Friday, February 27

Freshmen: Today we studied Wallace Stevens's "13 Ways of Looking at a Blackbird." You are to pick something - anything - and look at it in as many different ways as possible, imitating Stevens's poem. This is due Monday, as is your turnitin.com revision. Due next block period is finishing Lord of the Flies.

Sophomores: Finish The Kite Runner for Monday, and the essay about Baba from Amir's point of view by Wednesday. For Monday, prepare at least seven interesting questions or topics of discussion for our seminar. For Wednesday, have a copy of The Poisonwood Bible. You can get 10% off at The King's English if you tell them you are from Judge; the Barnes and Nobel on 2100 South and 11oo East also has some copies.

Thurdsday, February 26

Freshmen: Today we turned in our letters to the editor and our five free verse poems. You should finish Lord of the Flies for next block period. Remember, I will not be at parent teacher conferences today due to state basketball; if a parent has a question, he or she should contact me via email at jbaird@judgememorial.com.

Sophomores: Today we began an essay modeled on Jeff House's "I Remember My Father" from Amir's perspective about Baba. Your essay should do three things: provide a rounded view of Baba, interpret Amir and Baba's relationship, and explain Amir's personality as well. Finish The Kite Runner for Monday and have a copy of The Poisonwood Bible for Wednesday. Remember, I will not be at parent teacher conferences today due to state basketball; if a parent has a question, he or she should contact me via email at jbaird@judgememorial.com.

Tuesday, February 24

Freshmen: Today we focused on literal and figurative language. You are to revise your previous four free verse poem and integrate figurative language if necessary, and write an original poem that intentionally uses either simile, metaphor, or personification, due Thursday. We also discussed Lord of the Flies. Finish the book for next block period.

Monday, February 23

Freshmen: Today we wrote about objects, using William Carlos Williams's poems "Between Walls," "This is Just to Say," and "The Red Wheelbarrow" as our models. You are to write three poems, with one each imitating one of the poems we looked at in class. Due next period, as is Chapter 7 from Lord of the Flies.

If possible, come see the freshman boys' basketball team take on Park City in the championship game of the 28th annual freshman basketball tournament.

Friday, February 20

Freshmen: Today we focused on the difference between effective repetition in poetry and redundancies. Revise your previous three poems if there is a word, phrase, idea, or image you can repeat effectively. Also, compose a fourth poem that intentionally does use repetition effectively. Chapter 7 from Lord of the Flies is due next block period.

Sophomores: We took a vocab exam and finished our list of memories about Baba from Amir's point of view. Chapter 21 from The Kite Runner is due next period.

Wednesday, February 18

Sophomores: Today we discussed Amir and the concept of the tragic hero, as well as the idea of the father quest (those of you who did the assignment, anyway). We also did some reading from The Kite Runner. Chapter 22 is due Monday, February 23.

Tuesday, February 17

Freshmen: Today we talked about the first four chapters of Lord of the Flies, and did some schema builiding for the text. We then talked about how to end free verse poems as well as how to format lines and stanzas. For next period, you need to revise your two current poems for their conclusion and format, and then write a new one that adheres to the first five principals that we have learned about free verse poetry (I, participles, leads, conclusions, and format). For next block period, chapter 7 from Lord of the Flies is due.

Friday, February 13

Freshmen: Today we talked about how a good free verse poem should begin "in the midst of things." You are to revise your first poem to be sure that it opens in the middle of whatever experience you are writing about, and you are to write a second free verse poem based on a personal experience that follows our first three principals: Uses I well, avoids participles, and begins in the midst of things. Due next period. Also, Chapter 4 from Lord of the Flies due next period.

Sophomores: Today we continued our focus on the tragic hero. Chapter 13 is due Wednesday.

Tuesday and Wednesday, February 10 and 11

Freshmen: Today we learned two related conventions of free verse - using I and avoiding participles. You are to type up a poem about a first person experience that uses I well and does not have any participles. We also began Lord of the Flies. You are to finish Chapters 1-4 for next block period. You may use in-class and at-home reading time to read from LOF. Thursday, we will meet in the auditorium.

Sophomores: Today we had extensive discussions about the text and especially Amir, and whether or not he fits the definition of a tragic hero. We also talked about refugees in the US and discussed possible service project ideas. Chapter 13 is due next Wednesday. You are also to do an independent research project: Find five interesting facts about the concept of "the father quest" in literature (or film), and write them down, along with the place you found the information. Due next block period as well.

Lord of the Flies 2009 reading schedule:

Lord of the Flies 2009 reading schedule:

Chapter Date Due
Begin Book 2/10 or 2/11
4 2/17 or 18
Listen to 5 in class 2/17 or 18
7 2/24 or 2/25 (2/25 is short block)
Listen to 8 in class Ditto
Book due 3/2

Monday, February 9

Freshmen: Today we started a study of free verse poetry. Your homework tonight is to read for 20 minutes and write a 1 page typed response to the following question in preparation for Lord of the Flies: What would be your biggest concern if you were stranded on an island with a group of kids your own age and no adults? Why? Read for 20 minutes and bring Lord of the Flies to the next class period.

Sophomores: Today we read Chapter 7 from The Kite Runner; Chapter 9 is due Wednesday.

Friday, February 6

Freshmen: Today we learned how to submit your argument paper to turnitin.com. You must do this by Monday, 7:59 AM. The instructions are below on the blog. We also wrote an in-class esssay on Supersize Me.

Sophomores: Today we focused on building background knowledge about Afghanistan. Chapter 6 from The Kite Runner is due Monday.

Thursday, February 5

Freshmen: We will start Lord of the Flies next block period. Today we revised the argument essays you wrote, focusing on identifying the rhetorical devices you've used, things to cut, places to expand, and the format of your citations. Revise based on this. Monday, you will submit to turnitin.com. I will teach you how tomorrow. Read for 20 minutes tonight. Make sure your Supersize Me notes are ready for discussion Friday.

Sophomores: We began The Kite Runner today. Finish Chapter 3 for Friday, Chapter 6 for Monday.

The Kite Runner Reading Schedule 2009

The Kite Runner Reading Schedule 2009

2/5 - Begin book in class. Listen to first several chapters in class.
2/6 – Chapter 4 due in class.
2/9 – Chapter 6 due. Listen to 7 in class.
2/11 – Chapter 9 due.
2/18 – Chapter 13 due. Listen to 14 – 16 in class.
2/23 – Chapter 22 due.
2/26 – Book due.
2/27 – Start The Poisonwood Bible.

Wednesday, February 4

Sophomores: We finished our study of the four stages of the hero and will begin The Kite Runner tomorrow. Toward that end, I want to activate your background knowledge about some key issues, and I'd like you to pick one of the following three prompts and write a typed, 1 page reflection on it:
1. Tell about your best childhood friend.
2. Tell about the worst thing you have ever done to another person.
3. Explain what you know about the history of Afghanistan.

Tuesday, February 3/Wednesday, February 4

Freshmen: We concluded our overview of the varying rhetorical devices we have studied. Read for 20 minutes each night this week; get Lord of the Flies for next week. Your arugment essay is due for Thursday. You should employ a variety of rhetorical devices and use both an in-text and blocked citation.

Monday, February 2

Freshmen: We started a study of various rhetorical devices used in the film Supersize Me. You need The Lord of the Flies for next Monday. Your argument essay is due Thursday.

Sophomores: We continued our study of the four stages of the hero. Bring The Kite Runner for Wednesday.