Thursday, April 29, 2010

Open Mic Day pictures

Here is the link to the Smilebox presentation Ms. Parra created of our Open Mic event:


I am so proud of all of you for sharing your poems with the class. I know for some of you speaking in public is very nerve racking, but you all did well. I can't wait until next year!


Monday, April 26, 2010

Mother's Day Placemat

You need to bring in your own materials for this assignment starting Thursday, April 29th or Friday, April 30th (depending on which day you have me).

Your grade will be based on the following components:

1. A Quote -- The quote you find should represent your mother or be inspirational in some way. (2 points)
2. Favorite Memory -- You will write about a memory you have of your mother (could be typed if your handwriting is not that great). (2 points)
3. Picture -- The picture can be of you with her or just you or just her. (2 points)
4. Her name -- Place her name somewhere on the placemat. (2 points)
5. Creativity -- This is where your use of supplies, and the above components will come into play. (3 points)
Using your own supplies is worth 3 points. Therefore, this assignment is worth a total of 14 points.

If you would rather create the placemat for another female figure in your life that is fine. For example, you can make one for your grandmother, aunt, godmother, etc.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Week of April 19 - 23

We have begun reading Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. As you read you should focus on Bradbury's diction, syntax, and overall beautiful writing style.
You are responsible for reading through page 40. The page ends with "Damn!" said Beatty. "You've gone right by the corner where we turn for the firehouse." (This is for those of you who have a downloaded version without page numbers.)
You need to show me your book by next Friday, April 30th or it will go in as a zero. In the meantime you can go to the following website:

http://kisi.deu.edu.tr/murat.goc/451.pdf

This week I gave the Fahrenheit 451 intro quiz. If you need to make it up make sure you bring me an admit and you need to make it up before the end of the week.

*This coming week we are scheduled to go to the Book Fair. They will have the summer reading books available to purchase. Most of the books run between $8-$15.

1. Open Mic Day poems -- Monday and Tuesday you need to give me the name of your poem so that I can be ready for Wednesday. Remember it can be written by you or someone else.
If you do not want to recite your poem you must turn an essay into me that addresses what the poem means and why you connect with it.
2. Mother's Day Placemat -- This coming week we will begin working on the placemats so you will need to bring in your materials to create them. Things like construction paper, markers, crayons, pictures, etc. I will tell you what you are required to put on your placemats and you will also have the ability to be creative.
3. Comparative Essay final drafts will be due by Friday, April 30th. You will only be able to type them in school. I will be grading them based on attention grabber, clear thesis, organized ideas in body paragraphs, use at least four quotes, and having a logical conclusion.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Earth Day / Take your son or daughter to work day

Okay, so I thought about it and decided to give an extra credit assignment in honor of Earth Day and Take your son or daughter to work day. Here are your two choices:

1. Explain 5 things that you currently do or could do to decrease your carbon footprint. Don't know what that means -- look it up and then give me your 5 examples. Consider saving paper and email it to me or post it to the blog.

2. If you go with your mom or dad to work on Thursday you have the following option: interview someone who works with your parents (ask them whether they enjoy what they do, what was their favorite class(es) when they were in high school, what advice would they give you before you graduate from high school). Make sure you include the name and position of the person you interview and the company and phone number they work for. I will verify whether the person works where you say they do, so don't embarrass me.

You have until Monday, April 26th to turn in your assignment for 5 points extra credit. If you do both that is great, but you will only get 5 points.

Friday, April 16, 2010

Week of April 12th-16th

What an eventful week! Thank you for all your support regarding SB6. Charlie Crist vetoed it yesterday and I would suggest we send an email with thanks because he could have taken the easy way out and done nothing. You can email him at:
Charlie.Crist@myflorida.com

1. In other news, we will be starting Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury this coming week and I will be checking for your novel. Make sure you get a copy from the bookstore, library or downloading it.
2. You also need to review your notes on Ray Bradbury and Fahrenheit 451 intro notes. There will be a quiz sometime this week. Don't be caught off guard!
3. Group presentations: Groups will present their topics next week (rising illiteracy, drug abuse, violence in society, population explosion, and materialism/commercialism). You will be graded on your definition of the topic, how it was seen in the 1950s, how it is in today's society and your conclusion as to whether Bradbury's predictions were correct. Total of 5 points doubled (10 points).
3. You will be peer editing and typing up your final drafts of the Comparative Essay this coming week.
4. Don't forget about selecting a poem to read for Open Mic Day on April 28th.

Subject selection is on its way. I will talk with you on an individual basis to discuss my recommendation for you regarding English for next year. Some thoughts to keep in mind:
*Honors/AP is a privilege and is for those students who have the goal of going to college. The purpose of these classes is to prepare you for the type of writing that will be expected of you on the college level.
*I have no idea who is teaching what next year and you should not base your decision off of the teacher, but what you want to get out of the class.
*You know the kind of person you are. If you know you will be one to get senioritis (some of you have that already) then maybe you should consider regular.

Upcoming assignments -- Teacher Appreciation letters and Mother's Day placemats.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Reminders and Info

*Don't forget to work on your Comparative Essay if you took it home to work on the rough draft.
**You need to obtain your novel for class by April 19th.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Lots to do and so little time

First of all, thank you to everyone for making my birthday AWESOME!!!!

I collected the Wizard of Oz Chapter questions and the SAT Question of the Day. I will not accept them after Friday, April 9th.
The Poetry Slam contest deadline is Friday, April 9th. If you submitted a poem and would like me to enter it please come and see me.

The vote was conducted and here is what you selected for the 4th nine weeks:

Period 1 - Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Period 3 - Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (The Divine Comedy by Dante for those who want to be challenged)
Period 4 - Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Period 5 - Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
You need to obtain your copies by April 19th. I have not found these books online so you have to obtain the book whether you buy it or check it out from a library.

Upcoming events, assignments, projects (work oh my!):

1. Open Mic Day on April 28th - start thinking of a poem you want to recite. It could be one you have written or a poem by one of your favorite authors.
2. Teacher Appreciation Letter - this will be due during the week of May 3-7
3. Mother's Day Placemat - Mother's Day is May 9th and we will be working on these a week or two before so I can laminate them. I will tell you what I will be looking for as the time nears.
4. Year in Review project - So many moments this year should be remembered fondly and this is your chance to relive those memories through a skit or video. Looking forward to seeing what memories you have of this year in English III.

Good luck to those students taking the ACT this coming Saturday. Just try your best and think positive thoughts. :)