English 4: 1/27,28/11

1. Real ALR pages 126-150. Take notes and turn them in before leaving
2. Mini scholarship project: continue, finish, and turn in -- due before weekend
3. Review and give Unit 3 vocabulary test 2 during class (critique through inconsiderable)
   

Drama: 1/27,28/11

1. Do make up and character changes for the puppet introductions from last class. Advise students that have fallen behind that it is critical that they catch up by next class.
2. Go over list of activities currently linked to the puppet assignment: A. Puppet introduction: name, character description, favorite phrase or saying, voice; B. Character interactions: each students character's relationship to other characters in the class; C. The actual puppet itself; D. Puppet routine: each student to create a routine with their individual puppet, 3 to 5 minutes, has to have beginning/middle/end; E. Puppets online: a brief, informal history research paper; F. Puppet script: this is for ensemble work with multiple characters; G. Puppet set and practice for public performance; H. Chapter 7, study and test
3. The rest of class was devoted to Chapter 7, pages 64-66 with many examples and much coaching.
   

English 4: 1/25,26/11

1. Read, take notes, and turn in notes on ALR pages 100-125, Read 5.
2. "Journal of the Plague Year" open book test
3. Mini project on scholarship application continues with help as needed.
4. Vocabulary test 2, words "critique" through "inconsiderable" will be 1/27,28/11
5. Students who sign up to follow the twitter account "EnglishTwitJoin" will receive extra credit.
   

Drama: 1/25,26/11

1. Students trained and modeled the Q game and paired improvisation for students who missed last class. The newly trained students performed.
2. Ms. Neil explained the literacy event coming this Thursday and requested volunteers. Students can read and/or be in costume for the event. Participants will get a free meal, volunteer hours, and extra credit for drama class
3. Each student introduced his/her puppet character to the rest of the class giving the name, character description, favorite phrase or saying, and voice.
4. After the introductions, the class was given the rest of the period to work on creating relationships between/among their different puppets, taking notes on their plans
   

English 4: 1/21,24/11

1. Read, take notes and turn in notes on pages 76-100 of ALR
2. Handout of scholarship application with instructions. Assignment due on the 27th on their own paper. They are not to write on the form until I have checked it.
3. We read aloud the background information on Daniel Defoe and "verisimilitude" on pages 580-582
4. Students read "Journal of the Plague Year" with the expectation of a test to follow. Discussion included how fiction and historical facts work together in works like Journal of, ALR, and Robinson Crusoe.
5. Reminder that the next vocabulary test is on 1/27,28/11
   

Drama: 1/21,24/11

1. Students learned and worked toward mastery the improvisation game called questions. Students divide into two teams. Students must stay on topic but cannot speak except in question format. Any statement, repeating questions, or off topic question causes the student to go to the back of the line.
   
2. Students spent most of the rest of the class in two person teams doing relational improvisations based on character and scenes.
3. At the end of class, we went over the sock puppet requirements and expectations for next class.
   

English 4: 1/19,20/11

1. Complete and finish all work regarding business/application letter. Students who turned in their work on time were given back their work and given a chance to perfect their work to resubmit for more points. Students who turned in their work late will have their work graded, but will only get full or partial credit with one chance, depending on how late.
2. Students are given 40 minutes of absolute silence to read and study pages 551-565 for today's test.
3. Immediately after the quiet, class will have a review from a PowerPoint and Q & A opportunity.
   
4. Students will take the test for the rest of the period.
5. We will not read ALR on these days, but will return to ALR next class.
   

Drama: 1/19,20/11

1. Students were broken into two groups. Each group picked a story teller. The set up was for each group to have a story teller with the rest being chorus. The challenge was to choreograph telling a story with the teller and the chorus working in unity to fully develop the tale. After a time of preparation, students competed by presenting their tales.
2. Class was interrupted with an experiment presented by the psychology class, dangerous business in a drama class.
3. We clearly went over the current expectations for the puppet project: A. They are to name their puppet; B. they are to have created their voice based on the seven elements; C. These things should be written out on paper in description. Students can use notations to show how lines would be read by their character. This part of the assignment is due by next class.
   
4. Students should be on the way to writing their character description.
5. Students should be on the way to developing a catch phrase or favorite expression for their character.
6. Students were given time to work.
   

English 4: 1/14, 18/11

1. The application letter project is due on or before January 14th and late by January 18th
2. Mary Lewis paragraphs are now over and beyond turning in except for the few who have been absent for several days.
3. Read ALR 3, pages 51-75, and turn in notes at the end of the period
4. History test over pages 551-565 will be next class!!!
5. Students have the remaining time to work.
   

Drama: 1/14,18/11

1. Complete the audio training on creating voices with many stops, examples, explanations.
2. Assign complete creating the sock puppet voice based on the seven elements taught in the recording: A. Volume; B. Pitch; C. Diction; D. Rate/timing; E. Quality; F. Expression; and G. Word choice.
3. Students are to create the voice and write the descriptions of the seven elements down.
4. Students are to name their puppet.
5. Students are to create a character description of their puppet
6. Students are to create a favorite catch phrase or comment of their puppet character.
   

English 4: 1/12,13/11

1. Read 2: pages 26-50 of A Land Remembered with notes and turn the notes in
   
2. Review vocabulary coronation through aesthetics
3. Take Unit 3, vocabulary 1 test
4. Mary Lewis paragraphs turned in today are late for less credit
5. Reminder: History test over pages 551 - 565 will be next week.
6. Take up business letter assignment
7. Remind students the final deadline for the business/application letter project is tomorrow 1/14
8. Students have the rest of the period to work.
   

Drama: 1/12,13/11

1. Students spent the entire period working through warm-ups and improvisations. Instructions related to terminology, purpose, style, and technique accompanied the activities.
2. Each student performed at least one improv with a partner.
3. Warm-ups included verbal, breathing, and physical activities.
4. Activities were also punctuated with examples from former school productions.
   

English 4: 1/10,11/11

1. Take up the Mary Lewis paragraphs related to winter break
2. Train, explain, and take notes on block and modified block business forms.
3. Show/discuss and give students two additional website addresses for business letters style and form
4. Put up a list of all the ways students can contact me and find out what is going on in class
5. Announce new twitter (http://twitter.com/EnglishTwitJoin) to get announcements and reminders
6. Read, take notes, and turn in notes for pages 1 - 25 of A Land Remembered book 2.
7. Remind students that vocabulary test 1 is next class
8. Reminder that the letter of application project, all three parts, is due on or before Friday the 14th.
9. The rest of the class time was given to work on current projects.
   

Drama: 1/10,11/11

1. Take up the assigned Christmas journal
2. Improv with a two hole hole-punch
   
3. Open discussion making a list of the things we want to do related to the puppet project.
4. Begin to play the CD of a puppeteer training how to create voices. Students are assigned to take notes. We stop the CD and discuss as we go along. We only got half way through before early bell to go get report cards.
   

English 4: 1/6,7/11

1. Assign and example Christmas Journal due 1/10,11/11. The paragraph or two will be done in Mary Lewis style.
2. Have students copy critical website addresses for the projects this grading period.
3. Students get computers and sign on to the business letter website. We read, discussed, and took notes on the introductory materials.
4. Handout: Students were given the application letter assignment. The assignment was also on the overhead. It was explained in detail with time for Q and A.
5. The application letter is due on or before 1/14/11. It includes three parts: 1. class notes, 2. the job ad with lists, and 3. the application letter edited to perfection.
6. Reminder: A Land Remembered begins on 1/10/11.
   

Drama: 1/6,7/11

1. Review and demonstrate the following chapters: 1. Warm ups, 2. Observation, 3. Pantomime, 4. Improvisation, 9. Character Analysis, and 10. Character Development. Most of the period was spent in doing the various chapter activities.
   
2. Students were reminded that their Christmas observation journal was due.
3. Students were introduced to the coming chapter (7. Voice Production and Articulation) and th coming assignment related to creating a voice and a puppet character.
   

English 4: 1/4, 5/11

1. Pass out all papers, go over grades, and answer all related questions.
2. Focus on the 6 critical points of success (employability skills)
3. Welcome back and go over rules and resources for the class.
4. Spend some time dealing with anything needed related to Mr. Hancock
5. Hand out the vocabulary list for Unit 3
6. Have students copy the calendar for the test and activity schedule from the overhead.
   
7. Warm up students to the Mary Lewis paragraph(s) due in two classes over the following topic: What was the (best/worst/most important/or you choose the adjective) part of Christmas break. Maximum is two paragraphs.
   

Drama: 1/4.5/11

1. Pass out all paperwork and go over grades.
2. Talk about Christmas and story telling.
   
3. Assign each student to tell one story about his/her Christmas in up to 3 minutes. Give time to prepare, and have students give presentations.
4. Discuss observation from an actor's point of view and for an actor's purpose.
   
5. Have students copy observational journal expectations from the overhead.
6. Assign Christmas observation journal due next class.