Enjoy your Winter Break!

Here is a marvelous Christmastime essay by the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. Some of you might be interested in reading it in it's entirety, so here it is:
A Child's Christmas in Wales, read by Dylan Thomas, the author
Text of A Child's Christmas in Wales

Today: Read 45 minutes
Remember to read an average of 7 pages per day to finish the book on time. You will have a final exam over the book during the final exam period during the fourth week of January.

1. Write 1 page describing the main character of your book, emphasizing the character's temperament (his or her inner nature). This aspect of the character's personality will be revealed by the ways that he or she responds to conflict.
2. Keep a list of 20 vocabulary words as you read. You might want to look up definitions as you go so that you understand the book.
3. Copy five sentences of descriptive details in the book. The sentences must all be from different pages in the book.

Tuesday/Wednesday--today and next time then . . .!

READING--Book Club
60 min today
Discuss in groups:
     1. Main character's temperament
     2. The conflict(s) he or she faces
HOMEWORK:
Write 3/4 page describing the main character
Write 1/4 page telling us how the protagonist is responding to one of the conflicts in the story

REMEMBER, YOU HAVE 200 PAGES or so to read between now and January 17th (my birthday, coincidentally!). That 7 pages per day, or 30 pages per class period. You will have to be disciplined. If you're going someplace over winter break, I'd highly recommend that you read while you're in the car. Well, maybe not if you're the driver ;^]

Finish Catcher in the Rye

TEST over Catcher in the Rye Thursday/Friday. Discuss the novel today and next time.

Google Doc or paper journal entry to hand in tomorrow:

1. What is Holden's problem--"What's the matter with you boy?" Mr. Spencer asks.
Cite two examples that show how he is affected by his problem(s)
    1)
    2)
2. How likely do you think it is that Holden will get better and become a functioning, even somewhat happy adult?
    1) Discuss one or more examples that back up your stance

NEXT TIME:
1. Hand in what you wrote today
    Discuss as a class
2. Finish finding 20 quotes from the book
    Discuss
3. Book talks for Book Clubs

Tue/Wed, Dec 4/5

6th period
Take Practice SAT Reading Comprehension test, 52 questions.
Test 1 All students take test, even those who have passed the reading requirement
Students are to take the test on Chromebooks

7th period
Christmas Carol Thur/Fri!
HOMEWORK for the Weekend : finish Catcher in the Rye
     Using Audiobooks it should take less than an hour to read read the parts not covered in class
Today:
Audiobooks for Catcher in the Rye
ON THE PROJECTOR, WATCH AND LISTEN TO CHAPTERS 21-24 (read 25, 26 over the weekend)
Follow along in your book, starting on page 157. NO PHONES
Write down significant quotes as you read
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Free time when finished
Chapter 25, 26

Catcher in the Rye Vocabulary 2
Catcher in the Rye Vocabulary 3

If you were gone when we took the test over last week's vocabulary, here it is:
Make up the quiz ASAP
Catcher in the Rye Vocabulary