Friday 5/30/14:
Last day... yearbooks... breakfast... hugs... tears... joy... It's been a grand four years.  All the best to the class of 2014!  May the force be with you.  Always.  
Thursday 5/29/14:
Exam 
Wednesday 5/28/14:
English 12 Exam Tomorrow!
Tuesday 5/27/14:
Exam Review Guide
English EXAM on THURSDAY!
Friday 5/23/14:
"CSI Talks
Thursday 5/22/14:
"CSI Talks"
Wednesday 5/21/14:
"CSI Talks"
Tuesday 5/20/14:
Project Work Time
"CSI Talks" Presentations begin TOMORROW!
Monday 5/19/14:
Project Work Time
10-minute Maximum for presentations
Presentation Order Shared
Presentations begin Wednesday!  
Monday - Friday 5/12-5/16
Project Work Time
Presentations Begin Wednesday
2 grammar practices - exam review
Friday 5/9/14:
Night should be completely read by this date
Project Work Day
Guest Speaker Charlie Wollborg on effective Presentation Skills
Thursday 5/8/14:
Project Work Day
Wednesday 5/7/14:
Read Elie Wiesel's Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech
Complete the after-reading QUIZ
Tuesday 5/6/14:
Project Work Day
Monday 5/5/14:
Project Work Day
Book Talks
Continue Reading Night
Friday 5/2/14:
Read Night by Elie Wiesel 
Monday 4/28/14:
Project Work Day -- research
Friday 4/25/14:
Topic selection sign-up
Project Work day - research
Thursday 4/24/14:
Annotated Bibliography discussion
Topic selection and Partnering sign-up TOMORROW
Wednesday 4/23/14:
How to Write a Research Question and the same thing in Video Form
Source Validity - Use this Search Engine
Tuesday 4/22/14:
Social Responsibility Project OUTLINE
ELA Standards Accountability Sheet
Monday 4/21/14:
Topic Selection for Social Awareness Project
TED talks:
Simon Sinek - How great leader inspire action
Derek Siver - How to start a movement
Shawn Achor - The happy secret to better work
Thursday 4/17/14:
Finish Life is Beautiful 
Wednesday 4/16/14:
Generate Social Injustice List -- possible research topics
Tuesday 4/15/14:
Social Injustice Discussion
HW - Generate a list of three issues 
Monday 4/14/14:
Update EDP's
Friday 4/4/14:
Watch Life is Beautiful
Thursday 4/3/14:
Watch Life is Beautiful
Wednesday 4/2/14:
Silent Socratic Circle
Poem annotation "anyone lived in a pretty how town" by e.e. cummings
Tuesday 4/1/14:
Poem annotation "Invictus" by William Ernest Henley 
Poem annotation "Sympathy" by Paul Laurence Dunbar
Socratic Circle Seminar
Monday 3/31/14:
Poem annotation practice with Mary Oliver's "The Sun"
Friday 3/28/14:
Finish Poem assignments... last day of 3rd quarter
Caption this... creative exercise
Thursday 3/27/14:
Poem Comparison writing exercise
New Poem:
WB Yeats - "He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven"
Answer Poem Analysis Questions for "He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven"
Wednesday 3/26/14:
Determining Tone and identifying Sound Devices with Robert Hayden's "Those Winter Sundays"
Poem Analysis Questions
Tuesday 3/25/14:
Listening and diction activity with Theodore Roethke's "My Papa's Waltz"
Poem Analysis Questions 
Monday 3/24/14:
Gatsby Essays DUE
NOTES - Poetry Terms - define each term
Friday 3/21/14:
Essay writing... more tips and opportunities to ask questions
Thursday 3/20/14:
Gatsby Essay tips
Crash Course on Gatsby pt 1
Crash Course on Gatsby pt 2
Wednesday 3/19/14:
Gatsby Essay Prompts - Due no later than Monday, March 24th
Watch The Great Gatsby film (2013)
Tuesday 3/18/14:Gatsby Essay Prompts - Due no later than Monday, March 24th
Watch The Great Gatsby film (2013)
Monday 3/17/14:
Gatsby Essay Prompts - Due no later than Monday, March 24th
Watch The Great Gatsby film (2013)
Friday 3/14/14:
Choose one: The Finishing Touch - Chapters 7,8,9 Discussion Questions OR Symbols and Themes 
Socratic Circle Evaluations/Reflections DUE
Thursday 3/13/14:
Gatsby Socratic Circle
Tuesday 3/11/14:
Vocabulary Quiz #2
Focus Question - due at the end of class
Monday 3/10/14:
Chapter VI Discussion Group Session
Vocabulary Quiz Tomorrow
Friday 3/7/14:
Vocabulary Quiz
Chapter V Discussion Group Session
New vocabulary words: denizen, suppress, reproach, obstinate, nebulous, laudable, insidious, debauch, antecedent, ingratiate
HW: Chapter VI for Monday!
Vocabulary Quiz Tuesday!  
Monday 3/3/14:
Chapter IV Discussion Groups - questions
Vocab Quiz FRIDAY
Read Chapter V for Friday! 
Friday 2/28/14:
New Vocabulary words: innuendo, impetuous, provincial - Quiz on ten words next FRIDAY
Chapter 3 Discussion Questions - collected in 3rd hour
Sign-up for Book Talk Presentation Date (not 1st hour)
Fill out Dicussion Group Reflection Accountability sheet for Chapter III
Chapter 2 Close Reading assignment DUE
HW: Read Chapter 4 for Monday, Read Chapter 5 for Friday
Thursday 2/27/14:
Chapter 2 Close Reading Due Tomorrow
Wednesday 2/26/14:
Vocabulary Words: supercilious, reciprocal, intimation, cower, apathetic, languid, deft
Gatsby Discussion Accountability Sheet - Due Upon Completion of the Novel
Read Chapter 3 by Friday!
Tuesday 2/25/14:
Review Chapter One
HW: Read Chapter 2
Monday 2/24/14:
Form Gatsby Discussion Groups
Discuss Chapter One using provided handout
Friday 2/14/14:
Continue Social Class discussion/Notes
Book Talk Rubric
Thursday 2/13/14:
Socratic Circle Reflections/Evaluations DUE
Social Classes / Notes - Activity handout 
Wednesday 2/12/14:
American Dream Socratic Circle
Tuesday 2/11/14:
What is the American Dream?  What is the status of the American Dream?  
The Great Gatsby books
Socratic Circle Discussion tomorrow!  
Monday 2/10/14:
Finish Midnight in Paris
Written Reflection: What time period, in the history of humanity, would you fit the best?  Explain.  
Friday 2/7/14:
Watch Midnight in Paris
Thursday 2/6/14:
Research assignment DUE. 
Watch Midnight in Paris
Wednesday 2/5/14:
Continue yesterday's Research Assignment -- Due TOMORROW!
Tuesday 2/4/14:
Finish definitions from yesterday
RESEARCH Assignment
Monday 2/3/14:
Discuss the Preface to Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray
Questions DUE!
Research definitions to Modernism, Existentialism, Absurdism, Nihilism, Surrealism
Friday 1/31/14:
Two Responses:
1.  What is success?
2.  What is art?
Read the Preface to The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Answer accompanying questions (not 3rd hour)
Thursday 1/30/14:
Chris Hadfield inspiration Day
His version of David Bowie's Space Oddity from the ISS
Article about Chris Hadfield and video of an interview
Click here to see when the ISS will be visible from your house
Thursday 1/23/14:
Response Letter DUE
Read "Spite" from Fyodor Dostoyevsky's Notes from the Underground
Assignment: Discussion Questions -- Due tomorrow
Wednesday 1/22/14:
"O Me! O Life!" By Walt Whitman
2nd Semester Book List
Letter to Students
Your response letter to me is DUE TOMORROW!
Friday 1/10/14:
EXAM STUDY - Review Oedipus and Antigone events/characters/themes
Review 1984 events/characters/themes
Complete the grammar practices that are linked below from Tuesday 1/7/14
Reading Logs DUE TODAY
Thursday 1/9/14:
Due dates for 1984 Projects have been established
Exam Review
Wednesday 1/8/14:
Another snow day...
Due dates for 1984 Project will be discussed tomorrow
Tuesday 1/7/14:
EXAM STUDY - Read George Orwell's "Appendix" to 1984 - Listen Here
EXAM STUDY - Grammar Practice - Scroll down to "Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers" - Complete exercises 1-3
See yesterday's entry for Exam Review Guide
DUE this WEEK:  7 Reading Logs! (#'s 9-15)
Monday 1/6/14:
Mid-Term Exam Review Guide
More updates/practice will be posted later this evening and/or tomorrow
Exams will now be Monday and Tuesday next week instead of Friday, Monday, and Tuesday...
1984 Projects will be due Wednesday-Friday...
Thursday 1/2/14:
TED talk Thursday - Does Money Make You Mean? 
Senior Tshirts are here!
Exam review guide tomorrow
Project due dates tomorrow
Friday 12/20/13:
1984 Essays Due
1984 Projects Due January 7, 8, 9th
SSR- minimum # of Reading Logs after today = 14 (#'s 9-14)
Friday 12/13/13:
1984 Essay and Project Assignment
Essays due before Break!
SSR- minimum # of Reading Logs after today = 13 (#'s 9-13) 
Thursday 12/12/13:
2nd hour: Socratic Circle
3rd hour: Groups 1 and 2
             Click here for Passive and Active Voice notes and Practice.  Read and click on the quiz at the bottom.  Complete the quiz. 
3rd hour: Groups A and B
             Socratic Circle
1st hour: 1984 Essay and Project Assignment
Wednesday 12/11/13:
3rd hour: Groups A and B
             Click here for Passive and Active Voice notes and Practice.  Read and click on the quiz at the bottom.  Complete the quiz. 
3rd hour: Groups 1 and 2
             Socratic Circle
1st hour: Socratic Circle
2nd hour: Project Work Time
Tuesday 12/10/13:
Read this article about spying in Fantasy Games
1st and 3rd hours:
1984 Part THREE Reading Questions DUE Tomorrow!
1984 Charts DUE Tomorrow!
SOCRATIC CIRCLE SEMINAR Tomorrow!
2nd hour:
1984 Part THREE Reading Questions DUE THURSDAY
1984 Charts DUE THURSDAY
SOCRATIC CIRCLE SEMINAR THURSDAY
Monday 12/9/13:
Watch V for Vendetta
1st and 3rd hours:
Date Change: 
1984 Part THREE Reading Questions DUE WEDNESDAY
1984 Charts DUE WEDNESDAY
SOCRATIC CIRCLE SEMINAR WEDNESDAY
2nd hour:
1984 Part THREE Reading Questions DUE THURSDAY
1984 Charts DUE THURSDAY
SOCRATIC CIRCLE SEMINAR THURSDAY
Friday 12/6/13:
1st and 2nd hour: Project work time
3rd hour: Watch V for VendettaSSR- minimum # of Reading Logs after today = 12 (9-12)
Thursday 12/5/13:
Watch V for Vendetta
Wednesday 12/4/13:
Watch V for Vendetta
2nd hour:
GP #8 - Take notes from p. 53 Appositive Phrases
              Exercise A (1-5)
              Exercise B (1-5)
Tuesday 12/3/13:
1st and 3rd hours:
1984 Part TWO - Socratic Circle Evaluations due -- reflections OPTIONAL
Quiz on Parts One and Two 
GP #8 - Take notes from p. 53 Appositive Phrases
              Exercise A (1-5)
              Exercise B (1-5)
2nd hour:
1984 Part TWO - Socratic Circle
Monday 12/2/13:
1st and 3rd hours:
1984 Part TWO - Socratic Circle
Quiz on Parts One and Two tomorrow!
2nd hour:
Project work time
Socratic Circle Tomorrow!  
Tuesday 11/26/13:
Grammar Practice
Do exercises 5, 6, and 7 of the FRAGMENTS 1984 Part TWO - Socratic Circle scheduled for Monday, December 2nd.
Monday 11/25/13:
Read this article: We Need More Cameras, and We Need Them Now
Reflection #8: Do you agree with Manjoo's position on this issue?  Why or why not?  What valid points does the author make?  For contrast, what points do you feel are invalid?  Is this an effective persuasive essay?  Why or why not?  
1984 Part TWO - Socratic Circle scheduled for Monday, December 2nd.
Friday 11/22/13:
Handout: 1984 Part TWO Reading Guide - 
SSR- minimum # of Reading Logs after today = 11
Thursday 11/21/13:
Socratic Circle Seminar (1984 Part ONE)
Evaluation sheets due today
Reflections due TOMORROW!  
By today, Part ONE Questions should be answered on the Chart.  The chart will be collected when we finish reading the novel.  
Wednesday 11/20/13:
Work day
Dystopian Propaganda - Due today
Socratic Circle Preparation
Read part ONE answer questions that correspond with the chart
**Tomorrow: 1984 part ONE Socratic Circle Seminar 
Tuesday 11/19/13:
Dystopian Propaganda assignment.  Due Tomorrow at the end of class
1984 part ONE Socratic Circle Seminar THURSDAY 
Monday 11/18/13:
1984 Background information - Totalitarianism, Socialism, Communism, Stalinism
Commonly used Propaganda Techniques
Finish reading Part ONE by THURSDAY
Friday 11/15/13:
Submit Impromptu essays from yesterday!  
Begin reading 1984
Part ONE Reading Guide - DUE THURSDAY 11/21/13
Charting the Elements of 1984 - Due upon completion of the book
Socratic Circle Seminar THURSDAY 11/21/13
SSR- minimum # of Reading Logs after today = 10
Thursday 11/14/13:
Notes: The Elements of Dystopia -outline form
Impromptu Essay - The elements of dystopia and Kurt Vonnegut's "2BR02B"
Due tomorrow at the latest
Wednesday 11/13/13:
Read "2BR02B" by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr
Reflection #7 : Does Vonnegut's story effectively satirize the idea of population control?  How?  Why?  
Tuesday 11/12/13:
New seats/discussion groups
Read/discuss each member's Synthesis Writing Prompt response
Whole group discussion
Listen:
Reinventing the Dwindling Middle Class May Take a Revolution
Monday 11/11/13:
Synthesis Exercise
Article One
Article Two
Article Three
Synthesis Writing Prompt
Friday 11/8/13:
SSR Reading Log #9
Thursday 11/7/13:
Socratic Circle Bonus Round
Guest Speaker about the MAT2 Program
Socratic Circle Evaluation/Reflection sheets DUE!
Wednesday 11/6/13:
Socratic Circle Discussion - "The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas" by Ursula Le Guin
Tuesday 11/5/13:
"Remember, remember... the fifth of November..."
No School
Monday 11/4/13:
Read: "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" by Ursula Le Guin
Click here for the story.  
Fill out the Says-Means-Suggests chart at the end of story
Socratic Circle Discussion Wednesday!
Friday 11/1/13:
SSR Reading Logs 1-8 Due tOdAy!
Thursday 10/31/13:
Merry Halloween
Socratic Circle Evaluations Due!
Click here for Practice with Subject-Verb Agreement 
Then Click here and Scroll down to Subject-Verb Agreement.  Do Exercises 4 and 5
SSR tomorrow.  Bring a book.  Reading Logs Due tomorrow!  Eight of 'em.  
Wednesday 10/30/13:
Antigone Socratic Circle Discussion
Antigone Discussion Questions DUE!
Tuesday 10/29/13:
Meet with Antigone Reading Groups
ASSIGNMENT - Antigone Discussion Questions -- Due Wednesday
Socratic Circle Discussion - Wednesday
Click here for Practice with Subject-Verb Agreement 
Monday 10/28/13:
Meet with Antigone Reading Groups
ASSIGNMENT - Antigone Discussion Questions -- Due Wednesday
Socratic Circle Discussion - Wednesday
Friday 10/25/13:
Meet with Antigone Reading Groups
SSR - Minimum number of Reading Logs after today =7
Thursday 10/24/13:
Adjusted schedule - special guests 
TEDtalk Thursday
Wednesday 10/23/13:
Meet with Antigone Reading Groups
Choose roles, Read from Antigone 
Tuesday 10/22/13:
GP #7 Subject-Verb Agreement, other confusing subjects
Finish Hero's Journey Presentations
Monday 10/21/13:
The Hero's Journey Project Option 1 Presentations
Reflection #6: 
"Since luxury... is a function of scarcity, the children of tomorrow... will crave nothing more than freedom... from all the blinking machines, streaming videos and scrolling headlines that leave them feeling empty and too full all at once."  - Pico Iyer "The Joy of Quiet"
Prompt: You're a futurist.  Project where "the tech" takes us... and our humanity...
Friday 10/18/13:
Thursday 10/17/13:

Wednesday 10/16/13:
Fill out Hero's Journey Charts while watching The Karate Kid
Continue working on Hero's Journey Projects Option 1 presentations Friday, Option 2 due Friday
Tuesday 10/15/13:
Fill out Hero's Journey Charts while watching The Karate Kid
Monday 10/14/13:
Handout: The Stages of the Hero's Journey
Assignment: Hero's Journey Chart - DUE THURSDAY
Assignment: Hero's Journey Project -- Option 1 DUE THURSDAY, and Option 2 DUE FRIDAY
Friday 10/11/13:
Watch Jay Silver's TED talk "Makey Makey"
Joseph Campbell FOCUS QUESTION Due
SSRMinimum # of Reading Logs after today = 5

Thursday 10/10/13:
READ Joseph Campbell interview excerpt from The Power of Myth
Respond to the FOCUS QUESTION Prompt from the Reading Guide Handout
Wednesday 10/9/13:
Reflection #5:  Choose one of the quotes from the Story/Myth Quotations.  Using this quote as your foundation, explain how stories shape cultures.  And more specifically, explain how stories have shaped you. 
Handout: "The Hero's Adventure" excerpt from The Power Of Myth
Handout: Reading Guide for The Power of Myth
Tuesday 10/8/13:
Finish Presentations
GP #6 - Other Confusing Subjects
Handout: Quotes about Story/Myth
Monday 10/7/13:
Finish Visual Character Analysis Posters
Prepare presentations
Give Presentations 
Friday 10/4/13:
Finish Visual Character Analysis Sketch
SSR
Minimum # of Reading Logs after today = 4 
Thursday 10/3/13:
Visual Character Analysis Sketch -- Oedipus, Jocasta, or Creon
Wednesday 10/2/13:
Grammar Practice #5 -- Subject-Verb Agreement with Compound Subjects
Read Oliver Stone Article
Reflection #4: Why do we tend to ridicule virtue?  (1/2 page minimum)
Tuesday 10/1/13:
Oedipus the King Socratic Circle
Discussion questions due
Socratic Circle Reflections DUE TOMORROW
Monday 9/30/13:
Oedipus the King Socratic Circle postponed
Watch TED talk about cyber security
Class discussion:  infer -- what is the "hamartia" of our culture?  Answer: Convenience
Click here for the TED talk