Mrs. Graham – English III/German II
Welcome to Ms. Esther Graham’s Web Page
I relocated from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Memphis, Missouri in 1979. It was quite a culture shock because I had never lived in a city with less than 100,000 inhabitants and knew absolutely nothing about rural living. I graduated from the UCCS (University of Colorado Colorado Springs) in 1974. I completed all necessary courses to be certified in Social Studies, 7-12, English 7-12, German K-12 and completed an MA program in American History from Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois. In addition to the MA program, I managed to add an additional 26 hours of graduate credit in education.
I have had the opportunity to teach in various school districts thorough out the state of Missouri and completed 32 years in education at the secondary level. I have taught a variety of courses ranging from Social Studies, German, and Communication Arts. I have also taught college history classes in several different school districts plus part time at two Jr. colleges.
I was fortunate to finish my teaching career at Schulyer R1 High School. I retired in May of 2012, and now teach half a day (afternoons) at Schuyler High School. I teach 11th grade English and German II. It has been a true honor and very rewarding teaching in the Schuyler R 1 High School. If I had to choose one phrase to describe myself it would be, “I consider myself a life long learner”.
I love to travel and in July of 2012, I traveled with several Schuyler high school students to Germany/Switzerland and Austria. We had a wonderful time immersing ourselves in the culture of the German speaking countries of Europe. This was the third trip I had planned through E F Tours. I was very proud of how Schuyler students conducted themselves on this wonderful adventure. We visited Rothenburg, Munich, Heidelberg, the Black Forest, renowned for its clocks, Lucerne, Switzerland and some of our travelers even visited the Salt Mines in Salzburg, Austria. Salzburg is the birthplace of Mozart and the Austrian people have always been very hospitable.
Ms. Graham’s Schedule
Period 5- 11:32 a.m. – 11:02 p.m. – German II
Period 6- 12:46 a.m. – 1:31 p.m. – English III
Period 7- 1:35 p.m. – 2:20 p.m. – English III
Period 8- 2:24 p.m. – 3:09 p.m. – English III
We begin German II with two weeks of review. During these two weeks, we cover sentence structure, vocabulary, grammar and general phrases covered in German I. Each chapter is divided into three sections. After each section, we take two quizzes. At the close of each chapter, students take a comprehensive test and finish the unit with a class project that they present to the class. In chapter 7 students are introduced to the city of Munchen (Munich), the capital of Bavaria, the largest German state. Students will be able to extend and respond to an invitation, express obligations, talk about how often they have to do things, ask for and offer help and tell someone what to do. The project in chapter seven involves presenting a weather forecast for one of the regions in Europe.
During the first nine weeks of class, students are introduced to the three major genres of English. Students begin by writing their own personal narratives and then proceed to American Indian myths, a slave narrative, entitled The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano and culminate the quarter by reading Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible. This play is based on the witch - hunt spear headed by Senator McCarthy. This was a tragic time in our nation’s history because the UN-American Committee (HUAC) targeted writers and performers that they believed might be card carrying Communists. A career could be destroyed in the blink of an eye and actors might find themselves unemployed. Some Americans were even required to surrender their passports. Students come away with a new understanding of how precious freedom of speech and the press really is. The play encourages debate and often brings about some thought provoking discussions.
Lesson Plans for Nov 12-Nov. 20th
Nov. 12th Students will read Walden by Henry David Thoreau on pages 380-387.
Complete comprehensive questions on page 388 1, 2, 3, and question 7. Read Thoreau Still Beckons, if I Can Take My Laptop.
Nov. 13th After reading assignment complete the workbook pages 160-161. 161 Assessment practice will count as a quiz. Begin the worksheets, but only answer those questions that deal with Walden. Since everything is arranged in columns, only complete assignments that deal with Walden. The pages are 117, 119, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, and note that the handout that follows pertains to Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience. This assignment is due Nov. 15th. If students finish early, they may begin reading Civil Disobedience.
Nov. 16thth Civil Disobedience by Thoreau. Pages in the text are 390-396 and answer 1-3 Comprehensive questions on page 397. Answer question 6 Interpret Paradox and locate two in Civil Disobedience. Write them down and interpret their meanings. For homework complete voc. practice 1-8 and 1-5 prefixes on page 398.
Nov. 19th finish the rest of the worksheets that pertain to Civil Disobedience. They must be turned in by Nov. 20th because on this day the test over the two selections will be completed in class.
Please keep in mind that you must pace yourselves to have all these assignments completed by Nov. 19th. Do not fall behind and remember to ask for any make-up work you may have to do if you were absent.
All persuasive essays we had been working on the week of the 5th of November are due Nov. 12th. Since I will not be here, I will grade them over the Thanksgiving break and return them on November 26th. Final copy will be due on 27th.
Ms. Graham
Henry David Thoreau 1817-1862
If Henry David Thoreau lived in the late 60’s or 70’s he might have been labeled a rebel or a hippie. He advocated simple, mindful living and rejected a lifestyle dedicated to the pursuit of wealth. He spent a good part of his life observing nature and earned little from a job.
He was born in Concord, Massachusetts, and attended Harvard University. Upon graduation he returned to his hometown and taught school. Many of his neighbors viewed him as eccentric, and a deep thinker. He was definitely a defiant nonconformist.
An example of this was while he attended Harvard, all students were required to wear black and he wore a green coat. In 1845, he moved to a cabin in the woods to observe nature. This cabin was located on Walden Pond. In 1846, he was arrested and spent the night in jail for refusing to pay a poll tax, an act of protest against the U.S. government’s war with Mexico and its support of slavery. This exercise of conscience over law later became known as civil disobedience. He promoted nonviolence and helped later generations bring about peaceful social change.
Nov. 12th- and the 13thGerman II: Seniors were out of class because of CPR classes on Friday. Juniors completed the exercise on 264 in the textbook. Part of this I had typed, but the rest must be written out. They have the packet. Have them translate each sentence. They may do this orally. Die Schuler (the students), deine Eltern (your parents), Alle Leute (all people).
Have them begin worksheets pages 73-75. Have each student go to the board and write the correct response. Then they will translate the sentence.
Have them translate the words in the word bank on page 73 first.
Wo= where.
1. Where is the bank?
2. Where is the post office?
3. Where is the Hotel? Das or Where is a Hotel? (ein)
4. Where is the city hall? Etc.
5.
6.
7.
8.
They know their definite articles? Ask them to repeat them
Der= masculine, Die=feminine, Das=neuter and Pl is always Die.
Pronouns are er, Sie Es, Sie is plural.
Page 74 1-6 and have the students answer each questions. Answers below.
l. Ja, wir wissen wo der Marktplatz ist.
2. Ja, ich weiB wo die Hessischebank ist.
3. You formal for this sentence. Ja, ich weiB wo das Rathaus ist.
4. Ja, ich weiB wo die Post ist.
5. Is also you formal. Ja, ich weiB wo das Hotel Eden ist.
6. Ja, wir wissen wo die U-Bahnstation ist.
4. Translate 1-5 page 74
5. Translate 1-5 on page 75
6. Translate 1-4 page 75
Nov. 14th w.s. 47 Kapatel 9 Formal Command, Use the verb wissen (all forms) in a sentence and a question. Write this down and share with the class.
Nov. 15th w.s. 74 7.1 Activity, and 7.2 Activity. Collect. Do Communication 9-1A if time permits.
Nov.16th Communication 9-1A and 9-2A, 9-B oral assignment.
Nov. 19th Alternative quiz . Complete in class and translate.
Nov. 20th 9-1A and 9-1B quizzes. I have attached oral part of the quiz for each student.
Are You a Rebel? (Discuss)
Be familiar with the following terms. See pages 379-397
Identify each term and give an example for each.
l. tone
2. figurative language
3. anecdote
4. personification
5. similie
6. metaphor
7. paradox
