Tag Archives: pronouns

Pronouns and Procedures

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First and sixth periods continued with procedural work. They also set their goals for the quarter.

Second and fourth periods finished going over pronouns, including the ever-tricky indefinite variety.

Homework
  • First and sixth periods: none.
  • Second and fourth periods:
    • Download this PDF of a paragraph from a New York Times article. Look at the following paragraph from an article in the New York Times. (The original is here.)
    • Within the article, find
      • at least three different kinds of pronouns and circle them (be prepared to identify the type as well);
      • at least five different nouns, including at least one compound noun and one noun that could  be an adjective in another situation;
      • at least five different adjectives, including:
        • one that, in a different sentence, could be a pronoun and
        • one that, in a different context, could be an adjective.

Reteaching, Moving Forward, Beginning Bias

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Second and sixth periods had a bit of reteaching. (We looked at some of the ways we can determine a word’s part of speech.) We’re done with nouns, pronouns, and adjectives now, though, and we’ll move on to verbs tomorrow. We’ll finish up the whole parts of speech unit by the end of next week.

First period finished up verbs. Those linking verbs can be tricky, but I think we’ve got them down.

Fourth period went over yesterday’s test, then we began the new unit on bias and propaganda.

Homework
  • First, second, and sixth: none.
  • Fourth period: complete the lesson on bias (and take notes).

Test, More Review, And Linking

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First period began linking verbs. They’re tricky, so we’re taking our time.

Second and sixth periods worked on a review of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives. It was something of an informal assessment to determine if we need any re-teaching.

Fourth period had their parts of speech test. The word is, it was a hard test.

Homework
  • First, second, and sixth periods: none.
  • Fourth period: none (except for the weekly writing assignment).
    (I know I said you’d have homework, but come on — after a big test? It can wait a day.)

Pronouns, Adjectives, and Covert Activities

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Grammatical Person / Pronouns - third person s...
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All classes continued the parts of speech unit. We’re right on schedule in most classes; second and sixth periods might begin moving well ahead of schedule.

First period looked at adjectives. In particular, we explored the way some words traditionally thought of as other parts of speech can serve as adjectives.

Second and sixth periods went over pronouns. We didn’t go into great detail about the different types. I pointed out personal pronouns, but when we covered demonstrative, interrogative, and relative pronouns, I simply listed them as “other pronouns.” It’s not necessary at this point to be able to differentiate the types.

Fourth period worked on a general review of parts of speech. We’ll be having a test on them Friday.

Homework

Nouns and Assorted Parts of Speech

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First period completed pronouns, looking at how some words usually thought to be pronouns (indefinite and demonstrative) can also be adjectives depending on the context.

Second and sixth periods went through a super-quick review of nouns.

Fourth period completed the parts of speech review.

Homework
  • First and sixth periods: none.
  • Second period: answer the EQ (What are compound nouns?).
  • Fourth period:

SLANTS, Seat Signals, and Pronouns

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Second and sixth periods worked on SLANTS, lining up and getting out the door (a big time waster as we go to the library and other destinations), and finished up the note-taking exercise with materials.

First period did all of what second and sixth periods did, but they also worked on seat signals and looked at the class website.

Fourth period went over pronouns. It took a little longer than I expected. We’ll try to go at a much faster pace tomorrow.

Homework
  • First, second, and sixth periods: none.
  • Fourth period: review for a possible quiz on today’s and yesterday’s material.

Tests and More PASS Practice

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First, second, and seventh periods all had a test on nouns, pronouns, and adjectives. We spent the remainder of the time going over examples of PASS writing test responses, evaluating and discussing the individual essays’ strengths and weaknesses.

Fourth period took the final quiz on Romeo and Juliet and we continued watching the film version. We’ll be starting tomorrow with the balcony scene and finishing up Wednesday.

Homework
  • All classes: journal.

ITBS II

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First and second periods were taken up with the ITBS. Our team switched second and fourth period, so second period met during the fourth period slot. We did the second part of our parts of speech review (pronouns).

Seventh period completed work on the addition of specific details to our writing. We also did a quick review of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives.

Homework
  • All classes: journal.
  • Fourth period: complete Romeo and Juliet.

Two Plays and Some Pronouns

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First period finished up pronouns. We went through the final groups very quickly: my goal is only to have them be able to recognize them in sentences, not necessarily to identify the type of pronouns.

Seventh period is about 20 minute behind first period.

Second period began watching Much Ado About Nothing and taking notes for the film review. We’ll finish it up tomorrow and Friday.

Fourth period finished act three. We’ll have a quiz Tuesday and spend some time tomorrow reviewing.

Homework
  • First, second, and seventh periods: journal.
  • Fourth period: review act three to determine which passages we discussed in depth and might, therefore, appear on the quiz.

Pronouns, Reviews, and A Boy on the Floor

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First and seventh periods worked on reflexive and intensive pronouns. First period completed everything; seventh period needs to work on practice exercises.

Additionally, first and seventh periods were assigned journals. First, second, and seventh periods are now working on identical journal assignments. The requirements are simple:

  1. Write daily.
  2. Write deeply (always ask “Why” and go a little deeper than “I had a test in math today. I think I failed.”)
  3. Avoid slang.

There are no length guidelines. It’s a question of quality over quantity.

Second period looked at how to write a review. They’ll be writing a review of Much Ado About Nothing after they watch it.

Fourth period went over the study guide for III.i through III.iii. We finished up watching III.iv. I’ve instructed students to go back and read the portions of the play we didn’t act out in class.

Homework
  • First and second period: journal entries.
  • Second period:
    • journal entries;
    • prepare for presentations (tomorrow).
  • Fourth:
    • read sample answer;
    • review III.i through III.iv;
    • answer discussion questions.

Personal Pronouns and Shakespeare

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Fourth period began working on tableau vivants (Wikipedia) for act three, scene one. We’ll be presenting them tomorrow. We have heavy homework coming up this weekend, though: three scenes from act three (two, three, and four).

First and seventh periods continued with the parts of speech review, going over personal pronouns today.

Second period finished Much Ado About Nothing and began dividing up  scenes for the major project.

Homework
  • First and seventh period: study for test on Bluford books tomorrow.
  • Second: none.
  • Fourth: continue planning tableau vivant.

Pronouns and General Stores

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Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou

First, second, and seventh periods began the selection from Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. We read about Maya’s grandmother’s general store and how it was like a private fun park for Maya growing up. We closed the lesson writing about our own special places.

Fourth period finished up working on pronouns in our review of the parts of speech. We also discussed the journal project (three entries a week, each at least 300 words); I tried to impress upon them the simplicity of the assignment. Here is a sample entry.

Homework
  • First, second, and seventh periods: complete “My Special Place” topic.
  • Fourth period: draft/notes of the three examples students will use in the Lord of the Flies project (which will be due next Friday).

Personal Pronouns and Nouns

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First period worked on the use of specific nouns in writing — using things like “roast beef” instead of the more generic “meat.” It provides details to one’s writing, and details make for interesting writing.

Second period worked on some of the allusions presentations, then worked on QAR questions regarding I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

Fourth and sixth periods looked at personal pronouns in both the nominative and objective case and did some practice work.

Homework
  • First period:
    • complete the lists of specific verbs;
    • write a one-paragraph description of a childhood fear and change three general verbs to specific verbs;
    • prepare for selection test tomorrow.
  • Second period: finish questions for chapters 41-34.
  • Fourth and sixth periods: finish the practice handout we began in class.

Mood and Dialogue

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First period had a quick review of nominative and objective case personal pronounse.

Second period finished up the dialogues combining characters from Journey Home and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Some students took grammar handbooks for the self-study parts of speech review.

Fourth and sixth periods finished up reading the excerpt from An American Childhood. They also had a quiz on the vocabulary.

Homework
  • First period: page 144 (bottom).
  • Second period: read chapters 31-34.
  • Fourth and sixth periods: questions 6-9 on page 142.