An inside glimpse of not only the in-class happenings of a high school English and Journalism classroom, but also the trials and tribulations, the successes and (unfortunately) failures, the excitement, and the processes by which these all occur.
Friday, September 30, 2011
CADET PRIDE
English 11 students wrote tongue twisters to show their Cadet pride in celebration of Homecoming week.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
We Are Animals
Students composed six-line perspective poems in which they chose an animal they feel resembled them.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Digital Story Telling
Students in English 9 not only wrote the typical personal narrative essay, but they used GarageBand to record the stories and add effects to make the stories more interesting for the listeners. Students worked on presentation skills, editing skills, and writing skills throughout this project. Personal narratives can be heard by clicking on the links below.
Spencer's Narrative
Rachel's Narrative
Aly's Narrative
Nole's Narrative
Angelo's Narrative
Daniel's Narrative
Miguel's Narrative
Brandon's Narrative
Sidney's Narrative
Brooke's Narrative
Hailey's Narrative
Juan's Narrative
Spencer's Narrative
Rachel's Narrative
Trevor's Narrative
Zach's Narrative
Aly's Narrative
Nole's Narrative
Angelo's Narrative
Daniel's Narrative
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
"The Rotten Finger" Hint Fiction
Students wrote a Hint Fiction story based on the the prompt title of "The Rotten Finger". The stories the students developed can be seen in the comments of this post. Enjoy!
Thursday, September 22, 2011
"When You Were Very Small" Poetry Collection
Students in English 9, 10, and 11 each wrote five-line poems about their earliest memories. The bell ringer prompt was: "Try to recall your earliest memory. Who was there? Where were you? What were you doing? Construct a five-line poem about this memory with as much description as possible." Each student posted his/her poem as a comment to this blog entry. Enjoy!
Prompt taken from The Daily Spark: Poetry Warm-up Activities.
Prompt taken from The Daily Spark: Poetry Warm-up Activities.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Beowulf Music Video
The students in English 11 will be collaborating and creating their own music videos to tell the history and story of the epic poem Beowulf. A superb example can be seen by watching the following video.
This video (Beowulf meets Nena's "99 Luftballons") was created by History for Music Lovers and can be found on historyteachers channel on YouTube.
This video (Beowulf meets Nena's "99 Luftballons") was created by History for Music Lovers and can be found on historyteachers channel on YouTube.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Bite-sized fiction: Twi-ction
Writing fiction has been simplified in recent years, largely due to our short attention spans and the growth of social media. Twitter has recently inspired a whole new branch of this revolutionary writing fad. Fiction composed in a single Tweet of 140 characters or less.
Constitution Day WallWisher
Students wrote six-word memoirs from the Constitutional right or freedom of their choice. Memoirs were posted on WallWisher, an interactive bulletin board site. To read the work of English 9, English 10, and English 11 students, click here or go to http://www.wallwisher.com/wall/shaw-constitution-da
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Hint Fiction
Hint fiction is the newest rave in the world of writing and literature. Hint fiction limits writers to a brief title and 25 words or less. The power of these words have to spark images and a much larger story. Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors all tried their hand at creating hint fiction based on the given title: "Just One More Day."
“Just One More Day”
Freshmen Hint Fiction
One more day to fight. One more to live, to make it all worth while. To do everything he’s ever wanted. Before he’s gone. Alyssa
As he looks down from the sky, he sees a city on fire. Holes in the ground from the bombs. If he had one more day. Angelo
There was just one more day for you to live? Would you go skydiving or do something else dangerous? Would you tell as many people? Nole
As he sat there, feeling emptiness and sorrow, darkness came upon him. He saw sudden light while he walked through the street. Abby
One more day and I will be there. No more counting the days desperately waiting for it. I only wish it was one more minute. Sidney
I have one more day to go off and see my family before I am taken away for ever in quiet solitaire. Brandon
Lost in thought, staring at the boring, educational walls, wishing the horror go away, sitting blankly is the room, knowing there’s just one more day. Hailey
Knowing she was gone hit me harder than I thought. If I could change it all tonight I would do it in an instant. Juan G.
Just one more day until it started. The wait was almost over. He just wished it was today instead. Zach
Just one more day. To to show the world what he could give. Life was wrong, to give you everything and take it all away. Daniel
I stare up at the ceiling feeling pain. No one is there to stop it I hope for one more day. Spencer
Tomorrow will come sooner than they know it. The other families and them in tears,
knowing they should make their last day count. Rachael
Year after year the day came, but this year was more exciting than others, for now she could do much more. Brooke
“Just One More Day”
Junior Hint Fiction
What would be like if I didn’t have to sit here? 24 more hours to live. Scared out of my mind thinking about tomorrow. Gaby
He put his hat on a hot, sunny summer day. A party just for him. They said they don’t know, but they still can guess. Ben
I’m crying on the inside, wishing for one more day on the outside. Locked in this cell alone with no one else around me. Dylan
She watched as he lay sleeping on the hospital bed. His body lie fragile, lifeless, pale. His health had not changed. When would this end? Emma
He’s stuck in prison, in a nation of evil. He did something against the leader, sentenced to die but has no regrets. Jacob
Everything as its end, time passes. The bags were packed; it was time to go. Time to part from her, days with her were over. Ana
All the hairs have abandoned my body, this disease has taken all my strength. Hearing comforting words, I only want life... Clara
He waited, watching from afar. She was everything. She was life. It drove him insane. He plotted for tomorrow. Now…wait. Christi
She carried this baby for nine months.She decided to drive to the store to find out it was an unfortunate day. Jessica
She went to the doctor. Tears fell as she told her kids. Her husband was the last she told as she kissed him good-bye. Trisha
I wonder if this chain wasn't on my ankle and if the other end wasn't hooked to the wall if I would be free. Storm
It was an elegant, gorgeous luminescence. She felt the urge to draw near, yearning closure, left with no option, she consigned to the past, abandoned her life. Brooke
She screams and yells and lectures and talks. He listens with no interest and begins writing. He delivers it she stops and smiles and laughs. Billy
He picked up the gun. Why was it out again? In the next instant she walked in and started yelling. Melina
“Just One More Day”
Sophomore Hint Fiction
He was mad and very sad. His mind was wondering and he couldn’t think about one thing. He just wanted more time. Tyler
He was sitting in the hospital bed waiting for the news...The doctor came in and told the bad news...tears filled his eyes...Taylor
A girl stares at the hole in the earth thinking, hoping this day weren’t real. That the whole thing was just a bad dream. Amber
One more day. Getting the guns ready, the calls cleaned, adrenaline rising. It’s only a day away and he can’t wait to hear the first crack. Jake
There is just one day left. All the kids were excited, but need to stay focused for what will come tomorrow. Andrew
Just one more day until I leave, one more day to be with my family. I’m nervous, but excited. Ready to go, but still scared. Jenna
As I see you leave, I hope to see you again. Maybe not here and now. Maybe some day lead me to where you left. Alicia
Tears welling in her eyes just as the doctors are leaving. Laying in bed for so long, feeling her head where hair use to be. Karter
He misses him a lot and can’t stand it. They argued a lot. If only he got to see him for one more day. Mario
The skies are bright. Tomorrow they turn grey for five more days, when I enter with lifeless bodies. Most of us are committed for life. Austin
Freshmen Hint Fiction
One more day to fight. One more to live, to make it all worth while. To do everything he’s ever wanted. Before he’s gone. Alyssa
As he looks down from the sky, he sees a city on fire. Holes in the ground from the bombs. If he had one more day. Angelo
There was just one more day for you to live? Would you go skydiving or do something else dangerous? Would you tell as many people? Nole
As he sat there, feeling emptiness and sorrow, darkness came upon him. He saw sudden light while he walked through the street. Abby
One more day and I will be there. No more counting the days desperately waiting for it. I only wish it was one more minute. Sidney
I have one more day to go off and see my family before I am taken away for ever in quiet solitaire. Brandon
Lost in thought, staring at the boring, educational walls, wishing the horror go away, sitting blankly is the room, knowing there’s just one more day. Hailey
Knowing she was gone hit me harder than I thought. If I could change it all tonight I would do it in an instant. Juan G.
Just one more day until it started. The wait was almost over. He just wished it was today instead. Zach
Just one more day. To to show the world what he could give. Life was wrong, to give you everything and take it all away. Daniel
I stare up at the ceiling feeling pain. No one is there to stop it I hope for one more day. Spencer
Tomorrow will come sooner than they know it. The other families and them in tears,
knowing they should make their last day count. Rachael
Year after year the day came, but this year was more exciting than others, for now she could do much more. Brooke
“Just One More Day”
Junior Hint Fiction
What would be like if I didn’t have to sit here? 24 more hours to live. Scared out of my mind thinking about tomorrow. Gaby
He put his hat on a hot, sunny summer day. A party just for him. They said they don’t know, but they still can guess. Ben
I’m crying on the inside, wishing for one more day on the outside. Locked in this cell alone with no one else around me. Dylan
She watched as he lay sleeping on the hospital bed. His body lie fragile, lifeless, pale. His health had not changed. When would this end? Emma
He’s stuck in prison, in a nation of evil. He did something against the leader, sentenced to die but has no regrets. Jacob
Everything as its end, time passes. The bags were packed; it was time to go. Time to part from her, days with her were over. Ana
All the hairs have abandoned my body, this disease has taken all my strength. Hearing comforting words, I only want life... Clara
He waited, watching from afar. She was everything. She was life. It drove him insane. He plotted for tomorrow. Now…wait. Christi
She carried this baby for nine months.She decided to drive to the store to find out it was an unfortunate day. Jessica
She went to the doctor. Tears fell as she told her kids. Her husband was the last she told as she kissed him good-bye. Trisha
I wonder if this chain wasn't on my ankle and if the other end wasn't hooked to the wall if I would be free. Storm
It was an elegant, gorgeous luminescence. She felt the urge to draw near, yearning closure, left with no option, she consigned to the past, abandoned her life. Brooke
She screams and yells and lectures and talks. He listens with no interest and begins writing. He delivers it she stops and smiles and laughs. Billy
He picked up the gun. Why was it out again? In the next instant she walked in and started yelling. Melina
“Just One More Day”
Sophomore Hint Fiction
He was mad and very sad. His mind was wondering and he couldn’t think about one thing. He just wanted more time. Tyler
He was sitting in the hospital bed waiting for the news...The doctor came in and told the bad news...tears filled his eyes...Taylor
A girl stares at the hole in the earth thinking, hoping this day weren’t real. That the whole thing was just a bad dream. Amber
One more day. Getting the guns ready, the calls cleaned, adrenaline rising. It’s only a day away and he can’t wait to hear the first crack. Jake
There is just one day left. All the kids were excited, but need to stay focused for what will come tomorrow. Andrew
Just one more day until I leave, one more day to be with my family. I’m nervous, but excited. Ready to go, but still scared. Jenna
As I see you leave, I hope to see you again. Maybe not here and now. Maybe some day lead me to where you left. Alicia
Tears welling in her eyes just as the doctors are leaving. Laying in bed for so long, feeling her head where hair use to be. Karter
He misses him a lot and can’t stand it. They argued a lot. If only he got to see him for one more day. Mario
The skies are bright. Tomorrow they turn grey for five more days, when I enter with lifeless bodies. Most of us are committed for life. Austin
For More on Hint Fiction visit Robert Swartwood's website
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Captions for a Picture Using Pirate Pad
English 11
Gaby Gomez: Several brides are participating in a cake eating contest in New York on a summer day to try and win a free wedding dress.
Dylan Moricz: Right now in the closet 5 hungry women are stuffing their faces with cake to gain weight because they want to.
Emma Calles: After a long saturday morning at a mass wedding reception starving brides stuffed their mouths with sugary cake because they were selfish and didn’t want to share.
Clara Arnold: Last night at the Embassy Suites Wedding Palooza, several hungry brides chow down on as much cake as possible in 60 seconds for a chance to win a free honeymoon.
AJ Meier: At the reception, the bridesmaids are eating cake with their hands the fastest to win the contest on who gets to kiss the broom.
Ben Fahrmann: Brides eating cake at a table during the day because they have been dieting to fit into their dresses and now are splurging by eating cake
Patricia Halverson: Several brides are eating cake in a cake eating contest to win a free wedding in London the day before their wedding.
Jessica Heiserman: After the wedding in the reception room, several brides were shuffling through cake because they were offered a free hot rich husband if they found the ring in the cake.
Melina Yepez- Monday morning in Chicago ten bride to be's went to a contest where they have to find a diamond ring in the cupcakes. Who ever wins gets a million dollar wedding good luck ladies. :D
Cristi Flores:
Several brides participate at a cake-eating contest at Bob's wedding party last week for the win of a fancy car.
Cameron Carpenter: The brides are at a weding on a saturday morning they are having a contest to see who can eat the most cake so they are all stuffing their mouths with cake.
Jacob Anderson: Four friends eating cake like crazy at their friend's wedding. Were probably really hungry.
Elijah Dohrmann: Some brides stuffed their faces with cake at the ceremony yesterday trying to win the cake eating contest.
Brooke Elphic: Brides are feeding their faces with bright blue wedding cake at a cake eating contest. The girl who eats a whole cake the fastest will win an all expense paid honeymoon!
t: brides are stuffing their faces with cake celebrating the wedding the the summer at a colorado park competing for a vacation
English 9
Alyssa Hamilton: In Las Vegas, Nevada, on October 25, 5 Brides, that don’t know each other at all, at a 5 way wedding, each eating through a wedding cake trying to find two plane tickets that will take the bride and groom to their unknown honeymoon destination. The bride and groom will also win a fully paid honeymoon, rings, and a six month trip around the world!
Spencer Brinkman: Brides are having a wedding cake eating competition. They are eating the cake at city hall for 1 million dollars. They are going to try to eat the cake fast if one of the brides finishes it first will win the money.
Rachael Arnold: four women are at a contest eating cakes to see who can eat the most at 2:00 pm.
Felipe Lerma:Four women eating cake at night in a church.Four women trying to win a contest by tasting the most delicious cake.
Daniel Sosa: Four brides from philidelphia on augest 30th are having a food contest to see which one will win $500 in minlpoly.
Brooke Mensing: Last week some brides go to the bridal shop to find their dream dresses. Whoever eats the most cake in five minutes gets their dress for free.
Zach Vanness: Five brides were messily eating cake in a contest after their weddings to see who would eat the most cake and get a free honeymoon.
Juan Gomez: A couple of brides are eating cake during a contest on a TV Show for a prize. That or they really like to eat cake in front of a studio audience.
Sidney Turner: Today four brides competed in a cake eating contest to compete for a 10,000 dollars for a wedding they've always wanted. The brides-to-be win by whoever can eat the most cake in 10 minuntes.
Brandon: These girls all show up at in their wedding dresses for the same wedding turns out the guy has been seeing all these girls at the same time. They decide to settle this so they all go to the bakery and have a blue cake eating contest. Who ever finds the ring first gets to marry him.
Hailey Manley: On the day of their wedding, a group of middle-aged brides are gathered at a reception hall in NYC, NY to stuff their faces with blue wedding cake, trying to eat the entire cake the fastest for an all expenses paid honeymoon of their dreams, the girls are shoveling their faces faster then we all thought possible.
Juan Trinidad: 4 brides are eating cake in a contest at the coulter community center so they coud win a honey moon to Fiji.
Angelo Yepez Today there are some brides that are at a wedding doing a eating contest during the wedding where someone is getting married and they are using there hands to eat the cupcakes.
Nole Erickson : Four brides are eating cake last Saturday in New York. They are seeing how much cake four people can eat in a day with their hands.
Trevor: Brides eating cake at a cake eating convention at 12:00 P.M. to see how good the cake is so they can get a new house.
Abigail Sosa-Girls wearing wedding dress and playing a game of eating a wedding cake in the county fair, and win a wedding dress of their choose.
Miguel Calles: Five brides were at a cake eating contest at the cake convention and the bride that ate cake the fastest would win a wedding.
English 10
Amber Zewert: Several brides were shopping in a bridal store one weekend where there was a contest to see who could eat the cake the fastest. If they won they would get their wedding dress for free.
Austin Blayer:the brides maids are eating a whole lot of cake because the had to skip breakfast and lunch so the could fit in their dresses for the wedding
Andy Castillo: Some bridesmaids and having a cake eating contest and whoever finishes their cake first wins a trip to Norway.
Andrew Quinones: At a wedding in August four hungry brides ate some very tasty cake because they had not eaten for a year. They have to win by eating the most cake at the wedding and who ever has the loudest burp wins.
Taylor Rapp: The bride and the groom met each other in Fareway in september. They got married and this picture shows the brides mades eating the cake at the reception..
Karter Miller: These lucky ladies are choosen to be on a tv show called My Dream Honeymoon, premiering on September 20th (in New York City) where they are in a contest to eat the most cake possible in 2 minutes. The bride who eats the most will win a dream Honeymoon.
Jake Blau It was four brides mades having a cake eat competition at a table after a wedding with their hands to see who the biggest pig is.
Tyler Fitz Four freshly married women seeing who can gain the most wait in the least amount of time right after there weeding in Las Vegas trying to become extremely fat by shoveling cake in there faces.
Mario Yanez: On a Saturday there is a wedding reception. During the wedding reception there is a cake eating contest where they have to eat the most pieces of cake with their hands. The winners get game tickets to a Miami Heat’s game.
Alicia Cano: Wanna be brides are having a cake eating contest in a church on a sunny spring day. if they win they will receive one of there dream weddings of there lives! So they must eat three pounds of wedding cake!
Hunter Schleisman: Four brides are having a competition to see who can eat the most cake and the winner gets the wedding that they have always wanted.
Jenna Johnson: After their weddings in New York City, the brides were hungry from starving themselves for months, so they started stuffing their faces with cake.
Juan Carlos Calles:Last week 10 lucky brides got randomly chosen to participate in a cake eating contest. The brides had to eat a whole cake in the shortest amount of time and the winner receives their dream wedding.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Six-Word Memoirs (Freshmen)
The freshmen were challenged to write a six-word memoir to describe the start of the year so far. Here are their unique and insightful responses.
Juan G.: This year may be my favorite.
Brooke M.: So far it’s been super great.
Abby: It’s YOUR education so appreciate it.
Spencer: Man, this year is really challenging.
Rachael: Why did summer have to end?
Danny: Life is great with books back.
Trevor: I liked summer a lot better.
Angelo: I want to win a game.
Hailey: Learn it, live it, love it.
Sidney: I could be sleeping right now.
Zach: Work hard because this year counts.
Aly: Being nice does not change anything.
Juan T.: Work to improve, improve to succeed.
Marshall: Work hard; don’t give everything up.
Nole: Do homework so you can pass.
Miguel: Be smart, be attentive, be ready.
Felipe: Work hard and you can achieve.
Brandon: This year is going by fast.
Brooke M.: So far it’s been super great.
Abby: It’s YOUR education so appreciate it.
Spencer: Man, this year is really challenging.
Rachael: Why did summer have to end?
Danny: Life is great with books back.
Trevor: I liked summer a lot better.
Angelo: I want to win a game.
Hailey: Learn it, live it, love it.
Sidney: I could be sleeping right now.
Zach: Work hard because this year counts.
Aly: Being nice does not change anything.
Juan T.: Work to improve, improve to succeed.
Marshall: Work hard; don’t give everything up.
Nole: Do homework so you can pass.
Miguel: Be smart, be attentive, be ready.
Felipe: Work hard and you can achieve.
Brandon: This year is going by fast.
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