Thursday 10/23 - Monday 10/27 FRIDAY 10/24 IS A PLANNING DAYChapter 3 vocab work due & quiz today (it's a short one).
Monday 10/27 - Tuesday 10/28 - BEGINNING OF 2ND QUARTER
We've updated writing portfolios and added a table of contents. Students also took District Timed Writing Assessment #2 today. On 10/28 (A day), I handed out the requirements/grade rubrics for the midterm exam project and a plagiarism contract (I've attached both of these below). Parents should read these carefully, sign and return them by the end of next week.
Wednesday 10/29 - Thursday 10/30
We watched two clips, one from "I Love Lucy" and one from "The Terminal". We then got into groups, and discussion leaders led the reading of Dave Barry's "Dave Barry Does Japan". Students read to answer the discussion leader's focus questions (these are attached below). For homework, students will read "Two Worlds in One" and complete the activity on pages 49 and 50 of the SpringBoard text.
Friday 10/31 - Monday 11/3
We discussed the homework, and I took it up for a grade. Students will work in class to begin their Embedded Assessment #2. This is on pages 62-64 of the SpringBoard book, and we've taken notes on it in class. CORRECTION: EMBEDDED ASSESSMENT ROUGH DRAFTS ARE DUE ON THURSDAY, NOV. 6 FOR B DAY AND FRIDAY, NOV. 7 FOR A DAY.
Tuesday 11/4 - Wednesday 11/5
We began our work in Unit 2 today. I asked students to do a quickwrite (about a paragraph) about an experience they've had with family - their own or someone else's, good or bad. Students shared out, then we discussed the differences between immediate and extended families and the activities we usually associate with each. We then wrote a class definition for family.
Our next topic for discussion was the stereotypical mom and traditions/customs in their families associated with Mother's Day. Students shared their written thoughts. We then read over the stage setting descriptions on page 72 of the SB text for the play "Mother's Day". After reading, students began a drawing of the stage setting. Remember, stage right and left is based on the audience's right or left, not the actors'. This should be completed for homework if not done in class. Also, students should read the play and complete the character chart on page 92. THIS HAS TO BE DONE IN ORDER FOR YOU TO DO THE CLASSWORK FOR THE NEXT CLASS. IF YOU DON'T READ THE PLAY, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE NEXT CLASSWORK ASSIGNMENT.
Thursday 11/6 - Friday 11/7
I took up students' rough drafts and stage set drawings; I also checked pages 92-93. Students did a 45 minute timed writing about the play they read. We'll score these next class.
Monday 11/10 - Wednesday 11/12
Students are being put into groups and given their writing portfolios with their FCAT rubrics in them. We are taking 5 minutes to read and score an essay, then students are passing them to the next person in their groups. Ideally, each paper will be scored 4 times. Students will get their scored essay back and, on a new sheet of paper, score their own paper by explaining what they've done well and what they need to do better, according to the requirements in the rubric. STUDENTS WILL TURN IN THE FIRST DRAFT, THEIR SELF EVALUATION AND THEIR FINAL DRAFT NEXT CLASS. IF YOU WERE NOT HERE FOR THE 1ST DRAFT, YOU SHOULD PLAN TO STAY AFTER 
SCHOOL ON THURSDAY TO MAKE IT UP.
BRING GLENCOE BOOK TO CLASS THE REST OF THIS WEEK!!!
Thursday 11/13 - Friday 11/14
Students are turning in their 2nd drafts of the timed writing, along with the 1st draft and the self-evaluation. We're then taking Formative Mini Assessment #4 and reading "Two Kinds" in the Glencoe Lit book. Students will be using the ASE method for answering questions to respond to the Evaluate and Connect questions at the end of the story. They'll be doing the same for the questions on Conflict from the Literary Elements section on the same page. What we don't finish in class is homework.
Monday 11/17 - Tuesday 11/18
I gave a packet that includes a sample research paper, rules for citing sources in the text of your paper, and MLA Style for citing sources. Students should use this as a guide for writing their own paper. We then did FCAT Writing Practice #2 (eliminating sports). I asked students to STOP bringing their SpringBoard books to class until further notice. Right now, we're working in the Glencoe book. We'll get back to SpringBoard in about a week-and-a-half.
Wednesday 11/19 - Friday 11/21
We're watching the movie "Bend It Like Beckham" and analyzing the cultural conflicts and character relationships. We'll be talking about this in class, but we'll also be reading pieces in the Glencoe book that relate to our topic. Students will be taking a TDL (FCAT Reading Practice) and FMA #5. Homework is to read pages FCAT 10 - FCAT 15 in the back of the Glencoe book. This information is extremely important for the writing we'll be doing next week.
Monday 11/24 - Tuesday 11/25
Students will be doing FCAT Writing Practice #3 and looking at the anatomy of a persuasive essay. We'll also be watching (hopefully) the conclusion of Beckham.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
Monday 12/1 - Tuesday 12/2
We went to the computer lab today to learn about resources for the midterm exam projects. I've provided a link to Culture Grams below, as well as one to citationmachine.net and easybib.com (Works Cited pages). Students have their research outline due on Tuesday, 12/9 and Wednesday 12/10. This should be an outline that will guide their research and their paper, and one I can use to see where they're going. We will be going over writing outlines on Wednesday and Thursday of this week, but I've provided a blank one below.
Wednesday 12/3 - Thursday 12/4
Students copied a character conflict chart and copied notes for Unit 2, Embedded Assessment #1 (analysis essay on Bend it Like Beckham); we looked at examples of writing about conflict on pages 196-198 in the Writer's Choice books in class and discussed the differences/similarities between academic writing and FCAT writing. Students were given back their cell phone essays and we discussed how to improve on organization and focus; students worked on re-writing their 1st paragraphs in class Homwork is to finish the rewrite of this essay for next class.
Monday 12/8 - Tuesday 12/9
Students copied a list of "grown up" transitions and put them into place in their cell phone revisions, then turned them in; we then did a 45 minute timed writing on a new national holiday; Tuesday's students turned in their outlines for their research papers
Wednesday 12/10
Students turned in outlines for their research papers, then were supposed to work on the rough drafts of Unit 2, EA #1 (essay on Beckham); they were allowed to use the Writer's Choice books and their notes as a reference while they wrote
Thursday 12/11 - Friday 12/12
We're taking a Florida State Benchmark Test today, which is 80 minutes long. Obviously, we didn't have time to do anything else. We'll be back in full swing on Monday.
Monday 1/5 - Tuesday 1/6
I gave students a handout with Tone Vocabulary words on it. The words in the first column (of all 5 categories) will be on our Tone Vocab Test (Friday for B day and Monday for A day). Students will be given a word list and will be given passages. They will be asked to identify the tone of each passage using the word list given.
We also discussed the relationship of our research paper to the Unit 4 Embedded Assessment (Cultural Transformation of a Cinderella story). We will be studying different versions of the story and students will have to use what they've learned from their research to write their own version of Cinderella (based on the researched culture). Homework is to read the assignment on page 220 of the SpringBoard book, then read pgs. 215-219 (The Brothers Grimm's Cinderella) and pgs. 221-223 ("That Story" - a poem). You should then complete the charts on page 220, and use your Tone Vocab sheet to help you.
Wednesday 1/7 - Thursday 1/8
We're taking some time today to look at a few versions of the Cinderella story and checking the homework. We may take a reading check quiz, so make sure you read!
We'll also take a little time today to look at some sample research PowerPoints. Remember, your projects are due on the 13th (B day) and the 14th (A day). I WILL NOT TAKE PROJECTS ON ANY OTHER DAYS. YOU MUST TURN THEM IN OR YOU WILL GET A ZERO FOR YOUR MIDTERM EXAM. THIS WAS ON THE CONTRACT YOU WERE GIVEN IN OCTOBER.
YEARBOOK INFORMATION
Yearbooks are currently on sale for $60. After January, the price will be $75 for the remainder of the year.You may purchase one with cash, check or money order from me on campus in room 211, or you may go to www.myyear.com (there's a link below) and purchase with a credit card. For other questions, contact me via email or at 381-3930 ext. 151.Senior Messages: please see the attached flyer for prices and requirements
