Feb 27

Today, we did a bell ringer that related a vocabulary word to a super hero or villain. This went well with how we shared the information...because we were each a celebrity on the clickers! Whitney was in rehab, though. Anyways, we practiced the vocabulary sentences again and also practiced grammar. Then we took our quizzes! Don't forget to start your essays!!!

Feb 26

We started with a bell ringer. Utterly discouraged by the absence of our well-loved clickers, we made "make-shift" cards to indicate which vocabulary choice we wanted for the sentences on the board. We also practiced gerunds this way by writing numbers on the back of the cards and holding them up to indicate our choices. Grayson and Noah battled it out...though I think each cheated once or twice. Farewell...

Feb 25

Today, we started with a bell ringer. We then engaged in peer editing for vocabulary sentences and turned those into the in-box. Next, we discussed the short answer test over Catcher so that we could see how it relates to the essay due next week. Check the web site for the essay requirements. We practiced gerunds...then discussed the novel some more. Don't forget that the CONTINUATION of the story is due tomorrow!

Feb 24

Today, we began vocab unit 11 by predicting which words might help construct a story. For Thursday, you need to continue/conclude the story, using the rest of the vocab words. We then began discussing the quotes that the groups interpreted, analyzed, and explored. Vocab sentences due tomorrow.

Feb 20

For a bell ringer, each student had a vocabulary word and had to write about what movie it would go to see. The students shared out the information and reviewed the words. Then, they took a vocabulary quiz. For the remaining time, they began their sentences for next week.

Feb 19

Sub - Students completed the following work: For a bell ringer, students wrote a sentences using a gerund, then illustrated it. Then the students continued working in their groups to finish the notes on the quotes from the novel. Finally, the students had to illustrate a scene from the novel that incorporated a vocabulary word.

Feb 17

Today we EXPLORED themes in Ordinary People. Then, we revisited GERUNDS! Ohhhh...many of you "officially" do not like them! But, once we practice them, you will! Those of you who "passed" the practice today are: Sean, Gina, Kurt, Ally, Hannah, Kevin, Emily, Danny, Jessica, Michelle, Katie S, Nathan, Karl, Alex, Paige, and Doug. Not bad! The rest of you should work on pr acting! Hey - "practicing" was a gerund! Write three sentences with the gerund as subject, three with it as ob of prep, three with it as d.o. and three with it as p.n. Stay simple in order to get it right! Finally, don't forget about your vocab sentences...and NO you can't combine the two assignments! See you tomorrow when we start hammering out the novel...now that I have MY copy! HA!

Gerund Jammer...

Feb 13

Today, we started by placing all of the vocabulary acrostics on the board to review for the test. We also identified some prepositional phrases that were written in the acrostics. Then, we took the vocabulary quiz and the prepositional phrase quiz. I am PLEASED to announce that the class performed at 89% on the prepositional phrase quiz...which is quite an improvement from our 70% at the beginning of the week. Kudos to you all grammar warriors! You are once again worthy to march onward!

Feb 12

Yea! We did better on prepositional phrases today! I think it had something to do with Mrs. Stallman's AWESOME teaching skills OR the fact that she put the SMACK DOWN! HA! Seriously, you all performed better. Those still struggling should be completely your assignment this evening in order to practice for tomorrow's quiz. Don't forget we also have a vocabulary quiz as well. After practicing sentences, we bounced back to those fun picture symbols...and will finish that tomorrow. Whoo-hoo!

Don't forget to blog!

Feb 11

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH - after completing the bell ringer, we ONCE AGAIN devastated Mrs. Stallman with our POOR grammar skills! UGH. Starting tomorrow, those of you who perform below 80% will have to practice at home! One would think you did not COVER prepositional phrases last year. Maybe we should wear our t-shirts on Friday and re-bond with grammar? Anyways, after our grammar downfall, we went back to our discussion of which character each picture symbolized. Mrs. Stallman impressed you all with her artistic representation of an airplane. Maybe I should retire from teaching GRAMMAR and teach ART instead! Hmph! Don't forget to blog tonight grammar peasants!

I am going TO THE POL CONTEST to judge the accuracy OF THE CONTESTANTS.

Feb 10

After completing the bell ringer that allowed us to hypothesize various effects in Conrad's life, we met with partners to peer edit sentences (just as we do EVERY week and just as we did EVERY week last year!) We then practiced identifying prepositional phrases in sentences...and not very well, I might add! UGH!!!! We did improve as we chugged along, however! Then, we met in our groups to begin our discussion of symbols. We started with "Man-tree Eating Man" and decided it symbolized Beth. Finally, we ended with an exit ticket that asked you to do an acrostic for SYMBOL. HW is a blog that his due Thursday...but don't forget which character you are!

Grammar Girl is outta here!

Feb 9

Bell ringer, of course! The OGT won't throw a word at us that we haven't rocked out in a bell ringer, ya know? Next, we wrapped up Frost's poem by articulating how it relates to The Catcher in the Rye. Then, we took a three-question assessment on the novel. As you finished, you started on your vocabulary sentences, which MUST have five sentences that contain a prepositional phrase (underlined.) For a list of prepositional phrases, go to the grammar/writing page on your web site. Sentences are due tomorrow AT the beginning OF the block!

Feb 6

After using clickers to continue reviewing our vocabulary words, we took the vocabulary assessment via clickers. THEN, we met in groups and TORE UP Frost's poem. We looked at alliteration, couplets, an allusion, prepositional phrase, and other various literary devices used effectively by Frost. Kurt's team showed the most team spirit, Hannah's team the most focus, and Grayson's team the most original team name. Monday, you will have an assessment on The Catcher in the Rye. Feel free to post to the optional blog as a way to study together. See you Monday...

Frost-out...

Feb 5

After QUIETLY listening to announcements, we completed a fun bell ringer...which led to our FUN clicker activity. We studied vocab words by choosing which words would match the descriptions you gave - what fun! Then we wrote for four minutes on how the poem "Nothing Gold Can Stay" would apply to Holden's outlook on life. Groups got together to discuss this as well. We had just become VERY excited over Frost's INTENTIONAL use of alliteration with the line "Her hardest hue to hold" and how well it conveys the difficulty of preserving innocence. And Sean foreshadowed for us how we will later discuss Frost's allusion to Adam and Eve and the story of The Fall. I know you all are erupting with anticipation now...

Study for vocab...and don't forget to BLOG.

Feb 4

Congratulations Matt! And congratulations Hannah, who is our runner-up. And congratulations EVERYONE who worked hard to memorize a poem and who bravely faced the task of reciting it to peers. Whoo Hoo! Oh, by the way...the school competition is WEDNESDAY next week. SORRY - my "bad." Hee, hee.

Feb 3

If Mrs. Stallman gets the shirt that says "Grammar Queen" on it...many of you should get shirts that read "Grammar Peasants" on them! UGH. Well, after completing the bell ringer, we edited our vocab sentences for good, bad, and things. Afterwards, we played with clickers to practice vocabulary and GRAMMAR (or at least we pretended to practice!) We watched as our accumulative percentage plummeted! But do not fear, my stalwart grammar warriors! Your Queen will rescue you! We will begin studying our cherished clauses once again...and you will be crowned once again!

Don't forget that we will be poets tomorrow!

Feb 2

After you cried over Mrs. Stallman's absence, you started class with a bell ringer. Apparently, the sub performed some poetry to remind you that you would be practicing your poems at some point also! For your assignment, you worked on vocabulary: 10 sentences that pertain to Holden, 10 acrostics, 10 Haikus, and 3 pictures. Practice your poems, poets!