B4, English 10 Wednesday

Today, you handed in you letter from last time. You also got your disclosure document (finally).

I handed out a calendar (it's tan, and I don't have it in pdf form yet). Then we had a "quick thoughts" activity. These should be scored and in the computer. The letters will be graded in about a week. You won't see them back, however, until the end of the year...

Wednesday, Honors English

1. Today we reviewed the disclosure document. This was an open disclosure document, "open neighbor" discussion worth 10 points. It's labeled as quiz in the computer. It had 2 bonus points.

2. We did a quick read on Frankenstein today. Highly recommend this book. Mr. Nagro's classes will read this book term 2.

3. We discussed the honors outside reading requirement and the outside reading list. We also looked at this list.

4. We discussed what a creative project might be...

5. Critical vs casual reading... The Phippwick Pages.

Tuesday, English 10

We started today with a class activity called "Quick Thoughts" where you quickly thought about your favorites. Then we shared them and you looked for people you had things in common with.

After that, we turned in the homework from last time. Then we had a quiz on the disclosure document. If you do NOT have a disclosure document, you may print a copy. It's available in 2 pages. Page 1 and page 2.

Next time, you need to bring a book. It can be any book, but one that you have read and enjoyed will make the assignment much more enjoyable. Bring a book you really, really liked. :o)

See you on Thursday!

Honors Monday

Your homework, "Wanna Talk About Me" paper was due today. We had a class share and discussion of the papers. Then we had a quick read.

After that we discussed "what made an honors student" and how self-selection and wanting to be in a class made a big difference in changing the tone of a class. Homework for the day is the daily write "using the class as text" located here.

Homework on a FRIDAY!

Today, we had a quick read! We read a passage and answered questions. Come see me ASAP if you need to make it up.

Then we had a lesson on how to address envelopes. Everyone in the class got an envelope. The return address is your HOME address. The SENDER address is YOU and
TIMPANOGOS HIGH SCHOOL
1450 N 200 E
OREM, UT 84057

Your homework is to write a letter to yourself. Some helpful ideas include...
What are your hopes and dreams for this year? What are your grand schemes? Who do you plan to spend your time with? Who do you hope to meet? What are your goals? Expectations?

Day 1, Honors English 10

I'm so excited to welcome you to my honors English 10 class this year!! We'll have a fantastic time together discussing BIG philosophical ideas.

Today we had a quick write where we wrote about your "favorite" book and your best assignment. You also wrote about where you might use a little English improvement.  Then we discussed existential ideas and how to ask the "right" questions. We talked about philosophers and how they impacted writing and question everything. Descartes was famous for saying, "I think, therefore I am" and other philosophers through the ages explored the question of "who am I?," "where am I going?," and other vitally important questions. The BIG questions of life. The existence questions.

Your homework then is to write about yourself. Write about who you are, in terms of what moves you. I played some "theme" songs and we discussed the kind of people were in the songs. I played:

• "Summer Girl" by Jessica Andrews
• "Billionaire" by Bruno Marks
• "Imagine" by John Lennon
• "The Story of my Life" by Neil Diamond
• "Who I Am" by Jessica Andrews
• "Man in the Mirror" by Michael Jackson
• "Who We Are" by Lifehouse

First Day of Class!

Welcome to English 10! I can't tell you how excited I am to be teaching this year. Today we started with a "quick write" about your previous English experiences. See the prompt here. Then we discussed where we are going this year in English and why that matters.

After that, we had a lesson on inference using Brad Paisley's "Welcome to the Future." We watched the video and looked specifically for symbols and items that were telling us things we could "read."

Next time we will use this in the lesson.

Can't wait to see you in class!

This Just In...

I just finished reading Suzanne Collin's Mockingjay. For my review, see my reading blog, The Phippwick Pages.

Summer Lovin'!

I hope you are reading this summer. I'm half-way through my 100 books of summer. Keep up with your reading goals...

Schedule for the End of the Year

Sophomore English

May 11th Read "Piano" by D.H. Lawrence and "Those Winter Sundays" by Robert Hayden.

May 13th Purple Study Guide on "Piano" and "Those Winter Sundays" due.
Start "The Thrill of the Grass"

May 17th present book reports for extra credit.

May 19th Book Reports DUE

May 21st get "The Thrill of the Grass" take home final exam.