March 31/April 1

English 1 -- During this class period, students in 2nd block worked on writing their rough drafts and then began reading Of Mice and Men by Johm Steinbeck.  Students in 7th and 8th blocks completed peer review and editing activities for their analysis papers and also began reading Of Mice and Men.

English 1 Homework

• Finish writing rough draft of analysis paper
  
• Finish reading chapter 1 in Of Mice and Men and answer questions on back side of the chapter 1 notesheet
  

English 2 -- During this class period, students in 1st block watched The Kite Runner movie.  Students in 4th block examined the research they had already gathered for the World View Research Project and then went to the library computer lab to fill in holes in that research.

English 2 Homework 

Work on The Kite Runner project -- they are due Monday

March 25/26

English 1 -- Today in class, students broke their thesis statements for their literary analysis papers down into main points.  They then created graphic organizers into which they wrote a topic sentence for each body paragraph, a quote from the play to support each main point, and a reference to an action that occurred in the play that supported each main point.  Seventh and eighth block also learned how to write a funnel introduction for their papers (2nd block will do this next class).

English 1 Homework

Finish filling in organizer chart for main points

7th & 8th blocks -- write the funnel introduction for your paper

English 2 -- Today in class, students took their test over The Kite Runner.  Afterward, their finished making their kites by decorating them with words and symbols representing both main characters in the novel.  Students also chose the projects they would be completing in response to the book.

English 2 Homework

• Work on your Kite Runner project -- they are due next week
  
• Bring all research materials to class -- you will be perusing your research and working in the library again next class
  

March 23/24

English 1 -- Today in class, students examined and wrote about some great quotes that were "spoken" by Helen Keller (2nd block will do this next class since they finished up Blind Day this period).  Next we reviewed The Miracle Worker by going over the Act 3 notesheet that was completed before Spring break.  During the last part of class, students received an assignment sheet and an explanation of the analysis paper they will be writing during the next couple weeks.  Students wrote the thesis statements for their papers in class.

English 1 Homework

Make an informal list of supports for your thesis statement -- anything and everything that happened in the play that could help you prove your thesis.

English 2 -- Today in class, students completed critical thinking study questions in groups to help them review The Kite Runner and prepare for the test next class.

English 2 Homework

Study for the test

Bring all research materials for World View Research Project to class

March 12/13

English 1 -- Today in class, students finished reading The Miracle Worker and watched a film based on William Gibson's play.

English 1 Homework

Enjoy Spring Break!

English 2 -- Today in class, students took a reading check quiz over chapters 23 and 24 of The Kite Runner.  Students then finished reading the novel in class, and created paper kites, decorating them with words and symbols representing two main characters, Amir and Hassan.

English 2 Homework

Enjoy Spring Break!

March 4/9

English 1 -- Today in class, students finished Act Two of The Miracle Worker an began reading Act Three.  Next I shared with them a few Literary Journey stories that had been very well written by some of their classmates.  To end class, students used/practiced the finger spelling they learned last class while having silent "conversation" with their classmates.  This practice will help them on Blind Day next week.

English 1 Homework

Don't forget about The Miracle Worker performance for extra credit.  The show closes on Sunday.

English 2 -- Today in class, students took a reading check quiz over chapters 20 and 21 of The Kite Runner, which they read for homework.  Next they read chapter 22 of the novel, and afterward we discussed the surprises and meaning they had discovered with Amir.  To end class, students were introduced to the World View Research Project that they will begin working on next week.  Students got an overview of the assignment, and they also picked their groups and their world view topics.

English 2 Homework

Read chapter 23 of The Kite Runner.  

Those of you who have finished, don't forget that you can get a head start on your project

or check our a copy of Khaled Hosseini's second novel A Thousand Splendid Suns and read it for extra credit.