Thursday, January 30

Freshmen: Today we had our in class Poetry Out Loud recitals. Good job. Homework is to read for 20 minutes and chapter 9 vocab is due next Friday.

Sophomores: Today we had our in class Poetry Out Loud recitals. Good job. Homework is to do the essay that's due on turnitin.com on Monday (see the instructions on turnitin), read Oedipus Rex for next block day, and finish chapter 9 vocab for next Friday.

CNF: We want to finish The Last Lecture for our next block day.

Poetry Out Loud Rubric

Poetry Out Loud Recitation Rubric

Name:

Trait	Score		Comment
Physical Presence		/10
Voice and Articulation		/10
Dramatic Appropriateness		/10
Level of Difficulty		/10
Evidence of Understanding		/10
Accuracy		/10
Provided Copy of Poem		/10
Overall Performance		/30
Total		/100

Friday, January 23

Freshmen: Today our focus was on cause and effect. For homework, read for 20 minutes this weekend, memorize your poetry out loud poem, and finish up chapter 8 for vocab.

Sophomores: Today we concluded "The Hero's Adventure." Please post a comment on the blog that responds to the following prompt: What did you learn about heroes that you didn't know before? Your prompt should be a couple of paragraphs long, and in your answer, you should respond to an idea posed by one of your classmates in another post. Please sign your name and period. Get a copy of Sophocles for Monday, memorize your poetry out loud poem, and finish up chapter 8 for vocab.

CNF: Today we nearly finished Randy Pauch's last lecture; please get a copy of the book for Monday.

Thursday, January 23

Freshmen: Today our focus was on learning more about the poems you chose for Poetry Out Loud. Your homework is to read for 20 minutes, memorize your poem by 1/30, and chapter 8 vocabulary that's due 1/28.

Sophomores: Today our focus was on Joseph Campbell's ideas in The Hero's Adventure. Memorize your poem by 1/30, and chapter 8 vocabulary that's due 1/28.

CNF: Today we began viewing The Last Lecture about really achieving your childhood dreams. Get a copy of the book for Monday.

Wednesday, January 22

Freshmen: Today we practiced our Poetry Out Loud poems, which need to be memorized by 1/30. Chapter 8 vocab is due 1/28. Read for 20 minutes tonight.

Sophomores: Today we introduced our second semester course. Return the disclosures by tomorrow. Your Poetry Out Loud poems need to be memorized by 1/30. Chapter 8 vocab is due 1/28 or 1/29 depending on when your block period meets. Get a copy of Sophocles for class ASAP.

CNF: Today we introduced our second semester course. You need a copy of Batman and Philosophy and The Last Lecture ASAP.

Monday, January 13

Freshmen: Today we choose your Poetry Out Loud poems, got some stuff passed back, and reviewed for the final. Good luck tomorrow.

Sophomores: Today we choose your Poetry Out Loud poems and finished your excellent This I Believe essays.

CNF: Today we held our final seminar of the semester. Thanks for the nice semester.

Friday, January 10

Freshmen: Today we continued listening to some of Billy Collins's poetry. For Monday, you need to have filled out your Poetry Out Loud worksheet and you need to come with a copy of your top three choices.

Sophomores: Today we heard some more excellent This I Believe essays from your peers. For Monday, you need to have filled out your Poetry Out Loud worksheet and you need to come with a copy of your top three choices. You also need to have finished this quarter's Echoes of the Tao assignment. Honors students, you have your final essay of the semester due.

CNF: Today we finished reading Chapters 5 and 6; they are due Monday with reflections, and we'll have a seminar then.

Thursday, January 9

Freshmen: Today we shared your "Theme for English 9" poems and listened to some of Billy Collins's work. Read for 20 minutes tonight and keep working on Poetry Out Loud.

Sophomores: Wow - you shared some very powerful This I Believe essays. We'll continue them tomorrow. Keep working at Poetry Out Loud.

CNF: We finished our documentary; we will have some time to read tomorrow, but Chapters 5 and 6 need to be completed for Monday's seminar, along with your reflections.

Tuesday, January 7 and Wednesday, January 8

Freshmen: Today our focus was on Poetry Out Loud. You need to have your eight poems read, with our arguments for your three favorites, by January 13. Whichever poem you choose, it needs to be memorized by January 30. Read for 20 minutes Tuesday and Wednesday and prepare for the final.

Sophomores: We introduced Poetry Out Loud today. You need to have your eight poems read, with our arguments for your three favorites, by January 13. Whichever poem you choose, it needs to be memorized by January 30. We also viewed segments of a Joseph Campbell interview today. For homework, post a paragraph-long comment in response to this prompt: Summarize one of Campbell's most important ideas and explain how it relates to one of the texts we've read. Remember your end of semester projects are due on Thursday.

CNF: Today we began a documentary which we'll finish Wednesday.

Monday, January 6

Freshmen: Today we read Langston Hughes's "Theme for English B". Your task is to write your own Theme for English 9. It should imitate Hughes’s poem in some ways, such as style, length, and content. Your poem must have the following elements:

1. Include his instructor’s directions.

2. Use some of the same sense of movement and landmarks that Hughes employs.

3. Reveal unique aspects of yourself that make you different from other people, as well as things that make you similar to others.

4. Follow standard poetic form: Hard left margin, single spaced, double spaced between stanzas.

5. A compelling title correctly formatted at the top.

This is due, typed, on Tuesday; read for 20 minutes tonight as well.

Sophomores: Today we had a seminar on The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Honors students, remember our next seminar is Wednesday at 7:30; all students, your This I Believe project is due on Thursday.

CNF: Today we began Chapter 5 and 6 from Freakonomics. A reflection for each chapter is due by Monday.