Research Begins!

Wow, last week was incredible...and not in a good way!  I'm sure every parent has heard by now, but we spent three days with our technology a mess at the high school.  This meant: no computers; no grades/attendance (online) some days; no copies, except for small amounts on a small one in the office.  For a building which has been shifting more and more toward an online world, this was rather devastating.  Despite the problems, however, we made it through and even got some things done!  What we managed to accomplish:  we worked on verbs; we finished reading the Temple Grandin text and are preparing for the end-of-unit assessment; we practiced formulating questions for research and picked tentative topics; we watched a film-clip of the movie about Temple Grandin and then watched a Ted Talk by the lady, herself.  I think we still had a good week.

Here's what I'm behind on, however: updating grades; making sure attendance was correct; the online calendar, updated and edited.  I'm hoping to spend at least part of my Sunday doing this.

So here's what's coming up this week:

• Monday - we'll plan and pre-write for the end-of-unit assessment over the Temple Grandin piece.  They'll have a worksheet to fill out.
• Tuesday - we'll write the end-of unit 5-paragraph essay.
• Wednesday - vision/hearing testing (so we've been told) is happening, and that usually means my 9th graders, so I assume my classes will be doing this.  Then we'll go to the library so that our media specialist Mrs. Brakel can guide them through the online resources for research available through the school website.
• Thursday - they'll get the research packet which contains directions and resources for the research project.  We walk them through every step of research in order to ultimately write a MLA Research Paper.  It's not a quick process.  If time, they'll begin the process of working on generating questions and learning to vet sources for quality information.
• Friday - Since all we were able to accomplish toward PSAT practice last Friday was creating accounts, we'll try to do the actual diagnostic test on Khan Academy.

They will not have a lot of homework from me this week.  We're at an in-between period between units; once we begin the note-taking process the following week, they'll have some things to do at home.

I hope everyone enjoys the rest of their weekend and has a great week.  Ciao!


Research Begins! by Laura Stubbs is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at laurastubbs.blogspot.com.

We're Back At It, Full Tilt!

Well, grades are in for Semester 1.  I have no idea how you access them, but if you have questions, please feel free to call the school.  We've jumped into Semester Two, and I mean jumped in with both feet.  We've started our research module, which I really like, but it's very rigorous and so every hour is jam packed.  Within the hour we read, discuss, sometimes quiz, and use Google Classroom.  The pace of homework has also picked up and they've been given homework every night.  To hold them accountable, I check to see if they attempted it before we go over it and give them credit.  Feel free to ask your student about their homework every night, and I'll also post it on the online calendar on my webpage.

The research unit combines non-fiction with the research.  We're reading an interesting chapter from a Temple Grandin book as a model for how to conduct and write research.  On Monday they'll have the opportunity to see the non-fiction available in the high school library.  When they write their paper, which is a ways off, they'll need a book source, so this will allow them to see what's available at school.  They'll also be doing an activity on evaluating sources, so it should be a valuable day.  This term, I'm not assigning the book project; however, if they want to do one on a non-fiction book for extra credit, they can.

In addition to the research unit, we're continuing a grammar unit for bell work, and periodically we'll go on Khan Academy to practise skills for April's PSAT.  All 9th graders in the State of Michigan will be taking it at the same time, and Khan Academy is an excellent resource for preparation.  So here's what the upcoming week looks like:

• Monday - we're going to the library for an activity on non-fiction resources; homework - continue to think about two-three topics for research
• Tuesday - there will be a quiz over pp. 14-20; they'll work on how to generate questions for research; homework - read pp. 20-23; do a Type Two on Google Classroom
• Wednesday - they'll pick two to three possible topics for research and fill out a handout that proposes all of them and turn it in to me; homework - read pp. 24-26; do a Type Two on Google Classroom 
• Thursday - they'll watch a video clip about Temple Grandin, comparing text to film; they'll pick a topic for research; homework - create questions for researching their topic on a worksheet - due Friday; do a Type Two on Google Classroom
• Friday - each student will create a Khan Academy account and sign onto my class; they'll do a pre-assessment and receive participation credit; homework - finish the Type Twos on Google Classroom - due by midnight.

So that about covers it.  If you need me, feel free to contact me, and have a great week.  Ciao!


We're Back At It, Full Tilt! by Laura Stubbs is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at laurastubbs.blogspot.com.

Beginning Semester Two

Bongiorno!  I'm running late today, but it's only because the end of the semester brings lots of work to me...both personally and professionally.  My house is finally back in order with Christmas put away and Valentine's Day out.  Laundry is underway, the requested lasagna is in the oven, soccer games have been played, gymnastics witnessed, an overnight sleepover at a friend's house was successful and complete, practicing for Solo & Ensemble is underway, and so is the homework.  In the meantime, I've been grading exams and essays, so I'd say it's been a busy weekend.

As we round the corner to Semester Two, here's a layout of the units to come in English 9:

• We start with a research unit.  This will take many weeks.  It begins with a model non-fiction text by Temple Grandin, a remarkable woman with a PhD, who just happens to be autistic.  It continues with a second model text as they begin the process of choosing their own topics, formulating questions, and go through the research process.  The final unit is writing the final paper.
• After the research unit we will tackle The Crucible by Arthur Miller.
• We'll finish the year with Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck.

I don't have a play-by-play of the week yet.  I will be working on it further tomorrow, and then I'll put things on the online calendar.  In the meantime, I hope everyone has a nice Sunday.  If you have the day off tomorrow, I hope it's relaxing yet embraces the integrity of the day, focusing on the life and dreams of Martin Luther King, Jr.  I will not be off tomorrow, but my child who is in school will be focusing on the ideals of MLK and doing some service, as will my older child and husband who are off.

Have a great week!  Ciao!


Beginning Semester Two by Laura Stubbs is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at laurastubbs.blogspot.com.

Final Week of Semester One

Bongiorno!  I had such a wonderful break, and I hope everyone else did, as well.  My son and his school choir sang for the Pope - twice - and we were able to hear him three times.  I wandered all over Rome for seven days, and then spent the eighth day in Assisi.  Now the question is:  how soon can I go back?  It was fabulous!  Here are a few pictures from a fraction of my trip:

 Sitting atop the Spanish Steps, looking out over Rome.

 Inside the Colosseum

 The St. Francis of Assisi Choir, in front of a statue of - who else - St. Francis of Assisi.  This was outside the San Giovanni in Laterno Basilica, Rome.

 A concert with our choir and St. Vincent de Paul, Houston - in Sant'Eustachio, Rome.

 Roma at night.

 The Pantheon

 Fontana di Trevi

 An Egyptian obelisk - Piazza Navona

 Piazza Navona - they used to fill it with water for sea battles, then they used it for gladiators and chariot races.  Today it's a fantastic piazza for people watching!

 The Sistine Chapel.  We had a private tour at night with a 45-minute guide through the panels.  One of the highlights of my trip.

 The Forum - the original Ancient Rome.

 Fireworks at New Years.  It was fantastic!  Nothing organized, just fireworks shooting off from every direction: from the ground, from the rooftops, people were singing, lanterns were flying - I loved it!  Spontaneous joy!  This was the view from my balcony.

 New Year's Day - St. Peter's at about 5:30 A.M.

The families of the choirs were led in the back way to St. Peter's Basilica.  Crowds, crowds, crowds; security, security, security.

 The choirs lined up separately to be led into the Basilica.  About 6,000 kids from all over the world sang for the New Year's Day Mass.

 When the Swiss Guards arrive, you know the Pope is near.  There are only 150 Swiss Guard - total - and they're highly trained operatives, despite their silly uniforms.

 Pope Francis opening the mass.  Despite the selfie sticks, I could see him clearly.

 Pope Francis concluding mass.

 The altar of St. Peter's - New Years Day.

 St. Peter's Square with the masses waiting for the Papal Blessing.

 Eating our New Year's Day meal at our favorite restaurant - Bistrot Tratorria - Rome

 Assisi - despite the rain and fog - the first of our trip - it was beautiful!

 A private mass in a chapel of the Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi.  Since our parish is called St. Francis of Assisi, it was like going home.  So special!

A night view of the Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi.

 

I think I got about four hours of sleep a night, but it was so worth it.  This is just a fraction of what we did and saw.  It was the trip of a lifetime, and one I will treasure forever.

 

So coming back was a bit of a shock!  I'm still getting used to the time zone difference.  About 6:00 I want to fall asleep, and then wake up by 3:00 or 4:00.  This weekend has helped.  I actually made it to 5:30, so hopefully this week I'll be back to normal.

 

After I got back, my classes finished watching Much Ado About Nothing  and turned in the worksheets.  Then we began reviewing for the semester exam.  On Wednesday they had time and guidance for "St. Lucy's"; on Thursday they worked on "Cask of Amontillado"; on Friday we played Kahoot.It to review Romeo and Juliet.  So here's the schedule for this coming week:

• Monday - we will review and work on the Preposition Unit and Grammar
• Tuesday - they will learn to type one of their papers in MLA format
• Wednesday - they will finish typing their papers in MLA format; final questions about the exam will be addressed
• Thursday - objective portion of the final exam - they all have a guide for what's on it
• Friday - written portion of the final exam

I hope everyone had a great break.  Hopefully everyone is rejuvenated and we're ready to finish the semester!  Have a wonderful week - Ciao!

 

 
Final Week of Semester One by Laura Stubbs is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at laruastubbs.blogspot.com.