FRIDAY!

Ninth grader participated in a puzzle competition and read "Dead Man Walking."  We will have a test Monday on our ten vocabulary words, and we will probably finish "DMW" Monday.

Juniors wrote a rhetorical analysis with a partner.  Monday, April 2nd, you will write a rhetorical analysis.  Also Monday after school, we will have our first AP review session.  I changed the day to Monday because I have a review session with AP teachers on Tuesday, and an APUSH review is Wednesday.

Tuesday, April 3rd,  we will discuss the book, inter alia, and the synthesis question of the AP Language exam.

Wednesday, April 4th, you will write a synthesis essay.

Thursday, April 5th, please have read and annotated through page 230 of Brother, I'm Dying.

Monday, April 9th, you will have a quote test on Brother, I'm Dying.  Please make sure that you have finished reading and annotating the book.

Have a bon weekend!

Thursday

Ninth graders turned in their homework, played vocabulary charades, and read the play Dead Man Walking.  Tomorrow's homework is to write a paragraph with seven of the ten vocabulary words (listed in yesterday's entry) with alliteration and a simile.

Juniors read commencement speeches, discussed the merits of a really good answer on a quote quiz, and started discussing the format of the AP English Exam.  Please start working on your writing assignment.

Tomorrow,

Ms. Seward

Wednesday!

Ninth graders have the following homework due tomorrow:  Write compound sentences with each of the following words:  Clemency, loophole, supine, traumatic, interminable, monotone, shrine, retribution, reconciliation, inflict.  We also read Dead Man Walking.

Juniors received a new writing assignment, took a quote quiz, and handed in their books.  Tomorrow, we will discuss this book, among other things.

Take care,

Ms. Seward

Michael Cai !!!

Michael,

Out of an abundance of caution, I am publishing this note on the blog so that you or someone you know will tell you to consult with me about your recommendation tomorrow.

Apparently you gave me an old form, and that contact is not longer current.  We still have time to rectify this, but we should act tomorrow.

Thanks!

STAAR light, STAAR bright ...

Ninth graders finished the STAAR test today.  Good!  Now back to learning.

Juniors wrote a rhetorical analysis today.  Tomorrow we will being discussing Brother, I'm Dying.  PLEASE BRING YOUR BOOKS.  You will also receive a new writing assignment.

Have a great day!

When you wish upon a STAAR

Ninth graders did their best on the STAAR test.  Tomorrow is the writing portion of this test.  Remember your short answer format: ACE.

Juniors (even classes) will write tomorrow.  Wednesday you will have read and annotated Brother, I'm Dying.

Until then ...

Be a STAAR!

Well, well, well, I hope that you enjoyed our mystery writer's creation in the previous entry.

Ninth graders polished off their STAAR preparation today - good job!  Arrive at school Monday and Tuesday NO LATER than 7:30.  Bring two no. 2 pencils, an eraser, and a sweater.  Do your best on your test, and you can do no wrong.  Remember that you are the school's secret Pre-AP class.

Juniors wrote an essay today involving my second husband.  (Doesn't it always?)  I will see odd (HA!) classes on Monday, and even classes on Tuesday.  We, I mean you will write an essay on those days.  Good stuff.

Plesse read your book this weekend, preferably lying or sitting somewhere outside in the sun or dappled shade.  I will give you a writing assignment on Wednesday requesting you to fix our school.

"The word's troubles are your troubles ... and there is nothing wrong with the world that better human beings cannot fix."  Jim Kim, President Obama's nominee to head the World Bank, quoting former Dartmouth president John Sloan Dickey. (Thanks, Nina B.)

Friday the 13th

Mrs. Seward will not be joining you tomorrow. D: If you ever want to see her again, write a 6 page essay on why Mrs. Seward is so awesome. And maybe JUST MAYBE, she will rejoin you in one piece...key word "MAYBE ONE PIECE." Turn in your essays at the end of class and go live life: greet a hobo, attack a squirrel, get on a plane to the capitol, abduct the president and ask for a really large ransom. This is what life is all about, possibilities. Turn in the ransom essays and I will return you're beloved teacher

-The Beached Whale

One mo' - thanks, Grant!

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/72302.html

Firestorm from Politico

Thursday

 Ninth grade started reading the play Dead Man Walking today.  Your homework for tonight is to write a half-page summary of chapters 14, 15, 16 of A Lesson Before Dying.  Most of your entry will be a summary of the plot.  Please conclude each summary with your response to the chapter and an explanation of your response.  You will have three paragraphs (one on each chapter) to give to me tomorrow.

Juniors fixed the school today.  Tomorrow please bring all of your articles regarding David Brooks's proposal that we implement a national service.  If you no longer have these articles, please print them from the following links:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/31/opinion/brooks-the-great-divorce.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/31/opinion/brooks-the-great-divorce.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/opinion/sunday/sunday-dialogue-uniting-america-through-national-service.html?pagewanted=all

All for now!

So good to be back!

Ninth graders had a GREAT day today with Dr. Lacy Johnson.  No homework tonight, but tomorrow ...

Juniors - please bring your spring break book tomorrow.  Also, please start reading and annotating the first 123 pages of Brother, I'm Dying.  Enjoy!

"Do not mistake facts for knowledge and data for wisdom."  Sir Ken Robinson

I'm Back!!!!!!!!!

Ninth graders had a good class today.  Tomorrow we will host a guest teacher, so be on your BEST conduct, as you are routinely.  You will have homework tomorrow night.

Juniors, tomorrow please bring your book that you read over spring break.  If you read your text on one of those electronic thingees (technical term), please print a page regarding your book from Amazon.com.

Also, Brother, I'm Dying is in!  Bring me $12 tomorrow, and a copy will be yours!  First reading assignment is Wednesday, March 28th, part one, through page 123, read and annotated.

Hasta tomorrow!

Eve of Spring Break

Ninth graders wrote a story today with the following elements: a character, setting, conflict, resolution, simile, alliteration, dialogue, and paragraphs.  Your homework over the break is to finish the story if you have not done so already and to read chapters 14-16 of A Lesson Before Dying.  Your reading is due the Tuesday that we return from the break.

Juniors discussed Mountains Beyond Mountains and submitted their annotations.  Your assignment over the Break is to read a book, a book of your choice.  Please choose a book that will challenge you in some way, but that will also make you happy. 

Have a good break!

Happy International Women's Day!

Ninth graders read Lesson and answered the three following questions according to the ACE format:

How does Grant feel about Vivian?  Why can't Vivian go away with Grant for the weekend?  Why doesn't Grant leave the plantation.

Your homework for tonight is to read chapter 13 of Lesson; you WILL have a quiz tomorrow on that chapter.

Juniors wrote a rhetorical analysis today.  Tomorrow please have finished and annotated all of Mountains, including the epilogue, which I have copied for you if you do not have it.  Also, if you will be absent tomorrow, please check the blog.  You will have a writing assignment over the break that will be due Thursday the week you return to school.

"Women are leaders everywhere you look - from the CEO who runs a Fortune 500 company to the housewife who raises her children and heads her household.  Our country was built by strong women and we will continue to break down walls and defy stereotypes."  Nancy Pelosi

A little too TAKSing

I didn't get to see you all today!

Tomorrow ninth graders will read and write.  Please bring Lesson Before Dying.

Juniors will write a rhetorical analysis tomorrow.  Mountains is due Friday.  I have copies of the epilogue if you did not get one today.  BTW, if you are a debater, or if you missed a quote quiz last week, you have only tomorrow and Friday to make it up.  Please remember this.  Also, BTW, Friday is English make-up day, so if tomorrow doesn't work (which is auxillary English make-up day, I will see you at lunch on Friday.

Hasta demain

Tuesday

Ninth graders handed in homework and worked on grammar.  No homework tonight.

Juniors submitted their narratives.  Please finish your book before class on Friday.  Sleep tonight.

You have until Wednesday night to submit your document to turnitin.com.  Please consult the information on the previous blog entry in order to submit.

Have fun tomorrow with TAKS!

Turnitin, baby

Juniors, I had to create new classes on turnitin, so you may submit your narrative anytime through Wednesday night.  Below is the new information:

Class name: 2012 First Period
Enrollment password: Springfirst
Class ID: 4933952

Class name: AP Third Period
Enrollment pasword: Springthird
Class ID: 4933957

Class name: 2012 Sixth Period
Enrollment password: Springsixth
Class ID: 4933961

Class name: 2012 Seventh Period
Enrollment password: Springseven
Class ID: 4933966

Enjoy!

Monday again!

Juniors please bring TWO copies of your writing to class tomorrow.  I will have turnitin.com information for you tomorrow in class.

The Last Monday before Spring Break

Ninth graders began to write a story responsive to the following prompt: 

Write a story about something unusual that happens. Be sure that your story is focused and complete and that it has an interesting plot and engaging characters.

Your story must not exceed 26 lines in length.  Your pre-writing, rough draft, and story are due tomorrow.

Juniors read TAKS essays for the last time! 

Tomorrow your narrative is due.  First and third periods' narratives should be approximately 1,000 words in length; sixth and seventh periods' narratives must be 250 words long.

All for now!

TGIF

Ninth graders read A Lesson Before Dying, wrote a short answer with textural support, and started a grammar sheet on pronouns.  Homework for Monday is to write a one-page essay (one side of one page) on the theme of the importance of standing up for oneself.  You must include the following elements in your essay: (i) a short introduction (one or two sentences); (ii) one or two paragraphs describing two examples; and (iii) a short conclusion (one or two sentences).  Your essay is due at the beginning of class on Monday.

Juniors continued to work on TAKS short answers.  So far, third period has taken a quote quiz on pages 211 through 237 of Mountains.  Salient dates for next week are as follows:  Tuesday, your "Lacy Johnson" assignment is due. (Make sure that you are writing the assignment that corresponds to your class; the assignments are different.)  Wednesday, TAKS; and Friday, you must have finished reading and annotating Mountains Beyond Mountains.

Quote du jour:  There is no passion to be found playing small  - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.  Nelson Mandela

Sorry about my boo-boo

Juniors, please read through page 237 of Mountains Beyond Mountains, not 247 or 248.

Thanks!

It's not tooo TAKSing, is it?

Ninth graders reviewed short answers, read a chapter in A Lesson Before Dying, and completed some grammar exercises.  Fun stuff.

Juniors reviewed for TAKS!  Tomorrow, please have read and annotated Mountains through the page break on 248.