Lesson 9

 Students began the block by handing in the homework from last class. While there were a variety of reasons for homework not being done, surprisingly few folks actually did the work. Anyone who did not hand in the vocab is expected to be in tutorial on Monday morning.

Most of the block was spent looking at Truth and Reconciliation - ending in a reflection of some form to be included in a school-wide acknowledgement of Truth and Reconcilliation Day.

This piece on Residential Schools, and another on Reconciliation were shown. 

On Tuesday, students should take a moment to reflect on how they can be an ally to Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Lesson 8

We opened the class by marking last week's caps quiz - students shouldn't get hung up on numbers per se, but if they came in under a 6.5-7/10, they should be reviewing rules, perhaps attending tutorial with questions, and definitely attending the Handsworth Writing Lab for a little extra enrichment. 

 We went through the plot work for "For the Birds," before looking at the different kinds of irony. Students identified the ironies via comics, before working in groups to come up with examples from the last two works we looked at. 

HMWRK - students have received a list of terms. For each vocabulary word, students should write a definition AND a sentence, in their own words, that illustrates the meaning of the word. If someone who didn't know the word were to read the sentence, they should be able to infer the meaning.

 

Lesson 7

 

Students read their personal novels.

Students had another opportunity to remind themselves of everyone's names during a quick check in.

Students moved  back to their "Cougar/Cub" groups, and we reviewed their plot diagrams.

We then watched "For the Birds" - students  then filled in the Exposition, Inciting Incident, Rising Action(s), Climax, and Denouement sections of a sheet for the short - If you were not in class today, you can watch the film and chart it on the flip side of your personal Cougar/Cub plot diagram.

NO HOMEWORK other than ensuring you have finished filling in the above - and bringing your novel to your next class.

 

Lesson 6

 

Students began the class with a capitalization quiz, followed by personal novel reading.

They spent the remainder of the block completing (in groups) their final "Cougar/Cub" diagrams - these were handed in at the end of the block.

Please read through the following information about the Handsworth Writing Lab:

The Handsworth Writing Lab is Open!

What? The Handsworth Writing Lab (HWL) is a service for all students at Handsworth.

When? Open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at lunch.

Where? Room 2002

Who is the service for? Any student in grades 8-12 who needs extra support with their writing or wants to take their writing to the next level. It is a place where students invest in themselves by building their skills or working on specific assignments.

Trained Editors are here to help:

• Can’t figure out how to get started? We help you brainstorm ideas for your assignment.

• Struggling with a concept? We can help you figure it out.

• Want some help reviewing your paragraph, essay, or science lab? We will help you locate errors and give you tips about how to clarify or extend your ideas.

• Frustrated that you keep making the same errors in your writing? We can teach you how to

avoid comma splices, run-on sentences, sentence fragments, capitalization errors, apostrophe

errors and more!

• Want to impress a future school or boss? We can help you proofread your applications and                     resumes.

How? Drop in or get referred by your teacher.

Follow us on Instagram @handsworth_writing_lab

Lesson 5

 

Students listened to "Pink and White" by Frank Ocean - while we didn't discuss the lyrics at length, they were (re) introduced to classical allusion, through a reference (with multiple possible levels) to the goddess of tragedy, Melpomene, and a discussion about her children (half bird / half woman) potentially connected to  the sirens of the sea.

Students read their personal novels.

HMWRK:

•  Study for your Capitalization Quiz!
  
• Come ready to continue Cougar Cub work - be sure you are able to defend your plot points!

Lesson 4

 

 *Most students came to class with their novels ready to go...

We looked at a speech from Shakespeare's Hamlet - Act 2, Scene 2 - and then compared the lyrics to "What a Piece of Work is Man" from the Broadway musical Hair (briefly talked about the ways in which literature alludes to, and makes use of, previous works of literature/art to comment on its own era...)

Students read their personal novels

Students did a second capitalization worksheet

Students worked on their "Cougar/Cub" diagrams (handed in at the end of the block) while reviewing the story terms associated with a standard plot diagram (we will continue this work in our next class).

HMWRK: 

• Find a novel for class, if you haven't already
• Review story terms
• Review capitalization rules
  

 

Lesson 3

 

Students began class by listening to "For What It's Worth" by Buffalo Springfield, and thinking a bout the lyrics - A number of students forgot to bring a novel today, and those students had a bit of extra time to think...

Students did the first of three sheets on capitalization.

Students began a review of a standard plot diagram, and used this Cougar Cub Video to plot it out (please watch it at home if you missed today)

HOMEWORK: Have a plan for recording homework (other than your phone) make sure your plot diagram for Cougar/Cub is complete, and bring a novel to next class. 

Lesson 2

 

Students got to save the blog in their phones! (then put them away)

We talked about the things students want to learn in the course, and the fact that many of those are best supported by reading, writing, and talking together.

We looked at this AI controversy, and talked about the related issues. 

In groups, students listened to a brief story - they focused on details to solve a mystery and avoid red herrings. 

HMWRK: Bring a novel to next class!

 

Lesson 1

 Welcome!

Students found their seats, asked all the questions, looked over a course outline, and played a name scavenger hunt to get to know their classmates. 

Next class, we will do some more icebreaker work, and then get down to work :)