End of Week

The end of the week has arrived. We have been busy this week on vocabulary, figurative language and verbs. Tomorrow we have a test on vocabulary and figurative language. Use the study bags we made in class, and complete the Vocabulary Tic Tac Toe for the test tomorrow.

2nd nine weeks

The second grading period has begun. It’s time to really focus on your academic work, and ensure that you will earn your credits in December, then again in May.
This week is Teen Read Week across the country. We have been reading short stories, and just began a novel on CD.
“The Rights to the Streets of Memphis” was an excerpt from Richard Wright’s autobiography, Black Boy.   On Monday, 1st-3rd periods finished figurative language charts from “A Sound of Thunder.” These classes should have three grades so far for this new period: figurative language charts, bell ringers from last week, and a descriptive essay titled, “My Favorite Place.” 2nd period also has had a quiz on “A Sound of Thunder.”

I announced today, that if the new grading period hasn’t begun well for you, you need to come to tutoring to make up anything you have missed so far. You will not be allowed this grading period to show up the week before report cards to cram everything in in hopes of a passing grade.

Honors classes finished “The Rights to the Streets of Memphis” and “Sorry, Right Number.”   They had figurative language tic tac toe boards to be turned in by Monday of this week.

All classes will be listening to Sharon Draper’s The Battle of Jericho over the next few days, while taking notes on character, plot, and setting.  There will be a written and culminating activity at the conclusion of the book.

Thursday

Yesterday, we worked in the media lab writing 3-5 paragraph essays on “My Favorite Place.”  Honors classes – 5 paragraph minimum.  I was impressed with the way my students worked yesterday, and I hope that is an indication of how this  nine weeks will proceed.

Grades will be posted this afternoon, and I will not make any changes.  Report cards will be distributed on October 18th.

Students who do not pass the first nine weeks, must make a high enough grade the 2nd nine weeks, that when averaged with the 1st nine weeks will equal a 60.

If you are having difficulty in class, I am available after school for tutoring.  The tutoring bus runs on Tuesday and Thursday at 3:45.

Tuesday

Today is the last day of the 1st nine weeks.  Grades will be posted tomorrow or Thursday following my meeting with Mr. Stamp.  If you did not turn in a portfolio, you need to see me about it asap, before it is too late.

Tomorrow we will be in the media lab working on “My Favorite Place” descriptive essays.  Work on your rough drafts tonight.

Thursday is Parenting Night – Families are invited to join us for dinner and a short program.  Hope to see you there!

Updates

Thank you to all students who participated in the Fiesta in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.  As you know, we also used this event as a fundraiser for our Dollars for Draper program.  Preliminary results indicate that we raised about $500 for this endeavor.  We are closer to our goal of $3000.00.

Due to the Fiesta, fifth and sixth period classes will take their tests on Monday.  The test will cover nouns, pronouns, and vocabulary words.

Tuesday is the last day of the nine weeks.  1st, 2nd, and 3rd periods will work on finishing their portofolio assignments and letters to one of the three doctors from We Beat the Street.  Honors classes will continue with figurative language and short stories.  All classes will work on descriptive essays in the upcoming week.  The essays will focus on the subject “My Favorite Place.”

Looking forward to the next nine weeks.  Report cards will be distributed on October 18, 2011.

Wednesday

Today, I attended a literacy workshop at Troy University.  While I was out, the classes worked on pronouns and pronoun cases.  We will be  using the laptops tomorrow to review nouns, pronouns, and vocabulary for a test on Friday.

1st-3rd periods should also be working on the Portfolio assignments which are due by Monday.  5th and 6th periods have been discussing figurative language and working on figurative language choice boards.  These will be due next week.

 

Week 9

This is the last week of the first grading period.  Grades are fluctuating right now; now is the time to buckle down and do your work each day.  This will be your first grade on your transcript!

1st, 2nd, and 3rd period English classes are finishing We Beat the Street.  Monday, Quiz on Chapters 19 & 20; Homework is to finish the book and answer the assigned questions.  Last quiz is tomorrow!  We’ll be writing letters to one of the three doctors to finish this unit.  The rest of the week we will be working on portfolio assignments, and reviewing nouns and pronouns.  Test on Friday to cover:  nouns, pronouns, and vocabulary words.

5th and 6th periods:  Continue with short stories and figurative language assignments.  Test Friday, as well, on the grammar (pronouns/nouns) and vocabulary.

Have a great week!