Antigone

Today, I had the students write up referrals for the Antigone, Haemon, and Ismene as though they were students here at AHS. They had fun doing this and it was another creative way of presenting information and their understanding The only wish I would request (Oh Great Genie Karl) is that I could have still accessed the referral template online. I was also considering taking some real referral for them to use but I wasn't sure if that was a misuse of school property.

CD project

My students are creating CD's for their next presentation of an outside reading book. They need to create a CD that reflects a particular literary element of their outside reading book. Along with the CD, they need printed lyrics and to make connections between the literary element, the lyrics, and the book. As well, I require some background on the book (like you would get on the CD jacket of the music group). Last year they were very interesting and quite good to hear. Just a different means of presentation!

Another variation of this project is that they can do a personal compilation CD of the main character. Teens always make their own playlists on their Ipods and CD's , why not do one for the main character of an outside reading book?

Grammar!!!

I typically do grammar units with my freshman because they don't recall grammar from middle school. We go over the lessons from their Writer's Inc. lessons, they take notes and put down examples. The following day we have a quiz over the material we prevously covered. The quizzes aren't that challenging, but on this last quiz they bombed. becuase of their low scores, I had them go back over the quiz rewriting the paragraphs with the correct punctuation and what rule goes with the correct mark of punctuation. It took them all hour and not many complained. They also appreciated the opportunity to make up the points. I guess the point of this post is when are they ever going to get and apply grammar? Any good ideas on teaching grammar? In the past I have had them create examples, but their examples still don't demonstrate their learned knowledge. They would basically use the same format as the book's examples and just replace words. Help!

Grading- It's fun for everyone

I continued with the students grading each other's summary response papers for their second summary response. Then on their final summary response paper of which they found the criticism on A Separate Peace, I returned the papers to them with just my comments and a rubric attached. They were to then schedule a time this week to come in and conference with me about their paper and together we determined a grade for their paper. I am going to ask some of them to comment to this post so we can all see their reactions. It was interesting to see how difficult it was for some of them to come up with point values and actually assign a grade to their work.

Computer challenge

I am frustrated at times with the lack of computer lab time. I wanted to do more editing with my regular ninth graders in a computer lab using Microsoft Word during our writing of the Freshmen persuasuve essay, but alas everyone has signed up for my days! Just needed to vent; maybe the higher powers are really telling me to get on the Writely ban wagon. Alright, I am better now.

Computer challenge

I am frustrated at times with the lack of computer lab time. I wanted to do more editing with my regular ninth graders in a computer lab using Microsoft Word during our writing of the Freshmen persuasuve essay, but alas everyone has signed up for my days! Just needed to vent; maybe the higher powers are really telling me to get on the Writely ban wagon. Alright, I am better now.

I am really giving up control

I stayed up late last night grading the first of three summary response papers and decided I could not bring myself to assign a letter grade/ number grade to their papers. Instead I simply gave them feedback. When I got to class I decided (per Cara's leadership) that I would let them determine what grade they should receive on their paper keeping in mind my comments, one other editor's comments, and our established expectations for a summary response. Although they graded each other a little easier than I would have, they provided each other with invaluable counsel and feedback. I am glad I took the risk. I have two more of these to go and am not sure if I want to contiue down that path again or if they will take advatage of the situation.