9/11

Over the years I have heard people much older than me speak about tragedies and scandals that they lived through--the assassination of JFK, Pearl Harbor, the Watergate Scandal and even World War II. I can understand what happened intellectually but it is hard for me to feel the same shock that they did.

I began to realize this because my students now barely, if at all remember September 11, 2001. They were only pre school children. For me, I was junior in high school sitting in Miss P's history class. The principal came over the PA to tell the teachers what was unfolding and that they should turn on their TVs. A class full of 16 and 17 year olds sat their in dismay wondering what was happening and what this meant for the United States.

Just a few minutes after the TVs were turned on, I witnessed the second tower crumbling to the ground. I have goosebumps and my hair is standing on ends as I type...

Remember all involved in the events of 9/11...the victims, the survivors and the rescuers.

(1st and 5th) Let to games begin! A tribute was assigned to a district today. Soon we will begin our challenges...may the odds ever be in your favor.

(2nd and 3rd): 1984 Artistic Project

Tonight's homework:

1st period: Read Chapter 4 and answer comp questions and make Vocabulary Flashcards

2nd and 3rd Period: Read chapters 4 and 5 of 1984 (be tracking your symbol on the annotation chart). Prepare for Socratic Seminar #2. Chapter 1 Artistic projects are due Friday...You will have time in class Thursday to work on them.

5th Period: Rd. the rest of Chapter 5 and make Vocabulary Flashcards

NEED to step it up...

Friday was the first Vocabulary quiz and today what the first 1984 reading quiz (for honors)....and yikes! I know so many of you can do better! So, some of you will be making vocabulary flashcards this week. As far as reading quizzes go, I think many of you need to read more slowly and carefully. The reason your 8th grade teachers  taught you how to annotate last year was to make you a better reader. Use those skills. Or you will find yourself doing poorly on any assignments related to the novel. This novel will probably be more challenging than other novels you have read for school; it will require you to stop often and think deeply about the things that are happening. Then novels you read for school (an college) from here on out will be more and more challenging, especially if you stick to the honors and advanced courses.

Today we worked on Unit 2 vocabulary (due Wednesday). We also had our first Socratic seminar in honors English 9, which went very well. I really enjoyed reading the outer circle's thoughts and questions. Those will serve as a good starting grounds for the next seminar.

It is SO freakin' hot!

And tomorrow is supposed to be worse. Ugh!

Today in Honors English we went over Socratic Seminars-how they work and when you will be in the inner circle. I also presented some background info on 1984. We ended the class (which will have to be finished tomorrow) talking about the symbolism mini-project. I will prepare a hand out to give you next week. For now, you should be tracking your symbol and filling out the annotation chart in your 1984 packet.

In English 9 we finished Part 1 Vocab for The Hunger Games, did the reality TV prereading activity, and read part of Chapter 1. We will finish Chapter 1 tomorrow and have out own class reaping!!

ALL CLASSES: Unit 1 Vocabulary Quiz is tomorrow. You will need to know each word's definition, synonyms, antonyms, and part of speech.