Week of December 13, Critical Lens Quotes

Today we are going to think about critical lens quotes and practice for the regents.

Read the quotes below. Pick two and in google docs, please do the following:

1. What does it mean? Paraphrase it in your own words?
2. Do you agree or disagree and why?
3. What literature have we read this semester could prove it? Explain the connection. One must be the Catcher in the Rye.
4. Post your answers to our blog.
5. Read two other students posts and write a response about what you learned from them.

• “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” Albert Einstein
• “We do not see things as they are, we see them as we are.” Anais Nin
• “Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”

• “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” Maya Angelou
• “...there are two types of people in the world: those who prefer to be sad among others, and those who prefer to be sad alone.”― Nicole Krauss, The History of Love

Week of December 5 , Explore NYC with Holden

Hi everyone,

This week we will search the internet to visit places in NY that Holden has visited so far. Please click on the links below to visit these places on the internet.

• Grand Central Station
• The American Museum of Natural History
• Central Park and the lagoon at Central Park South
• Radio City Music Hall
• The Ice Skating Rink at Rockefeller Center

Now pick one place and answer the questions below in Google Docs about that place.

1. When was this place created?
2. Who built or designed it?
3. How big is it? How many floors does it have? How many people can fit inside?
4. How is it used today? Who uses or visits it? Why?
5. Find pictures of this place from today. Describe what it looks like.
6. How was this place used in the 1950's? Did it look different then? How?
7. Find pictures of this place from the 1950's. Describe what it looked like then.
8. Write five interesting facts about this place.
9. Why does Holden go to this place? In which chapter and scene is it mentioned in the novel?
10. If you were planning a trip to this place this weekend with your friends or family, what would you do there? Is there anything special happening there this weekend?

Now post your responses to the comments section of our blog.

Finally, check out this great map: Walking in Holden's Footsteps

Week of November 28, Other points of view

Today we are going to imagine how other characters in the story think and feel.

In Google Docs, please do the following:

1. Think of a time that you wanted to do something but couldn’t or didn’t. Describe the situation and how you felt.

2. Holden takes a cab to the club Ernie's in Chapter 12. He has many experiences there where he doesn't do or say what he is thinking and feeling. Pick one of the characters or objects below, and write what Holden wanted to do or say to this person, but didn’t. Describe the situation, how he felt, and why he didn't do what he wanted to do.

• Horowitz’ the cab driver (81-83)
• Ernie the piano player’s (83-84)
• The funny looking guy or girl (85)
• Lillian Simmons (86-87)
• The navy guy, Commander Blop (86-87)

3. Now pick one person from the list above, and write from his/her point of view. Describe what he/she thinks/feels about Holden or about his/her life. You will have to make an inference about this, because we only read from Holden's point of view.

4. When you are finished, post your answer to our blog.

5. Then read two other posts and write what you liked and what you learned from them.

Week of November 13, POV writing

Hi everyone,

Today we are going to use the blog to write from the point of view of Holden and Mr. Spencer.

In google docs, please do the following:

Imagine you are Mr. Spencer. Write a letter to Holden and tell him about what you think and feel about his visit to you. Your letter should be at least 3 paragraphs long.

Paragraph 1 - thank him for coming and tell him what it meant to you to see him

Paragraph 2 - tell him your feelings about the visit

Paragraph 3 - give him advice for his future

Then post your letter to our blog.

After, read another student's letter and write back to this letter, as if you are Holden.

Week of October 31, 2011, Catcher in the Rye webquest

Hi everyone,

Today we are going to do a webquest to help us get ready to read our new novel, The Catcher in the Rye.

Please copy and paste the document below into Google Docs, and use the internet to find answers to the questions. Then post your responses to the comments page of our blog:

1. Who wrote The Catcher in the Rye?

2. Find out three interesting facts about the author’s life. Write them in your own words here.

a.

b.

c.

3. What year was The Catcher in the Rye published?

4. Who was the president of the United States in this year?

5. List two things that were going on in the world politically at this time.

a.

b.

6. List two songs that were popular in this year. What musical style was popular at this time?

a.

b.

c. Musical style:

7. What kinds of clothes were in fashion for women during this decade? For men? How was fashion then different from the clothes we wear today?

a. Women:

b. Men:

c. Differences:

8. List three slang words that teenagers used during this decade and what they mean.

a.

b.

c.

9. What was the average income for a family in the United States in this year?

10. The main character of the novel, Holden Caulfield, studies in a different kind of school than Newcomers High School. What kind of school does he attend? How is it different from Newcomers High School?

a. kind of school --

b. differences from NCHS --

11. Can you find an advertisement or website online for the kind of school Holden attended? Write the name of the school and the website.

12. Some readers think that Holden Caulfield is mentally ill. Find a definition or explanation of the following mental illnesses or problems, and try to write them in your own words.

a. depression --

b. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder -

c. grieving and loss (5 stages) --

13. When The Catcher in the Rye was published, there was some controversy about it. Why were some people upset about this book? What did they do as a response? Why?

14. Can you find a book review online of The Catcher in the Rye from the year it was published? What does it say?

15. Can you find a more recent book review online of The Catcher in the Rye? What does it say?

Week of October 24, "Teenage Wasteland"

Hi everyone,

This week we will be writing dialogues between characters in "Teenage Wasteland".

Please work with your partner to create a dialogue between two characters below, based on the situation described:

1. You’re Donny, talking to your mother about what is happening to you.
2. You’re Amanda, telling your father how you feel about your own life.
3. Amanda talking to Donny about her situation.
4. Donny talking to Amanda about his situation.
5. Donny talking to Cal about his parents.
6. Donny talking to a friend at school about what is really going on at Cal's.
7. Argument between Daisy and Matt over whose fault it is that Donny is gone, and how to handle things.
8. Donny, 3 years later, contacting his mother. Where is he now?

Write the dialogue in Google Docs. Copy and paste it to our blog as a comment, and use the format below:

Names:______________________________________

Situation:_____________________________________________

Dialogue: (where it says "character", please insert your character's name)

Character 1: Ask a question (based on the situation)

Character 2: Give an angry response

Character 1: Apologize and explain

Character 2: continue...

Week of October 17, grade evaluations

Hi everyone,

Today we will reflect on the work we've done this marking period. Please answer the questions below in Google Docs, then post your responses in the comments section below.

1. What did you enjoy about class this marking period? Why? Please refer to specific activities, projects, workshops, etc
2. What didn't you enjoy and why? Please be specific.
3. Were there any activities/projects/topics that we didn't cover that you want us to cover? Which ones
4. What can I do to make the class better for you (aside from no homework J )? Please be specific.
5. Has your English improved since the class began? If yes, how? If no, why not? Please think carefully about this.
6. When and where do you usually do your homework?
7. Do you find it difficult to do your homework? Why?
8. How much time do you spend looking at your class notes each week?
9. What can you do to improve your class participation?
10. How do you study for tests and quizzes?
11. Do you feel that the grade you are getting right now is the best you can do? Why?
12. What strategies will you use to get a better grade next marking period?