Congratulations Voice of Democracy Entrants!

I want to congratulate each of our students who entered the Voice of Democracy essay/scholarship contest. Most ninth-graders don't believe their activities now will affect them later. I hope this essay proves otherwise. Some of you wrote excellent pieces, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that one of you will win and can start building your college nest egg now.

This was a strenuous process for some of you as you came to realize that every detail matters. I'm proud of those of you who stuck it out and completed the process! KUDOS, Kiddos! You rock! Keep up the good work and inspire others around you!

Activities for October 31 - November 4, 2011

I'm sorry this is late, but we've had two schedule changes this week, both impacting our lessons for the week dramatically. We are going to go with what we have listed below, but this may change based on school dictates. Read the board and listen in class for any further changes!

*UIL grade check (gain only) will be this week! Have everything up-to-date before Friday! All grades will be posted by this weekend.

**I think my tutoring will be uninterrupted this week---WOW!!!! I hope to see some of you there!

Monday -
Students will complete a reading check test over Part III, Fahrenheit 451 and the Part II vocabulary.

Tuesday -
Students will continue reading, annotating, and discussing "Berenice." We will finish either today or tomorrow.

Wednesday -
As a class, we will go to the book room to check out grammar books. This is being required of all students. Take your ID's with you! If time remains in class, we will finish "Berenice."

Thursday -
Some classes will participate in a tornado guidance and drills. Please listen carefully as the safety of all students in our class is at stake. With what time remains, we will review Vocabulary III and finish any loose ends.

Friday -
Students will complete a timed expository writing.

**We will have a full, unit length test over Fahrenheit 451, within the next two weeks. Please, if you haven't already done so, read the novella carefully and finish any incomplete vocabulary cards.

***Binders will be checked early next week. Listen for more details in class.

Lessons for October 24 - 28, 2011

*Tutoring for Thursday has been cancelled. However, I will be available to assist students on Friday morning and afternoon.

Monday -
Students will type and revise Voice of Democracy essays in the library.

Tuesday-
Students entering the Voice of Democracy contest will read their essays aloud; peers will offer delivery advice. Then, students will begin presenting Post-mortem of a Protagonist quotations and explanations, allowing for discussion.

Wednesday -
Students will complete the Post-mortem of a Protagonist presentations and review basic components of fiction.

Thursday -
Students will compose a timed short story using all elements of fiction.

Friday -
Students will begin reading "Berenice."

Lessons for October 17 - 21, 2011

Monday -
Students will complete the Post Mortem of a Protagonist activity. Any students who need additional time will need to come in before school to complete their assignment.

Tuesday - Friday -
Students will be revising their Voice of Democracy essays. Each day will include a mini-writing lesson (Tuesday - Peer Response Session Guidelines, Wednesday - Strengthening Verbs in Writing, Thursday - Adding Sentence Variety, and Friday - Using transitions effectively). Students will then be allowed to conduct peer response sessions and work on their revisions. As needed, students will revise essays at home and bring the newer versions to class for more responses.

**All students will have fully revised drafts in class on Monday, October 24th.

***Tutoring for this week has been changed due to after school meetings. There will be no tutoring after school on Monday or Tuesday. The teacher will be available before school Tuesday - Friday or after school Wednesday - Friday.

Tutoring Cancelled Again

I'm sorry everyone, but I received another e-mail last night dictating that I attend another training meeting this afternoon. In other words, I can't be in tutoring again today after school. Again, I apologize. I was completely unaware of this; otherwise, I would have told you earlier.

Tutoring Changes for the Week

Due to parent conferences and faculty meetings, I will not be able to tutor after school on Tuesday (10/4) or Wednesday (10/5) of this week. Please see me if we need to re-schedule your tutoring time.

Overview for Oct. 3 - 7, 2011

**All students should be reading Fahrenheit 451 and preparing the correlating vocabulary cards and dialectical journals.

Monday -
Part I vocabulary review; review outline format; analyze and outline Beatty's speech

Tuesday -
Part I vocabulary review; complete character analysis as whole class

Wednesday -
Part I vocabulary review; review setting/tone/mood, and analyze these components in excerpts from the novel

Thursday -
Complete the vocabulary quiz for Part I of Fahrenheit 451

Friday -
Review and practice preparing literary analysis paragraphs
Homework: Students will complete a character analysis paragraph following the format studied in class over the weekend.