Final Draft Writing

This is the start of a short week, but even so, all classes had final draft writing to turn in today.  We spent time in each class color-coding our writing according to elements in the rubric.  All students have worked on these for the past several weeks and this should be their best writing.  Students will get several grades from these final drafts, an MLA grade, a grade for the outline, organizer rough draft and peer review, and a final draft grade.  Grading these takes time, but hopefully grades will be entered in the next two weeks.

We have been reading American Romantic short stories in ninth grade and reading Hamlet in tenth grade.  Both texts have a more complex style, making them more challenging reading; however, students have been able to write, discuss, and even act out what they are reading and it has been valuable exposure for the students.

There will be no assigned homework over the break, but all students have a book report on Wed. Dec. 14, so books should be completed before then.  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
 

Rough Drafts

All students turned in a printed rough draft in class today.  Ninth graders are writing a research paper on a college of their choice, 4-5 pages, MLA format with citations.  Tenth graders are writing an argument paper, 3 pages, MLA format, minimum of two citations.  Argument papers should include a claim, reasons, evidence, counter claim and rebuttal.  All students who had their work ready completed a peer review in class. This peer review paper should also be handed in with the final draft next week. The peer review is helpful in the revision process.  We will not have any more time in class for these papers, so students should be working at home to get this completed.

In each class there were students who did not have this draft completed.  These students are responsible for completing the peer review on their own to turn in with the final draft, due Monday, 11/21.

This week in class, we will shift back to our reading for the rest of the week.  Ninth graders will read a short sotry from the american Romantic movement, identifying th eelements of plot.  Tenth graders will continue reading Hamlet, Act 3, scenes 2-4.  Should be a great week!

Reading

This week, ninth graders are working on a group project during class time, the American Romantic Author project.  Each group was assigned an author from this literary movement and each group member will research the answer to a question.  Groups will share their product and oral presentations with the class on Wednesday.

Wednesday is also the book reprot day for all grades. This will be a one question essay response on the book each student selected in early October.  This assignment will be completed in class, with students given 30 minuets to respond.

Tenth graders started reading Hamlet today in class.  We will focus on Act 3, so we got character information in class and read parts of Acts 1-2, learning the overview of the plot.  We will work on Hamlet until Thanksgiving break. All students will get a chance to "act" out this play (or read character lines in front of the class), an assignment some are looking forward to and some are dreading.

Conferences with ninth grade parents are ongoing this week.  Thansk you for signing up and sticking to the schedule. Have a great week!

Conferences

After five days of dressing up with Spirit Week last week and Halloween today, we are ready to get back to uniforms.  This week, all classes are preparing for major writing assignments.  Ninth graders have a college research paper due on Nov. 21, with deadlines along the way for their outline (Nov. 2)  and rough draft (Nov. 14).  We will spend some time each week writing this paper, but some will have to be done at home.  Tenth graders also have a paper assignment, an argument paper also due Nov. 21. They will also have a rough draft due Nov. 14 for in class peer review with time to make revisions.

For reading, ninth graders have learned about American Romantic authors and read one short story from this literary movement today.  They will have chances to read others and compare in the coming weeks.  Tenth graders have been reading Shakespeare, starting with sonnets.  They are analyzing the sonnets for both form and meter as well as meaning.

This week we start Parent Teacher Conferences.  I look forward to meeting with the ninth grade parents.  Tenth grade parents, please  email me if you have concerns.  I'll be happy to work with you.

Starting Second Quarter

Welcome back from Fall Break!  We are now one day into the second quarter.  All grades have an in class book report coming up on November 10.  All students should have declared their book and should be reading to be ready for this assignment.

Tenth graders are studying the writing of William Shakespeare, starting first with sonnets.  We will read several sonnets this week, looking at form and meter and analyzing the meaning of the poems.  All work on this will be done in class.  Ninth graders have some IXL work to start off the quarter.  They have three standards on comma rules to review and show mastery.  They will begin studying the American Romantic literary movement by reading short stories from this time and looking at the plot diagram as it applies to each story.  We will also learn about authors from this literary movement.

I look forward to meeting with ninth grade parents at Parent Teacher conferences next week.  Check your email for info on how to sign up.            

End of First Quarter

And just like that, the first quarter is coming to an end!  For students that means many assignments as we finish the quarter strong.  Tenth graders have three IXL standards due Tuesday by midnight.  They also have a restaurant review due in class Wednesday morning.  Students need a printed hard copy and their highlighters because they will go through their writing with the rubric to assess themselves before they turn their paper in.  Many students come to class without their work ready to go.  All classes have been warned, their work will be counted late if they are not prepared with their assignment printed when they walk into class.

Ninth graders are completing their Great Little Madison creative writing this week.  Their writing is due when they walk into class on Tuesday.  We will make a study guide for the test in class to prepare.  Ninth graders will take their test on this biography on Wednesday, using the notes they took as they read.  Thursday we will have a chance to share our writing with each other in class.  This will be a good chance for all students to get ideas from their classmates and to see ways they can improve and to celebrate the good things they are doing as writers.  Any ninth grader who wants to bring a snack for the class to enjoy as we share our writing may do so.  I'll provide plates and napkins.  

This week will be busy getting everything finished,  but after this week, students (and parents) can relax and enjoy their Fall Break!  Have a good week and encourage your student to finish the quarter strong!

Writing Assingments

This week we are writing to evaluate and judge in the tenth grade.  We are writing restaurant reviews, so if your tenth grader asks to go out to dinner and starts taking notes, that may be why!  We started today by reading and annotating restuarant reviews from newspapers.  We will chooese our local restaurant and consider many areas of focus.  Students will also practice their word choice and sentence flow with this assignment.  This will be due next week.  Also, thank you to the parents who came to see our Heroic Journey presentations.  I also appreciate your questions for the groups!  

In ninth grade, students are finishing the biography of James Madison and working on a creative writing task that goes along with the book.  The writing will be due next week and we will have some itme in class each day to work on it.  A hard copy of the writing is due at the start of class next Tuesday.  We will be marking the final draft before turning it in. We will also have a test on this book next week.

Have a great week!