Day One Hundred Twenty-Nine, 4/6

Today, we created some flashcards to help us remember key terms, and we anthropologized ourselves. (Prezi)
Today's Song: "Dashboard", Modest Mouse (2007)
Today's Homework: Pack a lunch for the field trip and get ready to zoo.
 
Parents: The next book students must read is a book of poetry. We are going to the library tomorrow and to the zoo on Thursday.  A full calendar of events is shown at the right.

Day One Hundred Twenty-Eight, 4/5

Today, we visited the library to practice using the new ACORN and to select our poetry book. (Here is a list of poets). (Prezi)
Today's Song: "Chameleon", Herbie Hancock (1973)
Today's Homework: A vocabulary worksheet. Begin selecting Book Seven--a book of poetry.
 
Parents: The next book students must read is a book of poetry. We are going to the library tomorrow and to the zoo on Thursday.  A full calendar of events is shown at the right.

Day One Hundred Twenty-Seven, 4/4

Today, we read a story called "Body Rituals of the Nacirema". (Link)
Today's Song: "Hip Hop Hooray", Naughty By Nature (1993)
Today's Homework: Begin selecting Book Seven--a book of poetry.
 
Parents: The next book students must read is a book of poetry. We are going to the library tomorrow and to the zoo on Thursday.  A full calendar of events is shown at the right.

Happy Weekend

Congratulations on the completion of another quarter. One to go!

There is a whole bunch of new fun on the student page.

Click here for lab instructions, 3/31

1. Go to Holt. Log in. Take the two tests, named "Entry-Level" and see me for your scores when you are done.

2. Revise an essay. It's good practice and it might help you get your grade where you want it to be.

3. Take the Third Quarter Survey.

Day One Hundred Twenty-Four, 3/30

Today, we watched a bit of video, relating to the recently completed novels.
Today's Song: 

"Heart in Your Heartbreak", The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (2011)
Today's Homework: Work on your book paper.
 
Parents: The independent book paper is due on or before March 31st.

Day One Hundred Twenty-Two, 3/25

Today, we took our novel tests and watched a bit of video
Today's Song: "He, Wir Fahr'n Mit Dem Zug", Veronika Fischer (1979)
Today's Homework: Work on your book paper, and finish  the presentation for the Tourism Project.
 
Parents: The Tourism Project is due on March 28th; the independent book paper is due on or before March 31st.

Click here for lab instructions, 3/24

BIG TEST TOMORROW for your novel finale.  Also, here's an article to read for homework.

Day One Hundred Twenty, 3/23

Today, we neared the finish line for our class books. (Slides).
Today's Song: "I Know Places", Lykke Li (2011)
Today's Homework: Keep reading, and start creating the presentation for the Tourism Project.
 
Parents: The final test for the class book is March 25th; the Tourism Project is due on March 28th; the independent book paper is due on or before March 31st.

Day One Hundred Nineteen, 3/22

Today, we read a nutty story about killer lambs. (Slides).
Today's Song: "Rolling in the Deep", Adele (2011)
Today's Homework: Keep reading, and start creating the presentation for the Tourism Project.
 
Parents: The final test for the class book is March 25th; the Tourism Project is due on March 28th; the independent book paper is due on or before March 31st.

Day One Hundred Eighteen, 3/21

Today, we pushed through the middle of our class books.  The climaxes are in sight. (Slides).
Today's Song: "Forest of Fountains", Solar Bears (2011)
Today's Homework: Keep reading, and start creating the presentation for the Tourism Project.
 
Parents: The final test for the class book is March 25th; the Tourism Project is due on March 28th; the independent book paper is due on or before March 31st.

Day One Hundred Seventeen

Today, we identified irony types, reviewed a book quiz, and set the stage for the rest of the Tourism project. (Slides).
Today's Song: "Shipping Up to Boston", Dropkick Murphys (2008)
Today's Homework: Keep reading, and start creating the presentation for the Tourism Project.
 
Parents: The final test for the class book is March 25th; the Tourism Project is due on March 28th; the independent book paper is due on or before March 31st.

Lab Instructions, 3/17

Priorities:

1. Submit your history book for approval. (It's the last day before those points are forfeit.)

2. Send in the "GoAnimate" story if you haven't yet.

3. Write your ironic slogan for the Tourism Project. (Verify it with me.)

4. Research your country, especially the three reasons for visiting.

5.  Decide which type of presentation you will do--brochure or video--and tell me.

6. Plan your presentation.

7. Use the "Comment Button" below to write an example of situational irony (e.g."I handed her the  flowers, saying, 'For you, my dear.'  She ate them.")

Please note:  The EXTRA CREDIT SONNET is due on the 25th.  I will hold sonnet workshops in the computer lab on Thursday at lunch, Thurday during 8th period, and Friday during lunch.

Day One Hundred Fifteen, 3/16

Today, we made a bit more progress on our class books, and worked a bit more on irony. (Slides).
Today's Song: "Go Go Girls", MZ Streamz (2010, from Baltimore, with a Chuck Brown hook)
Today's Homework: Keep reading, and prepare to research the Tourism Project in the lab tomorrow.
 
Parents: The final test for the class book is March 25th; the Tourism Project is due on March 28th; the independent book paper is due on or before March 31st.

Library day, 3/15

Grab a history book; start your Tourism Project.

Some of you were asking about nuclear meltdowns--here is a decent explanation.

Day One Hundred Thirteen, 3/14

Today, we made a bit more progress on our class books, and introduced the Tourism project (Slides).
Today's Song: "Friday", Rebecca Black (2011)
Today's Homework: The Tourism Project, first steps (Pick a country; go solo or pick a partner.)
 
Parents: The final test for the class book is March 25th; the Tourism Project is due on March 28th; the independent book paper is due on or before March 31st.

Extra credit

Saturday, attend the school play, and check in with me.

Library Instructions for Teen Tech Week, 3/11

Today, in the library, in celebration of TEEN TECH WEEK, you have this challenge:

With a partner (preferably from the other English class), you need to write a story. 

In the story, two characters, in some setting that you must specify, have some kind of stressful conflict with technology.  

They talk about  the conflict, figure out a solution, and in the climax, it either works, . . . or it doesn't.  

Anyhow, the crucial part is that the story must be created and submitted through "GoAnimate".

(When you're done, hit "save", put your names for the video's name, put gunston as a tag, make it public, and then hit the blue save button.  Click through all the rubbish about facebook and when it gives you the chance, email it to me at john_stewart@apsva.us)

Day One Hundred Nine, 3/8

Today, we played "Amuse the King and Queen" and received a copy of the new class book (Slides).
Today's Song: "Mardi Gras Day", Kermit Ruffins and the Rebirth Barbecue Band (2005)
Today's Homework: Now you have to seriously plan your reading time.  There are two books to read:  your history book and your class book.
 
Parents: Students have made a book schedule for themselves and should be able to share it with you at home.

Day One Hundred Eight, 3/7

Today, we played "Amuse the King and Queen" and received a copy of the new class book (Slides).
Today's Song: "In Manila", Eagle and Talon (2011)
Today's Homework: Now you have to seriously plan your reading time.  There are two books to read:  your history book and your class book.
 
Parents: Students now have two books to read--one independently and one for class. First, third, and seventh periods have a copy of Twelfth Night; second period is reading "Silent to the Bone"; fourth period is reading "Habibi".