Literary Elements Design Page Postponed

Because the overview of the literary elements is taking longer than anticipated, the literary elements design page assignment has been postponed.  We will do this next week, though--so much to look forward to.

Lessons for September 10 - 14, 2012

Monday -

• Introduced TAG line in paragraphs and basic literary analysis paragraph structure
• Review student paragraph drafts as a whole class to point out structural and content issues
• Returned paragraphs to be revised for homework

Tuesday -

• *Quick quiz postponed until Thursday due to excessive student absences for leadership conference
• Review and collect scavenger hunt responses
• Prepare table of contents for notebook

Wednesday -

• Review basic literary elements (with applications to "Gaston" and "By the Waters of Babylon"
• Primary focus on point of view and plot

Thursday -

• Complete quick quiz (postponed from Tuesday)
• Complete literary elements review
• Homework:  Prepare for the literary elements design pages

Friday -

• Prepare literary elements design pages

Lessons for September 3 - 7, 2012

There will be no tutoring after school on Tuesday or Wednesday of this week due to preparations for open house and faculty meetings. 

Monday -
NO SCHOOL--LABOR DAY HOLIDAY!!!

Tuesday -

• Students will complete oral mandala presentations. 
• The scavenger hunt assignment will be distributed and discussed, due Tuesday, Sept. 11th.
• The teacher will complete the review of course expectations for those classes who did not complete it last week.
• For homework, students will number the pages in their spiral or composition notebooks for use in class.

Wednesday -

• Students will review the vocabulary definitions for "By the Waters of Babylon."
• Students will review highlighting and discuss how to properly annotate a passage.
• "By the Waters of Babylon" will be distributed.  Students will complete a hightlighting and annotation activity with the story.
• For homework, students will study the vocabulary from "By the Waters of Babylon."

Thursday -

• Using "By the Waters of Babylon," students will complete the highlighting and annotation activity and then finish reading the story.
• Students will respond to questions related to the story.  These will be discussed in class after students have worked independently to determine the answers.
• For homework, students will study the vocabulary from "By the Waters of Babylon."

Friday -

• Students will learn about the literary analysis short response/paragraph structure. 
• Students will prepare and share a sample response related to "By the Waters of Babylon." 
• For homework, students will complete a short response independently.

Lessons for August 27 - 31, 2012

Monday -

• Students will receive copies of the course expectations/syllabus and Pre-AP English I contract.  They will be assigned to read these carefully and to write three questions or observations they have about any specific details in the readings.  These will be discussed in class on Wednesday.
• Students will be informed of the supplies needed for this class.  Supplies should be on hand by Tuesday, September 4th.
• Students will carefully read and annotate "Gaston."

Tuesday -

• Students will write a literary analysis for "Gaston." 

Wednesday -

• The class will discuss observations students noted from the course expectations/syllabus and Pre-AP English I contract.  Any questions students posed will be answered fully. 
• We will discuss mandalas, and students will be assigned to create a personal mandala they will share in class during an oral presentation on Friday.

Thursday -

• The class will complete its discussion of observations and questions regarding the course expectations/syllabus and Pre-AP English I contract. 
• Students will be reminded that signed course contracts and mandalas are due at the beginning of class on Friday.

Friday -

• Students will share their mandalas in an oral presentation to introduce themselves.
• Students will receive the scavenger hunt assignment to be completed by Friday, September 7th.

**Ellison High School will host its annual open house on Tuesday, September 4th from 6:00 until 8:00 PM.  I hope to see many students and parents there! 

August 27 - 31, 2012

Greetings from your Pre-AP/TAG teacher! I would like to welcome each of you to Ellison High School and our English I Pre-AP/TAG class for the 2012-2013 school year. We will hit the road running and maintain a steady pace throughout the year. So, get your running shoes on (metaphorically speaking); we are ready to start the race!

 

You will need some supplies . . .

 

Successful organization of class materials and notes can boost your academic success. Organization simplifies life for students by helping them keep materials in one, easy-to-find location and allowing them to quickly access needed papers. Thus, this skill will be emphazided through our use of class binders this year. The list of class materials needed can be found below:

 

• 3-ring binder, at least one inch
• White, loose-leaf notebook paper
• #2 pencils (maybe extra erasers)
• One or more highlighters
• One spiral or composition notebook

*A flashdrive will be very helpful throughout the year, but it is not required

 

**Other supplies--such as markers, a ruler, colored pencils, glue, poster boards, etc.--will be necessary for specific projects throughout the year. However, these will not be needed daily in class.

 

 Please note: students will not receive a grade for having these specific items in class. However, I will expect every student to maintain a class binder for English I Pre-AP/TAG class notes and materials. If you are trying to procure these materials but are experiencing difficulty in doing so, please let me know discreetly.

 

Once again, welcome!  I look forward to working with each and every one of you!   :)

May 31, 2012

Dear Students,

Well, we've had a full year!  I want to let all of you know what an honor it has been to work with you this year.  You are an amazing group of individuals!!! 

I know many of you feel my expectations for you have been too high, and you're welcome to those feelings.  I just want you to know my expectations were not set high to keep you from success, but they were high because I knew you were capable of a level of success even you were unaware of until you pushed yourself.  I've believed in you every step of the way, knowing that you could achieve so much if only someone would allow you to discover your potential.  I've hoped all along that you could come to develop the same faith in yourself that I have for you because I believe once you know YOU CAN achieve what at first seems impossible, YOU DO achieve wonders!

Thus, I've done all I can for now, and I pass you along to another teacher.  I just wanted to let you know I've enjoyed our time together, and I'm going to miss seeing your smiles, hearing your laughter, and watching you grow.  Always know I'll be your biggest fan, and I'll be here for you if you need help in the future.  I love you all!  Have a safe, blessed summer and future. 

Your biggest fan,
Mrs. T

Lessons for May 7 - 11, 2012

*Because of EOC testing this week, only 6th and 7th period 9th-grade classes will meet on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. 

**Research projects are due on Monday, May 14th.  No late work will be accepted for any reason.  Students with questions or who need assistance checking citations or any part of the project should come to tutoring this week after school. 

Monday - All students will continue reading and discussing Act II of Romeo & Juliet.  Act II study questions will be distributed so students may work on them throughout the week (due Monday).

Tuesday thru Thursday - Students in 6th and 7th periods will view Acts I and II of Romeo & Juliet (1968 Zeferilli version) and compare it to the text version.

Friday - Any class who has not completed Act II will finish reading and discussing it today.  Students will also review the background test and prepare for Monday's Acts I & II test.