Hello, parents!
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families and that you are having a great day back at work again. In your child's English class, we are studying The Odyssey, so I hope they are excited to hear what will happen next!
This week in class, as well as next week and probably some of the next, we are spending the majority of our time reading in class. Here is a brief run-down of this week in English class:
Monday: power point presentation about the Trojan War
Tuesday: begin reading The Odyssey
Wednesday: continue reading
Thursday: continue reading
Friday: continue reading
Today (Monday), I am showing the students a power point presentation about the Trojan War so that they have some background about what was happening prior to the beginning of The Odyssey. We do not have any new vocabulary words this week, as we are focusing all of our attention on reading The Odyssey.
Tuesday through Friday in class, I will be reading the poem out loud to the class, and they should be following along in their books. I will stop periodically and explain things from the story that they need to know in order to understand what's going on in the story, and I will also be asking them questions along the way to get a feel for whether or not they are understanding everything.
They don't really have any homework to speak of this week for my class. At the end of each day that we are reading The Odyssey, I will give them something called an exit ticket, which is just a question that they will answer briefly in order to get out of class. This is to make sure that they are paying attention to what is going on, as well as to help me determine the extent of their learning. Each exit ticket will be worth five points, and this will be the main way that they will be able to earn points for this week.
I realize that there are still several students who would like to raise their grades in my class, and I am willing to work with these students as well. If you check Power School in the near future, you will see that there will be assignments in the gradebook that are worth zero points. These will be bonus assignments that I will be giving in order to give students a chance to raise their grades in my class. Don't panic if your child does not turn these assignments in; they are just for bonus, and not turning them in will not hurt their grades at all. I will keep you all informed about these assignments as they come along. Also, reading logs are due next Friday, December 11.
Once again, feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about this class. My email address is kwalls@byngschools.com, or you can call the school at 580-310-6744. Have a great day!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
November 23-24
Good morning, parents!
It's a short week, and I know everyone can't wait to get some time off! I don't have a whole lot of information for you this week. We only have two days, and we're doing abstinence both days in class. The only thing that they need to be working on is their reading logs, which are due tomorrow. Other than that, have a great week and a happy Thanksgiving!
It's a short week, and I know everyone can't wait to get some time off! I don't have a whole lot of information for you this week. We only have two days, and we're doing abstinence both days in class. The only thing that they need to be working on is their reading logs, which are due tomorrow. Other than that, have a great week and a happy Thanksgiving!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
A slight change for tomorrow
Hello, parents!
So, I was here at the school for a while last night trying to find some cool things to do with The Odyssey, and I came across a really awesome website that I want to share with the kids. I had originally intended to show them a power point presentation tomorrow about Greek mythology, gods, goddesses, etc., but I think they would learn more if they looked the information up on their on on the computers. I reserved the computer lab at the library, and we are going there tomorrow instead of watching the power point. I am going to have some questions that they need to answer about the website, but they should finish it in class. This will be an assignment, but it won't be a very big assignment. Sorry for the late notice, but I thought this would be a pretty cool learning opportunity. Have a great day!
So, I was here at the school for a while last night trying to find some cool things to do with The Odyssey, and I came across a really awesome website that I want to share with the kids. I had originally intended to show them a power point presentation tomorrow about Greek mythology, gods, goddesses, etc., but I think they would learn more if they looked the information up on their on on the computers. I reserved the computer lab at the library, and we are going there tomorrow instead of watching the power point. I am going to have some questions that they need to answer about the website, but they should finish it in class. This will be an assignment, but it won't be a very big assignment. Sorry for the late notice, but I thought this would be a pretty cool learning opportunity. Have a great day!
Monday, November 16, 2009
November 16-24
Hello, parents!
I hope you all had a good weekend and are all going to get some time to spend with your families next week! This week in English is all about finishing up one unit and beginning another. We are bringing our essay unit to a close this week, and then we will be beginning our unit on The Odyssey. Here is a brief run-down of what we will be doing in class this week:
Monday- Vocabulary
Tuesday- Test review
Wednesday- Essay test
Thursday- Begin learning about Homer
Friday- Learning about Greek mythology
Today in class (Monday), we will be getting new vocabulary words and playing a vocabulary game as a review of this week's words and the words of the two previous weeks.
Tuesday and Wednesday in class will be all about the essay test. We will be playing a game of Jeopardy in class tomorrow as a review for the test, and then the essay test will be on Wednesday. the students will be divided into groups for tomorrow's review, and the winning team from each class will receive 5 bonus points on the test. It might be helpful if your child wants to review what we have learned about essays tonight so that he/she can have a better chance of winning the game and receiving bonus points (and Nerds candy, too!). Wednesday will be the test over essays. I had thought about having them do a timed essay in class, but after much thought, I decided to have a test in which they actually answer questions about essays and excerpts from essays.
Thursday, I will be presenting information to the classes about Homer and the time period surrounding The Odyssey. I'll give them some background information before we begin actually reading the story. Friday, I will be doing much of the same thing, except we will be talking about Greek mythology.
Next Monday and Tuesday are almost set in stone, so I thought I would go ahead and explain them as well. I know for certain that we will be doing abstinence training on Monday in class, so they will not be getting any new vocabulary words on that day. Tuesday in class, I'm not sure if we will be doing abstinence or if we will be working on The Odyssey. Either way, their reading logs will be due on Tuesday.
The students don't have much homework this week, since we are beginning a new unit. The main homework that they will have for this week is to study for the test on Wednesday. After that, they should work on their reading logs for next Tuesday.
Thanks again for checking this and staying informed! If you have any questions or concerns about this class, please feel free to let me know! Have a great week and a great Thanksgiving!
I hope you all had a good weekend and are all going to get some time to spend with your families next week! This week in English is all about finishing up one unit and beginning another. We are bringing our essay unit to a close this week, and then we will be beginning our unit on The Odyssey. Here is a brief run-down of what we will be doing in class this week:
Monday- Vocabulary
Tuesday- Test review
Wednesday- Essay test
Thursday- Begin learning about Homer
Friday- Learning about Greek mythology
Today in class (Monday), we will be getting new vocabulary words and playing a vocabulary game as a review of this week's words and the words of the two previous weeks.
Tuesday and Wednesday in class will be all about the essay test. We will be playing a game of Jeopardy in class tomorrow as a review for the test, and then the essay test will be on Wednesday. the students will be divided into groups for tomorrow's review, and the winning team from each class will receive 5 bonus points on the test. It might be helpful if your child wants to review what we have learned about essays tonight so that he/she can have a better chance of winning the game and receiving bonus points (and Nerds candy, too!). Wednesday will be the test over essays. I had thought about having them do a timed essay in class, but after much thought, I decided to have a test in which they actually answer questions about essays and excerpts from essays.
Thursday, I will be presenting information to the classes about Homer and the time period surrounding The Odyssey. I'll give them some background information before we begin actually reading the story. Friday, I will be doing much of the same thing, except we will be talking about Greek mythology.
Next Monday and Tuesday are almost set in stone, so I thought I would go ahead and explain them as well. I know for certain that we will be doing abstinence training on Monday in class, so they will not be getting any new vocabulary words on that day. Tuesday in class, I'm not sure if we will be doing abstinence or if we will be working on The Odyssey. Either way, their reading logs will be due on Tuesday.
The students don't have much homework this week, since we are beginning a new unit. The main homework that they will have for this week is to study for the test on Wednesday. After that, they should work on their reading logs for next Tuesday.
Thanks again for checking this and staying informed! If you have any questions or concerns about this class, please feel free to let me know! Have a great week and a great Thanksgiving!
Monday, November 9, 2009
November 9-13
Hello parents!
It's Monday, which means another update on what your child is doing in English class this week! This week, we are having a writing workshop concerning the essays that they have written. The will be looking at their own writing, as well as other students' writing, to try to improve it and make it as good as possible. Here is a brief run-down of this week:
Monday- get new vocabulary words
Tuesday- writing workshop (introductions)
Wednesday- writing workshop (body paragraphs)
Thursday- writing workshop (conclusions)
Friday- reading logs are due and vocabulary quiz
Today (Monday) in class, I will be introducing new vocabulary words for this week, which will be on Friday's quiz. Also, I am explaining to the classes that the vocabulary quizzes are going to be a little bit different starting this week than they have been in the past. From now on, each week's vocabulary will build on other weeks' on the quizzes. Previously, they were only quizzed on that week's vocabulary, but after seeing the scores on the vocabulary quizzes, I have decided to change things. For example, last week's quiz included only last week's words. This week's quiz will include this week's words, as well as last week's words. Next week's will have three weeks of words, and so on.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are all the same. We will be doing our writing workshop over the essays that they have already written. What I am going to do is divide them into groups of four and have them look at each others' writing to try to make it better. They have specific questions to answer about the writing, and they are supposed to give suggestions to try to make that essay better. Tuesday, we will focus on introduction paragraphs. Wednesday, we will focus on body paragraphs, and Thursday, we will focus on conclusion paragraphs. The students will be working together to try to make their essays and the essays of their peers better, and then they will turn in their revised essays on Monday. They will get a 20 point participation grade for each of these days. If they come to class with their essays and participate in the writing workshop, then they will get the points.
Friday is basically a day of turning in lots of things. Last Thursday in class, I went over all of the missing assignments for each student, and then I gave them class time on Friday to work on what they are missing and get help with any work that they might not completely understand. I told them that they had until this Friday to get everything turned in, so if they still have any work missing (and they should know if they do), then this work will all be due this Friday. After this Friday, I will no longer accept the work, and they will get a zero for that assignment. Also, reading logs are due again this Friday and they have a vocab quiz as well.
Next week in class, we will be wrapping up the essay unit with a test and beginning reading The Odyssey.
The only homework thatyour child should have this week is to finish up his/her reading log and study for Friday's vocabulary quiz. He/she will probably have homework this weekend, which will be rewriting their essays using the suggestions that their peers have given them. They will also need to prepare for next week's essay test.
Once again, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions concerning your child's grade or what we are doing in English class. My email address is kwalls@byngschools.com, or you can call the school to set up an appointment at 580-310-6744. I hope you have a great week!
It's Monday, which means another update on what your child is doing in English class this week! This week, we are having a writing workshop concerning the essays that they have written. The will be looking at their own writing, as well as other students' writing, to try to improve it and make it as good as possible. Here is a brief run-down of this week:
Monday- get new vocabulary words
Tuesday- writing workshop (introductions)
Wednesday- writing workshop (body paragraphs)
Thursday- writing workshop (conclusions)
Friday- reading logs are due and vocabulary quiz
Today (Monday) in class, I will be introducing new vocabulary words for this week, which will be on Friday's quiz. Also, I am explaining to the classes that the vocabulary quizzes are going to be a little bit different starting this week than they have been in the past. From now on, each week's vocabulary will build on other weeks' on the quizzes. Previously, they were only quizzed on that week's vocabulary, but after seeing the scores on the vocabulary quizzes, I have decided to change things. For example, last week's quiz included only last week's words. This week's quiz will include this week's words, as well as last week's words. Next week's will have three weeks of words, and so on.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are all the same. We will be doing our writing workshop over the essays that they have already written. What I am going to do is divide them into groups of four and have them look at each others' writing to try to make it better. They have specific questions to answer about the writing, and they are supposed to give suggestions to try to make that essay better. Tuesday, we will focus on introduction paragraphs. Wednesday, we will focus on body paragraphs, and Thursday, we will focus on conclusion paragraphs. The students will be working together to try to make their essays and the essays of their peers better, and then they will turn in their revised essays on Monday. They will get a 20 point participation grade for each of these days. If they come to class with their essays and participate in the writing workshop, then they will get the points.
Friday is basically a day of turning in lots of things. Last Thursday in class, I went over all of the missing assignments for each student, and then I gave them class time on Friday to work on what they are missing and get help with any work that they might not completely understand. I told them that they had until this Friday to get everything turned in, so if they still have any work missing (and they should know if they do), then this work will all be due this Friday. After this Friday, I will no longer accept the work, and they will get a zero for that assignment. Also, reading logs are due again this Friday and they have a vocab quiz as well.
Next week in class, we will be wrapping up the essay unit with a test and beginning reading The Odyssey.
The only homework thatyour child should have this week is to finish up his/her reading log and study for Friday's vocabulary quiz. He/she will probably have homework this weekend, which will be rewriting their essays using the suggestions that their peers have given them. They will also need to prepare for next week's essay test.
Once again, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions concerning your child's grade or what we are doing in English class. My email address is kwalls@byngschools.com, or you can call the school to set up an appointment at 580-310-6744. I hope you have a great week!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Assignments/ Missing Work
Hello parents!
I just wanted to let you know that about 99% of my grades are in the computer on Power School. If they have turned work in yesterday or today, it is not graded, but the rest should be in. I've been going through the missing assignment list today with them in class and letting each student know everything that he/she is missing. They should know what they are missing and be making a list of that work today. I have been telling each class that they have until next Friday to get all missing work turned in, and I am giving them class time tomorrow to work on it. Hopefully, everything will get turned in! I hope you have a good day and a great weekend!
Katy Walls
I just wanted to let you know that about 99% of my grades are in the computer on Power School. If they have turned work in yesterday or today, it is not graded, but the rest should be in. I've been going through the missing assignment list today with them in class and letting each student know everything that he/she is missing. They should know what they are missing and be making a list of that work today. I have been telling each class that they have until next Friday to get all missing work turned in, and I am giving them class time tomorrow to work on it. Hopefully, everything will get turned in! I hope you have a good day and a great weekend!
Katy Walls
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Another side note
Another side note: I realize that your students' grades might not be as up-to-date as you would like them to be. Don't automatically assume that they aren't turning in their assignmets; I am sort of behind on grading right now, and I am doing my best on this "mental health day" to get grades put in! Sorry for the inconvenience!
November 2-6
Hello parents!
Sorry that this didn't get updated yesterday. Things are a little bit crazy for me right now! Here is a look at the week ahead:
Monday: New vocabulary a vocabulary quiz (from last week's words)
Tuesday: Essay workbook pages and essay
Wednesday: Look at released items and begin writers' workshop
Thursday: Continue writers' workshop
Friday: Writers' workshop
The plans for this week aren't necessarily set in stone right now. It kind of depends on how long it takes to do this writers' workshop, which we have begun this week. Basically, the kids will be looking at student essays on released items from old EOI tests, as well as other students' essays and their own essays. As a class, we will work on how to make the released item essays better, and then we will break into groups for the other aspects of the workshop. This is the first workshop that I have ever done, so I'm not completely sure how long it will take to get some of this stuff done. This is why I say that the lessons for this week are kind of "up in the air" for right now. The point of this writing workshop is to hopefully make their essay- writing skills better. They will be taking another EOI test at the end of next year, so I'm working on helping them with that. We will be looking at several samples of writing and trying to make it better, and hopefully, they will get some ideas from others on how to make their writing better.
Monday in class, we learned new vocabulary words, and they will have a 10 point quiz over these words on Friday. Today in class, they are doing two workbook pages over writing essays, and I have asked them to choose one of the topics and write a 5 paragraph essay over it. Technically, this essay is due tomorrow, but I understand that, although I wished it would be number one in their hearts, essay writing sometimes takes a backseat to other things in life. I hope that they will have those ready by tomorrow, but they don't actually NEED them in class until Thursday. The essay and workbook pages from today are a 20 point homework assignment.
Thursday and Friday, we will continue with this writers' workshop, and Friday there will be a quiz over the vocabulary words from today. This week, the only homework that they have in my class is tonight's essay and to read for their reading logs, which are due again on November 13.
Have a great week, and I apologize again for the late post!
Sorry that this didn't get updated yesterday. Things are a little bit crazy for me right now! Here is a look at the week ahead:
Monday: New vocabulary a vocabulary quiz (from last week's words)
Tuesday: Essay workbook pages and essay
Wednesday: Look at released items and begin writers' workshop
Thursday: Continue writers' workshop
Friday: Writers' workshop
The plans for this week aren't necessarily set in stone right now. It kind of depends on how long it takes to do this writers' workshop, which we have begun this week. Basically, the kids will be looking at student essays on released items from old EOI tests, as well as other students' essays and their own essays. As a class, we will work on how to make the released item essays better, and then we will break into groups for the other aspects of the workshop. This is the first workshop that I have ever done, so I'm not completely sure how long it will take to get some of this stuff done. This is why I say that the lessons for this week are kind of "up in the air" for right now. The point of this writing workshop is to hopefully make their essay- writing skills better. They will be taking another EOI test at the end of next year, so I'm working on helping them with that. We will be looking at several samples of writing and trying to make it better, and hopefully, they will get some ideas from others on how to make their writing better.
Monday in class, we learned new vocabulary words, and they will have a 10 point quiz over these words on Friday. Today in class, they are doing two workbook pages over writing essays, and I have asked them to choose one of the topics and write a 5 paragraph essay over it. Technically, this essay is due tomorrow, but I understand that, although I wished it would be number one in their hearts, essay writing sometimes takes a backseat to other things in life. I hope that they will have those ready by tomorrow, but they don't actually NEED them in class until Thursday. The essay and workbook pages from today are a 20 point homework assignment.
Thursday and Friday, we will continue with this writers' workshop, and Friday there will be a quiz over the vocabulary words from today. This week, the only homework that they have in my class is tonight's essay and to read for their reading logs, which are due again on November 13.
Have a great week, and I apologize again for the late post!
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