Four Days to Spring Break!

Here we are, already in 4th term and heading for Spring Break!  It's amazing how time flies!  It's also amazing that we manage to accomplish anything in English these days due to distractions, special programs, and the warmer weather of spring.  Despite this, we have managed to accomplish quite a bit and will continue to do so this week.

In English 9, we worked all week on reading Flowers for Algernon.  They are almost through the book and my goal is to test them on Wednesday.  If we can't quite make that, however, we'll have to do Thursday.  I can do projects and papers and movie when we get back, but I didn't want them to go off to break and forget all of the details of the novel.  I'm trying to give them a true break and not have homework for them over that week.

In English 11, we finished our research papers using Google Drive.  I gave them 3 1/2 days in the computer labs to type since I was requiring them to use this system.  We drafted and peer edited online and then printed the final copies.  After that, they created a Thinglink as part of the preview into Frankenstein and then posted it to the class page on Edmodo.  I thought it was pretty cool...I'm not so sure about them.  This week we will start reading Frankenstein and so there will be a little reading to do over break, but I'll try to keep it minimal.  At the same time, if you have a student who likes to read and just wants to do it, I never discourage it...they're welcome to plow right on through the text.

In the meantime, two major things are going on in the building:  the bookfair is this week, and so is Character Week.  My classes will visit the book fair on Wednesday and Thursday, so if they want to buy something, that's when they need money.  Character Week is something we do all week in all classes, and the students are encouraged to wear specific colors that become symbolic.  For Monday, we're wearing purple.

Today, Sunday, I hope to get some grading and lesson planning done.  It's been a busy weekend.  My children participate in 4-H with llamas, and their leader found them a youth fair to participate in on Saturday.  We spent all day at MSU in the South Barn at the Pavillion while they competed with other kids from around the state.  Here are some pictures:

The boys groomed the llamas in the pen...

...and then they participated in Showmanship, Obstacles, and Pack Classes.  This is Ryan taking Spike through the obstacles.  Spike's pretty easy and is trained quite well.

This is Christopher trying to get Mode to go through the same obstacle.  Mode is stubborn and hasn't competed lately.  The score for all three competitions was Mode 3, Christopher 0.  Mode won according to his own rules...the judges were not so impressed.

Have a great week! 

http://laurastubbs.blogspot.com/2014/04/four-days-to-spring-break.html by Laura Stubbs is licensed under aCreative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Term 4 - We're In the Home Stretch Now!

Wow!  It's hard to believe that we're into the last quarter.  Where does the time go?  At the same time, we still have much to accomplish, so here's the scoop:

In English 9, we're about midway through Flowers for Algernon.  They should be reading the book every single night, because we're reading fairly quickly.  I'd like to test them over the content of the novel before spring break so that they can have a real vacation.  We can do projects and papers with it when we get back.  Please check for report card grades on HAC later in the week, and please remember that we're actually only halfway to the important grade - the semester grade.  If your student has slacked off, it's time to crank it into high gear.  If they're doing well, they need to stay the course. (I decided that since I've already mixed some metaphors I might as well go the distance and mix them all! ;-)

In English 11, we're finishing their research paper.  I'm having them draft on GoogleDrive, so we're spending quite a bit of time on the computers.  I'd like them to know how to use this system for several reasons:  they can do their peer editing online and learn how to share; they can save paper by not printing; they're learning to use a system that many businesses and university professors use, so they should be prepared to move into the future.  They will need to share their rough draft with me by midnight on Tuesday, then they will edit and revise it based on my comments and those of their peers, and a final copy will be due, printed out, by Friday, April 11th.  Following this we will be jumping into Frankenstein.  They'll need to read a little bit over Spring Break, but I'll try to keep it minimal.

As always, I hope everyone has a wonderful week.  Please feel free to contact me if you want/need to.  Cheers!


Mrs. Stubbs's English Blog by Laura Stubbs is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.