All Boys, All Blogged: March 3, 2015

Focus: What's unfamiliar in the world of F451 so far, and what's familiar?

1. Warming up with a few interesting symbols

a. What's a hearth?

b. What's a salamander?

c. What's significant about 451 degrees?

d. What's a phoenix?

e. How many references to fire can you find in the first 28 pages?

Try this out on the blog: Fire in F451 symbolizes __________ but also _______________.

2. Enjoying our first fishbowl discussion on F451

3. Wrapping up: What worked? What didn't work? Suggestions?

HW:

1. For Thursday, please read through page 40 in F451 and complete one side of your observation chart. Make sure you're bringing these each day of the week for random check-ins.

2. Start prepping for your banned book persuasive speech (esp. if that means finishing your book).

3. Just a heads up: You will be taking a short break from www.noredink.com to understand Bradbury's challenging vocabulary! 

All Boys, All Blogged: March 2, 2015

Focus: What are the upsides and downsides of censorship?

1. Warming up: Considering what should be banned and censored with a round of "Agree, Disagree, Unsure"

2. Entering Ray Bradbury's vision of censorship in the future

3. Explaining your observation charts and looking at an example; taking time to try out your first task together; click here for the rubric

HW:
1. Finish reading through page 28 for class tomorrow; make sure you have the front and back side of an observation chart completed before class.

2.Our first fishbowl leaders and discussers need to be ready to go tomorrow. Leaders: Remember that each member of your group needs a copy of the syllabus, as do I.

3. Start working on your banned book presentations.

All Boys, All Blogged: February 27, 2015

Focus: What is the purpose of our banned books?

If you were absent yesterday, please catch yourself up with the following items:

a. Grab a Macbeth book and get scanned in.
b. Get a fishbowl overview packet from me.
c. Sign up for leadership and discusser dates.
d. Make sure your Macbeth essay is in the "Final Draft" folder in www.turnitin.com

1. Warming up with a brief quiz on verb tenses via www.noredink.com

2. Relaxing into your banned books (today is your final reading day)

3. Learning about your banned book persuasive speech and signing up for dates

4. Enjoying a little inspiration from an unexpected performer

HW:
1. Finish reading your banned book and start planning your speech.

2. Bring F451 to class on Monday; if you'd like to purchase your own copy, now is the time.

All Boys, All Blogged: February 26, 2015

Focus: How does the present dictate our vision of the future?

1. Warming up: Have you submitted your essay to www.turnitin.com? How'd it go?

2. Reviewing fishbowl expectations and enjoying a 20 minute impromptu fishbowl discussion of yesterday's statements and of "Harrison Bergeron"

3. Signing up for leader and discusser dates for the F451 fishbowls, if time allows

Do you still have your blue (or green) bookmarks?

4. Checking out F451 and exploring the first few pages together


HW:
1. Banned books need to be finished by Monday. Bring them to class tomorrow for your last day of reading time.

2. We will have a short (and hopefully quite easy) quiz on verb tense tomorrow.

3. Please click here for an important letter for your parents regarding P-T conferences (hard copy sent home as well).

All Boys, All Blogged: February 25, 2015

Focus: What does our future look like?

PLC: Shortened Class

Before we start class, please take 60 seconds to complete the Google form linked HERE.

1. Warming up: Exploring your thoughts on competition and "equality"

Agree, disagree, unsure: State your stance and give two good, specific reasons/pieces of evidence.

a. We shouldn't keep score at kids' sports games (kids = age ten and under).

b. All high school teams should include a team from which no one gets cut.

c. On every team, every kid should get to play every position.

d. We should treat everyone equally.

2. Finishing  "Harrison Bergeron" together

• On each page, ask at least three questions (these should be Level 1 and Level 2 questions).

• Try to make one or two solid connections to the video you watched today, to the survey, or to our society.

• At the end of the story, pose at least one good Level 3 question.

3. Reviewing fishbowl expectations and enjoying a 20 minute impromptu fishbowl discussion of the statements above and of "Harrison Bergeron"

4. Signing up for leader and discusser dates for the F451 fishbowls, if time allows

Do you still have your blue (or green) bookmarks?


HW:
1. Continue working on your draft. Before you come to class on Thursday, you need to submit your essay to the "Final Macbeth Essays" folder in www.turnitin.com. You do not need a hard copy unless you're feeling nervous about it. 

Connor and Christian: Here is the class ID: 9074074

2. Banned books need to be finished in exactly one week.

3. If you'd like additional feedback on your essay, please e-mail me by NOON with something specific to focus on.

4. Please click here for an important letter for your parents regarding P-T conferences (hard copy sent home as well).

All Boys, All Blogged: February 24, 2015

Focus: What does our future look like?

Ever wonder who's really grading all of your essays?

Here he is grading the good essays...

And here he is grading the not-so-good essays...

He says he apologizes for the slow turn-around time, but he is still trying to learn the alphabet.  English is tricky!


1. Warm-up: Viewing an "epic" vision of the future

What does our future look like, according to this video?

What aspects of our 2015 society are being highlighted in this video?

What aspects of our society are being subtly criticized in this video?

2. Participating in a survey about the future of our society by clicking HERE


3. Reading and questioning "Harrison Bergeron" together

• On each page, ask at least three questions (these should be Level 1 and Level 2 questions).

• Try to make one or two solid connections to the video you watched today, to the survey, or to our society.

• At the end of the story, pose at least one good Level 3 question.

HW:
1. Continue working on your draft. Before you come to class on Thursday, you need to submit your essay to the "Final Macbeth Essays" folder in www.turnitin.com. You do not need a hard copy unless you're feeling nervous about it.

2. Banned books need to be finished in exactly one week.

3. If you'd like additional feedback on your essay, please e-mail me with something specific to focus on.

4. Bring in your copy of Macbeth to turn in if you haven't done so already.

All Boys, All Blogged: February 23, 2015

Focus: How can make our essays stylistically strong?

1. Warming up with happy Monday thoughts!

2. Enjoying a brief mini lesson on verbs with Ms. Leclaire:

a. Look through your essay for this verb construction: is/are/were/was ___________-ing

Examples:

Lady Macbeth is trying...
Macbeth is thinking...
The witches were deceiving...

Try to eliminate the "to be" verb and the "ing."

Fixed Examples:

Lady Macbeth tries
Macbeth thinks
The witches deceived

Try fixing this one: 
She is trying to keep Macbeth calm after the murder, reassuring him that everything is fine. But she is also changing Macbeth, making him feel like murder is acceptable.


b. Try out the "Verb Tense" assignment on www.noredink.com

Look through your essay and make sure all verbs are in the present tense.

Example:
Macbeth started his spiral of self destruction when he killed King Duncan.

Fixed Example:
Macbeth starts his spiral of self destruction when he kills King Duncan.

Example:
Macbeth had disregarded the witches in the first act, but he later changed his mind.

Fixed Example:
Macbeth has disregarded the witches in the first act, but he later changes his mind.

3. Giving your essays a final, thorough edit with the slides linked here

HW:
1. Continue working on your draft. Before you come to class on Thursday, you need to submit your essay to the "Final Macbeth Essays" folder in www.turnitin.com. You do not need a hard copy unless you're feeling nervous about it.

2. Banned books need to be finished in exactly one week.

3. If you'd like additional feedback on your essay, please e-mail me with something specific to focus on.