"There Will Come Soft Rains" by Ray Bradbury can be downloaded here (audio).
We did an assignment.
Then we watched a video. :)

Quick Write: Honors

Today, we read Tom Wayman's "Did I Miss Anything"--

• What was your initial impression of the poem?
• Do you agree or disagree with what the author said?
• How do YOU feel as a student (NOT the teacher) about what happens in classes (either when you ARE there or when you are NOT there).

We talked about 

Bias

Death of the Author

and inference.

      We reviewed "IC" and "DC"--independent and dependent clauses and combined a few of them.

      We also discussed why NOT to use "you" in writing (or any of the BE verbs).

What did we do today (A) 8/29? (B) 8/30?

1. I called roll & reviewed what I had from students (and what I didn't have). Your grades should be *mostly* correct. CHECK SKYWARD!!
2. IC vs DC (independent clauses & dependent clauses). You should have stuck this in your binder (grammar).
3. Homework reminder: You need a BOOK. It is due NEXT TIME when you come to class. BRING IT WITH YOU!!!
4. AUP: Yes. You NEED it.
5. Inference & bias discussion.
6. Snowman activity
7. Inference & bias with "Jar of Hearts" 

"Regular" English 10

On Monday and Tuesday, we

1. First had a quiz on critical vs casual reading. It was worth 7 points. The purpose was to review the lesson from last time, discuss reading technique/strategy, and reinforce the difference between casually reading (without purpose) and critically reading using good strategy.

2. Then, we reported on whether or not you BROUGHT YOUR BINDER with you to class.

3. When you had your binder, I gave a book chat about books you *might* choose for your reports. 

4. You MUST have your book chosen by

A day: August 31 (This Friday)

B day: September 4th (next Tuesday)
You will have a book report on October 9th (A) 10th (B)

5. Finally, we addressed envelopes and put your "letters to me" inside them.

What did we do in Honors today?!

     Today, I returned your "Theme for English B" papers.
We watched 2 videos, comparing them (discussing the pros of both). We also reviewed the theme of the poem. Our English department will use the term "theme" to be synonymous with "thesis"--so the theme of a piece is the idea the piece conveys.
      I also talked about BOOKS! You need to choose a book that could be used on the AP test. I fixed the book list HERE.
      What will you DO on the book report? See THIS link. (It's in the SIDEBAR to your R).
     You need to BRING YOUR BOOK WITH YOU TO CLASS on

September 4th.

Flex next week

On TU 8/27 Inference/Prediction/Context/Subtext "Human" by The Killers

On W 8/29 Inference/Prediction/Cliche/Metaphor "Grenade" by Bruno Mars

Weekend Homework!

"Regular" Sophomore English

Write your "Letter to Me" (directions HERE).

Bring a portfolio/binder to class.

Honors English

Create a portfolio. See THIS link.

Honors English: "About Me"

• You are going to share this with at least 3 people you don't already know.
• Then you will identify something on EACH of their papers that is interesting or unique, or something that is well-written.
• Make note of those items.
• We'll be sharing them as a class and you will need the other student's NAME & data.

How we will share:

• #1 tell us your NAME.
• Tell us something important about yourself. (You choose).
• Then, 3 other people will talk about you. 
• Then we'll go on.

Day 2: Sophomore English

Syllabus
TURN IN Disclosure assignment homework (Link here)
Grammar formative assessment
How to write the “Letter to Me” assignment
Critical v Casual readers -- Carousel activity (groups after a minute rotate, add to comments)

• “A good reader is someone who...”
• “Reading is boring when...”
• “It’s important to use strategies because...”
• “List a reading strategy...”
• “Reading is fun when...”
• “A ‘casual’ reader is someone who...”
• “When you don’t understand you...”

Reading requirements What should you know about the book report?
What will the book report be like? Book Report Term 1

• Letter to Me
• Bring binder
• Make sure you've turned your personal profile in.

Upcoming (due August 31):

Choose your book for your book report.

Grammar pre-assessment

1.       Correct the grammar error in the following sentence. (Rewrite the sentence)

California undoubtedly provides the best vacation opportunities, Disneyland alone is worth the trip.

2.       Which one of these sentences expresses an incomplete thought?

a.       In the early hours of the morning, Karen left to go jogging.

b.      The monster left behind a trail of bright green slime.

c.       Because all students need a good education to succeed in life.

d.      Everyone has a role model; mine is Jackie Chan.

3.       What is a semicolon (;) used for? (If you don’t know how to describe it, you can write a sample sentence in which you use one)

4.       Combine these sentences together into one sentence. Use correct punctuation.

This summer was a lot of fun.

I traveled to the exotic islands of Hawaii.

I went snorkeling on the coral reefs.

Need the homework link?

Click the link on the L that says Disclosure Document.
Here's a link to the profile

Please look at the website and see the links! Thanks!!

Honors English Day 1

Seating chart.
Existential questions: Why are you here and where are you going? Alice in Wonderland
How this assignment will look in Mr. Nagro’s class.
Website v Blog & AUP
“Theme for English B” Langston Hughes
Poem link

HOMEWORK: Write about yourself. Thoughtfully compose a 1 page essay about yourself that you feel comfortable sharing with your classmates where you explore, creatively, those big, existential questions about yourself.

Website samples

Honors Reading

Welcome to class!

Aug 21 (A) 22 (B) -- 

Welcome to class

Reading assignment Formative reading/writing assessment You will need a binder to put things in. Most of the time this binder will "live" in my classroom.

Disclosures (see links)
Disclosure assignment homework
AUP Directions
 These directions are courtesy of Michael Nagro. Thank you SO MUCH!

Online directions for parents to give approval for computer and internet use at school

No student will be allowed to use an Alpine School District computer without signing the AUP. You will not be able to use the computer registration after September 9th, The paper permission form is no longer valid. The following instructions will walk parents through the process.

• Log-on to Skyward using the parent log-in and password (not the student's) then go to the “Register for 2012-2013” link on the left side.
• Click on the tab in the center of the screen that says, “Start registration for (student name).” Four steps will appear. These must be completed in sequence.
• Click on the checkbox at the end of each step and a green check mark will appear indicating that the step has been completed.
• Step 1 – Student information (review and change if needed), click the check box
• Step 2 – Ethnicity/Race (review and change if needed), click the check box·
• Step 3 – Student acceptable use form (2 parts)
• Click box 1 – “I have reviewed the acceptable use policy”
• Click box 2 – “I grant permission”
• Click the save box in the upper right corner
• Step 4 – Personal information media release form (review), click the check box
• Final step – hit the button in the center of the screen that says, “Complete registration for (student) for the 2011-2012 school year.” A purple button will appear in the upper right corner of the screen that says, “Complete Online Registration”. Hit that and you are done!