10/30 ... FRIDAY! ... Your virtual pilgrimage to Canterbury

Objective ...

Students will relate their own ideas and experiences to some of the central themes of the Canterbury Tales.  Students will analyze primary resources from the time period to gain a deeper understanding of the language and events of the time.


Warm-up ...

CWoD - ELOCUTION


Today ...

• CWoD
• No Webquest quiz today ... expect a short quiz over the material early next week!

• Be sure are finished with the work on "The Paston Letters" from the lit book (p.128) as well as the webquest and the pre-reading activities from the past few days.  You may get back with your groups/partners as needed for this.

• Once you have finished, make your own pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral through this virtual tour of key areas ... http://www.canterbury-cathedral.org/visit/tour/
• From our webquest we know that this is where the pilgrims in the Canterbury Tales are making a pilgrimage to ... so before we read, take a few minutes to see what the big deal is.

10/29 ... Friday Eve

Objective ...

Students will relate their own ideas and experiences to some of the central themes of the Canterbury Tales.  Students will analyze primary resources from the time period to gain a deeper understanding of the language and events of the time.


Warm-up ...

CWoD - ABLUTION


Today ...

• CWoD

• **IF YOU DIDN'T DO THIS YESTERDAY*** Update blog and GMail info ... http://goo.gl/forms/RT5VzvICVB
• Complete the Google Form at the link above with your name, class period, blog address (URL), and the GMail address associated with the Google Account you log in with everyday.
• For the blog address, make SURE you are viewing the blog ... the format will be either BLOGNAME.blogspot.com OR BLOGNAME.wordpress.com ... where "BLOGNAME" is the address your chose when you created the blog.

• In your previous groups, (you may choose to work solo or with a partner as well - but NO MORE THAN 3 IN A GROUP), you will finish reading "The Paston Letters" on pp. 128-137 in the literature book and then convert each letter to the modern day equivalent of a text message or tweet for each paragraph in the letter.
• (ie. the first letter ... 28 February 1449 ... has 3 large/main paragraphs ... so you would have 3 short tweets or texts effectively summarizing each paragraph.
• You may write your answers on paper .. OR you may type them (which would probably be easier) in a Google or Word Online document that you will share with me when you finish.  If you choose this option, share it with me at my email address - richard.davis@sfisd.org
• You may use the regular text - but the online text might be more helpful since it is more interactive.  Remember you can access the online text at http://my.hrw.com ... be sure to add that to your favorites so it will always be easy to find when you are using the Chromebook OR using your Google profile on ANY computer anywhere (with Internet access)

• Once you've finished (if you finish today - which we probably won't) you may continue working on the pre-reading activity from yesterday and/or the webquest.  YOU MAY CONTINUE WORKING WITH PARTNERS OR GROUPS FOR THIS! We will quiz over the Webquest on Friday.  I will be checking blogs for the pre-reading work no later than next Monday.

10/28 ... Wednesday ... Continuing with the Twittification (or Textification) of The Paston Letters ... Early Release Day

Objective ...

Students will relate their own ideas and experiences to some of the central themes of the Canterbury Tales.  Students will analyze primary resources from the time period to gain a deeper understanding of the language and events of the time.


Warm-up ...

CWoD - EDIFICATION


Today ...

• CWoD

• Update blog and GMail info ... http://goo.gl/forms/RT5VzvICVB
• Complete the Google Form at the link above with your name, class period, blog address (URL), and the GMail address associated with the Google Account you log in with everyday.
• For the blog address, make SURE you are viewing the blog ... the format will be either BLOGNAME.blogspot.com OR BLOGNAME.wordpress.com ... where "BLOGNAME" is the address your chose when you created the blog.

• In your previous groups, (you may choose to work solo or with a partner as well - but NO MORE THAN 3 IN A GROUP), you will continue reading "The Paston Letters" on pp. 128-137 in the literature book and then convert each letter to the modern day equivalent of a text message or tweet for each paragraph in the letter.
• (ie. the first letter ... 28 February 1449 ... has 3 large/main paragraphs ... so you would have 3 short tweets or texts effectively summarizing each paragraph.
• You may write your answers on paper .. OR you may type them (which would probably be easier) in a Google or Word Online document that you will share with me when you finish.  If you choose this option, share it with me at my email address - richard.davis@sfisd.org
• You may use the regular text - but the online text might be more helpful since it is more interactive.  Remember you can access the online text at http://my.hrw.com ... be sure to add that to your favorites so it will always be easy to find when you are using the Chromebook OR using your Google profile on ANY computer anywhere (with Internet access).

• • Once you've finished (if you finish today - which we probably won't) you may continue working on the pre-reading activity from yesterday and/or the webquest.  We will quiz over the Webquest on Thursday.  I will be checking blogs for the pre-reading work no later than next Monday.

10/27 ... Tuesday ... Reinventing 'The Paston Letters"

Objective ...

Students will relate their own ideas and experiences to some of the central themes of the Canterbury Tales.  Students will analyze primary resources from the time period to gain a deeper understanding of the language and events of the time.


Warm-up ...

CWoD - ATTRITION



Today ...

• CWoD

• In groups of no more than 3 (you may choose to work solo or with a partner as well - but NO MORE THAN 3 IN A GROUP), you will read "The Paston Letters" on pp. 128-137 in the literature book and then convert each letter to the modern day equivalent of a text message or tweet for each paragraph in the letter.
• (ie. the first letter ... 28 February 1449 ... has 3 large/main paragraphs ... so you would have 3 short tweets or texts effectively summarizing each paragraph.
• You may write your answers on paper .. OR you may type them (which would probably be easier) in a Google or Word Online document that you will share with me when you finish.  If you choose this option, share it with me at my email address - richard.davis@sfisd.org
• You may use the regular text - but the online text might be more helpful since it is more interactive.  Remember you can access the online text at http://my.hrw.com ... be sure to add that to your favorites so it will always be easy to find when you are using the Chromebook OR using your Google profile on ANY computer anywhere (with Internet access).

• Once you've finished (if you finish today - which we probably won't) you may continue working on the pre-reading activity from yesterday and/or the webquest.  We will quiz over the Webquest on Thursday.  I will be checking blogs for the pre-reading work no later than next Monday.

10/26 - Monday - Canterbury Tales Pre-Reading

Objective ...

Students will relate their own ideas and experiences to some of the central themes of the Canterbury Tales.


Warm-up ...

CWoD - PIOUS



Today ...

• CWoD

• Canterbury Tales Pre-Reading Activity
• In a separate blog entry from your CWoD, rate the following statements 1-5 where: 
• 1 is ALWAYS TRUE
• 2 is SOMETIMES TRUE
• 3 is MAY BE TRUE OR FALSE
• 4 is SOMETIMES FALSE
• 5 is ALWAYS FALSE
• Then write a 3-4 sentence response to each one explaining your rating and thoughts - whether you agree with that statement or not and why ... 
• "Greed is the root of all evil."
• "Power corrupts everyone who has it."
• "Dreams are often predictors of the future."
• "No one understands morality better than the immoral."
• "The more educated you are, the better a person you are."
• "Society must be divided into classes in order to function properly."
• "Turning the other cheek is the best response to cruelty."
• "When an agreement is made, it must be honored - no matter what."
• "Women should have all the power in a relationship."

• FOR EXAMPLE ... I rated "greed is the root of all evil" as a 1 - I feel like it is always true.  While there are many kinds of evil in the world, all seem to connect back to someone's need to meet some selfish desire or ambition.  Their acts are driven by this and by their focus only on their own wants and needs - it is almost impossible to be evil if you consider the needs, wants, and feelings of others.  Therefore, greed is, indeed, the root of all evil.

• Once you've completed the pre-reading blog entry, continue working on the Webquest - the quiz over that information is coming soon.

10/22 ... Finishing the Webquest (Advisory Schedule)

OBJECTIVE ...

Students will research and gather information about Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, and the Medieval Period using online resources. 

WARM UP ... 

College Word of the Day ... GREGARIOUS

TODAY ... 

- using the following Webquest http://bit.ly/1W0mDP0 we will begin gathering background information about the next period in English Literature and a key piece of work from that period 

- you will need to copy and paste the entire Webquest document into a Word online document or a Google Doc - and you will keep all your answers there. This is a paperless assignment using all internet/cloud based resources

- using the websites listed (as well as any others you might turn up using web searches) provide detailed answers to the related questions. Answers should be more like note taking than paragraph form. Bullet points are fine .. Things don't have to be in complete sentences. 

- get as much finished as you can in class today .. It will take several days to do what we have planned, so it isn't "due" today, but you need to be making progress on it 

- at the end of each class, make sure the Chromebooks are put up carefully and neatly AND BE SURE THEY ARE PLUGGED IN TO CHARGE.

Wednesday, 10/21 ... Back to the Future Day ... Continuing the Webquest ...

OBJECTIVE ...

Students will research and gather information about Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, and the Medieval Period using online resources. 

WARM UP ... 

College Word of the Day ... ONEROUS

TODAY ... 

- using the following Webquest http://bit.ly/1W0mDP0 we will begin gathering background information about the next period in English Literature and a key piece of work from that period 

- you will need to copy and paste the entire Webquest document into a Word online document or a Google Doc - and you will keep all your answers there. This is a paperless assignment using all internet/cloud based resources

- using the websites listed (as well as any others you might turn up using web searches) provide detailed answers to the related questions. Answers should be more like note taking than paragraph form. Bullet points are fine .. Things don't have to be in complete sentences. 

- get as much finished as you can in class today .. It will take several days to do what we have planned, so it isn't "due" today, but you need to be making progress on it 

- at the end of each class, make sure the Chromebooks are put up carefully and neatly AND BE SURE THEY ARE PLUGGED IN TO CHARGE.

Tuesday, 10/20 ... Continuing the WebQuest

OBJECTIVE ...

Students will research and gather information about Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, and the Medieval Period using online resources. 

WARM UP ... 

College Word of the Day ... SPURIOUS

TODAY ... 

- using the following Webquest http://bit.ly/1W0mDP0 we will begin gathering background information about the next period in English Literature and a key piece of work from that period 

- you will need to copy and paste the entire Webquest document into a Word online document or a Google Doc - and you will keep all your answers there. This is a paperless assignment using all internet/cloud based resources

- using the websites listed (as well as any others you might turn up using web searches) provide detailed answers to the related questions. Answers should be more like note taking than paragraph form. Bullet points are fine .. Things don't have to be in complete sentences. 

- get as much finished as you can in class today .. It will take several days to do what we have planned, so it isn't "due" today, but you need to be making progress on it 

- at the end of each class, make sure the Chromebooks are put up carefully and neatly AND BE SURE THEY ARE PLUGGED IN TO CHARGE. 

Monday, 10/19 ... Beginning the Journey to Canterbury and Medieval England

OBJECTIVE ... 

Students will research and gather information about Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, and the Medieval Period using online resources. 

WARM UP ... 

College Word of the Day ... ABROGATE

TODAY ... 

- using the following Webquest http://bit.ly/1W0mDP0 we will begin gathering background information about the next period in English Literature and a key piece of work from that period 

- you will need to copy and paste the entire Webquest document into a Word online document or a Google Doc - and you will keep all your answers there. This is a paperless assignment using all internet/cloud based resources

- using the websites listed (as well as any others you might turn up using web searches) provide detailed answers to the related questions. Answers should be more like note taking than paragraph form. Bullet points are fine .. Things don't have to be in complete sentences. 

- get as much finished as you can in class today .. It will take several days to do what we have planned, so it isn't "due" today, but you need to be making progress on it 

- at the end of each class, make sure the Chromebooks are put up carefully and neatly AND BE SURE THEY ARE PLUGGED IN TO CHARGE. 

Wednesday, 10/14 - ASVAB, PSAT day

My classes will not meet today due to ASVAB and PSAT testing.

Refer to yesterday's blog for info on review notes for the 9 Week Test - we will take the 9 Week Test in class tomorrow, 10/15.

Tuesday, 10/13 ... Beowulf Test ... 9 Week Exam Review Notes (Online Copy Only)

OBJECTIVE ...




WARM UP ...

Review your test review, webquest, and the text if needed in preparation for the Beowulf Test.  You will need a pen or pencil to bubble with.



TODAY ...

• Beowulf Exam - 35 Questions ... Multiple Choice
• DO NOT WRITE ON THE EXAM (There were issues with the copiers this morning and I was limited to making a class set of exams - sorry about that, but it couldn't be helped).

• Nine Week Exam (Thursday in class & Friday as needed) 
• The review notes can be found here ... there is no grade for the review, but I would recommend you look over the review notes and the reading selection between now and Thursday as prep for this exam.  The exam itself is like an EOC exam and is more skill based than content based, thus there is no review sheet for content like we had for Beowulf.
• 9 Week Exam Review Notes
• Combining Sentences
• Possessives

Beowulf Review - Turn it in to the top tray on my desk ASAP.

Friday, 10/9 .. Finishing Beowulf ... Test Prep

OBJECTIVE ...

Students will

• Relate the characters, setting, and theme of Beowulf to the historical, social, & economic ideas of its time.
• Evaluate the changes in sound, form, fig. lang. and dramatic structure of poetry.

WARM UP ... College Word of the Day ... Complete a CWoD Concept Map for the following term:

CWoD ... OFFICIOUS


TODAY ...

• Cellphone policy review - 5/5 ... 5 at the beginning of class WHILE you get started for the day and work on the warm-up ... 5 at the end of the period WHILE you finish up and put up for the day.  It isn't 10 minutes of cell phone free time ... just me being considerate in case you have personal business to deal with or need to text work, home, etc.  It can go away.
• On TEST days and QUIZ days, phones are not allowed at all for any reason.
• Phones are not allowed during class.  Earbuds/headphones are only allowed when needed to hear something on the Chromebooks - unless specific permission is granted that day.

• Finish reading Beowulf.
• "Beowulf's Last Battle" thru p. 70 should be read by the end of class on Friday.
• All reading questions will be due and must be turned in by the end of class on Friday (turn them in that day - not before).
• Complete the "Learning Log" assignment below and post to your blog (separate from today's CWoD)

• As you read, you should also continue working on the Beowulf test review - we will take the Beowulf test on Tuesday 10/13.  The review itself will be a daily grade and will be turned in on test day.

• The review is on top of the Chromebook cart ... or can be found here: Beowulf Test Review

• LEARNING LOG ... Copy and answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each in your blog: 
• 1) What were the main ideas/themes of Beowulf?
• 2) What did you understand best about it?
• 3) What did you understand least about it?
• 4) How do these ideas relate to what you already knew about Anglo-Saxon England?

Thursday, 10/8 ... Nearing the end of Beowulf ... and Beowulf Test Review

OBJECTIVE ...

Students will

• Relate the characters, setting, and theme of Beowulf to the historical, social, & economic ideas of its time.
• Evaluate the changes in sound, form, fig. lang. and dramatic structure of poetry.

WARM UP ...

CWoD ... VORACIOUS


TODAY ...

• Continue reading Beowulf.
• "The Battle with Grendel's Mother" thru p 61. should be read by the end of class today.
• "Beowulf's Last Battle" thru p. 70 should be read by the end of class on Friday.
• All reading questions will be due and must be turned in by the end of class on Friday (turn them in that day - not before).

• As you read, you should also begin working on the Beowulf test review - we will take the Beowulf test on Tuesday 10/13.  The review itself will be a daily grade and will be turned in on test day.

• The review is on top of the Chromebook cart ... or can be found here: Beowulf Test Review

Wednesday, 10/7 ... Beowulf Quiz ... Parts 3 & 4

OBJECTIVE ...

Students will

• Relate the characters, setting, and theme of Beowulf to the historical, social, & economic ideas of its time.
• Evaluate the changes in sound, form, fig. lang. and dramatic structure of poetry.

WARM UP ...

CWoD ... SURREPTITIOUS


TODAY ...

• Students will have a few minutes to review questions, notes, as well as "The Battle With Grendel" and "Grendel's Mother" before taking the quiz over these sections.

• If you have not created an Edmodo account, you will need to create one and make sure you are signed up for this class period's group.  We will take the quiz online via Edmodo.  From your strudent page, you should see the quiz available there.

• You will have 30 minutes from the time you begin the quiz to complete the quiz.  All questions are True/False ... you may not use the book or any other resources to help you answer questions.  As always, no electronic devices (other than the Chromebooks) are allowed during the quiz.

• When you have finished the quiz, continue reading Beowulf.
• "The Battle with Grendel's Mother" thru p 61. should be read by the end of class tomorrow.
• "Beowulf's Last Battle" thru p. 70 should be read by the end of class on Friday.
• All reading questions will be due and must be turned in by the end of class on Friday (turn them in that day - not before).

Tuesday, 10/6 ... CWoD ... Beowulf ... Alternate perspective writing ...

OBJ ...

Students will relate the characters, setting, and theme of Beowulf to the historical, social, and economic ideas of the time.  Students will consider and interpret events in the story from a perspective other than that of the protagonist (Beowulf).



WARM UP ...

CWoD (follow the instructions and example of the AVID Concept Map we will used for our CWoDs).

Today's CWoD ... TENACIOUS



TODAY ...

• As we continue reading Beowulf, think about how the story would be different if it were told from a different perspective.  In a SEPARATE blog entry from your CWoD, you will write the following .. 
• Consider the events of the "Battle With Grendel" and the characters that are involved in the scene.  Despite the 3rd person narrator in this epic, Beowulf is clearly shown as the protagonist ... how would it read differently, though, if Grendel were the protagonist?
• Write 200-300 words retelling the events of the "Battle with Grendel" from Grendel's perspective.  Proofread your work and post to your blog.
• Continue reading Part 4 "Grendel's Mother" and prepare for the quiz over Parts 3 & 4 tomorrow.  Reminder, it will not be open book ... so make sure you are familiar with these parts of the story inside and out.

Monday, 10/5 ... Starting CWoDs and Beowulf Part Three "The Battle with Grendel"

OBJ ...

Students will relate the characters, setting, and theme of Beowulf to the historical, social, and economic ideas of the time.



WARM UP ...


COLLEGE WORD OF THE DAY ... Training ... Often as part of our warmup, we will have a "College Word of the Day" ... each time we have one, you will use the following strategy to create a concept map of the word in your blog ... see the example below for how to create yours.

Centered on the page - type the word and the definition
Under that (To the LEFT) ... 2 synonyms that you are familiar with
Under that (To the RIGHT) ... 2 antonyms that you are familiar with
An example (from life or reading)
A picture or symbol that you mentally connect with the word.

LAIR - resting place of a wild animal

SYNONYMS - Den, Hideaway ANTONYMS - Open Space, Trails

EXAMPLE - Wounded animals tend to try to get back to their lairs to escape.

PICTURES -

Based on that example, create a concept map like this for today's College Word of the Day (CWoD): COPIOUS

• Updated Beowulf schedule ... 
• Part Three - finished by today 10/5
• Part Four - finished by Tuesday, 10/6
• QUIZ ... Parts 3 & 4 ... Wednesday 10/7 (will not be open book/note)
• Part Five ... finished by Thursday 10/8
• Part Six ... finished by Friday 10/9
• If you missed the quiz over Parts 1 & 2 from Friday, you will need to make it up during tutorials this week.  I will be available during the B half of Indian Hour Today, Thursday, and Friday ... as well as after school on Wednesday.  You can also make arrangements for me to leave the quiz with another English teacher - but it is YOUR responsibility to either be here at one of those times or make the appropriate arrangements,
• There are still some of you who have not turned in your College Application Essay Final Draft - I have held grades on this waiting for you to get them in ... but at this point if you fail to get it in by tomorrow, it will go into the gradebook as a zero for a major grade.  Understand that major grades are 50% of your average.  So failing to submit an assignment that is a major grade almost assures you of failing for the grading period.

FRIDAY, 10/2 ... Beowulf Quiz over Parts 1 & 2

OBJ ... Students will analyze and interpret themes and literary elements of Anglo Saxon Literature.



WARM UP ...

Review your notes and questions over Beowulf, Parts 1 & 2 ("Grendel" and "Beowulf") - prepare for the quiz.

• Quiz over reading from parts 1 & 2 of Beowulf - you may use pen or pencil on the scantron, but make sure your answers are clearly marked on the scantron.  Unless we have an emergency interruption, the quiz MUST be completed within the class period.  You will have roughly 40 minutes to answer 30 multiple choice questions.

• Turn the scantron in to the top tray when finished - stack the quizzes neatly beside the trays.

• You may continue reading Beowulf  and working on the interactive reading questions when you are finished - but NO PHONES ARE ALLOWED AS LONG AS THERE IS A QUIZ OUT.  If you have your phone out at any time, it will be taken up and will go to the office (Do not pass GO, do not collect $200).  If you have a phone out while your quiz is in your hands, your quiz will be a zero as well as having the phone taken up.

• Once you have finished the quiz, IF YOU ARE ON PACE OR AHEAD OF THE READING SCHEDULE, you may work on the ApplyTexas Application on the Chromebooks or may research colleges or other post-secondary (post high school) opportunities and/or scholarships.

Thursday, 10/1 ... Classic Roots and .... Continuing Beowulf

WARM UP ... Classic roots ... define and find 3 examples that correspond the root and definition

• sens-, -sent- 

• tele- 

• terr

• vac

• vid-, -vis-

TODAY ...

• COLLEGE WORD OF THE DAY ... Training ... Often as part of our warmup, we will have a "College Word of the Day" ... each time we have one, you will use the following strategy to create a concept map of the word in your blog ... 
• Centered on the page - type the word and the definition
• Under that (To the LEFT) ... 2 synonyms that you are familiar with
• Under that (To the RIGHT) ... 2 antonyms that you are familiar with
• An example (from life or reading)
• A picture or symbol that you mentally connect with the word.

LAIR - resting place of a wild animal

SYNONYMS - Den, Hideaway    ANTONYMS - Open Space, Trails

EXAMPLE - Wounded animals tend to try to get back to their lairs to escape.

PICTURES - 

• We will continue reading "Beowulf" and working on the reading questions.  You may use either the print or online text - be aware that the online text offers options and resources the print text does not.  The reading schedule is as follows ... 

• By tomorrow (10/2) ... pp. 42-49.  We will quiz tomorrow over these sections.
• By Monday (10/5) ... pp. 50-61.  We will quiz Monday or Tuesday over the reading.
• By Wednesday (10/7) ... pp. 62-70.  We will quiz over these sections on Wednesday.

• You are responsible, present in class or not, for following the schedule.  Any missed quizzes will need to be made up during IH or after school tutorials.  However, if you are in class the day a quiz is given you will be expected to take the quiz.  If you miss class for any reason, make sure you keep up with what we are doing via this blog.