September 8, 2022

 Hello! Here's what we're up to today:

Homeroom

• Doing important administrative things

English 9

• Checking in!
• Each day I'll ask you how you're feeling, on a scale of 1 to 5
• 1 is an awful day, and could not be worse
• 5 is just awesome, everything is going right
• I also hope that you'll add another thought, like why you're feeling that way, or something that's on your mind. But if you're more comfortable passing, you can just give me a number.
• Resuming Expectations and Grading guidelines
• First attempt at everyone's names
• Freewrite Number 1
• Freewrites will be used a lot. They're designed to let you practice writing and let your mind explore ideas without the pressure of being evaluated. Writing, after all, is not natural: it takes a lot of practice, and a lot of failing. I will never look at a freewrite you wrote without your permission.
• How they work:
• I put on a timer for anywhere between 5 and 10 minutes.
• I'll give you a prompt to send you in a direction.
• Your task is to write the entire time.
• You may write literally whatever you want.
• After, I'll ask you to share what you wrote with a partner.
• Then, I'll open it up to see if anyone would like to summarize or read theirs aloud.
• Often, an awkward silence hangs over the class.
• Sometimes, students will answer.
• Checking in on name tags
• Assignment #1 - In class writing
• General Writing Rubric
• Opening opinions on novels:
• Persepolis / On a Sunbeam
• And Then There Were None
• Much Ado About Nothing
• The Hobbit
• Assignment #2 - Independent Novel Project
• What book might you want to read?
• Tomorrow, come to class knowing the book you want to read. We'll start practicing some writing skills.
• Heads up: tomorrow is photo day!

English 8

Checking in!

• Each day I'll ask you how you're feeling, on a scale of 1 to 5
• 1 is an awful day, and could not be worse
• 5 is just awesome, everything is going right
• I also hope that you'll add another thought, like why you're feeling that way, or something that's on your mind. But if you're more comfortable passing, you can just give me a number.
• Resuming Expectations and Grading guidelines
• First attempt at everyone's names
• Freewrite Number 1
• Freewrites will be used a lot. They're designed to let you practice writing and let your mind explore ideas without the pressure of being evaluated. Writing, after all, is not natural: it takes a lot of practice, and a lot of failing. I will never look at a freewrite you wrote without your permission.
• How they work:
• I put on a timer for anywhere between 5 and 10 minutes.
• I'll give you a prompt to send you in a direction.
• Your task is to write the entire time.
• You may write literally whatever you want.
• After, I'll ask you to share what you wrote with a partner.
• Then, I'll open it up to see if anyone would like to summarize or read theirs aloud.
• Often, an awkward silence hangs over the class.
• Sometimes, students will answer.
• Checking in on name tags
• Common themes: fear of too much work and of public speaking
• Assignment #1 - In class writing
• General Writing Rubric
• Assignment #2 - Independent Novel Project
• What book might you want to read?
• Tomorrow, come to class knowing the book you want to read. We'll start practicing some writing skills.
• Heads up: tomorrow is photo day!