Friday, February 25

Freshmen: Today we started on an introduction to division and classification - read the intro in Models for Writers. We also took the chapter 10 vocab exam. You need to get a new book to read this weekend - read for 20 minutes this weekend and again on Monday and Tuesday. At least an hour's worth of reading should move you along nicely.

Sophomores: Today we took the chapter 10 vocab exam. More importantly, we completed our list of remembrance statements about Baba from Amir's point of view. Your homework is to focus on your own father, or father figure, and write a list of a dozen remembrance statements similar to what we did for Amir and what was done by Mr. House. You should have a dozen or so, and they should reveal something about who your father is and what your relationship with him is like. This is due next time we meet, as is concluding The Kite Runner. For next Thursday, please have a copy of Watership Down.

CNF: Today we had a seminar on Part II of The World Without Us.

Watership Down Reading Schedule 2011

Watership Down 2011 Reading Schedule:
3/3 - Begin Watership Down
3/14 - Part I Due - seminar on this date - one note per chapter due.
3/24 - Part II Due - seminar on this date - one note per chapter due.
Spring Break 3/25 - 4/3: No reading assigned over break.
4/11 - Part III Due - seminar on this date - one note per chapter due.
4/19 or 4/20 - Book due - seminar on this date - one note per chapter due.
***We will begin Hamlet on 4/27.

Thursday, February 24

Freshmen: Today we conducted our final seminar on Romeo and Juliet. Tonight, read the essay at the back, "Romeo and Juliet, A Modern Perspective." Get a new book to read for Friday's class. Also for Friday, Chapter 10 vocab is due.

Sophomores: Today we focused on the motif of memory and some of Amir's memories of Baba and how they reveal Baba's personality and their relationship.

CNF: Today we concluded reading Part II from The World Without Us. We will have a seminar on it on Friday and view a documentary next week related to it.

Tuesday, Feburary 22 and Wednesday, February 23

Freshmen: Today we looked at the role cause and effect plays in moving the plot of Romeo and Juliet forward. Complete the play for Thursday, and complete Chapter 10 vocab for Friday.

Sophomores: Today we conducted a seminar on The Kite Runner. Complete the book for next block period, and have a copy of Richard Adams's Watership Down for that day as well. Chapter 10 vocab is due on Friday.

CNF: We came close to finishing Part II of The World Without Us. We will discuss it on Friday.

Thursday, February 17

Freshmen: Today we focused on 4.3 in Romeo and Juliet and the function of soliloquy. Remember - due next block period is your essay revision and your Ways poem, due Thursday is the play and notes for seminar, and due Friday is Chapter 10 vocab.

Sophomores: Today we focused on the motifs of the father quest and primal mother. Due next block period is Chapters 1-22 in The Kite Runner, with notes on 15-22, two per chapter. Due Friday is Chapter 10 vocab.

CNF: Today we had a seminar on Part I of The World Without Us.

Tuesday, February 15 or Wednesday, February 16

Freshmen: Today we first looked at your Cause and Effect essays, which need to be redone, due in a week. We also looked at an unofficial poem form, the "Ways" poem. You are writing your own, due in a week. We also had a short seminar on Act III. Finish 4.1-4.3 for Thursday, and the rest of the play for next Thursday. Chapter 10 vocab is due next Friday.

Sophomores: Today we did another entry in the Hero Catch Phrase Project. We also had a seminar on Chapters 8-14 in the Kite Runner. Chapters 1-22 are due for next block period. Chapter 10 vocab is due next Friday.

CNF: Today we watched the documentary The Unforeseen. Finish Part I in The World Without Us for Thursday.

Monday, February 14

Freshmen: Today we had our Poetry Out Loud competition. We will discuss Act III in Romeo and Juliet tomorrow; Acts IV and V are due next Thursday, with one note per scene.

Sophomores: Today we had our Poetry Out Loud competition. Chapters 1-14 in the Kite Runner are due next block period.

CNF: Ideally, we conclude Part I of the World Without Us for Thursday's class.

Friday, February 11

Freshmen: Today we took a vocab exam. Due for Monday is your poem and Act III from Romeo and Juliet (1 note per scene).

Sophomores: Today we took a vocab exam. Due for Monday is your poem. Due for next block is chapters 1-14 in The Kite Runner (2 notes per chapter).

CNF: Today we read from The World Without Us. Try to read some this weekend so we can finish it by Wednesday.

Thursday, February 10

Freshmen: Today we continued our study of cause and effect by viewing a short documentary film that revolves around cause and effect. Due Friday is vocab; due Monday is your poem for POL and Act III of Romeo and Juliet.

Sophomores: Today we did another HCPP entry. Due Friday is vocab; due Monday is your poem for POL; due next block are Chapters 1-14 from The Kite Runner, with 2 notes per chapter from 8-14.

CNF: Today we focused on the question, "Has humanity been good for planet Earth?" and looked at an interesting essay from This I Believe. We then began The World Without Us. You are to read the Prelude and Part I for next block period, with 2 notes per chapter.

Tuesday, February 8 and Wednesday, February 9

Freshmen: Today we focused on Act III of Romeo and Juliet. We also focused on your "One Idea" cause and effect essays that would improve America. Finish Act III for Monday and have your vocab ready for Friday.

Sophomores: Today we did another HCPP and had a seminar on the first seven chapters of The Kite Runner. Have your poem memorized for Monday and have your vocab ready for Friday. Chapters 1-14 are due for next block period's seminar, with two notes per chapter (8-14).

CNF: Today we finished Life After People (it's hard to imagine Judge without people, isn't it... wait - no students? Sounds nice to me...). You need to have The World Without Us for Thursday - no excuses.

The Kite Runner Reading Schedule 2011

The Kite Runner Reading Schedule 2011

2/8; 2/9 - Chapters 1-7 due; seminar on this date; 2 notes per chapter.

2/15; 2/16 - Chapters 8-14 due; seminar; 2 notes per chapter.

2/22;2/23 - Chapters 15-22 due; seminar; 2 notes per chapter.

2/28 - Book due; Kite Runner seminar.

Monday, February 7

Freshmen: Today we did an exercise to better understand the poem you will recite for Poetry Out Loud and also practiced it. We also conducted a short seminar on Act II from Romeo and Juliet. Due next Monday is Act III. Due Friday is vocab chapter 10. Due next block period is your cause and effect essay.

Sophomores: Today we did an exercise to better understand the poem you will recite for Poetry Out Loud and also practiced it. Due Friday is vocab chapter 10. Most importantly, due next block period are chapters 1-7 from The Kite Runner.

CNF: Today we began a documentary, Life After People. Have Wiseman's The World Without Us for Thursday at the latest.

Thursday, February 3

Freshmen: Today we focused on another example of a cause and effect essay. Remember, yours is due next block; identify the type of lead and conclusion you are using and include at least one citation of research that supports your thesis. Due Monday is Act II with one note per scene for seminar. Also, be sure to check the vocab schedule posted on the blog.


Sophomores: Today we did another entry in the Hero Catch-Phrase Project. Chapters 1-7 from The Kite Runner, with two notes per chapter, are due on Monday for our seminar. Also, be sure to check the vocab schedule posted on the blog.

CNF: Today we concluded your Childhood Dreams presentations. Please have a copy of The World Without Us for next week.

Tuesday, February 1 and Wednesday, February 2

Freshmen: Today we introduced Poetry Out Loud. Have eight poems read and a copy of your top three choices for next Monday. We also discussed 2.2 - the "vital center" of Romeo and Juliet. Reread it, and conclude Act II for Monday's seminar - you should have at least one note per chapter. We also posed the question, "If you could do one thing to change America for the better, what would it be?" You are to answer that prompt in a cause-and-effect essay, and you must cite in either block or in-text form some outside research that supports your thesis. This is due next block period. Identify the type of lead and conclusion you are using in your header.

Sophomores: Today we introduced Poetry Out Loud. Have eight poems read and a copy of your top three choices for next Monday. We also began The Kite Runner. Chapters 1-7 are due for next block period with two notes per chapter.

CNF: Today we began your Childhood Dreams presentations. Get The World Without Us by Alan Wiseman (he truly is a wise man, but not a wiseguy) for next week.