Category Archives: Reading

2011 Ray Bradbury Interview

Posted on September 16, 2012 by mrshawke

Author of Fahrenheit 451, which 9th-graders have been reading, Ray Bradbury talks about how he became a science fiction writer and about his books in this video. Bradbury just died on June 5th, so this is probably one of his … Continue reading →

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The Color of Water: Videos & Links

Posted on August 30, 2012 by mrshawke

English 10 students started reading James McBride’s The Color of Water this week. Though it reads like a novel, it is actually his life story interwoven with his mother’s life story. A bit confusing at first, the shifting point of … Continue reading →

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Story of a Writer: Ray Bradbury on Storytelling and Human Nature

Posted on August 26, 2012 by mrshawke

[youtube]XESDRP82png[/youtube] This 1963 documentary is great background on Ray Bradbury, the author of Fahrenheit 451, which all AD English 9 students are currently reading. It’s also an excellent glimpse into the mind of a great writer, which is what all … Continue reading →

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Animoto E/C Opportunity

Posted on May 9, 2012 by mrshawke

I know how much everyone enjoyed making their own Animoto video earlier in the year, so I think another one would be an excellent extra-credit opportunity! The free Animoto accounts (http://animoto.com/pricing) only allow for 30-second videos, so that’s what you’ll … Continue reading →

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ENG 9: F451 Test Study Guide

Posted on February 27, 2012 by mrshawke

Here’s the study guide for Thursday’s Fahrenheit 451 Test: F451Test Study Guide

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ENG 10: Novel Materials

Posted on February 23, 2012 by mrshawke

Novel Plans These are the novel plan sheets that describe the days of reading and which chapters are on each quiz: A Long Way Gone novel plan The Color of Water novel plan Skeeter novel plan Study Questions These are … Continue reading →

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Memory Work

Posted on January 10, 2012 by mrshawke

Handouts English 9 Memory Work Selections English 10 Memory Work Selections During each of the last three grading periods, all my sophomores and freshmen will be adding memorization to their oral-communications skills. We’ve been doing dramatic presentations, which focused on … Continue reading →

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AD English 9: Literary Analysis Materials

Posted on August 30, 2011 by mrshawke

On Thursday, freshmen took their first reading quiz. It was on the first six chapters of To Kill a Mockingbird. Many students in my two classes did well on the quiz, some even earning extra credit because they not only … Continue reading →

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R&J Prologue activity

Posted on February 22, 2011 by mrshawke

This picture is from Wednesday’s AD English 9 classes when groups rearranged the 14 lines of the Romeo and Juliet Act I Prologue. I think everyone did a pretty good job, considering no one had read the piece before and … Continue reading →

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Video: ‘Validation’

Posted on January 18, 2011 by mrshawke

[youtube]Cbk980jV7Ao[/youtube] I can’t believe I never posted this short film that we watched back in November! Written and directed by Kurt Kuenne, the movie stars TJ Thyne (before he was on the TV show, “Bones”) and Vicki Davis. It’s all … Continue reading →

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New Link: Books Should Be Free

Posted on December 23, 2010 by mrshawke

Books Should Be Free is a website that catalogs audio books that have been placed in the public domain, which means that they are free for you to download and listen to on your computer or Ipod. The audio books … Continue reading →

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Perception vs. Reality: Dove Evolution

Posted on October 17, 2010 by mrshawke

[youtube]hibyAJOSW8U[/youtube] This is the “Dove Evolution” short film I showed on Friday. Our prompt for the day was “perception vs. reality,” and I think this video is perfect for it. We so often mistake our perception for reality, when all … Continue reading →

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AD English 9: Literary Analysis Discussion #1

Posted on September 27, 2010 by mrshawke

On Thursday, armed with close readings and completed job sheets, students in AD English 9 met with their To Kill a Mockingbird Literature Circles for their first literary analysis discussions. We had planned to do this on Monday; however, far … Continue reading →

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Read the NY Times online!

Posted on September 21, 2010 by mrshawke
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Background: To Kill a Mockingbird

Posted on September 19, 2010 by mrshawke

If you need proof that To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my all-time favorite books, look no further than my youngest son, Atticus, who was named after one of its major characters. 😀 It’s a story I never tire … Continue reading →

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