Week at a glance October 21 - 25, 2013

Parent/Teacher Conferences at WRHS

Wed 4pm - 8pm (find me in the library)

Thurs 8am-4pm (classroom) and 4pm - 8pm (find me in the library)

During this short week we'll focus on a short story scene in The Adventures in Huckleberry Finn in which Huck comes between two feuding families.  We'll compare this short story with real history as we investigate the Hatfields and the McCoys and discuss the similarities in a Socratic Seminar on Wednesday.

Although students are not able to check out books for Huck Finn, students have free access to a copy of the book online at http://www.feedbooks.com/book/71/the-adventures-of-huckleberry-finn.  Students may also download a free copy of the book to their computers and/or smartphones through the iTunes and Google Play stores.

• Mon: Huck Finn - read pages 95-116 (chapters 17 & 18) and be prepared for a reading quiz.
• Tues: Huck Finn - reading quiz.  The Hatfields and the McCoys -- Close Read 8 due Wednesday.
• Wed: Huck Finn - The Hatfields and the McCoys Socratic Seminar.  Close Read 8 due.
• Thurs: No school - P/T Conferences
• Fri: No school

Week at a glance October 14 - 18, 2013

This week we will start a unit over Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.  We will not be reading the entire book from cover to cover.  Instead, we will be doing multiple close reads with the novel as we read short sections and tie them to informative and argumentative texts we pick up as we read.  Students will check out their books on Monday.  We'll spend the rest of the week reading the first few chapters to get an idea of the context and setting for the novel.

• Mon: Assign and briefly discuss Close Read #7, due Thursday.  Check out Huck Finn books.  Intro to Mark Twain.  For Tuesday, read Chapters I-IV, pages 1-18.
• Tues: Huck Finn - discuss Chapters I-III.  Complete the study guide through chapter IV.
• Wed: Huck Finn - read Chapters V-VIII, pages 18-47.  Be prepared for a possible quiz on Thursday.  Discuss Crucible Exam results and current 1st Quarter grades.
• Thurs: Close Read #7 due.  Huck Finn - finish the 1-47 study guide and turn in by the end of the hour. Optional reading - pages 48-94.
• Fri: No school - End of the 1st quarter work day

Week at a glance October 7 - 11, 2013

We are doing several major assessments this week.  We'll start the week wrapping up and turning in The Crucible Compare/Contrast Essay.  We'll then move on to study for and take The Crucible Unit Exam.  We'll wrap up the week with presentations for the 1st Quarter Book Project.

• Mon: Meet in the computer lab.  The Crucible Compare/Contrast Essay due by the end of the hour to turnitin.com
• Tues: Review for The Crucible Unit Exam
• Wed: The Crucible Unit Exam.  1st Quarter Independent Book Project written portion due by the end of the day to turnitin.com
• Thurs: Start 1st Quarter Independent Book Project presentations
• Fri: Finish 1st Quarter Independent Book Project presentations

Week at a glance September 30 - October 4, 2013

This week we will make our first moves toward wrapping up our unit over Arthur Miller's The Crucible.  First we'll complete the Act IV study guide.  Our next step will be to study for the unit exam by creating an essay comparing/contrasting The Crucible with another potential witch hunt in history.  Students will need to have a completed written draft to earn their way onto a computer on Thursday.  We will wrap up the week with a work day over the 1st Quarter Independent Book Project.

Since we are completing both The Crucible unit and the 1st Quarter IBP, we will not be completing a Close Read or Active Read this week.

• Mon: The Crucible - review the end of Act IV.  Act IV study guide due by the end of the hour.
• Tues: The Crucible Essay - assignment and expectations.  Select a topic and article to use in the essay.
• Wed: The Crucible Essay - complete a written rough draft of the essay, due at the beginning of the hour on Thursday.
• Thurs: Meet in the computer lab to type The Crucible Essay.  We will return to the computer lab on Monday.
• Fri: 1st Quarter Independent Book Project work day.

1st Quarter Independent Book Project

Typed report due to turnitin.com by 11:59pm on Wednesday, Oct 9

Week at a glance September 23 - 27, 2013

When we last visited 1692 Salem, we were looking for hope that the truth would be discovered and the Witch Trials would end.  Sadly, that was not quite the case.  Act IV begins a few weeks later with Salem in chaos and depression.  Although we noted that the climax occurred in Act III, Act IV builds toward its own intense climax that will be the first critical crack in the foundation of the Witch Trials.  We'll also continue with another Close read and another Active Read for the week.

Students are welcome to complete the 1st Quarter Independent Book project at any time.  Students must submit the written portion through turnitin.com.  Students must have their project submitted through turnitin.com by Wednesday, Oct 9.

• Mon: Close Read 6 assigned - due Thursday.  The Crucible - review Acts I - III.  Act III study guide due Tuesday.
• Tues: The Crucible - Act III study guide due.  Determine parts for Act IV.  Begin reading/discussing Act IV.  Complete the Act IV study guide as we read.
• Wed: The Crucible - continue reading/discussing Act IV.  Complete the Act IV study guide as we read.
• Thurs: Close Read 6 due. Independent Reading Project - active reading assignment due by the end of the hour.
• Fri: No school - Teacher In-Service

Week at a glance September 16 - 20, 2013

We'll start this week with a quick review over Acts I and II of Arthur Miller's The Crucible.  After turning in the Act II study guide at the beginning of the hour on Tuesday, we'll move on to reading and discussing Act III.  Our Close Read for the week will be over two Puritan poems of the time period.  If students have been paying attention to our discussion over Puritan culture and values, the poems should have more than a few oddities within them.  We will have a Socratic Seminar over the two poems in class on Thursday.

• Mon: Close Read 5 and Socratic Seminar assigned.  The Crucible - review Acts I and II.  Act II study guide due at the beginning of the hour on Tuesday.
• Tues: The Crucible - Act II study guide due.  Determine parts for Act III.  Begin reading and discussing Act III.
• Wed: The Crucible - continue reading and discussing Act III.
• Thurs: Socratic Seminar over Close Read 5 - discussion and reflection.
• Fri: Close Read 5 due. Independent Reading Project - active reading assignment due by the end of the hour.

Week at a glance September 9 - 13, 2013

This week we will continue reading and discussing Arthur Miller's The Crucible.  The climax of Act I showed the accusations beginning in the infamous Salem Witch Trials.  Act II begins much quieter at the home of John and Elizabeth Proctor, but will end with a major turning point in the play.  We will also finally return to the computer lab to wrap up final revisions and turn in a final draft of the Personal Narrative Essay.  Students who have not turned in a rough draft will not have any opportunity for feedback prior to a final draft.  The final draft must be turned in to our class site at turnitin.com.  We'll wrap up the week with a discussion over Close Read 4 and another active reading assignment.

• Mon: Close Read 4 assigned - due Friday. The Crucible - determine parts for Act II.  Begin reading and discussing Act II.
• Tues: The Crucible - continue reading, discussing, and working on the study guide for Act II.
• Wed: The Crucible - pause to discuss Act I and Act II.  Discuss results of the Personal Narrative.
• Thurs: Meet in the computer lab to complete final revisions and editing for the Personal Narrative Essay.  Final draft due to turnitin.com.  Copies will not be accepted unless turned in to the class site on turnitin.com.
• Fri: Close Read 4 due. Independent Reading Project - active reading assignment due by the end of the hour.