English 10

Today we spent most of the class discussing the new school project. Students were advised that on Wed. Nov. 10th during this class, they will be pulling on steel-toed boots and hard hats and then getting a tour of the construction site of the new high school. My intention, today, was to get kids interested, excited, and invested in THEIR new school for next year.

Students were told to read chapter 3 of To Kill a Mockingbird for homework.

English 8

Today we spent a significant amount of time discussing the new schools project. Students were advised that they'll be getting a tour of the construction site sometime in the next couple of weeks. We discussed everything from the types of lockers, to the new fields, to the theatre. It was interesting to clear up some misconceptions the students had about the new school.

We finished class by writing a short quiz in chapters 1-2.

Homework Assigned -- read chapter 3.

English 10 New Novel Started Today

During today's class we dipped our toes into two possible novels: The Chrysalids and To Kill a Mockingbird. After reading and discussing chapter 1 of both novels, a majority of the class voted to read To Kill a Mockingbird.

We read together until the end of chapter 2 and worked on a worksheet.

No homework was assigned.

English 8

Today we learned how a diagram (or graphic picture) can be used to show relationships between characters.

Students worked on a blue worksheet (p.11 & 12) that required them to relate the main characters from the novel The Outsiders.

This work is due next class.
In addition, students must read to the end of chapter 2 next day. There will be a quiz on the first two chapters tomorrow.

English 10

Today students handed in their Society Reflections project. I still need to get projects from the following: Jake, Adrian, Melanie, Stuart, Kirill, Sara, Shep, Rayne, Gordon, Jodie, Zach, Stef, Wyatt. Stef also needs to hand in her paragraph response on our reading of My Left Foot.

Students were assigned the Vocabulary Sheet on Jargon. This is for homework and is due tomorrow.

English 8 - Marks update posted below!

Today we marked the homework from last day and we began reading the novel The Outsiders.

Click HERE to get an updated mark for English 8.

English 10

Students created an acronym to remember the 5 Tips of Literary Writing: DIVEC. Thanks to Aiden, Kirill, and Dom for creating this. Honorable mention to QUEVAC (from Hayley and Jamie).

Students worked on their Society Reflections project which is due tomorrow. So, parents, your child should be doing English homework tonight!

English 8

Anne reminded us that the Susan Hinton question sheet is for homework -- due tomorrow.

We also learned what an idiom was, as well as reviewing onomatopoeia. Mr. Pfeiffer also made his apple say "Apple."

English 8

Today we wrote our Sightlines 8 test. After break we worked on a vocab sheet where we learned about alliteration and onomatopoeia.

Then we discussed what the phrase "being an outsider" can mean. Then students worked on a free-form pencil sketch on being an outsider. In other words, students worked on creating a title page for a novel they've yet to read The Outsiders.

English 10

Students wrote their first major test of the year today. Then students watched a movie version of the story "My Left Foot". We watched 59 minutes of it. There's about 40 minutes left.

The society reflections project due date has now been pushed ahead to Tuesday, October 26th.

Don't forget to check updated marks in the blog entry below.

Best of luck, Gordon, on your trip to Japan. sayonara!

English 10 Updated Marks posted Oct. 20th

Click HERE for updated marks in English 10.

English 8

Mr. Pfeiffer took all the "men" in class out into the hallway. Then, in the hallway, Mr. Pfeiffer revealed the key to understanding females to all the guys.

Back in class we reviewed, again, what is going to be on tomorrow's test. Students were given a 'Test Review" Sheet. Students worked on this during class.

Mr. Pfeiffer ended class by reading out the REAL ending to the short story, "Hold Your Tongue."

Don't forget to study for tomorrow's test!
I still need the "Hold Your Tongue" Assignment from Chase and Jade.

English 10

Mr. Pfeiffer read out our spontaneous writing from last day, highlighting areas that make creative writing come to life. Specifically, he mentioned to use figures of speech (simile, metaphor, onomatopoeia, personification), to be descriptive (paint a picture with words), consider using a flashback, and don't think your ending has to have a resolution.

Then, students were given time to work on their Society Reflections Assignment (due this upcoming Monday).

Remember to study for tomorrow's test!

English 10

Students were given the SAME notes they got in grade 8 English -- these story parts terms are terms they should already know.

Then we discussed the difference between literary writing and creative writing.

Students worked on a warm-up writing activity -- this writing activity was a creative and descriptive activity. Students then handed these in.

Students then worked on their Society Reflections Project (due next Monday)

English 8

Today we reviewed ways to study for Wednesday's test. We also reviewed our lessons last day on metaphors and personification.

Then we watched the NFB video The Lump on YouTube. In groups students answered the questions "Is George a static or dynamic character. Explain." and "What is the theme of The Lump?

Each group handed in their answers.

English 10

Today students presented their poetry writing from the poem "Dreams" by Langston Hughes. Congratulations to the Happy Horses (Hayley, Jake Melanie) for having an excellent poem.

Students were given a Society Reflection Assignment and began working on it.Click here to see it. This will be due on Monday, October 25th.

We discussed our test next Wednesday. Note the following details English 10
Sightlines Unit Test
Wednesday, October 20th
Review – the stories we’ve read
Multiple Choice, Matching, short answer, paragraphs
How to study?
Review what we’ve read
Review the blog
Memorize the 5/6 writing tips
Review Dennis’s lesson on writing
On this test, students will be given a story they've never seen before and they'll be asked questions on it. They'll also be asked to write a paragraph.

English 8

Students handed in their Hold Your Tongue assignments. The following students still need to hand them in: Jade, Brandon, Drinnon, Anne, Angus, and Chris.

Today we learned about the term personification and we practiced writing examples of personification.

Students were advised of the upcoming Unit test next Wednesday, October 20th
Study the following – story parts notes
Review – the stories we’ve read
Multiple Choice, Matching.
Students will be given a story which they haven't yet read and they will have to answer some short answer questions and write a paragraph or two on it.
How to study? Memorize story parts
Review what we’ve read
Review the blog
Here's a list of what we've read:
“The Street that got Mislaid”
“The TellTale Heart”
“Thank You Ma’am”
“The Hockey Sweater
“Catch”
“Ragged Sonnet #64”
“The Monkey’s Paw”
“Hold Your Tongue”
"My Guilt"
"The Lump" (this is a short video we'll watch early next week)

English 10

Today in class I went over their paragraphs from last day (still waiting to receive some from some students).
We read, discussed, and viewed Martin Luther King Jr. We discussed WHY he was an effective speaker and what his message was. We also discussed the civil rights movement in the US in the 50' s and 60's.

Then we read Langston Hughes's famous poem "Dream".

Assign Question #2 in book, writing a third stanza. Explain that the metaphor they choose must illustrate or somehow embody the idea of working toward your aspirations (like a bird flying or an abundant field of growth). This metaphor must be presented, as in the original two stanzas, in line three and it must also be presented as a ‘flawed’ metaphor (a bird, with a broken wing). Students must have this third stanza for next class (i.e. it is for homework).

English 10 -- October 12th Mr. Pfeiffer absent

Last Day I was ill and as a result your TOC gave you your assignment for the day: you were to read the autobiographical story "My Left Foot" from Sightlines 10 and hand in the following by the end of class: How does "My Left Foot" relate to this year's theme of the brotherhood of man. Jacob, Melanie, Stefanie, and Aiden need to get this assignment in ASAP.

Also, students handed in their Warren Pryor paragraphs to the TOC Ms. Walsh: Melanie, Hayley, Zach, Stefanie, Aiden and Xena still need to hand this paragraph in.

English 8

Today we worked on learning what metaphors are and how to write metaphors to improve descriptive writing.

Then students were reminded of the criteria for their Hold Your Tongue story endings. All the criteria that are listed on the checklist must be met. This assignment is due Friday, tomorrow.

English 8

The Hold Your Tongue Short Story Assignment is not due tomorrow. I'm was sick on Tuesday, blech, and there is some confusion among students as to when it is due. It will be due on Friday.

Hey Sonia, have a great trip to Germany and say "Hi!" to David Hasselhoff from us when you see him.

and Welcome back to Canada to Anne Mackenzie! Hope the weather wasn't too warm down south!

English 10

Interim Marks Posted in blog entry below!
Mr. Pfeiffer was very frustrated with the 15 different overhead projectors that didn't work at the beginning of class. His rage finally punctuated in a "Let's see how well an overhead projector flies contest" out his back window.

Mr. Pfeiffer broke into a student's locker and stole a Warren Pryor assignment. He put it on the overhead and went over the paragraph with students highlighting areas of improvement. Students were given a final session to work on this paragraph assignment.

This paragraph is due next class which is the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.

Students also learned that Mr. P broke one of his Grade 8s thumbs a few years ago -- he still feels bad about that (Sorry Taylor!)

English 8

Interim marks posted below.
We worked on using quotation marks correctly in dialogue. Plus, we began work on our Hold Your Tongue story endings. This project will be due at the end of next week. Students are welcome to work on rough copies at home this weekend for homework , but it is not required.

Interim Marks Posted!

The link below take you to your interim marks for English 8 and 10. English 8 is one page 1 and English 10 is on page 2. You'll need your student number to find out your mark (you can find your student number on the timetable given to you the first day of school).

English 8 (pg.1) and English 10 (pg.2) click HERE

Remember these are 'INTERIM' marks which means they aren't official -- they just give you and your parents an idea of how things are going. As the year progresses, assignments will get progressively harder -- in other words, you'll have to work even harder to keep this grade by report card time.

English 8

Today we learned about reading strategies, ambiguity, and we were introduced into a new assignment.

Students read the short story "Catch" and used stickie notes to write down their predictions, opinons, and questions every two pages. Then students wrote an inclass quiz. We discussed specific strategies all of us can use to keep focussed during reading.

The ending of "Catch" was ambiguous; in other words, we're not exactly sure who the old man who helps Rita is. Students learned that ambiguity is a fundamental aspect of literature and their lives.

We finished class by reading a short story (on a handout) by Canadian Roderick Haig-Brown called "Hold Your Tongue." The ending of the story has been cut off and students will begin, on Friday, on a project to write an ending for the story.

English 10

We read the poem "Ambition" and discussed the terms contrast and justaposition.

Then students worked on their next writing assignment: discuss the use of imagery the poem "Warren Pryor." Much of the class was spent with students working quietly on their writing, with a steady stream of students coming to me and asking me for help with their writing.

Mr. P. was heard several times telling students that 'if you're going to write an essay about frogs, you're going to have to use the word 'frogs' several times.' This of course means that if your thesis statement is about Warren's sense of captivity, then you'll have to use the word 'captivity' several times.

Wow! Mr. Pfeiffer was thoroughly impressed that students worked well, saw him for help, and value the importance of literary writing. Well done class.

This paragraph was NOT for homework: we will continue to work on it on Friday (or a part of Friday's class). This paragraph will be due on Tuesday of next week.

English 8

Today we learned that rapt means giving 100% attention.
Today we learned that Deoni is "gansta"!

We read a short play called "The Monkey's Paw."

Students also learned that this year ONE THEME will weave its way though most of what we read. That theme is that appearances can be deceiving (and as a result of that, we should not be too quick to judge.)

We marked our vocabulary sheet and learned when to use the word "too". We learned to use the word "too" to mean also as in 'I went to LIttle Caesars too." We also learned to use the word "too" in sentences like "Mr. Pfeiffer's daughter lies too much."

English 10

In class today we learned the three ways to properly punctuate a sentence that includes a quotation from a piece of literature.

We also reviewed the five writing tips that you should use in literary writing: show that you are intepreting literature, use connecting words, keep a formal tone, elevate your vocabulary, and integrate quotations correctly.

Students were also told to never visit the urban dictionary website (bad bad bad).

English 10

We discussed this year's theme: that we (i.e. mankind) is connected by a bond. No matter how different or diverse we are, that diversity helps define who we are.

Students read the poem Warren Pryor and created a T chart where they listed 6 images and the corresponding feelings that those images evoke.

Next writing assignment was given: discuss the use of imagery in the poem "Warren Pryor"

English 8

Students were given a story parts test/quiz last day and then they worked on a homonyms/simile worksheet.

English 10

I collected My Body is My Business work from last day. I still need that work from Melanie, Rayne, Adrian, Stuart, Kirill, Rylee, Raine, Aiden. Please submit that ASAP.

We reviewed last day's lesson on informal language. We also reviewed the importance of empathy.

Mr. Pfeiffer admitted that he tried to manipulate students last day and change their opinions of Muslim people. This turned into a conversation about the horrible effects that occur when we judge people.

Worksheet on euphemisms was completed. We also learned about cliches and proverbs.

English 8

When you go home tonight and have a lovely dinner of mashed potatoes and gravy, and your mother and father or parent or guardian ask you "What did you learn today in English," you should answer the following: we learned the different points of view, and the different types of conflict

We also learned that Kade is STILL interested in having a one-dimensional girlfriend (which is a shame).

Also we learned that when Chase's parents ask Chase to clean his room, his response should be "Sorry, mom. Chase doesn't have time to clean his room -- Chase has to study his story parts notes."

That's right -- your homework is to use the third person point of view when you talk to your parents AND study your story parts notes.

Oh, Cindi Lauper appeared and joined our class this morning too!