English 2

Today students spend half of the period constructing their board games about the story "It Can't Be Helped" which we read last class. After the games were finished, the groups traded their games and quizzed themselves on their knowledge of the short story and of the Japanese-American internment during World War II.

Homework

NONE

English 1

Today in class, students took an open-note test over all five acts of Romeo and Juliet. After finishing the quiz, students met in their scene performance groups to practice their paraphrased lines and plan blocking, costumes, and props for their performances next class.

Homework

• Bring costumes and props to next class
• Practice, practice, practice your lines
• Talk to your group members before or after school to practice more.
• Scene performances will take place next class (you will have the first 20 minutes to meet with groups)

English 2

Today in class, students turned in their research papers! Next, we began our short story unit with an excerpt from the novel Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston. The short story, called "It Can't Be Helped" details Jeanne's family's trek from their comfortable home and lifestyle in Ocean Park, California to the Japanese internment camp Manzanar. After reading, taking a quiz, and discussing the story, students got into groups in order to make board games that depict the settings described and information transmitted in the story. Next class, students will get to play other groups' games.

Homework

• Bring game pieces for your board game
• Work on game if you took it home for the weekend

English 1

Today in class, we finally made it to the end of Romeo and Juliet. Unfortunately for the play's namesake, Act 5 signalled the end of the newlyweds as well. Students did a great job reading Act 5 to themselves and filling in the notesheet, then discussing their reading afterward...I was pretty impressed! To end class, students spent a little time with their scene performance groups, practicing the lines they paraphrased for class today and finalizing their modern settings.

Homework

• Test over the play next class (don't worry, it's open note -- you can use all your Act notesheets)
• Practice your lines for scene performance
• Bring props and costumes you plan to use to next class

English 2

Today in class, students had their last day of working on the research paper before the due date on Friday. First we circled-up and each told the 5 most important/interesting things we learned about our research topics. Classmates had a chance to ask their peers questions that could help them fill in holes in their research and improve the content of their papers. Next, students completed a ratiocination, which is a systematic editing exercise that helps whip writing into shape. To end class several students read their butterfly child biographies.

Homework

• Papers due next class

English 1

Today in class, students finished watching Act 3 of Romeo and Juliet and then moved on to Act 4. Students broke into 5 groups, each tackling a scene. They all did a great job reading, interpreting summarized, and answering questions on the notesheet. To end class they split into their scene performance groups to finish assigning parts, deciding on settings, and begin paraphrasing lines.

Homework

• Finish paraphrasing your lines for your scene performance. Remember that links to the full text of the play can be found on the class website: http://sites.google.com/site/mrskrysl/Home/resources

English 2

Today in class, students received training for the 6 traits writing program that we will use throughout the school year. They looked at 3 different writing rubrics/scoring guides that help show them was is expected of them for each of the 6 traits in order to write an "A" paper, a "B" paper, a "C" paper, and so on. They even read examples papers that fit each of these categories. After training, students scored each other's research paper rough drafts as a means of planning for needed revisions to their papers. These revisions will be made for next class when we will do the last bit of editing on the research papers and get ready to turn them in.

Homework

• Make revisions to your research paper based on the scoring guides/feedback from your peers.

English 1

Today in class, students began reading Act III of Romeo and Juliet. In scene 1, which is the turning point of the play, we read of 2 main characters losing their lives and of the newlywed Romeo being banished from Verona. Scene 2 shows up Juliet's reaction to the events of scene 1.
Next class we will be continuing with Act III of the play as things heat up and fall fast toward the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. To end class, students signed up for the scenes that they will perform in the weeks to come.

Homework

NONE

English 2

During this class period, students took their test over the Holocaust unit. After testing, they continued to work on their research papers, turning in their sourcecards to me and working toward completing their required 20 (minimum) notecards. I informed the students of the schedule of events for the next few class periods, leading up to the paper due date next Friday. To see the complete schedule, check out the calendar on the English 2 page of our class website http://sites.google.com/site/mrskrysl/


Homework

• Finish your 20 notecards -- Due next class
• Bring all research materials to class -- everything should be in your folder organizer. No more excuses will be accepted!

English 1

Today in class, students finished reading Act II of Romeo and Juliet which ended with the two young lovebirds getting married. Next class we will begin Act III and reach the turning point of the story. Today students also got to see Shakespeare's work in action as they watched Act II of the Romeo and Juliet movie. To end class, students had an opportunity to choose the scene they will paraphrase, modernize, and perform in class when we finish reading the play.

Homework

None!

English 2

During this class period, students began work on their research paper. Students learned how to make source cards and notecards that will help them with the organization of their papers. Students who brought their 3 required sources to class were able to create their source cards in class and begin perusing their research in order to make notecards and begin piecing their papers together. Students who did not have their sources with them in class (I have to say I was disappointed by the large number of students who did not) were luckily able to get into the computer lab to print sources from the internet. At the end of class, students were informed of what to study for their test next week, and we heard some Butterfly Biographies as well.

Homework

• Study for your test
• Bring your research paper folder to class, complete with all 3 sources, source cards, and notecards.

English 1

Today in class, students wrote about a time when someone made a decision for them in which they had no choice and their opinion did not matter. We have all had these situations in life in which we felt helpless and/or dissatisfied, just as Juliet feels in Romeo and Juliet when her parents want her to marry Paris. Next students read scenes 3 and 4 of Act 2 of the play, during which the Friar agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet, and the Nurse helps the two lovers make plans to meet for their wedding. To end class, students got a glimpse at the questions they will be answering for their second Verona Persona entry on our class wiki at www.mrskrysl.wetpaint.com

Homework

• Post your Verona Persona entry for Act 2 on the wiki. Remember, 5th block posts under Verona Persona, and 8th block posts under Verona Persona 2. Read all instructions and questions for the post.

English 2

During this class period, students completed their last discussion sheet over chapters 7-9 of Night. After discussion of the book was complete, students learned about Elie Weisel's life after his experiences in the Holocaust, including the fact that he won a Nobel Peace Prize in 1986. Next students read, discussed, and analyzed a poem written by survivor Sonia Schreiber Weitz called "My Black Messiah". To end class, students made folder organizers for their research papers, and we listened the biographies of a few of our "butterfly children".

Homework

• Come to class with 3 sources for your research paper topic.

English 1

Today in class, students turned in their Romeo and Juliet costume assignments. As always, I was impressed and entertained by many of the students' costume creations. Next students read Act Two Scene 2 -- the famous balcony scene where Romeo and Juliet agree to marry each other merely hours after they first meet. After reading the famous scene, students interpreted and wrote about the metaphors Romeo uses to compare Juliet's beauty to things in nature. Students worked on the very importatnt skill of using lead-ins and lead-outs to smoothly incorporate quotes into their literary analysis.

Participation Questions
1. What are two things in nature that Romeo associates with Juliet's beauty?

Homework

NONE! Enjoy your homework-free night!

English 2

Today in class, students in 1st and 2nd blocks completed an interactive, informational webquest on the Holocaust. After the webquest, they began gather sources for their Holocaust research papers. Many students were able to find lots of information on their topics by exploring the webquest site, so they already have one of their three required sources out of the way. Since 4th block did the webquest and research last class, today they watched and listened to Lolle Boettcher's holocaust presentation that I was able to record on my FlipCam on Wednesday. This presentation is also a great source of information for many students' research topics.

Homework

• Finish Night (chapters 7,8, and 9) -- we will complete the discussion sheet in class
• Come to next class with 3 sources for your research paper

English 1

Today in class, students turned in their Queen Mab depictions that they created for homework. Next, they located examples of various literary terms found in Act One of Romeo and Juliet. We then watched Act One of the 1968 film Romeo and Juliet. To end class, students started on their costume assignment and read the Prologue and Scene 1 of Act Two. Next class students begin with Act Two Scene 2 which contains the famous balcony scene.

Homework

• Complete the costume assignment by following these criteria:

1. Draw costumes for 4 characters -- 2 must be Romeo and Juliet, then draw 1 additional Montague and 1 additional Capulet.

2. Must use some distinguishing factor to tell members of the two families apart

3. Include a symbol for each character that resembles either their personality or their role in the play

4. Must be colored and neat -- remember the best ones will become magnets on display

English 2

Today in class, students turned in their Chapter 5 notesheet for Night. Students in 1st and 2nd block viewed a presentation about events leading to the holocaust by guest speaker Lolle Boettcher (4th block will view the presentation next class). Students in 4th block went to the computer lab to complete a webquest on the holocaust and begin finding information for their research papers (students in 1st and 2nd block will go to the computer lab next class).

Homework

• Read chapter 6 of Night (begins around page 84) and complete notesheet.

English 1

Today in class, students turned in their Perfect Mate: Parent Forms that their moms and/or dads completed for homework. We also checked out some Verona Persona posts on the class wiki so that we could decide what was a good (worth full points) post and what kind of post still needed some work (worth half points). Next, students began an assignment in which they create their own depiction/drawing of Queen Mab since Shakespeare paints such vivid pictures of her with his words in Act One Scene 4. To end class, students read Act One Scene 5, during which Romeo and Juliet meet for the first time and change the course of their lives forever.

Participation Questions (leave answers in the form of a comment)

1. Which character gave the Queen Mab speech?

2. Why are the events of Act One Scene 5 both good and bad for Romeo and Juliet?

(Hint: "My only love sprung from my only hate")

Homework

Finish your Queen Mab drawing