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PLEASE LEAVE YOUR SMART PHONES AT HOME.  THEY ARE  HARMING YOUR ABILITY TO LEARN AND TEACHERS' CAPACITY TO  EDUCATE.

Week of 3/23-27/20

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This week, students should continue to study their vocab words and practice sentence structure in the same manner as I prescribed last week. In addition, I am posting a PDF for the book that we have been reading in class. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian PDF

I am not going to assign any questions or activities to go along with the book at this time, but I thought that it would be good for folks to have. There will be assignments in the future, but that shouldn't stop you from reading ahead now.

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As you practice your sentence structure, send me your work, and I will look over it and give you feedback. 

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VERY IMPORTANT--SEND ME YOUR IDEAS ON TOPICS/SUBJECTS/CONCEPTS/THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO LEARN ABOUT! I will build lesson plans around your interests, but you have to let me know what you are into. 

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Stay safe and indoors out there, and use this opportunity to work on your physical strength. Push-ups, air squats, crunches, flutter kicks, lunges, dips, etc. don't cost any money. You can look up how to use proper technique by searching the exercise on YouTube. Don't do so much the first day that you can't do anything else for a few days. Go slowly in the beginning. Don't let four walls limit your capacity to grow both mentally and physically!!! 

Week of 3/16-20/20

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Hello parents and students, I hope that you are able to hold down the fort and keep as well as possible.

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To stay sharp, this is a great time to go over vocabulary flashcards. You have 36 words now! Luckily, flashcards are something that you can do by yourself, with a friend, or a family member. Don't forget to study those parts of speech as well.

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If possible, students should try to use this opportunity to master sentence structure. Make flashcards that say “simple, compound, complex, compound-complex, independent, and dependent”. Draw from the sentence structure pile first. If it says "simple", that's easy--write a simple sentence. If it says "complex or compound-complex", go to the "independent/dependent" cards and draw to see what order to write the clauses. Use the  sentence structure cheat sheet to check the work, or you can email me your practice sentences if you can't figure out if one is correct or not.

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Next week I will put up a story to read with some critical thinking questions, so for now, lock down the vocabulary words and sentence structure.

 

Sincerely,

Jesse D. Boger 

Friday 3/13/20

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To start the period, students showed off their vocab images.

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Next, they built a compound-complex sentence. First students created an independent clause. Then they added a dependent clause. After that, they attached another independent clause. To end, students figured out the proper punctuation.

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Building on this compound-complex sentence practice, the class was given time to work on their Week 6 Vocab Sentences. They are due Monday. 

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At the end of class, we read more Part-Time Indian.  In first period, we read chapters 19 and 20. In third period we read chapter 20, and in fourth, we finished our collaborative group work protocol for chapter 20.  

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HOMEWORK:

  • Study Vocab Words!

  • Vocab Sentences due Monday--All Compound-Complex

Thursday 3/12/20

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In the beginning of class, we reviewed the new vocabulary words. Afterwards, students were given time to work on their flashcards and/or vocab image which is due tomorrow. 

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Next, I passed back last week's sentences, and I tried to use them as examples of the "complex" aspect of compound-complex sentences. Students built a compound-complex sentence by beginning with a dependent clause, attaching an independent clause, and finally connecting another independent clause to it.

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To end the day, first period continued sharing songs from their soundtracks, third period read chapter 18 and answered questions, and fourth period collaborated on a group work protocol for chapter 20. 

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HOMEWORK:

  • Study Vocab Words!

  • Vocab Image due tomorrow

Wednesday 3/11/20

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It is Wednesday, so we began this workday like we always do--WITH NEW VOCAB! Students received their next 6 words. Afterwards, they were given time to create flashcards. These words make 36 for the year. While that may seem daunting, they will be okay as long as they are studying 15-20 minutes a night. Discipline is the key. We can always find excuses to not do something, but successful people find ways to achieve through adversity. 

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All of the sentences must be compound-complex this week. Therefore, all of my example sentences from vocab fit this structure. We also took time to practice a few beyond vocabulary. 

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To end the day, we participated in activities for Part-Time Indian. Most classes listened to songs from their soundtracks, but 4th period answered questions for Chapter 18.

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HOMEWORK:

  • Study Vocab Words!

  • Vocab Image due Friday

Tuesday 3/10/20

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To start the day, we played the vocab game. Next, students took their test. There were thirty words this week, and it took the bulk of the period. Some people are rising to the occasion, and others are giving up. Now is not the time to be a quitter. If a student does well on the final vocab exam, I will replace all the previous exam grades with the percentage from the final. Students should be studying every night for 15-25 minutes. If they do that, they will do well.

 

After the test, first and third periods were given time to finish up their Soundtrack Activity (Directions were hyper-linked on 3/9/20). They are due in class tomorrow. In fourth period, we reviewed answers to the questions from Chapter 16, and I read Chapters 17, 18, and 19.

 

HOMEWORK:​​

  • Study Vocab Words!

Monday 3/9/20

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At the beginning of class, we practiced sentence structure. I had a card that said Independent Clause and one that said Dependent Clause. I shuffled the cards and which ever I drew, students wrote that type of clause on their papers. Next, they would circle the verb and underline the subject. Then I would draw again, and they would finish the sentence. We were making both compound and complex sentences.

 

The practice led into Vocab Sentence review. I gave students 7 minutes to check over their sentences for proper capitalization, spelling, and punctuation. Then they turned in their sentences.

 

Next, we finished reading Chapter 15 of Part-Time Indian, and students completed the Soundtrack Activity.

 

HOMEWORK:​​

  • Study Vocab (don't forget the parts of speech) TEST TOMORROW!

Friday 3/6/20

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I began class with a special announcement: There is a new cell phone policy which will go into effect on Monday 3/9/20. Students who have their phones out without permission during class will be asked to hand it over to me. At the end of class, I will give the phone back to them, but their name will be put on a list. This is the first warning. At a later date if a person takes his/her phone out a second time during instructional time, I will again collect the phone, but this time it will be handed over to an administrator. The only way to get it back will be if a parent comes to retrieve it. If a student does not hand the phone over after my first request, I will call an administrator to the room to collect the device. I did not want it to come to this; I tried offering incentives first, but the smart phones are keeping students from being successful, and these distractions have to go away.

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After the special announcement, students showed off their vocab images. 

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Next, we practiced complex sentences. I can see improvement here. People are picking up the language of grammar and taking more care with their work.

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Following sentence structure practice, I gave students 15 minutes to work on their vocab sentences. They must be all complex this week. Also, I asked them to underline the subjects and circle the verbs in each of the clauses. This is to remind them that both independent and dependent clauses must have subjects and verbs.

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To end, we read chapter 15 of Part Time Indian

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HOMEWORK:​

  • Vocab Sentences due Monday (all complex)

  • Study Vocab (don't forget the parts of speech)

Thursday 3/5/20

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At the beginning of class, we reviewed the new vocab words. Afterwards, students were given time to create their flashcards and work on their vocab images. 

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Next, we discussed complex sentences and practiced writing them. 

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To end, we read some of the Part-Time Indian novel.

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HOMEWORK:

  • Vocab Image due tomorrow

  • Study Vocab (don't forget the parts of speech)

  • Vocab Sentences due Monday (all complex)

Wednesday 3/4/20

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In the beginning of class, students competed in the vocab game. Following this, they took their vocab test. After that, I gave them their week 5 vocab words. First period did not get all of their words. Here are the three that we didn't finish going over: 

28.    LAUDATORY (adjective) Containing or expressing praise.
29.    ELOQUENT (adjective) Characterized by clear, powerful, and persuasive speech.
30.    SOLICITOUS (adjective) Anxious or concerned; careful; eager.

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HOMEWORK:

  • Study the Vocab Words 1-30

Monday 3/2/20

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To start the day, we practiced compound sentences.

 

Afterwards, students took out their vocab sentences, and they were given time to edit them before turning them in. Next, they took out their flashcards and studied the words with a partner.

 

To end class, we reviewed the chapter 12 questions from Part-Time Indian and read chapters 13-15. 

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HOMEWORK

  • Vocab Test (on Wednesday)

Friday 2/28/20

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At the beginning of class, students showed off their vocab images.

 

Next, we spent time reviewing the rules of compound sentences. Students practiced, and I checked their work.

 

After that, I gave students about 15 minutes to work on their vocab sentences. They must all be compound this week.

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To end, we read chapter 12 of Part-Time Indian and students were given one question off of the Beliefs Short Answer Chapter 12 Questionnaire to address.

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HOMEWORK:

  • Finish Wk 4 Vocab Sentences (All Compound)

Thursday 2/27/20

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To begin the day, we reviewed the new week 4 vocabulary. Next, students were given 12 minutes to work on their Vocab Images which are due tomorrow.

 

After that, I discussed compound sentences, and students practiced creating them. All the sentences that are due on Monday must be compound.

 

To end the period, we read chapter 12 of Part-Time Indian

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HOMEWORK:

  • Wk 4 Vocab Image

Wednesday 2/26/20

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Things were back to normal. We started with the Vocab Game. Following this, students took their tests. After that, I gave students their Week 4 Vocab words, definitions, and parts of speech. They were given the remainder of class to create their Vocab Flashcards.

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HOMEWORK:

  • Finish Week 4 Flashcards

Tuesday 2/25/20

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All the juniors were forced to take a standardized test that required the rest of the school to remain in 1st period from 8:30 am-2:00 pm, so needless to say, there were several absences. In fact, I had a total of around 10 people combined in 1st and 4th periods. Therefore, I did not ask those present to take the test. Instead, we reviewed the vocab words. Afterwards, we read A Good Man Is Hard to Find and The Things They Carried. We discussed the stories in depth. The Vocab Test will be tomorrow.

 

HOMEWORK:

  • Wk 3 Vocab Test

Monday 2/24/20

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To start the day, students showed off their Week 3 Vocab Images. Following this, I took up students' Wk 3 Vocab Sentences. Afterwards, I put up a few student examples, and we discussed what I grade when I look at students' sentences.  

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To end the period, we reviewed the answers to the chapter 8 questions of Part-Time Indian. Then we read chapters 9 and 10 and answered the questions.

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HOMEWORK:

  • Wk 3 Vocab Test

Thursday 2/20/20

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At the beginning of class, we reviewed the new vocab words. Afterwards, students took out their sentence structure cheat sheets, and we talked about the difference between independent and dependent clauses. Students then wrote down three independent clauses. After I checked them, students turned those independent clauses into dependent clauses by adding a subordinating conjunction. Next, students were given thirty minutes to work on their vocab images and sentences which are due on Monday.

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When the time was up, we read chapter 8 of Part-Time Indian.

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HOMEWORK:

  • Vocab Image 2/24/20

  • Vocab Sentences (all simple) 2/24/20

Wednesday 2/19/20

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To start the day, students received their Week 3 Vocab words. Afterwards, I gave them time to copy the words and definitions onto their flashcards. 

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Next, I passed out the Sentence Structure Cheat Sheet. We spent some time discussing clauses:  Independent and Dependent.  All of the sentences for this week must be simple.

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To end we looked at some questions from chapters 6 and chapter 7 of Part-Time Indian.

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HOMEWORK:

  • Vocab Image and Sentences Due Monday 2/24/20

Tuesday 2/18/20

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At the beginning of class, students were given a few minutes to look over their vocab words. Next, I discussed the rules to the vocab game. After that, we played it. The winners received a 100% on the test and didn't have to take it. When the game was over, everyone who did not win took the test.

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For the remainder of class, we discussed or read the novel. We have completed the reading through chapter seven.

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HOMEWORK:

  • If you aren't happy with your wk 2 vocab test performance, study your weeks 1 and 2 words. You aren't going to learn them by ignoring them. 

Monday 2/17/20

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Hey folks, I am back. It's been a gnarly week away from here with the flu. I am not full strength, but I am definitely better off than I was last week at this time. I plan to update the website for those days when I was gone, but I am pretty swamped at the moment, and that is not my chief priority. 

 

To begin the day, students were given a few minutes to look over their sentences to check for spelling, proper capitalization, and punctuation. Next, we reviewed their words since the week 2 test is tomorrow. 

After this, we discussed the Part-Time Indian Chapter 4 questions. To end, I read Chapter 5.

 

HOMEWORK:

  •  Week 2 Vocab Test

Friday 2/14/20

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To start the period, students were given 30 minutes to work on their vocab sentences which are due Monday.  

 

Students have been reading the novel The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.  Yesterday, they worked on a mini essay entitled the Hope Reflection. Upon completion, they were to read chapter 6 of the novel and answer the questions from the Guiding Questions Ch 6.

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HOMEWORK:

  • Exercise vigorously

  • Eat a healthy dinner

  • Sleep 8-10 hours

Thursday 2/13/20

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To start the period,  students were given 30 minutes to work on their vocab images.  They were free to use the paper, crayons, and markers from the supply closet.

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Students have been reading the novel The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. They should have completed the reading and reading guides to somewhere around chapters 4 or 5.  Chapter 5 questions. Once a student has completed the reading guide for chapter 5, they were given a Hope Reflection. The directions are very clear on the form. Each question is to be a paragraph, and the final submission should look like an essay.

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HOMEWORK:

  • Exercise vigorously

  • Eat a healthy dinner

  • Sleep 8-10 hours

Wednesday 2/12/20

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To start the period, students  wrote down their new vocab words, definitions, parts of speech, and final sentences. After writing the words in the Grammar, Writing, and Vocab sections of their English I binders, they copied the words onto their flashcards. 

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Next, students finished reading chapters two-four of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and answered the questions on a separate sheet of paper. Chapter 4 questions

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HOMEWORK:

  • Exercise vigorously

  • Eat a healthy dinner

  • Sleep 8-10 hours

Tuesday 2/11/20

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To start the day, students were given seven minutes to look over their words. Next, we played the vocab game. The winner earned a 100% and did not have to take the test. Then, everyone else took the test. Next, we graded them. 

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Following this, we continued reviewing chapters 2-4 in Part Time Indian. Upon completion of the Chapter 4 review questions. To end, students completed a short writing assignment about how they would treat Arnold if he transferred to Ashley.

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HOMEWORK:

  • Exercise vigorously

  • Eat a healthy dinner

  • Sleep 8-10 hours

Monday 2/10/20

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At the beginning of class, students were given seven minutes to work with a partner and edit one another's sentences. Following this, they passed them in to me. 

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Next, we completed the last two sections of our foldables--adverbs and interjections.

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Any students who still had not completed their Postcard Presentations were given the opportunity. 

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Afterwards, we looked at questions for chapter 2 and chapter 3 of the novel. With the remaining time. We continued to read.

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HOMEWORK:​

  • Study Vocabulary Words Test TOMORROW!

Friday 2/7/20

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To begin the day, students showed off their vocab images. Afterwards, they were given time to work on their sentences which are due on Monday. There are no restrictions for the sentences this week other than they must be original. Students may NOT copy and paste them from the internet or plagiarize them in any other way. The sentences must begin with a capital letter, end with punctuation, have proper subject and verb agreement, use the vocab word in the part of speech that I assigned it, and have the vocab word spelled correctly. 

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Next, we started a new page in the literature section of the English I binder. Students wrote down the definitions of simile, metaphor, and allusion. Then they found examples of these in the book. Lit Terms Scavenger Hunt.  Following this, we discussed some questions from the first two chapters.

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To end, I read more of our class novel The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.

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HOMEWORK:

  • Finish Vocabulary Sentences

  • Study Vocabulary Words

Thursday 2/6/20

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So that I would not forget and we would not run out of time, students who were ready to present showed off their Postcard Presentations at the beginning of class.

 

Following this, I passed out a letter for parents letting them know that the first book we are going to read has some profanity as well as other fairly mature topics and that they could opt their child out if they wanted to for a different book. Letter to Parents.

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Next, students were given a portion of class to work on their Vocab Image homework.

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With the remaining time, I began reading The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. We finished the first two chapters.

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HOMEWORK:

  • Finish Vocabulary Image

  • Study Vocabulary Words

Wednesday 2/5/20

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Today, classes who did not finish the Pronouns tab of their foldables completed that, and we filled out the Adjective and Conjunction tabs as well. 

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Next, students received their first six vocab words as we began the comprehensive 8 week Vocabulary Unit. It works like this:   every Wednesday, students will receive 6 new words and copy them down onto a sheet of paper in the Grammar/Writing/Vocabulary section of their English I binders. For homework on Wednesday nights, students will put these words onto flashcards with the definition on one side and the word and part of speech on the other. We will review the words at the beginning of class on Thursday to check for spelling and understanding. On Friday, students must bring in an image that represents (what they consider) the most difficult word of the week. Images may be drawn, painted, printed, etc, and they will be graded on quality and effort. A sentence using each word is due on Monday. These must be original (not copied and pasted from the internet). On Monday, students will move into small groups to edit one another's work. They will then team up and create a master list of the best possible sentences from their group. The group leader for that week will be responsible for putting the sentences on one sheet and submitting it to me the next day. To begin class on Tuesday, I will take up the group sentences, and then, students will play the vocab game. The winner of the game does not take the test, and he/she will receive a 100% for the exam. Next, students will take their test. On Wednesday, students will receive their next set of six words. By the end of the 8 weeks, students will be tested on all 48 words.

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HOMEWORK:

  • Make Vocabulary Flashcards

  • Study Vocabulary Words

Tuesday 2/4/20

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To begin, we watched a School House Rocks Video on nouns. Next, students circled the nouns in their sentences from the day before. I put some of the students' sentences up on the board, and we looked for the nouns together.

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Following this, we watched a video on how to make a foldable. Students then made a foldable to house the eight parts of speech. We started with nouns. For the remainder of the period, we watched School House Rocks videos on the parts of speech, discussed the part of speech, and then added the information to our foldable. These foldables will come in handy when we begin the Vocab Unit.

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Here is a document with links to all of the School House Rocks videos.

 

HOMEWORK:

  • Exercise vigorously

  • Eat a healthy dinner

  • Sleep 8-10 hours

Monday 2/3/20

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Today, students had the opportunity to show off their Postcard Presentations. They've been working on these since last week, so it was nice to finally get to learn a little more about all the people in class. Presentations took up the bulk of the period. Students who were not ready to go today are neither doomed nor receiving a free pass. They must present their Postcard Projects to the class to earn credit, but they have 5 business days to do so. Beyond that, they will receive a zero. I also continued to check students materials to make sure that they have everything. The second notebook check will be Friday, so they need to be practicing keeping everything in its proper place within the English I binder.

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To end class, students wrote a sentence to go along with each of the following prompts:

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1. Hanging out with friends
2. Going out to eat
3. Seeing a bear
4. Going to the doctor
5. Meeting someone new

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Upon completion, we discussed nouns. Then I showed them sentence examples, and together we located all of the nouns in each of the five sentence examples that I put on the board.

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HOMEWORK:

  • Bring in materials (if not already completed)

  • Finish Postcard Project (if not already completed)

  • Finish Five Sentences (if not already completed)

Friday  1/31/20

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During class today, I came around and checked for students' materials while they continued working on their Postcard Presentations. Students began showing off their hard work.

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HOMEWORK

  • People who did not present today will present on Monday

  • People who did not have all of their materials can show them to me on Monday for full credit

Thursday 1/30/20

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At the beginning of class, I signed off on students' responses to the four Postcard Project questions. Once I checked them off, they were free to spend the rest of class making their projects. We will begin presenting them tomorrow.

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HOMEWORK:

 

  • Class room materials (due Friday 1/31/20)

  • Relevant images for Postcard Project 

Wednesday 1/29/20

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Because first period was cut short yesterday due to homeroom, we completed the writing activity from the day before.

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Third and fourth periods had an additional assignment. I read the article Being Assertive, and students took notes on the main ideas as well as made connections to their own lives. 

 

After this, they began their Postcard Projects. First, they wrote responses to the following four prompts:

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 1.    Something that you care deeply about (besides your friends, family, pets)
2.    Something that you are proud of
3.    Something that you want to accomplish
4.    Something that a lot of people don’t know about you


Tomorrow, they will be given materials to construct hanging posters with visual representations of the responses to their questions. If students have images from home or magazines that they would like to use, they are encouraged to bring them in.

 

HOMEWORK:

 

  • Class room materials (due Friday 1/31/20)

  • Relevant images for Postcard Project    

Tuesday 1/28/20

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Hello and welcome to our English I page. This is going to be a great resource for parents and students to keep up with what is going on in class. When students are absent, this should be the first place they check to find out what they missed. I will do my best to update it every day.

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Today I passed out the syllabus and gave students some background information about myself. For more info concerning me, please click on the About  Me tab. 

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Following this, students were given 7 minutes to write about what their lives will be like at the end of the next four years if they totally dedicate themselves to discipline and success. We discussed their answers. Afterwards, students were asked to write about what their lives will be like at the end of the next four years if they do not make the necessary sacrifices for a meaningful life. We talked about these responses as well.

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HOMEWORK:

 

  • Please have all the materials assembled into the English I binder by Friday. Also, parents and loved ones should either email me or sign the syllabus by Friday. This is part of the grade that students will receive. Also, I understand that it is the end of the month and funds could be tight. If students need more time to get the materials, they need to see me by the end of class on Thursday, and I can make accommodations. Also, if a person knows that he or she will not be able to purchase the materials, I can provide them, but again, that person has to let me know by the end of class on Friday.

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