Thursday, October 6, 2016 (Day #32)

Post date: Oct 6, 2016 7:48:44 PM

It started off so beautiful, and quickly it appears that we're going to get more rain. Yuck! I'm sick of this wet weather.

In Literature 9 we completed #3-4 of the Characterization Workshop. Then we reviewed the ironies that appear in the story "Cask of the Amontillado". We will get to mood and suspense tomorrow and tie it in with "The Interlopers." We also watched the music video by Toby Keith and his spoof on "Cask of the Amontillado." These allusions are important as we become more proficient readers.

In English 10 we started with a distractions exercise. I know that most teenagers believe that they can study better with "noise" on, but the research definitely shows that our brains can not process two stimuli at the same time. I also know that that piece of information fell on deaf ears. We then have five more vocabulary presentations (Appearances and Attitudes). We started our listening notes and wrote down the six blocks to listening. We tried to give directions to both Sheldon and Sibley, but the receiver had to give NO feedback (arms cross, face impassive, and no cues). It's not easy. For tomorrow, everyone is to work on a complements review worksheet.

In American Literature we started first comparing Anne Bradstreet's poem (Upon the Burning of the House) to modern people who might have experienced the same kind of loss. Using a highlighter we indicated which phrases or words might apply to anyone (across time) that would feel the same way. We then also discussed the six principles of Puritanism and discovered that Anne is not truly a Puritan author. She wrote about daily events rather than salvation, love of her husband rather than God, etc. We then played team Kahoot in preparation for tomorrow's vocabulary test. I distributed flashcards to help, and asked that everyone highlight the words that they DON'T know. Why study the ones you do? Test tomorrow along with mini-conferences on the Mayflower Project.

A lot of activities tonight - home cross-country meet, volleyball in Okoboji, and play practice. I hope everyone gets a chance to have something good to eat and a little time to relax. Happy Thursday!