Mrs. Charlton's Site

English 421:

• Today we headed to the library and students worked in partners to find information on a survival issue or strategy.  This information will be used to prepare a survival pamphlet.  Students will have time to work on these survival pamphlets in class tomorrow.
• Information and web links for the Survival Pamphlet assignment can be found on the English 421 page.
• Make sure you have read chapter 3 for tomorrow’s discussion.

English 531:

• Today we completed chapter 10 and 11 for In the Heat of the Night.
• Tomorrow students will begin a brief research assignment in regards to the novel.

Writing 421:

• Students learned about business letter format in preparation for their persuasive letter to the principal assignment.  The typed rough draft of this assignment is due tomorrow for peer editing and revision.
• Students were given class time today to work on the assignment and wasted their time — this will not happen again!  Behaviour and focus needs major improvements.
• Reminder: Reading response logs are due Thursday this week.

Good morning class.  This morning you will be creating a survival pamphlet, individually or with a partner.  Follow the directions below:

• Click into the English 421 page (linked to your left) and find the Survival Pamphlet Assignment file. 
• Read the directions and expectations for the assignment.
• Link to the survival website from within this assigment (highlighted in green). 
• When on the site, choose one of the survival topics.
• Record information you feel vital about this topic in preparation of creating a survival pamphlet.
• When you feel you have all the information you will need, you may begin creating the pamphlet.
• Make sure to record the website address, title, page title, author info and date of access so that you can give credit to the source later on.
• Have fun!  

English 421:

• Today students completed their group survival activities.
• We discussed questions and topics from chapter 2 of our novel.
• We looked at information regarding what it means to be a chorister (Jack and the other boys in his choir), and looked at the Lord of the Flies review game (that can be linked from this site).
• Homework: Read chapter 3 of the novel for Monday.

English 531:

• Today we finished reading and discussing poems by Langston Hughes (Dreams, Dream Deferred and Dream Variation).
• We read through most of chapter 10 in our novel and will complete the chapter and questions for response on Monday.

Writing 421:

• Reading response logs were due today.
• Today students completed a group activity using the “Creating an Essay” brainstorming funnel.  Groups created the bare bones of a 5 paragraph essay and shared their opinions with the class.
• We discussed some possible topics for the persuasive letter to the principal.
• Homework:  Choose a topic for your persuasive letter to the principal.

English 531:

• Today we discussed Virgil’s circumstance in 1960’s Southern USA, then we listened to Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech and responded to questions.
• We looked briefly at one of Langston Hughes’ poems.

English 421:

• Today students finished reading chapter 1 of Lord of the Flies.
• We discussed questions from chapter 1, then students participated in some group survival questions and activities.
• Homework:  Read chapter 2.

Writing 421:

• Pairs of students presented their persuasive arguments that they devloped yesterday, and the class voted on the strongest argument.
• We looked at essay format today, and did a class activity on essay brainstorming using the funnel and categorizing method (see “Creating  An Essay file on the Writing 421 page).
• Students received their Persuasive Letter to the Principal assignment.  Rough drafts are due on Tuesday, November 10.
• Reminder:  Reading response logs are to be submitte tomorrow.

English 421:

• Students’ first independent novel assignment was due today.
• We did another introductory activity for the novel — students responded to questions from the anticipation guide, stating whether they agreed or disagreed, and we had a great class discussion on some of the statements, all of which will appear in our novel.
• Homework: Read p. 1-16 from Lord of the Flies. 

English 531:

• Today we wrapped up our N-word debate discussion.
• We read chapter 9 from In the Heat of the Night, and students responded to chapter questions.

Writing 421:

• Today we discussed persuasive techniques writers and advertisers used. 
• Students took notes on persuasive writing and persuasive strategies.
• Students then worked in partners to create a persuasive argument for why the two of them should be given special treatment this week — no homework and treats every day.  Tomorrow pairs of students will present their arguments to the class, and the class will vote on the most convincing.  May the best team win!
• Reminder:  Reading response logs are due the last day of the week (which is Thursday this week due to Colonel Gray’s PD day).

English 531:

• Today we finished watching the n-word debate episode of Boston Public.  Students responded to questions about the show, then we had a class discussion on use of the word.
• We will conintue with our discussion tomorrow and begin chapter 9 of In the Heat of the Night.

English 421:

• Students had independent reading time.  First independent novel study assignment is due tomorrow.
• Students were introduced to background information on our novel Lord of the Flies.  They then participated in a “class survival” activity where they had to complete a small task with minimal materials in just 3 minutes to see how many of them could survive — some students showed great leadership and initiative. 

Writing 421:

• We began class with several rounds of “Would you rather?…” where students had to choose an option and defend their choices.  This was done as an introduction to persuasive writing.
• Students participated in a group activity to try and develop a strong argument to convince the rest of the class why their group should not have to complete homework this week — there were some strong and interesting arguments presented.  We will discuss some persuasive strategies students could have used in tomorrow’s class.
• Homework:  Find a persuasive piece from television, radio, a billboard or from a magazine and discuss who is trying to persuade you, what they are trying to persuade you to do, and decide whether it is convincing.  (Fill in responses on the homework sheet received in class.)  Be prepared to share your findings tomorrow.
• Reminder:  Reading response logs will be taken in at the end of the week (which is Thursday this week).

Happy Halloween everyone!  Have a safe and festive weekend.

English 421:

• Today students had some extended silent reading time.
• We then discussed the basics of debating.
• Students participated in a round of “Would You Rather” where they had to choose an option and be able to defend their choices.
• We discussed a debate topic from our story, “Borders” = Native Canadians should be able to cross international borders without having to declare their citizenship.  Students developed arguments for and against this statement.
• Character description paragraphs were due today.
• Reminder:  First independent novel report due Tuesday.

English 531:

• October portfolio items were due today.
• We began watching an episode of Boston Public which dealt with the n-word debate.  We will continue viewing and responding to this episode on Monday, and we will also connect the issue to those present in our novel.

Writing 421:

• Reading response logs were due today.
• Monster creations and diary entries were due today.
• Students used their monster creations to create a group monster with its own characteristics.  Groups shared their creations with the rest of the class  — how spooky!
• Monday — on with persuasive writing.

English 531:

• Today we reviewed some of the characters from the novel, then read chapter 8 and students had time to begin questions for response for this chapter.

English 421:

• Students had silent reading time.
• We reviewd the story for yesterday’s class, “Borders” p.79 of Sightlines, then students mapped out the geographical locations mentioned in the story (the American and Canadian borders, the duty free shop, the museum, the water tower, etc.).
• Homework:  Character description paragraphs due tomorrow.  See a sample paragraph on the English 421 page.
• Reminder:  First independent novel activity is due on Tues, Nov. 3.

Writing 421:

• Today students created a monster.  Each student brainstormed ideas to form his/her own monster, then sketched and coloured it, and created a list of the monster’s specifics: name, favourite food, its greatest fear, favourite song, where it lives or is from, and one unique descriptive quality about it. 
• Students are to write a diary entry from the perspective of their monsters (at least 1/2 page in length).
• Reminder:  Reading response logs are due tomorrow.  This will be the last possible opportunity to submit any late log entries.  You may now write these in response to any materials you are reading OR about your writing (the process, past assignments or projects, strengths and weaknesses, etc). 

English 421:

• Today students had silent reading time — first independent novel assignment is due on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
• We discussed ideas about both physical and psychological borders, then read the story “Borders” from p.79 of Sightlines.  Students are to finish reading the story tonight.
• Character description assignment due Friday — see details on last night’s blog post.

English 531:

• Today we looked at another one of Maxine Tyne’s poems, “Racism”, and students responded to a few questions.
• We read chapter 7 from In the Heat of the Night, and students responded to questions in their booklets.
• Reminder: October portfolio items are due on Friday.

Writing 421:

• We talked briefly about the 4 major genres of writing, and students recorded notes on personal/narrative writing.
• Students participated in a circular writing activity where they each wrote one sentence of a story, then passed the story along so others could add to it.  This activity was really enjoyable, and many creative stories were produced.  We might share more of these tomorrow.
• Reminder: Reading response logs are due on Friday — this week is the last opportunity to get credit for any entries past due.

English 531:

• Today we read a personal essay, on a handout, entitled “I Am Maxine Tynes”.  Students responded to a few questions about the essay, then we read a poem by Maxine Tynes and discussed its meaning.  These items connected to our novel study because Tynes struggled with growing up as a black woman in Nova Scotia during the 50’s and 60’s.
• Reminder: October portfolio materials are due on Friday and all work from October must be submitted.

English 421:

• Students had silent reading time.  Their first independent novel study is due Tues, Nov. 3.
• Today we discussed questions for response from last night’s homework.  We mapped out some of the character traits for “Anna”, from yesterday’s handout.
• Students were assigned a character description paragraph.  They must choose a character from one of the Sightlines stories we have read, (“The Ninny”, “A Man Who Had No Eyes”, “Lysandra’s Poem”, “The Bicycle”, ”The Possibility of Evil” and “Borders”) and write a paragraph about the character.  This assignment is due on Friday.  Paragraphs should include the following information:

1. the character’s name
2. the character’s role/relationship to others, in the story
3. a physical description of the character
4. the character’s personality traits with proof from the story (which are developed through:actions, thoughts, feelings, how others react to him/her)

Writing 421:

• Today students watched a slideshow poem presentation and then wrote a journal response about the feelings/emotions, and their thoughts of the poem.  We brainstormed words to describe the poem, and students shared their best words.
• Students had a chance to finish up their 6 Trait evaluations of an excerpt from “The Kite Runner”.  If students did not complete this activity in class, they are asked to do so for homework and submit tomorrow.
• 6 Trait Pamphlets were due today.
• Reminder: Reading response logs will be submitted on Friday.  This is the last week for accepting back-dated entries.