Gmail vs. Yahoo

Well...we do have a problem! Silly me...I should have thought this through.

I cannot open a shared document in a different email provider. Gmail and Yahoo documents will not communicate with each other.

Sooooo...please, to those who shared your Sci-Fi vocab, please share that Google Presentation with my gmail homework email: mrsg.homework@gmail.com.

Sorry about this...thanks!

Tuesday, Oct. 20

Test Today!

Homework:

• Read through page 130 of Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens for Monday.

In Class on Thursday...must complete these two projects on Thursday!

• Vocab via Google Presentation
• Sci-Fi Worlds via Glogster

Have you been reading the class blog? I posted a few this past weekend...scroll on down!

Sci-Fi Test

Please study the following:

Novel:

• Skim/scan your novel for a review of content.
• Might review the PowerPoint on author H.G. Wells located here.

Poetry:

• Click here for your analysis of the assigned poems.
• Know what the initials TPCASTT represent (Title, Paraphrase, Connotation, Attitude, Shift, Title, Theme).

Short Stories:

• Review the short stories by Bradbury and Asimov.
• Check here for additional author info also.

Literary Terms:

• Know the terms in the poetry review.
• Other terms: tone, anaphora, genre, science-fiction

Authors:

• Always know who wrote what.

Questions?

Good luck!

Review...in progress

Sorry...did not get this posted...

Am working on the review now!

Are We Friends?

For me to grade GoodReads book reviews, we must first be "friends."

Have you invited me to be your friend? Please check!

Thanks!

Cursive or Print

Did you know that for timed tests you should consider cursive writing?

Yes, according to my peer Mr. Qualls, one can write faster in cursive.

Planning for the AP exams cannot start too soon...you might ponder on this. Do you write faster in print or cursive?

This Week's Blog Type

This week, please write a post that includes a numbered list...yes, this Blog Post 1 for the 2nd Nine Weeks.

Below are two posts for you to review that includes such a list:

1. String of Thoughts - Thanks, Lauren C!
2. Treasure Chest of Thoughts - Skyping all the way to Iraq!

You may choose the topic on which to reflect...just be sure to include a numbered list somewhere within the post.

Reminder: Always run spellcheck before publishing!

Deadline? Saturday, October 24 at noon.

Poetry Analysis

You may find your analysis of the four sci-fi poems here!

Wed., Oct. 14

Have you read Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why? He has a blog here. He would be a great author to add to your Google Reader! Remember how to do add a subscription?

In your Writer's Notebook, work with your group to identify at least three literary/poetic devices used in this introductory sentence:

"Half past a windless night, rain cantered out of the Gulf, across the shore and the levees: parades of phantom horses striking hoof rhythms from roofs of tarpaper, tin, tile, shingles, slate, counting cadence along the avenues."

~ Dan Koontz's Frankenstein: Dead and Alive (Book Three), page 1

Reader's Workshop:

• A-Tone-ment Time! Let's hear that attitude!
• First, go here and read the linked article.

Writer's Workshop

• Let's review prepositional phrases.

Lit Circle:

• Share your "phases." Edit and revise.
• Who will read/record your poem?
• Check out Glogster!
• Sci-Fi Vocabulary: Presentations are due! Please complete them!

Homework:

• Writer's Notebook due Friday = a test grade!
• Book Reviews should be posted to your blog and GoodReads = a test grade!
• Finalize the "phases" of your new sci-fi world. On Friday, you will post your phases to your Glog.

Sci-Fi Project: Creating a Cartoon

Check out this site: Go Animate.

I found this in a link on Mrs. Huff's Delicious bookmarks.

Are you "friends" with anyone on Delicious? "It" is a good "thing"!

Monday, October 12

Homecoming Week at BHS has arrived! Please participate!

Read today's announcements here.

Let's have a "ha-ha" moment. Each of the following sentences have two possible meanings...what are they?

• Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half
• Hospitals Sued by 7 Foot Doctors
• Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges
• Miners Refuse to Work after Death
• Man Struck By Lightning Faces Battery Charge
  (Source: http://www.webenglishteacher.com/)

Want to check out a book from Cafe 16 Library? We have a new method of checking out books!

• Cafe 16 Library at http://cafe16library.blogspot.com/

Reminder: Need to submit homework to Mrs. Gillmore? I have created an email just for that very purpose!

• mrsg.homework@yahoo.com

Today's Menu...in progess!

Writer's Notebook: Reflect on the sci-fi character your group is creating in Hero Machine 2.5.

Lit Circle:

1. Complete your character.
2. Check out the phases...which four will your group complete?
3. Agree on the content for each phase.
4. Assign drafting of phase to each lit circle member...drafts/scripts due on Wednesday.

New Homework Email Address

From this day forth, please send homework to this email address:

• mrsg.homework@yahoo.com

Why a Yahoo email? Our class blogs are set up through my gmail account, and as far as I know, one cannot be logged into two gmail accounts at one time. Therefore, Yahoo it is!

Thanks!

Thurs., October 8

Today's Menu:

Featured Post of the Day!

• In your Writer's Notebook, discuss where you anticipate your digital fingerprint might land. What imprint will you have in the land of the Internet?
  

Poetry Perception:

1. Review terms/Etherpad.


2. Group Report: Share with class your most insightful conclusion about your poem.


3. Style: What is your style? In clothes? In cars? In conversation? In writing? As you read "The Feeling of Power" (for homework), consider how Isaac Asimov's writing style compares to H.G. Well's writing style.
   

A-"tone"-ment Time!

1. Today: Groups 3B/4B Frappe, 3B/4/BMocha
2. Monday: Groups 3B/4B Expresso, 3B/4B/ Latte, 3B Cappuccino, 4B Macchiato

Writer's Workshop/Lit Circle/Coffee Group:

1. A Whole New (Sci-Fi) World: Create the character around which your character will center. Create main character here. Will your character be male, female, or not? Will your character be a hero or a villian? What powers (if any) will your character possess?Work together...your group must come to a consensus on this!
2. Overview of project...via a multi-genre approach.
3. Review composition terms.

Homework:

• Read "A Feeling of Power."

Photo: http://englishcompanion.ning.com/photo/the-5paragraph-theme-monster?context=user

Tuesday, October 6

Today's Menu!

Writer's Notebook: Briefly state...

1. ...your thoughts on the sci-fi genre
2. ...your thoughts thus far on a "new" sci-fi world.

Book Reviews: See previous post.


Lit Circle Time!

1. Poetry Perception: On your assigned poem, provide the information requested on your poem's slide. Write your info in an Etherpad document. Click on PowerPoint link to access the presentation.
2. Tone: Choose a passage to read/perform that best illustrates tone of your assigned novel. Passage should be long enough that each person in your group has a speaking part.
3. Complete vocabulary presentation!

Reminder: Book Reviews

Before class on Tuesday, please post your book reviews for your out-of-class read (unless I still have your draft) and for you sci-fi novel to your blog.

Refer to the book review rubric for further guidance.

Remember, your book reviews should also be posted to GoodReads.

1. Log-in to your GoodReads account.
2. Either add the novel to a bookshelf or click on the novel listed in "My Books."
3. In "My Review" you may select "edit" and copy/paste your book review in the box provided.
4. Once you have proofed one more time, hit the "post" button.

Congratuations! You are now a published author!

Friday, October 2

Record! Record! Record!
Voice Thread comments due today!

Email your paragraphs to me now if you need me to print so you can color-code.


Through the month of October, we will Focus on Poe...the poet Edgar Allen Poe. Please go here and listen (yes, you need your earphones!) to the production of "The Raven." Please add the terms to your Reader's Notebook.

Read this post on my personal blog Treasure Chest of Thoughts.

1. Please identify the anaphora used in the post...hint, may find the anaphora near the end of the passage. (Definition of anaphora: Figure of repetition that occurs when the first word or set of words in one sentence, clause, or phrase is/are repeated at or very near the beginning of successive sentences, clauses, or phrases; repetition of the initial word(s) over successive phrases or clauses.:
   
   
2. In your Writer's Notebook, "detail" this sentence: The house in "There Will Come Soft Rains" was doomed.
   
3. In your writings, use details. When answering a quiz prompt, provide lots of juicy details!

Short Story Read...

1. Learn more about Ray Bradbury Author Info.ppt. Be sure and read the notes inserted under the slides.

TODAY's MENU:

1. Record your comments on the Duck Voice Thread.
2. Lit Circle Time! During your Lit Circle, each group will choose a passage to read/perform that best illustrates tone. Take some time to reflect on a passage that best illustrates your character's tone.
3. Complete vocabulary presentation!

SCI-FI PROJECT:

Next week, each group will begin to creat a new sci-fi world based on a character you will create in Hero Machine.

• May your duck characters be a part of your world? Yes! Absolutely!

HOMEWORK:

Read these poems: Martian Sends a Postcard Home.doc , Sonnet to Science by Poe.doc, and Two poems by Robert Priest.doc.