Ruann Marshall

Journalism/Newspaper

2010-06-14T05:03:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the diligence of Monique and Brianna, the final issue of the paper is finished and will go to the printer on Monday. Hopefully, Mr. Walmsley will have mercy on us and be able to run the copies so that we can sell after finals on Wednesday and Thursday.

Monday will be "clean-up" day - deleting all old stories, photos, etc. from the computers, especially the HS305 drive. Cubbies need to be cleaned out and portfolios finalized.

Your final is on Wednesday. You have already turned in the Mr. Thomas stories for 1/2 of your grade. The other half will be your porfolios plus writing a story from notes in 30 minutes.

Freshman English

2010-06-14T05:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to your final week of ninth grade! I told you that high school would fly by - and this year certainly has. Monday will be your test on Romeo and Juliet. On Thursday and Friday, you were given your three review sheets for the final. After you finish the test on Monday, the rest of the time will be for quiet study. Your final exam schedule with me is as follows:
4th hour on Monday
5th hour on Tuesday
3rd and 6th on Wednesday
See you for two more days! Study well and get some good sleep!

Journalism/Newspaper May 24 - 28

2010-05-25T05:03:00.000-07:00

Wow, are we busy! Not a moment to spare - YOU are each responsible to finish with excellence any stories/ads/layouts that are due this week. This includes:

All $ and slips should not be turned in for the Crush bottle sales. Many of you went above and beyond - good job.

Mr. Thomas will be in for an interview on Monday. You were to have 10 prepared questions already done. Others will surely come to you as he talks. We will hold a "press conference" with him for the hour. That night for homework, you are to write the rough draft of your story about his retirement. On Tuesday during class, I will go over your questions, notes, and rough draft. Final stories will be written and turned in with previous assignments - this is 1/2 of your final grade.

On Wednesday the class will vote on which story is the best and it will be the one published in the final issue of the paper.

SENIORS: You will have the time scheduled for your final exam to FINISH your two-page layout. I fear that some of you are very behind with this - there will be no exceptions because there will be no chance of publication if these aren't complete. Not to mention, DEADLINE is part of this assignment.

OTHERS: everyone should be furiously typing to finish ads, stories, interviews as listed on the board. The "torch" has been passed, and you are responsible for the layout of the last issue. Dezire is willing to come in to help to clear up any problems/questions that might arise. Michael and Monique, this is mainly on your shoulders. Let's finish well and get ready to make next year an awesome one!

Freshman English: May 24 - 28

2010-05-25T04:55:00.000-07:00

This is a very important week in wrapping up To Kill A Mockingbird. We will read the last three chapters in assigned parts. Fluency and intonation will count! These pages are filled with emotion, answers to questions that have been posed throughout the book, and Boo Radley is coming out of the house!

We will finish our reading and discussion on Tuesday. At that time, I will quickly check over your two handouts - list of characters and theme/motif. Each of these will be used to write your one-page characterization essay as well as your essay on the theme of your choice. I will give you at least five theme choices. You will choose one and, using your quotes from the handout, write an essay describing the use and development of one of the themes. You will also be asked to apply it to society and/or your own life today. We have had some great discussions about the issues in this book - let's see you communicate your thoughts creatively in your writing as we wrap up this school year! Show us what you've got!

Wednesday and Thursday we will make a class "vocabulary book," using words I will take from the novel and magazines. This will show your understanding of the words and your creativity through art/pictures. Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Friday will be the multiple-choice test on the novel and an introduction to Romeo and Juliet. Bring your literature books!

Journalism/newspaper

2010-05-18T07:27:00.000-07:00

All should be working very diligently to complete articles and surveys for the May/June issue and the Senior Edition. All photos must be taken this week - NO exceptions.

CRUSH bottles have been delivered. We will be sorting by flavor and teacher for two days, then will deliver 6th hour on Thursday. Some of you have not completed selling your first bag. This is part of your grade, as you know, and we need your sales in order to print the paper and end the year in the black.

SENIORS: Your final is your two-page layout - both the design and all stories, photos, surveys, graphs, etc. You may turn any or all of this in for proofreading this week.

Freshman English

2010-05-18T07:19:00.000-07:00

We are well into the trial of Tom Robinson in To Kill a Mockingbird. Thanks to those of you who worked so well for the substitute while I was gone a few days last week. We continue this week with the following:

Monday: Read Chapter 21 with the focus of "baby steps" and what that means regarding the trial and racism in Maycomb County. Chapter 22 for homework.
Tuesday: Quiz on Chapter 21. Silently read Chapter 22 focusing on the theme of "walking in someone else's shoes." Fill in character chart and motif handout as you read. Homework: Rewrite the journal on "summer when I was 8" using the focus sentence that I highlighted.
Wednesday - Friday. We will complete the book and you will each write five discussion questions. Small group discussions. Charts made of character and theme to be hung in the classroom by your groups.
Test will be on Monday.
Short essay will be to write a characterization of one of the main characters.
Short essay on why it is a sin to kill a mockingbird and how that relates to us.
Think: Is there a Boo Radley in your life?