Pun Intended: Class Log & Discussions

Short Week

Last Friday: final day of 1st nine weeks; vocabulary test - Adjectives - #1-50; silent reading - HOMECOMING!   Congratulations Panthers on your victory over LR Central!

Today: We began reading Johnny Tremain ch.5, then practiced poetry annotation to focus our skill so that we will be ready for TP-CASTT analysis tomorrow, (it's not as scary as it sounds, I promise.)  I will collect your annotation sheets at the beginning of class tomorrow.

Note... Parent-teacher conferences are this Thursday, I believe they are drop-in.  Friday there is no school - mental health day!

Bottom of the ninth

We have one more week left in the first quarter.  Here is some handy info:

1) Signed progress reports were collected today for five easy points.  Sadly, I averaged seven per class.

2) Movie permission slips: you may not watch movies without this signed.  The first one will be around Halloween.

3) Vocabulary test Friday.  Complete your new vocab. sheet (31-50) for Thursday.

4) Your THREE NOVEL REPORTS are due Friday.  These are 100 points each.  This could make or break your grade.

5) There have been high points and low points this nine week.  Some of the lows need to be addressed so they can be fixed.  In my opinion, they are as follows:

• Laziness will not get you an A.  You must earn your grade.  Showing up for class alone does not merit passing.
• You are responsible for you.  If you are absent, I will not come after you to make up the work.  If you were absent when something was due, I will not come after you to turn in what was due.  You must keep track of what you need to accomplish and turn in.  This is perhaps a greater lesson than the work itself.

Those are a couple.  Here's what we did today: handed back American Revolution projects, went over the questions about chapter 4 together, played "Johnny Tremain Tableau" in small groups, finished up our six Bloom's questions about J.T., and got the final 20 vocab words before Friday's test.  Those classes who were behind didn't get the game, and instead got caught up with the other classes.

Ketchup Day

Yesterday I tried to catch-up all my classes so they would be on the same page... literally.

First, I handed out progress reports - get them signed!!  I am giving you a grade for it.  Then I passed out my newsletter/film overview along with a permission slip in order to be able to view the films.  You can view the newsletter over at the "handouts" page - it's much better in color!

I also collected the vocabulary worksheet that had adjectives #21-30 on it.

Since you all had half of your silent reading day on Thursday following the chunk test, I had everybody read aloud until the end of chapter 4 in Johnny Tremain.  We ended with some quiet reading time of our choice novels.  One more week to finish your three projects or reports!  The book report ideas sheet is also over at the "handouts" page now - so if you need an extra, you can download it there.

Finally - happy birthday, Dad!

Tying up all the threads.

Today we did a class binder-organization throw down.  Hopefully you won and disorderly messes lost. 

We followed this with an examination of superb QIDIC charts and Bloom's questions.  Now that you know what good ones look like, I only expect to SEE good ones from here on out.

Finally, you were put into groups to read aloud from a section of either chapter 2 or 3 in Johnny Tremain.  Remember to be on your best behavior for the sub tomorrow and Thursday, because any out-of-line conduct will be written up with few to no questions asked.  I'm actually going to miss you guys while I'm at my workshops down at central office - you all seemed so excited to have a sub - heartbreakers!

Due Friday: Sensory notes, synthesis notes, Ch. 1 questions, Vocabulary

maybe it's just me....

  So I'm pretty certain I had this message up on the board ALL WEEK.  I'm also fairly certain I pointed it out at the beginning of EVERY period.  Beyond that, I'm down right determined that all of this was due LAST Friday, but I issued an extension to help people fix zeros, get stuff in, etc. etc. 

Oddly enough, lots of people handed me blank sheets, and then had the audacity to say: "I didn't know what it was."  OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG.

Ok kids, let's be frank for a second.  If you don't know what something is: ASK BEFORE THE DUE DATE.  If it is simply a thinly veiled lie to try and excuse a case of the lazies: NICE TRY.  I don't take late work, so I hope this is a lesson to all.  GET YOUR WORK DONE.  Also, if you do it at the last minute, and you copied somebody elses... I will KNOW. 

Yes, I am THAT GOOD. 

Anyway... today was silent reading and binder check day.  We rocked some Radiohead tribute music on piano, and caught up on our Johnny Tremain reading if need be.

TAKE NOTE: Your first three novels are due on OCTOBER 12th aka the end of the 1st nine weeks.

Also note... I will now be in my classroom on Tuesdays at lunch and after school.  If you are drowning in disorginzation or feel left behind, come see me, we'll play catch up.  I'm pretty certain I know what's going on in class, and I am probably qualified to help you out.  Stop by and chat.

Finally... good luck football boys against Conway tonight!!

Idea...

Wednesday: We read sections 2 & 3 of chapter 1 in Johnny Tremain.  We filled out a simple reading guide called "synthesis notes" as we read.  Don't forget to go back and fill out the column we left blank!

Thursday: We went down to the library to finish sections 4-6 of chapter 1.  We had some really simple questions to guide our reading.  Some of you guys read alone while others formed reading circles.  I really enjoyed all of the British accents I heard today!  I hope you guys break them out again for whole-class reading.

*THOUGHT BANK*

I know there are some students who need some extra help keeping up with work/class reading/organizing stuff.  What if I offered a lunch period/some after school time once a week that I would be available for some guidance/help catching up?  I'm going to be busy with the swim team on Mondays and Wednesdays in the near future - so how would a Tuesday or a Thursday sound?

Getting started with the American Revolution

Today we played the game "That's Me!" in order to begin our aquaintance with the novel Johnny Tremain and it's setting in the American Revolution.  After our game we charted the differences between a work of historical fiction and one of historical fact.  A good distinction to have when going to any Hollywood movie!  For the remainder of the hour we watched part of the PBS documentary Rebels and Redcoats.

I also gave you guys a heads up about the project we will be working on for the next few days.  All information about it can be found at the Johnny Tremain Web Quest Project site.  Remember the number you drew so that you know what your topic is!

Reminder: If you are absent, you are still responsible for all notes and handouts.  Notes must be obtained from a friend/classmate, and worksheets can be obtained from the turquoise bin at the front of the room that contains the green assignment log folder, and the manilla folders labeled by day and containing the worksheets/handouts from that particular day.  If you need to double check that you got all necessary worksheets, you can always refer to the student example binder, found in the other turqoise  bin on my desk, to make sure that your binder matches that one.  Once you have checked the assignment log, this website, and a friend for all missing notes and assignments, you may then see me for further questions.  As much as I would love to tell all of you exactly what you missed, I have neither the time nor the sanity, thus I provide these resources for you.  Questions that extend beyond these resources, I will be happy to answer.

Also, it is YOUR responsbility to turn in work that was due on a day you were absent.  I can not chase you down to get your homework.  You need to keep track of due dates, and insure that you turn in your work in a timely manner.  Remember, I do not accept late work.  You may refer to my syllabus or the CHS student handbook to review the absentee make-up info.

long weekend in store!

Today: chunk test, writing edition.  the end

If you missed it, expect to make it up. 

PSA:  Listen up!  As you all know, I have very strong OCD tendencies... especially with my books!!  The individuals who have been removing my books for a single period, then carelessly tossing them back on the shelf, to fall wherever they may land, will be busted and forever written in the black book in my mind!  If you need a review of the alphabet so that you can learn how to alphabetize, then I shall arrange one.  Just remember, it takes you FIVE SECONDS to shelve a book properly, yet it takes me my WHOLE LUNCH BREAK to FIX all of the misplaced books.  THIS WILL NOT CONTINUE.

To those of you who haven't done this, bravo.  Five bonus points in my heart.  Now enjoy your weekend.

moniter and adjust

Yesterday....

I began my night class (6-9pm) at UCA.  Afterwards, I went and had dinner, then came home and went to bed!  No updates, sorry - I guess that makes me a slacker.  Don't follow that example!  In class we ventured to the library in order to get our computer log-ins and passwords.  Remember, if you lose your password it will cost you a dollar to reset it.  WRITE IT DOWN!!  Afterwards we returned to the classroom to brainstorm for our reading attack strategies. 

Today we had to rearrange a few things.  The chunk test really is tomorrow this time, because I picked up the tests this afternoon.  Since we didn't get to take the test today, we fast forwarded and went to the library again for our mini-tour and silent reading time.

Get your #2 pencils sharpened for tomorrow!