Here's today's recap:

English 8

We reviewed for tomorrow's test. Here are the things you'll need to know:

• narrative poem
• stanza
• alliteration
• assonance
• consonance
• onomatopoeia
• hyperbole
• understatement

You should also know the three types of irony.

English 9 and 9H

We began chapter 9 today. Scout is starting to hear some talk in Maycomb about her father, disparaging him for defending a black man. Scout and her family go to Finch's Landing for Christmas, and she seems to be about to have a serious confrontation with her cousin Francis.

You all did really well when I was out yesterday, so thank you very much for that. Here's today's recap!

English 8

Yesterday, you worked on poetic devices worksheets. Please make sure you finish and submit those if you haven't already done so. Today, we watched a short film of "The Raven," and you have a response to complete. Please use your notes if you need them!

English 9 and 9H

Between yesterday and today, we've gotten through most of, if not all of, chapter 8 in To Kill A Mockingbird. Scout and Jem found many new surprises in the knothole of the tree on the Radley property, but Mr. Nathan Radley soon plugged the hole up with cement, claiming that the tree was sick. It was not. Later, Maycomb County saw its first snowfall since 1885. School, naturally, was canceled. After making a snowman (with some mud to help) that looked quite a bit like Mr. Avery, the kids had their sleep interrupted by a fire at Miss Maudie's house.

Sorry for missing yesterday's update, kiddos. Here's today's recap! We've had some spooky topics in class!

English 8

Yesterday, we read the narrative poem The Cremation of Sam McGee by Robert Service. In it, the narrator promises to cremate the remains of his friend Sam McGee when he dies because Sam was always complaining about the cold. After his friend's death, the narrator finds a derelict ship and decides to burn the body in the boiler room. When he goes to check, he sees the ghost of Sam McGee sitting happily in the boiler room thanking the narrator for finally making him warm.

Today, we read The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe. In this poem, the narrator is dreaming of the lost Lenore when a raven enters his chamber, and he has a strange conversation with the bird that hints at Lenore being forever lost to him, and it seems that the bird will remain to haunt him. Tomorrow, we're going to watch a short film based on the poem, and you're going to do a bit of creative writing to explain what YOU think happened to Lenore.

English 9 and 9 Honors

Period 7 is a little ahead since there will be no period 7 class on Friday due to our half day.

Yesterday, we read chapter 4, during which we see Scout's frustration with school. On her way home one day, she finds two pieces of gum in a knothole in one of the trees in the Radley yard and takes them. Jem is not happy with this. However, on the last day of school, they find two polished "Indian-head" pennies in a box and decide to keep them until school begins and they can ask around about them. When Dill returns, they begin to play a game about Boo Radley, and Jem feels the need to keep this a secret from Atticus. Scout is uncomfortable, though, because not only does she believe that Atticus knows what they're doing, but she also heard laughter from inside the Radley house.

Today, we read chapter 5. As Dill and Jem become closer (even though Dill asked Scout to marry him), Scout begins spending more time with Miss Maudie, who tells her that Arthur Radley (Boo) is still alive and just wants to stay inside. She also mentions that Atticus is the kind of man who doesn't behave differently at home than he does in front of other people. Jem and Dill come up with a plan to send a note to Boo, but Atticus catches them and tells them to stop tormenting Boo.

Here's today's recap!

English 8

After going over our idioms worksheet, we talked about what narrative poems are: poems with a plot or poems that tell a story. Sometimes, narrative poems will rhyme or have rhythms, but not always. As long as it tells a story with a beginning, middle, and end, it's a narrative poem. We read "Jabberwocky" by Lewis Carroll, and you have the opportunity to earn some bonus points TODAY ONLY if you write out what you think the plot was!

English 9 and 9 Honors

In chapter 3, Scout is about ready to beat up Walter Cunningham Jr. for making her "start off on the wrong foot" with Miss Caroline. Jem invites Walter to lunch at their house, where Walter pours syrup over all of his food. Calpurnia made sure that Scout was very clear on the fact that when someone is your guest, they are to be treated with respect. Miss Caroline met Burris Ewell, who we learn is not only suffering from very poor hygiene and is from a very poor family, but is also extremely rude. The Ewells, according to Atticus, are not considered a respectable family, and the father, Bob, uses his welfare check to buy whiskey rather than providing for his children. Scout and Atticus make a deal: if Scout goes back to school, they can continue reading together, they just won't tell Miss Caroline.

Here's today's recap:

English 8

In continuing our conversation about poetic devices, we learned about onomatopoeia, hyperbole, and understatement. Our entire list so far includes these three devices as well as idiom, alliteration, assonance, and consonance. These are types of poetic devices that are used to draw the reader's attention.

English 9 and 9 Honors

After meeting Scout, her brother Jem, and their summertime neighbor Dill, we've learned a bit of the mystery surrounding the Radley house and its mysterious occupant, Boo. In chapter 2, Scout begins school, and she has some trouble with her teacher, Miss Caroline. Miss Caroline doesn't like that Scout already knows how to read and write (in cursive, no less), and she lost her temper at last when Scout tried to explain to Miss Caroline about Walter Cunningham being poor and not being able to accept money from her. Scout is very unsure about school now that she's gotten through her first morning.

Sorry for not having updates earlier in the week. Here's what we've been up to!

English 8

Monday was a review of the three types of irony: verbal, situational, and dramatic. Yesterday, you completed a worksheet in class about idioms. Today, we went over consonance, assonance, and alliteration.

English 9 and 9 Honors

On Monday, you completed your first journal entry for To Kill A Mockingbird. We've now read (most of) chapter 1, in which we meet Scout, our narrator. At the beginning of the novel, she's 6 years old. We've also met her brother Jem and their neighbor, Dill, and we've learned a bit about the mysterious Boo Radley.