First and second periods were taken up with the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS).
Fourth period discussed three topics in R&J, two of which have been running through the whole play: fate and dreams. We decided on a project proposal that will not take up significant amounts of class time. We agreed on a few [...]

First and seventh periods completed tests on their Bluford books. Next week we’ll be using their essay responses to look at the PASS rubric and use of detail.
Second period determined their groups and scenes for the major project for Much Ado About Nothing.
Fourth period completed III.i in class. We’ll be having the quiz on act two [...]

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 [...]

First and seventh periods began a slow overview of the eight parts of speech, beginning with nouns today. We’ve neglected grammar this year, and now we’re going to remedy that. We’re continuing with the literature circles tomorrow.
Second period went over act three from Much Ado About Nothing. We’ll finish the play by the end of [...]

First and seventh periods continued with the Bluford literature circles. Because of less-than-stellar performance Friday, seventh period continued the project by working alone.
Second period is almost done with the second act of Much Ado About Nothing.
Fourth period began the secene from R&J: act 2, scene 2 — the balcony scene. We’ll finish up Wednesday by [...]

Advancing yesterday’s improvement: first and seventh period were to complete the first unit for their literature circles. While most students in first period completed the work, many in seventh period chose to spend their class time engaging in less productive activities. Therefore, the majority of seventh period will take a break from the literature circle [...]

First and seventh periods are still working on literature circles. We’re about to finish the first group of chapters and activities. We’ll be focusing on determining a text’s main idea as we work.
Second period continued with Much Ado About Nothing. We began the second act today, though we didn’t quite finish it. We also went [...]

Two of the four classes are now working on Shakespeare: second period (Much Ado About Nothing) and fourth period (Romeo and Juliet).
Second period finished up act I.
I also added a new assignment to second period’s plate: journals. The requirements:

Write daily.
Write about “Why” questions: Don’t simply write, “I went to school and had a math test. [...]

In fourth period, we worked on the famous Queen Mab passage:

ROMEO
I dream’d a dream to-night.
MERCUTIO
And so did I.
ROMEO
Well, what was yours?
MERCUTIO
That dreamers often lie.
ROMEO
In bed asleep, while they do dream things true.
MERCUTIO
O, then, I see Queen Mab hath been with you.
She is the fairies’ [...]

First and seventh periods selected their books for the literature circle. We’ll be working on books from the Bluford Series:

Blood is Thicker

Brothers in Arms
The Fallen

Shattered
Someone to Love Me
Until We Meet Again

Tomorrow, the groups will be deciding how to pace their reading and the activities (discussion and writing) they’ll be doing.
Second period began a short unit [...]

First and seventh periods began working on their literature circles. We looked at the invididual roles they’ll be playing and brainstormed what a good discussion looks like.
Second period completed their peer evaluations of their persuasive essays. We’ll begin Much Ado About Nothing tomorrow.
Fourth period completed the first scene of Romeo and Juliet.
Homework

First and seventh periods: [...]

Fourth period began Romeo and Juliet, looking at the prologue in detail.
Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life;
Whole misadventured piteous overthrows
Do with [...]

First period worked in pairs to begin revising their persuasive essays (rubric available here). We’ll finish that up tomorrow.
Second period looked at persuasive techniques at use in editorials. We’ll be revising their papers tomorrow and turning them in Friday.
Fourth period began a long unit on Romeo and Juliet. We started by talking about our assumptions [...]

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First period was able to go back to the computer lab to work on the Much Ado About Nothing projects. Additionally, some students should be finishing up their final drafts for the film review. It will count as late work, but that’s better than nothing.
Second period completed their practice with the MLA citation format. The [...]

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First and second period didn’t meet because we were having the ELA pass test. Students later said it went fairly well.
Fourth and sixth periods had the first take of their Much Ado About Nothing scenes. We filmed the first take and will do one more day of filming. I’ll be using those takes to give [...]