English 8

Sorry for not updating the blog the past few classes. The last few days, the focus has been on in-class creative writing and sharing. No homework was given. Students focussed on descriptive writing that involved different senses and used figurative devices such as similes and onomatopoeia.

After Christmas, students will be studying the novel The Giver. Some students may want to get a head start over Christmas break. . . so, if students wish, they can sign the book out and begin reading. No homework will be assigned over Christmas break.

Today's lesson focused on the word utopia. Students worked in groups and reached a consensus on the ten rules of their utopia.

Students then were handed out a worksheet entitled "English 8 - The Giver". On it, students were asked to make a web of ideas regarding what the world would be like IF, for example, there was no moon.

Students then began to write two paragraphs that described what the world would be like if this were the case. These two paragraphs are for homework and are due tomorrow.

English 8

- Today we examined a Shakespearean excerpt from 'As You Like It' . We also listened to the poem Cats in the Cradle. We completed a chart and handed it in.

- We did NOT have much class time to work on the poetry book (as I promised). . . Sooo, the poetry book is now due on Monday.

-We'll spend time on Friday working on our poetry books.

English 8

Today we began class by talking about the theme or message of the poem last day, The Execution. We chatted briefly about capital punishment and how that relates to the poem's theme.

Poetry book project will be due on Friday of this week.

English 8

Today, we completed a handout on a poem called The Execution.

Then students continued work on their personal poetry anthology project, which will be due later this week. Students should be about half-way done this project. They will be given class time later this week to finish this project.

Don't forget to bring items for the food bank!

Dec. 3rd - English 8

Students were shown how to write two more poems: poetry out of prose (found poetry) and a personification poem.

Students were also taught the importance of arranging poetry into lines (and using capital letters)

Today students were introduced to the culminating activity in our poetry unit (below).

English 8 - Personal Poetry Anthology

Create a mini, illustrated poetry anthology using the paper provided. Your anthology must have a creative title and title page, a table of contents, and a third-person biographical ‘About the Author Page’. Most of you will have nine pages to fill with your poetry.

It must also have a minimum of 8 poems, each colourfully illustrated in some manner

The back cover page must mirror the back cover of a real book (it may contain reviews of your book and/or a summary of your writing). This page, too, must be colourfully illustrated.

Your poems must be written in ink and your illustrations must not be.

Your poetry book will be marked on the following criteria: creativity neatness variety of poems poems in pen proper layout (I’ll show you how to do this in class)

Class Time You will be given more than a little bit of class time to work on this project. If you use your class time wisely, you will not have much homework. This book will be due next week (exact date to be announced later).

December 1st - English 8

Word of the Week: Resolute - having a fixed purpose; determined.

ex. Joseph resolutely killed the flies buzzing around his table, someone took his handbag.

- Looked at a Puzzle Poem -- during class we discussed how people bring their own experiences into their reading and understanding of poems and stories.

- Began to work on Puzzle Poem

- Homework: Work on The Earthling, Limericks, and Fingerprint Poem

Finish - Puzzle Poem

- Next class we'll begin to work on our Personal Poetry Anthologies (a collection of the poems we've been working on).