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Quarter 1: Welcome back! 9-4-03 Students in X and Y blocks were put in groups to brainstorm ideas for the coming year in language arts. Y group: Mein Kamf, controversial literature, music reviews, Diary of Anne Frank, screenplays/playwriting, poetry, short stories, philosophy - Nietzche, Sarte, internet diary, Greek mythology, books on tape, reflective dream creative writing, analysis and reflection of films, reading journal, wall of the Living, Litrivia, more library trips, author (local) speakers, improved library, have field trips, tell and show, read a book, go to park, write a short book, watch Reading Rainbow, board games, art, movies, hands on things, computer assignments, book report, class talks, educational movies, co-ed assignments, invent games out of movie or book, fictional computer games, games, speeches, computer related stuff, government studies, verbs, adjectives, psychology of Adolf, appreciation activities of alternative art forms, persuasive speech, poetry in park, ropes course, group activities, story writing, making poem powerpoints, alliterations, arts and crafts, nature walks, journaling, skits. X goup: writing in journals, experiments in the park, history of women, collages, art, drawings, creative writing, film, autobiography, poetry, biography, Shakespeare, music reviews, acting/plays, research paper, reading books, myths, polls, speeches, art (painting, drawing, studying different artists), film, novels (essays afterwards, combine art with novels), journal writing, writing short stories, book report of our choice, watch classic American films, drama, literary analysis, Horror/Sci Fi books/movies, filmography, music dialogue, art analysis, film as lit, body posters, crazy stories, music inspired art, folding story, Madlibs, stylistic writing, memoirs, topical reading (Puritanical life), talking to people on the street. 9-5-03 Students were given Language Arts protocol and both wrote their first entry in their journals. The remainder of the time was spent in designing journals and folders. Journals needed to be either continued from last year or purchased from Ron for $1. 9-8-03 As a part of our continued commitment to increasing student literacy, we are going to read works of literature out loud to the students all throughout the year. The first novel we are going to read is called Stargirl, by Jerry Spinelli. After listening to a reading from the book, students will participate in a word association exercise. (See teachers to makeup exercise) 9-9-03 Students will choose 2 words from their list of responses to the word association exercise or choose 2 words of their own to work with. Their assignment is to take the two words and put them in noun, adjective, and verb form in three separate sentences. If they are not completed and turned in during class, students are to take them home as homework and turn them in the next day. 9-10-03 Today we did a brief lesson on successful words (words that work well in 3 different types of usage) and unsuccessful words (a lot of the words the kids picked out). We are going to show them how this exercise was meant to help them broaden their creative horizons. The 5 words that are good examples of successful words are: sport, talk, face, color, and blind. There will be a small quiz using one of the 5 successful words. Then students will be given a small lesson on prepositions and prepositional phrases. After the lesson, students will be given the assignment to write a 100 word essay in which every sentences must start with a preposition. Students can find a very comprehensive list in the Writer's Inc book. 9-11-03 Students were given a brief lesson on adjectives. Volunteers were sent on a treasure hunt. The instructions were as follows: First version: Stand beside the teacher. Walk past the tables on your right. Go around the tables on your left. Go past computers that are in a pattern. Stop in front of the bookcase and find the column of books. On top of this column is a pile of books. The book from the top has the number written on the bottom. Open this book to page and find the surprise in it. Second version: Stand beside the female teacher. Walk past the first two tables on your right. Go around the remaining two tables on your left. Go past 21 computers that are in a horseshoe pattern. Stop in front of the white bookcase and find the middle column of books. On top of this column is a pile of US Government textbooks. The third book from the top has the number four written on the bottom. Open this book to page 337 and find the surprise in it. Then students were given the assignment: 100 word essay giving directions to your house without using street names or the word "street". 9-12-03 Students were given a brief lesson on verbs. Volunteers were given certain verbs to act out in front of the class to demonstrate how much more exciting action verbs are in writing. They were then given the last 100 word assignment which was to write an essay without using the words: am, is, are, was, were. 9-15-03 Students took a personality test. 9-16-03 Students were given the results of the personality tests and were put into groups based on their colors. These colors (orange, gold, blue, green) correspond to their traits. 9-17-03 Students created personal symbol for themselves. This could be abstract or an identifiable object. 9-18-03 Students worked on creating a team symbolism poster. 9-19-03 Students presented their personal symbolism team posters. 10 points 9-22-03 In teams, students created the highest marshmallow and spaghetti towers they could. This was to promote cooperation and creative thinking. 9/23-24 X and Y groups went to the ropes course on alternate days. The groups that were left behind did teamwork activities and extended classes in Science and Society. 9-25-03 Students started watching the movie, "Billy Budd". This movie was based on the short novel by Herman Melville. 9-26-03 Continued watching "Billy Budd". 9-29-03 Finished watching the movie "Billy Budd". 9-30-03 Students took a "quest". This was a test/quiz and all questions were based on the movie. 10-1-03 Students were given back their quest and were introduced to their new assignment, Billy Budd Courtroom Drama. Students picked their own groups to create an adaptation of the trial scene in the movie. They will be required to do a screenplay, a storyboard, and they will be required to film their final end product. If students do not have a video camera and cannot get access to one, then they can perform their adaptation in front of the group. The instructions for the screenplay and storyboard are available through the teachers if needed. All pieces of the assignment are due on Wednesday, October 8. 10-2-03 Students continued working in groups to complete their storyboard and screenplay. 10-3-03 Students continued working in groups to complete their storyboard and screenplay. Students need to have a plan for filming over the weekend. 10-6-03 Students were given the first literature terms of the year. There were 7 given to 3/4 of the class and an additional 6 to a select group from each block. The terms are as follows: 1. Antagonist: the person or thing working against the protagonist, or hero, of the work 2. Characterization: method an author uses to reveal characters and their personalities 3. Climax: usually the most intense point in the story, the "turning point" 4. Conflict: problem or struggle in a story that triggers the action. Five basic types: Person vs. Person, Person vs. Society, Person vs. Self, Person vs. Nature, Person vs. Fate. 5. Dialogue: conversation carried on by 2 or more characters in a story. 6. Exaggeration/Hyperbole: overstating or stretching the truth for special effect. 7. Falling Action: part of the story that works out the decision arrived at during the climax. *8. Allegory: story in which people, things, and actions represent an idea or a generalization about life; allegories often have a strong moral or lesson. *9. Caricature: picture or an imitation of a person's features or mannerisms exaggerated in a comic or absurd way. *10. Character sketch: short piece of writing that reveals or shows something important about a person or fictional character. *11. Empathy: putting yourself in someone else's place and imagining how that person must feel. *12. Epiphany: sudden perception (moment of understanding) *13. Farce: literature based on a humorous and improbable plot. 10-7-03 Students were given their new short story units. A majority of the students were required to read the short story, "Say Yes" by Tobias Wolff, a short story found in many compilations including New Worlds of Literature which is being used for instructional purposes only. They are then required to complete 4 out of 5 exercises found on pink, yellow, and blue papers. Upperclassmen and advanced students were given a work of O' Henry's to read and present to the rest of their class. They then were given the assignment of writing a short story using irony of situation. 10-8-03 Students were given the time to work on short story work. 10/9-10/10 Inservice days. Students have the day off while teachers work hard at school. 10-13-03 Students were given time to finish their short story work. 10-14-03 Students were introduced to their next assignment. Ron received a letter from an English teacher in Louisiana in which he received an invitation to participate in the "Great American Mail Race". These is where students get an opportunity to exchange mail with students from various communities all over America. This idea began in Louisiana in 1988 and has become a tradition for many high schools. Students will be required to write a letter back to Stephanie, the girl whose letter was enclosed with the teacher's letter and then they will find another high school to write to and continue the race. At the end of the year, the student with the most received mail will get a prize. This assignment encourages letter writing, an art that seems to be lost, and gives students a chance to learn about other young people in other areas. The final letter for Stephanie should be in the following format: Date
Acadiana High School 315 Rue Du Belier Lafayette, LA 70506-4899
Dear Stephanie,
xxxx xxxx xxx
xxxx xxxx xxx
Sincerely,
Name
**The other letter should substitute another high school's address for Stephanie's and the heading should say "Dear Student or class" 10-15-03 Both blocks worked on typing their Dear Stephanie letters. 10-16-03 Y block had the main classroom and were able to finish letters to Stephanie and their individual state letters. These are due today in Y block only. The X block took notes on the next 7 additional literary terms. 14./8. Antithesis: opposite 15./9. Metaphor: comparison between unlike things without using "like" or "as". 16./10. Personification: giving human characteristics to nonhuman things. 17./11. Simile: a comparison using "like" or "as". 18./12. Understatement: using sarcasm to make an observation that oversimplifies a statement. 19./13. Flashback: returning to an earlier time (in a story) for the purpose of making something in the present more clear. 20./14. Foreshadowing: giving hints or clues of what is to come later in a story. 21./15. Imagery: creating a picture using words. 10-17-03 Both blocks were finally ready to show their courtroom drama interpretations. While humorous and funny, some were exceptionally well done. 10-20-03 Y block received their notes on the additional literary terms and X block took notes on Edgar Allan Poe's background. 10-21-03 X block finished letters to Stephanie and their individual state letters. These are due today in X block. Y block researched on the internet, information on Poe. 10-22-03 Students in both block will be read "The Tell-Tale Heart", by Edgar Allan Poe. They will then choose a short story to analyze and explore further. This unit will take until the end of the week and possibly into the next. 10-23-03 Students continued working on their Poe guide. This is Day 2 for the X-block and Day 1 for the Y-block. 10-24-03 Students worked on Day 3 for X-block and Day 2 for Y-block. 10-27-03 Students had one extra day to work on their Poe guides 10-28-03 Students voted on watching either "The Pit and the Pendulum" or "Fall of the House of Usher". Guides are due today by the end of the day. 10-29-03 Continued viewing of the film. 10-30-03 Students will be moving into their creative writing sequence. This will focus on horror fiction but in a very rigid structure. |
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21st Century