Please be advised that you will not have a vocabulary quiz on Thursday, 2 January.

Salem Witchcraft Hysteria
An interactive activity-discover for yourself!

The Crucible text
(Just in-case yon neglect to bring the text home to complete the assigned readings)

The Crucible audio files

The Crucible: The Characters

Ethan Frome audio downloadhttp://www.learnoutloud.com/podcaststream/listen.php?url=http://librivox.org/rss/1826&all=1&title=26955

Ethan Frome etext

Schedule for Week of 2 December:

SAT Vocabulary Quiz: List 10 (SEVEN words from List 10 and THREE words from List 9) on Thursday, 5 December.

Monday, 2 December (F Band): Socratic Seminar-come prepared with a written response(informal) to a question or two from the handout distributed last week to use as a guide... E Band will do the same on Tuesday, 3 December...

Tuesday, 3 December (F Band): The Great Gatsby Essay Test. Please be advised that you are NOT going to respond to a "critical lens".

Wednesday, 4 December (E Band): Your turn for the Essay Test on The Great Gatsby. Please note that you will NOT be given the same question as F Band.

Dear Parents: I regret to inform you that the "cheating" on the quizzes continues. (Please read older post where I asked for your assistance.) Since students "share" a table, I change the format/order of the questions -yet, the children are still copying responses (often identical- incorrectly worded responses) from their "table-mate" or from another student sitting nearby.
Inform your child that disciplinary action will take place and a permanent record of this infraction will be noted as specifically stated in the class contracts signed and returned to me and to the school.  

The Great Gatsby Chapter 9 ppt

The Great Gatsby Chapter 8 ppt

Previously posted (see below).

Just returned home from a "fabulous" Junior/Soph Performance! Congratulations to all who performed. Diedrich has awarded you an A++ in all categories, but he is not a judge so his evaluation is meaningless. Please keep in mind that he has not picked a "winner" in years. Perhaps, he will be able to hear the cheers from where he resides when Junior/Soph is declared the winner! Senior/Fresh was impressive as well...

PLEASE BE ADVISED:
You will be administered a "QUIZ" for Chapters 7, 8, & 9 on WEDNESDAY, 27 November! (THIRTY short answer questions-same as previous quizzes-simply select any TWENTY and answer accordingly-you will NOT be given a sheet containing the answers.) Maximum Allocated Time: TWENTY Minutes.

Engage in a "close reading" of these chapters. Some of you have  NOT been reading the chapters-I have been finding downloads with chapter summaries with the analysis left behind in the classroom. These will NOT help you on your upcoming quiz. 

Realism ppt

Romanticism ppt

"I wonder why Diedrich would post these power-points?"

SOCRATIC SEMINAR: Tuesday, 19 November (Chapters 1-6)

Focus Question: What do you think about The Great Gatsby as a LOVE story? (By providing EVERYONE with this question prior to Tuesday, EVERYONE will be prepared to participate in the seminar.) Kindly spread the word about Tuesday's activity since some of your classmates do not visit this class blog.

The Great Gatsby Chapter 9 ppt

The Great Gatsby Chapter 8 ppt

The Great Gatsby Chapter 7 ppt

Schedule for Week of 18 November:

Monday, 18 November: QUIZ on Chapter 6 (Engage in a "Close Reading" AND review the power-point for this chapter) Write-out THREE "thought-provoking" questions in response to what you read that we can use to guide our class discussion. Make sure that you include page numbers for the text that you used to generate your questions. Avoid questions that would elicit a "YES" or "NO" response.  Please make-up TWO copies of this assignment-one copy you will hand to me as you enter the classroom; the other copy you will keep at your desk. Those students dominating the discussions MUST "cease and desist" to permit others a chance to "engage"and contribute, perhaps for the first time this semester. Everyone should review the class participation rubric!

Wednesday, 20 November: QUIZ on Chapter 7 (Follow the same procedures as indicated above.)

Thursday, 21 November: QUIZ: SAT Vocabulary List 9. We will engage in a "close reading" of Chapter 8 as a class. 

Schedule for Week of 11 November:

The Great Gatsby Chapter 4 QUIZ: Tuesday, 12 November
The Great Gatsby Chapter 5 QUIZ:  Thursday, 14 November

SAT Vocabulary Quiz: List 8 (SEVEN words from List 8 and THREE words from List 7.) FIVE minutes Maximum.

The Great Gatsby Chapter 4 ppt

The Great Gatsby Chapter 5 ppt

The Great Gatsby Chapter 6 ppt

The Great Gatsby Chapter 3 ppt

The Great Gatsby: Chapter 3

The contents of this power-point (video) will assist you with the "double-sided" journal assignment.

The Great Gatsby Game

For Monday, 4 November: E and F Bands

Read Chapter 3 of The Great Gatsby in preparation for a "cooperative group activity". (Expect a surprise quiz as you enter the classroom.) If you left your text in your locker, just click-on the link for the text and the audio in the post below.

SAT Vocabulary Quiz List 7 on Thursday, 7 November.

The Great Gatsby audio AND text
(Just click-on this link/post title.)

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY! When a SAT Vocabulary Quiz is re-taken, your score will be averaged with the score on the first quiz (regardless of how "low" you scored).

Schedule for Week of 28 October:

Your usual SAT Vocabulary Quiz on Thursday, 31 October. Effective immediately, you will not be permitted to "re-take" a Quiz unless you present to me YOUR flash-cards that YOU have used to prepare for the quiz. I will inspect these "cards" for YOUR in  name-upper right-hand corner of each card)  (SAT Vocabulary Quiz: List 6)

You will be quizzed on the contents of the power-points/videos that appear below.

You will receive a reading schedule for The Great Gatsby on a separate handout. Expect unannounced/surprise quizzes on any given day and or time during the class Band.

The Great Gatsby-Form and Structure

The Roaring Twenties

The Great Gatsby (Introduction/Background)

The Great Gatsby: Listen to it on line as you read along!

BE ADVISED: I AM NO LONGER ACCEPTING ANY PAST-DUE CLASS CONTRACTS! THESE WERE DUE THE FIRST-WEEK OF SCHOOL! DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TURN THEM IN! THE FIRST-MARKING PERIOD HAS NOW TERMINATED! NO EXCUSES!

Please remember to bring The Streetcar... to class on Tuesday, 22 October in exchange for our next reading, The Great Gatsby...

SAT Vocabulary Quiz: Thursday, 24 October. No Cheating-there is too much of it going-on-if I observe any individual committing this act- he/she will have to take the remaining quizzes after school-for the remainder of the school-year! (Believe it or not-this is even happening after-school in Room 404...)

How to Write a Reaction Paper or Reader Response
("Borrowed" from an introductory English class at the University of Texas)

Please Note: Too many students simply provided a "summary" for each of the texts cited in their Summer Reading Critical Lens Essay. Recall the criteria listed with the "critical lens"? ("Avoid PLOT summary...") We will work to remedy this during the course of the semester in preparation for the English Regents Examination in January.

SAT Vocabulary Quiz Retake Policy: If you do "poorly" on any quiz or simply would like to re-take it for a higher grade, you may do so for only THREE occasions during the course of a semester! This must be done prior to your next scheduled quiz-which happens to fall on Wednesdays-for example-List 1 must be -retaken by Thursday, 26 September-not during the following week. Furthermore, if you are absent on any quiz day, you must see me immediately upon your return (even if your Band does not meet on that day) to make arrangements to take your quiz. Dear Parents: Students had since Day 1 of class to prepare for the List 1 vocabulary quiz so there is not any excuse for the low grade your child may have received.

A Streetcar Named Desire: HOMEWORK

Just in case you have "misplaced" the handout describing your essay response for Scene 2- I have included the link for the assignment: Scene 2 "fibbing" assignment

You must upload the essay to www.turnitin.com by 11:59 PM on  20 September.

A Reminder: List 1 SAT Vocabulary Quiz on Thursday, 19 September.

You must bring your text to class EVERYDAY-failure to do so will result in a "0" for being unprepared for class!  

www.turnitin.com/ Submissions:

Class ID: 6717980

Password: Aristotle

The "uploading" difficulty has been resolved. Once signed-on, click on "Join an Account" and enter this information.

Weekly Vocabulary Quizzes

SAT VOCABULARY QUIZZES

Beginning with our second week of school, you will take a Vocabulary Quiz. For our first quiz (List 1), you will study all THIRTY words on this list-but you will be tested on only TEN of the words. (TEST FORMAT: MATCHING) However, for your second Vocabulary Quiz you will study ALL of the words for List 2-but you will only be tested on SEVEN of the words from that list AND THREE of the words from List 1. Let me clarify-for our THIRD Vocabulary Quiz-you will study ALL of the words for List 3-but you will only be tested on SEVEN of the words from that list and THREE of the words from List 2. We will follow this procedure throughout the year until you are tested on each of the lists which appear when you click on the link above: "SAT VOCABULARY QUIZZES."

I recommend that you make-up Flash-Cards for each list and store them in a shoebox for your review. Furthermore, you probably should download and print these lists and place them in your required three-ring binder for this class.

PLEASE NOTE: THE SAT VOCABULARY QUIZZES WILL HAVE A "WEIGHT" OF 12% FOR EACH MARKING PERIOD WHEN "JUPITER" CALCULATES YOUR GRADE.

One Look Dictionary will provide assistance with the pronunciation of the words-you will "hear" how a specific word is pronounced. (Click on "one look.")

Dear Parents: Upon close examination of your child's Jupiter Grade Report, you will note that a "0" now appears in the space for a missing assignment that was once a "blank" space. For the student, this should not come as a "shock" since all students know when a grade has or has not been entered. Fortunately, for many of the children, other factors will contribute to your child's final grade in this class.

Just a Reminder: I will NOT accept any past-due study guides. This is my policy-re-read the class contract. Often, with several day remaining in a marking-period, students believe that all they have to do is turn in past-due homework assignments and a teacher will gladly accept them. This is NOT the case with Diedrich!

Just A Reminder:

Ethan Frome Essay Examination: Tuesday, 4 June! Do not forget to bring your text-you may use it to locate and cite specific textual evidence for support.

Sadly, several students from BOTH Bands consistently turn-in incomplete and/or poorly completed study guides. As previously indicated, several students have also copied responses from their classmate's assignments. This is your last chance to improve the quality of your responses on the last two study guides that are due on Monday, 3 June. Since the majority of the questions involve inferential/critical thinking- they cannot be answered in one-sentence (or less than that)-which is what some students have been during-and furthermore-no two students should have the identical responses-with identical diction and syntax.

Dear Parents: I will be forwarding several of your child's assignments home to you so you can examine your child's efforts in my English class. Sorry, the assignments can NOT be re-done to improve your child's grade.

ATTENTION C Band Students: For some reason I neglected to administer Root Word Quiz # 8 on Friday, 31 May. You will take this quiz on Tuesday, 4 June.

Please Be Advised:

Per Administrative Directive-ALL Teachers are mandated to administer an "End-of-Year" Assessment. English 5/6 students will be given an Ethan Frome essay examination during the week of 3 June. AP English students will be given a Catcher in the Rye essay examination during this same week as well.

Schedule for Week of 27 May:

For Tuesday, complete your study guide for Chapter 6. You will have a quiz over this Chapter.

A Concern: Since "many" of the questions are "in your head" type questions-the answers are not found on the page-but rather are in YOUR head...I should NOT see IDENTICAL responses...this indicates to me that PLAGIARISM has been committed and that those students involved will receive a "Zero" for the assignment. NO EXCUSES! Do NOT inform me that you worked together with a "study" partner! You have been told about this previously.

Another Concern: This making period is "critical" for many of you-yet, I have observed a lack of effort from those that needed to demonstrate progress-sadly-this has not taken place!

Root Word Quiz: Friday, 31 May.

JUST A REMINDER: C Band: Ethan Frome Chapter 4 study guide due on Wednesday, 22 May. F Band: Chapter 4 study guide due on Thursday, 23 May. EXPECT A TEN QUESTION QUIZ (TEN MINUTES MAXIMUM)

Everyone should read Chapters 5 and 6 for Friday, 24 May (Expect a quiz)-you should also complete any assigned study guides-if I have decided to distribute them in class-all depends on whether or not I detect that students have not been reading the text.

Root Word Quiz # 7: Friday, 24 May.

Dear Parents: Many of the children have not completed their assigned readings in preparation for quizzes and/or for class discussions. Perhaps, your child is one of them. Furthermore, please do NOT accept any excuses-even if your child has been absent and your child does NOT have the required novel-the asssigned readings can still be completed since I have posted links for the e-text as well as for the audio of the text on this blog.

Attentions Students: In addition to the homework assignment that is due on Monday, 20 May (Chapter 3 study guide), you will have a quiz on this chapter. Also, for those unprepared for the quiz over Chapters 1 and 2 (10 questions), you will re-take this quiz (albeit a different one) during 37 1/2 minutes on Monday, 20 May. It is unfair to others to give you the opportunity to complete the quiz that you turned-in on Friday, 17 May.

JUST A REMINDER: You will have a QUIZ on the contents of the Naturalism power-point/video posted below on Tuesday, 14 May. You were informed about this last week. Do not be surprised if I ask you to turn-in the notes that you have taken to prepare for this quiz.

ATTENTION C-Band Students: If you arrive late on Monday, immediately report to the Dean's Office to obtain a pass to gain entry to class.

Root Word Quiz: Friday, 17 May.

We will visit the Book room on Monday, 13 May to obtain a copy of ETHAN FROME. I had encouraged everyone to begin reading this text last week-I even informed you about the audio I posted along with the text.

                                                            Edith Wharton's
                                           Ethan Frome

Ethan Frome audio/text
*Perhaps, NOW- those of you who have not read any of the texts this year-in their entirety-will NOW do so!

This novella will be distributed on Monday, 13 May-why not read ahead...?

Ethan Frome on-line text

"I wonder why Diedrich would post this video/power-point on the class blog?" "That is an easy question to answer-he most likely wants us to take notes while viewing it." "I bet that he gives us a surprise quiz on Tuesday, 14 May."

BE ADVISED: Everyone has had ample opportunity to "upload" assignments to turnitin.com, yet several students simply do NOT respond to this directive/requirement. As previously indicated, I will not "recognize" a "hard-copy" of an assignment if it has not been uploaded. Furthermore, recently as you recall, I have indicated that you only have to upload an assignment, turning-in a "hard-copy" of the assignment is needless and futile since I will not look at it. In addition, my policy has always been that I do NOT accept late homework assignments-re-read class contract and posts on this blog. A Special Note to the Parents: I have always been available Monday-Friday-usually until 1800 hours to assist students in uploading their assignments-so PLEASE do not accept any excuse from your child-after all-your child is entering their Senior-Year of high school and must begin to take responsibility for their own learning.

A Reminder to Students: If you are absent and miss any class work, you only have TWO school days-not class days-to make up the assignment.

NOTE: I have now disabled turnitin.com preventing you from submitting past-due assignments-after all -the end of the marking period is Friday, 3 May and you have had "more than adequate" opportunity to complete assigned work. You were well aware of the deadline so do not approach me with any excuses since I ALWAYS give you DAYS to complete an assignment.

Reader Response/Reaction for A Respectable Woman due Friday, 26 April- uploaded to turnitin by 0800 hours (1 1/2-2 pages-begin with a quote and then insert at least 3-4 other quotes for guide your reaction-recall that this assignment requires you to talk about the text-it is NOT a summary and/or a retelling.

Reader Response/Reaction for Trifles by Susan Glaspell. Complete a 1 1/2 to 2 page word-processes reaction to this play. Your response must begin with a "quote" from the selection and then must incorporate an additional THREE quotes from the play in the body of your response (you may use a statement from the stage directions if you desire). Avoid a plot summary. You must upload this assignment to turnitin.com by Tuesday, 23 April at 0800 hours.

NOTE: The link for the audio recording of CITR is no longer "active". I will work on obtaining the recording.

Click on this link: The Catcher in the Rye

Kindly use the following link to "Create a New Student Account" on turnitin

Class ID: 5905319
Password: Gold1830

This is a mandatory assignment-you are "enrolling" yourself...

The Catcher in the Rye audio book

Just A Reminder:

Both Bands MUST complete the reading of The Catcher in the Rye prior to returning to school. You will receive a QUIZ over Chapters 19-26 when you return to school after the break. Please be advised that you will NOT receive a "list" of suggested responses-I have discovered that this has only provided assistance- for those who have not done the reading. Dear Parents: Imagine that there are several students who have not read this text-perhaps, your child is one of them who does not complete the readings and who does not participate in the small group activities in response to these readings.

Also, since we will only meet for two class sessions during the week of 1 April, you will not be administered a Root Word Quiz.

Kings in the Back Row: Meaning through Structure-A Reading of Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye

"I wonder why Diedrich posted this link to some essay about the text we are reading? He will probably give us specific information about what he wants us to do with it-other than to just engage in a close reading-I bet we will have to submit a written response/reaction... For fun, I am going to read it now and annotate it as I read so I will be prepared for the assignment."

Schedule for Week of 18 March

A Reminder: CITR "short story assignment" in the form of a voice mail (no more than 600 words) must be uploaded to turnitin by 0800 hours Tuesday morning. As you enter the classroom, you must hand to me a "hard-copy" of the assignment-Do NOT ask to use the printer in the back of the classroom. (Must be in a format similar to Sorry for Your Loss as previously indicated-see below for a link that will take you to the story distributed in class-just in-case you misplaced your copy.)

Recall what was "brainstormed" in class to generate ideas for your approach in completing this assignment-You are leaving a "voice mail message" for Holden as "yourself" or as one of the individuals Holden has mentioned (mother, father, D.B. "Allie", Jane, etc). This should not be a concern for those who took notes on what was generated in class.

 Root Word Quiz: Next 15 meaningful word parts-C-Band on Wednesday/F-Band on Thursday.

Monday, 18 March: Complete group activity for Chapters 9-14. All groups must review how they have responded to the questions-not all groups have "adequately" responded to the questions.

Tuesday, 19 March: CITR Quiz: Chapters 9-14-10 questions/must answer ALL 10 questions.

You must bring the text to class-you will not be permitted to join your group if you fail to do so. Amazingly, a student took my copy of the CITR that was on the teacher's desk and used it without asking permission to do so. Naturally, I became rather "disturbed" when I noticed it missing shortly after the class began. Finally, near the end of the Band, my copy of the text reappeared on the teacher's desk. Hence, I was no longer "disturbed" but I was rather "annoyed" that "this someone" would "borrow" my copy of CITR without asking permission to do so! This someone only "smiled" when I discovered who committed this act. 

NOTE: Since my "annotated" copy of the text would direct students to specific answers for the questions asked on your group activity, this student and the rest of the group members will NOT receive credit for those questions!






when I discovered who committed this act. Imagine...

Schedule for Week of 11 March

Root Word Quiz for this week cancelled!

You must bring your copy of CITR everyday this week-this is considered a homework assignment.

Monday, 11 March: Discussion of CITR...AND the announcement of a "Mini-homework assignment/project" that will be due on TUESDAY, 19 March (uploaded to turnit.com by 0800 hours on that day and a "hard-copy" handed to me as you enter the classroom. DO NOT ASK TO USE THE PRINTER IN THE BACK OF THE CLASSROOM TO PRINT THIS ASSIGNMENT. (You are welcome to use the printer on Monday afternoon.)

Sorry for Your Loss (Click on link Right-side "Round Ten "Winner...)

(A Three-Minute Story in the form of a "voice" mail... ONLY 600 words...Listen to the audio)

Hint: This is related to your assignment...

Tuesday, 12 March: As previously announced, a quiz on Chapters 8-10 (Ten short answer questions-you must answer ALL TEN-a list of possible answers will NOT be provided-BONUS points will NOT be given!

Wednesday, 13 March and Thursday, 14 March: Group Activity-this is tentative since I am concerned that several students will continue to only copy down the responses of other group members without contributing to the process.

Dear Parents: The first-marking period has now ended. I have given your child the opportunity to upload assignments to turnitin.com. Most students complied with this procedure, yet- sadly, some students did not complete the homework assignments as directed and/or completed the assignments poorly. Even if your child received a numerical grade equivalent to a "C" for the first-marking period, your child can realistically receive a numerical grade equivalent to an "A" for the final grade in English 6. We can discuss your child's progress-or lack of progress during our school's Parent-Teacher Conferences on Thursday and Friday of next week.

Just a Reminder: Root Word Quiz # 3 (derm to grad/gress) on Friday, 8 March. AND you must have read Chapters 4 -7 of CITR  for Friday as well. Since the majority of students did poorly on the Quiz for Chapters 1-3, I have combined the  quiz questions for Chapters 1-7. Please note that you MUST answer ALL of the TEN short answer questions listed. (There may OR may not be "trick" questions-if you completed the readings-you will OR will not recognize these questions... )

Dear Parents: I have given your child ample opportunity to "upload" his/her TEWWG  to turnitin.com -please refer to earlier posts regarding this manner. As indicated in an earlier post, I have now disabled the setting that would permit students to upload their assignments.

Dear Students: For your information, a Rubric Score of "8"-equivalent to a "93" is a "fabulous" grade. Please keep in mind that it is "slightly" better than a Rubric Score of  "7" (88), but no where near the quality of essays receiving a "9" (97). In fact, most English Teachers and Readers of the AP English Exams do not give a "9"!  All students receiving an "8" should feel satisfied-even the "top" students in a school do NOT consistently receive a "9" on every paper submitted. One must go beyond the "superficiality" of the text and engage in a thorough analysis to receive a "9".

Please Note: If you have submitted a "hard-copy" of the literary analysis assignment for TEWWG, BUT have NOT uploaded the assignment to turnitin.com, you must do so NO LATER THAN Monday, 4 March. I will only grade the assignment if it has been UPLOADED. I have changed the setting for turnitin.com permitting you to upload past due assignments. I find it quite remarkable that students have NOT visited me during our tutorial period of 37.5 minutes to remedy this situation. Please be advised that I will check to determine if a "hard-copy" of the assignment has indeed been turned-in-so do not think that all you will have to do to receive credit is to upload the assignment that you NEVER turned-in to me.

Root Word Quiz #3 (derm to grad/gress) on Friday, 8 March

You must return TEWWG on Monday, 4 March  in order to receive a copy of CITR.

NOTE: Since the instructions for your Literary Analysis of TEWWG was based on total points (25) for each requirement, I will post the total points you earned out of the 25. This could change later-but we will discuss it first-the "change" will be to your advantage.

BE ADVISED: EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY HAVE SUBMITTED A "HARD-COPY" OF THE ASSIGNMENTS FOR TEWWG-UNLESS YOU HAVE UPLOADED THE ASSIGNMENT TO TURNITIN-YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE ANY CREDIT-NO EXCEPTIONS! Parents Please Note: Your child has had approximately three weeks to visit me during 37.5 minutes (tutoring) if he/she has had difficulty accomplishing this requirement.

JUST A REMINDER: TEWWG Literary Analysis for Chapters 16-20 due on Wednesday, 27 February uploaded to turnitin by 0800 hours-"hard-copy" must be turned-in on Wednesday/Thursday when your class meets. If you recall, this assignment was initially due last week.

Schedule for Week of 25 February:

C and F Bands: Root Word Quiz #2 ("ced to dent") on Friday, 1 March.

Monday, 25 February: C and F Bands-Group Activity for Chapters 16-20 will continue.
If you were absent on Friday, 22 February-you will NOT be permitted to join a group. You will complete this activity during class and during 37.5 minutes. Everyone must bring his/her copy of TEWWG to work on this assignment. For those absent, several students actually decided to work independently rather than join a group.

NOTE: Sadly, based upon my observations, too many students have NOT been reading this text. Even though you will be permitted to use Hurston's novel during the essay examination, those who have not been keeping up with the required readings may experience difficulty.

Text evaluation: TBA (One day this week-could be Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday...one of those days-I suggest that you review the resources provided on-line and read THE CHAPTERS THAT YOU HAVE NOT READ.

ATTENTION: TEWWG QUIZ for Chapters 16-20 will be given on Friday, 22 February-NO EXCEPTIONS-NO MORE DELAYS!

College Week Live: Destination College (click-on link)

Feb. 26, 2013


5–8 p.m. EST
Join us for the first of five online events to help you and your family prepare for the college admissions process. These presentations will be given in both English and Spanish and will serve as a great opportunity for middle and high school students and their parents to successfully plan and pay for college.
Sign Up Now
Presentations: See Spanish Agenda

5–6 p.m. Financial Aid Basics: What Students Need to Know

Learn the basics for financing higher education. You'll learn how to make college affordable and to stay ahead of important college deadline dates. You will gain step-by-step guidance to help you navigate college admissions for the coming year.

6–7 p.m. Get College Ready Now

Early planning is necessary for long-term college success. This session will help you and your parents prepare for college, with action plans for middle school through senior year in high school. The presentation includes handy online tools to help you prepare for college admissions.
7–8 p.m. Admissions 101

Get expert advice on applying for and enrolling in four-year universities. Knowing about admissions practices will make the process go much smoother as you prepare for your college future.

Schedule for Week of 18 February

Root Word Quiz #1: C and F Bands-Friday, 22 February (See post below for link-make-up flash-cards, Roots 1-15-this is NOT a "matching test"-you will have to "memorize" the meaning of the meaningful word part and write that meaning next to the root word in the space provided-MAXIMUM TIME-5 MINUTES)

NOTE: With the exception of several students, I was impressed by the collaborative effort observed in responding to the questions for Chapters 11-15 of TEWWG. Recall my "warning" that those who do not contribute to their groups' efforts will not receive the same grade as other group members? For the next group activity for Chapters 16-20, you will have the option of selecting your own group members- although-I suspect that most of the groups will remain the same. Furthermore, those groups have the option of refusing the request of a class member to join their group.

Wednesday, 20 February: C Band-Turn in "hard-copy" of literary analysis questions for Chapters 16-20. Be prepared for a quiz on these Chapters-answer any FIVE questions out of TEN but this time a list of possible answers will NOT be provided.

Thursday, 21 February: F Band-same as C-Band above

Friday, 22 February: Both Bands-after quiz-will be formed to work on questions for Chapters 16-20 of the novel. If you neglect to bring TEWWG you will NOT be permitted to participate in the group activity. 

Feb. 26, 2013 5–8 p.m. EST Join us for the first of five online events to help you and your family prepare for the college admissions process. These presentations will be given in both English and Spanish and will serve as a great opportunity for middle and high school students and their parents to successfully plan and pay for college.

Sign Up Now!

Presentations: See Spanish Agenda 5–6 p.m. Financial Aid Basics: What Students Need to Know Learn the basics for financing higher education. You'll learn how to make college affordable and to stay ahead of important college deadline dates. You will gain step-by-step guidance to help you navigate college admissions for the coming year. 6–7 p.m. Get College Ready Now Early planning is necessary for long-term college success. This session will help you and your parents prepare for college, with action plans for middle school through senior year in high school. The presentation includes handy online tools to help you prepare for college admissions. 7–8 p.m. Admissions 101 Get expert advice on applying for and enrolling in four-year universities. Knowing about admissions practices will make the process go much smoother as you prepare for your college future.

BE ADVISED: Your quiz on Chapters 16-20 will be on Thursday, 21 February. This time you will NOT be given a "list" of answers to match with a corresponding question. This means that you must engage in a "close" reading of these chapters.

BE ADVISED: Literary Analysis Question Assignment for Chapters 11-15 of TEWWG now due on Monday, 18 February-UPLOADED TO turnitin.com. Your "hard-copy" of this assignment will be turned-in on Wednesday, 20 February.

Be Advised: Once you have taken the SAT Vocabulary Quiz List 17, you will begin to take quizzes on "Root Words" each week (15 roots per quiz). For this quiz, you will have to "memorize" the meaning of the "meaningful word part" since you will have to write the meaning of each root "in the space provided" next to the "targetted" root word. (This is not a "matching" quiz-meanings will not appear on your paper.

COMMON ROOT WORDS AND WORD ORIGINS

Schedule for Week of 11 February:

C and F Bands: Read Chapters 11-15 of TEWWG for Friday, 15 February. Be prepared for a quiz-this time you will not have a "list" of possible answers. You must upload the related assignment to turnitin by 0800 hours on Friday. NO EXCUSES! If you hare having difficulties completing the assignment, visit me in Room 404 during 37.5 minutes prior to Friday. Do not approach me with reasons for failing to complete this assignment!

SAT Vocabulary Quiz List 17: 15 February, Friday (5 minutes)

Schedule for Week of 4 February

Monday, 4 February: TEWWG Assignment Questions for Chapters 1-5 due/uploaded to turnitin and a "hard-copy" placed in assignment folder immediately upon entering the classroom. Dear parents: This assignment was posted last week, yet several children did not complete this "brief" assignment-perhaps, your child is one of them...

A Reminder: SAT Vocabulary Quiz List 16-Friday 8 February

You must bring your novel to class EVERYDAY! DO NOT ASK PERMISSION TO GO TO YOUR LOCKER TO RETRIEVE IT-PERMISSION WILL BE DENIED AND YOU WILL SUBSEQUENTLY RECEIVE A "0" FOR BEING UNPREPARED FOR CLASS!

DUE FRIDAY: TEWWG Chapters 6-10 responses due Friday, 8 February-your assignment MUST be uploaded to turnitin.com by 0800 Hours! NO EXCUSES! Do not procrastinate!
BE PREPARED FOR A "SURPRISE" QUIZ-5 QUESTIONS/5 MINUTES. Place assignment in class folder as you enter the class.

Schedule for week of 28 January

Welcome Back!

Tuesday, 29 January: Please bring your copy of A Streetcar Named Desire to class-you will exchange it for Their Eyes Were Watching God. I will distribute a reading schedule and related assignments once we return from the book room.

As usual, SAT Vocabulary Quiz List 15 will be given on Friday, 1 February.

You will be informed of the "agenda" for the rest of the week on Tuesday.

FYI: Your papers were NOT graded at my assigned site (Banneker High School). The teachers from LMGHS and others at various schools throughout Brooklyn graded the written responses of students from Manhattan High Schools. I was informed that your Regents written responses were sent to sites in Manhattan or The Bronx! I will not know the results until Monday, 28 January. Your grade for the English Regents should appear on your report card that will be distributed on Tuesday, 29 January. Please be patient-I am as anxious as you are to receive the results.

Your test booklet (NOT YOUR WRITTEN RESPONSES) will be returned to you.

A Reminder: NYS English Regents-Tuesday, 23 January-you should report to LMGHS by 1245 hrs. Bring TWO pens (BLUE/BLACK-NO DESIGNER INK) AND TWO PENCILS. Remember to sign the declaration in two places-the bubble sheet and in the essay booklet. Review the resources I have provided on this blog (link for previous exams and the links for literature read in school)

Prior to returning to school: Review the class discussion/participation rubric-several students are still continuing to "dominate" class discussion!
(Those who continue to do so-for whatever reason-will not receive the maximum points of "95" for their class participation grade.)

MAGNIFICENT...MAGNIFICENT...MAGNIFICENT...performances by both groups...although one group more MAGNIFICENT than the other, earning an A++ in acting, in directing, in producing, in script writing, in choreography, in choral (group/solo), in costume design...I could go on and on...but Diedrich's A++ is meaningless-unless the judges shared his sentiment...wear your Junior/Soph shirts with pride on Monday (Win OR Lose)-congratulations to the Seniors who performed in their last "SING". Diedrich was thrilled to see the talents of so many of his former/current students who were part of this" winning" performance for BOTH group

ATTENTION: Students were directed to create an account on turnitin.com (see below for link and password)-yet-as of this post time-approximately 50% of the English 5/6 students have not done so. You must accomplish this task in order to upload assignments

Please Note: Since several students approached me Tuesday afternoon requesting that I postpone the SAT Vocabulary Quiz (List 13) until Monday, 14 January, I have decided to do so. This means that you will have to take TWO quizzes the week of 14 January. They indicated that there were taking several mid-terms...so I complied with their request rather than investigate whether this was true...