NDSU and Great Plains Literature

Update 7.21.2008

“Oh, give me a home…”

Take a look at what I saw last week at Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Unit.

Photo courtesy Joy Franklin of Duncan, OK.

Greetings from Fargo!

I am busy reading, writing, and discussing literature of the Great Plains with 14 other very talented teachers from across America. We have just finished week one’s author, Walter P. Webb and his book The Great Plains.

We are at North Dakota State University, Fargo, which was just moved up to division I for athletics! Go Bisons!

It is a beautiful campus and weather, except for rain on Saturday, has been magnificent!

Tomorrow we begin discussing Willa Cather’s classic novel, My Antonia.

This is a favorite of mine and one we will be reading together in 2008-2009.

I hope you are well into your summer reading as well. The Color of Water by James McBride is required.

One additional book from the list is also required. I will want to see your composition books on the first day of class which is August 26th, I do believe. Don’t delay!! Get reading now!

I’ve already met a Grammy award-winning musician (Keith Bear of the Mandan and Hidasta tribes of North Dakota) and will be meeting an author next week.

Feel free to email me with questions about my trip or your summer reading. I’ll check this site at least once a week, since I am in class everyday, Monday to Saturday through July.

I’ll make a page for photos. The photo in this blog is one I took on the Missouri Coteau in Streeter, ND.

Find a dictionary and an atlas to reference these terms.

I am having so much fun and learning at the same time. I hope you are doing the same.

Check back at this site for updates to my journey on the road this summer.

Be safe, learn much, do good!

Ms. Martin

Words to know quiz

AP students,

I hope you survived that APUSH test today.  Several of you stopped by and looked tired.

Rest up! Your LANGUAGE EXAM IS WEDNESDAY!

Take home quiz over pages 4-6 of the words to know will be ready on Monday, come by then. If you will be in class, you will receive it then.

If you came by, you got the slide handout from me.

If not, please be ready to discuss and prepare ch. 1-10 for Socratic seminar for Monday and Tuesday.  If you are AP testing those days, bring by 3 factual and 3 deep thought questions from your reading no later than Monday after school. 

I have LANGUAGE EXAM tip packets for you; come by and get one before Wed if you are testing.  Everyone else will get one in class on Monday.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of your moms!

Enjoy the weekend.  See you on Monday! 

Slide show handout attached for those who want them!

slide show from class

The Belle of Amherst

We have been discussing and learning about poetess Emily Dickinson, considered one of the most influential authors to modern poets.

Poet Laurete (2001-2003) Billy Collins penned some verses about Ms. Emily.

Want to read it? Click the link below.

http://www.cs.rice.edu/~ssiyer/minstrels/poems/1139.html

I have included the slideshow from class, including assignments for the week.

dickinson.ppt

On March 24th we will discuss the project. 

Reminder:  Have Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters in class on Tuesday March 25th. 

Register for the exam

MISSED CLASS?  CHECK YOUR CLASS PAGE TAB FOR MORE INFO. 

**UPDATE:  You may pick up a form and bring $$ later.  **

DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MARCH 17TH, first day after Spring Break.  

TWO DAYS LEFT TO REGISTER!!!

Friendly reminder — no extra exams are ordered.  Sign up for the exam.  You have until Friday, 2 days from now to register for exam. 

$$ concerns:  See me or your counselor.   

Registration for Advanced Placement testing is open from February 4th through March 7th.  Registration is in our Student Services Office with Ms. Linda Spataro.  Checks should be made out to Hendrickson High School.  Price per exam is $54.00; students who are on the Free and Reduced lunch program pay only $24.00. The Advanced Placement exams will take place from May 5th to the 16th.The Language Exam is scheduled for Wednesday May 14th. 2008

GT summer opportunities

The following is a link provided by the GT coordinator listing summer workshops. 

Click the link to learn more.

http://www.txgifted.org/displaycommon.cfman=1&subarticlenbr=148#IndividualScholarshipApps

Mock Exam and Prep Sessions

Please note the date change:  Mock Exams for AP Language and Literature will be held on Saturday February 23, from 8:30 to 11:30.  Site change:  Provan Learning Center.

Flyers will be available in class next week with complete details.

AP/PreAP Prep Session for Math and English is Saturday April 12, 8:30-2pm.  This change accommodates the State UIL meet.

I strongly encourage you to take advantage of BOTH of these opportunities.

Midterm Exam Schedule

Midterms Jan. 14-17th. 2008

hhs-midterm-schedule.doc

Staff Development Day Jan. 18th

MLK Holiday Jan. 21th

Second Semester begins Jan. 22nd.

Writing contests

2008-details-for-web.pdf

I encourage you to look at the attachment regarding the 2008 Excellence in Writing contest sponsored by the Austin American Statesman.  Complete details attached.

The PTO is also sponsoring an essay contest for Black History Month.  Keep checking back for details on this contest as soon as they are available.

AP Blog assignment

TIME IS UP FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT.

YOU ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO POST.

ABSENT STUDENTS SHOULD EMAIL THEIR RESPONSE DIRECTLY TO ME.

After having viewed The Goonies and read both the Quad-City Times article and Ben Smith’s theory, write an brief argumentation post. By brief, I mean 1-2 paragraphs.

Answer the following question in your response.

Do you think that Mr. Smith is correct in his use of fallacies? For example Attacking the Speaker, Shifted Burden of Proof, Straw Man. 

For definitions of these argumentation terms, click on the following link:

URL: http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/logic.html

Your response is due before Jan. 7, 2008

Lit Terms Test in January

I have moved your scheduled literary terms test to January, after the holiday break. 

Remember that the first 3 pages will be tested on January 9.2008

I have attached the handout.

ap-words-to-know.doc