Last Full Day of Classes, 6/17

Thank you all for a wonderful school year.  Best of luck in high school.

I am shutting down the blog for the summer.

Here is a list of final YouTube videos and images for your fun.

And one final treat.

Go be interesting.

Day One Hundred Seventy, 6/10

Today, we practiced making mistakes on stage.  (Prezi). 
Today's Song:  "Wildfire" SBTRKT ft. Little Dragon

Today's Homework:  The final speeches take place on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.  Dress up.  Be prepared
 
Parents:  A full calendar of events is shown at the right.

Click here for lab instructions, 6/9

DO THIS LAST: Respond to the End of Year Survey. (Please do this by the end of the weekend. You comments are invaluable to me and you can remain anonymous.)

DO THIS SECOND: Answer the End of Book Questions.

DO THIS FIRST: Write your speech
Here's the format.  Copy it into Microsoft Word or Google Docs.

"Hello/Good Morning"

Hook/ Shock/ Story/ Statistic

"My rule for life is " . . . . ""

"That means" / "That is to say"/

"Let me explain"

"For example, once, a few months ago, . . . "

"That is why my rule for life is "

"Thank you."

Day One Hundred Sixty-Eight, 6/8

Today, we voted for the Promotion Poem, and worked on movement during speeches.  (Prezi). 
Today's Song:  "Eiffel Tower", Francis and the Lights/Inc.

Today's Homework:  The last day of the novels is Thursday.
 
Parents:  A full calendar of events is shown at the right.

Day One Hundred Sixty-Seven, 6/7

Today, we reviewed our classic books, and worked on eye contact during speeches.  (Prezi). 
Today's Song:  "Sutpin Boulevard", Blood Orange

Today's Homework:  The last day of the novels is Thursday.
 
Parents:  A full calendar of events is shown at the right.

Day One Hundred Sixty-Three, 6/1

Today, we listened to our detective stories, and read some Hemingway.  (Prezi). 
Today's Song:  "Everybody's Talkin'", Harry Nilsson

Today's Homework:  Please bring in your novel again on Friday and Tuesday.
 
Parents:  Now accepting entries for the Promotion Poetry and Art Contests.  Please encourage your child to give it a shot.  A full calendar of events is shown at the right.

Day One Hundred Sixty-Two, 5/31

Today, we began a unit on public speaking (the last unit of the school year.  (Prezi). 
Today's Song:  "Where I'm From", Anthony Hamilton


Today's Homework:  The final version of the detective project is due tomorrow.  Please bring in your classic novel on Wednesday and Thursday.
 
Parents:  Now accepting entries for the Promotion Poetry and Art Contests  Please encourage your child to give it a shot.  A full calendar of events is shown at the right.

Day One Hundred Sixty-One, 5/27

Today, we reviewed past winners of the Promotion Poetry Contest, and we began some literary analysis work.  (Prezi). 
Today's Song:  "Cemetery Gates", The Smiths, (or here)


Today's Homework:  Read your classic. You have two weeks left (June 9th).
 
Parents:  Now accepting entries for the Promotion Poetry and Art Contests  Please encourage your child to give it a shot.  A full calendar of events is shown at the right.

Day One Hundred Fifty-Nine, 5/25

Today, we made radio plays. 
Here are some old examples from Gunston 2008.  (One and Two and Three)


Today's Homework:  Read your classic. Bring it in on Friday.
 
Parents:  Students are making radio plays in class.  A full calendar of events is shown at the right.

Day One Hundred Fifty-Eight, 5/24

Today, we listened to and viewed a radio mystery script.   (HERE and HERE and HERE) (Prezi)
Today's Song:  "There is a Light that Never Goes Out" and "Bigmouth Strikes Again", the Smiths


Today's Homework: Half-Worksheet due on Wednesday. Read your classic. Bring it in on Friday.
 
Parents:  Students are making radio plays in class.  A full calendar of events is shown at the right.

One Hundred Fifty-Six, 5/20

Today, we analyzed a few detective stories. 
Today's Song:  "Mystery Zone", Spoon


Today's Homework: Read your classic. Bring it in on Monday.
 
Parents:   Book eight is a classic of literature.  A full calendar of events is shown at the right.

Day One Hundred Fifty-Four, 5/18

Today, we wrote bus poems. 
Today's Song:  "Bizarre Love Triangle", New Order

INSTRUCTIONS:
Here are the Guidelines.
Here are some samples.
Here is where to submit the poem.



Today's Homework: Fill in your detective chart.
 
Parents:   Book eight is a classic of literature.  A full calendar of events is shown at the right.

Day One Hundred Fifty-Three, 5/17

 Today, we read a Sherlock Holmes Mystery, "The Speckled Band". (Prezi) 
Today's Song:  "Watching the Detectives", Elvis Costello


Today's Homework: Consider mystery writing and bus poetry.
 
Parents:   Book eight is a classic of literature.  A full calendar of events is shown at the right.

Day One Hundred Fifty-Two, 5/16

 Today, we took the reading SOL.  I'm sorry you have to put up with this, but I hope you know that you have what it takes to win.  
Today's Song:  "Horchata", Vampire Weekend

MEANWHILE: if you want a copy of your poetry movie, email me.  Meanwhile, here is some joy.

Today's Homework: Consider mystery writing.
 
Parents:   Book eight is a classic of literature.  A full calendar of events is shown at the right.

Day One Hundred Fifty, 5/12

Today, we ran through a few demonstrations of point of view and play-acted some vocabulary words.  (Prezi)
Today's Song: "Toxicity", System of a Down
Today's Homework: Memorize your poem for tomorrow.
 
Parents:   Book eight is a classic of literature.  A full calendar of events is shown at the right.

Click here for lab instructions, 5/11

 
1. Take the simulated SOL test.  Answer  only 22 questions.

• go to start on your computer
• go to SOL online testing
• click "ePat programs"
• Choose Gr8EnlishReading
• Enter 1st name (or a made up name...your French name? Spanish name? what you wish your parents named you?)

After you answer 22 questions, close the window and click "submit answers" so you can see how many you got right. Tell your number to me.

2. Please respond to the fourth quarter survey.

3. Memorize your poem.  Here is some inspiration.  Watch the whole thing to see a familiar person.

4. Leave a comment:  what is your confidence level going into the SOL on Monday?

Day One Hundred Forty-Eight, 5/10

Today, we went to the library.
 
Today's Homework: Select a "classic: book to read.
 
Parents:  Please talk to your child about your favorite book.

Day One Hundred Forty-Seven, 5/9

Today, we read our poems aloud in class and considered the SOL.
Today's Song: "My Mistakes", Eleanor Friedberger
Today's Homework: Select a classic book to read.
 
Parents:  Progress reports go home on Tuesday. Book eight must be a classic of literature.  A full calendar of events is shown at the right.

Day One Hundred Forty-Six. 5/6

Today, we did our book papers for book six in class--basically a literary analysis of a poem. (Prezi)
Today's Song: "Up on the North Shore", The Sea and Cake
Today's Homework: The written poem--a pantoum, villanelle, or a sonnet--is due Monday.  The memorized poem is due next Friday.  A selection for book eight--a literary classic--must be made by Friday next week.
 
Parents:  Progress reports go home on Tuesday. Book eight must be a classic of literature.  A full calendar of events is shown at the right.

Click here for lab instructions, 5/5

1. Go here.  Do questions 21-45 and report your score to me as a percent (e.g. 99%).

2. Write your final poem--the pantoum, villanelle, or sonnet.  Print it out in a snazzy manner.

3.  Go here or  here or  here.  Weird.

4. Leave a comment below.  What's on your mind? Are you secretly a spy?  You can tell us.