Mon. Mar. 31, 2014: Life of Pi Chpt. 23-36

Today, I informed you that you will have a quiz on the first 29 chapters of the novel Life of Pi. This quiz will consist of multiple choice comprehension questions, vocabulary questions, and two paragraph questions.
I also gave you the vocabulary and questions for chapters 23-36 which need to be completed (along with the readings) for Wednesday's class.

Fri, Mar. 28, 2014: Reading Class

Today, you were instructed to have Chapters 1-29 of the novel Life of Pi Read. I also gave you questions to answer (in paragraph form - NOT essays!). If you were not here, the questions are in your portfolio. Do not answer the last question. Questions are due at the start of class on Monday.

Thurs. Mar. 27, 2014 Def. of Eastern/Western Religions

Chapters 15 to 24 of the novel Life of Pi, refers to three religions: Christian, Islam and Hindu. In order to understand the context, students were presented with a PowerPoint in order to answer the Chapter 15 questions (and the text). If you were not here, you will need to research the Chapter 15 questions out fully. Students were then instructed to start reading the next chapters (I will expect you to have read up to Chapter 24 and answer the related questions for the start of Friday's class).

Wed. Mar. 26, 2014: Life of Pi

·        Students were instructed to hand in their Chapter questions for Chapters 9-15.

·        Students were placed in groups of three.

·        Students were provided with a felt to write with and an 11X13 sheet of paper with a chapter heading on it (9,10,11,12,13,14,15)

·        Students were then given 3.5 minutes to put down all the details they could come up with regarding the chapter presented on their sheet of paper.

·        Students were then instructed to move the paper to the next table clockwise.

·        Each group was then to read the information written about the chapter they received and add to it.

·        This was done until every group read and added to every chapter

·        On the last move, the students were to add questions based on the information presented (fruitful questioning).

·        These were then placed on the board and discussed (students took notes).

Students were reminded use evenings (such as this one) to work on their INS as they were not given a class reading to complete.

Tues. Mar. 25, 2014: Life of Pi Readings & Questions

Students were to hand in their answers for Chapters six to eight (homework check).

·        Notes were created on the board in order to demonstrate the ease in creating notes for the INS activity as well as determining questions from the notes.

·        Students were then instructed to read Chapters 9-14 and answer the accompanying questions which were handed out yesterday. Some of these questions involve research completion. I have some books in the class which were presented for use,. Students also can do this portion of the assignment using the Internet.

Mon. Mar. 24, 2014: Life of Pi Discussion and Questions

Today, you handed in your answers to the Life of Pi questions provided on Friday (and also posted on this Blogger site on that date). We then discussed Chapters 2 to 5. I showed you how to make notes of chapters when doing short ones for your INS. I also showed how questions can arise from these notes. I then went over the answers you submitted.
After this, you were provided with vocabulary for Chapters 1-22. I then gave you questions to answer for tomorrow which are as follows:

Read Chapters 6 and 7 and answer the following questions:
1. Pi's house is both overheated and overstocked. Any guesses as to why?
2. What is the difference between and atheist and an agnostic?
3. Describe Mr. Kumar.
4. Why is Mr. Kumar so important to Pi?
5. Why does Pi dislike agnostics more than atheists?

Read Chapter 8 and answer the following:
1. How does Pi's father teach him that "an animal is an animal?"
2. How does Ravi, Pi's older brother, terrorize him after the Tiger incident?

Fri. Ma. 21, 2014 Life of Pi Questions

Today, you were given questions to answer on Chapters One to Five of Life of Pi. I have pasted the questions and instructions below. These are due for Monday.

Life of Pi: Questions

 

INSTRUCTIONS: On a separate sheet of paper, answer each question FULLY. Keep in mind the importance of using correct grammar/punctuation/sentence structure.

 

Study Questions

Chapters 1–2

 

1.      How does the three–toed sloth survive?

2.      Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human characteristics to nonhumans. Find examples of anthropomorphism.

3.      Describe some examples of imagery, figurative language from this section.

4.      In chapter 2, in italics, who is the narrator and who is the subject?

 

Chapters 3–5

 

1.      Describe how Pi comes to be named after a French swimming pool.

2.      Pondicherry Zoo, which once loomed so large in Pi’s life, is now only a place of memory. Describe a childhood experience or place which has “shrunk” in your memory.

3.      Pi does not agree with people who “think animals in the wild are ‘happy’ because they are ‘free’”. Why?

4.      Describe how and why Piscine Molitor Patel becomes Pi. Describe a similar name change in your school experience.

5.      Pi writes his name on the blackboard with every teacher during the day. He says that “repetition is important in the training not only of animals but also of humans”.  Explain.

Thurs. Mar. 20, 2014 Life of Pi Chpt. 1 Critique

Today, I read Chapter One of Life of Pi out loud. Students worked to create a text critique at the same time. It was due at the end of class.
Some terms that came out of this were: allusion, personification, connotation, and understanding the meaning of a word in context.

Wed. Mar. 19, 2014 Life of Pi Author's note and Critique

Today, I finished reading the first part of the book (Author's note) to you. We then discussed it. This then led to the creation of a text critique (class created). The students who were here copied it down as we developed it. If you were not here, talk to one of your classmates for a copy (or see me if all else fails).

Tues. Mar. 18, 2014 Intro to Life of Pi

Today, I introduced the novel Life of Pi, by Yann Martel (you took it out from the library). We started our examination by looking at the title and the cover (see "INS Before Activity"). I then provided you with a Powerpoint that addressed the following. If you were not here, you will need to do a web search to fill in the particulars:

Yann Martel: Background on the author
Background of India during "The Emergency" (1975-77)
Expository information: why Pi left India
Classifications of novel
* postcolonial
*magical realism
* bildungsroman
* adventure story
* non fiction (but it IS a fiction)

Themes:
* importance of faith
* will to live

Motifs:
* territorial dominance
* hunger and thirst
* ritual

Symbols:
* Pi's name
* the colour orange

I then began to read to you the "Author's Note" which is indeed the first part of the story. I read pages V to VIII (just under four pages) stopping when the bell rang (VIII, par. 2).

Monday, March 17, 2014

Today, I went over the progress reports with each student who was present. Your unit essay is due at the end of the ay. You also need to take out the novel Life of Pi by Yann Martel for our next unit.

Fri. Mar. 14, 2014 Unit One Exam

Today, you wrote your unit one exam. Keep in mind that your essay is due on Monday at the end of the day. If you missed today's exam, you will have to come in and write it Monday at lunch as it cannot be reviewed until they have been written.

Thurs. Mar. 13, 2014: Essay and Test Prep

Today, students worked on their essay (which is due at the end of the day on Monday). This is the last class where they will be given computer time to work on it (I will be in the library for lunch today if they need it).
I also went over the expectations regarding tomorrow's exam:
* cell phones on the counter
* put all items (with the exception of pens, pencils, highlighters, erasers, sharpener) on floor at front of room
* sit only where there is a test (and possibly a Post-It note with your name on it if I have time)
* do not turn over tests until instructed
* there will be a readings booklet and a questions booklet
*actively read in the readings booklet
* use process of elimination skiils in the questions booklet
* When finished, bring the test to the instructor
* You were instructed to bring your independent novel to read if there is time
*retrieve it from the front of the room and read without disrupting others.

Wed. Mar. 12, 2014: Essay writing and "Assess & Reflect" activity

Today, students completed an “Reflect and Assess” sheet to identify areas of concern, areas each student is ready to work on improving and methods to achieve each student's goals.
These will be copied and returned ASAP in order to ensure that two of the errors identified by each student do not appear on that student's next piece of formal writing (which will be the essay: due Monday).

The rest of the class was used to work on the essay.

Tues. Mar, 11, 2014: Essay writing class

Today, you worked on preparing your essays, which are due next Monday. Keep in mind that your exam for this unit (reading comprehension) will take place on Friday.

Mon. Mar. 10, 2014 Unit One Essay and Test Info.

Today, you were given the instructions for your unit essay. This essay is due on Monday. March 24. If you were not here, the instructions and a reminder of revision sheet are in your portfolio.
I also marked your three active reading assignments and your text critique, which were due today.
Some of you haven't handed in your text summary paragraph. These are now past due.
Your unit exam (two readings with M.C. comprehension questions) will take place on Friday. I have put a test prep sheet in your portfolio.

Friday, Mar. 7, 2014 Summary Completion/Reading/Text Critique Creation

Today, you worked on completing your summary of Chapter 5 "Iroquois" (which also includes a "works cited" page).
You then worked on your readings (see titles in yesterday's blog) and your text critique (see yesterday's blog). The active reading and the text critique are all due on Monday (again, see yesterday's blog for more details).

Thurs. Mar. 6, 2014 Summaries, critiques and readings

Today, I reminded you that your summary for "Iroquis" is due tomorrow. I then presented you with a sheet on "Text Critique" which you are to use when you are asked to do any sort of research or reading outside of texts you can mark up.

I then gave you three readings that must be read actively for Monday;

" The Quebec Experience 1628-1834'

“Refugees: The Human Aspect”

‘Being Canadian”

 

I will do a homework check on these to ensure they are actively read.

You were then instructed to choose one of the three above texts and do an article critique on it (using the format provided on the sheet I presented to you today - but on a separate sheet of paper or typed.0

This article critique is also due on Monday

 

Tues. Mar. 4, 2014 "Iroquois" reading summary

Today, you were to have read the excerpt entitled "Iroquois". Your goal now is to create a summary. I gave you the summary instructions yesterday and I placed the citation information for this excerpt in your portfolio. You have until Friday to complete it. Keep in mind that you will have another summary also due on Friday. I will hand out that reading tomorrow.

Mon. Mar. 3, 2014 Summaries

Today, I have you a sheet explaining how to write summaries. We then discussed it. I then gave you a reading on the Iroquois that you are to have actively read for tomorrow's class.