Mr. Kidd's Blog

lagniappe

this week's theme: another mystery theme!

lagniappe (lan-YAP, LAN-yap) noun An unexpected benefit, especially a small gift a customer receives with a purchase. [From Louisiana French, from American Spanish la ñapa (the gift), from Quechua yapa (something added).] Today's word in Visual Thesaurus

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Quote of the Week: “Our civilization is still in a middle stage, scarcely beast in that it is no longer wholly guided by instinct; scarcely human, in that it is not yet wholly guided by reason." - Theodore Dreiser

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Website of the Week: Twitter

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American Literature:

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1. Poetry Teaching/Review
2. Poetry Test!
3./4. Bring The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald to class
5. Read Chapter 1 of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Tuesday, March 10 - In-Class Essay Test on Poetry (see me if you would rather do an out-of-class writing option to be handed in on Tuesday, March 10)
Southern Literature and Culture

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1. Free Reading Day! Bring your southern book!
2. Have a rough draft of your research paper; Go to Johnson Lab; bring articles
3./4. Bring A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O'Connor to class; Work on research essay
5. ring A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O'Connor to class; Work on research essayy

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El Dorado

this week's theme: another mystery theme!

El Dorado (el duh-RAH-doh) noun A place offering fabulous wealth or opportunity. [From Spanish, literally, the gilded one. After a legendary place in South America sought for its gold by 16th century explorers.]

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Quote of the Week: “Our civilization is still in a middle stage, scarcely beast in that it is no longer wholly guided by instinct; scarcely human, in that it is not yet wholly guided by reason." - Theodore Dreiser

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Website of the Week: Twitter

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American Literature:

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1. Seminar!
2. Poetry Teaching!
3./4. Poetry Teaching!
5. Poetry Teaching!
Tuesday, March 10 - In-Class Essay Test on Poetry (see me if you would rather do an out-of-class writing option to be handed in on Tuesday, March 10)
Southern Literature and Culture

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1. Seminar!
2. Have a rough draft of your thesis statement for your research paper; Go to Johnson Lab; bring articles
3./4. Work on research essay
5. Work on research essay

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algorithm

this week's theme: another mystery theme!

algorithm (AL-guh-rith-uhm) noun A finite sequence of well-defined steps for solving a problem. [After al Khwarizmi (the [man] of Khwarizm), a nickname of the 9th century Persian astronomer and mathematician Abu Jafar Muhammand ibn Musa, who authored many texts on arithmetic and algebra. He worked in Baghdad and his nickname alludes to his place of origin Khwarizm (Khiva), in present-day Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.]

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Quote of the Week: “Our civilization is still in a middle stage, scarcely beast in that it is no longer wholly guided by instinct; scarcely human, in that it is not yet wholly guided by reason." - Theodore Dreiser

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Website of the Week: Twitter

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American Literature:

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1. Seminar!
2. Poetry Teaching!
3./4. Poetry Teaching!
5. Poetry Teaching!
Tuesday, March 10 - In-Class Essay Test on Poetry (see me if you would rather do an out-of-class writing option to be handed in on Tuesday, March 10)
Southern Literature and Culture

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1. Seminar!
2. Have a rough draft of your thesis statement for your research paper; Go to Johnson Lab; bring articles
3./4. Work on research essay
5. Work on research essay

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cite, sight, site (oh, ho! three!)

this week's theme: after Valentine's Day: Confused Pairs!

CITE-to quote or document I cited ten quotes from the same author in my paper.
SIGHT-vision The sight of the American flag arouses different emotions in different parts of the world.
SITE-position or place The new office building was built on the site of a cemetary.
List of Commonly Confused Words

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Quote of the Week: “Thus in silence in dreams' projections, / Returning, resuming, I thread my way through the hospitals; / The hurt and wounded I pacify with soothing hand, / I sit by the restless all dark night - some are so young; / Some suffer so much - I recall the experience sweet and sad..." - Walt Whitman

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Website of the Week: Wordle

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American Literature:

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1. Seminar!
2. Poetry Teaching!
3./4. Poetry Teaching!
5. Poetry Teaching!
Tuesday, March 10 - In-Class Essay Test on Poetry (see me if you would rather do an out-of-class writing option to be handed in on Tuesday, March 10)
Southern Literature and Culture

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1. Seminar!
2. Have a rough draft of your thesis statement for your research paper; Go to Johnson Lab; bring articles
3./4. Work on research essay
5. Work on research essay

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forego and forgo

this week's theme: after Valentine's Day: Confused Pairs!

fore⋅go –verb (used with object), verb (used without object), -went, -gone, -go⋅ing. to go before; precede.

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for⋅go    –verb (used with object), -went, -gone, -go⋅ing. 1. to abstain or refrain from; do without. 2. to give up, renounce, or resign. 3. Archaic. to neglect or overlook. 4. Archaic. to quit or leave. 5. Obsolete. to go or pass by.

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Quote of the Week: “Thus in silence in dreams' projections, / Returning, resuming, I thread my way through the hospitals; / The hurt and wounded I pacify with soothing hand, / I sit by the restless all dark night - some are so young; / Some suffer so much - I recall the experience sweet and sad..." - Walt Whitman

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Website of the Week: Wordle

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American Literature:

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1. Holiday!
2. Poetry Teaching!
3. Poetry Teaching! 4. Poetry Teaching!
5. No Homework Night! In-Class Reading

Southern Literature and Culture

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1. Holiday!
2. Gone With the Wind
3. Read pp. 118-138 in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs 4. Finish Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs
5. No Homework Night! In-Class Reading! Bring your southern book choice!

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affect and effect

this week's theme: after Valentine's Day: Confused Pairs!

Affect

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Effect

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Quote of the Week: “Thus in silence in dreams' projections, / Returning, resuming, I thread my way through the hospitals; / The hurt and wounded I pacify with soothing hand, / I sit by the restless all dark night - some are so young; / Some suffer so much - I recall the experience sweet and sad..." - Walt Whitman

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Website of the Week: Widgetbox

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American Literature:

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1. Holiday!
2. Poetry Teaching!
3. Poetry Teaching! 4. Poetry Teaching!
5. No Homework Night! In-Class Reading

Southern Literature and Culture

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1. Holiday!
2. Gone With the Wind
3. Read pp. 118-138 in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs 4. Finish Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs
5. No Homework Night! In-Class Reading! Bring your southern book choice!

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capitol - capital

this week's theme: after Valentine's Day: Confused Pairs!

cap·i·tol (kp-tl) n. 1. A building or complex of buildings in which a state legislature meets. 2. Capitol The building in Washington, D.C., where the Congress of the United States meets

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cap·i·tal 1 (kp-tl) n. 1. a. A town or city that is the official seat of government in a political entity, such as a state or nation. b. A city that is the center of a specific activity or industry: the financial capital of the world. 2. a. Wealth in the form of money or property, used or accumulated in a business by a person, partnership, or corporation. b. Material wealth used or available for use in the production of more wealth. c. Human resources considered in terms of their contributions to an economy: "[The] swift unveiling of his . . . plans provoked a flight of human capital" George F. Will. 3. Accounting The remaining assets of a business after all liabilities have been deducted; net worth. 4. Capital stock. 5. Capitalists considered as a group or class. 6. An asset or advantage: "profited from political capital accumulated by others" Michael Mandelbaum. 7. A capital letter. adj. 1. First and foremost; principal: a decision of capital importance. 2. First-rate; excellent: a capital idea. 3. Relating to or being a seat of government. 4. Extremely serious: a capital blunder. 5. Involving death or calling for the death penalty: a capital offense. 6. Of or relating to financial assets, especially being or related to those financial assets that add to the net worth of a business: made capital improvements at the plant site. 7. Relating to or being a capital letter. [From Middle English, principal, from Old French, from Latin capitlis, from caput, head, money laid out; see kaput- in Indo-European roots.] Usage Note: The term for a town or city that serves as a seat of government is spelled capital. The term for the building in which a legislative assembly meets is spelled capitol.

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Quote of the Week: “Thus in silence in dreams' projections, / Returning, resuming, I thread my way through the hospitals; / The hurt and wounded I pacify with soothing hand, / I sit by the restless all dark night - some are so young; / Some suffer so much - I recall the experience sweet and sad..." - Walt Whitman

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Website of the Week: Widgetbox

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American Literature:

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1. Holiday!
2. Poetry Teaching!
3. Poetry Teaching! 4. Poetry Teaching!
5. No Homework Night! In-Class Reading

Southern Literature and Culture

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1. Holiday!
2. Gone With the Wind
3. Read pp. 118-138 in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs 4. Finish Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs
5. No Homework Night! In-Class Reading! Bring your southern book choice!

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hornswoggle

this week's theme: Mystery Theme!

hornswoggle (HORN-swog-uhl) verb tr. To cheat, hoax, or deceive someone.

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Quote of the Week: “You have seen how a man was made a slave; you shall see how a slave was made a man.” - Frederick Douglass

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Website of the Week: Delicious

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American Literature:

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1. Poetry Teaching!
2. Poetry Teaching!
3./4. Poetry Teaching
5. Poetry Teaching!

Southern Literature and Culture

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1. Essays on Hamlet and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof due!
2. Read pp. 65-92 Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs
3./4. Read "DISMANTLING 'THE MASTER'S HOUSE'Critical Literacy in Harriet Jacobs' Incidents in the Life of A Slave Girl" by Martha J. Cutter (handout)
5. Read "Scarlett O'Hara: The Southern Lady as New Woman" by Elizabeth Fox-Genovese

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discombobulate

this week's theme: Mystery Theme!

discombobulate (dis-kuhm-BOB-yuh-layt) verb tr. To disconcert or confuse. [Probably from fanciful alteration of discompose or discomfit.]

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Quote of the Week: “You have seen how a man was made a slave; you shall see how a slave was made a man.” - Frederick Douglass

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Website of the Week: Delicious

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American Literature:

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1. Poetry Teaching!
2. Poetry Teaching!
3./4. Poetry Teaching
5. Poetry Teaching!

Southern Literature and Culture

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1. Essays on Hamlet and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof due!
2. Read pp. 65-92 Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs
3./4. Read "DISMANTLING 'THE MASTER'S HOUSE'Critical Literacy in Harriet Jacobs' Incidents in the Life of A Slave Girl" by Martha J. Cutter (handout)
5. Read "Scarlett O'Hara: The Southern Lady as New Woman" by Elizabeth Fox-Genovese

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skedaddle

this week's theme: Mystery Theme!

skedaddle (ski-DAD-l) verb intr. To leave hurriedly. [First noticed during the American Civil War in 1861. Perhaps from northern England dialect.]

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Quote of the Week: “You have seen how a man was made a slave; you shall see how a slave was made a man.” - Frederick Douglass

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Website of the Week: Delicious

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American Literature:

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1. Poetry Teaching!
2. Poetry Teaching!
3./4. Poetry Teaching
5. Poetry Teaching!

Southern Literature and Culture

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1. Essays on Hamlet and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof due!
2. Read pp. 65-92 Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs
3./4. Read "DISMANTLING 'THE MASTER'S HOUSE'Critical Literacy in Harriet Jacobs' Incidents in the Life of A Slave Girl" by Martha J. Cutter (handout)
5. Read "Scarlett O'Hara: The Southern Lady as New Woman" by Elizabeth Fox-Genovese

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ransack

this week's theme: Mystery Theme - solved! Words from Old English

ransack transitive verb Etymology: Middle English ransaken, from Old Norse rannsaka, from rann house + -saka (akin to Old English sēcan to seek) — more at seek Date: 13th century 1 a: to search thoroughly b: to examine closely and carefully 2: to search through to commit robbery : plunder — ran·sack·er noun [From Middle English forsoth, from Old English forsoth, from for + soth (truth).] The term is used to express doubt, disbelief, or contempt now. Its modern equivalent might be the word really, as in "Really?"

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Quote of the Week: “Some mystery should be left in the revelation of character in a play, just as a great deal of mystery is always left in the revelation of character in life, even in one's own character to himself.” - Tennessee Williams

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Website of the Week: Google Docs

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American Literature:

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1. Poetry Teaching!
2. Poetry Teaching!
3./4. Poetry Teaching
5. Poetry Teaching!

Southern Literature and Culture

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1. Essays on Hamlet and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof due!
2. Read pp. 65-92 Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs
3./4. Read "DISMANTLING 'THE MASTER'S HOUSE'Critical Literacy in Harriet Jacobs' Incidents in the Life of A Slave Girl" by Martha J. Cutter (handout)
5. Read "Scarlett O'Hara: The Southern Lady as New Woman" by Elizabeth Fox-Genovese

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forsooth

this week's theme: Mystery Theme - solved! Words from Old English

forsooth (for-SOOTH) adverb In truth; Indeed. [From Middle English forsoth, from Old English forsoth, from for + soth (truth).] The term is used to express doubt, disbelief, or contempt now. Its modern equivalent might be the word really, as in "Really?"

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Quote of the Week: “Some mystery should be left in the revelation of character in a play, just as a great deal of mystery is always left in the revelation of character in life, even in one's own character to himself.” - Tennessee Williams

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Website of the Week: Google Docs

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American Literature:

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1. Poetry Teaching!
2. Poetry Teaching!
3./4. Gettysburg Address Seminar
5. Poetry Teaching!

Southern Literature and Culture

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1. Read pp. 1-33 Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs
2. Read pp. 33-65 Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs
3./4. Read pp. 65-92 Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs
5. Read pp. 92-118 Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs

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gloaming

this week's theme: Mystery Theme - you try to find it!

gloaming (GLO-ming) noun Twilight; dusk. [From Middle English gloming, from Old English glomung, from glom (dusk). Ultimately from Indo-European root ghel- (to shine) that is also the source of words such as yellow, gold, glimmer, glimpse, glass, arsenic, melancholy and cholera.]

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Quote of the Week: "“Some mystery should be left in the revelation of character in a play, just as a great deal of mystery is always left in the revelation of character in life, even in one's own character to himself.” - Tennessee Williams

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Website of the Week: Google Docs

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American Literature:

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1. Poetry Teaching!
2. Poetry Teaching!
3./4. Gettysburg Address Seminar
5. Poetry Teaching!

Southern Literature and Culture

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1. Read pp. 1-33 Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs
2. Read pp. 33-65 Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs
3./4. Read pp. 65-92 Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs
5. Read pp. 92-118 Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs

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hearken

this week's theme: Mystery Theme - you try to find it!

hearken (HAHR-ken) verb intr., also harken or hark 1. To pay attention; listen. 2. To return to a previous subject (usually in the form of hearken back). [From Middle English herknen, from Old English he(o)rcnian.]

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Quote of the Week: "“Some mystery should be left in the revelation of character in a play, just as a great deal of mystery is always left in the revelation of character in life, even in one's own character to himself.” - Tennessee Williams

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Website of the Week: Google Docs

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American Literature:

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Attention:Juniors interested in an exciting extra credit opportunity should speak with me!

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1. Poetry Teaching!
2. Poetry Teaching!
3./4. Gettysburg Address Seminar
5. Poetry Teaching!

Southern Literature and Culture

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1. Read pp. 1-33 Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs
2. Read pp. 33-65 Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs
3./4. Read pp. 65-92 Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs
5. Read pp. 92-118 Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs

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