Day two, let's get going.

FIRST STEP: READ

Get out your independent reading books. If you do not have one, take this time to find one already on your table or from the shelves. If you borrow a book, be sure to check it out using the "Borrow a Book" button on this blog.

I told you yesterday that we would be using our computers in this class almost every day. That starts now. This means we have a few goals for today:

1. Get a netbook: You will be assigned a netbook by number and that number will be yours.
2. Sign in: The adults in the room will help you do this if you do not know what it is and/or how to do it.
3. Access this blog: The website is posted in the room and on the stickers you just got.
4. Fill out the Student Data Form, if you have not done so already.
5. Go to Drive.Google.com and sign in with your district account. Use yourIDnumber@stu.sandi.net and your district password. 
6. Go to Classroom.Google.com and join our class. I will give you the class code. 
7. Do the first assignment. 

Once everyone has successfully achieved these goals, our first project of the year will be to write a Six Word Memoir. We will talk about this, but here are some helpful videos and websites to get you started in this process:

• SixWordMemoirs.com
• Six Word Memoirs written by Teens
• Six tips for writing six word memoirs (video)
• Six Word Memoirs written by Teens (video)

Oh and don't forget:

Welcome to PLHS, And English, And High School, And Room 864!

Hello and welcome to Point Loma! 

We're going to have a fantastic year of learning together, and that means we have a lot to do today. The first thing to know is that this blog will be where we start each day, and it will link you to everything else you will need for our class. We're very excited to get to know all of you, so let's get started!

A few reminders for Tuesday (that's tomorrow):

• Return your netbook use contract, signed by a parent or guardian.
• Review the syllabus. It's linked on the sidebar, too.
• Fill out the student data form.
• Bring a book for reading in class.

Summer winding down,

Still following the blog? I hope you had a great summer. For those of you back at PL this fall, you have MAD days starting today for seniors. Sophomores, you are on Monday. Juniors, I'm going to let you re-read those last two sentences and try to figure out which day is yours. :)

Former students are always welcome to stop by and say hello during lunch, passing periods, and after school. Please don't interrupt my classes, because that means you're probably missing out on one of your classes.

Remember school starts Monday August 29th at 7:30 AM. Doughnut-miss-it.

See you all soon.

Second Semester Final-Yeah, really.

A final exam is an opportunity to show what you know, a chance to prove to yourself and others that you have learned, and that you are capable of meeting expectations.

Your 9th grade English teachers designed this test almost entirely around things you have already read, tasks you have already done, and skills you've had lots of practice with.

It is not meant to be hard, but it will require your concentration and critical thinking as you make the best selection for each question.

The test includes 33 multiple choice questions and several short answer responses. At the end of the test you will find some reflection questions. After you submit your test you will see a link to complete the course evaluation. 

I've enjoyed teaching you this year and I hope you'll come back and say hello next year.

SECOND SEMESTER FINAL Yes, it has a password. No, you won't be able to guess it. Yes, I change it frequently.

Tips: Watch your battery life. If your netbook battery gets low we will find a way to get you a plug.

Last class before finals!

Welcome to our last class. It's time to reflect, share, and celebrate the things we have learned this year. 

I'll be here at lunch and after finals tomorrow if you need to do any last minute work. 

You have all been great classes. I've loved (almost) every minute of working with all of you. Keep reading. Don't Panic! and have a wonderful restful summer. Come see me in the fall.

Finals:

Friday periods 3 and 4

Monday periods 6 and 7

Tuesday periods 1 and 2

Note: Mrs. R won't be on campus Tuesday until about 1:00 for graduation. If you have any last minute items to turn in you can leave them in my box in the office or ask another teacher to give them to me. 

Studying for the final? Here are some tips. 

1. Review your Comparative Analysis essay for "The Cask of Amontillado" and The Night of the Hunter. There will be questions about these two works, as well as how the writer/director used various stylistic techniques.
2. Review the articles from the Extreme Sports unit. These should be in your Google Drive. The exam will include passages from these articles with multiple choice questions. 
3. Review the articles from the Academic Honesty unit. These should also be in your Google Drive. The exam will include passages from these articles with multiple choice questions.
4. Review the literary terms we used throughout the year: diction, irony (all three kinds), theme, sensory details, figurative language etc.
5. Review the rhetorical terms we used throughout the year (ethos, pathos, logos, etc.) 
6. Review the format for writing a Rhetorical Precis summary paragraph.