First, second, and seventh periods spent most of the class in the library. It was a fairly successful day: I was able to consult with individual students about their poetry projects.
Fourth period continued research. Some students might need to do additional research as homework.
Homework

First, second, and seventh periods: work on poetry portfolio.
Fourth period: read materials [...]

First and seventh periods finished up the poetry units with a look at imagery and a final poem.
Second period began a short unit on persuasive writing. First and seventh periods will start tomorrow.
Fourth period began a short writing project to wrap up To Kill a Mockingbird. We’ll begin researching materials for the comparison/contrast essay we’ll [...]

Everyone was thankful it’s Friday — including me.
Homework

First and seventh periods: complete ballad.
Second period period:

complete ballad;
complete month poem.

Fourth period:

finish To Kill a Mockingbird;
evaluate poetry project according to the rubric.

First, second, and seventh periods are still working on ballads. They’re finding it more challenging than they initially assumed: the rigors of structured poetry, with a set meter and rhyme scheme, can be daunting at first.
Fourth period went over the missionary circle chapter in To Kill a Mockingbird. We ended with one of my favorite [...]

First, second, and fourth periods began class by looking at the poetry project rubric. Afterward, we spent the period working on their ballads. With its strict structural demands, the ballad more of a challenge than they thought.
Additionally, second period is working to make sure their ballads have a proper metrical pattern. While we’re not using [...]

First, second, and seventh periods finished up the question of what a ballad is. We looked at a second ballad — “The Ballad of Birmingham” — and used with “Boots of Spanish Leather” to create a master list of ballad attributes. The fifth required poem in our poetry unit is a ballad. We began working [...]

First, second, and seventh began by adding a poem to the portfolio we’re creating. It was an effort to help the students understand a simple process of creating poems that involves brainstorming, organizing, and modifying to create sentences that can be shaped into a poem.
Afterward, the classes returned to the Bob Dylan ballad “Boots of [...]

First, second, and seventh periods began exploring ballads. We used Dylan’s “Boots of Spanish Leather” as a model ballad. Tomorrow, we’ll be finishing up with the attributes of a ballad.
Fourth period spent some time with an extended starter/bell-ringer that dealt with the use of quotation marks. We determined that more practice is definitely in order, [...]

First, second, and seventh periods worked on list poems. We used Shel Silverstein’s “Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout” and “Sick” as our model list poems.
Fourth period discussed bravery in the three chapters we read for today, as well as Atticus’ assertion that the use of racist language is “common” (as in “base”).
Homework

First, second, and seventh periods: [...]

First, second, and seventh periods looked at Georgia Douglas Johnson’s poem “Your World” as a model for the second poem in our poetry portfolio project.
Your world is as big as you make it.
I know, for I used to abide
In the narrowest nest in a corner,
My wings pressing close to my side.
But I sighted the distant [...]

Fourth period had a test on the parts of speech. They claim it was difficult; the results so far belie their claims.
First, second, and seventh periods all worked on their first poem for their poetry project portfolio. It was modeled on “Cat!”. As such, it was to include onomatopoeia and meter. (I added a few [...]

First and seventh periods worked on rhythm in poetry, using “Cat!” to discover the patterns that create meter.
Cat!
Atter her, atter her,
Sleeky flatterer,
Spitfire chatterer,
Scatter her, scatter her
Wuff!
Wuff!
Treat her rough!
Git her, git her,
Whiskery spitter!
Catch her, catch her,
Green-eyed scratcher!
Slathery
Slithery
Hisser,
Don’t miss her!
Run till you’re dithery,
Hithery
Thithery
Pfitts! pfitts!
How she spits!
Spitch! Spatch!
Can’t she scratch!
Scritching the bark
Of the sycamore-tree,
She’s reached her ark
And’s hissing [...]

First and second period worked on sound devices, focusing on the use of rhythm and onomatopoeia in a poem titled “Cat.”
Second period finished up the ballad selection and poetry unit. We discussed a bit the portfolio (which will be turned in 2 December).
Seventh period finished up the test on The Diary of Anne Frank (we [...]

First and seventh periods had an essay test on The Diary of Anne Frank. The question was assigned Friday:
Write a letter to a theater manager asking him or her to stage The Diary of Anne Frank for your community. To persuade the theater manager, follow these steps:

Connect the events in the play to current events [...]

First and seventh periods completed work on the Diary of Anne Frank. We went over homework and did some work to review the play individually and in small groups.
We will be having a test on Monday in first and seventh periods. It will be an open book essay test, and I have already shared the [...]