Thank you for (mostly) being so good for my substitute on Tuesday of last week. I really appreciate that most of you are able to stick to your assignments and help encourage each other! Here's today's recap!

English 8

Today, we worked on our Chapter 1 activities for The Outsiders. Remember to finish it tonight for homework, and remember that three on-time homework assignments mean a free homework pass!

English 9

We read "The Singing, Springing Lark" today as well as "Eros and Psyche" to look at how the fairy tale was inspired by the myth.

English 9H

We had a good discussion today about "The Singing, Springing Lark," which we'll continue tomorrow when we read "Cupid and Psyche."

We had a great day today, very nice job! As a reminder, any incomplete work from last week needs to be finished and turned in before the end of the day tomorrow. Here's today's recap!

English 8

We started reading The Outsiders today. As a reminder, your reading check-in is due by 11:59 p.m. tomorrow.

We're going to try a new rewards system! If you get three reading check-ins done, you'll earn a free reading pass. If you collect 2 free reading passes and don't use them, you can buy an alternate final reading project.

If you complete three Outsiders chapter homework assignments, you'll get a free homework pass. If you collect two homework passes and don't use them, you can use them to buy an alternate project for our mid-book writing assignment after chapter 6 or our final essay at the end of the book.

English 9 and 9 Honors

Today we read "King Thrushbeard" and talked about how both characters have done some pretty problematic things. Your homework tonight is to complete the response on Schoology explaining which character you side with and why.

Here's our recap for today!

English 8

Today we did some live polls in class to talk about the topics we're going to be seeing in The Outsiders, such as whether or not you can know a lot about someone based on their appearance, what the most important traits are that a friend can have, and what the most important things are about both being an individual and being part of a group. Don't forget that tomorrow is your first independent reading check-in of the second quarter!

English 9 and 9 Honors

Today we discussed the characteristics of a fairy tale, which include:

• being a collected story rather than a story with an author;
• taking place in the past (once upon a time);
• usually having some magical or supernatural element;
• sometimes having the "happily ever after' ending, but not always;
• teaching a moral lesson; and
• explaining how people are supposed to behave.

Make sure you know the difference between the terms protagonist, antagonist, hero, and villain. Your written response to the quote about fairy tales' importance is due by the end of the day tomorrow!

Our first Wind Down Wednesday of the second quarter! Here's our recap:

English 8

Today, we talked a little more about the connection between our social groups, stereotypes, bias, and prejudice. Then, we made connections to identity, and how our identity in certain groups can be impacted by stereotypes. We watched a short film called Identity, and we'll be talking more about it tomorrow. There is a written response for this assignment, but it isn't due until 11:59 p.m. tomorrow.

Don't forget your independent reading book!

English 9 and 9 Honors

Our guidance counselors came in today for the first portion of our social-emotional learning curriculum. It's so important, especially now, to be aware of how you're getting through the tough times, and to build resilience. Reaching out to others, finding ways to express your thoughts, and making time to reflect on your feelings are all so important. I sincerely hope that you're all taking good care of yourselves. Please remember that there's always someone you can talk to, and you're not alone.

Your Grimm Brothers Webquest is due by 11:59 p.m. tonight, so do your best!

Grades are almost finalized for the first quarter. Thank you for your patience! Here's our recap for today!

English 8

Today we used Jamboards to talk about what kinds of impacts social groups have on us in school, how we're put into those social groups, and what prejudice, bias, and stereotype all mean. We're going to be putting these ideas together to get ready to read The Outsiders soon!

Please don't forget to have your independent reading book. Our first reading check-in for the quarter will be on Friday!

English 9 and 9 Honors

Today we talked about how a rube goldberg machine is similar to a fairy tale: making the journey entertaining gives the purpose greater meaning. Fairy tales are entertaining so that the lesson sticks in a person's mind.

Make sure that you finish your Webquest by 11:59 p.m. tomorrow!

We did it! We made it through quarter one! You've all worked so hard, so I'm going to make sure that our second quarter is a fun one!

Thank you for your patience as I continue the grading of final projects for the first quarter. I will have everything done in the next few days. Please remember that when you're all home for the weekend, it's also my weekend, too, so I'm not going to be grading nonstop on Saturday and Sunday. 🙂

Here's our recap!

English 8

Independent reading check-ins will resume this Friday! In order to help you find a book, please navigate to the school's library website and select Sora. You can also download the Sora app. I will post a reminder on Schoology about how to log in.

Our next book will be The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. This story takes place in the 1960s, so tonight's homework is to complete the assignment on Schoology titled "The Outsiders Historical Context Webquest." Just look up the answers online to give yourself a better idea of what was going on in the world during this decade! This is due by the end of the day today, and late work will be receiving a late penalty from this point moving forward. Make sure to answer all 10 questions!

Please remind the grownups you keep at home to check their emails for the permission form to watch The Outsiders. If I don't get a permission form for you, I can't let you watch the movie in class!

If you still have your Greek Gods book, please return that to me ASAP. Thank you!

English 9 and 9 Honors

We're definitely going to have fun this quarter because we're starting off with fairy tales, and not the cutesy Disney versions! To kick us off, you'll be working on a Webquest about The Brothers Grimm, which needs to be turned in by the end of the day on Wednesday. I've made a pdf of the National Geographic article in case the link doesn't work for you, and it's posted to Schoology.

Late work will receive a late penalty or may not be accepted at all, so please make sure to get this done on time, and please make sure to communicate with me early on if you're starting to get overwhelmed.

Please remind the adults you keep in your house to check their emails for the permission form to watch Maleficent. If I don't get a permission form for you, I can't let you watch the movie in class!