February 28th! WELCOME BACK!

Today we heard 3 more speeches, with one final speech to be heard tomorrow.

Following the speeches we corrected the appositive/possessive noun assignment as well as the review you completed over break.  I am tentatively setting the unit test for nouns on Wednesday.

Homework:
Vocabulary D Unit 1 Parts 1-3 (tentative test next Mon/Tuesday)

Tomorrow we will begin a unit on adjectives.  Please bring a notebook strictly for grammar notes.

Friday, February 18th

Today we had one more round of speeches.  We will have the 4 remaining speakers give their speeches the Monday we return.  With the remaining time, we will grade both the appositives/possessive noun assignment given on 2/11.  I am tentatively planning for the test on nouns to be Tuesday or Wednesday depending on the amount of questions and reteaching needed after Monday's corrections.


Mastery Review Assignment DUE MONDAY:
1.1 --answers only, spelling counts
1.2--DO NOT DO
1.3 --answers only but YOU MUST write the word you are identifying AND label S(subject) or SC (subject compliment) (Remember some sentences will not have a subject compliment)
1.4--answers only but YOU MUST write the underline word out and tell whether it is a DO, IO, OP, or OC
#40-43--write out the creative sentence you come up with and underline the word you need to incorporate in the sentence.
1.5--#44-48you must write out the sentence and underline the appositive. Tell whether the appositive is NR or R. You MUST add commas correctly in the sentence (follow the directions).
#49-53--answers only, name the appositive AND tell whether it is NR or R
1.6--answers only

Thursday, February 17th

Today we continued with speeches.  We will hopefully finish up tomorrow.  All those who are left to present, please make sure you are well-prepared!

Everyone so far has really done a nice job proving they have the ability to publicly speak!  KUDOS!  I know public speaking is a great fear for many; I am truly proud of your tremendous efforts!

Wednesday, February 16th

Today we continued with the Optimist Speeches.  We selected a new bunch to resume the speeches tomorrow. Everyone needs to be prepared to go in the event of a student's absence.

Happy Valentine's Day! (2-14)

Today you took the Unit 15 Vocabulary test and handed in your workbook for credit.

When everyone was finished we graded all work from the noun packet pages 6-9 only.  I gave you credit.

Tomorrow we begin with speeches.  I expect EVERYONE to be ready.  You have been working on these for quite sometime.  I will put everyone's name in a hat and draw.  Those drawn will give their speech.  Please bring the rubric I gave you last week.

Your only homework tonight is to make sure you are prepared!

SORRY! (February 11, 2011)

Sorry I had to miss school today.  I was feeling under the weather.

Instead (I do believe) Mr. Mio was in my place.  He assigned the following as an exposure homework grade due Monday:

1. Take notes on pages 10-11 (appositives)
2. Complete exercises 1 answers only, and exercise 2 write out the sentences
3. Read ONLY page 12-13 (possessive nouns) (it is not necessary to take notes, but carefully read the examples)
4. Complete exercises 1 and 2, answers only

Monday you will have your Vocabulary 15 Unit Test!  Study and be ready!

Day 1 for speeches will be Tuesday!  PRACTICE YOUR SPEECHES!

Thursday, FEBRUARY 10th

Today we corrected Unit 15 Vocabulary.

Next I gave you a short Powerpoint with some tips and tricks for your speech.  I know and believe all of you can do it!  You need to believe you can too!!  Practice, practice, practice!

Looking Ahead:

• Friday: Speeches begin
• Monday: Vocabulary 15 Unit Test & correcting Noun exercises pages 6-9.  I will be collecting them as well.
• Tuesday and Wednesday: finish speeches

Wednesday, February 9th

Today we corrected your try this grammar questions from yesterday.  We discussed the information and more examples.  You had plenty of class time to ask questions.  Those who took advantage of this opportunity asked excellent questions.  I am always here if you need to see me further during lunch or homeroom!

Class/Homework:

• Finish all exercises on pages 6 through 9
• Vocabulary 4-6 (we will check all vocabulary for unit 15 tomorrow)
• Continue to work on your speeches.  You MUST be ready to present on Friday!

Tuesday, February 8th

Today you had the Vocabulary 14 Unit Test.

After the test, I handed out the Optimist Speech Rubric and discussed it with you.  Speeches will begin Friday and I will be pulling names from a hat if I do not get any volunteers.

Homework:

• Vocabulary Unit 15 Parts 1-3 (tentative test next Monday)
• Read Pages 8-9 in the grammar packet.  Try This: exercise 1 #1, 8, 12, 16 and exercise 2 #1

Tomorrow: 
We will discuss pages 6-9 more in-depth as well as t he Try This questions you attempted.

MONDAY February 7th

Today you had a chance to read over your speech and gauge the timing.  Remember it MUST be between 4-5 minutes on Thursday.

Next you had chances to edit with a peer.

Your speech MUST be ready to present in class by THIS THURSDAY (2/10).  I will be randomly selecting students to give speeches.  The remaining speeches will be given on Friday and on Monday (if more time is needed).


HOMEWORK:
DUE TUESDAY: Noun exercises: take notes and complete ex. 1 #1-2, ex. 2 #1-2, ex. 3 #1-2 (exposure grade, answers only).  THIS MUST BE DONE ON PAPER, NOT on the packet itself!
TUESDAY: you will have Vocabulary Unit 14 Test
DUE THURSDAY: speeches ready to present

FRIDAY! (TGIF!) February 4th!

Today we corrected Parts 4-6 of Vocabulary Unit 14.  Your test will be TUESDAY!

Next you had the entire hour to begin drafting your optimist speech.  I came around and gave you points for having your research.  If you did not have anything you are #1) behind the ball and #2) without points for today.

Homework:
You must have your typed rough draft in class by MONDAY!  If you do not, you will not be able to contribute in the peer editing sessions and you will receive no credit for that day.

Start studying for your vocabulary test.  The test is TUESDAY!

Thursday, February 3rd

Today we began class by correcting assignments from Tuesday's homework.

Since we had a shortened hour, you had time to finish Vocabulary 4-6.

Tomorrow I expect you to come in with your research for the topic you have chosen to write about for the Optimist Speech.  YOU MUST BRING IN A FEW ARTICLES containing stats/quotes/important information pertaining to your topic.  You will be graded on this!

Tuesday, FEBRUARY 1st

Today we discussed the Optimist Speech once again.

We began by watching this YouTube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JPKgtYo0PY and we discussed the good points and bad points of his speech.

We then brainstormed a board-full of ideas!  Choose one you feel an emotional connection with.

Some ideas included:

• Fair treatment of men and women
• War
• Oil Spills---BP
• Haiti--relief efforts
• economy---jobs/debt
• teen suicide
• drunk driving
• texting/driving
• obesity/health
• cures for diseaes
• global warming
• animal cruelty
• abortion

Homework:

• Activity A on the second page of your persuasive speech packet #1-6, short answers are acceptable
• Activity C on the fourth page of your persuasive speech packet, write out your new paragraph
• Vocabulary Unit 14 Parts 1-3
• RESEARCH your topic!  You must have a stat/quote with your speech/essay!  Make sure you bring this to class on Friday to do your drafting in class!