Hood's English

Surprise!

2010-04-02T20:05:00.002-05:00

Just wanted to say hello to the students I used to to teach who used to follow this blog. I hope everyone is having a great Pesach break, and I will see those of you who come to graduation at graduation in June.
I hope Ms. Hasenmueller is teaching you and you aren't treating her too roughly; she's a great teacher and has a lot to offer. I also hope everyone is doing well and behaving (of course I would say that!) and that my seniors are all making decisions about what to do next year for school. I want you all to know that I do miss you but I am doing well and am much less stressed than I was while I was teaching you. My decision was tough, but it was the right one for me, but I do miss my girls and my boys, and I wish you all the very best.
You all now how to find me should you ever wish to. See you all soon!

9th grade boys: quiz moved to Tuesday

2010-02-08T07:14:00.003-06:00

9th grade boys-- obviously, with no school today, we are going to have our vocabulary quiz tomorrow. Let's try to finish up "A Raisin in the Sun"-- you still have questions over Act II due tomorrow as well-- by the end of the week, and plan on a test over the material next week. After this play, we will be moving on to writing essays again before starting on poetry.

Enjoy your snow day!!!

English 11/12 Boys-- Test Will be Moved

2010-02-08T07:10:00.002-06:00

Since we have today off, the test the 11/12 boys class is supposed to have tomorrow will be moved to Wednesday so that we may review chapter 52 as well as all of Part I tomorrow. Boys who were absent on Friday, be prepared to make up your quizzes tomorrow over 7/8 vocabulary and Chapter 22 of Don Quixote. Tomorrow is the only make up day and the test will be given on Wednesday, with Thursday as an in-class writing day.

Midterm Announcement for English 11/12

2010-01-07T20:08:00.001-06:00

Your midterm review and writing assignment are posted in the "Handouts" section on the left-hand side of the screen. Please also review the PowerPoint, which will end with a ".pptx" suffix.
I will bring copies to class of the review and the writing assignment on Monday, but it would be better if you printed them out from here so you can get started. I will go over the requirements on Monday.

Barbara Kingsolver on YouTube (9/10 Girls)

2009-11-15T18:58:00.003-06:00

This is an interview with Barbara Kingsolver, one of my absolute favorite authors ever. She's talking about her nonfiction novel "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle," which I highly recommend if you like "The Bean Trees" and "Pigs in Heaven." It isn't on the books we're reading for class, but it's a great interview and you might get interested in reading more of her stuff.

Theatre Arts Mime link

2009-11-15T17:05:00.002-06:00

Here is a YouTube video of Marcel Marceau, the famous French mime. He was a master of the themed pantomime, which we know is the difference between "pantomime" and "mime"-- the idea that a mime is showing us a theme rather than a strict imitation of something without words. If you find any other videos of Marceau, or other pantomime artists, please share them with us.

Reminders for all Mrs. Hood's Classes

2009-11-13T16:41:00.002-06:00

11/12: You have a quiz over HP 2, through Chapter 9, on Monday. Boys, you will have a vocabulary test/quiz on Friday the 20th.

Theatre Arts boys: Quiz Monday, and bring books so we can start our new chapter when you're through with the quiz.

9/10 all: The second assignment on the "Tuesdays with Morrie" yearly project is due, and we will have a quick vocabulary review before our quiz on Tuesday over units 1 and 2. Also, girls will need to be ready to start "Pigs in Heaven" on Tuesday.

Hope you all enjoy the gorgeous weather this weekend! Shabbat Shalom!

11/12 Papers Due Thursday

2009-11-01T14:58:00.002-06:00

SOIN is not allowing me to post assignments right now, so as a reminder, you have papers due to me on Thursday. If you are going on the Shabbaton, and I don't have the papers before you leave, you will get a zero. I will not accept the papers after the deadline.
Please remind your friends-- pass this along to those who may or may not remember, as SOIN is not taking posts right now.

9/10 Updates: assignment due dates and deadlines

2009-10-25T18:39:00.003-05:00

All 9th and 10th grade boys and girls: Don't forget that your outlines for your first essay are due to me tomorrow, your rough drafts are due Tuesday, and your 1st "Tuesdays with Morrie" assignment is due on Wednesday. We are ending the 1st 9 week grading period this week so we need to get some more grades in for everyone.
Please continue bringing your essay books to class and be working on your projects for "Tuesdays with Morrie." I will announce more deadlines shortly.

Boys, you need to get a copy of the novel "A Separate Peace." We will be doing our novel study on this book starting in a few weeks, so please get it and start reading it on your own. We will do some reading and discussion in class but starting it on your own will be helpful.

Girls, don't forget to read "The Bean Trees" on your own and get a copy of "Pigs in Heaven" to begin reading pretty soon. We have a long stretch of time without much interruption and that means lots of opportunities to get some real work done this semester.

11/12 News: Harry Potter is Coming to MHAFYOS

2009-10-19T18:59:00.002-05:00

Juniors and seniors: we will be holding off on reading "Grendel" for the time being and will instead be spending some time with Harry and his crew. Though pretty simple to read, these books provide a PERFECT example of the hero cycle and can be compared to Odysseus' journey as well as other stories that we have already read or discussed this year.

So please have a copy of the book-- hardback, paperback, it doesn't matter to me-- by next Monday, October 26th. Please let the students who are not signed up for the blog that they will need the book and that they also need to subscribe to the blog ASAP. I will eventually stop reminding you of things in class because I generally put those reminders here, and if you're signed up to get notifications from the blog, then you'll be okay:)

Also, don't forget the quiz tomorrow. Check SOIN or read up on SparkNotes if you aren't sure what we're talking about.

Reminder: Send Essays to Me! (Revised)

2009-10-09T08:21:00.003-05:00

All 12th graders, and any 9th graders who haven't, you need to send me the essays you wrote and/or turned in to the sub in my absence just before Sukkot. I would like to be able to look them over before returning to classes next week!

Hope you all enjoyed your time away from classes. Let's come back ready to jam-- 5 weeks before Thanksgiving!

The Odyssey: Easy to Understand?

2009-09-16T20:18:00.002-05:00

We've read the better part of two books of the Odyssey this week: Book One, where we learn of Odysseus' plight, and Book Five, where the beautiful sea-nymph/goddess Calypso releases him to begin his journey home. Book One was an exerpt from a Penguin Classic text, and Book 5 (as well as the rest of the selections we'll be reading) comes from our Norton Anthology.
I'm wondering if my students actually understand what's going on, aside from being inundated with hard-to-pronounce names and repetitive phrases (which, I promise, you will come to enjoy). Which translation do you like better, having only read a small bit? Do you feel strongly about reading it in one translation over another? Do you feel like class discussion helps? Do you need to look at SparkNotes anyway?
Discuss here. If you know that some of your friends are not yet subscribed to the blog, please ask them to come visit, register for updates, and respond to the question above. I'll close discussion in a week.

Hood's Hero's Journey PowerPoint up!!

2009-09-10T16:50:00.003-05:00

The Hero's Journey PowerPoint that I showed in class today (boys 11/12) is now available in the 11/12 Assignments and Handouts folder on the right of your screen. Please view it as often as you need to in order to be clear on the steps. We will discuss again-- and again, and again, no doubt-- through the year to relate the steps in the process to what we're doing.

Hope everyone has a nice weekend! Only 12 days of school left until Sukkot break!

Summer Reading Questions Reminder, 11/12

2009-08-29T17:40:00.002-05:00

Juniors and Seniors in both schools: reminder that your questions for either "Siddhartha" or "Joy Luck Club" are due by Wednesday to me. I am no longer taking "The Namesake" questions. I will have essay options for you on Monday if you would rather write a short paper over one of the books (Namesake or JLC for girls, Namesake or Siddhartha for boys.) I already have a test made up for Siddhartha and would prefer that, if you choose to take a written test, you take one over Siddhartha. However, you should decide by Monday which you want to do, and we will plan accordingly for those who would prefer an in-class test to a paper.

Hope you all enjoyed your Shabbos and weekend. See you Monday!

Theatre and Aristotle

2009-08-27T18:41:00.002-05:00

A good review of Aristotle's Play Elements, which is a good reminder for the boys' chapter five quiz next week!

Buddhism (Some Thoughts for the 11/12 Honors Boys' class)

2009-08-26T20:39:00.002-05:00

In my 11/12 boys' class today, we began discussing the novel Siddhartha, which was the 2nd of their summer reading novels. At the outset, I stated that everything I have read about Buddhism puts me in the camp of "Buddhism is not a religion, but rather a philosophy on how to live a good life."
Then I found this article that brings up this very argument. In preparation for the discussion we'll have over this novel and this "philosophy" over the next few days, you might want to check the article, or others like it, out.

The Hero Cycle

2009-08-15T19:48:00.002-05:00

This is a presentation similar to one I will be presenting in class in the first couple of weeks of school. This comes from Dr. Laura Nicosia, and I cannot take credit for any of it. However, our theme in World Literature this year is "Heroes and their Journeys," so this is a great PPT to refer back to throughout the year.

Joseph Campbell Hero And Quest

View more presentations from Laura Nicosia.

You Can't Run, You Can't Hide

2009-08-05T17:34:00.002-05:00

School is coming! School is coming!

The 2009-10 school year is almost upon us, boys and girls, and I don't know about y'all, but I'm actually excited about it.

I know, I'm the teacher, so I'm automatically a dork, right? I mean, I love school-- I have two extra college degrees (though to be fair, I wouldn't be teaching if I didn't have them), and I am constantly on the lookout for new and fun courses to take to broaden my knowledge base. I know most of my students-- most students in general, I think-- are not like that, but for those of you who do thirst for knowledge, this will be the year for you.

In my 9th grade boys class (I won't have any 10th graders in there, I don't think), we'll be embarking on a year-long project soon after the start of the year. We'll do grammar, poetry, drama, short stories, nonfiction, and maybe even watch a couple of interesting films this year. All my 9th graders are new to me, so welcome! I am excited to have you all and to get to know you.

In my 9/10 girls class, we'll be doing the same sort of things we did last year, with new material-- new stories and essays, new plays, and new projects. Some of you have had me and know what to expect, and others will be brand-new to "Hood's Room"! Welcome!

In my 11/12 Honors classes, both boys and girls, we will make our main focus "The Hero's Journey." After summer reading, we embark upon an epic adventure with Odysseus, learning the process of the hero's call to adventure, refusal, admittance, and journey. We will transfer these concepts to many of the other readings we do this year, and we will be watching quite a few films and documentaries. This means more at-home reading, but hey, you're Honors students-- I feel confident that you can handle it.

Finally, I'll be teaching a new elective this year: Theatre, in both the boys' and girls' schools. I am very excited about this, and have lots of activities for us to do relating to the different concepts and ideas we'll learn about. This class does have a book, you will have readings and homework and tests, but most of it (after the first couple of chapters) is putting together scenes or working on the school plays. There will also be films in this class, and possibly a field trip or two to see some live theatre, if I can swing it.

So there you go, young people! Heads up and smiles on for what I'm sure is going to be a fabulous year! See you soon!

Summer Reading, Part Deux

2009-06-18T16:10:00.006-05:00

Here are the lists for English 9-12 for the fall. You will also be getting a letter in the mail regarding your readings, especially if you are unsure whether you will be in regular or Honors (9/10), or regular, Honors, or AP (11/12). In a couple of weeks, I will also post questions for the readings. Don't worry, they won't be terrible. I am also ok with you emailing me if you have questions on the readings, but I would ask you NOT to use SparkNotes or another online source to do your questions or try to skip the readings. Here are the books:

English 9/10 Regular, GIRLS SCHOOL: all need to read "Tuesdays with Morrie," available at the library if you don't wish to purchase the book, but I would highly recommend it, as we will be doing a project with the book throughout the year. The other text for 9th graders in the regular class is " Maus I" and Maus II"-- this is a two-volume Holocaust story written in graphic novel style. Any of last year's 9th graders will have copies of this that they may let you borrow, if you ask nicely:).
The 10th grade regular class (this will be combine with the 9th grade regular girls, and if you're not sure, please email me or Mrs. Kutliroff) should also read "Tuesdays with Morrie" and "Of Mice and Men," a short but very good novel. All are available at the library or bookstores, and you can probably find used copies as well. There are questions that I will make available soon, but most of our work on these will be in class.

English 9/10 Regular, BOYS SCHOOL: same as above reading for 9th graders: "Tuesdays with Morrie" and "Maus I and II." There are questions for Maus which I will make available soon. "Tuesdays with Morrie" is also available to listen to on CD, but if you choose this option you must also have the book for class.

English 11/12 Regular BOYS: At this point, I do not think I will be teaching this class, but that could change as we get further into the summer. For the time being, direct your questions about this to Mrs. Tsuna or Mrs. Kutliroff. You, too, will get letters in the mail regarding your reading, and questions over the reading will be available soon. The books are as follows:
* "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri. This is kind of a long book but it is not difficult to read and is very contemporary.
* A choice of one of the following: "The Known World" by Edward Jones or "The Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card. These are both fairly contemporary novels. Questions will follow, probably from Mrs. Tsuna.

English 11/12 HONORS, Boys School and Girls School:
All 11/12 are reading "The Namesake" and boys will read "Siddhartha" by Herman Hesse. This is not a long book but it is very deep and will require your attention. The girls in 11/12 who are not taking AP are in this Honors section, and will read "The Joy Luck Club" as their 2nd novel. This book is not long but not too short, and is also very contemporary. Please do the readings. The questions I ask are not "SparkNote" answerable.

Please have your readings done within the first week of school and be prepared for a reading test or a writing assignment for either one. And as always, email or text me if you have questions!! Enjoy your summer!

Summer Reading Coming Soon!

2009-06-16T16:59:00.002-05:00

I know many of you are anxious to know what's going to be on the Summer Reading list this year, whether you're ready to get started reading or just want to know what to avoid as long as possible:) This list has been compiled in recent days and will be available before the end of the month. I will post the list as well as put a downloadable document on the page. Please pass the info along to your friends, but also be looking for info in the mail. Some of you will be in classes that you might not have thought you'd end up in-- so if you have questions about which class you'll be in, you should email me sometime early July. We are still working on the schedule, so be patient. We will get the info out to you as soon as we can!

Enjoy your summer!

"An Enemy of the People" performed by the boys' school

2009-05-29T07:17:00.002-05:00

On Wednesday May 27, the boys' high school put on a fantastic performance of Ibsen's "An Enemy of the People" (re-written by Arthur Miller). Andrew Tavin, a senior who I regrettably did not have the opportunity to teach this year, was the show's star, and many of our other boys-- Yosef Gersten, Ariel Cooper, Luky Guigui, and Avi Goldstein, to name but a few of our talented boys-- gave outstanding performances as well.

It is with excitement that I announce I will be teaching drama in the girls' school next year. I hope we can also offer the program to the boys at some point, but I am really excited about all the possibilities that this brings to the theatre program.

Here are a few photos from the performance. Enjoy!

End of Year Checklist

2009-05-14T17:18:00.002-05:00

Ladies and gentlemen... your attention, please.....
In case anyone's been living under a rock over the last few weeks, spring fever has hit the students at MHAFYOS *hard*-- and it's difficult to think about much other than the impending summer vacation.
Yet, I feel the need to remind my students that we do still have about 12 days of classes left, culminating in a two day final test over this semester's material. I know, it's exciting to think about what we'll all be doing this summer. I'm just as ready as everyone else to take a break from the learning and schedules and writing.
I just need your attention for a few more weeks, students. You have several assignments left to turn in to me, not the least of which is your final research paper draft. I'm a big fan of "To Do" lists, and have made one up for my students to remind you all what you have left to do. I'm putting a copy of it in the 11/12 assignments folder, and will also have copies for everyone Monday. Please keep this list and check off the items as you complete them, and before you know it, you will be heading out the door for the last time until August!

Welcome Back from Break and a Research Paper Change

2009-04-19T16:07:00.005-05:00

Welcome back, students!! I hope you all had a wonderful Passover and enjoyed your time off. Now, let's try to finish out the school year strong-- something most of you can't help but do since we have a research paper due in a little more than a month; don't forget that this paper comprises most of your 4th quarter grade but that missing deadlines will seriously compromise the grade.

On that note, this is to let you know I'm changing one of the upcoming deadlines: this Wednesday, your notecards and final thesis statements are supposed to be due. Instead, I'm going to move that deadline back to April 28, which is also when your final outlines and rough drafts are due. The rough draft is worth 300 points, the final outline 100; you need a minimum of 15 notecards that are worth 10 points apiece, and more than 15 (3 per source) will get you extra points.

I'm also aware that I may not have some of you for classes on April 28, as it is Yom Haatzmaut. Your papers are still due to me that day, or you can turn them in the day before. You will lose points each day for each item that is late, and I want to get them back to you in a timely manner so you can get your final drafts and paper packages together, so please do not be late with these papers!

Research Reminders!!

2009-03-30T12:06:00.001-05:00

All students need to be reminded that your bibliographies are due on Thursday, April 2. If you're already going to be gone, please get them to me before you leave. They must be typed. If you're still unsure about how it should look, please ask me after class or send me an email.
I know we're all looking forward to our break, and I hope everyone's goes well!

Shakespeare's Portrait Unearthed

2009-03-15T09:24:00.005-05:00

For Shakespeare scholars and enthusiasts alike, a newly-found portrait of the most famous playwright on Earth may just be the most exciting thing since the First Folio.
There are just as many skeptics, those people who feel Shakespeare never existed at all but was an amalgamation of several people, or a nobleman writing under a false name. Some people even think it might have been Queen Elizabeth I herself!
Nevertheless, the portrait has brought more attention to the controversy and following of Shakespeare.
The title of this post links to the article, as well as comments at the bottom if you're interested in reading about the theory.
Additionally, there is a novel (fiction, of course) that I invite any of my students to read for extra credit called Chasing Shakespeares. The book is about a grad student who finds a copy of what he believes to be Shakespeare's real signature, and he goes on an adventure to discover the truth. It's an easy book to read and fun for conspiracy theorists and casual readers alike.

Romeo and Juliet Extra Credit Opportunity

2009-03-05T21:04:00.002-06:00

Those interested in extra credit opportunities for Romeo and Juliet have the following options:
*Construct a model of the Globe Theatre. You can make one on your own out of whatever creative materials you can come up with, or you may order a kit online here and put it together.
*All about the Renaissance: Put together a colorful and artistic poster with photos of Shakespeare's plays, images of the playwright himself, costumes and clothing from the time period, etc. In short, do a little research on the time period and put together a work of art. The more colorful, the better-- but sloppy, too many images, or something just slapped onto a posterboard won't get you any, or many, points.
*Music lovers, listen up! Put together a "soundtrack" for a new version of the play. Please do not use the songs in the 1996 Baz Luhrman version, which we will watch in class. You may use the Taylor Swift song if you have to... but just remember, I'm not a fan. The way to turn this option in for a grade is to burn the songs on a CD and list which acts/scenes they correspond to.
*Choose a new time period in which to set at least one scene-- and it cannot be a short scene-- and re-write it. Keep the basic idea, but set it when and wherever you want.

*Points for all these options will be based on creativity and effort. Deadline for the extra credit, if you want it on THIS nine weeks, is March 23, a Monday. If you want it on the last quarter, you'll still need to get it to me before Pesach break.

Research Paper Upcoming Deadlines

2009-02-09T19:25:00.002-06:00

Reminder: working thesis statements are due for all this Thursday, February 12. They are worth 50 points and you will lose points each day you turn them in late, so please make sure you get them in on time!!

Also, 9th and 10th graders should plan on a test over Act I of Romeo and Juliet, tentatively, for Monday Feb. 16th. Obviously, if we don't finish Act I by Friday, that won't be the case, but please attend class and bring your books so you don't get left behind!

Shakespeare Take Home

2009-02-07T15:44:00.002-06:00

Just a reminder to all students-- your Shakespeare take-home test, based off the notes we went over in class, is due on Monday. I will not take it past Monday; there are three students who are at YUNMUN who are exempt from that due date. Otherwise, please be sure to look at the notes through the blog (the 11/12 link is now fixed!!) to answer the questions. And don't forget to do it in PEN!!!!

Also, we will begin reading Romeo and Juliet and The Tempest in earnest on Monday. I am really excited about the reading-- I always notice something new and have so much fun with the readings! I hope you all enjoy the plays as well and gain some insight on drama and literature through one of the world's best writers. There will be an optional project assigned toward the end of the reading; keep checking in here for updates.

A Neat Link

2009-01-16T19:06:00.002-06:00

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/2007/lessing-lecture_en.html

In English 9, we read a story by Doris Lessing, a fabulous British author. The above is a link to her Nobel Prize speech. She won the prize in 2007.
See, kids, I really *do* pick good authors!!!

Good luck on exams, and don't forget to get your essays in to me.

Midterms Part II

2009-01-08T18:32:00.003-06:00

Most of you probably won't see this before I pass out the midterm study guides tomorrow. That said, I hope most of you read this-- ever--- and spend some time looking over the guides to form specific questions as we move into Review Week.
This may be one of your more difficult midterms, but before you begin to complain about it, please keep in mind that your complaints, while heard, are not going to change the test. I would not be doing my job well if I gave you an "easy" exam. Nor would you be doing yourselves justice if you didn't study and take this exam seriously.
Some of the issues that I, and other teachers, deal with often (and lately, in certain parts of the school) include how to do our jobs while dealing with the multitude of other things going on in the school during the day. Part of a teacher's job is to prepare you for the future-- not just the immediate, forseeable future, but the long-term future. We are here to guide you and to help you become better people, not only academically but morally, socially, and emotionally. School should be a place of learning first, and fun second. In the last weeks, I think that the focus of school has become "how do we have fun and get away with doing things we shouldn't be doing"-- and in reaction, I (and others) have had to become stricter.

You should understand that this strictness and intolerance comes from a place of love. As older teenagers, you should understand the consequences of your actions, and how to correct your behaviors to avoid conflicts in the future. No one is perfect-- but we can all strive to change our behaviors and avoid "poking the alligator with a stick" in the future. If the alligator gets poked too often, what do you think the gator will do?

Happy New Year! (And a Note on Midterms)

2009-01-01T10:21:00.003-06:00

In case any of you are checking this over the break for updates (because I know you're all so excited about returning to school!), I wanted to wish you all a happy New Year! We've just got a few days left until we return for the end of the first semester and exams....
Which brings me, of course, to my next reason for posting today. Midterms are coming up, and I'm sure more than a few of you are wondering, "what will she put on our midterm?"

Well, the quick answer is: grammar and writing. If you can remember way back to the beginning of the school year when we all did some grammar-- some off of worksheets, some related to SAT prep--well, that will appear in some form on your midterm. If you still have those packets, dust 'em off, because you'll need them for review and for studying. If you've lost or misplaced yours, please ask a fellow classmate if you may borrow theirs to make copies.

The other component will be writing. You will all-- each of my classes-- have an extra, take-home portion of your exam which will consist of an essay prompt. The essay due date has not yet been determined, but it will have to be turned in via www.turnitin.com, and you will also be required to email or text me when you turn it in that way, as well as email me a copy as an attachment (.doc or .docx files ONLY, so make sure you use a program that allows you to save work that way!) Additionally, there will be an in-class essay portion, certainly not as long or as detailed as your take-home, that you will work on. Across all of my classes, we will be focusing more on writing this upcoming semester than we have so far, though there will certainly also be quite a bit of reading.

Other changes are in the wind, as well, so be prepared to check this more often and be prepared to discuss topics and offer opinions here, too. It will be part of your grade from now on.

See you all soon!

Bad Weather? Assignments still due!

2008-12-15T20:28:00.002-06:00

This is a reminder to my 9th graders that even if we're out of school on Tuesday for winter weather, your essays are due to me. So far, I have had 4 turned in-- two in class, two via email-- and expect the rest of your essays tomorrow. So the weather is not an excuse.
Also, tests will go on as scheduled for 11/12, 10th, and Spanish later in the week. Please spend some time reviewing your work if we are not in class tomorrow!

Gooooooooooooooo MACS!

2008-12-13T22:26:00.004-06:00

I just returned home from the Cooper Macs Basketball Invitational and wanted to tell all the boys congrats on win THREE for the weekend, and I hope the rest goes well! The boys played well and there was a fantastic turn-out. One thing I love about the community is how everyone is so connected and supportive of everyone else; I was able to talk with parents, administrators, students, and visitors to the school, and it's always wonderful to me, while also wonderous, that I've been welcomed into the "fold."
Toddah Rabbah to the community and Mazel Tov to the boys!

Turn It In and Bring It In

2008-12-06T20:30:00.002-06:00

Special message for my 9th graders (all of you!):
A reminder that you need to turn your papers in to me through www.turnitin.com; if you don't have the info, please ask a classmate. I will not grade your papers until you have turned one in through the site, but I have extended the allowable deadline through Monday evening to do so.

Also, girls: you need your copy of The Bean Trees on Monday in class, and you should also bring your question packet.

Boys, you need your copy of A Separate Peace on Monday. I will have your study packets/questions for you then, and a reading schedule.

**I will pass out your essay prompts and rubrics in class on Monday, and have changed the deadline for these to be turned in until Monday, Dec. 15. Again, you will use TurnItIn.com to pass them through for "inspection."

JUNIORS/SENIORS: PLEASE BRING YOUR TEXTBOOKS ON MONDAY. We will have a short PowerPoint on Sir Gawain before we begin reading.

See you on Monday!

It's Gonna Be One of Those Weeks

2008-11-30T15:08:00.002-06:00

Ah, Thanksgiving. The time to reflect on the blessings we have in our lives, but also a time to prepare for the end of the calendar year. And in the case of my students, a time to get a LOT of work done and turned in, before the semester and mid-term exams close in on us and we realize there's a half a year, gone already!

In this vein, I want to remind my students in all classes of the large amount of work that is due this week. Juniors and seniors have three fairly large assignments due to round out our month-long unit on The Canterbury Tales: Monday, your Pilgrim's Tales are due; Wednesday, your journals-- a total of four-- are due, and Friday, your extension activities. Be reminded that each day your work is late is a 10 point deduction, and this includes the weekends!!!

Freshmen have an historical essay due to me on Friday, on a limited topic of your choice. Keep in mind that an essay, by definition, is on a very narrow and specific subject, and try to narrow down your topic of discussion accordingly. If you feel you have a lot of information, you may want to save some of it for your research papers, which we will work on in the spring semester. Also, keep your questions for class and we will spend some time discussing the historical essay format in class this week, before the essay is due.

Sophomores have their Emerson response essays due on Wednesday; be sure to ask questions before then, should you have them. We will read Thoreau this week and also begin some Poe, which should be exciting!

Finally, a reminder to the freshmen that you will need your novels by next Monday, and each day you do NOT have them in class will cost you points: "The Bean Trees," by Barbara Kingsolver for the girls, and "A Separate Peace," by John Knowles, for the boys. Both of these are excellent novels and I think you will enjoy them. Feel free to start reading if you have your books already! These will carry us up through the Winter break and into the first week of January, and will be included on your midterms.

Speaking of midterms....
I will pass out a study guide as soon as we return from the Winter Break, but for all classes, anything covered in the first semester is fair game for the exam, and you would do well to start going back through your notes, grammar packets, and tests/quizzes.

Giving Thanks and Doing Work

2008-11-24T18:08:00.002-06:00

Last night was the boys annual Steak Dinner, which was fantastic in its production, company, and presentation. Ethan Addess played beautiful music for us and did a spectacular job on the video; the actors in the video were all also entertaining and a few may even have careers in acting ahead of them! Special thanks to those who made the evening possible as well... the list is long, and distinguished, and I can't replicate it here.

Short week for all, but the juniors and seniors have a LOT, and I mean, a LOT of work to do. Tomorrow is the big test over the Canterbury Tales; "The Knight's Tale" work is due tomorrow as well. Monday December 1 is the due date for the Pilgrim's Tale and Prologue; journals are due on Dec. 3 and Friday Dec. 5 is the due date for extension work-- and remember that you need to discuss your extension activity with me beforehand.

This upcoming weekend is a special one for me; I will be celebrating my 30th birthday. Therefore, I will be unavailable for questions this weekend as far as work is concerned... but please feel free to send me emails on Wed. or Friday. I will be happy to help you if I can, but please be understanding of my personal time... it isn't often that I tell my students, "I can't help you." :)

I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and hope you all get to spend some quality time with your families. I think the next few weeks before break will fly by, so let's work on getting some things done so we can come back from our Winter Break refreshed and ready to move on:)

So Much to Do!

2008-11-18T20:41:00.002-06:00

Alrighty there, kiddos, lots going on and lots of work that'll be due within the next couple of weeks for just about all my classes. A quick rundown:

Freshmen: personal or narrative essays are due on Thursday in class, typed, dbl-spaced, between two and four pages. Your final drafts of your short stories are due next Tuesday for the boys and next Wednesday for the girls. If you will not be in school, they are still due, and you will lose five points PER DAY (including each day over the Thanksgiving holiday) for not turning them in! So get those stories in. You will have a writing assignment over the holiday break as well, that will be due early in the week we return (the first week of December); details will follow.

Sophomores: we start the American Renaissance tomorrow in class, and will be reading Emerson and Thoreau before the break, with a writing assignment to follow that will be due mid-week upon return from the holiday. A formal rubric will be passed out later.

Juniors/Seniors: lots, lots, lots of work due and pretty soon! Next Tuesday is a big test over the Canterbury Tales, all of them as well as the Prologue, and the Knight's Tale questions are also due that day. Upon return from the holiday break, your Pilgrim's Tales and Prologues are due that Monday, December 1; your journals (see packet for details) are due on Wed. Dec. 3, and your extension activities are due Friday Dec. 5. I will take any and all of this work before those dates, but for each date listed, that is the final due date. Penalties for late work will be severe for these assignments, and we will be moving on to the next work in the unit, "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" and "Le Morte D'Arthur" (which means, in French, "The Death of Arthur"). Please ask if you have questions, and please turn in work on time.

Whew! Lots to do, lots coming up and going on. I hope you are all pleased with your first quarter grades and if you are not, you should see me to talk about what you can do to bring your grades up for the next quarter. Don't throw away or lose your work from the first quarter, as you will probably see much of it re-appear in some form on your midterms.

Also, a big announcement: you will all be doing research papers in the spring. We will speak more specifically about those papers after midterms, so there's nothing to worry about or stress over just yet, but you might want to start thinking about potential topics. You may not use topics you have used in past years for papers, and they must be pre-approved, but we'll get to all that in the spring!

The Upcoming Week

2008-11-09T17:51:00.003-06:00

Here's what's happening this week:

Juniors and seniors: you have work due to me on Tuesday-- the vocabulary, homework questions, and tale analysis for "The Nun's Priest's Tale"; you also have a quiz over the Pardoner's Tale on Tuesday, and the work for that tale will be due by the end of the week. We will have a writing and conference day on Wednesday in class, so please bring all your ideas for your pilgrim's story on Wednesday.... I don't expect it to be written, but I want to see at least ideas or an outline.

Sophomores will be doing Romantic poetry this week (and by Romantic, I don't mean "a rose by any other name" kind of stuff-- I mean, American poetry inspired by Nature!), and taking a nature walk to inspire us to create our own poems. Remember, boys, that your persuasive letters are also due to me on Tuesday, an extension from the Monday deadline.

Freshmen will be starting their essay unit on Monday and proceeding through this for the next few weeks; it will include the writing of several essays, as well. Finally, don't forget that your ROUGH DRAFTS are due FRIDAY for your short stories.

Finally, the weather seems to have cooled off and will hopefully stay cool-- it is, after all, November, and that means crisp leaves, clinging desperately to their branches before fluttering silently to the ground, crunching under our feet as we walk back and forth between buildings and around our neighborhoods; warm desserts and yummy hot chocolate, comfy sweaters and boots and scarves. When I think about the fall and winter (which for me, is the holiday season), I think about lots of good food (and sometimes the trips to the gym to work it all off!), spending time with family and friends that I don't get to see much any other time of year, holiday specials on TV, and the general goodwill I see on the faces of those I pass in the grocery store or shopping mall. I dream of snow, knowing I *might* get some every few years.

What do YOU think about when you think about the fall and winter? What are your favorite things to do, favorite foods, smells, days with family?

Last Few Days

2008-11-02T20:07:00.002-06:00

Just a reminder that we have only 3 days until the end of the first quarter, so please be sure to turn in any and all work that is due this week on time-- juniors and seniors, you have questions and three worksheets due to me on Wednesday, and not turning them in will surely adversely affect your grades. Sophomores, due to the election program during class on Monday, we won't actually begin the new unit until Tuesday, and we also need to build in some paper conferencing time as well, as your persuasive essays/letters are due on November 10 (one week!). Freshmen, we are working with setting and point of view this week in preparation to write those short stories, and please keep in mind that your rough drafts are due to me on November 14th!

Most of you are doing pretty well this quarter, so lets try to keep up the hard work! Let's have a great week, and as always, please let me know if you have questions about your writing or other assignments.

Getting Back into the Groove

2008-10-24T08:54:00.002-05:00

As the two week break rapidly draws to a close, I want to remind my students that we have a lot of catching up to do, and that for these next two months, it's really important to be in class and get your work done. There will be a lot of writing for everyone over the next quarter as well, so be ready for that. Here's a brief outline of what we'll be doing:
Freshmen will be writing their own short stories and moving on to reading/writing essays. Towards the end of the year, we will start our novel units; the boys are going to read A Separate Peace and the girls will be reading The Bean Trees, which is a change from the novel we had planned on reading (and has been changed because of time constraints). You won't need your big, thick English books for awhile, but the smaller paperbacks that I signed out to you at the beginning of the year.

Sophomores are going to start the week working on persuasive writing before we move onto the American Romantics and Renaissance; there will be writing involved in that unit as well, possibly even some poetry! The novel unit for 10th grade will begin either at the end of this year or as soon as we return from Winter Break.

Juniors and seniors will be launching, at long last, into The Canterbury Tales on Monday, as soon as we return from break. Bring your textbooks to class. I will be passing out a packet of work and there will be a LOT of writing for this unit, which will last us until Thanksgiving break. We will also be covering Sir Gawain and Le Morte D'Arthur before the Winter Break; this is a huge change from the syllabus, which will have to be massively re-worked in light of how far behind we've fallen.

All is well, though, and I hope you have all enjoyed your break and are ready to get back into the groove. Lots to do, and lots of good things to come! See you all on Monday, and don't worry-- I'll have my Starbucks. Of course, anyone who wants to bring me one, too, ..... :)

Um, Mrs. Hood, I can't leave you a message!!!

2008-10-10T16:57:00.002-05:00

I've had a few of the kids tell me they wanted to leave me comments but have been unable to. I double-checked, and sure enough, I have the preferences enabled for you to leave me comments anytime you want!

So how do you do it? Simple. Go to any of the posts I've left and click where it says "comments"; it will take you to another page where you may leave the comment. You will see some letters in a box that probably don't make any sense, but this is to prove that you are a legitimate user. Type those letters in, and then under that box, there are 3 or 4 options for you to put in an email address or name or whatever.

You should be able to use this feature regardless of whether you have a gmail, yahoo, aol, hotmail, etc. email account. If you click the little round choice next to "name/URL," the system will then ask you to type in your name (URL is only optional and is not required) before it "officially" sends me the comment.

I get an email when someone wishes to leave me a comment, and I will probably approve your comment or the page. Don't let the process overwhelm you, and please leave me notes about the page!

Why my freshmen ROCK!!!

2008-10-08T19:08:00.002-05:00

I graded tests today, and am pleased to say that almost all my students made As on their unit tests. I am so proud of all of you, and look forward to working with you on your creative short stories when we return from Sukkot break!

This Week in English

2008-10-05T21:56:00.002-05:00

Short week, so we're going to have a break from reading and in 10th, 11th, and 12th grade classes we will be watching documentaries pertinent to reading we have either already done or reading we will be doing upon our return from Sukkot. Take notes, kids; there's likely to be a quiz.:) (You're exempt if you're a dormer and leaving early, obviously!)

The freshmen have a unit test on Tuesday, along with a study guide and vocabulary sheet due for a grade. We are also working on generating plot ideas for our own stories, so the week's activities will include brainstorming ideas for those stories.

I'll have grades up for the tests over Sukkot at some point, as well as any other work my students turn in to me this week.

Have a good week, all of you!

Enjoy Yourselves

2008-10-03T17:22:00.003-05:00

Though we still have a few days, technically, of classes left before Sukkot break, I want to wish all my students and their parents, as well as administrators, a wonderful Sukkot and Yom Kippur. I hope you all get rested up and ready to finish out the semester, because when you come back, it's full steam ahead!

Testing, 1...2...3....

2008-09-23T21:03:00.004-05:00

This is a test. This is "only" a test. I'm interested in seeing how many of my students actually visit this page, and I am issuing a "blog readers only" invitation (parents, if you read, please encourage your children to visit, but please do NOT tell them why!):

Write a story of no less than 2 pages, double-spaced and typed, about the photograph I have attached to this post, keeping in mind that a story needs a plot, conflict, characters, rising and falling action, and some sort of ending. I will give you no information to go on-- you are free to make up the background, setting, conflict, and all other elements to go with this. I want to see how creative you are when left to your own devices.

Anyone who completes this assignment and turns it in to me by the time we return from Sukkot break (Oct. 27, so you have a MONTH to do this!) will receive anywhere between 50 and 100 points, essentially replacing a low test or homework grade. The points may not be used on several different assignments-- I will put them all towards your lowest score. The criteria are simple: be creative, type your story, spell-check, and try to push your own limits of creativity. I will also consider the best stories for the Dean's Writing Award.

Ready, set, ........ WRITE!!!

Thank You!!

2008-09-23T17:46:00.002-05:00

Just wanted to take a quick minute to thank all my juniors and seniors for turning in their papers to me today, ON TIME, and with no excuses or griping. I truly appreciate your efforts, and am sure that I will enjoy reading your papers. I'm also looking forward to more creative assignments, and have some things up my sleeves for later in the semester.

Additional thanks to my sophomore boys for turning in their essays on time to me. Again, I think I'm going to be entertained while reading them!

I hope you are all having a great week. Tomorrow: more fun in the world of Old English translations, Thomas Jefferson, and short stories.

What's Happening This Week

2008-09-21T14:08:00.003-05:00

As we inch ever closer to the Jewish New Year, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot, we must make valuable use of our class time. There are days when I will have some of my students, but not others. Monday is one of those. My junior/senior class will be replaced with special speakers from Sderot on this day, talking about the bombings in their community. My 10th grade class will be shortened on Monday due to our first fire drill for the year as well as the Sderot talk. The rest of the week, so far, looks as though we will be able to have time together to get some things done, so here's a little outline for the week:

9th grade: We will journal on Monday at the beginning of class, and will be reading two short stories-- "The Management of Grief" and "Interpreter of Maladies," both excellent stories by accomplished and award-winning authors. There is the possibility of a reading quiz, but it is essential that these stories be read, as they will be covered on the unit test, coming up just before Yom Kippur.

10th grade: We will finish our unit on the Revolutionary era this week by reading Patrick Henry's speech, Thomas Jefferson's original version of the Declaration of Independence, and by chronicling our own "Moral Improvments" in our journals. This is an exercise particularly appropriate to this time of year, when we are seeking to become better versions of ourselves. Also, boys, don't forget that your essays on Edwards' sermon are due on Tuesday in class.

11th/12th grade: Though I won't have the boys on Monday, I will have the girls, and they will get some extra writing time in class. Essays on Beowulf are due on Tuesday for all, no exceptions. The rest of the week will be spent on Beowulf in Translation: various translations of Beowulf, discussed and reported on in groups in class. This ought to be a very interesting exercise on interpretation and creative use of vocabulary, and I'm looking forward to student response on this!

As we close in on all this time off, I'd like to remind my students how proud I am of all their hard work. We have a lot more work this year-- even this semester-- but the majority of you are doing well and keeping up with your work, and I want to thank you for that. I work hard to come up with lessons and activities that I think are beneficial and helpful, and it makes me feel good when you respond by working hard for me. Todah rabah!

There's a New Sheriff in Town!

2008-09-15T22:38:00.002-05:00

I want to say to all of my students how much I am enjoying teaching you. I love the closeness of the community, the small classes that facilitate discussion, and the open communication I have tried to establish so that you all feel comfortable coming to me with issues or questions.

However, I worry that perhaps I've been a bit too lax, and I've also come to realize in the last few days that it isn't just me.... some of it is the students, as well. The boys, especially, are used to having a bit more "free reign" over their part of the school--- coming and going in class as they please, not having consequences when they don't bring their work or class materials. I have tried to maintain a strict policy on this, but today I realized I'm not doing a very good job of this.

So after some reflection, I have decided that the rules must change for ALL of my students, and they must change quickly. Soon, after some reinforcement on this, I believe that it will become second nature for you to get to class on time, prepared, and ready to work. So here are the NEW AND UPDATED CLASS RULES FOR MRS. HOOD'S WORLD:

** You are to be in the classroom when the tardy bell rings. This is for all of my students and for all class times. If you have a break just before my class, you are still expected to be on time. Check your schedule or ask me or another teacher for official "class starting times" if you are unsure. The consequence for being tardy is: 3 tardies = one point off your quarter grade. Two more tardies=another point off. Third period in the girls' school begins at 9:45; Fourth period in the girls' school starts at 10:37.

**You are to have your books, notebooks, journals, and whatever other materials I have asked you to bring, IN CLASS with you WHEN THE BELL RINGS. You don't have all your things? You will be counted late. The tardy rule outlined above will apply. It's silly to lose points for not having your things.

**YOU MAY NOT LEAVE THE CLASSROOM WHILE CLASS IS IN SESSION. USE THE RESTROOM BEFORE CLASS OR ON BREAK; BRING TISSUES WITH YOU TO CLASS.

**When the bell rings, you should be ready to go. I may make small talk while I prepare to hand out papers, write something on the board, or take attendance. But when I ask you to open your books or to quiet down (todah rabah!), please do so so that we may start class. Also, please refrain from beginning discussions with me or amongst yourselves in class that have nothing to do with what we're discussing. They waste our valuable time, and the more time you waste in class, the more time you'll spend on homework. And really, who wants that?

**Speaking of homework.....
As I told all of my students from the beginning of the school year, I do not assign homework every night. Therefore, when I DO assign work, I expect it to be done and handed in on the requested date. Even if you are ill or out for another reason, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK. Email your work to me if you will not be in class the day it is due.
As far as papers/essays/projects are concerned: you will get time in class to work so that we may conference, and I expect you to ask questions. I will almost always give you at least 5 days and up to two weeks to get your essays, etc. done, and therefore there are NO EXCUSES as to why you cannot turn your work in to me on time. The policy from here forward is as follows:
IF YOU DO NOT TURN YOUR PAPERS IN TO ME ON TIME, I WILL CONTACT YOUR PARENTS AND YOU AND I WILL CONFERENCE WITH EITHER MRS. KAMPF/MRS. KUTLIROFF or RABBI SPODEK. I give ample time for work to be done, and I am not accepting any excuses as to why you have not done it.

I hope all of these rules are clear, and I hope you all understand that I am trying to make you successful, productive students. I am always here to help you with any troubles you may have; you just need to ask for help.

The Upcoming Week and Reminders

2008-09-13T16:47:00.004-05:00

Alright, kiddos, we've got two full weeks left before the series of important holidays. We need to squeeze as much productive time out of these next ten days as is humanly possible. Translation: please come to school if you are not ill, please be ON TIME to class, and BRING YOUR BOOKS every day. If you have not brought in a journal yet, we will be using them this week, so make sure you have a notebook that will be used in the classroom and will stay in the classroom.

Here's an outline for the upcoming weeks:

9th grade: We are reading two stories this week, "Our Friend Judith" and "Young Goodman Brown." There is a reading quiz Wednesday over "The Cask of Amontillado" and "Our Friend Judith." The next week, we are reading two more stories and will possibly have a reading quiz over those as well. Keep your eyes open for updates and your ears open in class for info on these.

10th grade: we are starting the week with a writing assignment, and will hopefully move on to the Revolutionary period, which will include Patrick Henry, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson, and another writing assignment and unit quiz or test.

11th/12th grade: we finish up Beowulf this week and there will be an essay on some aspect of the poem, as well as a reading test on Thursday, Sept. 18. The two-sheet handout I gave you at the outset will be due before the test for a grade, and don't forget that the questions I assigned on Friday (page 30 of the text, #s 1, 4-7, and 12) are due for a grade on Monday. I would prefer them typed but if you don't have time for that, at least write them out-- IN PEN ONLY-- to be turned in.

I hope you all had a restful Shabbos and look forward to another great week!

Discussion: Beowulf and the Modern Epic

2008-09-11T19:59:00.003-05:00

In both sections of English 11/12, we've been reading and discussing the classic Anglo-Saxon epic poem, Beowulf. Beginning with an exercise on modern day adventure stories and how certain elements of these stories parallel the classical epic (The Odyssey is our example), both my girls and my boys came up with some excellent examples, showing me that they understand the concept of the hero much better than they think they do!

I'd like to pose a question to my students, in light of our Commemoration today, about modern-day heroes. Given the things we've talked about in relation to Beowulf-- the boasting, the huge feasts, the conflict and intervention of "g-ds"--- what are the qualities that you think make for a "hero" in today's society? In your response, list the qualities of a hero, in order of importance to you. Note if any of the classic elements of a hero story make it into your list, and if not, why not?

Post your responses here. There are no right or wrong answers-- I just want to hear what you are all thinking.

Get Down with the Sickness!

2008-09-09T15:15:00.002-05:00

The Fall Semester Funk has hit, ladies and gentlemen, and it has hit HARD. The boys are dropping like flies, and I'm worried that the girls are not far behind. I fear that I'll be next, or at the very least, that I'll be discussing literature with an empty room.

Though I am generally loathe to tell my students to actually MISS my class, if you are genuinely ill (fever, chills, coughing up stuff, etc.) please use your best judgment about coming to school. We don't want to pass this funkiness along to everyone else. And I especially don't want it, since I have a little one at home who does not do well with funkiness. Plus, how much fun would it be to have a sub? Not much, I can assure you.

Keep in mind, however, that you are responsible for your work while you are absent. In the 9th grade classes, we are reading "Sonny's Blues" today and tomorrow, which is the first short story of the short story unit. There will likely be a pop quiz over the reading at some point this week. You're welcome. My 10th graders finished up "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry G-d" in class today and will move on to Anne Bradstreet tomorrow. Finally, the juniors and seniors began reading Beowulf in earnest today in class, completed one portion of a worksheet on epic devices, and will be working with a second worksheet while we read. There will be a reading assessment in the form of a quiz or test once we complete Beowulf, and there will be a writing assignment, TBD.

I hope you all feel better soon! Remember to get your flu shots as soon as they become available.

How the week is shaping up for grades 9-12

2008-09-07T19:57:00.002-05:00

Good evening students! This week is going to be busy for all of you, starting with the fact that we're all beginning our literature units. For both the boys' and girls' 9th grade sections, remember that you'll be needing your BIG lit books, and that on Monday we'll be viewing a PowerPoint presentation in class over the elements of a short story. If you haven't yet brought your journals to keep in the classroom, you need to get on that-- you get points for bringing it in, and you're going to need it very soon.

In my 10th grade boys' class, we will also begin the week with a PowerPoint on the Puritans before we start our reading selections. Bring your textbooks and your journals.

For my 11th and 12th graders (both classes), we will be delving into the exciting world of Beowulf and early Anglo-Saxon England this week. Be ready for some handouts and pre-reading activities over Beowulf. When we finish the selections from the book, you will also be taking a reading quiz. As another reminder, if I have asked you to re-write your Animal Farm essays, those are due by Friday. Bring your books to class and make sure you have journals in the classroom!

If you notice the links on the right hand side of this blog are labeled for each course. Unfortunately, as of right now they aren't working correctly. This problem will be fixed by the end of the week, and you'll be able to access handouts and other assignments that I am able to put up online.

I hope you all have a great week!!

Mrs. Hood

A Welcome Post!

2008-09-06T16:04:00.003-05:00

You have found the blog for Mrs. Hood's English classes at MHAFYOS. Soon, there will be links to class syllabi, handouts, assignments, and other literature related items of interest. I hope you will come here to discuss the class readings, ask questions about the assignments, and feel comfortable using this as a forum for discussion of literature in general.

Thanks for visiting! Hope to hear from you soon!

Mrs. Hood