Thursday, December 11, 2008

PSAT scores are in! If your first period teacher did not give them to you yesterday, be sure to specifically ask for them today. I have a PowerPoint I am to show you that can explain the scores. And I'll use puppets, too.

Sophys: Act I and Act I questions; quick review of content vocabulary for tomorrow's quiz.

APees: R&G Are Dead, Act II and hopefully Act III.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

The School Board voted tonight to reverse the bell schedule decision in August, 2009. Next year's schedule will more closely mimic last year's, although we will probably keep the seventh period option due to budgetary constraints.

The session was liveblogged on the Sentinel website and you will be able to read the complete article in tomorrow's paper.

Sophys: A handful of you need to finish the Edusoft Benchmark testing, after which we will launch into the handout I was reviewing on Monday. Once we finish that, we will go over the character list for JC and read Act I, scene i. YOU NEED YOUR TEXTBOOK.

APees: Mrs. Pleicones is coming from Guidance to review your diploma options with you, after which we are going to progress with R and G Are Dead. And I swear if I hear one more complaint about this literary selection I am going to completely freak out. Read it. Try to understand it. Yes, it is challenging. But it's also on the AP exam so please try to relax and stop vocalizing every little sentiment that pops into your heads. That said, have a nice day.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Before school today, Project X-Mas kids will be gathering to collect the coin jars/bags from all of the participating classrooms. I will send one more e-mail encouraging club/team involvement. As of right now, each custodian gets a check for just over 100 for Christmas--a notable feat by any measure, but not quite our goal. The economy has affected everyone and we are grateful to all who participated, from students to parents to clubs. Some clubs went way above and beyond--FCA, Spanish Club, Math Club, Bravettes, and the Cheerleaders. Awesome. I'll post a full update once we are finished and see what admin can do to assist.

Further note to Project X-Mas students: I will be giving out service letters on Friday to each of you, and would request your attendance at the faculty pre-holiday meeting on Wednesday, December 17 after school in the Jr/Sr Cafeteria to present the checks and appreciation program to the custodians.

On to curricular matters!!!

Sophys: Today is Edusoft Benchmark Testing. As I told you in class yesterday, PLEASE take this endeavor seriously. FCAT is just around the corner.

APees: R and G Are Dead, Act II. Students going on the very cool trip to New York with the Academy of Finance--see me before you depart. I need to check a play out to you for reading on the plane.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Two weeks left until Winter Break! Can you believe it???

NOTE: Sophys will have Edusoft Benchmark Testing tomorrow (Tuesday) in class. Please bring a pencil; I will have some on hand, but I know how important it can be to use a pencil to which you are emotionally attached. Mechanical is fine. Please take this benchmark testing seriously; kids who have been smart alecks in the past have found themselves unceremoniously dumped into Intensive Reading courses. You DO NOT WANT THIS. Take it, take it seriously, earn ten points. Life is good.

NOTE NOTE: Project X-Mas kids will meet before school tomorrow morning (Tuesday) to gather coin jars for our final count. Whatever we collect (we have over a thousand dollars so far, not counting pledges from clubs and teams) we divide among the custodial staff for Christmas presents. Thanks to all for their contributions! Service letters will be distributed to all of you by Friday.

SOPHYS: After reviewing the definitions of the Candide content vocabulary from last week, we're going to segue from the Elizabethan time period to the Ancient Roman in preparation for our study of Julius Caesar, Shakespeare's history play. The play is deceptively straightforward but evokes issues such as the power of rhetoric and oratory, and the significance of shifting loyalties and the capriciousness of mob rule.

APees: Continued hilarity with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Act I. Tom Stoppard is such a hoot.

Random Quote of the Day: "I have many leather-bound books, and my apartment smells of rich mahogany." --Ron Burgundy.

Notice Regarding Friday, December 5, 2008

I know that several of you need to leave early due to the playoff game down in West Palm Beach, and some have made arrangements to come to a different class period for AP Literary Madness. Guess what? You're probably off the hook.

I had another dramatic fall in the BHS parking lot this evening--around six p.m., if you must know, and while I made it through my travel meeting okay my leg is remarkably tender and swollen, so I'm taking off a half-day tomorrow for yet another x-ray adventure and a chance to elevate the swollen limb. Good times.

I will be at school tomorrow morning from 7:30-11:30ish, for anyone who needs me, and I hope that the football game is amazingly successful and that everyone is doing well.

Thanks and have a great weekend!!!

Lesson Plan for my absence: Read Act I of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, with copies provided in class. Please submit the hard copy of your focus paper to your substitute; I will read the submissions on www.turnitin.com over the weekend and grade the hard copies on Monday and Tuesday. The sub will stamp your paper as received when you submit to her/him.
(I will be there for Gifted English II tomorrow, for part II of my lecture on the Tudors.)