Wink...Wink! Daily Assignments Title Graphic
Grades/Homework
Thompson's Textbook
Grammar Punk
Word Cells
Word Cells Biglist
 To see all the weeks, scroll all the way down!


May 27 - May 31, 2019

Monday, May 27: Memorial Day


Tuesday, May 28: A Day [Lab 202]
Wednesday, May 29: B Day [Lab 202]

  • 2
  • I used to have all my students do this final assignment: Letters to the Future. You read them on the first day of school, remember?
    But there is no need this time because when I walk out of the school on Friday, I won't be coming back. But even though no future students need your help and suggestions, I do. Write a letter to me that may include the following things:
  • What you will remember most about our time together
  • Suggestions about what you think I should do to earn a living out there in the "real world"
  • What should your chapter in my book be called, and what do you hope I will say about you?
  • Last Call for Extra Credit!
  • Are you finished with everything and looking for something to do?
    You might be interested in this!
  • Take all your binders, Life Soundtracks, etc., home!


Thursday, May 30: A Day [Final Clean up]
Friday, May 31: B Day [School's Out...Forever!]

  • 1
  • School's Out for Summer!
  • What are you still doing here?
    Go enjoy your summer!
  • "Will you remember me?"
  • You know where to find me. Stay in touch.


To see previous weeks, scroll ALL THE WAY up!

March 18-22, 2019: Fourth Term Begins!

For this final term, you will learn....
  • ...why literacy matters.
  • ...how to torture a confession out of a poem.
  • ...Poetry Out Loud: More poems o' the day! (Your turn!)
  • ...writing in various genres for a multitude of purposes: memoirs, letters, analysis, argumentation, exposition.
  • ...Voice/Word Choice.
  • ...more cartoon analysis.
  • ...the Argument Clinic

Monday, March 18: Professional Day (No School for Students)

  • Mondee-Go-to-Meetin'
  • Trust//Estate Plan (2:00 P.M.)


Tuesday, March 19: A Day
Wednesday, March 20: B Day


Thursday, March 21: A Day
Friday, March 22: B Day



Sections of English Binder: Journal, Word Study, Composition, Reading/Literature, Grammar/Conventions

March 25-29, 2019

Monday, March 25: A Day
Tuesday, March 26: B Day


Wednesday, March 27: A Day
Thursday, March 28: B Day


Friday, March 29: A Day



Sections of English Binder: Journal, Word Study, Composition, Reading/Literature, Grammar/Conventions

April 1-5, 2019

Spring Break -- Yes, you have a reading assignment! Don't complain, Mildred! Just do it!
Fahrenheit 451
A-Day: Read to the end of "The Sieve and the Sand" (page 107/110), and complete Quiz #5 & Quiz #6.
B-Day: Read to page 97/100: "...Where ignorant armies clash by night," and complete Quiz #5.

*Want some extra credit? Do this!*




Sections of English Binder: Journal, Word Study, Composition, Reading/Literature, Grammar/Conventions

April 8-12, 2019

Monday, April 8: B Day


Tuesday, April 9: A Day
Wednesday, April 10: B Day


Thursday, April 11: A Day
Friday, April 12: B Day



Sections of English Binder: Journal, Word Study, Composition, Reading/Literature, Grammar/Conventions

April 15-19, 2019

Monday, April 15: A Day [EoL WRITING ASSESSEMENT - Lab 202]
Tuesday, April 16: B Day [EoL WRITING ASSESSEMENT - Lab 202]

  • Poem o' the Week: "A Student's Prayer"
  • End-of-Level Writing Assessment
  • You can do this!
  • I've seen you do it before!
  • Show THEM!


Wednesday, April 17: A Day [Lab 202]
Thursday, April 18: B Day [Lab 202]


Friday, April 19: A Day

  • ACT Reading #3 & #4
  • The Grammar Punk Review -- Commas (Rules 5-7)
  • Poetry: Read. Write. Repeat.
  • Poem o' the Day: "Introduction to Poetry" by Billy Collins
  • Handout: How to Torture a Confession Out of a Poem
  • Here's a model! (Do this with your Poetry Out Loud poem.)
  • How to Read a Poem Out Loud
  • Poetry Out Loud: Torture a confession out of your poem!
  • Poetry Out Loud Assignments: You will be assigned a poem that you will read aloud at some point during this term. By the time that happens, you will become an expert on every nuance of the poem -- no simile will escape you, and no descriptive image will go undissected. Also, you will practice reading the poem aloud mutliple times, so you master the pronunciation of all the words and the rhythm of all the lines. When you read it, you will command the attention of everyone in the room, and we will be completely blown away by your presence and performance. For a minute, we will forget we are in a classroom doing an assignment, and we will be swept away to the world of your poem. Study the poem carefully and bring it back next time! Readings will begin on _______.
  • Do you realize how much poetry we have read this year?
  • (Including many of these!)




Sections of English Binder: Journal, Word Study, Composition, Reading/Literature, Grammar/Conventions

April 22-26, 2019

Monday, April 22: B Day [TESTING! TESTING! Schedule goes bonkers!]

  • 5th Period - 8:10-9:20 & 6th Period - 9:25-10:35
  • ACT Reading #3 & #4
  • The Grammar Punk Review -- Commas (Rules 5-7)
  • Staple & Turn in.
  • Narrative Writing: Tell me a story!
  • Define & Model (Hey, Magoo!)
  • 7th Period [Reading Test] 10:40-12:30 & 8th Period [Reading Test] 1:05-2:55


Tuesday, April 23: A Day [EoL ACT-like Reading Test]

  • 1st Period - 8:10-9:20 & 2nd Period - 9:25-10:35
  • Word Cells List #4 Assignment
  • Narrative Writing: Tell me a story!
  • Define & Model (Hey, Magoo!)
  • 3rd Period [Reading Test] 10:40-12:30 & 4th Period [Reading Test] 1:05-2:55


Wednesday , April 24: B Day [EoL ACT-like Reading Test]

  • 8th Period - 8:10-9:20 & *7th Period -11:20-12:30*
  • ACT Reading #3 & #4
  • Narrative Writing: Tell me a story!
  • Define & Model (Hey, Magoo!)
  • The Grammar Punk Review -- Commas (Rules 5-7)
  • 6th Period [Reading Test] - 9:25-11:15
  • *7th Period -11:20-12:30*
  • 5th Period [Reading Test] - 1:05-2:55


Thursday, April 25: A Day [EoL ACT-like Reading Test]

  • 4th Period - 8:10-9:20 & *3rd Period -11:20-12:30*
  • Word Cells List #4 Assignment
  • Narrative Writing: Tell me a story!
  • Define & Model (Hey, Magoo!)
  • 2nd Period [Reading Test] - 9:25-11:15
  • *3rd Period -11:20-12:30*
  • 1st Period [Reading Test] - 1:05-2:55


Friday, April 26: B Day

  • Word Cells List #4 Assignment
  • Honors: Vocab. List #8
  • Poetry Out Loud:
  • Poetry: Read. Write. Repeat.
  • Poem o' the Day: "Introduction to Poetry" by Billy Collins
  • Handout: How to Torture a Confession Out of a Poem
  • Here's a model! (Do this with your Poetry Out Loud poem.)
  • How to Read a Poem Out Loud
  • Poetry Out Loud: Torture a confession out of your poem!
  • Poetry Out Loud Assignments: You will be assigned a poem that you will read aloud at some point during this term. By the time that happens, you will become an expert on every nuance of the poem -- no simile will escape you, and no descriptive image will go undissected. Also, you will practice reading the poem aloud mutliple times, so you master the pronunciation of all the words and the rhythm of all the lines. When you read it, you will command the attention of everyone in the room, and we will be completely blown away by your presence and performance. For a minute, we will forget we are in a classroom doing an assignment, and we will be swept away to the world of your poem. Study the poem carefully and bring it back next time! Readings will begin on _______.
  • Do you realize how much poetry we have read this year?
  • (Including many of these!)


Sections of English Binder: Journal, Word Study, Composition, Reading/Literature, Grammar/Conventions

April 29-May 3, 2019

Monday, April 29: A Day
Tuesday, April 30: B Day


Wednesday, May 1: A Day [EoL ACT-like English Test -- 70-minute Session]
Thursday, May 2: B Day [EoL ACT-like English Test -- 70-minute Session]

  • 11
  • Take another damn test!
  • Journal #: Test results. Copy this: "Thompson says that no test can measure my potential to succeed, my capacity for kindness, my creativity, or my ability to do good in the world. Far more important than these numbers are my own dedication, desire, and commitment to do worthwhile things with the time I have left."

Friday, May 3: A Day [Be kind to Ms. Wilbur!]



Sections of English Binder: Journal, Word Study, Composition, Reading/Literature, Grammar/Conventions

May 6-10, 2019: Teacher Appreciation Week

Monday, May 6: B Day


Tuesday, May 7: A Day
Wednesday, May 8: B Day


Thursday, May 9: A Day
Friday, May 10: B Day



Sections of English Binder: Journal, Word Study, Composition, Reading/Literature, Grammar/Conventions

May 13-17, 2019

Sunday, May 12 [Mother's Day]
Schedule is goofed up again this week for Math Testing
Monday, May 13: A Day
Tuesday, May 14: B Day

  • 7
  • English Binder: Time to organize this sucker! When you complete the Stargirl assignments, you will turn in the entire notebook for a huge score!
  • Stargirl: Continue the Order of Operations to .... ?
  • Do the math: Will you have time to finish at your current rate of reading?
    • If not, stop by for Intervention a couple times to read.
  • Assignment: Write 3 more Narrative Vignettes from your Life Soundtrack.
  • Here's my rough draft. (Model of what you are doing today.)
  • (Here's my final draft!)


Wednesday, May 15: A Day
Thursday, May 16: B Day

  • 6
  • Assignment: Write 3 more Narrative Vignettes from your Life Soundtrack.
  • Here's my rough draft. (Model of what you are doing today.)
  • (Here's my final draft!)
  • Life Soundtrack Final Drafts due May 23/24!
    [This is the only thing that should be homework. Everything else can be completed in class.]
  • Stargirl: Continue the Order of Operations to .... Chapter 17 (?)
  • "The Way to Start a Day" by Byrd Baylor
  • While out in the desert with Leo (Chapter 17), Stargirl seems to find special insight and inner peace by "erasing herself" through meditation. Consider an activity you are especially familiar with in which you find peace and insight into Life and the world. Write a non-literal poem describing the way to do that activity. Instead of just listing the steps involved, describe the process from the inside. Create metaphors to explain the thoughts and emotions that the activity conjures in you. Your "The Way to _________" poem should focus on this zone, this state of mind, not on the literal how-to instructions of the activity you describe. This fill-in-the-blank outline is only for those who aren't creative enough to come up with all the lines on their own. Don't use it if you don't absolutely need to. You may create a decorated final draft that is suitable for classroom display. Here's an example. Here's another. Be creative!
  • B-Day: And what about those final projects?
  • The Original Stargirl
  • Cards, Rocks, Serenades

Friday, May 17: A Day



Sections of English Binder: Journal, Word Study, Composition, Reading/Literature, Grammar/Conventions

May 20-24, 2019

Monday, May 20: B Day


Tuesday, May 21: A Day
Wednesday, May 22: B Day [Falcon Finale, 7:00 P.M.]

  • 4
  • 9th: OPTIONAL Word Cells Test -- Did you study?
  • Theme o' the Day: "The Psalm of Life" ("Learn to labor....")
  • Put this at the front of your English Binder.
  • You're still not special, but there's hope for you yet! It's all about the things you care enough to practice and work for. You make yourself special with the things you DO during your life.
  • Finish Stargirl Order of Operations
  • "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost
  • Here is a cartoon that illustrates possible readings.
  • English Binder - The Final Entry: Write a one-page letter to yourself in ten years.
  • Keep the journal until then and read it.
  • Then write me a letter or an e-mail (or whatever the latest communication technology is by then) to tell me if things turned out as you planned.
  • Add this post script to (P.S.) to your letter:
    Thompson's Words of Wisdom as You Head to High School
    Life is Short: Don't be a George Gray!
    Be Nice: We're all in this together, and nobody gets out alive!
  • Life Soundtrack Final Drafts due next time!


Thursday, May 23: A Day
Friday, May 24: B Day

  • 3
  • "Dvacet pet na zadek" for Greta!
  • The Last Day in Room 198
  • Life Soundtrack Final Drafts due!
  • English Binder - The Final Entry: Write a one-page letter to yourself in ten years.
  • Keep the journal until then and read it.
  • Then write me a letter or an e-mail (or whatever the latest communication technology is by then) to tell me if things turned out as you planned.
  • Add this post script to (P.S.) to your letter:
    Thompson's Words of Wisdom as You Head to High School
    Life is Short: Don't be a George Gray!
    Be Nice: We're all in this together, and nobody gets out alive!
  • Finish: Stargirl Order of Operations
  • When all of the above is finished and the completed final self-evaluation, is inside the front cover, show me the entire English Binder.
  • When it is scored, take 'em home.
  • Hide 'em somewhere safe.
  • You'll be glad you did.
  • Rocks & Cards
  • Serenades, Anyone?
  • Last Chance Extra Credit: The Kardiac Kid
  • Since I will spend part of this holiday weekend reading all of the stories in your Life Soundtracks, why don't you spend part of it reading my story about the time I almost died. (Really!) Even if you don't need the extra credit, you ought to read it and share it with anyone you think it might help.



Sections of English Binder: Journal, Word Study, Composition, Reading/Literature, Grammar/Conventions
To see previous weeks, scroll ALL THE WAY up!




Poetry Out Loud

Poems o' the Day

That's All, Folks!


Q: "Did I miss anything?"
A: Yes.
^ Scroll up to find it. ^
Despite the absence of any support from the school district, I have made every reasonable attempt to insure that this website is educationally sound and does not contain direct links to inappropriate material.
©2019 M. Wolfman Thompson - All rights reserved.
*<%^)