EOC Grades Posted

This is just to say that EOC scores are in. They are also now in Gradespeed, in the Semester Exam column.


This is just to say that This is a link to William Carlos Williams' poem "This Is Just To Say."

Exam Schedule

For your reference:


Here is a document outlining next week's exam schedule.

Despite the half-day schedule, I will be around school for a good bit each day. If you need me, chances are good I'll be in the vicinity of 3NW.

Holla.

Exam Guide & Non-Required Summer Reading

Here is a link to the study guide for the final exam!

Bring your textbooks, and your copies of F451, to class ON THE DAY OF YOUR EXAM.

You'll need them to study for the test.

Last thing: Non-Required Summer Reading

In the future, the internet is in your head. But that's the normal part.

If you liked F451, you'll love this.

Ray Bradbury's Short Fiction: "Murder" vs. "Kill"

First, I asked classes to clarify the shades of meaning that separate the verbs "murder" and "kill". This was very hard for most students to do, as almost nobody had taken the time to look these words up.

• The definition of KILL
• The definition of MURDER
• Degrees of MURDER in US Law (Margot asked about this, as well as "manslaughter", which is in the Wiki)

Then classes attempted to draw parallels between the world of "The Murderer", and our own modern lives. Excellent responses included the following insights:

• In the story-world, people communicate by wrist-communicators (phones). In our world, we have seen some rudimentary wrist-phone technology announced (behold Samsung's Galaxy Gear, as well as some reviews of leading competitors)
• Music, in both the story-world and our own, is pumped into large interior spaces (next time you're in the mall, ESPECIALLY around the winter holidays, listen to your shopping environment.)
• In both worlds, phones CAN BE handy communication devices, but also CAN work against you by stripping personality, emotion, and nuance from conversations.
• Psychiatrists have a great deal of say in WHO is "crazy", as well as WHAT constitutes "crazy".
• Sean in 5th period pointed out that our TV's have progressed past CRT monitors (or, cathode ray tubes). They've gotten flatter. The TV in my classroom is a prime example of a CRT.
• IN GENERAL: The more devices that we have to keep us in touch with others generate increased expectation of keeping in touch, even if you don't want to.

Also, there was a reading quiz. Almost everyone did poorly, but there was at least one 100 in each class period.

Tonight's HW is to read, and answer the questions regarding Ray Bradbury's "The Pedestrian".

That link will take you to the word file.

I also distributed the MLK Summer of 2014 Summer Reading Guidelines

The Circle of Life, and The Study Thereof

Today, Freshmen studied notes for their forthcoming Biology EOC, which will be administered here at MLK tomorrow morning.

In addition to notes, students completed EOC Practice Test questions.

Here is the key with the answers to those questions (I did not take up your work, you should still have them.)

STUDY FOR YOUR BIO EOC TONIGHT.


Then, enjoy this.

EOC Review Materials

Here is a link to the Review Jeopardy game we played in class.

And here is a link to the EXTENDED version of the Study Guide I gave out in class (This one is the ENGL II version.)

Happy studying. See you tomorrow.