Tier III - Block 2 - Fall 2025 (Holloway High School)

Tier III - Block 2 - Fall 2025 (Holloway High School) //hhs.rcschools.net/apps/classes/1061816/assignments/ Class Name: Tier III - Block 2 - Fall 2025 Instructor(s): Jennifer Williams en-us SchoolSitePro <![CDATA[Due: 12/13/2025]]> //hhs.rcschools.net/homeworkItem10832489 //hhs.rcschools.net/apps/classes/1061816/assignments/

Monday, December 8, 2025

Bell Work

Lesson 15

1. buffet - a piece of dining room furniture with cupboards and drawers, a meal set out so that people may serve themselves

2. facilitate - to make easier or more convenient; to aid or assist in

3. steppes - a vast, almost treeless plain in southeastern Europe or Asia

4. succulent - juicy; not dry or dull; having fleshy plant tissue that conserves moisture

5. palatable - acceptable to the mind; fit to be eaten; pleasant-tasting

6. lapse - to fall from a higher level (as of manners) to a lower; to pass gradually; to come to an end; a slight, temporary error or slip; a fall from a better to a worse condition

7. expedient - suitable; advantageous; based on self-interest

8. delectable - very pleasing; delightful; delicious

9. hors d'oeuvre - a food served either before a meal or with drinks

10. ensue - to come next or follow; to happen as a consequence

We will listen to lines 204-402 of the story "The Most Dangerous Game"

You will begin working on the handout for these lines

Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Thursday, December 11, 2025

Friday, December 12, 2025

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Monday, December 1, 2025

Bell Work

Lesson 14

1. evict - to force a person by law to leave a building the person has leased or rented; to force out; to reject

2. incompatible - unable to agree or get along; conflicting; mismatched

3. subsequent - later; coming after; following in time

4. solvent - able to meet financial obligations; able to dissolve another substance; a liquid capable of dissolving another substance

5. ostracize - to shut out or exclude from a group; to banish

6. addicted - given up to a habit or compassion

7. defraud - to take away or deprive of a right or property by deceit; to swindle

8. lax - loose or slack; relaxed; careless; not strict

9. formidable - hard to overcome or deal with; causing fear; awe-inspiring

10. radical - fundamental or basic; favoring basic or drastic change (especially in the social structure); extreme departure from the usual; someone holding radical views

Finish working on "The Monkey's Paw" TIDE questions

Remember you are typing your answers and you are answering the highlighted questions in TIDE format. All other questions should just be answered.

Tuesday, December 2, 2025

Lesson 14 - Exercise 2

Wrap up any of "Monkey's Paw" work you have left to complete.

We will test over the story before you leave me today.

Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Lesson 14 - Exercise 3

You will complete and discuss the pre-reading handout for "The Most Dangerous Game" story

Thursday, December 4, 2025

Lesson 14 - Exercise 4

We will begin listening to and discussing "The Most Dangerous Game" story.

We will stop at 15:00 minutes into the story and you will begin the handout for lines 1-203.

Friday, December 5, 2025

Lesson 14 - Exercise 5

]]> Thu, 04 Dec 2025 13:54:40 PST <![CDATA[Due: 11/22/2025]]> //hhs.rcschools.net/homeworkItem10803429 //hhs.rcschools.net/apps/classes/1061816/assignments/

Monday, November 17, 2025

Bell Work

Lesson 13

1. wrangle - a noisy quarrel or brawl; to quarrel or bicker; to win or obtain by argument; to herd (livestock)

2. implement - tool; instrument; to carry out; accomplish; fulfill

3. adversary - an opponent; an enemy

4. exploit - a bold or brilliant act; to use to full advantage; to make unfair use of

5. elude - to escape from or avoid; to escape the understanding of

6. acknowledge - to admit; to recognize the rights or authority of; to express thanks for

7. objective - real, true; concerned with realities and not the thinking of the person; detached and without prejudice; a purpose, something aimed for

8. precedent - an act that serves as an example for later acts

9. homage - something done or given to show respect or honor; an act of allegiance

10. surmount - to overcome (a difficulty); to rise above; to be above or on top of

When your vocabulary is finished, you will complete "The Monkey's Paw" crossword puzzle handout.

Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Lesson 13 - Exercise 2

You will get the Monkey's Paw Pre-Reading Handout to complete.

We will discuss the handout after everyone finishes it.

We will listen to "The Monkey's Paw" and begin the review handout that goes with it.

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Lesson 13 - Exercise 3

You will finish "The Monkey's Paw" Reading for Meaning handout.

Thursday, November 20, 2025

Lesson 13 - Exercise 4

Begin the TIDE questions for the story.

This is the answer for #1...be sure to follow the example provided here!

Mr. White was “amiably desirous of preventing his son from seeing it.” This tells the reader that Mr. White knows that he has made a terrible mistake while playing chess with his son, but he doesn’t want his son to see it. Therefore, Mr. White thinks that he may not lose the chess match against Herbert if Herbert doesn’t see the terrible move he made.

Friday, November 21, 2025

Lesson 13 - Exercise 5

Continue working on the TIDE questions for "The Monkey's Paw" until the last 35-40 minutes of class.

I will let you watch the short movie that goes with this story if you choose to watch it.

"The Monkey's Paw" movie

]]> Wed, 19 Nov 2025 11:16:32 PST <![CDATA[Due: 11/15/2025]]> //hhs.rcschools.net/homeworkItem10790421 //hhs.rcschools.net/apps/classes/1061816/assignments/

Monday, November 10, 2025

Bell Work

Lesson 12

1. extrovert - a person who is outgoing and interested in others

2. congeniality - compatibility; friendliness; agreeable; pleasantness

3. jovial- full of playful good humor; genial and jolly

4. abhor - to feel hatred or disgust toward something; to loathe; to reject vehemently

5. tycoon - a powerful business person or industrialist; magnate

6. gaudy - tastelessly cheap and showy; flashy

7. intimate - characterizing one's deepest nature; very close association; close personal friend

8. cynic - a person who believes that people act only from selfish motives; a scornful person

9. dupe - a person easily tricked or deceived; to deceive someone

10. quota - an allotment; a proportional share; a maximum number

We will go over the video notes you all took last week on writing a thesis, introductory paragraphs, and conclusion.

We will brainstorm together as a class and write your introductory paragraph together.

Tuesday, November 11, 2025

Lesson 12 - Exercise 2

We are ready to begin writing our informative essay today. Your essay will need to be formatted in the following ways:

Times New Roman

12 font

Double spaced

Name at the top

Title centered after name and before essay begins

Remember your introductory paragraph should have:

1. Hook

2. Background Information

3. Thesis - Restate the prompt and list the three things you will talk about in your essay.

You will need to remember what TIDIDE means:

Topic Sentence
Important Evidence
Detailed Analysis
Important Evidence
Detailed Analysis
Ending Statement

Wednesday, November 12, 2025

Lesson 12 - Exercise 3

You will work on writing your essay.

Thursday, November 13, 2025

Lesson 12 - Exercise 4

You will work on writing your essay.

Friday, November 14, 2025

Lesson 12 - Exercise 5

You will work on writing your essay and be ready to submit by the end of the class.

]]> Thu, 13 Nov 2025 12:31:14 PST <![CDATA[Due: 11/08/2025]]> //hhs.rcschools.net/homeworkItem10772286 //hhs.rcschools.net/apps/classes/1061816/assignments/

Monday, November 3, 2025

Bell Work

Lesson 11

1. bland - soothing; mild; dull

2. contemptible - despicable; hateful; low

3. chronic - lasting a long time; constant; habitual

4. incomprehensible - impossible to understand; obscure

5. malicious - harmful; mean; spiteful

6. obtuse - not sharp-edged or pointed; blunt; dull; slow to understand

7. diligent - hardworking; painstaking

8. impertinent -disrespectful; rude and impolite; unrelated to a given topic

9. pessimistic - expecting things to turn out badly; gloomy

10. ideally - perfectly; in theory

If you did not finish the questions that go with "The Landlady," please do that first.

If that is complete, begin working on the remainder of what you need to do to finish "The Tell-Tale Heart." I am going to repost the work from last Wednesday so you can determine what you still need to complete:

Take a couple of minutes to read and annotate paragraph 11...

Box or circle unfamiliar words and phrases

Star (*) important or repeating ideas

Put a question mark (?) next to a section you are questioning or confused about

Use an exclamation point (!) for areas that remind you of another text or ideas that strike you or surprise you in some way.

Breakdown number 1:

"But even yet I refrained and kept still" through "so strange a noise as this excited me to uncontrollable terror."

10. Why does the narrator hold the lantern motionless?

11. What explanation does the narrator give for his "uncontrollable terror"?

Breakdown number 2:

"Yet, for some minutes longer, I refrained and stood still," through "His eye would trouble me no more."

12. What does the narrator mean when he says the "old man's hour had come!"?

13. Why would the old man's eye no longer "trouble" the narrator?

14. Consider the story's pacing in paragraphs 8-10. How does Poe use text structure and time in paragraph 11?

15. What do you notice about the development of the central idea in the excerpt?

Take a couple of minutes to read and annotate paragraphs 12-13

Box or circle unfamiliar words and phrases

Star (*) important or repeating ideas

Put a question mark (?) next to a section you are questioning or confused about

Use an exclamation point (!) for areas that remind you of another text or ideas that strike you or surprise you in some way.

16. What are the "wise precautions" the narrator takes?

17. Why does he refer to the "precautions" as "wise"?

18. What structural choice is Poe making throughout these paragraphs?

Quick Write:

How do Poe's structural choices contribute to the development and refinement of a central idea?

Add the following vocabulary to your notes:

reposed - rested

dissemble - to give a false or misleading appearance

deed - something that is done, performed, or accomplished

fatigues - weariness from bodily or mental exertion

gesticulations - animated or excited gestures

audacity - boldness or daring, especially with confident or arrogant disregard for personal safety, conventional thought, or other restrictions

vehemently - emotionally, passionately, intensely

mockery - ridicule, contempt, or derision

hypocritical - the pretense of having virtues, beliefs, or principles that one does not actually possess

Take a couple of minutes and annotate paragraphs 14-15...

Box or circle unfamiliar words and phrases

Star (*) important or repeating ideas

Put a question mark (?) next to a section you are questioning or confused about

Use an exclamation point (!) for areas that remind you of another text or ideas that strike you or surprise you in some way.

Answer the following questions:

1. Why does the narrator have a "light heart"?

2. In paragraphs 14 and 15, what is the effect of the narrator's question "What had I to fear?"

3. What does the narrator do in the "enthusiasm of [his] confidence"?

4. What is the narrator's "perfect triumph"?

5. What does the narrator do with "wild audacity"?

Now take a couple of minutes and read and annotate paragraph 16.

Box or circle unfamiliar words and phrases

Star (*) important or repeating ideas

Put a question mark (?) next to a section you are questioning or confused about

Use an exclamation point (!) for areas that remind you of another text or ideas that strike you or surprise you in some way.

Answer the following questions:

6. What does the narrator mean by "I found that the noise was not within my ears"?

7. What is happening to the narrator in this paragraph?

Take a couple of minutes and annotate paragraphs 17-18...

Box or circle unfamiliar words and phrases

Star (*) important or repeating ideas

Put a question mark (?) next to a section you are questioning or confused about

Use an exclamation point (!) for areas that remind you of another text or ideas that strike you or surprise you in some way.

8. Describe the narrator's way of speaking in the beginning of this excerpt.

9. What effect is the "noise" having on the narrator?

10. How do the police react to the narrator's behavior?

11. Why does the narrator think the police were "making a mockery" of his horror?

12. Why does the narrator call the police officers' smiles hypocritical?

13. Who does the narrator call "Villains"?

14. What does the command, "dissemble no more" reveal about the narrator?

15. What drives the narrator to "admit the deed"?

16. What is the effect of Poe's use of punctuation in paragraphs 17 and 18?

Quick Write:

Where does a new central idea emerge? How does Poe develop this idea in the conclusion of the story?

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Lesson 11-Exercise 2

If you did not get finished with the work for "The Tell-Tale Heart" you will finish that first.

Make sure you turn in your story after you have annotated the entire thing

If/When you finish that you should turn in your story and your work.

Then begin with this:

You MUST take complete notes over all videos!!!

When you take notes, you will need to write down the important things you see written down.

Title each video before writing the notes for them.

How to Write a Thesis Statement

Shmoop: Thesis Statement vs Topic Sentence

How to Write an Introductory Paragraph

Now you will watch these last two videos and take notes over them as well.

Simple: How to Write a Concluding Paragraph

Advanced: How to Write a Concluding Paragraph

Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Lesson 11-Exercise 3

Then begin with this:

You MUST take complete notes over all videos!!!

When you take notes, you will need to write down the important things you see written down.

Title each video before writing the notes for them.

How to Write a Thesis Statement

Shmoop: Thesis Statement vs Topic Sentence

How to Write an Introductory Paragraph

Now you will watch these last two videos and take notes over them as well.

Simple: How to Write a Concluding Paragraph

Advanced: How to Write a Concluding Paragraph

Thursday, November 6, 2025

Lesson 11-Exercise 4

Finish the work from yesterday using the following:

You MUST take complete notes over all videos!!!

When you take notes, you will need to write down the important things you see written down.

Title each video before writing the notes for them.

How to Write a Thesis Statement

Shmoop: Thesis Statement vs Topic Sentence

How to Write an Introductory Paragraph

Now you will watch these last two videos and take notes over them as well.

Simple: How to Write a Concluding Paragraph

Advanced: How to Write a Concluding Paragraph

If time allows, we will go over the notes you've taken to make sure you have all the information from the videos that you will need.

Friday, November 7, 2025

Lesson 11-Exercise 5

We will go over the notes you took from the videos.

We will begin reading the articles about Ernest Shackleton and begin discussing information for your essay.

]]> Thu, 06 Nov 2025 18:16:58 PST <![CDATA[Due: 11/01/2025]]> //hhs.rcschools.net/homeworkItem10759918 //hhs.rcschools.net/apps/classes/1061816/assignments/

Monday, October 27, 2025

Bell Work

Lesson 10

1. credentials - written evidence showing that a person has a right to a certain position or authority

2. genial - favorable to growth or human comfort; kindly and friendly

3. morbid - having an abnormal interest in the unwholesome; gruesome

4. cumbersome - clumsy; unweildy; hard to handle

5. hoax - an act that is intended to fool or deceive; something that has been established by fraudulent means

6. plaintiff - a person who initiates a lawsuit; the complaining party

7. larceny - theft; unlawful taking and carrying away of another's property

8. prospective - probable; expected in the future

9. quorum - the minimum number of members needed at a meeting to make official decisions

10. superfluous - more than is needed; excessive; surplus

Add the following vocabulary to your sheet:

sagacity - the ability to make good judgments or to plan ahead

suppositions - assumptions or hypotheses

vain - baseless or worthless

Today we are going to look at paragraphs 4-7...

Our goal and quick write for today will be:

How does the narrator's point of view continue to develop a central idea?

Take a couple of minutes to read paragraph 4 and annotate the paragraph according to the following:

Box or circle unfamiliar words and phrases

Star (*) important or repeating ideas

Put a question mark (?) next to a section you are questioning or confused about

Use an exclamation point (!) for areas that remind you of another text or ideas that strike you or surprise you in some way.

Now take a couple of minutes and come up with the answers to the following questions about paragraph 4:

1. Why does the narrator experience "feelings of triumph"?

2. What does the use of "chuckled" reveal about the narrator's feelings in this paragraph?

3. How does the narrator respond to the old man's sudden movements?

Now take a couple of minutes to read and annotate paragraphs 5-6 according to the following:

Box or circle unfamiliar words or phrases

Star (*) important or repeating ideas

Put a question mark (?) next to a section you are questioning or confused about

Use an exclamation point (!) for areas that remind you of another text or ideas that strike you or surprise you in some way.

Take a couple of minutes to answer the following questions:

4. How does the narrator respond to the old man "crying out"?

5. Why does the narrator not "move a muscle" for a "whole hour"?

Tuesday, October 28, 2025

Lesson 10 - Exercise 2

Now take a couple of minutes to read an annotate paragraph 7...

Box or circle unfamiliar words or phrases

Star (*) important or repeating ideas

Put a question mark (?) next to a section you are questioning or confused about

Use an exclamation point (!) for areas that remind you of another text or ideas that strike you or surprise you in some way.

We are going to break paragraph 7 down into two parts:

Breakdown number one:

"Presently I heard a slight groan, and I knew it was the groan" through "I knew what the old man felt, and pitied him, although I chuckled at heart."

6. Why does the narrator pity the old man?

7. Explain the narrator's feelings in the following sentence "I knew what the old man felt, and pitied him, although I chuckled at heart." What is the purpose of the word "although" in this sentence"?

Breakdown number 2:

"I knew that he had been lying awake ever since" through "--to feel the presence of my head within the room."

8. What are the old man's suppositions?

9. Why are the old man's suppositions in vain?

10. What does in vain mean in this context?

11. What is the "unperceived shadow" in the last sentence?

Quick Write:

How does the narrator's point of view contribute to the reader's understanding of the central idea?

Vocabulary:

scantlings - rafters or timbers that compose a house frame

planks - a long, flat piece of timber

cease - to stop

stealthily - slowly, deliberately, secretly

Today we are going to look at paragraphs 8-13...

Our goal is to understand how Poe's structural choices contribute to the development and refinement of a central idea.

Take a couple of minutes to read and annotate paragraph 8 based on the following:

Box or circle unfamiliar words and phrases

Star (*) important or repeating ideas

Put a question mark (?) next to a section you are questioning or confused about

Use an exclamation point (!) for areas that remind you of another text or ideas that strike you or surprise you in some way.

1. How does the narrator describe his movements in this paragraph?

2. Why does the narrator move in these ways?

3. What is the effect of Poe's use of repetition in this excerpt?

4. What do you notice about the development of the central idea in this excerpt?

Now take a couple of minutes to read and annotate paragraphs 9-10...

Box or circle unfamiliar words and phrases

Star (*) important or repeating ideas

Put a question mark (?) next to a section you are questioning or confused about

Use an exclamation point (!) for areas that remind you of another text or ideas that strike you or surprise you in some way.

We need to discuss these questions before we move on to the next section...

5. How does the old man's eye affect the narrator?

6. What does the narrator mean when he states that he had directed the ray of light "as if by instinct"?

7. Where has the narrator previously discussed his acute senses? Why does he remind the reader of this in paragraph 10?

8. What action is happening in paragraphs 8, 9, and 10?

9. What do you notice about the development of central idea in this excerpt?

Wednesday, October 29, 2025

Lesson 10 - Exercise 3

Take a couple of minutes to read and annotate paragraph 11...

Box or circle unfamiliar words and phrases

Star (*) important or repeating ideas

Put a question mark (?) next to a section you are questioning or confused about

Use an exclamation point (!) for areas that remind you of another text or ideas that strike you or surprise you in some way.

Breakdown number 1:

"But even yet I refrained and kept still" through "so strange a noise as this excited me to uncontrollable terror."

10. Why does the narrator hold the lantern motionless?

11. What explanation does the narrator give for his "uncontrollable terror"?

Breakdown number 2:

"Yet, for some minutes longer, I refrained and stood still," through "His eye would trouble me no more."

12. What does the narrator mean when he says the "old man's hour had come!"?

13. Why would the old man's eye no longer "trouble" the narrator?

14. Consider the story's pacing in paragraphs 8-10. How does Poe use text structure and time in paragraph 11?

15. What do you notice about the development of the central idea in the excerpt?

Take a couple of minutes to read and annotate paragraphs 12-13

Box or circle unfamiliar words and phrases

Star (*) important or repeating ideas

Put a question mark (?) next to a section you are questioning or confused about

Use an exclamation point (!) for areas that remind you of another text or ideas that strike you or surprise you in some way.

16. What are the "wise precautions" the narrator takes?

17. Why does he refer to the "precautions" as "wise"?

18. What structural choice is Poe making throughout these paragraphs?

Quick Write:

How do Poe's structural choices contribute to the development and refinement of a central idea?

Add the following vocabulary to your notes:

reposed - rested

dissemble - to give a false or misleading appearance

deed - something that is done, performed, or accomplished

fatigues - weariness from bodily or mental exertion

gesticulations - animated or excited gestures

audacity - boldness or daring, especially with confident or arrogant disregard for personal safety, conventional thought, or other restrictions

vehemently - emotionally, passionately, intensely

mockery - ridicule, contempt, or derision

hypocritical - the pretense of having virtues, beliefs, or principles that one does not actually possess

Take a couple of minutes and annotate paragraphs 14-15...

Box or circle unfamiliar words and phrases

Star (*) important or repeating ideas

Put a question mark (?) next to a section you are questioning or confused about

Use an exclamation point (!) for areas that remind you of another text or ideas that strike you or surprise you in some way.

Answer the following questions:

1. Why does the narrator have a "light heart"?

2. In paragraphs 14 and 15, what is the effect of the narrator's question "What had I to fear?"

3. What does the narrator do in the "enthusiasm of [his] confidence"?

4. What is the narrator's "perfect triumph"?

5. What does the narrator do with "wild audacity"?

Now take a couple of minutes and read and annotate paragraph 16.

Box or circle unfamiliar words and phrases

Star (*) important or repeating ideas

Put a question mark (?) next to a section you are questioning or confused about

Use an exclamation point (!) for areas that remind you of another text or ideas that strike you or surprise you in some way.

Answer the following questions:

6. What does the narrator mean by "I found that the noise was not within my ears"?

7. What is happening to the narrator in this paragraph?

Take a couple of minutes and annotate paragraphs 17-18...

Box or circle unfamiliar words and phrases

Star (*) important or repeating ideas

Put a question mark (?) next to a section you are questioning or confused about

Use an exclamation point (!) for areas that remind you of another text or ideas that strike you or surprise you in some way.

8. Describe the narrator's way of speaking in the beginning of this excerpt.

9. What effect is the "noise" having on the narrator?

10. How do the police react to the narrator's behavior?

11. Why does the narrator think the police were "making a mockery" of his horror?

12. Why does the narrator call the police officers' smiles hypocritical?

13. Who does the narrator call "Villains"?

14. What does the command, "dissemble no more" reveal about the narrator?

15. What drives the narrator to "admit the deed"?

16. What is the effect of Poe's use of punctuation in paragraphs 17 and 18?

Quick Write:

Where does a new central idea emerge? How does Poe develop this idea in the conclusion of the story?

Thursday, October 30, 2025

Lesson 10 - Exercise 4

We will listen to the short story "The Landlady" and discuss the story as we listen.

You will complete the questions that go with the story.

You will also complete the writing assignment that goes with the story.

Notes for the story:

Foreshadowing in "The Landlady" Warning Signs Billy Misse

dThe Bed and Breakfast sign The empty streets and lack of guests

The landlady's peculiar behavior The landlady's overeagerness

The guestbook Familiar names in the guestbook

The stuffed pets The stuffed dog and parrot

The tea The taste of the tea The landlady's strange

Friday, October 31, 2025

Lesson 10 - Exercise 5

Halloween is full of schoolwide activities so we will not have class today.

]]> Mon, 03 Nov 2025 09:56:12 PST <![CDATA[Due: 10/25/2025]]> //hhs.rcschools.net/homeworkItem10745340 //hhs.rcschools.net/apps/classes/1061816/assignments/

Monday, October 20, 2025

Bell Work

Lesson 9

1. alleged - to claim or state without proof; unproven; questionable; so-called

2. misconstrue - to misinterpret; misunderstand

3. culmination - the peak; the highest point; the climax; the end result

4. lethal - deadly; causing or capable of causing death

5. manipulate - to operate or control with the hands; to handle; to control or influence dishonestly, unfairly, or shrewdly; to trick

6. uncanny - mysterious; strange; weird

7. ominous - threatening; foreboding; sinister

8. conspiracy - secret planning (usually unlawful or harmful); a plot or secret plan

9. preposterous - contrary to nature, reason, or common sense; absurd; foolish

10. advocate - one who argues for a cause; a defender; to support; recommend

We will finish discussing the following questions

1. What information does the narrator reveal about himself in this first paragraph?

2. Who is the narrator speaking to?

**3. What does Poe's use of punctuation in the first sentence reveal about the narrator?

4. During what part of the action does Poe begin his story?

5. What is the effect of Poe's choice to begin the story after the action has taken place?

Quick Write:

What is the narrator's purpose in asking the two questions in paragraph 1? Be sure to include textual evidence...

Get one sheet of paper and write "Vocabulary" at the top, and then add the following to your vocabulary:

hearken - listen; give heed to what is said

vulture - a bird of prey

acute - extremely sensitive even to slight details or impressions.

Our goal is to determine how Poe begins to develop central ideas in paragraphs 1-2.

As we break down what the author is saying, please feel free to add to your notes.

We will break down the first paragraph into three readings and answer a couple of questions about each reading as a class.

This is the first breakdown:

"True!!--nervous--very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad?"

1. What is "True!"?

2. What distinction is the narrator making between nervous and mad?

This is the second breakdown:

"The disease had sharpened my senses--not destroyed--not dulled them" through "How, then, am I mad?"

3. What has happened to the narrator's senses?

4. What evidence does the narrator give to show his hearing was acute?

5. What words (synonyms) could replace acute in this context?

6. What does his acute hearing reveal about the narrator?

This is the third breakdown:

"Hearken! and observe how healthily--how calmly I can tell you the whole story."

7. What is the narrator telling the reader to do?

8. How does the narrator speak to the reader in this excerpt?

9. Why does the narrator choose the words calmly and healthily when describing how he is going to tell the story?

Tuesday, October 21, 2025

Lesson 9 - Exercise 2

Based on paragraph 1, what are a few of the central ideas beginning to develop in this first paragraph? Jot down a few ideas...

Now take a couple of minutes to read and annotate paragraph 2 based on the following:

Box or circle unfamiliar words and phrases

Star (*) important or repeating ideas

Put a question mark (?) next to a section you are questioning or confused about

Use an exclamation point (!) that remind you of another text or ideas that strike you or surprise you in some way.

We will discuss the following questions, but before we discuss take a minute and answer the questions.

1. What "haunted" the narrator?

2. Why does the narrator decide to "take the life of the old man"?

3. How does the narrator feel about the old man?

4. How does the narrator describe the old man's eye?

5. Are any of these ideas similar to those determined in paragraph 1?

Quick Write:

What central ideas emerge in paragraphs 1 and 2? Include specific details from the text in your response...break the question down and discuss each paragraph separately.

Wednesday, October 22, 2025

TEACHER ADMIN DAY - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

Thursday, October 23, 2025

Lesson 9 - Exercise 3

Add the following vocabulary to your list:

lantern - a transparent, usually portable, case for enclosing a light and protecting it from the wind or rain

hinges - movable joints or mechanism on which a door or lid swings as it opens and closes

foresight - knowledge of what will be needed in the future

cunningly - cleverly or skillfully

vexed - annoyed

Take a few minutes to read and annotate paragraph 3 based on the following:

Box or circle unfamiliar words and phrases

Star (*) important or repeating ideas

Put a question mark (?) next to a section you are questioning or confused about

Use an exclamation point (!) for a read that reminds you of another text or ideas that strike you or surprise you in some way.

Now we are going to break the paragraph down to look at how this paragraph contributes to the central idea of the text and to help answer the following question:

How does Poe manipulate (use) time in paragraph 3? What is the effect of Poe's

manipulation (use) of time?

We are going to break paragraph 3 down into four sections...remember to add to your notes as necessary...

Breakdown number 1:

"Now this is the point. You fancy me mad" through "I was never kinder to the old man than during the whole week before I killed him."

1. How does the narrator distinguish himself from "madmen"?

2. How does the narrator demonstrate his foresight?

3. In addition to context clues, which words do you recognize in foresight that help you to make meaning of this word?

4. What do you notice about the development of central ideas in this excerpt?

Breakdown number 2:

"And every night, about midnight, I turned the latch of his door" through "I undid it just so much that a single thin ray fell upon the vulture eye."

5. Where does the narrator go "every night, about midnight" What does the narrator see?

6. How does the narrator explain what he does with the lantern?

7. How does the narrator describe his movements in this excerpt?

8. Consider the words that describe the narrator's movements. Based on the meanings of these words, what might be some synonyms for cunningly?

9. Why does the narrator move in these ways?

10. What is the effect of Poe's use of repetition in this excerpt?

11. What do you notice about the development of the central idea in this excerpt?

Friday, October 24, 2025

Lesson 9 - Exercise 4

Breakdown number 3:

"And this I did for seven long nights" through "it was not the old man who vexed me, but his Evil Eye."

12. What action takes place up to this point in paragraph 3?

13. What is "the work"? Why is it "impossible" for the narrator to "do the work"?

14. What do you notice about the development of the central idea in this excerpt?

Breakdown number 4:

"And every morning, when the day broke, I went boldly into the chamber" to "just at twelve, I looked upon him while he slept."

15. How does the narrator describe his actions during the day?

16. Why does the narrator inquire "how (the old man) has passed the night"? What does this reveal about the narrator and his relationship with the old man?

17. What is the pace of the narrator's actions at night?

18. What is the pace of the narrator's actions during the day?

19. What do you notice about how Poe uses the text to explain the narrator's actions at night and during the day?

20. What do you notice about the development of the central idea in this excerpt?

Quick Write:

How does Poe manipulate (use) time in paragraph 3? What is the effect of Poe's manipulation (use) of time?

]]> Mon, 27 Oct 2025 08:30:39 PDT <![CDATA[Due: 10/18/2025]]> //hhs.rcschools.net/homeworkItem10715029 //hhs.rcschools.net/apps/classes/1061816/assignments/

Monday, October 13, 2025

Bell Work

Lesson 8

1. attribute - to think of as belonging to or coming from a particular person or thing; a characteristic or quality of a person or thing

2. infest - to spread or swarm in or over; to live in or on as a parasite

3. bizarre - odd; fantastic; grotesque; unusual

4. predatory - preying on others; tending to victimize or destroy others for one' own gain

5. humanoid - resembling a human in appearance and behavior; a being that resembles a human

6. tolerate - to permit; to put up with; to recognize and respect

7. horde - a crowd; a swarm; a wandering group or tribe; to swarm or gather in a crowd

8. relevant - related to the matter at hand; pertinent

9. irony - a way of implying (often sarcastically) the opposite of what words literally mean; a result that contrasts with what one would expect

10. humanitarian - concerned with human welfare; a person devoted to helping humanity

You will finish your research on Poe and complete your poster on the research.

When the poster is finished, you will get the Poe Vocabulary Handout and begin working on it

On the front side, you will find a word search and 50 partial words and their definitions listed below.

On the back side you will find a list of 50 words.

Use the list of words and the clues given to you to make a complete word.

Then find the words you have completed in the word search at the top.

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Lesson 8 - Exercise 2

Continue working on the Poe Vocabulary Handout

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Lesson 8 - Exercise 3

Continue working on the Poe Vocabulary Handout

Thursday, October 16, 2025

Lesson 8 - Exercise 4

Finish working on the Poe Vocabulary Handout

Friday, October 17, 2025

Lesson 8 - Exercise 5

You will share out and we will discuss your research on Poe.

We will listen to a masterful reading of the story "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe.

Spend about 5 minutes writing down any thoughts or questions you may have about the story.

We will re-read paragraph 1 and annotate it based on the following:

Box or circle unfamiliar words and phrases

Star (*) important or repeating ideas

Put a question mark (?) next to a section you are questioning or confused about

Use an exclamation point (!) that remind you of another text or ideas that strike you or surprise you in some way.

We will discuss the following questions, but before we discuss take a minute and answer the questions. Be sure you put today's date at the top of your paper!!!

1. What information does the narrator reveal about himself in this first paragraph?

2. Who is the narrator speaking to?

3. What does Poe's use of punctuation in the first sentence reveal about the narrator?

4. During what part of the action does Poe begin his story?

5. What is the effect of Poe's choice to begin the story after the action has taken place?

]]> Fri, 17 Oct 2025 10:39:11 PDT <![CDATA[Due: 10/04/2025]]> //hhs.rcschools.net/homeworkItem10696129 //hhs.rcschools.net/apps/classes/1061816/assignments/ Monday, September 29, 2025

Bell Work

Lesson 7

1. carnivorous - flesh-eating

2. upheaval - a sudden violent change; a forceful lifting up from underneath

3. fauna - animals collectively, especially those of a particular region or period

4. flora - plants collectively, especially those of a particular region or period; a treatise describing the plants of a region or time

5. granular - containing grains or granules; grainy

6. metamorphosis - a transformation achieved by magic; a dramatic change; change in the form or function as a result of development

7. stagnant - not flowing; foul from standing still; stale; sluggish

8. sparse - thinly spread; not crowded; scanty

9. centrifugal - moving away from a center or axis

10. sector - a part or division of something; the portion of a circle bound by two radii and one of the intercepted arcs; to divide into sectors

Watch "Lifted" or "Piper" or "Presto" and then write a narrative story for the silent film you choose to do the assignment over.

Your goal is to put a written story to the movie.

I want to have background information for the story and I want dialogue in the story.

There is not a limit on how long it should be, but it should encompass the whole story.

You will work on writing your narrative essay.

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Bell Work - Lesson 7 - Exercise 2 handout

You will work on writing your narrative essay.

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Bell Work - Lesson 7 - Exercise 3 handout

We are beginning the Edgar Allan Poe unit and to introduce it to you, you are going to do a research project so that you get a little about his background before we begin reading the story we will read...

I am going to give you a paper telling you what information you need about him and you will fill it out. Then we will get into groups and you will create a full body poster of your information.

Here is a little explanation of the information you will find for Edgar Allan Poe:

(Make sure you are looking at Edgar Allan Poe and not someone else and you may NOT use Wikipedia)

1. Direct Quotes - Find two quotes that he has said and write them down

2. Inspired by Others - What is an example of how the success of others provided motivation to put forth good effort into a task?

3. Passionate About - What is his feeling of intense enthusiasm towards or strong desire for something. Passion can be an interest in or admiration for an idea, proposal, or cause; shows an enthusiastic enjoyment of an interest or plan

4. Results - What were the final results that came about as an effect or end? Was there a triumphant moment? Did he earn notoriety for anything specific?

5. Obstacles - What is an example of an obstacle he faced and what steps did they take to overcome it?

6. Life Events - What are some major things that happened to him throughout his life?

7. Talent and Intelligence Developed Over Time - What is some evidence that his learning and intelligence developed with time and experience?

8. Effort - His ability to mentally or physically deliver a vigorous or determined attempt at completing a goal

9. Empathy - What is an example of how he exhibited:

A. Active listening and learning from others

B. Finding similarities between oneself and others.

C. Seeing the world from another's perspective.

D. Identifying the emotions of another.

10. Challenges - Select the most noteworthy task or situation that tested his abilities

11. Stands for and Believes In - What is one thing he believed wholeheartedly

12. Lesson You Learned

Thursday, October 2, 2025

Bell Work - Lesson 7 - Exercise 4 handout

Friday, October 3, 2025

HAWK WALK - NO CLASSES TODAY!!!

]]> Wed, 01 Oct 2025 08:27:21 PDT <![CDATA[Due: 09/27/2025]]> //hhs.rcschools.net/homeworkItem10688927 //hhs.rcschools.net/apps/classes/1061816/assignments/

Monday, September 22, 2025

Bell Work

Lesson 6

1. sinister - threatening trouble or bad luck; evil; disastrous

2. smug - overly satisfied with one's own goodness or achievements; self-satisfied

3. kindle - to ignite; to arouse or excite; to set on fire

4.unscrupulous - dishonest; having no principals of right and wrong

5. seethe - to boil; to bubble and foam; to be excited or disturbed

6. docile - gentle; easy to manage; obedient

7. arrogance - overbearing pride; a lack of regard for others

8. spurn - to turn down; to reject with scorn and contempt

9. frivolous - silly; unimportant

10. yearn - to long for or desire

Have a lesson on quotation marks…give handout with two comic strips on it.

The first comic has been put on a sheet of chart paper in dialogue form. Point out that the quotation marks represent the speech bubbles (circle the speaking parts to show).

Having speech bubbles in a story wouldn’t be feasible so we use quotation marks instead.

You will now create your own story based on the comic strip on the handout. You will put your story on a sheet of chart paper to hang around the room.

If you are absent and do not participate in this activity, please find the Comic Strip attachment and create the dialogue for the bottom comic strip only.

You will go to each poster and mark anything you feel needs to be corrected. Initial your changes!

Tuesday, September 23, 2025

Lesson 6 - Exercise 2

Set up your Word document with the following:

Times New Roman

12 font

Double spaced

Then follow my document

Watch "Lifted" or "Piper" or "Presto" and then write a narrative story for the silent film you choose to do the assignment over.

Your goal is to put a written story to the movie.

I want to have background information for the story and I want dialogue in the story.

There is not a limit on how long it should be, but it should encompass the whole story.