Wednesday

Yesterday, our counselor, Mr. Delbridge, spoke to my English classes about ensuring academic success at CFA.  The freshman year is extremely important in establishing a solid foundation for good GPAs (grade point averages).  Now is the time to focus on school and set short and long term goals.

Journal entries were due yesterday – everyone should have 3 entries:  My first 3 days of school; My Neighborhood or A Time I broke a bone; and My Most Influential Teacher.

Today in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd periods, we read Chapter 4 of We Beat the Street in small groups.  Answer questions about the chapter:

• What details (imagery are povided on p. 29 that support the main idea that the Dayton Street Projects were not a nice place.
• Who is the Bomb?  Why does he take Sampson’s bat?
• What were the boys discussing on the top of p. 31?
• What do the boys decide to do that day?
• Who is Jack, and what does he do to the boys?

We also completed a crossword puzzle on forms of nouns.  Honors classes worked on personal narratives and nouns.

Monday

All English Classes worked on Journal Entry #3 today.  The topic was to consider the chapter on George Jenkins and his relationship with his teacher, Ms. Johnson.  Choose a teacher who has been influential in your life.  Write a paragraph describing the teacher and the things he/she did to influence you in a positive way. 

1st, 2nd, and 3rd periods took the Language Diagnostic Test.  I will compile the results by question to determine which objectives we should focus on more this year.

Start working on personal narratives – all classes.  We will have computers on Thursday and Friday to type the narratives.  You should be in the editing stage by then, not just writing!

Weekend

I hope you are all having a good weekend.  We will be continuing to read We Beat the Street in class (periods 1-3).  Also, Monday these classes will take a diagnostic language test to help determine which areas of language arts to emphasize this year in preparation for the Alabama High School Graduation Exam.

You will be writing Personal Narratives this week.  Make sure to include dialouge, personal details, and action verbs.  Watch for spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors.

Honors Classes – Read chapter 4-8 this week of We Beat the Street.  Reading and role sheets are due on Friday.

Another Week

We have reached the end of another week.  Remember today is United Way Day – Wear a hat to school for $1.  All English Classes will also be conducting our art walk of  journals.  This is a reminder that you may bring snacks to class for the activity. 

We are also continuing our reading of We Beat the Street.  Honors classes have been reading Chapters 2 & 3 outside of class.  All other classes will read chapter 3 today. 

Regular English Classes will take the language diagnostic test on Monday.  Remember to start thinking about personal narratives and have your topic selected by the end of today.

Have a great weekend!    Check your gmail accounts for corrections on your descriptive paragraphs.  Make them, and resend to me by Tuesday.

Today in English

Today, we were in the media lab setting up gmail accounts and learning about the online google products.  Students are to type descriptive paragraphs in google docs and share them with me.  Choose one of two prompts:  your neighborhood, a broken bone. 

This week we started We Beat the Street.  Honors classes are to read Chapter 2-3 for Friday.  Regular English classes will be reading chapter 2 tomorrow. 

We will also be starting on a parts of speech review, and on personal narratives Friday or Monday.

Tomorrow we will also take a diagnostic language test in all classes to determine areas of need this year.  The questions are based on the Alabama High School Graduation Exam.

Journal Art Walk is on Friday.  Make sure all journals are decorated by then to enter into the art contest.

Week Three

Friday was the dance – I hope everyone who attended had a great time.  First vocabulary quiz was today, Monday, August 22nd.  In class today, we worked on decorating journals.  Also, we read the introduction to We Beat the Street.  The second journal assignment is to write a decriptive paragraph about your neighborhood, providing details and precise information.  Finally, we read the first part of Year Three of “The Bizarre Case of Horribly Hard High School.”

It’s Thursday

I apologize for not posting an update before today.  I am out of the habit of typing daily updates.  This week we focused on finishing the syllabus, and learning the rules and practicing procedures.  Most of you did well on the rules quiz on Monday.  We have also been reading “The Bizarre Case of Horribly Hard High School.”  We have identified 22 vocabulary words from the story.  Please review these words for the quiz on Monday. 

Bell ringers are due tomorrow for the week.  Including tomorrow, you should have five of them.  Graphic Organizers are also due detailing the summaries and illustrations from the story.

Honors classes – we discussed literary elements today as they related to The Pigman.  In addition, I am in the process of grading your summer reading workbooks.

Friday – we made it!

Well,  it wasn’t a five-day week, but we made it through nevertheless.  Excellent effort and attitudes this week:  thanks to all my students!  Be ready to work next week; we’ll hit the ground running on Monday.  Here are a few reminders:

• I’m only waiting for a few class contracts – those still out should be returned soon as possible. 
• Honors classes took the Summer Reading test today on The Pigman; they will be returned on Monday or Tuesday.
• Handbooks and planners will be distributed on Monday in Homeroom.  Make sure you adhere to all rules and procedures starting next week.  Pay special attention to the dress code!  No saggy britches, short skirts, or low-cut tops!

Have a great weekend freshmen.  See you Monday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1st Day was Great!

I want to thank all my classes yesterday for a great first day of school!  Let’s keep focused all year!  Just a few reminders for this week:

• Bring your syllabus back with you today – we will be spending two days discussing and practicing rules and procedures. 
• Bring in a wallet-sized picture for our activity on Friday.  Alternatively, I will take a picture of you at school.
• Have a parent/guardian sign your class contract and return it to school on Friday.  Make sure you put your name on it as well in print somewhere on the paper.
• Honors classes (5th and 6th periods) – Test on The Pigman is Friday.

I’m looking foward to a wonderful year with the Class of 2015!

 

 

One more day

Enjoy your last day of summer break!  I’m looking forward to seeing my homeroom class first thing in the morning.  School starts at 7:50 a.m.  Report to room 107 for Homeroom:

• ABBOTT, STEVEN CHASE,
• ALSTON, JASMINE A
• CARTER, BRIANNA
• CONSIGLIO, KATELYN
• EAST, ZACHARY CALEB
• FIGUEROA, ZACHERY
• GODBEE, AMARIS MARIELLE
• HARRIS, KALISHA
• IGUS, TAVARE ANTHAONE
•  JEWELL, DAKOTA
• JONES, CARAGON ALEXANDRIA
• KIMBER, LASAUNDRA
• LEE, DEANNA
• MCKEE, MADISON
• PEREZ, JUAN L
• RIVERS, LAKEVIA
• SELLERS, ALEXIS CYMONE
• THOMAS, KEMIA MICHELLE
• TORBERT, ERIN
• TRAMMELL, CURTIS
• UNDERWOOD, KENTREL
• WALL, MAKENNA LANE