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!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
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.
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