We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: April 9, 2014

Focus: To what extent is our "reality" real?

Shortened Class: PLC

1. Warming up: Say hello to Mr. Rosenberg and recap the expectations for your Truman Show notes:

Your document should be called "___________ (your last name) Truman Show Notes" and needs to be shared with me directly at kleclaire@lps.k12.co.us

This document will eventually be worth 40 points in the growth category.

Include the following categories in your notes:

a. Characters: Names, personality traits, clothes, things they say

b. Motifs/symbols: Specific objects that seem symbolic, what they might represent, and how they change throughout the film

c. Questions: Level 1, 2, and 3 questions; try to answer them at the end of the film

d. Connections to Fahrenheit 451: Be specific and original (these will form the backbone of your essay)

2. Watching The Truman Show and taking notes

Note: Please keep track of where you stopped watching the movie today.

HW:
1. Add to your Truman Show notes.

2. Work on your book talk.

3. If you're interested in what's happening with Sam, feel free to check out our family blog.

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: April 8, 2014

Focus: To what extent is our reality "real"?

1st hour: You finally have a new seating chart!
All hours: Please turn in your final observation charts if you did not do so yesterday.

1. Warming up with an important announcement and a new round of book talks!

2. Explaining how to set up your notes for The Truman Show

Please start a new document called "___________ (your last name) Truman Show Notes" and share it with me directly at kleclaire@lps.k12.co.us

This document will eventually be worth 40 points in the growth category.

Include the following categories in your notes:

a. Characters: Names, personality traits, clothes, things they say

b. Motifs/symbols: Specific objects that seem symbolic, what they might represent, and how they change throughout the film

c. Questions: Level 1, 2, and 3 questions; try to answer them at the end of the film

d. Connections to Fahrenheit 451: Be specific and original (these will form the backbone of your essay)

3. Watching The Truman Show

HW:
Add to your Truman Show notes (once again, please make sure they're shared with me directly).

Work on your book talk if you have not delivered it yet.

If you'd like to know what's going on with Sam, feel free to follow our family blog (also linked to class website).

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: April 7, 2014

Focus: What aspects of our society is Bradbury warning us about?

1. Warming up: Questioning so called "reality" TV

Viewing a quick clip on The Hunger Games and how "reality" TV affects our lives

Brainstorming a few concepts together...

a. What is reality TV?

b. What types/genres of reality TV have you noticed?

c. To what extent is reality TV real, and to what extent is it fake?

d. Why do you think reality TV has become so popular? Why do we watch it?

e. In Fahrenheit 451, how does TV fictionalize the end of Montag's chase?  Why?

For ideas, please peruse this article on reality TV.


2. Enjoying our final fishbowl together: The ending of Fahrenheit 451

3. Wrapping up: What is your big takeaway from this novel?

HW:
1. If you have never seen The Truman Show, please watch the trailer by clicking HERE.

2. Work on your book talk.

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: April 4, 2014

Focus: What does reading do for our brains?

1. Enjoying our next round of book talks!

2. Reading your independent book or the final pages of F451

OR....

Reading some articles that connect (closely or loosely) to what we've been talking about lately:

Inertia, Obedience, and Faith

An Education...in which I Bash Traditional Schooling

Your High School Transcript Could Haunt You Forever 

Harvard's Looking for a Wikipedian in Residence

Why Parents Need To Let Their Children Fail

HW:

1. Finish reading F451 for our final fishbowl on MONDAY and fill in your final observation chart.  Try to use your observation chart to draw larger conclusions about the book...how does it end and why? What lesson is Bradbury trying to teach us?  What warnings should we heed?  Do you think the ending is effective?

Click HERE for an observation chart (I neglected to make copies--my apologies). Please print this on your own before class on Monday.  If you're having printer issues, please share the document with me directly and make sure your name is in the title.

2. Work on your book talk if you are delivering it next Tuesday or Thursday.

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: April 3, 2014

Focus: What larger patterns are coming clear in F451?

1. Warming up: Designing your ideal playground, comparing it to today's vanilla playgrounds, and reading about "The Overprotected Kid"

Before you read...

• Design your ideal playground (sketch it or describe it in words).  Create it from bottom to top, starting with what the ground would be made of, what the playground itself would be made of, what equipment it would have (if any equipment at all), how tall it would be, what colors it would have, etc.

• How do think your playground compares to playgrounds today?

As you skim the article, please respond to these questions in your notes...

• What is "The Land," and what makes it unique?

• What's happened to our playgrounds over the years and why?

• What is problematic about today's playgrounds?

After you read...

• What connections can you make between this article and F451?

2. Enjoying F451 Fishbowl #6: Pages 102-139

3. Wrapping up

HW:
1. Bring F451 or your independent reading book to class tomorrow for 20-30 minutes of reading time.

2. Work on your book talk if you have not given your book talk yet.

3. Finish F451 and your final yellow observation chart for Monday.

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: April 2, 2014

Focus: What major shifts are you noticing in Fahrenheit 451?

1. Warming up: Enjoying a round of book talks

2. Tackling the biggest reading assignment of the semester: F451, pages 102-139

Note: Today could be a big win-win situation for you.  Not only do you get time to do your homework, but you get 10 points just for being focused on your reading in class today.

HW:
1. Finish reading pages of 102-139 of F451 and complete the other side of your yellow observation chart (which you will be turning in tomorrow).  Get ready for a big fishbowl!

2. No vocabulary quiz this week.  Just keep up with Fahrenheit 451.

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: April 1, 2014

Focus: What larger patterns are you starting to notice in Fahrenheit 451? What is starting to shift?

1. Warming up with an artistic approach to "Dover Beach"

As you listen to the poem being read, sketch the details that stand out most to you.  

Pick any THREE images and write down what you think each symbolizes and why.

For each of those three images, make a thoughtful connection back to a symbol, motif, moment, or idea from Fahrenheit 451.

2. Enjoying F451 Fishbowl 5: Pages 80-102

3. Wrapping up

HW: 
1. Bring your yellow vocabulary packets to class tomorrow for review of words 16-30 (quiz this Friday). --NOPE!  VOCABULARY QUIZ IS CANCELLED THIS WEEK.

2. Bring your copy of F451 and your yellow chart; since the reading assignment for Thursday is very heavy, you will have at least 30 minutes of reading time tomorrow in class.

3. Start on Thursday's reading assignment, which includes pages 102-139.  Yeah!