, appearance v. reality, and the roles of duplicity and spying) and must select text evidence from only Acts I, II, or III of the play. See me if you have any questions--and this MUST go through www.turnitin.com or it will not be graded. Hmmmmm.

Gifted English II: Finish The Grail and discuss the elements of satire. Writing assignment: 5-7 sentences discussing satiric elements of the narrative: Identify the scene, discuss what is being satirized, and evaluate/judge the way that satire is conveyed. (20 points.)

Friday, October 26, 2007

No school today for you--but I have to be here!!!!

I will be on campus until around ten a.m., after which I am taking my goddaughter out for coffee and setting up for a Halloween party. If you need to contact me, e-mail is your best bet.

Report cards will go out next Friday, November 2.

Have a safe weekend, Braves!

Thursday, October 25, 2007

APees: Hamlet, Act II quiz. Yes, it's the last day of the quarter, and yes, this is so mean, but guess what? You have a quiz. I love all of you.

Gifted English II: Please bring your satire packet with you today; we are again working with Monty Python's Quest for the Holy Grail. A handful of you still need to submit some make-up work; see me if you have concerns or questions.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

APees: Analysis of soliloquies and character evaluation.

Gifted English II: Introduction of Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail. (der Grallen.) Please bring your satire packet.

I supposedly have a meeting after school, but I'm not really inclined to go and I have a ton of tutoring to do. Come to room 313 and hang out and all will be well.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Another unseasonably warm day in October!

APees: Hamlet, Act II--analysis and reflection. If you are resubmitting your Macessays I really need them ASAP, and www.turnitin.com has been updated to reflect the new deadline. All I need is your original essay handed back in and the updated version loaded to the site. If you have technical problems, e-mail the new essay to hilleyj@ocps.net OR hilleyj@gmail.com.

Gifted English II: Vocabulary Mastery Test, followed by a reading of "Top of the Food Chain" by T. Coraghesson Boyle. Reminders:

• 1. CMC is due next Wednesday; the test is Thursday, October 1.
• 2. You will also have an analytical essay assigned to you next week on CMC.
• 3. Your next novel is Candide by Voltaire; I strongly suggest you go ahead and get a copy. Barnes has several available through their Classics division or you can check one out of the public library; you can also access the text for free through http://www.literature.org/authors/voltaire/candide/
• Each chapter is very brief.
• 4. The first Author of the Day presentations will be on Halloween; check with me to confirm your presentation date.

Monday, October 22, 2007

Wow--the last week of the quarter. Grades are due by Friday noon, which is a teacher work day, so see me as soon as possible if you need to make anything up. Resubmissions will need to be in by Thursday morning at the very latest so that I can assess them properly--if you have previously resubmitted through turnitin this quarter, those grades will be updated this afternoon.

APees: Review of Act I; return the Act I quizzes and go over them; Act II introductions. Warning: Act II is the most challenging of the entire play, and everything else hinges on information hidden within it. As you read, I need you to keep the following elements in mind: A) who is trustworthy? B) Hamlet has claimed that he has placed an "antic disposition" on his persona intentionally--what evidence can you find for or against the veracity of this claim? C) is it possible that Hamlet is never really happy unless he is removed from the political sphere, i.e. playing with the actors?

Gifted English II: Finish "Modest Proposal" and answer the related questions; transition into Boyle. Count of Monte Cristo is due next Wednesday!!!!

Friday, October 19

No school today!!!

But in other news--BHS won again in last night's football game! This season's team is unbeatable.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Wednesday proved to be a little chaotic--two lock-downs (one after school), the PSAT and its confusions, and an altered schedule. I saw no sophomores at all on Wednesday, which was both odd and a little unsettling.

Today will ROCK!!!

APees: Review of Act I's brilliance followed by an amazing quiz. And any classes who organized Baked Goods Day--yay for you!

Gifted English II: Jonathan Swift, satirist, and the language of discourse.

Wednesday, Ocrober 17, 2007

TODAY IS THE PSAT AT BOONE HIGH SCHOOL.

I am assuming that the bell schedule will be adjusted, at least during third period, to accomodate testing requirements. I will be teaching both of my morning AP classes but then will be assisting during third.

APees: Hamlet Act I discussion, preparatory to tomorrow's amazing QUIZ.

Gifted English II: Since third period will be taking the PSAT, sixth will be deconstructing the test and reading Swift's "A Modest Proposal," thus moving slightly ahead of their peers due to scheduling issues again. We'll find a way to even the score as the next few days unfold.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

WRITING CENTER T-SHIRT MONEY DUE TO MRS. NICOLL BEFORE FIRST PERIOD TODAY.

APees: Hamlet, Act I, scene ii analysis--allusions, apostrophes, and metaphors in both major speeches (Claudius and Hamlet.) Questions: Why aren't the Danish people that upset about Claudius and Gertrude apparently thumbing their noses at tradition and expectation? Why is Hamlet so glum? Why is he considering the ultimate solution to what might prove to be temporary questions?

Gifted English II: Return graded papers from the past week, including the underwhelming vocabulary quizzes from last week, and review for the Vocab Mastery Test on Thursday. Also, I'm passing the list of test locations to each of you to confirm where you will tomorrow morning for the PSAT. You have each been signed up for this test, and it is evaluating potential. Get a good night's sleep Tuesday evening and eat a nutritionally balanced breakfast--and then go in and take this seriously. We are going to be introducing the satirical literature unit today and going over some of the language and syntax issues that relate to satire.

After school, I am counting votes for Teacher of the Year in room 224, which shouldn't take too long, after which I will be helping some students with grammar and such in my room until around 4. I have another meeting at 4:15 and will be on campus until around five. Just FYI.

Monday, October 15, 2007

The Ides of October are upon us.

Congratulations to the Boone Braves for defeating University, 48-14. Wow!1

And congratulations to two APees for being selected Homecoming King and Queen: Billy B. and Catherine Troy B. Yay--smart IS cool!!!

APees: Hamlet, Act I, scene i--and your homework tonight is to reread scene one and read scene two preparatory to our analysis tomorrow in class. Cross country team members who went to Furman for the three day weekend event may submit Macpapers today; for those of you who FORGOT to submit the paper to www.turnitin.com, I have created a new Late File. And for future reference: The next paper to be so forgotten will be a ZERO. Aaaaaargggh. I have a sneaky suspicion that a handful of you are taking advantage of my sweet and generous nature, so I need to crack down. Yup.

Gifted English II: Monosyllabic writing activity today, and assignment of the Author of the Day presentations for later this month. Tomorrow--satire!!!

Planning Ahead: The next poetry session WILL be from 3-5 on Thursday, October 18 at Dandelion.

Friday, October 12, 2007

ALL CLASSES: The Homecoming Puppet Show is TODAY. Be good, be careful, behave! Come back to me Monday in one piece, please!!! Here is a quote that I messed up a few years ago but seems to have more impact than the corrected version: "Lots of babies born nine months after Homecoming--don't be one of them!"

(You know what I meant.)

APees: Prior to the Puppet Show, a brief but stirring preparatory lecture on Hamlet. Award-winning cartoons and a map of the three families we need to know about prior to reading our tragedy.

Gifted English II: Finish the Media Literacy mini-unit and then--dun dun dun--PUPPETS!

Have a good time at the game and the dance, peeps! Be safe!

When one of us is hurting, we all are.

For those of you Boonies who know Mr. and Mrs. P, I just wanted to say that I spoke to Mr. P this afternoon and that they are both doing better than they expected. "We're just shocked, you know?" he said.

For those of you who don't know, Mr. and Mrs. P lost her dad today to a hit-and-run driver.

The most recent story is here:http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-bk-pedestrian10112007,0,3426447.story?coll=orl_tab01_layoutThey misidentified the deceased as "she" but it's Mrs. P's father.

He was walking on a sidewalk when he was hit by the driver. It just reinforces how fragile life really can be.

I spoke to Mrs. M after school today, too, and she assured me that BHS was going to do all it could to help both Ps and their little girls through this. Check in tomorrow with a math or science teacher or find me in 313 to see what we can do. Coach K has already offered to mow all of their lawns--and for any of you who know Coach K, you know what that symbolizes. So let's help out if we can.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Today is TRANSFORMATION DAY for HOMECOMING WEEK. I look forward to the means by which you creative types transform yourselves. (One senior is going as an emo kid, which I think is hilarious. Wikipedia has some interesting observations on the emo phenomenon, at least for the moment. More on Wikipedia at another date.)

Today is also another FIRE DRILL. It will be during third period this time, instead of second, and teachers are expected to tote a brightly colored poster with them so that their students can find them. Because I am a rebel and I utterly fail to see the point of fire drills every 25 days* I will be carrying a sleek black umbrella in lieu of poster. And due to the necessity of wandering through the soccer field for the fire drill, I will also be violating a thousand fashion laws by wearing Crocs today.

APees: Today, the Orson Welles classic version of Macbeth. It's so bad it's brilliant. Bring your play and your focus paper ideas and let the visual imagery wash over you like red tide.

Gifted English II: We are finishing our mini-unit on Biblical literature today and making a transition into Media Literacy. This is a cool mini-unit that fuses critical thinking, writing skills, and logic into one happy pile, and it's our second-to-last mini-unit before we start launching into Really Big Units. (It will also reduce my dependence on the hyphen.) What a great day! REMINDER: CMC is due Halloween. For some of you, that will be waaay past the date you finished reading it; for others, you will be scrambling. I suggest that the scramblers start cooking now.

*Note regarding fire drills: I am all about safety, and support every endeavor to ensure that you are not injured during your time at BHS. And there were two school fires in recent weeks (Citrus Elementary and Apopka High) that indicated a need for understanding the dangers of flammable things. I'm just frustrated by the persistent set of interruptions to instruction that we've seen in recent months. We have an inclement weather/fire drill every 25 days, by my calculations, and now I'm supposed to wait by my door until the building is empty and THEN find my students and there are all these new rules and regulations. In years past, it was pretty simple--if you smelled smoke, like when that kid tried to set fire to the trash can in the 300 building, you left that building. Simple. No one was ever hurt, and we all got out in a timely fashion. Now, in an era where fire alarms go off ALL THE TIME, we are supposed to practice in goose-stepping style. It reminds me of an episode of The Office, except that it's not funny. We spend a lot of time waiting on the soccer field until we get the all-clear that the danger is over, during which I chant, I am a team player, I am a team player. Actually, I'm not; I am a deeply bad person who wants to be good. So there.

Okay--rant over. And if someone wants to make me a brightly colored poster, then yay.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

I am not here today; I'm not often absent, and I assure you that it's for a good cause. I will be on campus from 6 a.m.-7:15 to help seniors tie their togas in room 313, after which I have an appointment I must keep. Be nice to your substitute--she is a nice lady and is here to help you. I will be back tomorrow.

APees: Mactest is today! 86 multiple-choice, true-false, and matching questions. Astoundingly easy. I have extra pencils in the front of the room for your use should you need them; no talking until EVERY test is submitted. If you finish early, I suggest working on your focus paper.

Gifted English II: Third and final state-sponsored reading day for The Count of Monte-Cristo. For the two students who are already finished, a critical analysis of the novel is available for you to check out during class. It might really help shape your thinking for the inevitable assignment that will emerge from our reading. Have a nice day and I will see you tomorrow!

NOTE: Mrs. Buchanan is covering for me in the Writing Center today, and I will cover for her tomorrow. If you need help with a college application essay or are having an existential crisis, e-mail me and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Welcome to Day 2 of Homecoming Week--today you have the opportunity to dress like little kids. While I see this as fraught with dangerously negative potential, I hope you exercise good judgment and dress in a fun-filled but APPROPRIATE manner. 'Nuff said.

AP Literature: Continue to review for the Mactest via literary criticism; I've attached a primary source mini-text to the bottom of this blog entry for later review should you need it. Good times, indeed. The focus paper is due Friday by 3 p.m. and I am not backing down from that deadline. I know you have a lot to do; I know it's Homecoming Week. Here's the deal, peeps: I gave you this assignment last week, and we conferred over thesis statements on Friday. If I gave you an additional weekend to write this paper, it would not make one difference since you won't write it until the night before it's due regardless. Out of love, deference, and respect, I'm asking you to submit it in a timely manner--by Friday. Over and out.

Gifted English II: Back to the Media Center for Part II of our amazing exploration of the MC's resources, then back to the classroom for one more short passage in the literature book. Reminder that tomorrow is your THIRD and FINAL state-sponsored reading day for CMC; for the two of you who are already finished (booyah!) I have an amazing reading opportunity for you to supplement your understanding of the novel.

Primary Text Supplement for AP Lit:

AP Literature and Composition
Literary Criticism of the Macplay by A.C. Bradley
(from his series of 17 lectures on the play, presented in 1935)

4. SIMILARITIES BETWEEN MACBETH AND LADY MACBETH

. . .From this murky background stand out the two great terrible figures, which dwarf all the remaining characters of the drama. Both are sublime, and both inspire, far more than the other tragic heroes, the feeling of awe. They are never detached in imagination from the atmosphere, which surrounds them and adds to their grandeur and terror. It is, as it were, continued into their souls. For within them is all that we felt without the darkness of night, lit with the flame of tempest and the hues of blood, and haunted by wild and direful shapes, 'murdering ministers,' spirits of remorse, and maddening visions of peace lost and judgment to come. The way to be untrue to Shakespeare here, as always, is to relax the tension of imagination, to conventionalize, to conceive Macbeth, for example, as a half-hearted cowardly criminal, and Lady Macbeth as a whole-hearted fiend.
These two characters are fired by one and the same passion of ambition; and to a considerable
extent they are alike. The disposition of each is high, proud, and commanding. They are born to
rule if not to reign. They are peremptory or contemptuous to their inferiors. They are not children
of light, like Brutus and Hamlet; they are of the world. We observe in them no love of country, and no interest in the welfare of anyone outside their family. Their habitual thoughts and aims are, and, we imagine, long have been, all of station and power. And though in both there is something, and in one much, of what is higher honour, conscience, humanity they do not live consciously in the light of these things or speak their language. Not that they are egoists, like lago; or, if they are egoists, theirs is an egoisme a deux. They have no separate ambitions. They support and love one another. They suffer together. And if, as time goes on, they drift a little apart, they are not vulgar souls, to be alienated and recriminate when they experience the fruitlessness of their ambition. They remain to the end tragic, even grand.

Definition: egoisme a deux: 1. "Selfishness of two" or "double selfishness"; a satirical description of love, variously and dubiously attributed sometimes to the French medieval writer of romances, Antoine de la Sale (circa 1385-circa 1460), to the 18th century philosophe, Antoine de Lassalle, and to the Swiss-French belle-lettrist, Madame de Staël (1766-1817): "L'amour est un égoïsme à deux," which translates as: "Love is a selfishness of two."

2. A situation in which two people are in love with each other but lack brotherly love for others.

Monday, October 8, 2007

HOMECOMING WEEK AT BOONE HIGH SCHOOL!!!!

Let the revelries begin!

Note to seniors: I am available today during A lunch in the Writing Center AND after school for college essay help.

APees: MacScavenger Hunt and lecture/discussion on Blake, Mac-concepts, and that darned spot.

Gifted II: After a rousing quiz, a field trip to the Media Center to conduct our own hunt for knowledge.

Friday, October 5, 2007

Note to self: Your rent is due today.

Note to students: Disregard note to self.

The end of a week, and the cusp of HOMECOMING WEEK!!!!!!!! Next week is going to be so amazing. If anyone felt like decorating my classroom door, that would be most excellent--so see me and we can work something out.

APees: Finish Act V and discuss the roles of various motifs throughout this play, including its political context and the implications it might have for a modern readership.

Gifted English II: AofD is Hawthorne, who we didn't quite get to earlier this week, and then we have a super-duper QUIZ on words 101-120. This list is easy, so relax. Then. . .Bible stuff!

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Harrooo! Friendly reminder that TOMORROW is our fantastic Information Society Meeting, immediately after school in room 313. Come on in and be prepared for a super-short meeting at which we will:

*go over the ushering calendar for OST this season;
*brainstorm T-shirt designs for our club;
*take votes on Stuff We Can Do for Boone That's Never Been Done for Boone Before
*play with palindromes.

Back to academia:

APees: Act V!!!!! You are in for such a rollercoaster treat. Mactest coming up. . .

Gifted English II: "Traveling Through the Dark" by William Stafford; "Crowded Tub" by Shel Silverstein; Coleridge as AofD; notes on board for Bible literature. Reminder: Voc quiz TOMORROW.

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Short Wednesday! Such fun. I will be staying after school for over an hour for the express purpose of helping seniors with college essays and letters of recommendation. Get in line and bring a snack for yourself.

APees: You have a quiz on Act IV today, complete with bonus question and menacing laughter from your instructor. Mwahahahaha. Afterwards--Macpapering the world!

Advance Notice to APees: If you wish to have your own copy of Hamlet for writing, scribbling, etc., then go ahead and order a copy from www.amazon.com or a local bookstore. You have the play in its entirety in your NINETY-FIVE DOLLAR ANTHOLOGY and I have some paperback copies for use with stickynotes, but if you prefer to write in your own margins, get a copy now so you won't panic in a week or two.

Gifted English II: After yesterday's Timed Writing Fun Seminar, we're diving back into the wreck (so to speak) with Percy Shelley as our AofD and a TP-CASTT analysis of "Ozymandias," which will serve as our thematic bridge between the ancient Greek world and our mini-unit on the literature of the Bible.*


*Clarification point for parents or students reading this: We are studying the literature of the Bible strictly from the perspective of literary analysis and for historicity, not from a theological standpoint. Understanding certain Biblical characters and themes will aid in deconstructing much of British and American literature, and understanding the allusions in classical literature can only help students reach new levels of comprehension and analysis. The College Board strongly recommends some Biblical backgrounds in preparation for both AP Language and Literature, which is why I incorporate such information into a pre-AP/Gifted class.

For full disclosure: I do volunteer for the Diocese of Orlando, through St. James Catholic Cathedral, and I am a religious person. HOWEVER, nothing in my curriculum involves proselytizing one religious viewpoint over another, and I will be sharing selections from various Bibles (New International Version, KJV, etc.) as approved by the State of Florida's benchmark recommendations. If you have any questions or concerns feel free to contact me, but please rest assured that I've been teaching this unit for years and have yet to convert anyone to Catholicism through it. Really. :-)

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Tonight is PTSA Parent Night. Please encourage your parents to attend--or come yourself!

APees: Fourth period needs yesterday's handouts--I forgot to give them out at the end of the period yesterday. One is The Short Handbook of Grammar and Mechanics, as assembled by The Wise One (room 315.) If you still have yours from AP Lang last year, then by all means keep that copy and save a tree or two. The other is a guide to literary allusions that I compiled, particularly for those who might need a brushing-up on some Bibilical or mythological terms.
Fifth needs their focus papers.
All AP classes: Act IV, complete with cartoons. This is the most challenging and mind-bending section of the play, so brace yourselves.

Gifted English II: After going over our AofD Nathaniel Hawthorne, we are doing a timed writing on the Icarus myth that we've been studying for the past few days. The assignment is a comparison/contrast and I will post the prompt on this blog for anyone who isn't in class for the physical timed writing element.

Project X: Many thanks to Mary Claire for organizing and carrying out Project X, in which a gift for our custodian was arranged. The gift has been acquired and we will give it to him after school today. Thanks to everyone for helping, but particular gratitude to MC for coming up with the idea in the first place and executing it with such finesse.

Monday, October 1, 2007

It's hard to believe we're already in October! Goodness!

Please remind your parental units about Parent Night tomorrow evening, starting at 6:30 p.m. I have peppermints and butterscotch candies for them, and a plethora of information for them.

APees: Second period needs to take the Act II quiz at the start of the period; everyone else gets their quizzes back and an update on grades. Today we're assessing the use of language in Act III and seeing what FRQs would apply to this particular piece of literature--and I'm assigning the next FP. My condolences.*

Gifted English II: Author of the Day is Thomas Harris, the modern scary-novel writer, after which we will finish the last literary terms list. We'll finish discussing Icarus before engaging in a timed writing opportunity in class tomorrow. Trust me: You'll love it!

*Note to APees: One of you asked me last week how many papers we were going to write this year. I just wanted to remind you that there is a calendar on the syllabus--a calendar from which we've already had to deviate thanks to senior assemblies, panoramic photos, and general life issues getting in the way--but that if you check that you'll see that we are generating short papers approximately every week and a half or so. Some of you have already "gotten the memo" and are producing elegant, concise papers in a fairly short period of time--my goal is that through repetition, the focus paper assignment becomes something that you can generate in under an hour. After all, in early May, and under a highly pressured scenario, you will be asked to generate THREE focus papers BY HAND in two hours. I'm trying to get you ready for that reality, and in the process furnish you with plenty of material to take with you next year to college. That's my logic, anyway, and I hope you understand it. If not, please come see me and we'll talk.

:-)

Friday, September 28, 2007

Best wishes for the game tonight against West Orange!

APees, 1st, 4th, and 5th periods: MacQuiz for Act II, and discussion of Act III and the three questions Mac asks his best friend. 2nd period will be participating in the Senior Panoramic Picture today, and it might take all period.

Gifted English II: Author of the Day is Anne Sexton, the confessional poet. We are going to read her Icarian-themed sonnet "To A Friend Whose Work Has Come to Triumph" today and analyze it, after which we'll start reviewing the final list of literary terms in our collection.

Fifth Period Group: Meet in my classroom after school for the Chipotle gathering.

Thursday, September 27, 2007

APees: Macplay; Act II. Be sure to get the notes off of the board.

Gifted English II: Our second state-sanctioned reading day will be today; the final due date for Count of Monte Cristo is October 31, 2007.

Have a great day, everyone!

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Reminder about Friday: Dear Seniors! The Senior Panoramic Picture will be Friday morning at 8:45 a.m. (second period) and you MUST wear orange and bring a pencil with you to the photo session. Come loud and proud for your Class of 2008.

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition: First and second period are taking/finishing the MacQuiz, and fourth and fifth will get their scored quizzes back. We will also have a Title Parade if time permits from yesterday's focus papers. Today in class--Act II discussion/performance, culminating in the Porter sequence. Be prepared to take notes.

Gifted English II: Hello, sophys! We have a few bits of business to attend to: Collection of the Antigone essays, distribution of previously graded work from the third and sixth period bins, and reminders about Project X. (Mary Claire was nice enough to offer cookies for whichever class could help the most with Project X.) Today we are going to have a new Author of the Day, George Orwell. He will amaze you. Afterwards, we are going to review our reading of Ovid from yesterday and take a look at the poetry in the Icarus packet I gave you, with particular emphasis on "To A Friend Whose Work Has Come to Triumph" and "Musee des Beaux Arts."

Reminder: Tomorrow is our next state-sponsored reading day.

Reminder Reminder: PTSA Open House is NEXT TUESDAY at 6:30 p.m. Please encourage your parents to attend; I promise to be on my best behavior, and, besides, we're not allowed to tell your parents anything negative about you at Open House. Really. So tell them to come.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Hello, peeps! How are all of you today?

Today is TUESDAY, a lovely day--not quite the middle of the week, but with the dreaded Monday behind us and the potentially disastrous Thursday still two days hence. Tuesdays are nice days; tomorrow is short day (for you, anyway--I always have a maelstrom of meetings), the Orlando Sentinel publishes the first of three Ticked Off! columns for the week, and new albums and books "drop" to retailers on humble, unassuming Tuesday.

And today is no exception. Today is going to be amazing.

APees: Seven of you need to take a little test for me; I've already spoken to you about this and it will only take six minutes. I will have a comfy chair for you in the English Department Office and the State of Florida thanks you. When you are finished, we will take the Macquiz and you will have your first Art Opportunity of the year! Act II of the Macplay is a little disturbing, so if you need a smiley face sticker going in see me and one will be provided. We want happy children here at Boone.

Gifted English II: Antigone Objective Test! Not really a test, either; more like an assessment of what you learned and how you learned it, plus quotes. I love quotes. I doubt many of you share that sentiment.

We need to discuss the Author of the Day Project, reiterate the CMC deadline (OCtober 31!) and make more progress with the tale of Icarus and his doting daddy.

p.s. congratulations

And lest I forget:

Congratulations to the BHS Varsity Football Team for taking down Oak Ridge Friday night, and congrats to the band, cheerleaders, dance team members, and peppy crowd members for making it a memorable evening. Go Boone!

Monday, September 24, 2007

NOTE: There will be no Information Society meeting this week, due to conflict with Latin Club. I am "meeting by memo" this week and will give everyone the requisite information by Tuesday. We need to democratically select another meeting date/time that doesn't conflict with Latin Club and/or off-campus faculty meetings.

AP Literature and Composition: Just to be clear, since so many of us are still waging war on www.turnitin.com and its occasional site meltdowns: The Oedipus Rex paper is due in my hands TOMORROW and MONDAY NIGHT MIDNIGHT on the site/to my e-mail. Electronic. schmelectronic. I know. I feel your pain.

The first Macquiz is tomorrow, as well--so we need to finish Act I today! I asked you to read through Act I, scene iii at home, so we should rip through that scene like Macbeth through Macdonwald's traitorous belly. (See scene ii for the full imagery of that allusion.)

Gifted English II: Good times ahead! For planning purposes, and to reiterate the info given in class that ::ahem:: SOME of you wrote down:

Monday: Vocabulary Quiz
Tuesday: Antigone Objective Test
Wednesday: Antigone Essay Questions Due, electronically AND in person.

So, what joyous things are we going to do today after our quizlet? Let me tell you!

We are going to review a few key elements from Antigone. . .THEN we are going to check out Ovid's Metamorphoses! Before you get really excited, let me tell you that this little mini-unit is going to connect literature to language and grammatical constructions via a TIMED WRITING. I can't wait!

Friday, September 21, 2007

LAST DAY OF SUMMER!

Tomorrow, September 22, is not only Ms. Skinner's birthday, but also the official beginning of Autumn, my very favorite season. We don't technically have fall here in Florida, but haven't you detected a slight crispness in the air for the past couple of days? It's been a lovely shift.

Good luck tonight, Braves! Let's go 4-0!

APees: More Macstuff today, with some friendly reminders of Oedipus Rex writing ideas for FP#3.

Gifted English II: Vocabulary Quiz #5, followed by an inspirational discussion related to Antigone.

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Friendly reminder of today's poetry reading:

Dandelion Communitea on Thornton for four poems with Covert et moi. We will start around three and end around five; come for some or all of the experience! APees and Friends invited.
(They make a really nice Moroccan Mint Tea there. . .I can't get over how amazing that tea is. . .)

Today my classroom is CLOSED for A lunch. I have a meeting with admin and cannot have unsupervised peeps in my classroom. Back open as usual on Friday!

AP Lit: We were going to review the timed writings with my comments today, but an incident after school ended up taking a disproportionate amount of my time and so we have an option that first period will democratically determine for the rest of the crew. We can peer review OR hold off until I can read more exhaustively through all of them. I do have stats to share with you regarding approaches to the prompt that we should discuss. We also need to go over the ORex paper's expectations today, and make the transition into the Macplay. It will change your life.

Gifted English II: Author of the Day Quiz today, immediately followed by a discussion of the Antigone testing process. You have a take-home essay test that will be submitted through www.turnitin.com AND an objective test. We are also reviewing terms 81-100 in our literary terms list today. Bring your hw with you!

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

TODAY IS TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY!!!!!!!! I have extra eye patches if you lost yours. Aaaargh, matey! (Disclaimer: BHS and Ms. Hilley recognize that real pirates are scurvy fellows with limited morals. We are not celebrating REAL pirates but cool fictitious ones like Capt. Jack Sparrow and Capt. Jack Sparrow. Did I mention Capt. Jack Sparrow?)

Ahhhhhh--an early day with no faculty meeting! I will be in my room for at least an hour after school today for anyone who needs help with anything.

AP Literature and Composition: Timed Writing. We have a 43-minute class period today, and at least 40 of those minutes needs to be focused on an AP prompt that serves two pedagogical purposes for our Learning Adventure.

1. Solid practice for the AP exam in May, during which you will have to generate three essays in two hours.

2. An ideological connection to both Oedipus Rex and the Macplay.

You will get these timed writings back tomorrow with feedback for further peer review.

Gifted English II: Establish first firm reading deadline for CMC; finish Antigone in class today; Author of the Day is Dr. Suess; prep for Author of the Day quiz TOMORROW. If time: Go over literary vocabulary #81-100.

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Happy Tuesday!

The Writing Center is open during both lunch shifts for anyone who needs help, and I will be available for over an hour after school today for college essay/application help.

AP Literature and Composition: Today is the Oeditest; tomorrow, a timed writing. And the fun just continues! Woot! Bring a pen with you today and an extra sheet of paper; you can write directly on this test so you won't need a pencil.

Gifted English II: Author of the Day is Geoffrey Chaucer for 3rd period and Angela Shelf Madearis for sixth, and we are doing Edusoft Benchmark Testing for the bulk of the period. I have pencils for you, and shiny heart stickers!

Monday, September 17, 2007

Notes to all students:

1. Congratulations to the Boone Braves for another victory! We're 3-0!
2. If you owe make-up work for this class, or any of your other classes, you need to get it into to your instructor ASAP. Grades will be uploaded by tomorrow afternoon (9/18) so that progress reports can go home Thursday, September 20.

APees: Review for ORex test; return focus papers; discuss expecatations for ORex paper; shift into high gear looking at other FRQ options.

Gifted Eng II: Go over strategies for Edusoft Benchmark Testing tomorrow in class; Author of the Day will be Geoffrey Chaucer; distribute graded work and go over expectations for Antigone essay test; finish Scenes III and IV of Antigone.

Writing Center is open today during both lunch shifts. I can't help anyone after school due to the Faculty Advisory Committee meeting at 2:30.

Friday, September 14, 2007

Good luck tonight, BHS Varsity Team!

Today is ORANGE AND WHITE day. If you are wearing our school colors, or a Boone t-shirt, you can leave early for lunch.

APees: Yes, you just handed in the second focus paper, but I'm mean (not really) and am giving you the third assignment today. Oeditest will be TUESDAY. Today--related poetry.

Gifted English II: Author of the Day is Anonymous. Vocabulary Quiz--the first on your own! With no review help from me! Wow! And. . .Antigone, Scene 3, and related questions. HW this weekend: Read at least 40 pages in Count of Monte Cristo.

Thursday, September 13 2007

Happy Rosh Hashanah and Ramadan!

APees: Today we are going to divert briefly from our discussions of ORex--academic vocabulary review, discussion of AP FRQs, and a spirited reading of "On the Road to Delphi" by John Updike.

Gifted English II: Author of the Day is Douglas Coupland; grammar review courtesy of Daily Grammar.com; Scene II of Antigone as dramatically re-enacted by our peers. A good time should be had by all. Reminder: Vocab quiz manana!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will be available after school until 3:30 to read over college app essays and National Merit passages. Come see me.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

NOTE: Our third special Fire Drill today! Second period! A chance to mingle outside with our peers! Yay!

APees: You have a focus paper due TODAY--hard copy version in my hand by 3 p.m. and electronic copy via www.turnitin.com OR hilleyj@ocps.net by 11:59 p.m. tonight. I will be in a department meeting after school today in room 315, but my room will be unlocked and you can leave the paper on my desk with my secretary (kidding--she's nine and will be playing) OR you can quietly wander in and slip it to me during the meeting. I don't like meetings much, so I'll welcome the distraction. Also kidding. This is the coffee speaking.

As for class today--we are in Guidance being Guided. When you are finished, come back to the lobby for casual enlightenment. We might not have time for actual learning, but if we do--if we do, oh please--there is a snazzy poem called "On the Way to Delphi" that needs our attention.

Gifted English II: Our first reading day for Count of Monte Cristo! Contrary to popular belief, this is NOT Gifted Nap Day, or Gifted Giggle Day, or anything non-academic. You are to find a comfortable spot and READ, after which you will submit a reading slip to indicate your progress with the novel thus far. Extra copies will be on the front table.

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Today is the sixth anniversary of the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Pennsylvania tragedies that we collectively call 9-11. I hope that everyone is safe and happy today.

APees: Continuation of discussion from yesterday, and beginning of discussion regarding Jocasta. There are some terrific questions on page 1301 that we should reference, and if we have time I want to go over some FRQs from past AP exams.

Sophys: Antigone, "Prologue and Parados." Also--a friendly reminder about this week's vocab quiz, tomorrow's reading day of amazingness, and How Appositive Phrases Work.

Monday, September 10, 2007

Congratulations to the BHS Football Team, Band Members, and Cheerleaders (aka Athletic Supporters) for the astonishing victory over Timber Creek last Friday in double overtime. Braves are 2-0 this season thus far--let's keep it up!

APees: ORex reading and questions; critical essay on "Sophocles and the Plague of Modernity."
Reminder: You have a focus paper due on Wednesday, September 12--in my hand by 3 p.m., and on http://www.turnitin.com/ by 11:59 p.m. Also, Wednesday is significant in that we are having our Senior Meetings with your respective Guidance Counselors. Meet in Guidance.

Gifted English II Sophys: Author of the Day today is Anne Rice, vampire novelist. We will finish our pre-reading of Antigone and start looking at the play itself today, and I need to collect your grammar assignment from Thursday. HW tonight: Reading CMC (or acquiring it!) and working on your literary vocabulary, since I'm not reviewing the list with you this week.

Friday, September 7, 2007

WE PLAY TIMBER CREEK TONIGHT!!!!

And. . .senior snake sixth period! (I really like drums.) Congrats to all the new seniors who will be roaming the school at the end of our day.

AP Literature and Composition: The dramatic re-enactment of Sophocles's Oedipus Rex: Parados and Episode 1 today. HW: Read as much as you can this weekend preparatory to our critiques on Monday and continue working on FP#2.

Gifted English II: Vocabulary Quiz on Literary Terms, subset 3; Author of the Day is Sophocles himself and our discussion will continue to develop as we craft the backstory for Antigone. Bring your textbook on Monday with you, and don't forget your grammar homework!

Thursday, September 6, 2007

APees: ORex and the power of oracles. Post-it quiz on your reading last night.

Sophys: Author of the Day: Margery Kempe and discussion of "Charming Billy," and a post-it note quiz. Transition into Greek drama with Antigone and reminder of our first reading day next Wednesday.

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Ahhhhh--short Wednesday!

We bid adieu to the MathCat yesterday and are gearing up for a busy fall season. Don't forget to come by the tables at Rush Week to check out all of the club activities for the school year. Rush Week will be during both lunch shifts outside the KemoSabe Commons.

APees: Finish the Marlowe/Raleigh discussion from yesterday; address concerns about the new focus paper assignment; introduction to Sophocles. Tone Glossaries will go home later this week.

Gifted English II: Review 41-60 on the litterms list and read a story by Tim O'Brien in our text. Next up: Antigone, in class, and Count of Monte-Cristo, outside of class. Character lists will go home later this week.

NOTE: The Writing Center is now open for business during both lunch shifts! If you need assistance come in and Mrs. Nicoll, Mrs. Buchanan, Mr. Glester and I will help you with the aid of our highly trained and qualified staff of student consultants.

If you need help after school today I am unavailable, but I can stay Thursday and Friday for college application essay help and rec letters. Come see me if you have questions or want to schedule a specific time.

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Welcome back after a restful and deeply introspective Labor Day weekend!

APees: Today you will be assigned the second focus paper and we will begin to make a transition out of our summer project and into Greek tragedy. Also: Academic vocabulary. Trust me. It's important.

Sophys: Our Author of the Day today was going to be Carl Hiaasen, but instead he was Thursday and Nabakov was Friday. So today WILL be Toni Morrison. Also, we are going to work with irony in literature today and give back your Death of a Stranger papers.

LABOR DAY WEEKEND

Dear students: For the first time in the history of my teaching career, you have no homework over the Labor Day Weekend.

Well, that's not entirely true, but it's mostly true.

APees: If you need to resubmit your Bovary/Awakening focus paper, you should work on it over the weekend, since it is due Tuesday (periods 1,2, and 4) or Wednesday (period 5). Also, if you plan to acquire Oedipus Rex in paperback instead of reading it in our anthology, you should go ahead and do that.

Gifted IIs: You might want to go ahead and get a copy of The Count of Monte Cristo (abridged) as soon as possible. It is our next reading assignment and it's wonderful.

Other than that, though--no specific assignment. I will wait until next week to inflict more pain/enlightenment.

Friday, August 31, 2007

Happy Friday! Wow! What an exciting week!

Our first CLUB MEETING is after school today--I have membership forms for you and a tentative schedule for ushering with the Orlando Shakespeare Festival. There are no dues, and everyone is an officer. It is my ideal club vision.

AP Literature: Social criticism in both works for summer reading; focus paper workshop; allusions; introduction to Greek tragedy.

Gifted English II: Author of the Day is Toni Morrison, the Nobel Prize-winning novelist. After we take Vocabulary Quiz #2, we will do a grammar review activity (remember Mr. Johansen?) and work more with genre studies.

Thursday, August 30, 2007

AP Literature and Composition: Today you will be assigned your second focus paper. In addition, we are going to discuss the multiple-choice practice session from yesterday, and go over highlights from some of the passages. This is also an excellent time to review a mnemonic device for poetic analysis: TP-CASTT. (See below if you miss class today.)

Gifted English II: Our Author of the Day today is the incredibly ambiguous and challenging Vladimir Nabakov. Reading today: "The Storyteller" by Saki, and analysis.

TP-CASTT: Mnemonic Device for Poetic Analysis

T: Title (first impressions, word choices, prediction)
P: Paraphrase (overall meaning of the poem)
C: Connotation (word choice, figurative language)
A: Attitude/Tone (the author's view toward the subject matter)
S: Shift (where does the work shift direction?)
T: Title again (more symbolic)
T: Theme (final assumption of the poem's underlying message or meaning)

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

If your teachers seem especially giddy today, that would be because today is the first payday. Many teachers do not have paychecks distributed over the summer, so some of us haven't seen an augmentation to our minor ducats since the end of May. It is truly a joyous day.

AP Literature and Composition: Our first multiple choice practice session! Bring a pencil and that open mind, and I will give you the reading passages and limited-edition scantron sheets. What a great opportunity to dip a toe into the AP well!

Gifted English II: Author of the Day: Jane Austen. Your revised Willy Loman/Mersault drafts are due by 3 p.m. today--TYPED and DOUBLE-SPACED. Today, we will go over the literary terms from 21-40--pay attention to the examples! If we have time I'd like to introduce the literature of Saki.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

AP Lit: Return focus papers; guidelines for solid writing/review; passage analysis of Flaubert's diction. Tomorrow we will take our first Multiple Choice Practice Session*, so bring a pencil and an open mind.

*The AP Exam comprises three rigorous essay topics, to be addressed within two hours, and a 55-58 question multiple choice session on four or five short passages. Generally a third to a half of the test is on poetry, and the remainder on fictional prose passages. Also, half of the selections are usually from before the 19th century European/British/American canons, and the other are from after the 19th century. We will address various strategies for best addressing this multiple choice session throughout the year, and today is the first enjoyable reading opportunity!

Gifted English II: Our Author of the Day is Louise Erdrich, the Native American poet and novelist. Today we will be working with a PSAT Practice session, including a short reading passage by Jamaica Kincaid. The PSAT will be administered in October and all of you are signed up to take it for free! This might be one of your last opportunities in life to do something with no fee attached, so enjoy!

Non-Academic Note:

We will have a brief travel meeting this evening in my classroom, 313, for anyone interested in either the London or the Venice/Florence trips this year. These are NOT Boone trips, although they involve only Boone kids, and are chaperoned through an OCPS-approved non-profit association called Art Events, Inc. Travel insurance is included in the trip price, and I do not make any money off of these ventures. I just like to travel, and think that when kids are exposed to other cultures, they have opportunities for growth and understanding. This will be my fifth year traveling with this organization and I really enjoy working with my guides. Both trips are almost full, so contact me if you have any questions.

Monday, August 27, 2007

Welcome to the second week of classes!

AP Literature and Composition: After the informative (but stressful, I'm sure) session in College and Career on Friday, I hope that many of you took the college application process seriously this weekend and broke some ground in your process. I've written several rec letters thus far, and I'm starting to become a bit backed up, so if you need one from me let me know as soon as possible so I can add you to the queue. Today in class: Madame Bovary analysis and deep reading in contrast to Chopin, possible distribution of literary anthologies, review of turnitin.com deadlines/procedures. I've been digging through the focus papers and anticipate returning them tomorrow in class.

Gifted English II: Return last week's (largely successful) vocabulary quizzes; brief and illuminating discussion on existential philosophy for third period; Author of the Day will be Mark Leyner; introduction to Genre Studies and possible distribution of textbooks.

Advance Notice: Our next titles are Oedipus Rex (AP) and The Count of Monte-Cristo (Gifted English II.) ORex is in your anthology, but if you would prefer to use a paperback copy for annotation, you may wish to acquire a copy now. GII students will need a copy of Monte-Cristo and should acquire the ABRIDGED version. The UNABRIDGED adds four hundred pages of French countryside descriptions and not much else. I do have a handful of copies for anyone who cannot acquire a copy. See me if you have any questions.

Friday, August 24, 2007

AP Literature and Composition: The first focus paper is due TODAY!!!! Yay! By three p.m.! By fax, messenger, or handed directly to me. Whee!

In class today--Foster and symbolism; deep reading of a Flaubert passage v. Chopin passage. Language is our friend. So says the Language Lemur.

Gifted English II: Literary Terms Vocab Quiz #1-20 (allegory-comedy) followed by a rousing edition of Peer Editing. Our Author of the Day today is Stephen King. Yes, that one.

NOTE TO ALL STUDENTS: The new tardy policy kicks in Monday. I am locking my door, so be warned. Do not get caught in the trap!!! Also, I will be distributing textbooks Monday and clearing space for my in-classroom Sophomore Lockers. Any student can claim shelf space, but beware of light fingers. In other words--leave books and folders, but take your iPod or bling with you.

Thursday, August 23, 2007

AP Literature and Composition: Character chart for The Awakening, discussion questions for Bovary, and instructions on using www.turnitin.com.

If you already have an account, you'll just need to update and add my class. The class ID # is 1953234 and the password is Classof2008. You will earn ten points as soon as you appear on my turnitin roster. The first focus paper doesn't have to go through the website, but the resubmit next week and subsequent papers will. Eventually, all of your focus paper submissions will be electronic and not hard copy. Let's save some trees!

Gifted English II: Third period will be going to the sophomore assembly, and sixth will have an opportunity to work with existential philosophy and their Stranger drafts. Reminder that you have a vocabulary quiz tomorrow on the first twenty literary terms AND a peer edit of your draft work. Also, you will earn ten points if you create your www.turnitin.com account by next Tuesday. Our class ID# is 1953236 and your password is Classof2010. I have instruction sheets if you are still fuzzy about the process after Mrs. Nicoll's class last year.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Today is early day; I have no meetings scheduled and so will be available after school for any questions/concerns from anyone.



AP Literature: Further exploration of MBovary and The Awakening, followed by a deadly/wonderful quiz. He heee.



Gifted English II: Author of the Day today is Alice Walker, followed by a review of your first twenty vocabulary terms and a discussion of The Stranger.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

TODAY IS THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY DURING SECOND PERIOD IN THE GYM.

AP Literature: Today, we will discuss Madame Bovary through the lens of Foster's analysis and review the 120 literary terms every scholar should know and love. You will have an evil/fun quiz tomorrow on the novels. Bring a pen and be prepared to write.

Gifted English II: Our first author of the day is Gabriel Garcia Marquez, the magic realist from Colombia. After we discuss him, we will take the check-reading test on your summer reading, followed by a lively discussion of existential philosophy and the role of the anti-hero.

Monday, August 20, 2007

Welcome back to the new school year!!! We have a disproportioned population among my classes--27 in first period, with 12 in fifth, for example--but we are going to try to find ways to ameliorate the problem over the next few days.

AP Literature: Today, we reviewed the syllabus and asked a few questions about the characterization of Emma Bovary and Edna Pontellier. Specifically, I asked you to think about the significance of ennui in both works, and the deaths of both characters and any attendant symbolism. Your first focus paper is due Friday by 3 p.m. Also, I gave you "moral homework" to find three adults who were willing and able to write you letters of recommendation for college admission.

Gifted English II: Today, we reviewed the syllabus, distributed the first writing assignment (rough draft due for peer revision on Friday), and went over the first vocabulary assignment. Third period read "Little Things" by Raymond Carver; sixth period will read it tomorrow.

AP Students: Clarification

Dear Ones,

Due to the shift in the school calendar, and the fact that we are starting two weeks later than usual, there has been some confusion/concern about the first due date for the summer assignment.

The paper isn't due until the Friday of the first week of school, which on the new calendar is August 24, 2007.

I am so sorry about any stress that this has caused! We've tried to catch every instance of date-specific deadlines from previous years, but a few of you thought the paper was due before school actually starts. That would be mean, wouldn't it?

WELCOME BACK

Welcome back to a new, exciting school year!!! If you've found this assignment blog through the Boone Website, or if you're linking from livejournal, then you're probably enrolled in one of my classes for the 2007-2008 school year: Gifted English II or Advanced Placement Literature and Composition.

School begins on August 20, 2007 at 7:20 in the morning. (Suggestions: Be there before 7! Parking and traffic are both heinous on the first day!) Teachers will be returning on August 13, and we will have orientation for new students and all parents on Thursday, August 16 at 7 p.m. I'll post more details here when they are available, and you should have already rec'd a copy of the Boone Smoke Signals with dates, times, and announcements of community interest.

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND SUCH FOR MY STUDENTS

Gifted English II: You were assigned summer reading; Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller and The Stranger by Albert Camus. You will be taking a check-reading test on the second day of school, so you still have time to read quickly or re-read for clarity. Please recall my speech about SparkNotes. I hate SparkNotes, and you should, too.

AP English Lit: Your summer project involves a focus paper, due August 24, 2007, comparing and/or contrasting some theme, motif, or symbol in Flaubert's Madame Bovary and Chopin's The Awakening. Please bring your books with you to our first class meeting; we will be discussing various elements of naturalism, characterization, and imagery in both novels with respect to Foster's How to Read Literature Like a Professor.

Travel and Clubs: As usual, I have two trips planned for this school year: a graduate trip to London in November during the Thanksgiving break (open only to 18-year-olds and over, due to pub restrictions--we can't even eat in a pub after 7 p.m. if you are under 18) and a terrific trip that is almost full to Florence and Venice for Spring Break. My tour guide, Russ Russell of Art Events, Inc. will be co-hosting a travel meeting with me on Tuesday, August 28 at 7 p.m. in room 313 at Boone. If you are interested--or potentially interested in future excursions--come for snacks, questions, and answers.

The first meeting of the Information Society (InSoc) will be Friday, August 31 in room 313. We have much to discuss and plan--NaNoWriMo this November, and ushering for the OSF, and a fall chocolate party. Plan to attend. There are no dues to join this club, although snack donations are always welcomed, and everyone is an officer.

As always, if you have any questions, you can reach me at hilleyj@ocps.net.

See you all soon!!!

Friday, February 2, 2007

Happy Groundhog Day--of course, this is a day in which Florida faced some very inclement weather, resulting in fatalities in northern regions of Central Florida. While the levels of rain and thunderstorms are supposed to abate as the day progresses, I encourage each of you to be extremely careful out there.

AP Literature: "Ode on a Grecian Urn" and creative project for Romanticism.

Gifted English IV: Rosencrantz preparatory to a quiz on Monday.

Gifted English II: Two written activities: Elements of Style assessment, followed by a quiz on Othello. Both are open-book and are gauged to measure your understanding and synthesis.

Thursday, February 1, 2007

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition: First period will take the Jane Eyre test and begin Keats. Fourth and fifth will work with the "Chapman" poem and make a transition into "When I Have Fears" with a discussion of art and literature.

Gifted English IV: Progress further into Rosencrantz; Hamlet analysis papers due today by 3 p.m.; in-class writing assignment.

Gifted English II: "Janet Waking" as a class opener, followed by a brief discussion of language and power and a transition into the fight scene between Cassio and Montano in Othello, Act II.

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Due to National Honor Society tapping this morning, first period will be taking the Jane Eyre test tomorrow instead of today.

First period: Finish reviewing the passages in the beige practice book for multiple choice.

Gifted English IV: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.

Gifted English II: The Elements of Style, rules 14, 15, and 16, and Othello.

AP Literature: Jane Eyre test and "On First Looking Into Chapman's Homer"

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

AP Literature: First period will be taking the multiple choice practice session; fourth and fifth will be finishing and reviewing for the Jane Eyre quizlet on Wednesday.

Gifted English IV: RosenGuil again.

Gifted English II: Othello Act II, and Elements rules 15, 16, and 17.

Monday, January 29, 2007

Can you believe it's the end of January already?

ADJUSTED DEADLINE: Due to confusion on my part, I neglected to distribute the supplemental source material that some of you will need for the Jane Eyre paper. Therefore, the paper is due Friday, February 2, by 3 p.m. I am sorry for the error.

Seniors: Senior Superlative ballots go out today. If you take this seriously, you will need to submit a ballot by Wednesday. We will not be spending any class time on this endeavor.

AP Literature: First period will be experimenting with terza rima, and fourth and fifth will be taking the AP Practice Multiple Choice Session (the one that starts on page 90 in the beige practice book--the poem with Richard Wright.)

Gifted English IV: Notes on Theater of the Absurd and begin the first 16 pages of R and G Are Dead. Reminder: Hamlet essay due Wednesday.

Gifted English II: Elements of Style, rules 12, 13, and 14; Othello Act I vocabulary quiz; the joys of a messy desk. (No kidding--it's an interesting concept in a new book.)

Friday, January 26, 2007

AP Learners: Don't forget the second, amazing, fruitful poetry session after school today at the Barnes and Noble on SR 50 and Bumby. 3-5 p.m.

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition: Shelley; HW for the weekend is to FINISH JANE EYRE.

Gifted English IV: Hamlet Unit Test; discuss focus paper assignment; transition into Stoppard.

Gifted English II: The Elements of Style and Othello. Quick-write in class about jealousy and relationships, preparatory to the first Othello-related focus paper. Also--any resubmits on the Julius Caesar paper are now due.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition: Shelley, "Ozzy," and "Ode." Good times.

Gifted English IV: Almereyda's Hamlet as review for tomorrow's test.

Gifted English II: Othello, Act I, scene ii and iii. Also--question packet for additional credit.

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

The Mock Trial team will be holding practice in my room after school today from 2-4:30. If anyone needs to see me, it will need to be before 2 p.m.

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition: First period will be assessing the letters between Southey and Bronte before moving back into Coleridge. Fourth and fifth will revisit Coleridge and make the transition to Shelley.

Gifted English IV: Hamlet review for unit test on Friday; share Hamlet creative writings. Also, distribute Hamlet focus paper.

Gifted English II: Othello reading questions; Othello, Act I, scene i. Review vocabulary preparatory to quiz tomorrow.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

We will have several UCF interns observing us today. Try not to devour them.

AP Literature and Composition: Deconstructing Coleridge, Chapter II. Some questions to consider: How is Coleridge's vision of nature different from Wordsworth? Who is the "dear lady" of whom he speaks so admiringly? How does the poem connect to the other "conversation poems" in Romanticism?

Gifted English IV: Finish Hamlet, Act V, scene ii, and review the creative writing assignment due tomorrow.

Gifted English II: Elements of Style quiz, part i, and discussion of Othello pre-reading themes, focusing on "reputation".

Monday, January 22, 2007

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition: Deconstructing Coleridge, Part I.

Gifted English IV: Hamlet, Act IV, scene v and Act V, scene i questions.

Gifted English II: Passage from "Palace Walk" by Naguib Mahfouz.

Friday, January 19, 2007

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition: Coleridge to Shelley.

Gifted English IV: Hamlet packets, for test review; finish the play.

Gifted English II: Julius Caesar Unit Test, and revisions of JC focus papers due. Transition to Othello.

Thursday, January 18th 2007

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition: "This Lime-Tree Bower My Prison" and Romanticism creative project.

Gifted English IV: Hamlet questions from Act IV to Act V.

Gifted English II: LUPERCAL!!!!

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Hello, Wednesday!

AP Literature and Composition: Jane Eyre quiz, chapters 17-22. Analysis of "Rime" with graphic organizer and conversation about the poem. Albatross. . .

Gifted English IV: Hamlet quiz and more Hammityham.

Gifted English II: Final quick meeting on Lupercal festival and review for Julius Caesar test on Friday. Also: Chapter 1 of The Elements of Style by Strunk and White.