Friday

5/20/16

  • Hamlet
    • In-class notes on Act V, scene 2
    • If you want to watch the end of the Hamlet video, you can go here.
  • Upcoming Events:

Wednesday

5/18/16

  • Hamlet
    • 2A: We finished the play by discussing the unresolved issues from Act IV, summarizing Act V, 1 and acting out Act V, scene 2. Prepare for your exam by reviewing your notes, the study guide, and watching the rest of the Hamlet video.
  • Upcoming Events

Monday

5/16/17


  • Hamlet
    • QUIZ: Act IV, scenes 1-4. Make up ASAP if you were absent. This is the last grade of the six weeks.
    • Discussion / notes for Act IV, scenes 1-7
    • HW: Read as much of Act V as you can. I have hard copies available if you come by.
  • Upcoming Events

Thursday

5/12/16

Nominate an East teacher for "Senior Honorary Teacher 2016" HERE. Deadline is Wed. 5/18/16.

  • Semester Exams will be on the following dates:
    • 2A - Fri. 5/20/16 (or Tues. 5/24-- your choice)
    • 4A- Tues. 5/24/16


Here's a link to the growing slideshow of pics from the making of Senior Wall 2016. Feel free to download images you want for yourself :)

Tuesday

5/10/16

HONOR GRADS: You have until Thurs. 5/12/16 to complete your information for the Honor Banquet Booklet. Here is the link

  • Hamlet: 
    • In-class assignment: Review of III, 1-2. If you were absent, complete the 5 statements, then explain how each can be proven / disproven using the text of III, 1-2. Turn in for a grade.
    • HW for Thurs. 5/12/16.

Here's a link to the growing slideshow of pics from the making of Senior Wall 2016. Feel free to download images you want for yourself :)

Friday

5/6/16

HONOR GRADS: You have until Thurs. 5/12/16 to complete your information for the Honor Banquet Booklet. Here is the link


  • Hamlet: 
    • In-class writing assignment. If you were absent, see me for a time to make this up ASAP.
    • HW for Tues. 5/10/16.

Here's a link to the growing slideshow of pics from the making of Senior Wall 2016. Feel free to download images you want for yourself :)

Wednesday

5/4/16


Here's a link to the 
growing slideshow of pics
 from the making of Senior Wall 2016. Feel free to download images you want for yourself :)

Monday

5/2/16


Here's a link to the 
growing slideshow of pics
 from the making of Senior Wall 2016. Feel free to download images you want for yourself :)
  • AP Exam STUDY HUBS on available on Google Classroom
    • Literature review videos using Thug Notes
    • Literary terms online flashcard sets
    • AP Multiple Choice
      • The grade from the practice test has been entered for the 6th six weeks. If you want to improve your score, you can come for 10-minute, 1-passage practices after school over the next few weeks before the exam. For each practice where you score >50%, I will add 10 points to the original test score in the grade book. You can practice up to 100% for the grade book and beyond that for extra practice if you like. Offer expires on May 3.
      • Practice time starts at 4:00 pm on the following dates:
        •  5/2/16-  Monday- Prose
        •  5/3/16-  Tuesday- Poetry
      • Answers will be on Google Classroom the following day.

    Thursday

    4/28/16


    Here's a link to the growing slideshow of pics from the making of Senior Wall 2016. Feel free to download images you want for yourself :)

    • Teacher Appreciation Week is next week. If you want to participate in the WEHS tradition of making cards to be distributed to your teachers, turn them in by Friday morning 4/29/16. You can pick up cards in my classroom or download and print here.
    • AP Exam STUDY HUBS on available on Google Classroom
      • Literature review videos using Thug Notes
      • Literary terms online flashcard sets
      • AP Multiple Choice
        • The grade from the practice test has been entered for the 6th six weeks. If you want to improve your score, you can come for 10-minute, 1-passage practices after school over the next few weeks before the exam. For each practice where you score >50%, I will add 10 points to the original test score in the grade book. You can practice up to 100% for the grade book and beyond that for extra practice if you like. Offer expires on May 3.
        • Practice time starts at 4:00 pm on the following dates:
          • 4/28/16- Thursday- Prose
          • 4/29/16- Friday- Poetry
          •  5/2/16-  Monday- Prose
          •  5/3/16-  Tuesday- Poetry
        • Answers will be on Google Classroom the following day.

      Tuesday

      4/26/16

      Here's a link to the growing slideshow of pics from the making of Senior Wall 2016. Feel free to download images you want for yourself :)
      • Teacher Appreciation Week is next week. If you want to participate in the WEHS tradition of making cards to be distributed to your teachers, turn them in by Friday morning. You can pick up cards in my classroom or download and print here.
      • Hamlet
        • Discussion, II, 2, pgs. 36-42
        • HW due Thurs. 4/28/16: Read and annotate the rest of Act II. Use the Act II study guide
      • AP Exam STUDY HUBS on available on Google Classroom
        • Literature review videos using Thug Notes
        • Literary terms online flashcard sets
      • AP Multiple Choice
        • The grade from the practice test has been entered for the 6th six weeks. If you want to improve your score, you can come for 10-minute, 1-passage practices after school over the next few weeks before the exam. For each practice where you score >50%, I will add 10 points to the original test score in the grade book. You can practice up to 100% for the grade book and beyond that for extra practice if you like. Offer expires on May 3.
        • Practice time starts at 4:00 pm on the following dates:
          • 4/26/16- Tuesday- Prose
          • 4/27/16- Wednesday- Poetry
          • 4/28/16- Thursday- Prose
          • 4/29/16- Friday- Poetry
          •  5/2/16-  Monday- Prose
          •  5/3/16-  Tuesday- Poetry
        • Answers will be on Google Classroom the following day.

      Friday

      4/22/16

      Here's a link to the growing slideshow of pics from the making of Senior Wall 2016. Feel free to download images you want for yourself :)
      • Hamlet
        • Assignment for II, 1
        • HW due Tues. 4/26/16: Read and annotate Act II, scene 2, pgs. 36-42. Use the Act II study guide. Focus on proving / disproving the following theories:
          • A significant amount of time has passed since Act I.
          • Polonius is a sycophant.
          • Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are true friends to Hamlet.
      • AP Exam STUDY HUBS on available on Google Classroom
        • Literature review videos using Thug Notes
        • Literary terms online flashcard sets
      • AP Free Response
        • Use the list of books of literary merit you have read that we created on Wednesday to start reviewing the details of them on this chart. It was an assignment to complete three sections (works) in class today and send me a pic of them for a grade. Due Tues. 4/26/16: Complete 8 sections (literary works) of the chart.
      • AP Multiple Choice
        • The grade from the practice test has been entered for the 6th six weeks. If you want to improve your score, you can come for 10-minute, 1-passage practices after school over the next few weeks before the exam. For each practice where you score >50%, I will add 10 points to the original test score in the grade book. You can practice up to 100% for the grade book and beyond that for extra practice if you like. Offer expires on May 3.
        • Practice time starts at 4:00 pm on the following dates:
          • 4/22/16- Friday- NO PRACTICE- I will be out of town for UIL
          • 4/25/16- Monday- Poetry
          • 4/26/16- Tuesday- Prose
          • 4/27/16- Wednesday- Poetry
          • 4/28/16- Thursday- Prose
          • 4/29/16- Friday- Poetry
          •  5/2/16-  Monday- Prose
          •  5/3/16-  Tuesday- Poetry
        • Answers will be on Google Classroom the following day.

      Wednesday

      4/20/16

      Here's a link to the growing slideshow of pics from the making of Senior Wall 2016. Feel free to download images you want for yourself :)
      • Hamlet
        • Discussion of I, 4-5. If you were absent, see a friend for the notes.
        • We watched a video of the first act of the play.
        • HW due Fri. 4/22/16: Read and annotate Act II, scene 1. If you were absent, you can pick up a copy of the Act in class or read it online here until you come to class. Use the Act II study guide.
      • AP Exam STUDY HUBS on available on Google Classroom
        • Literature review using Thug Notes
        • Literary terms online flashcard sets
      • AP Free Response
        • We discussed the three types of essay questions (log in to Google to view) you will encounter on the AP exam and made a list of all major literary works (novels, plays, epic poems) studied throughout high school that could help you on the third (open) question. Bring this list with you on Friday.
        • If you want to practice writing the essays, you can work on any of the samples and I'll give you some feedback. (Log in to your school Google account to view the sample topics.)
      • AP Multiple Choice
        • The grade from the practice test has been entered for the 6th six weeks. If you want to improve your score, you can come for 10-minute, 1-passage practices after school over the next few weeks before the exam. For each practice where you score >50%, I will add 10 points to the original test score in the grade book. You can practice up to 100% for the grade book and beyond that for extra practice if you like. Offer expires on May 3.
        • Practice time starts at 4:00 pm on the following dates:
          • 4/21/16- Thursday- Prose
          • 4/22/16- Friday- NO PRACTICE- I will be out of town for UIL
          • 4/25/16- Monday- Poetry
          • 4/26/16- Tuesday- Prose
          • 4/27/16- Wednesday- Poetry
          • 4/28/16- Thursday- Prose
          • 4/29/16- Friday- Poetry
          •  5/2/16-  Monday- Prose
          •  5/3/16-  Tuesday- Poetry
        • Answers will be on Google Classroom the following day.

      Friday

      4/15/16

      Here's a link to the growing slideshow of pics from the making of Senior Wall 2016. Feel free to download images you want for yourself :)


      • Hamlet
        • QUIZ: I, 3. Make up ASAP if you were absent
        • Discussion of I, 3. If you were absent, see a friend for the notes.
        • HW due Wed. 4/20/16: Read and annotate I, 4-5. Use the study guide.
      • AP Multiple Choice
        • The grade from the practice test will be the first one entered for the 6th six weeks. If you want to improve your score, you can come for 10-minute, 1-passage practices after school over the next few weeks before the exam. For each practice where you score >50%, I will add 10 points to the original test score in the grade book. You can practice up to 100% for the grade book and beyond that for extra practice if you like. Offer expires on May 3.
        • Practice time starts at 4:00 pm on the following dates:
          • 4/15/16- Friday- Prose
          • 4/18/16- Monday- NO SCHOOL :) NO PRACTICE
          • 4/19/16- Tuesday- NO PRACTICE- I have an appointment
          • 4/20/16- Wednesday- Poetry (I will not be able to stay for debriefing afterwards)
          • 4/21/16- Thursday- Prose
          • 4/22/16- Friday- NO PRACTICE- I will be out of town for UIL
          • 4/25/16- Monday- Poetry
          • 4/26/16- Tuesday- Prose
          • 4/27/16- Wednesday- Poetry
          • 4/28/16- Thursday- Prose
          • 4/29/16- Friday- Poetry
          •  5/2/16-  Monday- Prose
          •  5/3/16-  Tuesday- Poetry
        • Answers will be on Google Classroom the following day.

      Wednesday

      4/13/16


      • Hamlet
        • Be sure you have finished watching all of the Shakespeare background videos. If you have trouble watching the videos, email me and I'll send you a link to a Google folder with the files.
        • Discussion of I, 2, including Hamlet's first soliloquy. If you were absent, see a friend for the notes.
        • HW due Fri. 4/15/16: Read and annotate I, 3. Use the study guide.
      • AP Multiple Choice
        • Class activity for answers to the practice test we took. If you were absent, see me for your test so you can check your overall score.
        • We went over the answers to the full-length practice test we did last week. The grade from this will be the first one entered for the 6th six weeks. If you want to improve your score, you can come for 10-minute, 1-passage practices after school over the next few weeks before the exam. For each practice where you score >50%, I will add 10 points to the original test score in the grade book. You can practice up to 100% for the grade book and beyond that for extra practice if you like. Offer expires on May 3.
        • Practice time starts at 4:00 pm on the following dates:
          • 4/14/16- Thursday- Poetry
          • 4/15/16- Friday- Prose
          • 4/18/16- Monday- NO SCHOOL :) NO PRACTICE
          • 4/19/16- Tuesday- NO PRACTICE- I have an appointment
          • 4/20/16- Wednesday- Poetry
          • 4/21/16- Thursday- Prose
          • 4/22/16- Friday- NO PRACTICE- I will be out of town for UIL
          • 4/25/16- Monday- Poetry
          • 4/26/16- Tuesday- Prose
          • 4/27/16- Wednesday- Poetry
          • 4/28/16- Thursday- Prose
          • 4/29/16- Friday- Poetry
          •  5/2/16-  Monday- Prose
          •  5/3/16-  Tuesday- Poetry

      Monday

      4/11/16


      • Hamlet
        • Discussion of I, 1
        • Study Guide for Act I passed out
        • Read & made notes on the first half of I, 2 in class
        • HW due Wed. 4/13/16:
          • Finish watching Shakespeare background videos. If you are having trouble with the YouTube playlist, email me for access to the Google Drive folder with all of the videos.
          • Finish reading / annotating I, 2 (to pg. 17)
          • Analyze Hamlet's first soliloquy. Mark it for the following:
            •  paraphrase of sections
            •  comparisons
            • striking phrases and images
            • progression / sequence of thoughts,
            • how Hamlet’s tone differs from his tone earlier in the scene
            • attitude / state of mind
            • allusions 

      Thursday

      4/7/16

      • Career Research Paper: Paper is due TODAY Thurs. 4/7/16 by 11:59 pm
      • Hamlet
        • Submit a list of the tasks that each member of your Shakespeare video group was responsible for. If you have an issue about the division of labor, this is your opportunity to bring it to my attention.
        • In class: Reading of the beginning of Act I, scene 1 of Hamlet (get your permanent copy from me, but you can read the scene here). Finish the scene (through pg. 7) for homework due Mon. 4/11/16. Make notes on vocab. and summarize main ideas of what is said. 

      Tuesday

      4/5/16

      • Canterbury Tales tests returned and discussed
      • AP Exam: We took a 1-hour practice multiple choice test for a grade. If you were absent, see me to make this up. We will use the results from this test to review for the test in May.

      Friday

      4/1/16

      Wednesday

      3/30/16



      Monday

      3/28/16


      • TEST: The Canterbury Tales
      • HW: Continue working on draft of research paper. Discussion / Q&A on Wednesday will be on using sources.
      • STAAR testing will take place on Tues. and Thurs. this week. Here is the modified bell schedule:

      Wednesday

      3/23/16


      • Check out this great opportunity! A former student who works in Washington D.C. sent it to me:

      Monday

      3/21/16


      Thursday

      3/10/16

      Tuesday

      3/8/16





    • Career Research Project- Stage 2: Gathering Secondary Sources (due Fri. 3/11/16)
    • Friday

      3/4/16



      Wednesday

      3/2/16

      • The Canterbury Tales
        • Pardoner's Tale annotations (your original notes on vocab. / allusions, etc. + the homework assignment notes) were turned in.
        • Discussion of the Pardoner's Tale / Viewing of film version
        • HW due Fri. 3/4/16: Read the Wife of Bath's PROLOGUE (p. 166 - 183) and annotate for vocab. / allusions, reactions, etc. Also, make notes on the Wife of Bath's personality traits:
          • The Wife of Bath is one of the most iconic characters in English literature. Some scholars credit Chaucer for creating in her the first literary feminist. The prologue to the Wife’s tale (p. 166-183) is longer than the tale itself and reveals much about her perspective on gender roles, her point of view, and the events of her life. Read and mark it to reveal the complex character traits revealed in her words. Try to identify as many personality traits as possible and mark them next to the evidence of each trait. Come to class with ideas about who the Wife is and reasons why Chaucer might have drawn her so vividly.

      Monday

      2/29/16


      • The Canterbury Tales
        • Concluded group presentations on comedic ladder. If you were absent, submit a slideshow with your homework examples of the 4 levels of comedy. Make sure you include a written description of how each example fits the level.
        • In-class assignment: Text notations on the Pardoner's Tale. Complete on your copy of the text for homework. In addition, be prepared to discuss the symbolic meaning of the image at the top of the page.

      Thursday

      2/25/16


      • Canterbury Tales
        • Group assignment: presentation on Comedic Ladder (to finish on Monday). If you were absent, prepare and send me a PowerPoint / Google Slides presentation of your four examples of the comedic later levels. Include explanation about how each example fits the level.
        • HW due Monday 2/29/16: Read and annotate the Pardoner's Tale. Make sure you are always reading as if there will be a quiz.

      Tuesday

      2/23/16



      Friday

      2/19/16


      Wednesday

      2/17/16


      Monday

      2/15/16


      • Research Project
        • Check your email each day for your mentor's response. Remember that you should continue a dialogue with your mentor. If you have further clarification questions about their response to you, send a follow up email.

      2/11/16


      • Research Project
        • Check your email each day for your mentor's response. Remember that you should continue a dialogue with your mentor. If you have further clarification questions about their response to you, send a follow up email.

      2/15/16

      • Research Project
        • Check your email each day for your mentor's response. Remember that you should continue a dialogue with your mentor. If you have further clarification questions about their response to you, send a follow up email.

      Tuesday

      2/9/16

      • Canterbury Tales
        • Optional written supplement for Gen Pro test.
        • Class time to work on annotations on Knight's Tale.
        • HW for Thurs 2/11/16: 
          • Complete Guidesheet for the Knight's Tale Parts I & II (#1-8). Be prepared to discuss your annotations in class.
          • Find information on the purpose for medieval chivalry and the rules that governed it. Come to class with facts, ideas, and questions.
        • HW for Mon. 2/15/16: Read and annotate sections 3 & 4 of The Knight's Tale
      • Research Project
        • Check your email each day for your mentor's response. Remember that you should continue a dialogue with your mentor. If you have further clarification questions about their response to you, send a follow up email.
        • If your mentor does not email you after this weekend, please let me know.

      Thursday

      2/4/16

      • Canterbury Tales
        • TEST: General Prologue of The Canterbury Tales
        • HW for Tues 2/9/16: 
          • Complete items 1-3 on the Guidesheet for the Knight's Tale Parts I & II
          • Find information on the purpose for medieval chivalry and the rules that governed it. Come to class with facts, ideas, and questions.
          • The test scores were not great. You will have the option to complete an additional essay topic on the General Prologue next week in order to supplement your score from today's test. So, continue studying and reviewing the GP. You can start with trying to identify all of the pilgrims in this video: http://youtu.be/vvHvksbUayc.
      • Research Project
        • Check your email each day for your mentor's response. Remember that you should continue a dialogue with your mentor. If you have further clarification questions about their response to you, send a follow up email.
        • If your mentor does not email you after this weekend, please let me know.

      Tuesday

      2/2/16

      • Canterbury Tales
        • Completed notes on the General Prologue 
        • HW for Thurs. 2/4/16: Study for Canterbury Tales Gen Pro test on Thurs. Here is a study guide for the pilgrims, but there will also be questions about the beginning and end of the Prologue.
        • HW for Thurs 2/4/16: Read and annotate parts 1 & 2 of The Knight's Tale for class 
      • Research Project
        • 2A: You should have sent your email to your mentor. This was due yesterday, 2/1/16. Check your email each day for your mentor's response. Remember that you should continue a dialogue with your mentor. If you have questions about their response to you, send a follow up email.
        • 4A: You should have already send me the draft of your mentor email. Check your email for my response. Send your email to your mentor (and copy me on it) by Thurs. 2/4/16.

      Friday

      1/29/16

      • "Dead Poets Society" Homework essay turned in. If you were out today, email it to me ASAP.
      • The Canterbury Tales- Continued notes on the pilgrim portraits in General Prologue.
      • Semester Research Project
        • Overview of Project
        • Stage 1: Gathering of Primary Sources
        • Due Dates:
          • 2A
            • You should have already sent me the draft of your mentor email.
            • HW due Mon. 2/1/16: Send approved introductory email to your mentor.
          • 4A
            • HW due by Mon. 2/1/16: By this date, share a draft of your introductory email to your mentor with me on Google Docs.
            • HW due Thurs. 2/4/16: Send approved introductory email to your mentor.

      Wednesday

      1/27/16

      • "Dead Poets Society"
        • Discussion of "She Walks in Beauty" by George Gordon, Lord Byron
        • Viewing of final segment of the film. 
        • HW due Fri. 1/29/16: Write one page addressing the messages you think the film sends. Focus on the message that impacted you most- poetry, friendship, individuality, carpe diem, family, the student-teacher relationship, etc. Explain how these messages were presented and reinforced in the film.
      • The Canterbury Tales- Continued notes on the pilgrim portraits in General Prologue.
      • Semester Research Project
        • Overview of Project
        • Stage 1: Gathering of Primary Sources
        • 4A Mentor bios given
        • Due Dates:
          • 2A
            • HW due by Thurs. 1/28/16: By this date, share a draft of your introductory email to your mentor with me on Google Docs.
            • HW due Mon. 2/1/16: Send approved introductory email to your mentor.
          • 4A
            • HW due by Mon. 2/1/16: By this date, share a draft of your introductory email to your mentor with me on Google Docs.
            • HW due Thurs. 2/4/16: Send approved introductory email to your mentor.

      Monday

      1/25/16

      • "Dead Poets Society"
        • Discussion of "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost (p. 6 in DPS poetry collection)
          • What are the benefits of taking the “road less traveled”?
          • What are the drawbacks?
          • What motivates the speaker to take the less traveled road?
          • As the poem presents it, is the “road less traveled” better than the other? Support.
          • Does the speaker regret his decision or not?
          • In what ways is the poem about uncertainty?
          • How can we see the concept of carpe diem in the poem?
        • Viewing of next segment of the film
        • HW due Wed. 1/27/16: Read and analyze "She Walks in Beauty" by George Gordon, Lord Byron (p. 2 in DPS booklet). Focus on what the speaker considers the "ideal woman".
      • The Canterbury Tales- Continued notes on the pilgrim portraits in General Prologue
      • 2A ONLY: Introduction to Semester Research Project

      Thursday

      1/21/16


      • "Dead Poets Society"
        • Discussion of "Ballad of William Bloat", "Ulysses" and "from Walden"-- connecting the ideas in the poems to carpe diem and transcendentalism.
        • Viewing of next segment of the film
        • HW due Mon. 1/25/16: 
          • Read and analyze "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost (p. 6 in booklet)  Focus on the extended metaphor and the metaphors that support it.
      • Canterbury Tales General Prologue 
        • Notes on medieval humours and estates
        • Continued notes for the pilgrim portraits

      Tuesday

      1/19/16

      • "Dead Poets Society" film
        • Discussion of "O Me! O Life" by Walt Whitman and its connection to the carpe diem theme
        • HW due Thurs. 1/21/16:
          • Read "The Ballad of William Bloat" by Raymond Calvert (p. 3 of "Dead Poets Society booklet) and excerpt from "Ulysses" by Alfred Lord Tennyson (p. 8-10)
          • Analyze and annotate the excerpt from Walden by Henry David Thoreau (p. 10). Connect the poetic idea / concepts in the poem to the other poems, the film, and the concept of "transcendentalism" (be able to define it).
      • Canterbury Tales- Continuation of notes on the pilgrim portraits in the General Prologue.

      Friday

      1/15/16


      • POW Writing assignment for "O Me! O Life" (p. 12 of "Dead Poets Society" booklet)
        • In an organized response, discuss how the poem shifts. In your answer, be sure to also clarify your interpretation of the “question” and the “answer” presented in the poem.
      • Canterbury Tales- Continuation of notes on the pilgrim portraits in the General Prologue

      Wednesday

      1/13/16


      • "Dead Poet's Society" film
        • Notes & discussion on "To The Virgins, Make Much of Time" by Robert Herrick
        • Viewed next segment.
        • HW due Fri. 1/15/16: Analyze "O Me! O Life!" by Walt Whitman (p. 12 in booklet). Focus especially on clarifying the question posed and the answer given.
      • Canterbury Tales
        • Quiz
        • 2A: Notes on Friar


      Monday

      1/11/16


      • We began watching the film "Dead Poets Society". We will view this in short segments at the beginning of class for the next few meetings. Here is the booklet of poems from the film that I handed out today. We read and discussed "To the Virgins" (p. 5) and "O Captain My Captain" (p. 11)
        • HW due Wed. 11/13/16: Analyze and annotate the poem on page 5, "To the Virgins, Make Much of Time" by Robert Herrick. We will discuss the details of the poem before we continue watching the film on Monday.
      • Canterbury Tales General Prologue: Class notes through the Monk. Study your notes as we will have a quiz on Wed. If you were absent, you can get notes from a classmate or you can come in and get notes from the class copy that was made today during the presentation.

      Thursday

      1/7/16


      • Book Discussion Sign-Up
      • Canterbury Tales
        • Get General Prologue handout from me ASAP
        • Notes on General Prologue through the Squire (p. 4)
        • Sections assigned for notes presentations

      Tuesday

      1/5/16



      Welcome to your last semester of high school! :)
      • Intro. notes for The Canterbury Tales