Almost to the Break

We are almost there!  We have finals this week and Spirit week at OACP.  English finals are Monday and Tuesday.  Students are allowed to use their notes on this final, but a time limit of the class period is enforced.  Students should be really familiar with what notes they have so they can work quickly enough to get the test completed in the allotted time.  I will try to get them graded as soon as possible and get grades updated.

Reading log homework is still assigned this week, but independent reading is totally optional over the break.  We will start up again in January.

This is a fun week and an important week.  Let's finish the semester strong!  Have a great week and enjoy your winter break.

Finals and Spirit Week and Christmas, Oh my!

Welcome to a very busy week at OACP!  We are preparing for finals, we have Winter Spirit Week next week, and then Christmas break.  There is a lot of excitement about the upcoming events (maybe not so much about the finals...).  English finals for all classes take place next week, December 14 and 15 during normal class times.

In ninth grade we are reading The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry.  We are focusing on irony as well as finding the theme and other literary elements.  We are also using active reading strategies by annotating the text as we read.  The 9A class is writing a research paper on the college of their choice.  The conversations that are happening in that class are really exciting!  This is getting them thinking and learning and planning for the future.  Hopefully they are learning valuable information as they complete this project.

The tenth graders are finishing up reading A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.  Most students are familiar with the story line of this classic, but the students are now discovering the descriptive writing style of Dickens as well.  They also wrote a response paper to a research article entitled "Are Experiences More Valuable Than Possessions?"  To prepare to read this book, each student researched one aspect of background information about the author, his works, this book and its impact.  This information was presented to the class before Thanksgiving.  This book will be covered on the final exam next week as well.

It is a busy time for students for sure!  Encourage home reading (many students are letting this slide) and be prepared for the remaining assignments.  Keep working hard - a break is right around the corner!

Tests and Research

Welcome to a very short school week.  In ninth grade, we are taking a test on  our latest short story, "The Most Dangerous Game."  We are focusing on literary devices and elements of plot as they relate to this story, as well as vocabulary.  We have had some good discussion with this story.  We will read another short story after Thanksgiving, as well as do some writing.

In tenth grade, we will read the Charles Dickens classic "A Christmas Carol" starting the Monday we come back from Thanksgiving break.  To prepare for that, each group is researching a topic and presenting their findings in oral presentations to the class on Tuesday.  This will help build background knowledge as well as give students a chance to research, write a speech, present orally, and listen to learn information.  I am excited to hear their presentations!

When we come back from Thanksgiving break, we will hit the ground running in all classes with books to read and papers to write.  We will have just three weeks left of the semester, so please encourage your student to keep working and not get into vacation mode too early, these are important weeks ahead!

Enjoy your holiday.  I am thankful to work with your students!

Wrapping Up Assignments

This week in all classes we are wrapping our current assignments up so we are ready to start reading new books right after Thanksgiving.  These books will be completed in three weeks, and will be covered on the final that students will take before the end of the quarter.

Ninth graders are finishing the short story "The Most Dangerous Game."  We have studied internal and external conflict in literature and ways to build suspense.  We learned some new vocabulary words, as well as learned the plot of the story.  We will take a test on this short story in the short week before Thanksgiving break.   After the break, ninth graders will be reading one of three Civil war novels.

Tenth graders are turning in an expressive and reflective writing piece called My Favorite Mistake.  They have used mentor texts and peer review to help guide their revisions.  We will talk about showing rather than telling and find instances of showing in their writing.  We will then begin a short group research project to build background knowledge before reading A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

Have a great week!

Upcoming Assignments

This week marks the halfway point in the second quarter.  All classes have IXL language arts standards that are due on Nov. 12.  These are all punctuation standards that we have learned in class; IXL is an individualized way to practice the application of these rules.  For students wanting to raise a grade, this is a great way to do it.  Students can work until their smart score is where they want it.

In ninth grade we are reading a short story called "The Most Dangerous Game," using this to analyze suspense, conflict, and irony, as well as learn new vocabulary words.  Also in ninth grade, we have prefix quizzes each Thursday.  The one this week is on prefixes 1-15.  In tenth grade, we are writing to express and reflect on our Favorite Mistake, or a mistake from which something good resulted. A printed draft is due in class on Thursday for peer review, with the final draft due next week.  This should be a good chance for expressive narrative writing, allowing students to reflect on how they learn important lessons in their lives.

This week we will have Wednesday off for Veterans' Day.   I hope you are able to reflect on the sacrifices made by many to defend our freedom over the years.

Have a great week!

Short Stories

This week we are wrapping up big units in both ninth and tenth grade.  We have had tests in both classes and are moving on to new subject matter.

In ninth grade, we will start reading a short story called The Most Dangerous Game.  We started off today with new vocabulary and discussing some topics we will read about.  We will also learn about literary conflicts and find examples of both internal and external conflicts, as well as irony, suspense, and foreshadowing.

In tenth grade we will read some mythology and compare to other texts as well as a work of art.  We will use these texts to find literary elements, with an emphasis on theme.  We will have a chance to write to express and reflect, and also do some vocabulary learning, working from the SAT vocabulary lists.  In addition to this,we are reading practice ACT passages to give exposure to the type of questions found on that test.

In both grades, we have Ixl language standards.  The due date for these in all classes in November 12. This is a great way to bring up a grade because each student is in control of their own score.  Work as long as you need to get the score you want.  Each class knows the standards they are responsible for and they all get class time to work on them, but some work at home will probably be required as well.

I enjoyed meeting with many of you during conference week last week.  If you'd still like to meet, please email me.   Have a great week!

Projects and Parent Teacher Conferences

Today was the first day of the second quarter.  We spent the day working on our Heroic Journey presentations in tenth grade and doing some review activities for The Great Little Madison in ninth grade.  The ninth graders will make a Jeopardy style review game with facts from the book.  They will take their test next Monday.

The tenth graders will present their projects showing the monomyth pattern as demonstrated in their book.  Their presentations will be on Tuesday, October 27, and we'd love to have lots of parents come see their work.  I'll email with the specific times for each class.  I really enjoy hearing their discussions about the book elements.  In tenth grade, we are also working on some reading ACT passages and practicing comma rules with restrictive and non-restrictive clauses.

In addition to finishing their book, Ninth graders will be starting some vocabulary learning with the most common prefixes, roots, and suffixes.  They will be tested on these throughout the quarter until they show mastery.  These will help your student in their word attack skills.  I am surprised how often I see these word parts in everyday reading exposure.

I am looking forward to conferences.  I have really enjoyed the first quarter of the year and I will have report cards and test scores to share.  We will be on a tight time schedule, so please be prompt and I will also manage the conference time to stay on schedule.

Have a great week!

End of First Quarter

This week is the last week of the first quarter.  However, we are involved in some large reading projects in all classes, so most of the grades for these projects will be in the second quarter.

In 9th grade, we will finish The Great Little Madison this week.  I am aware that this type of text isn't a favorite with most ninth graders, but there is real value in both non-fiction text and in learning about the early history of our country and the events and people that shaped our nation.  I hope the students will find value in what they have learned with this book.  We will have a test on this book with multiple choice, vocabulary, and essay questions.  That test is scheduled for Oct. 23 right now, which should give us time to finish the book and do some review activities.

In 10th grade, the students are finishing their books for their Heroic Journey book club.  They are identifying the 12 stages of this journey and they will create a presentation to share those with the class. In addition to identifying the stages of the hero in this project, we are working on moving past summary into analysis.  Please plan to attend!  We are scheduled to present on Oct. 27, but depending on the length of the finished products, they may not all fit into one day.  Email me for a more specific time if you plan to come see your student's presentation.

Have a great week!

Book Clubs and Presentations

In 9th grade, we continue to read the biography of James Madison, The Great Little Madison.  We have had vocabulary words each week and weekly quizzes on the words.  We will hit the halfway mark in the book this week, meaning that we will no longer have the structured vocabulary words and quizzes.  At the end of the book there will be a comprehensive test with essay questions.  Students are reading and summarizing the text each day as they read.

The 10th grade classes are working in small book clubs to read a familiar book and find the 12 stages of the Heroic journey, a common pattern in literature.  Each group has 3 weeks to finish the book, which most groups are able to complete at school or with their reading log time.  There should not be extensive out of school time devoted to this project.  Students will present a multimedia presentation at the end of October on what they find.  We will invite parents to come see these presentations.  The date is October 27, from 11:00 - 12:15.  As it gets closer, we will schedule a more specific time for each group so you can pinpoint the time your child will present.  They will also have an essay test on this literature pattern.

Students in all classes should be reading at home each night and on the weekends.  Parents, thank you for signing reading logs each weekend!  Have a great week!

Reading Projects

Welcome to another week in English class!  In both classes, we are starting reading projects.  We will spend several weeks on these projects, with more of an emphasis on reading for comprehension and writing to analyze the texts.

More specifically, in ninth grade, we started reading The Great Little Madison, a biography of James Madison.  In conjunction with this book, we will have vocabulary words and quizzes.  Students will have a study guide with 11 words at a time, then have a quiz after completing the reading for the chapters.  The reading for this will all be done in class, with a written summary after reading.  We have class discussion questions every day, and each of these questions is a possible test question for the end of the unit test.  The purpose of this is to prepare students for that test, a little bit each day.

In tenth grade, we have learned about a pattern in literature called the monomyth, or the 12 stages of the hero's journey.  We compiled an extensive list of books and movies that follow this pattern, and the students are ready to get into book clubs to read with the purpose of identifying and analyzing this pattern in their book.  They will work in small groups, 3-4 students, and present their findings at the end.  This is a four week project and the reading will mostly be done in the classroom.

During these times, attendance in extra important.  Thank you for helping your child be in class every day they are able.

Have a great week and read, read, read!

Biographies and Book Clubs

This week we are off to a great start.  Both ninth grade classes got vocabulary words for a biography they wills tart this week called The Great Little Madison by Jean Fritz.  This is the biography of James Madison.  The ninth graders got a list of 11 words and made a study guide for a quiz coming up next week.  The words will be introduced in the first three chapters of the book.  They will get more words as we move through the book.  I am looking forward to reading this book with them, learning more about James Madison, one of our founding fathers and US presidents.

In tenth grade, students turned in their restaurant reviews.  They used mentor texts and peer review to improve their work.  They have all come a long way from their first drafts!  Later this week, we will learn about patterns in literature.  Students will be in book clubs to find these patterns and then present to the class.  It should be a fun project and help the as a reader by becoming aware of the patterns they may encounter.

As always, please encourage your student in his or her home reading.  Reading is important in building a mature vocabulary, which is essential for academic success!  Keep reading!

Project Sharing

We have three classes sharing writing projects this week.
2nd block, 10B is sharing their "I Remember" poems in a poetry workshop in the English classroom.  They will share with two fifth grade classes and provide a writing tip to help the fifth graders improve their own writing.  That will be Tuesday, 9/15, with one class coming at 10:00 and the second class coming at 10:25.

3rd block, 10A will also share their "I Remember" poems in the same format.  Their class will be in both the English classroom and the hangout room, with the fourth grade classes coming to be the audience.

Of course, parents are always invited and welcome!

4th block, 9B will share their "Introduce Yourself" narrative in an oral presentation to the class starting on Tuesday, 9/15.  It may take three days to get through all the students.  Any parent who wants to attend is welcome, but if you let me know, I can give you a ball park idea as to when your child will be presenting.  This will be in the English classroom.

Speaking and Listening are important parts of English, so they are included in our program of study.  Each student has an oral presentation rubric to guide their delivery.

Please remind your students how important it is to read at home, not just to meet the 20 minutes a night standard, but to exceed it when time allows.  Have a great week!

Project Sharing

Hope you all enjoyed your Labor Day holiday.  It sure shortens up the school week!  Here's what's going on in the English classroom.  

The 9A class presented their Introduce Yourself Narratives today.  They shared a writing tip with a few lower grade classes and told about themselves, sharing artifacts.  I appreciate the parents who came, it makes our presentations so authentic to have parents listening.   Coming up this week, we will be reflecting on this experience and we will prepare to read a biography of one of the country's founding fathers.  We will also start on some vocabulary instruction.  

In both 10th grade classes we are starting to write a restaurant review.  The first draft is due, printed out by Wednesday.  We will then read some mentor text examples from newspapers.  We will examine how they write and we will see how we can apply their strategies to our reviews.  We will have time to revise and improve ours.  We plan to send some in to the local newspaper, in case they are in need of some reviews in the future.  

The 10th grade classes will be sharing their "I Remember" poems in a poetry reading with the 4th and 5th graders.  10B (2nd Block) will share with 5th graders on Tuesday, 9/15 and 10A (3rd block) will share with 4th graders on Wednesday, 9/16.  As always, parents are welcome to join for that poetry reading and writing instruction.   

The 9B class turned in their Introduce Yourself Narrative projects today.  They were really proud of them as they should have been.  Some of the covers were true works of art!  They expressed their personality and experiences.  We will write our speeches this week and practice.  We will be ready to deliver the speeches on Tuesday, 9/15.  This will be in a one at a time format, with our class as the audience.  Any parents who want to attend, please email me and I can give you a more specific time frame for when your child will be speaking.  

As always, please encourage your student to read, read, read!  Ask your student the best way to learn new vocabulary words!   

Reading Logs and Weekly Work

For all English classes:  Reading is an essential part of improvement.  Please support your student in his or her reading.  The assignment is 20 minutes each school night, but that is the minimum.  More time is encouraged!  We will keep track of this time for the year.

In 10th grade English class this week, we are exploring different types of writing about the same topic.  We are writing to express, to reflect, to inform, and to explain.  We have established writing territories, topics on which we have something to say.  We will use IXL to practice comma usage to prepare for ACT college testing.  We will also start preparing for writing on demand this week by examining prompts.

In 9th grade English we are finishing our "Introduce Yourself" narrative projects.  Thank you to all parents and family members who wrote biographies about your students!  I wish you could have seen your students beaming with pride about their biographies.  One student asked if he could read it to the class.  I hesitated to give that assignment to make more work for parents, but I appreciate your effort and your student appreciates your effort!  We will prepare to present these projects to younger Oasis students and to parents.  Watch your email for the exact date and time your child's class is presenting.

Writing Work

This week, students in all classes are working on writing projects.  We will be sharing the projects with some younger grade levels and with parents.  The day and time will depend on your student's class time.  Watch your email for info on that.  Also, the home reading log requires a parent signature each weekend on the highlighted line.  Students should ask you for that.  We are working on building up our hours of reading.  20 minutes is the minimum amount for each school day.

Ninth graders are working on an autobiographical narrative project.  Each ninth grader should have asked a parent or family member to write a short biography about him or her.  This is so they can see themselves through the eyes of another person who is older and who knows them well.  These are due on Monday, August 31.  I totally understand that parents have already completed ninth grade English, so I appreciate you completing this writing task.  Please support your child in completing this assignment.  Your writing skills will not impact your child's grade.  If they have a biography, they will get credit for it.

Tenth graders are writing a poem entitled "I Remember."  We are getting to know each other by writing these, but we are also focusing on strong verbs.  We learned specific ways to strengthen our writing with our verb choices.    We are working on choosing words that will evoke images in the reader.  We hope you can attend our poetry reading day.  Watch your email for more info.

First Day

We had a great first day at Oasis Academy.  We have a few routines to establish still, but it was a productive first day.

For the 9th grade classes, they will be starting an assignment called an autobiographical narrative project.  They will write six essays about different aspects of themselves.  Actually, they will write five, and they will ask a person close to them to write the sixth essay.  They had that assignment to ask someone to write their biography.  If your student asked you to write a biography, don't panic!  It doesn't need to be long, just 1 - 2 pages.  Also, they will get a grade for this, but they will get full credit if they have one, so the quality of your writing will not impact your child's grade.  I know parents are all busy, so they should have asked you to write this on August 17, given you 2 weeks until it is due.  It needs to be turned in with the rest of this project on Monday, August 31.  Please don't email it directly to me, print it out and have your student turn it in with the rest of his or her writing.

Both grades are starting off with reading log homework.  They will get a parent signature at the end of each week.  You may need to double check with them to be sure they have something to read.

Both classes will use their notebooks in class.  Most kids had their supplies, but they each need two college rule composition books for English class.  If they have wide rule, they will need a third one.  We will start using them on Tuesday in class.

Looking forward to a great first week of school.

Supply List

Welcome to a new school year and a brand new high school!  I hope you're as excited as I am to get started.  Below is a supply list for all 9th and 10th grade core classes.  Please try to have the shared supplies ready to turn in on the first day.

Oasis Academy College Prep

Student Supply List, 9th - 10th Grades

2015-2016

1 Binder with assignment pages provided by Oasis

Individual Supplies:  These will be used by you, so choose what you like to work with.

• 2 additional binders, for math and science
• 3  - 3 ring binder pouches for pencils
• Loose leaf paper for all binders
• Graph paper for math binder
• Divider tabs for binders
• Pencils, both regular and mechanical with extra lead and erasers
• Ruler, compass, and protractor
• 1 set colored pencils
• 2 college rule composition books (100 pages in each)
• 2 sturdy pocket folders, no center prongs
• 1 set of multi-colored highlighters, including yellow, orange, pink, and green
• 4-6 Pens, blue or black ink
• 1 scientific calculator (examples are TI 30 or Casio fx-260, must have trig functions, logs, and fractions)
• Apron or lab jacket (recommended)

Shared Supplies:  These items will be turned in on the first day of school and stored at school for use throughout the year.

• Standard pencils - 1 package of 20-24
• Kleenex - 3 boxes
• Toilet paper - 1 package
• Cleaning wipes - 1 package
• Paper towels - 1 package
• Disposable surgical gloves - 1 box
• Last name A - M:   1 container of Hand Sanitizer.
• Last Name N - Z:  1 box of zip top bags, any size.