Waiting for the next semester

This blog will probably be inactive until January 2004, when I am next scheduled to teach Advanced Sophomore English.

Until then, please feel free to visit our class website for Sophomore English at www.cjgilbert.net

End of the Power of One.

Today we watched the last half hour of The Power of One. We had an in class discussion about the film. We also revised our 2nd rough drafts to lit analysis. Please have final tomorrow 5-28-04 and be ready for the reflection portion of the final exam.

Power of One Movie vs. Book, RD of Lit. Analysis

We will continue watching The Power of One movie in order to compare it to the book. We will also revise our rough drafts of our final exam/literary analysis paper.

R.D. #2 due tomorrow

RESEARCH PAPERS DUE

Bellwork: We had 30 Min to write our Self-Evaluation paper & turn in our research papers.

Class Activities:
* We had 20 min to read in our books.
* Finish note cards on literary terms and turned them in.

Homework:
Read book and do jobs

Recorded by: Cameron M.

Title pages & lit. terms

Bellwork: 25 minutes to make a creative/colorful title page for your research report

Class Activities:
*Work time – literary circle jobs or self-evaluation (for people that turned in finals today)
* Find 5 literary terms in your assigned chapter and cite on index cards including author in upper right hand corner and page number. Also in the upper left hand corner write the literary technique you found. Be sure your name is on the front too.

Homework: Final Due Tomorrow! Reading and assigned literary circle jobs

Reminders: Final Due Tomorrow!


Recorded by: *Jaime H.

Proofreading & Lit. Circles

Bellwork: Review research paper handout

Class Activities:
* Literary circles
* Proofreading research papers (get at least 2 signatures)

Homework: Work on research paper and read chapter 17/do job.

Reminders:
* Research paper due Wednesday
* Citation exam Friday and you may use notes
* Extra Credit and make-up deadline Wednesday 26
* Turn in all books (except Things Fall Apart and current novel) by Friday


Recorded by: Alex K.

Sentence Variety

Bellwork: Changed the dates of the last two due dates for the draft to 5/17 for RD #3 and 5/19 for FD

Class Activities:
* Took notes on sentence length. Underline short, medium, and long sentences in our papers and revise to increase variety.
* Worked on our research papers and read out books

Homework: J Read your book and do the jobs and work on your research papers

Reminders: Next draft is due on May 17th


Recorded by: Matt E.

Figurative language in the novel & your paper

Bellwork: On a sheet of paper find five examples of Imagery and five examples of Figurative language (metaphors/similes/hyperbole) out of your book either the Power Of One or Nervous Conditions.

Class Activities:
* Revise Rough draft #2 to have imagery and or figurative language. Have a partner go over your paper someone you have not already worked with on this paper. Get feedback & have them sign off! (I statements)
* Work time

Homework: J Reading, jobs and writing.

Reminders Lit. circle jobs due tomorrow.


Recorded by: Tynesha G.

Quiz & Revise draft #1

Class Activities:
* We took the Quiz on The Power Of One #1
* We worked on our rough drafts. We had a partner go through it mark it up according to the directions. We also filled out a paper for Mrs. Gilbert

Homework: For homework you have to read chapter 8 through chapter 10.5 and do jobs. Work on Rough Draft #2

Reminders: Rough Draft #2 Due on Tuesday.

Recorded by: Chris E.

Novel characters & prep for RD tomorrow

Bellwork:
The Power Of One character activity: Pick a character, draw a picture, give 3 quotes to describe them (from the book), and describe their personality in your own words. Post around the classroom and discuss. (Be ready for a quiz tomorrow)

Class Activities:
* Review rough draft requirements.
* Work Time

Homework: Reading, Jobs, and finish rough draft #1

Recorded by: Mary LaF.

Using quotes (and not smelly fish) in your papers

Bellwork:
On a scrap piece of paper write 1-2 sentences about an actor/singer/band/something you REALLY dislike. Be emphatic in your language but not profane. Underneath it, make up a works cited entry for it with yourself as the author. We’ll use these “quotes” for practice during class.

Class Activities:
* Took notes, and worked on putting quotes in your research paper. Talk to a classmate to get notes. Talk to Mrs. Gilbert about any questions you have!
* Work time

Homework:
Reading, Jobs, and Rough Draft!

Reminders:
Rough Draft #1 is due Friday

Recorded by: Stephanie C.

Revisit your Thesis

BW: Time to finish jobs for novel & then get in lit. circles to discuss.

Class Activities:
*Revise thesis & share.
*Work on rough draft and/or reading.

Homwork: Read next chapter, do job & continue work on RD due Friday.

Reminder: Expect pop quizzes in the future!

More on citation, masks

Bellwork: Citation, take notes on what a quote looks like vs. what paraphrasing looks like. Also take notes on how to do your research notes on index cards. You will need at least 100 index cards for your research next week.

Class Activities:
* Took a look at different articles including magazine, Internet, and book articles. Then did 4 note cards on quotes and two paraphrases. Also used a blank sheet of paper for cites work rough draft.
* Worked on Masks

Homework: Get caught up on the reading of Things Fall Apart and do your jobs.

Reminders: Masks are due by tomorrow

Recorded by: Nick J.

Day of Silence, Day of Masks

Bellwork
Read the excerpt from Howard's Zinn's history textbook, pick a quote from it and write a short paragraph in reaction. Be sure to have the in-text citation and works cited entry at the end.

Class Activities
*Lit. Circles on chapters 11-15
*Mask Activity: Pick an important character from TFA. DO NOT TELL ANYONE WHO YOU PICKED. You will have 30 minutes today and 40 minutes tomorrow to create a mask that represents that character's spirit. Be sure to use colors, textures, shapes that you can justify by explaining how they tie in to the character.

Homework
Chapters 16-17 & jobs

TFA Quiz, more on citations, directions for research

Bellwork
Choose a proverb from TFA to explain on a sheet of paper. Be sure to do in-text citation and write a works cited entry at the end for the book.

Class Activities
*Quiz over TFA
*Pick up new MLA citation packet, notice all the different resources availabe for research.
*Write a research proposal letter to Mrs. Gilbert (due tomorrow) where you explain
1. What topic you have picked and why it interests you.
2. Who is your intended audience for your research paper and what purpose you have for them.
3. What types of resources do you plan to use in your research (must be more than two)
4. Do you have any questions so far?
*Looked at some of the Igbo eStorybooks and completed part of the self-evaluation on the website (#3-4 under process and #1 under Product)

Homework:
Read chapters 14-15 and do jobs


MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2004


Bellwork
Discuss chapters 7-11 in your lit. circle; Mrs. Gilbert will observe and grade discussions.

Class Activities
*Reviewed importance of citing sources (if you don't, you get a ZERO on your research paper) and that in order to cite sources you must have both an IN-TEXT citation and a WORKS CITED page. See MLA citation handout or Mrs. Gilbert for more information.
*Brainstormed topics for research paper. Topics must be long enough to write about for about 5 typed papes, but not so too big. Topics must be chosen for entertainment or persuasive purposes -- NO BORING INFORMATIONAL PAPERS ALLOWED!

Homework
Read chapters 12-13 and do jobs.

Lit. circles organization

Class Activities
*Find your new seat. Tell your group about your strengths and weaknesses in being part of a group. Play the "two lies and a truth" game.
*Learn how to do Discussion Director questions (see Lit. Jobs packet from yesterday).
*After reading chapter 7, write 5 discussion questions.
*Turn in all the jobs we've done for chapters 1-7.
*Assign jobs for the remainder of the book within your group. Everyone must do every job at least twice; no doubling up on jobs for the same chapter.
*Pick up citation worksheet which will be due at the end of tomorrow.

Homework: Read chapter 8 and do assigned job. Finish citation worksheet.

Introducing lit. circles & more on TFA

Bellwork: Illustrator- Create a drawing on one of the passages in Ch. 2

Class Activities:
* Skim through Chapter 3 and find three literary terms. Write down quote and pg.#
* Read chapter 4 & discuss with the whole class and Mrs. Gilbert about the chapter.
* We got a packet on our jobs for for each chapter.

Homework: Read chapter 5-6. One job (Illustrator, Connector, or Luminary) per chapter.

Reminders: Don’t lose the work from today because Mrs. Gilbert is collecting it tomorrow.

Recorded by: Kyle L.

Broken computers, starting Things Fall Apart

Class Activities:
* Played a game (to learn about colonialism) in the computer room because there was a problems with the computers
*We got a new book called “Things Fall Apart” and we read Chapter 1 aloud
*We made connections (in writing, to be turned in tomorrow) between the main character and the customs in the book with today.

Homework:
Read ch.2-3

Recorded by: Danielle L.

The End of JC

Bellwork: We began our wonderful day of class by predicting what we thought was going to happen next with our groups. “As a table, come up with a prediction of what is going to happen to Cassius, Brutus, Antony, and Octavius by the end of the play.” Many of the responses were very violent and involved the death of at least one of the characters, including Justin G’s very creative conclusion involving Jesus and President Bush.

Class Activities:
* We finished reading Julius Caesar as a class. Different people were assigned different parts and we just read them aloud with small interruptions to discuss what was going on in a more comprehensible way.
*We concluded class with a six-question test over the entire story. All of the questions were short-answer questions and if you read the story you wouldn’t have a problem with the test.

Homework: Rough Draft #3 is due tomorrow. We are going to be revising it in class and are going to type it up in the computer lab.

Reminders: ONLY 2 MORE DAYS LEFT UNTIL OUR 10 DAY SPRING BREAK. EVERYONE STAY SAFE AND USE SUNSCREEN.

Recorded by: Christopher L.

Final Exam Part II

Bellwork: Finished the book commercials

Class Activities: Did the second part of the final exam.

Recorded by: Tonia M.

Final Exam Part 1

Today, we did the book commercials and if you did not go today, you
must go tomorrow. We also did the mid-term essay on the literature we've read this semester.

Recorded by Mary L.

Wrapping up the Quarter

Bellwork: Put up book critique posters on the poster rails. Make sure
your name is on it. Put journals on wooden chair at the front of the
room. Sign up for book commercial order (get a good time). Review
Antony homework with your group, make corrections because you may use this on
the quiz.

Class Activities:
* Go over literary terms in 3.2 (Antony's speech) (and turn them in)
*Finish acting out Act three
* Take Julius Caesar quiz, both parts (see homework)
* Turn in Antony homework

Homework: Finish white page of the Julius Caesar quiz. Complete book commercials for presentations.

Reminders: Don't forget to finish book commercials, be ready for your
presentation, and know when you are presenting.

Recorded by: Justin J

My apologies to parents who read this blog... our school filtering software decided to arbitrarily start blocking us from our own blog today so our posting took a little longer to get up than normal. We should be back to our regular 3:30 p.m. posting schedule by Monday. Thank you for your patience. -- Mrs. Gilbert

Researching Shakespeare's sources

Today in Mrs. Gilbert’s ASE class we went to the computer lab and did the lesson in the class website, www.cjgilbert.net under the ASE section for Julius Caesar. Click on link to Plutarch & Shakespeare, and follow the directions.

Recorded by Christina B.

Et tu, Brute?

Bellwork: Summarize the events that happened in 2.1 in your Caesar notes

Class Activities:
* 2.1 group acted out their skit
* 2.2 was Acted out
* 2.3 – 2.4 summaries (add to your Caesar notes)
* 3.1 was acted out as well as 3.2.1-69

Homework: Read 3.2.70 – 279 and fill out the “Antony’s Funeral Oration” worksheet

Recorded by: Matt E.

Conspiracies in Julius Caesar & Gladiator

Bellwork: Look through the scenes that we have already read through in Julius Caesar and find examples of at least five different literary devices. Also read over Brutus’ monologue in Act 2: Scene 1: Lines 10-35. Summarize what you read and try to find literary techniques. How does Brutus now feel about the conspirators and Caesar?

Class Activities:
* We began Act 2 by reading a large portion of Scene 1. We read from the beginning of Scene 1 to Line 251. Stop before you reach Portia.
*We watched segments of the movie Gladiator (with senators and the emperor). We looked for similarities between scenes in the movie and the play that we are reading.
* At the end of class we watched a little bit of Schoolhouse Rock in order to review grammar techniques. We got through nouns and verbs (you should know what they are!)

Homework: J Finish your novel!! We are probably going to have homework over the novel on Wednesday.

Reminders: Make sure that you finish your poster by Friday and all of your journal entries over your personal book that you were supposed to read.

Recorded by: Christopher L.

"Beware the Ides of March" - and turn in your poem/proverb

Bellwork: Get our your Poem or Book of Proverbs and your checklist. Try scoring yourself including a comment at the bottom about your strengths and weaknesses.

Class Activities:
* Finish 1.2 and 1.3 in Julius Caesar, write summaries on the scenes and take notes on the Great Chain of Being.
*Put three sticky notes on your poem/proverb book labeling and explaining where you used literary techniques.

Homework: Mrs. Gilbert forgot to assign it before the bell. J

Reminders: Should be done with your independent book by Wednesday 3/17

Recorded by: Tynesha G.



SCRIBE FOR FRIDAY, March 12th, 2004

Bellwork: Draw a picture of several stick figures to illustrate negative space and levels. Label those parts. Also add an explanation of what feelings go with one of the walks we practiced yesterday.

Class Activities:
*Sign out books. Note that each scene has a summary and most lines have explanations on the left-hand side of the pages so there is NO EXCUSE for not understanding at least some of the reading.
*Read 1.1 and write a summary of it.
*Sign up for speaking parts. Read and prepare for your scene. Write a summary of what your character is saying/doing in your scene under the bellwork and turn it in.

Homework: Poems/proverbs Final due Monday

Acting 101

Class Activities:
* We did acting all day to prepare for Julius Caesar. We learned about negative space, levels and leading centers.
* We visited the fire drill meeting place so that everyone knows where to check in during a fire drill.

Reminders: Don’t forget to bring your proverbs and poems tomorrow

Recorded by: Marcus E.

C/C Antigone & Prince of Egypt, revise poems/proverbs

Class Activities:
* Wrote C/C Paper between Antigone/Prince of Egypt
* We discussed the Poems or Proverbs that you picked to write.
* Add the definitions for the following words to your lit. terms worksheet: Onomatopoeia, Soliloquy, Aside, Metonymy, Pun, Synecdoche, and Tone. After you’ve done the definitions, you can turn in your blue book.

Homework: Bring your Journal, your coat and wear clothing you can move in for Tomorrow. J

Reminders: Bring in second copy of Praise Poem or Proverbs on Friday.

Recorded by: Chris E.

Begin Prince of Egypt

Bellwork: We picked up a sheet and it was about the Book Critique Grading Sheet. See Mrs. Gilbert for questions

Class Activities:
*Watch Prince of Egypt (we are watching the movie to do a C/C paper about Antigone and we also took notes on the movie, you can C/C on Antigone-Moses or Creon-Ramses
*Discuss poems/proverb project

Homework: Bring poem or proverbs-in-progress to class tomorrow

Recorded by: Danielle L.

Poems & Proverbs & Lit. Techniques

Bellwork: Read excerpts from 13th Olympians and notice literary techniques and how they make writing memorable.

Activity: Write a paragraph about what in your c/c essay is memorable writing. Turn in paragraph, final draft and process work.

Activity: Read Psalm 23 and Song of Solomon 2:3-9 and 4:1-7. Analyze literary techniques in use in these poems of praise. (You can read these at home using http://www.biblegateway.com)

Activity: Flip through the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes and find a couple proverbs (pieces of advice) that you like. Note the literary techniques in use.

Project: Write a praise poem (to a friend, family member, mentor, etc.) OR a book of at least 5 proverbs written by you. The handout explaining this assignment is in the class crate and will be on our class website by Saturday. The final draft will be due Monday, Mar. 15th and the rough draft Tuesday or Wednesday next week.

Homework: Read your independant novel and begin work on your project.

End of Antigone, Beginning Bible stories

Finish Antigone Quiz Divide into discussion & essay groups. Complete via instructions.

Proofreading assignment: Read your R.D. #3 aloud and have someone else read the essay aloud to you and sign off on it.

Instant Expert With a partner, look up the assigned story and make a poster summarizing the key point/events. Due tomorrow at the bell.

FINAL DRAFTS DUE TOMORROW
Also staple all process work together (c/c chart, R.D. #1-3, practice intros)

Antigone Quiz & Pre-reading for tomorrow

Bellwork: As a class we reveiwed lines 18-23 in scene 5 to see what literary techniques were in use (allusion, alliteration, imagery, diction, parallelism, and vivid verbs)

Activity: Sing along to modern-day versions of the odes. Get copies from Antigone group.

Antigone Quiz (Note: essay/discussion section pushed back to tomorrow)

Pre-reading acitivity for next unit: Discussed how there are allusions to old Bible stories in three of the major religions; pointed out that we would be reading some of the stories to talk about the story aspect of it NOT the religion aspect.

Homework: Bring your R.D. #3 with you tomorrow.

Reminder Final draft due Friday.

End of Antigone, tips on c/c paper

Bellwork:
* Write down things that Creon and Haimon quoted in scene 3

Class Activities:
* Read scene 5 and Exodus from pretence literary book
* Paused in and out of the book to discuss main points from the play Antigone and add significant quotes for Creon and Teiresias
* We looked at papers of previous students papers: one an A and the other an E

Homework:
Study for Antigone quiz

Reminders:
Bring your C/c paper, with your Lit. Terms sheet and any notes from the Antigone play that you can use on the test.

(NOTE: Antigone is available online. You can read the Prologue yourself at http://classics.mit.edu/Sophocles/antigone.html be aware that this is a slightly different translation that the one in our book. But it will still help you keep up with the plot!

Recorded by: Justin G

Introductions & Antigone scene 3 & literary terms

Bellwork: Get out the Perseus/Jason sample essay (to see a sample introduction) and the handout about standard essay form. Orally, at your table, define what a “humbling” experience is.

Class Activities:
* Write better intros to our compare/contrast paper (must do at least 2 for practice, see classmate to get notes)
* Antigone: Quiz (corrected in class and then turned in), read Scene 3, do Literary Terms worksheet due Wed. on terms: alliteration, diction, foreshadowing, imagery, personification, parallelism, repetition, monologue, connotation, denotation- write definition and find.

Homework: E.C. Read scene 4 and write summary of it.

Reminders: Listen to tape and bring revisions in progress to class tomorrow.

(NOTE: Antigone is available online. You can read the Prologue yourself at http://classics.mit.edu/Sophocles/antigone.html Be aware that this is a slightly different translation that the one in our book. But it will still help you keep up with the plot!

Recorded by: Jaime H.

Antigone & turning in RD #2

Bellwork Pick up bookmark-assignments for independent novel from crate. Complete per instructions. Novel (and journal assignments) must be done by March 17th.

Activities:
*Add definitions of analogy, simile, metaphor, figurative language and hyperbole to lit. terms sheet.
*Read Scenes 1 & 2 of Antigone
*Take notes on characters (Antigone, Ismene, Creon & Sentry) about their job, personality and key quotes that really capture their point/personality. Finish notes for homework.
*Turn in rough draft #2 of c/c paper and audiocassette tape.

HOMEWORK: Read novel, finish notes for Antigone

Beginning Antigone

Bellwork: We had a journal writing today. It was about a woman who was a physic and was never wrong. If she told you that you would kill one of your parents and marry the other, what would you do?

Class Activities:
* We have new literature books. We split the class in half and read pages 308-309. Then we partnered up with the other side, explained what we read, and had an oral quiz over it.
*We also started to read the story of Antigone (The Prologue) and copied down the family tree.
*We signed up for reading parts of the Antigone story.

(NOTE: Antigone is available online. You can read the Prologue yourself at http://classics.mit.edu/Sophocles/antigone.html Be aware that this is a slightly different translation that the one in our book. But it will still help you keep up with the plot!)

Homework: The second rough draft of your compare contrast paper, and an audiocassette tape.

Reminders: If you have to read tomorrow go over your lines.

Recorded by: Mesha F.

Revising c/c thesis & body paragraphs

Bellwork: Get two copies of the literary terms worksheet from the yellow folder and a copy of “Making sense” from the bookshelf.

Class Activities: On worksheet write down allusion, analogy, thesis, transitions and vivid verbs. Get Definition and example from a text. Get from friend.
* Revise thesis to be opinionated and interesting.
* Get sample c/c essay handout from class crate. Look at first paragraph and find the thesis. Also find other transitions from one story to the next. Try adding transitions to the 2nd body paragraph. Keep worksheet for tomorrow because we’ll add to it.
* Get a buddy look at each other’s body paragraphs and circle transitions/connections in them. If there are none, work on the paper so that there are some in the in each paragraph.

Homework: Have introduction and conclusion for your paper. Make adjustments to your body paragraphs to include vivid verbs and transitions . Find a novel by tomorrow that you can read over the next 3 weeks and enjoy reading.

Reminders:

Recorded by: Cameron M.

Email, Discussion Boards & Paragraphs...

Bellwork: Get two sheets and read them over. One sheet is a compare/contrast paper assignment. It tells deadlines and how to do certain things. The other paper is a grading sheet of the compare/contrast paper. Talk about it, went over it and through it.

Activities:

Went over guidelines for choosing a good thesis and turning the c/c chart into paragraphs; see Mrs. Gilbert for examples. Paragraphs-don’t want them to be boring. Wrote first paragraph of paper. Need to turn in the rest of the paragraphs tomorrow.

Got mythology test & teaching group grades

Learned to work on epals email and posted messages on nicenet. See www.cjgilbert.net under ASE Mythology for more information.

Recorded by Eden D.

Compare/Contrast charts

Bellwork: Read over the worksheet. Which compare/contrast (c/c) sample is better or more interesting? Why?

Activities:
* The class practiced doing a c/c chart by comparing cats and dogs. This chart should be kept as a model to use for the next activity.
* Find a non-western myth to compare (using the c/c chart) to a Greek or Norse myth. The chart is due by the bell tomorrow. For more information, visit the ASE Mythology page at www.cjgilbert.net

Homework: Finish the chart (if you didn't already) and start thinking about an independant novel to read.

Weds/Thurs - Myth Test

Weds 2/18 -- Myth Test Part 1
Thurs 2/19 -- Myth Test Part 2 -- Write an essay explaining how a poem/excerpt uses mythology in it
Turn in take-home essay
Myth discussion

Homework: Read over Norse section of mythology. Know major gods/places and stories of Baldir, Brynhuilda, and Signy/Sigurd.

Mythology Review

Bellwork: Have your myth projects, a blank piece of paper, and a writing utensil out in front of you and be seated in your myth groups

Class Activities:
* We shared our projects with other classmates and gave feedback in an art gallery-style fashion, then turned our projects in, visuals separate so as not to profane them with heinous staples.
*Ms. Gilbert explained the intricacies of the 45 minute take-home essay that will be part of the mythology test, then we brainstormed themes present in the Greek mythology that would be appropriate for essays
*We reviewed our Greek mythology knowledge in a Jeopardy style fashion, with me acting as a less than perfect Vanna White.

Homework: Study for the test we will be taking tomorrow.

Reminders: Remember that the take home test/essay will be due on Thursday!

Recorded by: Sabrina S

Cookies, Hercules & House of Atreus - Yum, Yum

Bellwork: Vivid Verbs: Describe all the ways a person can eat a cookie.(munch, eat, inhale, etc…) put it in your journal

Class Activities: Finish our presentations on chapters in Mythology.
* Hercules: Draw one of the labors with a partner. Discuss a high-level question with your group and turn in an answer.
* House of Atreus: Act out the stories and take a small quiz.

Homework: Read myths in 6.1 Midas and 6.2 Amazons, Arachne, Chiron, and Orion

Reminders: Final Myth projects due on Tuesday February 17, 2004.

Recorded by: Kyle L.

Trojan War & Fall of Troy

Bellwork: Wrote about why we did not do the discussion that we were supposed to do on Tuesday and also write 2 things you had learned when reading about point of view when writing a paper.

Class Activities:
* Watched the trailer to the movie “Troy” while the group “The Trojan War” got set up.
* Both “The Trojan War” and “The fall of Troy” presented their stuff to the class. Each group gave quizzes on the info they presented and what you were to read; turn in quizzes when done to the groups so they may grade you on them

Homework: Read 5.1 of Myth book and 3.3 of myth book.

Reminders: Scan or read the chapters, if you do not do this and no one participates (except a few people) there will be a quiz over the information of that chapter.

Recorded by: Logan M

FOR Feb 10th, when Mrs. Gilbert was gone...

1. Handout called: Want to get full credit?
2. Took quiz
3. Read pages 84-90 until the end of the hour and applied to our myth project.


Scribe done by Dominique S.

Perseus, Theseus & Myth Projects, Oh My!

Bellwork: Read over sample myth adaptation and listen to sample 13th Olympian. Discuss how they fit the guidelines. Discuss how they can be improved. Be sure to follow the guidelines carefully on your report.

Perseus group presented- we reviewed the story by building significant objects with graham crackers, marshmellows and frosting. Students also needed to write a thoughtful response to the question: What would you do if you knew it was the fate of your grandchild to kill you?

Theseus group presented- we did a worksheet/maze and reviewed notes over the story before playing a version of jeopardy that had low and high-level questions.

We reviewed the difference between high and low level activities. Students should be prepared to have a quiz tomorrow over 2.1, 2.3, 3.1 & 3.2 that involves both low and high level questions. Myth groups can earn back some of their "high-level" points by bringing questions to class tomorrow that sparck high-level discussions.

Homework: Study 2.3 and work on independant myth project.

End of DWA, Cupid & Psyche

Class Activities:
* Did Part III of the District Writing Assessment…see Mrs. Gilbert to make it up.
* Cupid and Psyche (group taught class, see classmate for description of what we did, nothing to turn in)

Homework: Study 3.1 and 3.2, also work on Myth Project

Recorded by: Stephanie C.

Peer Responding to Myth Projects

Bellwork: Fill out worksheet on peer responding.

Discussed how it's important for authors to take control of the peer responders: tell them what kind of feedback is wanted, ask for clarification if the responders are vague.

It's also important for responders to be respectful -- use "I" statements so as to not hurt the author unnecessarily. Ex: Instead of "This is boring and confusing" say "I got confused when your main character suddenly went to sleep and it was hard to pay attention then."

Get peer feedback on your rough draft. Have peer responders sign off on the top of the rough draft.

Meet with myth teaching group and revise lesson plan by tomorrow (for Perseus & Theseus groups) or Monday (for all other groups)

Homework: Study 2.1 Cupid & Psyche

DWA - Day III

We took the listening, reading and multiple choice sections of the Mock-Meap/District Writing Assessment today. If you missed it, you need to schedule a 90 minute block after school with Mrs. Gilbert to make it up.

HOMEWORK: Rough Draft of your individual myth project is due tomorrow in class.

Tomorrow, if you are NOT going on the CATC field trip, then you will have time to work on your group projects and your individual project. Even if you are going on the field trip, you will still be in class for 20 minutes which will be enough time to revise your rough draft.

DWA Day 2 & Schedule Changes

30 minutes: Revise Part I of District Writing Assessment (DWA) and write final draft.

30 minutes: Write a reflection essay about the strengths and weaknesses of your essay in Part I. Be sure to read over the rubric for requirements.

Meet in myth groups and turn in lesson plan before the end of the block.

NOTE SCHEDULE CHANGES DUE TO CATC FIELDTRIP ON THURS:
Thurs 2/5 - Rough Draft of Myth Project Due (writing portion only)
Fri 2/6 - Part III of DWA, 2.1 Cupid & Psyche presents
Mon 2/9 - same as original schedule (Perseus & Theseus present)
Tues 2/10 - 2.3 Jason & the Golden Fleece
Weds-Thurs 2/11-12 - same as original schedule (Trojan War, Fall of Troy & House of Atreus)
Fri 2/13 - 3.3 Hercules presents
Tues 2/17 - Final Draft of Myth Project Due

DWA - Day 1 of 4

Bellwork: Pick up a scoring guide and put your name and Mrs. Gilbert’s teacher number 12, on top. Along with that, you will need some lined paper and a writing utensil.

Class Activities:
* District Writing Assessment Part I.
* Mythology Project Option (1/2 sheet of paper)

Homework: Keep Working On Your Group Project + Individual Projects.

Reminders: Be ready for you group presentation and work on your individual projects, rough draft due in class on Thursday.

Recorded by April P.

Myth Teaching Groups Prep

Bellwork: Have any notes and materials out and ready for the quiz.

Class Activities:
* Prep time for myth groups
* Write your lesson plan for your presentation by Monday
* Talk about homework mythology project

Homework: Myth project (3 options, see handout) Must have a rough draft done by rough draft due next Thursday.

Reminders: Catch up on your reading and work ahead on your group and individual projects.

Recorded by Alex K

Discussing Potatoes & Pandora

Bellwork: Potatoes and Writing, Examine your potato, feel it, smell it, What memories does this remind you of? What does it make you think of? Write silently for 20 minutes. See where the writing takes you. If you get sick of what you’re writing, try a different topic (childhood memory, current issue, etc) or a different approach (fiction, poetry, etc) We will use these journals as a place to explore ideas/themes/etc before we pick one to write about for class.

Class Activity:
* Class discussion over Mythology readings: Persephone, Pandora, Prometheus, Demeter, Dionysus, Narcissus or Adonis. If you missed this discussion you need to write 3 high level questions over the topics, and answer them in writing.

Homework: Read/Study 2.4 & find quotes to put in your journal

Reminders: Need Journal for tomorrow

Recorded by Nick J.

High-level thinking

Bellwork: After finding new seat, get out your graphic organizer and the grading rubric for it. Try and grade yourself right on the sheet.

Class Activities:
* Took Quiz on Gods, multiple choice and short answer (able to use organizer you made for homework!)
* Doughnuts or Baby cereal? Which would you choose? Why would you choose one instead of the other? Take notes on the different levels of thinking, discussed how to apply it to discussing literature. Write 5 high-level discussion questions on mythology, at least one on either Europa or Io and at least one on Prometheus or Pandora.
* Writing on assigned topics, how do you use your higher level of thinking skills to see if you can take your boring topic interesting? Read “But I’ve been assigned a subject” pg. 37 in Don Murray’s book.

Homework: Read/Study 1.2 (and Demeter/Dionysus to graphic organizer) AND 1.4

Reminders: Bring your journal tomorrow!! You will need it.

Recorded by Kristin L.*

Creation myths & Graphic Organizers

The following is work passed to us by Mrs. Gilbert

1. Read interviews aloud.
2. Short quiz on 1.3 and make requests for the next seating chart.
3. Do a graphic organizer worksheet on 1.3 and then on index cards for Prometheus and Pandora (see a neighbor or Mrs. Gilbert for examples)
4. Quiz on school rules, procedures & names.

Homework will be reading 1.1 and the first two stories of 1.4 (on Io and Europa)and do a graphic organizer (worksheet style or index cards) on the twelve Olympians plus Eros (Cupid) due Monday. The graphic organizer grade sheet you can get online and get any notes that you need from friend.

Signature Justin G.

Intro to Mythology

BW: Be sure that your note (about what we did in class yesterday) includes all necessary information and then turn it in.

Each day someone will record the day's events (like we did with this note) and type them up on the computer. Sign up to be a “scribe” (at least one day) with Mrs. Gilbert.

Class Activities:
* KWL/intro to mythology
* Become familiar with mythology book (note the table of contents & index)
* Study briefly information from book on your character (the name @ your seat)
* Rewrite briefly what you remember in your own words
* Discuss learning w/ 2 partners and briefly record observations of what you learned

Get a copy of the study guide and learn about expectations for mythology section

Read more interviews aloud

Homework: Read 1.3

Note: Quiz TOMORROW on names, procedures and possibly on reading*

Recorded by Lauren S.

Wednesday, January 21st

Today in class we read our partner interviews aloud and then turned them in (including both final and rough drafts and prework).

Then we looked at the results of the student survey and agreed upon a class rule: Be respectful. Since that rule is somewhat broad, we divided into groups to brainstorm what types of behaviors that would (or would not) include. We listed those on a poster for credit (see Mrs. Gilbert for a make-up assignment).

We also did a scavenger hunt (extra copies in the handout crate) and had a small homework assignment: to pretend that one of our friends had been absent from class today and to write a note to them about what we did.

January 20th, 2004

What you missed on the first day of ASE class…

Bellwork:
Pick up a folder of supplies. Put your name on the folder tab, tongue depressor and post-it note. Address the postcard to your parents. Fill out the colored handout (Student Data Sheet) and white sheet (Student Survey).

Activity:
Everyone in class interviewed a classmate and wrote an introduction to share with the class the next day. As a substitute assignment, please write a letter introducing yourself to the class (do rough and final drafts).

Homework:
Take the syllabus home (also available at http://www.cjgilbert.net) and have a parent sign the attached slip. Turn in the folder, your letter of introduction, and the parent signature slip tomorrow.

Welcome to Advanced Sophomore English!

This blog is where we'll be posting the record of each day's activities and assignments. You'll learn more about being "blogger-for-a-day" later this week.

Don't forget to read the syllabus over with your parents tonight and get their signature on it. Also don't forget to do a final draft of your fascinating, compelling, exciting partner interview.