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October 30, 2006

We read "The Raven" today and discussed Poe's use of alliteration, internal rhyming, repetition, and vocabulary to create tone. We will continue work with this tomorrow. Students have been asked to memorize any 2 stanzas for recitation this week.

Due soon:

1. Written response to literature due by Friday.
2. Poe projects due no later than Wednesday.
3. Recitation of 2 stanzas on Thursday.
4. Test Friday on "The Tell-Tale Heart", "The Black Cat", and the notes on Poe.

We begin The Light in the Forest on Monday. PLEASE HAVE THE BOOKS WITH YOU IN CLASS EVERY DAY BEGINNING NEXT WEEK.

Posted by Hartnett at 04:36 PM | Comments (0)

"The Tell-Tale Heart" tests were returned today as well as the "Flowers for Algernon" Blooms projects.

Poe projects are starting to come in, and they are creepy, gruesome, and scary. Poe is smiling from above! some presentations started today, but most will take place tomorrow and Wednesday. Remember to read the instructions carefully and include all requirements.

We are also continuing to analyze both stories be comparing and contrasting elements of each. We used a venn diagram as a note-taking device, and today started to write an eleven sentence paragraph about the similarities of both stories. Students will be focusing on using compound sentences, transitions, and direct quotations. First, third, and sixth hours are to complete the BP for tomorrow. We will use part of our class time to edit them.

Posted by Hartnett at 04:28 PM | Comments (0)

October 26, 2006

1. Response to literature due next week.
2. Poe projects due 10/31.
3. WE will finish reading "THE BLACK CAT" tomorrow, and students will be making comparisons and contrasts regarding vocabulary, plot, characters, setting, tone, and theme.

Each student needs to have a copy of The Light in the Forest by the end of next week.

Posted by Hartnett at 06:30 PM | Comments (0)

Students took "The Tell-Tale Heart" test today. We also began to read "The Black Cat" and will be discussing comparisons tomorrow.

Posted by Hartnett at 06:23 PM | Comments (0)

October 25, 2006

Vocabulary and sentences assigned last night for homework were shared and discussed.

Quizzes and tests were returned.

Persuasive essays were returned and placed in portfolios.

We reviewed for a test on "The Tell-Tale Heart" tomorrow; students know to study the vocabulary, mystery criteria as it applies to "The Tell-Tale Heart", and characteristics of the narrator, as well as plot.

Posted by Hartnett at 04:46 PM | Comments (0)

October 23, 2006

Students took an open-note quiz on the biographical movie they watched last week on Edgar Allan Poe. Tomorrow they begin work on literary analysis and a written response to "The Tell-Tale Heart".

Final Poe projects were discussed today. Students will choose ONE project from a list of choices. These are due Oct. 30th.

Posted by Hartnett at 04:43 PM | Comments (0)

October 20, 2006

We completed reading "the Tell-Tale Heart". On Monday we begin literary analysis, a response to literature, and an exercise on opinion based on facts.

Posted by Hartnett at 02:55 PM | Comments (0)

Due Monday: "Flowers for Algernon" project. Remember to bind them using a book report cover, etc.

Today we completed reading "The Tell-Tale Heart". Monday we will begin our literary analysis.

Posted by Hartnett at 02:54 PM | Comments (0)

October 16, 2006

Today we viewed the last of the Keynote presentations. We will have a short review of verbals before proceeding to another grammar unit.

Tomorrow we begin a unit on Edgar Allan Poe. Students will be busy analyzing his literature and relating different pieces to his life story. After viewing a biographical documentary on Poe, students will analyze and write responses to several pieces of his work, in addition to creating a final project on "The Tell-Tale Heart".

Posted by Hartnett at 04:25 PM | Comments (0)

Final essays were collected today.
Final projects for "Flowers For Algernon " are due Friday.

We began our unit on Poe today. This will take us through the next 2, possibly 3, weeks. Students will be viewing a film on the biography of Poe today and tomorrow. They are taking notes on life facts and personal tragedies. These notes will be used for future tests, writing assignments, and projects. It is imperative to have knowledge of Poe's life and tragedies in order to fully comprehend his literature.

We will be reading "The Tell-Tale Heart", "The Black Cat", "The Raven", and "The Mask of the Red Death" to name a few. Students will be responding to literature, analyzing literature, comparing and contrasting Poe's works, and finally, creating a final project.

Again, these will a very busy few weeks, and students are encouraged to keep up with the work and the reading.

Posted by Hartnett at 03:00 PM | Comments (0)

October 13, 2006

Posted by Hartnett at 01:58 PM | Comments (0)

Here's hoping you can open and view these tremendous Keynote presentations. Your children were to create a teaching tool about a prepositional, appositive, gerund, participial, or infinitive phrase. The gerund presentation will be posted next week. (It needs modifying because of its size.)

Posted by Hartnett at 01:57 PM | Comments (0)

October 12, 2006

Essay final copies are due on Monday. The few of you who did not have them returned, will have them back on Monday.

Enjoy the week end!

Posted by Hartnett at 04:25 PM | Comments (0)

October 11, 2006

There will be a final test on "Flowers for Algernon" tomorrow. Students should make sure to review the vocabulary words defined throughout the story in addition to everything else.

Information on the projects will be given out as well.

Posted by Hartnett at 04:25 PM | Comments (0)

October 10, 2006

We are looking forward to tomorrow's presentations. Student groups worked to create a teaching slide show on verbal phrases, prepositional phrases, and appositive phrases. They used Keynote, and so I am hoping to publish these on the blog via the promethean board. What I have seen so far is amazing!

Posted by Hartnett at 08:12 PM | Comments (0)

We continued reading "Flowers.." Students should answer the following questions:

1. Give 2 examples of Charlie's changing and growing thinking process.
2. Charlie has always viewed the world through the eyes of a child. How does the reader know he is beginning to view it as a man?

W e expect to conclude the story tomorrow. A test will be given on Thursday.

Students will find out tomorrow about the end of unit project. This will include several different choices to pick from, each representing a different level of difficulty.

NO SCHOOL FRIDAY

Posted by Hartnett at 08:05 PM | Comments (0)

October 05, 2006

Posted by Hartnett at 02:17 PM | Comments (0)

"Flowers for Algernon" continued:

1st, 6th, 7th hours: Stopped before April 22nd entry
3rd hour: Stopped before April 9th entry

Homework:
Students are to answer the questions written on the board, and in addition, they are to rewrite correctly the March 29th entry.

Questions:
1. List two examples show Charlie's growing intelligence.
2. List two examples that indicate that Charlie has not changed completely.
3. What are Charlie's thoughts about Algernon?

Posted by Hartnett at 01:43 PM | Comments (0)

October 04, 2006

Students took a participle quiz today.

Work began on the phrases projects using Keynote.

Posted by Hartnett at 08:14 PM | Comments (0)

First draft were turned in today.

We began reading "Flowers for Algernon" and most classes read up to page 188. Students are to answer questions given in class today.

Posted by Hartnett at 08:11 PM | Comments (0)

October 03, 2006

ALL FIRST DRAFTS ARE DUE TOMORROW. THESE SHOULD BE DOUBLED SPACED, TYPED, AND TURNED IN WITH THE PREWRITING SHEET AND THE 3 GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS FOR THE BP'S.

We began a new unit today. We will be reading "Flowers for Algernon" in our lit. books, and so students were assigned books for the year.

Posted by Hartnett at 01:59 PM | Comments (0)

Today we finished reviewing gerunds, participles, infinitives, prepositional phrases, and appositives. Students broke up into groups and picked a specific type of phrase as a topic. Beginning tomorrow they will create a slide presentation using Keynote. This presentation will be used as a teaching tool for other students.

Possible quiz tomorrow on phrases.

SECOND DRAFT DUE TOMORROW. REMEMBER, THIS COULD BE YOUR FINAL ONE!

Posted by Hartnett at 01:53 PM | Comments (0)

October 02, 2006

Today was the last day for writing workshop. Students have been meeting individually with me and/or Mrs. Collins for advice, guidance, etc. First drafts are due Wednesday, 10/4.

Posted by Hartnett at 07:00 PM | Comments (0)

First drafts were returned today. Students are to make changes according to teacher notes and return the second draft by Wednesday, 10/4. All paperwork is to remain together and turned in each time.

We continued working with verbals. Participles and participial phrases were the focus of today's lesson. Below is a copy of the practice sheet we began on participles. Students were to complete it for homework tonight so we can review it tomorrow.

Participles and participial phrases

Gerunds and gerund phrases (for Tuesday's lesson)

Posted by Hartnett at 06:58 PM | Comments (0)