D Block:

I broke you into small groups and had you work on the review packet that I gave you.

Your final exam is on Tuesday. Please use this sheet to prepare. You may use one page of notes (front and back) to assist you.

I also passed back some old assignments that I owed you.

I collected journals #30-40.

A/ B block:

Today:

I collected your journals #30-40

We took a quiz on the story that you read last night (last quiz of the term.)

We reviewed for the final exam on Monday. I gave you a review sheet. Please use it to study. I am also allowing one page of notes to be used. Please look over your notes, old quizzes. If you are absent, please email me (cusicks@tantasqua.org) and I will send you a copy.

I passed back remaining assignments.

Correcting....

A/ B block:

Today:

Same journal prompts as D block.

I gave your 10 minutes to complete your Rime of the Ancient Mariner assignment with your group. Please see me ASAP if you missed this.

We looked at comedy, and how British comedy has always been regarded as "dry." We read a story on pg. 1250: The Truth About George. We talked about the political correctness of making fun of a person with a disability. Where does humor come from? How many times have you laughed today. Did you know:

The average 17 year old laughs/smiles 35 times a day. The average 40 year old: 1 Why?

D Block:

Today:

We finished our journal prompts with:

Please reflect on the journal prompts. Did you enjoy it? If not, please explain why? Of the 40 prompts that we completed, which ones did you enjoy the most. Please look through them and star your most meaningful piece of writing...

Next...

I asked you to write a letter to future students explaining what they can expect from this course, and specifically me as a teacher. I am going to be super brave and pass these out next week during the first class- regardless of what you wrote. (gulp.)

It may not be a popular viewpoint among educators, but I have always felt that we should seek your evaluation of us at the end. I look forward to reading your comments and constructive criticism. And I promise to read these after I enter your final grades....I also promise to listen to what you say.

We also read the short story, Shooting an Elephant by Orwell. We talked about what the story reveals about his deep fear of people abusing their power. Remember from Soph Lit...Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Always.

Here is the video that we also talked about showing that Elephants, like us, are mammals that morn their dead years after.
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/animals/mammals-animals/elephants/elephant_african_mourning.html

I gave you a review sheet for the final. Please use it to begin studying for the final exam next Monday. We will also be working on these on Friday.

Comic version of 1984

http://1984comic.com/

Worth checking out...

D Block:

Today we took the test for 1984.

Please have your books for Thursday, as I will be collecting them.

Reminder: I am after-school today if you need to make up any missing work.

A/B Block:

Today:

We rocked out to a little Iron Maiden. We looked at the lyrics to their version of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

I broke you into small groups and had you write a ship log based on the events in both the song and poem.

We again discussed allusions. We talked about the allusion to the albatross in literature and pop culture.

A/B Block:

Journal prompt #36:

Describe a specific moment when you acted on impluse, but instantly regretted what you did. Describe the: before/event/how you felt after.

1-2 pages.

We read a story that followed a simular structure: D.H. Lawrence's The Snake.

Word O' the Week:

Mouche: [moosh] A small patch of beard grown under the lower lip.

Think:

The only 15 letter word that can be spelled without repeating a letter is: uncopyrightable.

D Block:

Today:

I broke you into small "study groups" and I gave you a review sheet for the test Tuesday. Please review your reading tonight.

We watched the last 5 minute of 1984 and talked about your reaction to the film.

We played a quick review game.

A+B Block:

Today:

We finished Jane Eyre.

Journal #35 prompt:

Please examine three specific examples of human kindness and the story and discuss how they changed the outcome of the story.

We will be finishing your journal prompts this week, and I will be collecting 30-39 this Wed. Please make sure that you are caught up on all of them.

I will be also giving you a final exam review sheet on Thursday.

A friendly reminder: I am after-school on Wed. for any last minute make-up work. If you are missing ANYTHING- it is your responsibility to make up the work that you might have missed.