December 17

See you in January!

December 16

Today we did the Romeo and Juliet Final Exam and then had some time to work on the essay that is due tomorrow.  You will be going to the dance extravaganza tomorrow, so do not bring anything to class except your essay.

December 15

Today we watched the end of the parody of Romeo and Juliet.  Then we did an exercise looking up quotations and putting the events of the story in the correct order.  Tomorrow will be the unit test.  It is a scantron test so bring pencil and eraser.  It will not take all period, so bring your essay to work on.

December 14

Today we watched the end of the new Romeo and Juliet movie and the first part of the Reduced Shakespeare version of Romeo and Juliet.  We will be having our final unit test on Thursday and your essays are due Friday.

December 13

Today we watched the new version of Romeo and Juliet.  I also collected the comparison essays.  Your final essay is due on Friday and your exam will be either Thursday or Friday on the whole play.

December 10

Today we watched the old version of Romeo and Juliet.  I also collected Act 1-3 study guides.  Have 4 & 5 done for Monday.  I handed out the final essay topics today (which are due next Friday) and your act 1 sc 1 comparison essays are due on Monday next.  Have a nice weekend.

December 7

Today we went over the Act 2 study guide.  After this I handed out an essay plan comparing Act 1 sc 1 of Romeo and Juliet in 2 different movie versions.  Tomorrow you need to have your Act 3 study guide finished so we can go over it.  We will also continue reading the play.  The quiz on Thursday will be on Acts 1-3.

December 6

Today we could not go over the Act 2 study guide because several people did not have it done.  So we will go over it tomorrow.  We discussed Act 3 sc 2 and read scs 3 & 4.  I handed out the Act 3 study guide.  This should also be done for tomorrow.  The quiz on Thursday will be Acts 1-3 of Romeo and Juliet, along with some poetry terms.  Hopefully, you also handed in the paragraph on the movie (prologue part) that was due last Friday.  If not, get it to me tomorrow as well.

December 1

Today we went over the first page of the Act 2 study guide.  Then we went over the terms list 6B for Friday's quiz.  Then we skimmed over Act 2 sc 5&6 and read Act 3 sc 1.  Finally we watched the introduction to the Baz Lurman version of RJ and I asked you to write a paragraph describing how many times the prologue is used, in what ways and why.  What is the visual impact of the introduction to the film and what is the effect of the music and speaking parts.  I need rough and good copies of this for Friday.

November 30

Today we collected the field trip forms.  Your form must be in by tomorrow if you want to go on Thursday.  After this we  read Act 2 sc 2 and 3 and 4.  I handed out the Act 2 study guides.  You must have the first page completed for tomorrow.  The quiz on Friday will be on the list of terms 6B.

November 29

Today we took up the Act 1 study guide in class.  I did not collect it yet.  Then I gave time to get the definitions for the terms on the back of last week's sheet (6b).  These will be on Thursday's quiz.   Next I had people write a prose version of the Act 2 prologue and turn that in and finally we read some of Act 2 sc ii.  We will finish this tomorrow.  Important!!! Bring your field trip forms back tomorrow.

November 25

Today we wrote a quiz on list #6A and marked it in class.  Then we finished reading Act 1 of Romeo and Juliet.  I handed out the study guides for Act 1.  These must be done for Monday.  Have a nice weekend.

November 24

Today we read scenes 2, 3 and part of 5 in Act 1 of Romeo and Juliet.  Tomorrow there is a quiz on list 6A from the terms sheet and we will finish Act 1 and start the first study guide.

November 23

Today we looked up definitions for terms list 6A.  There will be a quiz on these on Thursday.  Then we finished reading Act 1 of Romeo and Juliet.  No other homework.

November 19

Today we saw the end of the TKM movie.  Then I had you unscramble the prologue of Romeo and Juliet (in groups).  Congrats to Bukky's group for being done first.  Kudo's to Danielle's group for a very close second!!  Then I asked you to write synonyms for the important words in the sonnet and finally turn the sonnet into a piece of prose that summarizes the story.  These are due on Monday.  Also your TKM essays are due on Monday.  Have a nice weekend.

November 18

Today was record sheet day.  Then we did the TKM unit final exam.  There was not much time left at the end of the period so we did not watch the end of the movie.  We will do this tomorrow and possibly have some time to work on the essays that are due on Monday.

November 17

Today we watched more of the movie.  I handed out the final essay topics.  These are due on Monday.  The final exam for TKM is tomorrow.  It is a scantron, so bring a pencil and an eraser.

November 16

Today we finished discussing the last few chapters of the novel TKM.  After this we spent the rest of the period writing the in-class essays that you prepared yesterday.  We will likely be having the TKM final exam on Thursday and the final essay will be due on Monday.

November 15

Today I collected the symbols sheet and we talked about ch 22-25 (the missionary circle).  I handed out the information for the inclass essay.  Have an outline prepared but no more than that for tomorrow.  We will be wirting the essay in class.

November 12

Today we did a test on chapters 12-23 on TKM and marked most of it in class.  Then I handed out the characters as symbols sheet.  You must draw what you feel is an appropriate and comprehensive symbol for the character and write a brief explanation of it.  Have this done for Monday please.  Have a nice weekend.

November 10

Today we read an article by Mark Twain on lynching and moral courage and another about the KKK.  I assigned 3 questions to be done by the end of the period.  Each was to be about a half a page.  The 3rd question is about Aunt Alexandra and the social order.  You can find these questions on my webpage on the Mockingbird page under handouts.  They are are called 3tkmquest.  Have nice day off and we'll see you on Friday.

November 9

Today we continued through the novel.  We discussed to the end of the trial, approximately ch 19.  We also watched a bit more of the movie.  Continue with the themes sheet and make sure your T chart is done for tomorrow.

November 8

Today we talked a little more about TKM, chapters 11-14 in particular.  I handed out a sheet on the 'rules' of Southern Society and asked you to make a T-Chart that shows the rules on one side and how Aunt Alexandra either knows them or shows them. 

November 5

Today we wrote the chapter 1-11 test for TKM.   Then I had interviews with the last few dystopian trailer groups and got you to revise your group assessments.  Remember that your TKM reading journal is due today!!  Have a nice weekend.

November 4

Today we went to the Diwali show.  The test on chapters 1-11 of TKM will be tomorrow.

November 3

Today we talked about chapters 1-10 in TKM.  Tomorrow we are going to the Diwalli show so the test will be moved to Friday. 

November 2

Today was the last day to hear the reports on posters.  You can still get them done but we won't have time for you to present the information in class.  After this, we started to discuss the novel a little.  Please have your reading journals done for tomorrow.

November 1

I hope you all had a happy Halloween.  Today we heard from several people and looked at web posters.  We will continue this tomorrow.  Your Mockingbird journals were due today but so many people had trouble with the last diagram that I said that I would talk about them tomorrow and you can hand them in tomorrow.  Please make sure that your web poster and/or your paper poster are done by tomorrow.  I can not guarantee any class time to present them after this.

October 27

Today we had presentations of some of the posters made for our novel.  We heard about the Black Codes, The Emancipation Proclaimation, 13th and 14th ammendments, the KKK, and the Fugitive Slave Act.  We will have more tomorrow.  I also gave about 30 minutes of reading time and had a bit of time to discuss with groups about their dystopian movie trailers.  Please bring a copy of it tomorrow if you can.  We will not be having a quiz this Thursday.

October 26

Well, here I am, back after a long absence.  Yesterday we saw the movie trailers and I have to say that overall, I was very impressed.  Today we looked at some posters about the 1930's and I went over the criteria for the posters.  We will begin to look at these in class tomorrow.  Please do your best to have yours ready.   It is likely that we will not be able to see all of them in one day and we will be going roughly chronologically.  Keep up the reading journal.  I have extended the reading date to Friday which means it must be done by the following Monday.  The quiz this week may be the short story final exam so please keep the various terms in mind.

October 15

Today we signed out "To Kill a Mockingbird" and then had the rest of the class to film the videos.  Remember that these are due on October 25.  Starting Monday you will be reading the book and doing an online research project.  The research project is due on Oct 26.  Have a nice weekend.

October 14

Today I showed the clip about film techniques again and then some people went out to start filming their projects. You must have a completed storyboard and a script before you can go out and film. Bring your stuff with you tomorrow as it is the last day of class time for this project. NO quiz tomorrow.

October 13

Today we watched a few video clips about storyboarding and camera techniques to help you plan your storyboards. I also gave out a sheet for notes/assignment that asked you to collect some information from the videos. We will watch another couple tomorrow. Please have your storyboard done or nearly done for tomorrow. If you have a camera and are planning to shoot on school property, you can use some of tomorrow's class for filming.

October 12

It was record sheet day today.  After this, I asked groups to finish their scripts for their trailers using the synopsis that you wrote last week.  Tomorrow we will be doing the story boards.  Please be thinking about how you want things to look in preparation for this.  You could download copies of the storyboard sheet from that website I showed you, or you can just use paper.  Quiz on Thursday will be Bias to Style.

October 8

We spent today working on the dystopian movie trailers.  You had to get your synopsis finished, and a means of communication with each member of your group outside of class time established.  We made a few alterations to the group #'s which I think will make everyone more successful.  For homework, please use your communication system and make sure that everyone in your group comes to class on Tuesday with a copy of your group's synopsis.  Have nice long weekend.

October 7

Today we did a quiz on the terms Bias to Style and marked it in class.  Then I introduced the movie trailer project.  There was very little time to get started but we will carry on tomorrow.  I was not entirely happy about how the groups were formed etc. so there may have to be adjustments tomorrow.  Be prepared.

October 6

Today we quickly went over the terms Bias to Style and the questions to All the Troubles of the World.  We marked the Harrison Bergeron package.  If yours wasn't done or was incomplete you need to come in after school and re-do it.  Finally, we watched some clips from Brazil and Logan's Run and I briefly described your movie trailer project.  Your quiz is on Bias to Style tomorrow.

October 5

Today we went watched a few clips from the movie The matrix and discussed the dystopian characteristics.  After this I handed out a question booklet on the story Harrison Bergeron.  This package must be done for tomorrow. I also assigned questions 4, 5 and 9 for the story All the Troubles of the World.  Please have this done too.  This week's quiz is the back of last week's list (bias to style).

October 4

Today we watched some film clips from the 1984 apple ad and from a movie called Metropolis.  You had to fill in the worksheet that described the dystopian characteristics of the society and the protagonists.  We then started to read the story "Harrison Bergeron". Please finish the story at home tonight.   I also collected your self-assessment essays today.  If yours did not come in, please get it to me tomorrow.

For your viewing pleasure, I have embedded these clips below.

October 1

Today, despite several unavoidable interruptions, we started talking about what a dystopian world would be like.  I handed out some notes on this and we looked at the 1984 Mac advertisement.  I handed out a sheet where you were asked to find examples of typical dystopian characteristics in the ad.  Don't worry if you did not finish.  We will continue this work on Monday.  Please get your self assessment essay done over the weekend.  I need good and rough copies please.

September 30

Due to the fact that most of the class was doing the Panther Prowl, the quiz was postponed until tomorrow.  We discussed nuclear war and the possibility of nuclear winter and watched a short propaganda video from the US circa 1950.  Then we read the story The Portable Phonograph.  Please read this story on your own.  The essays will be due on Monday and you should have some time in class to work on them tomorrow.

September 29

Today we heard the last few connections presentation.  After this I assigned a self assessment essay.  I have given out some questions for you to work from.  Please try to figure out what you learned from completing the connections project and how you learned it.  I need you to become aware of how you learn and how you process information.  Quiz tomorrow on terms 'audience to understate' only.

September 28

Today we had some more excellent presentations on the "connections" project.  The remaining groups must be ready to present right at the start of the class.

September 27

Today we had our first 'Connections' presentations.  They were very interesting.  Now that you have seen what it is all about, I hope tomorrow's groups will be a little more enthusiastic about volunteering to go first!!  Well done today.  I want to finish all the presentations by the end of tomorrow's class, so please make sure you have all your materials and are clear about what you have to do.

September 23

Today we did Record Sheets for Early Work and a quiz on the list of terms for this week.  Then we went to the library to continue working on the 'connections' project.  These must be ready to go first thing Monday morning.  Have a nice long weekend.

September 21

Today we worked on the connections project in the library.  Tomorrow there will be a quiz on terms list #5.  Your presentations are due on Monday.

September 21

We continued working on the Connections project today and I handed out terms list #5 which will be the material for our quiz on Thursday.  I also handed out copies of #13 and gothic terms.  I hope you people at Camp Squeah are thinking about this project because you have very little time to get it done.  It will now be presented to the class on Monday next week as Friday is a Pro-d day.  By the way, explore Prezi on line and if you like it, think about using it for your presentation.

September 20

Today I started out by reading some examples of some of the better 'choices' paragraphs from the start of the year.  Then groups were formed to make connections between all the gothic stories we have read so far.  The theme is "we are what we know".  You have to try to make all the connections among the stories that you can.  These can include plot, genre, history, theme, character etc.  I also handed out a brief summary of the Faust legend.  There will be some time in class to work on this but not much.  The group presentations will be FRIDAY, not Thursday as stated in class today.  Those of you at Camp Squeah will have Wed. in class to do the work and will have to make your presentations at home.

September 17

Today we looked at the end of 'Number 13'.  I would advise watching it again without so many interruptions.  Then we watched some of James Burke's "The Day the Universe Changed".  We will be using ideas from his program to compare the stories we have read so far.  Have a nice weekend.

September 16

Today we had a quiz on short story terms and marked it in class.  I also collected the Blue Boots character sketch paragraphs.  We talked a bit about the Tell Tale Heart and then watched an animated version of the story.  Finally we started to watch M.R. James' Number 13 which is a take on the Faust legend.  We will finish that tomorrow.  No homework.   Please remember that if you did not leave your book in the room today, you will need to bring it with you tomorrow and be prepared to leave it here over the weekend.

September 15

We finished reading North End Faust and discussed it briefly.  Then we watched the video of The Tell Tale Heart.  Remember that there is a quiz tomorrow on terms list #4 (short story terms).  Also your character sketch of the Blue Boots lady is due tomorrow.

Reminder of the Bonus opportunity.  Find Mr. Clyde and ask him about the "troubles" and the "Ulster occupation force".  For 1 bonus point, get him to tell you a story that you can tell in class.

September 14

Today we had time in class to work on the character sketch assignment for The Blue Boots.  After this we started reading North End Faust.  Please finish this story on your own.  The character sketch will be due (good copy) on Thursday, same day as our quiz.

September 13

Today we finished reading The Blue Boots in class.  I also handed out course outlines and went over them.  We spent the last part of the class working on the character traits/sketch assignment that I handed out on Friday.  We will have some time in class to do this tomorrow, so it will probably be due on Wed. or Thurs.  Remember that you need to have all the definitions for terms list #3 done before Thursday as we will be having a quiz on that material on the 16th.

September 9

Today we had an assembly and then we returned to the class and constructed the marking rubric for the piece of writing we did yesterday in class.  This needs to be turned in with the marking sheet by the end of tomorrow's class.  After this, I handed out some terms lists and you had to collect the definitions.  We will be going over these in class tomorrow, so please have them finished.  If you are looking for the sheet, it is called Termslist4.

September 8

Well today is the first official blog for this class.  Yesterday we discussed course requirements etc. and talked about what types of things you did during the summer.  Today I discussed the different kinds of questions there are and then we read 2 poems called Choices and The Road Less Travelled.  You were to write questions of each type about both poems and have answers ready.  We started discussing these and will finish tomorrow.  No Quiz this Thursday.