We had some nice class discussions about the procrastination article that we all read, which concluding in thinking about strategies for not letting procrastination get the best of you in high school.

Next, we talked about the Hunger Games characterization project. I told you that because we lost time due to Vocabulary.com delays, I was extending the deadline until Tuesday. The big thing to remember is that your story needs to include all five kinds of indirect characterization.

We have a quiz on Monday! It will be mostly your Odyssey 1 words, with a few questions over nouns thrown in.

We finished discussing the vocabulary terms from the Odyssey 1 list. We will have a quiz over those words (along with a few questions about nouns) on Monday.

Afterwards, I showed students how to set up Vocabulary.com accounts and begin practicing the words for Odyssey List 1. The instructions are under the Vocabulary section of this website, in case you were absent or need more help. I asked students who were having technical difficulties to see the laptop guys on the second floor, next to the library. From what I’ve heard, it’s almost always a quick fix.

Homework for tonight was to read the article about procrastination and complete the reading guide – due tomorrow!

We began today’s class with a discussion about learning, memorization, and knowledge based on the reading assignment from last night, with a specific focus on what the ideas in the article mean for learning and studying in high school. Next, we had lesson over nouns – homework was to finish the Nouns Notes and Practice page (both of those items are under the Grammar section of the website). We also began to discuss the first Odyssey vocabulary list – we’ll finish that tomorrow.

A big reminder for tomorrow – bring your laptop. You won’t be able to do tomorrow’s activity without it.

I hope that everyone had a fantastic, relaxing Labor Day!

We began today by turning in essays over I Am Malala. Students then took their vocabulary quiz over literary device terms.

After the quiz, students began working on reading and answering questions about an article on memorization and learning – When Memorization Gets in the Way of Learning. Whatever you did not finish in class today is due for homework tomorrow.

ALSO – PLEASE BRING YOUR COMPUTER TO CLASS ON THURSDAY!

We continued working on the Hunger Games Design-a-Tribute project (due September 14) in class, with a special focus on plot.

The two things that you need to remember for Tuesday are:

1. Your essay over I Am Malala is due.

2. We’re taking the quiz over the list of literary devices. Please make sure you are ready!

I hope everyone is having a fantastic Labor Day!

As a reminder, your autobiography of your reading life is due tomorrow.

Today in class, we began a characterization project in which students will design a Hunger Games tribute. This project is due on September 14 and is worth a major grade. We’ll continue to work on it piece-by-piece in class. Characterization Tribute Project- Academic

Today in class, students worked on their autobiographies of their reading lives (due Friday): Autobiography of a Reader – Writing Assignment

Homework for tonight was to read the original (1938!) comic book of Superman and analyze it for literary devices in the following assignment: Superman Literary Device Identification

And here is the link to that comic.

Students received their second vocabulary list (over literary terms) today. The quiz will be next Tuesday since Monday is a holiday. Students then practiced identifying those literary devices in The Hunger Games with a partner – you’ll have a little time to work on that tomorrow.

There was no homework for tonight, but please remember that you are taking yearbook pictures tomorrow (Wednesday). If your parents want to order pictures, please bring the order form back tomorrow to give to the photographer.

Students got their laptops today! As a reminder, please charge them at home tonight, but do not attempt to log on until you are back at school!

Your essay about your name is due tomorrow. And on Wednesday we have picture day, so please bring back the order form if you would like to get copies of your pictures.

We spent the first part of the class discussing the Superman and Me essay – students had lots of sharp insights, and I enjoyed our conversation. Then I gave students the last part of the class to work on their name essays.

Some important dates to keep in mind:

Monday, August 31: Students will get their laptops! The Alchemist essay is also due (please have your rubric to turn in with it), and students will take their first vocabulary quiz.

Tuesday, September 1: Essay on your name is due (typed and printed – although if you can’t type or print for some reason, let me know ahead of time).

Wednesday, September 2: Yearbook picture day! Please wear something that your parents will approve of. Also, if your parents would like to order pictures, please return the order form I gave you on Wednesday to give to the photographer.

I had a fun first week with you! Enjoy your weekend, and I’ll look forward to seeing you on Monday.