Thursday, March 18, 2010

So much work, so little time. . .

Gifted English II: Sophys, your Othello paper is due tomorrow by 3 p.m. in my hand (Friday, 3/19) AND on turnitin.com OR by e-mail to me by midnight that night. See me if you have questions; we will go over format once more today. THEN: Finish the questions on page 1147 of the Pearson text and review for the Othello test tomorrow. No worries! You KNOW this play!

APees: Review Jane Eyre, Chapters 13-20; go over tone vocabulary for the AP exam; possibly analyze a sonnet. In other words, a great day in AP Land. For me, anyway. Enjoy!

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Happy St. Patrick's Day! As the tradition goes, wear green today to avoid being pinched. Granted, as an OCPS student you have the unalienable right to NOT BE PINCHED by anyone on school grounds, but the policy does not go so far to protect those of you who actively seek pinching or who escape the school grounds to local food constabularies. Cool fact: Didja know that Patrick was ENGLISH, not IRISH, but was kidnapped and taken to what we now call Eire? Yep.

Gifted English II: Today we need to address a handful of fairly complicated questions from Othello in the burgundy book. You may work with a partner. The Othello unit test is scheduled for Friday, and we will review extensively in class tomorrow. ALSO--the Iago paper is due Friday by 3 p.m. We went over some elements of his character in class yesterday, and today we'll review apt thesis statements.

APees: Today is the second and final Eyre in the Air reading day. The quiz for chapters 13-20 is scheduled for Friday. The weather is supposed to be gorgeous, so. . .enjoy!

Monday, March 15, 2010

Beware the Ides of March; the Ides of March, beware! Mwahahahahahahahaha. . .

Some general housekeeping: A river of graded work needs to go back today, and for those of you who have been racking up absences, please see me ASAP to get make-up quizzes, etc. back on track. I am uploading grades for this quarter beginning next Wednesday, March 24, so the sooner the better. Go, ProgressBook, go.

ALSO: Several of you have asked for reprints of rec letters for scholarships. See me as soon as possible to facilitate this due to my increasing suspicion that my classroom computer is dying. It has made mastadon-like noises in the hard drive region of late, and it's eight years old, which in computer world is practically primeval. And it takes forever to boot up. And it no longer likes my Lord of the Rings screensaver. And it cusses at me when it thinks I'm not paying attention. We have long had an adversarial relationship, this computer and I, and now as it goes gently into that good night it is raging against the dying of the light. So letter-needers: See me ASAP. Really.

Today's Curriculum! 'Cause we got some!

Gifted English II: Finally, finally finishing the O. The Great Smother is upon us, and it does beg the question: At what point does someone who was smothered, then uncovered, then gives a speech, which denotes a use of oxygen, seem to unrealistically die? Desdemona embraces her quietus with fortitude and stumbles through a speech before succumbing to the great beyond, but medical scholars and disbelieving audience members alike say What What? Of course, we have to see what happens (if anything) to the dastardly Iago. Life's not fair, kids. Not at all.

APees: We put the F (as in Fun) in FRQ today, oh yes we do, and we apply said FRQness to Jane Eyre. And we will talk more about Jane, and possibly do a close reading of a selected passage. Bronte is so awesome. Like totally.

FCAT is Behind Us!/Thursday, March 11, 2010

Thank you so much to the students who made this such a cooperative, peaceful FCAT administration. The students I worked with were exemplary and sweet and I so appreciate the seniors taking a couple of days for reflection and college exploration. And the few who showed up and hung out with Mr. Undieme learned a lot!

Welcome back to Normality, such as it is in 313. . .

Word of the Day: presage

Holiday Today: Johnny Appleseed Day, World Kidney Day, and Nametag Day.

NOTE: This weekend is the end of Daylight Savings Time. Don't forget: Spring Forward; Fall Back! So yes, you lose an hour, but think of the residual psychological happiness when evening lingers longer and you have daylight to spare as the afternoon wanes. Before you go to bed Saturday night, move your clocks an hour forward, and while you're at it, have your parents (or you!) check the batteries in your smoke detector. Safety first! And I'm not even a fire marshal!

Gifted English II: Discussion questions for Act III of Othello (really more of a transition into the depths of Act IV) followed by the distribution of an awesome focus paper topic. I'll go ahead and give you the prompt: DEFEND IAGO. This should be interesting! And then, if you're good, and we have time, we will watch Othello have a meltdown in the Kenneth Branagh-directed film version.

APees: Collect and go over the Jane Eyre questions from the past two days, preparatory to the awesome and insightful quiz we get to take tomorrow. And if we have time, I'd like us to look more closely at a specific passage from the novel in AP exam format. We have FRQs to go over; I know how much y'all love those three little letters.

NOTE: The AP Practice Exam will be administered on two consecutive Wednesday sessions after Spring Break in the Media Center, and you need to select one of the two to attend. I think the dates are April 14 and April 21. Mrs. Covert and I are taking turns supervising these sessions, and ALL AP Lit kids need to do this. It is a massive part of your Q4 grade. If you know in advance that you have a Wednesday conflict we can schedule an alternative for you, but be judicious about this--you really need two consecutive hours to write your little brains out. Plan ahead, please; I'd hate to go to war with the 21-year-old manager of Hollister or whatever who, like, totally needs you to work. Pardon the sarcasm; I'm bitter today. Love to all!

Friday, March 5, 2010

Gifted English II: Quiz for Othello, Acts I-III. And then more Othelloness.

APees: Quiz for Jane Eyre, Chapters 1-5. Then more Bronteness.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Word of the Day: norm-referenced

Holiday of the Day: Among a myriad of other weird days, the one I like the most is "March Forth--Do Something Day." I do think that everyone can benefit from a little bit of anti-procrastinatory impetus, so get to it! Whatever you have been postponing, from a HW assignment to a personal chore--get it done!

Gifted English II: We need to go over some FCAT stuff for next week, from test prep questions I will be sending home with you to the actual testing schedule. Afterwards, we will review The Elements of Style and take an awesome, if brief, quiz, before resuming our study of Othello. NOTE: There will be a quiz tomorrow on Othello, Acts I-III. If you have been conscious for the past few days you should be fine.

APees: Per my e-mail to each of you, today is Eyre in the Air! You will be given a reading pass and permission to sally forth and find a comfortable spot in which to engage in the world's most delicious activity: READING!

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Today's word: truthiness

Today's weird holidays: I Want You to Be Happy Day, National Anthem Day, Peace Corps Day, and What if Dogs and Cats Had Opposable Thumbs Day?

Gifted English II: Othello, Act III--handkerchief, handkerchief, handkerchief.

APees: Jane Eyre, close reading of the text; 3rd period needs to read "The Chimney Sweep" by Blake; "A Poison Tree" if time permits. Eyre in the Air may well be tomorrow, if the weather holds. Most likely, it will be Friday. And Senior Brag Sheets!!! Prepare to brag about your innate awesomeness.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Gifted English II: After we review The Elements of Style in preparation for a quiz later this week, we are launching headfirst back into Othello, Act III. This act is the turning point of the play, and features a great deal of symbolism attached to a handkerchief.

APees: Romanticism Projects are due today! Each student will present his or her project to the class and explain how it ideologically connects to the tenets of Romanticism.

Monday, March 1, 2010

REMINDERS

1. Registration starts this week for rising seniors; it is online this year. Sophys: Go ahead and look over the curriculum guide on the BHS website and make some pre-selections, as you will be registering online at the end of this month, right before Spring Break. Although we anticipate some glitches, I think this is far better for you and gives you a LOT more control over your schedule.

2. If you are going to Ireland with me this Spring Break, the pre-trip travel meeting is tomorrow night at 7 in my classroom. This is not for people signing up--sorry, that train has sailed. If you can't make it let me know and we will get the info on Euros, weather, travel advisories, and packing directly to you.

FCAT IS NEXT WEEK. On Tuesday and Wednesday, our administration is encouraging seniors who have already passed the FCAT to avail themselves of the opportunity to visit colleges. If you have a note from a parental unit and/or documentation demonstrating a college visit (DBCC, if you know what I mean, ha ha) then it is an EXCUSED ABSENCE.

Now on to curricular things:

Word of the Day: vituperative

Holiday of the Day: Peace Corps Day, Beer Day (not for y'all), National Refired, not Retired Day, Pig Day, and Plan a Solo Vacation Day.

Gifted English II: The Elements of Style, Othello Act III, the final attempt to get Author of the Day off the ground. Goodness. Love to all. . .

APees: Close reading of Jane Eyre suggestions; William Blake.

Gifted English II:

Friday, February 26, 2010

Word of the Day: indefatigable

Today's Holiday: For Pete's Sake Day, Levi Strauss Day, and National Personal Chef's Day.

Gifted English II: The Elements of Style, Rules 1-11 (further review and application); Othello, Act III. Your Act II questions are due today by the end of business. See me if you have any questions. I will be finishing the last of the Julius Caesar papers this weekend and returning them to you Monday; the next paper is Othello-related and is a really intriguing topic. Go team!

APees: Yesterday, I had you construct a timed writing response to a DBQ related to a letter Charlotte Bronte had written to the then-famous poet Robert Southey, and his snarky response to her, and her snarkier response back. (I love the line where she assures him "I try not to think. . .") Today, we are going to look at viable approaches to thesis statements, do a peer review on our writings, and then look at student samples in the guidebook that were scored by College Board as rubrics. This may sound dry, but this is VITAL for success in May. Your reading assignment this weekend for Jane Eyre is through Chapter 5, please. Thanks!

MARY SHELLEY PAPERS ARE DUE BY 3 p.m. I will be in a meeting with Dr. McMillen, so you can either leave it under the door (risky) or drop it at the main office (much more solid option.)

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Be nice to my sub! I have a family ceremony to attend. I might be back, so be good. . .you never know when I will emo into the room expecting greatness.

Word of the Day: filial

Holiday of the Day: National Chili Day!

Gifted English II: Othello; finish the Act II questions. You may then watch Act I and part of Act II on the video, with careful fast-forwarding. I am leaving specific instructions for the sub. (Second period: you have a quiz, remember?)

AP Literature and Composition: Written response to a DBQ; this one is about Charlotte Bronte. AWESOMENESS PERSONIFIED. I love this prompt; love, love, love.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Word of the Day: averse

Holiday of the Day: Inconvenience Yourself Day. (Does this mean to avoid 7-11 all day, or take alternate pathways around buildings, or what? I have no idea. Anyone who can shed light on this little mystery will be gratefully acknowledged.)

Gifted English II: The Elements of Style, Rules 1-11. We discussed Webster's definition of grammar yesterday, and today the Real Fun begins. At long last. And then, more Othello-osity. Although some of the choicest lines were uttered yesterday. . .

APees: Now that you have survived Multiple Choice Practice Session Infinity, I'll give you back your scan sheets and you can weep privately. AND we are going to discuss "The Cormorant" by Rosanna Warren (awesome, if sad) and Jane Eyre, chapter one. Nothing like a little old-fashioned explication de texte to get things rolling.

Note: See upcoming post later this evening on registration and FCAT. Importante!!!!

Shelley paper is due by Friday, February 26, oh APees. Although I will take it early and in fact already have a few. . .

Monday, February 22, 2010

Word of the Day is obstreperous.

Holiday today is a trifecta: 1) George Washington's birthday, 2) Word Thinking Day, and 3) Single-Tasking Day (as opposed to Multi-Tasking Day, methinks.)

Gifted English II: Othello; we need to look at the questions for Act II. First period didn't get them on Friday, and second period only got page 1. Also, we need to review the Act II Content Vocabulary for Wednesday's quiz.

AP Literature and Composition: "When I Have Fears" by Keats, and introduction to Charlotte Bronte. Bring a pencil tomorrow!

School Advisory Council Meeting is tonight from 6-7 p.m. You don't have to worry about that, but at least you'll know where I am if I don't write back to e-mail during that hour!

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Today is my half-birthday; not that I celebrate it or anything, but I am keenly aware that in a year and a half I will be forty years old. FORTY. I know people say that forty is the new twenty or whatever, and I know I don't look my age (between the generalized immaturity and the sole benefit of being fat--non-wrinkling, I am perpetually 27 or so) but dang. 40. Makes one think. I need to write that novel like NOW.

::self-pitying rant over::

Let's check out the curriculum!!!

Word of the Day: amalgam

Today's Holiday: Battery Day, Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day (sounds sexist but is actually encouraging) and Chocolate Mint Day.

Gifted English II: Final Lupercal meeting; Othello again. Awesome!

APees: Shelley focus paper assignment (oh, don't act surprised) and Keats again--this time, "Nightingale." Romanticism creative project is due by March 2, 2010.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Word of the Day: emblazoned

Holiday of the Day: Ash Wednesday. For those of you commemorating Lent or the 40-Day-Challenge, what are YOU giving up? I am trying to give up negative thoughts. A few years ago I gave up caffeine and cursing at the same time, and it was an epic fail. This year, I long to be more focused on the positives of our lovely world.

Gifted English II: Othello vocabulary quiz, followed by a deep foray into Act II with related questions. Awesomeness abounds!

APees: Keats, Keats, Keats.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Word of the Day: pedantic

Holiday of the Day: International Pancake Day, Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday)

Gifted English II: Post-it note quiz on Othello, Act I, followed by a review of the content vocabulary for Act I for tomorrow's quiz (two in a row!) and a Lupercal group meeting for Friday's project. I will be collecting the Julius Caesar papers until 3 p.m. and need you to upload it to www.turnitin.com. If you can't recall your password, or need your account updated, you can e-mail me your paper as a Word attachment (double spaced) to my e-mail address either here or through the BHS website and I can do it for you. Or find me today and I'll take care of it for you!

APees: For the first half of the period, two scenes from Young Frankenstein (HILARIOUS) and for the second half, Keats. You will never look at a pot the same way again. "Ode on a Grecian Urn" rocks the free world. Happy, happy boughs indeed!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Today's weird holiday is fourfold: National Sports Wives Day (tell Tiger's wife), National Visit a Shut-in Day (tell Tiger), National Be Satisfied Staying Single Day (again with his wife) and National White Shirt Day (no idea who benefits from that one.)

Today's word is avarice, which means greed.

Gifted English II: Review the requirements for the JC focus paper, which I would like submitted by Friday but which I will take by Tuesday. See how nice I can be? And in class--Othello, Othello, Othello, and go over the content vocabulary preparatory to tomorrow's exciting little quizlet.

APees: Finish the TP-CASTT analysis of "West Wind" and take a stickynote quiz on said poem; then begin transition into Keats. I love Keats. Almost as much as Coleridge. And that is saying something.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

TWO MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1. Today is the FCAT Writes! during second period, and will result in an adjusted bell schedule. If you are a sophomore, consult me or the lists posted in the media center/guidance for your testing location. If you are a senior with late arrival, double-check with the main office for the starting time of third period, which will most likely be truncated due to the testing schedule. And if you are a senior: My room is off-limits. I am testing AND providing extended testing time to a small group of learners.

2. Tonight is AP night in the auditorium at 6 p.m., followed by a chance to meet the AP teachers and discuss next year's courses in the cafeteria. The cafeteria session should go from 7-8, so if you are interested in attending or sending a parental unit, let them know. If you are interested in helping out and "selling the AP class" for me or for another AP instructor, please show up around 7 at the cafeteria and prepare to be charming. Community service hours will be awarded.

Lessons for today:

Period One: Allaying of FCAT panic and furtherance of Othelloness.

Period Two: FCAT Writes!

Period Three: Short period; Shelley's "West Wind," or at least a hint of a breeze.

Period Four: Writing Center and ensuing chaos.

Periods Five-Seven: Windiness and falling on the thorns of life, Shelleystyle. And there will be much rejoicing.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Our word of the day is lugubrious, which means sad or lachrymose.

Our holiday today is Boy Scout Awards Day and Laugh and Get Rich Day, whatever that last one means. I wouldn't mind celebrating that one repeatedly!

Gifted English II: I only have one student remaining who needs to take the JC Unit test, but SEVERAL students did not do their memorizations on Friday, and not due to lack of time, either. I am beyond annoyed and late penalties will be assessed--it's not fair to the students who did it on time, and with tremendous skill, too. See me to schedule a time NOT DURING CLASS. In class today, we are going over the testing locations for tomorrow's FCAT Writes and beginning Othello, Act I.

AP Lit and Comp: Frankenstein Unit Test and review of Frankenstein Reading Journals, due FRIDAY. I had said they were due on the tenth, but that's when I thought the tenth was Friday. Serves me right for guessing dates. Please bring your lit book with you to class tomorrow so we can analyze Shelley's "West Wind."

Thursday, January 4, 2010

Today is Liberace Appreciation Day! I have no idea how you'd like to celebrate this day of wonder and joy, but I plan to wear glitter.

Gifted English II: Julius Caesar Unit Test (easy!) and Othello Act I, scene i. Warning: It's saucy.

APees: Review for Frankenstein check-reading test tomorrow, complete with related allusions to Milton, Coleridge, and Percy Bysshe Shelley. If we have time, I'd like to start cranking through "Ode to the West Wind". It is all kinds of awesome, except for one weak line.