Week at a glance May 13 - 17, 2013

This week we'll wrap up our work over F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.  Daisy makes her choice in Chapter VII, thereby resolving the primary conflict of the story.  Chapters VIII and IX are all the consequences of her choice and effects that follow.  We will finally come to understand why Nick, in Chapter I, says "When I came back from the East last autumn I felt that I wanted the world to be in uniform and at a sort of moral attention forever; I wanted no more riotous excursions with privileged glimpses into the human heart" (2).  What made Nick so upset?  The end of the novel will explain why.

• Mon: The Great Gatsby - Ch VII quiz; study guide due by the end of the hour.
• Tues: The Great Gatsby - read Ch VIII and Ch IX, pages 147 - 180.
• Wed: The Great Gatsby - Ch VIII and Ch IX quiz; study guide due by the end of the hour.
• Thurs: The Great Gatsby - review the final chapters. 4th Qtr IBP make up presentations.
• Fri: The Great Gatsby - review for the Semester Final.

Week at a glance May 6 - 10, 2013

This week we begin building toward the climax of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.  Daisy and Gatsby have found one another again.  Things are happy for them, but can it last?  Is Gatsby's dream realistic?  Are there other factors that might drive them apart?  Students should consider the following quote from Fitzgerald as we head toward the intense and deadly climax:

"It is sadder to find the past again and find it inadequate to the present than it is to have it elude you and remain forever a harmonious conception of memory." 

Students will also complete the 4th Quarter Independent Book Project this week, due on Friday.

• Mon: No school  - teacher in-service
• Tues: The Great Gatsby - read and discuss Chapter 6. Finish reading Chapter 6, pages 97-111, before class on Wednesday.
• Wed: The Great Gatsby - Chapter 6 quiz. Study guide due by the end of the hour.
• Thurs: The Great Gatsby - read and discuss Chapter 7.  Finish reading Chapter 7, pages 113-145, before class on Monday.
• Fri: 4th Qtr IBP due.  Presentations.

Week at a glance April 29 - May 3, 2013

This week we'll return to F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.  Students have finally met Gatsby.  In this week's chapters, Gatsby has a very personal favor to ask of Nick.  This favor will reveal much about Gatsby's motives, as well as why he was reaching toward the green light the first night Nick saw him.

Students should also be completing their notes and making their project selection for the 4th Qtr IBP.  The 4th Qtr IBP is due at the beginning of class on Friday, May 10.

• Mon: The Great Gatsby - read and discuss Chapter 4. Finish reading Chapter 4, pages 61-80, before class on Tuesday.
• Tues: The Great Gatsby - Chapter 4 quiz. Study guide due by the end of the hour.
• Wed: Pass back and discuss current grades.  The Great Gatsby - read and discuss Chapter 5.  Finish reading Chapter 5, pages 81-96, before class on Thursday.
• Thurs: The Great Gatsby - Chapter 5 quiz. Study guide due by the end of the hour.
• Fri: 4th Qtr IBP - finish the novel.  Create notes for the project.  4th Qtr IBP due at the beginning of the hour on Friday, May 10.

Week at a glance April 22 - 26, 2013

We'll take a break from the reading portion of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby so that we can wrap up the Definition Essay.  We'll begin the week by finishing our notes over the Roaring Twenties.  We'll then pass back and discuss the rough draft of the Definition Essay.  Students will then have two days in the computer lab to revise and edit their final draft.  On Friday we'll do a bit more reading for the 4th Qtr IBP and then review Gatsby chapters I - III.

• Mon: Finish Roaring Twenties slide.  Begin presentations.
• Tues: Finish Roaring Twenties presentations.  Pass back and discuss the Definition Essay rough draft.
• Wed: Meet in the computer lab to type up the Definition Essay Final Draft.
• Thurs: Definition Essay Final Draft due to turnitin.com by the end of the hour.
• Fri: 4th Qtr IBP reading time. Review The Great Gatsby chapters I - III.

Week at a glance April 15 - 19, 2013

We'll continue reading F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.  Students all have their own copy of the novel checked out to them.  Last week we discovered four of the main core characters: narrator Nick Carraway, his cousin Daisy Buchanan and her "hulking" husband Tom, and their friend, Jordan Baker.  This week we meet two minor, yet critical characters: voluptuous Myrtle Wilson and her ghost of a husband George.  After many intriguing rumors, ominous hints, and idle speculation, we will finally also meet the mysterious Jay Gatsby.

• Mon: The Great Gatsby - read and discuss Chapter 2. Finish reading Chapter 2, pages 23-38, before class on Tuesday.
• Tues: The Great Gatsby - Chapter 2 quiz. Study guide due by the end of the hour.
• Wed: The Great Gatsby - read and discuss Chapter 3.  Finish reading Chapter 3, pages 39-59, before class on Thursday.
• Thurs: The Great Gatsby - Chapter 3 quiz. Study guide due by the end of the hour.
• Fri: 4th Qtr IBP reading time. The Great Gatsby -The Roaring Twenties, notes and discussion.

Week at a glance, April 8 - 12, 2013

This week we will finish the rough draft of the Definition Essay.  We will also begin our final novel unit over F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.  Students will meet Nick Carraway, our narrator, and see life through his young and and a bit innocent perspective. Since we are studying the opening chapter of the novel this week, our focus will be on shaping our first impressions of the characters and learning what we can from them. Students will check out books on Wednesday and will need to bring them to class from now on for the rest of the semester.

• Mon: Create and shape the Definition Essay.
• Tues: Finish creating and shaping the Definition Essay.
• Wed: The Definition Essay - handwritten rough draft due at the beginning of the hour.  Check out The Great Gatsby books.  Discuss notes assignment for Ch.1.  Begin reading Ch. 1.
• Thurs: The Great Gatsby - finish reading Ch. 1.  Take notes for discussion as you read.
• Fri: 4th Qtr IBP reading time. The Great Gatsby - Ch. 1 notes and study guide due by the end of the hour.

Week at a glance April 1 - 5, 2013

This week we will wrap up our very brief Career Research Project.  Students will have one more day to polish their projects with color and pictures.  All students should save their presentations to their student drive before class on Tuesday.  We will do the presentations on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Thursday we'll begin our final major essay of the semester, a short Definition Essay in which students will select a word and analyze both its connotations and its denotations with evidence and analysis.  We'll wrap up the week with reading time for the IBP and by writing the first paragraph of the Definition Essay.

• Mon: Career Research Project - final polish for color and pictures.  All student presentations should be saved in the student's school drive prior to class on Tuesday.
• Tues: Career Research Project Presentations
• Wed: Career Research Project Presentations
• Thurs: Definition Essay - assignment overview. Select a word and complete the Concept Map.
• Fri: 4th Qtr IBP reading time. Definition Essay - create the first paragraph & thesis.

Students should have their 4th Qtr IBP book

selected by Friday, April 12, 2013

Week at a glance March 25 - 29, 2013

This week we'll start in on our Career Research Project.  This will be a very brief project in which students will select a potential topic and develop a quick PowerPoint presentation of research detailing the training involved, the salary, the advantages, the disadvantages, and the future outlook for the career.  Our time in the lab is short, so students will have to work at a steady pace.  We will polish the presentations early next week and begin oral presentations shortly afterward.

• Mon: Career Research Project assignment overview.  Preview research sources.  Review MLA citations.  Select a topic by the time you return on Tuesday.  Meet in the computer lab Tuesday to begin research.
• Tues: Set up slides and begin research.
• Wed: Continue researching and incorporating the research onto the slides.
• Thurs: Finish researching for the Career Research Project.
• Fri: No school - Teacher In-service

Week at a glance March 11 - 15, 2013

In this first full week in over a month (and a week before spring break, of course), we will get started on our 4th Qtr Independent Reading Project, reflect on current grades, revise the Death of a Salesman Essay, and be done with Willy once and for all as we wrap up the week by turning in final copies of the essay.

• Mon: Discuss expectations for the 4th Qtr IBP.  Go to the Library and check out a book.  Read in class the rest of the hour.
• Tues: Pass back and discuss the results of the DoaS Exam, as well as 3rd Quarter grades. Bring a book to class to read for the 4th Qtr IBP.
• Wed: Pass back and discuss DoaS Essay rough draft. Note common errors to fix. Peer review.
• Thurs: Meet in the computer lab to begin typing the DoaS Essay Final Draft.
• Fri: DoaS Final Draft due to turnitin.com by 5:00 pm.

 
*** Have a safe and fun Spring Break ***

Week at a glance March 4 - 8, 2013

We are at the end of the 3rd quarter - already!  However, that doesn't mean we don't still have plenty of work to do.  This week we'll wrap up the 3rd quarter by concluding the Independent Book Project, completing a draft of the Death of a Salesman Essay, and taking the Death of a Salesman Exam.  The DoaS Exam will be simple -- 40 multiple choice questions -- that we've already reviewed for with the essay; however, we'll still have a separate review day on Thursday of this week.

• Mon: Death of a Salesman handwritten rough draft due.  Independent Book Project Presentations
• Tues: Independent Book Project Presentations
• Wed: Review for the Death of a Salesman Exam
• Thurs: Death of a Salesman Final Exam
• Fri: No school - end of the 3rd Quarter

Week at a glance February 25 - March 1, 2013

At the time I'm posting this, there is at least the possibility that we will have another snow day or two to start off this week.  Regardless, I'll post a full week anyway.  Whatever happens, we'll roll with it and adjust our plans as needed.  You will have the time you need to successfully complete each assignment.

This week our focus will be on two projects: the Death of a Salesman and the 3rd Quarter Independent Book Project.  We'll start the week discussing the guidelines and due dates for each assignment.  It will then be up to you to use your time wisely -- in class AND out of school -- to complete the assignments.

• Mon: Review the guidelines and requirements for the 3rd Qtr IBP.  Introduce and analyze the Death of a Salesman Essay assignment.
• Tues: Shape and create either the DoaS Essay or the 3QIBP.
• Wed: Continue shaping and creating either the DoaS Essay or the 3QIBP.
• Thurs: Focus on the 3QIBP - presentations begin Friday.
• Fri: Begin IBP presentations. Handwritten rough draft of the DoaS Essay due Monday.

Week at a glance February 18 - 22, 2013

This week we'll wrap up the reading and study guide portion of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman.  Our next project will be an essay over the play.  Students will have a choice of five different topic possibilities to use for their essay.  We'll end the week with a review of the IBP.  Students will need to complete the IBP on their own and have it ready to present in class beginning Thursday, 2/28.

• Mon: No school
• Tues: DoaS - continue working on the Act Two study guide.  Review Act Two.
• Wed: DoaS - Act Two study guide due by the end of the hour.
• Thurs: Introduce the Death of a Salesman Essay project. Begin pre-writing.  Select an essay topic by Monday.
• Fri: Review the requirements for the Independent Reading Project.  IBP presentations begin Thursday, 2/28.

Week at a glance February 11 - 15, 2013

During this short week, we'll continue reading and discussing Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman.  Act One ended on an optimistic note with Willy promising Linda that he would try to get a job at home in New York so he wouldn't have to travel anymore; and, Happy and Biff deciding that they would find success in starting a new sporting goods business.  We'll see if the optimistic tone carries into Act Two.

• Mon: Pass back and discuss current grades. DoaS Story Cube due. Assign parts and begin reading Act Two.
• Tues: DoaS - continue reading/discussing Act Two. Complete the study guide as we read the play.
• Wed: DoaS - continue reading/discussing Act Two. Complete the study guide as we read the play.
• Thurs: No school - Parent/Teacher Conferences
• Fri: No school

Week at a glance February 4 - 8, 2013

This week we'll continue our reading of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman.  Last week students met the Loman family.  This week week we'll dig a bit deeper to discover why Willy is haunted by the ghosts of his past, why Biff loved his father in the past but barely tolerates him now, why Happy is so unsettled, and why Linda is so worried about Willy's future.

• Mon: Death of a Salesman - wrap up and turn in Act One 1-23 sg. Continue reading/discussing Act One.
• Tues: Death of a Salesman - continue reading/discussing Act One.
• Wed: Death of a Salesman - continue reading/discussing Act One.
• Thurs: Death of a Salesman - wrap up and turn in Act One 24-51 sg
• Fri: IBP reading time. Death of a Salesman -story cube activity, due Monday.

Week at a glance January 28 - February 1, 2013

 Attention must be paid..." This week we'll wrap up the KS Writing assignment while getting into our first official reading unit of the semester: Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman.. It's a tale of a salesman desperately aiming for the American dream brought down by his own tragic flaws. As we read the play in class, we'll be focusing on the relationships between the characters and how Miller shows how events in the past inescapably shape our future.  Our work for the unit will involve study guides, a unit exam, and a literary analysis essay.

• Mon: Meet in Lab B one last time to wrap up the KS Writing Assessment.
• Tues: Death of a Salesman - pre-reading PowerPoint and discussion.
• Wed: Death of a Salesman - preview Act One
• Thurs: Death of a Salesman - read and discuss Act One, pages 1 - 23.
• Fri: IBP reading time. Death of a Salesman - study guide for Act One, pages 1 - 23 due by the end of the hour.

Week at a glance January 21 - 25, 2013

This week is all about the KS Writing Assessment.  This will be a four-day writing test.  Students will not have to do any research.  All materials will remain in the classroom, so students will not have any homework.  Students should have the KSWA done by the end of the hour on Friday.  The KSWA will be worth 60 major assessment points -- the largest number of points for any assessment so far this semester.

• Mon: Martin Luther King, Jr Day - No school
• Tues: KSWA - select a topic and begin prewriting
• Wed: KSWA - begin shaping a draft of the essay
• Thurs: KSWA - revise and edit; begin typing
• Fri: KSWA - final draft due by the end of the hour

Week at a glance January 14 - 18, 2013

We'll continue our Urban Legends Unit this week with more discussions and examples for what makes an urban legend.  We'll then have a bit of creative fun as we develop our own creative example of an urban legend.  Students will have the option of sharing their legend in class on Friday.  We'll also use part of our time this week to prepare for the KS Writing Assessment as we look at sample prompts and structures.  We'll wrap up the week with reading time for the IBP and time for sharing the urban legend.

• Mon: Urban Legends and persuasive writing discussion.  Urban Legend assigned - come to class tomorrow with an idea in mind.
• Tues: Urban Legend - create a rough draft of the legend.
• Wed: Urban Legend - continue shaping and developing the legend. Rough and final draft due Friday.
• Thurs: KS Writing Assessment - structure and sample prompts discussion.
• Fri: IBP reading and notes time. Urban Legend due. Opportunity to share the Urban Legend.

Week at a glance January 7-11, 2013

Welcome back!

This week we'll start with a getting to know one another activity as we create and present a Biopoem.  On Tuesday, we'll begin our first writing unit as we discuss and analyze folklore and legends.  This will later lead to our own Urban Legend writing assignment.  Toward the end of the week, we'll begin preparing for the KS Writing Assessment and review persuasive techniques.  We'll wrap up the week with a library book talk and a preview of the 3rd Quarter Independent Book Project.

• Mon: Review expectations and procedures.  Begin creating the Biopoem.  The Biopoem is due in class Tuesday.
• Tues: Present and turn in the Biopoem.  American Folklore -- notes and discussion.
• Wed: Urban Legends -- notes and discussion.
• Thurs: KS Writing Assessment Prep -- persuasive techniques review and practice.
• Fri: Library book talk.  Preview the 3rd Quarter IBP.  Read quietly for the rest of the hour.