Nicholasa Mohr's "The Wrong Lunch Line" & Portrait
Smithsonian: Portrait of Nicholasa Mohr
Week 8 Syllabus: October 9-12
THE TRIDENT OF ENGLISH SKILLS WE’VE WORKED on include: a) reading—for academic study and for pleasure; b) annotation—how to take notes while you read, in order to become a better reader; and c) writing (argument) paragraphs—using a claim, reason(s), and evidence. These skills we will practice and hone all year. We’re moving out of our study of Curious Incident and Sherlock Holmes into our short story unit. For each story, we will practice these skills, annotating, discussing, and writing for each story. Our first is set in NYC post World War 2, and describes two young girls, one Jewish and one Catholic.
TUESDAY, October 10
Starting with SSR. Post an update to our google sheet about your book, adding a second book if you have started one—and even if you haven’t.
Re-reading “The Wrong Lunch Line.” While doing so, remember to annotate:
Circle vocabulary;
Write out the questions you have as a reader;
Take notes on passages that would help you answer this question: How are both Yvette and Mildred in conflict with their school and the adults in their world?
Small group read-around: “East Harlem’s Nicholasa Mohr One of the First Puerto Rican Writers Published by a Commercial House,” by Harlem World.
Time permitting, we will begin work on the google spread sheet.
HW: Working on a google sheet to pre-write a claim for your paragraph on “The Wrong Lunch Line”—check your NT school email account for the link to the document. Complete parts A, B and C.
6th Period discussion notes on “Run”
WEDNESDAY, anchor day
Viewing clips for the new Burns documentary "America and the Holocaust," background for the Nicholasa Mohr's story about Jewish and Catholic girls who are friends in 1946 America:
Introduction to Jews in America
Later selection about Jewish immigrationHW: Revisit your google sheet, adding to it background that you discovered about the story via today’s documentaries.
Thursday, October 12—”Back to School” Night
No independent reading tonight!
Quick introductions by myself and Ms. Tamvakis.
Overview of the google-sheet, and then writing a paragraph on the short story using our “cheeseburger” structure. You will use the claim from the A-B-C google sheet for a topic sentence (adding Nicholasa Mohn, “The Wrong Lunch Line,” and short story).
HW: Submit your paragraph to Canvas after finishing it. Then, read everyone’s paragraph, selecting the THREE best from all the students (6th and 8th period combined).
Week 7 Syllabus: October 2-6
THIS WEEK WE WILL CONTINUE TO PRACTICE some of the core skills introduced early in the quarter: annotating a short story, writing a paragraph, working in small groups to solve a set problem. Remember that your marginal notes should reflect the reader’s dialogue with the text, about meaning. What does the writer want you to understand? Remember that body paragraphs should use the cheeseburger organizational method—with evidence in the middle as the burger, surrounded by your ideas—the buns. Finally, when working in small groups, introduce yourself to the group, sharing something about yourself. You will work better with one another if you know the people with whom you’re working.
TUESDAY, October 2
This week we will start each day with independent reading, including anchor days! 10 minutes of reading a) a printed book of your choice that b) you haven’t read before and c) is interesting to you. Come to class ready.
We will pick up the documentary about Owen Suskind, “Life, Animated,” and we will also complete the following study guide questions.
HW: We are completing the documentary tomorrow. Tonight review your annotations in the summer reading, skimming pages 1-74 of Curious Incident. I’m going to be looking for a) vocab circled, b) questions you wrote in the margins, and c) notes on Christopher, who he is and what he believes.
HALF THE CLASS did not turn in the answers to the study guide questions on page 1-74 in CI. GET THAT DONE.
WEDNESDAY, anchor day
Finishing the Jeremy Brett version of Sherlock Holmes in “The Speckled Band,” as well as watching selections from two modern versions of the tale, both of which are science-fiction: Dr. Who & Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Results of the thinking puzzle: on which day and date did Dr. Grimsby Roylott die?
Writing assignment: posted on Canvas, complete and post onto squarespace your paragraph analyzing Sherlock Holmes’s character.
HW: Finish the aforementioned paragraph.
Friday, October 6
Reading our independent books for twenty minutes: note: you will have better reading improvement if your are reading a longer, cohesive book of your own choosing, rather than reading episodically from shorter, different works.
Reading aloud and discussing your Sherlock paragraphs.
Last 10 minutes, re-vising your Sherlock paragraphs and re-posting it as a comment to your first draft on Squarespace.
HW: Read and annotate the short story, “The Wrong Lunch Line.” While reading, a) circle vocabulary, b) write out the questions you have as a reader, and c) pay attention to how the two girls are similar AND dissimilar.
¶ on Sherlock: Why is he an effective detective?
Based upon your close reading of the story, why is Sherlock so good at what he does? Begin this assignment by brainstorming a list of characteristics. “He solved the crime,” isn’t a good answer to this question. What traits make him an effective detective? Rather than building a LIST of traits, choose ONE and write a paragraph on google docs using the cheeseburger structure we’ve studied.
Then, post your paragraph as a comment to this blog entry.
When you click on the comment bubble, Squarespace should launch a comment box, into which you can paste your paragraph. Once you click on “Submit,” you can comment as a guest. Type your first and last name, and your NEW TRIER email address. You should leave the URL box BLANK, and then hit “submit.”
Sherlock Holmes: "The Adventure of the Speckled Band"
Watch the great, late Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes in “The Adventure of the Speckled Band” above.
You can also access the following resources here:
A copy of the short story, should you lose your hard copy;
A study guide to solving this particular mystery;
Homage to Sherlock via Star Trek TNG: Elementary, My Dear Data
Week 5 Syllabus: September 18-22
THIS WEEK IS CATCH UP WEEK FOR SUBMITTING WORK into Canvas. By the end of this week, you should have finished six assignments, including the signed course expectations, a practice annotation/discussion/paragraph we wrote about poem, a Q&A worksheet on the summer reading, annotations of CI, annotations of the “Voices of Autism,” and a paragraph comparing Christopher and Owen.
TUESDAY, September 19
Shortened day because of late start.
We will begin, as always, with independent reading. Remember, you are to bring that book with you. If you finish it, pick up a new book in the library during your free period or a lunch. You will NOT have time to do what during our reading time.
Entering the author, title, and what page # you’re on in the book into a google sheet.
Catch-up day: So far, there’s three assignments in the gradebook (signed course expectations, the “About Competition” annotation, discussion notes, and paragraph; and answers to CI studyguide questions. Today I will start entering grades for your CI annotations of the first few chapters, and I’ll start collecting the printed paragraphs comparing Christopher and Owen.
HW: Catch up day. Make sure you’ve finished all FIVE of the aforementioned assignments, that the first three are graded, and that the last two are turned in.
WEDNESDAY, anchor day
Taking the nationally-normed STAR reading assessment. These results will be shared with students. Taking the exam is counted in our “non-graded” category in Canvas.
HERE’S THE LINK TO THE STAR reading assessment. You will take this online. Your user ID is your NT id number. Your password is your birthdate (8 digits, month/day/year).
https://global-zone50.renaissance-go.com/welcomeportal/737639
HW: If not done, turn in your answers to the thinking questions on Forster’s “The Machine Stops” into Canvas. You are uploading that as a pdf (answers must be typed). Due before class on Thursday.
Friday, September 15
Independent reading.
Discussion in Great Books format on the film, Life, Animated.
We’re going to start reading one of Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes detective stories. There are occasionally long, complex sentences. Here’s the one that Christopher in Curious Incident focused upon:
“Learn then from this story not to fear the fruits of the past, but rather to be circumspect in the future, that those foul passions whereby our family has suffered so grievously may not again be loosed to our undoing.”
What is the importance of Sherlock Holmes? Where do we see detectives in our culture? What is the American fascination with crime and solving crimes?
After in introduction to Holmes and how to read, “Sherlock Holmes and the Speckled Band,” we will start reading the story, getting through the first 5 pages or so.
HW: Finish reading and annotating the short story for class on Tuesday. Please use the audio, and annotate by: a) circling vocabulary, b) writing out the questions your have, as a reader, and c) take particular note on how Holmes behaves, and how he solves the crime (clues).
Week 4 Syllabus: September 11 - 15
IF YOU ARE MISSING EITHER THE ANNOTATIONS on the selections from “Voices of Autism,” or you haven’t completed the study guide questions on pages 1-74 from Curious Incident, get that done ASAP. Like today! Ms. Tumvakis and I will be grading this week and updating the Canvas grades. So now is the time to get that complete. We will finish our work on the summer reading this week, and also begin a battery of reading assessments, one for NT and one of the entire class of 2027. Our next unit will be a series of short stories.
TUESDAY, September 12
This week we will start each day with independent reading, including anchor days! 10 minutes of reading a) a printed book of your choice that b) you haven’t read before and c) is interesting to you. Come to class ready.
We will pick up the documentary about Owen Suskind, “Life, Animated,” and we will also complete the following study guide questions.
HW: We are completing the documentary tomorrow. Tonight review your annotations in the summer reading, skimming pages 1-74 of Curious Incident. I’m going to be looking for a) vocab circled, b) questions you wrote in the margins, and c) notes on Christopher, who he is and what he believes.
HALF THE CLASS did not turn in the answers to the study guide questions on page 1-74 in CI. GET THAT DONE.
WEDNESDAY, anchor day
Collecting and grading your copy of CI. Have your name written on the book-ends of yoru copy. You will get it back in class today, or on Friday.
Finishing the documentary today. We will also review the study guide questions. Time permitting, we will start these in class, and you’ll finish them as homework.
HW: Finish the thinking questions for Life, Animated.
Friday, September 15
Taking the NT English Department reading assessment.
Overview of body paragraph structure (for your comparison/contrast assignment).
Beginning to write the first draft of that unit assessment (paragraph comparing Owen and Christopher). We start by practicing writing claims (When comparing these two, what is the MOST important, LEAST obvious similarity between them? Knowing this, what does one realize about them?)
HW: Write your first, best draft of the paragraph comparing Owen and Christopher. Typed. Doublespaced. Printed onto paper. Proofread ALOUD. Changes made and re-printed for class on Tuesday.
Also, research “Sherlock Holmes.” What can you find out about him? Why is Christopher obsessed with him? Why is Sherlock so popular, even today?
Week 3 Syllabus: September 4-8
OUR CLASS HAS PRACTICED ALL OF OUR IMPORTANT routines for the class—how we hold discussions, how to submit homework on Canvas using Scan Genius, how to complete a google survey, posting a paragraph to Squarspace, and after discussing style and content, posting a revision to your original comment to be graded. This week we will begin watching a documentary about a young American man with autism, featured in Disney’s Life, Animated. We will write a comparison/contrast paragraph about the main character in our summer novel and the subject of the film.
WEDNESDAY, September 6
Meeting in the NF library to discuss how to investigate and locate possible books of interest, using: Goodreads, Novelist, NT library catalog, via keywords, subject headings, and reviews.
Rules for your independent reading include:
Must be a book you have not read.
Must be of interest to you (either by author, genre, subject, style)
Bust be a printed book with words
HW: Read and annotate this handout (on paper—print it out if you didn’t get a copy in class).
Friday, September 8
Cleaning up assignments that might now have been turned in. You should have submitted:
Two drafts of a ¶ on the poem “About Competition” on Squarespace;
The first draft of that ¶, stapled to your class discussion notes and your annotations on the poem;
A survey via a google form (included a ¶ about favorite animal, and story about that animal);
Signed course expectations submitted to Canvas via Scan Genius
Small group work on study guide questions for the first 74 pages of Curious Incident.
We will spend the last 40 minutes of class to begin the documentary, Life, Animated.
HW: Type your answers to the study guide questions.
Week 2 Syllabus: August 28-September 1
SO FAR YOU HAVE COMPLETED THREE assignments: a survey about yourself that includes a story about an animal, a paragraph about “About Competition” posted to our squarespace blog, and a signed course expectations sheet submitted to Canvas via Scan Genius. On top of that, you have annotated the poem, participated in a group discussion, and turned those in stapled to a printed copy of your paragraph on the competition poem. If ANY of these are incomplete, do those TODAY. This week we will practice re-annotating the first 75 pages of the summer reading, and write answers to a series of questions about those same pages. BRING YOUR COPY OF CURIOUS INCIDENT EACH DAY.
TUESDAY, August 29
Review of syllabus and homework submitted.
Cheating: a how-to guide compliments of NT Board of Education
Selecting the three BEST paragraphs posted on squarespace blog.
HW: Re-read an annotate pages 1-10 in Curious Incident: circle vocab words, write out your questions as a reader, and add notes on what type of person Christopher is.
Wednesday, August 30 (BSAD)
We will use the audio from the novel (click here) to listen to while re-reading an practice annotations.
HW: Re-read an annotate the NEXT ten pages from the novel (from where ever you get to in class). Your revision of the poem ¶ is due in class on Friday.
Friday, September 1
Reposting your revised as a comment to your original post on squarespace. This is the draft I will grade in Canvas.
Small group work on the student paragraphs selected Wednesday by the OTHER class. You will practice discussing writing using our two pronged method: What did the writer do well, and where do you see that? And what could the writer do better, and how?
Crossword!
HW: Finish re-reading The Curious Incident, up to page 74, for class on Wednesday
Paragraph on poem, "About Competition"
As a comment, post your entire paragraph about the aforementioned poem, one that explains what the poem means. Remember, your paragraph should include a direct quote! After posting, read other students’ paragraphs, selecting the three best paragraphs (IYO).
NOTE: When you click on “Post Comment,” you will be prompted to comment as a guest. Type your first and last name, as you are known at school. Add your NEW TRIER email address, 2028xxx@student.nths.net. Leave the URL space blank, and then select <SUBMIT>
Week 1 Syllabus: August 21-27
WELCOME TO NEW TRIER HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH. Each weekly syllabus will begin with a short paragraph that describes where we’ve been, what we’ve learned, where we’re headed, what’s coming next, and what’s the big picture. This week we will establish routines—writing while you read, how to take notes during discussions, using Squarespace and Canvas. I will also include reminders—such as this: bring your copy of Curious Incident to class starting this Thursday. If you haven’t finished it, get it read by next Tuesday, August 29.
MONDAY: Anchor Day Schedule
Introduction to Canvas & Squarespace.
How to read a poem.
Reading and annotating, “About Competition.”
HW: re-read the poem, and write notes on the poem: a) What do I notice? and b) What does it (the poem) mean?
Wednesday, August 23
Reviewing poetry rules.
Discussion of poem (practicing routines, pre-post discussion writing, note taking)
Picture day.
Time permitting, writing a paragraph. (What does Bukowski want us to learn about competition and the secret to success?)
HW: If you have not done so, finish reading Haddon’s novel by class on Tuesday.
Also, have a printed copy of your ¶ ON PAPER with you for class on Thursday.
Friday, August 25
Classroom expectations.
Killer Kane and the growth mindset.
Gathering your a) paragraphs, b) class discussion notes, and c) annotations.
How we share (and comment upon) writing, publicly.
Posting your paragraphs onto Squarespace.
Time permitting, we will complete this survey.
HW: Finish reading The Curious Incident. Submit your signed course expectations on Canvas and your paragraph on Squarespace. Complete the survey.
Curious Incident Audio
The following image will link you to the audio files for our summer novel. Feel free to listen to these while reading. However, you may NOT use these in place of reading. Read along with the audio, with pen in hand!
ON "National Emblem"
Marches Madness: From Trash Can To Flagpole
March 25, 201310:47 AM ET by Tom Huizenga
It's Marches Madness! Throughout this month, we're posting some of our favorite marches — from the concert hall, opera stage and parade ground. Got one we should hear? Played any yourself? Let us know in the comments section.
I could sing a smidgen of Edwin Eugene Bagley's National Emblem before I even knew what a march was.
As a very young grade-schooler, I heard a little ditty — "Oh, the monkey wrapped his tail around the flagpole" — on the playground, but I was blissfully unaware of either the famous march it was attached to or the naughty lyrics that followed. It was just a fun line to warble now and again. (If you don't know it, the line corresponds to the short melismatic phrase first heard 44 seconds into this United States Air Force Heritage of America Band performance.)
Who can say how the words and the music became linked — surely not by Bagley himself, but you never know. In the 1860s, before he reached his teens, Bagley toured as a singer and comedian with a troupe called Leavitt's Bellringers. Later, he took up the cornet and trombone and eventually played with the Boston Symphony.
Bagley wrote many marches, but none that captured American pride like the National Emblem. With its bright beat and clever transformation of The Star Spangled Banner it became a favorite, still heard often on the Fourth of July.
But Bagley wasn't happy with his National Emblem at first. He wrote it on tour in 1902 on a train, the story goes. Dissatisfied with the ending, he threw it in the trash, but his band members rescued it and surprised him with a performance at their next concert. He sold the copyright for $25.
¶ on Arletta: "Adventures of an Indian Princess"
Post your paragraph as a comment to this blog entry.
When you click on the comment bubble, Squarespace should launch a comment box, into which you can paste your paragraph. Once you click on “Submit,” you can comment as a guest. Type your first and last name, and your NEW TRIER email address. You should leave the URL box BLANK, and then hit “submit.”
¶ on Sherlock: Why is he an effective detective?
Post your paragraph as a comment to this blog entry.
When you click on the comment bubble, Squarespace should launch a comment box, into which you can paste your paragraph. Once you click on “Submit,” you can comment as a guest. Type your first and last name, and your NEW TRIER email address. You should leave the URL box BLANK, and then hit “submit.”
Sherlock Holmes: The Adventure of the Speckled Band
Watch the great, late Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes in “The Adventure of the Speckled Band” above.
You can also access the following resources here:
A copy of the short story, should you lose your hard copy;
A study guide to solving this particular mystery;
Homage to Sherlock via Star Trek TNG: Elementary, My Dear Data
Sign up for a FREE Squarespace Account
Today, students should enroll for a FREE account on squarespace using your New Trier email address. Start by going to this link . Once there, enter your school information:
Enter your first and last name
Enter your NEW TRIER email address
Create a password that only YOU will know.
From there, you can log into squarespace, and should easily be able to post comments to my public squarespace account.
¶ about one of Christopher's strengths (or weaknesses)
You have already written a paragraph that answers the following question:
Which ONE quality, ability, or interest is the most HELPFUL or HARMFUL to Christopher throughout the novel, and WHY is this quality important?
Copy and paste your paragraph as a comment to this blog entry. When posting as a “GUEST",” use your New Trier email account, and first and last names when posting. Please leave the URL space blank.
Then, read the other paragraphs written by students in 1st and 3rd periods. Choose the THREE that you feel BEST answer the question (yours should NOT be one of the three). We will discuss the “best” three in class on Friday.
¶ on novel Breaking Through
You have written a claim that explains Francisco’s transformation in the novel Breaking Through. You have also written reasons that explain WHY THAT CLAIM IS TRE. Each of the answers, as separate sentences, become a topic sentence to a body paragraph.
You are to post your body paragraphs here into squarespace, so that ALL my students can read them.
Remember to proofread before posting. Once posted, it’s visible to the world, and you can’t go back and undo the post.
If squarespace asks you to log in, you can post as a guest. But only use your New Trier email account, and first and last names when posting.
Then, read the other paragraphs written by students in 2nd and 4th period. Choose the THREE paragraphs that are well written. ANY three. They do NOT have to be from the same person, or even your class.
Copy and paste these three into a doc (along with the name of the writer). Print these on paper and bring them to class on Friday. We will be posting these ON THE WALL, IN OUR ROOM on Friday. So make sure they’re on paper. Make sure they are on separate sheets of paper.
¶ Comparing Christopher, Owen and/or Sherlock
First, write a paragraph that answers the following question:
How do the characters/individuals from two of the following texts (a novel, a documentary, and a short story) cope the problems they face because of society?
Provide examples from TWO of the following to support your response: A) the novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightime by Mark Haddon, or B) the film Life, Animated featuring Owen Suskind, or C) the short story, "The Adventure of the Speckled Band" by A.C. Doyle.
Once written, copy and paste your paragraph as a comment to this blog entry. Remember to only use your New Trier email account, and first and last names when posting. Depending on your firewall settings, you may have to post as a guest, which is fine—only submit your name and school email.
Then, read the other paragraphs written by students in 2nd and 4th period. Choose the THREE that you feel BEST answer the question (yours should NOT be one of the three). We will discuss the “best” three in class on Thursday.