Category: Blogs

Unit #2 is underway and students will notice a shift from examining what the text says to how the texts says it.  As we prepare students for their ultimate goal of being able to write a rhetorical analysis of an essay, Language Arts 3 will begin to hone the skills of describing the features of the author’s craft: genre, tone, imagery, format, organization, features, etc.  Writing is an art – and this card-marking period, students will take time to appreciate the choices author’s make while writing and how those choices contribute to our understanding of what the text says.

Looking forward to sharing our progress with you at Parent Teacher Conferences next Monday (10/30) and Wednesday (11/01) from 4pm – 7pm.

As Card-Marking Period #1 swiftly approaches, here is a quick reminder that this is a marathon, not a sprint.  Keep working towards success – be prepared to struggle, fail, re-focus, and persist…  you WILL get there!

Read this article here for the importance of goal-setting!

 

Students who missed Tuesday’s Writing Assessment and today’s Reading Assessment, please make arrangements to come before school on Thursday, September 21st, or stay after school on Friday to make them up. The purpose of assessments is to have a benchmark starting point from which students can track and monitor their progress.  Goal Setting will happen as early as next week!

 

 

Metaphors for the power of education exist without number.  It is a door, it is a key, it is the answer… This year my theme for education encompasses how I see my role in helping students learn.  While I have a lot of knowledge about language arts (reading, writing, speaking, and listening), my job is not to fill students’ pails.  Rather, my vision is that I am able to help ignite a passion for language arts – one that will burn brightly long after my influence has ended.  But, with any fire, it needs oxygen to breathe and grow – so, I am asking students to come into class with an open mind, ready to help the flame catch.

 

But before I leave you, here’s a friendly reminder to READ this summer!  Thank you for a great year!

Need some incentive?  Here you go!

• 10 Critical Facts about Summer Reading
• Helping to Prevent Summer Reading Loss

Wondering

what to read

during summer break?

Have no fear!

The DHS Summer

Reading List

is here!

 

For Card-Marking Period Six, students were asked to choose a biography or memoir for their sustained silent reading novel.  The culminating project for their reading was to write a “Where I’m From” poem adaptation from the point of view of their subject.

After sharing their poem with the class, students were asked to share a reflective statement during our circle-up.

Dunia Aboughaida, a 10th grader in Honors Language Arts, shared this gem, “This project connected to the theme of survival because all the people that we read about did something with their lives– I think, ultimately, that survival is more than just being able to live through hardships, but more so being able to leave a legacy to learn from.”

Where I’m From
a poem adapted from George Ella Lyon
written for the 2016-2017 School Year at Dearborn High School

I am from resilience,
from Reading Response Letters and writing.
I am from the gallery walks in the classroom.
(Engaged, inviting,
it sounded like learning.)
I am from the PSAT results
the formative assessments
whose data I used
to celebrate students’ success.

I’m from partners and mentors,
from Dobbs and Kubicek.
I’m from the you-can-do-its
and the believe-in-yourselves,
from Miss! and Is this summative?
I’m from the inspiring TED talks
with Adiche and Casey Neistat
and connecting to their messages.

I’m from ASAP and Pioneer Pride,
secret handshakes and school spirit.
From the professional development new hires participated in
to learn the ropes,
the technology I incorporated within our activities.

On my daily agenda was a dank meme
abusing outdated phenomena,
a way to tenuously connect content
with Internet hilarity.
I am from my 9th year teaching–
continuing to build relationships with my students–
and making a difference every day.

Ms. Sabbagh
June 2017