Monday, February 1 - Friday, February 5




Friday
We did some more practice embedding quotes with partners at the beginning of the class. Next we did a roudy game of Kahoot related to non-fiction terms and devices. At the end of the class, I assigned a t-chart plan for a response. The topic was to evaluate how you think the author of "Pardon Me, I'm Canadian" would respond to the news item (see link) below. The top of the t-chart should contain your thesis statement and in the chart you should outline at least 3 points you would make to support your thesis, and 3 pieces of evidence (quotes with page numbers in brackets) you would use as examples. This work is due on Tuesday.

Thursday
At the beginning of the class there was time to read for those who have their banned book already; for those who have not selected a novel, there was time to research.
We returned to embedding quotes and did some practice in pairs. Next we began the text "Pardon me, I'm Canadian."

Wednesday
Due to PLCs, we had a shortened class today. We looked a at video clip about 10 banned books to provide some background on some novels that you could consider for the Banned Book term assignment. Next we all joined in to Today's Meet and practiced identifying different types of irony. For the last 25 minutes of class, we went to the library to give people an opportunity to sign-out a banned book.
Please ensure you have selected a book by Friday of this week. Next week during silent reading, decide on whether you want to stay with your first choice or switch books.
Tuesday
Today we went over the multiple choice questions about the poem "Ordinary Day." I returned the responses to the poems, and although they were too short/unfinished, showed strengths in the following areas: sophisticated vocabulary, strong understanding of irony, good focus on the question, strong sentence structure. What we need to work towards is the ability to think deeply about a text and analyze/interpret it in a short time span - not just for the exam - but as a lifelong ability. We also looked at how to embed quotes and practiced the poem response write again with a partner using blended/embedded quotes.
At the end of the class, I introduced the Banned Book term assignment. The details for the writing assignment and a list of books to choose from is listed in the links section of this blog.
Monday
Today we went over the course outline and had a look at the structure/content of the provincial exam. In the last 30 minutes of class, I gave out one section of a previous exam: the stand alone text portion. Individually, everyone read the text, answered the multiple choice questions and completed the written discussion of the text. We will take a look at the multiple choice answers tomorrow and I should have the paragraph(s) scored for you.
I am looking forward to a great semester of English with all of you!

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