Friday, April 8, 2011

Hist 12: Friday, 8 April

Today was a working block - I issued workbook exercises for the upcoming mini-unit on the USA (in the 1920s and 30s).  Some students returned to the soccer game as spectators, and two were playing.  We agreed that Ex 18-20 should be finished in-class (or at home) before Monday's class.

On Monday, we'll wrap up Germany (for now) and start the USA.

Have a super-d-duper weekend.

En 12: Friday, 8 April

Today, I returned your short story essays and then we read Hamlet I, i.  I also discussed some of the conventions of Shakespeare's language and form.  Remember to think about these conventions as you are practicing your lines - try to infuse as much life into your parts as possible.

No homework (unless you are reading for scene 2 and have to review your lines on Sunday night).

En 11: Friday, 8 April

Today, we discovered "who killed Mr. Kelly" and then debriefed the group dynamics that got us to the answer.  I always have fun doing this activity.  Next, we re-examined the notion of inquiry questions and then worked to agree on an inquiry question that we could spend some time answering.  Think about our discussions - we need to decide which suggested question we'll use at the beginning of next class.  Then we'll see how Lord of the Flies might assist us in understanding the question we choose.

Have a sunny weekend.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

HIST 12: Thursday, 7 April

Today we read a handout on the Nuremberg Laws of 1935.  We also did another chronological ordering of events activity like the one we did on the Russian revolutions.  We used the election results to help order the events around 1932.  Next we copied and discussed some notes.  Finally, Mr. Marshall found out that only 2/12 of the class did their homework (Exercise 9) - thanks to those superstars who came to class prepared.


Tomorrow we'll finish Hitler's Germany and prepare for our study of the USA in the 20s and 30s. We will read DeMarco pp. 113 - 120

SS 11: Thursday, 7 April

Today, we bagan by reviewing the European map of 1920.  Next we viewed a PPT of the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike.  We also discussed how unions work in general and how strikes work - both general strikes and union-specific strikes.  Please complete questions 1- 29 on your Chaoetr 3 question sheet.

Eng 12: Thursday, 7 April

Today, we were introduced to Hamlet.  We did a few "fun" outside activities: Matt don't tell the College of Teachers that I scared you or I might lose my job.  I handed out a study guide and the first assignment.  Please make sure you come to every class because we are going to assign reading parts and it will upset the plan if people are absent when they have parts.  The parts for tommorrow are listed here.  Enjoy.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Socials Test Notice

Anyone who was absent and did not write the post-war autonomy exam will do so Thursday at lunch.

Hist 12: Wednesday, April 6.

Today we watched the second half of the Germany video.  Then we debriefed DeMarco, pp 86-95.  We also viewed a PPT on the Night of the Long Knives.  Please do Ex # 9-10 on anti-Semitism and Hitler's rise to power.  Remind me to get out my chronology cards for Germany (like the ones we used for Russia).

En 12: Wednesday, 6 April

Today we wrote our final piece of writing for the short fiction unit.  Tomorrow we start Shakespeare - please don't miss it.

En 11: Wednesday, 6 April

Today we had classroom discussions - each class went in a different direction.  En 11-1 also had a chance to comment on inquiry questions on the blog.  En 11-2 will have the same chance next class.  We shall start the novel unit next class.

Eng 11: Inquiry Question #2, Wednesday, 6 April

Please comment on the following prompt:

"What is the value of teachers using inquiry questions?"

En 11: Inquiry Response, Wednesday, 6 April

Please comment on the following prompt:

"What makes a good question?"

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

English 12: Tuesday, 5 April

Today we discussed "Touching Bottom," and created a set of notes around the primary elements of fiction: conflict, symbolism, and theme.  Next, I did a close reading of the story and identified twenty quotations connected to the key elements we discussed.  Tomorrow you should come to class prepared to write on one of these three elements.

Sorry, I accidentally deleted my notes from the Interwrite board.  I do however, (thanks to Zack) have a hard copy for anyone who needs such.

Socials 11: Tuesday, 5 April

Today we wrote our post-war autonomy exam.  For homework, please read your Counterpoints text, pp. 48-55 (up to "Canada's Growing Independence"). Also, reveiw the Falk workbook, pp. 70-74 (up to the King-Byng Crisis).

History 12: Tuesday, 5 April

Today, we worked on Exercise #8, (it compared the rise of Hitler against Mussolini).  Next, we watched some primary footage of the Spartacus Putsch and the Kapp Putsch.  Afterwords, we had a discussion that allowed us to create a table to compare some of the revolutions we've studied to date, namely the two from 1917 in Russia, and the three in Germany from 1919 to 1923.  I suppose we could have included Bloody Sunday and the March on Rome.  These activities are important because they illustrate how to take the "factoids" we learn and bring them together to make new "big" observations and conclusions.

For homework, please read DeMarco, Chapter Seven: boys prepare to speak to the odd and girls to the even numbered questions.  Tomorrow we'll watch the second half of the Germany video and we'll discuss the events of 1934 (if we have time after debriefing all of the Demarco questions).