What to do today?

Semester Two Calendar

Students, if you are absent, you may need to look back
at the previous day for links or more information.

Important Announcement:
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not the one in your meta widget on your blog.

Thursday, June 2

• Presentations begin today.
• Your End of the Year Reflection (CyberJournal) is due by the end of the day today.
• Start studying for the exam. The semester exam study guide can be found here. Also, take the two quizzes (front page of my blog) until you get 100%.
• Read others’ blogs and make comments. Especially read others’ newspapers to see how their view of the novel might be different from yours.
• Your exam exemption forms are due TODAY!

Wednesday, June 1

• If your group has not published your newspaper project, do that TODAY!! Directions are in last Friday’s announcements.
• If you have not yet done so, prepare to present your project to the class. The script is on the project page and also in yesterday’s announcements.
• Your End of the Year Reflection is now due tomorrow, though there will not be class time for it. Please read the directions carefully, follow them, consult the rubric, and proofread carefully before submitting for review. If you have already submitted (and if I have not published) and you wish to make changes (like add links), do that today and resubmit. If there is a problem, see me.
• Tonight at midnight your coach turns back into a pumpkin and I will no longer be able to accept late work. Getting it all turned in by the end of the school day will show you are really trying.
• Nothing to do? Look over the study guide for the semester exam and start preparing for that. See Friday for that as well.
  •  NEW>> I just added two quizzes to help you study for the literary terms section. Do both of them. There are different terms on each one.

Tuesday, May 31

• Your newspapers are due today. The directions for publishing are under Friday, May 26. Be sure you also preview your draft to check to see if your link works BEFORE you submit for review.
  • Return your book to the library as soon as you can.
• I have extended the deadline for the End of The Year Reflection to June 2. I have made minor changes in the directions, such as adding a few questions to guide you and reducing the number of required links from five to three. I have also published the rubric so you can see how you will be graded. Some of you have already submitted this assignment. You can review and resubmit if you think you need to. Also, do not worry about having more than three links. Three links is the minimum number required.
• Tomorrow is the deadline for all late work. You can submit for review up to midnight, though none of you should be up that late.
• I have reconsidered the amount of time we’ll need for newspaper presentations, so we’ll begin those on Thursday instead of Wednesday, giving you one more work day. Plan to use it wisely!
• Directions for newspaper presentations: 

Presenting your project to the class:

The purpose of presenting your newspaper project to the class is to show off your hard work and to share your group’s perspective/interpretation of the novel. As it says in the rubric, all group members must share equally in presentation. You will be explaining why you chose the ideas/topics you presented in your paper. Your presentation should also reflect the pride your group has in your work. In other words, if you seem bored, unimpressed, apathetic, we will all think that you don’t care too much about your project. However, if you’ve put in a lot of good effort and learned some new skills, you should be proud of it. Be excited about what you’ve accomplished.

Script:

Project your newspaper on the screen.

• Hi, we’re ___,  ___, and ___.
• Our paper is called ______. We chose that name because ______.
• Our first news story is about ______. We chose this event because ______. We wanted readers to understand ______. Our favorite part of this story is when/where we ______.
• Our second news story is about ______. We chose this event because ______. We wanted readers to understand ______. Our favorite part of this story is when/where we ______.
• Our letter to the editor is from ______ who is writing to ______ (complain, praise, etc. ) about ______. We chose this topic because we ______. We wanted readers to understand ______. Our favorite part of the letter is when/where ______.
• For our optional genre we chose to ______ because ______ (state the purpose you had for creating it). The best thing about this ______ is ______.
• Our strongest piece of writing for this project is ______ because ______.
• Finally, answer this question: How did creating this newspaper helped your group understand the novel better?
• Are there any questions? [Then wait a few seconds]. If there are, answer them.

Friday, May 26

• All grades are up to date.  Check Power School and make sure you’re not missing anything. If I have indicated you have missing work and you disagree, please see me. If you have a post that says pending, DO NOT resubmit as this will change the date and you’ll be charged with a late assignment. On the other hand, if you have not yet submitted your late work, do it immediately.
• The last day I will accept any late work is June 1.
• Work on your newspaper. Today and Tuesday May 31 are the last class days for this project.
  • The last day I will accept any late work in next Wednesday, June 1.
• If you are ready, here are the directions for turning your InDesign file into a PDF for publishing on your blog.
• Looking ahead:
  • Write your End of the Year Reflection for CyberJournal. Follow the directions. This assignment is due May 31, the same day as your newspaper project. If you’ll need more time for the newspaper project, then do your reflection as homework.
  • The semester exam study guide can be found here. Take a few moments to read over it. It’s important to be prepared.

Tuesday-Thursday

• Watch the movie To Kill a Mockingbird

Monday, May 23

• Check the hand-back folder for your rubrics
• Work on your newspapers (due and ready to present on June 1: this means published on your blog as a pdf–instructions for that later).
• Here is the rubric for the newspaper project. You should use it as a checklist.

Friday, May 20

• Check the hand-back folder for your stuff.
• Your second (last) blog post for IR is due today.
• Continue working on your newspaper. Check back to the directions and guides often. For example, when you’re ready to write headlines, go back to the directions and read about how to write headlines.
  • Your newspaper is due June 1. Your group will present your project to the class.
• We will start watching the movie next Tuesday.

Wednesday, May 18

• Check the hand-back folder for your stuff, especially 6th hour.
• Check Power School. Are you missing work? See me if there is an error. If not, get busy and get those assignments handed in.
• Work in your team on your newspaper.
  • Don’t worry about InDesign yet. I will show you how to manage photos tomorrow.
  • You have three things to write. Write them in Word. Review directions.
    • Many of you are trying to take short cuts. I wouldn’t advise it.
• Blog maintenance: if you have comments that are not spam waiting for me to approve, email me and let me know.

Wednesday, May 11

• Write your May CyberJournal entry. Back up what you say with reasons and examples. This is a good opportunity to add hyperlinks to your text. Proof carefully.
• If, for some reason, you have not finished reading TKAM, finish it by tomorrow. We begin the newspaper project tomorrow and you need to know the book well to do well on that. You may want to look ahead at the plans for the newspaper project and think about who you’ll choose to work with and even begin generating some ideas.
• As always, you can read your IR book.

Tuesday May 10

• Discuss the last chapters in To Kill a Mockingbird

Monday, May 9

• Sorry I’m sick today. I’d like to be with you to discuss the ending of the novel. So….let’s switch Monday and Tuesday. Please work on your 2nd blog post for To Kill a Mockingbird. The first one was on character, the second on theme. Choose one of the option posted on the unit plans page under Blog Post #2.
• If you’ve already done this post, why not take some time to look it over and make sure it’s your best work. I have not published any of these posts yet.
• You can also read your IR book.
• Get your graded rubrics back from the purple file box.

Friday, May 6

• Reading/Blog day
• Finish To Kill a Mockingbird by Monday
• All done? Read your IR book.
• Optional: Write an open letter to Harper Lee (as a new blog post), responding to the main points in her letter (that we read yesterday). If you do this, be sure you set up the context for your letter in the beginning. Such as, Dear Harper Lee, Yesterday in my English class we read your May 7, 2006 letter to Oprah Winfrey, in which you wrote about the importance of reading and books in your life. We are also currently reading To Kill a Mockingbird.
• Blog Buddies, check your blog for comments. Make comments on their site.

Thursday, May 5

• Make connections: Read a letter from Harper Lee to Oprah, May 7, 2006.
• If there is time, you can read or  blog.
• Blog buddies, check to see if you have comments pending. Email me if you do. Also, be sure to visit Mr. Anderson’s site and leave comments there.

Tuesday, May 3

• In small groups, we will do chapter analysis for any tw0 chapters from this section (21-24).
• If you are absent, you will need to make this up: get the sheet from me.

Monday, May 2

1. Forgot all about Prom this weekend, so let’s flip tomorrow with today to give you extra time to read. Be sure to have read and reviewed chapters 21-24 by tomorrow. Bring your book to class both days.

Friday, April 29

• Your first blog post for IR is due at the end of the hour today.
• I still do not have everyone’s April CyberJournal. Finish that this weekend.
• Check the calendar and your reading schedule for TKAM. Monday is quiz/discussion day.

Thursday, April 28

• Finish and submit your April CyberJournal today if you haven’t already done so.
• You can read either TKAM or your IR book today.
• You have an IR blog post due tomorrow, so maybe you want to get started on that. Choose from multigenre, reader response, or literary analysis. See the sidebar.
• I have a new post called Girls Books/Boys Books. You might want to read it and comment if you have an opinion.

Wednesday, April 27

• CyberJournal for April due either today or tomorrow.
• You have a blog post for IR due Friday.

Monday, April 25

• Today, your first blog post for To Kill a Mockingbird is due. Remember to use the prompts as a starting point for writing a thesis (your main claim, opinion). Then, give evidence (from the book) to prove your opinion. I’ve pasted the directions below:

Blog Post #1: Characterization

Characterization is the process by which the author reveals information about a character in the text. The author uses a variety of methods to create believable characters including a character’s speech, actions, effect on others and physical appearance. For this assignment, you will analyze a character using evidence from the text to support your claim. Please select one of the prompts below to guide you in writing an analysis paragraph on characterization that you will publish on your blog. Use one of the suggested thesis statements (T) or come up with your own.

1. A dynamic character is one who changes by the end of the story, learning something that changes him or her in a permanent way.
   1. Analyze how Jem develops as a character because of what he learns from Mrs. Dubose. T: Jem’s interaction with Mrs. Dubose teaches him what real courage is
2. Mayella Ewell is a complicated character. Her actions lead to Tom Robinson’s death, and it is difficult to condone her lies. However, she can also be seen as a sympathetic character. Discuss how readers may feel sorry for her. T: Even though Mayella Ewell lies on the witness stand, she is still a sympathetic character. [You can choose this one only if you've read far enough in the book--through the trial--to be able to write about it].
3. Several characters serve as moral compasses in the novel. Their words and actions help teach the children about what is right and true. Choose one of the following characters and show how his or her words and actions teach the children. T: The children learn right from wrong through many events in the novel, but (character name) teaches them specifically about _.
   1. Miss Maudie
   2. Mr. Dolphus Raymond
   3. Atticus
4. Authors often reveal the personality and beliefs of a character indirectly, meaning that they create characters through their speech, thoughts, actions, effects on others and looks (STEAL). Analyze the qualitites of Atticus Finch by investigating his speech and interactions with others. Be sure you make a statement about the kind of man he is. You can narrow your focus to his qualities as a father, qualities as a lawyer, or qualities as a citizen of Maycomb. T: Atticus Finch is a role model for other fathers (or lawyers, or citizens).
   1. Other characters to analyze using this method: Scout, Calpurnia, Maudie Atkinson.

Wednesday, April 20

• Read either TKAM today or your independent novel.
• You can work on your blog posts. See directions for the first TKAM post on the unit plans page. This post is due Monday. You will have the entire class period to work on it. Choose post options for IR from regular choices (in sidebar).
• Check the calendar to plan ahead.
• Read the poem in Poem Flow that I have posted.

Tuesday, April 19

• Read either TKAM today or your independent novel. Check the calendar. You have two blog posts due next week. There is no school this Friday, so plan ahead and make sure you have your book(s) with you this weekend.
• If you were absent yesterday and missed your quiz, see me, please.
• Check the hand-back file in front and claim your work.

Friday, April 15

• Keep checking the calendar for what we’re doing each day in class. Keep up to date with reading To Kill a Mockingbird. Read chapters 8, 9, 10, and 11 for Monday. Be ready for your quiz and to discuss.
• Today would be a good day to check PowerSchool. I have entered grades for your Synthesis Report. I have one rubric per team. You will need to ask me as a team to see it.
  • If you have missing work, get it made up. I am missing quite a few personal reflections for the Synthesis Report. Maybe you published it and I didn’t see it? Maybe you forgot to submit for review? Maybe you just forgot to do it? Whatever the case, let’s get that assignment taken care of.
  • If you were in New York for the choir trip, you still need to report your 4th quarter IR book title to me. I’ve given you all week. If I don’t hear from you by the end of the day today, that assignment (while only ten points) will be late.

Monday, April 11

• We begin our To Kill a Mockingbird unit today with a character activity
• Check the unit links for more information.