Friday, 29 October

Students listened to "The Tell-Tale Heart," a horror story by Edgar Allan Poe.

Class discussed how and why it was scary.

Students should have read ALL of Catcher in the Rye by Tuesday of next week.

Wednesday, 27 October

Today in class we paid particular attention to Holden and the Natural History Museum. In particular we recognized the quote on page 121 that shows clearly, that Holden does not want anything in the world to change.

Students turned in their homework about the childrens' songs.

Students worked in Psychologists groups to analyze what Holden's fear of change tells us about him.

HOMEWORK:
READING THOUGH THE END OF CHAPTER 22 (PAGE 174) FOR FRIDAY
FINISH THE BOOK FOR NEXT TUESDAY!!!!

Tuesday, 26 October

Today students met with a counselor to learn about and work on the Naviance Computer system.

Remember, yesterday's assignment is due tomorrow:

Homework:

On page 115 Holden tells the reader that he heard a boy on the street singing a song, "If a body catch a body coming through the rye." Holden say this made him happy. Write a paragraph on why this is important to Holden. (He has talked about music when he described the piano player, and he bought Phoebe a record.)

Students are to read Chapters 19-20 (through page 153 for next class).

On Tuesday, however students are to go to Computer Lab 145 for a presentation by counselors.

Monday, 25 October

EXTRA CREDIT * EXTRA CREDIT * EXTRA CREDIT

I said today in class that everyone should look on the blog. Turn in a piece of paper with your name and tomorrows date and period one on it and include the phrase: "The blog is useful," and you will earn five extra credit points.

Today students presented their completed extension assignments from last week (today's homework).

Students took notes on interesting ideas, and quotes that seemed relevant to answer their psychologists questions.

Students NOT present, or who did not have a material to present, must come to conference period Monday to make up their presentation.

Homework:

On page 115 Holden tells the reader that he heard a boy on the street singing a song, "If a body catch a body coming through the rye." Holden say this made him happy. Write a paragraph on why this is important to Holden. (He has talked about music when he described the piano player, and he bought Phoebe a record.)

Students are to read Chapters 19-20 (through page 153 for next class).

On Tuesday, however students are to go to Computer Lab 145 for a presentation by counselors.

Friday, 22 October

There was a quiz in class today. Then students worked on this extensions assignment. Which is due on Monday.

Wednesday 20 October, 2010

See yesterday's post (below) for homework.

Today all juniors attended college workshops.

Monday- Tuesday, 18-19 October

On Monday, students shared their "Dear Abby" letters. We discussed the insights that the letters showed about Holden.

On Tuesday, we reviewed journal entries on lying and hypocrisy (being hypocritical).

There are journal entries due with the next chapter (17)
1) Why do you think Holden is confessing of this to Sally? (page 130)
2) Is your idea of the perfect future and / or "the one" closer to Holden's or Sally's? Explain what you want.

Next class will be on Friday due to the Junior College Activities on Wednesday.

Friday, 15 October

New Reading Deadlines:

Read through the end of Chapter 15 for Monday, 18 October

Read through the end of Chapter 17 for Wednesday, 20 October

Today's assignment was to write a response to Holden's "Dear Abby" letter:

Advice for Holden

Directions: Read the “Dear Abby” letter Holden has written. As Abby, pen a response to Holden. You want to be specific, realistic (consider 1950’s time period,) and no-nonsense. Your reply letter should include:

-An addressee (Dear….)

-The date

-A closing and signature

-Approximately 3-4 paragraphs

Dear Abby,

I can’t seem to do anything right these days. I just got expelled from school--and this has been the 3^rd school I’ve been in during my years in high school. I decided to just leave school right away instead of waiting for winter vacation to officially start, and I’m currently hiding out for a few days in New York.

While my school problems are certainly bothering me a lot, I also seem to be very confused where girls are concerned. A girl I had a crush on for years just went out with my roommate who is a very sexy bastard, and I felt that something may have happened between them. I just can’t seem to get it together with her.

Then I was in this club with these three girls, and they treated me awful-they were ignoring everything I said and then let me pick up the check for all three of them! Girls really drive me crazy. Abby, what can I do to start solving some of my problems with girls and school?

Signed,

ALL REVVED UP WITH NO PLACE TO GO

Thursday, 14 October, 2010

In class we looked at paragraphs students had written on Monday. These paragraphs were to give a preliminary diagnosis of what is wrong with Holden. The paragraphs should have used two quotes to support the diagnosis.

Students also took notes on how a well written paragraph should look and be written. Here is an example of what those notes should look like.

Monday, 11 October

Students turned in their paragraphs from last week.

The class discussed Chapter 9 in detail. We reached the conclusion that though Holden says that he is really "sexy" and that he understands sexual relations that he really doesn't get it. He is too immature.

Many students were left with the question -- why is he so childlike?

We also discussed the ducks in Central Park. What is Holden hunting is an important question we are thinking about.

Wednesday, 6 October

Class today began with the all school assembly in which students and staff were asked, "How can we do better for ourselves as a school community, and as the community of Portland."

After the assembly we wrote privately about our reactions; few people wished to share their thoughts.

Returning to our study of Catcher in the Rye, students worked in their Psychologists Expert Groups to try to understand how the questions that they are focusing on relate, and how understanding those relationships might help us understand Holden.

Students then began working on their "Preliminary Report on What's Wrong with Holden? Why is Holden NOT being successful?" A one to three paragraph report is due on Monday. The report should use evidence from the text (at least two quotes).

We reviewed Cause & Effect words that would be useful

Cause words include: because of; the reason for; on account of; bring about; _______ consequently; ________ is created by;

Effect words include: out come; finally ; the result is; therefore; hence; then....

HOMEWORK:

CHAPTER 10 is due on Monday

The Preliminary Report is also due on Monday

Chpater 11 is due on Tuesday