English 12 -- Rotten in the State of Denmark

We began with a quick, short quiz on the first scene and a half of Hamlet, as promised.

Today we took some notes on Act 1 of Hamlet. Some salient points discussed included the theme of order and disorder, the two interpretations of the ghost, the allusions of Hyperion and Satyr, the definition of soliloquy.

We finished up reading Act 1. There will be an Act 1 quiz tomorrow. I assigned these questions to be answered (it is entitled 'Quiz' but disregard that and just complete them as if they were 'questions'-- click HERE to see them.

We also put on hold, the creative story assignment that was assigned on Monday -- Clayton, don't worry about that for now. Just keep reading the play and prepare for an Act 1 quiz when you return.

For tomorrow's quiz, ensure you know who says the famous line "There's something rotten in the state of Denmark"

Intro German 11 -- Who/Whom, Wer/Wen

Today students learned when to say who and when to say whom in English. We also worked on the same thing auf Deutsch: when to use the word Wer and when to use the word Wen.

Students should finish up their comic strips, which were assigned last day, and have them ready to turn in on Thursday.

Students did bookwork from chapter 4 -- questions 15-19.

English 12 - Hamlet Begins!

Today we began Hamlet with some intro notes (intro to the background of the story). We also worked our way through the first scene and a half of the play.

Last day students completed an anticipatory guide on Hamlet. Also, students were given a short story project to begin work on (due date won't be for several classes)

No homework was assigned.
TIP O the Day: There will be a quiz on Thursday on the first scene and a half! (Know when Shakespeare wrote the play -- 1601).

English 12 - Curious Incident Test

We wrote our Curious Incident of the Dog test today. Then students finished up their found poem and their Dani California sheet (both of those were assignments given last day). Have a great spring break. We'll begin with Shakespeare's Hamlet, when we return after spring break (if you've got some extra time, you might want to check out one of the many versions on DVD -- I, myself, just bought the Ethan Hawke version on eBay last week!)

Intro German 11

I began with a half-hour discussion about my family auf Deutsch (I think most of you understood!). We then reviewed the classroom objects and completed questions 5-6 from chapter 4. We also reviewed the accusative.
We ended off with a quiz on the accusative.
Brontë, hope you had a great time in Canmore. As I'm typing this, you have one more race, I think: a distance event on Saturday -- good luck!

English 12

We continued our discussion on ambiguity by first watching "Bigger than Us", a video by the White Lies. We discussed how that video was beyond ambiguous and was rather vague.
Then we listened to Dani California by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and completed a worksheet (due at the end of class).
Finally we did one of our first arts and crafts type of project: "Christopher's Voice: Found Poem Assignment". This was also assigned and due at the end of class.

Intro German 11 -- The Man Spot

Lots of notes today and lots of learning.
We took notes on School Vocabulary, indicating which was feminine, neutral, and masculine. We also learned about nominative and accusative cases (after which we completed #7-12 from Kapitel 4. Then, we skyped Clara and learned about school life and life in general in Germany (Clara can actually BIKE to France if she wants -- don't tell me that's not cool!).

Tip for Friday. There will be a quiz on the accusative and nominative cases (and you'll also have to know the gender of some of those classroom objects!)

Intro German 11 - schnell schnell schnell

We began Kapitel 4 by taking notes and beginning with the opening dialogue. Questions 1 and 2 are for homework.

Bronte, Bettina . . . wow what an experience you're having in Canmore. Soak it all up and have fun rubbing elbows at NATIONALS! Keep skiing hard, Bronte -- you're doing GREAT against the best in the country -- see you after spring break!

English 12

Today we reviewed the poem work we did on Hardy's poem The Man He Killed. In addition, I read some of the Relationship poems that were written a couple weeks ago. Also, I handed out all the terms that students need to know for their provincial exam.

We continued our discussion on ambiguity as we listened to the song (and read the lyrics) Family Snapshot by Peter Gabriel. Assignment: students were asked to discus in a few sentences the ambiguity present in the poem.

Curious Incident Test on Friday

Brittany and Megan Evans you're AWESOME in what you've accomplished in Canmore . . . and it isn't even over yet. Wow! You very much deserve the success you're now realizing.

English 12

Today we reviewed last day's notes on Voice, then we read quietly.
We read through Thomas Hardy's poem The Man He Killed, filling in blanks, and we discussed the terms rhyme scheme and rhythm. I had 5 pitiful prizes that I gave out; they were so poor, in fact, that two of the prizes went unclaimed. Congrats to Kris and Corbin for winning!
The exit assignment was to write, in one sentence, what the theme of the poem The Man He Killed is.
Curious Incident Test will be on Friday.

Note for Brittany Evans (who is now a top 6 national skier! Wuhoo! Way to go Britt AND Megan -- top 4!. Great results!): we also took notes last week on the concept of ambiguity in literature. Ambiguity, not to be confused with vagueness, is when there is more than one meaning or explanation for something. Ambiguity should not be seen as a weakness in literature; in fact, in many instances an ambiguous image or theme is a strength. This differs greatly from the area of math and science where ambiguity is seldom present.

An example of ambiguity: in the poem Sidewalk II both characters may in fact be a single person. That is, the young girl in the first stanza is a reflection of the old lady in the third stanza, and in this instance, the ambiguity helps to emphasize the theme that aging and maturity are not necessarily the opposites of youth. On the other hand, the poem can also accurately described as having two, separate characters. In this instance ambiguity doesn't render the poems two meanings confusing, rather it strengthens the poem's theme.

Intro German 11

Today we handed in 1 8-24. I marked it and returned it.
We reviewed the chapter 3 concept of word order and completed a sheet.
I wrote on the board all of the main concepts to study from chapter 3.

Chapter 3 test on Monday. Good Luck with your studying.


Helmut, Heiko, Bettina -- Ski hard and fast!
Also, here is the spelling list from which to study:

Norden gern

fernsehen Computerspiel

Krimi kostet

Kaufhaus Kasette

Süddeutschland losgehen

preiswert mochtest

Rockkonzert Klavier

zuerst Entschuldigung

Viertel lieber

Hörst tanzen

English 12 - Voice in literature

Today we took notes on the concept of voice in literature. Some key points mentioned in our notes is that this type of voice refers to the persona that an author takes to establish a strong narrator. Voice is especially significant when it is a first person point of view. Voice establishes a unique attitude and character. Voice is created when an author uses a particular style.

The style of The Curious Incident includes the following:
sentences are often curt and objective (with little emotion)
matter-of-fact tone is established in such sentences
use of pictures maps, diagrams
the narrator is frank and lacks discretion
novel focuses on the adventure into Christopher's autistic mind as much as the actual adventure that he has.
Brittany, hope things are going well in Canmore! Go Britt Go!
Curious Incident test next Friday.

Fern Hill by Dylan Thomas
Students were given copy of the poem (the poem we arranged last day) and were asked to identify as many figures of speech as you can in the poem (write these right on the handout of the poem I gave you). Absent students, you can print off a copy of the poem easily by Google-ing the poem (it's a famous poem so it's easy to find on the Internet).

Intro German 11 - Benny and the Jets

Today we learned how to answer the question Wo liegt Berlin? (literally 'Where lies Berlin?" in other words, where is Berlin). The answer is Berlin liegt im Osten (Berlin lies in the East [of Germany]). Students should know the phrases im Osten, im Westen, im Norden, im Süden when answering that question.

We listened to German music by Rapsoul (Laura), die Prinzen (Gabi und Klaus), and Benny and the Jet (Ich liebe alles an dir ausser deinen Freund).

Questions 18 to 24 will be turned in next day so make sure they're done for homework. We also watched the Kapitel 2 und 3 video. Kapitel 3 test on Monday.

Heiko und Helmut. Heute habe ich doughnuts fuer die Deutschklasse gekauft. Sie haben aber ganz gut geschmeckt! Naechste Woche soll ich ein Paar fuer euch kaufen, ja?

English 12

Risking the health and well-being of my students, I provided Chalet Bakery apple fritters to students who correctly worked through a review of poetry terms (notes were handed out and an assignment given). Then students got another shot at cholesterol consumption by arranging the stanzas of Dylan Thomas's poem Fern Hill in the correct order.

During the second half a worksheet was handed out on The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time pp. 74-115. This worksheet is for homework if it wasn't completed in class.

Our class will be finished this novel very soon: we will likely have a novel test the last day before spring break, or the first day back from spring break.

Intro German 11 -- Was machst du?

Yesterday we continued with chapter 3. We discussed WORD ORDER and took notes on it as well as completing exercises from chapter 3. No homework was given yesterday.
Today we learned about the difference between zu Hause and nach Hause; as well we reviewed last day's work.
Questions 12 14 15 are due for next class.

English 12 - Curious Incident of the Dog in the NIght-time

Yesterday we began reading Mark Haddon's novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time.

We read and discussed up to p. 17. Students were asked to read to p. 34 for today.
Today after school, some students are going to homework club to write the Lovely Bones test that they missed last week.
Today we completed an quiz up to p. 34 of the novel.
We completed a poem worksheet called Sidewalk II

Finally we read in class and I assigned students to read to p. 74 for next class.

English 12

Interim report cards were handed out. Click here for updated English 12 marks.
We watched the second half of the film The Lovely Bones.
Students who missed the test last day can do the re-write Tuesday, March 8th, after school in the library (Dylan, Thomas, Amy, Cloe, Harley).

Intro German 11 - Wir lernen in der Cafeteria

Today we moved class to the cafeteria. Students turned in #1-4 from Kapitel 3.

Homework: complete #5 from Kapitel 3 for homework.

Intro German 11 - Du hasst, Du hasst mich!

We wrote our Kapitel 2 test today.
We took Kapitel 3 intro notes and students were assigned the first four questions for homework.
Finally, we all pulled on our leather jackets, and 'shook the devil's horns' while we listened to some classic German heavy metal

English 12

We wrote our final novel test today. Absent students (Harley, Dylan, Cloe, Thomas) will have to make arrangements to make up the test at a later date.
We'll finish up the movie on Friday. We'll also be doing one last assignment on Alice Sebold and her novel either on Friday or next week.

Intro German 11

Course selections in library. Students studied for tomorrow's Kapitel 2 test test. Nothing new was taught. No homework given.

English 12

Nothing new was taught today. We reviewed our notes and studied for tomorrow's test.

Marks Posted!

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Click HERE to see your Intro German 11 marks (sorted by the last three digits of your RSS number).