LA 10 Honors
-Discussed essays (click here for the prompt). Be sure to check the Writing Center of this website for handouts/organizers/etc
-Began working on Character Evolution assignment (pick a character and in a 1 page visual trace his progression throughout the novel--4 CDs, minimum of 3 dominant images, a bunch of CM, use symbolism...make these creative/brilliant)

HW:
-Typed, complete, printed draft of ASp essay due on the Wednesday we return (01/02/08)
-Character evolution due on the Wednesday we return (01/02/08)

Creative Writing
-Journal: Open...
-Discussed what needs to happen over break(choose and finalize one of your character pieces...bring it to a final draft stage...and: get, read, enjoy your outside reading)

HW:
-Finalized draft of your chosen and updated character piece is due on Thursday (01/03/07)
-Outside reading (we will begin with "book talks" the week you return from break...be ready)

LA 9
-CD check on yesterday's notes and chapter 4
-Discussed/revisited yesterday's notes and discussion about communism, Marx, Orwell, socialism, the Russian Revolution, and allegories.
-Read chapter 5 in class

HW:
-Read through chapter 6 for the Wednesday we return (01/02/07)...be prepared to discuss/demonstrate your knowledge of chapters 1-6
-Conduct some internet research and bring in 120 words of carefully chosen CD about the "Russian Revolution" be sure to include your word count and source at the bottom of your page

LA 10 Honors
-Finished discussing the end of the novel
-Went over Biblical Allusions in ASP
-Handed out prompt + quickly discussed essay

HW:
-Think about essay, come in prepared to discuss and start planning for it

Creative Writing
-Journal starter: "phantom"
-Went over all seven of the possible character assignments that can be turned into a final draft (final will be due after we return from break)
-Discussed outside reading book topics
-Due: character/conflict/starting point assignment
-Due: Object write from yesterday

HW:
-Open letter due tomorrow
-Outside reading (get book!)
-Begin working on finalizing a character piece

LA 9
-Finished Utopia presentations
-Began the big Animal Farm note-taking session (communism, socialism, allegory for the Russian Revolution etc). If you were gone, you will need to get this info when you return...we will continue with our discussion/notes tomorrow.

HW:
-Need to be through chapter 4 for tomorrow

LA 10 Honors
-Quick CD check on the end of the novel
-Discussed last chapters
-Quickly went over the upcoming essay prompt (trace a character's dynamic change...we'll discuss more tomorrow)

HW:
-Get prepared for tomorrow's final discussion of the novel...it will be the last day for graded participation points

Creative Writing
-No journals today (we jumped into today's writing piece)
-Character + Object assignment (if gone, you'll need to get caught up tomorrow)
-Worked on today's writing piece for the majority of the period. Discussed progress at the end of the hour

HW:
-Get caught up on the misc. character assignments. Come to class tomorrow with what you've got, ready to be checked off for points
-Open letter due before you leave for break

LA 9
-Quick CD check for chapter 3 (see me if you missed)
-5 final minutes to get ready for presentations
-Utopia presentations for the entire period (we will finish the remaining 2 groups tomorrow)

HW:
-Be through chapter 4 for Wednesday

LA 10 Honors
-Due: JC essays (by 1pm)
-Took vocab quiz 13
-Discussed ASP (Leper, the trial, the war, etc.)

HW:
-Finish the novel for Monday. Be prepared for a huge in-class discussion (graded)

Creative Writing
-Due to time, no journals today
-Due: continued work from yesterday's character/conflict/starting point piece
-Handed out customized booklists + went to the lab to research titles

HW:
-Open letters due before break
-Finish your current character/conflict/starting point piece for Monday

LA 9
-Discussed chapter 2 of Animal Farm
-Spent the rest of class working on Utopia Projects. Today was the final day for group prep. If you were gone, be sure to be in contact with your group over this weekend...presentations start on Monday and you need to be ready!

HW:
-Read chapter 3
-Finish up any final Utopia prep-work

LA 10 Honors
-Quickly answered questions about tomorrow's essays
-Due: Vocab work #13
-Went over ASP AP packet from earlier this week
-Discussed ASP through chapter 10

HW:
-Vocab Quiz #13 tomorrow
-JC Essays due tomorrow by 1pm (no exceptions!)
-Read through chapter 11

Creative Writing
-Journal Topic: "Soul"
-Recapped yesterday's character/conflict work + drew a starting point.
-Spent the rest of the period developing a draft

HW:
-Come to class with a more-complete version of what you started today (we should have some time tomorrow/this weekend to continue with it)
-Open letter due before break

LA 9
-Reading check for chapter 1 (see me if missed) of Animal Farm
-Discussed chapter 1
-Began reading chapter 2

HW:
-Finish reading chapter 2 for tomorrow
-Come prepared for your final in-class opportunity for Utopia work

LA 10 Honors
-CD quiz on chapter 9
-Finished up peer editing for JC essays. Handed back to original writers and discussed

HW:
-Tomorrow we will discuss through chapter 10 (be sure you have passages and issues to discuss in class!)
-Vocab work due tomorrow
-Vocab Quiz on Friday
-Essays due on Firday (be sure to swing by if you have any questions)

Creative Writing
-Journal Opener: "She was my last chance..."
-Discussed plan for upcoming final draft (taking one of the smaller pieces we've worked on this past week or so and turning it into something final). We will discuss this more later this week.
-Began character/conflict/starting point assignment (if gone see me for details)

HW:
-Be prepared for a writing day tomorrow
-Open letter #4 due before break

LA 9
-Discussed Utopia project timeline (presentations will begin on Monday. Some time on Friday will be given to finish up working with groups)
-Checked out copies of Animal Farm
-Took a pre-reading survey about some of the book's main topics/issues
-Did a close-reading of novel's first paragraph
-Began reading chapter 1

HW:
-Finish chapter 1 for tomorrow
-Continue with Utopia work (presentations on Monday!)

LA 10 Honors
-Due: Final, printed, complete draft of your J.C essay
-Gave points for having draft complete and ready to be turned in...but....explained that final, finals will not be due until Friday
-Assigned points for having draft complete and ready to be turned in
-Went through an editing process in class
-Discussed essays, MLA layout, etc.

HW:
-Be sure that you are read (and ready to discuss) through chapter 9
-Essays due Friday (be sure to swing by if you need some help)
-Vocab is normal for this week (Thurs = work, Friday=quiz)

Creative Writing
-Journal Starter: "There was a moment when the memories simply began to fade..."
-Handed back "Hollowman" piece from yesterday...did some sharing in class
-Due: Character-combo work from last week (where you put two of your original characters into one situation)
-Discussed outside reading assignment (details to come) and provided some basic info/interests for your customized book list

HW:
-Finish your outside reading book survey/info for Goldhammer

LA 9
-Continued working on Utopia projects
-Today was the planned "last day" for these, however at the end of class it became clear that more time is needed.
-Come prepared to finish up tomorrow. Presentations will begin later in the week

HW:
-Utopia project work

*Today was a sub day, Goldhammer will be back tomorrow

LA 10 Honors
-Need to be read through chapter 8
-Worked in small groups on AP-style passages on A Separate Peace
-Handed out The Essay Check handout to help with tonight's final push for tomorrow's JC essays

HW:
-Read through chapter 9
-JC essays due at the start of class tomorrow (normal essay/MLA formatting rules apply)

Creative Writing
-No journals today (sub day)
-Due: revised/finished version of the character/combo work from last week (since Goldhammer was gone today, hang on to these so we can share/discuss/turn in tomorrow)
-Worked on a new, original piece today in class. (If gone, be sure to check in and get "The Hollow Man" handout when you get back)
-Turned in "Hollow Man" at the end of class

HW:
-Open letter due next Wed (or anytime before break)
-Character/combo work from last week due tomorrow

LA 9
-Continued working on Utopia projects in small groups (hopefully finished the organizer)
-Handed out the guidelines/requirements for the visual and the presentation aspect of the project.

HW:
-Be prepared for your final day of prep for your Utopia presentation and visual. Bring any art supplies, etc that you think your group may need. Only the basics (paper/markers) will be provided.

LA 10 Honors
-Took vocab quiz #12
-Discussed chapters 5-7 of A.S.P
-Quickly discussed essays, answered any questions/concerns

HW:
-Read chapter 9
-Essays due on Tuesday

Creative Writing
-Journals: Open Friday
-Due: character-combo work from yesterday (these assignments were stamped, be sure to bring in a final product--handwritten is fine--for Monday...make sure you bring in stamped page)
-Assembled and distributed Floodplain #5

HW:
-Finish working on character-combo piece from this week
-Next open letter will be due before winter break

LA 9
-Discussed Utopia projects
-Went over the plan for early next week
-Broke into groups and continued Utopia work

HW:
-Work/think about Utopia projects. Final presentations (includes packet/visual/etc. will all be due on Wed.)

LA 10 Honors
-Due: Vocab #12 work (went over in class)
-Due: Body Paragraph shaping
-Today was also the last day for JC memorization
-Quick mini-discussion on ASP chapters 5-6
-Handed back A.Q. final essays
-Discussed current essay (now due Tuesday). Went over how to cite Shakespearean text. Went over other essay advice and pointers

HW:
-Read chapter 7 for tomorrow
-Vocab quiz tomorrow
-Essays due on Tuesday! (be sure to swing by if you need some help)

Creative Writing
-Journal topic: "Sleep" (no 1st or 2nd person)
-Discussed this weeks character work, reviewed the characters created over the past two days.
-The task for today is to take 2 of your characters and create a narrative that--in some way--has them interact. Be sure to draw upon all of the features and attributes you came up with earlier. 1-2 pages, handwritten, it is entirely up to you to decide how you want to approach this.

HW:
-Finish today's character piece (see notes above)

LA 9
-Reviewed yesterday's discussion regarding Utopia
-Broke into Utopia groups.
-Went over the official Utopia Project Handout
-Class time to get started

HW:
-Continue thinking about Utopia project

LA 10 Honors
-Due: A.S.P. handout on chapters 1-3 (discussed + went over in class)
-Discussed homework load and the need to stay organized and focused this week
-Introduced the idea of "graded discussions" for this novel. This can help keep the homework load down, while creating interesting and dynamic classes. Come prepared to class each day with ideas/passages/issues from the novel to discuss
-Went over chapters 3-4

HW:
-Essay shaping due tomorrow
-Vocab due tomorrow
-Chapters 5-6 due tomorrow
-Vocab quiz Friday
-Final draft of essay due Monday

Creative Writing
-Journal topic: "Jealousy"
-Finished sharing "character bullets" from yesterday.
-Continued with another day of character work and development (same approach--bulleted form--as yesterday). Shared as we went

HW:
-Next open letter will be due before Winter break

LA 9
-Ibis essay rewrites due. No exceptions. (first draft stapled to the back)
-Began transition into next unit.
-Assigned the Utopia project (if missed, see me for details). Broke into groups for preliminary brainstorming. We will continue with the official handouts and assignment details tomorrow.

HW:
-Continue thinking about work done in class today. Groups will be responsible for really getting started on this project tomorrow.

LA 10 Honors
-CD check on chapters 1-2 of A.S.P.
-Discussed chapters 1-2
-Worked on Devon--then and now--activity
-Assigned chapters 1-3 quick answer handout

HW:
-Read chapters 3-4
-Finish chapters 1-3 handout
-Memorization due Thursday
-Essay shaping (evidence of chunks) due Thursday
-Vocab due Thursday
-Vocab quiz on Friday
-Final draft of JC essay due Monday
...yikes! That's a lot!

Creative Writing
-Journal Starter: "Stuck"
-Handed back character work from yesterday. Shared samples from "traffic + Oldsmobile" piece
-Began more character development work (if gone, be sure to check in for what you missed). We will continue this process (7-8 more characters) tomorrow

HW:
-Next open letter will be due before Winter Break...that's only 2 weeks away!

LA 9
-Took vocab quiz #2 (if missed, see me a.s.a.p. to make up)
-Went over Vocab quiz
-Quick discussion about essays (due tomorrow!)

HW:
-Ibis essay rewrites are due tomorrow. No exceptions! Click here for the works cited sample. Click here for the Blue sheet with Monkey

LA 10 Honors
-Due: Completed Essay Webbing
-Due: A Separate Peace online questions
-Discussed essay progress, answered any pressing questions
-Went over A.S.P internet questions
-Checked out books
-Began Chapter 1

HW:
-JC memorization (due Thursday)
-Essay webbing (paragraphs with evidence of chunks) due Wed (Final draft due Monday)
-Need to be through chapter 2 for tomorrow

Creative Writing
-Journal Opener: "I don't think there's anything we can do to save her...there's just been too much damage..."
-Due: 25 min character sketch from portrait work (did some sharing from these in class)
-Took original character (from character sketch/portrait) and placed them in the following situation: stuck in traffic, '83 Oldsmobile, red leather interior, hot--98 degrees. Place your character in this situation and see where you end up in 2 pages.

HW:
-Floodplain submission if you haven't

LA 9
-Handed out letter to class about Ibis essays. Read + discussed
-Had some one-on-one time to ask questions about essays
-Went over vocab (click here for the current list) and did an in-class vocab review for tomorrow's quiz

HW:
-Vocab Quiz tomorrow
-Essay rewrites due on Wednesday at the start of class. Click here for Blue Sheet with Monkey and here: for a version of the works cited you can simply copy and paste at the end of your essay