*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.

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

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

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

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

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!

*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

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

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

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.

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

.

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.

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.

Today, Tuesday (yes, this is being posted a day early...see below for Monday's post) is a sub day. The plans for the day and what needs to happen while I am gone are clearly listed right here:

LA 10 Honors
-After revising your thesis statement last night, you should be all set for today's work day. The plan for today is simple and you have one objective--work on your webs/maps/outlines (whichever you are comfortable using) and be sure it is ready to go for tomorrow. The day should be spent with your books out, looking for Concrete Detail, fine tuning your argument, developing your topic sentences for your body paragraphs, and jotting down some initial CM. Remember, your entire essay (or at least thesis + body paragraphs) needs to be represented. Your plan/argument needs to be clear. Be prepared to discuss these individually on Wed.
-Mr. McCormick (or, if there's another sub for some reason) should be there as a resource if you need him...but overall, my hope is that you guys/gals should be pretty self-sufficient today. Copies of blank webs are on the front table if you want one. Use this time wisely...don't get sidetracked, etc.

HW:
-Need to have your complete web ready to discuss and review at the start of class on Wed.

Creative Writing
-No Journals today, after checking in/taking roll etc. head over to lab 309 to continue your stolen dialogue work.
-Before we get into the specifics, remember there are 3 parts to this assignment: the Stolen Dialogue Original (basically just the script), the Stolen Dialogue Expanded (a fully developed version of the original, full commentary, description, developed characters, etc.), and finally-the Stolen Dialogue Expanded Swap (which you will be working on today).
-At this point, you should be pretty much done with the first two (the Original and the Expanded). If not, make sure to finish up a.s.a.p. Most should have been done yesterday.
-Today in the lab, you need to work diligently to finish up the Expanded Swap. Like I explained yesterday, the idea here is that you take someone else's original (these were distributed yesterday) and run with it. Turn it into something unique, interesting. Try to figure it out. Set it somewhere unique. Break away from what you think is happening and see if you can invent an entirely different situation using the same dialogue. Be creative with these and see where you end up. Definitely an opportunity to be clever.
-You should aim to everything done by the start of class tomorrow. We'll be back in the lab to discuss and review outside reading lists and if you need a small amount of time to print or wrap up a final thought or two, it shouldn't be a problem.

HW:
-Make sure you are set to turn in both the Expanded and the Expanded Swap tomorrow.

LA 10 Honors
-Due: Final set of guiding questions for Frankenstein
-Due: Thesis statements
-Discussed the end of the novel...final thoughts, role reversal, etc.
-Shared/discussed/critiqued thesis statements

HW:
-Revised thesis statement due tomorrow. You'll need this for your webbing, etc.

Creative Writing
-No journals...went straight to the lab
-Due: stolen dialogue (rough notes)
-Step 1: converted notes into the Stolen Dialogue Original (no commentary...just the straight script). Typed these up, printed, turned 'em in.
-Step 2: spent some time working on the Stolen Dialogue Expanded (fully thought-out version of the dialogue...background info, commentary, moods, emotions, descriptions, etc)
-Step 3: received someone else's Stolen Dialogue Original...you will use in the lab tomorrow to create the Stolen Dialogue Expanded Swap (taking someone else's Original and turning it into your own, unique, creative, and clever piece)

HW:
-Continue to work on your Stolen Dialogue Expanded. Most of your time tomorrow should be spent on the Expanded Swap. Plan accordingly.

LA 10 Honors
-Took vocab/lit quiz #24.
-Went over the lit section at the end of class
-Quickly discussed thesis statements and the plan for the weekend

HW:
-Finish the novel + your guiding questions (click here)
-You need to have a fully-developed thesis statement ready at the start of class on Monday. Remember, there's no prompt...you need to develop an argument based on a topic from the novel that resonates with you. Be prepared to share your thesis with the class.

Creative Writing
-Journals: "Open Friday"
-Did a little sharing from today's journal write
-Checked in on Floodplain...read the list of folks who have yet to submit
-Read Ryan Boudinot's "The Littlest Hitler"...connected it to some of the character work we've been doing recently

HW:
-Stolen dialogue due at the start of class on Monday. Aim for at least 1-2 pages of scribbled eavesdropping.

LA 10 Honors
-Due: 20-22
-Discussed last night's reading
-Began discussing the upcoming essay. Brainstormed possible topics for this essay (click here for the list generated a few years ago)
-Discussed thesis statements (you need one by Monday) and reminded folks about the basic ideas about 'em

HW:
-Vocab/Lit quiz tomorrow
-Finish the book and finish your questions for Monday
-Thesis statement needs to be written and ready to go for Monday

Creative Writing
-Journals: "I think you are underestimating how tough I am"
-Due: Found Object piece
-Updated everyone on Floodplain progress (get your submission in if you haven't!)
-Read: "How to write suspense"

HW:
-Floodplain submission
-Stolen Dialogue due Monday

LA 10 Honors
-Due: 17-19 questions
-Discussed Sam Green and his presentation (...which was awesome)
-Discussed last night's reading...debated the pros/cons of creating a companion for the creature
-Finished AP passage #6 in class (we'll go over it tomorrow)

HW:
-Read chapters 20-22 and make sure you answer the corresponding questions
-Vocab/Lit Quiz on Friday

Creative Writing
-Once again, no journals today
-Discussed the Sam Green presentation
-Headed to the lab for a final day of working on our found object pieces...these need to be ready to go at the start of class tomorrow

HW:
-Found object piece needs to be finished for tomorrow (that means printed, complete, done)...we'll do some sharing of these before turning them in
-Floodplain email

LA 10 Honors
-Due 14-16 questions
-Discussed the next few weeks.
-Discussed tomorrow's poetry presentation with Sam Green. Went over these poems as a class.
-Discussed last night's reading--tried to wrap our heads around the creature, whether he is good, the idea of revenge, etc.
-Broke into small groups and pulled out important/notable quotes...discussed as a class

HW:
-Read chapters 17-19...make sure you get the questions done for those chapters
-Study vocab...quiz Friday

Creative Writing
-No journal...went straight to the lab
-Clarified some details about tomorrow's poetry presentation (Sophs 2nd, Seniors 3rd, Juniors 4th)...we'll be back in the lab tomorrow as a class.
-Continued working on our found object piece

HW:
-Floodplain email
-Make sure you are working diligently on your object piece...1 more day in the lab and that's it.
-Stolen dialogue due Monday

LA 10 Honors
-Due: Chapters 11-13 Questions
-Finished going over AP passages from last week
-Discussed the last few chapters (the start of the creature's story)
-Read and analyzed Percy Bysshe Shelley's poem, "Mutability." ...connected this back to Frankenstein (click here for the handout)

HW:
-Read chapters 14-16 (click here for the guiding questions)...and (here) if you want to read ahead.
-Study vocab
-Talk to your 2nd period teachers about Wednesday's presentation with Sam Green, WA's poet laureate.

Creative Writing
-No journals today...went straight to the lab
-Checked in on the "stolen dialogue" asignment...bumped this to next Monday since our lab time will be limited this week.
-Got settled in the lab and began working on the "found object" piece. This will be the first of 2 days to complete an entire piece.

HW:
-Continue working on your object piece...only 1 more day in the lab
-Floodplain email by Wed
-Stolen Dialogue needs to be ready for Monday