April 29

In the Sparknotes summary of the last part of "The Hearth and the Salamander," we read:
Beatty explains that after all houses were fireproofed, the firemen’s job changed from its old purpose of preventing fires to its new mission of burning the books that could allow one person to excel intellectually, spiritually, and practically over others and so make everyone else feel inferior. Montag asks how someone like Clarisse could exist, and Beatty says the firemen have been keeping an eye on her family because they worked against the schools’ system of homogenization.

One of the criticisms of the educational system in the United States and the U.K. is that schools homogenize the students who are taught in them. 
homogenize: to make uniform or similar; to blend and make similar, especially by reducting one element and blending with the other substance
Example sentence: It is nice to attend a school where the students feel like they can dress in their own, unique way rather than becoming homogenized.

Watch the following video on our public educational system. I think that you'll really like it
(Wow, something in my English class that I'll actually like?!!)
Changing Education Paradigms by Sir Kenneth Robinson
paradigm: model or pattern
Example sentence: There is a new paradigm for education: we now feel that different things are important because we now value different things

Writing assignment (2 pages handwritten)
Citing three examples from the Changing Education Paradigms video, explain why Clarisse and her family don't fit into the world of the novel Fahrenheit 451.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U
Remember, Clarisse is very different from most people in the book. Most people are like Mildred (Guy Montag's wife), who anesthetizes herself with sleeping pills and sits in front of the TV like a zombie. Clarisse puzzles her psychologists. She says, "They want to know what I do with all my time. I tell them that sometimes I just sit and think"(20).
                                                                    

April 25

HOMEWORK:
Read to page 65 (finish the chapter The Hearth and the Salamander)
It's a good book! Just be patient and you'll start to get into it.

For students who have missed class, here's what we've been doing the last two days. You need to hand in the two journals.

GET OUT PAPER AND PENCIL. WE WILL START WHEN THE BELL RINGS

Journal: One of the most popular adolescent fiction writers, John Green, has said that 
"technology has pulverized our nature." Although virtually all of you love technology, I think that you can probably come up with an example of a technology that lowers your quality of life. For your journal, I'd like you to:
1. Give an example of a technology that lowers your quality of life  AND
2. Explain why it lowers your quality of life
You will need to write two paragraphs for this.

Watch John Green YouTube on Fahrenheit 451
HOMEWORK:
If you didn't turn in your homework yesterday, hand it in today. 10 points.

IF you didn't see Mr. Weiner's talk today, here it is on YouTube. Your assignment is to watch it and answer the three questions above. Yes, I know, this is a lot of homework. It is vitally important, however.
Alter Weiner Holocaust Presentation

Read Fahrenheit 451 to page 45. Remember, you might want to read the Sparknotes summary first if you're having a tough time. Don't, however, read past the summary of the chapter
The Hearth and the Salamander. Here's the summary:
The Hearth and the Salamander, part 1
The Hearth and the Salamander, part 2
The Hearth and the  Salamander, part 3
The Hearth and the  Salamander, part 4
The Hearth and the  Salamander, part 5

April 24

GET OUT PAPER AND PENCIL. WE WILL START WHEN THE BELL RINGS

Journal: One of the most popular adolescent fiction writers, John Green, has said that 
"technology has pulverized our nature." Although virtually all of you love technology, I think that you can probably come up with an example of a technology that lowers your quality of life. For your journal, I'd like you to:
1. Give an example of a technology that lowers your quality of life  AND
2. Explain why it lowers your quality of life
You will need to write two paragraphs for this.

Watch John Green YouTube on Fahrenheit 451
HOMEWORK:
If you didn't turn in your homework yesterday, hand it in today. 10 points.

IF you didn't see Mr. Weiner's talk today, here it is on YouTube. Your assignment is to watch it and answer the three questions above. Yes, I know, this is a lot of homework. It is vitally important, however.
Alter Weiner Holocaust Presentation

Read Fahrenheit 451 to page 45. Remember, you might want to read the Sparknotes summary first if you're having a tough time. Don't, however, read past the summary of the chapter
The Hearth and the Salamander. Here's the summary:
The Hearth and the Salamander, part 1
The Hearth and the Salamander, part 2
The Hearth and the  Salamander, part 3
The Hearth and the  Salamander, part 4
The Hearth and the  Salamander, part 5

Holocaust Survivor Assembly

GET OUT PAPER AND PENCIL. WE WILL START WHEN THE BELL RINGS

I hope you thoroughly enjoyed the assembly today.

I want you to share some of the things you learned, so answer the following questions on a sheet of paper to hand in at the end of the period:
1. What did you  learn about the Holocaust that you didn't know before? (1 paragraph, 3-7 sentences)
2. What similarities (list 3) did you see between the stories in the book Night and his experiences?
         3 sentences minimum
3. When you are older,  you will be able to tell people, maybe even your own children, that you met a survivor of the Holocaust. No one from the next generation will ever have that privilege.  Write 2-4 sentences telling me what you will tell them. (What you have to say will most likely deal with a message people should learn, a message that will help them be better people).
HOMEWORK:
IF you didn't see Mr. Weiner's talk today, here it is on YouTube. Your assignment is to watch it and answer the three questions above. Yes, I know, this is a lot of homework. It is vitally important, however.
Alter Weiner Holocaust Presentation

Read Fahrenheit 451 to page 45. Remember, you might want to read the Sparknotes summary first if you're having a tough time. Don't, however, read past the summary of the chapter
The Hearth and the Salamander. Here's the summary:
The Hearth and the Salamander, part 1
The Hearth and the Salamander, part 2
The Hearth and the  Salamander, part 3
The Hearth and the  Salamander, part 4
The Hearth and the  Salamander, part 5

If you're having a tough time understanding parts of our novel, read the following summary before you read the actual book: Fahrenheit 451



Fahrenheit 451 vocabulary for Tuesday's quiz
"pratfall-Guy Montag"

Today's journal writing question:

Do you speak up for your rights, or do you tend to sit back and accept things that you think are unfair or wrong?
Guy Montag deals with a similar question in the novel Fahrenheit 451. He has to choose whether or not to sit back and lead a meaningless life or to fight for his rights and change his circumstances. 
Write one strong paragraph. Be sure to cite an example. 

• Introductory sentence, stating your point (topic sentence). Feel free to write two sentences
• Example (two sentences or more) MANY OF YOU FORGET TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE
• Discuss the point that you'd like to make with this example (two sentences)
• Concluding sentence

**********************************
Yesterday's journal question:
Censorship--We'll be discussing this during the next four weeks. Think about what things should be allowed by free speech, and which ones shouldn't.

Today's journal question:

Some people feel that freedom of speech and free thought can lead to problems. They would argue that lyrics in songs, TV, books, and movies should be censored from time to time for the good of society. Do you agree? 

Should lyrics in songs, TV, books, and movies be censored from time to time?

Write one strong paragraph. Be sure to cite an example. 

• Introductory sentence, stating your point (topic sentence). Feel free to write two sentences
• Example (two sentences or more)
• Discuss the point that you'd like to make with this example (two sentences)
• Concluding sentence

S    Share what you wrote with your neighbor

?    Three people share with class

      Reading for today and tonight:

Finish page 30

Potential Essential Questions

·         Do you let your world control you, or do you control your world?

·         Has technology gone too far?

·         What is the value of books/free thought?

·         What are the potential dangers of censorship?

April 15

Read "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings"--Gabriel Garcia Marquez

"Seeing is believing"
    From your experience, is this an accurate statement?
    Write 1/3 page explaining your answer
 
         Have your perceptions ever misled you?
         Here are two examples to consider:
             If you see someone in the hall and they smile at you, do you
                 believe that they like you?
             OR Do you believe in ghosts?

After you finish reading the story, answer this question:

"Why don't the characters in this story believe that the old man is something special?"
Write 1/3 page.

Hand in your 1/3 page on seeing is believing with your answer to this question

Check out Fahrenheit 451




 

April 10

Today you will just do one thing:
1. Take the vocabulary quiz

Vocabulary quiz

1. luminescent  =  ____________________________________________
2. cower          =  ____________________________________________
3. cacophony   =  ____________________________________________
4. abyss           =  ____________________________________________
5. feign           =  ____________________________________________

April 11

Transcendentalism

Walden -- Henry David Thoreau
Self-Reliance -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church -- Emily Dickinison

Transcendentalism's influence
     The Summer Day  -- Mary Oliver

April 9

Fahrenheit 451 vocabulary for Friday. 

Moving Beyond 5-Paragraph Form

Distric Writing Assessment

April 7

Debate!
10 points: show me what you have written. Underline what you consider to be your single best sentence.
During the debate:
Person 1: Give intro (1 min)
Person 2: Discuss reasons to close (or keep open) campus. 1-2 min
People 3,4,5 Ask the other team questions to try to trip them up. Answer their questions

Spend the remainder of the period taking notes on the District Writing Assessment passages.

Fahrenheit 451 vocabulary for Friday. 

We need open campus because our cafeteria can't serve all students in time.
     The other day, I had to wait for 20 min.
          [connecting sentence]: Kids then get frustrated.
                And kids get in fights


CLOSED CAMPUS / OPEN CAMPUS

Imagine that you are a parent and that your child never comes home from school. 

One example is a case about 5 years ago where an 8 year old boy named Kyron Horman was sent to his elementary school, and then never came home. The search is still continuing to this day and he may never be found. 

When students go off of school campus they can do drugs. For example, i have seen many kids come to my 5th period class claiming to be "so high." If i were a principle, i would ask myself this question "If i had closed campus, would this still happen as often?"

Counter Claim: Some people might say, "Kids will do drugs anyways."





Notes: 
How the intro started
# sentences in the intro.
Summary of what intro said

Reason 1: 
Summary of why to close (keep open) campus

Closing campus will keep students safe . . .
    smoking kills people
       schools are supposed to be safe places. 
           schools have a responsibility to keep kids safe
Why?
What else was said?

Counter-claim:
     What does the other side say?
     Why isn't this a good point?

Reason 2:
Summary of why to close (keep open) campus
Why?
What else was said?

Reason 3:
Summary of why to close (keep open) campus
Why?
What else was said?

Return the book Night

Write a 1/2 - 3/4 page introduction to your essay on Open Campus/Closed Campus.
Follow these guidelines for writing an intro: Writing Introductions--7 Approaches
Then divide into groups of six to prepare for the class debate.
1 person gives 1 minute introduction to the topic and states position
1 person discusses 3 reasons to do have open (or closed) campus
3 people prepare questions for the other side:
    "You say ______. But that doesn't make sense because ____"
1 person gives 30 second conclusion

April 3

Today we will do four things:

1. Discuss open campus issue.
2. Journal prompt: should South High students be allowed to leave campus during lunch?
Divide into teams of four.
Read each others' essays with your spelling and grammar checklist.
Make sure that none of the essays have a single spelling or grammatical error.
Exchange essays with another team.
Any errors you find that are on the sheet earn you 1 point (1 point maximum per essay)
3. Debate the question Should South High students be allowed to leave campus during lunch?
4. Fahrenheit 451 vocabulary for next Friday.

If we have time, Take notes for the District writing assessment.
YOU WILL RECEIVE 10 POINTS FOR YOU NOTES TODAY. YOU MUST FILL UP ALMOST ALL OF THE SPACE AVAILABLE FOR NOTES TO EARN THE 10 POINTS.

Journal prompt: 
Should South High students be allowed to leave campus during lunch?

Reasons against:
1. Kids can get hurt when they're off campus and the school has the responsibility to keep them safe.
2. Students smoke and cause a public disturbance.
3. Students leave trash.
4. Students won't come back on time and they won't learn as well.

You will write approximately 1 page, including at a minimum the following:

• An introductory sentence
• A sentence or two explaining the issue
• State that there are arguments for and against because it is a complex issue
• State your position (say that you think campus should be closed (OR open))

• Write a topic sentence giving one reason for closed or open campus
• Give a specific example
• Explain the point you're making with this example

• Tell the reader what one of the counter-arguments is (con if you're pro)
• Explain why that argument is not all that valid

• Write a topic sentence stating a second reason for closed or open campus
• Give a specific example
• Explain the point you're making with this example
• Write a concluding sentence

When you have finished, look over what you have written to make sure that you don't have any of the spelling errors on my handout.

IN PARTICULAR, make sure that you don't have comma problems. Remember, if you could have a period, you can't just have a comma. Introductory phrases also need commas. See my examples.

Wednesday, April 2

Today we will do three things:

1. Discuss open campus issue.
2. Journal prompt: should South High students be allowed to leave campus during lunch?
3. Take notes for the District writing assessment.
YOU WILL RECEIVE 10 POINTS FOR YOU NOTES TODAY. YOU MUST FILL UP ALMOST ALL OF THE SPACE AVAILABLE FOR NOTES TO EARN THE 10 POINTS.

Journal prompt: 
Should South High students be allowed to leave campus during lunch?

Reasons against:
1. Kids can get hurt when they're off campus and the school has the responsibility to keep them safe.
2. Students smoke and cause a public disturbance.
3. Students leave trash.
4. Students won't come back on time and they won't learn as well.

You will write approximately 1 page, including at a minimum the following:

• An introductory sentence
• A sentence or two explaining the issue
• State that there are arguments for and against because it is a complex issue
• State your position (say that you think campus should be closed (OR open))

• Write a topic sentence giving one reason for closed or open campus
• Give a specific example
• Explain the point you're making with this example

• Tell the reader what one of the counter-arguments is (con if you're pro)
• Explain why that argument is not all that valid

• Write a topic sentence stating a second reason for closed or open campus
• Give a specific example
• Explain the point you're making with this example
• Write a concluding sentence

Tuesday, April 1.

Today we will do three things:

1. Review common usage problems

2. Correct sententences and hand in. If you feel that copying all of my sentences is boring (yeah, it kind of is), then you may write a short story instead. Simply use all 12 words tested from the sentences I provided and underline the words in your story. Be sure that you use contextual clues to help the reader understand which word it is. (For example, in the sentence I just wrote, it is clear that the word is supposed to be "which," not "witch").

3. Take notes for the District writing assessment.
YOU WILL RECEIVE 10 POINTS FOR YOU NOTES TODAY. YOU MUST FILL UP ALMOST ALL OF THE SPACE AVAILABLE FOR NOTES TO EARN THE 10 POINTS.