1. The students did well in putting a fair amount of effort and time writing their final exam.
2. They were reminded that today was the deadline for their blogs to be marked and added to their class mark. If it was not completed by the end of the school day, they would still be required to complete it but would not receive marks for it. A handful of them stuck around after school to double check how to add the links or embed videos properly. All in all, I’m extremely pleased with the quality of work many have put into their blog project. I’m excited to see how they continue to develop it for their ELA 20 class next year!

Zac… here’s your password for your blog.

Now that you have it, I’m going to delete the password, but I’ll leave this post on here to remind me of the time when you called me “dear” and because it’s the first time I’ve used my audio comment option! 😀

1. Students started this new sub-unit on Monday when they investigated some world issues and decided which to choose for their expository essay. Today we discussed the theme a bit more carefully and looked at a list of Universal Rights and Freedoms, as put together by the United Nations.
2. We watched a few videos created to inform people of these universal rights and then read a poem about a couple who had decided to adopt a young baby, but were negotiating which race was suitable because there were certain ones they just would not consider accepting.
3. We also read / listened to the song “Eleanor Rigby”, written by two of the Beatles, about two people who were alone in their lives and how they finally crossed paths but when it was too late to be an influence on the other. Hopefully, we all live more enriched lives since we have such opportunity and freedom in our country.

These Universal Rights Public Service Announcements are very well done – but were created by the Church of Scientology. Does that change your opinion of what you see?

1. I reminded students that their essays were due by the end of the day, the length of their extension. Any essays not handed in will no longer be accepted and their essay topic will change.
2. We looked at the “bigger picture” of the unit to see how it all pieces together. I focused on the definitions and meaning of both the words “Perspectives” and “Passages”. Then we reviewed the literature we’ve studied to see the theme they all have in common – young people struggling through attaining independence and navigating their way while the adults in their lives stand nearby wanting to help, able to help, but are restricted by that exact independence being tested by the youth.
3. We watched the first part of a wonderful movie that directly speaks to our overall unit of “Anticipation” and specifically looks at perspectives and passages. Here is a link to a summary of the movie’s plot.
4. Here’s a link to a video of the beginning of the film. It’s such a great movie!

1. We read through Chapter 18 today, which was one of the  most dramatic chapters from the novel so far. It included Mayella Ewell’s testimony and cross examination by Atticus and we, as readers, finally got more details regarding what actually happened that eventually led to Tom Robinson’s arrest. It seemed pretty clear, though what we read though, that Mayella is a confused person and her testimony seemed somewhat shakey. (Ie: Answering that she didn’t remember Tom hitting her and then realizing her mistake and boldly correcting herself saying he did, he did!)
2. The chapter was actually so intense when the bell rang to end class that I asked the students if they’d just like to read through to finish the chapter and they did, all but one. It was better to keep that heightened tension built up through the class and finish it off, rather than trying to experience it the same way at the beginning of next class!
3. Remember, this novel is based on a real situation that occured where white women accused a black man of a similar deed. The man was found guilty, but on acquittal, it became more and more clear that the women were lying. The events of Chapter 18 give strong evidence that Harper Lee wrote the book in response to the unfortunate events that happened in her home area.

The school is looking pretty spooktacular in preparations for the Open House tomorrow and Halloween the day after. Little events like these mean different things to different people but I’ve really enjoyed seeing the creativity of the art students coming out in their projects. Some of them, I’ve seen, have completely embraced the opportunity to really put great effort in their work. I’m looking forward to capturing, if possible, finished products to save them for posterity. Keep up the good work, everyone!

Some of the art work they’ve done in class, too, has turned out so well it deserves its turn to be formally presented, framed and matted and all. Such great care and attention was put into the details of this work, it’s nice to see a finished product once they are satisfied with their work. Parents will have an opportunity to see some of this work framed when they come for the open house tomorrow night. Maybe we’ll even do a silent auction to sell the art?! What do you think – do these look worthy of being auctioned off?