The Daily Post

Done!

2010-06-15T14:54:00.001-07:00

That's it! We did it! A whole year! Finished!

Thanks for the great year everyone...it's been an absolute pleasure. Be sure to stay up late, sleep in, read something, travel, go outside, be yourself, and keep in touch.

...as always--be creative, be brilliant.

Keep me posted with how it goes.

Goldhammer

Tuesday 6/15

2010-06-15T14:51:00.000-07:00

LA 10 Honors
-Due: Symbolism organizers
-Final in-class essay on Catcher in the Rye. Due at the end of the period
-Handed back old assignments
-Turned in books (if you have any out, teachers will be in the building all day tomorrow...swing 'em by)

HW:
-None! It's summer...

Monday 6/14

2010-06-14T12:53:00.000-07:00

*due to the finals schedule, only periods 3-4 met today.

LA 10 Honors
-Due: Symbolism organizers
-Final in-class Catcher essay

HW:
-Make sure all books are turned in!
-Make sure all missing assignments are turned in.

Creative Writing
-Finished up final readings
-Finished up Floodplain 16 assembly
-Due: Final Open letters

HW:
-Make sure all missing assignments are turned in.

Friday 6/11

2010-06-14T12:48:00.000-07:00

*due to the finals schedule, only periods 1-2 met today (and 5th...but not for a final)

LA 10 Honors
-Due: Catcher + Lyrics projects (these needed to be turned in by the end of the day...all classes)
-Due: Symbolism Organizers
-Final in-class Catcher essay

HW:
-Make sure all books are turned in!
-Make sure all missing assignments are turned in.
-Periods 3,5,6...symbolism organizers are due on the day of your final.

Thursday 6/10

2010-06-10T15:12:00.000-07:00

LA 10 Honors
-Discussed yesterday's reading (chapters 25-26).
-Went over symbolism sheet
-Answered any final questions about tomorrow's Song project (click) or the upcoming final.

HW:
-Make sure your symbolism sheet is done by your final (points will be given)
-Song projects due tomorrow (before school/after school/between classes is fine to drop it off)

Creative Writing
-Finished up all but 2 final readings (these folks will read next week)
-Handed out Floodplain #16
-reminded everyone about book chats and final open letters

HW:
-Final open letters due a.s.a.p
-outside reading book chat

Wednesday 6/9

2010-06-09T17:59:00.000-07:00

LA 10 Honors
-Discussed last night's reading (Holden's image of the "catcher in the rye," Phoebe, Antolini)
-Read the final 2 chapters out loud in class...(5th period needs to finish chapter 26)

HW:
-Song project due Friday (click here)
-Symbolism sheet due the day of your final
-As there was no time to do so in class, be prepared to discuss the last 2 chapters in depth...

Creative Writing
-Checked in on open letters, Floodplain, and outside reading
-Jumped back into final readings (only 2 seniors left!)

HW:-Outside Reading
-Final reading prep (if you haven't gone)
-Final Open letter

Tuesday 6/8

2010-06-08T15:49:00.000-07:00

LA 10 Honors
-Checked-in on everyone's "active reading" systems (assigned points)
-Went over the Catcher Song project that was assigned yesterday...clarified a few points, took a look at "That's Not Me" as a sample, etc.
-Discussed last night's reading (Allie's funeral, Carl Luce, Phoebe!)

HW:
-Read 22-24 (we'll finish the last 2 chapters out loud as a class)
-Song project due Friday
-Symbolism sheet due on the day of the final

Creative Writing
-Checked in on outside reading, floodplain, and final open letters
-Began final readings...got through another 6-7 of 'em

HW:
-Floodplain email...if you haven't!
-Final open letter due Friday
-Get your final reading prepared
-Outside reading

Monday 6/7

2010-06-07T15:39:00.001-07:00

LA 10 Honors
-CD check on chapter 18
-Discussed the weekend's reading (Sally, Maurice/Sunny, Jane, etc.)
-Assigned the Catcher Music Project (click here)...we'll chat more about this tomorrow.

HW:
-Read through chapter 21 for tomorrow
-Start working on Catcher Music Project...due Friday (yes, even if you don't have LA that day)

Creative Writing
-Checked in on outside reading, floodplain, and final open letters
-Began final readings...got through about 6-7 of 'em

HW:
-Floodplain email...if you haven't
-Final open letter due Friday
-Get your final reading prepared

Friday 6/4

2010-06-04T22:17:00.000-07:00

LA 10 Honors
-Finished final vocab/lit quiz
-Scored these after everyone finished up
-Briefly (very briefly) discussed last night's reading...we'll dive fully in on Monday

HW:
-Need to be through chapter 18 for Monday (make sure reading system is up to date)
-Bring in any old books you have yet to turn in

Creative Writing
-No journals
-Went straight to the lab for the last day of working on Lit riffs
-Handed back a number of old, graded assignments

HW:
-Floodplain email by Sunday
-Lit Riff due Tuesday
-Outside Reading discussions need to happen by the end of next week
-Final readings start Monday...be prepared

Thursday 6/3

2010-06-03T15:09:00.001-07:00

LA 10 Honors
-Came right in and began taking the final Vocab Quiz/Test. Due to the shortened periods because of Wildcat Blast, the Lit Quiz section is postponed until tomorrow...one more day to study.

HW:
-Read through chapter 15 for tomorrow
-Study your lit terms...we'll finish the quiz tomorrow

Creative Writing
-No journals (these need to be turned in)
-Went straight to the lab and continued working on Lit Riffs
-Reminded everyone about Floodplain email...get this done

HW:
-Open Letter
-Outside Reading
-Lit Riff due Tuesday
-Prepare for your Final Reading

Wednesday 6/2

2010-06-02T15:29:00.000-07:00

LA 10 Honors
-Discussed chapters 9-10
-Went through an "I am" exercise with the first 10 chapters...divided by chapters, went around the room and did some sharing
-Reminded everyone about this week's plan (vocab, reading, etc.)

HW:
-Aim to be through 13 for tomorrow...15 for Friday
-Final vocab and Lit tomorrow...make sure to review

Creative Writing
-Journals: Final Journal write (goodbye to journals)...need 15 entries (can turn in tomorrow)
-Due: 6-word stories and "list" stories...did some sharing
-Introduced Lit Riffs. Read "I Shot the Sheriff"
-Went to the lab and started working on Lit Riffs (picking songs, starting to write, etc...we'll be in there through Friday)

HW:
-Floodplain email
-Outside Reading
-Pick/Practice for final reading
-Last Open Letter

Tuesday 6/1

2010-06-01T15:10:00.000-07:00

LA 10 Honors
-CD check on chapter 8
-Discussed the weekend's reading/reactions to the book thus far/key moments/etc.
-Handed out a symbolism organizer to begin working on as you read...filled in what we could so far.
-Explained this week's schedule

HW:
-Final vocab will be on Thursday...be sure to review.
-Need to read chapters 9-10 for tomorrow

Creative Writing
-No journals today....instead, jumped right into:
-6 word stories (read Hemmingway's famous: For sale: baby shoes, never used)...came up with 6 original 6-word stories on our own.
-Read: Love and Other Catastrophes: A Mix Tape...discussed the "list" style. Began working on an original "list-style" story. Read another sample from last year.

HW:
-6-word stories (you need 6 of 'em) and your original "list" piece are due at the start of class tomorrow
-Final open letter (seniors must write to their high school experience) are due by the end of the year.
-Outside reading
-Final Floodplain email.

Friday 5/27

2010-05-27T16:50:00.001-07:00

*sub day. Be sure to look one post below if you are looking for Thursday's post

LA 10 Honors
-Today is a work day for you to do some reading and complete a handout that will guide you through some of what you read in chapters 1-2
-Complete the handout (click here) on chapters 1-2 (if you like, this can be done in small groups).
-Once finished, continue reading

HW:
-Need to be through chapter 8 for Tuesday

Creative Writing
-After checking in with the sub, head over to lab 309
-Spend the period either finishing up your open letter (due at the end of the period...be sure to hand this in to the sub), working on your "He Said" mimic (also due at the end of the period), or your outside reading

HW:
-Outside reading
-Get your next Floodplain submission in.

Thursday 5/27

2010-05-27T16:44:00.000-07:00

LA 10 Honors
-Discussed yesterday's intro activity (3rd period actually went through that activity) and it's connection to the novel
-Addressed the history, cultural significance of Catcher
-Checked out books
-Began reading chapters 1-2

HW:
-Continue reading...need to be through chapter 8 for Tuesday

Creative Writing
-Journals: "Just pretend like I am not here"
-Due: "Boy/Girl" mimic...did some sharing from these
-Handed out and assembled Floodplain #15 (finally!)
-Read "He Said" and began a mimic using this same style (drawn from a list of important life-events that we created before reading)

HW:
-Open Letter due at the end of class tomorrow (you'll be in the lab with Mr. McCormick)
-Be sure to turn in your "He Said" mimic tomorrow to the sub as well
-Outside Reading

Wednesday 5/24

2010-05-26T17:32:00.000-07:00

LA 10 Honors
-Finished discussing outside reading novels...had about 2 go in each class, wrapped up the discussion, made sure all handouts/books/analytical journals were turned in
-Went through an intro exercise to Catcher (3rd period, we'll do this tomorrow since so many of you were absent today)

HW:
-Final vocab test (of the year!) will be next week, no vocab quiz this week
-Bring your copy of Catcher

Creative Writing
-Journals: "Please, put us out of our misery"
-Due: Headline Piece #2 from yesterday
-Read Jamaica Kincaid's "Girl" and the "Boy" response to it by Jim Heyman...spent the rest of the period working on creating your own homage to Kincaid's original.

HW:
-Finish your "Girl" mimic for the start of class tomorrow
-Open Letter due Friday

Tuesday 5/25

2010-05-25T15:13:00.000-07:00

LA 10 Honors
-Due: Frankenstein essays...by 3 pm (also need to be submitted into turnitin.com)
-Checked in on yesterday's initial outside reading work
-Broke back into outside reading groups...finished handout/guiding questions...began discussing the novels as a whole class (we'll finish up tomorrow)

HW:
-Vocab quiz Friday
-turnitin.com ...if you haven't

Creative Writing
-Journals: "Anticipation"
-Due: "Headline Piece #1" from yesterday
-Read Douglas Coupland's "The Vanishees"
-Picked headlines for "Headline Piece #2"...started working on these in class

HW:
-Headline Piece #2 due at the start of class tomorrow
-Open Letter will now be due at the end of class on Friday (after spending the day in the lab with the sub)
-Outside Reading

Monday 4/24

2010-05-24T15:52:00.000-07:00

LA 10 Honors
-Handed back LOTF essays, discussed observations, grades, etc.
-Discussed progress on Frank essays (due tomorrow!)
-Due: Outside reading Analytical notes (mini-chunks)
-Broke into groups and began working on the outside reading guiding questions...we'll finish these up tomorrow.

HW:
-Frank essays due tomorrow by 3pm. Be sure to get these uploaded into turnitin.com
-Vocab Friday

Creative Writing
-Journals: "Exhausted"
-Checked in on Outside Reading...+ went over the schedule for the next few weeks
-Due: Character/Conflict Starting Point pieces
-Began working on Headline Piece #1...read "The Hayfarmer at Dusk" as an introduction

HW:
-Headline Piece #1 due at the start of class tomorrow (finish these up if you didn't in class)
-Open Letter #4 due Thursday
-Outside Reading

Friday 5/21

2010-05-21T15:05:00.000-07:00

LA 10 Honors
-Went straight to the computer lab to finish up the career unit with Ms. Anderson.
-Explained the new plan for due dates, essays, etc.
-Typed up resumes and emailed them to Ms. Anderson (andersonae@svsd.410.org)

HW:
-Frank essays due Tuesday (check on Sunday for LOTF essay updates online)
-Finish your resume and email it to Ms. Anderson (if you haven't done so already)
-Outside reading (with your 8 analytical CDs and responses) needs to be done and ready for Monday. Be prepared to discuss.

Creative Writing
-Journals: Open Friday
-Due: Printed, complete draft of your character/conflict/starting point pieces...checked these off for points
-Swapped with a partner and did some peer editing

HW:
-Final drafts due Monday
-Outside Reading...bring your books!

Thursday 5/20

2010-05-20T15:30:00.000-07:00

*sub day, sophs...see note below.

LA 10 Honors
-Went straight to the career center for Day 2 of the Soph. Career Unit
-Also, here's a quick note: I spent the entire day grading junior essays--7 hours, 100+ essays, I am pretty beat. The chance of me sitting down for another 2 + hours to finish the rest of the LOTF essays by tomorrow is looking pretty slim. With that said, I need a little flexibility on your part. So, essays will be handed back to you on Monday, a letter will be posted over the weekend, and a revised date of Tuesday is now the official day your Frankenstein essays are due...hopefully that makes everyone's life a bit easier.

HW:
-Outside Reading due Monday
-Frankenstein essays due Tuesday (see note above)...make sure you get this in to turnitin.com

Creative Writing
-No journals today
-Went straight to the lab to continue working on the character/conflict/starting point pieces...need to have a complete draft ready to go tomorrow at the start of class.

HW:
-Printed draft of the character/conflict/starting point piece due tomorrow at the start of class
-Outside Reading
-Open Letter due Thursday

Wednesday 5/19

2010-05-19T16:24:00.000-07:00

LA 10 Honors
-Discussed yesterday and the start of the career unit
-Checked in on essays...discussed the new due date (Monday!)
-Took Vocab/Lit quiz #25
-Checked out books for outside reading (Night, Ethan Frome, Old Man)...explained the first few steps: read the novel, pick out 8 passages/quotes as you go, provide some CM/thoughts/questions for each. Be prepared with this on Monday.

HW:
-Frank essays due Monday
-Outside reading needs to be done (with your analytical notes) for Monday

Creative Writing
-No journals today, went straight to the lab
-Continued working on Character/Conflict/Starting Point assignment
-Explained the plan for tomorrow (Thurs)...back in the lab with the sub

HW:
-Need a complete draft of this assignment ready for Friday (printed, ready to go)
-Open Letter due next Thursday
-Outside Reading

Tuesday 5/18

2010-05-18T14:16:00.000-07:00

LA 10 Honors
-Quick check-in and headed down to the career center
-Reminded everyone about this week (vocab tomorrow, essays Friday, career center, etc)
-Handed things over to Mrs. Anderson in the career center for the Soph. Career Unit

HW:
-Essays due Friday (we'll chat about a possible extension tomorrow)

Creative Writing
-No Journals...straight to the lab
-Reminded folks who were gone yesterday that all assignments are posted online
-Finished distributing "starting points"
-Began drafting...we'll be in the lab through Thursday, draft due Friday

HW:
-Outside reading
-Continue working on your drafts
-Open letter due n

ext week

Monday 5/17

2010-05-17T15:28:00.000-07:00

LA 10 Honors
-Due: Complete rough draft (checked these off for points)
-Discussed this upcoming week and gave a quick intro to the outside reading this week
-Went through an anonymous peer-editing process using this reverse outline

HW:
-Vocab Wed
-Essays due Fri
-We'll be in the Career Center tomorrow. Head straight down. We'll meet there together as a class.

Creative Writing
-Went straight over to lab 309
-No journals today...but did an in-class mini-write on this prompt: "something was missing" turned these in for points after about 15 minutes.
-Handed out "starting points" for the character/conflict/starting point assignment. Spent the day working on these in the lab

HW:
-We'll be back in the lab tomorrow. Be prepared
-Get your outside reading book and bring it in for evidence...then start reading.

Friday 5/14

2010-05-14T15:07:00.000-07:00

LA 10 Honors
-Due: 1 fully-shaped body paragraph...checked these off for points
-Checked in on essays...reminded everyone of the importance of argumentative topic sentences for each body paragraph
-Finished watching Young Frankenstein

HW:
-Full rough draft due at the start of class on Monday
-Vocab quiz Wednesday

Creative Writing
-Journals: Open Friday
-Due: Character Sketch for character/conflict/starting point...did a little sharing of these
-Chose "conflicts" ...did some initial brainstorming

HW:
-Brainstorm your story...be prepared for a "starting point" on Monday. We'll be in the lab to start working on these

Thursday 5/13

2010-05-13T15:36:00.000-07:00

La 10 Honors
-Checked in on essay progress
-Continued watching Young Frankenstein
-Finished up the 1-on-1 conferences on essays (those who didn't get to chat, we will do so tomorrow)

HW:
-1 full body paragraph needs to be completed for tomorrow (click here for a shaping sheet). Those of you who discussed changes to thesis statements and webs...be sure to have 'em ready to go for me to look over...remember, full rough draft due Monday
-No vocab tomorrow...quiz has been moved to Wednesday

Creative Writing
-Journals: "2 kids skip school"...but this had to be written in the "how to write suspense" style
-Discussed outside reading choices
-Began working on the character/conflict/starting point assignment. Explained the details.
-Picked characters and began brainstorming

HW:
-Fully developed character sketch for your chosen character due at the start of class tomorrow.

Wednesday 5/12

2010-05-12T15:24:00.000-07:00

LA 10 Honors
-Due: Complete Webs/Outlines from yesterday...quickly discussed these as a class
-Intro to Young Frankenstein...began watching (got about 20-30min in).
-As the class watched the film, began calling each student back individually...conferencing and discussing progress on essays.

HW:
-Complete Body Paragraph (minimum) due on Friday. A complete rough draft will be due on Mon.
-Vocab pushed to next Wed.

Creative Writing
-No Journals today...went straight to lab 309
-Due: Stolen Dialogue Expanded and the Stolen Dialogue Expanded Swap...if needed, finished these up in class.
-Handed out personalized book lists for outside reading. Explained the rules (choose a book, read it, talk to me about it...that's it). Went over the importance of choosing wisely and using your best judgment for what's appropriate for you
-Spent the period researching book titles, figuring out what to read

HW:
-Next Open Letter will be due next Wed.