Tuesday, November 30

Writing Prompt: Today is Parent/Teacher Conferences. What do you think I should tell your parent/guardians? Write a self-assessment of yourself.

Today: Finish Poet Biography on laptops. Email me your information by tonight! Include your sources and put the information in your own words.
Poetry Out Loud Project

Important Dates:  
Wednesday: Memorization and performance plan due in class
Thursday: Poetry Performance
                 Poetry Analysis due (email this to me)
                 Vocabulary Talent Show?
Friday: Poetry Performance
            Vocabulary Quiz

Presentation Days:
Thursday: 
Jordan
Maryliza
Sierra
Fajion
Eric
Lauren
Steven
Miguel
Marcus

Friday:
Trey
Briana
Sadé
Andrea
Mike D
Hadea
Shante
Jordan
Tynisha
Jessie
Brittany

Poetry Out Loud

Poetry Out Loud Project 

Example of Poetry Analysis - Robert Frost Poem

Brittany  – “Eating Together” by Li Young Lee

Maryliza  – "I close my eyes" by David Ignatow

Shante  – “The Song of Smoke” by W.E.B. Dub Bois
Marcus – “I am learning to abandon the world” by Linda Pastan

Lauren – “First poem for you” by Kim Addonizio

Jordan – “I’m a Fool to Love You” by Cornelius Eady

Eric – “America” by Claude McKay

Kayla – “I think I Should Have Love You Presently” by Edna St. Vincent Millay

Andrea – “Sonnet XVIII: Shall I compare they to a summer’s day?” by my boo, Willy Shakespeare

Steven – “Fairy-tale Logic” by A.E. Stallings

Sadé - "A Dream Within A Dream" by Edgar Allen Poe

Hadea – “It Couldn’t Be Done” by Edgar Albert Guest 

Fajion – "The Film" by Kate Northrop

Sierra - "The Illiterate" by William Meredith

Briana - "I Am Offering this Poem" by Jimmy Santiago Baca

Mike D - "Invictus" by William Ernest Henley
Corrie - 

Miguel - 

Jessie - "The Star" by Ann Taylor

Trey - "Blow, blow thou winter wind" by William Shakespeare
Tynisha - "A Red, Red Rose" by Robert Burns

Tuesday, November 23

Writing Prompt: Use your new vocabulary words to create responses for the following situations. Try to use at least 5 vocabulary words.

A. You have a hot date tonight with your boo, but your mom is trippin' and she won't let you go. Prove to her how mature and responsible you are and convince her that you should be able to go out with your boo.

B. You and your best friend got caught lingering in the hallways by Ms. Morson. Convince Ms. Morson that you were on your way to class, but were late because you were trying to avoid some triflin' students. Try to throw Ms. Morson off the track by describing these troublesome students.


Today's Agenda
1. Review vocabulary
2. Collect essays
3. Corrie's poem
4. Poetry Out Loud Project

Assignments
For Wednesday, 11/24: Finish annotating and complete close reading of Whitman
For Monday, 11/29:

• Word Maps
• Concept Cards
• Choose poem

Friday, November 19

New Vocabulary Today! Copy the definitions from the link on the right.

Peer Edit rough drafts of essay.

Final drafts of essay due on Tuesday, 11/22.

Wednesday, 11/17 & Thursday, 11/18

Wednesday: Vocabulary Talent Show and Bless Me, Ultima review game.

Thursday: Vocabulary and Bless Me, Ultima test
You have one week to make up the test! See me if you were absent today.

Essay rough draft due Friday, 11/19

Tuesday, November 16

Writing Prompt: Out of all Antonio's dreams, which one most relates to you and your ordinary life. Please explain.

Today's Agenda:
    1. Review vocabulary
    2. Textual evidence
    3. Review and check brainstorms
    4. Religious Blasphemy video


Important Dates:
1. Vocabulary & Bless Me Ultima test on Thursday, 11/18
        - 70 vocabulary words (35 new, 35 old)
        - Open-ended questions about BMU
2. Vocabulary Talent Show - Wednesday, 11/17
        - Come prepared to share a drawing, poem, joke, short story,
            dance, tableau, rap, song, rhyme or skit that illustrates a
            new vocabulary word.
        - 5 extra credit points for each example (max of 25 ex pts);
            an extra 5 points if your talent is incredible. Points will go
            towards the 1st marking report!!
3. Rough Draft due Friday, 11/19
4. Final Essay due Tuesday, 11/23

Monday, November 15

Writing Prompt: You have learned several adjectives that describe people. Choose five of the words below and create a character that exemplifies the five words. Write an internal monlogue from that character's point of view.

• pugnacious           
• emphatic                 
• despondent                
• vigilant
• pretentious            
• audacious                
• dexterous                
• stoic
• brazen                    
• gregarious              
• adroit                            
• candid
• apathetic                
• ostentatious               
• melancholy                
• loquacious

Today's Agenda:
    1. Review vocabulary
    2. Essay Assignment and brainstorm
    3. Finish theme groups (for real this time)


Important Dates:
1. Welcome to the 2nd Marking Report!
2. Vocabulary & Bless Me Ultima test on Thursday, 11/18
        - 70 vocabulary words (35 new, 35 old)
        - Open-ended questions about BMU
3. Vocabulary Talent Show - Wednesday, 11/17
        - Come prepared to share a drawing, poem, joke, short story,
            dance, tableau, rap, song, rhyme or skit that illustrates a
            new vocabulary word.
        - 5 extra credit points for each example (max of 25 ex pts);
            an extra 5 points if your talent is incredible. Points will go
            towards the 1st marking report!!


Assignments:

1. Brainstorm for essay due Tuesday, 11/16
2. Rough Draft due Friday, 11/19
3. Final Essay due Tuesday, 11/23

 

Friday, November 12

Writing Prompt: Listed below are some of the symbols in BMU. Brainstorm what you think each could mean in the book.

• Márez blood
• Luna blood
• the bridge
• water
• communion
• golden carp
• the owl
• the number 3
• Virgin of Guadalupe
• Antonio's dreams

Today:
    1. Vocabulary and Root Words!
            Turn in word maps!
    2. End of book - what do you think of Ultima?
    3. Finish and present theme groups

Important Dates:
1. Grades end today!
        2nd marking report starts bright and early Monday morning.
2. Vocabulary & Bless Me Ultima test on Thursday, 11/18
        - 70 vocabulary words (35 new, 35 old)
        - Open-ended questions about BMU
3. Vocabulary Talent Show - Wednesday, 11/17
        - Come prepared to share a drawing, poem, joke, short story,
            dance, tableau, rap, song, rhyme or skit that illustrates a
            new vocabulary word.
        - 5 extra credit points for each example (max of 25 ex pts);
            an extra 5 points if your talent is incredible. Points will go
            towards the 1st marking report!!


Extra Credit - For Monday
Answer one (or both) of the following questions.

1. Does Ultima's death reaffirm whether or not she is a witch? Explain. 
2. Research the number 3. What does it signify? How does this apply to the novel?

 Answers should be at least one page long! Use textual evidence. Hand it in on Monday.

Wednesday, November 10

Writing Prompt: Listen to the lyrics and write down any that you think could apply to Antonio or any other characters from Bless Me Ultima. Feel free to dance in your seat as you write!


Life is a mystery, everyone must stand alone.
I hear you call my name and it feels like home.

Refrain
When you call my name, it's like a little prayer.
I'm down on my knees, I wanna take you there.
In the midnight hour, I can feel your power.
Just like a prayer, you know I'll take you there

I hear your voice, it's like an angel sighing.
I have no choice, I hear your voice, feels like flying.
I close my eyes, oh God, I think I'm falling, out of the sky.
I close my eyes, Heaven help me.


Like a child, you whisper softly to me.
You're in control just like a child
Now I'm dancing.
It's like a dream, no end and no beginning.
You're here with me, it's like a dream.
Let the choir sing.

Just like a prayer, your voice can take me there.
Just like a muse to me, you are a mystery.
Just like a dream, you are not what you seem.
Just like a prayer, no choice, your voice can take me there.


Today's Agenda:
    1. Vocabulary
    2. Chapter 19 Video Review
    3. Theme Groups


Assignments
Last day to turn in work is Friday, 11/12
Period 2: Read chapters 19-20 and take notes; word maps due on Monday

Period4: Finish BMU! This is your ultimate assignment! No notes. Word maps and root words due on Friday

Tuesday, November 9

Writing Prompt: On page 195, Florence tells Antonio, “I think if there is a hell it’s just a place where you’re left all alone, with nobody around you. Man, when you’re alone you don’t have to burn, just being by yourself for all of time would be the worst punishment the Old Man could give you.” Do you agree or disagree with Florence? Do you think everyone may have a different type of hell? Write a brief description of what the worst idea of hell would be for you. Explain why it would be so terrible.

Today's Agenda
1. Vocabulary
2. Tableau Review of chapters 15-17

Assignments
Last day to turn in work is Friday, 11/12
Period 2: Read chapter 18 and take notes; word maps due on Monday

Period4: Read chapters 19-20 and take notes; word maps and root words due on Friday

Monday, November 8

Writing Prompt: In chapter 17, Antonio will learn about the length of eternity. If you had to spend eternity in one place, where would it be? With whom would you want to spend eternity? What items or possessions would you want to have with you? Explain.

Keep it rated G! Think about what you want to have with you for eternity.

Today's Agenda
    1. New Vocabulary
    2. Finish presentations
    3. Review chapters 15-16

Writing Prompts are due tomorrow!!!

Assignments
Writing Prompts are due tomorrow!
Last day to turn in work is Friday, 11/12
Period 2: Read chapter 17 and take notes; word maps due on Monday
Period4: Read chapter 18 and take notes; word maps and root words due on Friday

Period 4 - Friday, November 5

Assignment for Today

I will collect your assignment on Monday, Nov 8! Read chapter 17 over the weekend.

Love, Ms. McCartney

Thursday, November 4

Writing Prompt: Have you ever had to forgive someone even if you didn't want to? What happend and why did you do decide to forgive?
 or...
Has anyone ever forgiven you for something you thought was very bad? What happened? How did you feel when this happened?

Today's Agenda:
1. Vocabulary Quiz
2. Review reading

Homework:
Read chapters 15-16

Wednesday, November 3

Writing Prompt: Ultima has warned several times that when a person tampers with the fate of a man, a chain of events will be set into motion over which no one will have ultimate control (85). How has this already happened in the novel? Could this also apply to Ultima? Could this also apply to your life? 

Today's Agenda:
    1. Review chapters 13 & 14
    2. The Dream
    3. Theme Groups
    4. Vocabulary Review
    5. Benchmark review

Homework:

• All Classes: Study for vocabulary quiz!
• Period 2: Finish chapter 14
• Period 4: Read chapters 15-16 for Friday

Monday, November 1

Writing Prompt: Why wouldn’t Antonio’s grandfather allow his sons to warn Ultima about Tenorio? Did his uncles do the right thing in obeying their father and not warning Ultima? Write a paragraph about the decision of Antonio’s grandfather to stay out of the dispute between Ultima and Tenorio. Do you think that Antonio’s grandfather had a responsibility to warn Ultima? What would you have done if you were in the same situation?

Today's Agenda:

    1. Review vocabulary
    2. Is Ultima a bruja? - Review and check homework
    3. Theme groups

Homework:

1. Period 2: Read pages 143-159 (first half of chapter 14) and take dialectical notes. 
2. Period 4: Read all of chapter 14. No notes, but a quiz on Wednesday!
3. Period 4: Word maps due Thursday! You can't take the quiz until you complete the word maps!
4. All Periods: Study for your Vocabulary Quiz on Thursday!