INDEPENDENT READING
 

ALL UNIT RESOURCES & HANDOUTS

UPCOMING ASSESSMENTS

April 15- Grammar Quiz (complex/compound sentences)
April 16- Free Choice IR Project due
April 18 - Vocabulary Quiz (Ch. 7-8 words cumulative)
June 4 - Historical Fiction IR Project due

August

• Welcome!
• Creative writing: start with the words "I Am..." and GO!
• Go over course syllabus: course overview and expectations

• Finish the Who Are You? survey and "I Am..." creative writing
• Get course syllabus signed by Monday, August 20
• Review for Beowulf quiz-- Monday!

• Take up survey and creative writing homework
• Assigning seats
• Finish going over course syllabus

• Get course syllabus signed by Monday, August 21
• Review for Beowulf quiz-- Monday!

• Minni-lesson: How regular reading can make me a better person
• Continued discussion of Independent Reading
• Introduce WIKI for reviewing Beowulf: A New Telling

• Get course syllabus signed by Monday, August 20
• Review for Monday's Beowulf quiz using WIKI
• Begin selection process for Historical Fiction Book

• Beowulf Quiz-- on Quia or paper by request
• Introduce summer reading book review assignment and sample student book review
• Review writing process and get started on brainstorming

• Finish brainstorming and organized outline for summer reading book review
• Have you selected your historical fiction?

• Mini-lesson: Verb tense consistency and editing as you draft!
• Draft book review (in Microsoft Word)

• Finish draft of book review

• Mini-lesson: What a strong vocabulary can do for you
• Introduce vocabulary workbook and weekly routine
• Explain how to use Self Writing Conference guide to make revisions and corrections-- make the review your best work!!
• Revise and finish final draft of book review

• Revise and finish final draft of book review
• Have you gotten your historical fiction?

• Turn in final book review
• Beowulf background day: why is Nye's book a "retelling?"
  • Facts about Beowulf handout

• Have you gotten your historical fiction for Monday?
• Have you started your vocabulary exercises for Monday (Ch. 1, pg. 8-9)?

• Mini-lesson: What it takes to make a good team player
• Introduce "Digging Into Beowulf" group assignment
• Groups assigned analytical angle (questions) and begin digging!

• Must obtain historical fiction book by Monday!
• Must complete first two Ch. 1 vocabulary exercises(pg. 8-9) for Monday!

• Check over Ch. 1 vocabulary exercises p.8-9
• Discuss strategies for studying vocabulary words
• Groups continue PowerPoint presentation on  "Digging into Beowulf" topic

• Read Historical Fiction or "free" novel (IR)-- at least 30 minutes

• Homework reading page number check
• Finish Beowulf PowerPoint Presentation-- practice!

• Make sure your group is ready for tomorrow's presentation; practice your part!
• Read IR book at least 30 minutes
• Finish other practice vocabulary exercises-- online and in booklet

• Groups1-3 present their topics and lead discussion

• Groups 4-6 present their topics and lead discussion

• Read IR book at least 30 minutes
• Finish other practice vocabulary exercises-- online and in booklet, study flashcards, etc. in prep for quiz tomorrow!
• NOTE: Click HERE for answers to "Sentence Check 2" and "Final Check" if you need to complete them in your book because of difficulty with online exercises.

• Vocabulary Quiz: Chapter 1 words-- On QUIA
• Independent Reading

• Read IR book at least 2 hours by Tuesday

September

LABOR DAY!

• Create One Note notebook called "LA- Writing"
• Introduce the parts of a strong paragraph
• Identify and highlight in different colors the different elements of a sample paragraph

• Read 30 minutes in IR book!

• Review "theme"
• Mini-lesson: Topic Sentence. Practice crafting a clear topic sentence (or set of sentences) as a class

• Finish creating a topic sentence for a paper on Robert Nye's concept of a hero in Beowulf.

• Discuss homework and begin class paragraph (Use this blank "Practice Paragraph" handout).
  
• Mini-lesson: Paraphrasing (one method of presenting supporting evidence from literature)

• Finish creating a paraphrase of the assigned scene to add to the class paper on Robert Nye's modern hero in his novel Beowulf

• Homework check and discussion
• Mini-lesson: Quoting (second method of presenting supporting evidence from literature)
• Practice incorporating a quotation into a sentence

• Finish finding and shaping a quote to fit a lead-in sentence, and add it to the class paper on Robert Nye's modern hero in his novel Beowulf

• Homework check and discussion
• Mini-lesson: Commentary (explaining your supporting evidence)
• Practice creating commentary to explain a piece of supporting evidence

• Add an explanation of the selected supporting evidence to the class paper on Robert Nye's modern hero in his novel Beowulf. Make sure your logic clearly links the evidence back to the topic sentence!

• Homework check and discussion
• Mini-lesson: Conclusions (wrap up your paper)
• Practice creating conclusions

• Add conclusions to the class paper on Robert Nye's modern hero in his novel Beowulf. Make sure you move from the examples back to the big picture!

• Homework check and discussion
• Mini-lesson: The Hook (grab your reader)
• As a class, select one "hook" and add to our paper about Beowulf.
• Head the paper in MLA format and copy/paste; save as "essay template" in My Documents

Family Night: No homework

Enjoy some well-deserved rest and relaxation!

• Introduce First Formal Essay Assignment-- click HERE for handout with guidelines, outline, and rubric
• Introduce MLA format for essays

• Select broad topic from list and start with brainstorming-- ideas and examples
• Decide upon your narrow thesis and write it down in a clear statement (a few sentences) to share with teacher tomorrow

• Conference with teacher over your thesis statement
• Begin structured outline with all elements of paragraph

• Vocabulary Workbook: Chapter 2 exercises, pg. 12-13 (Words in Context and Matching to Definitions)
• Read in IR book

• Vocabulary: Chapter 2 exercise check
• Try to finish outline and begin drafting essay

• Read IR Book
• Work on remaining Vocabulary Chapter 2 Exercises (due Friday): "Sentence Check 1" is only in your book, but please complete "Sentence Check 2" and "Final Check" online-- the link is posted to my Vocabulary webpage. Review Chapter 1 words also!

• Drafting essay
• Writing groups assigned

• Finish essay draft and email to writing partners-- convert to "Journal Note Writer" first
• Read IR Book
• Work on remaining Vocabulary Chapter 2 Exercises (due Friday): Review Chapter 1 words, too!

• Mini-lesson: Revision Conferences
• Hold revision conference with writing group

• Finish suggested essay content revisions and email fresh draft to writing partners-- convert to "Journal Note Writer" first
• Work on remaining Vocabulary Chapter 2 Exercises (due Friday): Review Chapter 1 words, too!

• Mini-lesson: Editing conferences
• Hold editing conference with writing group: Editing Checklist

• Finish Chapter 2 exercises (check answers via link from "vocabulary" page)
• Review Chapter 1 AND 2 flashcards for tomorrow's vocabulary quiz!!

• Vocabulary: Chapter 2 quiz
• Independent Reading: mini-lesson on writing the essay letter (start with outline)
• Business Letter Format HERE
• Letter Content HERE

• Edit your paper for grammar/mechanics according to peer editor's comments
• Reread essay one last time for final proofreading
• Email final draft of essay to Ms. White by Sunday night
• Read IR book

• Grammar mini-lesson: rewording "awkward" sentences
• Celebrate end of Beowulf and essay unit!
• Kick off Short Story unit: create writing territories (teacher will demonstrate) in new "short story" section of LA-Writing folder in One Note

• Finish writing territories
• Work on IT letter-- due Friday!

• Discuss mystery as a genre and background on Conan Doyle
• Read "Speckled Band" aloud in class, marking passages where Holmes' personality is revealed and stopping to define words using context clues (word attack!)

• Finish reading "Speckled Band"
• In new One Note folder (LA-Literature) and new section called "short story," create the following outline:
  • A 1-2 sentence thesis statement explaining what character traits Sherlock Holmes displays in the story.
  • At least TWO bullet points of supporting evidence-- paraphrased and page number provided

• Briefly go over Plot Diagram and apply to "Speckled Band" in One Note folder
• Save short story terms handout in One Note LA-Literature folder
• Minilesson on inferences, characterization, and point of view-- apply each to "Speckled Band"
• Sample Reviews of Speckled Band

• Finish draft of complete business letter over historical fiction-- peer editing tomorrow!

• Peer editing-- 15 minutes
• Read aloud "The Fun They Had"
• Discuss what is noteworthy and may influence your own writing

• Final revisions of IR letter-- PRINT before class tomorrow for full credit!

• IR Deadline: Letter over historical fiction due today--printed!!
• Read aloud "White Circle"
• Discuss impressions, personal connections, identify theme and conflict

• In One Note folder (LA-Literature) and new section called "short story," create a paragraph in which you include the following:
  • Compare the narrators of "Speckled Band" and "White Circle"-- how are they similar?
  • Contrast the narrators of these two stories-- how are they different in their style?
  • Which do you prefer, and why?
• Make sure you have a new IR book to bring to class tomorrow!

October

• Make sure you have your paragraph completed and a new IR book to bring to class tomorrow!

• Follow-up discussion day: "The White Circle"
• Important terms to review and apply to the story:
  • theme
  • allusion
  • symbolism

• Read and enjoy your new "free" IR book.
• Good luck with Y1K!

Y1K FESTIVAL!

Can't wait to taste...er, I mean view your hard work! :0)

• Read and enjoy your new "free" IR book.
• Good luck with Y1K!

Grammar Review Day!

• Read Truman Capote's "Miriam" on Sunday (so it is fresh on your mind
• Write three responses to the story on the handout provided (you will not have your tablet PCs over the weekend)  to bring to our discussion Monday.
• Read and enjoy your IR book!

Conferences: No Classes

• Discussion groups: rotate among stations and discuss questions over "Miriam"

• Time to start planning your original short story! Yay!
• In a new blank page in the "short story" section of your One Note WRITING folder, Please jot down about 1/2 page of brainstorming:
  •  list possibilities for genres and characters as well as themes and topics you would like to experiment with
  • begin shaping a basic plot around your ideas

• Wrap up discussion of "Miriam"
• Mini-lesson: Mood in literature
• Silent reading of "Retrieved Reformation" (boys) and/or "The Necklace" (girls)
• Story Response: In a new blank page in the "short story" section of your One Note Writing folder create a complete topic sentence explaining what you believe the THEME of this story might be. Beneath that, in one bullet point, provide one piece of supporting evidence from the text-- a lead-in sentence and quotation. Give commentary explaining the quote as a second bullet point.

• Finish reading the story and creating the outline analyzing the theme.

• Group discussions over the similarities and differences between the two assigned homework stories.
• Mini-lesson: situational irony

• Start developing your short story outline-- work 20-30 minutes.

• Save your short story outline to the "Short story" section of your One Note writing folder
• Brief Grammar mini-lesson: Parts of Speech Review
• Work on your original short story outline

• Read IR or work on short story outline
• Make sure you bring your independent reading book to class tomorrow!

• Explain the Independent Reading "Free" Novel project in detail
• Free reading

• Finish your short story outline-- have fun with this, and keep in mind what makes for a great story!
• Read IR

• Mini-lesson: Creating an interesting lead
• Short Story Workshop

• Study for short story quiz:
  • You will need to know the following:
    • list of terms from handout in One Note
    • plot diagram in One Note
    • be able to apply both to assigned stories from the unit
• Read IR

• Mini-lesson: Creating vivid characters
• Short Story Workshop

• Quiz: Short story terms and plot diagram (make sure you can apply to assigned stories from unit)
• Short Story Workshop

• Read IR
• OPTIONAL: Revise your Beowulf paper for a higher grade by Monday, October 22:
  
  • NOTE: you MUST highlight any changes/additions you make.
    

• Mini-lesson: Creating meaningful, correctly punctuated dialogue
• Short Story Workshop: print and turn in what you've finished so far
• Adit also found this nifty tool for spicing up dialogue: SYNONYMS

• Try to finish reading "free" novel (so you will not be reading two novels at once when we begin Breadwinner)
• Bring The Breadwinner to class Monday!!
• OPTIONAL: Revise your Beowulf paper for a higher grade by Monday, October 22:
• Do not forget about the free novel project-- due November 1!

Fall Break

• DUE: Beowulf paper revisions
• Introduce The Breadwinner: Scavenger Hunt, Response Journals, and Journal Guidelines

• Read Chapters 1-5 of Breadwinner and complete the response journals by Friday
• Work on Independent Reading free novel project (due November 1)

• Short Story Workshop

• Finish a completed draft of your short story for tomorrow's class
• PRINT two copies of your draft
• Read Chapters 1-5 of Breadwinner and complete the response journals by Friday
• Work on Independent Reading free novel project (due November 1)

• Short Story Workshop: swap stories with writing partners and begin peer editing

• Finish editing your partners' stories
• Read Chapters 1-5 of Breadwinner and complete the response journals by Friday
• Work on Independent Reading free novel project (due November 1)

• Peer editing conferences: share feedback with your partners

• Finish final version of your short story
• Finish reading chapters 1-5 of Breadwinner and complete the response journals by tomorrow

• DUE: completed, polished original short story
• DUE: journals over The Breadwinner
• Literature circle discussions: Chapters 1-5 of Breadwinner

• Begin reading Chapters 6-11 of Breadwinner and completing response journals for discussion on Wednesday, Oct 31!
• Work on free novel project-- due Thursday!
• Don't forget to finish and have your parents sign your reading records--due Thursday!

November

• Choice day: Read Breadwinner and complete response journals OR work on free novel project!
• Guest Speaker-- 4th period: Ms. Banafsha Noori, Afghan citizen and current scholarship student at Meredith College

• Read Chapters 6-11 of Breadwinner and complete response journals for discussion on Wednesday, Oct 31!
• Work on free novel project-- due Thursday!
• Don't forget to finish and have your parents sign your reading records--due Thursday!

• Follow-up discussion of Ms. Noori's presentation
• Grammar: Adverbs mini-lesson
• Read Breadwinner and complete response journals OR work on free novel project!

• Grammar mini-lesson: Adverbs vs. Adjectives

• DUE: Journal packet Ch. 6-11

• Literature circle discussions: Chapters 6-11 of Breadwinner

• Time to work on free novel projects?

• Finish free novel project and prepare brief 2 minute book talk and presentation for the class!
• Don't forget to finish and have your parents sign your reading records-- due tomorrow!

Free Novel Projects

Turn in your Reading Records!

• Finish brainstorming for your poem over Duty vs. Desire-- you will draft the poem and turn it in at the end of the period tomorrow

Grandparents Day!

• Draft and share your poems about your own personal internal conflicts when your duties and desires opposed one another (grandparents should participate, also!)
  

• Finish reading Chapters 12-15 of Breadwinner and completing response journals for discussion on Tuesday, Nov. 6!

• Grammar mini-lesson: adverbs vs. adjectives
• Reading Breadwinner

• Finish reading Chapters 12-15 of Breadwinner and completing response journals for discussion tomorrow!

• DUE: Journal packet Ch. 12-15
• Literature circle discussions of Ch. 12-15 of Breadwinner
• Begin final group responses-- if you choose research, use these links: or type "Afghanistan news" or Afghanistan world news" in google.com

• Read something fun!

• Mini-lesson: more prepositional phrases
• Final wrap-up discussion of Breadwinner
• Groups present their responses to the class

• Independent reading

• Trimester Reflections and Goal-setting
• Introduce historical fiction novels for second trimester

RELAX!!

SPECIAL GRADE-WIDE ACTIVITIES:

END of TRIMESTER!!

Have a Safe and Wonderful Trimester Break and Thanksgiving Holiday!

Read a wonderful book over the holidays!
Start your second trimester independent reading book!

WELCOME BACK!

• Introduce Trimester 2 Independent Reading

• Introduce Poetry with attempts at a definition

• Research and decide on your choice of independent reading from the historical fiction novel list for Trimester 2 AND choose your literary pen pal-- must declare by Wednesday!
• NOTE: See teacher for novel suggestions and/or if trouble finding a partner

• Reading poems about poetry
• Introduce the term figurative language: how is it distinct from literal language, and why use it so much in poetry?

• Ditto last night's homework-- tomorrow's Declaration Day!

• Due: Declaration of Independent Reading
• Study the difference between the two most common forms of figurative language: similes and metaphors
• Find the original poem topic that's "burdening" you

• Start trying to obtain your IR book (Amazon? School library?) and/or get started
• Brainstorm or begin drafting your first free verse poem-- due Friday!

• Examine another type of figurative language: personification
• Groups analyze and perform dramatic readings of poems with personification

• Ditto above-- original poem due during class TOMORROW (will get some peer/teacher feedback), so finish a first draft! Try to use figurative language of at least one type.

• Finish group personification presentations
• Workshop your original poems and submit a draft to teacher for feedback

• Finish vocabulary exercises for Ch. 3 words in the book: "Ten Words in Context" and "Matching Words with Definitions"--due Monday!
• Begin another poem draft-- try something different (new topic, voice/perspective, style, figurative language, etc)

December

• Check Chapter 3 Vocabulary exercises
• Poetry mini-lesson: Imagery (poems to read today-- "Ode to Pizza," "Defining the Magic," "Shooting Baskets," and "Those Winter Sundays")

• Study Ch. 1-3 words for Friday's quiz (cumulative)
• Finish theremaining Chapter 3 Vocabulary exercises by Friday.
  • Finish Sentence Check 1 in your book (check your answers-- posted off Vocabulary page linke at the top of this page)
  • Finish the SentenceCheck 2 and Final Check online (link off same vocabulary page).
• Finish a second original poem by Friday--please try to use figurative language if you have not done so already!

• Meet at the library-- we are having a free reading day for you to browse all of our poetry collections for inspiration for your own poetry
• Make sure you record the poet and title of any poem you write down and "borrow" lines from

• Study Ch. 1-3 words for Friday's quiz (cumulative)
• Finish the remaining Chapter 3 Vocabulary exercises by Friday.
  • Finish Sentence Check 1 in your book (check your answers-- posted off Vocabulary page linke at the top of this page)
  • Finish the SentenceCheck 2 and Final Check online (link off same vocabulary page).
• Finish a second original poem by Friday--please try to use figurative language if you have not done so already!

• Poetry mini-lesson: writing about people and creating "gifts" of poetry (poems to read today-- "miss rosie," "Fat Man," and "Mail Call"
• Decide as a class on a teacher you all know and begin creating a poetry "gift"

• Study Ch. 1-3 words for Friday's quiz (cumulative)
• Finish your 1-4 lines about the selected teacher and email by 8PM-- we weill compile these tomorrow and shape them into a collaborative "gift" to take him/her

• Finish the remaining Chapter 3 Vocabulary exercises by Friday.
  • Finish Sentence Check 1 in your book (check your answers-- posted off Vocabulary page linke at the top of this page)
  • Finish the SentenceCheck 2 and Final Check online (link off same vocabulary page).
• Finish a second original poem by Friday--please try to use figurative language if you have not done so already!

• Combine our lines and shape them into a "gift" of poetry for our class section's selected teacher
• Frame, wrap, and deliver our gift!

• Study Ch. 1-3 words for tomorrow's quiz (cumulative)
• Finish the remaining Chapter 3 Vocabulary exercises by tomorrow.
  • Finish Sentence Check 1 in your book (check your answers-- posted off Vocabulary page linke at the top of this page)
  • Finish the SentenceCheck 2 and Final Check online (link off same vocabulary page).
• Finish a second original poem by tomorrow--please try to use figurative language if you have not done so already! OR try NOT rhyming-- focus on the content and imagery!

• Quia Quiz-- click HERE to access!
• Free reading/writing day

• Complete first two Chapter 4 Vocabulary Exercises by Monday (p. 20-21)
• Start Original Poem #3
• Dive into that historical fiction novel!

• Check first two Ch. 4 Vocabulary Exercises
• Poetry Mini-lesson: lyric versus narrative poems (Poems to read today-- "The Little Boy" and "Richard Cory")
• Poetry writing workshop

• Study Ch. 1-4 words for Friday's quiz (cumulative)
• Finish the remaining Chapter 4 Vocabulary exercises by Friday.
  • Finish Sentence Check 1 in your book (check your answers-- posted off Vocabulary page linke at the top of this page)
  • Finish the Sentence Check 2 and Final Check online (link off same vocabulary page).
• Finish editing your second poem plus a third original poem by Friday --please try to use figurative language if you have not done so already! 

• Poetry Mini-lesson: symbolism (poem to read today-- "Nothing Gold Can Stay")
• Poetry workshop: mini-lesson on creating THE title

• Ditto above

• Poetry Mini-lesson: punctuation
• Poetry workshop: focus on purposeful punctuation in your poems

• Ditto Monday

• Web-building begins:
  • Create a project folder (poetry7) in your space
  • Create poem pages with simple tables
  • Create default page with collection title and all poem titles hyperlinked

• Ditto Monday-- all due tomorrow!

• Ch. 4 Vocabulary Quiz-- click HERE to access Quia
• Web-building continued:
• Mini-lesson: Saving all pictures and voice recordings to "poetry7" web project folder and insert them in the appropriate places from that folder(NOT from My Documents)

• Finish finding and saving all images for web site--poem pages and default page
• Finalize editing/revision of all poems
• Read IR book

• Poetry workshop: Revise third poem and final editing of others
• Finish web-building and voice recordings

• Finish any remaining edits and voice recordings
• Read IR book

• Print copies of all poems for writing folder
• Final changes to web pages plus reflections on unit and self as poet (first 20 minutes)

Coffee House:
Sip Cocoa and Share original poetry

• Read IR book over the break!

Technology Project Workshop 

Technology Project Workshop 

ICEHOUSE...

here we come!!

Have a safe and wonderful winter holiday!

Happy New Year!

Pssst! How about devouring a good book over the holidays?
Why not one from the second trimester independent reading list?! Yum! Goes well with hot cider or cocoa!

January

• Welcome Back!!
• Introduction to Shakespeare-- a few facts

• Study for short quiz over Shakespeare video
• Work on finishing first half of your historical fiction novel and begin your first letter to your partner-- due Monday

• Quiz over Shakespeare video
• Read and discuss handout over the Globe theater
• Independent Reading Workshop: read or write your letter

• Work on finishing first half of your historical fiction novel and begin your first letter to your partner-- due Monday
• Finish the first two activities for Chapter 5 Vocabulary for Monday

• Independent Reading: First letter over historical fiction novel due
• Check Chapter 5 vocabulary exercises
• Grammar: Adverbs and their 3 functions

• Finish adverb exercises
• Begin remaining Chapter 5 exercises online and in book

• Check Adverb exercises
• Grammar mini-lesson: Prepositions and prepositional phrases

• Finish preposition exercises
• Finish remaining Chapter 5 exercises online and in book

• Check Prepositional phrase exercises
• Pair up: Power Point practice quiz
• Introduce and access grammar software-- optional exercises for extra practice

• Study Adverbs and Prepositions for tomorrow's quiz-- use online software: Unit 5, lesson 33 and Unit 6, lesson 38
• Study for Chapter 5 vocabulary quiz-- fourth period takes it tomorrow during enrichment!
• Finish remaining Chapter 5 exercises online and in book

• Quiz over adverbs and prepositional phrases
• Study vocabulary or read historical fictions once finished

• Finish remaining Chapter 5 exercises online and in book
• Study Chapter 1-5 words for tomorrow's quiz

• Ch. 5 Vocabulary Quiz-- click HERE to access!
• Shakespearean Language Play

• For Monday-- Wear comfy clothes you can move around in and meet in the Black Box behind stage in FA theater!
• Complete all of the Ch. 6 vocabulary exercises-- due Tuesday
• Finish your historical fiction ASAP!

A special treat to kick off our unit on Shakespeare and Midsummer...

Local Burning Coal Theatre Company's education director, actor & playwright Ian Finley

Meet in the Black Box!

• Complete the Ch. 6 vocabulary exercises-- due tomorrow!

• Check Ch. 6 vocabulary exercises (roots)
• Cast and read through Midsummer I.ii
• Mini-lesson: review literary term allusion

• Independent Reading-- second historical fiction letter due Monday!
• Begin the Unit Test review for Unit 1 in your vocabulary book-- Test Friday!

• Finish questions about I.ii, re-cast and act out the scene
• Overview of all play subplots
• Begin reading I.i-- Hippolyta and Theseus--and introduce the study guide

• Independent Reading-- second historical fiction letter due Monday!
• Begin the Unit Test review for Unit 1 in your vocabulary book-- Test Friday!

• Unit 1 Vocabulary Review Day
• Introduce/practice different question types: analogies, synonyms/antonyms, etc.

• Study vocabulary for tomorrow's TEST!

• Vocabulary Unit 1 Test: Click HERE
• Workshop: independent reading or letter writing

• Second and final historical fiction letter due Tuesday!

MLK, Jr Holiday-- No Classes!

• Historical fiction letter #2 due tomorrow!

• Collect IR letters
• Discuss final "free" novel IR project
• Grammar mini-lesson: direct objects

• Finish the exercises on direct object nouns-- complete ODD numbered exercises only!
• Finish historical fiction letter by this Friday, Jan 25, if you have elected to take the extension

• Read I.i through line 127 in pairs-- answer study guide questions #1-8
• Meet back as a class-- discuss key lines/relationships and act them out

• Write a brief letter of personal advice to one character of your choice from I.i
• Finish historical fiction letter by this Friday, Jan 25, if you have elected to take the extension

• Using the HANDOUT provided, "translate" your letter of advice into Shakespearean prose

Family Night:
No Homework!

• Final IR extension deadline--letter due today!
• Grammar mini-lesson: Indirect Objects-- click HERE for answers to the last two pages of exercises in your packet

• Finish reading Shakespeare Act 1, scene 1, lines 128-250
• Answer Midsummer study guide questions #9-11 by Monday!

February

• Briefly discuss Act I through line 250 and study guide questions
• Translate Helena's speech in lines 226-241 and discuss the theme: Love is blind
• Distribute Act 2 Study Guide-- click HERE for your copy

• Read 2.1.1-59 (Act 2, Scene , lines 1-59)  and answer study guide questions #1-3
• Begin reviewing grammar (direct and indirect objects) for the quiz Thursday!

• Grammar mini-lesson: Pronouns used as subjects and direct/indirect objects (Which is correct in this sentence? "I admire Rebecca and he/him")
• Briefly discuss homework reading in Midsummer--that mischievous Puck!

• Review grammar for Thursday's Quiz!

• Discuss and act out key lines in Act 2, scene 1
• Major concepts to focus on today: interpreting subtext and identifying dramatic irony

• Review grammar for Tomorrow's Quiz!
• Looking ahead: for Tuesday of next week, finish reading 2.1.122-137 and answer study guide questions #6-7-- identifying the theme and poetic devices in Titania's speech.

  NOTE: You'll have some time in class Thursday to work on this assignment

• Grammar Quiz!
• Finish reading 2.1.122-137 and answer study guide questions #6-7-- identifying the theme and poetic devices in Titania's speech.

• For Tuesday of next week, finish reading 2.1.122-137 and answer study guide questions #6-7-- identifying the theme and poetic devices in Titania's speech.

NO CLASS--CONFERENCES!

• By tomorrow, finish reading 2.1.122-137 and answer study guide questions #6-7-- identifying the theme and poetic devices in Titania's speech.

• Go over Titania's speech in lines 2.1.122-137
• Read and Act Out 2.1.137-268 and discuss/answer study guide questions

• Finish reading 2.2.33-162 and answer #1-4 for scene 2 in your study guide-- DUE THURSDAY!

• Grammar mini-lesson: action vs. linking verbs and predicate adjectives/nominatives
• Practice grammar exercises

• Finish reading 2.2.33-162 and answer #1-4 for scene 2 in your study guide-- DUE TOMORROW!

• Act Out and discuss 2.2.33-162 along with study guide questions
• Introduce Dramatic Irony
• Give out Act III Study Guide-- click HERE for a copy

• Finish reading Midsummer 3.1.1-143 and answering study guide questions by Monday

• Grammar mini-lesson: Helping verbs-- modals and have/be/do
• Practice grammar exercises

• Finish reading Midsummer 3.1.1-143 and answering all 9 study guide questions for Scene 1 by Monday

• Discuss Act 3, scene 1 of Midsummer-- new term malapropism
• Hand out review exercises for grammar: linking verbs and helping verbs

• Complete the grammar review exercises for tomorrow

• Check over verb review exercises
• Review game for tomorrow's quiz covering:
  • Action/linking verbs
  • Predicate nouns/adjectives
  • Verb phrases/helping verbs
• Introduce ShakeScenes project

• Study for tomorrow's grammar quiz
• Begin planning which are your top choices for scenes from Midsummer that you'd like to act out and with whom for the "ShakeScenes" project

• Grammar Quiz!!
• Silent reading: Act 3, scene 2, lines 1-244 and answer study guide questions #1-11

• Finish any of the reading and study guide assignment in Act 3 that you did not finish in class
• Decide finally which scene you'd like to act out and with whom for the "ShakeScenes" project-- choices due at the beginning of class tomorrow

Happy Valentine's Day!

• DUE: your scene and group choices for the ShakeScenes project!

• Quickwrite: compare/contrast Puck and Oberon's personalities

• Act out 3.2.245-387

• Finish reading Act 4, scene 1 and answer study guide questions for scene 1 by tomorrow!

•  Discuss and enact Act 4 of Midsummer

• Groups assigned Midsummer scenes-- brief meeting to decide who will play which role
   

• Read over your group's assigned scene and complete the 3 questions in Part 1 of the "Director's  Notes" essay outline worksheet
• Review study guides for the Midsummer unit test-- Wednesday!
• Get that reading record prepared-- due Friday!

• Scene Workshop: Meet with your group to talk through the scene and answer Parts 1 and 2 of the "Director's Notes" essay worksheet

• Review all of your study guides-- tomorrow is the last day to ask questions before the unit test over Midsummer Night's Dream!

• Brief Q&A review over Midsummer
• Scene Workshop: discuss subtext and begin writing stage directions into your "scripts" (playbooks)

• Use your review sheet and review all study guides for tomorrow's test over Midsummer Night's Dream!

• Midsummer Night's Dream Unit Test!
• Essay Workshop: work on thoroughly answering Parts 3 and 4 of your "Director's Notes" worksheet
  

• Finish thoroughly answering Parts 3 and 4 of your "Director's Notes" worksheet

• Scene Workshop: groups begin working on inflection, blocking, interaction, and expressions
• Essay Workshop: format document and begin drafting essay from "Director's Notes" worksheet

• Work on line memorization and "Director's Notes" essay
• Make sure you have completely filled out your independent reading record including parent signatures-- due tomorrow!

• Independent Reading record DUE!
• Scene Workshop: groups continue working on inflection, blocking, interaction, and expressions

• Work on line memorization and "Director's Notes" essay

March

• Memorization line check!
• Scene Workshop: groups continue working on inflection, blocking, interaction, and expressions

• Work on line memorization and finish a rough draft of "Director's Notes" essay
• Bring in props tomorrow!

• Essay Workshop: Peer edit "Director's Notes" essay
• Rehearse for scene with props

• Finish typing up/editing final draft of Director's Notes (in MLA essay format, complete with appropriate title—EDIT!!)

• Director's Notes essay due
  

• Scene Rehearsal blocking finalized

• Rehearse with props and costumes

• Rehearse lines

• Dress rehearsal (meet in theater)

• R