1. Now that we have officially finished studying the novel and watched the movie (for good measure), we read through the actual essay assignment together. On that sheet, a basic structure is suggested for each of the body paragraphs, as well as an outline for what could be included in the intro and conclusion.
2. We reviewed the Three No’s of formal essay writing: no personal pronouns (I, we, you), no contractions (can’t, shouldn’t), and always in present tense (which will often go against your  nature – what Scout experiences in the beginning of the novel seems like it is in the past, but she is still experiencing it the same as she is still currently experiencing what comes at the end of the novel).
3. I showed some student examples of this same essay assignment on the smartboard. I pointed out some of the correct things these examples showed, as well as some errors.
4. Then students had the rest of the class (at least 20 minutes) to use the chart they have been filling (as we read) to begin their brainstorming and planning. Our next class will be their first period of three writing classes.

1. Today was the second day of watching the movie of the novel. The court scenes are especially powerful. (For some students, watching someone’s interpretation of the novel’s events helps the whole thing come together, even though, as some were pointing out, several major aspects of the novel were not included in the movie. Amy questioned this, but for a larger audience the movie focused solely on the racial inequality, rather than themes like “tradition” or “maturing”.

1. This movie is one of the most beloved and famous in the states. It won several Acadamy Awards when it was released and, as I’ve discussed with the kids, I can’t see it ever being done as a remake since it holds so much heart in the original version. We will spend two classes watching it, from where we left off from viewing the beginning before.

1. We had to use some of class time today to go for the H1N1 shots, but returned to continue reading Chapter 24.
2. Students will be missing both Monday and Tuesday’s class, for CWEX and a field trip, but are asked to read and answer the questions for Chapters 24, 25, 26.
3. We’ll be finishing the novel soon and they’ll begin the process of writing their Dynamic Characters essay. They’ve been taking notes and finding examples of internal growth and new understanding for the characters of Scout and Jem, so writing their essay should be rather simple.

Free day today!

No class today.

1. The majority of students are away today with their Career and Work Exploration. I wasn’t in the classroom at the end of class on Friday to assign any homework for them to be responsible for completing by Tuesday’s class. Instead of continuing to read, without the missing students being aware of what they’re missing, we will continue watching the movie. The missing students can borrow the video if they want.

1. We’ve been reading quite a bit and have just started reading through the Court Scene where Atticus is going to cross examine the young girl who claims to have been raped by Tom Robinson.
2. To pause in the reading for just a bit, I thought we could start watching the movie. Instead of watching it only at the end of the reading, I thought we could begin it and watch to the part where the court scene begins.

1. Career and Work Experience students are away today but were told on Friday that they were responsible for having  Chapter 14 read and questions done.
2. We are moving on tomorrow.

1. All but three students were away yesterday for their Career and Work Experience program, but I had discussed with them last Friday to make it explicitly clear that they were still responsible for completing what work we ‘would’ be doing during Monday’s class. Their assignment was to have chapter nine read and the related questions done for today’s class. None of them did that. We reviewed how the CWE program works and what is expected of them in their classes as a result of days they missed. Mr. Gasper came as well to make sure I was understanding things properly.
   As a result, and to make it clear so this won’t happen again, those who were not finished their Ch 9 stayed at lunch until it was completed.
2. We moved on, though, to read chapter ten together (listening to the audio version) and then students did the four questions for that chapter.
3. Tomorrow we will review why Ch 9 is such a key chapter, since everyone will have had a chance to read it by then.