What is this old blog?

 Hi! My name is Emily, and I'm an English teacher. For several years, I kept a blog as a digital companion to my class. I stopped updating it in March 2020, when we were all forced to go online due to Covid. I was told to use Google Classroom, and it didn't make sense to keep updating a blog when I had a Google Classroom, so I stopped updating. I spent the 2020-2021 school year as a virtual teacher, and I used Schoology as my LMS. I liked keeping a blog, but a blog isn't an LMS.

So what is this? I'm choosing to keep the blog public so people can look at it as a resource. I know I've gotten emails over the years thanking me for publishing material, so I figure I'll keep it public for whoever wants to look at it.

<3 Mrs. Wise

Use Google Classroom

Until further notice, we will be using Google Classroom. Please check your email for directions, which include the class code to enroll. I sent a mass email, then I sent an email to every one of you individually inviting you to join the Google Classroom. That should be in your school email at this time.

I know you are worried about the lack of high-quality English-related memes in your life right now. I promise each one of you that the high quality memes you have come to expect from my class will continue on schedule.

If you have any questions, please email me: emily.wise@humbleisd.net or send me a message on Remind. See you in Google Classroom!

Gatsby Unit Exam Review

There are TWO parts to the exam review! Print them both for the whole thing.

Exam Review Part 1
Exam Review Part 2

Gatsby 1-6 Retest Review

In order to do the retest, you need to complete the review. I have had a lot of students say they can't find their review. Here ya go! Bring a COMPLETED review with you when you want to retest.

Click here to download a copy of the retest review.

Plot Review for Chapters 8 and 9

So a lot of  my students said you liked the plot review for chapter 7, and asked if I had something similar for the rest of the chapters we need to read. This is fill-in-the-blank instead of open-ended, but it's a fairly detailed. You could use this while you're reading or you could do it as a review after you read.

Click here to download the review for Chapters 8 & 9

(Answers)

Remember that the extra credit for the chapters 7-9 quiz is due at the beginning of class Friday, February 28, 2020.

Plot Review for Chapter 7

Block day, we are starting class with a plot review of chapter 7.

Click here for the chapter 7 plot review (blank).

(Answers)

Gatsby Audio Chapters 7-9

Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9

Vocabulary Unit 10

Click here to see the Quizlet for Vocabulary Unit 10.

Extra credit for this vocabulary unit is due at the beginning of class on Friday, February 28, 2020.

Gatsby Audio for Chapters 4-6

Today in class, we took vocabulary quiz #9 and the Gatsby quiz over the first three chapters of the book. If you were out today, please plan to attend tutoring to make up those quizzes. If you were here today, you received the extra credit for chapters 4-6. The quiz on these chapters isn't until Friday, February 14, 2020, but several people asked if they could have the extra credit early so they could read over the break, so I gave it to everyone today. There is no assigned reading over the break, but using the break to catch up or get ahead is certainly a good idea.

Below are links to the audio for chapters 4-6.

Click here to listen to chapter 4.
Click here to listen to chapter 5.
Click here to listen to chapter 6.

Scroll down to previous days for the audio for chapters 1-3. 

Gatsby Chapter 3 Audio

Here's the audio for chapter 3:



Homework: On Friday, January 31, 2020, we will have two quizzes. One is the vocabulary quiz for unit 9, and the other is a quiz over the first three chapters of The Great Gatsby. All extra credit for these quizzes is due at the time the quizzes start. Extra credit cannot be accepted after the quizzes are given.

Click here to see the quizlet for vocabulary unit 9.

Gatsby Chapter 1 Powerpoint and Audio, Chapter 2

Today, we began reading The Great Gatsby during class. Most of my classes got to the part where Tom starts making horribly racist comments at dinner. If you want to skip to that part in the audio, it starts at 21:20. In your book, that's at the very bottom of page 12. (Keep in mind that we are not supposed to like Tom, for many reasons. You'll also notice that once Tom starts talking about this topic, every other character tries to change the topic because they obviously don't agree with him.)

Click here to view the presentation I used during chapter 1 today.

To listen to the audio for chapter 1, click the YouTube box below:



To listen to the audio for chapter 2, click the YouTube box below:


Homework: Read Chapter 2 before block day, and read chapter 3 before class on Friday.

Vocabulary Unit 9

Click here to see the Quizlet for unit 9.



Homework: Study for the vocabulary quiz on Friday, January 31, 2020.

The Great Gatsby: Background Information

Today, we watched a documentary to get ready for reading The Great Gatsby next week. The video includes information about the 1920's, biographical information about the author of Gatsby, and some thematic information about the book.

We skipped over the parts that had spoilers! I recommend skipping these things:

• Play at the beginning
• Stop at 7:49, start again at 13:34
• Stop at 28:10, start again at 31:36
• Stop at 37:34

Click here if you would like to watch the video from today.

Of course, once we've read the book, going back and watching the entire video would be a wonderful way to review the unit before you take the test. :)

Harlem Renaissance Test Review Answers

Click here to view the answers to the review.

I'm sorry I wasn't here today. :(

Harlem Renaissance Art

Here is the art we looked at today:

"Black Girl Magic" and "How It Feels to Be Colored Me"

During block day this week, we read "Black Girl Magic" (by Mahogany Browne) and "How It Feels to Be Colored Me" (by Zora Neale Hurston). If you were absent on block day, copies of the handouts can be found in the green crate.

Here is How It Feels to Be Colored Me: (audio)
Click here to view the text of "How It Feels to Be Colored Me."

 

Black Girl Magic: (audio)

"If We Must Die" and "My City"

Here are the annotations for the poems we read today:

 

Langston Hughes Poetry Annotations

Today, we begin our study of the Harlem Renaissance by reading and annotating the poetry of Langston Hughes.

Click here to see a copy of today's annotations.

Harlem Renaissance Background Notes

Today, we started the second quarter! We're starting the quarter with a study of the Harlem Renaissance. Click here to see the background notes for the Harlem Renaissance. If you were out today, check the green crate at the back of the room for today's handouts, which include a handout to go along with these notes.

To see the class calendar for the third quarter, click the "Class Calendar" link on the right of this page.

Vocabulary Unit 8

Click here to see the Quizlet for Unit 8.