Mrs. Morgan's Blog

AP Lang 11/28 - 12/2

Hey guys!  I hope you had a super wonderful week, full of family, food, and dare I say shopping?? And, Kane - you were right to be confident in you footballers on the field!  WAY TO GO!  I hope the success will continue!! Anyway, I told some of you that I would put a link to Brian Doyle's latest piece on Eureka Street - here it is:

Girding Job's Loins

if you want to read more of his stuff on Eureka Street you can see his recent contributions at the bottom of the page with "Girding Job's loins" - I think you'll like it! 

Oh, some of you were in class when the lady came to film us for the "halftime package" -- some of you are in the finished product!  You can see it here:

Lassiter Video

Yes, I LOVE the close-up of my Shakespeare action figure!  Perhaps I should get down to the matter at hand... what we're doing this week!

Mon (11/28)
** BOOK CLUB DAY!! does this mean food for your friends?  just remember you MUST clean up after yourself... and, some of you didn't complete your B.C. sheet last time... DO NOT forget again... it's how I'll grade you!
** Just as an aside, added AFTER class today... you guys in 2nd and 3rd were quite distractable today... you should remember that you only have ONE traditional book club day left and your project planning days... BUT, if you don't use your time well, it WILL disappear!  So, I'd plan to be focused on Friday... just my words of warning.....

Tue (11/29)
** Okay, I KNOW you will not like today's plan, but... it's the LAST in-class write until the final, I PROMISE!  It's a rhetorical analysis on a piece called "The Company Man" - I think you'll like it - it's a little melancholy, but it's good!
** IF you finish early, read your memoir :)

Wed (11/30)
** Today I'm going to do several little things... first will be a paper passing out party
** then I'll talk to you about a way to earn an EXTRA, OPTIONAL vocab quiz grade - some of you will be intersted in this, I'm sure!
** Next, I'll talk about the final - no super specifics today, but a good, general overview - the specifics will come during presentation week!
** Finally, I'll talk just a bit about the presentations -- I want to make sure we're all on the same page with expectations.

Thur (12/1)
** I know we're technically done with VOCAB, but today is still all about the WORDS... WORDMASTERS, that is!!  You guys placed 14th in the nation on the last meet with Tanner R getting special notice!  SO, let's beat that this time!  I think you'll like the piece... to "encourage" you to do your very best I'm going to be making a special offer for this WordMasters!

Fri (12/2)
** BOOK CLUB DAY!! again, do not forget to complete your B.C. sheet!  FINAL WORD OF WARNING>>> TAKE TODAY SERIOUSLY!!!

Remember - Book Club presentations begin DECEMBER 12th!

Final note... Third period won the browines!  They have an AMAZING  65% Exceeds rate!! (WOW!) but, I'm going to give a consolation prize to first period for an awesome 57% Exceeds rate!! Plus, a special shout out (and brownie) to the three of you who earned a perfect score... Daneel B, Jared G, and Shannon G (there were only 7 perfect scores in the junior class!)

 

HBL 11/28 - 12/2

Welcome back!  I sure hope you all had a wonderful break, and that you didn't find the MORALITY PLAY reading too time consuming - I'm sure you're sick of hearing it, but I LOVE THIS BOOK!  I love it more each time I read it... sadly, not all books hold up so well to the re-read.  Okay, let's get to it!

Mon (11/28)
** First I'll be checking to make sure that you've all done the questions for chapters 3 - 5.  Then, since we're using these to recap the chapters, we'll grade them (together) - I think it will give you loads of insight into the book.  Did you notice the way chapter 3 explored details about each character?  I love that!  Anyway, we'll also go thru and add notes to your book - I am totally confident that all of you will have the book by now.
** I'll cover any questions you may have about the book - I'm certain there are some, make sure to ask about anything you didn't get, or that you need clarification about.

Tue (11/29)
** This is it!  Your very first MORALITY PLAY quiz.... they'll all be pretty much like this one - just make sure you read the directions... and, if you are one of the frist ten students to email me your name, class period and a sentence or two telling me something you like about the book using a vocab word from this week's list, I just might give you some extra credit.
** After you finish the quiz you can review for the vocab quiz while we wait for everyone to finish- the vocab quizzes will be on Thursday and Friday -
** For homework, please read chapter 6 - I'm still deciding if you'll do questions for it or not... I'll let you know!

Wed (11/30)
** There will be more notes for chapter 6... I know it's not exciting, but the goal here is to teach you to read more critically ... I"m modeling active reading and annotating for you with these notes... soon (I hope!) you'll start to do that on your own!

Thur and Fri (12/1 - 12/2)
** Vocab quizzes for chapters three though five.  The list of words for 6 - 8 will be shorter, I promise!

By the time you come to class on Monday, I want you to be finished with chapter 8!

AP Lang 11/14 - 11/18

Well, this is the LAST week of VOCAB (for the semester) the LAST week before Thanksgiving Break, the FIRST week of BOOK CLUB! How will we contain all the excitement!  Seriously, I know you guys are looking forward to the break, but DO NOT get slack... FINISH STRONG!!

Mon & Tue (11/14 - 11/15)
** Monday - TURN IN YOUR "METEORITES" essay!!! Remember to get to class a few minutes early if you need to print it out...  DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT plan to turn this in late... it's 20 points wasted... plus, you've had a ridiculously long time to write this bad boy!
** It makes sense to group these days since you'll be doing the same thing - You need to read your memoir in preparation for your BOOK CLUB meeting on WEDNESDAY!  Now, I don't know if you've ever been to a "real" book club, but the meetings usually involve food, so if your group wants to bring snacks for you meeting, go for it - the only thing I REQUIRE is that you CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF... and, that you follow the only drinks with lids rule.
** Study for your final vocab quiz!  and, don't forget the old words!!

Wed (11/16)
** Well, what did you think of the festival?  I hope you had a good time!
** Okay, first things first... 1. turn in your LAST set of vocab cards for the semester! 2. take the LAST vocab quiz for the semester!  (yes, I know you're seated in groups... I have a plan for that!)
** BOOK CLUB!! There will be handouts to help you (and to get your grade...) - Are you loving your book?  At least not hating it?  I sure hope you love it!

Thur and Fri (11/17 - 11/18)
** We'll share our THIS I BELIEVE essays - I cannot wait to hear these - I'll bring the tissues!

Just a little note from me...
Well, I hope you guys have a wonderful and relaxing Thanksgiving break - I plan to rest and grade papers... Yes, I know I'm behind... BUT, I also want each of you to take time to reflect and consider what matters to you and what you're thankful for - I, for one, am thankful to know you guys and to have a great place to work (even though it's stressful sometimes!).  You guys rest and read... hey, I've got an idea - take a photo of you reading your book club book - bring it in when you come back from break ... it just might be worth something to you!  Yes, that's a not-so-subtle hint! :)

Improve your Vocab AND be Altruistic!

Yep - that's right!  You can improve your vocabulary (or grammar or chemistry or foreign language...) by playing a game!  It's a MUCH better use of your free time than being a Nintendo Nerd...

Check it out!

Play Free Rice here!

And, I know some of you are skeptical... but I checked this place out before I started recommending it... it's legit!

HBL 11/14 - 11/18

Wow... I cannot believe it is the week before Thanksgiving! Where has the semester gone?  It seems like we're just getting started (and we do have a lot left), but it is winding down.  So, my two words of advice for you?  FINISH STRONG!  Maybe even stronger than you started! =)

Mon (11/14)
** Today is all about VOCAB!  You'll have a quiz over the words for chapters 1 and 2 of MORALITY PLAY - it's going to be matching, so perhaps that will be easier for you - we'll see, I suppose.  Since there are so many words, I'll be splitting them into groups on your quiz (I know it's a pain when you have to match A - ABCDE... OR maybe I'll just make it multiple choice... I guess it'll be a surprise!
** After the vocab quiz you will continue to hone your word skills... yep, it's a crossword puzzle day!  Remember, both crosswords AND memorization make you better, faster standardized test takers.
** Before you come to class tomorrow, please read "Barry Unsworth on Fourteenth-Century Life and Theater" - I think it may help you as we read his novel, MORALITY PLAY.  (Have I mentioned that I am SO excited that we're reading this book?)

Tue (11/15)
** Did you have fun at your FIRST EVER Renaissance Festival?  Did you get enough to eat?  Play some games? Get your t-shirt? Enjoy being out of class?  Surely you have a yes to at least one of those questions!  Okay, let's get going for today.
** I want you to finish reading Chapter 1 in MORALITY PLAY (it's only a couple more pages) and answer some questions - now these questions are different from the reading questions about MACBETH - what I mean is that I EXPECT, REQUIRE, WILL BE GRADING (for accuracy) these questions.  The other way that they're different is that there are not that many of them.  Their purpose is (at the core) the same - to help you with your reading.
** PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE re-read at home what we cover in class, especially the early chapters - there is just so very much going on in this mystery that you'll be lost if you get behind!

Wed (11/16)
** I'll give you the final notes on chapter 1 (from the pages you read yesterday). 
** Now we'll do the vocab for chapters 3 - 5.
** HOMEWORK, HOMEWORK, HOMEWORK... PRE-read chapter 2 - I know this is not a normal thing for you, but I want you to TRY it and see if if helps you understand more...
** FYI- there will be a reading quiz over chapters 1 - 5

Thur (11/17)
** We'll go through chapter 2 at a faster pace than we did chapter 1, but we'll still be taking careful notes, I think I'll skip questions on chp 2, but I'll be requiring them on most chapters.
** Tonight, pre-read chapter 3!

Fri (11/18)
** We'll cover chapter 3 ... Now, I know this will stress some of you, but you'll just have to deal... you MUST READ (preferably TWO times!) chapters 4 and 5 over break - Monday after break we'll discuss chapters 4 and 5 and you'll have the first quiz (chp 1 - 5) on TUESDAY.  Yes, the questions will be due that day, too.  I'll give them to you in class, but I'll put a copy here as well.

Have a super restful break!  I hope you'll enjoy your reading of a most excellent novel - Barry Unsworth is a writer well worth your time! See you next week!

AP Lang 11/7 - 11/11

 

Just think... this week and ONE more and then you're DONE with vocab for the semester!  Well, except for the final exam, of course... Okay, this is a good week for you, right?  I mean there's that whole day off Tuesday - I KNOW you'll enjoy that!  Plus it's Veteran's day this week - tell a Vet THANK YOU! I believe we owe them more than we can repay... let them know they're appreciated!  Okay, here we go!

BREAKING NEWS... BREAKING NEWS...
We're not going to have a Socratic Seminar for THE GLASS CASTLE -- the more I think about it the more I believe we will have a few good questions with a lot of repeating of the same sort of answers - don't get me wrong - there are several things we could talk about, I'm just not sure we could sustain an actual SS on the book - don't worry - you're questions will still be counting as a 50 point major grade, we're just not going to hold the conversation itself.  So, all you shy folks can breathe a sigh of relief! :)

Mon (11/7)
** Vocab 11!  YES, the end IS in sight... just keep your eye on the prize and FINISH STRONG!
** After vocab I'm going to be talking to you about your essay for "The Meteorites" (do you notice I use quotation marks for that title?  It is NOT italicized... I'm just saying...)
** Remember, your FINAL COPY, is due NEXT Monday, so, DO NOT DELAY... you're paper WILL BE BETTER if you build in time for real revising... I PROMISE!

You MIGHT want to print this out - it's the tips I'm going over, plus the generic rubric I use for ALL AP writing...

Download Tips for your Meteorites essay

Tue (11/8)
** Yes, you'll be sleeping in... I'll be in meetings... oh boy :)

Wed  - Fri (11/9 - 11/11)
** I sorta hesitate to tell you what you're doing for the rest of the week ... here goes... you're going to be writing a "This I Believe" essay... DO NOT FREAK OUT... you'll do the vast majority of work in class - here's the actual assignment, but keep in mind that I'm trying to get the C.O.W. in here (computers on wheels) to make this easy - Honestly, after you get over being annoyed at me, most people find this to be one of their favorite things of the semester!

Download This i believe assignment

Fri - I'll go over vocab words, of course...

 

 

HBL 11/7 - 11/11

Hey guys!  I hope you have all successfully memorized your MACBETH SPEECH!  I'm looking forward to hearing those this week :)  I know YOU'RE looking forward to your day off Tuesday - also, take time to say THANKS to a veteran this week!

Download Speech times 2011

Mon (11/7)
** If you're coming to say your speech during a lunch class COME AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR LUNCH, I don't want to have to wait around for you guys to show up... it'll go faster this way, TRUST ME!
** Did you STUDY??? I sure hope so, because if you did, the MACBETH test won't be too tough for you - if you didn't ... well, then it'll be pretty tough...

Tue (11/8)
ENJOY YOUR DAY OFF!

Wed (11/9)
** Today we're starting MORALITY PLAY ... I cannot wait!  I think you're really going to like this book, but remember, it's full of excellent vocab which means it'll be a tough road initially, GIVE IT A CHANCE... you'll like it!
If you want to add notes to it, pre-print this power point - if you don't well, then don't print it...

Download Morality Play lecture

Thur (11/10)
** I know we'll do chapter 1 today, maybe 2 as well.  Yes, there will be reading questions - I do actually care that you do these - you'll need them!

Fri (11/11)
** we'll keep going in the novel - I'll be able to project our speed better after we've been working with the book a few days -