Lesson Schedule: September 27-October 1, 2010

General Announcements for the Good of the Order:

1. Macbeth texts should be in Monday or Tuesday (at the latest.) If you signed up for a text, be sure to check your name off on the master list before picking one up. If you would still like to BORROW one for the duration see me--I found six errant copies floating about.

2. SOPHYS: The reading deadline for The Count of Monte Cristo is officially (and inarguably) Wednesday, October 27. That gives you another MONTH. Read, read, read. . .and read some more! For those of you who plan ahead: The next novel is Candide by Voltaire.

3. BHS will have an awesome and massive rummage sale next Saturday in the faculty parking lot. Be sure to come! One person's wretched refuse is another's teeming shore!

TENTATIVE ACADEMIC SCHEDULE FOR APees:

Monday, September 27, 2010: Lecture/discussion on the origins of Shakespearean tragedy, beginning with Henry VII and the English Renaissance and culminating in James I and the Gunpowder Plot. Bring a pen or pencil and a good sense of humor. Your Oedipus Rex focus paper is due Wednesday BOTH online and in hard copy format.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010: Macbeth content vocabulary; introduction to Macbeth; Act I, scenes i and ii. And there was much rejoicing!

Wednesday, September 29, 2010: Payday, thank God, further enhanced by study of Macbeth. I LOVE THIS PLAY SO MUCH. Supplementary reading on the role of the supernatural, and further movement into Act I and the development of Lady Mac, the original Fatal Attraction. FOCUS PAPERS DUE.

Thursday, September 30, 2010: Brief interruptus of play for multiple choice practice focused on Macb content-wise, followed by the horrors of Act II.

Friday, October 1, 2010: Act II and "On the Knocking at the Gate" by Thomas de Quincey.

SOPHYS

Monday, September 27, 2010: No author, no word--but a brief foray into the world of Edgar Bulwer-Lytton before we saunter into Antigone, Scene IV. We're behind and we need to catch up. HW: Last literary vocab list!!!

Tuesday, September 28, 2010: Author of the Day; word of the day; review vocab terms and return graded papers; Antigone; Scene V and Exodos. HW: Word of the Day activity.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010: Last state-sanctioned Reading Day for CMC, enhanced by chocolate.

Thursday, September 30, 2010: In-class Antigone quiz, followed by work on the question packet (due Monday at the latest.)

Friday, October 1, 2010: Author of the Day; word of the day; vocab quiz 101-120; art show.

Lesson Schedule: September 20-September 24

My, how time flies.

Here is the tentative schedule for next week, for planning purposes. If my family situation nosedives, I might have to make some changes, but for now this looks like The Deal.

APees:

Monday, September 20: Review for Oedipus Rex test tomorrow; go over multiple choice passages from the practice session you did Friday.

Tuesday, September 21: Oedipus Rex test; work on rough draft for in-class review tomorrow.

Wednesday, September 22: In-class review of ORex focus paper. (NOTE: 3rd period: I had intended to make this due on Thursday, but I was informed after your class last week that Guidance wanted to see you Thursday after all. If you can have it ready today, great. If not, I can look at it during the Writing Center for you Thursday during either lunch shift.)

Thursday, September 23: Guidance visit for transcripts, corrections, and senior graduation check.

Friday, September 24: Introduction to Shakespearean tragedy!

Gifted English II

Monday, September 20: Author of the Day: JG Ballard; Word of the Day: alacrity

I had asked you to read and answer the questions for Scene II and Ode II of Antigone on Friday; today, we are starting with Scene III--now with more metaphors! HW tonight: Define vocabulary words 81-100 and read a chapter in The Count of Monte Cristo.

Tuesday, September 21: Author of the Day: David Foster Wallace. Word of the Day; myriad. Scene IV and Ode IV of Antigone; reminder about reading day tomorrow.

Wednesday, September 22: Second Reading Day for The Count of Monte Cristo! Ten points for reading--be sure to bring your book!

Thursday, September 23: Author of the Day: Emily Dickinson. Word of the Day: perambulate. Antigone, Scene V and Exodos.

Friday, September 24: Vocabulary Quiz #5; concluding thoughts on Antigone; due date assigned for Antigone questions; prep for Antigone test.

Blip

I had such grand plans for yesterday, what with handing out eye patches all day, and planning an ice-cream social for the custodial staff, and grading papers and finishing off a pile of make-up work. As the proverb says, if you want to see God laugh, make plans.

I took off yesterday right before first period to come take care of my mom, who was being treated at a local hospital for a heart attack. She's doing much better now, and I hope she can go home this weekend, but it was so odd--quite literally, one moment, I'm helping sophomores tear into a box of eye patches and stickers, and the next moment I'm calming my sister down on the phone and getting a sub.

Many thanks to my cooperative students, for rolling with it; to Mrs. Speer, for getting me a sub in less than 14 minutes, and to Dr. McMillen, for being unilaterally supportive. I think we are out of the woods (for now) and I am posting this as a friendly reminder that life can change in an instant, so hug the people closest to you and tell your parents how much you love them. Please.

Lesson Schedule: September 13, 2010-September 17, 2010

A couple of notes:

1. APees: I am still trying to bump up our senior Guidance visit date, to ameliorate any woe as you prepare for college. If I can't, please order your unofficial transcript and go over it with a fine-tooth comb for errors and inconsistencies. This is very, very important.

2. All classes need their textbooks (or, seniors, your paperback of ORex) until further notice. Every day. No locker passes. EVERY DAY.

3. Seventh period: We need to have a chat. I am very unhappy with about half of you, and the other half is going to hurt the erring half if the whole class goes on a seating chart. Settle down, and now. Today was hot, yes, but the slippery slope towards immature behavior started Tuesday. I'm glad you're all friends, but we have serious work to do and we need to get to it.

The briskness of business out of the way, here is our tentative learning schedule for the upcoming week:

GIFTED ENGLISH II (Periods 1 and 2)

Monday, 9/13/2010 Pass back an enormous amount of graded work from the basket, after which our Author of the Day is Isaac Asimov and our Word of the Day is "ameliorate." We will be having an A of D quiz this week, and you are allowed to use YOUR notes. YOUR notes, not anyone else's, and I don't have any since I do this stuff out of my head. After we do this, we will continue to work on Antigone, Scene 1 and Ode 1, and answer the questions on the guide I gave you last Friday. HW tonight: Define your vocabulary words #61-80; I may not be able to review as thoroughly this week.

Tuesday, 9/14/2010 Our Author today is Harper Lee, and our word is "insouciant." Before we launch headlong into ancient Greece, we need to do a short activity of PSAT preparation. The PSAT is a very important test you will be taking in exactly one month, and it's the single best way we can tell where you need to focus your efforts. You are already signed up to take it on the second Wednesday in October during your morning classes (it's excused) and the cost to sophomores is covered by College Board, as far as current information indicates. Antigone discussion/reading. HW: Bring Count of Monte Cristo with you tomorrow for in-class reading, and a beverage with a cap or lid on it. (No spills in 313!)

Wednesday, 9/15/2010: No Author today; today is the first of three scheduled in-class reading days for The Count of Monte Cristo, which is otherwise an OUTSIDE reading task. I have a character list for each of you and some suggestions on pre-reading, then it's off to the races. The success of the first two reading days will predict how comfortable the last one will be. . . HW: A short handout about commas.

Thursday, 9/16/2010: Author of the Day is Shel Silverstein, and the word of the day is "per se." (I am sick of people spelling it persay.) Then. . .dun dun dun. . .Author of the Day quiz. Then. . .I will answer ten questions about this week's vocab list. Then. . .Antigone! HW: Study for vocab quiz.

Friday, 9/17/2010: Author of the Day is Leo Tolstoy, and word of the day is "egregious." We will have a few minutes to study for our quiz, then we will take the fourth vocab test. Afterwards, we will dive back into Antigone. Your HW this weekend is to continue reading CMC since there will be a progress check next week.

AP Lit and Comp

Monday, 9/13/2010 We initiated a double-entry form of reading on Friday; I'd like everyone to select one quote or line from the play thus far and write it in a universal diagram on the board to initiate discussion. Then, we'll go more linear and take a good look at the in-order questions I gave you Thursday to ensure that everyone understands what's going on with this play. Focus papers go back today, and you have a week to resubmit if you are so inclined.

Tuesday, 9/14/2010 Our focal point today is Jocasta, who is possibly the tragic epicenter of the play and not her son-husband. Her attitude towards omens and the gods is suspect in this time period and we need to see why Sophocles may have created her in this skeptical vein. Also, we will move forward with the double-entry analysis and continue gathering evidence from the play.

Wednesday, 9/15/2010 Switching gears entirely, with popcorn. Last week, we created a timed writing in 30 minutes on a topic from a previous AP exam. Today, you will have a chance to redo that assignment as a revision--for a grade. You may change topics if you like (some of the TWs felt a little rambly, like you couldn't settle on a position in that short a time period) or you may clean up the draft you've already composed. Whatever you turn in at the end of the period gets graded on the 1-9 scale, but I'll try to be nice.

Thursday, 9/16/2010 Back to Oedipus Rex. Today, I have a critical piece by Frederick Glaysher on Sophocles and the "plague of modernity." It's worth reading for several reasons, not the least of which is that responding to this article is Topic #2 for your second focus paper of the year, which I am also assigning today. It is due next Thursday, September 23, 2010.

Friday, 9/17/2010 Oedipus wrap-up (as far as narrative and literary elements go, that is) and finishing the discussion questions in-class. Our next text will be Macbeth by Shakespeare, but it won't be until the end of next week as we have other business to attend to first.

Be well, everyone!

in the weeds

It's awfully early in the school year for me to be this far behind, but I am. And here is an explanation; not an excuse, just an explanation. It's 4 in the morning, the air conditioner has broken for the third time this month, the stacks of papers strewn about my dining room mock me daily, and I am in the weeds.

"In the weeds" is an idiomatic expression that means overwhelmed, overdone, stretched to the max. We all hit it at one point or another. I've just never hit it in September before.

I do have a plan, and will be caught up with the grades and recommendation letters by Monday, September 13. But for the record, here is why I am in this sorry state right now, and why you (or your child) is getting a great education in room 313 each day (I think!) but not a heck of a lot of feedback just yet.

1. I missed pre-planning due to tonsillitis, and never quite recovered.

2. Found out I was allergic to penicillin, and never quite recovered.

3. That turned into the cold I currently have.

4. I am still way over class limits right now, and 99% of my students have turned in their work.

5. Due to budget restrictions, teachers are expected to do more and more with less and less.

Yes, this is self-pitying, and ranty, and I need to build a bridge to get over myself. But I just wanted to clarify that while I may be behind in grading, I am totally on top of my lessons, have written 17 college recommendations, graded 84 essays, tutored over a dozen kids, and offered community service hours. Hopefully, in the grand scheme of the universe, this balances out a little bit.

In the meantime, I have become a human weedwhacker and am struggling to get out of the weeds. Have a lovely day, everyone. I'm working on it!

Tentative Lesson Schedule: Week of September 7, 2010

I will post daily updates, of course, but this is for your planning purposes:

REVISIONS AND REMINDERS

1. No school Monday! Make good use of your Labor Day holiday weekend. Me, I plan to grade, have some ceviche, clean my hovel, and grade some more.

2. SENIORS: The graduation check has been postponed by Guidance for one week due to ongoing schedule changes. IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE A PROBLEM ON YOUR TRANSCRIPT GO SEE MRS. CADMAN NOW. Do not wait. I will post more info when I have it.

3. Happy Rosh Hashanah on Thursday to our students who celebrate this holiday! Of course, Seminole County has the day off. . .

AP Literature and Composition, September 7-10

Tuesday, 9/7/2010: BRING YOUR LIT BOOK

Today is our introduction to Aristotle's version of tragedy, and I need you to read and take notes from an essay in the lit book to accompany my lecture material. Quelle importante.

HW: Read Oedipus Rex by Sophocles by next Monday. (Trust me, you can read it in an hour or so if you are motivated.)

Wednesday, 9/8/2010: TIMED WRITING/AWESOME TOPIC

Thursday, 9/9/2010: We were going to Guidance to work on our graduation stuff, but that has been bumped, so Oedipus Rex it is. I have some content vocab for you, and some biographical stuff on Sophocles to give you some background.

Friday, 9/10/2010: Oedipus Rex and its tragic elements.

Gifted English II, September 7-10

Tuesday, 9/7/2010: Author of the Day: Carl Hiaasen; Word of the Day: indolent

Lecture/discussion on the origins of the Sophoclean trilogy; I asked you to bring your textbook today because we need to look at the introduction to Antigone, which we will be reading in class. NOTE: Our outside reading, which some of you have already begun, is The Count of Monte Cristo. We have plenty of copies in our Media Center if you still need to check one out, and our first in-class reading day will be next Wednesday. HW: Acquire CMC if you have not already done so.

Wednesday, 9/8/2010: Author of the Day: Vladimir Nabakov; Word of the Day: osseocarnisanguineovisceracartilaginervomedullary. In-class activity: Timed Writing for FCAT Practice. (Sorry; not my idea.) And then, Antigone! HW: Comma Practice for PSAT.

Thursday, 9/9/2010: Author of the Day: Jane Austen. Word of the Day: nth. After we review vocabulary words 61-80 (or some of them) we will go into Scene 1 of Antigone. HW: Study for vocab quiz.

Friday, 9/10/2010: Author of the Day: Steve Martin. Word of the Day: sardonic. Vocabulary Quiz for words 61-80, after which more Antigone-related revelries. HW: Work on Antigone questions; revise essay #1 if you need to resubmit for a higher grade.