Monday, August 30, 2010

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Can you believe August is almost over? Horrors. 2010 is slipping away like sands through the hourglass.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER

1. There might be an outdoor activity tomorrow during sixth period involving mass student departures of buildings and such for high-temperature safety reasons. Just saying.
2. If you are of a certain age and have parent permission, you may start signing up for the 9/13 blood drive on Wednesday with Mrs. Kittrell. Please do not sign up to donate during my class period; at least arrange ahead of time with me to attend a different section that day. Saving lives is terribly important, of course, but passing the AP exam is, too. For you.
3. Senior Panoramic Picture is Friday during 3rd period; order forms are on the front table in 313 if you wish to purchase one. Wear orange and white, seniors!
4. If you haven't yet had your senior portrait done, the deadline for appearing in the yearbook is 9/24, but dsp.com is booked here in Orlando and you may have to go to a neighboring town. Mrs. Burke is a terrific resource if you have questions.

SENIORS: Have you applied for college yet? Or asked three adults who love you to write you rec letters? (NOTE: I am 17 deep on rec letters right now; if you need one, no worries, but get me a list of your achievements grades 9-12 to simplify the process or a copy of your brag sheet.)

Gifted English II:

Learning Objective: to assess prior knowledge with grammar and language, to engage in lively discussion about significant writers, to be enthralled by all the linguistic world has to offer us

Benchmarks: Oh, yeah. Absolutely.

Word of the Day: mendacious

Author of the Day: Douglas Coupland

Lesson Plan: Grammar Diagnostic Test and (2nd period) resumption of peer edit activity.

HW: Revise Death of a Salesman/The Stranger essay and submit by midnight tonight on www.turnitin.com. Hard copy is due tomorrow; refer to the style sheet for specifics.

APees:

Learning Objective: to engage in high-level discussion of syntax, diction, and voice with reference to a variety of fictional constructs

Benchmarks: Only the benchiest.

Lesson Plan: After submitting the HW from last night (the Gatsby questions) I'd like to review some of the terms from 1-120 on the reference sheet provided last week (extras are in the box on the front desk AND on ProgressBook.) Afterwards, we will assess two passages from Tess with thought questions and look at the differences between Hardy and Fitzgerald's diction/syntax.