Higher Class Tuesday 12th June 2012

Well done today on the thesaurus work.  A special well done to the girls who completed the task first!

Don't forget your two paragraphs from your time line is due tomorrow.  If you have one that you wish to remain personal you can give it to me before class. 

For the Friday homework you can use guardian.co.uk as a good source for your article.  Make sure you click on the 'Comment' tab.

See you all tomorrow.

S2 Persuasive Group Task

Let me start by congratulating you on working so hard today second years.  I was very impressed by your dedication and focus. 

I had a look through all your Post-Its at lunch and found myself pleasantly surprised by the range of ideas.  After long and drawn out process of consideration the chosen topic will be taken from the list below.

1. Being famous has a negative impact on children.
2. Children should get more pocket money.
3. Pupils should be given a greater say in what they learn.

We will be discussing all of these in class tomorrow but will focus more on one in the group task.  The main topic will remain a mystery until then...

P.S. Please could anyone checking this post leave a short comment so I can check it is working?

4.6 Tests

Good luck on your tests this week.  You started your Writing test today and have tomorrow to finish it.  Don't forget to develop character, plot and setting for creative pieces.  Personal writing should focus on reflection and feelings.  Those five minutes at the end to proof read are very important and can be the difference between General and Credit. 

On Friday you will sit your Credit Reading so lots of revision from your yellow booklets are a must.  I still have some sitting in the fourth year tray awaiting collection.

Best of luck!  I will be around all lunchtimes except for Monday for any last minute pointers.

Higher Class Catch Up

We had a busy couple of days in class so it is vital you check you have not missed anything.  This post will also be useful to the people who were in class to check you understood everything.

This document details the work you have missed.  It is your responsibility to complete it.  See me if you have any problems.  All the resources are at the front of the classroom.

Thursday 7^th June

·         Introduction of the core text. 

We looked at Stephen Fry’s letter to his younger self.  The lessons before the summer will be based around this so it is vital that you get a copy and do not allow your school bag to swallow it!

We looked at the reading strategy that you will use for all close reading texts.  You must collect a copy from someone who was in the class. This should be placed at the front of the close reading section of your folder for reference.

We then looked at key arguments in the text.  We talked about how these should be broad points that are repeated throughout the text.  You must identify three and for each point provide a quote and comment to back it up.

For personal writing each pupil began a timeline of their life.  They folded an A3 sheet in half and plotted any moments of their life onto it.

Resources needed: Letter

                                 Glossary

                                 Reading Strategy

                                  A3 plain paper

Homework: Key arguments from the letter

                     Timelines completed

                      Due Monday 11^th June

Friday 8^th June

·         The class did dictation at the start of the lesson for a grammar audit.  You will be required to come in on Thursday 14^th at 1:15 to complete this exercise.

The class created a timeline of Stephen Fry’s life from the letter.  We used this to talk about the difference between telling a story and reflecting.

We then looked at the reflection circles featuring Cinderella.  We matched up the inner circle and outer circle and discussed how you would change a poor plot based piece of writing into a clearly reflective piece that shows sophistication.

Resources needed: Cinderella sheet

Homework: Timeline of Stephen Fry’s life

                        Annotated Cinderella sheet

                        A quality newspaper article (from the comment or opinion section) relating to one of Cinderella’s wider issues.

                                See me for a deadline

Monday 11^th June

·         Introduction to Understanding questions

We applied the skills we learnt to the letter.

We completed questions from the text book.

Resources needed: Notes and textbook

Homework: See Me

4.6 Tuesday 6th June

Day two in the WW1 poetry unit and you heard about propoganda, the trenches and Mustard Gas.  You will be using this information and the poetic terms we looked at to begin annotating 'Dulce et Decorum est' tomorrow.  Don't forget all the shocking facts you been hearing because they will help you understand the poem.

Tuesday 6th June S3

Today was your first lesson in the National 4 course.  We discussed the high expectations I have from you and the strategies you can use to meet these expectations.  We also talked about beginning to think about what you want to do for your project after the summer.  Don't forget to pick something that interests you but also challenges you.  I am looking forward to experiencing this new course alongside you.

4.6

Now you are in fourth year the focus is on pushing on to Standard Grade.  We are about to start a critical essay on WW1 poetry.

Today we looked at a review of the poetic terminology you need to do and started to look at the background to WW1.  Tomorrow we will carry on looking at the historical facts you need to know before we start to look at the poem.

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Welcome to S2

Welcome to Second Year English!

In the lesson today we discussed what to expect from your new class and the structure of lessons (don't forget to have your book with you every lesson).  We also talked about how your jotter would now be used as evidence for assessment so remember it must be kept neat and all work must be done to the best of your ability.  I have put your tray on the counter near the fire exit so make sure you take responsibility for putting your work there every lesson.  You were also given your expectation letter and that should be signed and brought back by 12th June.

After all that boring admin we moved on to the exciting world of persuasive language.  In class today we covered exaggeration, repetition and use of influential groups.  Don't forget to try out your new skills.