Experiencing BHS History

My time spent on the years for the BHS History Project....has been sooooooooooooo stressful yet so rewarding!  This adventure has had more turns and twists than anticipated, but being a lover of roller coasters, I will survive the ride!

Stress Paragraph

Rewarding Paragraph

Conclusion

Ms. Hackworth: Her Pilgrimage

There was a student named Ms. Hackworth

Who boldly decided to go forth.

She went to college for a degree,

Planning to major in Biology.

Alas, she failed miserably at those,

And her lack of talent was exposed.

English, however, did her good,

So in Alphin Building she finally stood.

In the next three years she learned

And many papers out she churned.

Reading Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Keats,

She learned she loved poetry from the Beats.

But that was not all she did in college.

Sophomore year was a year of knowledge.

Ms. Hackworth decided to become a teacher,

For spreading knowledge, she’d be a preacher.

And so that journey finally began;

Ms. Hackworth finally had a plan.

But all must eventually come to an end,

And from college did she finally transcend.

Leaving behind the shoddy apartments and subpar food,

Finally getting paid put her in a great mood.

She got the job she always dreamed off.

She taught at BHS – what wasn’t to love?

Fresh out of college, she lived with her parents.

She wasn’t that old; still, she couldn’t bear it.

So she paid off her loans, several thousand or so,

And in a few short years she was free to go.

She saved up her money, a dollar here and a quarter there,

She rented an apartment made with change and a prayer.

Teaching near and teaching far,

Ms. Hackworth eventually got a new car.

She applied for grad school and got in,

So that little car was going for a spin.

She drove to Old Miss and got a degree.

But it definitely isn’t in biology!

Now she teaches at Cedar Ridge,

Where once she learned, now she builds a bridge.

She sends students along to Lyon too,

A generation she builds new.

One thing is for certain,

This is not the final curtain. 

Gender Roles: Mrs. G's Essay

First Claim:

• Today, publishing companies more positively impact writers of dystopia literature.
• No sources to support this.

Revised Claim:  Writers of dystopian literature impact female characters in a positive manner.

Outline:

I. Creative Lives

II. Stronger Roles
     A.  Male Expectations


Introduction

• Hook:  live vicariously through female main characters in dystopian literature
• Claim: Writers of dystopian literature impact female characters in a positive manner.

Body Paragraph 1

• "Portrayals of passive females can certainly be found; nevertheless, readers are often offered a chance to experience what females could be instead of what they are." (Source, pg 12)
• Some say
• I say

Body Paragraph 2:

• I Say:  "female characters demonstrated male characteristics, but male characters typically did not deviate from their stereotypical norm" (Source, pg 11)

• I say
• I say

Source List

• Check out my list of sources on Delicious.

Thematic Analysis: Fall 2014

Click here to view Mrs. Gillmore's Literary Analysis paper.

Where I'm from...

Assignment:  Using George Ella Lyon's poem "Where I'm From" as a model, draft and then type your own version of this poem.

• THEN, for each stanza, add three participial phrases that describing the images in the stanzas.
• Click here to preview a list of active verbs you may use to create your participial phrases.  Try to NOT use a verb more than once.

Mrs. Gillmore's Poem

I am from tires, 

from Chevrolet and batteries.

• unloading by the truck load,
• washing many used cars,
• driving my detailed rides.

I am from the creek beside our house, 

(cold, running, 

it tasted like frozen ice cubes).

• overflowing into our tire shop,
• catching crawdads that pinched,
• removing leeches from my feet.

I am from the zinnas, 

the marigolds,

whose weeds I had to remove.

• filling the beds with color,
• planted yearly by my mother,
• resulting in my now planting them, too.

I am from peanut butter pie and a stubbed nose,

from Ollie Jo and Wilford.

• eating enough dinner so dessert I could have,
• carrying on the Friel genes
• blessed beyond measure by them both.

I am from the yard sale bargains

and no TV's,

• obtaining "Best Dressed in Who's Who,
• watching the "one-eyed devil" at the neighbors,
• growing up different but okay.

from "rise and shine" and "you look nice."

• groaning for just a few minutes more of snooze time,
• complimenting me every Sunday morning on my design,
• waving that final good-bye.

I am from "Only Believe"

with beliefs solid, strong,

and the piano I play by ear.

• learning one note at a time,
• staying true to my convictions,
• absorbing, singing word after word.

I'm from Friel and Irish descent,

popcorn and fried chicken.

• frying as only my momma could,
• making dad's snack every night,
• giving credit for my red-hair.

From the work habits of my ever-doing parents,

the miles traveled to and from church three times every week.

• owning multiple businesses,
• mowing all the surrounding yards,
• cleaning house every Saturday morning.

I am from the box in the back of the closet,

stuffed to the top,

many black and white,

easier years later to view.

• preserving memories of parents and siblings from years past,
• bringing to life the faces now deceased,
• absorbing who I was, who I am.

I am from those moments - 

standing, oh, so proud --

family traits I do possess.

1.1: Current Connection

Assignment:

• Become familiar with your assigned current event.
• Write a argument on your topic.
• Include a minimum of two appositive phrases.

Mrs. Gillmore's Topic:  Six-Year High School

Claim:

Experiencing a six-year school would be beneficial for many students.

Chunk 1:

• Signal Phrase + Verb + "Evidence"
• According to Sam Litow, a IBM vice president, in an article entitled "Six Years of High School?  An Educational Experiment in Chicago," he stated, "Right now, only about 25 percent of students that start at community colleges complete.  If you can move that number up to 60 percent or 70 percent or larger, the economic gains are really, really substantial."
• Commentary 1
• This means requiring students to spend more time in school helps ensure their future monetary stability.
• Commentary 2
• For example, many of those just entering our local community college would more succeed from such a decision as this.

Chunk 2: Counterclaim

• Signal Phrase + Verb + "Evidence"
• Opposing this, professor of psychology Jeffrey Jensen Arnett at Clark University in his editorial "At 18, It's Time for a Change," countered, "They [high school seniors] have a strong sense of being ready to move on to a new life stage in which they will have more independence and freedom to make their own decisions."
• Commentary 1
• His research illustrates the thoughts of many students today who even think they would benefit from not having to attend their senior years.
• Commentary 2
• These soon-to-be graduates relate to this as many of them already have mounting bills and secured to jobs to assist in their financially supporting themselves.

Chunk 3:  Rebuttal

• Signal Phrase + Verb + "Evidence"
• Even President Obama, though, as reported in "Obama, at Brooklyn School, Pushes Educational Agenda" supported a six-year school when he spoke,"If you think education is expensive, wait until you see how much ignorance costs."
• Commentary 1
• In other words, those not furthering their education will make less money and, in many instances, cost the taxpayers more money.
• Commentary 2
• Thus, promoting such educational increases also add to our economic growth as a nation.

Concluding Sentence

Therefore, secondary institutions across the land should consider this shift in a non-traditional school setting.

Current Connection 1.1

• Bold the signal phrase + evidence sentence.
• Highlight the transitions.
• Change the color of the appositive phrases.

      Experiencing a six-year school would be beneficial for many students.  According to Sam Litow, a IBM vice president, in an article entitled "Six Years of High School?  An Educational Experiment in Chicago," he stated, "Right now, only about 25 percent of students that start at community colleges complete.  If you can move that number up to 60 percent or 70 percent or larger, the economic gains are really, really substantial."   This means requiring students to spend more time in school helps ensure their future monetary stability.  For example, many of those just entering our local community college would more succeed from such a decision as this.  Opposing this, professor of psychology Jeffrey Jensen Arnett at Clark University in his editorial "At 18, It's Time for a Change," countered, "They [high school seniors] have a strong sense of being ready to move on to a new life stage in which they will have more independence and freedom to make their own decisions."  His research illustrates the thoughts of many students today who even think they would benefit from not having to attend their senior years.  These soon-to-be graduates relate to this as many of them already have mounting bills and secured to jobs to assist in their financially supporting themselves.  Even President Obama, though, as reported in "Obama, at Brooklyn School, Pushes Educational Agenda" supported a six-year school when he spoke,"If you think education is expensive, wait until you see how much ignorance costs."  In other words, those not furthering their education will make less money and, in many instances, cost the taxpayers more money.  Thus, promoting such educational increases also add to our economic growth as a nation.  Therefore, secondary institutions across the land should consider this shift in a non-traditional school setting.

National Poetry Month

Assignment:  Write one poem.


Due Date:  April 25 on your blog

Requirements:

1. Must represent YOU.
2. Must be worthy of a test grade.

Topics:

• NaPoWriMo's 30 Poems in 30 Days Challenge
• Mrs. Gillmore's poems for this challenge.
• HINT:  none are worthy of a test grade!
• Is this one worthy of a test grade?
• 30/30 Poetry Challenge
• Writer's Digest Poem a Day (PAD)

_____________________________________________________
Sample

• Compound-Complex Sentence
• Sentence Draft:
• Work remains an avocation for me, for I daily enjoy my job as I "play" with curriculum plans and watch them come to fruition as my students implement each mini-lesson.
• Revised Draft:
• Suggestions?
• YOUR Turn!

Resources:

• Academy of American Poets