11/24/09

GRADE PRINT-OUT AND PARENT SIGNATURE SHEET WILL BE SENT HOME.  PLEASE LOOK AT, SIGN SHEET, AND HAVE YOUR STUDENT RETURN ONLY THE SHEET ON MONDAY.  YOU MAY KEEP THE PRINT-OUT.

HAVE A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING….

ALL 11/22/09

EVERY ONE OF MY STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU AND HAD SIGNED THE SPECIFICS FOR OUR FINAL RESEARCH PAPER. The first one should have helped them learn the process, but many ignored the process!!  They received this on 11/12.  This must accompany the paper when turned in.  The first part due on this paper is the thesis statement – on 11/30.  The final paper is due on 1/5/10. IT IS A MAJOR GRADE (will work out to be about 15% of the 4th quarter grade).

They were all to have done a “practice” essay and properly used the parenthetical and end of paper documentation (Works Cited for MLA, References for APA) in that essay.  THEY HAD ALMOST TWO WEEKS ON THIS.  If your child did not do this properly they will get a poor grade and will be assigned another essay – until they get it right.  This is essential!!  I have extended the deadline until this Tuesday and I am even allowing them to turn it in after the break with a PaynterPoint.  Doing it right is more important to me than getting it in within a time frame.  THEY MUST LOOK AT HOW TO PROPERLY CITE THE ESSAY (MLA OR APA) and not just wing it.  A major part of the grade is for the proper citation, and only a minor part is for the actual essay content.

Between my school site and my edublog there are about a dozen helps for the essay and research paper, and hundreds will come up with any online search for APA/MLA/Literary Analysis/Literary Criticism etc.  IF YOU CHILD HAS ZERO OPPORTUNITY TO USE THE INTERNET – PLEASE ALLOW THEM TO STAY AFTERSCHOOL AND USE THE COMPUTERS IN MY ROOM.  ALL SHOULD BE MAKING TRIPS TO THE LIBRARY. They may also be able to use the library of a local college for the research (don’t wait until the break when they are closed), but may not be able to check material out.

When I was in high school I used to live at the University of Miami Library (had to take two busses).  We did not have computers or copy machines then and had to do note cards.  Student need to back-up their position with authoritative sources, not blogs. They are not the expert on literature, professors of literature are.  They can have an opinion, but this is a research paper, not just an opinion paper.  If they fail to do this in proper form and with the right kind and documentation of research they will get a 50% deduction on the grade.  THOSE WHO DO NOT DO THE RESEARCH WILL NOT GET A PASSING GRADE ON THIS PAPER, NO MATTER HOW GOOD THE WRITING IS.  This paper can be on a number of topics (read the paper you are signing), but it MUST BE LITERARY AND AN ANALYSIS.  Not a biography.  Not a report.  This is a research paper.  It is a Literary Analysis research paper.  Coming up with a strong thesis will be the hardest part of the whole thing – and the most important part.

For my juniors using MLA is not new, but the parenthetical is.  Also, the idea of coming up with your own thesis statement and writing a literary analysis paper are new.  That is why I have used class time, given handouts, presented a PowerPoint, and provided numerous online helps, from coming up with the thesis to citing the paper.  However, they will have to do the work. This is new ground, but ground they MUST till and work if they want to be successful in this and future papers.  They will have papers like this in their senior year and lots of these in college – but without the handholding.

PRINT-OUTS WILL BE GIVEN ON TUESDAY TO ALL.  PLEASE SIGN AND HAVE STUDENT RETURN AFTER THE THANKSGIVING BREAK.

ANY WITH GRADES BELOW A 70 NEED TO ARRANGE FOR AFTERSCHOOL TUTORING NEXT WEEK (11/30-12/4).  PLEASE NOTE ON THE SHEET WHICH DAY YOUR CHILD WILL BE ATTENDING (FOR THOSE UNDER 70).  ALL ARE WELCOMED, BUT THOSE WITH LOW GRADES MUST ATTEND AT LEAST ONE SESSION OR FACE DISCIPLINE.

ALL 11/19/09

THE MID-QUARTER GRADES ARE DUE IN ON MONDAY, SO TUESDAY BEFORE THE BREAK I WILL BE GIVING ALL STUDENTS A PRINT-OUT.  PLEASE WATCH FOR IT AND SIGN.  RETURNED PRINT-OUTS WILL EARN STUDENTS EXTRA CREDIT.  RETURN THE DAY AFTER THE BREAK.

ALL WILL HAVE A MAJOR LITERARY ANALYSIS PROJECT DUE AFTER THE CHRISTMAS BREAK. ENGLISH III WILL DOCUMENT IN MLA STYLE AND ENGLISH IV WILL DOCUMENT IN APA STYLE.  THESIS STATEMENTS ARE DUE AT THE RETURN FROM THANKSGIVING BREAK.   PLEASE ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO NOT MISS ANY OF THE DEADLINES FOR THIS PAPER AND BY NO MEANS IGNORE THEM.

In truth, this paper (the second) is a major grade, but more importantly doing it will help prepare your child for his/her academic future. Papers of this sort are required not only in English, but in other subjects as well.  Learning how to prepare them is accomplished by practice.  No practice – no gained skill.

ALL 11/13/09

Your child has completed one quarter and is well on his/her way in the last one.  Most are doing quite well, but some are getting a bit lazy.

Last quarter your child received two grade print-outs (the whole class).  I hope you saw them.  I am currently playing catch-up with grades.  I was trying to deal with those who have been absent and I was out-of-town for a few days.  My father died this summer and we had a memorial for him, so it could not be helped.   If you want a print-out please have your child sign-up for one and when I get caught up I will send one home.

I have not had a weekly calendar up lately, but I will try to generate one next week.  Please see the Due Date portion to stay on top of larger assignments.  I will up-date frequently.  I do still update the What’s Up Today section daily.  That is the best way to know what your child needs each day.

All 9/23/09

Progress reports will be coming out soon.  Most students are doing well, but some are failing to turn work in or study for tests.  Those who have grades that remain below 70% WILL BE REQUIRED TO COME TO TUTORIAL NEXT WEEK.  Remember that your student may request a print-out by signing up in the classroom.  Please allow at least 24 hours for me to generate this.

On Thursday all students will have their topic for the research paper that is due Oct 16th.  It is a small paper and on a current issue of debate, but my hope is that students will cement the process and be ready for the literary analysis paper of the 2nd quarter.  The main thing is that this is a research paper, not just a personal opinion paper.  REAL AUTHORITATIVE SOURCES MUST BE SOUGHT. Weak, undefended papers will not get a stellar grade and the student will miss the point of the lesson.  THIS GRADE WILL BE THE MAJOR GRADE FOR THIS QUARTER IN THE PROJECT/PAPER PORTION.

ALL 9/16/09

GRADE SHEETS GO OUT TODAY.  ASK TO SEE IT.

PLEASE KEEP THE SHEET AND SIGN THE ATTACHED FORM.

HAVE YOUR CHILD RETURN THE FORM TOMORROW.

THANKS.

ALL (9/15/09)

IT WAS GREAT MEETING SOME OF YOU AT THE OPEN HOUSE.

TOMORROW I WILL BE SENDING HOME A GRADE PRINT-OUT.  YOU NEED TO KEEP THE PRINT-OUT, BUT FILL IN AND RETURN THE ATTACHED SHEET.

A MATERIAL FEE ($10 FOR IV) AND ($15 FOR ENGLISH III/ENGLISH III HONORS) IS  DUE.  I HAVE PURCHASED BOOKS THAT WILL BE HANDED OUT TO STUDENTS (MAKES UP MOST OF THE FEE).  ALSO, STUDENTS MAY PURCHASE A COPY OF THE HOW TO READ LITERATURE LIKE A PROFESSOR for $11.  All English III Honors are required to have a copy of this book.

ALL (8/30/09)

We are underway.  I hope you don’t feel buried in paper, but you should have seen a ton this past week.  Hopefully you have signed and returned some, and initialed two check-off sheets that show you have at least glanced over the rest.  MOST ARE ALSO POSTED ON THIS SITE, SO DON’T PANIC.

Because I did not get my class list during the summer there was no “summer reading”, so those materials are being weaved in.   As you may notice, there is going to be a material fee in each class and the honors students must purchase there own copy of How to Read Literature Like a Professor. I HAVE ORDERED BOOKS AND THEY WILL BE $11 EACH.  If you have your own already, that is great.

OPEN HOUSE IS THURSDAY, SEPT. 6TH, STARTING AT 6:00 PM.

PLEASE COME.  STUDENTS GET A PAYNTER POINT FOR EACH PARENT OR STEP-PARENT IN ATTENDANCE, AND YOU GET AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT TO EXPECT THIS YEAR.   EVEN SENIOR PARENTS NEED TO ATTEND.

IF YOU ARE NOT PAL APPROVED AND WANT TO VOLUNTEER AT SCHOOL THIS YEAR – YOU MUST GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.

REMEMBER – THEY ALWAYS HAVE HOMEWORK.  THE QRA REQUIRES THEY READ 15-20 PAGES A DAY.  THE FIRST “PARENT SIGNED-OFF ON” TURN-IN OF THE SHEET IS MONDAY.  THEY SHOULD BE AT 100 PAGES MINIMUM.

All (7-16-09)

This school year I will be teaching regular and honors classes for English III and English IV.  I make a concerted effort to keep both parents and students informed on what is expected.  Please make it a point to check my school site and edublog daily.  There is no substitute to being in class, but if your child has to miss, please make sure they do the work assigned and make anything missed up in a timely manner.  I WILL NOT CHASE AFTER THEM and I will give a zero for work not done.

When I get my student list I will contact those who have honors classes to give them summer reading assignments.  All students will be working in the book, How to Read Literature Like a Professor.  I have a class set, but buying this book would be a good investment for now and the future.  Every student needs to have a personal copy of The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White (ISBN 0-205-19158-4) and a USB (to store data).

During the first week a mountain of paperwork will come home.  Please read these before signing. Make a copy if you like (most will also be posted on one of the websites).  Students also need to read these forms and abide by what they say.  Ignorance is a lack of knowledge or information.  I commit to keep you in the loop, so there is no need for ignorance.  There is an accounting of sorts on the edublog (so you will know what you should have gotten).  I will also make note in several places when I am sending home a grade print-out, so you can ask to see it.  At any time individual print-outs can be requested by students (form in class) and I will get one to you ASAP.

It is highly suggested that students have a separate notebook for English.  I give out one copy of handouts.  If lost, students can make their own copy for many of the handouts from one of my two sites. For the most part these handouts need to be in the notebook.  I may have a pop quiz from time to time on material that is suppose to be in the notebook (open notebook).  There will be a class file to store returned work.  Keeping these papers will help when we have the mid-term or final, or for any grade disputes.

I highly suggest that you plan to attend the open-house.  Not sure of the date at this time.  Not only do students get an extra Paynter Point for each parent that attends, but I get to put a face to a name. When you see the set-up of the room you will better understand how much information is posted for students.  If they say they don’t know what they are suppose to do, ask if they listened, looked on the board, checked the calendar, and looked at the websites.  Also, I am available to students most days at lunch and afterschool.

Remember – they always have homework!  The Quarterly Reading Requirement calls for around 15 pages a day, there is vocabulary to study, class books, projects, and papers.  There may not be something that is “due” the next day, but each day should include some time spent on the bigger projects.  Do them in little bites and they will be easy, don’t and they will become overwhelming. Learning to juggle work is not only good practice for college, but is an essential life skill.