KICK SOME MCAS

27 March-31 March 2006

HAPPY MCAS WEEK!

Hopefully all of yoiu enjoyed the rally on Monday, i know i sure did! The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System's English component will only last 3 days. Not too bad, right? And as a favor to all of our fantastic students, we are NOT DOING VOCABULARY this week. i know, i know, you're just tickled pink, arentcha?

They only English-related thing you have to worry about, besides those pesky tests, is MAKE-UP WORK!

IF WE DO NOT HAVE IT IN OUR HANDS BY WEDNESDAY AFTER SCHOOL, ANYTHING MISSING WILL **poof!** TURN INTO A ZERO!

I'm looking forward to next week when we no longer have to worry about practicing for MCAS and we can go back to business as usual.

Thanks for all your cooperation while we prepared you for this demanding week of your lives!

COLLEGE 2 VOCABULARY 8

ADULTERATE-v- to corrupy, to contaminate, to pollute

ALOOF-adj- not interested, stanoffish, indifferent

APOCHRYPHAL-adj- false, counterfeit

BELITTLE-v- to make something seem unimportant, to trivialize

CAPITULATE-v to surrender, to give in

CRESTFALLEN-adj- discourages, disappointed

CONCILIATORY-adj- meant to soothe or reconcile

DEARTH-n- shortage

DESECRATE-v- to treat with disrespect

DIFFIDENT-n- shy; modest, unassertive


ADDITIONAL 5 FOR HONORS:


SPECTRAL-adj- ghostly

MENDACTIOUS-adj- lying, false

GUFFAW-n- boistereous laughter

BILK-v- to swinde, to cheat

PULSILLANIMOUS-adj- cowardly, fainthearted

VW Comercial thanks to Chris Hathaway

Sooooo, Chris Hathaway and i were talking about how funny the new VW commercial is with the whole 'Un-Pimp My Ride Theme', and he was good in pointing out all of the improper english used by the German engineers, obviously meant to be funny while mking fun of the kid who gets an 'F' for being LAME....... a good observation, so if you haven't seen it, check it out by clicking the link HERE!

VOCABULARY 17

NONCHALANCE ~n~ carelessness, lack of interest or concern

PARSIMONIOUS ~adj~ too thrifty, stingy, cheap

PIQUE ~v~ to hurt feelings; to excite or arouse interest

TACIT ~adj~ unspoken, silent but implied

PUGNACIOUS ~adj~ eager to fight

REDUNDANT ~adj~ repetitive


LIMPID ~adj~ clear (like water), clear (easy to understand)

MARTINET ~n~ a strict disciplinarian

SOPOROFIC ~adj~ producing sleep

SAGACIOUS ~adj~ very wise


ADDITIONAL 5 FOR HONORS

TITANIC ~adj~ gigantic

GADFLY ~n~ an animal biting fly, an irritating person

PURLOIN ~v~ steal

ARDOR ~n~ passion, heat, zeal

WAX ~v~ increase, grow


OH YIPPEE! THE EXTRA CREDIT WORDS ARE BACK IN ACTION!

SPARGE ~v~ to spray or sprinkly

BUBBLE AND SQUEAK ~n~ cabbage and potatoes fried together

BONTON ~n~ sophisticated manner or style, the proper thing, high society

ALGOPHOBIA ~n~ abnormal fear of pain

GRACILE ~adj~ gracefully slender, graceful

GAH!

im having a relaly hard time thinkig of topics to write about...
anyone want to help me out?

Week of 20-24 March

Another busy week in the life of our English class..... here's what's going on:

A AND B PERIODS:
You have TWO dialogue journals due, vocab sentences, a writing piece due (either Tuesday or Thursday, and of course, the vocab quiz in class on Thursday (words including the extra credit are posted below)

H AND F PERIODS:
You also have a writing piece due this week.......it is due on either Wednesday or Friday. Your vocabulary quiz is Friday and the vocab sentences are dure on Wednesday.

D PERIOD:
We will be giving you Vocabulary 8 at some point this week but the quiz will not be until after MCAS next week. We will also be going to the computer lab to finish our character sketches.

Any questions, just post a comment or e-mail me!

VOCABULARY 16

INSIDIOUS~adj~ sneaky, sly, meant to deceive or entrap, treacherous

ENGENDER~v~ to cause or exist or to develop; produce

EXACERBATE~v~ to make worse, to make more violent

GIBE~v~ to mock or ridicule
~n~ an expression of scorn or derision

GARRULOUS~adj~ tiresomely talkative, wordy and rambling

ALACRITY~n~ cheerful willlingness, eagerness

IMPLAUSIBLE~adj~ difficult to believe, provoking disbelief, not plausible

PHLEGMATIC~adj~ having or showing a slow and stolid temperament, having a sluggish temperament, unemotional

CONSECRATE~v~ to decleare or set apart as sacred, dedicated to a sacred purpose

LISTLESS~adj~ lack of interest, energy, or spirit, lethargic


ADDITIONAL 5 FOR HONORS...............

PREVARICATE~v~ to lie, to stray from or evade the truth

EXTOL~v~ to praise highly, exalt, glorify or honor

BEFUDDLE~v~ to confuse, perplex

YEN~n~ strong desire or inclination, a yearning or craving

MUTINOUS~adj~ rebellious, unruly, turbulent, uncontrollable

6 March is a SUPER BUSY WEEK!

Ok, here's what we have going on assignment-wise:

A and B periods have the worst of it because we only meet twice this week.....
Each student is responsible for the following:

1~ 2 Dialogue Journal Entries!

2~ Vocabulary Sentences

3~ Be prepared for the Vocabulary 15 Quiz

4~ Bring MCAS Practice Prompt to Class



F and H periods have it a little easier:
1~ Vocabulary sentences are due today (Wenesday) in class

2~ Be prepared for the Vocabulary 15 Quiz on Friday

3~ We will be writing our final drafts for the MCAS pratice prompt on Friday


I know this is a tough week for everyone but there is light at the end of the tunnel, a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow......FOOD on thursday and friday for everyone who cooperates!

Post Post

ok i am a contributor to the blog. yes i am. So i think i should get some hefty recognition.
I hope everyone had a great vacation and I look forward to seeing all your smiling faces again soon.
lol Im lying a little of course.

Superstar Student Posts!

"ask not what the blog can do for you, but what you can do for the blog."
- Thurman Murman


SO.........students are now actively participating, some have been for a while, some are new.......here is what they have contributed.................

BLAKE:

English is AMAZINg, craaazy cool, and sarah jessica parker's hall of fame.

E- Emazing
N- Not German
G- GREAT!
L- Lovable
I- Intrepid
S- Sophisticated
H- Hot like Sarah Jessica Parker

AND FROM ANOTHER STAR STUDENT:

hey yall, im made one of them thar thingies too!

E- enema
N-nomads
G-galbladder
L-listerine
I-insulin
S-soap
h-hash (corned beef that is)

i also wanted to say that english class has provided me with important life lessons that hve changed my life forever.

WOW DID YOU ALL READ THAT? LIFE LESSONS IN ENGLISH.....WHO WOULD'VE THUNK?

WELCOME BACK FROM VACATION! WEEK OF 6-10 MARCH!

Welcome back from vacation!

Hopefully everyone is well rested and ready for yet another week of the greatest subject to ever be taught...........ENGLISH! This week will be dedicated to MCAS practice, i know, i know, very exciting right? Well, by the end of the week you may be bored but you will also be prepared for the testing at the end of the month. Don't worry though, we'll still have time for all the regulars: independent reading, grammar and yes, VOCAB!!! Woot woot!

Below this post you will find the Vocabulary for the week, yes, even the extra credit words defined as a reward for anyone who checks out this FANTASTIC blog!

B-Period, please DO NOT FORGET about the Vocab 14 quiz that you have TOMORROW because we didn't have time for it before vacation. If you have lost the words, HAVE NO FEAR, just look at the left column on this page and click on VOCABULARY 14 and your prayers will be answered!

And a big thanks to Jessica for posting on the blog (extra credit for her!) If you don't read the comments at the end of each post, that's ok because i'll copy it below!

oh gosh this is confusing, but since i'm such a dedicated english fan i decided to try this out. well i made a fabulous observation while in florida.
i took a trip through the everglades and discovered an island made by the indians(they threw the remains of shellfish they ate in the same spot for many years). so anyways this boy grew up in the everglades and fished around and hated people so he'd always spend time on the islands, and when he grew up he bought one of the islands and spent his entire life as a recluse (yup vocab) until he died from a heart attack.

VOCABULARY 15

INVETERATE-ADJ- long standing; habitual
I am an inveterate nailbiter; i've been doing it since i was four years old.

MULTIFARIOUS-ADJ- having great variety; numerous and diverse
When you get to college, there are multifarious courses to choose from, unlike the limited options available in high school.

RENEGADE-N- an outlaw, a traitor, a deserter
I've always wanted to be a renegade, but i'm afraid of being hunted down and arrested.

RUMINATE-V- to meditate, to think at length
I have a tendency to ruminate too much about me life instead of just living in the moment.

CARPING-ADJ- complaining
Your carping about having to read every day and write stories and sit in your seats and listen to me is REALLY getting on my nerves. Suck it up and deal!

CLAIRVOYANT-N, ADJ- having exceptional insight; a person with exceptional insight (a psychic)
I am tempted to visit a clairvoyant to find out what my future holds.

PANOPLY-N- 1. A splendid array 2. warrior's armor
We discovered a panoply of old dolls on a hidden table at a nearby garage sale; I scooped them all up.

LOLL-V- to lounge, to act in a lazy manner
Sometimes i think that i'd rather loll around all day watching TV and eating chocolate insted of teaching. Then i come to my senses.

COMPUNCTION-N- remorse, regret
I feel no compunction about punching you in the nose. You can't kiss my boyfriend behind my back!

DISPARAGE-V- to discredit, to belittle
The student disparaged me my calling me a loser with bad hair who can't even teach.



ADIITIONAL 5 FOR HONORS CLASSES:

COMELY-ADJ- attractive and agreeable
Because I am SO comely, all the fella want a date with me; it's those cantankerous girls with warty shins and bloody eyeballs that have trouble getting dates.

ASKEW-ADJ- crooked, slanted
We had always suspected he wore a toupe, but when he came in with his hair quite askew one windy day, we knew for sure it was a rag.

PRESAGE-V- foretell
The vultures flying overhead presaged the discovery of the corpse.

UNCOUTH-ADJ- outlandish and rude
I refused to bring my uncouth boyfriend to dinner at my prim and proper granma's house. He is more suited for been and peanuts at a biker bar.

GOSSAMER-ADJ- sheer, like cobwebs
The gossamer veil softened her face and made her look like a dream on her wedding day.

AND NOW........THE EXTRA CREDIT!!!!

COMSTOCKERY-N- Censorship of literature and other forms of expression and communication because of perceived immorality or obscenity

IN CAMERA-ADV-In secret; privately. OR In private with a judge rather than in open court.

PETTIFOGGER-N- n 1: a person (especially a lawyer or politician) who uses unscrupulous or unethical methods 2: a disputant who quibbles; someone who raises annoying petty objections

PANTOFFLE-N- A slipper

UFOLOGY-N-The study of unidentified flying objects.

C2 VOCABULARY 7

QUINTESSENCE-n- the purest form, the best example

TENTATIVE-adj- unsure, hesitant, depending on a condition

REPUGNANT-adj- repulsive, disgusting

VENERATE-v- to honor or treat with great respect

SOPHOMORIC-adj-childish and silly, immature and juvenile

STULTIFYING-adj- causing to appear stupid; rendering useless

STARK-adj- empty or bare, grim, desolate, bleak

REBUFF-v- to reject or refuse rudely

VORACIOUS-adj- ravenous, greedy,

QUIESCENT-adj- at rest, inactive, dormant



Additional 5 for Honors:

XENOPHOBIA-n- the fear of foreigners

BESMIRCH-v- to make dity (usually related to a reputation of someone)

IMPRUDENT-adj-unwise, indiscreet, lacking discretion

PENURIOUS-adj-stingy

PERFUNCTORY-adj- careless, indifferent