Thusday 12/15 Vocab 8

Learning Target

Vocabulary Development

Daily Activity:

Vocab unit 8: due at the end of the hour

Reminders/Due Dates:

Bring your reading materials tomorrow. Pecha Kucha presentations, start Monday--for sure. Get them done on your own time if it is incomplete and be sure to practice!

Wed 12/14 Reading Immersion

Learning Target

Read self-selected texts

Daily Activity:

Reading immersion.

Reminders/Due Dates:

Bring reading materials on Fridays. To make up Friday reading, read for 35 minutes in Hornet Hour, Study Hall, or at home. Have your teacher or parent verify by note or email that you spent quality time reading! This reading should be self-selected texts, not school work, unless you have  consulted me prior.

Thurs-Tues 12/8-13 Pecha Kucha

Learning Target

Research selected topics on the Medieval Age for presentation

Daily Activity:

Sign up for a topic, review the handout, view at least one example and visit the suggested "help links" as you put together the presentation.
• This presentation should be done in "Prezi" so that the slides can be auto-advanced at 20 seconds each.
• Go to www.prezi.com and sign up for a free student/educator account. You should use your school email and password for this account.
• When you start the Prezi, choose a blank prezi, no template, and an "invisible" frame (drop down arrow in the upper right corner).
• Once you have completed the work, there is a "gear" symbol in the lower right corner to choose a 20-second slide.
• This presentation will have image only slides. Your delivery is to be conversational and the image should enhance the content. You may use a note card with 2-3 bullet points to remind yourself about main points you wish to cover for each image.
• There is a share option if you have a partner (10 slides required)
• Individuals must create 6 slides

Reminders/Due Dates:

Presentations are due and begin Wednesday, 12/14

Wed 12/7 Unit 7 Vocab, Intro: Pecha Kucha Research

Learning Target

Explore the concept of loyalty. Apply qualities of the medieval romance to "Le Morte d'Arthur.

Daily Activity:

Complete vocabulary unit 7. Skip parts one and four. Submit. 

Review the handout that explains the "pecha kucha" research method. Sign up for a topic.

Reminders/Due Dates:

The unit 7 vocab test will be next Thursday, 12/15. The pecha kucha research presentations will begin (due) on Tuesday, 12/ 13. Lab time for this assignment: Thurs-Mon.

Mon/Tue Dec 5, 6 First Knight

Learning Target

Explore the Medieval Romance genre. Apply qualities of the medieval romance to First Knight and submit.

Daily Activity:

Journal, Mon 12/5: Choice

Write about any topic you wish. If absent, you should generate a minimum of 3/4 page. Plan to freewrite for 5-7 minutes continuously.

Viewing: complete "First Knight" and apply the conventions of the romance 

Reminders/Due Dates:

Wed 11/30 Day of Destiny

Learning Target

Explore the concept of loyalty. Apply qualities of the medieval romance to "Le Morte d'Arthur.

Daily Activity:

Journal: Trimester in Review
Reflect back on your learning this past term--in any class--what went well? Why? How have you grown in knowledge? What could have gone better?
Give specifics and set three goals for the coming trimester.

After Reading: 243-257 "Le Morte d'Arthur"

Complete questions 1-4 on p. 259. (You will need separate paper.) Then complete "Reading Check"/"Question Support" (handout). Turn in. I will GRADE these A, B, C, D--so do your best, most accurate close reading. Review the textual evidence.

Reminders/Due Dates:

Tues 11/29 "Day of Destiny"

Learning Target

Explore the concept of loyalty

Daily Activity:

Journal topic: Loyalty is still a highly valued human quality, one that sometimes requires personal sacrifice. Make a list of individuals or groups to whom you owe some loyalty. Review your list, then write a paragraph to explain which person or group is the one you would not abandon under any circumstances.

Read: 243-257 "Le Morte d'Arthur" (We listened to the audio.)

Reminders/Due Dates:

End of trimester this week

Mon 11/28: Makeup Day

Learning Target

Daily Activity:

Test: Sir Gawain and Vocab Unit 3
Other tests
Reading immersion for all the students whose work is complete

Reminders/Due Dates:

Bring lit text tomorrow (Tuesday)

Mon, Tues, Wed 11/21.22.23

Learning Target

Medieval Romance: Characteristics

Daily Activity:

Read 224-239: "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight"
Audio: story
Complete the study guide on Sir Gawain and apply the conventions of the medieval romance to the text (two handouts)
Test: Sir Gawain on Wednesday when work is complete.

Reminders/Due Dates:

Bring independent for Wed.

Friday 11/18 Reading

Learning Target

Read self-selected texts

Daily Activity:

Reading immersion.

Reminders/Due Dates:

Bring reading materials on Fridays. To make up Friday reading, read for 35 minutes in Hornet Hour, Study Hall, or at home. Have your teacher or parent verify by note or email that you spent quality time reading! This reading should be self-selected texts, not school work, unless you have  consulted me prior.

Thurs 11/17 Camelot

Learning Target

Historical/literary context for King Arthur literature

Daily Activity:

Documentary: Ancient Myths and Legends: Camelot
Take Cornell notes

Reminders/Due Dates:

Bring independent reading tomorrow.

Wed 11/16 Unit 3 Vocab

Learning Target

Vocabulary Development

Daily Activity:

Vocab unit 3: due at the end of the hour
Test: next Wed. 11/23

Reminders/Due Dates:

Bring your lit text tomorrow

Tue 11/15 Test

Learning Target

History of English

Daily Activity:

Chaucer/History of English
Test: 50 points

Reminders/Due Dates:

Mon 11/14 History of English

Learning Target

History of English

Daily Activity:

Documentary: "A Light History of English"
Study guide: remainder

Reminders/Due Dates:

Chaucer, history of English test on Tuesday

Review all notes and readings

Thursday: 11/10 History of English

Learning Target

History of English

Daily Activity:

Documentary: "A Light History of English"
Study guide: first 25 minutes (about)

Reminders/Due Dates:

Wed 11/9 Reading

Learning Target

Read self-selected texts

Daily Activity:

Reading immersion.

Reminders/Due Dates:

Bring reading materials on Fridays. To make up Friday reading, read for 35 minutes in Hornet Hour, Study Hall, or at home. Have your teacher or parent verify by note or email that you spent quality time reading! This reading should be self-selected texts, not school work, unless you have  consulted me prior.

Tues 11/8 Pardoner's Tale

Learning Target

Identify irony, allegory, exemplum

Daily Activity:

Pardoner's Tale Study Guide

Reminders/Due Dates:

Mon 11/7 Chaucer

Learning Target

Identify irony, allegory, exemplum

Daily Activity:

1. Journal: Human nature. Are we basically good ill? Take a stand and illustrate.
2. Prologue Canterbury Tales to line 50 (p. 140+)
Pardoner's Prologue and Tale p. 167 to end.

Reminders/Due Dates:

Bring your lit text tomorrow. 

Fri 11/4 Reading

Learning Target

Read self-selected texts

Daily Activity:

Reading immersion.

Reminders/Due Dates:

Bring reading materials on Fridays. To make up Friday reading, read for 35 minutes in Hornet Hour, Study Hall, or at home. Have your teacher or parent verify by note or email that you spent quality time reading! This reading should be self-selected texts, not school work, unless you have  consulted me prior.

Wed, Thurs 11/2,3 Intro: Chaucer's Canterbury Tales

Nov 2

Learning Target

Reading: understand elements of character 
Understand irony
(Chaucer is a master of character and Father of English Literature.)

Daily Activity: 

1. Do the "Quick Write in your lit text on p.139 
In class we did this with a partner.
2. Draw a picture of your character--color it. Be prepared to introduce the character to the class.

Thursday
1. Mini-lesson: parallel structure (worksheet) Read in Writer's Inc. about parallel structure at #90 and #129. Then, complete the handout (five points).
2. Read: 136-139: Intro to Chaucer. Take notes on/define pilgrimage, three types of irony, characterization strategies, and frame story, specifically Chaucer's in Canterbury Tales
Chaucer took his characters from the three major groups in feudal society: feudal (land), ecclesiastical (church), and urban (city).

Reminders/Due Dates:

Beowulf paper due today

Tues 11/1 Collaborative Paper

Learning Target

Write convincing arguments

Daily Activity:

Finalize the Beowulf paper. Hand in by Thursday.

Reminders/Due Dates:

Final work day for collaborative paper on Tues.

Mon 10/31 Up Front Magazine

Learning Target

Read closely to determine main idea and supporting details

Daily Activity:

Read "Will a Robot Take Your Job?" from Up Front Magazine, annotate the article, complete the close reading activity, and take a quiz on the piece. Hand in the close reading.

Reminders/Due Dates:

Final work day for collaborative paper on Tues.

Fri 10/28 Reading Immersion

Learning Target

Read self-selected texts

Daily Activity:

Reading immersion.

Reminders/Due Dates:

Bring reading materials on Fridays. To make up Friday reading, read for 35 minutes in Hornet Hour, Study Hall, or at home. Have your teacher or parent verify by note or email that you spent quality time reading! This reading should be self-selected texts, not school work, unless you have  consulted me prior.

Thurs 10/27 Collaborative Review

Learning Target
Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts 
Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics

Daily Activity:

Peer Review: between groups
All students in a group read for another group and offered annotations and suggestions. 
Reminders/Due Dates:

Print multiple copies of your paper for peer review on Wed.

Wed 10/26: Discussion of One Paper

Learning Target
Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts 
Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics

Daily Activity:

All students reviewed one group's essay. We shared suggestions as a class, and I modelled suggested improvements.

Mon Tues 10/24, 25 Collaborative Essay

Learning Target
Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts 
Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics

Daily Activity:

1. Intro: should include specific reference to the film being discussed. 
Clear and focused thesis 
Set up context for the idea: for example, explain what/why/how "community" is important
2. Body: for each paragraph, set out a main idea. Evidence from either text with a warrant (explanation that connects the evidence to your claim). You must make the connection for readers. Point back to the thesis
3. Conclusion
Recap the discussion and make a final insight
Note: we use "present tense" verbs when analyzing text. Ex: Hrothgar's band pursues the troll, Grendel's father, and kills him.
Reminders/Due Dates:

Print multiple copies of your paper for peer review on Wed.

Mon 10/17, 18 Beowulf and Grendel

Learning Target
Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts 
Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics

Daily Activity:

Monday:  Beowulf and Grendel continued. For each viewing you must take notes, at least 10-15 details. By the end of viewing you should have at least 40 items--remarks and responses/thoughts, lines, description of action. We will begin the paper after your fall break.
Tues: small group work on content

Reminders/Due Dates:

Bring reading materials on Fridays. To make up Friday reading, read for 35 minutes in Hornet Hour, Study Hall, or at home. Have your teacher or parent verify by note or email that you spent quality time reading! This reading should be self-selected texts, not school work, unless you have consulted me prior.

Friday 10/14 Reading

Learning Target

Read self-selected texts

Daily Activity:

Reading immersion.

Reminders/Due Dates:

Bring reading materials on Fridays. To make up Friday reading, read for 35 minutes in Hornet Hour, Study Hall, or at home. Have your teacher or parent verify by note or email that you spent quality time reading! This reading should be self-selected texts, not school work, unless you have  consulted me prior.

Thurs 10/13 Beowulf and Grendel

Learning Target
Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts 
Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics

Daily Activity:

Thursday:  Beowulf and Grendel continued. For each viewing you must take notes, at least 10-15 details. By the end of viewing you should have at least 40 items--remarks and responses/thoughts, lines, description of action. We will begin the paper after your fall break.

Reminders/Due Dates:

Bring reading materials on Fridays. To make up Friday reading, read for 35 minutes in Hornet Hour, Study Hall, or at home. Have your teacher or parent verify by note or email that you spent quality time reading! This reading should be self-selected texts, not school work, unless you have consulted me prior.

Tues/Wed 10/11, 12 Film Analysis

Learning Target
Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts 

Daily Activity:

Tuesday: Beowulf Test
Wednesday: Intro to paper and begin movie Beowulf and Grendel. You should make an effort to make up this viewing.

Reminders/Due Dates:

Bring reading materials on Fridays. To make up Friday reading, read for 35 minutes in Hornet Hour, Study Hall, or at home. Have your teacher or parent verify by note or email that you spent quality time reading! This reading should be self-selected texts, not school work, unless you have consulted me prior.

Thurs/Fri 10/6, 7

Learning Target
Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts 

Daily Activity:

Thurs: Work on Anglo Saxon "scavenger hunt"
Fri: Reading immersion
(Check with another student)

Reminders/Due Dates:

Bring reading materials on Fridays. To make up Friday reading, read for 35 minutes in Hornet Hour, Study Hall, or at home. Have your teacher or parent verify by note or email that you spent quality time reading! This reading should be self-selected texts, not school work, unless you have consulted me prior.

Wed 10/4 Remainder of Beowulf

Learning Target
Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts 

Daily Activity:

1. Journal: Wisdom

2. Socrates said, "Wisdom begins in wonder." Respond.

3. Complete Beowulf selections: pp. 58-66

Complete "Reading Check" and Literary "Analysis"
Hand in by the end of the hour on Thursday

Reminders/Due Dates:

Bring reading materials on Fridays. To make up Friday reading, read for 35 minutes in Hornet Hour, Study Hall, or at home. Have your teacher or parent verify by note or email that you spent quality time reading! This reading should be self-selected texts, not school work, unless you have consulted me prior.

Tues 10/4: Battle With Grendel and Other Lays

Tues Oct 4

Learning Target

Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts 

Daily Activity:

Journal: Respond to the following quote by Rudyard Kipling: I am by nature a dealer in words, and words are the most powerful drug known to humanity.

Read 46-57 in the literature text. (We listened to the audio.)  Battle With Grendel, Grendel's Mother, Battle With Grendel's Mother. 
* See another student for a few additional terms in your notes.

*Anyone on the field trip is responsible for what was missed today.

Oct 3 Grendel and Beowulf

Mon Oct 3

Learning Target

Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts 

Daily Activity:

Journal: Respond to the Medal of Honor video
1. Homework check (Thursday: 42-45) 

2. Small group work: "Grendel" and "Beowulf"
Cite lines from the text and make inferences based on last Thursday's homework:

Examine the details, ask questions of the text: What do we learn about Grendel and Beowulf in the text?

Things to consider: 

What are his/their strengths?

What are his/their struggles?

What does the speaker of this poem want us to know about life in this society? List details and cite lines that analyze their characters and values.

Friday 9/29 Reading Immersion

Learning Target

Read self-selected texts

Daily Activity:

Reading immersion.

Reminders/Due Dates:

Bring reading materials on Fridays. To make up Friday reading, read for 35 minutes in Hornet Hour, Study Hall, or at home. Have your teacher or parent verify by note or email that you spent quality time reading! This reading should be self-selected texts, not school work, unless you have consulted me prior.

Thurs 9/29 Grendel/Vocab Quiz

Thursday 9/29

September 29

Learning Target

Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts 

Daily Activity:

1. Vocab quiz: Unit 2 
2. Read "Beowulf"  p. 42-45.
Small group work: "Grendel" and "Beowulf"
*Make a bullet list of details:

Examine the details, ask questions of the text: What do we learn about Grendel and Beowulf in the text?

Things to consider:

What are his strengths?

What are his struggles?

What does the speaker of this poem want us to know about life in this society? List details that point to their characters and values.

Wed 9/28 "Publish" Writing #1

September 28

Learning Target

Daily Activity:

Creatively present your writing. Take care to show care and use at least one image on the product. Due Friday to post outside the classroom.

Reminders/Due Dates:
Bring literature text to class this week.

Tues 9/27: Grendel

Tuesday 9/27

September 27

Learning Target

Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts 

Daily Activity:
1. Daily Journal/Discussion: TV Violence

Journal: Many people believe that television violence has a negative effect on society because it promotes violence. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your response. 
Brief discussion
2. Vocab corrections (10 pts.)
3. Audio: "Grendel" in text: p. 38

Reminders/Due Dates:
Bring literature text to class this week.
"Take What You Need" final due Wed. Two typed copies. Make sure it is revised, typed, error free.

Mon 9/26 Beowulf: Grendel

Monday 9/26

Anglo Saxon England

Learning Target
Gain context knowledge reading for selections in Unit 1

Daily Activity:

1. Journal, Nature of Evil: Unlike the monsters in Beowulf, those in our world are not always easy to identify. Evil can hide in the most unexpected places: behind a smiling face, between the lines of a law, in otherwise noble-sounding words. Even when evil is clearly exposed, people may disagree on how to confront it.
What does evil mean to you? Write your own definition of the word, and provide some examples of real-life monsters.

2. Read 34-37 in the text and define the following in your notes. Provide an example: 
epic, archetype, allegory,  kenning, alliteration, caesura

Explain/define the following characters from Beowulf
Beowulf, Grendel, Heorot, Hrothgar, Higelac,
thane; so, who would Higelac's thane be?

3. Read 38-41 in text: "Grendel"

Reminders/Due Dates:

Typed revision due Wed., Writing Assignment #1

Fri 9/23 Reading Immersion

Learning Target

Read self-selected texts

Daily Activity:

Reading immersion.

Reminders/Due Dates:

Bring reading materials on Fridays. To make up Friday reading, read for 35 minutes in Hornet Hour, Study Hall, or at home. Have your teacher or parent verify by note or email that you spent quality time reading! This reading should be self-selected texts, not school work, unless you have consulted me prior.

Thurs 9/22 Unit 2 Vocab

Thursday 9/22: Vocab Unit #2

September 15

Learning Target
Language use and vocabulary development. I can determine the meaning of words from context, literal and figurative.

Daily Activity:

1. Quiz: Vocab Unit #1

2. Complete vocabulary Unit #2. Due at the end of the hour--10 points. See me to check out the work. You should complete the answers on separate notebook paper. (Skip sections 1 and 4.) Please do not write on the photocopy. The word sheet is yours to keep and study with--test, one week (Thursday, 9/29).

Please bring reading materials tomorrow.

Reminders/Due Dates:

Final revised writing piece due Wed. 9/28--two copies. One for me to read and one for you to creatively present. Bring anything you need other than colored paper, markers, scissors, glue/tape.

Wed 9/21 Peer Review

Learning Target: 
Writing process
Conventions of English

Daily Activity:
Peer Review Writing Assignment #1
Two copies-15 points for having the draft in class, on time.
You will need to show the writing process on final submission, so ask a classmate to review your work and make suggestions. Show me your draft prior to this so that you get credit for having it in on time.

Reminders/Due Dates:

Vocab test Unit #1 Thursday

Tues 9/20 Clash of the Gods

Learning Target: I can analyze multiple interpretations of literature, evaluating other people's interpretations of a common text.

Daily Activity:

Documentary: Clash of the Gods: Beowulf

We completed viewing and took Cornell notes on the material. This information will be necessary for completing the summative assessment on Beowulf.

Reminders/Due Dates:

Two copies of writing assignment #1 due on Wed, typed.

Mon 9/19 Intro: English Lit and Beowulf

Learning Target: I can analyze multiple interpretations of literature, evaluating other people's interpretations of a common text.

Daily Activity:
Mini-lesson: cultural literarcy
When I say "Big Brother is watching, "what does that mean to you? Discuss

1.Journal: Read the introductory pages in the English Lit text, pp. 2-3. (Big ideas: the value of studying English literature.) For each major idea (4) draw a doodle that would help you to recall the concepts (sketching through text).
2. Documentary: Clash of the Gods: Beowulf
We view 10 minutes and took Cornell notes on the material.

Reminders/Due Dates:

Two copies of writing assignment #1 due on Wed, typed.

Fri 9/16 Reading Immersion

Learning Target

Read self-selected texts

Daily Activity:

Reading immersion.

Reminders/Due Dates:

Bring reading materials on Fridays. To make up Friday reading, read for 35 minutes in Hornet Hour, Study Hall, or at home. Have your teacher or parent verify by note or email that you spent quality time reading! This reading should be self-selected texts, not school work, unless you have consulted me prior.

Thurs 9/15 Vocab

Thursday 9/15: Vocab Unit #1

September 15

Learning Target
Language use and vocabulary development. I can determine the meaning of words from context, literal and figurative.

Daily Activity:

Complete vocabulary Unit #1. Due at the end of the hour--10 points. See me to check out the work. You should complete the answers on separate notebook paper. (Skip sections 1 and 4.) Please do not write on the photocopy. The word sheet is yours to keep and study with--test, one week (Thursday, 9/22).

Please bring reading materials tomorrow.

Reminders/Due Dates:
Focused, minimum paragraph, typed. Due by Wed, 9/21.

Wed 9/17 Intro: Writing Assignment

September 13

Learning Target
I can write in complete sentences and maintain clear focus while following English language conventions.

I can listen respectfully and work thoughtfully in small groups.
Daily Activity:
Intro: Take What You Need/Colors writing assignment (handouts). Samples: discuss their qualities . . . .
The goal is to focus, use vivid detail, and to produce a polished product with NO errors. You may also choose to do a poem based on the Myers-Briggs activity.
*See additional notes on the board . . . 

Reminders/Due Dates:
Focused, minimum paragraph, typed. Due by Wednesday, 9/21. Bring two copies.

Tues 9/13 "Colors" and Writing Assignment

September 13

Learning Target
I can write in complete sentences and maintain clear focus while following English language conventions.

I can listen respectfully and work thoughtfully in small groups.
Daily Activity: "Colors" (Myers-Briggs Personality Assessment)
Journal: after completing the Myers-Briggs worksheet, review the information packet, pick out several details that resonate with you and explain/describe with specifics how it does or does not fit you.

Reminders/Due Dates:
Focused, minimum paragraph, typed. Due by Wednesday, 9/21.

Mon 9/12 Take What You Need

September 12

Learning Target
I can write in complete sentences and maintain clear focus while following English language conventions.

I can listen respectfully and work thoughtfully in small groups.
Daily Activity:

Journal for Monday, 9/12:

Youth and Luxury

“The children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise; they no longer rise when elders enter the room; they contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up their food and tyrannize their teachers.”

Small Group Work and Discussion: personal vignettes/stories

"Take What You Need" ice breaker.

Reminders/Due Dates:
Focused, minimum paragraph, typed. Due by Monday, 9/19.

Friday 9/9 Reading Immersion

Learning Target

Read self-selected texts

Daily Activity:

Reading immersion.

Reminders/Due Dates:

Bring reading materials on Fridays. To make up Friday reading, read for 35 minutes in Hornet Hour, Study Hall, or at home. Have your teacher or parent verify by note or email that you spent quality time reading! This reading should be self-selected texts, not school work, unless you have consulted me prior.