Gatsby reading (and end of the year) schedule

With many students off on trips for music, athletics, and other field trips, I have posted the schedule for the last five weeks of the semester below.  Students are expected to plan in advance and be prepared for any assignments to be completed during the time they are gone.

Mon	Tues	Wed	Thurs	Fri
21 No school	22 Reading Day	23 Ch II quiz Ch II study guide due by the end of the hour	24 Ch III quiz Ch III study guide due by the end of the hour	25 Setting the scene Film comparison Response due
28 Reading Day	29 Ch IV quiz Ch IV study guide due by the end of the hour	30 Review Ch I - IV (notes in class)	1 Reading Day	2 Ch V quiz Ch V study guide due by the end of the hour
5 Ch VI quiz Ch VI study guide due by the end of the hour	6 Ch VI Close Read Comparison	7 Reading Day	8 Ch VII quiz Ch VII study guide due by the end of the hour	9 No school
12 Reading Day	13 Ch VII/IX quiz Ch VII/IX study guide due by the end of the hour	14 Film comparison	15 Film comparison	16 Film response due --- Begin Exam review
19 Exam review	20 4th and 6th Semester Finals	21 2nd, 3rd, 7th Semester Finals	22 1st and 5th Semester Finals --- ½ Day Last day of school	23

Week at a glance April 21 - 25, 2014

We'll continue reading F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.  Students all have their own copy of the novel checked out to them.  Last week we discovered four of the main core characters: narrator Nick Carraway, his cousin Daisy Buchanan and her "hulking" husband Tom, and their friend, Jordan Baker.  This week we meet two minor, yet critical characters: voluptuous Myrtle Wilson and her ghost of a husband George.  After many intriguing rumors, ominous hints, and idle speculation, we will finally also meet the mysterious Jay Gatsby.

• Mon: No school
• Tues: The Great Gatsby - Finish reading Ch. II.  Begin reading Ch. III.
• Wed: The Great Gatsby - Ch. II quiz, study guide due by the end of the hour.
• Thurs: The Great Gatsby - Ch. IiI quiz, study guide due by the end of the hour.
• Fri: The Great Gatsby - Setting the scene: viewing and discussion.

Week at a glance April 14 - 18, 2014

After almost two weeks in the computer labs to complete research and assessments, this week we finally return to the classroom.  We will also begin our final novel unit over F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.  Students will meet Nick Carraway, our narrator, and see life through his young and and a bit innocent perspective. Since we are studying the opening chapter of the novel this week, our focus will be on shaping our first impressions of the characters and learning what we can from them. Students will check out books on Wednesday and will need to bring them to class from now on for the rest of the semester.

• Mon: Begin The Great Gatsby Research Presentations
• Tues: Finish The Great Gatsby Research Presentations
• Wed: Check out The Great Gatsby. Begin reading/discussing Ch. I.  Finish reading Ch. I for Friday.
• Thurs: Quiz over The Great Gatsby Ch. I - study guide due by the end of the hour.  For Tuesday, read Ch. II.
• Fri: No school - Professional Development Day

Week at a glance April 7 - 11, 2014

This week we are doing the KS Reading Assessment and wrapping up our research unit over The Great Gatsby.

• Mon: Meet in the classroom to discuss the format of the KSRA.  Research unit progress check.
• Tues: KSRA in the computer lab. Continue Gatsby research when done.
• Wed: Polish the Gatsby research presentation.
• Thurs: KSRA in the computer lab. Finish polishing the Gatsby research presentation.
• Fri: KSRA make up as needed in the computer lab. Begin Gatby research presentations.

Week at a glance March 31 - April 4, 2014

"Gatsby, what Gatsby?"

This week we will start a collaborative research project over background for F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.  We will begin on Monday with a brief overview of the 1920s.  Students will have the opportunity to volunteer for the topic of their research project.  We will then move to the computer lab for the rest of the week to conduct research, collaborate with our partners, and create a presentation.

• Mon: GG Research Project - overview of the 1920s.  Generate and volunteer for topics.
• Tues: GG Research Project - meet in the computer lab to discover topics and conduct research.
• Wed: GG Research Project - meet in the computer lab to conduct research.
• Thurs: GG Research Project - meet in the computer lab to wrap up research and begin putting together the presentation.
• Fri: GG Research Project - meet in the computer lab to wrap up the presentation.

Week at a glance March 24 - 28, 2014

Welcome back from Spring Break.  This week we will wrap up our Short Story Unit.  Our final story will be Flannery O'Connor's "The Life You Save May Be Your Own," which we can find in our textbook.  We'll start with a Close Read over the first few pages.  We'll then make additional annotations to prepare for a Socratic Seminar on Wednesday.  On Thursday we will review for the unit exam, which we'll do on Friday.  The creative writing assignment for "The Waltz" is also due this Friday to turnitin.com.

• Mon: Short Story Unit: do a Close Read of the first pages of "The Life You Save May Be Your Own."  Finish the story on your own.
• Tues: Short Story Unit - make annotations on "The Life You Save..." to prepare for a Socratic Seminar on Wednesday.  Pass back previous study guides.
• Wed: Short Story Unit - "The Life You Save..." Socratic Seminar.  Hand in your annotations at the end of the hour.
• Thurs: Short Story Unit - review for the Unit Exam
• Fri: Short Story Unit Exam. "The Waltz" creative writing assignment due to turnitin.com by midnight.

Week at a glance March 10 - 14, 2014

This week we will continue our Short Story Unit with two more stories.  Susan Glaspell's 1917 story "A Jury of Her Peers" is a bit of a murder mystery.  Dorothy Parker's 1944 story "The Waltz" is a creative monologue done by a woman at a party.  The stories were not chosen randomly.  As we read, students should be looking for connections among the stories through characterization and theme.  In addition to a standard set of study guide questions, students will have other creative assignments to help them interact with and engage the stories.

• Mon: Short Story Unit: Begin reading and discussing "A Jury of Her Peers."  Start the double-entry notes.
• Tues: Short Story Unit: "A Jury of Her Peers."  Finish, discuss, and hand in the double-entry notes.
• Wed: Short Story Unit: "A Jury of Her Peers" - study guide due by the end of the hour.
• Thurs: Short Story Unit: Read and discuss "The Waltz."  Complete the guided reading questions for Friday.
• Fri: Short Story Unit: "The Waltz" - begin the creative writing response, due Tuesday, 3/25.

No school next week

Spring Break 

Week at a glance March 4 - 7, 2014

This week we are finally done with Arthur Miller's  Death of a Salesman.  We will begin the week in the Library Computer Lab D to type and upload a final draft of the essay to turnitin.com.  Essays not turned in to turnitin.com will not count has having been turned in until they are uploaded by the student.

From there we will move on to the start of our Short Story Unit.  The Short Story Unit is unique in that it features female protagonists written by female writers--something that unfortunately rarely happens in our curriculum.  We will start the unit with one of my personal favorite stories: Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper."

• Mon: Meet in the Library Computer Lab D to type and upload a final draft of The Death of a Salesman Essay.
• Tues: Short Story Unit - begin reading and analyzing Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper."
• Wed: Short Story Unit - finish reading "The Yellow Wallpaper." Read "Home Away from Home."
• Thurs: Short Story Unit - "The Yellow Wallpaper" study guide due by the end of the hour.
• Fri: No school - End of the 3rd quarter

Week at a glance February 24 - 28, 2014

This week we will review for and complete the exam for Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman.  The unit exam for the play will consist of 40 multiple choice questions, as well as a short article for students to read and connect to the play.  We will also wrap up the 3rd Quarter Independent Book Project with time to wrap up reading and notes before the project is due on Thursday.

• Mon: Death of a Salesman - Exam study guide discussion and review
• Tues: 3rd Quarter Independent Book Project reading/organizing time.  Death of a Salesman - review for the exam.
• Wed: Death of a Salesman - Exam. Wrap up preparation for the 3rd Quarter Independent Book Project.
• Thurs: 3rd Quarter Independent Book Project presentation due.
• Fri: Finish 3rd Quarter Independent Book Project presentations.

Week at a glance February 17 - 21, 2014

This week we will begin the process of wrapping up our unit over Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman.  Prior to taking the unit exam next week, we will do a creative review and an essay.  We'll start the week with a creative story cube.  Beginning Wednesday, we will start in on a brief essay over the play.  Students will have a choice of five prompts to choose from as they build their essay.  A handwritten rough draft of the essay will be due by the end of the week.

• Mon: Death of a Salesman - Act Two study guide due by the end of the hour.  Begin brainstorming ways to visually represent 6 parts of the story.  Grammar unit: apostrophes post-test.
• Tues: Death of a Salesman - shape and create your story cube.
• Wed: Death of a Salesman - Essay assigned.  Select an option and begin gathering quotes.
• Thurs: Death of a Salesman - Continue shaping and creating the rough draft of the essay.
• Fri: Death of a Salesman - handwritten rough draft due by the end of the hour.  Last day to turn in a story cube. Grammar unit: apostrophes post-test.

Week at a glance February 10 - 14, 2014

This week we will see if we can wrap up our reading for Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman.  What happened in Boston?  The answer to that question sets up the play's inevitable tragic climax.  We will also continue our grammar unit--this time over colons and semicolons.

• Mon: Grammar Unit pre-test: colons and semicolons. Continue reading/discussing Act Two of Death of a Salesman
• Tues: Pass back papers and current grades.  Grammar Unit: colons and semicolons review. Continue reading/discussing Act Two of Death of a Salesman. Begin working on questions for Act Two.
• Wed: Grammar Unit: colons and semicolons post-test. 3r Qtr IPB reading. Death of a Salesman: continue working on questions for Act Two.
• Thurs: No school
• Fri: No school

Week at a glance February 3 - 7, 2014

This week we'll continue reading and discussing Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman.  Act One ended on an optimistic note with Willy promising Linda that he would try to get a job at home in New York so he wouldn't have to travel anymore; and, Happy and Biff deciding that they would find success in starting a new sporting goods business.  We'll see if the optimistic tone carries into Act Two.

• Mon: Death of a Salesman - Review Act One. Determine parts for Act Two. Begin reading/discussing Act Two.
• Tues: Death of a Salesman - continue reading/discussing Act Two.
• Wed: Death of a Salesman - continue reading/discussing Act Two.
• Thurs: Death of a Salesman - continue reading/discussing Act Two.
• Fri: 3rd Quarter Independent Reading Project - bring in a book and read. No IRP book? No points.

Week at a glance Janurary 27-31, 2014

This week we are wrapping up our work over the Technical Essay.  Students will meet in the computer lab on Monday and Tuesday to make final revisions, to submit their essay online, and to create a visual presentation for their essay.  Presentations must be ready to go in class on Wednesday.  Students who are not prepared for their presentation must come in before/after school or during Advisory and earn late credit only.  We'll wrap up the week with an introduction to the 3rd Quarter Independent Reading Project.  We will then discuss the assignment and have some in-class reading time to get started.

• Mon: Technical Essay - revise the essay and submit a final draft online to turnitin.com.  Continue working on the presentation.
• Tues: Technical Essay - submit a final draft of the essay online to turnitin.com.  Finish work on the presentation.
• Wed: Technical Essay presentations
• Thurs: Technical Essay presentations
• Fri: 3rd Quarter Independent Reading Project - assignment, discussion, dates, and reading time.

Week at a glance January 20-24, 2014

This week we are working on multiple assignments.  We'll start with the beginning of our grammar unit.  Based on what we've seen in students' past writing, our first focus will be on fixing comma splices.  Each grammar unit week will start with a pre-test.  We will then do mini lessons throughout the week.  Students who earn an A on the pre-test do not have to take the test on Friday.  We will also continue to read and discuss Act One of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman.  We'll wrap up the week with a review of the play so far, our grammar unit quiz, and a discussion of how we did and where we're headed with the Technical Essay.

• Mon: No school - MLK Day
• Tues: Grammar Unit - comma splice pre-test.  Death of a Salesman - continue reading and discussing Act One.
• Wed: Grammar Unit - fixing comma splices with conjunctions.  Death of a Salesman - continue reading and discussing Act One.
• Thurs: Death of a Salesman - wrap up and review Act One.   Begin working on the Act One, part two study guide.  Grammar Unit - comma splice review.
• Fri: Grammar Unit - comma splice quiz.  Death of a Salesman - Act One, part two study guide due by the end of the hour. Technical Essay - pass back rough drafts and preview next week.

Week at a glance Janurary 13-17, 2014

Attention must be paid..." This week we'll wrap a draft of the Technical Essay before moving on to our first official reading unit of the semester: Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman.. It's a tale of a salesman desperately aiming for the American dream brought down by his own tragic flaws. As we read the play in class, we'll be focusing on the relationships between the characters and how Miller shows how events in the past inescapably shape our future.  Students will be reading, discussing, and analyzing the play in class.  They will not have work outside of class during this unit until we wrap up the play and move on to the essay.

• Mon: Technical Essay - printed rough draft due. Death of a Salesman: answer pre-reading questions for Tuesday.
• Tues: Death of a Salesman - discuss pre-reading questions, background, and assign parts
• Wed: Death of a Salesman - begin reading and discussing Act One, pages 1-23
• Thurs: Death of a Salesman - continue reading and discussing Act One, pages 1-23.
• Fri: Death of a Salesman - review the first part of Act One.  Act One, part one study guide due by the end of the hour.

Week at a glance January 6-10, 2014

This week we jump right back into the swing of things with two writing assignments to kick off the new semester.  Our first assignment will be a brief reflection and introduction letter from yourself to me.  The second assignment will be a Technical Essay in which students will select and describe a process to teach.  We'll cover both assignments throughout the week.

• Mon: NO SCHOOL! TOO COLD!
• Tues: Introductions and course overview.  Introduction letter due by the end of the hour Wednesday.
• Wed: Introduction letter due by the end of the hour.  Technical Essay - assignment introduction and brainstorm.
• Thurs: Meet in the computer lab to type up a rough draft for the Technical Essay
• Fri: Meet in the computer lab to type up a rough draft for the Technical Essay