Mrs. Tonkin

BRING TEXT TO CLASS! READ YTG CH 6-7 THIS WEEK!!

Week 4: January 30 - February 3, 2012

Monday, January 30, 2012

We finished reading part 1 of The Odyssey ! (If you were absent Friday, you need to finish reading part 1 of the epic!) Now let's do some work on it: sequence and map events of Odysseus' voyage, figure out what's being compared in epic similes, and figure out who is being referred to in the stock epithets.

Important Reminder: we will begin viewing The Odyssey  film this week. A few of you have not yet returned the signed Parent Signature Sheet; therefore, you will not be allowed to view any film in class. Consult Pinnacle: if you see an "X" for the signature sheet, you have returned it. If you see a "0" for the signature sheet, you have not returned it. You will be given an alternate assignment elsewhere while your class views the film.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Vocab D9: do "complete sentence" exercise for checking tomorrow.

Odyssey film part 1 (of 4).  

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Vocab D9: check "complete sentence" exercise in preparation for tomorrow's quiz. (I will temporarily post the answers for this exercise on the weblog tonight so that you can check your work. Then we will have time for today's film segment.)

Odyssey film part 2 (of 4). 

Thursday, February 2, 2012 

Vocab D9 quiz. 

After: TBD. (Either read YTG, or complete Odyssey  part 1 work, if necessary.)

Friday, February 3, 2012

Odyssey  part 1 CFA and review.   

Week 3: January 23 - 27, 2012

Monday, January 23, 2012    BRING YOUR TEXTBOOK TO CLASS!

YTG response #1 was due last Thursday. If you did not submit, you owe me one today! You should be reading chapters 4-6 this week.

Vocab D9 intro of first 10 words. Bring your book and your highlighter or underliner.

Odyssey unit: we will continue listening to part 1 on CD, reading along with the textbook you will bring to class, and completing the notes chart I gave you last week. Lost it? See Odyssey resources to your right--everything you need is linked.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012    BRING YOUR TEXTBOOK TO CLASS!

AO: stationary so you can complete the School Improvement Surveys.

Vocab D9 intro of words 11-20. Complete "choose word" exercise for checking tomorrow.

Odyssey unit: listen to CD, read along, complete notes chart.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Writing Wednesday: Young Traveler's Gift reading and response #2 (from chapters 4, 5, or 6).

Thursday, January 26, 2012    BRING YOUR TEXTBOOK TO CLASS!

Open House tonight. Encourage your parents to come at 6:30. I'd love to meet the parents of all these wonderful 9th graders I have this semester!

Today, we will go to a computer lab and complete two surveys required of us. One is a GA Health Survey; the other is a School Climate Survey.

Vocab D9: review "choose word" exercise. Complete "syns & ants" for checking tomorrow.

Odyssey unit: listen/read/fill out notes chart for "Land of the Dead" and the beginning of the "Sirens."

Friday, January 27, 2012    BRING YOUR TEXTBOOK TO CLASS!

Vocab D9: review "syns & ants" exercise. Want to get ahead? Do the "complete the sentence" exercise for checking next Wed (day before next vocab quiz).

Odyssey unit: listen/read/fill out notes chart for "Sirens" and "Scylla & Charybdis." We will finish reading part 1 today--good job, guys! 

Week 2: January 16 - 20, 2012

Monday, January 16, 2012

Sleep in. Have a good holiday. But begin reading Young Traveler's Gift.

I have posted your Student Information Sheets and your Parent Signature Sheets in Pinnacle. If an "X" is posted, you have submitted the sheet. If a "0" is posted, you are missing one or both sheets, OR you did not complete the writing sample on the SIS. You are to write a minimum of 5-6 complete and complex sentences, answer the questions, and fill all the lines. The instructions call for a well-developed paragraph!

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Vocab D8: do "complete the sentence" exercise to review tomorrow in preparation for your first vocab quiz of the semester on Thursday. 

Trojan War intro: finish reading the chapter in the book and finish filling out the guide. 

Epic/Odyssey intro PPT with note guide to fill out. We will complete half of the PPT.

Odyssey anticipation guide. 

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

I am at an all-day ESOL workshop. I am sorry to be gone this early in our semester, but this workshop is not optional for me. Use your class time wisely.

Vocab D8 "complete sentence" exercise review. Please compare answers orally, quickly, and efficiently. Study for your first quiz tomorrow. Remember vocabtest.com for practice.

Read Young Traveler's Gift (I have a class set for use in the classroom only). Choose your first response topic. Write your response following the very detailed writing instructions you will be given. If needed, finish your first response at home. Bring in the completed response tomorrow to file in your writing folder.

I have linked all the blank response sheets to the weblog for your perusal. You may also decide the copy you complete in class is a rough draft--print another form for your final copy if you wish. Bring your completed response tomorrow.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Vocab D8 quiz.

After: Odyssey  PPT completion.  Tomorrow: we will begin reading The Odyssey. You will need your textbook.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Vocab results: Wow! Best ever, guys! The median score on yesterday's quiz was a 90! I will reward 100's and 97's with Smarties today. Congrats to all of you--I'm proud of you.

YTG  response: if you did not submit your completed response yesterday, you owe me one today! Remember: fill all lines and edit/revise using the checksheet I gave you Wednesday.

Odyssey unit. You need your textbook. I will begin keeping track of who does not bring a textbook to class. If necessary, I will email parents, coaches, and any other adult who may be able to convince you to bring your textbook to class.

Today, we finally begin listening/reading part 1 of The Odyssey ! I will distribute a notes table/chart for you to complete as we listen to the reading on CD. I will pause often to ask you questions to check for comprehension.

Week 1: January 9 - 13, 2012

Monday, January 9, 2012

Teacher workday. One more morning of sleeping in, freshmen!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Welcome back to all of my lovely 9th graders--I missed you and hope you had a wonderful holiday break! Welcome to all of my new 9th graders--I look forward to getting to know you. Do you believe this is already the last semester of your freshman year of high school?!

Orientation day. New seating chart, of course. I will sign your schedule verification forms. We will read over the syllabus. Student info sheets--update, change your passion, or fill out (if you are new to my classes).

I will give you the parallel/video parent signature sheet to be signed and submitted by tomorrow. Buy or borrow your first parallel reading of the semester--Young Traveler's Gift  by Andy Andrews. Reading schedule:

Jan 16-20             chapters 1-3

Jan 23-27             chapters 4-5

Jan 30 - Feb 3      chapters 6-7

Feb 6-10                chapter 8 (& 9 if you wish) 

Feb 13-17              chapters 9-11

Vocab D8--intro of words 1-10. Highlight or underline as I introduce them. First quiz is next Thursday, January 19. Be ready! It's a 10% category in Pinnacle--make it an A, not an F.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Vocab D8--intro of words 11-20. Complete the "choose the word" exercise for checking tomorrow and "syns & ants" for checking Friday.  

Mythology: Gods and Goddesses  video part 1. Fill out chart I will distribute. Before we begin The Odyssey, you must be familiar with the Greek gods and goddesses, as they play important roles in the Greek epics.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Vocab D8: check "choose word" exercise. Complete "syns & ants" for checking tomorrow.

Mythology: Gods and Goddesses  video part 2. Fill out chart.

Friday, January 13, 2012

First semester report cards distributed today (?).

Vocab D8: review "syns & ants" exercise.

Trojan War reading intro (background for The Odyssey).

And you have finished your first week of second semester! Have a good three-day weekend! Read your parallel. See you Tuesday.

Week 17: End-of-Semester Calendar

I've had to make some adjustments in our schedule for these last two weeks -- to your benefit, I believe -- so please review the info below:

Monday, December 12, 2011

Grammar quiz on subject/verb agreement and pronoun/antecedent agreement. After: read Hound and work on completing study guide.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

2nd & 4th: Casey at the Bat, your last poem of the unit.

7th: Hound parallel reading test. (You will have had more than 5 weeks to read this short mystery.) After: poetry unit review pages in All-in-One workbook.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Exam exemption decisions due today. All classes: poetry CFA and review day. I will provide you with a list of all the poems we covered and the page numbers in the text.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Poetry CSA. After: Hound reading and study guide. 7th: TBA.

Friday, December 16, 2011

All classes: final exam review. I will provide you with a final exam study guide. See link to your right under Final Exam.

2nd & 4th periods: You may take your Hound test today rather than Monday, if you wish.  Just let me know. The test is ready.

Monday, December 19, 2011

2nd & 4th: Hound parallel reading test. After: exam review.

7th: Final exam. Regular length school day.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

2nd, 4th, and 7th do NOT meet. 11:30 AM dismissal.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

2nd, 4th, and 7th do NOT meet. 11:30 AM dismissal.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

2nd & 4th: final exams. 11:30 AM dismissal.

 

Week 16: December 5 - 9, 2011

Monday, December 5, 2011

RE: Hound quiz chapters 1-8. Looks like you have another day, guys. I apparently left my Hound binder at school, so your quiz will be Tuesday. Remember to bring the study guide you were to print at home -- I will check it off for you! You should have chapters 1-8 finished. Read chapters 9-12 this week. Final test on the book will be Dec 13 or 15. See calendar at the bottom of this week's blog.

Vocab: you are finished with vocab for this semester! During this week, we will continue to review agreement, both subject/verb and pronoun/antecedent. We will quiz on agreement next Monday, Dec 12.

Let's get ready for a second week of poetry. I had several positive comments from 9th graders last week that poetry is "not so bad"!

Today: "The Eagle" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Listen to the recording. Groups of 3 will record answers to questions about the poem, which we will review together. Groups will then recite the poem, using any objects or movements they can come up with quickly.

After: Lit Analysis (Figurative Language) worksheet review of Dreams, Hope, and Eagle. Not much time for this -- save it for poetry test review.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Hound quiz chapters 1-8. After: agreement review. Handout: read the rule & make the correct choices of verbs and pronouns. Review together.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Poetry unit: "The Bells" by Edgar Allan Poe. Listen to the recording. Read the poem. Study guide: divide and conquer (and review together).

"Carol of the Bells" Ukranian folk song. Listen. Read lyrics. Answer questions.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

"Carol of the Bells" Ukranian folk song. Listen. Read lyrics. Answer questions.

Grammar: more agreement review in grammar workbook. Quiz on Monday.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Poetry unit: "Jabberwocky" by Lewis Carroll. Read while you listen. Answer questions.

A Look Ahead at the Calendar for This Class:

Dec 12 (Mon): grammar quiz on agreement. Hound work after.

Dec 13 (Tues): periods 2 & 4: poetry unit. Period 7: Hound test and finish poetry.

Dec 14 (Wed): periods 2 & 4: poetry unit.  Period 7: poetry CFA & review. Exam exemption decisions due.

Dec 15 (Thurs): periods 2 & 4: Hound test and finish poetry.

Dec 16 (Fri): periods 2 & 4: poetry CFA and review.  Period 7: final exam review.

Dec 19 (Mon): periods 2 & 4: poetry CSA.  Period 7: final exam. Regular school day.

Dec 20 (Tues): Periods 2, 4, 7: no class. 11:30 AM dismissal.

Dec 21 (Wed): Periods 2, 4, 7: no class. 11:30 AM dismissal.

Dec 22 (Thurs): periods 2 & 4: final exam. 11:30 AM dismissal. Last day.

 

 

Week 15: November 28 - December 2, 2011

Monday, November 28, 2011

Welcome back! Character Education Assembly this morning in the gym 8:45 - 10:15 AM.  Forty-minute classes will follow. 

Only three more weeks of class work this semester, guys!

Vocab D7: do the complete the sentence exercise for checking Wed in preparation for quiz Thursday.

Hound: read chapters 4-8 this week. Possible reading check quiz tomorrow on chapters 1-3, which were to be read before the break.

Poetry unit. Begin with Hughes "Dream" poems. Handout: Talk About Dreams. Then listen to both poems on CD (you will enjoy the dramatic reading!). Take a look at the two poems projected on the big screen. Then answer the critical reading questions and those on the back of the handout.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Hound quiz on chapters 1-8 next Monday.

Poetry unit. Finish discussing Hughes' Dream poems. Listen to the reading of "I Wandered Lonely." Then look at the verses more closely on the screen. Handout: answer sensory image questions, etc. This is traditional, almost stereotypical poetry. We (old people) were required to memorize this one in elementary school!  

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Vocab D7: review complete sentence exercise in preparation for tomorrow's quiz.

Poetry unit. Finish discussing the Daffodils poem, if necessary.  

Today: 3 Emily Dickinson poems: Hope, Much Madness, and How High (shorthand titles!). Look at them on the screen as I read them aloud (I don't like the recordings!). Then I will divide you into six groups. Each group will receive copies of one Dickinson poem. Every group member will discuss responses with his/her group and record all responses on the handout. Each group will make one list of members and the number/s of the question/s which that member will teach to the class on Friday. Each person must be responsible for 1 or 2 questions.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Vocab D7 quiz.

After: pick up your Night One-Pager. On a piece of notebook paper, completely correct the paragraph. Double space and indent the first line. The paragraph must be completely edited and proofread in order not to lose more points on this project. File your One-Pager in your Writing Folder -- do not walk out of the classroom with it!  Submit your corrected paragraph to me by the end of the period.

Pick up a copy of the instructions for the One-Pager, especially if you forgot to review them as you wrote your paragraph, e.g. no first or second person, no contractions, no fragments or run-ons, no "This quote says/ means...," no sentences that begin with "It is..." or "There is" or "this, that, these or those" without a noun following. Basic writing rules, guys, that many of you chose to ignore. Remember: I told you your paragraph needed to be perfect -- this project was in place of a full-blown essay.

Tomorrow: Dickinson poems. Be ready to "teach" the responses to your assigned questions to the class. Each group must submit a list of names of group members and the number of the question/s for which they are responsible.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Poetry unit. Teach the Dickinson poems to the class. Class: listen, think, and fill out your Dickinson poetry study guide.

After: "Eagle" by Tennyson.

Hound : be ready for a quiz on chapters 1-8 Monday. Be sure you have printed your study guide by now (at home, double-sided) and that you are completing it as you read. This activity is not optional!

Week 14: November 14 - 18, 2011

Monday, November 14, 2011

Nonfiction CSA will include:

    General questions on nonfiction (types, terms, differences)

    New Directions by Maya Angelou (type of essay, purpose, main idea, advice, diction)

    Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (theme, diction, vocab)

    Before Hip-Hop by Rebecca Walker (form, slang, values, differences)

    Carry Your Own Skis by Lian Dolan (tone, type, theme, goal, support)

    I Have a Dream by MLKing, Jr. (location, rhetorical devices, songs, dream)

    Informational Text with questions (new to you - apply the skills)

    Cold Reading with questions (new to you - apply the skills)

After:

Poetry Diagnostic featuring Ars Poetica and a few questions.

Vocab D7 intro (1-10). Complete syns & ants now.

Hound of the Baskervilles: Begin reading. Here is the reading schedule:

    Week 1 (Nov 14-18)             chapters 1-3

    Week 2 (Nov 28 - Dec 2)    chapters 4-8

    Week 3 (Dec 5-9)                 chapters 9-11

    Week 4 (Dec 12-16)             chapters 12-15

    I have linked several items to help you with your reading of Hound. Some, I have copied for you and will distribute this week, e.g. Deductions and Suspects and Background Info. The study guide, however, is 9 pages long, and I cannot justify printing 9 pages for 100 students. Therefore, please print it on your home computer for yourself. Remember to print double-sided to save paper. This guide will not be optional -- it is mandatory that you complete it as you read. Find it to your right under Parallel Reading Resources.

Those of you who completed the Night study guide, by the way, will be receiving a few extra points, probably on your Night test (or maybe on your lowest quiz grade), for following instructions and completing the assigned guide.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Vocab D7 intro (11-20). Complete syns & ants and choose word exercises this week. 

Poetry intro PPT with note guide.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Poetry intro PPT with note guide: finish. You have a quiz tomorrow on poetry terms. To your right, under Poetry unit resources, you will find the Poetry terms PPT and the blank note guide. Be sure to complete it and bring it to class tomorrow.

Vocab D7: do syns & ants and choose word exercises. 

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Who's Who Assembly (8:20 - 11:00 AM). Then to 2nd period. 40-minute classes today.

Poetry Terms quiz with notes.

Vocab D7: complete choose word and syns & ants exercises.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Vocab D7: check choose the word and syns & ants.

Hound intro. Read aloud together: chapter 1. Several handouts. Print the study guide for yourself at home, double-sided. Bring to class each day, along with the book.

Happy happy Thanksgiving to you and your families. Be grateful. It's a wonderful life!

    

 

Week 13: November 7 - 11, 2011

Monday, November 7, 2011

Benchmark Makeup Day.

Vocab D6: check choose the word exercise today.

Night: CSA (major test).

After: work on Night One-Pager.

Hound of the Baskervilles: buy it or borrow it now, if you have not yet done so.

Did you miss the Auschwitz video last Tuesday, Nov 1? With special permission, I will show it again in my room this Wednesday at 2:15 PM. Please be there if you missed it. There is no guarantee of another showing.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Election Day and Teacher Workday.

Work on your Night One-Pager due Friday. Major writing grade. Follow instructions closely!

Hound of the Baskervilles: buy it or borrow it now, if you have not done so yet.

Auschwitz video makeup: tomorrow at 2:15 PM. Be there if you missed it.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Report cards distributed today. Why do some of you still have 0's???

Vocab D6: check complete sentence exercise in preparation for tomorrow's quiz.

Grammar: subject/verb agreement.

Auschwitz video makeup showing today at 2:15 PM.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

AO: All freshmen will have the privilege of going to the theater to hear Dr. Judith Ortiz-Cofer speak! Yes, the author of your summer reading book An Island Like You  is coming to Pope High School to speak to students like you, who have read one of her books. What an exciting opportunity!

Ambassadors will administer a 15-minute drug/alcohol survey at the beginning of class.

Vocab D6 quiz today.

After: work on your Night One-Pager due tomorrow. Proofread and edit and revise your paragraph several times! It must be perfect!

OR, After: begin reading Hound of the Baskervilles.

Friday, November 11, 2011 (11-11-11!)

Night One-Pager due today!

Nonfiction CFA and Review Day. Nonfiction CSA (unit test) on Monday.

 

 

 

Week 12: October 31 - November 4, 2011

Monday, October 31, 2011

Happy Halloweenie!!

Vocab D6 intro (1-20!). Complete syns & ants for Wednesday checking.

Night quiz parts 4-5. Read part 6 to the end this week. I will distribute the Active Reading guide for parts 6-9. I will also check for completion of Mrs. Wells' study guide.

Video tomorrow: if you have not submitted your parent signature sheet for parallel reading and video viewing, you will not be allowed to view the video.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Auschwitz Death Camp: Oprah and Elie Wiesel. Listen/view activity with word bank. All period.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

End of second 6-week period. Have you completed all makeup work?

Vocab: check syns and ants exercise. Complete choose word exercise for checking later.

Narrative essays returned. Quotation punctuation review. Correct ten sentences from your essay. File essays in writing folders.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Night One-Pager. Creative culminating activity linking topics with 5-star quotations, images, and a personal response. We will begin this activity in class. You will finish it on your computer at home.

Friday, November 4, 2011

9th Lit/Comp county benchmark tests today!

As per your request, guys: look to your right under Parallel Reading Resources to find a list of the quotations you worked with yesterday and which are now posted in our classroom. The project is due next Friday. Remember: your paragraph must explain one of the many themes of the memoir, using your chosen quotation. I have also linked the instructions for this writing project.

Also to your right under Parallel Reading Resources, you will find a Night CFA. Use it for practice this weekend. Look for answers in the book that you do not find in your head.

Have a great autumn weekend!