Going Forward

Starting next week we will be doing our work via Google Classroom and CommonLit. You should have gotten a sign-up link in your email. Please let me know if you need assistance with anything. ~Mr. Staiano

Well... What now?

I hope you are all doing well at home (and avoiding large groups as much as possible). I wanted to touch base with what I'm thinking at this point. Remember it's a work in progress. Here's what I know:

• This week, you should finish your book and your one-pagers (here's the handout). Blank one-pagers are available to print at our class page or you can just make your own. I will create a place to hand them in at our class page or you can drop them off at school.
• While you are at our class page, please take the poll I have posted.
• Next week, we will start a curriculum the department is designing right now.
• Finally, expect some virtual office hours via Google Meet. Schedules and links will be posted.
• Of course, all of this is subject to change, so keep checking your school email and PowerSchool Unified Classroom.

Take care of yourself and your loved ones, and be in touch if you need anything.
~Mr. Staiano

Books Finished!

Symbolism

Theme Again

Reading Check In & Final Project

Today we made sure students knew how much reading they need to do every day to have their books finished by Friday. Then we went over the final project and students had the rest of the period to start work or continue reading.

Grammar Friday

A Return to Character

Issues

A 1st Crack at Theme

Conflict

Grammar Friday!

Thinking About Character

Summary So Far

POV & Lit Circles

Today we reviewed POV and then students had time to read their books.

Literature Circles Begin!

Today groups got their assigned books and started reading. Slides are at PowerSchool.

Friday=Valentine's Day

After practicing a bit more with phrases and clauses, we wrapped our work with "The Streets of Memphis" and did a couple exit tickets. Have a great break!

Short Story Practice

Today we read this short story and practiced the summary, character, and conflict cards (in writer's notebooks).

Lit Circle Books

Today we spent most of the period picking books from among these options. Students then filled out the book choosing form here so that I can make groups in the next few days. Absent students should get this to me ASAP.

Poster Time

Today groups finished their posters and presented them. We'll choose books tomorrow.

More Group Practice!

Grammar Etc.

After doing a review of phrases and clauses (including a Kahoot), students had time to finish their one-pagers from yesterday (some chose to keep working on them for HW). We wrapped up the period with our first weekly reflection exit ticket.

Group Work: The Sneetches

Students used their copy of Dr. Suess's story "The Sneetches" and the cards we've been practicing with to complete the one-pager below.

Theme, Issues, and Connections

Today, we continued our practice for literature circles with two more slides, practicing them one Dr. Suess's story, "The Zax."

Character & Conflict

Today we practiced character and conflict analysis.

Summary Practice

Thursday & Friday

Thursday we used the short period to do some final reflection and goalsetting (see below). Friday we spent the day in the library doing a community-building circle.

Exam Review

After a bit of general discussion, we finished up our exam review and I collected the review assignment.

Reflection & Exam Review

Monday and Tuesday, we started the new semester with a bit of reflection and a look back at the final exam.

The Final

Today we took the final exam, returned Of Mice and Men, and then read and wrote about Burns' poem "To a Mouse."

Final Essay Day

Revision—Because the Power Came Back On

Students who were here had the whole period to revise and got a whole lot of one on one attention. We will revisit essay revision on Tuesday with some extra credit for students who are done early.

Finish the Body & Conclusions

Today we thought a bit about the conclusion, and then students had the period to write.

Working the Body

Today we focused on the body of the essay. Slides and handouts are at our class page.

The Introduction

Today we had a look at the first 10 slides of this slideshow, and students had some time to start their introductory paragraphs. They should finish these paragraphs for HW. Essay files and slides are at our PS Class Page.

Essay Prep Time

Thursday we made theme posters with claims and quotations and Friday we used those posters to fill in these prewriting handouts. These should be finished by Monday for class.

A Bit of Compare Contrast Writing

After finishing the film, students had time to do the writing assignment on the other side of the notes handout. Many students finished in class. Students who didn't should finish for homework.

More Movie, More Notes

Today we continued the film and continued taking notes. All classes got to about 1:10.

Spanning the Decades (12/20/19 & 1/6/20)

On the day before break, we finished the book and did a final DJ entry (see below).
Today, we started with a bit of reflection and goal-setting and then started the Of Mice and Men film, getting through about the first fifteen minutes. The assignment is below and the film is available at our PS class page.