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.
Monday, December 14, 2015
Monday, December 7, 2015
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!
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!
Monday, November 23, 2015
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!
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!
Monday, November 16, 2015
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!
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!
Monday, November 9, 2015
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!
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!
Monday, November 2, 2015
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!
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!
Monday, October 19, 2015
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!
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!
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