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".

Click here for lab instructions, 3/3

Whan that aprill with his shoures soote
The droghte of march hath perced to the roote,
And bathed every veyne in swich licour
Of which vertu engendred is the flour
 

Day One Hundred Six, 2/2

Today, we enjoyed "Read Across America" Day.  In every class, teachers read aloud to students.  We also revised an essay from last week.
Today's Song: "Born This Way", Lady Gaga (2011)
Today's Homework: Find a history book, of at least 100 pages.  Read it by the end of the quarter.
 
Parents: The sixth independent book of the year should be a history book.  There are lots of lists available on the internet, and the librarians at school and in the Arlington Public Libraries can certainly help recommend excellent YA histories.

Day One Hundred Five, 3/1

Today, we examined an SOL practice test for grammar. (Slides)
Today's Song: "Turn Me Away (Get Munny)", Erykah Badu (March 2010)
Today's Homework: Find a history book, of at least 100 pages.  Read it by the end of the quarter.
 
Parents: The sixth independent book of the year should be a history book.  There are lots of lists available on the internet, and the librarians at school and in the Arlington Public Libraries can certainly help recommend excellent YA histories.

Day One Hundred Four, 2/28

Today, I was absent, but you read a story called "The Secret" by Arthur Clarke.
Today's Homework: Find a history book, of at least 100 pages.  Read it by the end of the quarter.
 
Parents: The sixth independent book of the year should be a history book.  There are lots of lists available on the internet, and the librarians at school and in the Arlington Public Libraries can certainly help recommend excellent YA histories.

Day One Hundred Three, 2/25

Today, we composed the Injury Essay by hand
Today's Song: "Will Do", TV on the Radio (April 2011)
Today's Homework: Find a history book, of at least 100 pages.  Read it by the end of the quarter
 
Parents: The sixth independent book of the year should be a history book.  There are lots of lists available on the internet, and the librarians at school and in the Arlington Public Libraries can certainly help recommend excellent YA histories.

Click here for lab instructions, 2/23

Welcome to the computer lab!

After you've logged in, I'll be giving a bit of a presentation on the overhead.  Please watch carefully. 

ESSAY SCORING

1. Please click on this link:  NCS Mentor

1. Check out the anchor papers.  What does a 4 in composition look like?  How about a 1?  What does a 4 in written expression look like?  How do you get a 1 in written expression?

 2. Try the Practice Scoring Sets.  Try to be more accurate with each essay you score.  

If you work diligently with NCS Mentor, you'll soon have a strong idea of what the State of Virginia wants from you on the SOL Writing Test.

BOOK APPROVAL:  Please choose, for book six, a history book.  (e.g., The Great Chicago Fire, The Sinking of the Titanic, The Story of Fenway Park, The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire).   HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES.

BLABBERIZE:  try out this website.  Llamas are funny.

Day One Hundred One, 2/23

Today, we identified essay types based on prompts. (slides)
Today's Song: "Sara Smile", Airlines
Today's Homework: Brainstorm the injury essay.
 
Parents: The deadline has passed for all missing student work. Progress reports will be sent home next week.

Day One Hundred, 2/22

Today, we took a test on a story called "There Will Come Sot Rains" and identified different moods and themes. (Slides)
Today's Song: "Burial Ground", Airlines
Today's Homework: Brainstorm the injury essay.
 
Parents: The deadline has passed for all missing student work. Progress reports will be sent home next week.

Day Ninety-Nine, 2/18

Today, we took a test on a story called "There Will Come Sot Rains" and made some skits (Slides)
Today's Song: "Genius of Love", Tom Tom Club
Today's Homework: Catch up on your missing work by Tuesday
 
Parents: Students were given missing work lists today.  Please sign the list and encourage your student to get the work turned in.

Click here for lab instructions, 2/17

Day Ninety-Six, 2/15

Today, we read a story called "There Will Come Sot Rains" and previewed the next essay (Slides)
Today's Song: "Clap (One Day)", Pharaohe Monche
Today's Homework: Book Paper Five and the "Put Down That . . ." Essay
 
Parents: There is a field trip on Wednesday, we will work on the "put down" essay in the lab on Thursday, and the book paper is due on Friday .