Update on Antigone

Your ACAs will be due the 10th, 11th, and 12th of December. Please plan accordingly!

Also, for extra credit, please use the word "vexation" in class tomorrow.

Love to you all...


Mrs. T

grammar ninja

I am a grammar ninja.

Whooo-wha!!!

An-Tig-Oh-Nee choices

Antigone Culminating Activity~ Due _____________Name______________________________

Hello, Loves! Below you will find your choices for the Antigone Culminating Activity (See? It is NOT a project). Please read each one carefully before you make your decision. I have included individual choices for you as well as group choices to ensure that each of you is provided with an activity that best suits your needs.

Option 1~ Cartoon/Animation/Comic (individual)
Create a cartoon or animated presentation that covers an act from Antigone. Your comic will:
* Be in color
* Include dialogue
* Have identifiable characters
* Have detailed images
* Include 20+ slides/ frames, or be at least three minutes in length
* Be hand drawn or computer generated (no magazine cut-outs)
* Be read or presented to the class

Option 2~ Skit/ Dramatic Interpretation (small group)
Produce and put on a section of Antigone. Your skit will:
* Be memorized (that means you know all your parts)
* Last at least three minutes per participant (3x3=9, 3x4=12)
* Have costuming and props (some, you shouldn’t some to school in a toga and sandals)
* Show practice and emotion
* Have a backdrop or scenery
* Be performed (of course) in front of the class

Option 3~ Diorama (individual)
Create a scene from the play. Your diorama will:
* Have a detailed setting (based on descriptions of the play, Greece, etc)
* Include all the characters in the scene
* Have identifiable characters, distinguishable from one another
* Provide dialogue from the scene
* Show the movement and emotion of what is happening
* Be presented (real shocker, huh?) to the class, with an explanation

Option 4~ Mural (individual)
Create a mural representing the play. Your mural will:
* Be done in paint, marker or colored pencil (no crayon for Creon, no graphite pencil)
* Show the main characters in an identifiable way
* Include quotes from major scenes
* Provide several images relative to the play
* Be at least poster board sized
* Convey the overall tone of the play
* Be presented (you guessed it) to the class

Option 5~ Puppet Show (small group)
Put on a puppet show depicting a scene from Antigone. Your puppet show will:
* Last at least three minutes per participant (you can do the math this time)
* Include puppets that you have created (no Barbies)
* Have identifiable characters
* Have a stage or set of some kind
* Include actual dialogue from the play
* Be (yup) performed in front of the class

Option 6~ Song (individual)
Write and perform a song telling the plot of Antigone. Your song will:
* Follow a pattern or rhythm
* Have a chorus
* Include 5 different events from the play
* Have at least 20 lines (not counting the chorus)
* Be performed in front of the class (you ROCK STAR, you!!)

Are you ready for Monday???

Presentations start Monday! Aren't you excited?

I hope you all had a safe and fun Halloween!

Love to you all~

Word of the Day....

Provocation

Use this in a sentence, dear Honors children...

Remember that your research projects are to be presented Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday if next week!!

I love you all!

Research! YAY!

Hello, Champion Awesomologists.

At this point, you should have a pretty good idea of what topic you will be researching and presenting.

Remember, you must follow the guidelines discussed in the paper.

Also, we will be discussing (possibly Thursday, depending on how long PSAT testing takes) how MANY sources you will need, and what KINDS of sources are appropriate.

Have fun with this, Sweet Homors Children!!!!

Word of the Day!!!!

This will be for Thursday, just to be fair.

The word of the day is "juxtapose". Use it in a sentence for extra credit.

The kitten has nothing to do with the word!

Exceedingly Awesome Novel Project

Yay! It's here! Presentation Days!!!

On Wednesday, we will see presentations of Anthem and Native Son.

On Thursday, Anne Frank and 1984 will present.

Finally, on Fantabulous Friday, Hole in My Life will present.

*Remember, Darlings, to DRESS UP!!! Not dress DOWN (no jeans!!)!!

Looking forward to it!!

Word of the Day!

I have an IDEA......

*Word of the Day.
Here's how it works. Every so often, I will post a "word of the day" on our fun little blog here. When I do, YOU must use the word, correctly, in a sentence in class the next day (lots of prepositions in that sentence)!

Example: when you come in on Friday, please use the word "exasperate" in a sentence, and you will earn extra credit!

FUN!

Exceedingly Awesome Novel Project *UPDATE*

Oh, it's not gonna hurt you!!

Hello, Wonderful Honors Children! I hope this rainy Harborfest Day finds you warm and happy, if not dry!

We decided in class the other day that because of the PSAT testing taking place on the 15th of October, we would move our EANPs up a week. You will be presenting October 8, 9, and 10th. I am so excited to see what you have learned from each of these novels, and how you are going to present them!

I will speak with Administration about dressing up for presentations, as well. Perhaps it will be extra credit.

Enjoy your day off, Sweet Dears! Be prepared to work tomorrow... Grammar! YAY!
Oh, C'mon. You LOVE grammar.
Grammar is fun.
Fine, I'll get some Mad Libs.
You guys...*rolls eyes*

LOL!

Thursday, September 25

BE GOOD!!!! ;)

I am at a conference today at Central Office. You will be reading the newspaper, responding to an article, and working in your Exceedingly Awesome Novel Groups.

Stay dry today, Sweet Dears. It's a mess out there.

See you on Friday.

Mrs. Thompson

Popsicle Sticks

Yes, Darling Honors Children, the Popsicle sticks are here.

What, exactly, do these funny little things mean? No, not that we are having a messy snack in class... you know how I feel about buggies and creepy crawlie thingies...iew.

If you receive a Popsicle stick during class, it means simply that you are not best utilizing the time given to you to complete your projects. We decided to start this when a few students came to me ad said there was too much work to do, between Honors English, AP History, other classes, sports, family obligations, boy/girl friends, lalalalalala. This way, we will all be made aware how well we use our time, myself included.

At the end of each week, we will count our sticks and see how well or how poorly time was managed.

I love you all. This is not a punishment; this is a tool.

Happy Early Dismissal!

How many of you are volunteering at the Seafood Fest next Wednesday? Just curious...

Champion Awesomologists

I have no post yet, but I wanted to make sure I had the title.

Actual credit of the phrase goes to Samantha Thomas. However, I wish to be a Champion Awesomologist, thusly, here it is.

These Champion Awesomologists were late, and the one in the back seems to think he should perch, rather than sit. LOL!

We've got spirit, yes we do,

We've got spirit, how 'bout you?

Of COURSE, I'm working, Mrs. Thompson!!

A picture is worth a THOUSAND words...

She smiles because she SO loves English!

When I was in 10th grade...

Yeah, I know, we were sooo cool.

Okay, guys, seriously, an update on YOUR 10th grade Honors...

We're finishing Damon and Pythias in class today, and creating our own epitaph. You can click on the link for a definition. Please feel free to make your artisitc heart hapy with this project. For those of you that won't be in class because of sports, you probably remember the headstones hanging in the hallway last year. Be sure you are keeping up with your Exceedingly Awesome Novel Project as well.

Also, as October approaches, please be thinking of topics that you would like to research AND debate. Remember that you will not be handng in a traditional research paper (although you will have to have proper citations for all of your facts), instead you will be presenting in a debate-like setting. We will begin research around the 15th of October.

I will not be in school on Thursday, September 25 (professional training), or Tuesday, September 30 (Nicolas has a doctor's appointment at CHKD).

No making fun of the shorts in the picture. I swear it was cool!!!

Be good, make good choices, love you all....

Yet another Library Update.

I think I am going to start giving extra credit for those of you that actually pay attention to this webpage. Or maybe I'll make assignments where you HAVE to comment back within, like, a week. Just to keep you honest.

That being said, here is an interesting tidbit. Remeber how we have always done pictures in the auditorium? Well, there's no room there this year. We will be taking pictures in the the library. ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17th.

"Wait," you say, "Isn't that our STAR testing day?"

"Ah, yes, Sweet Child. So it is, so it is. We will be testing on Monday instead."

I know. It's a pain in the neck.

Remember, you should be able to take regular AR tests in the classroom, just not STAR.

Have a great weekend, loves. Be well, make good choices.

Due date for prjoect

Will that be ME??? LOL (see, on a website, in a friendly letter, it's okay...an essay? Not so much)!!!!

Hello, Honors Darlings!!!!

A few things, in case you missed them in class...

1. Your due dates for presenting your Exceedingly Awesome Novel Project are on the board in the classroom.... they are October 13, 14 and 15. Please be reminded that you are required to provide activities for your "students" as well, so each presentation should run between half and hour and forty-five minutes (NO, you WILL NOT be presenting for 45 minutes... we will have to complete your activities, and that time should be allotted, as well as going over the activities if need be. Don't get freaked out~ we do it every day. Please let me know if you need ideas for presentations. READ THE BOOK).

2. We will be going to the library on Wednesday, September 17. YAY!!! During this time, we will be taking STAR tests, checking out books and the like. PLEASE take your STAR test seriously, as this ( I have just decided) will be how I will judge AR points for book reports, late work, etc. I knew there was a way, I just had to find it.

3. I love you! You knew that already, though, didn't you!

Tuesday Septmber 9th

Remember, Dear Honors Children, that I will not be in class on Tuesday. I have a workshop to attend at Central Office. You are expected to behave as though I was in the classroom (or better). Please have your packet ready for peer review. You will have time in class to review, and time in class to work in your Exceedingly Awesome Novel Groups.

I am excited to read these papers on...uhm... Thursday. Gosh that seems like a long time.

The Exceedingly Awesome Novel Project

The Exceedingly Awesome Novel Project

“Mrs. Thompson, why do we have to do group work?”

I’m glad you asked. Students often complain about group work but a clear and structured assignment allows students and instructors to take advantage of the computer classroom's unique capabilities. Class presentations encourage student participation and investment in course material; thus they make for a more intimate learning environment and more exciting class time. Student presentations dissolve the traditional, polarized instructor/class dialectic to allow class members to learn from one another and about one another. In addition, this assignment emphasizes the importance of confident and successful presentations to the majority of students' career choices, since oral presentation is a great skill that will be used life-long. This assignment grounds the importance of the group presentation to the students as individuals and as a class.

“Okay, so, what do you want us to do? Like, just tell about the novel?”

In a sense, you will tell about the novel. You will be presenting the novel in a thorough and meaningful manner, hitting on obvious topics, such as plot, setting, characters, climax and theme. In addition to that, you will present the following.
· Textual analysis, which is fairly open. You are largely free to pursue your own interests as long as presentations are grounded in a meaningful discussion of the relevant text.
· Historical, social or personal themes, as long as they advances your audience's knowledge of the novel in question [or] what literary critics have to say about the book and offer up these critiques for class discussion.
· Character analysis. Explain your main character and important minor characters to your audience.
· The relationship of one of the themes of your novel to our essential question, “What does it mean to live a worthy life?”

Don’t you just LOVE it when you get to be the teacher?

“So, should we do, like, a book talk?”

Yes, yes, but SO much more!! Because we are lucky enough to have five computers in the classroom, you may do this in a PowerPoint, you may work with your group in designing a website, or another form of presentation that will incorporate technology.

“Is that it? Seems kind of easy for Honors kids! We are SO going to ace this class! I can handle this and Quanbeck, no problem!”

Well, true, you can, with time management, attentiveness to task, and seriousness of purpose. Oh, and a healthy sense of humor!! You will also be responsible for four activities that correspond to your novel. You may create worksheets, quizzes, discussion groups, as long as it solidifies the points you made in your presentations, and your creative heart is kept happy.
I know it will be a good deal of work, but it will also be great fun.

Update on "Me" packet

Due to some team sport conflicts, the final drafts of your packets will be due on Thursday, September 11.

Monday we will go over the "Exceedingly Awesome Novel Project" and detail what your groups will be doing!

Enjoy Hannah!!

First Assignment!

I love you, but, you have homework anyway.

Your first assignment is your "I AM" pack. The four papers that will be included in the packet are as follows:
1. Interest Inventory (in complete sentences, I AM an English teacher after all)
2. I Am... essay (tell me all about you... your favorite subject!!!lol)
3. "Life Moves Pretty Fast" essay (the importance of this quote at this stage n your life and other stages of your life)
4. Behavior essay (it only sounds like you're in trouble... this explains how you react in certain situation)


This will be ready for peer editing on Tuesday, final draft WITH PEER EDIT due Wednesday.

I can't wait to learn all about you!

Open House

It was SO AWESOME to meet so many of you at the Open House on Thursday. People came out in droves, despite the rain (and it sure did rain)! Some points I may not have mentioned...

our classroom is in the same spot it was last year, but there is a little more to go through to get to it. Depending where in the building you are.... pretty much, you'll go outside by the gym, walk down toward the football field, walk to the very end of the building (where we exited for walks and such) and come in THAT door.

I know, it's going to be a little difficult at first, but we'll get the hang of it. PLEASE come to calss AS CLOSE to ON TIME as humanly possible. It will be difficult if you are in the CEC building, but let's just all try, okay? I may have to come up with a pass for those of you that are WAAAAY far away... we'll see how it goes the first few days. If we all work together, this will be just a tiny bump on the educational path.

School Supplies!!!

I MISSED YOU THIS MUCH!!!

End of summer. I know, I know. I don't know about you, but I am excited, especially since I have had most of you and am VERY fond of most of you (even the Hesterites, lol)!
So, in order to keep these happy vibes going, let's go ahead and get prepared. Remember IAN? Yeah, you'll need him again. This year, though, we're going to be doing things a little differently, so I am requesting a five-subject notebook. Why? Good question! That's why you're Honors Kids! We're going to be doing more writing. Grammar. Vocabulary. Fun stuff!

Other Stuff You'll Need

• pen or pencil, everyday, no matter what
• colored pencils, crayons, markers, something to make your creative heart happy
• glue
• scissors
• 5 subject notebook (did we say that already?)
• Free Reading book

See your smiling face in class!!

Late Homework Pass

This, dear Honors Child, is what your homework pass will look like. Please understand that this will give you ONE school day. If it was due on Tuesday, you will have until Wednesday. This will NOT apply to major projects, the class before a vacation (nice thought, though, huh?) book reports, or presentations.

Use the force wisely, young Jedi. 8~)

10th grade Standards of Learning

We will be using the the Virginia Standards of Learning (oh, those SOL's!) as a spring board for the work we will do this year. Please feel free to familiarize yourself with them by clicking on the green smiley below. C'mon, it MIGHT be fun!

It's going to be a GREAT year!!

English 10 Honors Syllabus and Classroom Policies

Teacher: Mrs. Jennifer Thompson
Email: http://www.blogger.com/jthompson@ncps.k12.va.us
Web Page: http://tinksthinkplace.blogspot.com/


General Course Description:

English 10 Honors is an accelerated, college preparatory course designed to provide students with an understanding and appreciation for literature. Literature is combined with multiple education methods to improve students’ grammar, writing, vocabulary, public speaking and literary analysis skills.

Teacher Availability:

Anytime I’m in the room!! However, please let me know if we need to schedule time for one-on-one instruction or conversation; I arrive at school early, stay late, & can eat lunch in my room if you need me.

Required Textbooks:


Required Materials: You must bring the following materials to class every day:
1. Current novel or free reading book
2. Interactive Notebook (lovingly referred to as IAN)
3. Pens, pencils, colored pencils.
4. An open mind and a good attitude

Grading: We will use the grading scale found in the Student Handbook. The following list shows the grade breakdown for this course:
SSR (free reading):20%
Quizzes: 10%
Homework: 10%
Unit Tests: 10%
Papers/Essays: 20%
Warm-Ups: 15%
Class Participation: 5%






Class Structure and Policy:
1. Homework: All homework will be posted daily and weekly on the class website as well as in class. Students are expected to make note of all short and long-term assignments on their calendars.

2. Writing: Written assignments should be typed. If they are handwritten, they MUST BE LEGIBLE. If I can’t read it, I can’t grade it.

3. Late Work: Assignments are due at the beginning of class. LATE WORK WILL LOSE 10 POINTS EACH DAY IT IS LATE. However, if you need a homework extension, you will receive more grace if you let me know ahead of time (ie. email me the night before if you are sick, etc.). Also, you MAY receive two homework coupons per quarter that can be used to turn in a completed assignment ONE day late. Use them wisely!

4. Absences: You are responsible for getting the information you missed by contacting a classmate or scheduling an appointment with me. Make-up work will be allowed for excused absences only (1 day for 1 excused absence, 2 days for 2 consecutive excused absences, etc.).

5. Cheating: Oh boy, you know what this means. Just don’t do it! If you copy a student’s work, copy from other sources without proper citation, or cheat in any other form, you will receive a zero and a referral.

Conduct Policy for My Classroom
~ Respect is key:
*Be in class with your materials when the bell rings (both arms, both legs inside the door). I respect you by coming to class prepared to teach everyday; please show the same respect by coming prepared and on time.
*Respect fellow classmates. My classroom is a place where everyone’s participation and input is valued!
*Respect school rules and property.
* Respect my authority. If a student disagrees with my actions or a grade, he/she should speak to me after class. This is the most dignified and mature way to handle a problem.
~ Students must come to class prepared to give 100%. Your effort in class directly affects your participation grade.
~ Students are not allowed to be out of their seats without permission. Please do not sharpen pencils while I am speaking.
~ Students must remain seated at the end of class until excused by me.
~Students are not to ask to use the restroom the first or last 10 minutes of class. If I feel that you are abusing your restroom privileges, you will no longer be allowed to utilize the restroom. Does this even need to be said in a 10 grade Honors class?

Discipline Policy Since this won’t happen anyway…
*First Offense= verbal warning
*Second Offense= meeting with me after class
*Third Offense= call home and meeting with me after school
*Fourth Offense= referral
**I reserve the right to issue a referral and dismiss any student from my class who is openly defiant, or displays inappropriate behavior that is offensive or rude, even if it is the first offense.

Personal Note: I am thrilled to be your teacher this year! Our goal, as a class, is to improve the way we learn and treat one another. Therefore, we must always strive to keep positive attitudes, open minds, and remember that we are all people. Please feel free to come to me with any questions, frustrations, or concerns. My hope is that you will walk away from this class with a greater love for literature and a deeper sense of gratitude.

Thank you for your participation!

Jennifer Thompson

“Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil.” CS. Lewis


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This page must be signed by English 10 Honors student and Parent/Guardian and returned on the second day of class. It is a homework assignment.

I have read and understand the course syllabus for English 10 Honors and acknowledge my responsibilities for the course.


Student full name (print)


Student full name (signature and date)



I have read and understand the course syllabus for English 10 Honors and acknowledge my student’s responsibilities for the course.


Parent/Guardian name (print)


Parent/Guardian name (signature and date)