Monday, November 1, 2010

Welcome to the second quarter!!!

Gifted English II: Introduction of Author of the Day project, which will commence next Monday with whatever brave volunteer chooses HP Lovecraft. (Yes, we've talked about him in the Horror Unit but we haven't had a chance to really explore his contributions to the canon.) Afterwards--we MUSTS finish "Pit" since we ran out of time last week. I want to also remind you that the take-home CMC test is due tomorrow BOTH in person and on www.turnitin.com. See me if you have any technical difficulties.

AP Lit and Comp: Return long-overdue ORex papers; you may resubmit them by next week if you scored below a 7. Assign Macbeth focus paper and look at relevant FRQs for this play. 3rd and 7th periods need to read "Man with a Hoe" on p. 46 of the beige lit book and go over multiple choice strategies; 5th and 6th do a practice proofreading exercise recommended by College Board.

Economics Lesson

Many of you are going away next year for the first time. This brief video, while from a few seasons back, is incredibly relevant today. Enjoy!

Monday, November 1, 2010: Curriculum

Gifted English II: Remember please that the take-home CMC test is due tomorrow both on www.turnitin.com and in person, hard copy. Follow the directions carefully. Today in class: PSAT Vocabulary (quiz Friday) and finish viewing CMC.

AP Lit and Comp: Distribute graded work from last quarter; resubmit opportunity still available for ORex papers; distribute focus paper prompt for Macbeth. Discussion of themes and contexts of the play and application of FRQs to the play as a whole.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Welcome to the second quarter!!! The first quarter was a bit of a struggle for some of us (me included) but I have great aspirations for the second quarter and beyond.

First Quarter=Worst Quarter. Okay, that's an exaggeration, but from a paperwork perspective, this has been the worst quarter ever. I have had low-grade narcolepsy and have not slept at night for more than an hour at a time since August, and boy has it affected my reality. That said, there were some victories this quarter:

1. Taught a LOT of material to some really nice kids.

2. Wrote over 40 rec letters and service letters.

3. Proofread over 60 college entrance essays.

4. Sponsored a hugely successful ice-cream social for the custodial staff with the terrific kids from Project X.

5. Gave the SAT and PSAT.

6. Re-opened The Writing Center to huge fanfare.

7. Gave speeches to six classes about Responsible Choices for Homecoming and Polyester Paradise. Not sure if they worked. . .

8. Wrote a book report for professional development.

9. Was nominated for Teacher of the Year.

10. Was selected as mentor for OCPS for AP Lit and Comp.

11. Counseled, hugged, consoled, and laughed with 150+ kids every day.

I'm trying to focus on the positive.

New Policies for Q2:

1. I will get graded work back to you within a week.

2. You may still resubmit essays scored under 40/50 (sophomores) or under 7 (AP.) Upper-tier essays probably won't improve much in diction and syntax and have more issues with style and voice, elements that won't change with revision without fundamentally changing the feel of the submission.

Anyway, I love you all dearly and hope you all do well this quarter.

Friday, October 29, 2010

TEACHER WORK DAY

STUDENT HOLIDAY

GRADES ARE DUE BY 11:00. If you need to make any work up, I'll be in 313 from 7-11.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Since we won't be in school on Hallowe'en, we'll celebrate it today!!!

Gifted English II: Watch The Count of Monte Cristo--today includes the cool Chateau d'If sequence with the man you know as Dumbledore.

AP Lit and Comp: Analyze the poem "Man with a Hoe" and look at the related painting; if time, a brief visual example of satire.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010: Amended

Gifted English II: Finish the CMC test in class. Remember that the take-home portion is due Tuesday, November 2, 2010 both in person and on www.turnitin.com.

AP Lit and Comp: Analysis of a prose passage, page 42, Edition V of the AP Comp Practice Questions series, and review of multiple choice strategies.

Cool Things for Your Brain

Yes, this is just an Internet meme, but enjoy it for its curiosities.

Cool Mind Stuff Pretty Cool ------------------------------------------------------ Read out loud the text inside the triangle below. More than likely you said, 'A bird in the bush,' and... If this IS what YOU said, then you failed to see that the word THE is repeated twice! Sorry, look again. Next, let's play with some words. What do you see? In black you can read the word GOOD, in white the word EVIL (inside each black letter is a white letter). Now, what do you see? You may not see it at first, but the white spaces read the word optical, the blue landscape reads the word illusion. Look again! Can you see why this painting is called an optical illusion? What do you see here? This one is quite tricky! The word TEACH reflects as LEARN. Last one. What do you see? You probably read the word ME in brown, but........ when you look through ME you will see YOU! Do you need to look again? Test Your Brain This is really cool. The second one is amazing so please read all the way though. EYE TEST Count every 'F ' in the following text: FINISHED FILES ARE THE RE SULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTI FIC STUDY COMBINED WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS... (SEE BELOW) HOW MANY? WRONG, THERE ARE 6 -- no joke. READ IT AGAIN! Really, go Back and Try to find the 6 F's before you scroll down. The reasoning behind is further down. The brain cannot process 'OF.' Incredible or what? Go back and look again!! Anyone who counts all 6 'F's' on the first go is a genius. Three is normal, four is quite rare. Look at the spinning woman and if she is turning right your right side of your brain is working. If she is turning left your left side of your brain is working ... More Brain Stuff. . . From Cambridge University . Olny srmat poelpe can raed this. I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the first and last ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can still raed it wouthit a porbelm. This is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! If you can raed this psas it on !!

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Payday!!! This doesn't mean much to you, but for those of us counting our minor ducats, it's a big deal.

Gifted English II: We're watching The Count of Monte Cristo! (For those of you with extended testing time, you can finish the test from yesterday at this time, too.)

AP Lit and Comp: Analysis of the poem "Out--Out--" by Robert Frost.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Can you believe it's almost the end of October? It's also almost the end of the first quarter. Grades aren't due until Friday at noon, so if you have make-up work, this is your window.

Gifted English II: Count of Monte-Cristo check-reading test, and assignment of the CMC take-home essay test. It's due next Tuesday (11-2.)

AP Lit and Comp: Mactest. You can MacDoIt.

Monday, October 25, 2010

I hope everyone had a great Homecoming game and dance! And I hope you all made good choices.

Gifted English II: Author of the Day: Alexandre Dumas pere. Word of the Day: vengeance. Our lesson plan today involves reviewing The Count of Monte Cristo (with board cartoons!) for tomorrow's test. If we have time, we'll watch the opening scene of the 2002 version of the film.

AP Lit and Comp: Review for the Mactest tomorrow; assign the Macpaper. The Macpaper will be the first grade for the second quarter.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Unfortunately, I am out today due to an awesome overnight sleep study I have to do. Electrodes and sensors, oh my! Hopefully the results of this test will make me a nicer person. Fingers crossed. Anyway, we have the lovely Mrs. Corbin as your sub today, and if you are not nice to her, the not-nice-yet Hilley will come after you.

Gifted English II: FCAT Writes! timed writing experience. I know this is something some of you dread, but this is a process you have to complete to graduate from high school and move on to college. Select an expository or persuasive topic and do the best you can--you will be evaluated on both effort and product.

AP Lit and Comp: Macbeth the Movie--the Orson Welles bizarro classic. Love it for what it is. Some of you are visual learners and this might help. This movie was in no way shot in Southern California and does not at all resemble a high school theater set in any way, shape or form.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Today is Arch-Nemesis Day! I can't even begin to imagine how many Batman/Joker combos we will have trolling through the halls of the Resy today. BEHAVE!

Gifted English II: As we discussed in class yesterday, I have had to postpone the CMC check-reading test (to some of your eternal joy) due to the FCAT Writes! test I have to give you on Friday. Today's lesson hasn't changed, though--after our Author of the Day (Aldous Huxley) and Word of the Day (extemporaneous) we will collect the HW (vocabulary sentences generated from the pre-defined list I gave you earlier this week) and review for our vocabulary test (also related to the pre-defined list I gave you earlier this week.) THEN: dun dun dun. . .finish "The Pit and the Pendulum." HW tonight: a syntactical analysis of "Pit." Oh, and the Homecoming Speech.

AP Lit and Comp: Homecoming Speech and Skit! Periods three and seven need to do the Macbeth scavenger hunt; periods five and six will start reviewing for the Mactest next week and look at William Blake's criticism of the play as a whole.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Homecoming Week continues! Seniors, there is a special activity planned for seventh period, so be ready. . .

Today is TOGAS FOR SENIORS DAY and for everyone else COLOR DAY.

I have many, many safety pins. Remember, toga'd children: Dignity and modesty will never go out of style, so keep yourself covered!

Gifted English II: Word of the Day is "stentorian" and Author of the Day is Thomas Harris. After we go over a few things for the weekly schedule, we will finish Poe's classic tale of mayhem. Hopefully, this time with the right version.

AP Lit: Macbeth, Act V conclusion for periods three and five; for everyone--Macbeth Scavenger Hunt. SO MUCH FUN.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Yesterday was marvelous at Boone--nice, clear weather and ROCK STAR DAY. Props to everyone who dressed up so creatively, especially the gentlemen in the tight purple pants. Bravo. 16 of you in matching Betsey Johnson trousers--obla-di, obla-dah. Nicely played.

Today is DISNEY DAY. We don't live in Orlando for nothin'. I hope you outdo yourselves.

But, class must march on.

Gifted English II: Author of the Day is Clive Barker; word of the day is "heretic." We will be reading "The Pit and the Pendulum" by Poe in class today. Don't forget to read CMC by Friday, and don't forget to do the vocabulary assignment by Thursday!

AP Lit and Comp: Macbeth, Act V. I am sad to see the end of this tragedy, but we have cool activities to do with Shakespeare's text when we are finished with the explication de texte.

Monday, October 18, 2010

HOMECOMING WEEK!!!!!!!!!!

Gifted English II: Finish horror unit introductory packet, then transition into "The Pit and the Pendulum" by Poe. Content vocabulary is on the board; anticipate a quiz on Thursday. CMC is due Friday, by the way. . .keep reading!!!

AP Lit: MacQuiz, Act IV, followed by the famous sleepwalking sequence in Act V. The writing assignment distributed last Thursday is due by the end of seventh period.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Today is the first deadline for FSU. It's also a good time to re-evaluate where you are--you have two weeks to make up any missing assignments, and the rest of the month to finish those last-minute college essays that might be due by the next major deadline (for some of you, November 1, and for others, December 1.)

THERE IS NO SCHOOL TODAY.

I am using the weekend to catch up on make-up work and lesson plans, and I hope you do something analogous. Homecoming Week is next week and the pace is only going to become more frenetic. If you feel that you are drowning (I sympathize, trust me) send up a flare. We're here to help, if we can. Be well, peeps.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Gifted English II: After we process how the PSAT went and what you thought, I'm introducing a new mini-unit to finish out the month of October. Planning ahead: If you need to write in your own copy of a novel, the next novel to acquire is Candide by Voltaire. We have plenty in the Media Center for your use, but NOT to write in.

AP Lit and Comp: Timed Writing on two brilliant poems by, respectively, WH Auden and Sylvia Plath. This is a GREAT assignment that will blow your mind. I think.

Wednesday, October 13 2010

Today is the PSAT at Boone High School and I will be administering it to ninth graders in room 313. Your room assignment is posted on Guidance's walls and the Media Center's walls. Please do not disturb my class while I am testing--if you are an upperclassperson who forgot something, please leave the testers alone.

In the event that you are a parent of a senior checking this, Dr. McMillen is encouraging the seniors to investigate colleges/finish their applications today. You will need to get a prearranged absence form OR bring a signed note upon your return, seniors, to make this an excused absence. To be clear--I am not encouraging, nor is my administration encouraging, skipping school. However, since on the adjusted bell schedule that was just published it seems that all non-testing students will be held in first period all morning, then go to fifth period for a half-hour, it would not be in your student's best interests to attend that day when s/he needs to finish the college apps. ESPECIALLY since half of my seniors do not even have a first period. You can find clarification of this in last week's Reservation Report.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Gifted English II: The Author of the Day is children's novelist Judy Blume and the Word of the Day is "subtle." Today, after I collect the HW you did last night (creating a paragraph out of monosyllabic words) we will share some with the class before reviewing the room list for tomorrow's PSAT. Afterwards, we will go over content vocabulary and prepare for our next unit.

AP Literature and Comp: If you missed the MacQuiz yesterday, you need to take it today during lunch or after school. It only takes about ten minutes. Today: Macbeth, Act IV scene ii and iii with corresponding analysis.

BBC Shakespeare Animated Tales - Macbeth - Part 1

Let's see if the embedding works this time.

BBC Shakespeare Animated Tales : For the APees- Macbeth - Part 1

Wildly entertaining, in a 1970's way. A good way to catch up for the quiz that might happen tomorrow. . .

Sesame Street: Smell Like A Monster

This isn't the most academic thing ever, but remember those Old Spice commercials? Sesame Street has devised a way to learn the preposition "on." Enjoy!

Monday, October 11, 2010

Yesterday was 10-10-10, which was pretty cool. And the weather has been glorious!

Gifted English II: Author of the Day: Charlotte Bronte. Word of the Day: etiquette. The PSAT will be given Wednesday of this week, and today we are going to look at two short practice pieces to correspond to this test. Also, Awesome Homework tonight. With clip art!

AP Literature and Composition: There might be a little quiz on Macbeth, Act III. Just maybe. And then. . .cartoon time, in which we collectively illustrate the weirdness that is Act IV, scene i.

Friday, October 8, 2010

NOTE: We are going to experience a lovely tour of autumn weather during first period, when, along with the rest of the campus, we sojourn together to the practice field for our own safety while preparing to avoid future conflagrations. In other words, the distinct possibility of a FIRE DRILL during first period.

NOTE NOTE: I am hosting a guest, future teacher Stacy Z., all day. Be nice to her and do not hit on her, even if you are eighteen. Remember--dignity and modesty will never go out of style!!!

Gifted English II: Author of the Day: Mario Vargas Llosa, the newly selected Nobel Prize winner in Literature!!! Word of the Day: idyllic. Antigone quiz, followed by PSAT review. HW: Read Count of Monte Cristo.

AP Lit and Comp: Macbeth, Act III Analysis. I love this play, I love this play, I love this play.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Gifted English II: Author of the Day: Toni Morrison. Word of the Day: flagrant. Antigone quiz review; Icarus packet part II; classic rock day. Bring your air guitar.

AP Lit and Comp: MacStuff!!!! Content vocabulary review from the play and Thomas de Quincey/class discussion. HW: Read Act III preparatory to tomorrow's in-class analysis.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Thanks to everyone who helped me get ready for Parent Night and to all of the wonderful families who attended.

Planning ahead: Underclass make-up picture day is October 12, 2010.

PSAT is October 13, 2010. Dr. McMillen posted in the Reservation Report that seniors might want to take that day as an excused absence if they are visiting colleges, since the testing will impede the schedule significantly. Sophomores will, of course, be testing.

Gifted English II: Author of the Day: Carl Hiaasen. Word of the Day: triage. Review concepts of Antigone for quiz tomorrow; PSAT Vocabulary Assignment; PSAT analogies. Many activities, lots of one-liners.

AP Lit and Comp: Review Act II; Lit Crit by Thomas de Quincey; Act II Quiz (if time; we might do it tomorrow.) HW: Read Act III and be prepared to discuss. Warning: It's a little disturbing, but y'all survived the Porter sequence so I anticipate that you'll survive.

Love to all. Writing Center is open both lunch shifts if you need help/service hours.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Gifted English II: Author of the Day is Vaclav Havel and the Word of the Day is "benign." Today, after we turn in the Antigone questions (which I will accept through 3 p.m.) we will continue with our Icarus studies, including a solid reading of W.H. Auden's "Musee des Beaux Arts". We will also review for the upcoming Antigone test on Thursday.

AP Lit and Comp: Act II moves on with its inexorable will and inevitable violence, after which we will look at a critical piece by Thomas de Quincey germane to Act II, scene iii. Be prepared to annotate like fiends.

Tonight is Parent Night! I have peppermints and Smarties for your folks! Classroom visits start at 7 p.m.!

Monday, October 4, 2010

Ah, autumn--the best season of the year, IMHO. It's just now starting to feel cooler in the mornings and evenings (although it was plenty warm at the BHS rummage sale this morning) and the faintest hint of optimism is curling through the leaves. I love autumn, and think it is no small coincidence that the great poet Percy Bysshe Shelley immortalized it as "the dirge of the dying year" in his "Ode to the West Wind," in which he described the winds of autumn as capable of engendering creativity.

So let's get to it!

Gifted English II: Your HW this weekend was to create one sentence using at least five of the Word of the Day words; we will share them, then finish the last short bit of Antigone (period one) before moving on to Ovid (period two). You will not need your textbook this week. Our Author of the Day today is Nathaniel Hawthorne, and our new word is transmogrify.

Classwork: Transition from ancient Greek drama to Roman poetry with Ovid's Metamorphoses.

Homework: Enrichment opportunity with literary terms, due tomorrow for extra credit (see handout) and Antigone questions due tomorrow by 3 p.m.

APees: We finished Act I last week, so let's take a little quiz on Act I and see how much we recall from this introductory foray into MacStuff. Once we're done, we'll self-score and make the transition into Act II.

Classwork: Quiz, and explication de texte of Macb in class with discussion intertwined.

Homework: Content vocabulary for Act II.

PTSA Open House

Dear All:

PTSA will host the annual Open House event this Tuesday, October 5, from 5:30-9:00ish here at Boone. Classroom visits will begin around 7 if you would like to merely follow your student's schedule and skip the group presentation.

Your student will bring home information tomorrow, but you can also access your child's schedule on ProgressBook and maps of the school site will be readily available during the evening of the event itself.

I will have peppermints or some such for your delectation, but bear in mind that I only have seven minutes to tell you a BUNCH of stuff, I talk too fast anyway, and I can't discuss your child individually beyond "S/he is very interesting" or "Wow, what a great acrobat s/he is!" And also, if you are the parent of a sophomore unfamiliar with my sense of the aesthetic--my classroom is a bit odd. My goal is to have the ceiling look like Tijuana Flats, and I have student-created art (and weird toys) everywhere. Call it a testament to my immaturity, but the kids seem to like it and we are never, ever bored. :-)

Reminders

Dear Sophomores:

1. Antigone questions are due Tuesday, October 5 by 3 p.m. (typing is preferred.)

2. The PSAT will be given on Wednesday, October 13 during periods 1-3. You are already signed up and do not have to pay to take this test, but I have no further information at this point on testing locations. I will let you know as soon as I do.

3. The Count of Monte Cristo reading due date is October 22, 2010.

4. Five of you still have make-up work pending; I waited Friday during both lunch shifts and only two of you showed up. Please make this a priority.

Dear APees:

1. The SAT will be given this Saturday here at Boone; if you are desperate and forgot to sign up see Mrs. Pearson immediately about standby options OR future testing dates. I will be proctoring in room 313.

2. Congratulations to our National Merit Semi-Finalists!!!

3. If you need help with college admissions essays/scholarship essays, don't forget The Writing Center as a resource. We are open both lunch shifts and you are welcome to bring something to eat/drink with you.

4. If you need service hours for NHS, see me ASAP. Believe me, I need the help. New district policy requires active members to earn FIVE hours per quarter AT BOONE. Well, I'm at Boone, and I like to sign my name with a sophisticated flourish to service letters.