Students had the class period to take their essay outlines and put it all together in a final essay format. If students were absent, they must make this up after school on Wednesday or Thursday. This is an in-class essay and cannot be done at home.
Tuesday 4/24: PSAT 9 – Good luck!
Wednesday 4/25:
Students took the Punctuation Power Quiz— if students missed this, they must make it up after school on Thursday or Friday of this week unless they arrange an alternative time for next week.
Students completed the “Poetry and Drama” Agree/Disagree activity as a means of introducing the new unit. Students are expected to complete a CER on the back for one of the statements located on the front. This is due tomorrow at the beginning of the hour.
Thursday 4/26:
SRI Test – If you are absent, make sure you contact me to make this up.
Check Google Classroom to find the form for the quiz corrections for the Punctuation Power Quiz and let me know if you have any questions!
Friday 4/27:
Iambic Pentameter Notes – Print the notes and ask a friend/neighbor for what to fill in the blanks.
We also watched half of the TED Talk “Hip Hop Shakespeare”: see below.
We began work on apostrophes and contractions (notes are on the back of the Punctuation Power booklet).
We discussed a series of images and made connections that related to the message of a short story we read.
Students read the passage, an excerpt of “Little Things are Big” by Jesus Colon, which contains the first part of the story, and then made predictions about how they thought the story would end. They then had to support these predictions with at least two pieces of direct textual evidence.
Afterwards, students had to complete an exit ticket (located in the same document as the excerpt) that asked them to consider how evidence can support two different claims and how to differentiate between relevant and irrelevant evidence when supporting a claim.
See below for the video of the author reading the story aloud.
Tuesday 3/17:
We continued work on apostrophes and contractions.
We did a group activity that involved looking at pieces of evidence and sorting them depending on whether or not they connect to one another. Students then used these connections to come up with three “reasons” to support the partial claim they were given.
Students were then expected to complete the buckets at the bottom of their “Excavating Your Claim” worksheet using the same method. Students should have already completed the chart on the back that asked them to list all possible evidence from their book and the outside world. Then they could use those lists to sort and complete the buckets.
Wednesday 3/18:
Students continued work on the apostrophes and contractions by finding two examples within published texts: one contraction and one example of a subject showing possession.
Students began working on their essay outlines:
LA 2 – Complete the entire body paragraph section that asks you to list 3 direct quotes as evidence (1 for each reason) and explain how they support your claim.
Honors LA 2 – Complete 3 pieces of evidence as well as their explanations (half of the body paragraphs section).
Thursday 3/19:
Students finished the Punctuation Power booklet. The quiz will be next Wednesday 4/25!
Students continued working on their essay outlines:
LA 2 – In addition to completing the body paragraph section if students are behind, they must complete the counterargument section.
Honors LA 2 – In addition to completing the first 3 pieces of evidence as well as their explanations for how they support the claim if students are behind, they must complete the rest of the body paragraph section as well as the counterargument section.
Friday 3/20:
Students should FINISH working on their essay outlines:
LA 2 – Students should finish the entire outline and turn it in on Google Classroom before midnight tonight. If students do not finish by the deadline, I will know who has not used available time and resources effectively, and those students should know that they will not receive extra time on Monday.
Honors LA 2 – Students should finish the entire outline and turn it in on Google Classroom before midnight tonight. If students do not finish by the deadline, I will know who has not used available time and resources effectively, and those students should know that they will not receive extra time on Monday.
We continued punctuation power with writing quotations containing additional punctuation.
We viewed a TEDTalk (see below) and filled out two-column notes. We also answered the questions on the back and discussed the author’s message.
Tuesday 3/10:
TESTING, FRESHMEN HAVE NO SCHOOL. Enjoy your mini break!
Wednesday 3/11:
TESTING, FRESHMEN HAVE NO SCHOOL. Enjoy your mini break!
Thursday 3/12:
We continued punctuation power by locating examples of extra punctuation in quotes within published texts.
We conducted a character interview so that students could explore how the main characters in their lit circle novels think and how they feel about aspects of the essential question.
We introduced the essay and its general requirements. If you click the link, the first page is the requirements for Honors LA 2, and the second page contains the requirements for LA 2.
Friday 3/13:
We continued punctuation power by using photos as inspiration in order to come up with our own examples.
We began working towards uncovering our claims for the essay by filling out the first two parts of the “Excavate Your Claim” handout. Do not fill in the buckets at the bottom of the second page! Those will be filled in at a later date.
We continued our work with quotations using additional punctuation by looking at two more mentor sentences and using photos as inspiration for original sentences the students came up with on their own.
Students decided on which roles they would fulfill for Wednesday’s final literature circle (see post below or Google Classroom for printable role sheets).
Students then sat with peers completing the same role and participated in a few discussions and activities to help them prepare and push them towards higher quality work.
Tuesday 3/27:
Wednesday 3/28:
LITERATURE CIRCLE MEETING #6 – LAST ONE: Students will meet in their literature circles for the final time and discuss the pages they designated. Role sheets and reflections will be turned in, and we also will go over our lit circle goals as a whole class. If students are absent or do not , they will not receive credit for participating in the meeting; however, they may turn in their role sheets for partial credit.
Thursday 3/29:
Friday 3/30: Have a WONDERFUL and SAFE Spring Break!
