English 10: Finish reading "The Lamp At Noon"

Today we introduced and discussed the literary term: motif. Thanks to Sean for his definition: an object repeated throughout the story to represent theme!

Finish reading the story. Place a post-it note on key images (the window, the clock, the cloth over the crib, the sun struggling to peek through the clouds) that represent a motif of distance/separation/loneliness/fear. 

Bring pencil crayons or markers for Monday as we will be creating an illustrated found poem to reveal the remarkable imagery in this story. 

There are questions at the end of the story. Read them to help you be prepared to discuss the story during class. 

If you finish your USSR book this weekend, ask me for a response form.

English 11: Theme

We did two new words today: officious and ebullience.
We added / reviewed three new literary terms: plot, theme, juxtaposition and pathetic fallacy. Make sure you know all five words/terms and can define them in your own words.

We noted key words that were creating mood in chapter one: scar, snake, witch-like, the weight of his clothes, skull-like coconuts,

We made a chart for Ralph and one for Piggy, defining their characteristics

We left off on page 9: " ' We may stay here until we die' " (Golding 9).

We need to read at least 15 pages per day during class. If you are not keeping up, you need to read even more pages at home. Tonight, ensure that you are at least to page 45 in your book. 15 from last night, 30 pages from the last two days.

If the book is not holding your interest by page 45, you probably need a new book.

Go to the library and ask Ms. Wadsworth for recommendations or see me at lunch tomorrow for assistance.

Have a great night!

Writing 12: Thursday's Review

We worked on the creation of "fresh" or "personal" ways of expression our ideas.
We are bombarded with other people's words: on advertisements, bulletin boards, TV and the radio, from the mouths of our peers, bosses, family, politicians.

To write, you have to fight off these influences.

But how?

By looking at things. Seeing what is there.

By reading poetry. Listen to music without words.

Watch films with the sound off.

Fill your mind with images.

Do exericises -- the ________ sky The spaghetti western sky, the Cinderella sky, The Doritos sky, The Aunt Mabel Told-You-So sky etc to push you into new combinations of words.

Today: We each took an abstract noun: War, Love, Loneliness, Sorrow, Cruelty etc and we drew it and then we wrote a poem about our drawing.

Any style is possible: prose poem, list poem, narrative poem,

Add: An epigraph, a noun as an adjective, cut useless adjectives, rhyme inside and between lines instead of at the end

Title: Use your abstraction 

Tomorrow we have poet and novelist, Laisha Rosnau

Here is a bio: Laisha Rosnau

Monday, Your response is due. Imitate the Larissa Horlor sample.

English 10: Review today's lesson

Homework: Read 15 to 30 pages from your USSR book or finish the book if you can't put it down and you can find a new one tomorrow!

Today: We did our first two words: demise and redemption. Can you use each one clearly in a sentence? Practice tonight.

We learned all the names:
Do you know Tanya, Elijah, Jasmine, Emma, Eunice, Josh, Jarrod, Julie, Jaylam, Nikki, Sean, Carmen, Maggie, Isaiah, Ella, Kait, Jaedyn, Gurman, Anna, Henry, Matt, Athena, Guilia, (Julia) Michaela, Jacob, Molly, Mamie, Shane, Syler, and Sammie?

We defined and re-defined THEME. Can you define it?

We brainstormed the significance of the title of Sinclair Ross's story, "The Lamp at Noon". Who is Sinclair Ross? What is he famous for?

We read the first paragraph. We chose one word to represent the significance of that paragraph. We defined PATHETIC FALLACY.

Tomorrow: Be prepared to be asked questions on all of the above.

English 11: Wed. Sept. 24th

If you were absent today, please pick up a copy of the novel, Lord of the Flies, in the Learning Commons and bring a favourite book to read during our USSR time. We started with the vocabulary words, gesticulate and clamber, yesterday, and I handed out Vocab. notebooks so you can pick one up from me.

Assessment for USSR in English 11

• Read widely (fiction, poetry, non-fiction, drama, biography, How-to, fantasy, science fiction, politics, religious, philosophy) ETC
• Read daily 15 pages a day will earn you an extra book a month
• Read 30 pages a day and you will earn two books
• Read 45 pages a day and you will read three or more books per month
• Longer books 600 pages or more will equal two books
• After each book, complete a Response form: What Did You Think About the book? Did it open your eyes? Bore you? Surprise you? Why? Be specific and use examples from the text. 
• I will collect the forms at the end of each month. 
• Participation is a big part of the mark so attendance is crucial. Arriving on time is key. Settling into your book as soon as class begins and reading steadily are a big part of the mark. 

There was an enormous study reported in the Globe and Mail regarding what makes people successful. The largest and most consistent factor is a person's ability to read. 

Read to Succeed is our motto this year. 

I find starting a book the biggest challenge to reading but once I have read the first 50 to 100 pages, I am hooked. Force yourself to get started and read quickly at first until the settings, characters, and style become familiar. 

Choose books that keep your attention. Ideally,  choose books that you cannot wait to get back to. 

I also handed out the course outline today. Ask me for a copy if you have been absent or if you have just recently joined the class. 

What are you reading?

Take the Rory Gilmore challenge! Haven't watched The Gilmore Girls? You are in for a treat:

How many of these books have you read?

Welcome to English 10 . . .

Welcome to my blog. I will be sure to record key events from class and homework / assignment / suggestions for learning here. 

 

Today we spoke about reading great books, definitions of democracy, some of the books we will be reading. I handed out the course outline. 

For Wed: Bring a pen, a three-ringed binder, a book to read (or borrow one from our library), post-it notes, a curious attitude for learning. 

 

How Do I Learn Best?

To ascertain the kind of learner you may be, you may wish complete the short quiz at the link below:
Learning Style Survey

Once you complete the survey, press okay and the site will tally your scores and describe your style. Read the qualities to see if they match your own perceptions of the best ways to succeed at school.