Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Wednesday!

Ninth graders finished the Odyssey today.  Tonight's homework is to write a story or sentences with the following words:  aloof, defy, fraud, hone, incredulous, jest, marvel, meddle, revulsion, and underhanded.  Tomorrow we paint.

Juniors wrote a rhetorical analysis today.  You will have 20 minutes also tomorrow to finish your analysis.  Please bring five typed super-thought-provoking questions for Kaffir Boy tomorrow.  Your essay is due on Friday.

Have a happy Hump Day!

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Tuesday

Ninth graders turned in homework and continued to read the Odyssey.  Homework for tonight is to write a story with the odd numbered words on the Odyssey #5 sheet.

Juniors discussed the Florence Kelly piece.  Tomorrow we write!
Thursday - finish Kaffir Boy and bring 5 typed questions to class;
Friday - turn in  your book and a hard copy of your essay; turn your essay into turnitin.com.

Have a beautiful day!

Monday, November 28, 2011

First Day Back!

Happy Return to School!

Ninth graders received a homework assignment and read more of the Odyssey today.  Homework due tomorrow is to write a compound sentence with each of the following words: pliant, rejoice, revelry, scorn, shroud, taut, tremulous, uproar, vaunt, yield.

Juniors received a stunningly good extra credit opportunity today and began to parse a passage for rhetorical analysis.  We will spend the next three days on rhetorical analysis.  Please also note the following due dates:

Kaffir Boy 1) bring five written (preferably typed) super thought provoking questions about Kaffir Boy to class on Thursday, December 1st, and
2) turn in your annotations on Part Three on Friday, December 2nd; and
Essay - On Friday, December 2nd, bring a hard copy of your omnivore/vegetarian essay to class; turn in your essay to turnitin.com on Friday, December 2nd as well.

Have a great day!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Addendum for Juniors

Your omnivore/herbivore essays are due Friday, December 2nd; there is no Friday, December 3rd this year.

Thanks

Thank you notes, just like Jimmy Fallon

I am profoundly thankful to have such marvelous students.  You are a delight to see every day, and you make me want to be a better teacher and person.

Ninth graders will finish the Odyssey and their tests today.  Over the holiday eat lots, rest up, and decide what scene from the Odyssey you will paint on Monday, November 28th.

Juniors, please rest and sleep.  We restored and elevated our souls by reading a little ditty by Shelley today.  Please keep it, especially if you like extra credit.
Finish Kaffir Boy (read and annotated) by Tuesday, November 29th.
Your omnivore/herbivore essay is due Friday, December 3rd.  Note that this is one day later than I originally stated.  Think about and work on those essays - fill them with your amazing voices. (Only one voice per essay, please. :))
Monday, November, 28th, rise like lions, and come joyfully to class, ready to expand those big, beautiful minds.

Cheers!

Monday, November 21, 2011

Monday! Fun Day!

Ninth graders handed in homework and took a test today!  A real test!  Tomorrow, we will finish said test and the Odyssey.

Juniors took a quote test today.  Tomorrow, we will discuss and debate Kaffir Boy or do something totally different.  Be ready.  Please start revising and finishing your carnivore/omnivore/herbivore essays NOW!

Have a wonderful day!

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Thursday (my Friday)

Ninth graders discussed the salient aspects of the Odyssey today and completed a puzzle over Odyssey List #5.  I will leave you assignments and homework for Monday with the substitute tomorrow.  You will have a vocabulary test on Monday on all of the words on your review sheet that you will receive tomorrow.

Juniors wrote flash rhetorical analyses on "Dumpster Diving."  Tomorrow you will all write a rhetorical analysis on a new prompt.  You will have a quote test on the first 304 pages of Kaffir Boy on Monday.  Please make sure that your annotations are current.

Be good tomorrow!  Please treat your substitute as you would treat your beloved grandma.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Beautiful Hump Day!

Ninth graders received and discussed their most recent tests, read some of the Odyssey, (those naughty Sirens!) and received a mere puzzle for homework.

Juniors discussed "Dumpster Diving" and wrote a piece of flash fiction in which trash was a motif, theme, or character.  Tomorrow we will discuss rhetorical analysis.  Kaffir Boy through page 304 is due November 21st; your final version of your omnivore/carnivore essay is due December 1st.

BTW - Today apparently we voted on which candidate for Mr. Bellaire has the "best pockets," "best pockets" being, from what I can infer, a euphemism for "posterior," "butt," "derriere," or whatever word one typically uses to describe one's gluteus maximus.  I am curious about your thoughts on this matter.  Is this contest harmless fun designed to promote school spirit?  Exploitation for charity?  A tempest in a teapot?  Does it make a difference that this is a contest to judge male physical attributes, not female physical attributes?  Just curious.

How wonderful that life is never boring.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

It's Tuesday, and it's raining!!

Ninth graders received a new vocabulary list today!  In fact, it is copied below.  Homework for tomorrow is to write a story with the first ten words - underline or highlight each vocabulary word.  Also include in your story one compound sentence with a semicolon and one compound sentence with a comma and one of the fanboys.  Underline or circle these two sentences.  You all also wrote a story in class about a hubristic protagonist - can't wait to read them.

The Odyssey List 5

1. abyss NOUN 1. An immeasurably deep chasm, depth, or void 2. a. The primeval chaos out of which it was believed that the earth and sky were formed. b. The abode of evil spirits; hell Jack was frightened as he stood at the edge of the canyon and stared into the abyss.  For some people, facing the thought of one’s own immortality feels like plunging into an abyss.

2. adorn VERB To lend beauty to: 2. To enhance or decorate with or as if with ornaments  The house looked rather plain when we first moved in, but since that time we have adorned it with several stylish decorations that lend it a unique charm.

3. brim NOUN 1. The rim or uppermost edge of a hollow container or natural basin 2. A projecting rim or edge 3. A border or an edge 4. Full capacity  VERB 1. To be full to the brim, often to overflowing 2. To be abundantly filled or supplied  Mother was careful not to overfill the soup bowls, so carefully filled each one just to the brim.  Our pantry is brimming with yummy victuals.

4. deflect VERB To turn aside or cause to turn aside; bend or deviate The old lady surprised the young thief when she deflected his assault by smacking him upside the head with her purse, which just happened to be filled with heavy rolls of quarters that she planned to use to play the slot machines at the casino.

5. downcast ADJ 1. Directed downward 2. Low in spirits; depressed  Leo was in a downcast mood after realizing that he had forgotten to study for his English test.

6. expel VERB 1. To force or drive out: 2. To discharge from or as if from a receptacle: 3. To force to leave; deprive of membership The coach will expel you from the team if you don’t stop the shenanigans and get serious about winning the games.

7. glower VERB To look or stare angrily or sullenly NOUN An angry or sullen look or stare The disgruntled student glowered at the teacher after she handed back his essay with “F-“ written at the top.

8. jostle VERB 1. To come into rough contact with while moving 2. To force by pushing or elbowing 3. To vie with for an advantage or position 4. To be in close proximity with NOUN 1. A rough shove or push  2. The condition of being crowded together Shoppers had to jostle their way through huge crowds to get to the items that had been marked down for the one-day sale.

9. lurch VERB 1. To stagger 2. To roll or dip suddenly or erratically NOUN 1. A staggering or tottering movement or gait 2. An abrupt rolling movement Martha and Don were terrified when the ferris wheel lurched without warning and then came to an abrupt stop.

10. mount VERB 1. To climb or ascend 2. To place oneself upon; get up on 3. To provide with scenery, costumes, and other equipment necessary for production: 4. To organize and equip:  5. To prepare and set in motion NOUN 1. The act or manner of mounting 2. A means of conveyance, such as a horse, on which to ride An object to which another is affixed or on which another is placed for accessibility, display, or use Jacquelyn found it difficult to mount the horse while wearing a miniskirt and stiletto heels.  Once you have mounted the trolley, be sure to hold on tight.  The theater club mounted a revival of A Raisin in the Sun.  You must affix the television to the wall mount before attaching the cables.

11. pliant ADJ 1. Easily bent or flexed; pliable 2. Easily altered or modified to fit conditions; adaptable 3. Yielding readily to influence or domination; compliant The voters this year seem unusually pliant, for they largely agree with whichever candidate happens to be ahead in polls from week to week.

12. rejoice VERB To feel joyful; be delighted The students rejoiced when the teacher announced that everyone had passed the final exam.

13. revelry NOUN noisy or unrestrained merrymaking Several neighbors called the police to complain that the revelry of the outdoor party and grown too loud and boisterous. We headed to New Orleans to enjoy the revelry of Mardis Gras.

14. scorn VERB 1. To consider or treat as contemptible or unworthy 2. To reject or refuse with derision; To express contempt; scoff NOUN 1. a. Contempt or disdain felt toward a person or object considered despicable or unworthy b. The expression of such an attitude in behavior or speech; derision  Most parents scorn any behavior that might corrupt their children.  Lou had to endure his mother’s scorn when she saw that he had failed his English test.

15. shroud NOUN 1. A cloth used to wrap a body for burial; a winding sheet 2. Something that conceals, protects, or screens VERB 1. To wrap (a corpse) in burial clothing 2. To shut off from sight; screen Penelope spent years weaving a funeral shroud for Odysseus’ father, for that was her way of avoiding the suitors’ advances.  Because there were no clues to lead the police to the killer, the case remained shrouded in mystery for years.

16. taut ADJ 1. Pulled or drawn tight; not slack 2. Strained; tense  You will know when a fish takes your bait, for the line will suddenly become taut.

17. tremulous ADJ 1. Marked by trembling, quivering, or shaking 2. Timid or fearful  Prior to taking the new STAAR tests, the students were tremulous, for they feared that they might not be fully prepared for the demanding new tests that they must pass in order to graduate from high school.

18. uproar NOUN 1. A condition of noisy excitement and confusion; tumult 2. A heated controversy  The firing of the popular coach caused an uproar within the community.

19. vaunt VERB To speak boastfully of; brag about NOUN 1. A boastful remark.
2. Speech of extravagant self-praise about  Audiences were surprised by the singer’s acceptance speech at the Grammy Awards, for it was more vaunt than humble thanks.  Sally has been known to vaunt her extracurricular accomplishments, and her fellow students often complain of her bragging.
vaunted ADJ highly or widely praised or boasted The team was disgraced when their vaunted defensive line failed to block one play after another.

20. yield VERB a. To give over possession of, as in deference or defeat; surrender.
b. To give up (an advantage, for example) to another; concede NOUN 1. a. An amount yielded or produced; a product b. A profit obtained from an investment; a return 2. The energy released by an explosion When you come to a stop sign at a major intersection, you must yield to the vehicles that have the right-of-way.  Hank and Marilyn were able to retire early thanks to the enormous yield of their wisely chosen investments.

Juniors finished their synthesis essay and submitted annotated copies of "Dumpster Diving."  Tomorrow we will analyze "Dumpster Diving."

Also, Part Three of Kaffir Boy (through page 304) is due November 21st.  Your final of your carnivore/omnivore essay is due December 1st.

Have a great day!

Monday, November 14, 2011

Monday - been good to me

Ninth graders turned in homework and took a test today.  Tomorrow we will receive new vocabulary words and read more of the Odyssey.

Juniors began to write a synthesis essay today.  We will finish the first 30 minutes of class tomorrow. Please bring "Dumpster Diving" to class read and annotated.

You will receive your Kaffir Boy books back tomorrow.  You are required to read through page 304 for Monday, November 21st, on which day you will have a quote test, and I will likely grade your annotations.

All for now - have a good evening.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Addendum for Juniors

The article "Dumpster Diving" is due Tuesday - read and annotated.

Thanks!

Wonderful Weekend

Students, please note the following: 

Ninth graders will have a test tomorrow on the words on the review sheet below.  Remember that you must write sentences with 20 of these words or a story with 15 of them.

Review sheet and homework for test on Monday, November 14, 2011

For your homework for Monday, please write a story with 15 of the words from following table OR write sentences with 20 of these words. 

Word
Definition or sentence
Ardor


Atone


Adversary


Appall


Avenge


Adversity


Beguile


Blunder


Din


Dire


Heft


Grapple


Desolate


Exile


Forlorn


Guile


Immortal


Indifferent


Insolent


Lag


Scourge


Skirt (v)


Sage


Pine (v)


Solitude


Tactic


Vile


Wrath


Versatile


Rogue


Contemptible


Foe


Justification


Lavish


Murmur


Rash (adj.)


Reek


Rubbish


Thunderstruck


Wily





Juniors will write a synthesis essay.  To that end, please bring the following sources to class:  Gulliver's Travels; "The Ways We Lie"; "The Morals of the Prince"; "Cain Not Able."

Have a great weekend!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Beautiful Day - Thursday

Ninth graders had a good day today reading about the man-eating giant, Cyclopes, in the Odyssey.  Homework for tomorrow is to write a story with the following words: lavish, thunderstruck, wily, insolent, scourge, pine (v), wrath, beguile, heft, forlorn.

Juniors had a vocabulary check on the bottom half of the second side of the most recent vocabulary check.  We also wrote variously on the Penn. State scandal or the efficacy of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.  We also touched based with MLA format and began to discuss the synthesis question of the AP Exam. 

Tomorrow, please bring three written discussion questions on Part Two of Kaffir Boy.  We will likely have a discussion. Also, it is extremely likely that I will take your books and grade your annotations over the weekend.

Have a great day!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Wednesday - Early dismissal

Ninth graders listened to Mr. Thompson, a counselor, today.  Tomorrow ...we'll return to vocabulary and the Odyssey.

Juniors reviewed South African history, received an extra credit opportunity, took a vocabulary check, took notes on Machiavelli, turned in annotations on "The Prince," and discussed Machiavelli.

Tomorrow juniors will have a vocabulary check on the rest of the words on the second page of the green sheet.

C'est tout!

Peter says "Hi!"

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Tuesday - it's raining!

Ninth graders received a new word list today.  Homework is to write compound sentences with semicolons with the following words:  contemptible, foe, justification, lavish, murmur, rash, reek, rubbish, thunderstruck, wily.

Juniors finished the Second Awful Test, confirmed their six week grade, and discussed Part One of Kaffir Boy.  Tomorrow we will have a vocabulary check on the following words:  incessant, pittance, precipitous, precarious, innate, congenital, deviant (or deviance), sporadic, wreak, and fulcrum.  You also need to have read and annotated our excerpt from Machiavelli's The Prince.

Have a great day!  Learn a lot!

Monday, November 7, 2011

Falling back into Monday

Ninth graders took a test today!  Tomorrow?  New words and the Odyssey!

Juniors took a Dreaded Scantron Test today and will finish that test in the first 15 minutes tomorrow.  After the test, we will finish discussing South Africa and begin to discuss Part One of Kaffir Boy.
Wednesday, please have read and annotated your excerpt of Machiavelli's The Prince.
Part Two of Kaffir Boy is due Friday.

Have a great evening!

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Sunday afternoon

Friday  and tomorrow in class:

Ninth graders played vocabulary BINGO.  We will have a test on Monday on the following 30 words:  ardor, atone, adversary, appall, avenge, adversity, beguile, blunder, din, dire, heft, grapple, desolate, exile, forlorn, guile, immortal, indifferent, insolent, lag, scourge, skirt (v), sage, pine (v), solitude, tactic, vile, wrath, versatile, rogue.  STUDY, please!

Juniors completed a vocabulary crossword puzzle and took a quote quiz on Part One of Kaffir Boy.  We also learned a bit about South Africa.  Tomorrow you will take a multiple choice AP-style test.  Ew!

Thursday, November 3, 2011

The penultimate day of the school week - 11-3-11

Today in school we ...

Ninth graders took a vocabulary check and worked on their BIG story, after I read Antoine's fabulous story to the class.  Tomorrow, we will have a vocabulary quiz on ... the Blue Starred Words, which are:  ardor, atone, beguile, dire, grapple, insolent, scourge, skirt (v), vile,  and wrath.

Juniors took a vocabulary quiz as well.  Tomorrow, you will have a cross word puzzle (no word bank) with and and all of the words from the front side of the green sheet.  We have had vocabulary quizzes on those words the last two days.  Also, Part One of Kaffir Boy is due, read and annotated, quote quiz most definitely tomorrow.

Have a great autumnal day!

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Ninth graders worked on a story today.  Tonight's homework is to write out a study plan and to study for a quiz on the following words:  adversary, appall, avenge, blunder, din, heft, lag, rogue, sage, tactic, adversity, desolate, exile, forlorn, guile, immortal, indifferent, pine (v), solitude, versatile.

BTW, Lewis composed and read to the class a wonderful story - well done!

Juniors, reviewed the answers to that dreadful scantron test.  Tomorrow, we will discuss lying and South Africa under apartheid.  Tomorrow you will also have a vocabulary quiz on the following words:  truncheon, plaintive, incredulous, brandish, contrite, impassive, dispassionate, gape, oblivious, semblance, indelibleK Boy (through part one) is due on Friday.

I hope that you all saw and heard Kyle Somers in the courtyard; I got caught in tutorials. 
Congratulations volleyball women!

Have a great day - embrace this splendid time of year.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Tuesday afternoon- I'm just beginning to see; now I'm on my way

Go Bellaire Volleyball!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ninth graders worked on test corrections today.  Homework for tomorrow:  (i) Sentences with all of the starred words from our new sheet:  ardor, atone, beguile, dire, grapple, insolent, scourge, skirt (v), vile, wrath; and (ii) test corrections from the sentence part of your test from Monday.

Study your vocabulary every night!

Juniors reviewed words from the new green sheet and discussed answers to the test from Monday. This was also the last day to turn in your essay on Steve Jobs's character (except for first period, who has until tomorrow).  Tomorrow we will have a vocabulary check on the first 11 words from the new green sheet.  Also, tomorrow, please bring "The Ways We Lie" and your copy of Gulliver's Travels (if I have returned your copy to you).

Please go out and enjoy this magnificent day, unless you are Brynfor Morris, who just needs to sleep, be it inside or out.