C-Rod's English Classes: June 2009

WAY TO GO! FCAT READING!

The following students made some serious learning gains on the FCAT Reading! One learning gain is 77 points over last year's score. Here are those students, along with the number of gains made. For example, 5 gains equals a 385 point improvement from last year. (AMAZING!) Remember, for every gain, your name is entered into the drawing for two $100 gift cards, which will be done in August when we return.

5 Learning Gains - Rick B.
4 Learning Gains - Stephanie R. , Moises R.
3 Learning Gains - Ernesto B., Jessica Mart., Claudia P., Carlos, B., Tyrone L., Genesis F., Claudia S., Henry L.
2 Learning Gains - Esther A., Aman A., Anthony A., Mabit G., Marvin M., Blanca R., Dyanne Z., Juan C., Maria R., Michelle G., Ivana G., David A., Ashley A., Moises B., Regina F., Christopher G., Kharla S.
1 Learning Gain - Brian C., Javier C., Karina G., Jessica Men., Aileen M., Isaac Q., Katherine Q., Araceli Q., Mayara V., Paul M., Gissele R., Silvia D., Danny F., Ibis I., Niccole L., Krisy V., William V., Antonella C., Michael F., Valorie F., Geisa G., Michelle M., Christian R., Dimesha S.

OUR SHAKESPEARE DAY CELEBRATION IS COMING SOON! April 23rd is a monumental day in Shakespeare's life, so we are going to have "Shakespeare Day" to celebrate! As the date progresses, I will call on you to get a Renaissance menu together, decorations, games, wardrobe, some poems to recite, some desserts and snacks, all kinds of fun stuff. Each person will play a small in role in celebrating this day. I AM SO EXCITED, and I just wanted to share this with you to give you something to look forward to...with all this paper writing ahead of you. April 23 - Periods 1 & 3 April 24 - Periods 4 & 6

UPDATED
RESEARCH PAPER DUE DATES:

Topic - Saturday, 2/ 28 - 10 points
Thesis Statement - Friday, 3/6 (1st & 3rd period); Monday, 3/9 (6th period) - 10 points
Notes Page & Outline - Friday, March 20 (1st & 3rd); Thursday, 3/19 (6th) - 25 points
Reference Page & Title Page - Wednesday, 3/25 (6th); 3/26 (1st & 3rd) - 25 points
Rough Draft - April 1st (6th); April 2 (1st & 3rd) - 50 points
Final Draft - April 21 (1st & 3rd); April 22 (6th) - 50 points

TOTAL POINTS - 170

We will work on this piece by piece, so do not worry. I am here to guide you, support you and teach you...not fail you! YOU CAN DO THIS!

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Our Student STAR Spectacular!

Below is a video of the photos from our Student Spectacular on May 28th. (Give it time to buffer, and pause the playlist at the bottom of the blog.)

I want to thank you and your parents for coming out and sharing our successes. It was my privilege to be your teacher this year! I love you all!

Grades, Grades, Grades....AGAIN!

Everything is graded, but I am having problems logging onto the electronic gradebook. I guess all the teachers are trying to input grades, too. I will try again in the morning (or later tonight).

Other than the two essays for 3rd and 6th, I am DONE grading!!!! Yay!

Most of you did REALLY WELL! I am so proud. Some of you dropped the ball, but I know you will do better next school year.

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FINAL DRAFTS - Due 5/26, period 3

What am I looking for in your final draft (aside from some mind-blowing analysis)?

1. Take the suggestions I wrote on your draft seriously. Fix those errors first.
2. If I see any of these pronouns, I will deduct a point: you, your, me, I, we, our, us. If they are inside a quote from the book, then you are all right!
3. Get their/there/they're STRAIGHT
4. Plot summary is a BIG no, no!
5. In your intro, build up to the thesis.
6. If you use a quote from the book, explain how it relates to your claim, thesis, ideas, etc.
7. NO errors on your title & ref. pages!
8. NEVER start off a sentence with "also" or "so!" I taught you some kick butt transitions, so use them.
9. Organization is key. Your writing should be pattern-like for now. You need a topic sentence, then state your claim or idea, include some proof or an example (quote or paraphrase), explain how that quote relates to your idea, comment on it some more, then tie-it-all together in a closing statement or two. Do this for EVERY body paragraph!
10. Like FCAT Writes, you need a killer conclusion. A lame conclusion is like farting at the end of a perfect date.
11. Alive words!
12. No run-ons or fragments!

We're almost done, baby! SMILE!

C-Rod's Reward Program for Reading: If you make a learning gain (a 77-point improvement from last year's score), your name will go into my drawing for two $100 Visa gift cards. For every 25 points over the 77 minimum, your name will be entered into the drawing again. For example, if you make a gain of 127 points, your name will go into my drawing 3 times. Since I am buying two gift cards for this drawing, you could very well win twice! That's $200!

For my kids who've never taken the FCAT, your name will be entered if you test at a Level 3. For each level above that, your name will go into the drawing again. YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!!!

TONE WORDS LIST

We are switching up vocab from now until March. We are going to be learning about tone words. This will help you on the FCAT and, more importantly, for lifelong reading, writing and learning! Be aware, however, that will still pull roots from these words and use them. For example, PATH means "feeling" or suffering. You already know that the prefix "A" means not or without, so APATHY would be without feeling. See how it all works??? Print or copy this list and bring it with you to class!
SMILE!Click here for the list of Vocab 6 Tone Words

C-Rod's English Classes

WAY TO GO! FCAT READING!

TWO WAYS TO MAKE AN EXTRA "A":

OUR DAY AT THE MOVIES

Looking Ahead - Research Paper Help

NEWS, NEWS, NEWS!!!!

SECRET LIFE OF BEES NEWS

1960's Playlist

Secret Life of Bees Reading Calendars

Check These Out HGHS Links:

Blog Archive

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Our Student STAR Spectacular!

Grades, Grades, Grades....AGAIN!

Advanced Placement Students!!!

GOOD NEWS! FCAT READING!

OUR CLASS LITERARY MAGAZINE

Video Highlights!

Sample Page for the Portfolio of Poetry

FINAL DRAFTS - Due 5/26, period 3

PORTFOLIO REQUIREMENTS & RUBRIC

CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER!

Monday Misquote

For the birthday folks I won't see over break, this is for you!

For the 10th graders:

6th Period - Click on the link below, print the study guide, and bring it to class Tuesday, 3/17.

Don't Be an Airhead, Get SMART Powerpoint

Vocab Words for Week of 2/3/09

TONE WORDS LIST

FCAT PRACTICE SITES

"ROOTS BEAR FRUITS"

Some newer ones, and some older ones, too!