Winter Wonderland

Well, folks, I don't even know what to say about this week's plans, other than that I can give you an overview and then we'll all just need to be flexible.  If anyone has any questions, feel free to contact me.  Because of the snow day last week, we still need to finish Semester 1.  The next time I see your student it will be the last day of the semester.  Following that, we'll switch to Semester 2.  I keep most of my students, even if they switch hours, so most of you will continue to hear from me.  I do have a couple of students who are leaving me (which makes me sad), so for those of you in that boat, thanks for a great semester.

Last week I only saw your kids for two and a half days, so not much was accomplished, but here's what we got done: English 10 - all papers and projects should be submitted and we're watching the movie Hidden Figures, comparing and contrasting it with The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks; English 9 has begun reading The Crucible and we have read most of Act I.

Here is an overview of this coming week, not broken down by day because of the snow days (cold days?) I know are coming:

• English 9 - first, we will finish reading Act I to finish off the semester; after that, we'll take time to work on a packet and making sure we've got Act I understood for plot, literary elements, theme, and structure.
• English 10 - we'll finish the semester by finishing the movie and turning in the compare/contrast worksheet; after that we'll be diving in to information that is a prelude into the very large Wax Museum Project.  Once we've made the switch, I'll start to get information out to you about this.

In addition to all this, I realized that I took a few pictures of my English 10 doing Socratic Seminars and I never posted them here, so that's what follows:

I swear he's talking and thinking, not sleeping.

So that's the scoop.  I hope everyone endures the snow, ice, and cold with good humor.  Thanks for sharing your kids with me; they are what help me endure it all - I love them!  Have a great week!

Winter Wonderland by Laura Stubbs is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at https://www.laurastubbs.blogspot.com.

Final Week of the Semester

Good sunny morning to you!  That sun is deceptive, is it not?  I hope everyone stays warm today.

Since we're down to the final week, this is going to be short and sweet.  Last week in English 10 we finished typing and submitted the final essay for The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.  Tuesday we'll turn in the books and all those late notices will go away (I'm sorry about that).  In English 9 we looked at preview information for The Crucible and checked out the books.  This week we'll read Act I.

So here's the plan for the week:

English 9

• Tuesday, 1/22 - Academic Advisory - read Act I of The Crucible
• Wednesday, 1/23 - read Act I of The Crucible
• Thursday, 1/24 - NO ADVISORY - read Act I of The Crucible
• Friday, 1/25 - 1/2 Day - finish Act I of The Crucible

English 10

• Tuesday, 1/22 - Academic Advisory - finish and submit Electronic Portfolio; compare and contrast Henrietta to Hidden Figures
• Wednesday, 1/23 - compare and contrast Henrietta to Hidden Figures
• Thursday, 1/24 - NO ADVISORY - compare and contrast Henrietta to Hidden Figures
• Friday, 1/25 - 1/2 Day - finish comparing and contrasting Henrietta to Hidden Figures

That's the plan as I see it.  I hope everyone has a great week!

Final Week of the Semester by Laura Stubbs is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at https://www.laurastubbs.blogspot.com.

Is It Really Winter?

Happy Mid-January Sunday!  I don't know what it's like in Monroe County this morning, but up here in Washtenaw, we have no snow.  If it's going to be cold, I want snow!  Otherwise I might as well move to someplace warm and at least enjoy being out in the sunshine.

Anyway, we're cruising toward the end of the semester - two weeks to go.  We're finishing off what we've been working on and we're getting ready to transition to our next units. Last week in English 9 we worked through an Emily Dickinson poem which we'll finish on Monday.  In English 10 we finished reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and this week we'll write the essay.  They also started working on their electronic portfolios for the Passion Project.

Here's this week's schedule:

English 9

• Monday, 1/14 - prepositions; finish Dickinson packet and turn in
• Tuesday, 1/15 - Academic Advisory - preview activity for The Crucible
• Wednesday, 1/16 - prepositions; finish preview for The Crucible
• Thursday, 1/17 - PSAT/SAT Advisory - turn in Reading Log #15; start Act I of The Crucible
• Friday, 1/18 - get new reading log; silent reading day

English 10

• Monday, 1/14 - final TIQA paragraph; get writing packet; plan intro of essay
• Tuesday, 1/15 - Academic Advisory - create and type essay
• Wednesday, 1/16 - finish typing essay; writing revision activity
• Thursday, 1/17 - PSAT/SAT Advisory - ESSAY DUE; work on electronic portfolio for Passion Project
• Friday, 1/18 - work on electronic portfolio for Passion Project - due Monday by midnight

Reminder - Monday, 1/21 is a day off for students and staff; Friday, 1/25 is a half day.  Have a great Sunday!

Is It Really Winter? by Laura Stubbs is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at https://www.laurastubbs.blogspot.com.

Welcome Back!

Good morning!  I know we've already been back two days, but this is my 1st post of the new year, so welcome back!  While I didn't really want to go back to work for two days last week, it did help ease me back into routine, so now I'm ready to go. 

Last Thursday all of my classes did a reality check with their grades.  What is most important in the scheme of things is the semester grade, so I had them average 1st quarter with 2nd quarter to determine what their grade would be at this moment.  I then had them determine if they would get credit or not for the semester and make a goal for the last three weeks of the semester.  I have emailed parents of those not passing quarter two, so hopefully everyone is well aware of the reality of the situation.

In English 9 last week we finished off Edgar Allan Poe and got a new reading log - due this coming Thursday.  In English 10 I gave them Cornell Notes to fill out in preparation for a Socratic Seminar - they're due Monday.

So here's the schedule for the upcoming week:

English 9

• Monday, 1/7 - prepositions; Emily Dickinson intro and packet
• Tuesday, 1/8 - Academic Advisory - prepositions; Dickinson packet
• Wednesday, 1/9 - prepositions; Dickinson packet
• Thursday, 1/10 - PSAT/SAT Advisory - turn in Reading Log #13; prepositions; finish and turn in Dickinson packet
• Friday, 1/11 - get Reading Log #14; silent reading

English 10

• Monday, 1/7 - Socratic Seminar for Ch. 33-36; Reflection Packet
• Tuesday, 1/8 - Academic Advisory - PSAT Bell Work; Ch. 37 Cornell Notes
• Wednesday, 1/9 - PSAT Bell Work; Ch. 38 Cornell Notes
• Thursday, 1/10 - PSAT/SAT Advisory - Socratic Seminar for Ch. 37-38; Reflection Packet
• Friday, 1/11 - Passion Project - Work on Electronic Portfolio

That's the schedule as I see it today.  I hope everyone has a great week!

Welcome Back! by Laura Stubbs is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at https://www.laurastubbs.blogspot.com.

Happy Vacation

Since we all have different beliefs, I decided to try to stay out of controversy by just wishing everyone well as we head off for vacation time.  Only five days this week, and then we're done!  There's much to do in those five days, but I have confidence we can accomplish it all.

Last week we continued the Battle of Technology, so 2nd Hour English 9 is behind on their slideshows for Stranger Things "Episode 1," and I'm adjusting their deadline to this Wednesday.  English 10 is working on interviews and since Google Hangouts is blocked we've been working our way around this, looking for alternatives.  A few people have been able to accomplish them so far, and if any groups need time during class to go do an interview I'll make time for that.  After they do the interview they will need to type up the conversation so that we have a written record.  In case we can't actually make an interview happen I had them type up the contact information, the email they are sending, and the questions they plan to ask, and then they shared this with me so that they can get credit.

So here's the plan for this week:

English 9

• Monday, 12/17 - 2nd Hour = prepositions; finish "Cask of Amontillado" worksheet; 5th Hour = finish "Cask of Amontillado" worksheet
• Tuesday, 12/18 - Academic Advisory - 2nd Hour = quiz for "Cask"; work on slideshow; 5th Hour = prepositions; quiz for "Cask"
• Wednesday, 12/19 - 2nd Hour = silent reading and/or slideshow which is due by midnight; 5th Hour = silent reading
• Thursday, 12/20 - PSAT/SAT Advisory - turn in Reading Log #12; Episode 2 of Stranger Things (as requested)
• Friday, 12/21 - game and treat day

English 10

• Monday, 12/17 - read Ch. 28 of HeLa; study guide, notes, type 2 exit ticket
• Tuesday, 12/18 - Academic Advisory - Ch. 29/30 of HeLa; study guide and notes
• Wednesday, 12/19 - Ch. 31 of HeLa; study guide and notes
• Thursday, 12/20 - PSAT/SAT Advisory - Ch. 32 of HeLa; study guide and notes
• Friday, 12/21 - test for pp. 199-267

As a side note, for English 10 parents especially - my 1st Hour pranked me on Friday, and they got me good.  I guess they planned it right in front of me (not enough coffee in me yet?).  I'm posting the pictures they wanted down below, but there will not be any paybacks from me since I don't want to escalate things.  One prank directed my way in 25 years is plenty, thank you very much, so I also want to discourage any other classes from trying their hands at this; if you hear anything, I'd appreciate your help in squashing it.  It's too difficult to do my job if I'm having to cope with the pranks as well.

Thanks!

Happy Vacation by Laura Stubbs is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at https://www.laurastubbs.blogspot.com.

Two Weeks to Break!

I swear this season is joyful and maddening all at the same time.  I think I have three obligations every day all the way through January 1st.  I struggle because I feel guilty if I'm not keeping up with my grading for school, but I think it's really important to be fully present at the events I'm attending, giving the people performing, visiting, and conversing my full attention.  If there's one thing, I know, however, it will all get done.  Today I plan to get as much grading done as I can before I have to leave at 4:30 to drive my son to his evening events and then go work my shift in a charity poker room earning much needed money for the Pioneer Theater Guild.  That's an adventure and story in itself.  I worked a 6-hour shift Friday and learned about a whole new world out there that I never knew existed! I've never gambled and I'm not a card player, so this was all new to me.

Anyway, we're cruising along in both of my classes, so here's what we accomplished last week: despite the technology issues English 9 was able to watch Episode 1 of Stranger Things and we dissected it for literary elements.  It was a lot of fun, and now we all wish we could just sit and binge watch the rest of the season during English class (I told them no).  In English 10 we have now read through Chapter 23 of Henrietta Lacks and only have a couple of presentations to go.  They broke into pairs and grabbed a chapter to teach and then gave quizzes to the class.  It's been an adventure - some presentations were just ho-hum, but many of your students did a fabulous job!  On Friday we encountered technology issues as we tried to set up and prepare for interviews with people who work in the field of their Passion Project topic.  I'm trying to do three things: utilize technology like Hangouts (it's like Skype), practice email and face-to-face communication skills with people who are not our friends, and get them motivated for using English skills by working with topics of their own choosing.  We'll see how this goes.  This is the portion of the project that has caused me to bite off all my fingernails (literally).

So what's coming up this week?

English 9

• Monday, 12/10 - work on Slide Show for Stranger Things on Google Classroom.
• Tuesday, 12/11 - Academic Advisory - finish work on Slide Show - due by midnight; if time - prepositions.
• Wednesday, 12/12 - prepositions; introduction of Edgar Allan Poe; start "The Cask of Amontillado"
• Thursday, 12/13 - PSAT/SAT Advisory - turn in Reading Log #10; prepositions; continue "The Cask of Amontillado"
• Friday, 12/14 - get Reading Log #12; silent reading day

English 10

• Monday, 12/10 - Type 1; read Chapter 24 of HeLa - study guide and vocab.
• Tuesday, 12/11 - Academic Advisory - Type 1; turn in study guide and vocab.; assessment for pp. 137-98 of HeLa
• Wednesday, 12/12 - Type 1; read Chapter 25 of HeLa - study guide, notes
• Thursday, 12/13 - PSAT/SAT Advisory - Type 1-turn in for week; Chapter 26 and 27 presentations and quizzes.
• Friday, 12/14 - Passion Projects - interviews

So that's the plan.  I hope everyone has a great week!

Two Weeks to Break! by Laura Stubbsis licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at https://www.laurastubbs.blogspot.com.

Patience is a Virtue

Last week tested the old cliché because between technology viruses and gas leaks, it felt much of the time like I couldn't get anything done.  Seriously; I was working late on Thursday trying to catch up and was really making progress when we got evacuated.  But if there's one thing I am becoming a master at, it's being flexible, so we made it through.  In English 9 we managed to complete and submit our first major analytical essay, and in English 10 we tested over the first third of the book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.  

In addition to this, English 9 students received the information for scheduling for 10th grade and we went over it all in class.  On Friday the counselors will be coming to my class to schedule them - that means all signatures need to be on the paperwork so that they can be turned in.

So what's coming up this week?

English 9

• Monday, 12/3 - finish literary term definitions; watch Stranger Things episode 1.
• Tuesday, 12/4 - Academic Advisory - prepositions; Stranger Things episode 1; take notes; create slide show
• Wednesday, 12/5 - 1/2 Day (release at 10:30) - work on notes and slide show
• Thursday, 12/6 - PSAT/SAT Advisory - turn in reading log; prepositions; work on slide show
• Friday, 12/7 - schedule for 10th grade (paperwork is due); get new reading log; silent reading day

English 10

• Monday, 12/3 - Type 1; check in notes from pp. 1-136; presentations for ch. 18, 19, 20
• Tuesday, 12/4 - Academic Advisory - Type 1; ch. 21 with new notes, study guide, vocab.
• Wednesday, 12/5 - 1/2 Day (release at 10:30) - presentation for ch. 22
• Thursday, 12/6 - PSAT/SAT Advisory - Type 1 - turn in for week; ch. 24, 25
• Friday, 12/7 - Passion Project - Interviews

This is where things stand as of Sunday morning.  If anyone has any questions, please feel free to contact me.  Have a great week!

Patience is a Virtue by Laura Stubbs is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at https://www.laurastubbs.blogspot.com.