English 8

Last day we talked about Fruitopia and we then learned what the word Utopia is. Students worked on a green sheet where they came up with 10 rules for their own utopia. We began reading the novel The Giver.

Today we discussed and reviewed their green Utopia sheets. We also continued reading the novel -- we read to the end of chapter 2. We stopped and discussed, at length, the world of The Giver.

No homework was given.

English 10

Last day I asked students to complete the last 11 questions on the TKAM chapter questions. This will be due on Wednesday, Dec. 1st.

We also had an insightful discussion on the symbol of the mockingbird. Wyatt Riegel stunned the class with the revelation that Atticus's surname is Finch, another kind of songbird.

Today we continued our discussion on symbols by reinforcing that the mockingbird is indeed a recurring symbol. Tom, Scout, Jem, Atticus, Maudie, and Boo are all clearly mockingbird figures. We also discussed the snowman scene and students were made aware that the snowman is also used symbolically.

Riley Hunt then stunned the class by disclosing what actually happened to Bob Ewell -- he was killed not by his own doing, but by Arthur Radley who, once again, served as a guardian angel to Scout and Jem.

I handed out a pre-test.
Wed. Dec. 1st -- final novel test on TKAMockingbird.
Friday we'll have an Avalanche Safety presentation.

English 10

Today we began by discussing Aunt Alexandra's bigoted views of characters such as Walter Cunningham. Then we answered the question "How can the reader account for the behaviour of Arthur Radley?" We discussed mental illness, and the concept of Xenophobia (fear of people or strangers).
Then we discussed the three or four resolutions that need to still be addressed by the author Harper Lee in the last section of the novel.
One important notion or theme we discussed is that there has always been and THERE WILL ALWAYS BE INJUSTICE IN THE WORLD. Scout cannot fathom that at her young age but near the end of the novel, she begins to reconcile (or 'deal with') this.
Finally, we read quietly for a few minutes and watched a few more minutes of the movie (at the beginning of the Tom Robinson trial).

HOMEWORK -- read to the end of chapter 26 for Monday's class.
Quiz Tips:

• Remember this quote: "But it's okay to hate Hitler?"asked Scout. "It is not," Atticus said. "It's not okay to hate anybody. "Atticus," I said, "there's something' I don't understand. Miss Gates said it was awful, Hitler doin' like he does."
• Jem's eating bannanas because he wants to grow and join the football team.
• Know why it is ironic (or hypocritical) about what Mrs. Merriweather says about he Mrunas.
• Mr. Underwood compares Tom to a mockingbird in a news article

English 8

Today I began class by taking in the homework (questions from the short story On the Sidewalk, Bleeding).
Then I read four student Outsider's Projects and we talked about some of the key points to effective creative writing.
We ended by watching a half hour of video on how the novel The Outsiders, was turned into a movie.
I still need character paragraphs from Angel, Maddy, Brooke, Josianne.
These students also need to hand in their projects -- Chase, Keeley.

Next week we'll begin another novel study.

English 10 - Parent Teacher Interviews Tonight 7pm@RSS

Today students came to class with one page of notes and they used those notes during the first half of class while they wrote an in-class essay (essay topic in blog entry below).

During the second half we watched an hour of the movie version of the novel.

Students must read to the end of chapter 26 by Monday.

Final Mockingbird novel test will be Wednesday or Friday of next week.

English 8 - Parent Teacher Interviews 7pm Tonight @ RSS

Today students continued to read aloud their free-writing (spontaneous writing) from last day. We highlighted excellent student writing by noting effective similes and metaphors that students wrote along with other aspects of effective writing.

Students completed an anticipatory guide, in-class which lead to a short story which they started reading called "On the Sidewalk, Bleeding".

Homework: students must finish reading the story and complete the questions for tomorrow's class.

English 8 and English 10 Marks so far for term 2.

It's only a couple weeks into the second term, but here are the marks printouts for English 8 and English 10 (you can find term 1 marks by scrolling down to the Nov 16th blog entry). You might be disappointed because I did not include what percentage you are getting overall for term 2 (it's still too early for the mark to be accurate; plus, several students who have been absent, still have work to be made up).

English 8 marks printout click HERE.
English 10 marks printout click HERE.

English 10

Students were handed back their work from yesterday in which they discussed the appropriateness of the metaphors used to described Mayella, Bob Ewell, and Judge Taylor.

Students were given the essay topic for Thursday's in class essay. Students were reminded to review all the writing tips and notes we've taken on literary writing. For homework students should continue preparing their one page of notes for Thursday's in-class essay (remember, students may have one piece of paper, single-sided, with any notes they'd like as long as it is not a complete essay which has been already written; in addition, students may use their novels during the in class essay).

Thursday's essay topic is Write an essay in which you discuss some key scenes (two or three) which helped Scout learn

Students who are absent on Thursday will have to complete this in-class essay during a homework club session next week.

Report Card Pickup and Parent/Teacher interviews are this Thursday, 7pm in the RSS gym.

English 8

Today we learned the term PERSONA. SE Hinton took on the persona of Ponyboy and wrote the novel The Outsiders from his perspective. I take on a persona when I teach.

Students also did some creative and spontaneous writing in class.

Reminder report cards can be picked up in the RSS gym on Thursday night at 7pm during parent teacher interviews.

I still need character paragraphs from Chris, Angel, Maddy, Brooke, Kade, Josianne.
Several students also need to hand in their projects -- Josianne, Chase, Rhys, Sammie, Brandon, Keeley, Anne.

English 10

We began by writing a quiz chapters 16-21 on our novel To Kill a Mockingbird.
Then students read quietly.
To end, we did a worksheet on similes and metaphors. On that sheet students explained the appropriateness of certain comparisons that Harper Lee used in her novel (for example, why was it appropriate that the author describes Judge Taylor as a drowsy shark, why she describes Bob Ewell as a bantam cock, and why Mayella is described as a twitchy-tailed cat). For each of those examples students wrote a short three or four sentence explaining why those metaphors were appropriate in describing those characters. Alex and the rest of you skiers, please do this on a separate piece of paper and hand it in upon your return.

English 8

Today we watched the rest of the movie The Outsiders.
The Outsiders Project is due tomorrow.
I still need Outsider Character paragraphs from the following students: Chris, Angel, Maddy, Kade, Angus, Jayden, Josianne, Grayson N.

English 10, Friday Nov. 19th

I believe Ms. Fawcett will be your wonderful substitute today. I've asked her to continue our work last day plowing through our novels To Kill a Mockingbird.

She'll begin by asking you to read quietly for 20 minutes or so.
Remember, you'll have to read up to p. 212 by Monday's class -- the more you get read today, the less you'll have on the weekend!
Then after the quiet reading, she'll as you to get our your worksheet from last day: "Literary Skills Chapters 12-15, Characterization". She may ask you to get our your notes from last day and explain what we mean when we say 'deconstruct' in English class. She may also ask you to explain the difference between a chatacter foil and an alter ego. She might finally ask you what 'local colour' means.
Then after that review, she'll give you more time to finish that worksheet (the worksheet will be due on Monday).
Have a great day and see you next week.

English 8 Friday, Nov. 19th

Ms Fawcett will be your substitute today (I think). She will get you guys to work on your Outsiders project today. I have you booked into the library (this will be your only chance to use the tables, computers, magazines, and other supplies the library has to complete your project). I would like you to spend the whole class working on this project -- most because, as I said, you have the library as a resource to work in. The project will be due on TUESDAY of next week.

We'll finish up the DVD The Outsiders when I return on Monday.

For those of you who still haven't handed in their character paragraphs, GET 'EM IN!

English 10

Today we added to the notes we took about a month ago on Story Parts. We discussed Characterization: the purpose of characters. We learned that characters can be alter ego's, they can be character foils, they can enhance theme, they can add to 'local colour' (the flavour of people in a certain place), and they can establish mood.

Students then got in groups and worked on a sheet where they looked at minor characters and their purpose in the novel.

This sheet will be turned in.

We ended the class by discussing the difference between small 'r' romantic and big 'R' Romantic.

Reminder: read to p. 212 for Monday's class.

English 8 Updated Marks posted Nov. 16th

Click HERE to see your tentative Term 1 mark in English 8 class.

English 10 Updated Marks posted Nov. 16th

Click HERE to see your tentative Term 1 grade in English 10.

English 10

We completed a quiz on chapter 12-15 of To Kill a Mockingbird. Congrats to the following students who got an A on the quiz: Adrian, Hayley, Kirill, Sara, Jamie, Rylee, Emma, Tayller, Jodie, Dominic. It's apparent that several students are behind in their reading -- catch up!

We discussed the reason why Scout was able to break up the mob that confronted Atticus.

We also discussed the term lynch-mob and students learned that that was the reason the Old Sarum gang confronted Atticus that night.

Students were also advised to continue reading. The next section is mostly about the trial of Tom Robinson; this section ends on page 212. Students should read to page 212 by next Monday.

English 8

Students handed in their Outsiders character paragraphs. The following did not hand it in and should bring their paragraphs tomorrow: Chris, Chase, Brandon, Angel, Maddy, Kade, Angus, Jayden, Josianne (you can have a bit longer, Josianne, because of your traveling), Anne, Grayson N, Jade, Grayson G.

We discussed the term BIAS and what it means and how it applies to the first person narrator, Ponyboy Curtis.

There is a test tomorrow on the Outsiders. A very brief breakdown of the test was on the board and students wrote it down in their Agendas.

Students also were given an Outsiders project, that they'll begin work on later this week.

English 10

Today we focussed on vocabulary development in To Kill a Mockingbird. We completed an in-class sheet and corrected it.

Students were encouraged to remember the word vapid (dull, boring) and the word nebulous ( unclear or fuzzy).

Students were reminded to read to page 155 for tomorrow.

English 8

Today we reviewed the character paragraph assignment. Mr. Pfeiffer showed another example of a character paragraph (he also showed an example of a poor one). See below for those two examples.

Students were reminded of what expository writing is. Students were reminded to keep reading their novel. Their final novel test is tentatively scheduled for this Wednesday.

The character paragraph is due for tomorrow's class.

Paragraph examples:

Poor Paragraph

Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones is nice, strong, and generous. She’s strong because she stops the crime from happening. She’s nice because she offers Roger something to eat. She’s generous because she gives up her own time to talk to him. Mrs. Jones is nice, strong, and generous.

An Effective Paragraph

In the short story “Thank you Ma’am” the main character, Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones is strong, nice, and generous. At the beginning of the story Mrs. Jones finds herself face to face with a young man who tries to steal her purse. Rather than let this happen, she uses her strength to hold on tight to her handbag and even grabs the criminal before he can run off. As well as being physically strong, Mrs. Jones also reveals another important trait -- she is a rather nice lady. Rather than turn the thief into the police, she takes him to her apartment and cleans him up. For example, she says, “I got a right mind to wash your face.” Here, Mrs. Jones shows how nice she is. Usually, one doesn’t show such care to a person who was trying to rob you. Finally, Mrs. Jones, the protagonist, shows that not only she strong and nice, but that she also has a very generous side to her. After discovering why Roger was trying to steal her purse, Mrs. Jones says, “Here,” to Roger as she gives him ten dollars to buy the blue suede shoes that he so desperately wanted. Being generous isn’t that unusual, but to be that giving to a young man who just tried to steal your money is quite rare. Mrs. Jones is a multi-dimensional character who is not only strong and nice, but she also shows a level of generosity that is truly extraordinary.

English 10

Read to Page 155 by TUESDAY, November 16th.

Today we discussed, at length chapter 11. We learned about rabies, morphine addiction, and mockingbirds. We discussed the figure of the mockingbird and most of the class agreed that characters in the novel will, in one way or another, be mockingbird figures.

We read out the section where Atticus explains it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. We also highlighted the change in Scout and Jem's perspective regarding Atticus (they discovered that he can, in fact, do something, after he kills Tim Johnson the rabid dog). We also discussed chapter 11 and the role that Mrs. Dubose plays.

We then completed an in-class sheet on Foreshadowing in the novel (this was discussed in class and not taken for marks).
Read to Page 155 by TUESDAY, November 16th.

English 8

Today we continued our lesson on character traits and formal writing. We learned the term expository writing (writing that explains something -- in English class most expository writing will be about literature).

I handed out the following sheet on expository writing (click here)
We examined the sheet and discussed what makes an effective expository paragraph. Students should review this carefully before beginning their expository paragraph. Students were given the following assignment: In an expository paragraph discuss a character from The Outsiders.

Students worked on this paragraph and they read quietly.

Finish novel by next Wednesday.

English 10

Today students were given a chance to take part in 40 minute tours of the new school site. I hope you enjoyed the tour (I certainly enjoyed it when I did it last week!)

We reviewed the beginning of chapter 9 where the main plot layer was finally revealed: Atticus Finch will defend Tom Robinson for a crime he did not commit. We also continued to discuss the mischievous, yet intelligent protagonist and narrator, Scout Finch.

Students are to finish reading to the end of chapter 11 for next class (Friday).

Oh, we also did a short quiz on chapters 7-9 right after break.

Finally, students were introduced to the website TED.COM. I encouraged students to set aside 15 minutes to listen to a TedTalk once a week.

English 8 -- (Josianne we hope you're enjoying your trip)

Today we wrote a quiz in chapters 6-7.

In our lesson today we focused on vocabulary. Students were taught to NOT use simple describing words such as "good, bad, scary, sad, good, happy, unhappy, glad mean" -- these are all words that students used when they were four years old, and they must not use them any longer in their writing. Instead students referred to a handout called Character Trait Word Bank and selected appropriate words to describe a character from the novel The Outsiders.

This work will eventually lead to working on a character paragraph where students discuss a particular character and his traits.

Read to the end of chapter 8 for Friday.
Novel must be finished by next Wednesday, Nov. 17th - we'll likely be doing our final novel test that day.

English 10 -- New School Tour - NO SKIRTS!

Forgot to mention this last day: ladies, please wear pants to class tomorrow otherwise you might not be able to get a tour of the new school!
Oh, and remember, read to the end of chapter 10 for tomorrow's class!

English 10

Today's class was a continuation of last day's class where students read aloud their "earliest memory" assignments.

Thanks, today, to Wyatt, Kirill, Courtney, and Rayne for reading theirs aloud.

Homework: Read to the end of chapter 10 for Wednesday's class.

English 8

Today we read the first part of chapter 7 of The Outsiders. We discussed the novel thus far. We also began class by looking at the simile/metaphor sheet that we did last day. Kade Hanson impressed the class by creating an original metaphor for youth: Kade said that youth was like a burning fire -- after a while the fire burns down to hot coals and eventually burns itself out (this process of the fire burning out represents aging).

Well done Kade.

Students also handed in their Poetry from Prose assignment that was due today. Thank you to these students who handed this in: Rhys, Kade, Grayson N,Kailee S, Chris, Jade, Jess R,Curtis, Kalie, Angel. Grayson G,Drinnon, Sammie, Maddy, Deani,Kaitie Jesse N, Kalei D.

English 10

We discussed the first two pages of chapter 7. Students in class assured me that, unlike Scout and Jem, they knew who it was who was leaving those things in the Radley tree ( Arthur Radley) . We then discussed WHY Arthur Radley might be doing this.

Student began reading their memory assignments that were due today. We heard stories from the following: Gordon, Hayley, Stu, Alex, Jamie, Shep, Rylee, Emma, Tayller, Jodie, Clara, and Dom. The rest of the students will read their stories on Monday

Students are to read to the END of chapter 8 for next class.

English 8

Today we worked on a sheet where we identified metaphors and similes from the novel. Then we discussed the Robert Frost poem Nothing Gold Can Stay. Students learned that Frost used flowers and gold to represent youth. Students are supposed to go home, open the door, and tell their parents, "I'm in the springtime of my life!" Then parents should respond, "Shut the front door!"

Students also worked on their own metaphors for youth.

The poetry out of prose assignment from earlier in the week will be due Monday.

English 8

Today we took our tour of the new school project.

Students read to the end of chapter 6 and we completed a quiz at the end of class. We also began to work on our Prose into Poetry assignment from The Outsiders. We'll continue working on this on Friday (there was no homework assigned).

Click here to see some "Thuper-Duper" photos of the new schools project (Oh and there's a couple great shots of Kade and Jayden too!).

English 10

We began with a quiz on chapters 4-6. It was marked, handed back and discussed.

Then we re-read a couple of paragraphs from our novel. We noted how Atticus told Scout the importance of putting yourself in someone else's shoes in order to better understand them -- walk around in their skin, Atticus advised Scout.

We also noted the style of Harper Lee. She uses sophisticated language to describe such youthful activities as watching Mr. Avery relieve himself in the bushes beside his house. We noted how that, at times, can make it difficult to understand, but it also enhances the comedy.

Students were then given the following assignment:

Creatively describe an early memory. Be as descriptive as possible and don’t be afraid to embellish smaller details which you may have forgotten. You must be prepared next day to read your memory aloud to the rest of the class.

I read students MY example that I wrote last night and we discussed some keys to creative writing: embellishing (or adding details), describing more than just sight (mention a texture, a smell, a sound), show me what happened rather than tell me.

English 8

Reminder: dress warmly tomorrow -- we'll be touring the new school site.
Today we read quietly for 10 minutes, we did a quiz on chapters 3-4; then we read quietly a bit more.
Homework: Read all of chapter 5 of The Outsiders.
We completed a worksheet that discussed idioms used in the novel.
Get better, Sauerkraut!

English 10

Today we read quietly.
Then we took notes on Mood in literature (it's a common question in an English class to be asked "Describe the mood of this story.")
Then we completed a sheet on mood and inference from the novel we're reading To Kill a Mockingbird.

There will be a surprise quiz tomorrow -- ensure that you know that when Jem goes back to get his pants, he risks Atticus whipping him.

English 8

Today we worked on a sheet where we used context clues to try and figure out what a word meant; it was quite difficult and, as a result, the marks that students got on this sheet will not be recorded.

BRING A COAT on Wednesday. Wednesday, during our long block class, we'll have a chance to tour the new school project.

Homework: Read to the end of chapter 4. There will be a quiz tomorrow on chapters 3 and 4.

Kailee brought a purple apple to class -- we all agreed it looked odd.

Isabelle, get better -- we all miss you.

Stef, Jayden, Josianne and Anne: I hope your volleyball game went well! Get your reading done for tomorrow morning's class!

Hey Sauerkraut: we did a little chapter 1-2 quiz on Friday that you missed -- you can make that up in class tomorrow.

English 10 Updated Marks posted Nov.1st

We began with a quiz on the novel and then read quietly. Marked quizzes were returned. Students are to read to page 50 by tomorrow.

UPDATED MARKS
Click here to view updated marks.