Welcome to Mrs. Bukowski's American Literature Schoolnotes Page!

This page will contain updated, helpful information regarding course curriculum, homework, projects/tests, and can easily be checked from home at any time by both parents and students. If you click on the "Notify Me" button and supply your email address, you will receive an automatically generated email letting you know this page has been updated. You may also use the email link to send me a note directly from this page.  If you wish to be removed from the email notification list, click on the "remove me" link.

My 2011-2012 teaching schedule:

Periods 2, 7, and 8 - American Literature, room 2405

Periods 4 and 5 - Honors Freshman World Lit, room 2405

I have lunch 6th hour and am in the building from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.  Both before and after school I can be found in 2405 or the English Department Office by any student who is seeking extra help on any assignment. Since some mornings require mandatory meetings for teachers, if you wish to sit down and talk for a few minutes making a specific appointment would be a good idea to ensure I am available for you. :)

 
Week of 1/23 - 1/27/12:

Monday, 1/23 - meet in the lab to continue and finish up Webquest work; distribute the F. Scott Fitzgerald article and questions packet.  Students who finish their webquest work early may begin this packet, which includes an extra credit opportunity for third quarter. :)

*Homework: Finish Fitzgerald packet and questions no later than Wednesday;  I will accept the extra credit through class time on Friday, 1/27/12.

Tuesday, 1/24 - collect Webquests; video clip on the life of F. Scott Fitzgerald, with video guide.

*Homework: Finish Fitzgerald packet and questions no later than Wednesday;  I will accept the extra credit through class time on Friday, 1/27/12.

Wednesday, 1/25 - collect F. Scott Fitzgerald homework at start of class; continue/finish up the video on Fitzgerald and go over the video guide responses.

Homework: I will continue to accept the extra credit through Friday, class time, if you are interested in turning it in.

Thursday, 1/26 - note-taking on the novel The Great Gatsby; video clips from the film Midnight in Paris (?); character introduction Power Point

Friday, 1/27 - continue character introduction Power Point as needed; distribute The Great Gatsby books; begin reading chapter 1

Homework: finish up reading chapter 1 for Monday!

BEGINNING OF SEMESTER TWO!  CAN YOU BELIEVE IT????

WEEK OF 1/17 - 1/20/12:

Monday, 1/16 - NO SCHOOL in Honor of Dr. Martin Luther Kings, Jr.

Tuesday, 1/17/12 - Return final exam essays, distribute and explain final exam scoring, distribute and explain semester 1 grade reports; move to computer lab to do first postings and polls of the new semester - these posts are due by midnight on Friday, 1/20/12 at the latest

Wednesday, 1/18 - video clip on the 1920's to introduce the era of The Great Gatsby.  Distribute the Webquest assignment based on the 20's, go over expectations, timeline, due date.  We will begin our work on these in class tomorrow so bring this sheet back to class with you.

Thursday, 1/19 - Meet in the classroom to look at a couple examples and clarify how you may go about formatting the collage of images in particular.  Move to respective labs to begin work .  You may wish to have a flash drive on which to save your work.

Friday, 1/20 - meet in the computer lab for your specific class to continue your work on the Webquest.  Monday will be your last in-class work day for this project, which is due at the start of class on Tuesday, 1/24.

HOMEWORK: if you have not yet done your Edmodo postings, please do so by midnight.  Also please check my responses back to you in Edmodo; I have taken the time to reply to you all individually. :)

Week of 1/9/12 - 1/13/12:

Monday, 1/9 - In-class final exam timed essay

 BRING YOUR LIT BOOK TO THE FINAL EXAM TO BE CHECKED AGAINST THE BOOK LIST.

Tuesday - Thursday -

The final exam schedule kicks in; the regular class schedule will no longer apply.  See the HHS website for information on testing periods and bus schedule.

Week of 1/2/12 - 1/6/12:

Monday, 1/2 - final reading/work day for Code Talkers  books and responses - we do have computer lab access so students can type and thus earn extra credit.

*Homework: Code Talkers responses due at start of class tomorrow, Tuesday.  Bring lit book Tuesday, as well.

Tuesday, 1/3 - Friday, 1/6 - focus on the women's experience in American at the turn of the century (prior to the 20's and the Women's Suffrage Movement) via two short stories, "The Story of an Hour" and "The Yellow Wallpaper."  These stories will involve reading, discussion, and completing some questions as part of processing the experiences recounted.  Friday we will do a "walk through" of how to set up a good essay centered on the Women's perspective as practice for the timed writing for the final exam, which will be done in class on Monday, 1/9/12.

Our final exam will be a full length ACT-style reading and English test, both to be completed during the assigned final exam times next week.  The essay we will write on Monday will be figured into the final exam grade, as well, just FYI.  The final will count as no more than 10% of the students' semester grades.

NOTE: Monday is the last day of regular classes; final exams are a separate entity.  If you have any missing/late work it must be turned in on Monday or I cannot take it.  Parents will be emailed with this reminder information, as well.

Week of 12/12 - 12/16:

Monday, 12/12 - continue We Shall Remain video

Tuesday, 12/13 - finish up We Shall Remain video and collect questions

Wednesday, 12/14 - Friday, 12/16 - read excerpts from the book Code Talkers (guiding handout provided!); write responses to two of the three prompts provided.  These paragraphs will be counted as an essay grade for this unit.  Extra credit will be given for finishing the responses early as well as for typing the responses. 

Week of 12/5 - 12/9/11:

Monday, 12/5 - work time for the original Native American-style myths - these will be presented in class tomorrow (Tuesday)

Homework: finish up your Native American-style myth for Tuesday

Tuesday, 12/6 - students read myths aloud to class

Wednesday, 12/7 - finish up any remaining myths that we didn't get to on Tuesday; "Crazy Horse" and "Trail of Tears" video clips with viewing guide - complete the guides as we watch

Thursday, 12/8 - Finish up Trail of Tears video clips

Friday, 12/9 - Begin viewing We Shall Remain: America Through Native Eyes, with viewing guide

Week of 11/28 - 12/2/11:

ALL STUDENTS WILL NEED THEIR LIT BOOKS DAILY FOR THIS WEEK; PLAN ACCORDINGLY!

Monday, 11/28 - wrap up Transcendentalism with some videos and then move to 2403 for an Edmodo posting

Homework: Edmodo posting due by midnight on FRIDAY (this is a change from the originally announced due date, so cheer up if you didn't get it done yet!)

Tuesday, 11/29 - Introduce "Different Perspectives" unit and begin with Native American background material (reading and note-taking)

*Homework: read pp. 10-15 and take notes on key concepts/ideas; then flip to pp. 20-22 and answer the questions on the worksheet provided for tomorrow, as well.

Wednesday, 11/30 - Review key concepts and answers to the questions on pp. 10-22 together; begin first Native American myth - follow the instructions on the sheet provided for "How the World Was Created"

*Finish "How the World Was Made" reading and questions for Thursday

*Edmodo posting due tonight by midnight FRIDAY

Thursday, 12/1 - discuss "How the World Was Made" questions in small groups; then, in the same small groups, read "The Sky Tree" background information and myth; finally, create a group set of responses to the noted questions on your handout - due at hour's end

Friday, 12/2 - introduce and model the Native American original myth assignment which can be done independently or with a partner

Homework: Finish up original myth assignment and prepare to tell it aloud to the class by Tuesday of next week; you will have SOME time on Monday to work in class, as well.  

Week of 11/21 - 11/22/11:

Monday, 11/21 - Go over the Proctor paragraphs written on the Crucible test; writing instruction based on what was lacking in those paragraphs and as preparation for the in-class writing on The Dead Poets Society tomorrow; distribute results from last spring's PLAN tests - please take these home and share with parents/guardians

Tuesday, 11/22 - In-class essay on The Dead Poets Society - you may reference all handouts and the outline you SHOULD have created in advance

No classes Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday - Happy Thanksgiving!

Wed - Friday, 11/23 - 11/25 - NO SCHOOL DUE TO THE  THANKSGIVING BREAK - Enjoy!

Week of 11/14 - 11/17/11:

Monday and Tuesday, 11/14 - 11/15 - continue and finish the film - discuss the video guide and clarify the questions 

Wednesday, 11/16 - share essay options and outline form for preparation; brainstorm some ideas and use class as work time to prepare for the in-class essay writing

*Homework - finish outline for in-class essay and bring it to class Thursday

Thursday, 11/17 - in-class writing on the film Dead Poets Society (This MAY get pushed to Monday, depending on how it goes in class...)

Friday, 11/18 - NO SCHOOL

Week of 11/7 - 11/11/11:

PARENT CONFERENCES ARE THURSDAY EVENING - HOPE TO SEE MANY OF YOU THEN! :)

Monday, 11/7 - discuss Walden Reading Guide 

Tuesday, 11/8 - "Civil Disobedience" focus with book and packet-based readings and question; students have a choice of deadlines with this assignment - either Thurs or Mon, for the same credit; work time to begin the readings

Wednesday, 11/9 - introduce the film and characters, with video guide; begin the film

Thursday, 11/10 - continue the film, with video guide

Friday, 11/11 - NO SCHOOL - Veteran's Day

Week of 10/31 - Nov. 4, 2011:

Monday, 10/31 - video clip of The Simpsons "The Raven"; reading of Edgar Allen Poe's "The Black Cat"; move to lab for 2 Edmodo postings, due Nov. 1; turn in "Self-Reliance" homework from p. 196 by hour's end

*Open note quiz on Transcendentalism pie chart and background information Wednesday in class; be sure to have your notes with you!

Tuesday, 11/1 - go over some key points of Emerson and address some concerns based on Edmodo postings;  begin video on Thoreau and his experiment at Walden Pond, with video guide

*Homework: Bring your Transcendentalism notes to class for an open note quiz on Wednesday; there is no need to study for this quiz, but it will help you greatly to have your notes!

Wednesday, 11/ 2 - open-note quiz; continue the video and discuss the guide to that point

Thursday, 11/3 - grade updates; finish up Walden video and discussion of the guide; listen to/read aloud the Walden selection from the textbook, pp. 214 - 216

*Homework: Answer the questions on the Walden vocabulary and context for reading sheet

Friday, 11/4 - collect and discuss homework together; explain Edmodo posting regarding how you would simplify your life; present xc opportunityl; read "Brute Neighbors" and "Conclusion" and complete the "Walden" Reading Guide as homework for Monday

*Homework: finish up "Walden" reading guide as homework for Monday

*Homework: TURN IN Edmodo assignment on simplifying your life by Tuesday night at midnight; give this entry some true thought and structure as it will be worth more points than past entries. 

*Extra credit option - due Monday, 11/14

Requirement for xc: write a descriptived paragraph that is typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman (12 pt) or Calibri (11 pt), which names the place, tells when/why/how you were first able to see it or go there, describes its beauty and effect on you, and includes at least one simile OR metaphor, which you highlight in the text of your paragraph.

Week of 10/24 - 10/28/11:

Monday, 10/24 - 2nd hour RUDE Club Assembly - special speaker; periods 7 and 8 finish up last speeches and begin note-taking on The New England Renaissance and Transcendentalism

Tuesday, 10/25 - View The New England Transcendentalists video and complete viewing guide as we watch

Wednesday, 10/26 - pass back papers and distribute grade printouts; go over the viewing guide for yesterday's video; note-taking

Thursday, 10/27 - finish up the note-taking, including the pie chart of the six key Transcendental principles; assign background reading and reading guide for pp. 178-183; work time for this assignment

*homework - finish the answers to the reading guide questions for Friday

Friday, 10/28 - check off the homework answers to the background reading in the textbook; discuss and go over the answers to the questions; introduce Emerson and how to read him; begin "Self-Reliance" on p. 194

*Homework: Finish reading "Self-Reliance" and answer #1-4 AND #8 on p. 196 in the textbook for Monday

Week of 10/17/- 10/21/11:

Monday, 10/17 - GCP will be here to make sophomore presentations; these will last the bulk of the class hour; speech presentation order distributed - ALL students should be prepared to speak on Tuesday!

Tuesday, 10/18 - speeches begin! Crucible test review sheet provided in class

*Crucible unit test Friday, 10/21

Wednesday, 10/19 - continue speeches

*Crucible unit test Friday, 10/21

Thursday, 10/20 - finish remaining speeches, if any, and review for Crucible test

*Crucible unit test Friday, 10/21

Friday, 10/21 - Crucible unit test; bring a #2 pencil for the scantron portion of the test; lined paper will be provided for the paragraph writing

*NO HOMEWORK! :)

Week of 10/10 - 10/14/11:

Monday, 10/10 - NO SCHOOL; COLUMBUS DAY HOLIDAY

Tuesday, 10/11 and Wednesday, 10/12 - work time for the outlines in the computer lab

Thursday, 10/12 - video clips and Power Point reminders of what you are trying to accomplish with this speech; grade updates shared in class, too, so you can see where you are in the process

Friday, 10/13 - Final computer lab work day to finish up whatever is needed for your speech outline and Works Cited Page

*Speeches begin on Tuesday; you need to bring your visual/audio aid(s) and a printed copy of your TYPED outline to give to the teacher before you speak.  ALL STUDENTS should be prepared on Tuesday, no matter where you fall in the order, in case there are absences, etc.

Week of 10/3 - 10/7/11:

Monday, 10/3 - finish up the small group work with the articles; introduce "The Devil and Daniel Webster" story and begin reading it aloud together

*Two separate Edmodo postings are due on 10/4 and 10/5, respectively.  The first one relates to Salem and the second to the "Devil and Daniel Webster" story.  Please be sure to TURN IN by the due dates for full credit. 

Tuesday, 10/4 - Power Point on public speaking and speech topics related to The Crucible; handout with topics and rubric

Wednesday, 10/5 - Friday, 10/7 - MEET in the library to work on collecting materials for the speech

*BRING a FLASHDRIVE to class in order to save your work  and to be able to take it home.

NOTE: Both Thursday and Friday of this week have altered bell schedules to allow for the Homecoming pep assembly and the SIP Day on Friday.  On Thursday students are dismissed at the usual time; on Friday, students are dismissed at 1:15 p.m.  There is NO SCHOOL on Monday, 10/10, due to the Columbus Day holiday.

Week of 9/26 - 9/30/11:

Monday, 9/26 - view Act III video clip; pick readers for Act IV

Tuesday, 9/27 - begin Act IV

Wednesday, 9/28 - continue and finish Act IV; small group work on Act IV

Thursday, 9/29 - video clip of Act IV; "Echoes Down the Corridor"; jot questions you still have on the notecard provided and I will try to address those over the next couple of days

Friday, 9/30 - Powerpoint on Salem today; 13 minute video clip which covers several aspects of what happened in the years following the end of the witch trials of 1692; begin work in small groups with 3 follow up articles and questions; this work will be continued/finished in class on Monday.

Week of 9/19 - 9/23/11:

Monday, 9/19 - continue reading Act III

Tuesday, 9/20 - finish reading Act III; p. 1095, questions 5 and 6 will be the homework "response" due on Wednesday

  
Wednesday, 9/21 - collect p. 1095 homework; ACT Writing formative assessment

Thursday, 9/22 - ACT English formative assessment

Friday, 9/23 - collect "Denied!" homework sheet; ACT Reading formative assessment

 
Week of 9/12 - 9/16/11:

Monday, 9/12 - model Rev. Samuel Parris as an example for the Act I Character Motivations sheet; work with a partner to complete the same activity for two additional characters of your own choosing and turn in after about 15 minutes; review key events review of Act I; select readers for Act II

Tuesday, 9/13 - begin reading Act II

Wednesday, 9/14 - finish reading Act II

Thursday, 9/15 - explain Edmodo-based Act II response; video clip of Act II; select readers for Act III parts

Friday, 9/16 - small group work on Act II questions;  begin reading Act III

*Post Edmodo assignment for Act II Crucible by midnite tonight

 
Week of 9/5 - 9/9/11:

Monday, 9/5 - NO SCHOOL; LABOR DAY

Tuesday, 9/6 - review what we know so far; fill in more of the character chart based on this review; continue reading Act I with readers that were chosen last week

*no homework, but tonight is Back to School Night; please encourage your parents to come; feel free to come along with them as tour guide if you wish!

Wednesday, 9/7 - short video clip of the scene that precedes the start of the actual play; finish reading Act I aloud; complete Act I review guide questions - can turn in at end of class or finish as homework if you don't finish in the time allowed.

*You do NOT need to bring your textbook the next two class days! :0

Thursday, 9/8 - introduce and demonstrate Edmodo.com; set up your "profile" and work on the two assignments posts you will see once you are on and active.  The 9/11 post is due on 9/11/11.  The Crucible Act I post is due Friday, 9/9/11.

Friday, 9/9 - view the Act I video clip (about 30 minutes); select readers for Act II so we can begin that reading right away on Monday, 9/12

Week of 8/29 - 9/2/11:

Monday, 8/29 - 30 second introductory speeches

*You need a spiral for tomorrow; we will start with some note-taking!

Tuesday, 8/30 - Power Point presentation and note-taking on the Puritans (terms/definitions, basic beliefs, societal framework)

Wednesday, 8/31 - issue textbooks; additional notes on the Salem Witch Trials; read page 1026 aloud together; distribute Internet article packets on the play's author, Arthur Miller; reading/worktime to read the articles and answer the 6 questions on the final page of the packet

*complete the questions for tomorrow - these will be collected first thing; bring your textbook daily until further notice (for the next month or so...)

Thursday, 9/1 - collect homework; introduce the main cast of characters from the play via Power Point; anticipatory Quickwrite - collected at hour's end; select readers for Act I parts; begin reading Act I

*no homework, but bring your textbook daily until further notice (for the next month or so...)

Friday, 9/9 - return and discuss the homework, Quickwrites, and in-class writings from last Friday; distribute Act I study guide for The Crucible; continue our reading of Act I

*no homework due for Monday, BUT be filling in the study guide columns as we go to keep tabs on who's who, what there relationships to one another are, what their issues are, and how they are impacted by the events of the play as they unfold; the study guides will be collected.

Week of 8/25 - 8/26/11:

Thursday, 8/25 - Welcome back!  Mrs. Bukowski trivia quiz and Power Point; Find Someone Who activity; Bukowski's Basics handout and supply list

*Pick up the supplies noted on the handout, particularly a single subject, inexpensive spiral for note-taking; we will be doing a brief, in-class writing tomorrow.  Bring a pen or pencil with you for that purpose.

Friday, 8/26 - three-paragraph, in-class essay; discuss the 30-second speech to be given in class on Monday - see half-page handout for directions