Vacation is here!

Happy Holidays!

Congratulations, Stephen - our Poetry Out Loud Class Competition Winner!
We'll be there to root you on in the Jenkins Auditorium Period 5 on Wednesday, January 4!

Vacation Homework:
- Independent Reading / Blogs are due Friday 1/13. However, when we get back we will be picking up the pace once again to begin our next unit, so I highly recommend finishing your I.R. over vacation.

Have a fun and safe vacation.
See you next year!

Weekly Agenda: 12/12 - 12/16

Monday 12/12 - Late Entry (3, 4, 5, 6)
- Fahrenheit 451 Socratic Seminar
Homework: Memorize the first 5 lines of your P.O.L. poem. Continue to work on I.R. / blog.

Tuesday 12/13 - Day 3
- Poetry Out Loud Practice
- Scoring Recitations (video clips)
Homework: Prepare for in-class essay on Fahrenheit 451 & Theme. Memorize the next 5 lines (10 total) of your P.O.L. poem for Thursday. Continue to work on I.R. / blog. Bring I.R. book.

Wednesday 12/14 - Day 2
- In-Class Essay Exam
Homework: First 10 lines of P.O.L. poem must be memorized by tomorrow. Continue to work on I.R. / blog.

Thursday 12/15 - Day 1
- Watch movie
Homework: Poetry Out Loud, I.R./blog

Friday 12/16 - Day 7
- Finish movie
Homework: P.O.L. poem must be ready to go! Our practice class competition is on Tuesday. The actual class competition is on Wednesday. Also, don't forget about your weekly I.R. blog grade.

Weekly Agenda: 12/5 - 12/9

Monday 12/5 - Early Release (3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

- Fahrenheit 451 Part 2 - "The Seive & the Sand" Quiz

- "Quality of information, leisure to digest it, and the right to carry out actions based on what we learn from the interaction of the first two."

Homework: Independent Reading / Blogging

Fahrenheit 451 Part 3 "Burning Bright" (finish the book) due Friday

Keep looking for a P.O.L. poem

Tuesday 12/6 - Day 7

- Computer Lab / Poetry Out Loud selections

Homework: Annotate poem and complete TP-CASTT due Thursday.

Fahrenheit 451 Part 3 "Burning Bright" (finish the book) due Friday.

Don't forget about Independent Reading / Blogging!

Wednesday 12/7 - Day 6

no class

Thursday 12/8 - Day 5

- Poetry Out Loud - tone mapping

Homework: Fahrenheit 451 Part 3 "Burning Bright" (finish the book) due tomorrow.

Don't forget about Independent Reading / Blogging!

Friday 12/9 - Day 4

- Fahrenheit 451 Part 3 "Burning Bright" Quiz

- Read & Discuss Coda

Homework: Prepare for Socratic Seminar on Fahrenheit 451.

Work on I.R./Blogging. I will give you a homework grade for a post this week (12/5 - 12/10)

Practice P.O.L. poem!

Weekly Agenda: 11/28 - 12/2

Monday 11/28 - Early Release (6, 7, 1, 2, 3)
no class

Tuesday 11/29 - Day 5
- What do we know about society in Fahrenheit 451?
- How did it get to be this way?
Homework: Fahrenheit 451 Part 1 Open Response

Wednesday 11/30 - Day 4
- Tracing themes, motifs and symbols
Homework: Bring in a news story (no older than 2010) about your assigned issue:
Work on I.R./blogging! Check out P.O.L. options.

Thursday 12/1 - Day 3
- Discuss articles
Homework: Fahrenheit 451 Part 2 "The Seive and the Sand" due Monday 12/5
Bring your Independent Reading book to class tomorrow. You will have time to read.

Friday 12/2 - Day 2
- Independent Reading
- "Burning a Book" TPCASTT
- Poetry Out Loud information
Homework: Fahrenheit 451 Part 2 "The Seive and the Sand" due Monday.
Work on I.R./blogging! I will give you a homework grade for a post for this week (11/28 - 12/4).
Check out Poetry Out Loud options.

A Thanksgiving Message

Happy Thanksgiving!

This is my favorite holiday of the year. I love it for the simple things - family, food, and laughter - as well as for the opportunity the holiday presents for reflecting on the things for which we are most grateful.

As you enjoy the break from school, I hope you, too, will take some time to give thanks, in any way that is meaningful to you.

As part of this, I invite you to participate in StoryCorps' National Day of Listening, which takes place on Friday, November 25 - the day after Thanksgiving.

This year, StoryCorps is asking everyone to take a few minutes to say thanks to a very special person: their favorite teacher. The following information is from the organization's website:

Whether posting a memory to Facebook (@storycorps), thanking them on Twitter (@storycorps, #thankateacher), taping a tribute on YouTube or sending a 'thank you' card, the 2011 National Day of Listening will send a powerful and necessary message to teachers across the nation: they matter, and we as a nation are grateful for the impact they have on our lives.

If you take the time to thank a teacher, you may bring in (or email) evidence of your "thank you" and receive 5 points of extra credit in the major assessment category. To receive credit, your thank you must be public and, ideally, shared with the teacher you're thanking.

Check the website for more information: http://nationaldayoflistening.org/.

Gobble Gobble!

- Ms. Nims

Spirit Week Agenda

Monday 11/21 - Early Release (7, 1, 2, 3, 4)
no class

Tuesday 11/22 - Day 7
- Watch film clip: Fahrenheit 451
Homework: Fahrenheit 451 Part 1 due Tuesday 11/29. You must be taking active reading notes on post-its (or on a separate sheet of paper, noting page numbers). Remember to use the information on your bookmarks to guide your reading! You should also be keeping up with your 2nd Quarter blogging!

Wednesday 11/23 - Early Release (6, 7)
no class

Thursday 11/24 - Thanksgiving Day
no school

Friday 11/25 - Thanskgiving Break
no school

Weekly Agenda

Monday 11/14 - Late Entry (2, 3, 4, 5)
- Discuss In Time
- Film Circles
Homework: Film Analysis due tomorrow (one per group). Bring your Independent Reading book to class tomorrow.

Tuesday 11/5 - Day 5
- Work on Glogs & presentations
Homework: Read I.R. book. Don't forget to Blog! Work on Glog as necessary.

Wednesday 11/6 - Day 4
- Work on Glogs & presentations
Homework: Final Glog / Presentation due tomorrow!

Thursday 11/7 - Day 3
- Film Circle Presentations
Homework: Read I.R. book. Work on blog.

Friday 11/8 - Day 2
- Introducing.... Fahrenheit 451
Homework: Fahrenheit 451 Part 1 (pages 3-68) due after Thanksgiving (Tues 11/29).
Continue to read your I.R. book(s) and use your blog as your Reader's Notebook. A minimum of one post per week is expected. Honors students: you will need to do more than one per week to finish two books on time.

Weekly Agenda: 11/7 - 11/11

Monday 11/7 - Early Release (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- Meet in Computer Loft
- Phase Two Blog Info
- Film Circle Info
- "The Pedestrian" Crocodoc

Homework: Phase 2 Topic Proposal (Finish "The Pedestrian" if necessary)

Tuesday 11/8 - Day 1
- Film Circle check-in
- Discuss "The Pedestrian" and identify Dystopian Elements
Homework: Watch your film! Work on Film Circle assignment.

Wednesday 11/9 - Day 7
- Scene Analysis Practice
Homework: Work on Film Circle Assignment - Scene Analysis and Motion Picture Analysis due Monday. Don't forget to bring money for field trip!

Thursday 11/10 - Day 6
- Field Trip!!
Homework: (See Wednesday)

Friday 11/11 - Veteran's Day
no school

Field Trip

This Thursday, our class, along with Ms. Alexis's senior classes, will be heading to AMC Loews Boston Common Theater to see the new dystopian film In Time. After the film, we will have lunch and then head back to Malden.

On Thursday morning, you will attend your first class (Period 6). After class, we will all meet up and take the subway into Boston. Please bring your own T fare, as well as money (or food) for lunch.

Permission slips and money must be handed in by Wednesday.

A preview and more information is available here:
http://www.intimemovie.com/

Weekly Agenda: 10/31 - 11/4

Note: Thanks to the lobbying of one of your classmates, I am giving you extra time for your Brave New World essay. Please review the week's plans, below.

Monday 10/31 - Early Release 7, 1, 2, 3, 4
no class

Tuesday 11/1 - Professional Day
no school

Wednesday 11/2 - Day 5
- Discuss Brave New World
Homework: Prepare for Socratic Seminar on Brave New World

Thursday 11/3 - Day 4
- Socratic Seminar
Homework: First draft of BNW essay due tomorrow

Friday 11/4 - Day 3
- Peer Editing
Homework: Final draft of BNW essay due Monday

Weekly Agenda: 10/24 - 10/28

Monday 10/24 - Early Release: 4, 5, 6, 7, 1
- Discuss Chapters 12 & 13
- Essay Returns
Homework: Read and respond to The New York Times article in the post below. Post your comments on the blog.

Tuesday 10/25 - Day 3
- Discuss NY Times article
Homework: Brave New World Chapters 14 & 15 with D.J.'s

Wednesday 10/26 - Day 2
- Discuss Chapters 14 & 15
Homework: final Draft of College Essay due tomorrow.

Thursday 10/27 - Day 1
- Heinz Day
- Share Blogs
Homework:
1) Blogs due 10/30.
2) Finish Brave New World with D.J.s (Chapters 16 - 18) for Monday 10/31. On that day, I will be collecting all D.J.'s for your First Quarter Reader's Notebook grade. We do not meet on Monday, but you must stop by to turn in your D.J.s.

Friday 10/28 - Day 7
no class
(I will be on a field trip. Please report to study and work on Brave New World or blogging.)

10/24 Homework Assignment

Click on the link below to read the NY Times article about a school that chooses to keep technology out of the classroom:

"At Waldorf School in Silicon Valley Technology can Wait"

Post your responses:

1. Is this a good model? Do you think technology is helpful or harmful to children's elementary education? Explain.


2. How does this relate to the ideas we've been discussing in Brave New World?

Weekly Agenda: 10/17 - 10/21

Monday 10/17 - Late Entry (1, 2, 3, 4)

Tuesday 10/18 - Day 1
- College Essay Second Draft due today!
- Meet in Computer Lab
- Work on Blogs
Homework: Catch up on blogging.

Wednesday 10/19 - Day 7
- Read Brave New World
Homework: Brave New World Chapters 8 - 11 with D.J.'s

Thursday 10/20 - Day 6
no class

Friday 10/21 - Day 5
- Discuss Brave New World
Homework: Brave New World Chapters 12 & 13 with D.J.'s

Weekly Agenda: 10/10 - 10/14

Monday 10/10 - Columbus Day
no school

Tuesday 10/11 - Day 5
- Peer Edit College Essays
Homework: Explanatory Letter due Thursday (this is a change).

Wednesday 10/12 - Day 4
no class (I will be on a field trip today. Please report to study.)

Thursday 10/13 - Day 3
- Showing vs. Telling
Homework: Read Chapter 7 of Brave New World and complete 1 D.J.

Friday 10/14 - Day 2
- Back to Brave New World
Homework: Second Draft of College Essay is due Tuesday. This should be your best work. I will comment extensively on this draft. Remember that if you do not have your second draft ready to turn in on Tuesday, you will receive a score of zero and will not receive feedback to help with your final draft.
Don't forget to blog! Only two weeks remain in the quarter!

Weekly Agenda: 10/3 - 10/7

Monday 10/3 - Early Release (3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

- Share advertisements.

- College Essay info

Homework: none... what a great opportunity to catch up on blogging!

Tuesday 10/4 - Day 2

- Personal Essays by the Professionals

- "Remembering My Childhood on the Continent of Africa"

Homework: Read "Black Men and Public Space." Add to your list of effective techniques. Answer assigned questions.

Wednesday 10/5 - Day 1

- Discuss "Black Men and Public Space"

- Personal Essays by Real High School Seniors

Homework: Go to Connecticut College link ("Essays that Worked"). Read through the essays and identify your favorite one. Print it out to bring to class. Write a paragraph explaining its appeal to you. Add to your list of effective techniques.

Thursday 10/6 - Day 7

- Writing Effective Opening Paragraphs

Homework: The College Essay - first draft due Tuesday. Don't forget your blog post!

Friday 10/7 - Day 6

no class

Weekly Agenda: 9/26 - 9/30

Monday 9/26 (3,4,5,6,7)
- Visit with Guidance
Homework: You should have read and completed D.J. for BNW Chapter 6.

Tuesday 9/27 - Day 6
no class

Wednesday 9/28 - Day 5
- The Dystopian Protagonist
Homework: Bring in an interesting print (i.e. magazine) advertisement.

Thursday 9/29 - Rosh Hashanah
no school

Friday 9/30 - Day 4
- Advertisements and Brainwashing
Homework: Create a print advertisement for your assigned slogan.
Don't forget about this week's blog post!

9/21 Homework

Based on the first three chapters of Brave New World, what are the values of the World State? Be specific and support your response with relevant and specific details from the text.

Weekly Agenda 9/19 - 9/23

Monday 9/19 - 5,6,7,1,2
- Discuss "2BR02B"
- Introducing... Brave New World
Homework: Read Brave New World Chapters 1 & 2 and complete 1 D.J.

Tuesday 9/20 - Day 4
- Mind Control: Hypnopaedia, Neo-Pavlovian Conditining & the Caste System
Homework: Read Brave New World Chapter 3 and complete 1 D.J.

Wednesday 9/21 - Day 3
- Values of the World State
- Choral Reading
Homework:Respond to Prompt in post above. Answer using the comment function. If you have any technical difficulties, please print / hand-write your response. No late homework accepted.

Thursday 9/22 - Day 2
- Improving our D.J.'s
- The Dystopian Protagonist
Homework: Read Brave New World Chapter 5 and complete 1 D.J.

Friday 9/23 - Day 1
- Computer Loft
- Work on Blogs
Homework: Read Brave New World Chapter 6 and complete 1 D.J>

2BR02B

Recall that dystopias, through an exaggerated worst-case scenario, make a criticism about a current trend, societal norm, or political system.  What criticism(s) about society does Kurt Vonnegut make in his short story “2BR02B”?  The story was originally published in 1962, but your response may assume that it is a contemporary story.

In your comments, please present a clear thesis and include relevant and specific details from the text. 

Sample Blog Post

At first listen, Zager & Evans’ 1969 hit song might sound silly and outdated (especially if you watch a video of their performance: http://youtu.be/izQB2-Kmiic).  However, after listening more closely to the lyrics, it becomes clear that it is, in fact, hugely relevant to our current society.  Through imagining the world in successive millennia (2525, 3535, 4545 and so on), Zager & Evans present a bleak future for humankind, ending, finally, in the end of man’s reign on earth.  Their song is, among other things, a strong critique of modern society and a recounting of humanity’s flaws.

The particular issues Zagar & Evans address have become even more pressing in the more than forty years since the song’s release.  Technology – specifically biotechnology – is at the top of this list.  In the future, the lyrics suggest, we will ditch food in favor of a single daily pill, and will select our offspring out of a “long glass tube.”  We won’t even need to use our arms and legs, as all physical work will be done by machines.  Without the need for such basic natural functions as eating and procreating, the “man” and “woman” of the song will exist in a completely dehumanized state. The song also alludes to environmental issues, predicting that in the future man, having “taken everything this earth can give” and “put back nothing,” will live to regret his environmental abuses.

This work can be interpreted as a warning for humankind, perhaps encouraging us to keep hold of our humanity and to be responsible stewards of the earth’s resources.  And with its infectious, repetitive lyrics, the song’s message might just get stuck in your head until it gets through. 

http://youtu.be/1FgSmdfRUus

Weekly Agenda: 9/12 - 9/16

Monday 9/12 - 1,2,3,4,5
- Computer Loft
- In-Class Essay / Writing Assessment
Prompt: What prompts the creation of works of art and literature about the future?  What do these works reveal about society?
Homework: Find a work (short story, poem, song, artwork, etc) which presents a vision of the future.  It should be a short piece or an excerpt/clip from something longer.  Email it to yourself.


Tuesday 9/13 - Day 2
- Computer Loft
- Setting up our blogs
- List of common themes / issues
Homework: Finish your blog and blog post.  Visit one other person's blog and comment on their post.


Wednesday 9/14 - Day 1
- Blogging Project
- "Harrison Bergeron"
Homework: Read and mark up "Harrison Bergeron." Complete one R&A D.J. Then, answer the questions circled in the back of the story. 


Thursday 9/15 - Day 7
- Introduction to Dystopian Literature
Homework: Read "2BR02B."  Mark up the Text. Complete 1 R&A D.J., focusing on dystopian element(s) in the story. Then, respond to the question in post above by using the comment function.  Start thinking about your blog post for next week! 

Friday 9/15 - Day 6
no class

Weekly Agenda: 9/5 - 9/9

Monday 9/5 - Labor Day (No School)

Tuesday 9/6 - Day 7 (Picture Day)

- A "peek" into the future
  Keyhole Assignment

Homework: Finish keyhole assignment.  Extra credit for work worthy of the bulletin board!

Wednesday 9/7 - Day 6

No Class

Thursday 9/8 - Day 5

- Course Expectations

- Syllabus

- Tour of B236

Homework: 

1) Get course contract signed by parent/guardian.

2) Open a Gmail account and email me at nnims@malden.mec.edu.

3) Visit nimsthefuture.blogspot.com and click to "follow" the blog.  

Friday 9/9 - Day 4

- Film clips: visions of the future

Homework: Complete your list of themes and topics from today's film clips. 

Weekly Agenda: 8/29 - 9/2

Wednesday 8/31 - First Day for Freshmen
(no class)


Thursday 9/1 - First Day for all Students
- Welcome!
- Introductions & Ice-Breakers
Homework (due Tuesday): Letter of Introduction and Supplies (3-ring binder, lined paper, dividers, post-its, highlighters, writing implements and flash drive) 


Friday 9/2 - No School