Last Day: Exam Prep, and a bit of the movie

Today we focussed on the reading sections of the provincial exam.
We read three passages and discussed all 29 Multiple Choice questions with them.
We also reviewed the section on literary writing: students were taught to remember the acronym DIVE C to remember the five important things to remember when writing about literature:

• Direct quotations -- use them, but only use brief ones
• Interpret -- don't forget to show that you can make interpretations
• Vary your sentences -- don't have them all begin in the same manner
• Elevate your vocabulary.
• Connecting words - use them

Then we watched the movie Speak for 45 minutes.

Remember your exam is next Wednesday morning

Speak test - provincial exam prep

Today we wrote the Speak test.
Then we continued to prepare for our provincial final exam (which is next Wednesday).

We worked on the reading section of the test and all the multiple choice questions associated with it.

We also continued going over the glossary of terms.

I explained how the original composition topics can be grouped into five different categories -- students were encouraged to write down those categories.

We also watched 25 minutes of the film version of the movie, Speak

Speak, Glossary of Terms, Last day's Original Compositions

Quiet reading of novel
Please note -- Speak final test will be next Wednesday afternoon (in our long block class).

I handed out a Glossary of Terms sheet -- it will be a great way for you to review and study your terms for the final exam.

Last day's compositions:  I read out portions of three compositions.  I reminded students of three throngs:

• ensure dialogue is authentic and realistic
• quotation marks are used correctly in dialogue
• do NOT use small, overused words such as big small bad nice stuff things happy sad

Updated Marks, Speak, and Prov Exam practice

View Updated Marks HERE

Today students completed the p. 92-p.137 quiz from Speak.
Then students completed the Speak Counsellor Referral Assignment and handed it in.
Both were graded and are part of the updated marks.

Finally we worked on more provincial exam prep. by going over a handout called "Exam Tips".
For the second half of the long block today, students wrote a provincial "Original Composition" on the following  topic:  Satisfaction comes from helping others.

This was completed in class, and submitted at 11:30.

Prov Exam Prep

Today we focussed on the literary writing that you'll be doing on the English 10 provincial exam.  We read two pieces of writing, examined the marking key, and graded 8 student papers.  Finally, we discussed what we learned about this section of the provincial exam.

HOMEWORK:  read to p. 137, quiz tomorrow

Friday - Speak Work

Today we focused on the next part of our novel Speak.
Students read quietly and began working on the next set of questions which are cut and pasted below.

SPEAK Study Questions                            Name:__________________
«Pages 69-92«
Answer the following questions in complete questions using standard English

1. Explain how Melinda feels about Christmas. How does she spend her Christmas vacation?

 2. What athletic ability does Melinda reveal? How does the coach react & what is Melinda’s response?

 3. How would you describe the relationship between Heather & Melinda?

4. What happens to trigger Melinda’s suicide attempt? Do you think she really intends to harm herself?

5. Who is “IT”? What effect does his appearance have on Melinda? What do you think has happened to make Melinda react so intensely

Speak quiz, questions, discussion AND Provincial Exam Prep

Students handed in questions for homework. They were marked and returned. Answers were discussed.
Students wrote quizzes (up to p. 57). They were marked and returned. Answers were discussed.

We chatted and gave advice to incoming grade 7's from Arrow Heights Elementary.

We had some more provincial exam prep work.  We marked original compositions and learned about how to write those compositions.

Irony in Speak

Today we had a fruitful discussion regarding the irony of the title Speak.
Furthermore, Lena pointed out that the cover is not simply the abstract drawing of a tree and leaves, but that it also includes a person's face.
Finally, we reviewed Melinda's complicated set of "friends" which includes Rachel, Ivy, Nicole, and Heather.

The following 7 questions are due for homework along with the reading:  read up to p. 56 for tomorrow's class.

SPEAK Study Questions                            Name:__________________
«Pages 24-46«
1. What happens to Melinda when she attends the pep rally?
2. What does Melinda reveal about the preceding summer?
3. Explain the paradox of the cheerleaders as Melinda views them.
4. What does Melinda paint the week after the pep rally? Why is this significant?
5. What happens when Melinda visits Heather on Columbus Day? What do you think this reveals about Heather?
6. How do Melinda’s parents react about her grades?
7. Who are the “Martha’s”? Why are they important to the story?   

Day 2 of Speak

Ursula.  Ich habe neue eine neue Note für dich.  Deine Note für diese Klasse ist jetzt siebenundachtzig.

We defined and discussed the word "ostracize" and then discussed how it applies to Melinda Sordino in the novel Speak.

I read aloud until p. 13 then students read quietly.

Students need to read up to p. 57 before WEDNESDAY'S class.

Student handed in an exit slip assignment:  complete three extended metaphors
1. My family is like a _________ because ___________.
2 RSS is like _________________ because __________.
3 My social life is like _____________ because___________.

Use more than single words in each blank.
For example, My family is like an under-inflated tire on the highway because it's functional, but sometimes things get pretty heated.