Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Can you believe August is almost over? Horrors. 2010 is slipping away like sands through the hourglass.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER

1. There might be an outdoor activity tomorrow during sixth period involving mass student departures of buildings and such for high-temperature safety reasons. Just saying.

2. If you are of a certain age and have parent permission, you may start signing up for the 9/13 blood drive on Wednesday with Mrs. Kittrell. Please do not sign up to donate during my class period; at least arrange ahead of time with me to attend a different section that day. Saving lives is terribly important, of course, but passing the AP exam is, too. For you.

3. Senior Panoramic Picture is Friday during 3rd period; order forms are on the front table in 313 if you wish to purchase one. Wear orange and white, seniors!

4. If you haven't yet had your senior portrait done, the deadline for appearing in the yearbook is 9/24, but dsp.com is booked here in Orlando and you may have to go to a neighboring town. Mrs. Burke is a terrific resource if you have questions.

SENIORS: Have you applied for college yet? Or asked three adults who love you to write you rec letters? (NOTE: I am 17 deep on rec letters right now; if you need one, no worries, but get me a list of your achievements grades 9-12 to simplify the process or a copy of your brag sheet.)

Gifted English II:

Learning Objective: to assess prior knowledge with grammar and language, to engage in lively discussion about significant writers, to be enthralled by all the linguistic world has to offer us

Benchmarks: Oh, yeah. Absolutely.

Word of the Day: mendacious

Author of the Day: Douglas Coupland

Lesson Plan: Grammar Diagnostic Test and (2nd period) resumption of peer edit activity.

HW: Revise Death of a Salesman/The Stranger essay and submit by midnight tonight on www.turnitin.com. Hard copy is due tomorrow; refer to the style sheet for specifics.

APees:

Learning Objective: to engage in high-level discussion of syntax, diction, and voice with reference to a variety of fictional constructs

Benchmarks: Only the benchiest.

Lesson Plan: After submitting the HW from last night (the Gatsby questions) I'd like to review some of the terms from 1-120 on the reference sheet provided last week (extras are in the box on the front desk AND on ProgressBook.) Afterwards, we will assess two passages from Tess with thought questions and look at the differences between Hardy and Fitzgerald's diction/syntax.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Today is the mock DUI activity for juniors and seniors only. Report to third period, after which we will have dismissal to the stadium for the duration of the period. This should not affect the rest of the campus, except for a slightly extended third period should the program run late.

Word of the Day: fruition

Author of the Day: David Sedaris

Today's Holiday: Take Our Daughters/Sons to Work Day/Earth Day (!)/National Jellybean Appreciation Day (I wonder if these counts for Bott's Every Flavor Beans. . .)

Gifted English II: Author of the Day; review rules 2 and 3 from the Short Handbook; finish analyzing "Janet Waking" by John Crowe Ransom; instructions on how to write a cultural review; return graded work; begin questions on TFA.

APees: Obviously, third period is a wash due to the Mock DUI, but the afternoon classes will do two things: go through Heart of Darkness through the beginning of Part II and analyze a few key passages, and begin the comprehensive review for the entire course. Also, if we have a moment, I'd like to address the second prompt from yesterday/last week's AP Practice Examination.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Word of the Day: truthiness

Holiday Today: Yeah, we're not going there. It's illegal and there you have it.

Author of the Day: Stephen Colbert

Gifted English II: Collect HW and go over principles of pronoun/antecedent agreement preparatory to AP Lang next year (Short Handbooks will be ready for each of you Wednesday); go over discussion questions for TFA; go over "Janet Waking" by John Crowe Ransom; go over review writing assignment.

APees: More Heart of Darkness, Books 1 and 2. And if we have time, further reflection on "The Hollow Men" with respect to the novel.

Reminders: AP Practice Exam (mandatory) is after school on Wednesday, April 21 from 1:15-3:15. I will be hosting. 3rd period: The Mock DUI will be in the stadium during your class session on Thursday. ALL STUDENTS: If you need comm serv hours, please see me ASAP and I can help you make arrangements.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Today is Tax Day. Many of you don't have to file at all, since you made below the national minimum, but I encourage any of you who worked in fiscal 2009 to file since you may get a refund AND learning to fill out government paperwork is a critical life skill that will take up much of your first year of college. Just saying.

Author of the Day: Thomas Aquinas

Word of the Day: vacillate

Holiday of the Day: IRS Awareness Day/McDonald's Day

Gifted English II: Content vocabulary for Things Fall Apart; review for Part I of the novel; grammar.

APees: Farewell to Romanticism; peer review of prompts in class preparatory to AP exam; Heart of Darkness again.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Mr. Bailey is my sub today due to various doctor appointments. I am NOT out in political protest over SB 6, although I strenuously oppose the measure. Let me be clear: I am all for teacher accountability, but not this way. This is an unfunded mandate that will cut another five percent from our already-slashed budget and it will ultimately harm kids. HOWEVER I also do not support skipping work to protest. I have sent letters, waved signs, and spammed e-mail boxes, and I will continue to do so--on my own time.

Gifted English II: Grammar assignment (sentence modeling, really) and a chance to finish your memoir.

APees: Three assignments! Yeah!

1. Read a passage from Jane Eyre, then answer the multiple choice questions from a past AP test.

2. Read another passage from Jane Eyre, then answer the discussion questions with a partner/partners.

3. Work on your focus paper! Due Friday!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Reminder: The Advanced Studies Department is visiting us today. I am thrilled. I anticipate their presence during third period.

Gifted English II: Diagnostic grammar test to see what skills we need to reinforce in the all-important fourth quarter; ideological introduction to the next outside reading assignment; if time, resumption of Author of the Day. Clearly, I stink at having y'all do this, so I give up. It's more important that YOU learn about the authors the world has to offer rather than have you watch other kids struggle with tri-fold boards and dioramas.

APees: Sonnets; two of 'em. One from Sir Thomas Wyatt, who was briefly Henry VIII's favorite until he was beheaded (which always makes friendship awkward) and one that is a revisionist 20th century take on a similar theme. TP-CASTT, ahoy! Ahoy!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

It's Tuesday; it must be Belgium. (Old joke from an older movie, so don't worry if you miss the reference.)

Gifted English II: Tomorrow will be our last scheduled CMC Reading Day. There will be a check-reading test next Thursday, October 29, which is six days longer a reading deadline than I had originally anticipated. I have character lists to help you if you are having trouble distinguishing between various French persons. Bring your novel and a beverage.

Today, though, is another matter entirely.

Grammar activity (!) followed by more Icarian fun in the form of a response paragraph.

Reminders: Mastery Test for the 120 Terms is Thursday; bring a pencil. It is multiple-guess. And for those of you who tend to leave things lying around in 313: You are ultimately responsible for your textbooks, and so far this year I have collected two dozen or so books from other classes, two very expensive calculators, a cell phone, two iPods, and some expensive make-up compacts from Dior and Chanel. I am glad that you are of a socio-economic class to have such things, but as a fairly materialistic person myself I find myself baffled that you would leave things lying about so cavalierly. Please, please, check your pockets and bags before you leave the classroom--I cannot be responsible for such finery.

APeeps: Further transitional pieces between Mac and Ham, with lecture/discussion thrown in for good measure. Tomorrow is a practice MC session for the AP exam, since we are a teeny bit behind schedule on that (but stunningly ahead of schedule in other ways, so yay) so bring a pencil and your brain. All will be well. Things to contemplate regarding the two tragedies: One is a fallen hero, much in the Aristotilean mode, and the other is a relatively good, if indecisive, man beset by a corrupt universe. Harold Bloom once stated that in writing Hamlet Shakespeare created "the human being," and I often wonder if Hamlet is the beginning of modern literature as we know it now.

Hamlet is certainly someone with whom we can identify, if only for specific qualities. I wouldn't date him. But then, again, I have a celebrity crush on Sam Waterston (the eyebrows are just so expressive) so there is no accounting for taste, eh? I think many of you will find Hamlet appealing in an emo-boy, Death Cab for Cutie kind of way. Or you will want to smack him upside the head. Regardless, the language Shakespeare allows this character to utilize is filled with insight, puns, and ridiculous brainy-ness. Enjoy it for what it is. Oh, and bring a pencil tomorrow. And watch Law and Order at some point and see if you don't find Waterston's eyebrow management somewhat entertaining.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Project X-Mas meeting after school today! Room 313, from 2:15ish-2:45ish. I am feeling ish.

Gifted English II: Author of the Day is Sylvia Plath, who isn't depressing at all. (Actually, break out the Kleenex.) Afterwards--Antigone review for the amazing Antigone test we are taking tomorrow, and a grammar activity that will blow your mind. Or not.

APees: Bring a pen or pencil, and don't hate. The Mactest does have to be postponed until next week due to fire-related activities that might manifest themselves, say, Friday fifth period, so today we are Macwriting. Yup--you heard it here first. MacDoIt.

Regarding PTSA Parent Night: Thank you so much to all of the parents and students who came and braved my overheated classroom and partook of melted chocolate candies and had to listen to me babble far too quickly about issues far too important to be thus babbled about. (Diagram that sentence if you dare!) It was lovely meeting all of you, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to teach your children. I know this is cheesy (cue wailing violins and orchestra music) but I believe that teaching is a mission and even though I use humor as frequently as possible to convey my message, I do have a message and I want these young people to become independent, thoughtful life-long learners. I really believe that they can accomplish anything given the right push and the necessary tools, and I thank all of you for allowing me the privilege of borrowing them for a few hours each week. (End rant; no applause, really; it's all good.)

Love to all!!!! Go read something!

Friday, February 13, 2009

Friday the 13th! I've always had good luck on these days (knock on wood.) So, where did all of the paranoia about this particular date start?

(Note: Fear of this date is paraskavedekatriaphobia.)

According to the infallible sources over at Wikipedia (note irony) the fear of the number 13 goes back to Norse mythology, but was compounded by the Christian view of the number 12 indicating a form of completeness. I always thought Friday the 13th was merely the name of Kevin Bacon's first film appearance when I was younger, but paraskavedekatriaphobia does lead to ome lively urban legends and what-not. So be safe tomorrow, and watch out for ladders, spilled salt, angsty-looking black cats, and mirrors. And clowns. But you always have to watch out for some clowns. . .

Gifted English II: I need to sign your registration forms, and you need to take a vocabulary quiz. Afterwards: The wonder of English grammar, with a brief history lesson.

AP Lit: Jane Eyre quiz, followed immediately by a comprehensive review of Romantic values as they may appear in the novel.

Reminder: NO SCHOOL MONDAY!!! Happy Prez Day!

Monday-Friday, December 1-5, 2008

Here is the schedule for the week, for those who like to plan ahead.

Note: Sophomores! Your next literature assignment is Julius Caesar by Shakespeare. I have plenty of copies for you to use, and it is in your textbook, but if you have historically encountered problems with comprehension, you may wish to avail yourself of the No Fear Shakespeare series from Barnes and Noble. This series features the Elizabethan language on one side of the page, with American vernacular on the other. You can get these books at Barnes or on amazon.com, or ask one of the juniors if they kept their copy from last year. You will need it in a week or so.

APees:

Monday: T.S. Eliot and "Prufrock"/Prufrockian Critical Essays (read by Wednesday for timed writing) and distribute Hamlet review sheets for upcoming test.
Tuesday: Comprehensive Hamlet review
Wednesday: Timed Writing on Prufrock and Hamlet
Thursday: Hamlet Unit Test
Friday: Hamlet Focus Paper #2 due by 5 p.m. and transition into existentialism and absurdism

Words of the Day: abstemious, verity, vacuous, debonair, elucidate

Sophys:

Monday: Candide review/characters and themes
Tuesday: Candide essay test (start in class then take home to finish)
Wednesday: Submit essay test/grammar activity/return MP essays for possible resubmission/wrap up satire unit with "Miniver Cheevy"
Thursday: Transition into Julius Caesar/The Tudors and Shakespeare
Friday: Transition part II

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Sophys: You have an essay due today, by the end of the day--4:30 hard copy, and midnight on www.turnitin.com. Many thanks to those of you who have already submitted. Today, in class, we are reviewing the poem we read two days ago: "The Unknown Citizen" by WH Auden, and analyzing what he satirizes in the poem, and then transitioning to another poem that features irony in a very intentional, socially-conscious way: "Ozymandias" by Shelley. TP-CASTT and other hijinks will ensue.

APees: Begin the comprehensive review of Hamlet and look at the criticism of the play from Eliot, Poe, and others. Also, we are going to review some grammatical constructs to help us in our quest for academic perfection.

Two days until Thanksgiving Break begins!

Grammar and Syntax Are Your Friends: Buffalo buffalo!

Check out this cool sentence:

"Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo."

This is a grammatically correct sentence, often used to illustrate how homonyms and homophones can be used in syntax. The sentence describes bison living in Buffalo, New York and how they intimidate each other. This explanation is from Wikipedia but can be found widely on other linguistic sites:

[Those] (Buffalo buffalo) [whom] (Buffalo buffalo buffalo) buffalo (Buffalo buffalo).

[Those] buffalo(es) from Buffalo [that are intimidated by] buffalo(es) from Buffalo intimidate buffalo(es) from Buffalo.

Bison from Buffalo, New York, who are intimidated by other bison in their community also happen to intimidate other bison in their community.

THE buffalo FROM Buffalo WHO ARE buffaloed BY buffalo FROM Buffalo ALSO buffalo THE buffalo FROM Buffalo.

Similar sentences that are quite fun follow:

"Fish fish fish fish fish", which can be read as "Fish(n) (whom) fish(n) fish(v), fish(v) fish(n)", or, "Fish which are fished by fish, fish other fish".

"Peppers pepper peppers pepper pepper." In other words, "Peppers who pepper peppers may also pepper another pepper."

Police police police Police police. Same thing.

See if you can invent one! Good times.

Here is some more gratuitous clip art:

Thursday, September 25, 2008

According to Eric K., today is National Comic Book Day. Please don't spend hours regaling me with the advantages Aqua Man has over Batman. Can't do it. Just can't.

Sophys:

1. Reminder that The Count of Monte Cristo is now due on October 9. This is a major extension in my world, so don't take advantage of it--and don't think you can just get the book on tape or see the movie and you''ll be okay. You have had TWO state-sanctioned reading days in class, and a very thorough character list to assist you, and you've had a while for reading. A handful of students are finished already. Please, please, please read this awesome book--we have three assignments related to it and reading this book may impact your future studies! I will remind you again in class AND we'll have a Book Talk Q&A one day next week to clarify any "confusement." Yes, that's not a word; I'm just trying to be funny. Ha ha.

2. Today! Antigone! What will she do next? Goodness--the poor girl. Oh, and some grammar. I love grammar. It is your friend, and you should love it, too.

APees: Finish and review Act II in all of its finery.

Community Service: As you know, I am no longer working with the Orlando Shakespeare Festival due to an ideological parting of the ways. If you are interested in volunteering with them, there are other groups in the Orlando community who usher for them and I'm sure they'd love to have you, or if you're 18 you can volunteer as an individual. There are other opportunities for community service here at Boone, and frankly I could use some help before school with some stuff. It's not particularly challenging work, but a lot of things are still missing from the summer and might be packed into the boxes that line the walls. If you are interested in earning comm serv in or out of my classsroom, see me and I will gratefully A) use you and give you hours directly or B) put you in touch with the right agency.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Today is the Primary Election Day! If you are 18 and are registered, please exercise your right to be heard and go to your polling place before school (they open at 7!) or after seventh period (they close at 7!) Also, if you are going to be 18 before the general election in November, go see Ms. Davison in the Magnet Suite for a registration form. We can register you to vote here at Boone, or you can register at any public library, most post offices, or right down the street from Boone at the Supervisor of Elections office on Kaley. VOTE. It is your privilege and your right.

Gifted II: Existentialism in a Nutshell; grammar review #1; assign outside reading for this quarter (The Count of Monte-Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. The abridged version is just fine; I do have a few copies in my classroom for any interested parties. The unabridged features 300 more pages of French countryside descriptions and not much else. It's such a great book! I have a character list for each of you, too.) Tha Author of the Day today is Mark Leyner.

APees: Common Errors on Focus Paper #1 (like not turning one in. . .), close reading of passages from Bovary; preparation for first multiple-choice practice session. Bring a pencil tomorrow.