Reflection - Grammar project

Please make sure you write your reflections on the grammar projects...

Consider:

• your process - what did you do? how did you approach it?
• how did you break up the work with your partner?
• what did you learn?
• what were your challenges?
• how would you do things differently?
• how successful were you in completing the task?
• Which standards connect to your learning, as per class rubrics/discussions in class or nylearns.org

Please don't just answer the questions... write it as an essay

Understanding expectations

Being in 10th grade English requires the avid student to do many rigorous activies...

We need to have the continued discussion of how to be successful in the class.

Spend time reviewing the standards and learning indicators for 10th grade English - (see the back of the room and/or nylearns.org)

Please understand as well that in order to be successful, there needs to be constant thoughts about where you are and moving you individually forward.

More conversation about this will be had -

Grammar project reflections

As you all know by now after the completion of any major assignment, we need to make time to reflect on ideas and really think about our learning experience...

Things to consider in your grammar project reflections -

What did you learn? specifically?
What about the process? How did you complete the assignment?
What would you do differently in the future? why?
What challenges did you face?
How did you overcome those challenges?
What do you feel you deserve based on what was asked of you and how successfully you have completed it?

Free recording software for PCs

 http://camstudio.org/ - you can download this for screen casting.

Lit circle assignments

Your lit circles are due on 2/12 (Friday before winter recess)

Please email me if your group chose the notebook or invite me to the blog if your group chose blog

Make sure the first post spells out who is in what role and what your reading schedule is.

Each member of the group should START at least 5-7 well written posts in their role

Each member needs to comment on the every post started by another group member.  Read what each other is writing and piggy back off of it.

Lit circle book requests

If there is a novel you are interested in reading for lit circles, please email me so that I can try to have that novel as an option in your class.

thanks.

Lit circle assignments for Friday 1/22

Please make sure to return your lit circle books that were due last week... drop them off ASAP.

Tomorrow you will be assigned new groups and new books.  Your new lit circles will be due on 2/12 (Friday before winter recess).

You will be able to choose as a group if you'd like to do a blog or a notebook logs.

More on this tomorrow.

Citing sources

this site automatically cites sources.
http://www.easybib.com/

MLA style citation

http://www.liu.edu/CWIS/CWP/library/workshop/citmla.htm - a cite that explanations how to properly do a works cites/ works consulted

http://www.palomar.edu/dsps/actc/mla/ - MLA citation generator

****Breaking NEWS***** The Practice English Regent has been Cancelled

The English Regent that was going to be offered on Wed/Thurs of Regent week has been cancelled.

The whole grade will be taking practice Regents the week we return to school during the first week of February.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

grammar project time in class...

Please make sure to bring all materials that you've researched to class tomorrow and for the rest of the week... this way you will be able to do some work in class. If you haven't conferenced already, please be prepared to tell me where you are at tomorrow.

We will spend some time discussing the technology.

Also make sure to return your lit circle books ASAP.  Thanks

Wear Red for Haiti tomorrow

If everyone can show solidarity tomorrow for the horrible disaster in Haiti, please wear some red UNDERNEITH your school uniform.

Reminder - Lit Circles logs and books are due tomorrow -

Please make sure to have both in class... you WILL NOT be permitted to go to your locker to retrieve these items.

See you tomorrow.

English Practice Regents

Due to scheduling issues, not everyone is going to be taking the practice Regent during Regents week.  I have a list of kids that I will contact individually about taking the exam.

If you don't receive an email and would like to take the exam, please contact me ASAP so that provisions may be made.

Sorry for the confusion.  More information to follow

Make up work for a grade is NO LONGER being accepted

The deadline for all make up work for a grade was today at 3.  As it is now after 3, you will not get work graded if turned in beyond now.

Thanks,
Ms. S and Mr. N

Deadline for late work

Wednesday, 1/13 (tomorrow) is the last day I will be accepting late work for a grade.  My grades are due next week and I need to be able to grade everything before the end of the marking period.

I encourage everyone to make up the work anyway as it is valuable and important.  You won't get a grade on it if it comes in after tomorrow.

Please be aware of this. 

Thank you

Next semester make a point to get work in on time when it is due and then we won't need these kinds of deadlines

Lit Circle time

In class today I have noticed that people aren't using this time effectively. 

Next week you will all have an opportunity to redeem yourselves or we won't be using Fridays anymore for lit circle time.

Please come prepared.

E-portfolio

Please make sure to go onto your eportfolio and start uploading work from the first semester...








https://web.ideasconsulting.com/wjps/login.php







There are assignments posted. You know the drill :)







Thanks.

Reminder - lit cirlces are tomorrow

Please make sure you come to class with your notebook and your book... YOU WILL NOT BE PERMITTED to go to your LOCKER.

Please come to class prepared.

Thanks

Task 4 critical lens -

In class today we worked on revising our original diagnostic papers...
we looked at what a level 6 looks like on Tuesday and you saw your work..
Today we worked on interpreting the lens and using textual support on specific literary elements...

In your notebooks, please try to interpret the following quote providing a clear context in which you would write an essay for a critical lens...

Interpret
agree or disagree
and select 2 pieces of literature that support your analysis... in YOUR NOTEBOOKS to be checked during the next notebook check randomly coming sometime soon.

“Fear always springs from ignorance.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
An Oration Delivered Before the Phi Beta Kappa Society, at Cambridge, August 31, 1837

Grammar project appointments / conferences

You and your partners should be doing research already...

You should all start emailing me at ssackstein@wjps.org to make a conference about the content of your videos no later than Monday 1/11 this week coming up. 

When you come to the conference, you should bring your research and outline for lesson plan
as well as ideas for your handout.

Your tutorial will not be accepted if you don't complete the conference before making it.

Thanks

Reminders-

Tomorrow, 1/8 - your 4th Independent Reading assignment is due via Google.docs.

The 5th one is due Friday, 2/5. 

If you haven't acheived at least an 80 yet on this assignment or you seem to be losing more than 2 points one particular component, please make an appointment to see me about the assignment and what the expectation is.

Also, if you are curious about your writing, as per the beginning of the year diagnostics vs where you are now, please also make an appointment to see me.

Thanks in advance for your diligence.

Regents Week Regent Exam

You will be taking a practice Regent exam on Wednesday, 1/27 and Thursday 1/28 from 9-12 in the auditorium.  Please come prepared with 2 black or blue pens

Regents -
Wednesday 1/27 - tasks 1 and 2
Thursday 1/28 - tasks 3 and 4

Please arrive 15 minutes early.
9:00-12:00

Bring:
2 black or blue pens
No pencils
lined paper

Grammar assignment

Grammar research and teaching experiment:

Teaching grammar to each other

Directions: With a partner, each pair will be responsible for researching and understanding a specific grammar topic. They will have to put together a comprehensive lesson that will be taught to the class. They will need to define the grammar topic in an easy to understand manner and they will have to use visuals and handouts as well as practice modules for the class to build mastery. The pair will also have to meet for a conference with me when getting ready to present their lesson so that I can assure they have covered the topic fully.



The challenge: Creating an interesting and creative, yet informative lesson on grammar that your peers won’t wince at. This is every teacher’s challenge and now I pass it on to you.



Your task is to prepare a lesson which includes the following:

• Define your topic

• Show how to properly use your topic (use some kind of visual aid)

• Use the technology (webcast, video, screencast) to teach your lesson

• Create a handout on your topic with the definition and visual aid

• Create a handout with practice of what you have taught


Steps to accomplishing your task:

1. Meet with your partner during class time (your partner will be assigned)

2. Research the topic you’ve been provided with in the grammar text book and take notes.

3. Ask a lot of questions if necessary

4. Decide how you want to teach the lesson – how will it reach the students and not be completely boring.

5. Make sure both students are working equally on parts of the lesson… what roles will each of you take?

6. Create handouts with my help

7. Create good sample practice questions so that students can hope to achieve mastery… perhaps considering not just stand alone questions, but how to work on the grammar point in an actual piece of writing.

8. Create a tutorial using technology on your lesson and/or topic

9. Students will be tested on all of the grammar subjects the class teaches and will be responsible for understanding the topic… so be as clear as you can be.


Topics were already given out in class... please see Ms. Sackstein if you don't remember what your topic is.

Grammar links

Please remember whatever sources you use... must be cited
a conference should be made as soon as you feel your research is complete... Your conferences should be scheduled no later than Monday, 1/11.

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/

http://dictionary.reference.com/writing/

http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/index.htm

http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/

Just some ideas...

I also have text books and I'm sure we can dig up some actual books or the library should have a few...

Sample Regent Essays -

http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/engre/20090813rg.pdf - task 1 and 2

http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/engre/20090814rg.pdf - task 3 and 4

upcoming things to note -

Independent reading assignment #4 is due on Friday via google.docs - no rubric will be attached anymore... just comments on the google.doc. -

Lit. Circle books should be completed by next Friday, 1/15

Grammar projects are due emailed with webcast and handout by 1/29 - a conference is mandatory prior to recording.

Random notebook checks will happen sometime over the next 2 weeks.  Bring your notebook sectioned off from November 6th every day... not having it in class is not an acceptable excuse.