English 4: 2/25,28/11

1. Q and A time related to all current activities
2. Introduce and explain the persuasive essay project: pages 718 through 723
3. Students given choice of book process or 4 D's process for persuasive essay pre-write. Both were carefully explained with examples
4. Persuasive essay final day to turn in 3/11/11. After that date, papers will not be accepted. Students may turn in the project any time between now and then.
5. Students were notified of missing work, especially tests
6. The next vocabulary test is scheduled for 3/3,4/11
7. The oral presentations based on logic fallacies will begin 3/1,2/11

Drama: 2/25/11

1. Students have a work day to complete the following: A. interactions between puppet characters; B. Individual puppet routines due next class; C. Puppets online research; D. Puppets ensemble scripts

English 4: 2/23,24/11

1. Reminder: "Senator Yakalot" assignment is now past due for less credit
2. Reminder: R92-R95 handout assignment is due 2/24/11
3. Fallacies presentations begin 3/1,2/11
4. Public speaking notes, explanations, and examples
5. Students given rest of period to work on outstanding assignments on computers

Drama: 2/23/11

1. Start with some "puppet" make up assignments
2. Deadline: Individual puppet routines will begin 3/1/11
3. Deadline: Build puppet character interactions and relationships due 3/1/11
4. Deadline: Puppets online mini research is due completed 3/3/11
5. Deadline: Puppet ensemble script complete on or before 3/9/11 (short Wednesday)
6. Deadline: Puppet ensemble performances begin 3/11/11
7. Went over times and expectations for each of the assignments.
8. Students given the rest of class and laptops to work.

English 4: 2/21,22/11

1. Where are we discussion: catch up on all relevant assignments and due dates
2. Review the Yakalot instructions with Q and A. Due on or before 2/22/11
   
3. Review the analyze advertisement and news story assignment with examples and Q and A. Due on or before 2/24/11
   
4. Give students the logic fallacies assignment based on web page www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies: A. each student given 2 fallacies with an opportunity to take a third for extra credit; B. Students will each give a minimum 2 minute explanation of the fallacies that each has been assigned; C. Each student must have an outline ready for their presentation; D. Each student must clearly explain and be able answer questions; E. The presentation is required to be ready by 3/1,2/11 depending on their class; F. Students will take notes on the presentations so they will be prepared for the semester exam.
   

Drama: 2/21/11

1. Discuss the play, how it went, and what impact it is having to this point.
2. Review what puppet assignments have been done and are ongoing
3. Give students the "Puppets Online" research assignment: A. Research anything related to puppets or puppeteers; B. 500 to 1000 words; C. Give a basic summary of the research; D. Answer the following questions -- D1. How do the puppets fit in to the society or culture of their origin; D2. What is the basic story/technique/structure/conventions regarding the puppets researched; D3. What is your personal thoughts, insights, feelings about this researched item
4. Students were given the period to work on classroom computers for the research
   

English 4: 2/16,17/11

1. Hand out "Speech by Senator Yakalot to his Constituents." Students are to A. Number the lines of the speech; B. Read the speech; C. Find 5 to 10 reasoning/logic errors (fallacies); D. Identify the errors by line and tell what is wrong with the logic in own student's own words; E. this is due on or before 2/22/11
2. Students have been given a handout assignment for pages R92-R95 in their literature book. They are to analyze an advertisement and a news story based on the questions on page R95. This is due on or before 2/24/11
3. With whatever time is left, students are to begin reading Gulliver's Travels, pages 623 - 643 in the literature book, answering all margin and end questions.
4. Students are to do items 1 - 3 above in the order given, due to deadlines.
   

Drama: 2/16/11

1. Drama students continued to work on set design, props, and costumes for the performance tomorrow night.
   

English 4: 2/14,15/11

1. Opening stories the power of persuasion: the misuse of information and its ability to disconnect reason by appealing to emotion.
2. Play Funny Ads and discuss: reason or emotion? What works and why?
3. Students given a handout assignment which requires them to do the following (the handout is far more detailed): A. Take notes on pages R92-R95 and be able to take the test on it; B. Based on item 7 page R95, do an evaluation on one news story and one commercial (TV or print); C. Follow the detailed instructions on the handout to the letter; D. Due two classes from the day assigned.
4. Give students the rest of class to work.
   

Drama: 2/14/11

1. Students painted sets for the performance this week.
   

English 4: 2/10,11/11

1. Review and take the Unit 3 vocabulary 3 test.
2. Discuss: What about the story stood out to you? and why?"
3. Review "A Modest Proposal" and take the test.
   

Drama: 2/10, 11/11

1. Students spent the day working on painting and preparing the set for the current production.
   

English 4: 2/8,9/11

1. Students were given an additional half hour to work on their description of what Irish life was like from the view of "A Modest Proposal." Discuss and take up.
2. Explain and give examples of irony, exaggeration, and understatement.
3. Assign students to work in teams up to 3 maximum. Students are to find 5 examples of irony and/or exaggeration. They are to write the point and tie it to page and line with a brief explanation. Discussion and help provided in class.
4. Assign students to work in teams up to 3 maximum. Students are required to find two to three examples from the story in which they can explain the difference between what the author said and what he meant.
5. All assignments were taken up.
6. Warning: Students will be tested over "A Modest Proposal" next class.
7. Reminder: Vocabulary test 3, from "whereof" to "clarion" will be next class.
   

Drama: 2/8/11

1. Students are advised to bring painting clothes or something to protect their clothes for the next couple classes. We will be painting set pieces during class.
2. Students were given the Chapter 7 test, open book.
3. Students brought out their sock puppets and explained how they made them and what the decorations meant for the personality of the character.
4. Students were given the rest of class to work relationship points with the other puppet characters. The points will be basis for show plots, scripting, or performance interactions
5. Students are reminded that we will complete the human puppet improvs next class or as soon as possible.
6. Students are reminded to be working on their 3 to 5 minute puppet routine. It should have a beginning, middle, and end. Humor and/or storytelling is important.
   

English 4: 2/4,7/11

1. Read discuss the definition and information about satire, pages 596, 597.
2. Discuss the renaissance fair and the stratification of English society
3. Discuss the change of power from the nobility down and the impact that had on communication and expression of values
4. Read "A Modest Proposal" on pages 608 - 621. Assign students to work in pairs or threes to create a picture of the Irish people from the story. Use references from the story with page and line. The goal is to use the inferences made to determine the problems and issues the people faced.
   

Drama: 2/4/11

1. Catch up and reminders related to current productions.
2. Complete read, discuss, and practice the elements of Chapter 7.
3. Assign: Students are to choose one of the Chapter 7 projects to perform with their puppet next class.
4. Students will have the Chapter 7 test next class.
5. Paired improvisations: human puppets
6. Students are to bring all puppet materials next class for the related activities.
   

English 4: 2/2,3/11

1. Today is make up day. Each student is given their list of work to make up. Because of this opportunity, the door to continue turning in late work is closing at the end of this week.
2. Students will get a daily grade today by writing a list of what they accomplish in class today. This will only be available to the student who attend.
3. Students who complete make up are encouraged to discover and try out the edmodo.com site and the titanpad.com site. Hopefully the students will begin to feel comfortable with the way the sites work and generate some ideas regarding how they could benefit from the sites in class.
4. Students are also given the choice to spend time doing independent reading.
   

Drama: 2/2/11

1. Drama did not meet due to short Wednesday schedule.
   

English 4: 1/31-2/1/11

1. Finish reading ALR with notes and turn in notes.
2. Students log on to edmodo.com and to appropriate class to discover how the program works and begin to figure out how the program works for collaborative efforts.
   
3. Students were suggested to go to titanpad.com.
4. Students are encouraged to join my twitter page for extra credit: EnglishTwitJoin
   

Drama: 1/31/11

• Students were given the computers to go online.
• Assignment 1 was to log on to edmodo.com and join the drama class with the code and begin to discover the program and what it can do, leaving a trail of messages to me.
• Assignment 2 was to go to titanpad.com and create a joint document with others. Discover what the program does and how it works.
• Assignment 3 is to begin to figure out how these programs can be used for collaborative work.