Week at a glance Nov 29 - Dec 3, 2010

Curriculum focus: identifies, interprets, and analyzes figurative language including: simile, metaphor, idiom, analogy, hyperbole, onomatopoeia, personification, imagery, and symbolism (11.1.2.K4a-i), compares/contrasts textual aspects: character traits (11.1.4.K7a), compare/contrasts textual aspects: character motives (11.1.4.K7h), compares/contrasts textual aspects: author's purpose (11.1.4.K7i), analyzes and evaluates how the author's style (word choice and sentence structure) and use of literary devices work together to achieve his/her purpose by using tone, mood, and imagery (11.1.4.K11d, e, and h), and analyzes contextual aspects of setting and their influence on characters and events in the story including the contexts of history, society, and culture (11.2.1.K2a-c).

This week, we'll start with a review of the first half of Huck Finn just to bring everyone up to the same page. We'll then continue our readings in the novel. Many students are going on the Social Studies field trip to the WWI Museum. Students have been informed that, regardless of whether they are going, all students need to be up to page 195 by Thursday.

• Mon: Huck Finn - review guide for Chapters 1 - 18. For Tuesday - read Ch 19 - 23, pgs 117 - 156.
• Tues: Huck Finn - quiz over Ch 19 - 23; complete 19 - 23 study guide by the end of the hour. For Thursday - read Ch 24 - 28, pgs 157 - 195.
• Wed: Huck Finn - (for those on Tuesday's field trip) quiz over Ch 19 - 23; complete 19 - 23 study guide by the end of the hour. For Thursday - read Ch 24 - 28, pgs 157 - 195.
• Thurs: Huck Finn - quiz over Ch 24 - 28; complete 24 - 28 study guide by the end of the hour. For Monday, 12/6 - read Ch 29 - 31, pgs 195 - 218.
• Fri: Huck Finn - review readings for the past week. For Monday, 12/6 - read Ch 29 - 31, pgs 195 - 218.

Week at a glance Nov 22 - 26, 2010

Curriculum focus: identifies, interprets, and analyzes figurative language including: simile, metaphor, idiom, analogy, hyperbole, onomatopoeia, personification, imagery, and symbolism (11.1.2.K4a-i), compares/contrasts textual aspects: character traits (11.1.4.K7a), compare/contrasts textual aspects: character motives (11.1.4.K7h), compares/contrasts textual aspects: author's purpose (11.1.4.K7i), analyzes and evaluates how the author's style (word choice and sentence structure) and use of literary devices work together to achieve his/her purpose by using tone, mood, and imagery (11.1.4.K11d, e, and h), and analyzes contextual aspects of setting and their influence on characters and events in the story including the contexts of history, society, and culture (11.2.1.K2a-c).

During this short week, we'll reflect on where we are at this point and continue our readings for Huck Finn. In chapters 17 and 18, the focus of Tuesday's assignment, Huck will find himself in the middle of two feuding families. Once again he'll have an adventure Tom Sawyer would have envied; however, once again Huck will see things he will wish he'd never seen.

• Mon: Pass back papers and progress reports. Preview the rest of the semester. For Tuesday - read Chapters 17 and 18 in Huck Finn.
  
• Tues: Huck Finn - quiz over Ch 17 - 18; complete 17 - 18 study guide by the end of the hour. For Tuesday, 11/30 - read Ch 19 - 23, pgs 117 - 156.
• Wed: No school - Thanksgiving Break
  
• Thurs: Happy Thanksgiving!
  
• Fri: No school - Thanksgiving Break

Week at a glance Nov 15 - 19, 2010

Curriculum focus: identifies, interprets, and analyzes figurative language including: simile, metaphor, idiom, analogy, hyperbole, onomatopoeia, personification, imagery, and symbolism (11.1.2.K4a-i), compares/contrasts textual aspects: character traits (11.1.4.K7a), compare/contrasts textual aspects: character motives (11.1.4.K7h), compares/contrasts textual aspects: author's purpose (11.1.4.K7i), analyzes and evaluates how the author's style (word choice and sentence structure) and use of literary devices work together to achieve his/her purpose by using tone, mood, and imagery (11.1.4.K11d, e, and h), and analyzes contextual aspects of setting and their influence on characters and events in the story including the contexts of history, society, and culture (11.2.1.K2a-c).

Root Words Unit Exam, Part II on Friday

This week we'll wrap up our Root Words unit. We'll also continue making progress in Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Huck and Jim are now on the Mississippi River. As we read, we'll see Huck's internal struggle regarding what to do with Jim slowly build and change him.

• Mon: Pass out Root Words Unit Exam, Part II, study guide. Huck Finn - quiz over Ch 5 - 7; complete 5 - 7 study guide by the end of the hour. For Wednesday - read Ch 8 - 11, pgs 36 - 63.
• Tues: Root Words Test (last week's roots). Read and discuss Huck Finn, Ch 8 -11, pgs 36 - 63.
  
• Wed: Huck Finn - Ch 8 - 11 quiz, study guide due by the end of the hour. For Friday - read Huck Finn, Ch 12 - 16, pages 63 - 95.
• Thurs: Review for Root Words Unit Exam, Part II. Read and discuss Huck Finn, Ch 12 - 16, pages 63 - 95.
  
• Fri: Root Words Unit Exam, Part II. Huck Finn - Ch 12 - 16 quiz, study guide due by the end of the hour. For Tuesday - read Ch 17 - 18, pgs 95 - 116.

Week at a glance Nov 8 - 12, 2010

Curriculum focus: identifies, interprets, and analyzes figurative language including: simile, metaphor, idiom, analogy, hyperbole, onomatopoeia, personification, imagery, and symbolism (11.1.2.K4a-i), compares/contrasts textual aspects: character traits (11.1.4.K7a), compare/contrasts textual aspects: character motives (11.1.4.K7h), compares/contrasts textual aspects: author's purpose (11.1.4.K7i), analyzes and evaluates how the author's style (word choice and sentence structure) and use of literary devices work together to achieve his/her purpose by using tone, mood, and imagery (11.1.4.K11d, e, and h), and analyzes contextual aspects of setting and their influence on characters and events in the story including the contexts of history, society, and culture (11.2.1.K2a-c).

Root words for this week (root - definition - examples):

1. aud - hear or listen - audience, audio, audition
   
2. dict - say or speak - dictate, dictionary, diction
   
3. path - emotion - pathetic, sympathy, empathy
   
4. test - witness or declare - contest, protest, testify
   
5. logia, ology - science or study of - biology, psychology, etymology
   
6. -ist - one who does or practices - racist, terrorist, Buddhist, novelist
   

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - students will check out their own books this Monday. Students will do the majority of the reading of the novel on their own; however, we will occasionally have some time in class to be reading it. Students struggling with the novel have multiple options. I would prefer that they come see me either before or after school first. Another possible option is to use the online resource I have posted under the Course Materials section of this site. The site is done well and ties to what we are doing in class. The site also has chapter summaries that students may wish to use as a guide when they read. The chapter summaries will be best used only as a guide and not a substitute for reading as much of our work will be far more detailed than a simple summary of a chapter.

This week will be busy. We'll begin the week checking out and discussing Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Students will have their first reading and writing assignments over the novel this week. We'll also cover our last set of six new root words. With this being our last set, that means our second 30-root exam will be next week. Finally, we'll be back in the computer lab to type the final draft of the Problem/Solution Research Essay, due by the end of the hour on Friday.

• Mon: New root words. Preview Huck Finn and resources. Check out Huck Finn books. For Tuesday: Huck Finn, read Ch 1 - 4, pgs 1 - 18.
  
• Tues: Huck Finn - quiz over Ch 1 - 4; complete 1 - 4 study guide by the end of the hour. Begin reading and discussing Chapters V - VII, pages 18-36.
  
• Wed: Continue reading and discussing Chapters V - VII, pages 18-36. Finish what we don't read in class. Be ready for a quiz and study guide on Monday.
• Thurs: Meet in the computer lab to begin typing the final draft of the Problem/Solution Research Essay.
  
• Fri: Root words quiz. Problem/Solution Research Essay final draft due by the end of the hour.