Friday, April 27, 2012

En 12: Friday, 27 April

Today we started by writing a short reflection for the blog on the discussion we had in class yesterday concerning the American Dream.  Next, we read the play (pp. 18 - 27).  We also took a moment to compare some key things about Biff and Happy,  and a bit about Willy.  For homework, please select and respond to 8 of the first 17 questions from the Act One study guide and read up to about p 41.


En 12: Friday, 27 April

Please comment on the American Dream.

History 12: Friday, 27 April

Today we watched part of a documentary on the North African campaign.  One of the key points to note was the role of logistics in determining "reach" for both Rommel and later, Mongomery.  Also, we saw how inferior the British armour was until the introduction of the American-made Grant and Sherman tanks with their 75 mm guns (equal to the German Mk II and Mk III panzers).  The German 88 mm anti-aircraft guns used in the anti-armour role were also devastatingly effective.  Although it was a "limited theatre," it was a key battle, especially for the British.

Next, we completed worksheet notes on four more battles.  On Monday we'll study the Pacific war.  Please come to class with DeMarco pp. 151-153 and Falk pp. 106-109 read.  Here is a link to a brief video on the Battle of Midway - the TURNING POINT battle for the Pacific. - See if you can find out the significance of the island's broken water filtration system on outcome of this battle.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ0rxaEHZEo&feature=related

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Law 12: Thursday, 26 April

Today we discussed the YCJ Act while viewing the PPT slides you made.  We summarized the discussion on a worksheet.  Next, we finished our review of Chapter 9-10.  We'll have the test tomorrow, so there will be no Law 12 homework this weekend - it's supposed to be sunny!

Eng 12: Thursday, 26 April

Today we started Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller.  We discussed America in the era the play was written and also the "American Dream."  We ended by reading to the end of page 17 in Act One.  Please read to the end of page 27 for homework.

Eng 8: Thursday, 26 April

Today we reviewed our paragraph writing from last day and then wrote a second paragraph.  Your style and structure is improving.  Please have a good copy to share for Tuesday's class (attached are the topic sentences we wrote).

Hist 12: Thursday, 26 April


Today we had a PPT discussion on the Eastern Front and Stalingrad, and the Battle of Kursk.  For homework, please read DeMarco pp. 142-145 and the workbook, pp. 98-99.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Law 12: Wed, 25 April

Today we finished out YCJ Act slides and then reviewed for the Chapter 9-10 test to be held Friday.  Tomorrow we'll present the slides and discuss the changes to youth justice.  There is no homework except to start studying.

Eng 12: Wed 25 April

Today we wrote the poetry unit test.  Tomorrow we will start the play Death of a Salesman.

Hist 12: Wednesday, 25 April


Today we reviewed the answers for the first few boxes of Ex #16 and then discussed the Battle of Britain.  Please read DeMarco pp. 147-151 and the workbook pp. 95-98 + pp. 101-102.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

History 12: Tuesday, 24 April

Today we looked at the map (purple sheet) of the opening shots in the Second World War.  We examined why the Soviets would attack in the east.  We also looked briefly at the speedy fall of France.  We had a PPT discussion about Op Dynamo - the evacuation of Dunkirk; and looked at the end of Churchill's "Their Finest Hour" speech.  Finally, we wrote a brief summary of the evacuation.  For homework, please read and respond to the questions in DeMarco, pp 134-41.  Tomorrow we will look at Op Sea Lion and the Battle of Britain.

En 12: Tuesday: 24 April

Today we did one more practice poem and then worked on matching lit. terms to their definitions in preparation for tomorrow's poetry test.  The test will follow the following format:

Part A: Fill-in-the-blanks: identify 20 literary terms for the given definitions (from the list of 40 given today).

Part B: Read two poems and answer 8 multiple-choice questions for each.

Part C: Choose one of the two poems and in a well-developed paragraph (with direct references) respond to a given prompt.

Law 12: Tuesday, 24 April

 Today we used the following link to access information about the new Youth Criminal Justice Act.  In groups of four we took three pages each from the 15-page document to read and summarize on three PPT slides.  Tomorrow I'll give each group 15 minutes to tidy up their work, and then we can bring all of the slides together for a discussion.

http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/yj-jj/ycja-lsjpa/back-hist.html

We will also look at reviewing Chapters 9-10 for your next test. There is no homework unless you haven't completed the questions for Chapter 11.

En 8: Tuesday: 24 April

Today we did a quick review of our grammar work and then practice the structure of a paragraph together.  Next, we each wrote our own paragraph following the sample model. There is no homework.

Monday, April 23, 2012

English 12: Monday 23 April

Today we wrote or edited our Railway Club Blues poem paragraphs.  I had a chance to work one-to-one with the students who finished.  Please ensure you finish your paragraph for homework.  Tomorrow we'll practice with two more poems and revisit the literary terms.  ON WEDNESDAY, WE'LL DO OUR POETRY UNIT TEST.

Law 12: Monday, 23 April

Today we did the Chapter 7-8 test.  When finished we worked on Chapter 11 - The Young Offenders Act.  Tomorrow we will review the differences between this old act and the new Youth Criminal Justice Act.  Please have the Chpt. 11 questions completed for tomorrow's class.

History 12: Monday, 23 April

Today we completed adding our computer highlighting and notations to the Oxford Mao essays.  This annotating is an important skill to develop for those of you who plan to attend post-secondary studies.  Next, we had a debrief of the Chinese Revolution handout on Sun Yat Sen, Chiang Kai Shek, and Mao. I explained how I took marginal notes and synthesized them to create the handout.  I think it is important to note how I created three main bullets at the top of the sheet for each of the leaders - these become the grounding principles by which we can measure them - the big must knows.  There are other important details, but these principles will help us create an outline for any writing we have to do later.  Finally, I issued an old chapter exam that I'd like done for tomorrow's class - it is open-book, but please do it on your own.