Unit 8 Vocabulary and Semester 1 Portfolio Checks

We generated lists of derivatives for the four new roots, discussed the new words, and students worked on their worksheets, which are due tomorrow. As they worked, I discussed writing portfolios with each student. Students missing writing assignment can still hand them in to get credit for English 2 semester 1.

Maha Yuga Writing Day

Students worked on writing their Maha Yuga research essays, and a few actually finished! The English 2 exam will be on Thursday.

Portfolio Checks and Maha Yuga Writing Day

Students checked their writing portfolios using a checklist to see if they are missing any writing assignments. We discussed the structure of the Maha Yuga essay, and students worked on their introductions and thesis statements.

Library Lab: Works Cited List and Extra Source

Students went to the library lab and typed their Works Cited lists. Then they found another source for their Maha Yuga essay. Students were instructed to find an outrageously expensive purchase for rich people.

Note Check and Burke, Hsiang, and Miguel Article

We read and discussed and took notes on the article "Weather and Violence," by Burke, Hsiang, and Miguel. Students got caught up on their notes, and I gave a completion grade for those who have notes on the Maha Yuga reading and the three articles.

Unit 7 Vocabulary Quiz and Burke Article

Students took their Unit 7 vocabulary quiz over roots and words, including some sentence completions and questions about MLA Works Cited entries. Afterwards we created a Works Cited entry for the article by Burke, Hsiang, and Miguel. We started the article on "Weather and Violence," and will continue reading and discussing it, and finding evidence from it tomorrow.

Maha Yuga Essay: Jaslow article

As a class, we created a Works Cited entry for the Jaslow article. Then we read and discussed it and gathered evidence for the essay. Students will only have their notes to work from during the in-class essay.

Gathering Evidence for the Maha Yuga Essay

I gave a lesson on the three types of evidence--facts/statistics, examples, and testimony--and students took notes. Then we read the Fessler article and recorded notes for the Maha Yuga essay.

Welcome Back!

I posted and discussed class grades and graded essays. We reviewed the Unit 7 worksheets; there is a quiz on Thursday over the words and roots. I gave a lesson on MLA format for news articles on the Internet, and students took notes. Then, as a class, we created a Works Cited entry for the first article.

Career Day at SWCCC

Career Pathways class only: students travelled to the SWCCC campus for Career Day.

Tuesday, November 18

Substitute teacher: Unit 7 Vocabulary derivatives and worksheet.

Maha Yuga: Reading and Notes

I gave a brief introduction to Hindu mythology and students divided into four groups. Each group, jigsaw style, was assigned a reading about one of the four yugas in a Maha Yuga, or Great Age. Students recorded their notes, then presented their piece to the class. I wrote notes on the board and students recorded them in charts.

Writing Day

Final writing day for Aliens essay.

Vocabulary Quiz and Aliens Writing

Students took the Unit 6 vocabulary quiz today, then continued to work on their Aliens essays for the rest of the period.

Aliens Writing

Students worked on their Aliens essay during class.

In-class Writing Prep: Comparing Aliens

Students finished reading and discussing the aliens stories, then took notes on "Bloodchild" for the in-class writing assignment.
Homework: Study Unit 6 vocabulary words and roots

Vocabulary Review and "Bloodchild"

I showed students their graded Unit 5 quizzes, which they may retake for a better grade, if desired. We reviewed the Unit 6 vocabulary worksheet. We finished reading and discussing "Bloodchild," and took notes on the story.
Homework: Study Unit 6 vocabulary

Red Sky Wrap-Up, Discuss Achebe; Begin Short Story Unit

We discussed the closing of Red Sky at Morning and Josh's coming of age, and Bradford's style of writing. We discussed the cultural conflict in the Achebe story. I talked about our short story unit and the short story notes students need to keep for each story, handing in a packet at the end of the unit, when there will be a summative test.
Homework: Write Red Sky comparative analysis essay

Continue "Bloodchild"

We continued reading and discussing "Bloodchild."

Finish "The Father-Thing" & Start "Bloodchild"

We finished reading and discussing "The Father-Thing" and students added notes and quotes to their analysis charts We had time to begin reading and discussing "Bloodchild."