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.

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!

Friday, September 11, 2009

NOTE: The first poetry reading will be after school today from 2:30-4:30 in room 313; there will be snacks. This is for AP students but, really, if you are completely fascinated by poetry come along. Mrs. Covert and I are co-hosting, and we are analyzing four poems of varying intensity this week. If this one goes well, we will host them every three-four weeks.

Gifted English II: Author of the Day is Samuel Taylor Coleridge, my favorite Romantic poet. And I have a pop-up book to share with you that features his poem "Kubla Khan" as illustrated by Nick Bantock--another Author of the Day in the next few weeks or so. Vocabulary quiz follows, with analysis of "Billy."

APees: Oedipus Rex Test. And there will be much rejoicing. Help with ORex focus papers if you are so inclined.

Have a great weekend!

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Gifted English II: Author of the Day is the late JG Ballard, author of Empire of the Sun, followed by "Where Have You Gone, Charming Billy" by Tim O'Brien. BRING YOUR TEXTBOOK!!!

APees: Oedipus Rex information, including the next focus paper assignment, and review for the test tomorrow in class on the play.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

I have a department meeting after school from 1:30-2:30 in room 315, but if anyone needs assistance with college essays I can stick around for a little bit afterwards. Also, if any of you work out at the 24 Hr Fitness at SODO I plan to be there tomorrow evening, but please don't interrupt me on the treadmill. Gotta do some cardio.

Gifted English II: Author of the Day is the amazing Vladimir Nabakov, after which we will go over the vocabulary words from 41-60. HW from last night are the thought questions from The Stranger, and if we have time I will talk with you about our next outside reading assignment.

APees: Sophocles biography and thesis statement development using the list of FRQs from College Board. BRING YOUR TEXTBOOKS on Thursday and Friday so we can deal with Oedipus Rex. Good times!!!

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

REMINDER: APees--bring your anthology today! Sophys--bring CMC today and your literature book tomorrow!

Gifted English II: Second and final state-sanctioned reading day for CMC. Some of you are woefully behind on your reading; you will have an opportunity to fill out a second progress slip today and we can confer about your reading speed. This novel is due October 1--still two weeks away.

AP Literature and Composition: "On the Road to Delphi" analysis and a poem by Muriel Rukeyser. Tomorrow--lecture fun!

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

APees: Several of you have requested supplemental material to ameliorate gaps in your reading history. Without engaging in any disrespectful rhetoric towards ANY of my colleagues, we do have to acknowledge that some courses require different reading than others, and some of you have expressed concerns that frequent in-class allusions are flying over your heads. To help, I spent a large part of my weekend compiling two documents for you: a recommended reading list that every AP student should have read by the end of high school in an ideal world, and a summary packet of the titles I teach in my tenth grade English class. Both are optional, and completely voluntary. The goal here is to level the playing field as much as possible before you take that test in May. Please don't think I am teaching to the test--the test is a separate product from the course, and I cannot take moral responsibility for whether you pass that test or not. HOWEVER--let's be realistic. You signed up for this class for a variety of reasons, but I'd assume that one of them was to avoid having to take freshman comp next year. So here is another tool in your arsenal to help you achieve that goal if you feel that you're missing some titles--or if you didn't read them when they were originally assigned. (I did not fall off of a turnip truck and I'm aware that some of my illustrious scholars don't read everything they are supposed to. This is why we have "grade distributions" and "bell curves" and "lousy third quarters.") That's a very long-winded way of saying that the copies are in, and you are welcome to one if you'd like. Once I master the art of imbedding pdf files, you can get it here, too.

Sophys: Field trip to the Media Center! Be sure to bring your ID or five dollars with which to procure another one. Author of the Day is Jane Austen; we will review SOME of the vocab words for our second-to-last literary terms list; fun and frolicsome-ness with new textbooks.

APees again: ORex test; if we finish early, two awesome poems in the literary anthology thematically related to ORex. We will be doing some transitional work with poetry before we launch into the next awesome, awesome unit: Shakespeare!!! Although I don't know if I have the energy to redo my huge chart thing about Henry VIII and the whole Tudor mess. I will say this, though--if you are watching The Tudors on Showmax or HBS or Cineshow or whatever those premium channels are (I'm a teacher, and poor, and therefore don't subscribe) then you are getting a very, very skewed idea of history. Or that wretched movie with Natalie and Scarlett. Pretty dresses; ugly adherence to accuracy. Entertainment rocks, though, eh?

Word of the Day: apotheosis (noun): elevation of an individual to a state of divinity

Monday, September 15, 2008

Can you believe that it's halfway through September already?

So much to do today, kids. Tragically, a typical Monday for so many of us. I'll be in 313 early in the morning, preparing for the onslaught and entering grades. Progress reports will go home at the end of this week, so if you think you're missing anything, come see me. I will happily print a grade slip for any student who asks nicely. Before class would be ideal--please don't interrupt one of my award-winning, deeply focused lectures to ask for your grade. (Note sarcasm regarding both descriptors of said lectures--I think my train derails as much as Listort's. I'm working on it, people. ADHD doesn't just affect adolescents.)

Announcements: Writing Center is open tomorrow! And sophys get textbooks tomorrow! and the fire drill that might have been scheduled for first period might have been rescheduled for third period in light of the Florida State counselor coming to speak to seniors in the auditorium. (Seniors, you can still get a pass before school from Mrs. Cadman in College and Career--and I highly recommend going if you are even contemplating attending this school. Relationships with college reps are exempt from "familiarity breeds contempt." Let them know who you are, and see your passion for attending their school. Do not show up and declare that "if I don't get in at my dream school, going to School A might not be too horrible". That happened last year, and it wasn't pretty for that kid.)

Sophys: After sharing our HW (grammar errors found in the public sphere; should be entertaining) we will have Amy Tan as our Author of the Day. We will also take notes on genres and review what we learned about irony--and do some more grammar! It will be a great, informative day.

APees: Two academic focii: (Latin scholars--is that the appropriate plural, or should I just say "focual points" and remove any doubt?) A) Glaysher, part II, and B) review for the super-duper ORex test tomorrow.

Word of the Day: picayune: (adjective) something trivial (oddly, there are several newspapers called "The Picayune"--I do not think it means what they think it means.)

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Today is an anniversary felt very deeply and poignantly by many Americans; seven years ago, terrorists struck on American shores and the sense of complacency felt for so long here was shattered. I hope that none of you are particularly upset today, but I would ask you to take just a moment and consider how lucky we are to live in a country with all of the vast resources and freedoms as America, and if you know someone personally who suffered as a result of the 2001 attacks, you have my empathy.

On the the academic side of things:

Sophys: Thank you for being so focused and intensive with your reading day! Back to business today. Our Author of the Day is Margery Kempe. You have a vocabulary quiz tomorrow on the fourth subset of words; I am NOT reviewing this week (although I will make the distinction between oxymoron and paradox in class) so please be responsible and study diligently. Today: Finish "Billy" and analysis; short writing assignment.

APees: We need to talk about the T-shirt issue each period; there might be a pop quiz on ORex and we need to discuss the Glaysher essay in-depth. Focus papers due tomorrow; let's discuss themes and look at Jocasta's responsibility in all of this mess.

Writing Center training will be during A and B lunch shifts today in room 302. We relocate to 315 next week.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Short Wednesday for ya'll; guest speaker after school for me. And, apropos of nothing--Project Runway is on tonight.*

Gifted English II (Sophys): Our first reading day for The Count of Monte-Cristo! After featuring Alexandre Dumas as our A of D, you will have an opportunity to spread out and read. Your first reading quiz is next week, so read. You may bring a beverage, a pillow, or whatever stuffed animal makes you feel comfortable when you read. This book is so, so awesome--not the greatest literature of all time, certainly, but well-plotted and well-paced, and very exciting. Do you like pirates? Revenge? Escapes from horrible traps? Ladies in tight corsets? This novel is what even allowed the revenge genre to flourish, so read, read, read.

APees: More ORex and related concepts. We have intensive reading to do with ORex.

Word of the Day: hegemony (noun): the leadership of one state over its allies. (Even though this is a political definition, can you see its symbolic significance regarding any human relationship?)

NOTE: Derek H. in fifth suggested another word for Word of the Day: Magnanimous: Adjective: lofty and king-like

*A brief commentary regarding Project Runway: I am not a fan of the so-called "reality" genre, but I love Project Runway. Part of my fixation is an ongoing fascination with fashion, but most of it is related to how much of a meritocracy this contest is compared to others where people are voted off of islands or have the audience post votes. Each week, contestants are given ridiculous creative challenges, time limits, and budgets, and have to "make it work" with limited resources. I think it's analagous to the writing process itself--you come up with a concept, sketch it out, fit the concept to your dressmaker's form, work with the fabric, edit, edit, edit, and then sell the final product with a human being sashaying down a catwalk. See the analogy? You come up with a concept, prewrite it in graphic form, mess with the ideas, write, write, rewrite, edit, tinker, submit. . .it's the same thing, but one is on TV and one is just in a classroom. Oh, Project Runway, how I love thee.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Tonight at Boone we are having a guest speaker in the auditorium at 7 p.m.--Dr. Something will be talking about a year he spent "as a teenager." Might be interesting, and it's free. Also tonight at BHS in my classroom, at 6:30, is the travel meeting for the spring break trip to Germany. This is probably my last year traveling abroad with students (I've been at it since 2002!) but I'd like to go out with a bang, so to speak. Come if you are interested.

(There are other travel opportunities this year that might interest you, too--the band is apparently doing a spring break trip, and one of the foreign language teachers might be organizing a trip to Italy at some point. I'll post more specifics if I find out for sure.)

SOPHYS (Periods 1 and 2): Today is the day for Edusoft Benchmark Testing. Some of you will finish quickly; others will require the whole period. Bring something to read. Would you like a suggestion? How about. . .oh, I don't know. . .The Count of Monte Cristo? Sounds good to me! Bring a pencil for your testing--I have some but they are of shockingly low quality.
Sadly--no Author of the Day today.

APees: Now that you have done your Guidance thing, I want to clarify what's due for the next focus paper. Here is the contract I'm willing to offer:

IF you turn in your paper on time, both in person and on www.turnitin.com;
IF it is double-spaced and has a cool title; and
IF you made a good-faith effort to address either prompt, then. . .

You get a 100 on this paper.

(I believe in a concept called "The One A Paper." Some of you write one each week, because you are always going to hit the 8 or 9 level on the College Board scale; some of you are so, so talented in other academic areas, but not language arts, and an A is as foreign to you as AP Calculus Success would be to me. So. . .you get a 100, and I mark the HECK out of it. Brutal. Slashy. How the AP readers would grade it. But you can take a risk, jump out on a limb, make outrageous claims, and experiment with your writing without the worry that your grade will die just in time for progress reports. Honestly, who doesn't like a 100?)

Focus paper due Friday--by 4:30 p.m. in my hand, and by midnight that night on www.turnitin.com.

Today in class--Oedipus Rex and oracles! We start with the four questions on the oracle sheet, and work our way into Higher Levels of Meaning.

Word of the Day: mendicancy (noun): the practice of begging for alms or food; related to extreme poverty. (This word occasionally appears in 19th century texts--Dickens, etc.)

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Announcement: If you are interested in going to Germany this spring break, the informational meeting will be next Tuesday night at 6:30 in my classroom. I have some forms if you would like to share information with your parents and not hit them with sticker-shock at the meeting. Travel, I'm afraid, is not cheap. The only thing I can say with certainty (and a lot of modesty) is that I am fun to travel with. You won't get away with a lot of bad behavior, but we will have fun and there will be much rejoicing!

SENIORS: You will meet with your Guidance Counselor on Monday, September 8. Come to my class first so I can take roll and ascertain your presence on our lovely campus before we sojourn together to the Student Services Centre*.

Gifted English II: Finish O. Henry's tale in second; evaluate it in first. Author of the Day is John Keats, after which we will review the common errors from the first paper and go over Guidelines for Solid Writing. It has clip art! And then, time permitting, we'll look at yet another short piece of ironic fiction--this one set in a war.

APees: Common error review, which won't take long, and then we'll begin introducing the transitional materials to Greek tragedy, a.k.a. Oedipus Rex. You don't need your anthology today, but you will on Friday. Handouts: FRQs and Sophocles Biography (read for homework.)

Word of the Day: mendacious (adjective): dishonest, full of trickery or chicanery
Have you noticed how I try to define words with other SAT words? How mendacious of me, if I didn't just admit that.

*Apropos of nothing: I hate, hate, hate it when American locations appropriate "Britishisms" to class up the diction. For example: Pointe Orlando, which I call "pointy." I know this is just one of my myriad of character flaws, but "centre," "towne," and "colour" drive me "batty" when utilized by Americans. We don't speak English, people! We speak SAE: Standard American English! We don't use "lifts", or live in "flats", or "snog" the "bobby" after he gives us a "brolly" (kiss the cop after he gives us an umbrella, -ella, -ella.) I love England, really really, but dang. The most egregious offender is Seminole Towne Centre Shoppes. I will never patronize such an establishment. Not that you care. I need to drink less coffee.