Centennial High School Lit and Study Skills
January 28, 2010 at 11:39 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
Quick update:
10th grade lit-We are diving into the novel Of Mice and Men. We study vocabulary, idioms, plot, characters and themes through our novel. There are questions at the end of each chapter for a quiz grade, and there will be a test at the end of the novel. We are listening to the novel on CD and following along in the book.
9th grade lit-we are ready to begin our 5 paragraph essays! We will be comparing and contrasting the novel we read during 1st semester with the story of The Jungle Book (we watched the 1940’s movie version).
Study Skills: We have a new routine this semester. All students have a folder with a personal checklist and current events enclosed. Students have 2 weeks to complete the 2 current events and are given time in class to work on other classwork, ask for help, or do extra credit. So far, the system seems to be helping most students stay on task during the period!
The new grading scheme was sent home on January 22 for parents to sign and return. I will post it here in the next few days.
Have a wonderful weekend, and post a comment or send me an email if you have questions!
January 3, 2010 at 6:21 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
Happy New Year! Here is a quick update on what we will be doing in Literature and Study Skills for the beginning of 2nd semester:
10th grade Literature will begin a novel, Of Mice and Men. We will read/listen to this entire book in class and do many activities around it’s vocabulary and content.
9th grade Literature will watch The Jungle Book, and write a compare/contrast essay comparing the story to The Graveyard Book which we read last semester.
Both lit classes are finished doing words of the day, but will begin a new program learning 100 tricky words. We will compose sentences in class using these words and will have periodic quizzes on their spelling and usage. We will also continue some daily practice with grammar and parts of speech and will learn 38 common prepositions through a song.
Study Skills will have a new individual accountability model. Each student will have a folder in class with a daily checklist and work to be completed. The folders will be checked every day, and graded every other Friday. Students are expected to use their time wisely in study skills class.
December 3, 2009 at 3:40 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
Here is what we are doing for the rest of this week and next week. After that is exam week! Already! Yikes!
Both lit classes: words of the day are boon, malignant, slothful, hypothesis, covert, dupe, conformist, dormant, abstain, incessant.
10th grade Lit: We are working on a brochure research project. We are researching an author of the student’s choice and putting it into a brochure on the computer. Our final projects will be printed in color and graded for a project grade! Do a good job! These are due early next week (Monday or Tuesday, depending on whether you have been absent a day or not.)
9th grade Lit: We are trying very hard to finish our novel, The Graveyard Book. We are in chapter 6 (out of 8 chapters). We are learning so much about character development, plot development, vocabulary, expressions of speech, etc through this book. I am enjoying it. I hope everyone else is!
Study skills words of the day are: submissive, nonchalant, incompatible, compromise, collaborate, placid, tactful, dolt, boisterous, unyielding.
During exam week, Monday is a normal day. Tuesday is exam period one, and the rest of the classes are shortened. Beginning Wednesday, all days are half days with two exams each day. 7th period, 9th Lit exam is Thursday at 8:40. 8th period study skills exam is Friday at 8:40, and 6th period, 10th grade lit is Friday at 10:55.
November 18, 2009 at 1:15 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
Well, I haven’t posted anything in awhile! We have been busy plugging away at our words of the day and lit work. I was out for surgery 3 days last week, so the students watched Marley and Me, and answered comprehension questions.
6th period, 10th grade Lit: Currently finished up with The Monkey’s Paw, getting ready to start a brochure unit. We will research an author and make up a brochure. We will be working on this at least until the Thanksgiving break.
7th period, 9th grade Lit: We are still reading The Graveyard Book. This is taking a long time, I know, but we are studying literary techniques and vocabulary to go along with it. We are half way through the book, and will move faster to get through the rest. We had our Marley and Me break, but now will get back to the story.
Study Skills, we really need to try and use our time wisely here. Some students are still not turning in work, and you have time every day to do it!
October 25, 2009 at 10:44 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
This week in literature: Words of the day are pertinent, obstinate, integrate, frugal. We will have a quiz (open note) on Friday including these words plus the 5 words from last week and some questions about punctuation.
10th Grade Lit-We are finishing our writing assignments and giving oral reports this week. Final papers are due by the end of class on Tuesday. Oral reports on Wednesday. You must bring something in to share with your report that relates to your experience. We will get back to our lit books, beginning with The Monkey’s Paw on Thursday.
9th grade Lit: We are continuing our novel, The Graveyard Book. We should be finished with chapter 4 by the end of the week (about half-way done with the book.)
Study Skills: We got busy last week, and it seemed like everyone had lots of work to do. We will discuss the last 9 words of the day and have our quiz on Monday this week. Then we will continue with 4 more words-flourish, eclectic, dubious, and eradicate. Keep working hard and use this time to ask if you have questions about your other classes!
Have a great week!
October 20, 2009 at 9:40 am · Filed under Uncategorized
This week in both Lit classes:
Words of the day are reiterate, procure, rehash, predictable, and raze. We are beginning a new quick grammar review every day to be turned in on Fridays. This week is puncuation, lessons 16-20.
10th grade Lit: We are still working on our writing unit. You have the entire week to work on rough drafts (2) and a final copy due Friday. On Monday, October 26 you will present your paper to the class including a visual aid of some sort. The entire unit is worth 300 points so please do a good job!
9th Grade Lit: We will continue reading The Graveyard Book. I hope to get through at least chapters 2 and 3 this week. Each chapter has vocabulary and questions. Keep up with these, we will collect the notebook at the end for a test grade!
Study Skills: words of the day this week are pragmatic, obscure, inconspicuous, formidable, insightful. There will be a quiz on Friday. Don’t forget a current event every week! Turn them in by the end of the day on Friday for full credit. Late current events are not accepted since you have all week to do these.
October 8, 2009 at 10:49 am · Filed under Uncategorized
Wow, time flies! I just realized I never updated the blog for this week. Well, here is what we HAVE been doing and what we will do next week also!
Both Lit classes, words of the day for this week were: humane, induce, jaded, and meddler. Next week’s words will be: sophisticated, squander, smug, and serene. There will be no word on Wednesday, early release day. A quiz over 8 words will be given on Friday, October 16.
10th grade lit: We have finished our short story unit and are beginning a BIG writing unit. We will work for about the next two weeks on writing an autobiographical narrative. A packet was given out in class on Wednesday, October 7.
9th grade lit: We are finally beginning our novel, The Graveyard Book. Vocabulary is difficult, but we will read most of the book in class. If you would like your own copy, try Barnes and Noble. They had hard cover copies for under $6.00 each. We may work on this book and the vocabulary until the end of October. We will start a writing unit next.
Study Skills: We are having a quiz today, 10/8, over the past 9 words. Next week’s words will be: proponent, preclude, ornate, and refute. Keep turning in current events each week! They are worth 100 points and you don’t want to lose those every week! You should all have A’s in study skills, but some do not!
Enjoy your day off tomorrow! I will be working on catching up!
September 27, 2009 at 9:17 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
Last week was a pretty mixed up week, with kids absent and out for testing. Therefore, the Lit classes did not do any words of the day. We will resume these on Monday this week, and will have a quiz on Friday over only 5 words. They are the same words planned for last week; lavish, spontaneous, illegible, squelch, irony. The good news is that most everyone is caught up with work and grades are completed up to date.
10th grade Lit: Other than words of the day and daily grammar practice, we will also read The Censors, and the Poem La Belle Dame sans Merci. We plan to have a test over these two pieces of literature and the vocabulary on Thursday of this week. We will begin a writing unit on Friday.
9th Grade Literature: In addition to words of the day and daily grammar practice, we will read The Interlopers and have a quiz over the story and the vocabulary. We will also begin our novel, The Graveyard Book, and will begin a writing unit.
Study Skills: Our words of the day will be onset, revere, irresolute, juxtaposition, and mitigate. I will also put words up for next week for those overachievers who wish to work ahead. Our next quiz will be on Thursday, October 8. PLEASE CONTINUE TO BRING YOUR AGENDAS TO CLASS DAILY AND FILL THEM OUT AS SOON AS YOU ARRIVE TO CLASS.
Have a great week!
September 21, 2009 at 12:13 am · Filed under Uncategorized
Both Literature Classes:
Words of the day are lavish, spontaneous, illegible, squelch, and irony. We did not have a quiz last week since I was out and there was a test over literature. We will have the quiz Monday for 6th period, and Tuesday for 7th period. You may use your notes.
6th period, 10th grade Lit:
We will cover the story The Censors and the poem La Belle Dame sans Merci, and will have a test on Friday over both of these pieces of literature.
7th period, 9th grade literature:
You have some special testing this week on Monday and Wednesday during 7th and 8th periods. So, on Tuesday we will read The Interlopers, and on Thursday we will have a quiz covering the vocabulary and the story. On Friday, we will begin discussing our novel (The Graveyard Book) and a writing assignment.
Study Skills, 8th period. Words of the day are adept, integral, vacillate, implement, and inflexible. There will be a quiz on Friday over 9 words.
Have a great week! Mrs. Szabo
September 14, 2009 at 9:43 am · Filed under Uncategorized
Both Lit classes: Words of the Day are expedite, eloquent, confirm, and agitate. There will be no word of the day on Wednesday, since it is early release day.
10th grade Lit: We will review There Will Come Soft Rains, Discuss vocabulary and read The Censors and a poem called La Belle Dame Sans Merci. I hope to have a review day on Thursday over all material covered so far, and a test on Friday. A review sheet will be given out before Thursday.
9th grade Lit: We will finish reviewing Checkouts, and will cover vocabulary and read The Interlopers and a poem called Fifteen. We will also have a review on Thursday and a test on Friday, over all material covered so far.
Study Skills: Words of the day are empathy, exasperation, disseminate, and aggressive. No WOD on Wednesday due to early release.
Everyone remember Early Release Day on Wednesday, and open house Wednesday night.
Have a great week! Mrs. Szabo
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