Wednesday, October 27th

English 9

• ER


• Week 1 Vocabulary


• Pigman: ch. 5

I will take a look at notebooks to grade Wk. 1 vocab. Each word is worth 5 pts. for a total of 20 pts. this week.

After we read chapter 5 of The Pigman, students will complete a quiz over chapters 1-5 and a Venn Diagram activity in addition to the regular character list and chapter title assignments.

American Readings

• ER


• Unit 2: Puritans and Patriots


• "We Aren't Superstitious"

Today we will read a selection written by Stephen Vincent Benet which was the basis for the play "The Crucible."

Tuesday, October 26th

English 9

• ER
• Outlines
• Pigman: ch. 4

We will soon be starting our research papers. Students will be creating two outlines to help with the organization of their papers, a working outline and a final outline. We will review the guidelines for outlines and then create a Halloween outline to practice.

American Readings

• ER
• "From Africa to America"

We will read and discuss an autobiographical piece written by an African American who was kidnapped and sold into slavery at the age of 11. Ten years later, he was able to buy his freedom. After reading and discussing, there will be a quiz.

Monday, October 25th

English 9

• Double Entry Journal
• ER
• Week 1 Vocabulary
• Pigman: ch. 3

Students will be required to keep a double entry journal during ER. Journals will be collected at mid-term and term.

RAV: All Language Arts classes have Required Academic Vocabulary. I will be introducing 3-4 words on a weekly basis. Students are to record the word and the explanation and then create a non linguistic representation of the word. This activity will always be due on Wednesdays.

American Readings

• Double Entry Journals
• ER
• "The Song of the Loom"
• "I Have Killed the Deer"

Students will be required to keep a double entry journal during ER. Journals will be collected at mid-term and term.

Today, we will read and discuss two Native American poems. Students will also have to to complete their pictographs.

Friday, October 22nd

English 9

• ER
• The Pigman
• All About Me

ER: Everybody reads. We spent approx. the first 15 minutes of each class period reading self-selected novels. Students will complete a novel project over the book read this term. We will read chapter 2 of The Pigman. All About Me is a sharing activity.

American Readings

• ER
• America's Family Tree
• "The Walam Olum"

"The Walam Olum" is a Native American pictograph. Students will read and discuss the poem and then take a quick quiz. Afterwards, they will have the opportunity to create their own pictograph.

Thursday, October 21st

English 9

• LMC
• The Pigman

We will travel to the LMC to checkout two books: a self-selected novel and The Pigman. When we return the room we will read chapter one of The Pigman and I will cover chapter titles and character list activities.

American Readings

• LMC
• Elements of Literature Assessment
• Syllabus
• Family Tree

In the LMC students will checkout a self-selected novel to read during the term. Preferably, the novel should be written by an American author. The elements assessment will be to help Mrs. Nimke and myself determine what we will need to emphasis with regards to these terms.

After going over the syllabus, we will spend sometime introducing the first unit, America's Family Tree by discussing our own family trees.

Wednesday, October 13th

• LMC
• "The Cask of Amontillado"

Students are to be finishing up persuasive papers and getting started on critical analysis while in the LMC. Friday will be our last day to complete these projects during class time.

"The Cask of Amontillado" is a short story written by Edger Allan Poe. After a brief introduction, we will work on vocabulary today before we tackle reading the story on Thursday.

Tuesday, October 12th

• LMC
• ER
• Critical Analysis

Finish persuasive papers and then begin working on critical analysis. Remember your critical analysis is not a book report. You will be describing elements of literature modeled in your novel. Don't just retell me the story!

Monday, October 11th

Welcome to our last full week of the term!

• ER
• Tally Sheets
• RAV: Word Clusters
• Critical Analysis

Word Clusters: Choose 10 words from Weeks 1-7 vocabulary and "cluster" or group them together to create sentences. You must have at least two vocabulary words in each sentence. Please underline your vocab words. You may use more words for extra credit.

You will have the option to write your critical analysis as a paper or do it as a PowerPoint. Either way, you will still need to complete a prewriting frame. If you choose to do a PowerPoint, your rough draft will be a storyboard. We will be in the LCM half of the block the rest of the week to finish persuasive papers and critical analysis project.

Friday, October 8th

• LMC
• ER
• Catch Up

Persuasive papers need to be completed today in the LMC. Make sure you are working on double entry journals as you are reading for ER. Three pages will be due at the end of the term. WE HAVE SIX DAYS OF CLASSES LEFT!

Thursday, October 7th

WHS Blood Drive in the YMCA west gym 8:00 AM- 1:00 PM. Picture ID and parent permission slip required.

• LMC
• ER
• Revisions

We will be in the LMC first half of the block today to complete rough drafts. After ER I will give information on required revisions. We will be in the LMC on Friday to complete final drafts.

Wednesday, October 6th

Today is an Advisory Wednesday.

• ER
• Week 7 Vocabulary
• Perusasive rough draft

Prewriting for your persuasive paper should be completed for today. We will talk about transforming your prewriting into a rough draft. Rough drafts should be completed for Thursday. On Thursday and Friday we will be in the LMC to work on revisions and final drafts. We will meet in the LMC the first half of the block. Some of you may be taking the ACT PLAN test during first and second block on Thursday. You will have to work on your papers on your own time to get caught up.

If you have signed up to donate for the blood drive on Thursday, please make sure you drink plenty of water, get a good night's rest and eat a healthy breakfast!

Tuesday, October 5th

• TMDG quiz


• ER


• Persuasive Writing

We will change things up a little by taking the quiz first and then ER. This way students who might need more time for the quiz will be accommodated.

Our persuasive writing will be over the story "The Most Dangerous Game". You will have to take a stance: Sanger Rainsford is guilty of murder or Sanger Rainsford is not guilty of murder. Please complete the prewriting activity for Wednesday.

Monday, October 4th

Welcome back! We only have 11 regular class days until finals. Will you be ready?

• ER


• Week 7 Vocabulary


• Tally Sheets


• TMDG

Today we will finish, I promise, "The Most Dangerous Game". We will then complete the reader's guide sheet in preparation for the quiz tomorrow.

Wednesday, September 29th

• ER
• Week 6 Vocabulary
• The Most Dangerous Game

Hopefully, we will be able to finish our story today!

Enjoy your four days off! Do some reading over the break.

Tuesday, September 28th

Food Drive Aud Today during Block 4.

• ER
• The Most Dangerous Game

Odyssey biographical poems should be turned in now. Also 10 facts learned or 10 differences between the text and movie also should be turned in.

After a brief introduction, we will begin reading "The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell.

Odyssey Final

• Complete biographical poem
• Odyssey Choice Game

List 10 things you learned during the game.

List 10 differences between the text and the video.

Or any combination of the two equaling 10.

Monday, September 27th

No school on Thursday and Friday!

• ER
• Week 6 Vocabulary
• Tally Sheets
• LMC

After our regular Monday activities, we will travel to the LMC to complete the biographical poem and to complete The Odyssey Challenge Game.

Friday, September 24th

• LMC
• ER

We will travel to the LMC at the beginning of the block to work on a biographical poem. You will choose one of the major characters from The Odyssey and use the template I have provided for the poem. Give each phrase some thought to describe your character.

Once you have completed the poem, you may click on the Friday, September 24th to link to The Odyssey Choice game to test your Odyssey knowledge.

Thursday, September 23rd

• ER
• Diction post test
• Odyssey

Friday's diction practice was a piece of cake, so you should do well today on the post test.

We will finish reading The Odyssey by covering the homecoming and revenge of Odysseus. Tomorrow you will create a biographical poem using one of the major characters from the story and play The Odyssey Challenge Game.

Wednesday, September 22nd

Conferences tonight!

Advisory today

• ER
• Week 5 Vocabulary
• OD

I will be checking Week 5 Vocabulary today. We will then watch The Odyssey until Odysseus returns to Ithaca. (Didn't quite make it there yesterday.) Tomorrow we will begin The Homecoming: Book 21.

Tuesday, September 21st

• ER
• Diction
• OD

We will go over the diction practice from Friday and then watch The Odyssey up to Odysseus's return to Ithaca.

Conferences tomorrow! Hope to see you there.

Monday, September 20th

Conferences on Wednesday 4-7 PM.

• ER
• Week 5 Vocabulary
• Tally Sheets
• Novel sheet
• Catch up day

In theory, you should be at least half way through your novel. You will be completing a novel sheet today so that I can see what book you are reading and how much progress you have made reading this term. Remember: You will be completing a critical analysis over this book as a major writing assignment at the end of the term. The novel sheet and double entry journals are meant to be used as a resource for this paper.

I have to submit grades by the end of the day. Many of you have not turned in your Memoir or your double entry journals. As long as students are working, I will give you time to get assignments caught up today. If not, we will move ahead with Book 21 of The Odyssey. If your assignments are all up to date, you may use the time to continue reading your self-selected novel.

PS. The guest teacher said all went well on Friday. Thank you!

Friday, September 17th

Happy Birthday to me!

ER

Book 12

Diction

I will not me in class today, so please be on your best behavior! We will continue with The Odyssey. Book 12 deals with Odysseus's journey to the Underworld and several perils he and his men have to face. Again, you will need to complete the reader's guide and then take a short quiz, just to keep you honest!

I have created a diction activity for the extra practice many of you need.

Double entry journals are due today. Mid-term grades have to be turned in by the end of the day on Monday. Is your Memoir in yet?

Thursday, September 16th

• ER
• Book 10
• Diction

Book 10 deals with Circe's island, Aeaea. After reading we will complete the reader's guide sheet and take a quick quiz to make sure you are all keeping up with us!

Next, we will go over the diction pre-test from yesterday and cover some basic diction rules.

Three pages of double entry journals are due tomorrow.

Wednesday, September 15th

• ER
• Week 4 Vocabulary
• Diction Pre-test
• Odyssey

Diction is the correct use of words. This is part of the ACT PLAN preparation. You will take a quick quiz over Book 9 of The Odyssey and then we will begin Book 10.

Tuesday, September 14th

• ER


• The Odyssey

We will read Book 9 today and complete the reading guide as we go. You may use reading guides on quizzes and tests. I recommend you also make notes on your reading guides. Book 9 is rather long. However, this chapter is filled with action so don't be discouraged!

Week 4 Vocabulary is due tomorrow: epic, euphemism, theme, and suspense.

Monday, September 13th

Homecoming Court 2010

• LMC to renew books
• ER
• Week 4 Vocabulary
• Tally Sheets
• Apostrophe
• The Odyssey

We will complete the second practice for the ACT PLAN apostrophe section and go over it in class. Then you will take the post-test.

We begin reading Book 9 of The Odyssey.

Friday, September 10th

Car Rally 6:00 PM
Homecoming Game vs. Pleasant Valley 7:15 PM

• ER
• The Odyssey video

To set the stage, we will watch the beginning of The Odyssey to give you some background information and to give you a reference for the time period.

Go Falcons!

Thursday, September 9th

Rock the Runway Fashion Show 4th Block

• ER
• The Odyssey

We will cover the introduction to Homer's The Odyssey including the Trojan War, Greek mythology, and ancient Greek customs.

Wednesday, September 8th

Homecoming Bonfire tonight: 7-8 PM

• LMC


• ER


• Week 3 Vocabulary due

Today was the last day to work on Memoirs in class. You need to turn in your rubric, final copy and revised rough draft by Friday. Also, I will be taking a look at Wk. 3 vocabulary: setting, point of view, and comedy.

Bring your lit books to class on Thursday; we will begin The Odyssey by Homer.

Tuesday, September 7th

Homecoming Week!

• ER
• Week 3 Vocabulary
• Tally Sheets
• Apostrophe

We are finally getting to the ACT PLAN apostrophe activity: review pre-test, explicit instruction, and then first try practice.

Looking ahead: Wednesday will be the last day to work on Memoirs in class. They will be due on Friday.

Friday, September 3rd

• LMC
• ER
• Revision Sheet
• Apostrophe

Yesterday, most students completed rough drafts. We will talked about the difference between writing in black and white versus writing in color. Rough drafts are black and white. To write in color students need to add descriptors and strong verbs.

We did not get to the apostrophe lesson. We will save that for Tuesday. Have a good weekend and go Falcons! Beat those Muskies!

Thursday, September 2nd

Presentation Assembly during first block. Voting for homecoming queen after 2nd assembly.

• LMC


• ER


• Apostrophe
  
  

We will discuss revising rough drafts: format and expanding sentences in the LMC. First block will attend the 2nd presentation aud at 8:35 AM.

Apostrophe: we will review your pre-tests.

Tomorrow: Editing and publishing memoirs.

Wednesday, September 1st

September is here already! One hour early dismissal.

• LMC
• ER
• Week 2 Vocabulary

We will be in the main lab the first half of the block. Use this time to type your rough draft. You may hand write the draft if you so desire. Use your computer time wisely. You should be word processing only!

After ER I will take a look at your Week 2 Vocabulary for credit: connotation, denotation, voice.

Tomorrow, we will be in the main lab the first half of the block. We will work on revisions.

Tuesday, August 31st

• ER
• ACT PLAN: apostrophe pre-test
• Memoir

ACT PLAN:The DCSD has a 5-year plan to raise ACT scores above the national norms. Tenth graders at WHS will be taking the ACT PLAN in October. You will be participating in mini lessons to refresh your memory and improve your skills in several areas. The first area will be the proper use of apostrophes. Today, you will take a pre-test to determine your proficiency.

Finish completing the graphic organizer and organize information by deciding where each item will be placed (paragraph 1,2, or 3).

Tomorrow: LMC to begin rough drafts.

Monday, August 30th

• ER
• RAV Week 2: connotation, denotation, voice
• Tally Sheets
• Memoir

Tally Sheets: You will be keeping track of your grades. I will hand back the assignments from the previous week and you will record your grades. If you do not have a grade for an assignment, it is a missing assignment and you will need to make it up. Therefore, you should know exactly what your grade is and if you have missing work at the beginning of each week. No excuses! You will receive extra credit at mid-term and term for keeping track of your tally sheet.

Memoir: A memoir is a story of a memory. It is the story about something specific that occurred in your life. A graphic organizer has been provided to help you get started. Please complete this prewriting activity for Tuesday.

Friday, August 27th

Signed syllabus forms are due today.

• ER


• Writing Process Paragraph

Students were asked to demonstrate four stages of the writing process: prewriting, drafting, revising, and publishing. We used a graphic organizer called a paragraph blueprint to help with this assignment. Monday will will start our first major writing assignment.

Thursday, August 26th

We finished reading "The Necklace". After discussing the story, we did a cause/effect activity and established the rising action, climax and falling action of the plot. Finally, students took a quick quiz for understanding. Students who read aloud will receive their extra credit pts. on the quiz.

I had students fill out a survey to give me an idea where we stand as a class with regard to the writing as a process. This will give me an idea what writing elements students have a firm grasp of and what we will have to hit hard.

Assignment: Come to class on Friday with a topic for a paragraph. We will take the paragraph through the writing process as a tune up for our first essay.

Wednesday, August 25th

Credit for RAV Week 1 was given today. This activity was worth 20 pts. If I did not see it today, make sure it gets to me by Friday.

We continued reading "The Necklace".

Two hour early out and an advisory day schedule made for a short period!

Tuesday, August 24th

Finally, we had a regular school day schedule! We began ER (Everybody Reads) today along with double entry journals. ER and double entry journaling will occur daily.

Next, I gave students a few minutes to finish up their "Words to Know" sheet for the short story "The Necklace". We covered introductory material and then began reading the story. Volunteers earn 5 pts. extra credit for reading aloud.

RAV Week 1 due tomorrow.

Monday, August 23

We traveled to the LMC today to select a fiction novel of approx. 200+ pages. We will be reading daily the first 15 min. or so of class. In addition, students will be keeping a double entry journal about this book and use it to help write a Critical Analysis at the end of the term.

Required Academic Vocabulary: RAV will be introduced weekly. Students are to record the term, the definition and draw a non-linguistic representation (picture) of the word. This vocabulary will be checked on Wednesdays. Week 1: anecdote, coherence, plot, and conflict.

Finally, students completed two activities covering the vocabulary of our first short story, "The Necklace".

Friday, August 20th

Welcome the 2010-2011 school year! I really hope this blog can be a useful tool for all of us! I will try to communicate as often as possible to let you know what is going on the the classroom. If you would like to respond on the blog, you will need to create a gmail address. This is free and very simple to do. Otherwise, you may always contact me at kroeningj@davenportschools.org or 386-5500 ext. 230. Later on in the term, I will have the students create their own blog which will require them to create a gmail address.

Today the syllabus should be coming home. This contains very important information. Please read it carefully and return the acknowledgement sheet. Students were also issued The Literature of Language text book. They will be responsible for this book until the end of the term.

I am looking forward to a great year!