"The Interloper"

Good Morning!
My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion,
some compassion, some humor, and some style.
                      MAYA ANGELOU 

Please get your assigned netbook when you arrive to class.

NOTE: Please put your cell phone entirely away when you enter the classroom and keep it put away until you leave.

  1.  Independent Reading -- Please have your independent reading book out and read for approximately 10 minutes while your netbook powers up.

2.  ENGLISH JOURNAL Assignment:  Write a brief essay on "The Interlopers."  Begin with a statement of the theme. What does the author want to tell us? Provide a brief synopsis and include details of the setting which contribute to the theme. Explain why the story ends the way it does. Be sure to refer to the title and author at the beginning.    (Identify this assignment with the title of the story.)

HOMEWORK:  Independent Reading

"The Interloper"

Good Morning!
The full-orbed moon with unchanged ray
Mounts up the eastern sky,
Not doomed to these short nights for aye,
But shining steadily.

She does not wane, but my fortune,
Which her rays do not bless,
My wayward path declineth soon,
But she shines not the less.

And if she faintly glimmers here,
And paled is her light,
Yet alway in her proper sphere
She's mistress of the night.
                                                        -- Henry David Thoreau

 

1.  Independent Reading -- Please have your independent reading book out and read for approximately 10 minutes.

2.  "The Interloper"-- You have spent a few days discussing "The Interloper" in groups, including completing additional questions.  Today, I am going to invite a few groups up to discuss their details of setting.  Another group will ask this group questions, so all groups will have an opportunity to participate either with presenting details or asking questions of the group. 

*I will collect the assignments that you have completed on "The Interloper."

HOMEWORK:  Independent Reading

"The Interlopers"

Good Morning!

  TO THE MOON
Art thou pale for weariness
     Of climbing heaven and gazing on the earth,
Wandering companionless
      Among the stars that have a different birth,
And ever changing, like a Joyless eye
     That finds no object worth its constancy?

                                             By Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)
 
              

1.  Independent Reading -- Please have your independent reading book out and read for approximately 10 minutes.

2.  "The Interloper" -- On Friday you worked in groups to interpret the details on setting that you annotated in the course of reading this story. Today, your group will finish writing the group questions and tomorrow each group will discuss with the class the details of setting and how they contribute to theme.  There are additional questions on the story which you can get started on in your group and finish for homework.

HOMEWORK: 1. Finish questions on "The Interloper"
                         2. Independent reading

"The Interloper"

 Good Morning!

            
               So here hath been dawning
Another blue Day:
Think wilt thou let it
Slip useless away.
                             --Thomas Carlyle

1.  Independent Reading -- Please have your independent reading book out and read for approximately 10 minutes.

2.  "The Interloper"  -- You have annotated the story as it was being read for details that describe setting, and you explained the significance of the details in your annotations.  Today we will form groups which hopefully will be the groups that you will work in at several points. In your group, you will complete a few assignments on "The Interloper." AND, your group will present to the class your responses to details concerning setting.

HOMEWORK:  Independent Reading

"The Interloper"

Good Morning!
 That time of year thou mayst in me behold
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,
Bare ruined choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.

                                                                                           (Sonnet 73, Shakespeare)

  

1.  Independent Reading -- Please have your independent reading book out and read for approximately 10 minutes.

2.  "The Interloper"  -- You are annotating the text as the story is being read for details that describe setting.  You are explaining their significance in your notes. When we finish reading the story, I am going to put you into groups which hopefully will be groups that you will work in at several points. In your group, you will complete a few assignments on "The Interloper." AND, your group will present to the class your responses to details concerning setting.

HOMEWORK:  Independent Reading

"The Interloper"

Good Morning to the first day of Autumn!

  On the autumnal equinox, day and night are each about 12 hours long (with the actual time of equal day and night, in the Northern Hemisphere, occurring a few days after the autumnal equinox). The Sun crosses the celestial equator going southward; it rises exactly due east and sets exactly due west.

1.  Independent Reading -- Please have your independent reading book out and read for approximately 10 minutes. 

2. "The Interlopers" -- We will read this story together and pause for you to annotate chunks of the text.  When we finish reading the story, I am going to put you into groups which hopefully will be groups that you will work in at several points. In your group, you will complete a few assignments on "The Interloper."

HOMEWORK:  Independent Reading

"The Interlopers"

Good Morning!

 

1.  Independent Reading -- Please have your independent reading book out and read for approximately 10 minutes.  

2.  Setting -- Yesterday you created a description of setting with either a joyful tone or gloomy tone.  Today we will share our creative effort.  Many are very good!  Some volunteers will help with the reading.

3.  "The Interlopers"  -- We will read this story together, stopping to annotate and discuss parts.  

HOMEWORK:  Independent Reading  

Setting

Good Morning!

    I hope that you had a great weekend! 

1.  Independent Reading -- Please have your independent reading book out and read for approximately 15 minutes.  That is a little bit more time than usual, but for this first day I want to emphasize the idea of reading (and being prepared to read).

2.  Friday you responded to the story "The Sniper" by writing a paragraph in your English Journal, discussing setting, synopsis, imagery, conflict, irony, and theme. What is the theme to this story?
I will collect the handout that you completed.   

3. Narrative Unit -- We begin this unit by examining how setting contributes to the theme of a story.  Before we begin with the story "The Interlopers," I would like you to write a description of a setting according to the tone that you want to convey.  I will divide you into two groups. Group 1 will describe a setting that conveys optimism, joy, love, peacefulness, etc.  Group 2 will describe a setting that describes the opposite  -- danger, fear, anxiety, sadness, pessimism, etc.  To provide some structure or framework here, the scene is at the beach.  

Setting

HOMEWORK: Independent Reading

"The Sniper"

Good Morning!

     I'll tell you how the sun rose -
It rose a ribbon at a time -
The steeples swam in amethyst -
The news like squirrels ran.
                                      Emily Dickenson

1.  Independent Reading -- The library opens today.  If you have not made a selection, select something from our school library.  We will begin required independent reading on Monday.  I will give you some time at the beginning of class for reading, so be prepared with your book.

2.  Yesterday, you read and annotated the story "The Sniper."   In your English Journal, please write a paragraph on this story and include the following in your discussion:
                    * setting
                    * brief synopsis
                    * use of imagery
                    * conflict  (internal and external)
                    * irony
                    * theme

 (Be sure to label this entry with the title of the story)
The Sniper

3.  HOMEWORK:  INDEPENDENT READING BOOK

"The Sniper"

Good Morning!

     Busy old fool, unruly sun,

Why dost thou thus,
Through windows, and through curtains call on us? 

                                                           from "The Sun Rising" (John Donne)

1.  Independent Reading -- The library opens tomorrow.  If you have not made a selection, select something from our school library.  We will begin required independent reading on Monday.  I will give you some time at the beginning of class for reading, so be prepared with your book.

2.  "The Sniper" -- before we begin with one of this unit's narrative texts, we are going to practice some of the literary terms that we reviewed on Monday by reading this story by O'Flaherty.  Quietly read the story and ANNOTATE for imagery, significant details, etc. Respond to the questions on the handout.  Compare your responses with a partner, especially about the story's theme.  We will then review as a class.

HOMEWORK:  Independent Reading Book

Netbooks

Good Morning!

“Ah Sunflower, weary of time, Who countest the steps of the sun; Seeking after that sweet golden clime Where the traveler’s journey is done;” (William Blake)


1.  Independent Reading -- The library  opens this Friday.  If you have not made a selection by then, select something from our school library.


2. Netbooks today --  We are going to try again today to create an English Journal.  You only have to share this document ONCE with me at abaltrushes@gmail.com. NAME this document Period ___ English Journal.  The name is to be EXACTLY as I just indicated. On this document, place your name and period at the top left.  Then type ENGLISH JOURNAL in the middle.  The most recent assignment will always go at the top.


3. English Journal Assignment: Cut and paste the quoted line at the top and explain the poetic devices used in the quoted line at the top.  Include a discussion of symbolism, personification, and alliteration.  (These are terms that we reviewed Monday.)  After that, give examples of five symbols.  

HOMEWORK:  Independent Reading Book

English Journal

Good Morning!

“Ah Sunflower, weary of time, Who countest the steps of the sun; Seeking after that sweet golden clime Where the traveler’s journey is done;” (William Blake)


1.  Independent Reading -- The library  opens this Friday.  If you have not made a selection by then, select something from our school library.


2. Netbooks today --  Today I will assign you a netbook, and we will create an English Journal.  You only have to share this document ONCE with me at abaltrushes@gmail.com. NAME this document Period ___ English Journal.  On this document, place your name and period at the top left.  Then type ENGLISH JOURNAL in the middle.  The most recent assignment will always go at the top.

3. English Journal Assignment: Cut and paste the quoted line at the top and explain the poetic devices used in the quoted line at the top.  Include a discussion of symbolism, personification, and alliteration.  (These are terms that we reviewed yesterday.)  After that, give examples of five symbols.  

HOMEWORK:  Independent Reading Book

Narrative -- Defining Terms

Good Morning!

I hope that you have had a great weekend!

1.  Independent Reading Book -- please make a selection asap.

2.  NARRATIVE UNIT -- today we will begin the first unit of study which is on the genre of narrative texts.  Today we will begin by reviewing terms which will be on a final assessment for this narrative unit.  With a partner, review the terms by providing definitions for the terms.  We will then review together.

HOMEWORK:  Independent Reading Book 

Student Interview

Good Morning!

I hope that it has been a great week for you!

1.  Independent Reading -- Please have your independent reading book on Monday.

2.  Netbook Agreement

3.  Interviewing a classmate -- We will finish this week with another getting acquainted activity.  I would like you to interview a fellow classmate.  You and your partner will share this interview with the class today. (Handout)

4. Narrative Unit -- Next week we begin our units of study with Narrative.

HOMEWORK:  Independent Reading Book

Six Word Memoirs

Good Morning!

It's been a great first few days and I hope you think so too!

1.  Netbook Agreement:  Please return this if you have not done 
     so yet.

2.  Period 1:  Letter of introduction which was assigned for homework.  I will collect this today.

3.  Six Word Memoir:  We will finish this today.  Illustrate the memoir.  Make it attractive! 

4. Syllabus

5.  Independent Reading Book for next week. 

Textbook Checkout

Good Morning!

I hope that the first day of school was great for you!

1.  Textbook Checkout -- Please have your schedule with you for textbook checkout. You may drop your texts off at your lockers after you checked them out but please return to class promptly.

2.  Netbook Agreement -- I will collect that from you.  If you do not have it, please return it tomorrow with parent signature.

3.   Six Word Memoir
I know that you probably did a six word memoir last year, but I believe that there is a year's difference in you between now and last year.  So . . .  with the time left today, I would like you to think of six words that are expressive of something you think, believe, feel, or see about the world, etc.  We will finish this tomorrow.
 

Welcome!

WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL!

I hope that you had an awesome summer vacation and are ready to get back to the wonderful business of learning!

1.  INTRODUCTION:  Ms. Baltrushes or Ms. B

2.  ATTENDANCE:  I do have a seating chart ready which is arranged alphabetically.

3.  Netbook Agreement -- this is mandatory.  We will be using the netbooks later this week.  Please return this form tomorrow.

4.  GETTING ACQUAINTED ACTIVITY--  Think of one word that describes something that you did over the summer and arrange yourselves alphabetically around the classroom with the first letter of this word. You will be telling the class about your word. 

5.  Letter of Introduction:  Write a letter addressed to me telling me what you would like me to know about you as a student in my class.  Write one page.  You might include the following:

                        *Your strengths or weaknesses
                        * Likes or dislikes
                        * Interests
                        * Family information
                        * Your goals
                        * Your learning style
                        * What you feel passionate about


6.  NOTE:  Tomorrow library for textbook checkout