Monday, April 14, 2008

Hi all!

It was really hard to hear that alarm clock ring this morning, wasn’t it? Well, the first day back is always the hardest, isn’t it? I was glad to see all of you safe and sound — many of you a bit tanner, but overall, well-rested and focused for the marathon that is the final weeks ahead of us.

Anyhow, here’s what we did today:

Juniors: Today, I passed back your Langston Hughes Documentary Notes from Friday, 4/4. The sub didn’t collect folders as instructed for first period, but did collect them from third and sixth period.  I passed back your notes and/or folders. Then, I gave you two handouts, one on an overview of your Gatsby assignments for this three week unit. Next, you received a GG reading survey of your opinion of some of the major ideas in our novel.

HW: If you were absent Friday, you need to find a SCHOLARLY website on the biography of Langston Hughes and copy and past the URL (web address) and 25 facts on Hughes’ life. These need to be printed out and placed into your notebook for tomorrow.

Here’s the link to the GG vocabulary – Words #1-40 are due on index cards. Here’s the link to the words: https://secure.layingthefoundation.org/english/vocab/novels/Great%20Gatsby.pdf

I’ll give you a printout tomorrow, but if you want them early, here you go.

Handouts: the-great-gatsby-unit-assignments3, prereadingsurvey

Sophomores:

Today, you received your handout on your Act IV scene performance. We thoroughly reviewed it, you were assigned your scene(s) and then you worked for about 10-15 minutes in your group, reviewing the scene that occurred right before your scene, wrote down a bullet-point summary, then if you had time, you began to re-read your scene.

Handouts: downsizinghamlet

The following scene assignments were given:

                                       2nd period                                     4th period

IV:i-ii                          Hakuna Matatas                                 Ghostbusters, Playas

IV:iii-iv                    Polish Pringles, Hamlet Sandwiches       NV

IV: v                          Hyenas                                                 S’Bloods

IV:vii                       The Great Danes                                    Gravediggers, Jigmakers

Here are the scene scripts for you to print out, but first read the following:

I couldn’t find a decent version of each scene of Act IV individually online, so I had to link you to the entire play. DO NOT PRINT THIS OUT — IT’S A HUGE DOCUMENT AND YOU DON’T NEED ALL OF IT.

Act IV goes from pages 87-110. Once you open the link, click on scene IV hyperlinked in blue. Then figure out which pages you need to print. You might want to click on print preview first to make sure you’re clicking on the right pages.

full-text-hamlet

It’s an Adobe file. You just need to have an Adobe reader program installed on your computer. If you don’t, it might or might not direct you to install Adobe Reader. If it doesn’t, Google Adobe Reader Free download, and install it. Check with your parents first. This is a safe program and doesn’t cost anything.

If you have any other questions, please email me.

Have a great night!

Mrs. B

from Friday, April 4, 2008

Thanks for being so wonderful for the substitute!

Here are the exact sub plans I left:

Lesson Plans

**Please write all lesson plans on board and then read them to students. ALL students in all of my classes know that I’m out today and they also know what they’ll be working on.

 

1, 3,6 American Lit – Please take roll using the seating charts. In first period, during the announcements, please have someone (Derrek, Kyle) set up the VCR and connect it to the LCD projector on the cart in the middle of the room. If you’re technologically inclined, please feel free to do it yourself. They will need to connect the VCR exactly as the DVD player is currently connected.

 

Then, put in the tape in the VCR. Tell the students to take notes and title them “Langston Hughes Biography Notes.” They are to write down 30 facts and organize them into the following categories: early life, writing life, and adult life.

They need to add this title to their Table of Contents in their Great Gatsby notebook. Please collect their notebooks at the end of the period. They should have their names and period in the lower right hand corner and The Great Gatsby Notebook written on the top. Tell them that they are getting credit for their notebook, too, and if they don’t have it, they will have to staple both sets of notes together (Fitzgerald and Hughes) and turn them in. They MAY NOT go to their locker or use their manilla writing folders in the boxes on the table. Please make piles for 1,3,6, label them and put them on my desk.

 2,4 – In 2^nd period, students are to read IV:vii aloud. They already know who is playing which part. Then, they are to stay seated in their groups and finish Act IV questions. They may work together, but only within their groups.  Fourth period had to finish Act IV for homework. They must immediately start working within their groups. If they are done early, put the Mel Gibson version of Hamlet in the DVD player. You’ll have to switch from the VCR configuration.  Remind both classes: Mon-Wed. after Spring Break is performance practice, Thursday is your performance, and Friday is your Hamlet Vocabulary Test.