Almost vacation time ;)

Before Christmas break, you must turn in SMB chapter 5 ("Junior High The Awkward Years"). This will be the final chapter for the first semester.

Over Christmas break, you should begin pulling together materials/supplies/pictures for your senior memory scrapbook. Get a cover (fancy scrapbook or a simple three-ring binder are acceptable choices), page protectors (plastic, three-hole punched; obtainable at the dollar stores or Target/Meijer/etc), stickers, pictures, and so on. Remember, you may use your own artwork, newspaper clippings, pictures clipped from magazines, internet images (not copywrited of course!), ticket stubs, whatever pertains to your chapter!

Another option you have is to make an electronic scrapbook. There are many free programs avaialble online for this purpose. Make sure you turn in your electronic scrapbook on a CD or flashdrive for grading. If you want to pursue this option, see me. :)

Read a book over vacation. =) Relax! Enjoy! Recharge!

Second Marking Period!

Second marking period is upon us! Can you believe we are already 1/4 of the way done with the school year? It's true! =)

This week, we are starting Oedipus the King by thinking about themes from the play and writing about one of them. This essay is due Wednesday (blocks 1, 3, 5, 7, 8) or Thursday (block 6).

On Wednesday and Thursday, we will work on Senior Memory Book chapter 4: I Wish I Could See ___ Again. The chapter will be due before Thanksgiving break.

Finally, we will have Vocabulary Test 13 on Thursday (blocks 3 & 7) or Friday (blocks 1, 5, 6, 8).

Next week, we will start reading Oedipus the King.

Have a great week!!

Brrrrr!

Fall is definitely here!! Cold, wind, and rain are the weather headliners....Stay healthy! :)

Everyone did a great job on their Inferno symbolic drawings. Way to go! We will continue through this week working on research of Circles 3-9 using www.foxtwin.com/inferno/. Vocabulary sentences for 10/11 are due before the weekend as well. Test over those words will be Oct 27 (blocks 1,3,5,7,8) or Oct 28 (bl 6). Senior Memory Book chapter 3 will be due before the end of the marking period (Nov 2) so start working on it now. :)

Looking ahead, parent/teacher conferences for grades 9-12 will be held at the high school cafeteria on Nov. 8 (2:45 - 5:15 and 6-8:30 pm) and Nov. 9 (5-8 pm). Let your parents know!

Have a great week.

Please help a friend ;)

Please click on the link below, then click on the picture of the Nook Color -- vote for Jeremy Annen so that he has a chance to win 10 Nook Colors for his classroom!
Thanks!


http://www.mrannensenglishclasses.blogspot.com

Homecoming Week 2011

It has been a beautiful week of fall weather! Too bad it won't stay this warm for the homecoming dance, but we will have a lovely weekend and weather for the Powder Puff game on Monday night should be perfect!

This weekend, you should study your vocabulary words for your quiz on Monday (blocks 1, 3, 5, 7, 8) or Tuesday (block 6). We will work iwth the Inferno the rest of the week, using an online "vitural tour" of Dante's Hell to explore the sins and punishments in each circle.

Senior Memory Book chapter 2 is due Thursday, October 13 for ALL blocks.

No academic classes on Friday, October 14 for Homecoming Activities! It will be a fun day with some surprises!! Can't wait! GO BRONCOS!

October!

Wow! Already October? We should enjoy a beautiful week of fall weather this first week of October!

Here are some class notes:
This week, we will continue our EDP unit. Mrs. Wurm from the counseling office will be in our classes on Monday (blocks 3, 7) and Tuesday (all blocks) to give you some VERY important information. On Wednesday (all blocks) and Thursday (block 6) we will spend some time updating EDPs for the last time. You will also have time to browse from a list of websites I will provide you. The rest of the week will be spent working on chapter 2 of the senior memory book.

The vocab test for lesson 5/7 will be on Monday, Oct. 10 (blocks 1, 3, 5, 7, 8) and Tuesday, Oct. 11 (block 6).

TIME FLIES!!!

Wow! It's already the end of September. So sorry I haven't posted in a while. I promise to be better about it. :) You are welcome to check my class facebook page (search for VanderHoek's Class) or email me (kvanderhoek@coopersville.k12.mi.us) at any time to receive up to the date information.

All written assignments may be submitted electronically! =) Email or facebook message them to me by the due date. I will not print off electronic assignments unless you ask me to do so. Also, if you bring a flash drive to school with homework on it, please do your printing in the media center. I cannot have a line-up of students who need to use my computer to print at the beginning of class. Thanks for your understanding.

Another reminder...MID MARK GRADES will be reported on October 3. You will only receive a progress report if you have any grades below a C-. Be sure to check the portal if you do not receive a report to see how you are doing! :)

VOCAB TESTS for our list 3/4 is on Wednesday (blocks 3, 7) or Thursday (blocks 1, 5, 6, 8) this week. Our next test (over list 5/7) will be 10/6 (blocks 3, 7) or 10/7 (blocks 1, 5, 6, 8).

HOMECOMING is October 14/15. We will do hallway decorating on 10/14 after school until 6pm and Saturday morning 9-noon.

Here we go!

Well, we are off and running! Am I the only person who feels like we never left school last spring? It's always that way for me. Once I get back in the routine, it's like riding a bike....

Everyone has gotten off to a great start and I am enjoying getting to know everyone. Bear with me while I continue to match names to faces! :)

This week, we completed our first vocab lesson (1/2) and will have the test next week (Tuesday for blocks 3 & 7 and Wednesday for everyone else). We will also begin the first SMB chapter, "Back Where I Come From" before the weekend. This chapter will be due the end of next week (Sept. 23). Remember all essays must be submitted in MLA format.

Have a great rest of the week!

It's about that time!

It's hard (and painful!) to believe the end of summer is here. I've been spending the past couple weeks in my classroom getting ready for your arrival back at CHS for your senior year! I will tell you this many times: This year will FLY by! Work hard and enjoy yourself. Remember where you want to be this time NEXT year and do everything you can to get to that place in a positive way! I will be here to help you along the way!

Enjoy the last few days of your vacation....I look forward to seeing you on the first day of school!

The beginning of the end....

There are only three weeks left before the end of the school year for seniors...but our work isn't complete yet! Make sure you stay on top of things! :)

SMB chapter 13, At Last I'm a Senior, is our last chapter...and is due Friday, May 13.

The SMB scrapbook is due Monday, May 23. This is a firm deadline, as exams begin May 25. Your scrapbook must include all chapters from second semester (chapters 8-13), a table of contents that includes chapter titles and page numbers, and decorations/pictures/etc.

Exams are May 25-27...Seniors will be dismissed at 1pm on the 26th and no later than 1pm on the 27th. Of course...this is if we don't have to add time due to attendance issues... ;)

Have a great time at prom and a wonderful weekend!

Spring has Sprung

Well..it's trying to anyway!! It's cold this weekend but the warm weather is coming! This weekend, you should finish reading The Count of Monte Cristo and any study guide questions you have not finished yet. The must be turned in at the beginning of class on Tuesday (blocks 1, 3, 7, 8) or Wednesday (blocks 2, 6). Vocabulary Quiz 25 will be Wednesday (blocks 3, 7) and Thursday (blocks 1, 2, 6,8). SMB chapater 11 is due before you leave school on Friday, April 22.

Almost Spring Break!

Hope you all enjoyed your "snow" day today! I sure did! :)

There is a vocab quiz (lesson 23) for blocks 1, 3, 7, & 8 Thursday and blocks 2 & 6 Friday.
Blocks 3 & 7 will be in the computer lab on Friday while blocks 1, 2, 6, & 8 will be in the lab on Monday. Remember...SMB 10 is due for all students before you leave for spring break.

Also, read through chapter 61 of CMC....we will have a quiz on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week...so be ready!!!

Count of Monte Cristo

We continue to push through The Count of Monte Cristo! Keep reading over this long weekend, or, if you haven't been caught up, use this time to get to where you ought to be! :)
By your first English class next week, you should be done with chapter 53 (study guide questions too). Expect a reading quiz after chapter 61.

Enjoy your extra time off!

PS. As of today, St. Patrick's Day, there are only 5 school days left in the third marking period, 9 school days before spring break, and 44 days of school left for seniors (only 41 days before final exams!!!). CRAZY!!

Crazy Week!

Testing week is here---and that means a crazy schedule for everyone ;)

ALL classes will have one block in the computer lab this week to work on SMB chapter 9, "I'm Really in Love This Time, Mom." Remember, as with all chapters, you may change the topic of this chapter to fit your needs. SMB chapter 9 will be due next week (Tuesday or Wednesday). Check the white board for the due date for your block.

Vocab test 22 will be the next week Tuesday or Wednesday. Again, check the white board for your due date. We will start lesson 23 that day as well. Only 6 more to go! ;)

Finally, keep reading The Count of Monte Cristo. You should be done with chapter 25 now (including all the study guide questions). Our next reading assignment will be chapters 26-31, and there will be a quiz after chapter 31.

Revenge is in the air...

Well, for the Count of Monte Cristo it is! ;)

By Monday, all students should be done with chapters 1-25 (through chapter XXV) and all study guides should be completed too. Study guides will be collected at the beginning of class on Monday.

Reminder: Vocab tests are Tuesday (blocks 3, 7) and Wednesday (blocks 1, 2, 6, 8) over lesson 21. Our next quiz will be on the 2 testing days (March 2 & 3). There is no school for grades K-12 on Friday, February 28, and no school for seniors on Tuesday March 1.

Have a great weekend!

Outside the snow is fallin' .....

Well...it isn't fallin' any more!! I hope you enjoyed your two days off. I know I did!

Here are some upcoming due dates:

SMB chapter 8 (Let's Go Out to the Movies) is due MONDAY for all classes. Please email a copy or bring in your printed copy by the end of the day.

VOCAB LESSON 20 sentences/synonyms/antonyms are due Monday for blocks 1, 2, 6, 8. They should have been turned in by blocks 3 and 7 on Friday, Feb. 4.

VOCAB TEST 20 will be Friday, Feb. 11 for blocks 1, 3, 7, 8 or Monday, Feb. 14 for blocks 2 and 6.

COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO study guides for chapters 5-12 are due Tuesday, Feb. 8 for blocks 1, 3, 7, 8 and Wednesday, Feb. 9 for blocks 2 and 6. YOU CAN ALSO EXPECT A READING QUIZ that day!!! :)

Have a great weekend!

The Count of Monte Cristo is in full swing! :) By now, you should have read chapters 1-4 and turned in the study guide questions for those chapters. I will return them to you on the day of your vocab test. You will be assigned chapters 5-9 as homework. If you would like to get started on that now, go for it!

Vocab Tests will be given on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 1 and 2 (blocks 1, 3, 7, 8 on Tuesday and blocks 2 & 6 on Wednesday). At that time, you will receive words for lesson 20. You will also be assigned chapters 5-9 of CMC.

SMB chapter 8, Let's Go Out to the Movies, is due Friday, February 4. Everyone will be given one day of computer lab time, but you may need to finish at home.

Have a great weekend!

New Semester---New Beginnings!

Welcome to the last semester of your senior year!!

This week, you will be working on Vocabulary Lesson 19. For each word, write the definition, 2 synonyms, 2 antoyms, and a picture or sentence, on the grid paper I gave you in class.
The quiz over lesson 19 will be on 2/1 for blocks 1, 2, 7 & 8 and on 2/2 for blocks 3 & 6.

Stay tuned for SMB chapter 8, "Let's Go Out to the Movies."

SMB/EXAM TIME! :)

The name of the game is CRUNCH TIME! :)

The SENIOR MEMORY BOOK SCRAPBOOK is due Monday, January 17. I have been reminding students about this due date since Thanksgiving Break. Remember when I told you not to put it off until the last minute? :) Well, it's the last minute! No more putting it off! :) Get together with your friends and have a scrapbooking party this weekend! We will spend our class time on Monday looking at each other's work which should be lots of fun. Remember, this project is half your exam grade (and therefore 10% of your semester grade).

Next week, you should concentrate on studying for your literature and vocabulary exam. The schedule for exams is on my white board or in the bulletin. By now, you have all received the 2 page exam review. Spend some time looking up your vocabulary definitions on old tests or definition sheets. Make flashcards (check the link Jessica Longoria gave us to do them on line!) or study in the manner that works best for you. Spend some time re-reading Oedipus the King or Dante's Inferno if you can't quite remember them....and last, but not least....if you don't remember something, ask for help! If you don't understand something, ask for help! That's what I'm here for!!!

Good luck!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Happy 2011 everyone! Less than 5 months until graduation!! :) And only 62 school days until spring break! :)

The SMB scrapbook with seven chapters, a table of contents, and pictures/decorated pages is due MONDAY, JANUARY 17.
You will have a cumulative exam the next week. That means the exam will cover material from the entire first semester including vocabulary. I will give you an extensive review sheet and you will have ample opportunity to ask questions and get help before the exam.

The first week back to school, we will do a vocabulary lesson (the last one before the exam) and you will have a day in the computer lab to do SMB chapter 7, the last chapter to be included in the first semester scrapbook. The following week, we will start exam review. We will also do some writing activities during the month of January before we begin The Count of Monte Cristo second semester.


I hope you all enjoyed your break! See you soon!