Agenda, December 18

Late: Typed final draft with all drafting materials (rough draft, original freewrite, completed plot pyramid, three openings exercise, mood paragraph, and revision exercises).   

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can work with my classmates to properly punctuate dependent clauses.
• I can compare my thoughts to a psychologist's thoughts.

Agenda

1. Mix it up
2. Think happy thoughts

Agenda, December 17

Due Today at the end of class: Typed final draft with all drafting materials (rough draft, original freewrite, completed plot pyramid, three openings exercise, mood paragraph, and revision exercises).   

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use technology to share and improve my writing. 

Agenda

1. Type even faster than the wind

Agenda, December 16

Due Thursday at the end of class: Typed final draft with all drafting materials (rough draft, original freewrite, completed plot pyramid, three openings exercise, mood paragraph, and revision exercises).   

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use technology to share and improve my writing. 

Agenda

1. Type like the wind 

Agenda, December 15

Due Now: Rough draft of a short story based on one of your freewrites. Handwritten is okay.  
Coming Tomorrow: Laptops for typing final drafts.
Due Thursday at the end of class: Typed final draft with all drafting materials (rough draft, original freewrite, completed plot pyramid, three openings exercise, mood paragraph, and revision exercises).  


Today's Learning Targets:

• I can take good writing and make it better.
• I can help my classmates understand a story.

Agenda

1. Three Fine Words: run, happy, scared
2. Exploding the Moment
3. Revising Time
4. Winning "The Bet" 

Agenda, December 13

Due Dates

• Due Tomorrow at the beginning of class: Rough draft of a short story based on one of your freewrites. Handwritten is okay. Laptops will be here on Wednesday and Thursday to type final drafts.

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can create an effective mood. 
• I can help my classmates understand a story.
• I can develop an idea into a rough draft.

Agenda

1. Mood Paragraph
2. Winning "The Bet"
3. Drafting Time

Agenda, December 11

Due Dates

• Do This Week: Go see Little Women! It's a world premier!
• Due Tuesday at the beginning of class: Rough draft of a short story based on one of your freewrites. Handwritten is okay. Laptops will be here on Wednesday and Thursday to type final drafts.

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use a graphic organizer to develop my ideas.
• I can share my ideas about a story with my classmates. 
• I can write an engaging introduction.

Agenda

1. Story development
2. "The Bet," by Anton Chekov
3. Three Openings

Agenda, December 10

Due Dates 

• Late: "11 Things We Know About How The Brain Works"
• Late: Post a friendly comment to the Blog
• Do This Week: Go see Little Women! It's a world premier!

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can break the plot pyramid.
• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can practice good reading skills. 

Agenda

1. How can you mess with your readers?
2. Freewrite #4: "Searching for a way out ..." OR Write about a time you won or lost a bet.
3. "The Bet," by Anton Chekov

Agenda, December 9

Due Dates

• Late: "11 Things We Know About How The Brain Works"
• Late: Post a friendly comment to the Blog
• Do This Week: Go see Little Women! It's a world premier!

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can write a complete, concise summary.
• I can take good writing and make it better.
• I can break the plot pyramid.
• I can actively participate in whole class and small group discussions.

Agenda

1. IVF Summary #2
2. How can you mess with your readers?
3. Whole class discussion

Agenda, December 8

Due Dates

• Late: "11 Things We Know About How The Brain Works"
• Now: Post a friendly comment to the Blog
• Do This Week: Go see Little Women! It's a world premier!

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can take useful notes.
• I can practice what good readers do.
• I can write a complete, concise summary.
• I can take good writing and make it better.

Agenda

1. What Good Readers Review
2. "Just Deserts," by MT Anderson
3. IVF Summary #2

Agenda, December 7

Due Dates

• Late: "11 Things We Know About How The Brain Works"
• Tuesday: Post a friendly comment to the Blog
• Do This Week: Go see Little Women! It's a world premier!

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can take useful notes.
• I can practice what good readers do.

Agenda

1. Freewrite #3: Writing from an image
2. What Good Readers Do
3. "Just Deserts," by MT Anderson

Agenda, December 4

Due Dates

• Late: Parent/Guardian Signature on Syllabus
• Tuesday, December 8: Post a friendly comment to the Blog

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can read non-fiction closely and critically.
• I can infer the definition of dependent and independent clauses.

Agenda

1. Jargon Brainstorm
2. Dependent and Independent Clauses Sorting Activity.
3. Non-Fiction Friday

Agenda, December 3

Due Dates

• Late: Parent/Guardian Signature on Syllabus
• Tuesday, December 8: Post a friendly comment to the Blog

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can apply my knowledge of familiar terms to an unfamiliar text.
• I can analyze a story for theme.
• I can write an objective summary.

Agenda

1. "An American" Plot Pyramid
2. IVF Summary
3. Peer Review

Agenda, December 2

Due Dates

• Now: Parent/Guardian Signature on Syllabus
• Tuesday, December 8: Post a friendly comment to the Blog

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can apply my knowledge of familiar terms to an unfamiliar text.
• I can analyze a story for theme.

Agenda

1. Freewrite #2: Write about a time you got in trouble OR "On the icy streets ..."
2. Freytag's Plot Pyramid Review
3. "An American Childhood," by Annie Dillard

Post Your Friendly Comment Here

1. Click on the word "Comment" below this post. If you're the first person to post, it will say "No comments."
2. Type your comment in the box that says "Enter your comment ..."
3. Your comment could be about 1) a song you like and why you like it; OR 2) a book or movie you like and why you like it; OR 3) One of the things you like to do and why you like it. You can also include a link to a school appropriate web site you think I ought to see. Remember, this is the blog for a Language Arts class, so use your best spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
4. Click on the black arrow next to the "Comment as" box. Highlight and copy your comment in case there is an error when you go to publish.
5. Select "Name/URL"
6. Type in your first name, last initial, and period number. Leave the URL box blank.
7. Click Publish.
8. It will ask you to prove you're not a robot by entering a word or number. Please do so, unless you are a robot.
9. You should receive the message "Your comment will be visible after approval." If you do not receive that message, something went wrong and you'll need to try again. If you try more than three times without success, send me an e-mail. You have my e-mail address on my welcome letter.

Agenda, December 1

Due Dates

• Tomorrow: Parent/Guardian Signature on Syllabus
• Tuesday, December 8: Post a friendly comment to the Blog

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use symbols to capture my personality.
• I can work with others to review familiar literary terms.
• I can take useful notes from a video.
• I can apply my knowledge of familiar terms to an unfamiliar text.
• I can correctly punctuate a simple sentence.

Agenda

1. A brave volunteer models making a comment
2. Name Tag work time
3. Do you recognize this?
4. Freytag's Plot Pyramid Notes
5. Apply your knowledge to this video
6. Exit ticket: Write a correctly punctuated simple sentence about Thanksgiving Break OR your first full day of second trimester.

Name Tag Directions:

• Fold your name tag like a book cover.
• Write your name large enough for me to see it from across the room.
• Include at least three symbols that represent your personality.
• Use color

Agenda, November 30

Due Dates

• Wednesday: Parent/Guardian Signature on Syllabus
• Tuesday, December 8: Post a friendly comment to the Blog

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can work with a partner to annotate an important document.
• I can use symbols to capture my personality.
• I can correctly punctuate a simple sentence.

Agenda

1. Freewrite #1: "Down in the basement ..." OR Tell a story about something that happened during fall trimester.
2. Kline's Class RULES!: Read with a partner / Read with a pencil
3. Name Tag Brainstorm
4. Name Tag Assignment
5. Exit ticket: Write a correctly punctuated simple sentence about Thanksgiving Break OR your first full day of second trimester.

Name Tag Directions:

• Fold your name tag like a book cover.
• Write your name large enough for me to see it from across the room.
• Include at least three symbols that represent your personality.
• Use color

Something to think about over the weekend ...

English 9A Final

Graded Discussion

You don't need to do any writing over the weekend, but you might want to think about how you would answer each of the following questions.

 

1.     Consider the way Odysseus treated his crew. Was he a good leader? Why do you think so?

2.     Which trait was more valuable to Odysseus: strength or cleverness? Why do you think so?

3.     Why was Odysseus a hero to the Greeks? Would he still be considered a hero today? Why or why not?

4.     Why do we still tell hero stories?

5.     Should English teachers continue to teach The Odyssey? Why or why not?

6.     What was the most enjoyable classroom experience you had this trimester? Think about teachers who managed to help you learn something and have fun at the same time.

7.     What’s the most useful thing you’ve learned this trimester (in school or out)? How did you learn it? Why was it so useful?

Agenda, November 20

Due Dates   

• Be sure to return your books to my library as you finish them. Fines go to accounting on Tuesday.
• On the Finals Period: Graded whole class discussion. I'll post the questions today after school.
• Due at the end of class: Staple your remaining orange hall passes to your final.

  Today's Learning Targets:

• I can show what I know on a test.

Agenda

1. Test time! 

Agenda, November 19

Due Dates   

• We are done with the Collections Textbook this tri. You'll need it in 9B.
• Be sure to return your books to my library as you finish them.
• Due Now: Group Project Presentations 
• Coming Friday: Written Final
• On the Finals Period: Graded whole class discussion

What do I need to know by next Friday?

• Elements of Literature Notes
• Four Sentence Types: AWUBIS, FWC, Interrupters, Serial Comma
• Events in The Odyssey 
• How to participate actively and effectively in a whole class discussion
• How to write a well-developed paragraph   

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can work with a group to teach my classmates about an epic poem.

Agenda

1. Presentations
2. Elements of Literature Review 

Agenda, November 16, 17, and 18

Due Dates   

• Due Now: Bring your Collections Textbook.
• Be sure to return your books to my library as you finish them.
• Due Thursday, 11/19: Group Project Presentations 
• Coming Friday: Written Final
• On the Finals Period: Graded whole class discussion

What do I need to know by next Friday?

• Elements of Literature Notes
• Four Sentence Types: AWUBIS, FWC, Interrupters, Serial Comma
• Events in The Odyssey 
• How to participate actively and effectively in a whole class discussion
• How to write a well-developed paragraph   

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can work with a group to teach my classmates about an epic poem.
• I can track the development of a character over the course of a long text.

Agenda

1. Group Project Time 

Agenda, November 13

Due Dates   

• Due Now: Bring your Collections Textbook.
• Be sure to return your books to my library as you finish them.
• Due Today after writing time: Hero Story Rough Draft and blue sheet
• Due Thursday, 11/19: Group Project Presentations  
• Today is the last day I will look at any late work. 

What do I need to know by next Friday?

• Elements of Literature Notes
• Four Sentence Types: AWUBIS, FWC, Interrupters, Serial Comma
• Events in The Odyssey 
• How to participate actively and effectively in a whole class discussion
• How to write a well-developed paragraph   

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can work with a group to teach my classmates about an epic poem.
• I can use the steps in the Hero Cycle to create my own story.
• I can track the development of a character over the course of a long text.

Agenda

1. Hero Cycle Writing Time
2. Finish Storyboards
3. Group Project Time 

Agenda, November 12

Due Dates   

• Due Now: Bring your Collections Textbook.
• Be sure to return your books to my library as you finish them.
• Due Friday after writing time: Hero Story Rough Draft and blue sheet
• November 13 is the last day I will look at any late work.  

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can summarize complex language.
• I can infer the meanings of unfamiliar words.
• I can make inferences about character.
• I can practice the skills good readers use.
• I can use the steps in the Hero Cycle to create my own story.
• I can track the development of a character over the course of a long text.

Agenda

1. Hero Cycle Writing Time
2. Finish "The Land of the Cyclopes"
3. Pink Character Chart
4. Storyboards 

Agenda, November 10

Due Dates   

• Due Now: Bring your Collections Textbook.
• Be sure to return your books to my library as you finish them.
• Due Friday after writing time: Hero Story Rough Draft and blue sheet
• November 13 is the last day I will look at any late work.  

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can summarize complex language.
• I can infer the meanings of unfamiliar words.
• I can make inferences about character.
• I can practice the skills good readers use.
• I can use the steps in the Hero Cycle to create my own story.

Agenda

1. Hero Cycle Writing Time
2. "The Land of the Cyclopes" 

Agenda, November 9

Due Dates   

• Due Now: Bring your Collections Textbook.
• Be sure to return your books to my library as you finish them.
• Due Friday after writing time: Hero Story Rough Draft and blue sheet
• November 13 is the last day I will look at any late work.  

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can summarize complex language.
• I can infer the meanings of unfamiliar words.
• I can make inferences about character.
• I can practice the skills good readers use.
• I can use the steps in the Hero Cycle to create my own story.

Agenda

1. Hero Cycle Writing Time
2. "The Land of the Cyclopes" 

Agenda, November 6

Due Dates   

• Due Now: Bring your Collections Textbook.
• Be sure to return your books to my library as you finish them.
• November 13 is the last day I will look at any late work.  

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can summarize complex language.
• I can infer the meanings of unfamiliar words.
• I can make inferences about character.
• I can write a correctly punctuated series sentence.
• I can use word roots to expand my vocabulary.

Agenda

1. Series Sentences
2. Hero Cycle Writing Time
3. Affixes 

Agenda, November 5

Due Dates   

• Due Now: Bring your Collections Textbook. If you don't have one, go to the library to check one out. 
• Due Now: Bookmark 6, front and back
• Do you know where your affixes are? Do you know where your AWUBIS notes are?

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can summarize complex language.
• I can infer the meanings of unfamiliar words.
• I can make inferences about character.
• I can compare two heroes.
• I can actively participate in a whole class discussion.
• I can summarize a discussion
• I can write a correctly punctuated series sentence.

Agenda

1. Odysseus v. Percy Jackson
2. Small Group Discussion
3. Whole Class Discussion
4. Series Sentences 

Agenda, November 4

Due Dates   

• Do tonight: Read for 15 minutes AND record your reading on your bookmark.
• Due Now: Bring your personal reading book.
• Due Now: Bring your Collections Textbook. If you don't have one, go to the library to check one out. 
• Due tomorrow: Bookmark 6, front and back
• Do you know where your affixes are? Do you know where your AWUBIS notes are?

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can read for pleasure. 
• I can interpret a book through someone else's eyes.
• I can summarize complex language.
• I can infer the meanings of unfamiliar words.
• I can make inferences about character.
• I can compare two heroes.

Agenda

1. Kline answers one question about college
2. Book 9: "The Lotus Eaters"
3. Odysseus v. Percy Jackson

Agenda, November 3

Due Dates   

• Do tonight: Read for 15 minutes AND record your reading on your bookmark.
• Due Now: Bring your personal reading book.
• Due Now: Bring your Collections Textbook. If you don't have one, go to the library to check one out. 
• Do you know where your affixes are? Do you know where your AWUBIS notes are?

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can read for pleasure. 
• I can interpret a book through someone else's eyes.
• I can summarize complex language.
• I can infer the meanings of unfamiliar words.
• I can make inferences about character.

Agenda

1. Independent Reading
2. Book 9: "I am Laertes' Son" and "The Lotus Eaters"
3. Hero Statements