Okay, usually I blog on Wednesday, but this week I've gotten a little ahead of myself so. . . ENJOY!
Hey, a few things of note around the classroom: 1) on the front yellow bulletin board, I have a blank (ish) piece of paper for book recommendations - if you love a book or hate a book, add it to the list - Rant is already on it; 2)check out the wall of fame - Ashley Drake has an artistic rendering of the word "zephyr" up there, and as we begin to do more writing, you'll have LOTS of chances to get YOUR work up there for EVERYONE to see; 3)did you see my new "Action Assignment" board posted under the clock? It will just give you a broad overview of the week, and I think it's COOL! Oh, and that white laundry basket over there - that's for recyclable paper!

Did you do your 3-week project? Something you've never done before? I did! You must have done it by Thurs. if you are in F or H period or by Friday if you are in A, B, or C period. You don't need to write anything down until class. Thursday and Friday are also picture days - look pretty!

Vocabulary lesson 3:

1. meticulous - adj. - particular about details, fussy
2. opulent - adj. - wealthy, luxuriant
3. peripheral - adj. - external, tangential, not central
4. ponderous - adj - heavy; dull or tiresome
5. prolific - adj. - producing a lot; producing many children
6. raze - v - to destroy or tear down
7. repudiate - v - to reject
8. salutary - adj. - healthy; useful
9. unlettered - adj. - unsophisticated, ignorant, unschooled
10. stringent - strict or severe

Honors:
11. coddle - v - to spoil or to treat indulgently
12. spendthrift - n - one who wastes money
13. hoodwinked - v - deceived or cheated
14. tatterdemalion - n - a raggedy person, a hobo
15. gingerly - adv. - carefully

Ex. Credit:
sphygmomanometer
unciform
elephant folio
anaphora
iatraliptic

Phew! I think that's everything! Don't forget sentences or studying for the quiz!
Are you reading at home? Get to it!
This week is one of my favorites, because we talk about my PASSION for reading and for making meaning from the text and for choosing our own books and dialogue journals! Hooray!

Hi, there! Did you miss me yesterday? Did you notice I wasn't here? Did you cry? Never fear! I'm back again!

REMEMBER: Three-week projects are due NEXT WEEK (9/27 or 9/28)! Have you got a plan? I do. I just hope I can get it finished in time.

Would you like the vocabulary words for week 2? I am happy to oblige . . .

Vocab. 2

1. dogmatic - adj. - certain that opinions and beliefs are true, arrogant
2. embellish - v - to decorate; to elaborate upon or add to
3. esoteric - adj. - understood by only a select few
4. facilitate - v - to make easier
5. furtive - adj. - sneaky, secretive
6. hedonist - n - one who lives for pleasure
7. immutable - adj. - never changing
8. incorrigible - adj. - unable to be reformed
9. irrefutable - adj. - cannot be disproved
10. latent - adj. - present but invisible, hidden and undeveloped

Honors:
11. amorphous - adj. - shapeless
12. benison - n - blessing
13. celerity - n - speed, rapidity
14. doldrums - n - blues, sadness
15. extemporaneous - adj. - impromptu, unplanned

Extra Credit:
tarantism
grok
psychasthenia
zoolatry

Excellent!
All classes have vocabulary quizzes on Thursday and Friday this week. Study! Write your sentences! Get a 100!

We're starting work on writing this week. You'll be getting an "Expectations for Writing Workshop" sheet in class. Pretty soon we'll be getting "Smiley Face Tricks." Are you pumped or what?

Don't forget to read at home!

Hello, my friends!

Wow! You're visiting my BLOG! It's taken me a week to get things up and running (I forgot my password), but here we are!

Don't you love English so far? Reading and writing territories and "fablious" stories about nose rings and concussions and all the rest. . .

Okay, a few business reminders:
1) 3 week projects due 9/27 or 9/28 - do something you've never done
before
2) Vocabulary 1 quizzes are on Thursday and Friday for B,D,F,H pds.
3) We still need to talk about homework!!!!!!!!!!!
Honors: You should be reading 1/2 hr. per night at least
four nights per week and doing writing (starting
next week) for at least 1 hour per week.
C1: You should plan on 1/2 hr. per night at least three
nights per week and writing 1/2 hour per week.
C2: We'll talk in class!
4) Honors folks - make sure you've turned in your notecards and
Fahrenheit 451 books.
5) Has everyone turned in the reading and writing survey?

This week's vocabulary is:

Vocabulary 1:

1. aberration - n - something unusual, a deviation; a mental disorder
2. august - adj - majestic, awesome, inspiring respect
3. antagonism - n - hostility, anger
4. autonomy - n - independence, self-government
5. cajole - v - to persuade with flattery or pleasant words
6. chastise - v - to scold or criticize
7. commodious - adj - roomy, spacious
8. cryptic - adj - secret, having hidden meaning
9. deprecate - v - to express disapproval, to berate
10. diminution - n - a reduction or lessening

Honors only:
11. vociferous - adj - noisy
12. winsome - adj - agreeable, gracious, engaging
13. wizened - adj - withered, shriveled
14. yokel - n - country bumpkin
15. zephyr - n - gentle breeze

Extra credit: granny dumping, tintinnabulation