Week of October 31st

This week we finish the 1st marking period. I hope that this sets a standard that we can use to improve for the rest of the year. This week will be a mix of vocabulary and literature and myth classes will begin a new project. We are going to be busy.


Honors English 9:
This week you have 2 major assignments: a paper on literature from Unit 1 and a test on A Separate Peace. The paper will be due on Tuesday and your test will be Wednesday. We will spend Tuesday reviewing for the test.  For the second half of the week, we will begin the next unit. The essential question for Unit 2 is: What does it take to survive?

Homework
Monday- Finish your paper. It is due tomorrow.
Tuesday- Study for your test tomorrow.
Wednesday- Read something you enjoy
Thursday- Read something you enjoy
Friday- Finish reading "The Seventh Man" from your textbook


English 9:
This is another vocabulary week so as always you will have sentences due Wednesday and a quiz on Friday. In between, we will be pushing through The Outsiders.

Homework
Monday- Review vocabulary words
Tuesday- Finish vocabulary sentences
Wednesday- Study vocabulary
Thursday- Study vocabulary words for you test tomorrow
Friday- Read something you enjoy

Mythology:
We will finish up "Cupid and Psyche" this week and your quiz will be on Tuesday. After that, we will move on to our next project. This project will be a bit different than any others we have done and I will explain it on Monday. You will be assigned a myth and be asked to become an expert on it because you will then teach it to your peers. The process is reciprocal and we will complete it in class on Wednesday. You will have a quiz on these myths on Friday.

Homework
Monday- Study "Cupid and Psyche"
Tuesday- Read assigned myths
Wednesday- Complete 8 Tales of Lovers worksheet
Thursday- Study 8 Tales of Lovers for quiz
Friday- Find an example of Greek mythology in an advertisement

Make-Up Work

Students, Parents, Guardians: Tuesday is the last day of the 1st marking period. Please be sure all make-up and missing work is turned in to me by Tuesday. Failing to do so can result in a 0 for the assignment and can cause a significant drop in a student's grade.

Outsiders Chapters 1-4 Study Guide

Attached you will find a brief study guide that should help you prepare for your first quiz on The Outsiders. Please note that this is intended to supplement the information in your packet, not replace it. In other words, study from both your packet and this study guide.

Week of October 24th

This week is the last full week of the 1st marking period. If you have not done so, it is imperative that you check your current average now. There is very little time left to change your grade, so please be sure you know what to expect when you receive your report card next week. Please feel free to see me or have a parent/ guardian contact me if there is a question or concern regarding your grade.

Honors English 9
This week we will finish reading A Separate Peace and have our first formal writing assignment. We will spend the majority of the week discussing the final chapter of the book, reviewing themes, and determining how our understanding of the characters has shifted throughout the novel. We will also spend a significant amount of time relating the novel to this unit's essential questions: What does it mean to be an American?

Homework
Monday- Read chapter 11 of A Separate Peace and answer corresponding study guide questions
Tuesday- Read chapter 12 of A Separate Peace and answer corresponding study guide questions
Wednesday- Read chapter 13 of A Separate Peace and answer corresponding study guide questions
Thursday- Complete the fill-in page on the front of your study guide and ensure all questions are answered
Friday- Finish your writing assignment. It is due Monday.
CORRECTION: Essay will be due Tuesday. We will also have a test on the novel on Tuesday.

English 9
This week we will continue reading The Outsiders and review our grammar concepts from the 1st marking period. The packets you completed for homework over the weekend will be checked and we will work on exercises to strengthen our understanding of nouns, pronouns and adjectives. The verb packets from the weekend will be collected for a grade.

We will also take our first quiz on The Outsiders. Period 5 will take this quiz on Thursday. Period 2 will take this quiz on Friday.

Please note that different sections of English 9 may be at different points in the novel. Assignments regarding the novel might not be the same for both classes.

Homework
Monday- Period 5: Finish critical thinking questions for chapters 3 and 4
Tuesday- Period 2: Finish critical thinking questions for chapters 3 and 4
Wednesday- Ensure all questions and charts up to chapter 5 of the study guide are complete.
Period 5: Study for quiz
Thursday- Period 2: Study for quiz
Friday- Read a book you enjoy!

Weekend Homework Announcement!

Students in English 9 should complete the "Verbs Extra Credit" packet over the weekend. Please be sure to follow the directions and complete the packet correctly. Use your notes to help you.
No credit will be given for packets completed with less than 75% accuracy.

Week of October 17th

This week I would like students from all classes to check their grades. Be sure that you know what your current grade is and determine if you would like to maintain or improve it. There are 2 weeks left in the marking period. With diligent work, that is enough time to improve your grade, however, it is also enough time for it to fall. Please try not wait until the end of the marking period to address me about concerns with your grade.

Honors English 9:

This week we will spend time familiarizing ourselves with our second vocabulary unit. The vocabulary words for Unit 2 are: 

• abash
• austere
• derange
• despondent
• disconcert
• downcast
• harass 
• languid
• melee
• mischance
• misgiving
• morose
• privation
• recoil
• rue 
• tribulation

Vocabulary weeks will always follow the same schedule. We will copy definitions for the words on Monday, sentences will be due Wednesday and the vocabulary quiz will be Friday.

Apart from vocabulary, we will continue reading and discussing A Separate Peace this week. I expect to finish up the novel by the end of next week. This means you can expect a test on the novel around November 1st. This date might change, but you should begin thinking about the test now.

Homework:

Monday: Review definitions for vocabulary words 1-8. Write vocabulary sentences.

Tuesday: Review definitions for vocabulary words 9-16. Finish vocabulary sentences.

Wednesday: Read chapter 10 of A Separate Peace and complete chapter 10 study guide questions.

Thursday: Study for vocabulary quiz.

Friday: Read chapter 11 of A Separate Peace and complete chapter 11 study guide questions.

English 9:

This week we will work with our next set of vocabulary words. The vocabulary words for Unit 1B are: 

• impunity 
• morale
• preoccupy
• punctilious
• reputable
• solace
• veracity
• wary

Vocabulary weeks will usually follow the same schedule. Monday we will record definitions and begin writing sentences. Wednesday vocabulary sentences will be due and Friday a quiz on the words will be given. 

In addition to the vocabulary words this week, we will continue reading The Outsiders. You can expect a quiz on this novel once we finish reading chapter 4. This should come mid-week next week.

Homework:

Monday: Continue writing vocabulary sentences.

Tuesday: Finish writing vocabulary sentences.

Wednesday: Study for vocabulary quiz.

Thursday: Study for vocabulary quiz.

Friday: Finish critical thinking questions for chapters 3 and 4 of The Outsiders.

Mythology:

This week you will finally get to present your myths and share your research with the class. Presentations will begin Wednesday and will conclude Friday. You should be prepared for a cumulative quiz on all presentations on Monday. A review will be provided on Friday.

Homework:

Monday: Finish PowerPoint research and begin coordinating with your partner regarding your presentation.

Tuesday: Finish preparing your presentation. Finalize all presentation plans with your partner.

Wednesday: Review myths that were presented today.

Thursday: Review myths that were presented today.

Friday: Study for quiz on the myth presentations. Use your notes to help you.

Week of 10/10

Between Columbus day and Wednesday's data delay, this week is going to fly by for us all! English classes will continue working through the literature we have been reading and Honors classes will be assigned more chapters in A Separate Peace. English 9 classes will continue reading The Outsiders and fill out appropriate study guide questions. Mythology classes will continue researching and preparing for their presentations until the field trip.

Honors English 9

This week we're going to kick it into high gear with A Separate Peace. Last week's test was probably something very different for you and I know many of you struggled to finish in the shortened period. As I told you on Friday, do not panic. You will be given additional time on Tuesday to review and complete the test in class. We will then move to one of our last reading selections from the textbook for this unit. Please be sure you are bringing your textbook with you to class everyday this week.

Homework

Tuesday- Read A Separate Peace chapter 6. Be sure study guide questions for chapter 5 are complete.

Wednesday- Read A Separate Peace chapter 7. Be sure study guide questions for chapter 6 are complete.

Thursday- Read A Separate Peace chapter 8. Be sure you have all study guide questions up to, and including, chapter 8 finished.

Friday- Read a book of your choice! Enjoy it.

English 9

We are making progress with The Outsiders and we will continue working with this novel this week. We will also be reviewing the past vocabulary words this week. Please be sure you are not forgetting the definitions of these words as they will be popping up in class throughout the semester.

Homework

Tuesday- Please answer Critical Thinking questions 1 and 2 on page 8 of your Outsiders study guide

Wednesday- Please answer Critical Thinking questions 2 and 3 on page 8 of your Outsiders study guide.

Thursday- 

Friday- 

Mythology

The long awaited field trip to the Renaissance Faire has finally arrived! We will spend Tuesday continuing our research for our presentations and Wednesday will be spent reviewing the rules and expectations for the field trip. You will be receiving a packet for the Faire on Wednesday as well. Thursday we will travel to the Faire. The bus will be departing at 7:30 am sharp. Please arrive by 7:15. On Friday we will complete a writing assignment from the Faire.

Homework

Tuesday- Continue researching myths

Wednesday- 

Thursday- 

Friday- Complete writing assignment. It is due Monday.

Week of October 3rd

It's hard to believe that we are already beginning the month of October, yet here we are! The fall weather is settling in, days are getting shorter and even the Bloomsburg Fair is over! We are more than half way through the 1st marking period, so please be sure you are keeping up with your grades and turning everything in. Now is the time to turn your grade around if you are unhappy with it.

Honors English 9
Unit 1 Essential Question: What does it mean to be an American?

This week we are going to dive into our brand new literature textbooks for the first time. Please be sure to bring this textbook with you to class everyday this week.

We will start the week by reading 2 stories from Unit 1 and comparing them. We will answer questions like: How do the experiences of the authors differ? and What are their purposes?. We will also get into the habit of rooting answers in textual evidence by taking advantage of our workbook-style textbooks. Yes, we will be writing in the books! By Thursday we will have a much broader understanding of how to answer the unit's essential question. We will also be able to include A Separate Peace in discussions regarding American identity.

One major assignment of note for this week is your first test on the novel A Separate Peace. This test will be given on Friday. It will cover chapters 1 through 3 and will include essays.

Homework
Monday- A Separate Peace study guide questions for chapters 1 (should already be done) and 2
Tuesday- A Separate Peace study guide questions for chapter 3
Wednesday- A Separate Peace study guide questions for chapter 4
Thursday- Study for test on A Separate Peace chapters 1-4
Friday- Relax and read something you enjoy. You worked hard this week.


English 9
Unit 1 Essential Question: What does it mean to be an American?

We are pushing forward with The Outsiders this week, but we will also be incorporating excerpts and texts from our literature textbook. Please be sure to bring this textbook with you to class everyday this week. We will start the week by reading 2 stories from Unit 1 and comparing them. We will answer questions like: How do the experiences of the authors differ? and What are their purposes?. We will also get into the habit of rooting answers in textual evidence by taking advantage of our workbook-style textbooks. Yes, we will be writing in the books! By Thursday we will have a much broader understanding of how to answer the unit's essential question. We will also be able to include The Outsiders in discussions regarding American identity.

Homework
Monday- Review last week's vocabulary words. Don't forget them!
Tuesday- Answer questions for the except "The Immigrant Contribution" on pg. 29 of the textbook
Wednesday- Finish all questions, charts and character descriptions for chapter 1 on The Outsiders study guide
Thursday- Begin critical thinking questions on pg. 8 of your Outsiders study guide
Friday- Finish critical thinking questions on pg. 8 of your Outsiders study guide

Mythology
FIELD TRIP PAYMENT AND PERMISSION SLIPS FOR THE RENAISSANCE FAIRE ARE DUE THURSDAY! After that time, your seat on the bus will be made available to other students.

This week we are pushing forward through our Earliest Heroes myths. Last week we read the myth of Prometheus and Io, now this week we will read about Polyphemus and Europa. You will take a quiz on all of these myths on Wednesday.

Our next unit after this quiz will be student-driven. In other words, you will be assigned 2 myths which you and your group will research. You will then prepare a formal presentation to give to the class in order to teach your myths. You will also need to assess student learning by making and giving a quiz on your assigned myths. You will be given Thursday, Friday and Tuesday in class to research your myths. Presentations will take place the following week.

Homework
Monday- Finish worksheet for Io and Europa
Tuesday- Finish worksheet for Polyphemus. Study for quiz on Flower myths and all of the Earliest Heroes
Wednesday- BRING MONEY FOR FIELD TRIP
Thursday- Research myth
Friday- Research myth and prepare presentation