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. . .

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.

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.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

APees: If you need to make up the Frankenstein test, I really need to give it to you after school today during the English Department meeting. I will be in 315 for about 14 minutes (if the meeting goes as scheduled--fingers crossed!) and I will have you in the adjacent office/313 testing. Bring a pen or pencil and your brain. The make-up test is challenging.

Gifted English II: Today we need to solidify groups for the Lupercal project, which I think we should move to next Friday to give you time to plan. I'll let you generate a planning session and clarify the expectations for the project. Good times! If we have time after that, I'd like to go over the Julius Caesar focus paper assignment, too, which is due February 12, 2010 AND needs to go on www.turnitin.com. Tomorrow is the last chance to generate an account on this service, so see me if you have problems. Now that the first part of the FCAT is over we can start moving forward more purposefully to AP Language preparation.

APees: "Ode to the West Wind" by Shelley and TP-CASTT analysis. Our next poet is Keats, so you WILL need your lit books pretty much each day from now until further notice. Reminder: Frankenjournals are due Friday, and NEED TO BE TYPED. I am still vacillating on whether or not they need to be uploaded to www.turnitin.com considering the personal nature of the assignment, but this is the assignment last year that yielded the most plagiarism. I am at a moral crossroads and think I will err on the side of caution. Love to all, though; love to all.

Remember: THREE DAY WEEKEND COMING UP!!!!!!!!!

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."

Friday, February 5, 2010

Today is International Nutella Appreciation Day, a day dear to my heart. I love the stuff, although it is probably the single worst thing I could possibly eat.

Gifted English II: Julius Caesar memorizations due today!!!

APees: Frankenstein check-reading test, followed by more "West Wind" madness. If we have time.

September 28, 2009

Note:  From sunset last night to sunset tonight, Judaism commemorates Yom Kippur.  If you need to be out of school today for religious observance, please see me for your make-up work upon your return, and I hope you have a good Day of Atonement.

Gifted English II:  Author of the Day is Percy Bysshe Shelley.  Reminder that the Author of the Day Quiz, which is open notes, but not open book, open friend, or open teacher, is tomorrow.  Bring a pencil or pen.  We will be progressing quickly through Antigone today, and there might be a need for a post-it quiz.  Just saying.

APees:  This past weekend, I asked you to read the critical essay "On the Knocking at the Gate" by Thomas de Quincey, 19th century scholar.  Today we need to discuss that piece with respect to Macbeth, Acts I and II.  You will need to read the rest of Act III independently, but we will begin it today in class. There might be a writing prompt tomorrow related to Macstuff.  Just saying.  

Friday, January 30, 2009

Happy Friday, peeps!!! I hope everyone is well.

I sent everyone a reminder e-mail this evening about tomorrow's focus paper deadline. If you have questions or seek further clarification, please see me before school or e-mail me this evening (I'll be up until around 11:00 EST) at jennifer.hilley@ocps.net and I will answer whatever questions I can--within reason! "Can you write my paper for me?" is never an acceptable question.

Yet students still ask. . .,

Gifted English II: Collect focus papers on JC, and have a title parade, followed by Othello, Act I and a Lupercal group meeting for second period. If you were absent yesterday, be sure to get the notes from yesterday's lecture from a friend. PLAN AHEAD: We will be starting a grammar unit next Friday using The Elements of Style by Strunk and White. Please get a copy of this book--you can even check one out of the library, or bug a junior for their copy, or see me for one of my spares--by that time. This book is life-alteringly good and will reshape the way you look at grammar. Also, while I do have a class set of Othello hidden in the burgundy Sound and Sense anthology, some of you may find it helpful to have your own. I found a No Fear: Shakespeare version on amazon for just over a dollar earlier today, so it can be done. NOT REQUIRED BUT IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL.

APees: After a stirring review of key concepts from "Wind" we are doing "Ozymandias" today, in the poetry paperback, for those who don't know it. Shelley's most genius (pardon the misuse of the adjective there, but I feel really strongly about this) sonnet, like, totally, like, ever. Wait until you see the award-winning cartoon on the board. Then: Quiz Fabulousness, followed by Title Parade for your Shelley Focus Papers. I know you won't wait until 5 p.m. to submit, eh?
PLAN AHEAD: Get Jane Eyre. Really. You won't regret having your own literary magic 8-ball to play with.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Mr Bailey will be your sub today, so be super-nice to him!!! He's a Gator!

Gifted English II: Julius Caesar Unit test, and content vocabulary for Othello. Use the dictionaries in the room to identify as many words as you can, although some are archaic and must be defined in context. IF YOU HAVE A COPY OF NO FEAR OTHELLO, BRING IT TOMORROW.

APees: "Ode to the West Wind" and TP-CASTT. Quick reminder (which will be posted on the board, btw): TP-CASTT is a College Board-recommended mnemonic device for analyzing tricky poems. Since "Ode" is in a complicated set of terza rima sonnets, this format will help you deconstruct what Shelley is attempting to convey about autumn, grieving, and the creative process (among other things.)

Title
Paraphrase
Connotation (figurative language, essentially)
Attitude/tone
Shifts
Title, again--symbolic interpretation, perhaps?
THEME

Also, also, also: www.turnitin.com is NOT an option. BOTH CLASSES will need to post their focus papers on this website by Friday, January 30 at midnight, or e-mail it to jennifer.hilley@ocps.net by the same time deadline to receive full credit for the paper. Each late day will cost you five points. THIS IS NOT AN OPTION.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Gifted English II: After looking over a cool article about the linguistic and intellectual value of Scrabble, we need to divide into groups and start planning our Lupercal Festival. Don't forget the peer edit assignment due tomorrow--in class, we will be peer-reviewing the Julius Caesar focus paper. Plan ahead: JC test will most likely be Wednesday.

AP Literature: I made enough copies of the Scrabble article FYI, but we're not going to belabor the issue since we have miles to go. You also have a a peer edit in class tomorrow--for the Shelley paper--and we are preparing to transition to the poetry of Shelley and Keats, both of whom have made appearances on past AP exams. Today in class, though--written assessment of "Rime" in journal form. Bring a pen and a full brain.