Attention all parents of grade 10 students:
I have sent home an update of your son or daughter's marks. Please make sure to ask them for the print out. I have asked them to share them with you, but they might forget!
I will be sending home mark sheets for the other ELA classes next week.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
ELA 20 - Recollections Essat
Thanks to all of the Grade 11 students who handed their essays in on time this morning, at the beginning of class. This is stipulated in their General Class Contract that was handed out at the beginning of the year. This is taken right out of the document:
I received eight out of fifteen essays at the beginning of class. A great improvement! Other students have promised to get their essays in before the end of the day. They will not have any late marks taken off. In fact, if it is in before midnight (via email) there will be no late marks. Please don't show up at my door at 10 p.m. baring the gift of your essay. I will not answer.
For the students who do not get the essay in today, normal late charges apply. These can be found in the General Classroom Contract as well. I will copy and paste them too, just for fun.
5. Hand-in Procedure:
All assignments must be handed in. Assignments are to be collected at the beginning of class.
I received eight out of fifteen essays at the beginning of class. A great improvement! Other students have promised to get their essays in before the end of the day. They will not have any late marks taken off. In fact, if it is in before midnight (via email) there will be no late marks. Please don't show up at my door at 10 p.m. baring the gift of your essay. I will not answer.
For the students who do not get the essay in today, normal late charges apply. These can be found in the General Classroom Contract as well. I will copy and paste them too, just for fun.
7. So, What Happens When I Hand Something In Late, Procedure:
Good question. I understand that you are people, that you have lives, and that sometimes “stuff” happens. That is why you have two “Get out of Jail Free” cards (apparently I like Monopoly?). These can be used twice over the course of the semester and should be applied only to major projects, essays, etc. You must fill out the form and submit it to me at least ONE WEEK before the assignment is due. This will grant you a one week extension from the original due date.
The form must be completed in its entirety and brought to me. I will then approve or reject the request, sign it in front of you, and give you verbal verification as to whether it is granted.
Keep in mind that if you hand things in late, there is no guarantee that they will be handed back with the rest of the assignments that were handed in on time.
Those students who do not use their “Get out of Jail Free” cards can sign them and return them back to me at the end of the semester to receive two bonus points per card that will be applied to his/her assignment marks.
What if you didn’t use your card and it is still late? Simple. You have five days to get it into me, losing 10% per day, after that, it’s zero.
And there you have it.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
"I love being a writer. What I can't stand is the paperwork." ~ Peter De Vries
The above title is a bit ironic, don't you think? The grade 9 class has been focusing on irony the last few days. We looked at three different types of irony: verbal, situational, and dramatic. To really observe irony in action, we read the story "Lamb to Slaughter". It's a great story and is extremely creepy, so of course they loved it. We watched Alfred Hitchcock's version on Youtube. You can check it out here.
We are now working on symbolism. We read "The Scarlet Ibis" and are looking for symbols of red within the story. All very exciting.
Today in ELA 30, we started looking at the Literary essay. The students will be writing a literary essay on Mirage and Canadian Gothic, as described before. I am going to post the notes on Literary essays that we looked at today, just as soon as I figure out how to do that. The due date for this essay is December 16th and the students can expect to have about 5 class periods to work on it.
The Narrative essay due date for grade 11s is quickly approaching. It is December 7th, which is next Tuesday, a week from today. The students have been asked to bring their rough drafts (which should be pretty much completed) to class and they will be given time to revise and do peer editing as well as some typing. I stress that they please have a paper copy of it so it is easier to be edited by their partner.
In grade 10 ELA, we are almost done reading Ender's Game. They have homework for Thursday, and that is to read the rest of chapter 12. Their major project will be due on the 16th of December. Today some students were expressing some concern over this, and yes, they will have class time to work on it. They can expect 3 - 5 classes to work on the project, depending on how well they use their time, of course.
Until next time!
We are now working on symbolism. We read "The Scarlet Ibis" and are looking for symbols of red within the story. All very exciting.
Today in ELA 30, we started looking at the Literary essay. The students will be writing a literary essay on Mirage and Canadian Gothic, as described before. I am going to post the notes on Literary essays that we looked at today, just as soon as I figure out how to do that. The due date for this essay is December 16th and the students can expect to have about 5 class periods to work on it.
The Narrative essay due date for grade 11s is quickly approaching. It is December 7th, which is next Tuesday, a week from today. The students have been asked to bring their rough drafts (which should be pretty much completed) to class and they will be given time to revise and do peer editing as well as some typing. I stress that they please have a paper copy of it so it is easier to be edited by their partner.
In grade 10 ELA, we are almost done reading Ender's Game. They have homework for Thursday, and that is to read the rest of chapter 12. Their major project will be due on the 16th of December. Today some students were expressing some concern over this, and yes, they will have class time to work on it. They can expect 3 - 5 classes to work on the project, depending on how well they use their time, of course.
Until next time!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Upcoming Assignments
I am a big advocate for wrapping up coursework before the holiday season (no pun intended). I do not like being in the middle of a Unit or a novel over Christmas break, and I absolutely loath giving homework during that time, mostly because you wouldn't catch me doing any marking or planning either. So, in the interest of starting fresh in January with short units or novel studies until exams, there will be a lot of assignments due in the upcoming weeks.
ELA 10
The students are reading a novel called Ender's Game. Most of the reading is done in class and there are questions an vocabulary to accompany the readings. They also received their major project last Friday and are welcome to begin working on it. It will be due December 16, as decided by the class.
ELA 20
Last week we began working on narrative essay writing. The students have the opportunity to write about a memory from their childhood. This is due December 7. The students have already had 3 periods to work on this essay.
ELA 30
The Mirage poster assignment is due this Friday. Most groups are done and they are looking great. We are going to start reading Canadian Gothic this week and then we will be writing a literary essay before Xmas. Due date is to be announced.
ELA 10
The students are reading a novel called Ender's Game. Most of the reading is done in class and there are questions an vocabulary to accompany the readings. They also received their major project last Friday and are welcome to begin working on it. It will be due December 16, as decided by the class.
ELA 20
Last week we began working on narrative essay writing. The students have the opportunity to write about a memory from their childhood. This is due December 7. The students have already had 3 periods to work on this essay.
ELA 30
The Mirage poster assignment is due this Friday. Most groups are done and they are looking great. We are going to start reading Canadian Gothic this week and then we will be writing a literary essay before Xmas. Due date is to be announced.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
ELA 9 Quiz
ELA 9 has a quiz on Friday, November the 19th. They will be asked to know about Short Stories, and the main elements of short stories. They should know how to draw a plot diagram and how to plot a story on that diagram.
The following is a link for a great review of the elements of short stories:
SHORT STORY REVIEW
The following is a link for a great review of the elements of short stories:
SHORT STORY REVIEW
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Grade Four Computer
Good Morning Grade Four!
Today we are going to practise reading an article on the internet and making jot notes from that article. This will help you with your upcoming Water Assignment in Science.
You will complete the following steps:
1. Open up a word processor (Word Perfect or Microsoft Word)
2. Go to the following link http://toolooney.goldenagecartoons.com/daffy.htm
3. Read through the first three paragraphs
4. Make jot notes on the information you have read.
5. Make sure you have your name on your page
6. Print out your information.
Awesome job!!
Today we are going to practise reading an article on the internet and making jot notes from that article. This will help you with your upcoming Water Assignment in Science.
You will complete the following steps:
1. Open up a word processor (Word Perfect or Microsoft Word)
2. Go to the following link http://toolooney.goldenagecartoons.com/daffy.htm
3. Read through the first three paragraphs
4. Make jot notes on the information you have read.
5. Make sure you have your name on your page
6. Print out your information.
Awesome job!!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
"Education is a better safeguard of liberty than a standing army." Edward Everett
ELA 9
We are working at writing descriptive paragraphs. The students are thinking about sight, sound, and feel words to help them 'beef up' their writing. We are trying to stay away from cliches like "hot fire, cold water, trees as tall as buildings" in order to make our writing more interesting and original. You may want to ask your son or daughter to share with you the paragraph they are writing.
We are also learning about the structure of short stories. We have taken such stories as "The Most Dangerous Game", "The Lady or the Tiger" and will be taking stories in the near future like "The Split Cherry Tree" and "The Gift of the Magi". These stories are a bit challenging but are extremely interesting and allow for a lot of great classroom discussion.
While taking these stories we are going to come across many literary terms. These terms will be on the test, so ensure that your son or daughter does not forget about them when he/she is studying.
ELA 10
The "Life in 2060" essays are due tomorrow. We have had ample amount of class time to work on these essays including two double periods of ELA on Day 1 where they have had writing periods. Mrs. Newman has graced us with her presence on these days to give students extra help with the writing process. Today, we will be peer editing and tomorrow all essays should be ready to hand in. Thank you parents for participating in the proofreading portion of the essay! Five easy marks for your child.
We have begun work on the novel "Ender's Game". It is a science fiction novel, but not in the "Oh great. Science Fiction" kind of way. I am not a huge fan of scifi, but I do love this book. Last year my grade 10 class really enjoyed it, so I am hoping this year will be the same! If you have a chance, ask your son or daughter about the book. I am sure they would love to share. As a culminating activity for the novel, we will be doing a major project. It is worth 150 marks and is an options project - which means students will get to pick from a variety of options to make up the total of 150 marks. They can choose, say, four large parts, or do many smaller assignments. All they have to do is make sure what they do totals to 150. Like all other assignments in my classes, they will have at least two weeks notice before the due date.
ELA 20
We have been working on a number of short stories and poems that highlight our unit's theme "Recollections of Childhood". This is such a fun unit because students have the opportunity to think about themselves and remember back to when they were little. We do a lot of memory work and will be doing some creative writing very shortly. Please remind your son and daughter to do homework because there are daily homework checks happening in the class. These will fall under the "Daily Work" category in the mark book.
ELA 30
In this class we are studying two plays, Mirage and Canadian Gothic. The students will be writing a literary essay comparing the two plays in the next few weeks. This is an extremely important skill for them to acquire because the departmental exam they will be writing in January will call for them to write more than one essay on literary works. More details to follow.
We are working at writing descriptive paragraphs. The students are thinking about sight, sound, and feel words to help them 'beef up' their writing. We are trying to stay away from cliches like "hot fire, cold water, trees as tall as buildings" in order to make our writing more interesting and original. You may want to ask your son or daughter to share with you the paragraph they are writing.
We are also learning about the structure of short stories. We have taken such stories as "The Most Dangerous Game", "The Lady or the Tiger" and will be taking stories in the near future like "The Split Cherry Tree" and "The Gift of the Magi". These stories are a bit challenging but are extremely interesting and allow for a lot of great classroom discussion.
While taking these stories we are going to come across many literary terms. These terms will be on the test, so ensure that your son or daughter does not forget about them when he/she is studying.
ELA 10
The "Life in 2060" essays are due tomorrow. We have had ample amount of class time to work on these essays including two double periods of ELA on Day 1 where they have had writing periods. Mrs. Newman has graced us with her presence on these days to give students extra help with the writing process. Today, we will be peer editing and tomorrow all essays should be ready to hand in. Thank you parents for participating in the proofreading portion of the essay! Five easy marks for your child.
We have begun work on the novel "Ender's Game". It is a science fiction novel, but not in the "Oh great. Science Fiction" kind of way. I am not a huge fan of scifi, but I do love this book. Last year my grade 10 class really enjoyed it, so I am hoping this year will be the same! If you have a chance, ask your son or daughter about the book. I am sure they would love to share. As a culminating activity for the novel, we will be doing a major project. It is worth 150 marks and is an options project - which means students will get to pick from a variety of options to make up the total of 150 marks. They can choose, say, four large parts, or do many smaller assignments. All they have to do is make sure what they do totals to 150. Like all other assignments in my classes, they will have at least two weeks notice before the due date.
ELA 20
We have been working on a number of short stories and poems that highlight our unit's theme "Recollections of Childhood". This is such a fun unit because students have the opportunity to think about themselves and remember back to when they were little. We do a lot of memory work and will be doing some creative writing very shortly. Please remind your son and daughter to do homework because there are daily homework checks happening in the class. These will fall under the "Daily Work" category in the mark book.
ELA 30
In this class we are studying two plays, Mirage and Canadian Gothic. The students will be writing a literary essay comparing the two plays in the next few weeks. This is an extremely important skill for them to acquire because the departmental exam they will be writing in January will call for them to write more than one essay on literary works. More details to follow.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Outstanding Assignments
As previously mentioned, the grade 11 "Something to Write Home About" assignment was due today. I received only six out of 15 assignments, which is quite disheartening. Please make sure that you hand it in tomorrow, or I will not be able to grade it in time to get the mark on the report card, and a zero will appear. The normal late policy is in effect, which is 10% per day for five days, and after that it is a goose egg.
Please remember that I have deadlines too! Marks are due Monday morning.
Please remember that I have deadlines too! Marks are due Monday morning.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
"The future belongs to those who prepare for it." Ralph Waldo Emerson
Report cards are around the corner! Therefore, there are some tests and assignments due. It would be in student's best interest to prepare for these things. Here are some reminders about previously mentioned items:
ELA 20 - To Kill a Mockingbird Unit Test, tomorrow Thursday the 28th
- Something to write home about letter, due tomorrow as well
ELA 10 - Unknown Unit Test, tomorrow Thursday the 28th
ELA 20 - To Kill a Mockingbird Unit Test, tomorrow Thursday the 28th
- Something to write home about letter, due tomorrow as well
ELA 10 - Unknown Unit Test, tomorrow Thursday the 28th
Friday, October 22, 2010
"Children will not remember you for the material things you provided but for the feeling that you cherished them." Richard L. Evans
Grade 10s rock!!
I just wanted to let everyone know how awesome the grade 10 class has been doing this year. Their second assignment, "Dracula on Tour", was due this past Tuesday. It involved making a fictitious tour advertisement for the upcoming tour of the play Dracula. They could do anything from making a poster to creating a video trailer. On Tuesday, I received amazing projects, all unique and well done. AND every project was handed in on the due date. Very impressive grade 10s! I let them know how appreciative I was by bringing them popcorn the following day. I challenge other classes to be as diligent as this one, and I will reward with some sort of treat!
We are still in the first unit which is based all around the "unknown". In class we have been discussing the future, and unknowns associated with it. Yesterday, the students began their pre-writing activities for their essay "Life in 2060". The students are going to be using the writing process to complete an essay about what they think life will be like 50 years from now. Your child has a list of the requirements in his/her ELA binder if you would like more information about it. The essay is due November ninth.
In order to break up the material a bit, the Grade 10s will be having a mid-unit exam on the 28th of October. This text will cover all material that we have taken up to this point, and will therefore make the end-unit exam much more manageable.
Also, we have an exciting field trip coming up with the grade 10s. The Vic Juba Theatre is putting on a production of "The Monkey's Paw", which is a play that we have already read as a class. I have secured 20 seats for the play, 12 which will be filled with students from grade 10, one for me and one for Mrs. Shirtliffe. That means that we will have 6 seats left, some which are going to be offered to senior art students, and the others will be open for parents who are interested in driving students and attending the play. If you would like to attend, please let me know!!
In other ELA news, ELA 9 just received their Outsiders exams back. You may want to inquire as to how your son/daughter did on the exam, and I encourage you to ask them. If you would like more information about it, feel free to contact me at school, or we could talk about it at P T interviews.
The grade 11s are working on culminating activities of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Their unit exam is on October 28, which is next Thursday. The "Something to Write Home About" letter assignment is also due on the 28th. Next week we will be beginning essay writing as the students choose from a number of given topics and write a literary essay on the novel. They will only be required to use one source, the novel itself, and so it requires a deep understanding of their chosen topic. Students should choose something they are interested in and something that they can relate to or are excited about writing.
ELA 30 is continuing on in the Canada-based unit where we are about to begin the Regional Perspectives sub-theme. We will be reading some classic Prairie literature like A Field of Wheat, The Painted Door, and The Lamp at Noon. You may remember these from your English course, and while they are 'oldies;, they are most definitely 'goodies'. In fact, Sinclair Ross' story "The Painted Door" is still the most heavily referenced piece of literature on the Saskatchewan Departmental for ELA 30. I think that says that students love the quietly shocking plot of John, Steve, and Anne!
Stay tuned for more updates.
I just wanted to let everyone know how awesome the grade 10 class has been doing this year. Their second assignment, "Dracula on Tour", was due this past Tuesday. It involved making a fictitious tour advertisement for the upcoming tour of the play Dracula. They could do anything from making a poster to creating a video trailer. On Tuesday, I received amazing projects, all unique and well done. AND every project was handed in on the due date. Very impressive grade 10s! I let them know how appreciative I was by bringing them popcorn the following day. I challenge other classes to be as diligent as this one, and I will reward with some sort of treat!
We are still in the first unit which is based all around the "unknown". In class we have been discussing the future, and unknowns associated with it. Yesterday, the students began their pre-writing activities for their essay "Life in 2060". The students are going to be using the writing process to complete an essay about what they think life will be like 50 years from now. Your child has a list of the requirements in his/her ELA binder if you would like more information about it. The essay is due November ninth.
In order to break up the material a bit, the Grade 10s will be having a mid-unit exam on the 28th of October. This text will cover all material that we have taken up to this point, and will therefore make the end-unit exam much more manageable.
Also, we have an exciting field trip coming up with the grade 10s. The Vic Juba Theatre is putting on a production of "The Monkey's Paw", which is a play that we have already read as a class. I have secured 20 seats for the play, 12 which will be filled with students from grade 10, one for me and one for Mrs. Shirtliffe. That means that we will have 6 seats left, some which are going to be offered to senior art students, and the others will be open for parents who are interested in driving students and attending the play. If you would like to attend, please let me know!!
In other ELA news, ELA 9 just received their Outsiders exams back. You may want to inquire as to how your son/daughter did on the exam, and I encourage you to ask them. If you would like more information about it, feel free to contact me at school, or we could talk about it at P T interviews.
The grade 11s are working on culminating activities of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Their unit exam is on October 28, which is next Thursday. The "Something to Write Home About" letter assignment is also due on the 28th. Next week we will be beginning essay writing as the students choose from a number of given topics and write a literary essay on the novel. They will only be required to use one source, the novel itself, and so it requires a deep understanding of their chosen topic. Students should choose something they are interested in and something that they can relate to or are excited about writing.
ELA 30 is continuing on in the Canada-based unit where we are about to begin the Regional Perspectives sub-theme. We will be reading some classic Prairie literature like A Field of Wheat, The Painted Door, and The Lamp at Noon. You may remember these from your English course, and while they are 'oldies;, they are most definitely 'goodies'. In fact, Sinclair Ross' story "The Painted Door" is still the most heavily referenced piece of literature on the Saskatchewan Departmental for ELA 30. I think that says that students love the quietly shocking plot of John, Steve, and Anne!
Stay tuned for more updates.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Grade Four Computer
Click here to go to the friendly letter page:
http://www.abcya.com/friendly_letter_maker.htm
http://www.abcya.com/friendly_letter_maker.htm
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
"It's a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best you very often get it." ~ Somerset Maugham
Yesterday the grade 10 class received an assignment called "Dracula on Tour". This assignment requires a lot of creativity, as they will, either in groups or on their own, design a poster or a video that advertises the upcoming tour of the play Dracula. The students have been given a detailed assignment sheet that outlines what is expected of them. I cannot wait to see what these young brilliant minds come up with!
It will be due Tuesday, October 19th, exactly two weeks from today. If they would like to use one of their 'Get out of Jail Free Cards', it has to be submitted by next Tuesday, the 12th of October.
Students will be given three class periods to work on their projects, work ethic permitting, and after this the rest of the project will be completed on their own time.
If you have any questions about this please let me know!
It will be due Tuesday, October 19th, exactly two weeks from today. If they would like to use one of their 'Get out of Jail Free Cards', it has to be submitted by next Tuesday, the 12th of October.
Students will be given three class periods to work on their projects, work ethic permitting, and after this the rest of the project will be completed on their own time.
If you have any questions about this please let me know!
Monday, October 4, 2010
"Canada is the only country in the world that knows how to live without an identity." Herbert Marshall McLuhan
The ELA 30 A course is centred around Canada and Canadian Literature. For some reason, I find Canadian literature quite interesting... the Margarets (Atwood and Laurence), Yann Martell, Stephan Leacock, Alice Munroe.. I took every Canadian Lit class offered by the Department of English. But I was destined to be an English teacher, and even some of the best English teachers despise CanLit. Sooooooo... in an effort to make this course interesting to students, I try to incorporate more interesting snid-bits of CanLit for them to enjoy.
Last week I shared a chapter from Anishinaabe World that speaks to issues of aboriginal rights and misconceptions that Canadians often harbor about aboriginal issues. It is a great read, and if you would like to hear more about it please let me know.
Two other titles that I am looking forward to sharing in class are both by Will Furguson. His first book Why I Hate Canadians is eye-opening read. You can find a review here http://www.quillandquire.com/reviews/review.cfm?review_id=360. I am currently reading a book from the same author called How to be Canadian, which is the same in that it uses punchy humour and a bit of sarcasm to keep you interested. The second book focuses more on cliche Canadianisms, and really pokes fun at Canada. The best part about these two selections is that they are books about Canada, written by a Canadian who makes fun of Canadians. A little bit easier to read than Margaret Atwood's Survival which is a bit dry. My attempt at reading it last year while teaching this course left the bookmark stuck somewhere in chapter two.
All this talk about Canada reminded me to send a reminder about grade 12's upcoming Oral Essay - the written portion is due Thursday. Start practicing!
Last week I shared a chapter from Anishinaabe World that speaks to issues of aboriginal rights and misconceptions that Canadians often harbor about aboriginal issues. It is a great read, and if you would like to hear more about it please let me know.
Two other titles that I am looking forward to sharing in class are both by Will Furguson. His first book Why I Hate Canadians is eye-opening read. You can find a review here http://www.quillandquire.com/reviews/review.cfm?review_id=360. I am currently reading a book from the same author called How to be Canadian, which is the same in that it uses punchy humour and a bit of sarcasm to keep you interested. The second book focuses more on cliche Canadianisms, and really pokes fun at Canada. The best part about these two selections is that they are books about Canada, written by a Canadian who makes fun of Canadians. A little bit easier to read than Margaret Atwood's Survival which is a bit dry. My attempt at reading it last year while teaching this course left the bookmark stuck somewhere in chapter two.
All this talk about Canada reminded me to send a reminder about grade 12's upcoming Oral Essay - the written portion is due Thursday. Start practicing!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
"Stay gold Ponyboy, stay gold." ~ Johnny from the Outsiders
As I type, the grade nines are working on their Outsiders Major Projects. I am really impressed with their creativity! A lot of the students are using Prezi, a program online that is used for a "Power Point" type of presentation, but it is a little bit cooler because it has awesome graphics and movement. You can check it out at http://prezi.com/, or better yet, ask your son or daughter to show theirs to you!
Just a quick reminder that the major projects are due October 8th. Grade nine students have today and tomorrow's class time to work on them, along with the three previous periods that were given, and the remainder of the work must be done on their own time. Not everything requires a computer, but if your child does not have access to a computer or internet at home, remember that the computer lab is open every noon hour and I am often here after school till later, so I would be happy to supervise.
The major project consists of the following elements and will be handed in as a portfolio:
1. Two "Tuff' Time Journal Entries
2. A name identity or bio poem for Ponyboy, a main character in the novel
3. A personal reflection of 250 words
4. Comparing Identities, where the students are to choose a character from the novel whom they feel that they can relate to and do a presentation.
Happy writing!
Just a quick reminder that the major projects are due October 8th. Grade nine students have today and tomorrow's class time to work on them, along with the three previous periods that were given, and the remainder of the work must be done on their own time. Not everything requires a computer, but if your child does not have access to a computer or internet at home, remember that the computer lab is open every noon hour and I am often here after school till later, so I would be happy to supervise.
The major project consists of the following elements and will be handed in as a portfolio:
1. Two "Tuff' Time Journal Entries
2. A name identity or bio poem for Ponyboy, a main character in the novel
3. A personal reflection of 250 words
4. Comparing Identities, where the students are to choose a character from the novel whom they feel that they can relate to and do a presentation.
Happy writing!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." ~ Douglas Adams
English is unique in that it takes a while to 'get into' the content before it is even worth doing any kind of evaluation. In these few short weeks the students have done so much work, and they are beginning to show what they have learned by doing projects.
ELA 30
The "Profile of a Canadian" formal oral essay that has been previously mentioned is now due on October 7th due to next week's general craziness. The original due date was September 30, so needless to say the students were thrilled!
The Rants that the students handed in were very enjoyable to read. Way to go grade 12s!
ELA 9
We have just finished reading The Outsiders. It is safe to say that it was very well received, although some students did question certain 'turns' in the plot. Love it! The major project for this novel will be due October 8, right before Thanksgiving. Students will be given class time, assuming they use it properly.
Until next time!
ELA 30
The "Profile of a Canadian" formal oral essay that has been previously mentioned is now due on October 7th due to next week's general craziness. The original due date was September 30, so needless to say the students were thrilled!
The Rants that the students handed in were very enjoyable to read. Way to go grade 12s!
ELA 9
We have just finished reading The Outsiders. It is safe to say that it was very well received, although some students did question certain 'turns' in the plot. Love it! The major project for this novel will be due October 8, right before Thanksgiving. Students will be given class time, assuming they use it properly.
Until next time!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
"Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing." ~ Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird
The above quote is one of my personal favourites from a classic book that we are reading in grade 11 ELA. No matter how many times I read it, I always discover one more thing that I love about it. The themes in this novel, TKAM, as it is commonly abbreviated to in the world of English teachers, are ever-present in our society. Racism, prejudice, acceptance, innocence, just to name a few, are topics that students 'get' because they face many of these things in their lives.
I am really impressed with how the grade 11s are picking up on important details and understanding the characters. If your son or daughter feels like we are whipping through the readings at mach speeds, it is just because there are two parts to the book and while the first one is worthwhile, the second is the one that requires the most focus in the classroom.
As we work through the second half, you might want to ask your son or daughter to explain what is happening in the novel to you. It really is an amazing story, and even if you vaguely remember Scout, Jem and Dill from highschool, the novel really does allow for some dinner time conversation. Or, 'driving you to practice here is something to eat don't forget to do your laundry' conversation. You're busy.
Among other smaller activities that will be done in conjunction with the novel, the students will be writing their first essay of the year. It will be a literary essay, which means they will be exploring the meaning and construction of TKAM, and will be based only on one primary source, the novel itself. I will post the due date after it is assigned.
If your child needs some assistance with his or her readings or general understanding of the novel, here are some websites that I recommend:
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/mocking/
http://www.novelguide.com/tokillamockingbird/index.html
If you have any questions, please contact me!
I am really impressed with how the grade 11s are picking up on important details and understanding the characters. If your son or daughter feels like we are whipping through the readings at mach speeds, it is just because there are two parts to the book and while the first one is worthwhile, the second is the one that requires the most focus in the classroom.
As we work through the second half, you might want to ask your son or daughter to explain what is happening in the novel to you. It really is an amazing story, and even if you vaguely remember Scout, Jem and Dill from highschool, the novel really does allow for some dinner time conversation. Or, 'driving you to practice here is something to eat don't forget to do your laundry' conversation. You're busy.
Among other smaller activities that will be done in conjunction with the novel, the students will be writing their first essay of the year. It will be a literary essay, which means they will be exploring the meaning and construction of TKAM, and will be based only on one primary source, the novel itself. I will post the due date after it is assigned.
If your child needs some assistance with his or her readings or general understanding of the novel, here are some websites that I recommend:
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/mocking/
http://www.novelguide.com/tokillamockingbird/index.html
If you have any questions, please contact me!
"Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out." ~ James B. Conant
I am extremely proud of my grade 10 ELA class. Their first assignment was due yesterday, the Tell-Tale Heart Writing assignment, and every single person in the class handed it in. ON TIME. Way to go students, awesome job. They have set the bar high for the rest of my classes, and I can hardly wait to sit down and read their work. If you are a parent of a grade 10 student, let them know how great they are. I know I will!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
“The existence of forgetting has never been proved: we only know that some things do not come to our mind when we want them to” ~ Friedrich Nietzsche
There have been a few problems with forgetting books at home, specifically in grade 9 & 10 ELA. Sometimes students forget their novels we are reading, their binders, or both. It is important that these items are brought back to school everyday we have class.
I asked the grade 10 class what they thought was a reasonable consequence for not coming to class prepared. Their suggestions were more harsh than ones that I would have suggested, but we decided that staying in for one short break would be fair. Today in class I had the same problem with grade 9, and surprisingly enough they came up with the same result.
So, there you have it!
Also - a reminder for ELA 30 students (and parents) that Oral Essays are due on September 30th. At this point, a written copy needs to be handed in and then speeches will follow.
Can't wait to read/hear them!
I asked the grade 10 class what they thought was a reasonable consequence for not coming to class prepared. Their suggestions were more harsh than ones that I would have suggested, but we decided that staying in for one short break would be fair. Today in class I had the same problem with grade 9, and surprisingly enough they came up with the same result.
So, there you have it!
Also - a reminder for ELA 30 students (and parents) that Oral Essays are due on September 30th. At this point, a written copy needs to be handed in and then speeches will follow.
Can't wait to read/hear them!
Friday, September 10, 2010
"Better three hours too soon than a minute too late." ~ William Shakespeare
Now that we are getting into the third week of school - there is inevitably going to be upcoming deadlines for students. Although all students have been thoroughly introduced to my classroom's late policy, I think it is a good idea that parents are aware of it as well. This is directly copied and pasted out of the General Classroom Contract that your son/daughter(s) received at the beginning of the year.
7. So, What Happens When I Hand Something In Late, Procedure:
Good question. I understand that you are people, that you have lives, and that sometimes “stuff” happens. That is why you have two “Get out of Jail Free” cards (apparently I like Monopoly?). These can be used twice over the course of the semester and should be applied only to major projects, essays, etc. You must fill out the form and submit it to me at least ONE WEEK before the assignment is due. This will grant you a one week extension from the original due date.
The form must be completed in its entirety and brought to me. I will then approve or reject the request, sign it in front of you, and give you verbal verification as to whether it is granted.
Keep in mind that if you hand things in late, there is no guarantee that they will be handed back with the rest of the assignments that were handed in on time.
Those students who do not use their “Get out of Jail Free” cards can sign them and return them back to me at the end of the semester to receive two bonus points per card that will be applied to his/her assignment marks.
What if you didn’t use your card and it is still late? Simple. You have five days to get it into me, losing 10% per day, after that, it’s zero.
If you have any questions about this, please do not hesitate to contact me via email or call me at the school!
The following due dates have been set:
Grade 10 ELA September 15th - Tell-tale Heart Assignment
Grade 12 ELA September 17th - Rant Assignment
7. So, What Happens When I Hand Something In Late, Procedure:
Good question. I understand that you are people, that you have lives, and that sometimes “stuff” happens. That is why you have two “Get out of Jail Free” cards (apparently I like Monopoly?). These can be used twice over the course of the semester and should be applied only to major projects, essays, etc. You must fill out the form and submit it to me at least ONE WEEK before the assignment is due. This will grant you a one week extension from the original due date.
The form must be completed in its entirety and brought to me. I will then approve or reject the request, sign it in front of you, and give you verbal verification as to whether it is granted.
Keep in mind that if you hand things in late, there is no guarantee that they will be handed back with the rest of the assignments that were handed in on time.
Those students who do not use their “Get out of Jail Free” cards can sign them and return them back to me at the end of the semester to receive two bonus points per card that will be applied to his/her assignment marks.
What if you didn’t use your card and it is still late? Simple. You have five days to get it into me, losing 10% per day, after that, it’s zero.
If you have any questions about this, please do not hesitate to contact me via email or call me at the school!
The following due dates have been set:
Grade 10 ELA September 15th - Tell-tale Heart Assignment
Grade 12 ELA September 17th - Rant Assignment
Friday, September 3, 2010
Beware of the man of one book. ~ Anonymous
There is nothing like settling into a good book. That is why all of my ELA students from grades 9-12 have the opportunity to read for the first ten minutes of every class. While there were a few groans and complaints the first day, I can tell that the students are really enjoying this time. In fact, today I wanted to get started as soon as the bell rang on course work, and there those groans were again. Success!
Not only are all of the students in ELA reading their own selection of a novel or non-fiction book, each class is also starting to work on a piece of longer fiction as well:
ELA 9 - The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
ELA 10 - Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
ELA 20 - To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
ELA 30 - Mirage by Gwen Ringwood
I find that the students love to sink their teeth into something more substantial at the beginning of the year. Instead of just doing "a bunch of poems", they can feel like they are accomplishing something. So, parents, maybe your dinnertime discussion can be about gangs in the 60s or racism in the deep south? No? Well, an English teacher can dream...
Another controversial attempt taking place in my classroom right now is surrounding handwriting. I mean real, old-school, loop-de-loop handwriting. Apparently, and this was first brought to my attention by the grade 10s, kids don't handwrite anymore. They couldn't read my handwriting on the board (which IS legible) and 'forgot' how to since grade four. Sooooooooo new rule in my ELA classes, all work done by hand must be written, not printed. Can you hear the groans? I'll let you know how it goes.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to give me a call or stop by after school.
Not only are all of the students in ELA reading their own selection of a novel or non-fiction book, each class is also starting to work on a piece of longer fiction as well:
ELA 9 - The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
ELA 10 - Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
ELA 20 - To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
ELA 30 - Mirage by Gwen Ringwood
I find that the students love to sink their teeth into something more substantial at the beginning of the year. Instead of just doing "a bunch of poems", they can feel like they are accomplishing something. So, parents, maybe your dinnertime discussion can be about gangs in the 60s or racism in the deep south? No? Well, an English teacher can dream...
Another controversial attempt taking place in my classroom right now is surrounding handwriting. I mean real, old-school, loop-de-loop handwriting. Apparently, and this was first brought to my attention by the grade 10s, kids don't handwrite anymore. They couldn't read my handwriting on the board (which IS legible) and 'forgot' how to since grade four. Sooooooooo new rule in my ELA classes, all work done by hand must be written, not printed. Can you hear the groans? I'll let you know how it goes.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to give me a call or stop by after school.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
First Day of School
Today was my first day at Hillmond Central School. It was amazing to meet all of the students and begin to learn about the community. I am very excited to teach Grade 9, 10, 11, 12, English Language Arts and 7, 8, 9 Home Economics.
Later, I will post my classroom guidelines and the classroom contract. If you have any questions, please let me know. I will be happy to help!
Later, I will post my classroom guidelines and the classroom contract. If you have any questions, please let me know. I will be happy to help!
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