Jan. 16, 2018

Understanding theme in Of Mice and Men.

Read the handout "What is Social Commentary" and be prepared to discuss main ideas in Of Mice and Men.

Discuss Ch. 3

Begin Ch. 4

How does Steinbeck’s commentary on the balance of social and economic power still apply to our world today?

How do these themes continue to shape our world and our understanding of each other?

What is our responsibility to our fellow man?

How are themes conveyed through setting and character?

Jan. 11, 2018

Begin Ch. 2 of Of Mice and Men. Read remainder for homework and answer all study guide questions.

Of Mice and Men webquest

Research the answers to your questions in the assigned areas of the webquest of Of Mice and Men. Create a PowerPoint that records your answers to the questions and a one-slide collage that is described in the directions. Use the question as the heading for each slide. Each answer must be in your own words. NO cutting and pasting of answer.

Jan. 10, 2018

Read your assigned article on riding the rails: Teenagers during the depression and write notes so you can deliver an oral objective summary

Jan. 3, 2018

Today we will finish evaulating the effects of propaganda and begin a new unit that focuses on loneliness, friendship and homelessness.

Journal Response: You are going to write a want ad for a friend.

The first thing you need to do is to jot down ideas you have about what a friend's job description would contain. What does it mean to be a friend? What qualities are necessary for a person to have to be a good friend? What are the positive aspects of being a friend? What are the difficult parts of the job?

Here is an example of an ad:

Wanted: Seeking a friend who will listen even when I'm whining. Someone who will give me honest advice even though I don't want to hear it. Someone who will answer my calls/texts within five minutes and knows how to laugh at mistakes. This friend does not have to like the same food that I do but must be willing to eat at Hispanic restaurants from time to time.

Finish Hunger Games and evaluate the strength of propaganda in the light of The Crucible and other propaganda techniques.

See images here

Introduction to Of Mice and Men and John Steinbeck.

Ch. 1 vocabulary

Read Ch. 1

Dec. 19, 2017

Propaganda

Power of One video

Dec. 18, 2017

Journal: Choose one of the following about which to write:

•You pretended to be something or someone you are not.

•You became totally disillusioned with someone or something that you believed in.

•You were afraid to admit that you were wrong.

•You gave up something or someone important to you for a principle.

Finish Crucible

Discuss

Propaganda techniques

Dec. 13, 2017

Finish All American Boys Test

The Crucible Webquest Background Research

Dec. 7, 2017

Journal Entry: Copy the following quotation and comment:

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.”

― Plato

Dec. 6, 2017

Journal Entry: Copy the following quotation and comment on it:

"Living is a constant process of deciding what we are going to do." Jose Ortega y Gasset

Newsela reading

Quotations for the homeless

The Year I Was Homeless

The issue of homelessness

Young and Homeless

When Homelessness Is A Crime

Thursday: Final discussion of All American Boys. Test on Monday.

Homelessness video

dec. 5, 2017

Journal Entry: Copy the following quotation and give your opinion on it:

"Every man is entitled to be valued by his best moments." Ralph Waldo Emerson

What do the homeless want for Christmas?

Planning for Friday's gift wrapping.

Vocabulary quiz

All American Boys quizzes ch. 8-12 due today; quizzes 13-15 due Thursday

Everything's an Argument. (An argument is a claim supported by evidence.)

Ashton Kutcher's Teen Choice Awards Speech: Identifying ethos, pathos and logos

Ethos (ethics), pathos (emotion) and logos (logic) are rhetorical appeals that help writers develop an argument.

Ethos, pathos and logos each have a different meaning:

Ethos is an appeal to ethics, and it is a means of convincing someone of the character or credibility of the persuader.

Pathos is an appeal to emotion, and is a way of convincing an audience of an argument by creating an emotional response.

Logos is an appeal to logic, and is a way of persuading an audience by reason.

Example: Ethos

"Dentists all over the world recommend this toothpaste."

Pathos

"There’s no price that can be placed on peace of mind. Our advanced security systems will protect the well-being of your family so that you can sleep soundly at night."

Logos:

"The data is perfectly clear: this investment has consistently turned a profit year-over-year, even in spite of market declines in other areas."

Nov. 30, 2017

"Life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of eighty and gradually approach eighteen." Mark Twain

What do you think Twain meant by this quote? Do you agree with him? Why or why not? (Be sure to give reasons.)

Benjamin Button, the short story

Benjamin Button, the film

Nov. 28, 2017

Read holiday spending article and answer questions

Vocabulary words 41-50

How to prepare an argument

All American Boys quizzes 5 and 6.

Nov. 27, 2017

Day of the Dead Newsela article and questions

Argumentative Writing: "Students Who Lose Recess Are the Ones Who Need It Most" and "School Suspensions don't work. It's time for something better."

Using evidence to support argument

All American Boys

Nov. 21, 2017

Journal: Copy the following quote in your journal. Do you agree? Disagree? Explain.

Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough. Oprah Winfrey

Homeless in Asheville

Becoming Homes and Invisible

Viral Homeless Videos

Nov. 20, 2017

Journal: "Where there is love, there is life." Gandhi

“Act as if what you do makes a difference, it does.” William James

Copy both of the quotations in your journal and reflect on one of them. Gandi is talking about love--not in a romantic sense, but in a love for one's fellow man.

William James says what we do makes a difference. Does it?

Jason Reynolds and Brienden Kiely

Debriefing on Homeless in America

Discussion of All American Boys.

Nov. 17, 2017

Hate Crimes

Homeless in America

Nov. 16, 2017

Read All American Boys for 15 minutes. At the end of the time, you will write a one paragraph summary of what you have just read.

Career Talk video

Career website

Nov. 15, 2017

Journal entry. What does George Washington Carver mean in the following quote? How does this apply to life today?

"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong because someday in your life, you will have been all of these." George Washington Carver

Vocabulary quiz

Instagram Reading Assignment

All American Boys

Nov. 9, 2017

Webquest on persons experiencing homelessness.

Nov. 8, 2017

Journal Entry: You are going to write a letter to a "newly minted" babysitter, parent, fast-food worker, high school student of boyfriend/girlfriend. You can model your letter after the handout or use your own creativity.

Kahoot Vocabulary 31-40

Vocabulary quiz

All American Boys reading and discussion

nov. 7, 2017

Journal entry: Copy the following quotation in your journal. Explain what it means and how it applies to daily living.

I shall pass through this world but once.

If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show,

or any good thing I can do, let me do it now

for I shall not pass this way again.

Author: Stephen De Grellet

Go over Monday's reading practice.

Today's reading practice.

1) Number the paragraph

2) Look at the headline. What are the key words? Circle them.

3) Look for more key words in the passage. Circle them.

4) Underline important points.

5) Go over quiz.

All American Boys

Bystander effect

Nov. 6, 2017

Journal entry: Respond to the following quotation

"Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it." Charles Swindoll

Liz Murray interview

https://kofaavid.wordpress.com/2012/01/08/critical-reading-strategy-marking-the-text/

Active reading: "Art student tries to help the homelss by redesigning their signs"

Answer quiz questions.

Discussion of All American Boys

Nov. 3, 2017

Go over vocabulary review. Quiz on Tuesday.

View Homeless to Harvard.

Nov. 1, 2017

Find descriptions of the following characters and write the quotations and page numbers in your journal: Rashad, Quinn, Rashad's mother and father, Quinn's mother and brother.

Vocabulary 31-40

Read and discuss All American Boys

Oct. 30, 2017

Read questions from Story Corps.

Place a check next to questions that you think will provide interesting answers.

Choose a friend or relative whom you will interview between now and Thanksgiving. What questions do you think will be easy to answer? Difficult?

Journal: Choose one question to write about in your journal today.

Vocabulary 31-40

View White Like Me and consider Quinn as a character.

Discussion of All American boys

Oct. 27

Journal: Jill tells Quinn, “I don’t think most people think they’re racist. But every time something like this happens, you could, like you said, say, ‘not my problem.’ You could say, ‘it’s a one-time thing.’ Every time it happened.” Do you agree with her assessment?

Oct. 25

Open notes vocabulary quiz.

Innocence Project webquest

1. Exonherations

2. Understanding the causes 3. Witness Misidentification

4. False Confessions

5. Eddie Joe Lloyd

6. Informants

9. Know the cases

Make sure you've read through pg. 80 of All American Boys

Finish The Butler

Oct. 24, 2017

Journal: As the novel opens, Rashad states, “Let me make something clear: I didn’t need ROTC. I didn’t want to be part of no military family.” Despite his lack of desire to be involved in ROTC, he remains a member in good standing to make his father happy. What can be inferred about Rashad from this knowledge? Have you ever been in a similar situation where you remained committed to something to please the people you love? If so, share your experience.

Review vocabulary. Quiz Tuesday

Innocence Project webquest

Make sure you've read through pg. 80 of All American Boys

Oct. 20, 2017

Article about Ernest Gaines and break-in

Oct. 18, 2017

Journal: The definition of mercy is showing compassion or forgiveness toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm. Write about a time when you have given or received mercy.

Discovering points of view in All American Boys

Oct. 17, 2017

Lecture

Go over vocabulary

Turn in study guides

Complete discussion questions

Read!!!

Oct. 16, 2017

Discuss our class community service project

Writing About Race: New Book "All American Boys” Encourages ..

Discussion Questions "Friday" pgs. 5-40

Open the document and save on your computer. Type in your answers and email to swinzeler@wcpss.net

Read "Saturday" pages 43-82. Answer study guide (multiple choice) questions.

Oct. 11, 2017

Stargirl Test Today. You will need your book and a pen/pencil.

When you finish, take a copy of All Ameircan Boys, get a computer and do some research on the authors.

oct. 10, 2017

Warm-up: Read bullying article CLOSELY and answer multiple choice questions.

Complete Stargirl review sheet (both sides)

Discussion of Stargirl

Study Guide questions

Stargirl Quiz Ch. 13-24

Wednesday: Stargirl Test. Bring your books.

Oct. 9, 2017

Journal prompt: Complete the following sentence, "If and when I have children, I'll never. . . . . . . " Explain why.

Vocabulary review

Captain Barbosa

Go over Stargirl through Ch. 25. Finish novel for HW. Test on Wednesday.

Oct. 6, 2017

Journal Entry: If you were principal for a day, what changes/additions/deletions would you make to school?

Read "Skeletons Aren't Meant to Scare You on the Day of the Dead" and answer questions. (5 pts. each)

Read and answer/discuss through Ch. 25 of Stargirl.

Oct. 5, 2017

Journal: Farmer says "We do what we have to do, so that we can do what we want to do." What do you think that means? What things did the debate team "have to do"?

View and discuss The Great Debaters

Discuss Startgirl through Ch. 20.

Read Ch. 21-22 for Friday.

Oct. 3, 2017

No journal today.

Warm-up is "Mayo Clinic offers first-aid assistance via Amazon's Alexa digital assistant"

Go over Stargirl Ch. 8-16.

Read passages from Ch. 17 and answer questions.

Read through Ch. 20 by Wednesday.

Sign-up for the ASVAB with the following link: tinyurl.com/ASVABoct20. Only students who have signed-up will be permitted to test on Friday, October 20. The sign-up window will close on Friday, October 13, so please allow your students to sign-up via their cell phones or classroom laptops/computers during CAPS class today.

ASVAB Career Assessment:

When: Friday, October 20 (Early Release) at 7:25 a.m.

Where: In the Media Center

**Only students who have signed up to test will be admitted (sign-up window closes October 13)

Oct. 2, 2017

No journal today. Instead, complete handout you received coming in the door.

In praise of nonconformists

Group Think

Devil's Advocate

Culture Fit

Dominant Group

Nondominant Group

What is moral courage?

Why don't people speak up?

How can you make yourself 'a little more nonconformist'?

Sept. 29, 2017

Journal: What does it mean to trust oneself? What prevents individuals from trusting themselves? When are people most likely to trust their own intuitions and not worry about what other people might think? Is this issue more difficult for teenagers than people of other ages? Why or why not? What makes Stargirl different than the other students?

Vocabulary review

Stargirl cloze reading

Stargirl Ch. 8-15

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Sept. 28, 2017

Warm-up: Complete stargirl wordsearch and visual assignment on reverse.

read stargirl until time is up. Complete answers to study guide through ch. 20

stargirl discussion

sept. 27, 2017

Ted Talk on strengths

Journal Entry: What is your strength? Think about what you enjoy working on. Is it writing? Math? Science? Or perhaps it's not related to school. Do you enjoy making music? Cooking? Working on cars? Your strength is usually related to what brings you joy. Write about it.

Run-on sentence review

Stargirl study guide questions

Edit memoirs and continue reading Stargirl through Ch. 20.

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Sept. 26, 2017

Journal Entry: What is the origin of your name? Are you named after someone? Do you like your name? If you could choose another name, what would it be?

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From Stargirl: (pgs. 33-34)

"But the same, " said Kevin, leaning forward, "Is it real?"

"The name?" Archie shrugged. "Every name is real. That's the nature of names. When she first showed up, she called herself Pocket Mouse. Then Judpie. Then--what?--Hullygully, I believe. Now. . . ."

"Stargirl." The word came out whispery; my throat was dry.

Archie looked at me. "Whatever strikes her fancy. Maybe that's how names ought to be, heh? Why be stuck with just one your whole life?"

Vocabulary 31-40

Stargirl study guide answers through Ch. 14.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

sept. 25, 2017

Senior Pictures

Record vocabulary 21-30

Answer Stargirl questions through Ch. 12

Read Ch. 13-14 of Stargirl for homework.

Sept. 20, 2017

Journal entry: Write a journal entry all of the vocabulary words. The topic is: senior year.

Play Kahoot on vocab. 11-20

Stargirl Ch. 8-10

Mean Girls

sept. 19, 2017

Journal Entry: Write about the Ralph Waldo Emerson quotation that you chose yesterday. What does it mean? How does it relate to Stargirl?

HW: Read through Ch. 10 of Stargirl. Expect a quiz

Anti-Bully Brochure Rubric

Bully brochure template

Bully Brochure Sample

Anti-Bully Brochure Sample 2

Sept. 18, 2017

Journal Entry: Draw an emoji for your name--much like the one that Stargirl drew.

Vocabulary review

Finish viewing Pay It Forward.

Go over study guide questions.

Pay It Forward/Random Act of Kindness activity.

Use one of these quotes in your card. You can search for others by Googling Ralph Waldo Emerson.

sept. 15, 2017

Warm-up: What do you know about bullies? What do you think motivates them? Describe a time when you either witnessed or experienced a bullying incident.

sept 14, 2017

Warm-up: (no journals today) Find one partner, take a piece of large paper from the back desk and two markers. create a long text message using as many vocabulary words as possible.

Go over Ch. 5-6 of Stargirl

View Pay it forward/finish memoirs

Sept. 13, 2017

Journal Entry: What is happiness? Write your answer to this question by using as many of vocabulary words 11-20 as possible.

Go over Ch. 3-4 of Stargirl

Finish Memoirs

View Pay It Forward

Sept. 12, 2017

Journal Entry: Yesterday we talked about some random acts of kindness. Today write about one that you either received or one that you've given. Be ready to share with class.

Vocabulary 11-20

Go over Stargirl study guide Ch. 1 & 2.

HW: Ch. 3-4

View Pay It Forward for more examples of acts of random kindness and their impact on others.

Finish writing memoirs using classroom laptops.

Sept. 11, 2017

Change in routine today. Vocabulary review and quiz first, then journal warm-up

Vocabulary 1-10 review

Vocabulary 1-10 quiz

Warm-up: Discuss a time when a new student entered the classroom or cafeteria for the first time. What was the reaction you and your friends had? How did you comment about his/her clothes, voice, name, etc.?

Introduction to Stargirl

Read Stargirl Ch. 1-4; answer study guide questions.

Sept. 8, 2017

Do now: Choose 5 vocabulary words from your list, and write one sentence for each on the notecard provided. You will be asked to share at least one of your sentences.

Quiz on vocabulary 1-10 on Monday.

Finish memoirs.

Notes on memoir writing:

• Be sure to write in paragraph form. Begin a new paragraph when you change main ideas.
• Make any dialogue a paragraph of its own. For example:

We looked at the sky for a long time and watched day turn into night. The stars were beginning to come out, and the moon was on the horizon.

"We better go in now. It's getting late," she said.

Sept. 6, 2017

HW: Review vocabulary 1-10 for a quiz on Monday.

Journal entry: Explain your favorite part of Freedom Writers. Extra credit if you use our new vocabulary words.

Finish ending of Freedom Writers.

Figurative language.

Writing the memoir.

Example 1

Sept. 5, 2017

Journal entry: Write about a memorable true story that happened to you. It could be happy, sad, silly. Who was with you? Where were you? Describe the place. Tell about the other people who were involved in the activity with you.

Finish viewing Freedom Writers w/viewing guide.

september 1, 2017

Journal: Write about an object that is important to you.

We could be talking about a piece of jewelry or another item that someone gave you or a luck charm. This is something that has value not because of the cost but because of the memories and feelings associated with it.

How did you get it? How do you feel when you're with it? Where is it right now? How has it helped you? Is there a time when you really need it? What if you lost it?

Vocabulary review for quiz Tuesday

Freedom Writers

august 31, 2017

Journal: Write about a place that is special to you. Describe it as clearly as possible. Explain why it is special.

Vocabulary 6-10

My Name Is Margaret.

Freedom Writers.

August 30, 2017

• Senior meeting in auditorium
• Journal Entry: List the three most important persons in your life. Write a paragraphy (5-7 sentences) about one of them in your journal. Be sure to write the date for your journal entry.
• Finish reading and discussing excerpts from The Glass Castle.
  • Think about the following: Jeannette Walls is writing about _________________________ .
  • Most of all, she wants us (the reader) to know _____________________________ about ____________________________________________ (her subject).
  • What do you think is the most important take-away from her story?
• Vocabulary 6-10.

August 29, 2017

• Vocabulary 1-5
• Finish Part I and begin Part II of The Glass Castle.

august 28, 2017

• Please find your assigned seat.
• Fill out information sheets while I call roll.
• Go over syllabus.
• Getting to Know You Activity
• Group Getting to Know You Game
• Excerpts from The Glass Castle