Friday, December 23, 2016

Friday, December 23


Short block due to Winter Concert/Reindeer Games schedule.

Introduced "The Right to Be Free" vocabulary unit 1 on Quizlet.

HOMEWORK

THURSDAY, December 22: Unit test, Tracks.
TUESDAY, January 3: Special Vacation Reading Logs due.
FRIDAY, January 6: "The Right to Be Free" vocabulary unit 1 quiz.

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Thursday, December 22

This lesson taught by Mrs. Bidwell in Ms. Bishop's absence.

Tracks unit test.

HOMEWORK

THURSDAY, December 22: Unit test, Tracks.
TUESDAY, January 3: Special Vacation Reading Logs due.
FRIDAY, January 6: "The Right to Be Free" vocabulary unit 1 quiz.

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Wednesday, December 21

This lesson taught by Mrs. Bidwell in Ms. Bishop's absence.

Continued watching Rabbit Proof Fence, about Australia's equivalent of our Indian boarding schools.

HOMEWORK

THURSDAY, December 22: Unit test, Tracks.

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Tuesday, December 30


Introduced Lit Circle vocabulary unit for Tracks.

Continued watching Rabbit Proof Fence, about Australia's equivalent of our Indian boarding schools.

HOMEWORK

THURSDAY, December 22: Unit test, Tracks.

Monday, December 19, 2016

Monday, December 19


Silent reading.
COLLECTED weekly reading logs.

Began watching Rabbit Proof Fence, about Australia's equivalent of our Indian boarding schools.

HOMEWORK
THURSDAY, December 22: Unit test, Tracks.

Friday, December 16, 2016

Friday, December 16


Short classes today due to two hour delay schedule.
Shared remaining Chapter 9 tasks and discussed Indian boarding schools and how they figure into the story of Tracks.

HOMEWORK

FRIDAY, December 16: Blizzard Bag Lesson #1 is due.

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Thursday, December 15

Task check, Chapter 9 Lit Circle tasks.
Read and annotated article on Indian boarding schools; looked for and added annotations in Chapter 9 relating to boarding school.

Lit Circle discussion of Chapter 9 of Tracks.

HOMEWORK

FRIDAY, December 16: Blizzard Bag Lesson #1 is due.

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Wednesday, December 11

Task check, Chapter 8 Lit Circle tasks.
Choice of reading or work in Tracks. (Last chapter and tasks due tomorrow!)

Lit Circle discussion of Chapter 8 of Tracks.

HOMEWORK

THURSDAY, December 15: Finish Chapter 9 and your assigned task.
FRIDAY, December 16: Blizzard Bag Lesson #1 is due.

Vocabulary masters--be ready to post 3--5 words to Quizlet; ask Ms. Bishop for help to do so.
(NOTE: We are slowing the pace on the reading to two days per chapter. Do be prepared to share!)

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Tuesday, December 13

No school Monday, December 12 due to snow day. 
Silent reading.
COLLECTED weekly reading logs.

Lit Circle discussion of Chapters 7 and 8 of Tracks.

HOMEWORK

WEDNESDAY, December 14: Finish Chapter 8 and your assigned task (next in the rotation).
THURSDAY, December 15: Finish Chapter 9 and your assigned task.
FRIDAY, December 16: Blizzard Bag Lesson #1 is due.

Vocabulary masters--be ready to post 3--5 words to Quizlet; ask Ms. Bishop for help to do so.
(NOTE: We are slowing the pace on the reading to two days per chapter. Do be prepared to share!)

Monday, December 12, 2016

Monday, December 12 Blizzard Bag Lesson #1: Microfiction

In the event of a snow day on Monday, December 12, please complete this lesson at home.  It should take you about 45--50 minutes to complete.

Tansy Undercrypt is a prominent writer of the new genre sometimes known as microfiction.  Your assignment today will be to read and study several pieces of microfiction, create a definition of what microfiction is, and to write a piece of your own to submit for a grade.

Don't be surprised if you find microfiction, and especially Tansy Undercrypt's microfiction, to be completely addicting.  (I do.)


  1. Make your way to Tansy Undercrypt's web page.
  2. Select any six pieces of her work.  (Don't worry--that's less than it sounds like!)
  3. Write a VERY brief summary of each piece that you read. (One sentence should do it.)
  4. Write an original definition of microfiction.  (Don't Google it--I will be checking!  Use your own fine mind on this one.)
  5. Write one piece of microfiction of your very own, and revise it to hand in to me.


You may want to use Google Docs to write your definition and microfiction.  You can then "hand it in" simply by sharing it with me at cbishop@grsd.org.

Your work will be due no later than Friday of this coming week.

Friday, December 9, 2016

Friday, December 9

Homework check: tasks for Chapter 7 of Tracks.
Silent reading and/or work on tasks for Chapter 8.

Lit Circle discussion of Chapter7 of Tracks.

HOMEWORK

TUESDAY, December 13: Finish Chapter 8 and your assigned task (next in the rotation).

Vocabulary masters--be ready to post 3--5 words to Quizlet; ask Ms. Bishop for help to do so.
(NOTE: We are slowing the pace on the reading to two days per chapter. Do be prepared to share!)

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Thursday, December 8

Worked on reading and tasks for Chapter 7 of Tracks.

Wrapped up discussion of Chapter 6. Discussed questions and confusions from Chapter7.

HOMEWORK

FRIDAY, December 9: Finish Chapter 7 and your assigned task (next in the rotation).

Vocabulary masters--be ready to post 3--5 words to Quizlet; ask Ms. Bishop for help to do so.
(NOTE: We are slowing the pace on the reading to two days per chapter. Do be prepared to share!)

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Wednesday, December 7

Homework Check, Chapter 6 tasks.
Worked on reading and tasks for Tracks.

Discussion of Chapter 6.

HOMEWORK

FRIDAY, December 9: Finish Chapter 7 and your assigned task (next in the rotation).

Vocabulary masters--be ready to post 3--5 words to Quizlet; ask Ms. Bishop for help to do so.
(NOTE: We are slowing the pace on the reading to two days per chapter. Do be prepared to share!)

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Tuesday, December 6

Worked on reading and tasks for Chapter 6 of Tracks.

Shared tasks for Chapter 5 of Tracks.
Began discussing questions and confusions for Chapter 6.

HOMEWORK

WEDNESDAY, December 7: Finish Chapter 6 and your assigned task (next in the rotation).

Vocabulary masters--be ready to post 3--5 words to Quizlet; ask Ms. Bishop for help to do so.
(NOTE: We are slowing the pace on the reading to two days per chapter. Do be prepared to share!)

Monday, December 5, 2016

Monday, December 5

This class short due to late start schedule.

Silent reading.
Checked tasks for Chapter 5.
COLLECTED weekly reading logs.

Wrapped up discussion of Chapter 5 of Tracks.

HOMEWORK

WEDNESDAY, December 7: Finish Chapter 6 and your assigned task (next in the rotation).

Vocabulary masters--be ready to post 3--5 words to Quizlet; ask Ms. Bishop for help to do so.
(NOTE: We are slowing the pace on the reading to two days per chapter. Do be prepared to share!)

Friday, December 2

This class taught by a sub in Ms. Bishop's absence.
Watched film version of Nicholas Nickleby.

HOMEWORK

Friday, December 2: Finish Chapter 5 and your assigned task (next in the rotation). Vocabulary masters--be ready to post 3--5 words to Quizlet; ask Ms. Bishop for help to do so.
(NOTE: We are slowing the pace on the reading to two days per chapter. Do be prepared to share!)

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Thursday, December 1

Silent reading and work on tasks for Chapter 5. (Added vocabulary words to Quizlet for this class.)

Shared tasks and wrapped up discussion of Chapter 4 of Tracks and began discussing Chapter 5.

HOMEWORK

Friday, December 2: Finish Chapter 5 and your assigned task (next in the rotation). Vocabulary masters--be ready to post 3--5 words to Quizlet; ask Ms. Bishop for help to do so.
(NOTE: We are slowing the pace on the reading to two days per chapter. Do be prepared to share!)

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Wednesday, November 30

Silent reading and work on tasks for Chapter 4. (Added vocabulary words to Quizlet for this class.)
Scored Chapter 4's tasks.

Wrapped up discussion of Chapter 3 of Tracks and discussed Chapter 4.

HOMEWORK

Friday, December 2: Finish Chapter 5 and your assigned task (next in the rotation). Vocabulary masters--be ready to post 3--5 words to Quizlet; ask Ms. Bishop for help to do so.
(NOTE: We are slowing the pace on the reading to two days per chapter. Do be prepared to share!)

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Tuesday, November 29

Discussed and modified pace of tasks and reading.
Silent reading and work on tasks for Chapter 4.

Wrapped up discussion of Chapter 3 of Tracks and discussed puzzling passages from Chapter 4.
HOMEWORK: Finish Chapter 4 and your assigned tasks for Wednesday! 

HOMEWORK

Tuesday, November 29: have your Lit Circle task for Chapter 4 ready to share.

Wednesday, November 30: have your Lit Circle task for Chapter 4 ready to share. Vocabulary masters--be ready to post 3--5 words to Quizlet; ask Ms. Bishop for help to do so.

Friday, December 2: Finish Chapter 5 and your assigned task (next in the rotation).
(NOTE: We are slowing the pace on the reading to two days per chapter. Do be prepared to share!)

Monday, November 28, 2016

Monday, November 28

Task check.
Silent reading.
COLLECTED weekly reading logs.

Chapter 3 reading quiz.
Began discussion of Chapter 3 of Tracks.  (Will wrap up tomorrow.)
HOMEWORK: Read Chapter 4; do next set of tasks.

HOMEWORK

Tuesday, November 29: have your Lit Circle task for Chapter 4 ready to share.

Wednesday, November 30: have your Lit Circle task for Chapter 4 ready to share. Vocabulary masters--be ready to post 3--5 words to Quizlet; ask Ms. Bishop for help to do so.

Friday, December 2: Finish Chapter 5 and your assigned task (next in the rotation).
(NOTE: We are slowing the pace on the reading to two days per chapter. Do be prepared to share!)

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Wednesday, November 23

This class short due to half day schedule.

Students worked on Literature Circle tasks for Chapter 3 of Tracks.


HOMEWORK

For Monday, November 28: have your Lit Circle task for Chapter 3 ready to share.

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Tuesday, November 22

Reading quiz on Tracks, Chapter 2.
Silent reading.
Introduced and assigned Literature Circle tasks.
Began discussion of Chapter 2 of Tracks.


HOMEWORK

For tonight: read Chapter 3.
For Monday, November 28: have your Lit Circle task ready to share.

Monday, November 21, 2016

Monday, November 21

This class short due to Two Hour Delay schedule.
Silent reading.
COLLECTED weekly reading logs.

Continued reading Chapter 2 of Tracks. FINISH CHAPTER 2 AS HOMEWORK!


Friday, November 18, 2016

Friday, November 18

Tracks 1 vocabulary quiz.

Finished Episode 4 of Colonial House, "The Outsiders."
Began reading Chapter 2 of Tracks (now on page 14).

DUE DATES
FRIDAY, November 18: Vocabulary quiz.

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Thursday, November 17

Homework: Finish reading Chapter 1 of Tracks.

Most of this class taught by a sub in Ms. Bishop's absence for a meeting.
Continued reading the novel Tracks. Now on page 9.
Class watched Episode 4 of Colonial House, "The Outsiders."


DUE DATES
FRIDAY, November 18: Vocabulary quiz.

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Wednesday, November 16

Choice of vocabulary study or silent reading.

Took notes on background information on Louise Erdrich's novel, Tracks.
Began reading the novel; now on page 6.

DUE DATES
FRIDAY, November 18: Vocabulary quiz.

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Tuesday, November 15

Today's class short due to parent-teacher conferences.

Introduced first Tracks vocabulary unit; quiz Friday!
Finished watching "The Breakfast Club" on modern Native American concerns.
Distributed copies of Louise Erdrich's novel, Tracks.

DUE DATES
FRIDAY, November 18: Vocabulary quiz.

Monday, November 14, 2016

Monday, November 14

Today's class short due to parent-teacher conferences.

Silent reading.
COLLECTED weekly reading logs.

Friday, November 11

No school due to Veterans' Day.

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Thursday, November 10

Reading quiz on "Coyote and Fox and Whale."
Native American Vocabulary Unit quiz.

Watched The Breakfast Club's "Indigenous People's Day Show."


Wednesday, November 9

Read biography of Okanagan writer, Mourning Dove.
Choice of silent reading or vocabulary study.  Quiz tomorrow!

Watched "Idle No More: Strong Women Song"
Watched "How the Coyote Got His Cunning" and discussed place of Coyote stories in Okanagan culture.
Read "Coyote and the Buffalo" (40--42).
HOMEWORK: Read "Coyote and Fox and Whale" (42--45).

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Tuesday, November 8

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

The Crucible unit test

DUE DATES

THURSDAY, November 10: Native American Unit vocabulary test.

Monday, November 7, 2016

Monday, November 7

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Silent reading.
COLLECTED weekly reading logs.

Discussed "Sky Loom" and ""Hunting Song," Tewa and Navajo songs from this weekend's homework.
Listened to a performance of a Navajo healing song.
Watched film clip interviewing modern Native American teens.

Read about the Okanagan (or Syilx) people from their website; discussed surprising or interesting details.
Discussed the role of Coyote stories in Okanagan culture.

DUE DATES

TUESDAY, November 8: The Crucible unit test.

Friday, November 4, 2016

Friday, November 4

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Introduced Native American vocabulary unit on Quizlet.
Shared and COLLECTED pictographs.
Watched the mini documentary "We Are Still Here" on modern Native Americans.
Watched "Creation Story" and "The Peacemaker's Journey and the Great Law of Peace" from the Onondaga Historical Society.

HOMEWORK:  Read the Native American songs (Tewa and Navajo) on pages 34--35 of our textbook for Monday.

DUE DATES

TUESDAY, November 8: The Crucible unit test.

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Wednesday, November 2

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Assigned Friday's homework; unit test will be next Tuesday.
Continued watching film version of The Crucible. (Now at -47:00)

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, November 4: "The World on Turtle's Back" reading and pictograph (24--30). Pictograph assignment described on page 34.

TUESDAY, November 8: The Crucible unit test.

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Tuesday, November 1

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Finished reading Act 4 of The Crucible (234--240).
Continued watching film version of The Crucible.

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, November 4: "The World on Turtle's Back" reading and pictograph (24--30). Pictograph assignment described on page 34.

TUESDAY, November 8: The Crucible unit test.

Monday, October 31

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

This lesson taught by a substitute in Ms. Bishop's absence.
Silent reading.
COLLECTED weekly reading logs.

Began watching The Crucible.  

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, October 28: The Crucible Vocabulary quiz.

Friday, October 28, 2016

Friday, October 28

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Act 3 The Crucible reading quiz.
The Crucible vocabulary quiz.
Silent reading.

Began reading Act 4 of The Crucible.  (229--234).  (We will finish the play on Tuesday.)

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, October 28: The Crucible Vocabulary quiz.

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Thursday, October 27

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Act 2 The Crucible reading quiz.
Choice of silent reading or vocabulary work.

Began reading Act 3 of The Crucible.  (207--215).
Homework: Finish Act 3 (215--227).  Be prepared for a reading quiz!

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, October 28: The Crucible Vocabulary quiz.

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Wednesday, October 26

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Choice of silent reading or vocabulary work.

Began reading Act 2 of The Crucible.  (191--197).
Homework: Finish Act 2 (198--205).  Be prepared for a reading quiz!

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, October 28: The Crucible Vocabulary quiz.

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Tuesday, October 25

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Choice of silent reading or vocabulary work.

Finished reading Act 1 of The Crucible.  (Read186--189).
Watched the "City of God" episode of Colonial House, on theocracy; discussed how the aftermath of the Salem trials effectively ended the theocratic government in Massachusetts.

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, October 28: The Crucible Vocabulary quiz.

Monday, October 24, 2016

Monday, October 24

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Silent reading
COLLECTED weekly reading logs.
Continued reading The Crucible.  (Read 178--186).
HOMEWORK: Read the prose passages about Rev. Hale (182--184) and Giles Corey (186).

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, October 28: The Crucible Vocabulary quiz.

Friday, October 21

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Silent reading or vocabulary study.
Continued reading The Crucible.  (Read 172--178).

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, October 28: The Crucible Vocabulary quiz.

Thursday, October 20, 2016

Thursday, October 20

HONORS AMERICAN LIT


Those absent yesterday began new Crucible vocabulary unit; those present chose between silent reading and vocabulary work for today's warm up.
Began reading The Crucible.  (Read 166--172).

HOMEWORK: Read Miller's narration, "A word about Thomas Putnam" (172--173).

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, October 28: The Crucible Vocabulary quiz.

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Wednesday, October 19

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Modified lesson plan due to low attendance from PSAT today.

Introduced new Crucible vocabulary unit.
Watched Colonial House episode "City of God" on Puritan religious life.

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, October 28: The Crucible Vocabulary quiz.

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Tuesday, October 18

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Short class due to early release schedule.
Watched Colonial House; discussed the coming together of Native American and Puritan cultures, roles of masters and servants.

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, October 28: The Crucible Vocabulary quiz.

Monday, October 17, 2016

Monday, October 17

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Silent reading.
Discussed the article "Clown Panic!" and Vox news story for background on rumor panics.

Why did the residents of Salem Village believe the afflicted girls?  What makes eyewitness testimony believable or not?

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, October 28: The Crucible Vocabulary quiz.

Friday, October 14, 2016

Friday, October 14

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Vocabulary Quiz.
Read from Salem Court documents "From the Examination of Sarah Good," and discussed bias evident in the transcript.  (144--147).
Discussed possible motivations and beliefs of the accusers and others in Salem Village during the witch trials.

Read and began annotating the article "Clown Panic!" for background on rumor panics.

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, October 21: The Crucible Vocabulary quiz.

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Thursday, October 13

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Homework check.
Choice of vocabulary study or silent reading.
Shared illustrations of "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" and COLLECTED them.
Wrapped up discussion of Anne Bradstreet, and read her poems "To My Dear and Loving Husband" and "Upon the Burning of our House" (138--141).

Continued watching Colonial House.

DUE DATES

WEDNESDAY, October 12: Compare and Contrast essays are due.
FRIDAY, October 14: Vocabulary quiz.

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Wednesday, October 12

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Assigned homework for Thursday: reading "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" and creating an illustration of a quote from the sermon.
Choice of reading, vocabulary study, or essay revision.
COLLECTED Compare and Contrast essays.

Read background on Anne Bradstreet, and read her poems "To My Dear and Loving Husband" and "Upon the Burning of our House" (138--141).
Began discussion of her use of meter, rhyme and the religious themes in both poems.

DUE DATES

WEDNESDAY, October 12: Compare and Contrast essays are due.
FRIDAY, October 14: Vocabulary quiz.

HOMEWORK for Thursday, October 13

Read introductory material and "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" in your textbook (152--156).
Pay attention to emotionally charged imagery and language.
Create a full-page color illustration to go with a caption which is a direct quote from the sermon.  (You should be illustrating an emotionally charged image from the sermon.)

NOTE: If you are an artist, and you work better in black and white (charcoal, pen and ink, etc.) you may ignore the requirement for color.  If you are NOT artistic, neatness, filling the page, and the appropriateness of your illustration can make up for a lack of artistry.

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Tuesday, October 11

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Silent reading.
COLLECTED weekly reading logs.

Continued watching Colonial House.

DUE DATES

WEDNESDAY, October 12: Compare and Contrast essays are due.
FRIDAY, October 14: Vocabulary quiz.

Friday, October 7, 2016

Friday, October 7

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Reading quiz on background for "Between Heaven and Hell: The Puritan Tradition."

Wrapped up last writers group; revision work on Compare and Contrast essays.
Watched introduction to Colonial House.

DUE DATES

WEDNESDAY, October 12: Compare and Contrast essays are due.
FRIDAY, October 14: Vocabulary quiz.

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Thursday, October 6

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Homework: read background to unit "Between Heaven and Hell: The Puritan Tradition." Expect a reading quiz!

Introduced new unit vocabulary on Quizlet.
Writers groups met, shared essays for peer feedback.

DUE DATES

WEDNESDAY, October 12: Compare and Contrast essays are due.
FRIDAY, October 14: Vocabulary quiz.

HOMEWORK for Friday, October 7

Read "Building Background" for "Between Heaven and Hell: The Puritan Tradition" in your textbooks (130--136).

Expect a reading quiz!

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Wednesday, October 5

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Reviewed"The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano."
Discussed and COLLECTED response journal entries on the excerpt.

DUE DATES

THURSDAY, October 6: Be prepared to discuss essays with writing groups in peer revision conferences.
WEDNESDAY, October 12: Compare and Contrast essays are due.

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Tuesday, October 4

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Assigned homework for tomorrow: "The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano" with at least three response journal entries.

Students continued drafting their compare/contrast essays on explorers.
Students shared their essays via Google Docs to discuss in tomorrow's writers' groups.

DUE DATES

TUESDAY, October 4: Share essays with writing groups for peer revision conferences.

HOMEWORK for Wednesday, October 5

Read "Build Background," "Olaudah Equiano,"and "From the Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano" (93--97 and 99).

Write a response journal with at least three entries.  Remember to note the page next to each passage!

Monday, October 3, 2016

Monday, October 3

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Silent reading.
COLLECTED weekly reading logs.

Students continued drafting their compare/contrast essays on explorers.

DUE DATES

TUESDAY, October 4: Share essays with writing groups for peer revision conferences.

Friday, September 30, 2016

Friday, September 30

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Homework check on response journals.
First Encounters vocabulary quiz.

Discussed Bradford's "Of Plymouth Plantation." 
Students continued drafting their compare/contrast essays on explorers.

DUE DATES

TUESDAY, October 4: Share essays with writing groups for peer revision conferences.

Thursday, September 29, 2016

Thursday, September 29

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Discussion of Pilgrims' historical context.  Read Build Background (81) and biographical sketch of William Bradford (90).
Assigned homework: reading the excerpt from Bradford's "Of Plymouth Plantation" with a response journal of at least three entries.

Reviewed how to organize a compare and contrast essay.
Students continued drafting an essay comparing how Columbus and the authors of"La Relacion" (73--76) The Travels of Marco Polo (77) seem to have felt about the natives of the countries they visited, supported by evidence from the text.

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, September 30: First Encounters vocabulary quiz.
TUESDAY, October 4: Share essays with writing groups for peer revision conferences.

HOMEWORK for FRIDAY, September 30

Read Bradford's "Of Plymouth Plantation" (82--87).  Write a response journal on three different passages from the text.
You can comment on

  • Parts where you are confused or think others might be
  • Parts where you are surprised by what you read
  • Parts where you can make inferences about how the Pilgrims see one another, the world, or the Indians they come in contact with
  • Any parts that are especially interesting, or that get you thinking and/or making connections.
Be sure to record the page number in parentheses next to any passages you quote.

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Wednesday, September 28

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Short class today due to club day.
Warm up: choice of reading or vocabulary study.  Quiz Friday!

Discussed how to organize a compare and contrast essay.
Students began drafting an essay comparing how Columbus and the authors of"La Relacion" (73--76) The Travels of Marco Polo (77) seem to have felt about the natives of the countries they visited, supported by evidence from the text.


DUE DATES

FRIDAY, September 30: First Encounters vocabulary quiz.

Tuesday, September 27

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Homework check; gave feedback on Columbus paragraphs.
Warm up: choice of reading or vocabulary study.  Quiz Friday!

Read, marked with 3--4 Post-it Notes, and discussed possible inferences about how de Vaca perceived the Indians he met, from "La Relacion" (73--76).
Began reading the excerpt from The Travels of Marco Polo (77) marking with Post-it Notes 1--2 passages allowing inferences about how Marco Polo perceived the natives of the countries he visited.

HOMEWORK: Finish reading and marking the excerpt from The Travels of Marco Polo. Due tomorrow! We will be using these notes, and those on the Log of Christopher Columbus, to begin writing a compare and contrast essay in class.


DUE DATES

FRIDAY, September 30: First Encounters vocabulary quiz.

Monday, September 26, 2016

Monday, September 26

HONORS AMERICAN LIT
Silent reading.
COLLECTED weekly reading logs.

Discussed inferences we can  make from the log of Christopher Columbus (67--68) about Columbus's character and attitudes toward the inhabitants of the island where he landed in the New World.
Discussed how to use quotes as evidence in essay writing.

HOMEWORK: referring to the Post-its and thinking of our discussion of the Columbus text, write a paragraph, citing at least three quotes from the passage, supporting what we can infer about his attitude toward the native people he met. Due tomorrow!

Read introductory material to "La Relacion."
(We will be writing a Compare and Contrast essay relating "La Relacion," Columbus's log, and an excerpt from the Travels of Marco Polo.)



DUE DATES

TUESDAY September 27: HOMEWORK: referring to the Post-its and thinking of our discussion of the Columbus text, write a paragraph, citing at least three quotes from the passage, supporting what we can infer about his attitude toward the native people he met.

FRIDAY, September 30: First Encounters vocabulary quiz.

Friday, September 23, 2016

Friday, September 23

HONORS AMERICAN LIT
Wrap up for open responses on The Tempest.
Introduced First Encounters vocabulary on Quizlet.
Read an excerpt from the log of Christopher Columbus (67--68) and used Post-It notes as annotation markers for

  • Confusing passages or unknown words
  • Clues about Columbus's character and attitudes toward the inhabitants of the island where he landed in the New World.

Began discussing inferences and textual evidence; we will wrap this up on Monday.



DUE DATES

MONDAY September 26: Read historical background on the First Encounters unit in your textbooks: pages 66--68.


FRIDAY, September 30: First Encounters vocabulary quiz.

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Thursday, September 22

HONORS AMERICAN LIT
Unit Test on The Tempest.


DUE DATES

THURSDAY September 22: Unit test on The Tempest. (THIS IS A CHANGE.)

FRIDAY, September 30: First Encounters vocabulary quiz.

Wednesday, September 21

HONORS AMERICAN LIT
Review for unit test


DUE DATES

THURSDAY September 22: Unit test on The Tempest. (THIS IS A CHANGE.)

FRIDAY, September 23: First Encounters vocabulary quiz.

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Tuesday, September 20

HONORS AMERICAN LIT
Short class due to early release day schedule + picture day.This class taught by a sub in Ms. Bishop's absence.


DUE DATES
MONDAY September 19: Vocabulary quiz on The Tempest Part 2 vocabulary. (THIS IS A CHANGE.)
THURSDAY September 21: Unit test on The Tempest. (THIS IS A CHANGE.)

FRIDAY, September 23: First Encounters vocabulary quiz. 

Monday, September 19, 2016

Monday, September 19

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Vocabulary quiz on The Tempest, Part 2.
Silent reading.
COLLECTED weekly reading logs.

Check-in around comprehension of the script of The Tempest.
Students highlighted difficult passages from Act 1; class worked out the gist of the passage, then worked out confusing vocabulary and word order issues to reach a clearer understanding.

HOMEWORK: As test prep, review the script of The Tempest from Act 2 to the end, and highlight at least three confusing passages, circling unfamiliar words.

(We will continue to apply our close reading strategy in class tomorrow, as well as review the essay test grading rubric and a strategy for approaching my open response questions.)


DUE DATES
MONDAY September 19: Vocabulary quiz on The Tempest Part 2 vocabulary. (THIS IS A CHANGE.)
THURSDAY September 21: Unit test on The Tempest. (THIS IS A CHANGE.)

FRIDAY, September 23: First Encounters vocabulary quiz. 

Friday, September 16, 2016

Friday, September 16

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Finished watching the stage version of The Tempest.
Watched 1.1 and 1.2 in film adaptation of the play; discussed differences.
Discussed freedom and obedience/submission to authority within the play.


DUE DATES
MONDAY September 16: Vocabulary quiz on The Tempest Part 2 vocabulary. (THIS IS A CHANGE.)
WEDNESDAY September 21: Unit test on The Tempest. (THIS IS A CHANGE.)

FRIDAY, September 23: First Encounters vocabulary quiz. 

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Thursday, September 15

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Finished reading The Tempest.
Announced Tuesday's test: review characters, and re-read and review the script and the packet in preparation. 
Began watching Acts 4 and 5 of the stage play.


DUE DATES
FRIDAY September 16: Vocabulary quiz on The Tempest Part 2 vocabulary.
TUESDAY September 20: Unit test on The Tempest.
FRIDAY, September 23: First Encounters vocabulary quiz. 

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Wednesday, September 14

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Warm up: Choice of vocabulary review or silent reading.

Continued reading Acts 4 and 5; now on page 23 in our scripts.


DUE DATES
Vocabulary quiz on The Tempest Part 2 vocabulary Friday, September 16.

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Tuesday, September 13

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Warm up: Choice of vocabulary review or silent reading.
Finished watching Act 3 in the Stratford Shakespeare Festival production of The Tempest.
Began reading Act 4; now on page 19 in our scripts.



DUE DATES
Vocabulary quiz on The Tempest Part 2 vocabulary Friday, September 16.

Monday, September 12, 2016

Monday, September 12

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Silent reading.
COLLECTED weekly reading logs.
Read Act 3.
Began watching Act 3 in the Stratford Shakespeare Festival production of The Tempest.



DUE DATES
Vocabulary quiz on The Tempest Part 2 vocabulary Friday, September 16.

Friday, September 9, 2016

Friday, September 9

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

The Tempest Part 1 vocabulary quiz.
Finished watching Act 2 in the Stratford Shakespeare Festival production of The Tempest.
Discussion of masters and servants as shown in The Tempest.



DUE DATES
Vocabulary quiz on The Tempest Part 2 vocabulary Friday, September 16.

Thursday, September 8, 2016

Thursday, September 8

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

10 minutes for independent reading or vocabulary review.
Finished reading Act 2 of The Tempest.  (Now on p. 14 of our abbreviated script.)
Began watching Act 2 in the Stratford Shakespeare Festival production of The Tempest.



DUE DATES
First reading log due Tuesday, September 6.
First vocabulary quiz Friday, September 9
Signed syllabus and movie form due Friday, September 9.

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Wednesday, September 7

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Introduced vocabulary for Part 2 of The Tempest on Quizlet.
Finished watching 1.1 and 1.2 in the Stratford Shakespeare Festival production of The Tempest. Began reading Act 2 of The Tempest.  (Now on p. 9 of our abbreviated script.)



DUE DATES
First reading log due Tuesday, September 6.
First vocabulary quiz Friday, September 9
Signed syllabus and movie form due Friday, September 9.

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Tuesday, September 6

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Finished reading The Tempest, 1.2.  (Now on p. 8 of our abbreviated script.)
Began watching 1.1 and 1.2 in the Stratford Shakespeare Festival production of The Tempest.


DUE DATES
First reading log due Tuesday, September 6.
First vocabulary quiz Friday, September 9
Signed syllabus and movie form due Friday, September 9.

Friday, September 2, 2016

Friday, September 2

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Wrapped up notes on The Tempest. 
Began reading The Tempest, 1.1 and 1.2.  (Now on p. 7 of our abbreviated script.)


DUE DATES
First reading log due Tuesday, September 6.
First vocabulary quiz Friday, September 9
Signed syllabus and movie form due Friday, September 9.

Thursday, September 1, 2016

Thursday, September 1

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Reading quiz on The Tempest background packet.
Checked in around comprehension of the packet.
Continued notes on The Tempest. (Now on last slide.)
DUE DATES
First reading log due Tuesday, September 6.
First vocabulary quiz Friday, September 9
Signed syllabus and movie form due Friday, September 9.

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Wednesday, August 31

HONORS AMERICAN LIT

Introduced current vocabulary unit on Quizlet.
Discussed some central questions for thinking about any literature:
  • Whose stories are being told?
  • Who is telling those stories?
  • Whose stories are not being told?
Began notes on The Tempest.
ASSIGNED PACKET ON THE TEMPEST FOR TOMORROW!

DUE DATES
First reading log due Tuesday, September 6.
First vocabulary quiz Friday, September 9
Signed syllabus and movie form due Friday, September 9.

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Tuesday, August 30

Created folders, reviewed syllabus for the course.
Introduced class blog.
Distributed weekly reading log forms; explained the role of independent reading in the course.
Students created or signed into Quizlet accounts for vocabulary work, and joined this class on Quizlet.
Signed out textbooks.

DUE DATES
First reading log due Tuesday, September 6.
First vocabulary quiz Friday, September 9
Signed syllabus and movie form due Friday, September 9.

Monday, August 22, 2016

Syllabus and Movie Permissions

You may download a copy of the syllabus here.
You may download a copy of the movie letter here.

Friday, August 19, 2016

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