CNF:

Today we had a seminar on Season of Life and will begin Three Cups of Tea on Wednesday.

Sophomores:

Today we took the vocab exam and discussed the essays on Shakespeare that you read. Next time we will finish the film version of Hamlet and begin reading the play. Your "I remember..." essays are due next period.

Freshmen:

Today we focused on William Carlos Williams and his poem "The Red Wheelbarrow." You are to write five poems that focus on normal, everyday objects, and find what is important or profound in them. The suggested template we are using is to open like Williams does, name the object, and give it a location and description. Type these poems up and bring them to class next period. Read for 20 minutes Monday and Tuesday.

CNF:

We tried to finish up the book and decided that with a little extra reading over the weekend we can finish reading the book, so that's what we gonna do. Get Three Cups of Tea ASAP.

Sophomores:

Today we continued viewing a film version of Hamlet in preparation for reading it. The two main questions to focus on are: What do you think about the character of Hamlet, and, Is he a hero, according to what we have seen, studied, and discussed? Due Monday are the essays I assigned as well as Chapter 13 vocab. The "I Remember..." essay about your mother/mother figure is due next block period.

Freshmen:

Today we took a vocab quiz and talked about your process while writing "Theme for English 9." We also shared some parts of your poems. There were many good ideas shared. Your homework is to read for 20 minutes.

Sophomores:

Today we began watching a film version of Hamlet in preparation for reading it. Read the essays assigned yesterday; chapter 13 vocabulary is due Monday.

CNF:

Today we concluded Go Tigers! We will finish Season of Life tomorrow; get Three Cups of Tea for class ASAP.

Freshmen:

Today we continued our focus on creative response by reading Langston Hughes's "Theme for English B." Your task is to write a poem of your own, a "Theme for English 9." Follow and include Hughes's instructor's directions "Go home and write/ a page tonight./ Let that page come out of you -/ Then it will be true." Imitate in some fashion Hughes's format: provide a sense of place and direction, and focus mainly on yourself. This poem is due Friday. Due Friday is Chapter 13 vocabulary. Read for 20 minutes tonight.

CNF:

We watched a documentary about a different football community, contrasting it with the one portrayed in our book. Get a copy of Three Cups of Tea ASAP.

Sophomore English:

Today we began our study of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Due for Friday are the essays at the beginning of our book on Shakespeare's Hamlet, Reading Shakespeare's Language (including Words, Sentences, Word Play, and Implied Stage Action). Due for Monday is an "I Remember..." essay about your mother. Also due Monday is Chapter 13 vocab.

Freshman English:

Today we focused on sharing (publishing) your creative responses to art. Read for 20 minutes Tuesday and Wednesday night. Vocabulary Chapter 13 is due on Friday. Honors students - we have a meeting on Thursday at 7:35 AM.

Freshmen:

Today our focus was on using someone else's words to support our own ideas in writing. Remember to read for 20 minutes Monday and Tuesday night and that your poetry project is due next period and that vocab is due Friday.

Sophomores:

Today we had an interesting seminar on the end of The Poisonwood Bible. You did a nice job. We will start Hamlet on Wednesday. For class on Wednesday, you need to have a list of ten specific memories you have about your mother or mother-figure. Like before, they need to be about a specific time, place, action, and event, and they should reveal something about your mom's personality and your relationship with her.

CNF:

We focused on reading again. We should be able to have a seminar end of this week and start Three Cups of Tea next week.

CNF

Today we read from Season of Life. We'll shoot for finishing it next week.

Sophomores:

Today we concentrated on finishing The Poisonwood Bible and your Daughters in the Congo poems. Finish the book for Monday's seminar and have seven seminar notes. Vocab will be due next week.

Freshmen:

Today we wrote a short prompt about the story Raymond's Run. If you didn't finish in class, do so this weekend. Also, you got your Romeo and Juliet essays back; if you would like to revise to improve your grade, do so and hand in your old and new copies on Monday. Also, read for 20 minutes this weekend.

Thursday, April 19

Freshmen: Today we focused on providing context, stating and supporting a thesis, and differentiating between a theme and an idea in a work of literature. We read Raymond's Run and will do some writing about it tomorrow. Read for 20 minutes and work on your creative response to art poetry project. Sophomores: Be sure to finish up The Poisonwood Bible. CNF: We read as much of Season of Life as humanly possible today.

Tuesday, April 17 and Wednesday, April 18

Freshmen: Today we focused on further forms of creative response, particularly responding to art in one of the four motifs outlined in the book Heart to Heart. Your task is to find two separate works of art (they can be any medium you wish, from any artist). For each work of art, write two poems, so you have a total of four poems overall. Each of your poems must be from a different motif covered in Heart to Heart. Find some way to present the art you chose and your poems visually (on a poster board, for example, or in a binder - whatever you want to do). You will present your work in class on the next block period. Read for 20 minutes Tuesday and Wednesday. Vocab is due next week.

Sophomores: Today we focused on the four daughters by writing six word memoirs and a poem modeled on My Daughters in New York. Finish our book by Monday.

CNF: Today we saw a few clips about Joe Ehrman and began reading Season of Life. Get a copy of Three Cups of Tea for next week.

Monday, April 16

Hi. Welcome back. Here's what we did:

Freshmen: Today we focused on creative response, a genre where "one work calls forth another." We read the Langston Hughes's poem "Mother to Son" and studied the Cat Stevens's song "Father and Son." Your homework is to write a free verse poem that is a creative response to "Mother to Son" from the son's point of view. It is due next period. Read for 20 minutes Monday and Tuesday.

Sophomores: Today we had a (somewhat lackluster) seminar on Books IV and V of The Poisonwood Bible. Finish the book, with seven seminar notes, for Monday.

CNF: Today we talked about some of the major issues running through Season of Life. Have it for next period and Three Cups of Tea for next week.

Tuesday, April 3 and Wednesday, April 4

Freshmen: Today we focused on Billy Collins and his poetry. You've got no homework over the break - enjoy your time.

Sophomores: Today we focused on six word memoirs. Keep reading - remember what's due after break.

CNF: Today we concluded our reading of The World Without Us by watching No Impact Man. If you're interested, you can find Beavan's blog at http://noimpactman.typepad.com/. Have Season of Life for after the break.

Monday, April 2

Freshmen: Today we focused on self and peer revision with your Romeo and Juliet essays. Your final copy is due next time we meet. Read for 20 minutes Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday this week.

Sophomores: Today we had a seminar on Book III of The Poisonwood Bible. I have made one more change to the reading schedule: Books IV and V are due after the break (about 10 pages a day) with seven notes each for seminar. Books VI and VIII will be due the next week. We will have a vocab quiz on Wednesday.

CNF: Today we had our final seminar on The World Without Us. Get Season of Life for after the break.