Objectives: 18 March and Act III Quiz info

Today in class:

1. Completed Vocab 11 worksheet.
2. Discussed Brutus' and Antony's speech in small groups.
3. Discussed the Rhetorical Triangle.
4. Finished scene iii.

Homework:

• Study for your quiz. Use your study guide to prepare. You will need to know characters (Metellus, Decius, Artemidorus, Cinna the Poet, Octavius, as well as other major characters), be able to put plot events in order, and answer questions similar to those on the study guide sheet.
• Act III, scene iii summary: Cinna the Poet is murdered by an angry mob who mistake him for Cinna the conspirator. This suggests that the death of Caesar, instead of ensuring a democratic republic, has borne a mob mentality that rules on impulse.
• You also need to be able to label the Rhetorical Triangle. For those who were absent for the play today, it looks like this. The labels you need to know: Ethos (speaker/writer)--has to do with how much the audience/readers trust the speaker; Logos (subject)--has to do with how logical and reasonable the argument seems; Pathos (reader/listener)--has to do with the emotional impact of the speech or writing and forms the connection with the audience. All of these elements work together to impact how effective a speech or piece of writing is in delivering an argument. We will analyze Brutus and Antony's speech in more detail later. For now, you just need to know the parts of the triangle and be able to label them. 

 See you tomorrow!
-Mrs. Kristoff

Objectives: 17 March

Today in class:

1. Checked vocabulary homework and completed Exercise C.
2. Read Brutus' and Antony's famous funeral speeches. Friends, Romans, countrymen--lend me your ears!
3. Completed study guide questions.

Homework:
Read over Antony's words beginning on p. 882 and ending on p. 886.  Using post-its or light pencil marks that can be erased later, mark portions that you feel are especially effective. I will check these tomorrow and your ideas will guide our discussion on Antony's rhetorical skills.

Coming up:

• Act III quiz Friday.
• Vocab 11 quiz Tuesday, 3/23.

Objectives: 16 March

Today in class:

1. Lesson 11 Vocab introduction
2. Act III, i reading homework check
3. Act III, i study guide

Homework:

• Lesson 11 Exercises A and B

Coming up:
Act III Quiz Friday
Vocab 11 Quiz Tuesday, 3/23

Thought for the day:
With all of our discussions about leadership, kings, and honor in Julius Caesar, have you considered what it would be like to lead your country? Would it be stressful? Would you enjoy the opportunity to make meaningful decisions impacting others?

This teen king has to face those issues every day. What do you think of the challenges posed by his unique situation?

For an optional quiz grade, you may read this article and respond in a written paper. If you are interested in this assignment, come see me for details!

Objectives: 15 March

It's the Ides of March!

I hope you enjoyed our commemoration of the ill-fated day for proud Caesar.
Here's what we did in class:

1. I passed back your tests and research papers.
2. We began reading Act III, scene i (some of you even acted it out!).

Your homework tonight:

• finish reading Act III, scene i.
• I may ask you some questions about your reading; be prepared...

See you tomorrow! Bring your Vocab books!
-Mrs. Kristoff

Upcoming
Act III Quiz: Friday (3/19)
Vocab 11 Quiz: Tuesday (3/23)

Objectives: 8-10 March

March 8:

• Review for Test

March 9:

• Test on Acts 1 and 2.

March 10:

• Acts 1 and 2 of Julius Caesar (throwback all the way from 1953!)

Thought for the Day:
What do you think of Aimee Mullins' take on disabilities?

Objectives: 3 March

Today in class:

1. Vocab Test on Lessons 7 and 8.
2. Act II, scene ii (p. 858-862). 

Homework:
Finish reading scene 2. Answer the scene 1 questions to the best of your ability and also answer the two questions on scene 2 found on your study guide.

Coming up:
Quiz Friday on Acts I and II, which will help you prepare for....
Test Monday on Acts I and II.

Objectives: 26 February

Today in class:

1. Finish reading scenes 2 and 3 of Act One.
2. Complete study guide for scene 3.
3. Complete questions on p. 844 (2-8).

Finish any remaining work over the weekend! Your homework grade will be based on completion of all of those questions.

Coming up next week: 

• Vocab Test (lessons 7-8) on Wednesday.
• Quiz on Acts 1-2 on Friday (will be on the short side and will help you review for your TEST!).
• Test on Acts 1-2 Tuesday, March 9.

 Thought for the weekend:

"Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go

and seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow?"

 

Northeast covered in snow

Have an enjoyable, warm weekend!
-Mrs. Kristoff

Objectives: 25 February

Today in class:

1. Read Act 1, scene 2 and completed study guide.

We'll finish the act tomorrow!!!

Coming up:

• Vocab Test next Wednesday
• Acts 1-2 Quiz next week
• Acts 1-2 Test Tuesday, March 9

-Mrs. Kristoff

Objectives: 24 February

Today in class:

1. Vocab Quiz 8.
2. Act 1, scene 2 and study guide.

Thought for today:
"Seek first to understand, then to be understood."

Objectives: 23 February

Today in class:

1. Check homework (vocab sheet)
2. Complete Vocab 8 Crossword--practice for your quiz tomorrow!
3. read Act 1, scene 2 and study guide.

Homework: study for your Vocab quiz tomorrow!

Objectives: 22 February

Today in class:

1. You showed me what you knew about the background of Julius Caesar by taking a quiz.
2. You began work on your Lesson 8 Worksheet.
3. We began reading Act 1, scene 2 of JC.

•  Homework: Finish Lesson 8 Vocab worksheet. Be ready to work on Act 1, scene 2 tomorrow! We will finish this first act by the end of the week.

Thought of the day:
You may read this intriguing article, but no, this does not mean you can sleep in class! :)
-Mrs. Kristoff

Objectives: 19 February

Today in class, we:

1. Discussed helpful strategies for reading Shakespeare. Remember that I know this will be a challenge for you, but I am here to serve as your guide. You may always ask me questions and consult my study guide for additional support. For now, though, No Fear Shakespeare and other side-by-side translations are off-limits.
2. Read and completed study guide questions on Act 1, scene 1. Here are some things we learned:
1.  the punning of the cobbler and why Shakespeare chose to include the common people right from the beginning of the play
2. what it means to be fickle
3. in medias res=in the middle of things
4. proper citation for a play is (Act.scene.line) as in (I.i.5-6)
5. anaphora=repeated beginning sounds of words (3rd period only)
3. Reviewed for our QUIZ Monday!

Homework:

• Study for your Notes quiz! You will need to know information from the Keynote packet, the information on the theater, and how to spell Caesar. 
• Vocab Quiz 8 coming up on Wednesday.

Have a great weekend, study up, and see you Monday!
-Mrs. Kristoff

Objectives: 18 February

Today's Trivia:
1. What color flag was raised when the playhouse was performing a history?
2. Name the work: numbers 9, 12, and 25 on your Shakespeare Famous Lines sheet.
3. What is a collusion?
4. What does potable mean?


In class, we will:

• Complete Vocab 8C.
• Learn Who's Who in Julius Caesar.
• Study characterization of Brutus and Julius Caesar.

For homework:

• Read the first scene of Caesar (p. 825-828). Write down one strategy you have to share with others for reading Shakespeare AND one question you have about this scene.

Coming up:

• Notes Quiz Monday on introductory material for Julius Caesar (the Keyntoe packet from this week).

Thought for today:
What current books and movies attempt to teach us lessons about how we live life? See if you can come up with a few.

Objectives: 17 February

Today's Trivia:

1. Describe why Elizabeth's reign was called the Golden Age, giving at least 2 specific examples of prosperity.
2. Describe the setting of Julius Caesar (hint: the Shmoop slide!).
3. Explain the meter in this line: False face must hide what the false heart doth know.
4. Name one connection that Elizabethans would have seen between their civilization and ancient Rome.
5. Explain traits of the tragic hero. 

Today's Goals:

• Shakespeare Wordplay!
• Introduce Lesson 8 vocabulary

Today's Homework:

• Lesson 8 A-B

Food for thought:
Do you know about the Trash Gyre? This is interesting.

Objectives: 16 February

Today in class, we:

1. learned about the context of the Elizabethan Golden Age.
2. learned a few facts about Shakespeare's life.
3. learned about meter (iambic pentameter!).
4. learned why Elizabethans (those living in the Golden Age of Queen Elizabeth I) would have cared about Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar. Can you remember some of those reasons?

I will offer four prizes to the four students who can tell me about those four objectives tomorrow!

Thought for the day:
Some of you were surprised to learn that Shakespeare created (or at least put into wide use) many of the words and phrases we use today. Read this article from National Geographic to learn more about Shakespeare's words.

Objectives: 8 February

Today in class, we:

1. Turned in our research papers (HOORAY!).
2. Brainstormed ideas on a K-W-L chart on Shakespeare (bring your Lit. books tomorrow).
3. Completed a grammar worksheet for a classwork grade.

Enjoy your homework-free night, an excellent reward for making it through your research project!

Upcoming due date: Vocab 7 Quiz on Thursday, Feb. 11

Thought for today:
"When God wants to make a giant oak, he takes a hundred years, but when he wants to make a mushroom, he does it overnight" (Rick Warren). No offense to mushrooms, but a "giant oak" is much greater than fragile fungus.
What is God making of your life?
Have you felt that you've been working or waiting patiently for something that has yet to arrive, something that is yet to be achieved?
Keep faith: maybe the roots that are digging into the soft February soil will soon bloom into vibrant green leaves soaking up the summer sun.

Homework: Due 2/8

Your major assignment this weekend: Finish your research paper!
It is due at the beginning of class Monday.
Also, you have vocab 7A-7C due (this was assigned early last week).

Remember that you have until Saturday at 2:00 p.m. to submit your research paper to me via email (as Word attachment) for feedback. When I receive it, I will email you back to let you know that I received it; as I am able, I will respond to you with comments. If you send it to me after 2:00 p.m., I will not offer you feedback.

See the Feb. 4 post for specific instructions for formatting your paper and Works Cited page.

Have a great weekend! I enjoyed your personalities today (and your yummy food!) in our "Fascinating Person" mixer.

See you Monday.
-Mrs. Kristoff

Thought for the weekend:
"I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all, but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess."
- Martin Luther

Objectives: 4 February

Today's class was devoted to preparing for these things:

• Fascinating Person Mixer tomorrow: Tomorrow we'll all be fascinating people (well, we're always fascinating just as we are, but this time, we'll be famous fascinating people!). You should embody your character, so wear a costume or bring props. Be prepared to give a 1-2 minute introduction to your classmates in the character of your fascinating person. You will be graded on creativity, the presentation of your information, and your respectful participation. Also, if you signed up to bring in a food item, don't forget it!

• Final Drafts: You are welcome to turn these in tomorrow, but they are DUE first thing in class MONDAY. 
• Works Cited page: I know many of you are still working on your Works Cited page. Use the MLA section of the OWL Purdue website (also linked at the right) to help with formatting your citations and your paper in general.**Note: Many of your sources are ELECTRONIC--meaning web sites and articles from online databases (Discus provides access to online databases like Academic OneFile, which is probably where your articles came from). There is also a sample Works Cited page on the OWL site so that you can see exactly what your page should look like. To create your page, a few of you have had luck with EasyBib.com and there's a citation builder inside your WebLockers.
• Parenthetical References: See the OWL site for more in-depth information, but remember that the main goal of these parenthetical references--ex. (Eagleman 2)--is to direct your reader to an entry on your Works Cited page. So, if the author is the first thing listed in the Works Cited entry, then it will be the thing that is listed in the parenthetical reference. If your article has no author and the entry begins with the title--ex. "Christian Academy Eagles"--then the title will go in the parenthetical reference, along with the page number if there is one. In this case, the quote would appear (introduced properly, of course) in the body of your paper followed by a parenthetical reference like this: ("Christian Academy Eagles" 4).
• 
  

  A few reminders on papers:

  Title page: Although listed on your assignment, you are NOT required to do one for this paper.
  Header: You are required to do this. See the OWL site if you are at all confused.
  Materials: Please turn in your outline, copies of source material, and your first draft(s) along with your final draft.
  
  Remember: you may email me (akristoff@hhca.org) if you would like me to provide feedback on your paper. Send it as an attachment (Word format only) and include issues/problem areas you'd like me to consider in your email message. The deadline for doing this is 2:00 p.m. Saturday so that I may respond to you before Sunday afternoon!
  
  

Homework: Due 2/3

As your "ticket" to conference with me about your first draft tomorrow, you must do these things:

1. Read your paper OUT LOUD. This may be to yourself, to an older sibling, or to a parent. Doing this will help you identify repeated words, clunky language, or awkward spots that may be unclear. After you do this, make a few changes based on what you've learned through the process.
2. Identify THREE AREAS that you'd like to me to focus on as I read your paper. 

You must do these before I will conference with you. Tomorrow we will be working on revisions to your draft in class, so bring your paper to work on while I'm conferencing with your classmates.

Thought for the day:
Have you ever wondered why popcorn is so expensive at the movies? Check out the reason why your Mike and Ikes are $9, plus eight other "American rip-offs" (text messages are marked up 6,500%!).-Mrs. Kristoff

Objectives: 2 February

Peer Review!

• We will break into small groups of 2.
• First, each writer should state what he/she feels is working best in the paper and what he/she needs help with.
• Next, your peer partner reads your paper (simultaneous reading). You may make corrections in a minute, but this first time, just read it all the way through. 
• Respond to these questions as you talk with your peer reviewer 

(Developed by Eileen Crowe, UNCA Writing Center)  

1.    What are the strongest aspects of this paper? What really works? 

2.    What are its weakest aspects? 

3.    Where were you confused? 

4.    Find, underline, and evaluate the thesis statement. Does it clearly indicate the paper’s focus and purpose?  Does it accurately summarize the content of the essay? 

5.    Is the focus clear? Do all the paragraphs stay on target with the thesis? If some ideas seem random or irrelevant, suggest omitting them. If the writer has not developed a point or an idea as fully as possible, suggest possibilities for more full development. 

6.    Should the writer add (or omit) details to make the meaning more clear?

7.  Suggest changes in word choice or paragraph order that would make the paper more effective.

8.    If the writer has used abstract or general terms, suggest ways to make them more concrete. 

9.    Is the title appealing? Suggest an alternate that would make someone want to read this essay.  

• Now, to the best of your ability, check for and point out mechanical errors, wordiness, and inaccurate citations.

First Draft

First draft is due tomorrow!
We will be working on peer review, so be sure that you have it in your possession at the beginning of class. Please include your first stab at the Works Cited page. Use the OWL website (links at right) to help you.

Other reminders:

• Fascinating Person Mixer Thursday (we'll sign up for food tomorrow!)
• Final Draft due Friday
• If you were absent today, we took a Vocab Test on Lessons 4-6. You need to schedule a make-up!

Thought for the Day:
These four qualify as fascinating in my book. Commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Woolworth Sit-In by checking out these photos from Time.com. Can you imagine a time when doing your homework at a lunch counter qualified as nonviolent protest? Think of all you have to be grateful for.
A Brief History of the Sit-In Movement

TEST TOMORROW!

Hopefully you remembered, but your Vocab Test 3 (lessons 4, 5, and 6) is TOMORROW.
Be prepared.

See you tomorrow.
-Mrs. Kristoff

Objectives: 26 January

Residents of Animal Planet,
Today in class and outside of class:

• Continue to work on your outlines (due tomorrow!). See yesterday's post for specific details.

Thought for the day:
Do you think you could lead people in this way?
Check out what 7-year-old Charlie Simpson has done to help others.

-Mrs. Kristoff

Objectives: 25 January

In class today:

• Some of you worked on your outlines diligently. Thank you.
  
• All of you: I expect you to work tomorrow and the rest of the week. Stay focused! Bring your materials!

Period 1: I will not see you tomorrow.

OUTLINES DUE WEDNESDAY.

• I should be able to learn everything about your paper from your outline.
• At least 4 body paragraphs.
• At least 2 quotes from sources per body paragraph.
• Quotes must be included on outline.
• Outline may be typed or neatly written.
• Due at the BEGINNING of class!
  

Thought for the Day: Making Mondays Matter (from Oprah.com)

How many e-mails or text messages have you sent in the past week? How many handwritten notes of appreciation? More to the point, when was the last time you handwrote anything to anyone? Handwrite a note of gratitude to somebody today…just because. They will appreciate the rarity of it.

See the article for more facts like these: 

• 175% more text messages are sent each month compared to phone calls..
• Every week, the average person receives 1.5 personal letters.
• Feeling appreciated is one of the strongest human desires.

See you tomorrow for Animal Planet!
-Mrs. Kristoff

SPIRIT WEEK!

Monday

• "Escape Clashing Patterns"--show up in all green!
  
• Banner needs to be ready at 8:30!
• Regular class schedule.

Tuesday

• "Escape Reality"--dress up as shows on Animal Planet (Crocodile Hunter, Dog Whisperer, Jungle Girl, Animal Diaries, Animal Cops)
  
• Parade with "commentary" during chapel in the morning.
• Wear College Gear the rest of the day (jeans and college t-shirts/sweatshirts).
  
• We skip periods 1 and 6 today.

Wednesday

• "Escape Loneliness"--Famous Pairs Day! Dress up with your partner(s); stay in these costumes all day.
• Picture/Parade in the morning during chapel.
• We skip periods 5 and 7 today.

Thursday

• "The Great Escape!"--Spiritual Emphasis Day demonstrating "The Great Escape"; dress up to represent your part in the skit.
• Chapel with skits at the end of the day. *Songs with approved lyrics allowed.
• You may wear Preppy clothes before the skits.
• We skip periods 3 and 4 today.

Friday

• Homecoming!--Dress in Blue and Gold/School Spirit Clothes. 
• Senior Boys Recognition, then cheers and spirit routines. *No song lyrics allowed.
  
• No classes meet today.
• Homecoming festivities begin in the afternoon!
  

Homework: Due 1/25

• Don't wait until the last minute to do your research and your outline (due Wednesday)!
• We'll spend more time in class Monday working on how to do your outline. Don't worry if you didn't get it today. We'll work on it more in class next week. HOWEVER, I will not do your work for you, so bring your materials and be ready to ask questions!
• REMINDER: You will have a Vocab Test on 2/2. Bring your vocab book all week, just in case we do some review.
  

Have a great weekend! See you Monday in all green :)
-Mrs. Kristoff

Thought for the weekend:

Objectives: 22 January

When you come into class:

• Take out Vocab 6A for me to check.
• Gather what you need to take to the Media Center for continued research!

Today's agenda:

1. Check HW.
2. Distribute handouts on how to make an outline.
3. Media Center. 

SPIRIT WEEK: The banner must be ready to be hung in the gym at 8:30 Monday morning!
I can't wait to see all of your hard work pay off next week.




Thought for the weekend: (can you spot the vocab word?)





 

Objectives: 21 January

What to do when class starts:

• Read the information you found yesterday and from your independent research at home. As you read, decide what is important information for your paper. Mark it clearly by underlining or highlighting (I will provide highlighters for you).
  

• If there are gaps in your information, start making a list of questions. These ideas will help guide your time in the Media Center tomorrow.

Reminder: Vocab Test on Lessons 4-6 Tuesday, February 2!

Thought for the day:
I was thinking of you, freshmen, when I saw the graphic at the top of this blog post about what makes cars have that "new car smell." This blog, Learn Something New Every Day, seems like an interesting one to follow, although the author makes no claims that every topic is completely accurate (especially since some of his posts use Wikipedia as a source). Maybe you can point out the gaps in this guy's knowledge, or at least impress your friends and parents with your seemingly endless supply of random facts.   :)

Objectives: 20 January

When you come into class:

• Make sure you have the materials you need to do research (paper, pencil, binder).

Today's Agenda:

1. Visit Media Center to conduct research. Keep in mind that tomorrow you will need to have material in class for you to work on, so print your source material here at school or save it in your Web Locker and print at home. Manage your time wisely--your outline is due one week from today!

Thought for the day:
Check out the SAT Question of the Day on the College Board site.  Did you get the right answer?

Objectives: 19 January

When you come into class:

• Take out your Vocab words to review. You have a quiz today!

Today's Agenda:

1. Review for Vocab Quiz.
2. Vocab Quiz. 
3. Preparation for Research:
1. Topics due
2. Notes/Organization
   
3. Web Lockers
4. Media Center tomorrow!

Homework: Due 1/19

1. Start thinking about the questions that will guide your research on your "fascinating person." You may want to return to some of the sources you've already discovered to find some information, or you may decide that you need to pursue a different path. Remember that you must have your topic finalized by Tuesday, so this is your chance to decide if there's enough relevant information available on your person. Try to find some sources and do some reading; at the very least, brainstorm a list of questions. You'll have next Wednesday to work on research in the Media Center, but that will likely be the only time you'll have in class to search. Devote some time to compiling some information so that you can jumpstart this project. Use your Web Locker!
2. Study for your Vocab Quiz!
   

See you Tuesday in your jeans and Local shirts!
-Mrs. Kristoff

Objectives: 15 January

When you come into class:

• Take out your Vocabulary sheets from yesterday and get ready for review.

Our agenda:

1. Vocabulary review--Quiz on Tuesday!
2. Research project assignment details.
3. "How to Write a Good Biography"
4. Web Lockers

Thought for the weekend: Take some time to be like this kid.

Objectives: 14 January

When you come into class:

1. Weekly Wonderful Writing Wizard (Katie, Sarah): pass out folders!
   
2. Take out your homework (Vocab 5 A-C, Crossword, Sources/Bias information).
3. Take out a clean sheet of paper for Take 10.

 In class today, we will:

1. Do our Take 10: SuperWordacious!
2. Research, Bias, and Organization.

Thought for the day: (from TIME Magazine)

Triage

An injured child receives medical treatment in Port-au-Prince. Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and has in recent times suffered a number of disasters, including four hurricanes and storms in 2008 that killed hundreds. See More Images from TIME.com

Spotted again: Vocab!

Two English scholars, Katie and Ashley, spotted this vocabulary word while researching genetic disorders in the media center today:

"Albinism: This abnormality is the congenital absence of melanin."

This, of course, makes sense as genetic disorders are present at birth by nature (you have them in your genes).

Third period also spotted a current vocab word (odious) while playing on Free Rice.

Do you know what this means? This means that the challenge is on!
Don't you want to be the next English scholar? :) Send them to me...
-Mrs. Kristoff

Objectives: 13 January

When you come into class:

1. Be sure you have your Vocab book. You will need it today.
2. Review for your There/Their/They're Quiz.

In class, we will:

1. Take There/Their/They're Quiz.
2. Learn new vocab words--Lesson 5, exercise A.
3. Begin talking about bias and how to begin your research project. 
4. Homework: Lesson 5 exercises B-C and Lesson 5 Crossword.

Thought for the day:

Two questions that can change your life from Daniel Pink on Vimeo.

Spotted: Vocab!

In a story about the Dixie Chicks on The Island Packet website:

However, Lloyd Maines, Natalie's father, tells CMT.com that the three girls are "definitely still an entity." He says the sisters are "cutting some demos" and that Natalie recorded "a little something with them" about a year ago.

Extra points if you still remember what that word means!
Also, notice how the writer embeds the quote from Natalie's dad into her own sentence. Pretty crafty, those associated press writers.
:)
-Mrs. Kristoff

Objectives: 12 January

When you come into class:

1. Take out your homework (list of sources and their potential biases).
2. Prepare for today's Take 10 by taking out a pencil--I will provide the paper. 

• Weekly Wonderful Writing Wizard (Period 1: Katie; Period 3: Sarah) You will be responsible for passing out the Take 10 folders/notebooks (located in the green bin) to the appropriate desks tomorrow!
  

Today's Agenda:

1. I will collect homework.
2. We will take a short quiz (gasp!).
   
3. Take 10! (extended)
   

• Organizing our Take 10 folders/notebooks
  
• Today's Take 10: Avoiding an adjective pile-up
• Personalizing our Take 10 folders

Thought for the day: Pepe?
Check out these crazy penguins! How would you describe them? Challenge yourself to use three unusual adjectives.

*Tomorrow is a Vocab day, so bring your book to class!

Homework: Due 1/12

Homework:
1. Review (or compile, for those of you who are behind) your list of sources for researching your fascinating person. Examine each source. What is its potential bias? Recall that when we looked at the Baltimore Ravens site for information on Michael Oher, we noted that the team would be unlikely to post negative information about one of its members because the goal of the site is to attract support. Is the information in your source swayed in one way or another? Why? Think about the source of the information (who is writing the information?) and the goal of the source (to inform? to convince?). Write down this information--you can even write it on the same sheet as your source list.

2. Be sure to have finished your "There, They're, and Their" worksheet.

3. I would review my rules for "its/it's" if I were you...

See you tomorrow!
-Mrs. Kristoff

Objectives: 11 January

When you come into class:

1. Study for your VOCABULARY QUIZ. You will have three minutes past the bell to review, but only if it is silent.

During class:

1. Take Vocabulary Quiz. 
2. When you are finished with your quiz, turn it in to me at the front of the room. I will give you a worksheet. Work on this until everyone is finished.
3. I'll ask you to turn in your homework (list of 3 sources for your "fascinating person") before class ends.

Thought for the day:
Rick Warren explains, "Physically, each of us has a unique heartbeat. Just as we each have unique thumbprints, eye prints, and voiceprints, our hearts beat in slightly different patterns. It's amazing that out of all the billions of people who've ever lived, no one has ever had a heartbeat exactly like yours." Pretty cool, right?

Homework: Due Monday 1/11

Your homework:
1. Study for your Vocab Quiz on Lesson 4 vocabulary words.
2. Begin to research your "fascinating person" and find at least 3 sources. You may either write down these sources on a sheet of paper or copy and paste the URLs into a Word document which you should then print and bring in to me. I want to see evidence of those 3 potential sources. Resist the urge to make these up, as I will check your work.

Have a great weekend!
-Mrs. Kristoff

Thought for the weekend: Schott's Vocab, hosted by The New York Times, invites readers to brainstorm creative, clever responses to linguistic (having to do with language) weekend challenges. This weekend's challenge: tell which word in the English language, when heard, gives you the "nails on a chalkboard" feeling. Think about it. Which word aggravates, annoys, or irritates you? I'll ask on Monday to see if you came up with anything. You already know a few of mine...

Objectives: 8 January

When you come into class:

1. Write down your chosen "person of fascination" (i.e. the person you'll be researching) on the index card on your desk. In a few complete sentences, explain why this person is fascinating to you and tell me a few things you think you'd like to learn about him or her. I will come around to check these while you're writing.
   
2. Take out a sheet of paper and prepare for today's Take 10: Spoonerisms!
   

Next, we'll do these things:

• Research How-To, part 2: How do we know what can be paraphrased and what should be quoted?
• Vocabulary Review. Quiz Monday on Lesson 4 words!

Thought of the day:
"Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your ways will be established" (Proverbs 4:26).

Welcome to the blog!

Hello from the blog version of our class! Here I will post information about assignments, useful links, or food for thought (you know, brain snacks!). I will continue to post homework on NetClassroom (see the links at right), but I may also post it here as well.

I am excited about our new semester together! We are on quite the journey...we'll wallow in the rich language of Shakespeare, meet some mischievous British school boys, and learn from talking animals. Ready? I am. Remember...tomorrow starts now.
-Mrs. Kristoff