Day 71

ALL CLASSES

• Both freshman and juniors took the Benchmark exam today.
• REMINDER FOR JUNIORS: You have your "Of Mice and Men" summative test next class!!!

Day 70

ALL CLASSES

• All classes did a round-robin station review of the things we have learned in class.  Stations included grammar, test-taking skills, the research process, the annotation process, and literary terms and periods.  This will be used next class during the Benchmark exam.

Day 69

NINTH LIT

• Students went to the Media Center to begin working on their poetry project.  Each student read and TPFASTT-ed two poems to use for their project.

AMERICAN LIT

• Students went to the Media Center to learn how to use Galileo and find articles for their research project.

Day 68

NINTH LIT

• Students completed more EOCT prep questions to get ready for the test in May.
• Students took notes on sonnets, haiku, limericks, and ballads, reading examples from each and using the TPFASTT process to understand them.

AMERICAN LIT

• Students took notes on how to cite a source in MLA style for books, articles, and websites.  Other helpful information may be found at the Purdue Online Writing Lab which is linked here: Purdue OWL
• We then went to the lab to research the students' given topics.  They were to find enough biographical information to fill two notecards, find two interesting or useful quotes, and cite two sources in MLA style.  If this was not completed in class, it is homework!!!

Day 67

NINTH LIT

• Students completed an EOCT practice question to prepare them for the upcoming test.
• We then completed TPFASTT sheets as we read the poems "Dreams," "Dream Deferred," and "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud."
• We took a short series of notes on sonnets (Petrarchan and Shakespearean)
• Students them completed a poetry response as a ticket out the door.

AMERICAN LIT

• Students viewed a slideshow of Harlem Renaissance authors, artists, musicians, and dancers before discussing what the movement was.
• We then went to the lab where the students worked on a WebQuest packet using TrackStar.  They found information about the Harlem Renaissance and those involved with the movement.  If this was not finished in class, it is homework and will be due next class!!!
• Students also signed up for their research paper topics, choosing one Harlem Renaissance artist, musician, or author from a list.

Day 66

NINTH LIT

• Students did a brainstorn activity to remember the key points of poetry.
• We then took a series of notes on poetry before reading a few poems in class using the TPFASTT method (Title, Paraphrase, Figurative Language, Attitude, Shift, Title, and Theme).

AMERICAN LIT

• Students had a brief study time before they took the second part of the realism test.
• REMINDER: Students need to read to page 37 (through section 2) of John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" by next class.  If you do not have a copy use the link here: Of Mice and Men

Day 65

NINTH LIT

• Students took notes on formatting, learning what an MLA style paper should look like.
• We then went to the lab and finished writing and editing our papers.  These were printed and turned in by the end of the period.  These will be graded in approximately 2 and a half weeks' time and will be returned to the students for corrections.

AMERICAN LIT

• Students did a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting the realism movement and the naturalism movement.
• We then watched a video of Jack London's short story "To Build a Fire" and completed an inferencing worksheet as we watched.
• Students received a packet of worksheets to complete for homework.
• REMINDER!!! The second part of your realism test will be given next class!!!!

Day 64

NINTH LIT

• Students took their DGP quiz and graded it.
• Students conferenced with the teacher to talk about their essays.  Late essays, if printed before class, were accepted for a penalty.
• We then went to the lab to work on Works Cited pages and formatting.

AMERICAN LIT

• Students had a short review session over the movement of realism before taking their test.

Day 63

NINTH LIT

• Students completed Day 4 of their DGP.  There will be a quiz next class!
• Students who had their rough drafts done did a peer editing sheet.  Students who needed to print did so and then completed the peer editing sheet.
• If a student did not have their rough draft completed, they are required to attend a tutorial session!  They also must have their paper printed out in its entirety to receive credit!
• There will be a tutorial session after school on Thursday.
• I will also be coming in at 7:45 on Friday morning.

AMERICAN LIT

• Students completed Day 4 of their DGP and then took their quiz.
• We had a class review over our realism terms, the sub-movements within the movement of realism, and some test taking strategies.
• REMINDER!!! Students have their realism test next class!!!