Essays Due and Final Portfolios Begin

Students had the period to finish up their final essays and begin the portfolio assignment. We'll finish the portfolio during the final.

The Final Essay Begins

Students had all day today, and will have the rest of the week, to work on their final essay on "Romeo and Juliet." Everything they need is at Google Classroom and in their writer's notebook.

Act 4/5 Recap

Never was a story of more woe...

Today we finished the play. Students should get to work on their Act 4/5 recap for homework (combine the two acts into one recap with two SMMs, at least one of which should be from Act 5).

4.4-5.1

Today we got started on the Act 4/5 Recap and then read 4.4 through 5.1. We'll finish the play tomorrow.

4.1-4.3

Today we shared our recaps and then got into act 4, reading scenes 1 through 3 of act 4.

5.5 & Act Recap

Today we wrapped up Act 3, watched a bit of the Zeffirelli version, and students had time to get to work on their Act 3 Recaps, which are due Tuesday. Remeber, the complete text of the play with line numbers is here!

3.4-3.5

Today we finished up 3.5 and did a bit of writing.

3.3

Today we started with a warm-up and then read 3.3.

3.2

Today we reviewed 3.1 and then listened to and wrote about 3.2.

3.1

Today, after sharing the homework, students read and watched 3.1.

End Act 2

Today the class warmed up with some quotation analysis, finished Act 2 of Romeo and Juliet, and had some time to start the Act 2 Recap which is due Monday. Here is the handout. Here is the complete text of the play.

2.3—2.4

We began the day by reviewing the homework from yesterday. Then we listened to 2.3 and read 2.4, wrapping up with an exit ticket.

The Balcony Scene

Today students turned in writer's notebooks and Act 1 summaries. We then read 2.1 and 2.2 and watched two versions on film (the first two in the video linked here), taking notes. They should do a short compare/contrast paragraph for HW.

Act 1 Recaps

Today students had time to finish up their Act 1 Recaps. These are due tomorrow along with Writer's Notebooks.

1.4—1.5

Today we nearly finished Act 1, getting part of the way through 1.5.

1.3

Today we listened to act 1, scene 3 and then watched a bit of it on film.

1.1—1.2

Today we continued with act 1 of Romeo and Juliet, reading 1.1 and 1.2 and doing a bit of writing.

Friday & Monday

Friday, students wrote paragraphs supporting their opinion on one of the themes of the play. They then spent the remainder of the period on the prologue to Romeo and Juliet.

Monday, after copying down a graphic of the play's main characters and finishing the notes on page 930, we read the first half of 1.1.

Wednesday

After taking a few notes from the textbook, we used the rest of the period to insult each other, Shakespeare style, and perform the whole play in a day.

Final Theme Poll & Research Essay Redux

Friday, after our final theme poll, students had the period to review their research essay scores and do a bit of reflection (and those students who STILL haven't turned in the essay had a last chance to finish up).

Theme Poll 4 and Some Syntax

Theme Poll #3 & Word Wall Presentations

After theme Poll #3 at Google Classroom, students finished up and presented their Shakespearian words for the word wall.

Theme Poll #2 and The Word Wall

Thinking About Shakespeare & a Theme

Tuesday and Wednesday

Tuesday and Wednesday we transitioned to a short, short story unit, reading Maupassant's "The Necklace," doing a bit of writing in writer's notebooks about status and character, among other things.

Wrapping Up Drafts

Students had the whole two-hour block today to work on their research essays. Some finished up and began revision. Everyone should be ready to revise by Monday.

The Body

Today students had the whole period—with some breaks for poetry, extra credit, and returning books—to work on their essays. They should come to class Friday with the body paragraphs complete.

Intro Paragraphs

Today we looked at model intro paragraphs and students had time to start writing. Slides are here and handouts and models are at Google Classroom.

Final Research Day

Students had the whole day to take Cornell notes on their essay topics. Writing starts Monday, so make sure those notes get done over the weekend!

Research Day

Students spent the whole period researching for their argument essays, mostly using the SIRS database (link and passwords at Google Classroom). Researching at home would put them ahead of the game at this point and is HIGHLY suggested.

Research Day

Students had some time to use the school database to refine and research the issue for their essays. There will be more research and notetaking time tomorrow, but they could certainly be working on this for homework.

The Importance of Credibility

Guest teacher, Ruth Mitchell, reminded students about the importance of evaluating sources today, and the showed them a database full of credible, reliable sources that they may use for their research papers. Login information is in the slideshow Ms. Mitchell shared at Google Classroom today.

Transition to Argument Writing

Today we transitioned from issues in student novels to issues students want to write about. After some free writing about possible issues from last week, students filled out the claim generator below. All handouts are at Google Classroom.

The Book Bento: Presentations

Students had a bit more than half the period to wrap up their projects and then everyone presented what they had in table groups.

If they didn't finish it in class today, students should turn in the URL address of their Book Bento (from ThingLink) and the Annotated Works Cited assignment at Google Classroom ASAP.

Book Bento: Day 3

Students began work on the ThingLink portion of the assignment today. Directions and class codes are at Google Classroom. Students will have 10 to 20 minutes to work tomorrow and then will present their projects to each other.

Book Bento: Day 2

Today students gathered or created images for the Book Bentos, simultaneously working on their annotated works cited pages. Both assignments are at Google Classroom and should be done by tomorrow so they can start the final part of the project in class.

Book Bento: Day 1

Today we started the final art project for the literature circles. The slides from class are below. The rest of the handouts and rubrics are at Google Classroom. Students should finish step one for homework if they need to.

The Last Lit Circle

After a bit of creative writing, groups had their final literature circles and did a final LC reflection.

Peer Evaluations & Work Time

After a quick peer evaluation activity, students had the rest of the period to get ready for their final literature circles tomorrow.

LC #9

Groups had their penultimate literature circle today. The last one is Friday!

Symbolism: A Review

After some discussion of symbolism, students had some time to prepare for tomorrow's literature circles.

LC#8

After some prep work, students had their 8th literature circles and then had some time at the end of the period to work on LC#9, due Wednesday.

NonFiction Friday

Today's nonfiction Friday topic an essay about juvenile incarceration which lead to a lively discussion at the end of class.

WU & Some Reading Time

LC #7 & Reflection 3

Today we had literature circle #7, a bit of reading time, and then students wrapped up the day with their third reflection.

Conflict & Work Time

After some work with conflict, students had the rest of the period to prepare for the next literature circle.

Characters & LC 6

After some work with character motivation, students had literature circle #6.

Nonfiction Friday

Today we read this article and students did a works cited entry and summary (using the LC summary frames) in their writer's notebooks.

Character Focus

Today we began the period with a review of the terms protagonist and antagonist with students applying them to their own novels. Students then had some time to read and prepare for lit circle #6, and we wrapped up the period with a reflective assignment on this week's lit circles (4 & 5).

LC #5

We began the period with students in role groups discussing successes, challenges, and strategies related to each literature circle job. After a whole-group debrief, students had their 5th literature circle.

Theme & LC#5 Prep

After a bit of work with theme (below), students had the rest of the period to work on literature circle #5.

Literature Circle #4

Today students had the chance to prep a bit for their literature circles and then had literature circle number 4. They should be working on #5 for Wednesday.

Friday Phone Talk

Today we took some notes on this article and had some fun with rolling whiteboards.
Don't forget that lit circle #4 is the day we get back! 

LC #3

Today we met in role groups and students shared their books and work with others who had the same role. Then students had their third literature circle and then a bit of reading time. In 2nd and 6th period, we wrapped up with the activity below.

POV and LC Prep

We began the day with a review of POV as it relates to the literature circle novels. Students then had the rest of the period to read and prepare for tomorrow's circle. If they are not ready, they should complete the reading and their job for HW.

Literature Circle #2

After having some time to finish up their jobs, students had their second literature circles today. Literature circles meet again Wednesday.

Art Focus

We began the day with a reflection on yesterday's literature circles, followed by a closer look at the artist's role. Students wrapped up the period with a bit of reading time. They should be ready for the next literature circle on Monday.

Lit Circle #1

Today groups had their first literature circle and then had some time to begin their second reading and role, which will be due Monday.

Literature Circles

Today we practiced the job of Discussion Director, working with Costa's level two and three questions, and then students had the rest of the period to read and do their jobs. We will have the first literature circle tomorrow.

The slideshow for this week is here.

Literature Circle Practice Run

After a quick review of the semester one reflection (which was then collected), students had the rest of the period to read Richard Wright's short story "The Rights to the Streets of Memphis" and do the activity below in their writer's notebooks.

Semester One Reflection

Final Research Day (Hopefully)

Students had the period to finish up their Cornell notes—they should have at least three sets—and get ready to work on their presentation slides tomorrow (these are available at Google Classroom). We also briefly discussed semester grades and the importance of turning in late papers.

Research Continues

Students continued their research today, taking Cornell notes on a variety of sources. They may want to do a bit over the weekend as well, depending on what they managed today.

Research Begins

Today we began work on our partner mini-research project. More tomorrow!

Transitions

After finishing presentations, we started on a short partner project, focusing on research topics chosen by the students.

Media Presentations

Today, after a bit of preliminary work and discussion, student groups gave their presentations on the pros and cons of different media types.

Media Work Day

Today we continued our media work in groups, working on some quick presentation slides which we will present Tuesday.

A Turn to Media

We spent today thinking about where we get information and what makes a source reliable or not. We will continue this look at media tomorrow.

Final Essay Day

Today we spent the period revising essays using TurnItIn.com and the revision checklist at Google Classroom. Final draft essays and coversheets are due this Friday, but there will be no more work time in class.

Conclusion Time

After spending a few minutes on some questions to prepare for the introduction, students had the rest of the period to continue, and hopefully complete their essay. Slides are at Google Classroom. Drafts should be done and ready for revision tomorrow.

Welcome Back!

We began the period with some talk of break and then got back to work on the essay that was interrupted before the break.
New Due Dates:

• Essay Body Complete by 1/9
• Essay Draft 1 Complete by 1/10
• Final draft @ TurnItIn & Cover Sheet @ Google Classroom by 1/12 at 8:00 p.m.