Gateway English - Periods 4, 8

Final Exam Prep:

Here are the VOCAB WORDS from this semester: Click Here

Here is the SHORT STORY to BRING TO your EXAM: Click Here - You must have read this before  your exam. 

Here is the handout for the FINAL EXAM ESSAY: Click Here - You must bring your notes to the exam.

Here are the PRACTICE SLIDES from class today: Click Here

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Writing Summative - Due WEDNESDAY, June 6th. Click here.

BOOK PROJECTS ARE DUE NO LATER THAN WEDNESDAY, MAY 30TH.
Unit 17 Vocab Words: Click Here

Wednesday's Homework (23 May): Finish the rest of the Chapter (3).

Monday's Homework (21 May): Read the rest of Chapter 2. Come prepared for a reading check.

Wednesday's Homework (16 May): Read the rest of Chapter 1 of Of Mice and Men. Come prepared for a reading quiz in class.

Monday's Homework (14 May): Do something "vocabby" and have it ready to turn in. Vocab test is on Wednesday, the 16th! Study study!

Wednesday's Homework (8 May): Work on your BOOK PROJECT.

Monday's Homework (7 May): Write a poem inspired by the idea or term you were assigned in class today. You must present a COMPLETE, POLISHED poem that demonstrates thought and effort - not a tiny blurb dashed out by hand. You may NOT rhyme for this one. Be creative! Think outside the box.

Wednesday's Homework (2 May): If you did not finish the classwork from today, it is due at the beginning of class on Friday. The assignment is linked on our Google Site (the class code is o25typo).

Monday's Homework (30 April): Write a vocab sentence for each of the Unit 15 words. Include the place and "thing" that makes you happy in each sentence. Please highlight each of those three components in some way. Click here for the Unit 15 word list.

Example: If my words were: slippers + Emirates Palace + hedonistic: The Emirates Palace has the biggest buffet breakfast I've ever seen and I was completely hedonistic at breakfast, eating the most deliciously fattening treats - all while wearing my slippers!

Checklist: Click Here

Wednesday's Homework (18 April): Your Vocabulary Exam on Unit 13 is on Friday. Your essay is also due Friday by the end of class. You must work on this before class on Friday. I will be checking your work history.

CORRECTION: WE DO NOT HAVE SCHOOL MAY 28TH - BOOK PROJECT HAS BEEN MOVED TO TUESDAY, MAY 29TH. 

4th Quarter Book Project Handout: Click Here - DUE MAY 29th

Friday's Homework (13 April): You should be reading your independent book and/or working on your essay that we began in class. Here is the handout again.

Monday (2 April): Get your hands on your final independent book for the year! We will be beginning this ASAP so do not delay. You can use goodreads.com, amazon.com, or the internet to help you find one. Those moving to honors next year will need to choose a classic novel.

Monday's Homework (26 March): Book Project is due WEDNESDAY! Vocab exam for Unit 11 is on FRIDAY.

Wednesday's Homework (21 March): Work on your independent book project!

Friday's Homework (16 March): Work on your independent book project!

Wednesday's Homework (14 March): Create an image (think stick figure) that shows the meaning of each of the Unit 11 vocab words.

Work on your BOOK PROJECT.

Friday's Homework (9 March): Your personal narrative is due MONDAY. Remember to use:

  • Description of people, places, ambience, etc.
  • Dialogue with appropriate dialogue tags
  • Proper spelling, grammar, and formatting (PROOF READ!)
  • Reflection - either sprinkled throughout, or as a chunk at the beginning/end, your narrative should address how/why this moment has changed/altered/shaped your life in some way.


Monday's Homework (3 March): Work on your personal narrative. Let's plan on Friday being the due date.

Wednesday's Class and Looking Forward:

Based upon the techniques we practiced in class today, think about how you can work to improve/continue writing your narrative story. Although I am not assigning a set number of pages over vacation, any work you do before we return will be work that you won't have to do once all your classes are back in the swing of things.

Book project is due March 28th. 

Monday's Homework (19 February): Write at least a page or so of your personal narrative. Simply put, I'm asking you to start telling the story that you chose. Think of it like writing a short story, except you are the main character and the storyline actually happened. Be creative with your wording. You can  be creative with your formatting (do you want short sections or chapters or...?). Include setting descriptions, dialogue, flashbacks, etc. This is not your typical "school essay" so have fun with it!

This was the Guided Annotation that was due Friday.

3rd Book Project Options
1. Annotate
2. Dialectical Journal
3. Partner Project - See me to discuss if you decide to do this.
4. Get a group of friends together to read the same book and hold a Socratic Seminar (aka book group) with me after school. 


Friday's Homework: Study the Unit 9 words. Vocab exam is Monday!

For those absent on Wednesday (Valentine's Day!): Here is what you are missing -

Homework for Friday: Do this task: Click Here
STAR test. Please see me about when to reschedule asap!
Reading Romeo and Juliet

Link to Unit 9 Vocab Words: Click Here
BLIZZARD BAG ASSIGNMENT: Find an image of an artwork (painting, drawing, photograph, sculpture...or take an "artsy" photograph of something unexpected...maybe a unique closeup of something ordinary, presented in a new way... - pick something good). Include it in a document and craft a poem inspired by it in some way. Go beyond literal. Do more than simple description. Try your hand at a rhyme scheme and/or a set syllable count. Be playful with your language. Do not end-stop all your lines and make sure the poem is substantive (no short nubbins!).

BRING A PRINTED COPY TO CLASS. IT MUST BE PRINTED BEFORE CLASS STARTS. AND SHARE THE DOCUMENT WITH ME ONLINE.

Friday's Homework (due Monday, February 5th): Write a poem that uses the following elements:
  1. 8 lines log (but 14 would be great if you are good at this!)
  2. 10 syllables per line (do your best)
  3. A rhyme pattern of your choice, but ABAB CDCD is standard.
  4. Try to put in a volta, or turning point.
  5. Write about something that interests you. Use figurative language, description, sensory details, etc. 
Poetry Out Loud - PA participates in a national competition in the recitation of poetry. Students compete first at the school level and must memorize, and recite/perform two poems from the Poetry Out Loud website. The competition is held in the PA library in the evening, is a lot of fun, and comes with some SERIOUS PRIZES (we are talking thousands and thousands of dollars in college scholarships!). Anyone who is interested should check out the website - and YouTube past competitors - see me and/or Ms. Gelinas, and pick two poems to memorize. 

Extra Credit will be awarded to all of those who participate in the evening competition.

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January 31: Here is the link to a short video that  we watched in class today. If you were absent, watch this - it sums up the basics of what we learned about: Click Here

Here is a copy of the handouts from class: Click Here

Here is a copy of some slides that have videos of what the "other Englishes" sound like when spoken: Click Here

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If you were absent today (Friday, the 26th) you need to finish reading the book and bring it with you to turn in on Monday!



Periods 6 and 8: complete the blizzard bag assignment listed on our blizzard page on this site.  It is due, for credit, and without exception, tomorrow. Your stats do get recorded and reported! Be creative. Don't forget that your final reflection is due tomorrow!!! This is your final writing grade and will have significant impact on your final average! 

Friday's Tasks and End of Term Reminders:

Your Short Story 2 paragraph essay is due by tomorrow morning (that means prior to 6am).

Your final 5 Paragraph Self-Reflection is due at the start of class on Wednesday of next week (that is the 17th).

Be mindful of reviewing your vocabulary, with a focus on Units 1, 3, 5, and 7.

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Monday's Homework (8 January): Read your assigned story before your socratic seminar. This will be a competency assessment so don't show up unprepared!

Here is a copy of "Lift Up Thine Eyes" and here is a copy of "EPICAC."

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Here is a sample Dialectical Journal (yours must be 30 entries, minimum; this example is longer): Click Here
Here is another one: Click Here

Be sure to do more than just paraphrase or restate/summarize what the quote says. Let it speak for itself. Your task is to evaluate it, point out literary elements, offer analysis, personal response, etc.

Copy of Original Handout - Click Here - THE 20 QUESTIONS IS NOT AN OPTION THIS TIME.
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Monday's Homework (18 December):  A complete Short Answer Response is due by 2:25pm on Thursday. This is a summative. Here is a copy of a sample. Here is a copy of the handout from class (ignore page 2).

Wednesday's Homework (13 December): Read the last page of Chapter 21 and then complete Chapter 22. Come prepared for a reading check.

Wednesday's Homework (7 December) for Monday: 

Greetings my lovely people. Our task for this very long weekend (for YOU...rawrg!) is to a) study your vocab for the test on Monday and b) do "something vocabby" to show me that you have thought about the words and their meanings. Be clever. Don't be boring.

Wednesday's Homework (29 November): Read the rest of Chapter 16.

Monday's Homework (27 November): Fill out your Socratic Seminar Preparation Sheet. Group 1 will hold the verbal portion of their conversation on WEDNESDAY and Group 2 will talk on FRIDAY.

Group Lists
Group 1 Preparation Sheet
Group 2 Preparation Sheet

Friday's Homework (17 November): Read Chapter 14. You do not need to do anything other than read it. Remember that you have a second book project due January 5th. You may either annotate or complete a dialectical journal.

Check out these great sample Sketchnotes!!! Click Here!


Wednesday's Homework (15 November): Do "something sketch-notey" for the new Unit 7 words for Friday.

Monday's Homework (13 November): By Wednesday, have finished reading Chapter 13 AND do "something ready."

Wednesday's Homework (8 November): Read Chapter 13 - Extra Credit if you "do something read-y" for that chapter, since we decided in Period 8 that you didn't have to do something other than read it (but do read it because we may have a little reading check!) and study for the vocabulary exam.

Here are some quizlets people made that can help you study!
https://quizlet.com/237329472/unit-5-flash-cards/
https://quizlet.com/240259206/vocab-unit-5-flash-cards/

Monday's Homework (6 November): No homework (OR, catch up in our book if you are behind....OR turn in your book project if you have not!).

Wednesday's Homework (1 November): Do "something vocabby" for the Unit 5 words :) Be sure that it's clear you understand the word and its meaning.

Wednesday's Homework (25 October): Read through Chapter 7 (so be done 7, but do not begin 8). Bring your independent book project/materials to class on Wednesday. You will have some time in class to work on this.

Monday's Homework (23 October): Bring your independent book project/materials to class on Wednesday. You will have some time in class to work on this.

Friday's Homework (20 October): Work on your book project. You have 1.5 weeks left!

Here is a digital copy of the book project options! - DUE NOVEMBER 1st!

Wednesday's Homework (18 October): Study vocabulary for the test on Friday and read/annotate Chapter 4.

Monday's Homework (16 October): Read and annotate Chapter 3. Study vocab and be mindful of the due date for your book project!

Wednesday's Homework (11 October): Come to class Friday with a full draft of your Short Answer Response. This is an important grade so be sure to do your absolute best!

Sample Short Answer Response - Click Here for Example

Monday's Homework (2 October): Finish your sketchnotes about the articles we read in class. Be thorough and creative!

Friday's Homework (29 September): Write a vocab sentence using each of the new Unit 3 words. Choose a theme/topic that you enjoy and have each sentence match the theme somehow (ex: all sentences are about spaghetti noodles or LaBron James or ring-tailed lemurs).

Work on your book project!
Wednesday's Homework: Finish reading "The Story of X". Work on your independent Book Project.

Friday's Homework (22 September): Create a 10 question quiz,  using our 8 vocab words (obviously you will repeat some words). Do not write the answers in. Use a variety of question types. We will be switching with a partner on Monday and taking someone else's test to practice.

Independent Book Project - Due November 1st.

Monday's Homework (18 September): Finish the  questions for "Mother To Son" that were handed out in class today. If you needed to turn in missing work - do that, too.

Friday's Homework (15 September): Read and annotate "Mother To Son." Also, plan to have an independent reading book before next Friday!

Wednesday's Homework (13 September 2017): Finish reading and annotating "A Retrieved Reformation." Be thorough in your approach. 

Monday's Homework (11 September 2017): Here are instructions for how to reset the default settings for Google Docs.



How to Adjust Default Font or Line Spacing in Google Docs
1. Create a new document or go into a current document with the formatting you want.
2. Drag your cursor through a couple of sentences that are set up the way you want them, with the font and line spacing you prefer.
3. Go to Format > Paragraph styles > Normal text.
4. Select "Update 'Normal text' to match."
5. Next, go to Format > Paragraph styles > Options.

6. Select "Save as my default styles."

Friday's Homework (8 September 2017): 

  1. Look at the 8 words from our vocabulary terms for Unit 1. I want you to “do something vocabby” that relates to those words. Do something you enjoy and be creative. All I am looking for is something that shows thought and effort towards those words and their meaning. You can do a cartoon, comic, sentences, a very short story using the words, a little poster, a poem, a digital “thingie” (highly technical term), artwork, plain old flashcards, a powerpoint, a google quiz...do anything that you think would be 1) moderately enjoyable for you and 2) helpful for you to learn the words. Extra handouts are on our classroom website...or just Google the definitions.
  2. Finish the rectangle visual we began in class.


Wednesday's Homework (6 September 2017): Revise and edit your summary to be as strong as possible. Use the guidelines given in class today to help. Your final summary should represent your best written work and is due Friday.

Friday's Homework (1 September 2017): Bring a final copy of your summary for the short story "Johanna." Be sure to follow MLA formatting guidelines and type your work. Use the handout about formatting to help refresh your memory. If you must handwrite, you must still follow the same rules and guidelines!



Wednesday's Homework (30 August 2017):

Index Card - Your task is to either:
1) write the truest single-sentence that you know. There is much room for interpretation here, but the goal is to come up with some original idea that is profoundly true to you. A random example for someone who likes the ocean may be something like: "A deep blue sea covered with a pale orange sky and a soft wind makes for the perfect moment."
2) or find an inspiring, motivating, or thought-provoking single sentence. The internet (and books, gasp) are full of words of wisdom.

Then, neatly write the sentence onto your index card and take care to consider adding some decoration, color, or art. These will be displayed on our classroom door (on the hallway side) so people will see them and hopefully be given something to think about. It should go without saying that these are school appropriate and demonstrate an Honors Level of care.


Welcome to  Gateway! This is your resource for announcements, assignments, extra handouts, and little fun tidbits along the way! Be sure to check for when there is a clickable link for accessing documents.

Prospectus
Competency Recording Chart

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Here is a digital copy of the revision form. Use this to submit revisions to your work. Staple the old, graded version and the new version to this form and resubmit.

Click Here.