Today's Objective: Students will begin the pre-writing process for their Q1 final compositions.
Today's SAT Word: Brainstorm (n., v.): A planning exercise to help generate ideas before a project.
"As a class, we started to brainstorm different possibilities for our final project."
Today's Warm-Up Question:
What do you think of when you see the phrase "Civil Rights?"
Today's Lesson Notes:
Quarter 1 summative writing project guidelines are available for pickup IN CLASS.
A digital copy of these guidelines is available for download here.
Today's In-Class Reading Assignment:
"Montgomery Boycott" by Coretta Scott King (story begins on p. 125)
*We will not be reading this story in class. Students are strongly encouraged to read this story on their own, as it will really help you recognize some broader themes to include in the first quarter essay.
Tonight's Homework:
Begin working on your Q1 final compositions. Remember:
- Completed compositions must be submitted BOTH by printed hard copy and by e-mail to john.meehan@pgcps.org no later than FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29 at 5 p.m.
- YOU MUST submit your composition BOTH as a hard copy AND as an e-mail by the assigned due date. Failure to submit EITHER one or the other will result in an automatic 50% ("E") grade for the project.
- This project will count for roughly 25% of your overall assessment grade for the marking period.
- There will be no extensions given on this project.
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.
Today's Objective:
Students will demonstrate mastery of key reading concepts.
Students will explain effectiveness of elements that communicate author's purpose.
Today's SAT Word: Boycott (n, v): a civil action where a group of people refuse to use a particular good or service.
"Rosa Parks was instrumental in jumpstarting the boycott of the Montgomery public transportation system."
Today's Soundtrack: "Onward Christian Soldiers" (Traditional)
We have chosen this song today because it served as a rallying hymn of the civil rights movement. In today's story, we read about the efforts of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and those he helped to mobilize to ensure racial equality in the United States.
Today's Warm-Up Question: What do you think of when you see the phrase "Civil Rights?"
This is an open-ended free-writing exercise, so write as much as you know!
Today's In-Class Reading Assignment: "Montgomery Boycott" by Coretta Scott King (story begins on p. 125)
Today's Lesson Notes: (None)
Tonight's Homework:
3A - Finish reading the story and compose a paragraph on your thoughts about segregation.
This will be collected and scored for a QUIZ GRADE next class.
4A - Compose a paragraph on your thoughts about segregation. We will finish the story in our next class meeting.
Today's Objective: Students will compose oral, written, and visual presentations that inform, persuade, and express personal ideas.
Today's SAT Word: Suspense (n): A state of heightened anxiety.
"The suspense was building throughout the entire movie, and then the killer popped out from behind a closet!"
Today's Soundtrack: "Beach Chair" (Radio Edit)
We have chosen this song today because it sings of a narrator who looks at life as if he were watching it roll past him while he lounged on the beach. In today's story, Jerry refuses to join his mother on the "boring" beach for much the same reason!
Today's Warm-Up Question: Write about a time in your life when YOU experienced suspense!
Today's In-Class Reading Assignment: Finish reading "Through the Tunnel."
Today's Lesson Notes: (none)
Tonight's Homework: Write a paragraph about any part of the story where you believe the action was particularly suspenseful!
Today's Objective: Students will determine a story's theme by paying close attention to author's word choice, sentence structure, and imagery.
Today's SAT Word: Surreal (adj): Odd, unfamiliar, or unusual
Today's Soundtrack:
"Who Are You?" by The Who
"Empire State of Mind" (Radio Edit) by Jay Z, featuring Alicia Keys
We have chosen the themesong from CSI for today's class to serve as the soundtrack to help us untangle a particularly challenging story -- Stephen Vincent Benet's "By the Waters of Babylon." This story reads much like a mystery, and so we have entered class to the sounds of The Who's famous "Who Are You?" anthem in order to put ourselves in the mindset of a real-life CSI squad.
Later in the class, we worked in groups while listening to "Empire State of Mind" by Jay Z. This ode to the Big apple was used to underscore the fact that our story was secretly taking place in New York City all along!
Today's Warm-Up Question: Today's warm-up featured a five-question quiz on last night's reading. The questions can be found on today's class notes.
Today's In-Class Reading Assignment: Pages 49-52.
Today's Lesson Notes: Click here.
Tonight's Homework:
"By the Waters of Babylon BCR"
Based on what we read in today's class, what do you think the THEME of Benet's "By the Waters of Babylon" was supposed to be?
Cite evidence from the text, and defend your answer in a complete paragraph!
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).
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.
Good news, folks!
Our class YouTube page is now synced with each of our other websites -- so you can check out each new video we view in class on Twitter, on Facebook, AND on our class blog!
Of course, you can always just head right over to the class YouTube page in order to check things out right from the source. Do do so, visit: www.YouTube.com/MeehanEnglish.
- Mr. Meehan
Good news, folks!
Our class TWITTER page is now live -- so you can check out each night's homework and assignments RIGHT FROM YOUR CELL PHONE!
Follow our class Twitter page online now by visiting www.Twitter.com/MeehanEnglish
- Mr. Meehan
