Ms. Vickery

Fri., 2/29

A Friday on a Leap Year! What a special day today is! The next Leap Year will be your senior year of high school. Isn't that cool? Today in class we checked your Lit. Terms cards carefully. From those cards you will choose the 10 terms to explain in your book report. Then you took notes on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his famous character Sherlock Holmes. We also had some time for you to work on your mystery book report. Your assignment this weekend is to continue to work on your book report. Remember March 10 is the last day to turn in your 2 part book report.

Thurs., 2/28

What a delicious conversation about E.A. Poe we had today! We checked your story charts for details, compared our narrators, and discussed the "macabre" nature of his writing. Remember that all of your lit. term cards are due tomorrow. Then we will delve into Sherlock Holmes!!

Wed., 2/27

Hope you enjoyed last night's story! Today in class after we took a homework check on your charts, you completed a reflection activity about the Heart story. Come in about 8:30 tomorrow to complete if you were not here today. Then you read an abridged version of "The Black Cat" by Poe and completed the chart on the story. We'll compare the atmosphere/mood of the story tomorrow in class. Can't wait! Tonight complete charts on both Poe stories. Remember your vocab cards for lit terms are due on Friday.

Tues., 2/26

What a spooky morning! Great timing for the beginning of the mystery unit! Today we took notes on the life of Edgar Allan Poe, and then I gave you a very special assignment to read "The Tell Tale Heart"  tonight in bed by only a tiny light. Be sure to explain the assignment and get a parent signature on the sheet I sent home. I hope you remembered to take your lit. book home, or else........but remember, I'm NOT MAD!?!?!

Mon., 2/25

Today we reviewed all the requirements of the Mystery novel project. Explain it to your parents and get their signature on your project sheet. We also created a model template for your story charts. You'll need a total of 7 by Wed. Your lit. terms vocab cards are due on Friday the 29th. We completed class by discussing the types of formats for the mystery genre. I hope you are enjoying your novel and are ready to begin reading some delicious mystery short stories!

Fri., 2/22

Thanks so much for the rain...except that it "rained out" my Jackets' b'ball game last night...definitely a first. Today in class you took the "From Dunbar to the Dream" quiz. Then you had time to read the article on mystery writers and hopefully some time to read in your own mystery. Your homework is to read several chapters in your novel. Enjoy!!

Thurs., 2/22

We had a great review for our Literary terms quiz...from Dunbar to the Dream...that you will take tomorrow. If you remembered to bring your cards to class, you had time to fill them out before we reviewed them. Then we discussed the exact format of the quiz. We also placed an * before each lit term (orange sheets) that you will create cards for by next Fri/29th. Study for your quiz tonight, read in your novel, and bring your novel to class tomorrow. Don't get too wet tonight!

Mon., 2/20

After a nice restful holiday celebrating our nation's presidents, we spent time with partners and all classmates looking for the literary and historical devices in the "I Have a Dream" speech. Tomorrow we will review for the Friday quiz on the literary terms from this Dunbar to Dream section only. Be sure to bring 10 cards ( in the 2nd color) to fill out in class. You should continue to read in your mystery novel at least 30 minutes a night. Several of you have already finished (as I have) since it's hard to put a mystery down.

Wed., 2/13

Today you received your progress report to be signed tonight. We watched a special video of the "I Have a Dream" speech which I will show Friday AM @8:20 for any of you who are absent today. Then you wrote a 3 part reflection of the speech. Tomorrow you will sign up your mystery novel, so bring the title and the parent permission if you need one. See you on Valentine's Day!

Mon., 2/11

Today we went on a search in the media center for your mystery novel. If you choose to read one from another place, be sure to pick up the permission slip in class. You also are to finish answering questions 2B, 3B, 4B, 5B from page 367 in your lit. book. Highlight the stated part in your answer. Also, tonight find out from your parents or other relatives what country and when your family immigrated to the US. We will read and discuss the 3 immigration pieces in our lit book tomorrow. I've shared my history, so let's learn about yours.