room117

Below is a link to what we did in class each day, as well as what to do if you missed class and what homework you have for next class.  Use it to keep up to date on all that happens in room 107!

 Click here.

I know we already took one survey (IRP), but here are a few more I'd like you to take.

The first is on the parts of speech - we'll use this to figure out where to start and what to focus on during English Mechanics.

Fill it out here.

The second is similar to the IRP survey you did earlier, but the English department needs you to fill this out so that we can have data on the whole school. So, please take a minute or 2 to fill it out.

Click here to fill out the reading survey.

Ok - one more thing to fill out. It isn't a survey, per se, but is a form for your IRP goals for this quarter.

Click here for the IRP goals form.

Thanks!! - - Mr. M

Here he is - John Steinbeck, the man who wrote Of Mice and Men, the book we'll read in class. Steinbeck also wrote many other very famous books, some of which we'll discuss today as we learn more about Steinbeck and his writing.

Before we start reading Of Mice and Men, we're going to learn a little bit about the author, John Steinbeck, and about the important "stuff" that the book contains. In your groups, you are going to each research a little piece of the overall Of Mice and Men puzzle and then share this with the rest of the class. You, in essence, are going to teach each other for a bit. Below, you will find links and directions that correspond with your group number. For example, group #1 is to click on the Steinbeck link and research a little bit about his life.

Group #1 - Your job is to tell the class a little about the man who wrote Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck. You need to be able to direct the class in taking notes on the following information regarding Steinbeck: when and where he was born, his education, some of his popular books, any awards he won, and when and how he died. The following links will help you do this:

Wikipedia article on Steinbeck.

Nobel prize biography.

Article detailing Steinbeck's death.

Group #2 - Your job is to tell the class about the setting of the book, both the location and the time period. You need to be able to direct the class in taking notes on where the book took place, the time period, and the important things that were happening during this time period that might impact the book. The following links will help you do this:

Wikipedia article on Salinas Valley.

What was happening during the time period the book is set in?

Info about why times were tough for workers during this time period.

Group #3 - Your job is to tell the class more about migrant workers, the job that the main characters of the book, George and Lennie, have. You will need to be able to lead the class in taking notes on what a migrant worker is, why this lifestyle might be tough, and what role migrant workers play in today's society. The following links will help you do this:

What is a migrant worker?

Why was life tough for them (look in the first 2 paragraphs)?

What about migrant workers in today's society (look towards the end)?

Group #4 - Your job is to tell the class about some various interesting stuff. You will need to be able to direct the class in taking notes on what the title is from and what it might mean, what Lennie's disability means, and how many pencils Steinbeck used when writing his books.

What is the title from and what might it mean (look at the end)?

What is Lennie's disability?

How will his disability affect him?

How many pencils did Steinbeck use while writing?

When you are done filling out your "Note-guides" sheet, please let me know so that I can make sure you have the correct info. We wouldn't want you to be teaching your classmates the wrong information!

Before we start reading Of Mice and Men, we're going to learn a little bit about the author, John Steinbeck, and about the important "stuff" that the book contains. In your groups, you are going to each research a little piece of the overall Of Mice and Men puzzle and then share this with the rest of the class. You, in essence, are going to teach each other for a bit. Below, you will find links and directions that correspond with your group number. For example, group #1 is to click on the Steinbeck link and research a little bit about his life.

Group #1 - Your job is to tell the class a little about the man who wrote Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck. You need to be able to direct the class in taking notes on the following information regarding Steinbeck: when and where he was born, his education, some of his popular books, any awards he won, and when and how he died. The following links will help you do this:

Wikipedia article on Steinbeck.

Nobel prize biography.

Article detailing Steinbeck's death.

You will also need to discuss your answer to this question with the class: Go to the following link: Controversy - and look under "reception."  Do you think banning a book serves a purpose, or does it just get people more interested in reading it?

Group #2 - Your job is to tell the class about the setting of the book, both the location and the time period. You need to be able to direct the class in taking notes on where the book took place, the time period, and the important things that were happening during this time period that might impact the book. The following links will help you do this:

Wikipedia article on Salinas Valley.

What was happening during the time period the book is set in?

Info about why times were tough for workers during this time period.

You will also need to discuss your answer to this question with the class: Why is it important to know that Steinbeck grew up in Salinas Valley? How do you think this will impact the book?

Group #3 - Your job is to tell the class more about migrant workers, the job that the main characters of the book, George and Lennie, have. You will need to be able to lead the class in taking notes on what a migrant worker is, why this lifestyle might be tough, and what role migrant workers play in today's society. The following links will help you do this:

What is a migrant worker?

Why was life tough for them (look in the first 2 paragraphs)?

What about migrant workers in today's society (look towards the end)?

You will also need to discuss your answer to this question with the class: Make an inference - what type of life do you think George and Lennie are going to lead in the book? Money, ease of life, etc... Why do you think this?

Group #4 - Your job is to tell the class about some various interesting stuff. You will need to be able to direct the class in taking notes on what the title is from and what it might mean, what Lennie's disability means, and how many pencils Steinbeck used when writing his books.

What is the title from (look towards the end)?

What is Lennie's disability?

How will his disability affect him?

How many pencils did Steinbeck use while writing?

You will also need to discuss your answer to this question with the class: Read over the text the title is taken from - what are some possible meanings of this title?

When you are done filling out your "Note-guides" sheet, please let me know so that I can make sure you have the correct info. We wouldn't want you to be teaching your classmates the wrong information!