Friday, October 8, 2010

Friday, October 8 (E9)

Today's Objectives:

Students will identify and use strategies to untangle difficult texts.
Students will understand first-person perspective.



Today's SAT Word: Significant (adj.): Something of great importance.

“The most significant part of the first half of the Spiderman movie was when Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider.”


Today's Soundtrack: "Breakaway" by Kelly Clarkson

We have chosen this song today because the narrator tells the story of taking a risk and a chance in order to pursue her dreams. In our story for the day, we likewise studied a character who takes a big risk in order to obtain his goal.


Today's Warm-Up Question: What is the biggest RISK that you’ve ever taken? Why did you take that risk?

In a paragraph, tell me your story!


Today's Lesson Notes: Click here.



Today's Video Presentation: Click here.


Tonight's Homework: Study your notes on theme and the stories we've covered so far.

Friday, October 8 (E10 4A)

Today's Objective: Students will determine author’s purpose revealed through speaker, organization, sentence structure, word choice, tone, rhythm, and imagery.


Today's SAT Word: Regressive (adj.): Moving backwards towards a more primitive state.

“Due to the class’s regressive tendencies and inability to act like adults, the teacher was forced to assign seats.”


Today's Soundtrack: "I Run" (Radio Edit) by Slim Thug

We have chosen this song today because the narrator tells the story of running the streets "all night and day," much like the main character in Ray Bradbury's "The Pedestrian," the story we read in today's class.


Today's Warm-Up Question: What does it mean to be an “individual?”

Write a paragraph about your feelings on this issue!


Today's Lesson Notes: Click here.



Today's Video Presentation: Click here.


Tonight's Homework:

FINISH your BCR paragraphs on the THEME of "The Pedestrian" if you haven't already.

STUDY your notes on theme and the stories we've covered so far. There will be a CLOSED NOTES quiz in your next class.

Friday, October 8 (E10 3A)

Today's Objective: Students will determine author’s purpose revealed through speaker, organization, sentence structure, word choice, tone, rhythm, and imagery.


Today's SAT Word: Regressive (adj.): Moving backwards towards a more primitive state.

“Due to the class’s regressive tendencies and inability to act like adults, the teacher was forced to assign seats.”


Today's Soundtrack: "I Run" (Radio Edit) by Slim Thug

We have chosen this song today because the narrator tells the story of running the streets "all night and day," much like the main character in Ray Bradbury's "The Pedestrian," the story we read in today's class.


Today's Warm-Up Question: What does it mean to be an “individual?”

Write a paragraph about your feelings on this issue!


Today's Lesson Notes: Click here.



Today's Video Presentation: Click here.


Tonight's Homework: Study your notes on theme and the stories we've covered so far. There will be a CLOSED NOTES quiz in your next class.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Thursday, October 7 (E10 2B)

Today's Objective: Students will determine author’s purpose by applying reading strategies while we compare, make connections, and draw conclusions.


Today's SAT Word: Subliminal (adj): A hidden meaning - something which exists below the conscious threshold.


Today's Soundtrack: "Jurrasic Park" (Main Theme) by John Williams

We have chosen this song today because it helps to the stage for a full day’s instruction about traveling through time and back to the present day. This is precisely what the characters in our story for the day will do during today’s lesson. In addition, it also serves as an example of how we can find subliminal messages in everyday life!


Today's Warm-Up Question: Keep an eye out for SUBLIMINAL messages when we are reading! Subliminal messages are cleverly hidden tricks from the author (like foreshadowing!) that will sneak up on unsuspecting readers to help “give away” the deeper message of the story.Go back into the text that we’ve read so far: do you see any SUBLIMINAL messages? Look for hints or clues along the way! Write what you’ve found!


Today's Lesson Notes:
Click here.


Tonight's Homework: Dig through magazines, books, CDs, artwork, advertisements, television commercials – YOU NAME IT! We are keeping a close watch for SUBLIMINAL MESSAGES (a.k.a. “hidden meanings”)

For next class, please write a brief paragraph explaining:

1) Where you found the subliminal message
2) What that subliminal message is!
3) Why you think that the author (or artist) chose to include that message in the first place

Thursday, October 7 (E10 1B)

Today's Objective: Students will use critical reading skills to compare and/or contrast PRINTED and NON-PRINTED materials.


Today's SAT Word: Primeval (Adj.) - Ancient, belonging to the earliest times or ages.

"In A Sound of Thunder, the hunting safari travels back to the primeval age of the dinosaur."


Today's Soundtrack: None

We have not selected a song for today, as we will be screening a television program instead.


Today's Warm-Up Question:

Many MOVIES originally started out as BOOKS or short stories. How many movies that started out at books can you think of? LIST AS MANY EXAMPLES AS YOU CAN!!!



Today's Video Presentation: Click here.



Tonight's Homework:


Many people argue that there are some laws in this country (or this state, or even in this school!!!) that are simply UNFAIR or UNJUST.

Are there any laws that YOU think are unjust or unfair?

In a paragraph (+), explain your position on this issue – and be sure to list as many examples as you can (as well as your REASONS for feeling the way you do).

Thursday, October 7 (E10 4B Honors)

Today's Objective: Students will determine author’s purpose revealed through speaker, organization, sentence structure, word choice, tone, rhythm, and imagery.


Today's SAT Word: Regressive (adj.): Moving backwards towards a more primitive state.

“Due to the class’s regressive tendencies and inability to act like adults, the teacher was forced to assign seats.”


Today's Soundtrack: "I Run" (Radio Edit) by Slim Thug

We have chosen this song today because the narrator tells the story of running the streets "all night and day," much like the main character in Ray Bradbury's "The Pedestrian," the story we read in today's class.


Today's Warm-Up Question: What does it mean to be an “individual?”

Write a paragraph about your feelings on this issue!


Today's Lesson Notes: Click here.


Tonight's Homework: Read the first half of “By the Waters of Babylon” by Stephen Vincent Benet – from page 43 to the giant letter “W” on page 49. There will be an open notes (notes ONLY!) quiz on this material for next class.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Wednesday, October 6 (E9)

Today's Objective:

Students will revise and edit texts for clarity, completeness, and effectiveness.
Students will understand a sequence of events.


Today's SAT Word: Perfidy (n.): A Dishonesty, treachery.

“Even though he claimed to be my friend, the man was filled with perfidy, and could not be trusted.”


Today's Soundtrack: Irish Folk Ballads (Instrumental)

We have chosen these songs in order to help give students a broader feel for the culture and "flavor" of the Irish people. By playing folk music, we open our ears to a tradition that is largely born of the poorer class -- the very same class, in fact, from which the author of Angela's Ashes himself emerged.


Today's Warm-Up Question: Angela's Ashes Quiz (open notes)

Please write the QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS for each of the following items:

1) What religion is Frank McCourt?
2) What disease does Frank McCourt have?
3) What is the name of the little girl in the hospital?
4) What disease does the little girl have?
5) Who is the author of Angela’s Ashes?


Today's Lesson Notes: Click here.


Tonight's Homework:

Who do you believe was MOST responsible for Patricia Madigan’s death? In a paragraph, DEFEND YOUR ANSWER!

Wednesday, October 6 (E10 3A and 4A)

Today's Objective: Students will use critical reading skills to compare and/or contrast PRINTED and NON-PRINTED materials.


Today's SAT Word: Primeval (Adj.) - Ancient, belonging to the earliest times or ages.

"In A Sound of Thunder, the hunting safari travels back to the primeval age of the dinosaur."


Today's Soundtrack: None

We have not selected a song for today, as we will be screening a television program instead.


Today's Warm-Up Question:

Many MOVIES originally started out as BOOKS or short stories. How many movies that started out at books can you think of? LIST AS MANY EXAMPLES AS YOU CAN!!!



Today's Video Presentation: Click here.



Tonight's Homework:


Many people argue that there are some laws in this country (or this state, or even in this school!!!) that are simply UNFAIR or UNJUST.

Are there any laws that YOU think are unjust or unfair?

In a paragraph (+), explain your position on this issue – and be sure to list as many examples as you can (as well as your REASONS for feeling the way you do).

Tuesday, October 5 (E10 4B Honors)

Today's Objective: Students will use critical reading skills to compare and/or contrast PRINTED and NON-PRINTED materials.


Today's SAT Word: Primeval (Adj.) - Ancient, belonging to the earliest times or ages.

"In A Sound of Thunder, the hunting safari travels back to the primeval age of the dinosaur."


Today's Soundtrack: None

We have not selected a song for today, as we will be screening a television program instead.


Today's Warm-Up Question:

Many MOVIES originally started out as BOOKS or short stories. How many movies that started out at books can you think of? LIST AS MANY EXAMPLES AS YOU CAN!!!



Today's Video Presentation: Click here.



Tonight's Homework:


Many people argue that there are some laws in this country (or this state, or even in this school!!!) that are simply UNFAIR or UNJUST.

Are there any laws that YOU think are unjust or unfair?

In a paragraph (+), explain your position on this issue – and be sure to list as many examples as you can (as well as your REASONS for feeling the way you do).

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Tuesday, October 5 (E10 1B)

Today's Objective: Students will determine author’s purpose by applying reading strategies while we compare, make connections, and draw conclusions.


Today's SAT Word: Subliminal (adj): A hidden meaning - something which exists below the conscious threshold.


Today's Soundtrack: "Back to the Future" (Main Theme) by Alan Silvestri

We have chosen this song today because it helps to the stage for a full day’s instruction about traveling through time and back to the present day. This is precisely what the characters in our story for the day will do during today’s lesson. In addition, it also serves as an example of how we can find subliminal messages in everyday life!


Today's Warm-Up Question: Keep an eye out for SUBLIMINAL messages when we are reading! Subliminal messages are cleverly hidden tricks from the author (like foreshadowing!) that will sneak up on unsuspecting readers to help “give away” the deeper message of the story.Go back into the text that we’ve read so far: do you see any SUBLIMINAL messages? Look for hints or clues along the way! Write what you’ve found!


Today's Lesson Notes:
Click here.


Tonight's Homework: Dig through magazines, books, CDs, artwork, advertisements, television commercials – YOU NAME IT! We are keeping a close watch for SUBLIMINAL MESSAGES (a.k.a. “hidden meanings”)

For next class, please write a brief paragraph explaining:

1) Where you found the subliminal message
2) What that subliminal message is!
3) Why you think that the author (or artist) chose to include that message in the first place

Monday, October 4 (E10)

Today's Objective: Students will determine author’s purpose by applying reading strategies while we compare, make connections, and draw conclusions.


Today's SAT Word: Subliminal (adj): A hidden meaning - something which exists below the conscious threshold.


Today's Soundtrack: "Back to the Future" (Main Theme) by Alan Silvestri

We have chosen this song today because it helps to the stage for a full day’s instruction about traveling through time and back to the present day. This is precisely what the characters in our story for the day will do during today’s lesson. In addition, it also serves as an example of how we can find subliminal messages in everyday life!


Today's Warm-Up Question: Keep an eye out for SUBLIMINAL messages when we are reading! Subliminal messages are cleverly hidden tricks from the author (like foreshadowing!) that will sneak up on unsuspecting readers to help “give away” the deeper message of the story.Go back into the text that we’ve read so far: do you see any SUBLIMINAL messages? Look for hints or clues along the way! Write what you’ve found!


Today's Lesson Notes:
Click here.


Tonight's Homework: Dig through magazines, books, CDs, artwork, advertisements, television commercials – YOU NAME IT! We are keeping a close watch for SUBLIMINAL MESSAGES (a.k.a. “hidden meanings”)

For next class, please write a brief paragraph explaining:

1) Where you found the subliminal message
2) What that subliminal message is!
3) Why you think that the author (or artist) chose to include that message in the first place

Monday, October 4, 2010

Monday, October 4 (E9)

Today's Objective: S.W. study text to determine a proper sequence of events.


Today's SAT Word: Memoir (n.):

An autobiography that contains personal stories and an author's memories.

"Frank McCourt wrote Angela's Ashes, afamous memoir about poverty in Ireland."


Today's Soundtrack: Irish Folk Ballads (Instrumental)

We have chosen these songs in order to help give students a broader feel for the culture and "flavor" of the Irish people. By playing folk music, we open our ears to a tradition that is largely born of the poorer class -- the very same class, in fact, from which the author of Angela's Ashes himself emerged.


Today's Warm-Up Question:

We all lead lives that are filled with stories. So many stories, in fact, that we couldn't possibly remember them all! So if you were writing a memoir of YOUR life, which stories would you choose to include? Why would you choose to include these particular stories?


Today's Lesson Notes: (none)


Tonight's Homework:

None.