June 16

Please remember that your exam is Wednesday at 8:30 in the old gym. Bring pen, pencils and eraser, etc. Bring any books back that you need to return. Eat breakfast. Good luck. I'll miss you!

Have a safe and happy summer. See you in September, maybe!!

June 15

Today we read the story Blue Boots and watched a video of the Tell Tale Heart. The I assigned a compare/contrast essay asking which story was scarier. This was due at the end of the period to simulate some exam pressure. Please review your terms on the sheet for Wednesday and bring back all your books. See you later!

June 12

Today we went over (in microscopic detail) the Mockingbird exam. After this we went over the list of terms that may appear on the provincial exam. Monday is the last day for NHI work. Have a great weekend.

June 11

Today we did the To Kill a Mockingbird Final Unit test and had some time to complete the last of the Mockingbird assignments. All Mockingbird stuff is now due. Remember that Monday is the last day to hand in any NHI assignments.

June 10

Today we finished the movie of To Kill a Mockingbird and watched 2 review videos. After this was time for quotes and questions. These are due tomorrow. The unit exam is tomorrow too.


Bonus
To Kill A Mockingbird Quotations Challenge
http://www.quia.com/cb/294646.html

To Kill a Mockingbird Character Review
http://www.quia.com/cm/131414.html

Mockingbird Chapters 1-16 Review
http://www.quia.com/rr/332103.html

June 9

Today we continued watching the movie of To Kill a Mockingbird. Your quotes and questions are now due. We will have the final on Thursday.

June 8

Today we finally finished the end of To Kill a Mockingbird. All the questions and quotes are due now. We will have the exam on Wednesday or Thursday. Please get all NHI assignments in as soon as possible.

June 5

Today we marked the Mockingbird test and had a couple of presentations. After this, I reviewed most of the end of the book. Please read the end and do the chapter questions for Monday. The quotes will also be due early next week. The Mockingbird exam will likely be next Wednesday. Have a nice weekend.

June 4

Today we did a quiz on Mockingbird chapters 12-22. We will continue on with the book tomorrow. The Aunt Alexandra assignment is due tomorrow and the rest of the questions and etc. will be due early next week.

June 3

Today we summarized the trial and heard the last of the oral reports on the civil rights era. It was very interesting stuff. You have until the weekend to add or edit your project including getting the poster link on the wiki page. After that they will be evaluated. The test tomorrow goes to chapter 22 so make sure you have read those chapters.


This might help you a little. Send me a screen shot.

To Kill a Mockingbird Character Review
http://www.quia.com/cm/131414.html

For those who have finished the book, here's another one.

To Kill A Mockingbird Novel Review
http://www.quia.com/cb/200442.html

June 2

Today we had some more interesting presentations on the civil rights movement in the USA. After this we read chapter 14. The quiz on Thursday will probably go to chapter 20 or so please keep reading and keep up with the questions. The Aunt Alexandra assignment is due on Friday.

June 1

Today we read chapter 13 of the novel and I handed out a sheet on "the social order" and an assignment to tell me how Aunt Alexandra knows, lives, understands, exemplifies all these rules. This will be due on Friday. The quiz on Friday will go to chapter 17 to please be reading.

May 28

Today we did a quiz on chapters 1-11 of Mockingbird and read chapter 12. After this there was some time to work on questions or quotes. These will be due the week after next. Keep reading the book, if you have not.

May 27

Today we heard a few more very good presentations on US history and civil rights. After this we went through chapters 9 -11. The quiz tomorrow will be on Chapters 1-11. Please know who's who and the story.

Bonus: Do each game 1 time.

To Kill a Mockingbird Character Review
http://www.quia.com/cm/131414.html

Mockingbird Characters Ch 1-7
http://www.quia.com/jg/1347884.html

May 26

Today we had the first of our presentations on our civil rights research project. Some were very good. Some needed more information. Many were not done at all! This is not acceptable! Have them done and posted for tomorrow, please. After this, we read chapter 6 and part of 7. The quiz on Thursday is easy but you need to have read past chapter 10. Keep working on your questions and your quotes.

May 25

Today we saw 2 more presentations and then spent the last part of the period in the library getting the civil rights projects posted online. Remember, you have your choice between using the web poster or the wiki page. You can add links to other pictures, video, music etc. to your project and that will help fill up the time when you present your work. Remember, you are not to read your project, but talk about it.

May 22

Today we read chapter 5 of Mockingbird and I handed out sheet about what Scout has learned so far. We had 2 very entertaining presentations of Romeo and Juliet and more will come on Monday. If there are any essays still out there, please get them in for Monday. Those of you with below 40% should go to Saturday school this week. The rest of you, have a good weekend. Congratulations to Jacquie and all the girls on the rugby team.

May 21

Today we went over chapters 3 & 4 in Mockingbird and had a little quiz on Bias to Style. I handed out chapter questions and they are due to the end of chapter 4 as well as quotes. Remember that your research project is due on Tuesday and John Dewey will be the first to present, along with others.

May 20

Today we worked in the library on our Civil Rights research project. Remember that you have to make either a webposter or a wiki page to display your information. The first part is a list of the 5 W's about your topic. The second part is a paragraph where you can go into more detail about the topic and you must try to relate it to To Kill a Mockingbird somehow. Romeo and Juliet presentations will be on Friday. There is a quiz tomorrow on terms Bias to Style.


Easy bonus
Bias to Style and Short Story
http://www.quia.com/jg/1148827.html

May 15

Today we went over the Romeo and Juliet exam and added bonus marks etc. The essays were also due. After this, there wasn't much time so we played a game for about 10 minutes.

Have a good long weekend and read your Mockingbird book!!!

May 14

Today we did the Romeo and Juliet final exam. Tomorrow, the essays are due. We will also go over the exam briefly.

May 12

Today we started by going over some notes on how to improve your essays. This included a bit on thesis statements. Then we watched some of Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech. After this, we watched a short clip of a woman from Alabama talking about her childhood. Then we watched sections of D.W.Griffith's Birth of a Nation and tried to pick out both racial stereotypes and I tried to explain where a lot of the racial prejudice and hatred between black and white came from. Finally, we watched a little of Mississippi Burning about the death of Medgar Evers and how initially Byron Beckwith got away with the murder via a series of mistrials. Bring your novel tomorrow and bring your essay and be prepared to read the introduction including your thesis statement..

May 11

Today we watched the end of Romeo and Juliet and then the Reduced Romeo and Juliet. The last 1/2 hour was spent either working on the essay or reading To Kill a Mockingbird. Remember that you need to be ready to read part of your essay on Wednesday this week, so have your rough copy done by then.

May 8

Today we watched more of Romeo and Juliet and almost finished it. I also handed out the essay topics. These will be due starting next Friday. Study guides are due today and quotes on Monday. Have a nice weekend.

May 7

Today we did a test on Acts 3-5 of Romeo and Juliet and marked it. There was a little time to work on the quotes but none for the movie so we will finish that tomorrow. Please continue to work on the quotes package.

May 6

Today we played some review games and watched more of the Romeo and Juliet movie. There is a test on Acts 3-5 tomorrow.

Here's your bonus
Romeo and Juliet Vocabulary
http://www.quia.com/hm/326637.html

May 5

Today we finished reading Romeo and Juliet. The Act 4 & 5 study guides are due tomorrow. There was also some time to work on the quotes package. We will have time to work on this in groups tomorrow. We will also continue to watch the movie. Quiz on Act 3-5 on Thursday.

May 4

Today we read Act 4 of Romeo and Juliet and I handed out the Act 4 study guide. We also took up the Act 3 study guide. This is now due. Please have the Act 4 study guide done for tomorrow. We will finish the play tomorrow and do the last study guide.

May 1

Today we read the end of Act 3 in Romeo and Juliet and we started to watch the movie. I also handed out the Act 3 study guide which is due on Monday. Have a nice weekend.

April 30

Today we had a quiz on terms (list 6a) and marked it. After this, we read almost all of Act 3 in Romeo and Juliet. We still have a little of the last scene yet to do. We also took up the Act 2 study guide. Please finish this if it is not already done and hand it in tomorrow.

April 28

Today we read Act 3 sc 1 and 2 of Romeo and Juliet. I handed out the terms 6B list (this will be the material for the quiz on Thursday) and the Act 2 study guide. Please have the terms list done for tomorrow and finish the Act 1 Study guide figures of speech for tomorrow as well.

April 27

Today we read more of Romeo and Juliet. We have finished Act 2. Tomorrow we will work on study guides and go over the terms list for Thursday's quiz. Please make sure you have read to the end of Act 2 if you were away today.

April 23

Happy Birthday, Shakespeare!!!

Today we had a quiz on terms "audience to understate" and went over the questions in the Act 1 study guide. You must complete the figures of speech part yourself by Monday. Have a nice long weekend.

April 22

Today I handed out mountains of paper. There was the Act 1 study guide, the quotations package, the notes on "audience to understate" and some vocabulary. Please make sure you are done the Act 1 study guide for tomorrow and review the notes for the quiz. We also watched the start of the Romeo + Juliet movie again and people worked on their comparison paragraphs. Remember that you need a thesis statement at all times and give examples and write in PEN!

Bonus: Try this.
Audience to Understate #2
http://www.quia.com/ba/162529.html

April 20-21

Sorry I didn't hav time to write the blog yesterday after the staff meeting.
We read the first part of Romeo and Juliet and marked some of the poetry test.

Today we finished Act 1 of Romeo and Juliet. Please go over the terms list "Audience to Understate" for tomorrow. That will be the quiz for Thursday.

April 17

Today we marked some of the poetry unit final and a few people came in a lunch to finish writing the essay. Next time -- Study!!!!! We continued to read Romeo and Juliet and we discovered Connor has a hidden talent as an actor. Your TPCASTT rewrite essay (poem from before spring break) is due on Monday but otherwise, no homework. Have a good one.

Bonus: Try this one.

Shakespeare Bonus
http://www.quia.com/cb/373820.html

April 16

Today we did the Poetry Unit Final. Unfortunately, the pep rally made the period shorter so some people had to come in afterwards to finish. The TPCASTT essays on the mash up are due as well. Make sure you also hand in the marking sheet for the poem itself. Finally, remember that the second TPCASTT essay is due on Monday. Bring your Romeo and Juliet books tomorrow.

April 15

Today we watched a couple of short videos and then an animated version of Romeo and Juliet. After this we started to read the script. We got a little ways into Act 1. Remember that your essay's should be in with the marking sheets and that there is an exam tomorrow. The exam will contain all things poetry.

April 14

I hope everyone had a good Easter. Today we worked on stuff and signed out the Romeo and Juliet text. I went over everyone's marks and hopefully got a few things cleared up, added in, etc. Marks must go in tomorrow morning, so if there are still other things to be done to them, it will have to wait until after this report card. Remember that the TPCASTT essay on your poetry mash up is due tomorrow and the Poetry exam will be Thursday.

April 9

Today we did a little quiz on poetry terms. It would seem that a little extra review is in order for the exam next week. It was record sheet day today so if you were absent, please do yours on Tuesday. The essays are due Wednesday. Have a great Easter.

April 7

Today we heard a couple more essays and then did a review of poetry terms and devices. Please try to work on editing your essays. You will have some time in class tomorrow to do this. The quiz on Thursday will be quite comprehensive because we are near the end of the unit. The unit final will be early next week.

Bonus: I think you'll find this easy.
http://www.quia.com/cb/446169.html

April 6

Today we heard the essays read aloud and we offered some feedback on the essays in hopes of improving them. The people who did not have theirs done today will read tomorrow. Everyone should have some time to work on their essays tomorrow as well.

April 3

Today we worked in groups putting together the TPCASTT analysis of the poetry mashup poems. The poems were remarkably good. I hope the TPCASTT will be as well. You are to do 1 essay per group. Use Google Docs if possible to collaborate on line. Otherwise, do your own separate essay or visit each other in person. Have a rough draft ready for Monday.

April 2

Today we looked at everyone's poems on the wiki. I have to say that I was mightily impressed by your work. After this we started a TPCASTT analysis on the poems. This will be a challenge! Do not get worried about it. You can make meaning if you use your imagination and powers of logic! Raven stuff is due tomorrow.

April 1

Today we were in the library and everyone published their "mashed" poem to the wiki. The wiki is called Pantherhonoursenglish10 and it is at wikispaces. Your name and the password (panthers09) is all you need. Make a new page for your poem and link to the poetry mash up page. Put a link on the bottom of the mash up page to your poem page. Don't worry that OJ's poem is on the page. After this some people made their google accounts to start collaborating on the Raven. More on that tomorrow. Possible quiz on terms tomorrow. Wesley remind me about your bonus!!

Bonus Time
Poetry Rags to Riches (the sequel)
http://www.quia.com/rr/285774.html

March 31

Today we went to the library to complete the Poetry Mash Up. Most people got finished finding the lines for the poems (1o random lines per person) and then arranged them. You need to get the finished poem printed out, either by hand or on the computer. We will be back in the library tomorrow to do some things so just keep working on Raven and get anything else done. The term cut off is April 6.

March 30

Today we started working on the Raven. We watched a music video and the Simpson's parody. There was two worksheets handed out with a variety of assignments on them with the poem. Please have your comparison of Browning vs Shakespeare done in good for tomorrow. We will spend a little more class time on the Raven.

March 27

Today we reviewed the sonnet by looking at a little powerpoint. Then we heard some of the paraphrases of sonnet #23 and went over that as a class. Finally, I handed out an assignment to compare 2 sonnets. Please write at least 2 sonnets comparing Browning to Shakespeare using PEE model. Have a rough copy for Monday so I can see how you are doing. No other homework. Have a nice weekend.

March 26

Today we did a review quiz on Poetry terms. After we marked it, I handed out a set of notes on sonnets. There are some questions to go with this. I also asked people to get together with their partners and finish the sonnet assignment we started on Monday. The paraphrase should be done for tomorrow. We will work on the questions etc. tomorrow in class.

March 25

Hmmmmmmm. It seems it has been a while since I posted. Well, anyway, today we continued working on the ballads, using "Fortunate Son" and "The Ballad of the Green Beret". This was started yesterday with the TOC. Today we did a paragraph supporting one side of the war argument or the other. After this, the paragraphs were traded to someone else and you had to write a rebuttal of the arguments in that paragraph. These should be done for tomorrow. We still have to finish our sonnet work.

There will probably be a little quiz Tomorrow on poetry terms and types. Review lists 7 & 8 and you should be ok.

Here's a bonus for you.
Poetic Terms Game I
http://www.quia.com/cb/202285.html

March 6

Today I handed out interim reports. After this everyone started on their TPCASTT of the poem I gave them yesterday and began an inclass essay. Some people did not get done in time, so you can hand it in after Spring Break. If you have any other assignments that are NHI, please get them done over the break. Have a good holiday.

Bonus Opportunity: If you check out the Poetry Page, there is a link to a Bonus Poetry Assignment. You have until March 31 to get it done.

March 5

Today after our quiz we continued to discuss Poetry Reading at Westpoint in terms of a TPCASTT analysis. Then I handed out a variety of poems to the class. Tomorrow you will be asked to do a TPCASTT analysis on this poem and then write up your findings using the PEE model and the example of a good essay type answer given out today.

March 4

Today we had an interesting time taking down some notes about TPCASTT and how to do it. Then I handed you out the poem "Poetry reading at West Point". It is very ironic and quite funny (I think). With a partner, you have to do a complete TPCASTT analysis of this poem. We were just getting started with a discussion of the findings when the bell rang. Make sure you are ready to go tomorrow. Quiz tomorrow is on list #8 (back side of last week's terms list).

March 3

Today we reviewed, briefly, the DIDLS formula and I assigned a new poem "Lament". Everyone worked on this during the period as well as got the definitions for this weeks quiz. List 8 - back side of list 7 from last week. Tomorrow we will write a short paragraph on Lament and then we will move on to TPCASTT and then sonnets.

March 2

Today the course planners came by, yet again!! After they left, we started some work on figuring out tone in poem. We talked a bit about "Identity"; these answers were due last Friday so definitely should have been handed in today! After this we did a practice analysis of a poem called "With Rue My Heart is Laden" We talked about the DIDLS formula and everyone wrote a few brief notes on that. Tomorrow, we will do another analysis and then start on the theme formula. Interims went out last Friday and some missing work came in but not all of it. Please get this in by Friday!!

February 26 & 27

February 26
I wasn't here but there was a quiz on terms and then the sheet on the Duchess should have been handed in. After that, you were given the poem "Identity" and asked to finish the questions. Not many of these came in so hand them in on Friday.

February 27
The counsellors turned up again and used most of the period for course planning. I did hand out interim reports and some people got the work they neede to do etc. Please get the Identity sheet and any NHI work done for Monday.

February 25

Today was almost completely occupied by course planning. Remember to bring your forms back. There will be a quiz tomorrow on poetry terms, list 7 and 4.

February 24

Today we listened to Chris de Burgh's The Painter and then held a kind of a mock trial to determin if he was guilty of his wife's murder or not. We had a couple of unbiased judges come in and listen to the arguments and they agreed that he was guilty. After this, we just got started on The Duchess when the bell went. Please have all your terms definitions done for tomorrow. I also collected some "reports" on Porphyria's lover today and I need several comparisons between the poems Attack and Anthem for a Doomed Youth and War (from the Venns). There will be quiz on Thursday on poetry terms list #4 and 7.

February 23

Today we started off watching a short video called "Playing for Change". Then I handed out some poetry terms lists and the red books. People were also asked to get someone to give them some feedback on their reports that they wrote on "Porphyria's lover" . We discussed connotation and denotation and I said that you must consider both your purpose and your audience when you are writing something. Now, normally, you would probably be writing your police reports in an unbiased way but I would like you to be as biased as possible. Check the words you have used and use the thesaurus and see if you can make if very clear which outcome you favour for the murderer in the poem. We will be having a quiz on the terms on Thursday so please finish those via the redbook pages on my website or any decent online glossary. Have your reports done for tomorrow.

Here's the video

February 19

Today we went over the chart from Porphyria's Lover. You must take the information from this chart and write a 2 paragraph "report" as if you are a police officer or a psychologist. Use the dramatic monologue as if it were a confession. Use PEE model in your paragraph. I will be looking particularly for this. Due Monday. Have a nice weekend.

February 18

Today we few, we happy few explored Browning's poem Porphyria's Lover. You have to read the poem and fill in the chart on the back of the sheet. Do this for tomorrow. No quiz, sorry.

February 17

Today we had the course planning assembly and then came back and went over the PEE model for writing a paragraph/essay. Tomorrow we will use this method to write a paragraph based on the Venn you made about the poems and story. Bring your Venn.

February 16

We started by reminding ourselves how to behave in an airport. After this, partners got together to work on their VENN diagrams comparing the poems Attack and Anthem for A Doomed Youth. We started to put this up on the smart board when the bell rang. Tomorrow, we will finish the comparison of the poems to the story. No Homework.

February 13

Today we paid homage to Michael Jackson who is apparently quite ill. After this, there was some time to finish reading War and do questions 3 and 5. Next we watched a couple of short videos about Paschendael in WWI. Finally, everyone has to work with a partner and choose 1 of the 2 poems to read and answer the questions. The questions are to be done for Monday. On Monday, you will share the answers to the questions and create a Venn diagram that compares the poems to each other and to the story War in terms of the experiences of war that each presents. Have a great weekend.
You can watch the videos again, here.

February 12

Today we had a little quiz on grammar and sentence structure and marked it. After this we heard some examples of the social worker reports you were supposed to write for homework last night. After this, I asked people to read the story 'War' by Luigi Pirandello. We have something to do with this tomorrow. If you were away or want to finish the story, use this link to read it online.
http://www.eslbee.com/short_stories/ss_war.htm

February 11

Today we discussed the answers to the questions to "Long Distance" in small groups and then put the general consensus on the smart board. It, however, not being very smart has problems reading our handwriting. I will attempt to correct the answers and then post them on my website. Your homework is to write a report from the point of view of a social worker and you must decide whether or not the old man is fit to live alone or should be moved. All your evidence should come from the poem. The assignment is written out on the bottom of the poem sheet I gave out in class.

Please remember that there will be a little quiz on sentences and parts of speech tomorrow.

Finally, also remember that you need to get the Check My Mark slip signed and a parent's email address if there is not one on there.

See you tomorrow.

February 6, 9 & 10

February 6
We went over subject and predicate and tried a few online things that did not work.

February 9
I wasn't here but what you were supposed to do was review sentences types, some parts of speech and do a writing prompt about sentences. Then you had to highlight the writing prompt in 3 different colours to indicate simple, compound and complex sentences.

February 10
The writing prompts should have been handed in. Then we went over sentence types and constructions again. Next we discussed the purpose of certain kinds of sentences and fragments in modern writing and looked at 2 examples from children's stories and finally we started work on a poem called "Long Distance". Please read the poem and do the questions for tomorrow. We will work in groups to discuss the answers, so please have yours ready.

Quiz on Thursday will be about parts of speech and sentence constructions.

February 5

Today we did a quiz on sentence structure and marked it. If you were away, you will need to come in next Thursday at lunch or one day after school to do it. After this, we did another sheet about subjects and predicates; this one you had to figure out the order of the words to make a correct sentence. No Homework.

February 4

Today we went over Subject and Predicate and then reviewed independent clauses. We played a game with the boys against the girls trying to identify the number of independent clauses in the sentences. The boys looked like they had lost but rallied to tie in the end. We did not have time to find a suitable tie breaker. The last part of the period was spend doing Subject and Predicate review sheets. We will go over this quickly tomorrow before the quiz. The quiz is on sentence structure.

Bonus: Try this for a bonus: Send me a screenshot or print out the winning page.

Subject and Predicate
http://www.quia.com/rr/213141.html

This should be easy.
Complete or Incomplete Sentences
http://www.quia.com/ba/248221.html

February 3

Today we went over the worksheets from yesterday on run-on sentences and fragments. We did a little online review of this material. If you want further practice, go to: http://www.chompchomp.com/
and try some of the other exercises until you get really good!! Also, if you had a bonus point sheet to give me today, please give it to me tomorrow. I had some computer issues this morning so I got quite distracted. I'll be happy to give you the point tomorrow. No homework tonight.

PS Please get your computer permission forms done by Friday if you have not already done so.

For a bonus point, leave a comment (polite, please) on this post.

February 2

Today, I went over the course outline and my webpage. Then we looked at a powerpoint on
run-on sentences. Next we did a little quiz identifying run-ons and fragments. Finally, we did a worksheet where you have to fix the run on sentences. Remember, you can only use the (period/capital) fix 2 times. For the other 4 questions you need to try the semi-colon or conjunction fix. Please have this done for tomorrow. Also get you computer permission form signed and returned to the library by Friday.

Bonus: Send me a screenshot of your $1,000,000. If you can't do the screenshot, print out the page.

Differentiating Sentences, Run-ons, and Fragments
http://www.quia.com/rr/243116.html