April 29 - May 3

This week, we'll continue with the Science & Nature Packet and work on mining sources for good information to use for the Food prompt.


MONDAY/TUESDAY: Journal warm-up. Review the prompt, and go through the challenging Source 2 together as a class. How to analyze pictures and graphs as arguments. Review Source 3. Write an extremely rough thesis statement.  Preview Source G (4) and begin it in class, if time. 

Due: Read and annotate Source 3 from the Science and Nature Packet. Keep in mind which position you might take for the essay, and look for information and quotes that you can include either as support, or maybe in your counterargument.

Homework: For Thursday/Friday: 

Finish reading Source G (should be 4) "Lab-Grown Meat May Save a Lot More than Farm Animals' Lives" and annotate it.

Study for the quiz covering Vocab #19.

WEDNESDAY: Journal warm-up. Current event day - read and annotate two opposing viewpoints. Discuss and debate, vote. Outline the majority opinion in a synthesis/ACT-style outline response based on the discussion.

Due: n/a

Homework: (Same as Monday's.)

THURSDAY/FRIDAY: Journal warm-up. Quiz covering Vocab #19, grammar, reading. Write rough thesis statement, whiparound. Write outline for Foods essay on laptops with individual help. 

Due: Finish reading Source G (should be 4) "Lab-Grown Meat May Save a Lot More than Farm Animals' Lives" and annotate it.

Homework: Continue work on the Foods essay, with the goal of having a full outline for Monday/Tuesday.

April 22 - 26

Welcome! It's the last full week of April, and we'll finish the Gatsby movie and writing assignment, and begin a brief Science and Nature unit.

In order to provide students with enough time to work on the Gatsby writing assignment and proofread it, I've postponed the quiz for Vocab #19 until the end of next week (May 2 or 3). No quiz this week!


MONDAY(4th and 6th only): Journal warm-up. Gatsby final discussion and creative character exercise in small groups. Introduce writing assignment. Begin watching the 2013 movie.


Due: Review Gatsby, have an opinion about the ending.

Homework: Work on the writing assignment, due April 26 (B Day).


TUESDAY (1st and 3rd only): Journal warm-up. Continue the Gatsby movie and work on the Gatsby writing assignment that is due next class, Thursday, April 25.  It can be typed or neatly handwritten.

Due: Work on the Gatsby writing assignment, due April 25.

Homework: Finish the writing assignment, due next class, April 25.

WEDNESDAY: Journal warm-up. Continue the Gatsby movie and work on the Gatsby writing assignment that is due next class, Friday, April 26.  It can be typed or neatly handwritten.

Due: Work on the Gatsby writing assignment, due April 26.

Homework: Finish the writing assignment, due next class, April 26.

THURSDAY/FRIDAY: Journal warm-up. Turn in Gatsby writing assignment. Begin Science and Nature packet reading, synthesis-style essay prompt. View the photo essay, Source 1, together as a class. 

Due: Gatsby writing assignment, typed or neatly handwritten.

Homework: Please read and annotate Source 3 from the Science and Nature Packet. Keep in mind what position you might take for the essay, and look for information and quotes that you can include either as support, or maybe in your counterargument.

April 14 - 19

It's CAASPP week. The online test is good practice, and shouldn't be a problem for the class. It can also eliminate the requirement of an entrance placement test for certain schools. As we complete the test this week, it's a good time to do any catch-up/review on Gatsby. After CAASPP, we'll work on a choice of writing prompt for Gatsby and watch the 2013 movie.

No quiz this week!

MONDAY/TUESDAY: CAASPP English.

Due: Finish Chapter 9 of Gatsby, (finish the book).

Homework: Review Gatsby, have an opinion about the ending.

WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY: CAASPP English. Receive vocab list for next week.

Due: Review Gatsby, have an opinion about the ending.

Homework: Review Gatsby, have an opinion about the ending.

FRIDAY: Journal warm-up. Gatsby final discussion and creative character exercise in small groups. Introduce writing assignment. Begin watching the 2013 movie.

Due: Review Gatsby, have an opinion about the ending.

Homework: Work on the writing assignment, due April 25 (A Day) and April 26 (B Day).

April 8 - 12

Welcome back! I hope everyone had a sensational Spring Break. I ate many good meals, caught up with friends and family, and read a couple of books for pleasure. Unfortunately, I also took my seventeen year-old scruffy tomcat to the animal hospital, but fortunately it looks like we may get a little more time with him.

Here's what's on the agenda for the week:

MONDAY: (All period schedule) We will go to the College and Career Center together as a class to hear about the application process and the benefits that are available to you at PVHS. Receive Vocabulary #18.

Due: Read The Great Gatsby, through the end of Chapter 6.

Homework: Please review Gatsby and be caught up. If you need help reading it, come and see me during any lunch, and/or search for a good, free audio version on YouTube. There is an interesting one with Jake Gyllenhaal narrating that many students seem to like. We will use the novel as a basis for a writing assignment and there will be a final quiz after we finish.

Journals will be due in the bin at the end of the week, so be sure your entries have dates at the top and are full pages, except when noted that day.

TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY: (no late start on Wednesday due to CAASP testing) Journal warm-up. Read and act out the beginning of Chapter 7 of Gatsby. (4th and 6th only: go to the play preview.)

Due: Read The Great Gatsby, through the end of Chapter 6.

Homework: Please read Gatsby through the end of Chapter 8.

Study for the quiz covering Vocab #18, grammar, and reading. 

Have journals ready to turn in next class. 

THURSDAY/FRIDAY: Journal warm-up. Quiz covering vocab #18, grammar, reading. Finish Gatsby casting activity, vote as a class. (1st and 3rd only: go to the play preview.)

Due: Finish reading Gatsby through Chapter 8.

Journals in bin by the end of the class period (periods 4 and 6).

Homework: Finish Gatsby, Chapter 9 (finish the book). 

(1st and 3rd period - make sure journals are ready to turn in on Monday.)