The Grade 9 exam will be written on:
Tuesday, January 31st. 9:00-10:30 in Room 104.
Please bring any textbooks of classroom material you may have borrowed.
Category Archives: Grade 9 Academic
The Literary Essay
So, we are at the home stretch! The semester, and our Grade 9 Academic English class are almost over. The literary essay is the last course work assignment; it is a key assignment. You will need to know how to write an essay for almost every course you take in the future, so it’s kind of a big deal. 
The most important part of the literary essay is the PROCESS; you must follow the steps to ensure that you are submitting a polished, error-free essay on Wednesday, January 18th. Don’t forget to hand in all of the rough work with your final copy; brainstorming notes, rough written notes, rough drafts, edits, etc.
Here is the assignment in case you need it:
The Merchant of Venice
Finally, our Shakespeare unit! We will be studying The Merchant of Venice; lots of reading aloud, acting out parts, analyzing character and theme, watching videos of theater performances, and really just trying to figure out what is going on! Reading TMOV in 2011 is a controversial one; one of the biggest questions we will answer by the end of the play is whether or not Shakespeare intended the play to be anti-semitic or not. We will discuss the history of anti-semitism and have in-depth discussions as to how you feel about Shylock. Below are two very different representations.
Ms. Randall, our student teacher from Nipissing University will be teaching this unit, and she is super excited to get started.
Below is a clip from “Shakespeare in Love” to get you in the Elizabethan mood:
Monday, Dec 5 – “An Introduction to Shakespeare” prezi (take notes)
Tuesday, Dec 6 – Act I, Scene i on video, intro to question booklet. All questions must be answered in full sentences and contain a line or passage from the play to support your opinion. All quotes must be cited correctly by Act, scene, and line. Eg. (II, ii, 5-7)
Just in case you forget your question booklet at school:
Wednesday, Dec 7 – Act I, Scene ii HW: read Scene iii
Thursday, Dec 8 – Act II, Scenes i and ii
Friday, Dec 9 – Act II, Scenes iii-vi (5 Act Structure note)
Monday, Dec 12 – Act II, Scenes viii-ix, Act III, Scene i (Quiz)
Here is Al Pacino’s take on Shylock’s “Hath not a Jew eyes” speech:
Tuesday, Dec 13 – Act III, Scenes ii and iii (translation of a scene)
Wednesday, Dec 14 – Character Sketch (group activity) HW: III, iv-v
Thursday, Dec 15 – Act IV, Scenes i and ii (the big trial scene!)
Friday, Dec 16 – Act V, Scene i (happy, funny ending?)
FINAL TEST: Monday, December 19th *** and Questions Due!
CULMINATING ACTIVITY: The Big Project! This is due Wednesday, Dec 21nd.
Way to go Marauders!
I am so proud of my Grade 9 class! Your pictures, your poems, and your journal resp0nses on high school transition have made the news. We have spent quite a bit of time so far this semester talking about what it’s like to be in Grade 9; well, your voices made the front page of the Midland Free Press. Congratulations to Kailie, Jordan, and Robin whose work was showcased in the article about MSS.
See the article here:
Marauderpalooza!
Hey Grade 9′s; here’s your chance. Tired of being a small fish in a big pond?
On Friday, November 25th, MSS will be hosting “Marauderpalooza” – a whole day event where our Grade 8′s come to visit. That evening, we will be having a video dance from 6-9 p.m. for all Grade 7, 8, and 9 students. And the best news? It’s free!
What a great opportunity to show off y0ur new school and visit with old friends.
I’m hoping to see you all there…and maybe I’ll show you some of my moves.
9′s – To Kill A Mockingbird
Finally, we have started to read To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Instead of going on and on about how much this novel means to me and how my life has been influenced by its simple message…..I would just like you to read it. There are many people around the world who have been influenced by this tale, and I hope you will be one of them by the end of the unit. I have read the book at least 20 times, and watched the movie 10, and I still cry like a baby at the trial scene. In a couple of weeks you will probably see me crying again when the crowd in the balcony stand as Atticus goes by. I hope that’s not a spoiler. The Youtube clip below contains an interview with Tom Brokaw talking about the 50th anniversary of the book.
Follow this link to get a bit more information on the mysterious author, Harper Lee.
It is a little unusual to get a “cheat” sheet from the teacher, but I would like to recommend a website for those students struggling with the context and diction of the novel. It is called “The To Kill A Mockingbird Student Survival Guide” and has chapter summaries, character studies, and analysis of theme, symbol and the “big ideas”. Feel free to use this resource to guide you in your reading. The link is:
I will post all of the worksheets, discussion topics, reading schedule, and others on this blog. Check back frequently and feel free to leave a message.
Reading schedule:
chapters 1 -7 by Friday, November 11th
Double-entry Response Journal Instructions
to the end of Chapter 23 by Monday, Nov 21st.
News Report on Tom Robinson’s trial: Just a little clip from the movie to give you inspiration.
Polished, good copy due Monday, November 28th. You must hand in your rough copy, peer and self assessment sheets, and your polished copy with checklist. See below for the news report template and attach the summative evaluation sheet given out in class.
Please finish your reading of the novel by Friday, November 25th.
Just a friendly reminder about your content test on Monday, November 28th. Obviously, it is expected that you have read TKAM.
Tuesday, November 29th:
Video on TKAM at 50:
Here is the worksheet for your culminating activity, due Friday, December 2nd
9 – Independent Study Unit
Your ISU will be due shortly after you return from Christmas Break in 2012. Below are the ISU outline and expectations; please leave a comment if you have questions or concerns. Because there are several components to the Independent Study, be sure to allow time enough for all of them.
Poetry Unit
Reminder of your Poetry Unit test on FRIDAY, November 4th. Please review significant poetic terms and devices, and the writing process (steps) for creating a Found poem.
Poetry Portfolio due date: Monday, November 7th.
Note: This is NOT a complete listing of all lessons taught to date. These materials are to be used to support classroom learning and are not a replacement for class attendance and/or participation.
9er’s – We are almost done our poetry unit!
Your polished “Being in Grade 9″ poem is due Friday, October 28th. You must hand in all of your rough work (brainstorming notes, rough drafts with feedback, edited copies, etc) with your final good copy. Your poem must be typed, and contain an image that best represents the imagery expressed in your poem. Below is the evaluation sheet:
Hand in a hard copy of the poem to me in class, but don’t forget to send me an electronic copy to my email at:
Ashley took this photo that I think best encapsulates being in Grade 9 at Midland Secondary School.
Thanks to Jarrett, Haley, John and Brandon for showing their school spirit! I can’t wait to read your poems.
