PROGRESS REPORTS

Progress reports will be given out on FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26th.
This is also the day we will have a full period test.

HOMEWORK #9 is to sign the report, have a parent sign the report, and return it.

HOMEWORK #8 was a handout. If you don't have it, see me.

TEST NEXT WEEK!

On Friday, 9/26, all classes will have a full-period Flowers For Algernon exam. This will include the vocabulary words. It will be a mix of multiple choice and short answers. BE READY!

Thoughts on the past week, and progress reports.

As I've said, I'm very happy with the attendance. However, it also confuses me. If you are in class everyday, why not do the work? You can't pass just by being there. Would you rather take English in summer school? It would be a better summer if you stay out of school. When you constantly talk, you slow yourself down and your work suffers or doesn't get done at all. When everyone talks, that slows down the entire class and everyone suffers.

Progress reports will be given out early next week. Many of you will see comments like "doesn't pay attention," "constant disruption," and "needs to do classwork." These will drastically lower your grade. There are still about three weeks left in the marking period. It is not too late to turn around your grade.

Many of you will see great comments, like "great participation" and "an asset in class." I already can see who has the potential to earn a 90, 95, or above.

For all of you who participate, who do the work, and make the class better, Thank You.

Flowers For Algernon

We've gotten to the part where Charlie has his operation and we are beginning to make predictions about the outcome. We're also talking about some of the important people in his life.

HOMEWORK #6 was to define each of these vocabulary words and use them in a sentence:
PSYCHOLOGY
SUPERSTITION
SCIENCE
NEUROLOGY

HOMEWORK #7 was a handout. See me if you missed it.

Recent Homework and NEWS

HOMEWORK #4 was to pretend that your life is a story.
1- What was the plot of your story (your life) today?
2- What was the setting?
3- Who were the characters?
4- What were the conflicts?


QUIZ ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On Monday we will have a short Literary Terms quiz. It will be similar in format to today's Do Now. I will give you examples of literary terms and you will have to name them. If you come in late you will miss the quiz. It will only take 10 minutes.

HOMEWORK #5 was to correct the paragraph on the handout. That is the first page of our new novel, which we will begin on Monday.

Thanks!

Thank You to all of you who left comments. And for those of you who read Dave Pelzer's A Child Called "It," that was one of my favorite books too.

Reflections On My First Week At McKee

I’ve taught in NYC for the past nine years but this was my first week at McKee. I’d like to share some of my thoughts as well as catch you up on the recent doings in my English class.

I was happily surprised to see how high the attendance has been. As you know, you can’t pass if you don’t go to class. Let’s keep up the great showing.

An even nicer surprise was seeing how many of my students came prepared, on Day One, with notebooks, pens, and paper, ready to work. I’ve been very pleased with the students who walk into 419 and read the board, copy the homework, and begin the Do Now on their own. Thank you all. You’re already on the road to getting a high grade.

As much as I have enjoyed my classes, there are still some things that need work. At McKee, teaching goes from bell to bell. Opening notebooks, copying homework, starting the Do Now- those are all automatic. Some of you still need to be reminded to open your backpacks. And never pack up before the bell because I teach up to the bell.

Overall, I’ve seen that in my classes there are a lot of students who will do well. There are some smart young adults and good writers there. However, some students still need to remember that you are not in English class to talk to your friends. You are there to learn and when you ignore instruction and talk you are missing class time and are robbing yourself of the instruction and support to succeed, as well as the people you bother and distract. Period four, especially, needs to step up.

I’m going to use this blog to keep a record of past assignments and show how the homework ties in to the class work.

HOMEWORK #1 was a short explanation of five things you would do if you were elected President of the United States of America. This 3/4 page assignment was preparation for our first essay. It was the brainstorming stage before we began the first draft of an essay in class.

HOMEWORK #2 was a assignment to summarize any article that interested you from any newspaper. Completing this homework was critical to our next day’s class work as we used that as the beginning to a Read! Write ! Illustrate! exercise. If you skipped that homework you found yourself behind in class.

HOMEWORK #3 was simply to come to this website and leave a comment. This was to introduce you to my blog.

I will update this blog once or twice a week. It is my hope that this will become a good resource for my students, but also for their parents to keep track of the doings in my English class. Progress reports will be mailed soon and I hope to see you all next month on Open School Night.