Welcome to Senior English!

 

 

 

Monday, October 26, 2009:  Class began with the teacher directing students to take a second look at paraphrasing using Shakespeare's Sonnet 29.  Students were then strongly encouraged to re-visit their assigned sonnet paraphrase work, and improve on their previous efforts.  In most classes, remaining class time was devoted to answering any student questions about the format and content of the sonnet project that is due Friday, October 30, 2009, and then watching several video clips related to Frankenstein.  As homework, students are to continue working on their sonnet storyboard tasks.

 

Tuesday, October 27, 2009:  Some classes began with students practicing their paraphrasing skills with Shakespeare's Sonnet 116.  There were some classes that had already completed that task.  In the classes where Sonnet 116 had already been addressed, students divided into groups and completed a collaborative writing analysis of the imagery in Shakespeare's Sonnet 130.  Classes that had to work through Sonnet 116 first simply read through Sonnet 130 with the teacher.  As homework, students are to completely finish their sonnet storyboard, and gather any images that they plan to incorporate into their sonnet PowerPoint presentations.

 

Wednesday, October 28, 2009, & Thursday, October 29, 2009:  Students attended class in the computer lab, and were given both class periods to complete construction of the visual component of their sonnet project.  Any students who require additional time to complete their projects are to do so as homework; the sonnet project is due at the start of class on Friday, October 30, 2009.

 

Friday, October 30, 2009:  Students began class by turning in their sonnet projects.  Students then completed several focused free-writes as an anticipation guide to begin the study of William Shakespeare's Hamlet.

 

Monday, November 2, 2009:  In some classes, students began presenting their individual sonnet projects.  In all classes, some introductory material concerning Hamlet was shared by the teacher.

 

Tuesday, November 3, 2009:  Class began with more students sharing their individual sonnet presentations.  The second half of class was devoted to more introductory information concerning Hamlet.  As homework, students were to paraphrase (translate) the following quote from the play, and then, considering the quote and its translation, make predictions about how the ideas set forth in the quote relate to the action and message of the entire play.  The quote is "Our wills and fates do so contrary run / That our devices still are overthrown; /

Our thoughts are ours, their ends none of our own:"

 

Wednesday, November 4, 2009:  Class began with more student presentations of individual sonnet projects.  Remaining class time in most class periods was devoted to beginning the reading of Act I, scene i of Hamlet.  As homework, students are to paraphrase (translate) lines 83-121 of that scene, detailing all the questions Marcellus asks of Horatio, and what Horatio's answers are.

 

Thursday, November 5, 2009:  Students turned in their paraphrasing work from the previous night.  Some classes continued with sonnet presentations, while other classes devoted most of their time to reading more of Hamlet, Act I.  As homework, students are to read, then paraphrase Hamlet Act I, scene ii, lines 90-120—this is King Claudius speaking to Hamlet about his continuation of grief—then note places in the passage where Claudius attacks Hamlet’s masculinity on a physical level, as well as mental, emotional, and spiritual levels;

 

Friday, November 6, 2009:  Class began with students turning in their paraphrasing work from the previous night.  Most classes read through at least part of scene v of Act I of Hamlet (5th hour finished the entire act!).  As homework for the weekend, students are to paraphrase the two bits of advice given in Act I, scene iii of Hamlet—brother to sister advice (lines 6-47), and father to son advice (lines 63-85).  It would be best to create bulleted lists of advice, translated into 2009 English language, rather than a word-for-word paraphrasing.  Students should consult a dictionary for any unknown words.  Students from 5th period should also have their graphic organizers ready to turn in at the start of class on Monday.

 

Current Class Activities & Assignments for English IV-A (Pd. 7): 

 

Monday, October 26, 2009:  Class began with students completing their new vocabulary lesson work.  Students then listed as the teacher read from a young adult novel (Skeleton Creek).  As homework, students should finish their vocabulary work.

 

Tuesday, October 27, 2009:  Class began with students writing a journal entry (75 or more words) about how their first semester is going and if it is time to set new goals.  Students then followed along with the teacher as she read from a young adult novel (Skeleton Creek).

 

Wednesday, October 28, 2009:  Class began with students writing their second journal entry for the week (discuss your most favorite costume that you have ever had the occasion to wear--75 word minimum).  Students then read through an introduction to Geoffrey Chaucer and The Canterbury Tales, and then the class began reading The General Prologue to The Canterbury Tales, taking notes over each pilgrim.

 

Thursday, October 29, 2009:  Class began with students writing their third and final journal entry for the week (discuss a time you were truly frightened, or write about what scares you--75 word minimum).  Students tehn continued their reading of The General Prologue to The Canterbury Tales, taking notes over each pilgrim.

 

Friday, October 30, 2009:  Class began with students turning in their journal entries and studying quietly for their vocabulary quizzes.  Students then completed their weekly vocabulary quizzes.

 

Monday, November 2, 2009:  Class began with students completing the new lesson of vocabulary work for this week.  As homework, students are to complete any unfinished exercises of the vocabulary lesson.

 

Tuesday, November 3, 2009:  Class began with students writing the first journal entry for the week.  Topic: Discuss your favorite snack foods, especially candy or sweet items.  75+ words.  Students then directed their attention to The General Prologue of The Canterbury Tales, re-reading the information about the Knight and Squire, then moving on to the Yeoman--taking notes for all three character descriptions.

 

Wednesday, November 4, 2009:  Class began with students writing a second journal entry.  Topic: Write about the various clicques or social groups present at school.  How can you tell what social group a person belongs to?  75+ words.  Students then resumed their reading of The General Prologue of The Canterbury Tales, reading through the Nun and Monk, and starting the Friar, taking notes over all three characters.

 

Thursday, November 5, 2009:  Class began with this week's third and final journal entry.  Topic:  discuss what kind of things can be determined based on how a person dresses, as well as what kind of material possessions that person has or does not have (consider things like home, car, clothing, jewelry, electronics, etc.).  Students then completed their look at the Friar from Chaucer's General Prologue to The Canterbury Tales.  The teacher then gave the students copies of several of the next pilgrims to be described, as well as two highlighter pens.  The students had time to read through each description and then highlight physical descriptions with one highlighter color, and Chaucer's subtle satire with the other highlighter color.  As homework, students are to study vocabulary for their weekly quiz that will take place early in class tomorrow.

 

Friday, November 6, 2009:  Class began with students turning in the week's journal entries and studying for a vocabulary quiz.  Following the quiz, students continued working through The General Prologue to The Canterbury Tales with highlighters.  As homework, students should finish reading and annotating any pilgrim descriptions they have not finished from the photo-copied set.

 

 

Archived Class Activities and Assignments (All Classes):

 

Weeks 9 & 10 (October 12-23, 2009)

 

Weeks 7 & 8 (September 28-October 9, 2009)

 

Weeks 5 & 6 (September 14-25, 2009)

 

Weeks 3 & 4 (August 31-September 11, 2009)

 

Weeks 1 & 2 (August 19-28, 2009)