Wednesday, November 30th

Lesson Objectives - Students will engage in a brainstorming session where they are encouraged to draw conclusions about the main characters.  They will then apply these skills to characters in books, movies, and past reading samples.

Homework -  Students are to begin writing their test essay rough draft.  The rough draft is due on Monday.  The question is as follows: Explain the author's use of static and dynamic characters from the story, "What Do Fish Have to do With Anything?"

Tuesday, November 29th

Lesson Objectives  - Students will take their quiz on "What Do Fish Have to do With Anything."  They will then determine whether the main characters are static or dynamic characters.  

Homework - November's RRS is due tomorrow.  Test corrections for 'Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" are due by Friday of this week. 

Monday, November 28th

Lesson Objectives - After some practice in Vocabulary Lesson 4, students will start their next story, "What Do Fish Have to do With Anything?"  They will then determine whether the main characters are static or dynamic characters.


Homework - Answer the following in a paragraph:  Explain a situation where your parents/guardians had your best interests in mind, but you disagreed with them.  How was this conflict resolved?

Monday, November 21st

Lesson Objectives - Students are taking their test on "A Retrieved Reformation" today.

Homework - Students are to bring their Vocabulary books to class tomorrow so I can grade their Lesson 3 activities.

Friday, November 18th

Lesson Objectives - Students will review the identification of various types of sentences. (eg. declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory)  They will then identify and correct examples of improper possessive apostrophe use in everyday writing.


Homework - Students are to finish writing their essay for Monday's test.  The question is as follows: Compare and contrast the plot, settings, and characters from O. Henry's "After Twenty Years" and "A Retrieved Reformation."

Thursday, November 17th

Lesson Objectives - Students will start Lesson 4 from the vocabulary book.  They will then have time to complete yesterday's sub assignment and continue writing their test essay explained below.

Homework - Students are to continue writing their essay for Monday's test.  The question is as follows: Compare and contrast the plot, settings, and characters from O. Henry's "After Twenty Years" and "A Retrieved Reformation."

Tuesday, November 15th

Lesson Objectives - Students will review the application of the story elements (exposition, rising action, climax, and falling action) within the context of "A Retrieved Reformation."  They will then examine O. Henry's background to see how his life experiences influenced his writings.  Students will then brainstorm the similarities and differences between these two stories.  I will help them organize this information for their test essay.

Homework - Students are to start writing their essay for Monday's upcoming test.  The question is as follows: Compare and contrast the plot, settings, and characters from O. Henry's "After Twenty Years" and "A Retrieved Reformation."

Monday, November 14th

Lesson Objectives - Students are starting their next story, O. Henry's "A Retrieved Reformation."  They will compare/contrast this story with concepts from the previous story, "After Twenty Years."

Homework - Interview Question: Should convicted felons who have served out their sentence be protected against discrimination when they try to find a job?  Explain why or why not.

Thursday, November 10th

Lesson Objectives - Students are taking their test on the story "After Twenty Years" today.

Homework - Students are to make sure that ALL PARTS of class work pages 1-7 are complete and ready for submission at the beginning of Monday's class.

Wednesday, November 9th

Lesson Objectives - After reviewing yesterday's lesson on varying sentence structures, students will critique a graphic novelization of the current story.  They will determine its effectiveness and propose how a story like this can be modernized to suit the interests of today's media consumer.

Homework- Students are to prepare for their test on "After Twenty Years."  Students may take any materials from their class work folder home with them to help get ready.

Tuesday, November 8th

Lesson Objectives - Students will discuss where writers use foreshadowing as a literary tool.  They will then practice writing a variety of sentences with their subjects not appearing in the beginning.

Homework - Students are to get their Student Detail Reports signed by a parent/guardian.  These grades count as their first marking period grade.

Monday, November 7th

Lesson Objectives - Students will take their Lesson 3 Vocabulary quiz.  They will then review words from previous lessons.  Students will also examine O. Henry's use of foreshadowing in his short story, "After Twenty Years."

Homework - Answer the following in a paragraph: Imagine that you were in the same position of Jimmy Wells.  Would you be able to arrest an old friend?  Explain why or why not.

Wednesday, November 2nd

Lesson Objectives - Students are taking their test on "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" today.

Homework - Students are to make sure all homework and past assignments are submitted before Friday, November 4th.

Tuesday, November 1st

Thanks!  - I would like to thank the people who visit this blog.  The month of October was the most popular ever with 818 total page views!    

Lesson Objectives - Students will continue to determine the validity of the authors evidence as asserted in the non-fiction article, "A Primal Compassion."  Is the evidence adequate? Appropriate? Accurate?  Students will have the rest of the class to finish their presentations and continue writing their test essay rough drafts.

Homework - Students are to finish writing their test essay rough drafts for the following question:  From the story "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi," explain Rudyard Kipling's use of personification in three different animal characters.  I will look at these rough drafts in the beginning of class before tomorrow's test.