Mr. Bass's Blog

August 28, 2006

2006-08-28T14:45:00.000-05:00

Today in English 10, we reviewed for the Plot and Setting Test tomorrow. Students continued working on various assignments on their computers.

Today in Media, students took a test. All book work is past due.

August 16, 2006

2006-08-16T14:34:00.000-05:00

Today in English 10, students finished sending intro emails and worked on their biopoems. Most students finished the biopoems and began the Intro to the Internet activity. Tomorrow the students will take a pre-test over the semester's curriculum.

Modern Media students finished the Media Literacy Paradigm and began their Chapter 4 worksheet. Tomorrow students will finish their book work and create a "symbols" poster.

August 14, 2006: First Day of School

2006-08-14T13:54:00.000-05:00

Today English 10 set-up their Yahoo email accounts and filled out a personal information sheet. The students must bring back the Internet Use Permission Slip, Classroom Policies for Using the Internet, and Hazelwood School District Internet Acceptable Use Policy forms signed by a parent or guardian. These must be returned by Thursday.
Modern Media filled out a personal information sheet and a Media Consumption Analysis worksheet. The students must also return the three forms listed above. All students were assigned a computer.

Week One is in the can

2006-01-06T14:26:00.000-06:00

I thought the title of this particular post was very appropriate because of the allusion to movie making and the heavy use of technology in my classes this semester.

Assignments:
Modern Media went on a little field trip today around the school to demonstrate "noise" in the communication process. Students were partnered up and one was blindfolded, taking away their visual communication behavior and making them rely on the acoustic communication from their partners. We had no major mishaps and when we returned all students wrote a two paragraph reflection on the experience.

English 10 continued creating their websites and working on their assignments today. All assignements can be found here.

Creative Writing took a quiz over the notes we took on figurative language on Thursday. They then were to complete items 3 and 4 on their assignment page. Many did not finish so we will continue on Monday.

Next week we will be starting blogging in creative writing and english10 as long as everyone gets their permission slips in.

2006-01-04T13:03:00.000-06:00

Modern Media finished their symbols posters today and will move on to bookwork tomorrow.

English 10 continued their Introduction to the Internet activity and has another assignment entitled "Farewell 2005." All assignments can be found here.

Creative Writing is working on their inventions today. They need to create a poster advertising their invention and then create a write up explaining what the invention is, what it does, and how it works. The groups will then record themselves to the computer explaining the invention which will then be broadcast on the Hazelwood East SpartanCast.

Day 2

2006-01-03T13:16:00.000-06:00

Modern Media finished up the notes on our first unit. We then began creating a poster in which students would find five items and find examples of each type of symbol that we created in class. We will be finishing this up tomorrow and start on a new assignment.

English 10 was on the computers today and started working on two different assignments. All assignments can be found here. Some assignments are ongoing, some are due sooner, all assignment instructions can be found on those web pages.

Creative Writing started a new project today in which they were to look at previous patents and try to determine what it is and how it works. They will then create a poster and write up about what it is and how it works. Each of these posters will be displayed in class and the write ups will be recorded onto the computer, the best ones will be put out on SpartanCast, Hazelwood East's podcast.

Any questions about any assignments can be directed to Mr. Bass.

Second Semester Staring Up

2006-01-02T13:02:00.000-06:00

To all of my new students, welcome to the world of English online. This is where I will be posting your assignments and keep you up to date on what we are doing in class on any given day. Since today was the first day of the semester, we spent a little time getting things going, filling out paperwork, etc. etc. Any of you who missed today you should check back on my regular website and print out the handouts so you know what is going on. I will have a few extra copies so you can check with me first.

In Modern Media class we went through the paperwork, but then started talking about what media is and took notes over the communication process. Those notes will also be available online if you need them.

English 10 spent the class filling out the paperwork and getting our email set up. Everyone should have already emailed me with their addresses and passwords so if you forget I can look it up for you.

Creative Writing also filled out paperwork and then began their first writing assignment, a response to a prompt on what it means to be creative. This prompt can be found here. Once this is completed, it needs to be turned in via email.

Remember, if you have a question or are going to be absent, there are two ways to contact me, email and through the website. This is your outlet for the class. You are responsible for your own education. Take control of it and get everything you can out of it.

Until tomorrow...

End of the 1st Quarter

2005-10-13T10:59:00.000-05:00

Well here we are, finally to the end of the first quarter. A few reminders for upcoming events at Hazelwood East. Next Thursday and Friday are parent teacher conferences for the school, if you want to schedule an appointment, contact me. Secondly, we have just released our second episode of SpartanCast, a student created and produced podcast for Hazelwood East High School.

In Modern Media we have just finished our media projects. We will be starting our next unit next week.

Creative Writing is starting on our poetry unit. We will be blogging and posting poetry online in the next few weeks.

English 10 is in the midst of To Kill A Mockingbird and will finish in two weeks.

All students should know their approximate grade at this point. If there is any question don't hesitate to contact me.

Mr. Bass

Projects, To Kill a Mockingbird, Short Stories

2005-09-27T10:48:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone. In my classes right now we are in the midst of several bigger projects.

In Modern Media we are working on our media projects in which students will create their own form of media. The choices that I gave them are as follows: a website, PowerPoint presentation, podcast, or video. Each of these projects is very involved and we will be spending the rest of this quarter on them. One of the things that I have encourage my students to do is to use their imaginations and creativity to create well developed projects. I will be helping them with every step so there should not be any reason anyone does not succeed unless they choose not to. These projects will all be published in some format usually online. This is a great hands-on project for these students and you should see some great work very soon.

In English 10 we are currently reading To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Throughout the course of the book we will be taking comprehension quizzes, vocabulary quizzes and completing study guides. We are currently on Chapter 7 and will be taking our next quiz on Thursday.

Creative Writing is finally doing some real writing. They are creating a short story, 10 pages in length. We have been building up to this since the beginning of the school year so hopefully we will have some good stories.

To Kill a Mockingbird

2005-09-21T07:41:00.000-05:00

This week English 10 will be starting the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. On Tuesday they got 12 vocabulary words over chapters 1-2 which they will be quized over on Friday. We started reading Chapter 1 in class and will continue that tomorrow. During this unit, homework will be required in order to keep up with the class. On Wednesday, students have an assignment due in which they will be infering the setting of the story through the inaugural address of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Students will also need to complete the study guide for chapters 1-4 as we read the story.

Creative Writing will be starting their short stories on Thursday. I will post the requirements on Thursday after giving the assignment. On Wednesday students will be turing in a dialogue exercise.

Modern Media is about to finish their film unit and having a test on Friday. Wednesday in class we will be watching a video called Mickey Mouse Monopoly about the way that the media industries work.

Long time, no blog

2005-09-15T08:10:00.000-05:00

Hello all,
I know it's been awhile since I've posted, but I'll try to catch you up. This week is a short week so we haven't had to try to get as much done as possible in a short period of time.

In Modern Media we have been studying film and the filmmaking process. Last Friday we took notes over the process of creating a film. Monday students got a handout on the history of film as well as questions over it. Tuesday we did bookwork over film and Wednesday and Thursday we have been watching "The Birds," a classic by Alfred Hitchcock. Next week we will continue and finish our film unit with a test on Friday.

In Creative Writing we have been leading up to the writing of our short story. We talked about point of view and how that effects the telling of a story. We read "The Lottery," by Shirley Jackson and now have 4 blog entries. On Wednesday we started to take a section of "The Lottery" or "Hills like White Elephants" and write it from a different point of view. That's due on Monday at the end of class.

English 10 students have spent the week writing their first real paper; an autobiographical narrative in which they take an incident from their lives as a starting point and tell the story. We've been typing this in class and will be finishing at the beginning of next week. Once that is done, we'll be starting the novel, "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee.

Week of tests

2005-09-06T08:28:00.000-05:00

This shortened week is going to include tests in two of my classes.

Modern Media finished their Internet search worksheets on Tuesday. Wednesday we will be reviewing and wrapping the unit up and Thursday is our test over the Internet. This test will be completely based on notes and discussions from class. On Friday there is a media summary article due in which students need to find a media relevant article and write a three paragraph response. The first paragraph should be a summary of the article; the second, an explanation of why this topic is of interest; the third, predictions, evaluations, opinions about the topic discussed.

Creative Writing is currently wading through a variety of different stories in preparation for the writing of their short stories. We will be talking about characters and using point of view effectively in their stories.

English 10 will have a test on Wednesday over plot and setting as well as the four stories that we have read in class: "The Pedestrian", by Ray Bradbury; "Contents of the Dead Man's Pocket", by Jack Finney; "The Rockpile", by James Baldwin; and "The Love Letter", also by Jack Finney. On Friday we will also have a vocabulary quiz over the following words.

Chronic
Commence
Discipline
Famine
Orthodox
Ration
Rearrange
Slovenly
Vague
Voracious

Good Day to you and good luck this week.

Sick kids, blogs and the net

2005-09-02T13:12:00.000-05:00

This was quite a week. If you hadn't noticed, I haven't done a lot of blogging this week because Monday and Tuesday I was absent because one of my twins was sick. Sick isn't so bad, but I got a little concerned when his temperature reached 104. But, after 3 days of being at home, he's back at daycare and feeling good. Anyway, on to this week.

In Modern Media we've been talking about the Internet and how to be safe online. Today in class we started a search worksheet to practice finding things on the Internet. We will finish that on Tuesday.

Creative Writing students have created a blog to respond to different things in class and interact on the web. Blogs have many different uses in education so we're going to tap into some of those things. We've just started so there aren't too many entries yet but I will post the blogs as soon as we get started.

In English 10 we took a vocabulary quiz today and will be taking a test over plot setting and 4 different stories next Wednesday.

Have a great 3 day weekend.

Friday is testing day for Media

2005-08-25T08:45:00.000-05:00

It's almost the end of the week and we're ready for our first test in Modern Media. I want to be sure to say once again. Do NOT take this test lightly. History has shown that this is not a good test for many students. Don't let that happen to you. So here, as promised, is your essay.

Books are a form of communication that has been around for ages. Now with the advances in technology our society is experiencing, things are changing. Identify some of the changes that are being made in society and explain how this will impact the buying and selling of books in the future.

To get full credit for this you need 3 paragraphs in which you identify 3 different examples of changes in society and how each one will impact the book market.

In Creative Writing we have been looking at the story "August Heat" and are in the process of writing an ending for it. Yesterday we did a writer's workshop, today we will be typing. The story is due tomorrow.

English 10 read another story today focusing on plot and setting. We also took a quiz over setting on the notes that we took in class yesterday.

Good luck to all.

Mr. Bass

Blindfold walks and writers workshops

2005-08-24T10:28:00.000-05:00

Today was a great day in room 359.

English 10 discussed technology and how we use it in today's world. Yesterday we read "The Pedestrian" by Ray Bradbury, a story set in the future about a guy who gets arrested for taking a walk. We then wrote a short essay describing how technology is used in our world.

Modern Media took a blindfolded walk around the school to illustrate the communication process and how it is disrupted. Tomorrow we will be reviewing for our test on Friday.

Creative Writing did a writer's workshop today in which they are talking about the end of the story they are writing for "August Heat." Tomorrow we will be finishing this and the story will be due on Friday.

Have a great day and I'll see you tomorrow.

Week 2

2005-08-23T11:58:00.000-05:00

Well, week 2 is upon us. Things changed drastically in one of my classes today. My 2nd hour was completely disbanded. Ms. Carter and Mrs. Kurtz split my students and now I'm supervising a lunch hour. Oh well, so be it.

In Modern Media today we finished our bookwork and created a symbols poster in which they were to identify high-c, mid-c and low-c symbols for 4 different referentsby cutting out pictures and text from magazines. All of these things we have been over in class last week.

In Creative Writing we took a quiz over plot and read the story "August Heat." In reading this story we were concentrating on the style of the author and how that is told through the story.

English 10 also took a quiz over plot and read the story "The Pedestrian" answering questions out of the book.

See ya tomorrow.

Friday at last

2005-08-19T11:50:00.000-05:00

Well everyone, it's Friday. We made it through the first week. I hope you all get plenty of rest over the weekend and are ready to start fresh on Monday.

In Modern Media today we expanded on what we did yesterday and analyzed a piece of media using the Media Literacy Paradigm. Most of you completed it in class, but if you didn't, you need to bring it back Monday finished.

English 10 took a reading and literary analysis pre test for the semester. This gives me an idea of where you are currently and will allow me to alter the curriculum to serve you best.

Creative Writing presented their inventions and found out what each thing actually did. During the presentations we recorded the audio for a test for upcoming podcasts that we will be doing. Once that was done we did an exercise in which three words were given to the class. They then had to whittle that word down one letter at a time until only the word "a" was left. Below is an example.

Aspects
Paces
Caps
Sap
As
A

The words that they were given were: Literary, Secretary and Bladders. Only one group is done so far.

Good weekend to ya.

What a day!!!

2005-08-18T09:53:00.000-05:00

What a morning I had. On the way to work a tie rod on my car broke, luckily I was just getting gas and the attendant said he could fix it right there. He did. I barely got to school before 1st hour. But here I am, I'm just happy that it didn't happen on the interstate and that my kids weren't in the car.

But now school is here and things are good.

Modern Media -- Today in class we took notes over the communication process and how it connects with media. We will have a test next Friday over this and other information. Tomorrow everyone is supposed to bring a form of media to analyze using the media literacy paradigm.

Creative Writing -- We did our first writing assignment in class today. Everyone wrote one page about their writing process. The purpose here is to analyze each individual's writing process so that when we actually start writing for real they will have already thought about how to approach the assignment. Tomorrow we will be presenting our inventions that we began yesterday.

English 10 -- We also wrote in English 10 today about what qualities make a good friend. This is simply for me to see what kind of a writer each student is currently and to see what stregths and weaknesses we already have.

I hope everyone had a great day, tomorrow's Friday, the first week is almost done.

Day 2

2005-08-17T13:13:00.000-05:00

Hello again. Today in class we jumped right into our curriculum and got started.

In Modern Media we talked about the amount of money that is made in the media industry every year. We also took a self inventory about how each student uses media in their everyday lives to demonstrate how media influences our lives. We did another inventory to see how much money we spend on media in our society to demonstrate what a big business it is.

In Creative Writing we did our presentations over what makes a creative person. Once we finished that we began to look at old patents. The assignment the students got was to create an explanation as to what each patent did and how it worked. We will be presenting these in class tomorrow.

In English 10 we created posters of our avatars. We're doing this so that when we're online we can have anonymity. Each student created an alternate identity including a name, location and description.

Have a great afternoon.

First Day of School

2005-08-16T12:00:00.000-05:00

Hello students and welcome to the first day of the 05-06 school year. On this blog I will give a brief synopsis of what we did in class that day as well as other information. I'm really excited about what this year will bring and what kinds of things we will accomplish. Here are the things that we did in class today, you can refer back to my website to get any handouts or worksheets.

Modern Media: This class was cut a little bit short today because of homeroom and the passing out of schedules. All we really got to do was go over the class overview and the bell rang. Tomorrow we will definitely do more.

English 10: In English 10 we talked about the procedures of the class and the kinds of things that we would be doing in the class. We also began to create our Avatars (online identities) that we will be using throughout the course of the class.

Creative Writing: In this class after we got through the basics we talking about what makes a creative person. Students then paired up and interviewed each other. Tomorrow we will be making a presentation of that person to the class.

I hope everyone had a good first day. See ya tomorrow.