Mrs. Stubbs's English Blog: 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.