Grade 12

• Discussed the importance of using the tools we've gathered over the course of the year for writing a competent essay: The Seven Deadly Sins of Writng, reading your work out loud, having other people read your work, proofread/edit/rewrite. You always have the time to do this. Waiting until the night before the due date is not going to result in your best writing.
• Reviewed "The Language of the Birds", wrote an example intro paragraph for this story with a strong thesis statement. Discussed in groups.
• Began response paper. Due tomorrow.
• Group A journals due tomorrow.

Grade 10

• Went over quiz 2.
• Discussed the first half of chapter 10 in terms of plot, imagery and symbol transformation.
• HW: Finish chapter 10. Reading log. (Note: Reading logs will be checked tomorrow.)

Grade 12

• Dead Poet essays due Monday!!!
• Discussed the importance of a strong thesis statement in the intro of an essay. A thesis statement defines an essay's conclusion and provides the focal point for each body paragraph. An essay without a tightly focused thesis statement will be vague and tend to wander.
• In class journal: "What is the theme of "The Six Swans?" Write an intro pragraph with a strong thesis statement.
• Distributed "The Language of the Birds". The story was read and annotated in class. Symbols, metaphors, hero journey elements and atonement with the father.
• Dead Poets essay due Monday!

Grade 10

• Repeated the discussion of the importance of the thesis statement as above.
• Discussed chapter 9 with attention to the literary elements foreshadowing, symbolism and imagery.
• HW: Chapeter 10 to page 161.

"The Three Ravens" / LotF, The Killing of the Sow

Grade 12

• Discussed some of the imagery in "The Six Swans", reviewed 'reading into a story.' Collected response papers.
• Viewed a variation of this story, "The Three Ravens," part of Jim Henson's The Storyteller series.
• Reminder: Work on portfolio and research projects!

Grade 10

• Read and discussed The Killing of the Sow, chapter 8, pg 133 to 144 aloud. discussed the significance of the language, imagery and moment in the story.
• No assignament for tonight, but students who are behind in their reading need to catch up.

"The Six Swans" / LotF, Ch. 8A

Grade 12

• Response/Analysis paper on "The Six Swans" due tomorrow.
• Essay for The Dead Poet Society due Monday (4/30)
• Discussed instructions for research paper. Due mid to late May. Firm date to be determined.
• Note! This is TWO long range projects on your plate now. Your portfolio due date has been pushed back to June 8th. Manage your time efficiently and all will be well.
• Discussed the idea of folk and fairy tales in terms of mythic imagery. Students reread "The Six Swans" and annotated

Grade 10

• Quiz on chapter 5 and 6.
• Discuss the first half of chapter 8, esp. the significance of Jack blowing the conch and leaving the group
• HW: Chapter 9 plus reading log

TDPS ~ Finale / LotF, Ch. 7

Grade 12

Finished the movie. Below are the essay question options. Choose 1:

a) The Dead Poet Society contains many obvious mythic themes and illustrates, in the transformation of some of the main characters, the steps of the hero journey. As this is a ‘coming of age’ story, the theme of ‘atonement with the father’ is central. In a well developed essay of a minimum of 500 words, demonstrate your understanding of these concepts by explaining their application to this story. Make sure to use specific examples from the movie.
b) In a minimum of 500 words, write a personal reaction to this story. This essay should have a standard structure: Introduction/thesis statement, body paragraphs and conclusion. Specific details from the story are necessary in the development of your thesis statement.

• Research Project instructions will be given out tomorrow. The due date will be middle to late May. As a result, the due date for the portfolio project will be pushed back a week to the beginning of June. I'll give firm dates later.
• I will be out tomorrow. You will be given a short story to read, annotate and respond to. response paper due on Thursday. You have the choice of working on your TDPS essay or the short story in class.

Grade 10

• Discussed chapter 7 in class.
• Went over quiz 1.
• HW: Catch up!
• Finish chapter 8 in class with the sub tomorrow

TDPS V / LotF Ch. 5 and 6

Grade 12

• Viewed to 1:39:00
• Discussed the parallel narrative of Neil and Noks. Neils deception increases his challenges, Noks' integrity and courage decreases his.
• The paper for this movie will involve applying the hero journey and atonement with the father to the develoment of two or more of the characters in the story.

Grade 10

• discussed the changes of the beast, conch, fire, Jack and Ralph
• HW: Ch. 8 to bottom of page 134 plus reading log.

Drive By Posting!

Almost left the room without an update! So just quickly...

Grade 12

• Poetry/Lyric analysis papers due tomorrow. Copy of annotated poem is required with submission.
• Continued with The Dead Poet Society.
• Final requirements for the portfolio assignment has been distributed. Due May 31st.

Grade 10

• Today was an in-class reading day for students to catch up.
• Everyone should finish chapter 7 tonight.
• Reading logs through chapter 5 have been graded.
• Tomorrow we'll discuss chapters 5 and 6.

TDPS, III / LotF, Quiz and 3Q Assessment

Grade 12

"When you read, don't just consider what the author thinks.Consider what you think." ~Mr. Keating

"To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield." ~Lord Tennyson as read by Neil Perry

• Continued movie to 58:00
• Discussion, esp on the development of Todd and Neil.

Grade 10

Both classes: Read chapter 7 to pg. 116 plus reading log

Period 6:

• finish the constructed response to ch. 3 and 4 quiz
• Go over 3rd quarter assessment

Period 8:

• Start ch. 3 and 4 quiz\
• If time go over assessment

TDPS, II / LotF, Symbols and Quiz

Grade 12

• Review: We're wtaching this movie through the lens of the hero journey and atonement with the father. What elements and expressions of these ideas have we already seen?
• Continue the movie to the 36 minute mark.
• Note and discuss.
• Poetry/Lyric analysis due Fiday.

Grade 10

• List the symbols evident in the story so far. Have any of the changed?
• Quiz on chapters 2 and 3
• Note: Half of period  8 hadn't even finished chapter 4. Students read the book while I checked reading logs. Will do the quiz tomorrow.
• HW: Finish chapter 6 plus reading log.

The Dead Poet Society I / LotF Ch. 3 and 4

Grade 12

• Reminders: Group A journals due tomorrow. Be advised, this is a 3rd marking period grade for period three so it HAS to be in on time.
• Collected poetry packets.
• Reminder II: Poetry/Lyric analysis due on Friday. If you give it to me on Monday it will be considered three days late and that means a 35 point deduction.
• We began watching The Dead Poet Society through the lens of the journey of the hero in general and the conept of atonement with the father in particular. Watched the first 15 minutes today. Notes will be taken for each installment.

Grade 10

• Journals: Split the class into two groups; one wrote on chapter 3 the other on chapter 4. What was important in those chapters.
• Discussion followed.
• Tonight Read chapter 6 to page 103 plus reading log.
• Tomorrow: quiz ion chapter 3 and 4.
• Wednesday: go over 3rd quarter assessment.
• Reminder: Notebooks will be collected this week. Get your reading logs done!

"My Last Duchess" / LOTF, Ch. 2 continued

Grade 12

• Discussed "My Last Duchess" by Robert Browning. No response paper for this one, but should be signficantly annotated.
• Tomorrow: Write practice analysis paper in "The sick Rose." Due Thursday.

Grade 10

• Went over Julius Caesar multiple choice test.
• Discussed second half of chapter 2. 

"Comfortably Numb" / LotF, Chapter 2.

Grade 12

• Listened to the song (LINK)
• Small group discussion (some large group discussion)
• Response paper due tomorrow.
• A practice analysis essay on "The Sick Rose" will be written in class on Wednesday, due Thursday.

Grade 10

• Journal: What seems significant in the first half of chapter two?
• Discussion.
• Finish chapter 2 and reading log for hw.
• Looking ahead:
• Tomorrow we'll go over the Julius Caesar exam
• Wednesday with the subsitutue: chapter 3 plus reading log.
• Over break:
• Chapter 4:  pgs 58-64 plus reading log
• Chapter 4:  pgs 64-75 plus reading log
• Chapter 5:  pgs 76-84 plus reading log
• Chapter 5:  pgs 85-94 plus reading log
• All reading logs will be checked after vacation for 2 major grades.