Seniors: Last Thursday 10/30, my two senior classes hosted Franco Majok from Village Help for South Sudan. Franco told us about his experience in Sudan and how his organization promotes education, sanitation, housing, and various other humanitarian issues. Many students asked many meaningful questions. It was an eye-opening experience for us for global and cultural awareness. Students spent two months fundraising and we were happy to give a donation to Franco's organization.

Here are some pictures from our day.

Film as Literature: Here are the links for most of the Silent Films created in class. Enjoy!

"Hunted" by Gianna, Manny, and John
"A Delicious Chase" by Seth, Aiden, Nick, Zach
"The Chair" by Ally, Tristan, Brooke, Julia, and Kelly
"The Misunderstanding" by Myna, Ashley, Natalie, Alyssa, Thomas, and Connor
"The Big Chase"

Freshmen: The Walls family are in Welch, West Virginia. This won't be their last stop, but it will prove to be the most difficult place out of all the places to live.

What we've been discussing in class:

• Motifs: The Joshua Tree, the fire, and the "skedaddle"
• Students have a graphic organizer and we have discussed how these motifs have exemplified how the Walls' children have struggled and would prefer security over freedom.
• How education is a way out of poverty
• The destructive ways of dad's alcoholism and mom's selfishness
• General reactions to the crazy life of Jeannette

Vocab Note: Freshmen have also finished Unit 1 Vocabulary--please remember to keep studying these words. Each unit builds upon the last unit. Students should also print out their own vocab packets found on my Edline page.

Check out a visual the WALLS FAMILY SKEDADDLE TRIPLINE<--click link :-) 


Seniors: We are halfway through Valentino's journey in What is the What. Today we had the difficult task of figuring of what the "What" is. Some students compared the story of the "What" to the biblical story of Adam and Eve. The "what" is the "forbidden fruit" and the "cattle" is the fruit that God allows them to eat. Students offered that the "What" is the temptation and greed of human nature. They discussed how some people choose the What and some choose the cattle. Our discussion revolved around violence as a reoccurring part of all societies (not just in Africa and not just in the US). Many groups discussed the psychological part of violence and how nature vs. nurture plays a role in whether people will be violent or not. 

Other Notes: 

• Students fundraising efforts are successful. We are anticipating Franco Majok's arrivial. Please visit Edline page to find to organizations dedicated to the improvement of South Sudan.
• College Essays and Appointments: Remember to schedule a time to meet after school to discuss college essays. You can give me a draft to edit prior to the meeting or we can meet to discuss essay strategies and topics. Don't wait too long!
• Vocab: Students should be working on Unit 2.

Film as Lit: Students are either finishing the filming process or editing Silent Films on the computers. Stay tuned!

2014-2015 School Year!

Welcome back to all my students for the 2014-2015 school year!

Film as Lit: We started watching silent films with The Kid. The class decided our next silent film would be The General featuring Buster Keaton. We will follow by watching The Artist (2005) and then we will be creating our own silent films.

Freshmen English: This year we kick off with The Glass Castle, a memoir of a dysfunctional modern family. This novel deals with serious issues of alcoholism, bullying, child neglect but also family love, overcoming hardships, and freedom. Students have received their reading and homework schedule that can be found on my Edline page. Throughout the unit, students will be participating in thematic discussions, character study, and motif analysis. 

Senior English: Seniors have begun reading What is the What which is an autobiographical novel of Valentino Achak Deng's life and written by Dave Eggers. Students will be studying the civil war and genocide in South Sudan. We will also be hosting Franco Majok, the executive director for Village Help for South Sudan, on October 30th. During September and October we will be fundraising to donate to his foundation which helps those living in South Sudan. 

And D Block...

Thanks for a fun year :-) 

Freshmen in C-Block...

...you did it! On to sophomore year soon :-) 

English I F Block

Thanks for a great year to my F-Block Class!!

Fourth Term and Springtime are here...let's make sure to stay on track in school and "focus on what matters!"

Freshmen English: We began To Kill a Mockingbird this week. It is imperative that students read assigned chapters for homework. While it is optional to take notes, I would highly recommend it as students will better understand the text and students will earn bonus points. Each class will begin with a reading quiz and follow-up with a discussion facilitation (with the exception of C-block). Consequently, if you do not read, you will earn a zero on your reading quiz and then also a low score for participation that day.

Sophomores: We are wrapping up The Things They Carried Unit by comparing the story to the film, The Hurt Locker. Next week we will analyze nonfiction articles and transition to the next literary unit. Important Reminder: Biographies were due last week, submissions are still open. TTTC Essays are due by Friday April 11.

Chinese Studies: We began reading Snow Flower and Secret Fan. After conducting research on Chinese culture, especially footbinding, we have a better understanding of what the main characters in the story experience.  

English I Creative Writing and Illustrating

Freshmen English: Below are the English I setting descriptions that emulated Steinbeck's style of writing in his first two pages of Of Mice and Men. 

The Chinese New Year

Chinese Studies: The Chinese celebrate the Chinese New Year beginning in January. Each Zodiac sign represents an animal that corresponds with a year in the 12-year-cycle of the Chinese New Year. Below are the Zodiac signs that are associated with a person's birthday. The Zodiac sign is supposed to match up with a person's personality. 

Below are the different signs and the students' Zodiac Signs:

Classes Update!

Freshmen English: We are finally reading about Lennie Smalls and his companion, George in Of Mice and Men! Last class, students emulated Steinbeck's writing on the setting of Salinas, California by choosing to describe a setting of their choice in order to learn how to "paint a picture" with words. Pictures and excerpts of student work to follow.

Sophomore English: We began studying and discussing the Vietnam War and The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien. Sophomores will also be preparing for the MCAS that is coming up in March. Remember, SOAPSTone as a strategy for analyzing nonfiction and poetry.

Chinese Language&Literature: Ni hao! We have begun studying Mandarin through Rosetta Stone and drew our Zodiac Characters in class. So far, so good! We are looking forward to meeting students from China who will be visiting in March. 

Midyear Exams

All Classes: Make sure to study for Midyear Exams using the Carousel notes from class along with your study guide.