I know, I write it almost every blog, but time has gone by so fast this year that I cannot believe that we are coming into the last ten weeks of school! It has been a whirlwind year, and a great one as well. Here are some updates on classroom happenings.
Independent Projects; Students have just turned in their second draft of their paper. This edit we will focus on fluency, conventions, and word choices (first draft was for structure and ideas). There are still a few stragglers who have not kept their one-on-one appointment time with me to get them on the right track! Please check in with your student to see how his/her paper is coming along. Physical projects should be well underway by now so that students may incorporate this part of the project into their paper. I am really looking forward to seeing these projects after reading about them!
English/Language Arts; Onward and upward! We are continuing poetry and its analysis when we get back from spring break, culminating in a self-directed anthology. This also gives us practice for our next unit, a historical novel literary circle, in which we will be producing a literary analysis. Smaller units of reading (like poetry) help us practice for the larger body of work. Because of this larger reading assignment, the last personal choice reading journal will be due (and over for the year) on April 15th.
Humanities; Three units left, and boy are they busy times in our nation's history! First, we'll learn about the Constitution and apply it to real life case studies. Then, we'll market the new country overseas with our Early Republic/Manifest Destiny unit. Finally, we'll end the year with a variety of presentations surrounding and complementing the U.S. Civil War. Last year we taught each other about medicine, spying, and what women of all economic and social backgrounds did during the war; I look forward to this unit all year long!
Portfolios; MRA will be holding student-led conferences on May 21st and 22nd, and the Cedars will be presenting their porfolios. Portfolios are a step toward meta cognition-thinking about thinking. The goal of the portfolio is not simply to showcase great work, although that is a part of it. Students may choose work they did poorly in, and I encourage that. Reflection and evaluation of past work can help students learn what needs to be improved in their educational habits, attitudes, and styles. To me, that is just as important as the processes they learn or the grammar they memorize.
As always, please do not hesitate to call or email me if you have any questions. Happy spring break!
Independent Projects; Students have just turned in their second draft of their paper. This edit we will focus on fluency, conventions, and word choices (first draft was for structure and ideas). There are still a few stragglers who have not kept their one-on-one appointment time with me to get them on the right track! Please check in with your student to see how his/her paper is coming along. Physical projects should be well underway by now so that students may incorporate this part of the project into their paper. I am really looking forward to seeing these projects after reading about them!
English/Language Arts; Onward and upward! We are continuing poetry and its analysis when we get back from spring break, culminating in a self-directed anthology. This also gives us practice for our next unit, a historical novel literary circle, in which we will be producing a literary analysis. Smaller units of reading (like poetry) help us practice for the larger body of work. Because of this larger reading assignment, the last personal choice reading journal will be due (and over for the year) on April 15th.
Humanities; Three units left, and boy are they busy times in our nation's history! First, we'll learn about the Constitution and apply it to real life case studies. Then, we'll market the new country overseas with our Early Republic/Manifest Destiny unit. Finally, we'll end the year with a variety of presentations surrounding and complementing the U.S. Civil War. Last year we taught each other about medicine, spying, and what women of all economic and social backgrounds did during the war; I look forward to this unit all year long!
Portfolios; MRA will be holding student-led conferences on May 21st and 22nd, and the Cedars will be presenting their porfolios. Portfolios are a step toward meta cognition-thinking about thinking. The goal of the portfolio is not simply to showcase great work, although that is a part of it. Students may choose work they did poorly in, and I encourage that. Reflection and evaluation of past work can help students learn what needs to be improved in their educational habits, attitudes, and styles. To me, that is just as important as the processes they learn or the grammar they memorize.
As always, please do not hesitate to call or email me if you have any questions. Happy spring break!