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...

En 12: Friday, 13 Jan

Today we had the second day of discussion around the short story "Touching Bottom."  I really enjoyed watching you share your ideas.  On Monday you will write on the story using a prompt that you create.  Take a look at the story and try to see if you can find any other quotations that will support the argument you decide to take.  Also, take a chance to think about how you might expand your conclusions to give a fuller synthesis of your thoughts.

Enjoy your weekend.

En 12: Friday, Sept 16

Today we discussed two PPTs on poetic devices.  We started a work sheet on device definitions.  We shall finish this work on Monday and try to apply our new skills to identifying devices inside sample poems.

En 12: Thurs 9 June

Today we finished the student quizzes and then looked at the orginal composition format from the upcoming provincial exam.  Tomorrow we write the essay (last one of the year) and on Monday we will do a poetry test.

En 12: Tuesday, 7 June

We decoded the Basil Joe poem - I think you guys as 100% better at this than you were a week ago.  We also started to do one another's quizzes - I couldn't get the document camera to give a good enough image, so we did some reading from the same piece of paper - a  bit old school, but we saves some trees.

En 12; Monday 6 June

Today we practiced further our ability to find devices in poetry.  We used "Golden Passage" to work together to find sound devices and then rhetorical devices.  We then finished our own quizzes that the class we do tomorrow.  I also issued copies of the "Basil Joe" poem.  For homework, please find as many devices as you can - especially from Section One.

English 12: Sunday 5 June

Oh my, Mr. Marshall is slipping up very badly these days.  Last week was disjointed because of the Grade 10 trip to Victoria, and the end of this week was disjointed as I tried to receive all of the old Term 3 work and then change about 30 student records affected by mark changes.  I was busy Saturday with the Army Cadets' year-end activity and then Game 2.  So, now I'm getting back to it.

On Thursday we continued with poetry.  We created a sort of "found poem" using a science text as a source.  Then we identified literary devices and added some more of our own.  We continued with that and further reviewed devices on Friday.  We closed by using the text to find examples of devices in poems, and then created five multiple choice questions using the devices.  On Monday, we'll practice answering each other's questions.  There are lots of practice provincial-style poetry questions on the two blog links to exam practices - use them!

English 12: Wednesday, 1 June

Today we wrote the "David" test.  There is no homework, but you should already have a big chuck of the structure in poetry work sheet finished.

English 12: Tuesday, 31 May

Today we got ready for tomorrow's "David" poetry test.  You will be able to use your copy of the poem.  There will be two sections of multiple choice questions: one will include terms from the PPT that explained the mountain terms such as "col."  You can go to the SlideShare link on the blog to view the "David" PPT.  Make sure you are up on your poetic terms and devices.  Good luck.  Work hard tonight and no homework tomorrow (I promise)  :)

English 12, Sunday, 22 May

On Thursday, we finished our review of figurative language.  We had a chance to see if we could lable the 40 definitions from memory.  I think most of you are already at 70 - 80% accuracy.  The proof is in the puddin' though, and we've got to get practiced at identifying them in actual examples of literature.  I'm away Wed - Fri next week, so I'll prep you for a narrative poem activity that you'll be able to complete independently while under the guard of the TOC.  I'm also going to give you a practice poetry section from a past provincial to use as a barometer of your current competency in poetry.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

En 12: Thursday, 13 May

Today we did the first of two classes dedicated to writing our essays on Hamlet.  We are all answering an essential question that speaks to us personally.  Instead of just writing on one of the classroom-discussed topics, we're going to try to determine how Hamlet helps each of us view the world.  I asked people to push themselves on this one - try to bring all that you've learned to this task.

Remember, if you need to review the Hamlet PPT, you may go on my blog, to the Internet links list, and scroll down to "Mr. Marshall's Slideshare PPTs" (don't forget to select "view all" once Slideshare opens).  The Hamlet PPT has the following title page:

En 12: Tuesday, 17 May

Today we did the Hamlet objective test and started poetry.  I read my slam poem and we watched some other slam poets on video.  I also issued a lit devices work sheet.

En 12: Monday, 16 May

Today we spent the first half of the class finishing up our Hamlet essays and then we reviewed for the exam that we will write tomorrow.  See the notes for the format of the exam.  Good luck.

English 12: Friday, 13 May

Today was day two (of two) for the Hamlet essay.  You've earned a rest.  Next week, Tuesday, I think, we'll do the objective exam.

Thanks for your mature, focused writing over the last two days.

En 12: Wednesday, 11 May

Today, we started by posting a comment to the blog in order to give our feedback about my use of rubrics to assess your writing (dated May 6th).  Next, I gave a PPT presentation to discuss some of the different interpretations of Hamlet.  For homework, please come with a few responses to this prompt:

"What essential questions does Hamlet help us answer?"

We will use this as the basis for our end-of-unit essay.

En 12: Mon-Tues, 9-10 May

We watched the Hamlet DVD.  Our next activity is to have a PPT-directed discussion in order to illuminate some different interpretations of the play.

Eng 12: Thursday, 5 May

Today we finished the play - thanks to those who have, for the whole play, been able to be in class to complete the readings they signed up for.  Thanks also, to those who so willingly volunteered to step in when others were absent.

We watched Act 2 of the movie, but it seemed some were getting sleepy.  Is it worthwhile to continue, or was the lack of interest a symptom of the class being on an afternoon prior to a four-day weekend?

Mr. Marshall's English Marking

A current goal of the school is to improve student writing.  One of the ways we have addressed this is to change the way we mark your writing.  Please respond to the following prompt:

"Having been assessed using both the 6-point holistic scale and the current rubric, tell which you prefer, and why?"

En 12: Wed., 4 May

Today, we read Act V, Sc 1 and part of Sc 2.  Tomorrow, we'll finish the play and then write many, many long, difficult essays! He, he, he (evil laugh...).

En 12: Tuesday, 3 May

Today we finished Act 4 and doled out the parts for Act 5.  Enjoy the game tonight, but read Hamlet before it starts so that you are prepared for class tomorrow.