Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Today is Bison Yell Day, Toys for Executive Testing Day, and Adjust Your Calendar Day.

Author of the Day: Angela Shelf Madearis, amateur genealogist, cookbook author, and children's author.

Word of the Day: vituperative

Gifted English II: Today, we are going to review words #21-40 for this week's vocabulary quiz and then have a Title Parade for the Stranger essays. If we finish with time to spare, we are going to review a brief history of the etymology of our entire language preparatory to our next unit. Exciting times in Gifted class! Remember: Underclass Picture Day is TOMORROW. You may either bring payment with the form I gave you in class, or have your parental units pay online at dsp.com in the next few days. Dress nicely!

AP Lit and Comp: First multiple choice practice session, followed by analysis of Tess with respect to diction, syntax, and tone. 6th and 7th period classes will probably have a moderate amount of HW tonight due to the fire drill yesterday and its resultant distractions. Bring a pencil, please!

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!

Monday, November 30, 2009

Can y'all believe it's the last day of November--already? Oh, my!

We have a very busy week ahead of us, peeps, with both the Honors Breakfast and the Senior Breakfast during the morning periods AND final deadlines for some colleges AND preparation for a Hamlet test AND a satire essay for the sophys. Much to do, much to do--and progress reports, supposedly, will go home Friday.

We are on a downhill train ride to Winter Break, and we have much to do in the interim.

APees: Today, we need to talk about the semester test; we are going to take it in two parts. The first part will be the day before Winter Break, and will be strictly content-based, multiple choice, on everything from The Awakening and Bovary to Hamlet. The second part, based on an actual AP exam, will be given during the normal testing window in January. I am doing this, like some other AP instructors, because when we resume instruction in January I need to move on quickly to new content in order to prepare you for the national exam in May, and also because I watched the scores plummet last year when we moved exams back those few weeks. Taking a content-specific exam after two weeks of inertia is deleterious to your studies, and I want you all to be successful. ALSO--today, we start really discussing Hamlet, using some guided questions on Act V as a starting point. Why did he fail to avenge his father, but instead ended up avenging his mother (one interpretation)? Why did he fail to act for so long? Is he, as Harold Bloom famously postulated, the first real human being in literature? Why or why not?

Sophys: Catch up, clean up--new content vocabulary is on the board (also from Candide) and the Candide check-reading test will be Thursday. The number of the counting to the day of the test shall therefore be three, not five, nor two, except that thou goest on to three. We need to reintegrate into our satire unit, and I have a creative way of doing that, and then we need to establish due dates and expectations for the Author of the Day presentations. Edusoft Benchmark testing is next week, peeps, but you will earn points for participation.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

If you are going with me to Paris this Thanksgiving break, please pop by after school for five minutes to compare notes on iPod chargers and other travel accessories. Oh, and to convince me that I do NOT need a Louis Vuitton Speedy 30 cm bag. Like I have 700 dollars hanging around. And if I did, I could get a lot of copies of Jane Eyre for that amount of money, and y'all know how much I like the Bronte thing.

Gifted English II: Satire, satire, satire, and prep for a vocabulary quiz. Good times! How's Candide coming along? Let's talk! I am going to give you the next essay assignment today, too. Just when you thought you couldn't have any more fun. . .

APeeps: Hamlet, Act V. I have the skull prop ready to go. First, though, we need to see Ophelia's mad sequence (which I am posting here momentarily) and take the second quiz on Act IV. Yesterday was more of a reaction prompt; today is specific. SPECIFIC. And focus papers are due on www.turnitin.com by midnight tonight (or e-mailed to me in the event of technical difficulty) and the hard copy is due today, although I will accept them through tomorrow afternoon. I am grading them in Paris.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Gifted English II: Today, we will review the Candide content vocabulary (see list below) and then finish "Python."

APeeps: Act IV Quiz for Hamlet, part I--(Part II is tomorrow, and is more objective) and help with the focus paper. We need to go over the rest of Act IV and then go headlong into Act V. Selected quotes from the play will be on the board; our next critical essay is T.S. Eliot's assessment of Hamlet. Hint: He doesn't like it.

Candide Content Vocabulary List

1. harrowed
2. pensive
3. insolence
4. disconcerted
5. consternation
6. rapacity
7. exquisite
8. prodigious
9. sage
10. laudable

Monday, November 16, 2009

One more week until Thanksgiving break! Good times. We are starting Project X-Mas full-on after the weeklong break, but we are collecting this week, as well. See me if you are interested in helping out.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BOONE BRAVES FOR WINNING OUR BARREL BACK FROM EDGEWATER! 21-14, booyah. Very proud of our team and our kids for having insane team spirit. Wish I could have been there to see the revelries, but I was with you via texting--people kept giving me score updates each quarter. Awesome.

Gifted English II: I do wish to speak to you about the three satirical pieces you've read recently, most notably "Top of the Food Chain" by TC Boyle. Also, we need to review the Candide content vocabulary and establish a firm due date for this short novel. I do have a reading day planned, probably Wednesday. Come in ready to go--we have a LOT to do this week, most of which is super-cool.

APeeps: Cultural Connections to Hamlet. You have a focus paper due THURSDAY, but if you submit it earlier so much the better. Today in class, we are going to review key concepts from Act III and watch a key sequence from a film directly related to Hamlet ideologically. You'll laugh, you'll cry. . .

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Ahhhhh, Thursday--the day of the week in which the weekend is just a glimpse away, when people can see unfettered freedom lurking in the corners of their thoughts, when the anticipation of two whole days to get caught up on tasks and errands and grades just builds. . .and this Thursday, with the weather finally cooling a bit, there is more optimism than ever!

Gifted English II: First period still needs to go over the expectations for the focus paper assignment, and then we will review the Poe vocabulary words and their definitions. You could do a lot worse than imitate Poe's diction; he was a master of high-level lexicon and probably would have had an awesome SAT score. Afterwards, a brisk and mighty discussion of "Pit and the Pendulum". FOCUS PAPER DUE TOMORROW BY 3:30 p.m.

APeeps: After looking carefully at the language of Hamlet, Act II, scene ii's soliloquy, we will take a festive quiz on the Act in its entirety. Warning: Quotes. I love quotes. My most (in)famous quiz questions usually start with, "Who said this, to whom, and why?" HAHAHAHAHAHA. Know thy play, children. Know thy play. After all, "The play's the thing/Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king."

Announcement and Request:

If anyone still wants to go to Ireland for Spring Break, let me know. I have to add you before 2009 is out due to new travel regulations. Last year we could add people as late as January, but with TSA and new passport stuff we need more lead time. Let me know OR plan to attend a final travel sales meeting on Tuesday, December 8 in room 313 at 7 p.m.

And if anyone knows how to make italics on Facebook chat windows, or for that matter in e-mails I send from www.turnitin.com, I'd appreciate some insight. My HTML is at about a four-year-old's level (heck, my nephew knows more than I do) and I can't stand not italicizing things. With a friend's help I figured out how to BOLD things (asteriskWHATYOUWANT BOLDEDasterisk) but I can't figure out italics. Thanks!

Friday, October 2, 2009

Today is bi-week, which means that there is no football game on the schedule. Regardless, it's still ORANGE AND WHITE DAY which means that according to Ms. McMillen, you can leave third period one minute early for lunch if you are wearing our school colors.

(I will be wearing what I normally wear, thus manifesting my school spirit radiantly from the inside while clad in black on the outside. It's my oeuvre.)

That said: There is a horrible rumor going around about Senior Skip Day being tomorrow. It's awfully early in the school year to start these shenanigans, people, and you already have two three-day weekends on the calendar in the humble month of October. So let this be known: If you are absent tomorrow, and it turns into an EXCUSED absence (college visit, dental work, major existential crisis pre-approved by a parental unit, illness, slight case of death, robot attack, intervention from neighboring countries) then I might let you make up the awesome quiz I am planning for tomorrow. If not, you lose out. If you are there--regardless of period you choose to attend--you will receive full credit for a quiz that gloriously asks you mundane questions like "What are you wearing?" and "What room are you in, right now?" COME TO SCHOOL. IT WILL SERVE YOU WELL. SKIPPING CLASS IS SUCH A FRESHMAN BEHAVIOR. BE A ROLE MODEL.

Announcements!!!

1. Guidance is working assiduously to fix the transcript problems; I assure you it is not them, but a glitch that might be affecting more than just BHS. Please try to be patient, and if you feel that you are going to lose your temper, come to my room and have a peppermint. Peppermints are known to improve moods instantly (or at least mitigate halitosis.)

2. POETRY READING AFTER SCHOOL TOMORROW in my room, hosted by Covert and Hilley. Totally optional, but totally worth it. I forgot to advertise it because, honestly, I forgot that October 2 was this week. Bring a beverage; the enlightenment is free of charge. We plan to start around 2:30 and close a little after 4:00.

3. College Essay Workshop went very well, but some of you are still in denial. COME SEE ME ASAP if you need help. I care. I am paid very little to care a lot. Feel the love, people. :-)

Gifted English II: Due to lack of organization on the part of your instructor, you have no vocab quiz today. Woot! So we will review the words from 101-120, then try to finish Antigone. I also want to share some samples from Wednesday's timed writing--some of your essays were hilarious and/or insightful.

APees: MacStuff. What will happen to Lady MacDuff and Egg McDuffin? Will Malcolm turn out to be a liar or a jerk, hiding in England and eating scones and crumpets? Will Macbeth get his just desserts? Will the witches break into song again? WHAT WILL HAPPEN? OMG!

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Today is Ms. Skinner's birthday! Be sure to say Happy Birthday to her if you are in her AP Gov or American Government Honors class.

Gifted English II: Now that benchmark testing is behind us (whew) we can get back to Business As Usual. Author of the Day is Michael Crichton, followed by a quick review of some examples related to this week's literary vocabulary, followed by Antigone. BRING YOUR TEXTBOOK.

AP Lit and Comp: Yesterday, we read Macbeth, Act I, scenes i-iii. We need to finish looking at the questions before we go into scenes iv-vii. I plan to read Act I and II in class with you, then assign Act III for your own reading one evening. We need to do Act IV scene i together in class, and I'd like to conclude the play together as well (Act V, scenes iii-vii) but the rest will be independent. We have other Mactivities (get it? haha) to do that will help us reinforce our learning, as well. This play ROCKS. Thanks to all who dramatically read on Tuesday--you are all awesome.

Homework: Sophys: Keep up with the Antigone questions, and study your vocabulary. APees: Please, please, please work on your college essays and applications, and keep up with the Macquestions.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Sorry about the delay in posting--I was reading a book on efficiency and lost track of the time. I was so wrapped up in learning how to be efficient and not procrastinate that I procrastinated on updating my assignment blog. Since the sophomores are learning all about irony this week, this little blip on the radar is strangely appropriate, but I'm still embarrassed to be so off-schedule. A thousand apologies. Well, that and I've been grading myself stupid with focus papers, make-up tests, and multiple choice practice sessions.

On to the lessons for tomorrow!!!

Sophys: Our Author of the Day resumes tomorrow with the incredible Toni Morrison, one of my favorite writers. Afterwards, we will go over the expectations for the final copy of the Stranger paper which is due Friday for many of you--and to that end, I have a neato handout to give you called Guidelines for Solid Writing. After we go over this, I'd like to go over some of this week's vocabulary words--#21-40 on your literary terms list, and assign AWESOME homework that I meant to assign yesterday.

APees: Yesterday, I watched in amazement as some of you twitched in fear as you took your first multiple choice practice session. Never fear! I will give you back your scantrons so you can monitor your scores, and then we will go over the two prose passages. One of the passages is reprinted for you to annotate as we go. It should be a fun time for everyone!

Thursday, August 27, 2009

As the dog days of August draw to a sweltering close, our first week together comes to a similar conclusion. Actually, that is a terribly purple sentence. I am a frustrated novelist and sometimes I express myself in what would best be described as pedagogical forums. Moving on. . .

Gifted English II (Sophys): Since schedule changes are still in process, we will proceed with my alternative universe plans. Author of the Day is the amazing Alice Walker, after which we need to finish going over the last of the literary vocabulary terms. I have prepared a style sheet for writing assignments (that can be found on this blog, but I have a hard copy for your notebook) and a handy Guidelines for Solid Writing sheet that will be the foundation of our writing instruction. If we have time, I'd like to share a funny little piece by the comedian Steve Martin called "Writing is Easy!" that appeared in The New Yorker a few years ago. (While he isn't the guy who created the concept of finishing every story with "Then suddenly everyone was run over by a large truck" he is close in wit and cynicism. You will love it.)

APees: We are meeting in College and Career tomorrow to plan your application processes. I know that some of you have already applied, or are in the middle of applying, but this entire process can be mystifying and Mrs. Cadman is your best line of defense against the woe. A few reminders:

--If you need a letter of recommendation from me, please see me ASAP to pick up a form. I need details about you to fill out the letter; otherwise, I will write what I know about you anecdotally and it won't be very formal. "Erica is so entertaining and insightful!" doesn't read as well to a college admissions counselor as "Erica, entertaining and insightful, has served her church community for over four hundred hours and plans to study pre-law." (Erica is a fictitious creation and any resemblance to any real Erica is strictly coincidental.)

--If you would like me to read/edit/help you with your college essay, come to the Writing Center or see me before/after school.

This process may well be the most important thing you accomplish this year, and I need you to pay close attention to Mrs. Cadman's exhortations.

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!

Thursday, December 11, 2008

PSAT scores are in! If your first period teacher did not give them to you yesterday, be sure to specifically ask for them today. I have a PowerPoint I am to show you that can explain the scores. And I'll use puppets, too.

Sophys: Act I and Act I questions; quick review of content vocabulary for tomorrow's quiz.

APees: R&G Are Dead, Act II and hopefully Act III.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Two weeks left until Winter Break! Can you believe it???

NOTE: Sophys will have Edusoft Benchmark Testing tomorrow (Tuesday) in class. Please bring a pencil; I will have some on hand, but I know how important it can be to use a pencil to which you are emotionally attached. Mechanical is fine. Please take this benchmark testing seriously; kids who have been smart alecks in the past have found themselves unceremoniously dumped into Intensive Reading courses. You DO NOT WANT THIS. Take it, take it seriously, earn ten points. Life is good.

NOTE NOTE: Project X-Mas kids will meet before school tomorrow morning (Tuesday) to gather coin jars for our final count. Whatever we collect (we have over a thousand dollars so far, not counting pledges from clubs and teams) we divide among the custodial staff for Christmas presents. Thanks to all for their contributions! Service letters will be distributed to all of you by Friday.

SOPHYS: After reviewing the definitions of the Candide content vocabulary from last week, we're going to segue from the Elizabethan time period to the Ancient Roman in preparation for our study of Julius Caesar, Shakespeare's history play. The play is deceptively straightforward but evokes issues such as the power of rhetoric and oratory, and the significance of shifting loyalties and the capriciousness of mob rule.

APees: Continued hilarity with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Act I. Tom Stoppard is such a hoot.

Random Quote of the Day: "I have many leather-bound books, and my apartment smells of rich mahogany." --Ron Burgundy.

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, October 30--retroactively posted

I'm so sorry that I haven't been keeping up with this! Family medical issues have taken over my time and energy, but life does go on, and light bulbs need to be changed, and lesson plans need to be updated. A thousand apologies for shirking my duties to you.

For the record, then. . .

Gifted English II: Reminder of vocabulary quiz on Friday; syntax analysis of Poe (kinds of sentences used, and examination of sentence structure); introduction to the Sature Unit; reminder to please acquire a copy of Candide by Voltaire (I still have two copies available--first come, first served); discussion of "Pit" to conclude things.

AP English Literature and Composition: Act II quiz and transition to Act III, scene i.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

The weather is finally becoming autumnal here in Central Florida, and you might even need to bundle up a bit tomorrow--it's supposed to be as low as 48 degrees tomorrow morning.

I know this fun fact, along with others (Daylight Savings Time ends next Saturday night, various news stories, the future of the Rays, and other bits of popular-culture-trivia) since I spent all day today at Florida Hospital South in various waiting rooms watching a lot of television in between doctor updates. I hated having to be out today, but family first, and I needed more to be with my dad than with all of you. The medical news on the dad front isn't great, but he's holding steady for now and I can only hope for the best. I also hope you had a great day, and I hope that the senior assembly was rewarding and meaningful!

I do plan to be there tomorrow, barring any other emergencies, and we have a great day planned:

Sophys: More Poe, more vocabulary, and a smooth transition from one unit to the next. Some of those terms are tricky (auto-da-fe) but all can enhance your already considerable diction. And I have a cool, ready-to-be-colored biography of Mr. Poe drawn by a terrific cartoonist.

APees: Act II, demystified--what is an antic disposition, and why should we care? And should we be, or not-be? Existential woe at its most poetic, courtesy of our friend Billy Shakespeare.

Monday, October 13, 2008

22 days until the National Election!

1 week until Homecoming Festivities begin!

2 days until the PSAT!

Sophys: Distribute the Count of Monte Cristo focus paper assignment and discuss; review PSAT vocabulary; distribute HW for this evening and go over (monosyllabic critical thinking fun times!)

APees: Analysis of Frost poem in relation to Macstuff; multiple choice practice. I know you can't wait!

If you need to take the make-up version of the Mactest, see me after class today to schedule some time tomorrow or Wednesday. I cannot give a makeup test today due to other commitments.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

I've just been informed that I have a meeting before first period and another meeting immediately after seventh--both mandatory, my favorite word--so I won't be able to conference with anyone about college essays unless you can give up A lunch. Yay for meetings!

Sophys: Review PSAT vocabulary; review CMC for tomorrow's fun test, review Antigone for the take-home essay test, review PSAT strategies (hey--are you seeing a theme here? Lots of REVIEW.)

APees: MacFinalization in preparation for an eventual Mactest. I'm thinking Friday.

Apropos of Nothing: Project Runway Finale, part I is tonight! Just saying.

Primary Text Supplement for AP Lit:

AP Literature and Composition
Literary Criticism of the Macplay by A.C. Bradley
(from his series of 17 lectures on the play, presented in 1935)

4. SIMILARITIES BETWEEN MACBETH AND LADY MACBETH

. . .From this murky background stand out the two great terrible figures, which dwarf all the remaining characters of the drama. Both are sublime, and both inspire, far more than the other tragic heroes, the feeling of awe. They are never detached in imagination from the atmosphere, which surrounds them and adds to their grandeur and terror. It is, as it were, continued into their souls. For within them is all that we felt without the darkness of night, lit with the flame of tempest and the hues of blood, and haunted by wild and direful shapes, 'murdering ministers,' spirits of remorse, and maddening visions of peace lost and judgment to come. The way to be untrue to Shakespeare here, as always, is to relax the tension of imagination, to conventionalize, to conceive Macbeth, for example, as a half-hearted cowardly criminal, and Lady Macbeth as a whole-hearted fiend.
These two characters are fired by one and the same passion of ambition; and to a considerable
extent they are alike. The disposition of each is high, proud, and commanding. They are born to
rule if not to reign. They are peremptory or contemptuous to their inferiors. They are not children
of light, like Brutus and Hamlet; they are of the world. We observe in them no love of country, and no interest in the welfare of anyone outside their family. Their habitual thoughts and aims are, and, we imagine, long have been, all of station and power. And though in both there is something, and in one much, of what is higher honour, conscience, humanity they do not live consciously in the light of these things or speak their language. Not that they are egoists, like lago; or, if they are egoists, theirs is an egoisme a deux. They have no separate ambitions. They support and love one another. They suffer together. And if, as time goes on, they drift a little apart, they are not vulgar souls, to be alienated and recriminate when they experience the fruitlessness of their ambition. They remain to the end tragic, even grand.

Definition: egoisme a deux: 1. "Selfishness of two" or "double selfishness"; a satirical description of love, variously and dubiously attributed sometimes to the French medieval writer of romances, Antoine de la Sale (circa 1385-circa 1460), to the 18th century philosophe, Antoine de Lassalle, and to the Swiss-French belle-lettrist, Madame de Staël (1766-1817): "L'amour est un égoïsme à deux," which translates as: "Love is a selfishness of two."

2. A situation in which two people are in love with each other but lack brotherly love for others.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

I'm not here today--so be nice to your substitute, Coach K's wife! And if you're not nice to her, you'll have to run laps. I'm having an X-ray done and I guarantee I'll be cranky when I return, so I don't want to return to a bad sub report. BEHAVE.

Comments have been disabled until further notice on this blog due to song lyrics, bizarre political comments, and grammatical errors being posted here. Not that I disapprove entirely, and I want ya'll to be creative (yes, that was a ya'll) but this blog serves more of a professional purpose. Assignments, updates, and information, oh my.

You can still e-mail me the inner workings of your mind at jennifer.hilley@ocps.net if you must.

Today:

Sophys:

1. PSAT Vocabulary List, with definitions!
2. An awesome brain puzzle to get your thinking in high gear!
3. A quick Antigone quiz!
4. A grammar assignment!!!

APees:

1. Macbeth Scavenger Hunt
2. Finish the Macpacket
3. If time--proofreading activity using Macbeth for content

I do see the discrepancy; why don't the seniors get exclamation points? here: Go, Class of 2009!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!