John M. Busch

2007-2008

Telephone: (512) 594-1100 ext. 31263

E-mail: John.Busch@PflugervilleISD.net

During the 2007-2008 school year, John M. Busch is teaching English I and Pre-AP English I.

The Contribute program needs to be reinstalled on my classroom computer. Therefore, this page may not be updated on a regular basis. I apologize for the inconvenience.

English I

May 22 --We will begin reading and analyzing Chapter 14 of Ender's Game. This is a vital chapter since it introduces a character whom the students have only heard about. If we do not finish this chapter tonight (which we will probably not be able to do), the students will have to finish Chapter 14 over the long weekend. We will have a test on the book next Wednesday.

May 21--After reviewing last night's homework assignment, the student and I will proceed with reading Chapter 13 of Ender's Game. Whatever we do not finish in class will be homework for tonight.

May 20 --Today, first and third will have to have their quiz that was schedule for yesterday. They will then finish Chapter 11 of Ender's Game. Sixth period, meanwhile, will work on Chapter 12 of the book. For homework tonight, the students need to finish reading Chapter 12.

May 19--The students in first and third periods were able to attend a special presentation in the PAC about Shakespeare and his relevance today. As a result, their vocabulary quiz will be given tomorrow. Sixth period will have its quiz today. Afterwards, we will try to finish Chapter 11 of Ender's Game.

Pre- A. P. English II

May 22 --We will spend the period discussing a selection taken from T. H. White's The Once and Future King. Again, we will note how authors of different eras interpret the same basic legend.

May 21 --The students will have a test on Bless Me, Ultima today. Once this is finished, we will examine a selection from Alfred, Lord Tennyson's The Idylls of the King. We will pay particular attention to how this work was "cleaned up" for Victorian society.

May 20 --The students and I will review for tomorrow's test on Bless Me, Ultima. Afterwards, we will look at a selection taken from Thomas Mallory's Le Morte D'Arthur to wrap up our unit on folktales and legends.

May 19 --The students will and I will go over the chapter reviews for Bless Me, Ultima in preparation for our test on Wednesday. We will then go into the history of Arthurian legend. Since it is Monday, the kids will also have their vocabulary quiz over the words in Lesson 30.

Teacher's Background

John M. Busch is Hendrickson High School's resident sci fi guru. He has taught freshman and sophomore English at this school for four years (back when the hawks were just little fledglings). In his view, developing the imagination is the best way to develop a student's productivity in the classroom. The learning process should be creative, allowing one to explore new avenues of thought.

Prior to teaching at Hendrickson High School, Mr. Busch spent four years at Westview Middle School, teaching sixth-grade language arts. It was there that he created his first sci fi club, an organization that was enjoyed by students from all three grade levels.

Going even further back, Mr. Busch taught for seven years in two Austin area private schools: Strickland and Kirby Hall. While at the latter institution, he was responsible for teaching all middle- and upper-school English classes (and even a fourth-grade reading course).

Science fiction has always been one of Mr. Busch's interests. In fact, while teaching at the University of New Mexico in Los Alamos, he taught two classes on science fiction films and literature.