Library Instructions for Teen Tech Week, 3/11

Today, in the library, in celebration of TEEN TECH WEEK, you have this challenge:

With a partner (preferably from the other English class), you need to write a story. 

In the story, two characters, in some setting that you must specify, have some kind of stressful conflict with technology.  

They talk about  the conflict, figure out a solution, and in the climax, it either works, . . . or it doesn't.  

Anyhow, the crucial part is that the story must be created and submitted through "GoAnimate".

(When you're done, hit "save", put your names for the video's name, put gunston as a tag, make it public, and then hit the blue save button.  Click through all the rubbish about facebook and when it gives you the chance, email it to me at john_stewart@apsva.us)

Day One Hundred Nine, 3/8

Today, we played "Amuse the King and Queen" and received a copy of the new class book (Slides).
Today's Song: "Mardi Gras Day", Kermit Ruffins and the Rebirth Barbecue Band (2005)
Today's Homework: Now you have to seriously plan your reading time.  There are two books to read:  your history book and your class book.
 
Parents: Students have made a book schedule for themselves and should be able to share it with you at home.

Day One Hundred Eight, 3/7

Today, we played "Amuse the King and Queen" and received a copy of the new class book (Slides).
Today's Song: "In Manila", Eagle and Talon (2011)
Today's Homework: Now you have to seriously plan your reading time.  There are two books to read:  your history book and your class book.
 
Parents: Students now have two books to read--one independently and one for class. First, third, and seventh periods have a copy of Twelfth Night; second period is reading "Silent to the Bone"; fourth period is reading "Habibi".

Click here for lab instructions, 3/3

Whan that aprill with his shoures soote
The droghte of march hath perced to the roote,
And bathed every veyne in swich licour
Of which vertu engendred is the flour
 

Day One Hundred Six, 2/2

Today, we enjoyed "Read Across America" Day.  In every class, teachers read aloud to students.  We also revised an essay from last week.
Today's Song: "Born This Way", Lady Gaga (2011)
Today's Homework: Find a history book, of at least 100 pages.  Read it by the end of the quarter.
 
Parents: The sixth independent book of the year should be a history book.  There are lots of lists available on the internet, and the librarians at school and in the Arlington Public Libraries can certainly help recommend excellent YA histories.

Day One Hundred Five, 3/1

Today, we examined an SOL practice test for grammar. (Slides)
Today's Song: "Turn Me Away (Get Munny)", Erykah Badu (March 2010)
Today's Homework: Find a history book, of at least 100 pages.  Read it by the end of the quarter.
 
Parents: The sixth independent book of the year should be a history book.  There are lots of lists available on the internet, and the librarians at school and in the Arlington Public Libraries can certainly help recommend excellent YA histories.

Day One Hundred Four, 2/28

Today, I was absent, but you read a story called "The Secret" by Arthur Clarke.
Today's Homework: Find a history book, of at least 100 pages.  Read it by the end of the quarter.
 
Parents: The sixth independent book of the year should be a history book.  There are lots of lists available on the internet, and the librarians at school and in the Arlington Public Libraries can certainly help recommend excellent YA histories.

Day One Hundred Three, 2/25

Today, we composed the Injury Essay by hand
Today's Song: "Will Do", TV on the Radio (April 2011)
Today's Homework: Find a history book, of at least 100 pages.  Read it by the end of the quarter
 
Parents: The sixth independent book of the year should be a history book.  There are lots of lists available on the internet, and the librarians at school and in the Arlington Public Libraries can certainly help recommend excellent YA histories.

Click here for lab instructions, 2/23

Welcome to the computer lab!

After you've logged in, I'll be giving a bit of a presentation on the overhead.  Please watch carefully. 

ESSAY SCORING

1. Please click on this link:  NCS Mentor

1. Check out the anchor papers.  What does a 4 in composition look like?  How about a 1?  What does a 4 in written expression look like?  How do you get a 1 in written expression?

 2. Try the Practice Scoring Sets.  Try to be more accurate with each essay you score.  

If you work diligently with NCS Mentor, you'll soon have a strong idea of what the State of Virginia wants from you on the SOL Writing Test.

BOOK APPROVAL:  Please choose, for book six, a history book.  (e.g., The Great Chicago Fire, The Sinking of the Titanic, The Story of Fenway Park, The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire).   HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES.

BLABBERIZE:  try out this website.  Llamas are funny.

Day One Hundred One, 2/23

Today, we identified essay types based on prompts. (slides)
Today's Song: "Sara Smile", Airlines
Today's Homework: Brainstorm the injury essay.
 
Parents: The deadline has passed for all missing student work. Progress reports will be sent home next week.

Day One Hundred, 2/22

Today, we took a test on a story called "There Will Come Sot Rains" and identified different moods and themes. (Slides)
Today's Song: "Burial Ground", Airlines
Today's Homework: Brainstorm the injury essay.
 
Parents: The deadline has passed for all missing student work. Progress reports will be sent home next week.

Day Ninety-Nine, 2/18

Today, we took a test on a story called "There Will Come Sot Rains" and made some skits (Slides)
Today's Song: "Genius of Love", Tom Tom Club
Today's Homework: Catch up on your missing work by Tuesday
 
Parents: Students were given missing work lists today.  Please sign the list and encourage your student to get the work turned in.

Click here for lab instructions, 2/17

Day Ninety-Six, 2/15

Today, we read a story called "There Will Come Sot Rains" and previewed the next essay (Slides)
Today's Song: "Clap (One Day)", Pharaohe Monche
Today's Homework: Book Paper Five and the "Put Down That . . ." Essay
 
Parents: There is a field trip on Wednesday, we will work on the "put down" essay in the lab on Thursday, and the book paper is due on Friday .

Day Ninety-Five, 2/14

Happy Valentine's Day! We discussed technology. (Slides)
Today's Song: "Us", Regina Spektor
TODAY'S HOMEWORK: The Bias Project.
 
PARENTS: The bias project is due tomorrow, there is a field trip on Wednesday, and the book paper is due on Friday .

Weekend Edition, 2/12

Hello! I just published the directions for bookpaper five.  Please email if you have any questions about it or about the Bias Project.

Day Ninety-Four, 2/11

TODAY, we again reviewed the bias project, which will be due Tuesday, and then assessed our work on "Episode of War".
Today's Song: "Silly Love Songs", Wings
TODAY'S HOMEWORK: Start the Bias Project.
 
PARENTS: The students have a new project will help them be more aware of the news and the potential for bias in reporting stories.

Click here for lab instructions, 2/10

Hello, Class!
Welcome to  the computer lab!

Today, please print the two articles you will be using for your bias projects.

Then, please get started.

Either write an editorial in which you give your opinion of the topic, and support it with evidence from the articles, . . .

Or, begin writing the letters to the authors of the articles.

When class is nearly over, please print ONE HOOK for the essay prompt you had for homework.  Print the hook in landscape form, using at least 48-point font.

Happy Robot Voice Thursday!

Day NInety-Two, 2/9

TODAY, we again reviewed the bias project, which will be due in a week, and then read a story called "An Epidsode of War" by Stephen Crane. (Slides)
Today's Song: "One Tree Hill", U2
TODAY'S HOMEWORK: Continue the Bias Project, and there's a new essay to brainstorm. (DON'T WRITE IT YET.)
 
PARENTS: The students have a new project will help them be more aware of the news and the potential for bias in reporting stories.

Day Ninety-One, 2/8

TODAY, we again saw the theme puppets , and we headed to the library.

TODAY'S HOMEWORK: Start the Bias Project.

 
PARENTS: The rock essays are scored.  (Click here.)