Friday, May 30:  Exam Review

Thursday, May 29:  You received the literature section of your final exam review.  I will grade both pages of your review at the end of class on Friday. 

Wednesday, May 28:  1)  Fragments, phrases, and clauses:  pages 50 and 85 of the GUM workbook.  2)  Begin final exam review.  Due Friday.

Tuesday, May 27:  Sentence diagrams: question-and-answer session.  Check your work before turning in your project.  SENTENCE VARIETY PROJECTS ARE DUE.

Thursday, May 22:  You continued working on your Sentence Variety Project.  This project is due today, but I am offering you an extension.  If you turn it in on Tuesday, I will not deduct late points.  I will answer your questions about diagrams on Tuesday in class.  For now, consult these resources:  Diagramming Examples and  Diagramming PowerPoint Lesson.

Wednesday, May 21:  You continued working on your Sentence Variety Project.  This project is due this Thursday.  You should be able to complete most of it in class.

Tuesday, May 20:  You continued working on your Sentence Variety Project.  This project is due this Thursday.  You should be able to complete most of it in class.

Monday, May 19:  You turned in your shield project, and we started the Sentence Variety Project.  This project is due this Thursday.  You should be able to complete most of it in class.

Friday, May 16:  1) Vocabulary Quiz  2) Finish working on shield project.  Turn it in by Monday.

Vocabulary Quiz: Friday, May 16th

adversary, boorish, copse, fallible, fidelity, ignoble, penitent, prerogative, prowess, recompense, reprisal

Most of these words appear in Launcelot du Lake.  Use your textbook to study for the quiz.

Thursday, May 15:  You continued working on your medieval shield project.

Wednesday, May 14:  We finished reading Launcelot du Lake and started to work on a medieval shield project.  We will continue working on this project tomorrow.  You may turn it in Friday or Monday for full credit.

Tuesday, May 13:  We read Launcelot du Lake from Le Morte d'Arthur, pp. 1073 -1079.

Monday, May 12:  You wrote about chivalry and commented on its relevance to modern society.  These papers were turned in at the end of class.  Vocabulary worksheets are DUE WHEN YOU WALK IN TOMORROW.  Your quiz will be on Friday.

Friday, May 9:  We viewed part of a documentary, King Arthur's Britain.  Your character charts were due today.  For homework, finish your summary of "The Crowning of Arthur."

Thursday, May 8:  You had time in class to complete the character chart and short answer questions over "The Crowning of Arthur."  This page is due at the beginning of class tomorrow.  Those who were finished, started writing their summaries of the story.

Wednesday, May 7:  Key word notes were graded at the beginning of class.  You used those notes to help you fill out a character chart and answer a few open-ended questions.

Tuesday, May 6:  We started reading Le Morte d'Arthur on page 1065 of your literature book.  Your Key Word Notes for pp. 1065 through 1071 are due tomorrow at the beginning of class.  (Fourth period:  pp. 1065 through 1069).

Monday, May 5:  We continued to work on pp. 16 - 26 of the GUM workbooks (due tomorrow).

Friday, May 2:  With TAKS week behind us, regular updates to this web site will resume.  We will be back on a normal bell schedule next week.  If you haven't turned in a completed draft of the Antigone essay, you need to do so ASAP. 

Monday, April 28:  We went to the computer lab to work on an Antigone essay using My Access.

Friday, April 25:  We went to the computer lab to work on an Antigone essay using My Access.

Thursday, April 24:  Test.

Wednesday, April 23:  Test review.

Tuesday, April 22:  All classes are finished or nearly finished reading Antigone.  Your test will be Thursday.

Monday, April 21:  We continued to work on our ongoing grammar assignments and crossword puzzles.  Tomorrow will be a reading day, and we will finish the play Antigone.

Friday, April 18:  After the vocabulary quiz, you had some time to work on the ongoing grammar assignment, as well as your Antigone crossword puzzles. 

Thursday, April 17:  Fourth and fifth period classes went to the computer lab to begin writing an essay in response to Antigone.  Assignments can be accessed at www.myaccess.com.  You will have another lab day to work, but many of you have some catching up to do at home.

Seventh period worked on GUM workbooks and continued reading the play.  You will work on the Antigone essay at a later date.

Wednesday, April 16:  GUM workbooks:  pp. 4 - 26 continued.  Antigone: scene 4.

Tuesday, April 15:  GUM workbooks:  pp. 4 - 26 continued.  Antigone: scene 3.

Monday, April 14:  Please complete pp. 4 - 26 of your GUM workbook.  These pages cover parts of speech and will be graded on Monday, the 21st.  We will work through examples of each exercise in class for the rest of the week.  If you use your time wisely, you should be able to finish this in class.

We also continued reading Antigone.  Most classes have started Scene 3.

Friday, April 11:  Finish your essays!  Very few were turned in.  In class, we took notes over the new vocabulary list and continued reading Antigone.  Most classes finished scene 2.

Thursday, April 10:  Most classes finished reading scene 1 of Antigone.

Wednesday, April 9: We spent Wednesday in the computer lab working on your second revision of the To Kill a Mockingbird essays.  You should have used this time to add the required elements listed on your rubric.  The revised essay is due Friday.  Be prepared to highlight and label the additional material before you turn in your revision.  This is a test grade.

Tuesday, April 8:  We read Antigone, pp. 1018 - 1029.

Monday, April 7:  We reviewed participles and completed page 63 of your green GUM (Grammar Usage Mechanics) workbook.  We then discussed background information for Antigone.  We will begin reading the play tomorrow.

April 4: Computer Lab:  We worked on a second revision of the To Kill a Mockingbird essays, using the strategies we learned in our focused writing lessons from earlier this week.

April 3:  Computer Lab: We worked on a second revision of the To Kill a Mockingbird essays, using the strategies we learned in our focused writing lessons from earlier this week.

April 2:  Today we experimented with using adjectives shifted out of order. 

April 1:  Today we focused on adding detail to our writing by using absolute phrases.  You added to and turned in the homework from yesterday. 

To learn more about absolute phrases, follow this link or this link. 

Mar. 31:  We practiced adding descriptive detail to sentences using participial phrases.  You have a homework assignment that requires you to add detail to five simple sentences, which you were given in class. 

To learn more about participles and participial phrases, follow this link.

Mar. 28:  We continued our discussion of Greek mythology.  You should have turned in your word maps today.

Mar. 27:  We started to review Greek mythology in preparation for our study of Antigone.  You took notes (which may be graded next week) as we read selections from Myth and Meaning. 

Mar. 26:  You continued to practice writing with appositive phrases and completed a sentence-combining assignment.  This was due at the end of class.

Mar. 25:  Appositive review (group work) and vocabulary word maps (individual work).  Eight word maps are due on Thursday.  The handout from class has all word maps on one sheet.  Fill out the diagrams using words you missed on Friday's vocabulary test. 

Mar. 14:  Vocabulary Test.

Mar. 13:  To Kill a Mockingbird Test #2.

Mar. 12:  Some classes went to the computer lab to use My Access.  Essays due by Thursday.  Other classes completed crossword puzzles as a review for Friday's vocabulary test.

Mar. 11:  Some classes went to the computer lab to use My Access.  Essays due by Thursday.  Other classes completed crossword puzzles as a review for Friday's vocabulary test.

Mar. 10:  Fourth period almost finished watching To Kill a Mockingbird.  You should have turned in your movie hunt worksheet.   Fifth and seventh periods went to the computer lab to finish typing essays in My Access.  These essays are due on Wednesday.  Fourth period will work in the computer lab on Wednesday.

Mar. 7:  Graphic organizers were due today for a test grade.  If you did not turn it in today, be sure to bring it Monday.  Ten points will be deducted per day late!  We continued to watch To Kill a Mockingbird.

Mar. 6:  We viewed To Kill a Mockingbird.

Mar. 5:  TAKS English Language Arts test.

Mar. 4:  We practiced making inferences as we looked at a couple more comic strips, and then we checked and discussed our answers to yesterday's revising and editing homework.  After reviewing several TAKS strategies, we focused on improving sentences (see questions #1 and 6 on yesterday's homework).

Mar. 3:  We reviewed TAKS concepts.  We looked at cartoons to practice making inferences (a valid assumption based on the information you have) and we practiced writing truisms that we might be able to use in our personal narratives (the TAKS essay).  For homework, you should complete the revising and editing practice passage about Harper Lee (due at the beginning of class).

Feb. 29:  We spent the day in the computer lab, typing our essays in My Access.

Feb. 28:  We worked in groups of three to answer some TAKS practice questions (Practice 3) over To Kill a Mockingbird.  As an individual you were responsible for turning in one index card explaining the right and wrong answer choices for two different questions.  In other words, you had to go through a process of elimination and defend your choices.

Feb. 27:  We finished yesterday's writing assignment, and you had time to work on your graphic organizer, which is worth a TEST grade. 

Feb. 26: We started TKAM writing assignment # 3:  How do children see the world differently than adults see it?  Support your position with reasoning and examples from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.  This assignment must be completed in the classroom.  Do not take it home.

Feb. 25:  We worked through a writing exercise called Lightning in a Bottle.  You wrote a step-by-step response to the universal statement or truism, "The perfect joy of childhood lies in an innocent belief that the world makes sense."  What examples of this can you find in movies you've seen, in your reading, or in your life?  We explored these ideas through discussion and writing.  Why do you think Harper Lee tells the story through the voice of a child?

Feb. 21:  You took your fourth vocabulary quiz for this unit and completed a short test over To Kill a Mockingbird.

Feb. 20:  You finished and turned in practice set #2 and studied for tomorrow's test. 

Feb. 19:  We graded yesterday's vocabulary practice.  Use this to study for Friday's quiz.  You also received a new homework assignment.  Finish at least #1-8 tonight (due at the beginning of class).  You also received a review sheet for Friday's test.  The rest of the period was devoted to the completion of a draft for TKAM writing assignment #2.

Feb. 18:  You received your fourth set of vocabulary words and a practice set of sentences to complete with those words.  You had fifteen minutes to work in class.  The rest is homework and will be graded at the beginning of class tomorrow.  You then spent the remainder of the period working on the second essay for TKAM.

Feb. 15:  You took your third vocabulary quiz for TKAM.  You will receive the next set of words on Monday.  My fourth and fifth period classes completed a pre-write for the second writing assignment for this unit.  You will write this essay during class on Monday.  Your homework is a reading quiz over chapters 13 through 17.  Continue reading; you will take a test on Thursday or Friday of next week.

Feb. 14:  We looked at some vocabulary cartoons that should help you remember some of the words for tomorrow's quiz.  We finished the "Pick a Punk" questions for chapters 6 and 10.  This is homework if you didn't finish it.  You also received a packet for a graphic analysis of TKAM.  This project will be worth a test grade.  (Seventh period will receive these packets tomorrow due to time constraints). 

Feb. 13:  Fourth period went to the counseling office for registration.  All classes completed the vocabulary practice worksheet and turned it in at the end of class.  In fifth and seventh period, we wrote a "Pick a Punk" answer together.

Feb. 12:  My fifth and seventh period classes went to the counseling office to register for next year's classes.  I read part of chapter 10 to 4th period and handed out the next two "Pick a Punk" questions.  All classes completed p. 9 of the grammar workbook.

Feb. 11:  We tried a new question and answer technique called "Pick a Punk."  We practiced with a few every day questions, and then applied the process to a question about To Kill a Mockingbird.  You should have turned in your character web today.

Feb. 8:  You took your second vocabulary quiz over words from To Kill a Mockingbird.  You were then responsible for copying your new vocabulary list into your notes.  Then, you had the remainder of class to finish your character web, which is due Monday.

Feb. 7:  For a daily grade, you were asked to reconstruct three diagrammed sentences with prepositional phrases.  We've practiced diagramming sentences like these, so you should be able to reverse the process. 

You then looked for good quotes to support the character traits we used to describe Jem.  Finish the character web by collecting quotes and page numbers.  You choose the fourth character trait and prove it as well.

Feb. 6:  We continued working on your writing assignment.  Log into www.myaccess.com to see the assignment.

Feb. 5:  We started a new writing assignment using www.myaccess.com.  Please feel free to work on this outside of class.  Your completed assignment is due on Friday.

Feb. 4:  You checked your answers to the parts of speech handout from 1/28 and added it to your notes.  You also received a list of prepositions to paste into your notebook and were asked continue diagram sentences with prepositions from To Kill a Mockingbird:   preposition homework.  Fourth period is diagramming sentence #3 for homework.  The other classes had enough time to complete this in class and move on to Journal #1 for To Kill a Mockingbird.  Scout's first day of school did not go as expected.  Write about your first memory of going to school.  Was it what you expected?  Aim for a page.  If you did not have time to finish in class, finish it at home. 

Feb. 1:  Vocabulary quiz!  Make sure you wrote down the vocabulary list for next Friday's quiz.  Continue reading TKAM.  You should be finished with chapter eight by Monday.

Jan. 31:  Classes were much shorter today because of the TAKS field testing.  We continued reviewing the parts of speech and completed a couple more assignments on appositive phrases.  Study for your quiz tomorrow! 

Jan. 30:  All classes went over the appositives on page 75 of the grammar workbook.  Fourth period continued reviewing parts of speech.  We then diagrammed very simple sentences.  Fifth and seventh period started diagramming sentences that contained subjects, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and prepositional phrases. 

Jan. 29:  You added a chart of personal pronouns to your notes.  The chart classified the pronouns as subjective, objective, or possessive.  We reviewed these categories. 

We then looked at question #2 on the scavenger hunt.  We discussed the appositive phrase on page nine of TKAM that revealed the answer to #2.  We then added the definition of appositive to our notes and worked on a practice set together. 

Your assignment is to finish page 75 in your new green grammar workbook.  Since these books must stay in the classroom, you need to use your time wisely.  You should have turned in your scavenger hunt and parts of speech pretest by now.

Jan. 28:  We took a pop quiz over the first three chapters of TKAM.  You then took notes about Harper Lee and the historical context of the novel.  We then worked on a parts of speech pretest/review to prepare for some upcoming grammar and syntax lessons.  Remember to finish up your scavenger hunts!

Jan. 25:  You should have taken notes over your first ten vocabulary words from To Kill a Mockingbird.  Then, we worked on the scavenger hunt to practice documenting information we learn from our reading.  In other words, you must write down the page numbers!

Jan. 24:  Continue reading To Kill a Mockingbird.  You should be finished with Ch. 2 by now.

Jan. 23:  Welcome back!  We checked out copies of To Kill a Mockingbird and received the reading schedule.  You will be expected to read outside of class.  You will have reading quizzes.  Most classes read through p. 9 today. 

Jan. 10:  In-class essay.  We started the essay for our final exam.  You will have some time to finish tomorrow in class.

Jan. 9:  Review for final exam.  Instructions for completing the essay.

Jan. 8:  Opening sentences -- finish for homework.

January 7, 2008:  After free-writing in response a quote from one of Hawthorne's stories, we looked at a collection of opening sentences written by professional writers and the strategies they use to hook the reader.  We completed #1 on the worksheet.  We will continue this lesson tomorrow, so bring the worksheet back to class.

Shakespeare Links:  

Please turn in your literature book when you take your final exam.  Bring your GUM workbook back to class so that I can update the grades.

SENTENCE VARIETY PROJECT  (TEST GRADE)

WAS DUE ON THURSDAY, MAY 22. 

OLD DEADLINES:

Due Monday, 5/19:  Arthurian shield project (TEST grade)

Due Tuesday:  Vocabulary Practice

Due Monday:  Summary of "The Crowning of Arthur" and essay on chivalry

Due 5/9 at the beginning of class:  Character Chart and Short Answer Questions

Key Word Notes over the first section of Le Morte d'Arthur:  "The Crowning of Arthur" were due on May 7th.

GUM Workbooks pp. 16-26 were due May 5th.

Completed drafts of the Antigone essay should have been turned in this week.  The essays should be typed and submitted in My Access.  You are also required to give a printed copy to Ms. Bridgforth.

Thursday, 4/24:  Test over Antigone

If you missed this test, make it up by Friday afternoon or it will show up as a zero on the 3-week progress report.

Wednesday, 4/23:  Antigone crosswords due (This is a good test review.)

If you missed the vocabulary quiz Friday, April 18th, come to tutorials to make it up ASAP:
Vocabulary notes

RE-REVISED TKAM ESSAYS WERE DUE FRIDAY (4/11).

You can access your assignment at www.myaccess.com.   Download another copy of the revision grading rubric if you've lost yours.

Materials from the last nine weeks:

Old Vocabulary List (40 words):

31-40:  indigenous, infallible, ingenuity, innate, inordinate, irascible, lament, malevolence, melancholy, oblique.

21-30:  fanaticism, formidable, fractious, fraudulent, frivolous, furtive, guileless, hone, impertinent, impudent

11-20: congenital, corroborate, dictum, diminutive, disapprobation, domicile, drone, edifying, elucidate, enunciate.   Click here for definitions

 1-10:  benevolence, caricature, acquiesce, arid, assuage, articulate, begrudge, complacency, acrimonious, auspicious.

For help with the vocabulary and allusions in To Kill a Mockingbird, consult the Student Survival Guide.

Homework:

1)  You need to continue reading independently.  Follow the reading schedule.

Selected Old Assignments:

1.  Scavenger Hunt

3.  Be sure you have finished your narrative about an early school memory in www.myaccess.com.

MATERIALS FROM LAST SEMESTER:

Final exam review

Benchmark essays must be submitted via www.myaccess.com by Tuesday, or you will receive a zero for a test grade.

Thursday, during class, you will write the essay for your final exam using your notes from our analysis of Antony's speech.

Outline of Antony's speech:  You may refer to this outline during the essay portion of your final exam.

Old Materials: