English 4 & 4H: 8/31 to 9/1/11

Both classes

1. BR: Define hero and give a clear and complete example



2. Take up and read some samples



3. Points: A. Support -- lots of details, B. Specificity -- clear and distinct, not vague



4. Notes on board: Mary Lewis Paragraph, a model for confident writing. Give examples and answer questions.



5. Everyone gets a book checked out to them today. Everyone should have a workbook and a vocabulary list.



6. Explanation: The value of a notebook and why you build a resource notebook.



7. We will correct the first 3 pages of the workbook next class



8. Read "Hobbit" pages 22 to 28. For section 5 of notebook, predict what is going to happen next and give reasons for your prediction.

Honors 9/1

1. BR: Explain why history is important



2. How do you take notes and study complex information

Drama: 8/29/11

1. Walked students to library for level 1 students to get their drama book
2. Assigned level 2-4 to create a staging warmup
3. Students were placed in freeze frame action scenes on a designated stage giving directors an opportunity to focus on what the audience sees and needs and the level 1's to experience staging, focus, character, attitude, etc.
4. Back in class - class discussion: "The artist and self awareness."
5. Students took notes on "cheating," staying in character, facial and vocal expression, method acting (self awareness) and more.
6. Level 1's will have a test on Chapter 1 next class.
7. Students assigned the questions "Who are you?" and "What made you?" as preparation for questions to develop the history character.

English 4 & 4H: 8/29,30/11

1. Bellringer: Create a brainstorm/web/prewrite to develop as many thoughts and ideas as possible related to "heroes."



2. Discussion-explanation: My goal is to make students confident in the writing process to the point they can confidently tackle any assignment. Today's process is generating ideas, getting started.



3. Explain extra credit for volunteer points



4. Read "Hobbit" through to page 22. Assign: Put yourself in Bilbo's position and analyze how you would feel, handle, react to being put in that position



5. Nouns are superheroes. Everything happens to or because of them. Assign workbooks and assign pages 1-3



6. Handout Unit 1 vocabulary



7. Reminder: News/Mag article due this Friday. One paragraph, mark all nouns.

Honors

1. Create a timeline for your life span.


2. Identify one important life event (you do not need to describe this event unless you want)


3. List and explain the influences that caused the event and/or the outcome or influence caused by the event.

English 4 and 4H: 8/26/11

1. Bellringer: Describe the classroom in vivid detail. Practice your adjectives.


2. Elmo used to show students what was acceptable and what was not. Discussion was held as to how to push through when you lock up.


3. Check for signed syllabi for a grade. Students encouraged to bring that in as soon as possible if they forgot.


4. Literature book: Students were shown the three ways they might get the book: 1. Check out the hardbound book, 2. Use the online book which requires internet, 3. Check out the DVD version of the book. Students were shown how the online and DVD book look like and the extra tools available. Then, student signed up for which book they needed.


5. Discussed and explained the weekly newspaper/magazine article


6. Honors: present POSP projects.

Drama: 8/26/11

1. Warm up, leader's choice.


2. Work on or try to complete bag introduction project.


3. Reminder and warning. This class requires participation. Students who won't participate will have a hard time passing.


4. Focus on the point and process of warm ups: voice, mind, body, etc.


5. Level 1 students begin reading Chapter 1 on warmups. They will be tested. Level 2 and above students work on choreographing the warm ups

English 4 and Honors 8/24,25/11

1. Bellringer: What do you know? like? .....? about J.R.R. Tolkien, his books or the movies made from his books


2. Discuss bellringer


3. Introductory comments: A. How to contact me (google number for texting; school email; Facebook with related rules); B. Make up work and expectations with where you can find it posted; C. Avoiding the negative wall spiral down


4. Introduce the 12 important words


5. Introduce The Hobbit. Give students 20 minutes to read the first 15 pages. Trace the events in those pages and keep in section 4 of notebook. Identify pages read and date


6. Assign newspaper requirement, due Friday. Find any newspaper or magazine article about England, the United Kingdom, or related to the American foreign policy or relationships with other countries. In one paragraph, highlight/circle/underline all the nouns


7. Time permitting, introduce parts of speech and categorization.


8. Additional for honors: Turn in bellringer begun last class; Q and A related to the POSP experiment assignment

English 4 Honors: 8/23/11

1. Bellringer: List, define, and defend the 8 parts of speech
2. Q and A related to last class
3. Discuss and share bellringer
4. Assign the Mad Scientist 8 POSP
- May do video/slide show/drawing/essay
- Must be ready to share
- May do partners, but no groups larger than 3
5. Assign news article
- About the United Kingdom or
- Related to the US foreign policy of foreign relations
- Due each Friday: This Friday any article with one paragraph with all nouns highlighted.

Drama: 8/22/11

1. Bellringer: Give the name of your favorite actor, or actress, or movie, or show, and explain why it is your favorite. Be detailed


2. Have each student stand and share, beginning with the levels 2 and above. Point out that these are the upper level students who will do more and help more. Then have all the level 1 students present.


3. Handout syllabus and go over in detail, answering all questions related to assignments and expectations.


4. Explain the docent/street acting project for the semester


5. Have upper level students stand and share stories and observations from last years classes and performances until the end of the period.

English 4 and Honors: 8/22-23/11

1. Bellringer: Define your goals for the school year



2. Fix roster and schedule issues



3. Go over syllabus in detail, answering all questions



4. Videos: Phineas and Ferb title sequence, Perry theme song (introductions)



5. Videos: Abbot and Costello do math and escalator commercial with focal points: 1. Overlooking the simple and failing to do the simple and obvious are common causes for failure. 2. Overcome learned helplessness.