Well, that's all, folks!

Dear students,

I guess this is the end of Mr. Marshall's Pender Blog for the time being.  As I post this, nearly 18,000 views would suggest it has been a useful endeavor.  I would like to thank you for your part in what has been for me, a wonderful past number of years.  We have had our ups and downs and been affected by stressors from within and without our school, but through it all, we have managed.  I like to think that a big reason for that is the family atmosphere that we have.  Yes, our school is small and no, it doesn't offer the broad selection of courses and activities that a larger school can, but we do feel connected and cared-for.  I have always tried to foster a sense of academic and personal responsibility for you, without neglecting the need for laughs.  I have tried to adapt our classroom to follow what I see as best practices and that has meant the need for flexibility on your part.  I like to think that we have fostered a relationship of mutual trust and respect and the result has been the creation of what I hope you will agree has been a desirable place to be.  In school, we often talk about how teachers help students, but I want to acknowledge that you have helped me.  There is no doubt that I leave Pender a better teacher than I arrived and I wish to thank you for supporting my pursuits both inside and outside of Room 102.

I'll be thinking of you...

English 12: Thursday, 14 June

Today we reviewed the remainder of the English 12 terms and then discussed ways to outline the synthesis piece I assigned yesterday.  Tomorrow please come come prepared to do a little writing AND to continue our review for the exam.

English 12: Wednesday, 13 June

Today we discussed the questions for the story The Chrysanthemums.  I asked you to create a chart to compare and contrast Elisa's character in terms of "strengths" and "weaknesses."  This is the type of question you might expect in Part A of your provincial.  I then asked you to compare and contrast Willy Loman from DOASalesman with the peddler in The Chrysanthemums.   This sort of synthesis activity is the type of thing you should expect from Part B of the provincial.  Please have both activities ready for tomorrow.

English 12: Tuesday, 12 June

Today we had a small class and so students used the time to practice their dramatic reading parts.  Ensure the questions for The Chrysanthemums are ready for tomorrow's class.

English 12: Monday, 11 June

Today I asked you to read The Chrysanthemums by Steinbeck.  I purposely did not "scaffold" this reading with teacher-support because you need to be "hardened" for the provincial exam.  Please come to the next class with the Question 1 responses completed (a-e).

English 12: Friday, 8 June

Today we read Touching Bottom.  Afterwords, we discussed the various elements of conflict, both internal and external.  Next, we looked at some symbols: the colour yellow, lines on the pool bottom, murky water, leaches, and ocean ocean currents.  There are probably more; remember that repetition is a common characteristic of symbolism.  I wonder what themes we could come up with for this story.

For homework, create a paragraph that discusses either conflict or symbolism in Touching Bottom.  Don't forget to employ quotations for support and think about the elements of a sound paragraph such as topic sentence, signposts and a good closer.

English 12: Thursday, 7 June

Today we read and discussed "On the Rainy River."  Please have your conflict paragraphs ready for tomorrow's class.

Eng 12: Wednesday, 6 June

Today we discussed the use of imagery in The Return.  We also discussed the use of figurative language and indirect representation to show the passage of time.  We reintroduced the idea of catharsis (we talked about it during Macbeth last year) and how important it is to understanding the final scene of the story.  Please compete the paragraph at Question #2, p. 50.  Also, please read On the Rainy River (pp. 70 - 84).

English 12: Tuesday, 5 June

Today the majority of the class came unprepared to discuss the short story assigned for homework.  That was frustrating for me.  I issued a magazine article on Lotus Land and we discussed the synthesis writing piece required on the provincial exam.  Please complete the paragraph sample for homework AND please read The Return on p 44 of your anthology.

We'll try to do the dramatic readings again tomorrow.  Please realize, I am not prepared to work harder than you in order to ensure your success in English 12: you are the architects of your own future. 

Eng 12: Monday, 4 June

Today we read Munro's The Shining Houses (pp. 26-35).  Please complete question 1 a-e for homework.  Also, please read O. Henry's Transients in Arcadia (pp. 37-42) for homework.

The other stories we'll read this week are:

The Return (p. 44)

On the Rainy River (p. 70)

The Chrysanthemums (p. 112)

Touching Bottom (p. 124)

For each you'll do the "response questions."  We'll also write one or two paragraphs as part of your exam preparation.

Eng 12: Thurs, 31 May

Today we watched the second half of the movie DOASalesman and then outlined the essay for tomorrow's in-class writing session.  Please come prepared with paper, pen, cheat sheet and play.

ENG 12: Friday, 25 May

Today we covered the "f"s, "g"s and some "i"s from the course terms list.  Then we reviewed the format for the play's objective test.  I ended the class with some test preparation time.  Have a nice weekend, but please take time to ensure you're ready for Monday's exam.

English 12: Thursday, 24 May

Today we finished the "d"s and did the "e"s on the Eng 12 terms list.  Then we did a canned quiz from the Sparks Notes website as a "see-how-we-are-doing-on-understanding-the-play"activity.  In essence, the quiz did not test any deep understanding such as themes, just simple comprehension (memory) details from the play.  We ended by reviewing the answers to the vocabulary activity.  I've included the answers here.  There is no homework.  We'll have the objective test on Monday; on Tuesday we'll write our second essay; and, on Thursday/Friday we'll watch the movie.  (Wednesday is the Law 12 trip to the Vancouver Law Courts).

En 12: Wednesday, 23 May

Today we wrote our character essays in the computer lab.  Those who were absent will have to arrange to write it out of class time - perhaps during spares.

En 12: Tuesday, 22 May

Today we completed a character sketch on Willy including quotations.  Please make sure you complete your preparation for tomorrow's in-class 300-word essay.  This will be one of few formal in-class pieces for this term.  You must be prepared to write on EITHER Biff or Willy - I will tell you which one, tomorrow.

Eng 12: Wednesday, 16 May

Today we looked at a character study of Biff in DOAS.  I thought you came up with good observations but was most impressed with the quality of the quotations you found (attention: touchy-feely-teacher-moment: you guys are really getting it).  Tomorrow, many students are away for the Biology trip, so I'll do some writing support with those of you who are here.

English 12: Tuesday, 15 May

Today we finished the play; you all have come great leaps in your ability to read in front of the class.  Today's readings were first-rate.  We ended the class with twenty minutes to finish up the study guide questions.  We'll start looking at the play as a whole tomorrow.  You should expect some work on character and theme.  With some pre-writing activities as a group and on your own.  Please complete 15 of the #11-34 questions for homework - I'll start with a check tomorrow.

Eng 12: Monday, 14 May

Today we started with a review of the a, b, and c terms from the Eng 12 vocab terms sheet.  You all seemed to know your stuff.  We finished by reading pp. 103 - 122.5.  Tomorrow we'll finish reading the play and then get down to some writing.  It would be nice if everyone pre-read the closing scenes for homework.

English 12: Thursday, 10 May

Today we read up to p. 95 in DOAS.  We discussed the theme of success and how difficult (personal) it is to measure.  We also debriefed #1-13 from the Act 2 study guide questions.  Few people turned in the paragraph assigned on Tuesday (see blog for details); please get that in tomorrow.  Also, please read up to about p. 115 AND find two segments from the text to discuss because they:

a) connect to a theme, or
b) connect to a past event in the play, or
c) allude to a new idea that is emerging, or
d) speak strongly to a trait or general character development.

Eng 12: Wednesday, 9 May

Today we listened to our last dramatic reading and then we read and discussed the beginning of Act Two.  The next time we do a dramatic reading it will count for marks.  Tomorrow we'll debrief some of the questions from last day's homework.  You may choose to read ahead if you're going to be busy later (the forecast is for sun).  Today we asked ourselves if Willy is emerging as a tragic hero.  We also continued to connect with the many themes around which this play seems to revolve.