Tuesday, April 16th, 2013

Dear Juniors,

If you missed class, we completed the following:

1. CRT will take place on Wednesday and Friday, April 24th and 26th! If you miss the test, then you are required to take the test during another English period. DON'T MISS, my young friends, as you will miss Gatsby.
 Part of the CRT involves Latin roots. I gave the roots to each student, along with meanings. Your homework assignment for THURSDAY involves making flashcards for each root, and then LOCATING A MINIMUM of THREE WORDS that are derived from the LATIN ROOT.

Bene=Good
Phile=Love
Photo=Light
Dia=Across
Dyna=Power
Dom=Rule/Power
Liber=Free
Lent=full of
Fid=Faith
Ject=Throw
Form=shape
Demo=people
Ad=toward
Trib=Honor/Pay
Cracy=Government
Tract=Pull
Pulse=Drive
Sym=Together
Vore=Eat
 Vita=Life

 2. We then "took a quiz" covering the symbolism found within chapters 1 and 2 of Gatsby. If you missed class, you will need to visit with me about the process involved with making up the quiz.

I will see you on Thursday.
Cheers,
KC

Thursday, March 28th, 2013

Dear Juniors,

I hope you have a wonderful spring break. Please be aware of the following, especially if you missed class the day prior to spring break.

1. Your homework is to read your "book report" text. Remember that your assignment is due on April 16th, which is not too far away. WORK ON THIS, my young friends.

2. We started on THE GREAT GATSBY in class on Thursday. In fact, we almost finished listening to Chapter 1. Those of you that missed class, you will need to read chapter 1 on your own. I recommend downloading it from the computer and listening to it. Initially listening to it gives you a greater understanding of the text. As we progress through the novel, you will be able to read it on your own.

3. Please do not miss class on Monday, as we will finish chapter 1. I will explain your chapter 1 quiz, and then move on to color symbolism.

Enjoy the holiday, cute kids. I look forward to seeing you on Monday.
Cheers,
Mrs. Crampton

Monday, March 11th

Dear Juniors,

1. If you missed class last week, please make sure you are prepared for class on TUESDAY.

" What does "prepared" actually mean, Crampton?"

"Well, you have a quiz covering the introductory information surrounding the 1920's. It is incredibly thorough."

" Will I need to be familiar with all the information on the note-taking page?"

"YES! So make sure yo communicate with a student that was in class. Don't forget to familiarize yourself with the art forms from the 1920's."


2. We also went to the lab and started working on our power points regarding your 1920's  You will have part of the period on Tuesday to continue working on the presentation. Remember that the presentation and the handout are both due on Thursday. YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED!

3. Everyone present showed me their book report text. Those that were not in class, MUST HAVE IT WITH YOU ON TUESDAY. I NEED to see it, cute kids.

Cheers,
Crampton

Wednesday, February 20th, 2013

Dear Juniors,

If you missed class today, we completed the following:

EVERYONE SUBMITTED THEIR "OUT, OUT" POEM  Extra-Credit was given for those that felt comfortable in sharing their piece with the class.

1. Crampton returned the poetry analysis for the piece that you worked on together in groups. Half of you did well with this assignment, and the other half STRUGGLED. We looked at a poor example together, and discussed ways that we could improve the analysis.

POOR EXAMPLE:
                This poem is explaining about a little boy that just found out that Santa is not really real.
The simile says "he feels as if a monster's fist has grabbed his heart and won't stop squeezing." He is telling us that Santa is dying from a heart attack. Another simile says "Rudolph's nose blinks like an ambulance's light." Ambulance lights are bright colored, just like Rudolph's nose. This poem is really sad because everyone believed in Santa when they were little, and when you found that Santa was fake, you felt like you were having a heart attack. This poem is sad, but really true.

2. We then continued by looking at three new poems.

HOMEWORK:
1.  Select one of the piece that we did not discuss in class and complete an analysis for it.
2. Final Exam for poetry is quickly approaching.

If you missed Friday, February 1st....

Dear Juniors,

REMEMBER TO WEAR WARM CLOTHES on TUESDAY; we will spend some time OUTSIDE, and I don't want you to "catch a cold."

STOP MISSING CLASS, cute kids! I don't have an extra 80 minutes to assist you in "catching up!" Visit with someone that was in class, so you can returned prepared.

1. We completed identifying the elements for TPCASTT. The meaning for each letter is easily accessible on-line; you can "Google" TPCASTT. You will need to do this before completing your homework assignment.

2. We then practiced evaluating a poem entitled "We Real Cool; Seven at the Golden Shovel" using the TPCASTT method. Everyone that was in class, received participation points for this poem.  You will need to use flex time in order to make up the missing participation points.

We real cool; Seven at the Golden Shovel
by Gwendolyn Brooks

We real cool. We
Left school. We

Lurk late. We
Strike straight. We

Sing sin. We
Thin gin. We

Jazz June. We
Die soon. 

3. Students were then given a copy of the following poem, and asked to evaluate it using the TPCASTT method.

On Reading Poems to a Senior Class at South High,” by D.C. Berry

Before
I opened my mouth
I noticed them sitting there
as orderly as frozen fish
in a package. 

 Slowly water began to fill the room
though I did not notice it
till it reached
my ears

and then I heard the sounds
of fish in a aquarium
and I knew that though I had
tried to drown them
with my words
that they had only opened up
like gills for them
and let me in.

Together we swam around the room
like thirty tails whacking words
till the bell rang
puncturing
a hole in the door

where we all leaked out

They went to another class
I suppose 

and I home
where Queen Elizabeth
my cat met me
and licked my fins
till they were hands again.

Homework:
1. Complete the evaluation of "On Reading a Poem to Seniors at South High" for Tuesday. Use the TPCASTT method. Record your ideas for each letter (TPCASTT) on the right hand side of the poem.
2. Wear a jacket to class for Tuesday.

Cheers,
Crampton

Wednesday, January 9th, 2013

Dear Juniors,

If you missed class, we completed the following:

1. Viewed Act 4 of The Crucible....SO POWERFUL!
2. Completed Journal  #10 entitled "The Power of My Name

           Your journal entry involves thinking about what your name means to you. I don't mean your actual name, but rather your name in a figurative sense, or rather your REPUTATION. What does your reputation mean to you? When people hear your name, what do you want them to perceive? What adjectives do you want associated with your name? How would you feel if your reputation was ruined? Maybe you've already had your reputation challenged. How did that feel? What will you do to make sure it never happens again? Consider John Proctor's reasons for not signing his confession statement. Do you agree with any of those reasons?
          
3. We then continued by reviewing the quotes for Act 4