Drama: 10/29/09

1. Warm up, improve pantomimes. Create 4 lists with each student adding to the list: events, object, movie, animal.
2. Class lecture: The performance movie magic - when the audience steps into suspended belief to allow themselves to believe and become the secret witnesses to what is happening in the performance as though it were real. All giggles must go. All silliness must go. For the audience to believe, the actor must believe.
   
3. Description of method acting - where do the emotions come from? Finding your connection
4. Review chapters: Chapter test next class. Chapter projects due next class.
5. Give the rest of the class for students to prepare and practice.
   

English 4: 10/29, 30/09

1. Bellringer: Literature book page 284: Should religion be tied to politics
2. Class open discussion: Pages 282-283, goals for the unit/grading period.
   
3. Pre-reading strategies explained and written for an assignment: activating prior knowledge. Apply pre-reading strategy to preparing/introducing unit
4. Read Frankenstein in class beginning with the preface, page 1. Assign margin questions and underlined vocabulary. Students will be tested over the underlined vocabulary and tested over the book content.
   

Drama: 10/27/09

1. Go over class grade document, color coded with highlighter to show zeros, failing grades, and other information.
2. Clearly explain what I expect and how I expect it to be done. Use the class notes from English as focus since the study/work techniques are so similar.
3. Discuss three primary current projects and their values: A. Tell item, B. Current Chapter project, C. Gone with the Wind for Olustee.
4. The Tell item is very important. Student are assigned to look up information about the author and relevant historical information needed to present the piece. Students need clearly determine the character(s) that will be a part of the presentation so their performance can be accurate.
5. Discussion on anachronisms related to time piece performances. Much discussion about the time and background of the Civil War Era in costume, lifestyle, culture, and more. Hosted by Ms. Wilks who is a reenactor.
   

English 4: 10/27,28/09

1. Students pass out papers
   
2. Go over and discuss grades and expectations for work. Clearly go over the published class grade document showing all the zeros and failed assignments, visually represented by highlighter.
3. Some special make up for those absent.
4. Class do's: A. Know what happened in class whether you are here or absent; B. Make up all work - no zeros; C. Ask questions - be sure you understand; D. Turn in what I ask for, the way I ask for, on deadline or before.
5. Reading: apply skills to the job. Handout active reading bookmark.
   
6. Show overhead of "Pre-reading, Background Knowledge." Some classes will have time to write a journal based on Frankenstein.
7. Some classes will have time to write an exit journal about what they learned, understood, have questions about, or related to today's class discussion on grades and job readiness.
   

English 4: 10/26/09 - Periods 4 & 6 only

1. Students spent the day playing and discovering the program Comic Life on the laptop cart. Students were required to turn in a journal or a created page. Either/both were to show what techniques they learned or problems they had using the program.
2. Took up work at end of period.
   

Drama: 10/22/09

1. Make up day: complete all term projects, make up all tests, turn in all make up work
2. Show video of Red Skelton: Freddie Freeloader and the Baby. Assign journal which describes all techniques related to pantomime and emotions communicated. Played the video twice.
3. Individual/group work on "Tell" items
   

English 4: 10/22,26/09

Make up days

1. All tests, projects, writing assignments, reading ISR/AR requirements
   

Drama: 10/20/09

1. Last Chance observation project turn in
2. Level 2 & 3 perform their Chapter 17 project
3. Introduction and assign chapters 3 and 18 with related projects
4. Individual and group work: A. The "Tell" assignment, including props and wardrobe
5. Students give individual rough presentations of "Tell" project for help, individual instruction, and encouragement
   

English 4: 10/20,21/09

1. Review parts of speech and give students choice of 2 tests. They will receive the best of the two scores.
2. Sir Gawain test.
3. The rest of the class will be spent on the following items that must be completed and turned in before the end of the day tomorrow (10/22/09) the last day of the grading period: A. Sir Gawain margin and end items; B. Independent reading/AR reading requirements; C. Compare/contrast 4 D's of writing preparation and 1st draft; and D. Make up work.
   

Drama: 10/16/19

1. Take up observation, Chapter 2 project. Today is final deadline.
2. L2,3 Chapter 17 project is delayed to next class due to one of its members being absent.
3. "Tell" item check: is it here, is it annotated?
4. Call students individually to the front and go over "Tell" items giving insights and suggestions, asking questions and helping them prepare
5. Students not in front of the room are encouraged in participating in developing the presentations or working on the next chapter and the next chapter project.
6. Assign journal for rough throughs
   

English 4: 10/16,19/09

1. Review parts of speech. The test will be next class. Students are advised to have their notebook with their memory list words available on test day.
2. Review/prepare: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight test is next class.
3. Students are allowed to work in pairs or small groups to complete all margin (10 items) and end (11 items) questions.
4. Students are allowed to work in pairs or small groups to work on the 4 D's of writing preparation and the first draft of the compare/contrast paper on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Beowulf. The 4 D's and rough draft are due on or before 10/22/09, the last day of the grading period.
5. The ISR/AR assignment is due today, tomorrow at the latest.
6. Students are given time to work with any assistance they need.
   

Drama: 10/14/09

1. Students give some time to prepare and review for their various chapter tests
2. Tests given and students allowed to complete in their own time
3. Took up observation project assignment and requested Chapter 17 project.
   
4. When it became evident that students were not taking project and home assignments seriously, steps were taken. These assignments due today have been asked for several times. Student who do not have them ready to turn in at the beginning of the next class will not be allowed to turn them in.
5. The final deadline for the annotated copy of the "Tell" item is 10/16/09. At that point we will begin rehearsals and rough performances.
6. Chapters 3 and 18 are assigned with related chapter projects.
7. Students were given time to work.
   

English 4: 10/14,15/09

1. Students given 20 to 30 minutes to finish work on Beowulf and review for the test.
2. Mini-lesson on Mary Lewis writing with specifics and examples on how to write short and extended essay answers in preparation for the test.
3. Students given the Beowulf test and allowed to work until they complete.
4. Students given time to work in groups on a Venn diagram or three column notes in preparation for the compare contrast paper. These notes will be part of D-3 of the 4 D's of writing preparation.
5. Big Note: ---- All ISR work is due 10/19/09 and will not be accepted after 10/20/09.
   

Drama: 10/12/09

1. Check "Tell" item.
2. Watch Bill Cosby, "The Dentist"
   
3. Completely evaluate, discuss, and analyze the Cosby video for every story telling technique, visual, tonal, and verbal.
   
4. Assign all: Students are to go over their "Tell" item in complete detail, marking and noting all the techniques they will use to present their "Tell." Use the Cosby story and class discussion as a model. I will be looking for clarity, quality, and depth.
5. Assign Level 1: Observation essay/journal will be 3/4 page in length or more and cover a storyteller (any: family, friend, TV comedian, etc). The essay will be a descriptive observation of all the elements (like the Cosby model) that can be observed in the performer.
6. Assign Level 2: Pick any performance common to the three. Create the project as described on page 198 as closely as possible. They must show a complete understanding of how the chapter information applies to real life.
7. Chapter tests will begin in the first 10 minutes of next class.
8. Students were given time in class to work on their various assignments with my assistance as needed.
   

English 4: 10/12, 13/09

1. Use the first 20-30 minutes of class to finish Beowulf items and make up work.
2. Lit book page 220. Read "Get up and Bar the Door" and discuss.
3. Give class notes about the 4 D's of writing preparation. Explain in detail how the 4 D's work to prepare the writer for the first draft of any writing assignment. This process will be required throughout the year, will be an important grade, and will require quality effort (expectations fully described). Used a Venn diagram as a potential technique.
   
4. Lit book page 266-268. Go over explanation and model in the book for a comparison contrast essay. Identify all the parts and processes as described and explained in the materials.
5. Assignment: Students will write a comparison/contrast paper (5 to 8 paragraphs) based on the two stories -- Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Use the reading today to begin notes in preparation for the essay.
6. Read Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
7. Use any remaining time to work on ISR and literature assignments.
   

Drama: 10/8/09

Note:

Students missed this class due to field day homecoming activities. They must come to next class with their "tell" items and prepared to test on their current chapter assignment.

English 4: 10/8,9/09

Note: This is the end of Homecoming Week. The number and amount of class interruptions has large.

1. Catch up, make-up, prepare day.
2. Beowulf test will be within the next two class days. Students need to be ready by next class.
3. Students were told all work they were/are missing for make up.
4. Beowulf work by section: A. pages 38-50, 12 margin items and 4 end items; B. pages 51-57, 5 margin items and 3 end items; C. pages 58-67, 9 margin items and 10 end items. All due today (or next class day if more time is given due to interruptions.
5. Students were given class time to work/complete make up work, Beowulf, and work on Independent Reading work as they need.
   

Drama: 10/6/09

1. All students will clean out the drama storage room in preparation for new shelving and hanging rods.
2. Check "tell" items by student
3. Each student will give a summary of their "tell" item, and class will discuss possibilities.
4. Students were severely warned about not being ready with their "tell" items. They are to have their items next class or get another zero and be assigned an item to work on. They must have a copy of the item for markup of annotations related to vocal, pacing, and visual presentation.
5. Work on chapter and chapter projects for next test as time permits.
   

English 4: 10/6,7/09

1. Finish prepositions as needed; grade in class and take up.
2. Assign conjunctions, page 16. Discuss, teach, do odds, grade, and take up.
3. Finish Beowulf to the end of the story. All A-Y items due as the literary questions on pages 50, 57, and 67. Discuss and give individual help as needed. Read the passages aloud.
4. Note: Test on Beowulf is coming soon, next week after homecoming.
5. Notes on lit book pages 24 plus as time permits.
6. Remind students to follow through and complete make up work or the missing assignments become permanent zeros.
   

Drama: 10/2/09

1. Get with partner, share "tell" item. Begin to annotate the "tell" regarding to pacing, pronunciation, and gestures.
2. Since students were not ready for number 1 above, we recovered the process: A. find the story/poem (American Author; presentation time minimum 3 minutes), B. Read until completely familiar, C. Research: know time and circumstances of the item; look up anything required to understand the work, D. Make a copy of the piece for annotations of pacing, pronunciation, and gestures. E. Some stories will have to be rewritten according to how students will retell them in their own words.
3. Complete presenting warmup and introduction projects
4. Spend time on chapters 2/17. Because students weren't prepared and spent the lion's share of class on book chapters, the chapter tests will be next class.
   

English 4: 10/2,5/09

1. Vocabulary homework is due and taken up
2. Vocabulary review and test.
3. Complete 38-50 in the literature book, margin and section items
4. Prepositions: Grammar workbook page 13 odd items. Students are encouraged to use the handout. Discussion and Q and A to help with this or any parts of speech.
5. Continue Beowulf, beginning page 51.
6. Continue note taking as time permits, beginning page 24.
   

Drama: 9/30/09

1. Students prepare for make up introductions and to continue presenting chapter projects.
2. Do presentations with commentary and observations
3. Class discussion related to the students participating in the ACT (Alligator Community Theatre) play. Particular attention given to staging related to all discussions of last class. Focus on focus and subordination by movement and placement.
4. Level 1: assigned Chapter 2: Observation. Read, study, take notes, prepare for test. Do the project as described on page 12.
5. Level 2: Assigned Chapter 17: Go to a live performance. Read, study, take notes, prepare for test. Do the project on a live school performance, especially since homecoming is this week.
6. All students: Must have story telling item, poem or story, in class next class. Be ready to give summary of piece and interpretation. Interpretation is any understanding required for acting, voice, or related that will be required to present the piece. Explained and exampled in class.
   

English 4: 9/30-10/1/09

1. Literature book, page 17, write the essay based on "Ideals." (Think compare) Remember support, support, and more support. Read aloud, discuss, develop ideas and techniques.
   
2. Work on Beowulf pages 38-50, margin items A-L and end of section questions. Discussions regarding applying current skills (like all the sounds of rhythm and rhyme in rap) to the current reading. Provide a variety of examples of known skills to class assignments. These items due today.
3. Reminder: Vocabulary test and homework due next class.
4. ISR work, go over and discuss. Many still do not have books on list.
5. Read aloud Beowulf pages 51-61. Assign all margin and end of sections items.
6. Work time with individual help.