Thursday, May 29, 2014

Guided Annotation Continued

Today we looked at more questions regarding the Undercover Parent article. If you have been absent you can find the questions in the slides below.  Tomorrow (Friday) our class will meet in the PAC for the PLHS Film Festival of work done by the video production class.

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Guided Annotation

Today we have been working on a guided annotation of Undercover Parent.  Since each class is working through the questions at a slightly different pace I can't post them here yet.  Tomorrow when we have finished the questions I will post the slides on the blog.

If you are absent, check your copy of the Undercover Parent article in Google Drive. You will see some annotations from your partner.

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Reading and Close Reading

Read

Today we will update your status in Goodreads and then do some really close reading of the Undercover Parent article.

If you haven't finished your extreme sports essay or called it in you have just a few more days to do that.  I start grading them Thursday. 

Free Audio Books:
Get the free Overdrive app to borrow ebooks and audiobooks from the public library.
Then go to http://www.audiobooksync.com/sync-schedule/ on your phone to download two new free audiobooks each week all summer.

Important Dates:
AVID applications due this Friday.
Two Book Reviews due on 6/10.  Get ahead and don't wait till the last minute. 
Textbook Return is also 6/10. 
Finals 6/11 Periods 3 and 4
Finals 6/12 Periods 6 and 7
Remember your final will as you to write an essay that draws on information in the articles we are reading between now and the end of the year. 

Friday, May 23, 2014

Noticing Language

Read

Open the article Undercover Parent.

Work with a partner already in your group to review the article and answer the questions on the NOTICING LANGUAGE form.

Discuss your answers before you add them to the form and check each other's work.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Charting the text, Undercover Parent

Sit with your number groups today. Then read your book.

Yesterday, you did a first read of Undercover Parent.  You should still have a copy of the text in your Google Drive. Open that.

Today, we will be charting the text, looking closely at what the author is saying and doing in his writing. You have paper on your tables for that. Begin by adding numbers to the paragraphs of the text to make your work easier. Your chart is due today.  You can work alone or with the others at your table.

If you were absent yesterday you need to scroll down to the next post and read what you missed.  Then make a copy of the text and share it with me.

if you are absent today you will need to ask me for the charting organizer so that you can complete it on your own when you get back. (You do know being absent does not excuse you from this work, right?)

You can still call me. If you forgot to call in your Extreme Sports Essay you can still call it in today for up to 8 points.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Reading: Undercover Parent

Read

Writer's Notebook:
Quick Write: Should parents monitor their teen's internet use? Why or why not?

Reading:
You will read with your assigned partner.
We will be using a view only copy of the text.
When you are sitting with your partner MAKE A COPY OF THIS DOC, (one per partnership)
SHARE it with your partner and with Mrs. Roberts. (If Mrs. Berry asks you to, then you will share it with her as well.)
Name it:  Period, Both your Names, Undercover Parent Reading
Read the article together using the SAY SOMETHING protocol.
Use Insert/Comment to annotate the article together.

Did you remember to call in your essay yesterday?  You can still call today. Remember to practice before you dial. 

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Four Corners Discussion: Internet Privacy

Today we begin a new unit, our last one for the year. :(

We will be discussing, reading and writing about issues of privacy and digital citizenship. Your final exam will include an essay about these topics based on the readings we will be working on over the next few weeks.

We will begin today with a Four Corners Discussion about some of these issues. (I will post the statements later.)

Four Corners Debate:

  1. There are signs in the four corners of the room. They say, Strongly Agree, Agree, Strongly Disagree and Disagree. 
  2. I will show you some statements on the board. 
  3. For each statement you will think about your personal stance on that issue and move to the part of the room that reflects your opinion. 
  4. Talk to the people in your corner about why you feel that way about the issue. 
  5. I will ask someone from your corner to speak for your group about your position. 
Today is call it in day.  You need to call me by 9PM and read your Extreme Sports Essay. 
Read well. Inflection counts. Practice before you call. The number is on your essay doc or use the widget on this blog (upper right). 

Monday, May 19, 2014

Last Drafting Day

Read

Write:
Today is our last day for working on your Extreme Sports essays.
If you have a full draft you will be doing the peer review.
If you do not have a full draft you can spend the period writing, but the final draft is still due tomorrow.

Call it in:
By 9:00 PM on TUESDAY 5/20 you need to call me and read me as much of your essay as will fit in the three minute time limit.  Practice before you call. This is the third time we are calling in an essay. This time I will also score you based on how well you read your essay. Read clearly and pay attention to your punctuation.

Friday, May 16, 2014

Essay Writing Day

Phew, we lost a day.  Time to catch up.

Spend this period working on your Extreme Sports Essay.

  • If you are finished put it through http://hemingwayapp.com/ and http://www.paperrater.com/ to help you with proofreading. 
  • Check your word count. You are aiming for 600-800. 
  • Check the rubric at the bottom of your essay document. 
  • Start answering the reflection questions. (Only if you are really done writing the essay.)
Need more help? See Mrs. Berry's Post

Thursday, May 15, 2014

No School Today

Even though you are at home today because of the fires, there is still work you can do to continue learning.

Read, you should have a book. If you finished your book start another one. Public library branches are open until 5:30 today. Library Information Here

Write, your draft of your Extreme Sports essay is currently still due tomorrow. Work on it and don't forget to review the mentor text linked for you on the assignment page in Google Drive.

Watch, What Adults Can Learn From Kids

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Drafting Day


Your suggested priorities. (Do these things in this order.)

  1. Review the mentor text from your Extreme Sports Essay assignment. Make your own copy, so you can annotate it as you read.
  2. Write several paragraphs of your own essay on the doc I shared with you. (Draft due Friday.)
  3. Review the Gooru collection from yesterday if you had technical difficulties or missed it some other way. (I know lots of you were out yesterday for AP tests, sports and other absences, catch up.) Scroll to the post below this one for directions. 

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Paraphrasing Text for Writing

Screen shot of Gooru Collection
Read

We are trying something new today. You have started working on your Extreme Sports Essay and you need to know how to paraphrase from the texts we've been reading. Use the link below to try out a new tool and learn about paraphrasing at the same time.

When you get there LOGIN with your Google account and be sure to read the directions carefully.
(Click the blue "Study" button to get started.)
PERIOD 4 START HERE
PERIOD 6 START HERE
PERIOD 7 START HERE

When you finish you can go back to working on your essay draft.
Would you like to know more about Dr. Ram?

Optional: Unrelated but interesting, Shankar Vedantam was on the radio this morning talking about the advantages of being a first born child. LISTEN HERE.

If you can't join our class try this.

Monday, May 12, 2014

Writing Task: Extreme Sports Unit

Read

Happy Monday. Today we get serious about the writing task for this unit.  I have shared the assignment with you in your Google Drive (Find it in your G-mail or Shared With Me)

Draft Due Friday 5/16
Final Draft Due Monday 5/19
Call in by 5/20 (Your doc probably says 6/20, change that, sorry for the typo.)

Your writing task is based on one of the quotes that have been posted around the room. Choose one of the quotes and:

  • Explain the quote or author’s claim or argument.
  • Explain how the quote relates to the subject of extreme sports.
  • Discuss the extent to which you agree with the claim using any or all of the articles you have read during this unit, your own experiences, and observations.
  • Be sure to use specific examples to support your claim.
  • Your essay should be as well organized and carefully written as you can make it.
The document shared with you includes more information, resources, rubric and reflection questions. 


Friday, May 9, 2014

Socratic Seminar: Extreme Sports

Read

Today we will have the Socratic Seminar discussion you have been preparing for this week.
You will need your notes about the articles. (You will turn them in at the end of the period.)

  • We will do the discussion in two rounds. 
  • You will have a partner.
  • You will take turns being in the inner circle and the outer circle. 
  • When you are in the outer circle you will fill out THIS FORM

I need two volunteers who will not be in the discussion, but who will chart notes for us during the conversation.

Thursday, May 8, 2014

AOW and Socratic Seminar Preparation

Mrs. Roberts is at a planning meeting today. Mrs. Berry will be here though.

You need to review a new Article of The Week. I have shared it with you in subtext. The title is "A Year Later, It’s Old Glory in Boston Marathon" There are embedded questions for you to answer as you read. You may need to Google some of the phrases in the article to help you understand more about what happened a year ago.

When you finish with the AOW, please make sure you have completed your four pages of preparation for our Socratic Seminar on Friday.

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Preparation

Read

Synthesis:
We are preparing for a Socratic seminar about the risks and rewards of extreme sports. In preparation you need to be sure you have a through understanding of the articles we have read and prepare discussion questions for the conversation. You can access the articles via web.subtext.com or through the PDF VERSION. 

I will give you paper (yes, paper) organizers to take your notes on. (I will collect them Friday after our discussion, so don't loose them. I have also prepared an electronic preparation method for those of you who want to try something new. THIS LINK goes to a view only version of a spreadsheet you could use to organize your thinking about the readings. You will need to use File/Make a copy to get an editable version and be sure to share it with me so I can see your work.


Monday, May 5, 2014

Counseling Presentation

Happy Monday

Today we have a required presentation from the district counseling office about tobacco, bullying and sexual harassment.  Tomorrow we will return to our investigation of extreme sports.

Homework: READ

Friday, May 2, 2014

More Rhetorical Review

Read

On Tuesday you looked closely at the rhetorical strategies of "Extreme Sports Not About Risk-taking: Study" and filled out a form with a partner.

Reviewing Two More Articles:
Today you will work on that SAME FORM but this time you will be looking at "A Solemn Warning for Wingsuit Flyers" and "Camp for Kids with Autism Offers Extreme Therapy".  You and your partner will review BOTH articles today. HERE IS THE PDF OF ALL THE ARTICLES

In your writer's notebook:
CHOOSE one of the three articles we have read in this unit and WRITE a Rhetorical Precis in your writer's notebook for that article.