Welcome to the SHHS sophomores! 

Evaluating Web Sites Tutorial

JSCC Pre-writing Activity 1

Pre-writing Activity 1

Choose two pre-writing strategies from this week's discussions and readings (such as brainstorming, clustering, freewriting, etc.), and use the techniques on the following topic:

 

Hero

AP Reading List

For your independent reading project that is due Feb. 15th, you must select one novel (no poetry, plays, short stories) from the list of books that have been on past AP exams.  You can find the list at http://hsaeuless.org/pdf/AP%20summer%20reading.pdf.  Remember, you must read a book you've never read before.  Find yours quickly and begin reading; there's something on there for everyone!

Change of Venue

As most students are now using the class Facebook page, I will no longer post weekly updates on this page.  Parents and students may access the Facebook page for updates by clicking on the "Mrs. T's Pre-AP/TAG Class Page" link (located directly under the home page link) in the column to the left.  Please follow the link to ask questions or get updates on class assignments.  Thanks.

Change of Venu

As most students are now using the Facebook page for their updates, this site will no longer be used for class assignments and notes.  Please visit our class Facebook page at Mrs. T's Pre-AP/TAG class. 

Assignments for Nov. 26 - 30

Monday -

• Students completed a quick Part III quiz
• Students continued analyzing "Dover Beach" using TP-CASTT

Tuesday -

• Students read and analyzed "The Trees"
• Students completed a crossover responses for "The Trees" and Fahrenheit 451

Wednesday -

• Students will attend a presentation discussing credits, GPA, graduation requirements, etc.

Thursday -

• Students will complete their analysis of "Dover Beach"
• Some classes will perform mandatory safety drills

Friday -

• Students will complete the discussions of "Dover Beach," "The Trees," and Fahrenheit 451 questions to review for Monday's exam.

Focus for November 12 - 16, 2012

I want to apologize.  I know I've been out for a couple of weeks; it just seemed more students were connecting through Facebook, so I thought it would be easier to stick with that route.  I realize, however, that some parents prefer this route, so I'll try to keep both updated.  Again, I apologize for the inconvenience.

For the last week and a half, all homework has been focused on Fahrenheit 451.  Students have been assigned to read specific sections of the book, complete related vocabulary logs and quotation logs, and to think about the message of the book as homework.  They have been allowed to work at their own pace as long as they finish the sections by the given deadlines.  Part I was to be completed by last Thursday; Part II should be finished by this Friday (Nov. 16), and Part III should be completed by November 26th.  The students will complete a reading check test on each of those dates; it will cover details from the story, the vocabulary and quotations logs, and main ideas from the text.

For this week:
Monday -

• No school today in observance of Veterans Day.

Tuesday -

• Students will practice line break poetry.
• We will complete our discussion of Beatty's lecture to Montag, our primary focus being on how and why society changed so drastically over time to result in the society depicted in the novel.

Wednesday -

• We will complete our line break poetry.
• Students will analyze Frost's "The Road Not Taken" (pg. 724) using the TP-CASTT strategy and write a short response regarding Frost's message

Thursday -

• Students will use TP-CASTT to analyze "The War Against the Trees" (pg. 636)
• If time permits, they will also analyse "All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace" (632)

Friday -

• Students will complete a reading check test for Part II of Fahrenheit 451

Class Agenda for October 22 - 26, 2012

Monday -

• Organize and update notebooks
• Review the nine-weeks exam

Tuesday -

• Review figurative language by preparing flash cards
• Attach these to the notebook

Wednesday -

• Review poetry structural elements by creating flashcards and attaching these to the notebook
• Prepare a foldable for sound devices on page 50 in the notebook

Thursday -

• Using "The Bells" introduce Poe's beliefs about poetry (lyrical)
• Read and analyze sound devices, figurative language, and structure of "The Bells"

Friday -

• Based on Thursday's conversation, begin analyzing the message of "The Bells"

Assignmnents for October 15 - 19, 2012

This is the last week of our 9-week term.  Make sure all work has been submitted to all of your teachers. 

Monday -

• Students will continue reading "Sweat" in class, focusing on Hurson's characterization
• Students will learn of the opportunity to re-earn up to 10 points on one of their earlier summative writings--the writing must be revised in class

Tuesday -

• Students will finish reading "Sweat" (any text not read in class will be read for homework by Thursday)
• Students will review the "Sweat" vocabulary

Wednesday -

• Morning classes will not meet; instead, students will participate in the PSAT or field day
• Afternoon classes will work on the paragraph revisions

Thursday -

• Students will complete the 9-weeks exam

Friday -

• Students will revise a summative writing to re-earn summative points

Assignments for October 8 - 12, 2012

I apologize for last week.  I was unable to get into the blog page to update the lesson.  Quick re-cap:  Monday--The class reviewed basic literary analysis paragraph format using student papers to show the do's and don'ts and we discussed the different types of sentence constructions; Tuesday--Students wrote a literary analysis paragraph for "Cask of Amontillado" and "The River" was introduced; Wednesday--Students were introduced to "The River" and our focus areas for the story and we discussed run-on sentences, comma splices, and fragments; Thursday--Students received copies of "The River" and spent the period reading the story (monitored by a substitute teacher); Friday--students took a quick reading comprehension quiz and we discussed the events of "The River."

For this week . . .
Monday -

• Students will discuss the differences between possessive form and plural form
• The class will analyze the basic literary elements of "The River"

Tuesday -

• Students will review the basic grammar discussed in class over the last week
• The class will finish its analysis of "The River" and prepare for tomorrow's exam

Wednesday -

• Students will complete a summative exam for "The River"

Thursday -

• Students will review common word usage problems (homophones)
• Students will be introduced to Zora Neale Hurston's "Sweat" and our focus areas for this story
• Students will be introduced to the characterization dialectical journal

Friday -

• The class will read and discuss "Sweat," keeping a characterization dialectical journal as we read
• Students will finish reading "Sweat" at home if we do not finish in class

Reminder . . .

Yearbook pictures will be made on Tuesday, September 25th, at the beginning of each class period.  Make sure you wear your brightest smiles!

Assignments for September 24 - 28, 2012

Monday and Tuesday -

• Students will continue reading and analyzing "The Cask of Amontillado" in class
• Students will continue working on dialectical journals (due by Thursday)
• Homework (Monday):  Students will review vocabulary by writing the word twice and a synonym; students may be required to read and/or review several pages of our story
• Homework (Tuesday):  Students will prepare a short response comparing the point of view in "The Cask of Amontillado" to that of the narrator in "Gaston"; students may be required to read and/or review several pages of our story

Wednesday -

• Students will begin analyzing individual literary elements in "The Cask of Amontillado"
• Homework:  Students will prepare a plot line for "Cask of Amontillado"

Thursday -

• The class will review the plot breakdown of "Cask of Amontillado" to identify the non-linear elements
• Homework:  Students will determine a theme for "Cask of Amontillado" and provide textual evidence to support their claim

Friday -

• Students will complete a literary elements unit test

Assignments for September 17 - 21, 2012

Monday -

• Students will continue their review of the literary elements
• Students will review the assignments required in their notebooks (notebook check this week!)

Tuesday -

• If they have not already finished, students will complete their review of the literary elements
• Students will revise their "By the Waters of Babylon" point of view paragraphs
• The teacher will introduce the literary design poster assignment
• Students will have time in class to work on their literary mini-posters

Wednesday -

• Students will prepare their literary mini-posters
• Students will share their point of view paragraphs to get peer responses

Thursday -

• As a class, we will review dialectical journal format
• Student will acquire the vocabulary for "The Cask of Amontillado"
• Students will complete a quick write to introduce the concept of the story
• We will begin reading and discussing "The Cask of Amontillado"

Friday -

• Students will review the vocabulary definitions
• Students will continue reading and discussing "The Cask of Amontilado," focusing on point of view and mood (through setting and characterization)

Literary Elements Design Page Postponed

Because the overview of the literary elements is taking longer than anticipated, the literary elements design page assignment has been postponed.  We will do this next week, though--so much to look forward to.

Lessons for September 10 - 14, 2012

Monday -

• Introduced TAG line in paragraphs and basic literary analysis paragraph structure
• Review student paragraph drafts as a whole class to point out structural and content issues
• Returned paragraphs to be revised for homework

Tuesday -

• *Quick quiz postponed until Thursday due to excessive student absences for leadership conference
• Review and collect scavenger hunt responses
• Prepare table of contents for notebook

Wednesday -

• Review basic literary elements (with applications to "Gaston" and "By the Waters of Babylon"
• Primary focus on point of view and plot

Thursday -

• Complete quick quiz (postponed from Tuesday)
• Complete literary elements review
• Homework:  Prepare for the literary elements design pages

Friday -

• Prepare literary elements design pages

Lessons for September 3 - 7, 2012

There will be no tutoring after school on Tuesday or Wednesday of this week due to preparations for open house and faculty meetings. 

Monday -
NO SCHOOL--LABOR DAY HOLIDAY!!!

Tuesday -

• Students will complete oral mandala presentations. 
• The scavenger hunt assignment will be distributed and discussed, due Tuesday, Sept. 11th.
• The teacher will complete the review of course expectations for those classes who did not complete it last week.
• For homework, students will number the pages in their spiral or composition notebooks for use in class.

Wednesday -

• Students will review the vocabulary definitions for "By the Waters of Babylon."
• Students will review highlighting and discuss how to properly annotate a passage.
• "By the Waters of Babylon" will be distributed.  Students will complete a hightlighting and annotation activity with the story.
• For homework, students will study the vocabulary from "By the Waters of Babylon."

Thursday -

• Using "By the Waters of Babylon," students will complete the highlighting and annotation activity and then finish reading the story.
• Students will respond to questions related to the story.  These will be discussed in class after students have worked independently to determine the answers.
• For homework, students will study the vocabulary from "By the Waters of Babylon."

Friday -

• Students will learn about the literary analysis short response/paragraph structure. 
• Students will prepare and share a sample response related to "By the Waters of Babylon." 
• For homework, students will complete a short response independently.

Lessons for August 27 - 31, 2012

Monday -

• Students will receive copies of the course expectations/syllabus and Pre-AP English I contract.  They will be assigned to read these carefully and to write three questions or observations they have about any specific details in the readings.  These will be discussed in class on Wednesday.
• Students will be informed of the supplies needed for this class.  Supplies should be on hand by Tuesday, September 4th.
• Students will carefully read and annotate "Gaston."

Tuesday -

• Students will write a literary analysis for "Gaston." 

Wednesday -

• The class will discuss observations students noted from the course expectations/syllabus and Pre-AP English I contract.  Any questions students posed will be answered fully. 
• We will discuss mandalas, and students will be assigned to create a personal mandala they will share in class during an oral presentation on Friday.

Thursday -

• The class will complete its discussion of observations and questions regarding the course expectations/syllabus and Pre-AP English I contract. 
• Students will be reminded that signed course contracts and mandalas are due at the beginning of class on Friday.

Friday -

• Students will share their mandalas in an oral presentation to introduce themselves.
• Students will receive the scavenger hunt assignment to be completed by Friday, September 7th.

**Ellison High School will host its annual open house on Tuesday, September 4th from 6:00 until 8:00 PM.  I hope to see many students and parents there! 

August 27 - 31, 2012

Greetings from your Pre-AP/TAG teacher! I would like to welcome each of you to Ellison High School and our English I Pre-AP/TAG class for the 2012-2013 school year. We will hit the road running and maintain a steady pace throughout the year. So, get your running shoes on (metaphorically speaking); we are ready to start the race!

 

You will need some supplies . . .

 

Successful organization of class materials and notes can boost your academic success. Organization simplifies life for students by helping them keep materials in one, easy-to-find location and allowing them to quickly access needed papers. Thus, this skill will be emphazided through our use of class binders this year. The list of class materials needed can be found below:

 

• 3-ring binder, at least one inch
• White, loose-leaf notebook paper
• #2 pencils (maybe extra erasers)
• One or more highlighters
• One spiral or composition notebook

*A flashdrive will be very helpful throughout the year, but it is not required

 

**Other supplies--such as markers, a ruler, colored pencils, glue, poster boards, etc.--will be necessary for specific projects throughout the year. However, these will not be needed daily in class.

 

 Please note: students will not receive a grade for having these specific items in class. However, I will expect every student to maintain a class binder for English I Pre-AP/TAG class notes and materials. If you are trying to procure these materials but are experiencing difficulty in doing so, please let me know discreetly.

 

Once again, welcome!  I look forward to working with each and every one of you!   :)

May 31, 2012

Dear Students,

Well, we've had a full year!  I want to let all of you know what an honor it has been to work with you this year.  You are an amazing group of individuals!!! 

I know many of you feel my expectations for you have been too high, and you're welcome to those feelings.  I just want you to know my expectations were not set high to keep you from success, but they were high because I knew you were capable of a level of success even you were unaware of until you pushed yourself.  I've believed in you every step of the way, knowing that you could achieve so much if only someone would allow you to discover your potential.  I've hoped all along that you could come to develop the same faith in yourself that I have for you because I believe once you know YOU CAN achieve what at first seems impossible, YOU DO achieve wonders!

Thus, I've done all I can for now, and I pass you along to another teacher.  I just wanted to let you know I've enjoyed our time together, and I'm going to miss seeing your smiles, hearing your laughter, and watching you grow.  Always know I'll be your biggest fan, and I'll be here for you if you need help in the future.  I love you all!  Have a safe, blessed summer and future. 

Your biggest fan,
Mrs. T