senior composition/mpcc dual credit · of journalism writing and photography assignments. students...
TRANSCRIPT
Mrs. Bauerle - English I, II, IV:
English IV: Seniors completed part of a small
unit of study about self-advocacy, assertive
behavior vs. passive or aggressive behavior.
They also took a vocabulary test, which
covered twenty words. Next week, we will
practice assertive behavior, begin another
vocabulary unit, and begin an American
Reading Company research unit.
English I and English II: Both groups put in a
lot of reading time so that we can complete
their dystopian novels next week. Expect
Tuesday - Friday to be busy with quizzes,
writing assignments, and a test next week.
Mrs. Stephenson - English III & Media:
If your students has missed school, please have them
check their email for daily work updates. Missing work
will go in as a zero. The quarter ends Friday.
English III: This week English III worked on ACT
Bootcamp - our first of three week-long ACT studies.
Students completed practice tests and discussed the
reasoning behind answers. Students also learned
general tips and tricks for taking the test. On Friday, we
ended homecoming week with a vocabulary game -
Taboo! This coming week, we will begin our
informational writing unit on WWII.
CCS Media: This week we designed our 2020-2021
yearbook cover. Students have been working hard
completing necessary processes to have a successful
yearbook this year. Students spent this week with
cameras in classes taking pictures of homecoming
related activities.
Mrs. Hagan - English IV:
Senior Composition/MPCC Dual Credit:
We will be introducing a new research unit with a
compare and contrast essay! Students will compare
and contrast a contemporary issue of their choice
between the United States and another country of
their choosing.
On Friday, 10/16, there will be a vocabulary quiz.
I look forward to meeting you all at parent-teacher
conferences on Monday, 10/19!
Please never hesitate to contact me with questions!
Thank you!
END of QUARTER, October 16!
It’s amazing how quickly the first quarter has flown by. Along with their class work, students have been busy with projects, practices, games, other activities, and work. Many students have been out of school due to illness and quarantining. The challenge of keeping up for both students and teachers is real! It’s important for all students to check Infinite Campus and complete all first-quarter work to end strong!
Mrs. Bauerle - English I, II, IV:
Where have the weeks gone?! It seems that we just
started school yesterday! Both English I and
English II classes are continuing to read their
novels--Uglies and Killer of Enemies. Both fall into
the dystopian genre, which is a fairly new genre to
a majority of students. I am enjoying the students’
reactions, insights, and opinions through their
writing and discussions. In general, students are
not as excited about our informational texts, but
we are learning! The freshmen are reading about
‘Privacy and Surveillance’, which gives us food for
thought for our novel. The sophomores are reading
about ‘Political Systems’, which gives insight into
our novel. Both of these ethical debate books give
us knowledge and opportunity to think about the
world we live in. The freshmen and sophomores
do make our world a better place!
They’re awesome!
Mrs. Stephenson - English III & Media:
English III: Students will be taking their vocabulary
quiz for unit two on Monday (10/5). Additionally, book
review essays from our first unit - ARC Literacy Lab -
are due Monday at the end of class. We have been
working on drafting, revising, and editing these pieces
for the last week while interpreting and applying
teacher and peer feedback. We will start out first ACT
Bootcamp of the school year this coming week where
we work specifically on ACT test prep and techniques
in order to make students more successful on their
Spring ACT.
CCS Media: Students have been finishing their first set
of Journalism writing and Photography assignments.
Students continue to cover photos at events. This
coming week, we will work on assigning pages on the
Yearbook ladder, and we will design the custom
yearbook cover.
Mrs. Hagan - English IV:
Senior Composition/MPCC Dual Credit:
This upcoming week, we will be starting our Core
novel, “Human Rights” by Andrew Clapham. While
reading this book, we will discuss the history and
development of human rights, bringing the issues
up to date by considering current controversial
topics.
On Friday, we will have a vocabulary quiz over our
10 new vocab words.
Let me know if you have any questions!
Favorite student quotes this week: “I finished my fourth book!”
“Can we read today?” “I love the book I’m reading.”
“The genre of a book is like the breed of a dog!”
“This vocabulary is fun!”
Juniors and 8th Graders have officially read 141 books (combined) so far this school year!! Great job,
students!
Mrs. Bauerle - English I, II, IV:
English IV: Seniors completed the ACT on
Tuesday, found books to read for independent
reading, spent some time talking about
employability, and actually did some independent
reading. Next week, we will address self-advocacy,
take on ten new vocabulary words, finalize
personal essays, and take a vocab test.
English II: We had a routine week: we continued
our fiction and nonfiction core texts, wrote
responses as well as summaries, and discussed
both the novel and political systems.
Next Wednesday, sophomores will take the ACT
readiness test.
English I: Students continued to read Uglies and
“Privacy & Surveillance”, discussed and wrote
about each text, and did some independent
reading.
Mrs. Stephenson - English III & Media:
Confucius once said, “Choose a job you love, and you
will never have to work a day in your life.” I truly feel
this quote resonate each day that I am privileged to get
to spend time with your awesome student(s)!
English III:
This week students dug into the world of analysis
writing. We are trying to make the move from writing
short responses to writing well developed paragraphs
that argue a point and use evidence for support. Next
week, students will work on polishing an analysis essay
and will have their second vocabulary quiz. Juniors
will take the Pre-ACT on Wednesday, September 30.
Media:
Students are working together to get picture coverage
of events and publish content for the school
newspaper. Last year’s yearbooks will ship out October
9th.
Mrs. Hagan - English IV:
Senior Composition/MPCC Dual Credit:
This week, we will focus on business
writing. We will learn how to write cover
letters, resumes, and business memos. On
Friday, October 2nd, we will have a
vocabulary quiz.
Let me know if you have any questions!
A sense of humor is important!
With that said, it’s also essential for writers to
acknowledge that writing represents their
thinking on paper, writing is hard work, and
editing is an essential step in the process .
We continue to work on this skill!
j
Mrs. Stephenson - English III & Media:
It has been another awesome week! Seeing your
student(s) in class makes my day!!
English III:
On Friday, we had our first vocabulary quiz.
These quizzes will occur every other Friday. Our
next one will be Oct. 2! Students are continuing
their out-of-class required reading, and we are
continuing our core novels as discussed in the last
newsletter. We are working toward analysis
writing using figurative language. Juniors will take
the Pre-ACT on Wednesday, September 30.
Media:
Students have been separated into groups. Group
A is working on newspaper writing, and group B
is working on photography. Next week will
switch.
Mrs. Bauerle - English I, II, IV:
English IV: ACT testing is on Tuesday, September
22. We have looked at strategies and taken practice
tests throughout the first month of school.
Students also completed a personal essay with
scholarship applications in mind! Yes, Senior Year!
English II: We jumped into our informational text
to learn more about Authoritarianism and
Democracy. We worked on recognizing central
ideas and finding text evidence in our reading.
Each student wrote summaries to demonstrate
his/her understanding of the text. It is challenging
to remain objective!
English I: We read and discussed informational
text about ‘privacy and surveillance’ and each class
demonstrated insight and personal connection to
the topic. We read a bit of our core text together.
They completed their first grammar test last week!
As we read, we write (and speak) ourselves into existence.
-- Robert Probst
All students continue their work in an ARC Literacy
Lab, which is designed for their individual grade levels.
Each lab consists of two high-interest, core texts, which
means the class reads the grade-level books together.
Each fictional core text is paired with a nonfiction book,
which provides information, vocabulary, and discussion
designed to create deeper understanding of the novel.
We are truly excited about the books we are reading!
We will continue to complete IRLA’s (See last week’s
newsletter for more information about the independent
reading level assessment)
All students are required to complete and log outside reading;
therefore, there is always FUN homework to do!
We are dedicated to our English students and their growth as
readers, writers, speakers, and thinkers. We are loving our
books, our class time, and our students.
Mrs. Bauerle, Mrs. Hagan, Mrs. Stephenson
Mrs. Hagan - English IV:
Senior Composition/MPCC Dual Credit:
On Tuesday, September 22, Seniors will take the
ACT. We have been preparing for the ACT in class
and I can’t wait to see how they apply what they’ve
learned this year!
Their narrative papers are due Thursday,
September 24.
We will begin our lesson on business writing over
the next few weeks and then dive into a Cause and
Effect unit.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to
email me!
Mrs. Bauerle - English I, II, IV:
English I:
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, is our fictional core text, which is a
great book and has inspired great discussions, responses,
thought-provoking questions, and self-reflection.
This week, we will jump into our nonfiction core text,
Privacy and Surveillance, by Cath Senker.
We will continue developing writing skills-- two or three
times a week. (Some pieces will be ‘quick writes’; others will be
revised and edited.)
On Wednesday, 9/16, students will have a preposition test
and grammar studies will be incorporated through our writing
projects and mini-lessons.
English II:
Sophomores are reading fictional core text Killer of Enemies
by Joseph Bruchac and Political Systems by Scott Witmer. (We
have just begun the nonfiction which will enhance our
understanding of our novel.
We are focusing on developing vocabulary through context
in our daily reading but will begin our concentrated study of
vocabulary this week, with daily work and a test bi-monthly.
English IV: ACT Prep, Vocabulary, Personal essays
(More information next week!)
Mrs. Stephenson - English III & Media:
I am excited to teach your student(s) this year!
English III:
Juniors are participating in choice reading while also
working through Non-Fiction (Science Fiction: A Very
Short Introduction) and Fiction (Steampunk!) core texts
as a class. Students are required to read two hours outside
of class each week in their chosen novel. Additionally,
students will have a vocabulary test every two weeks
throughout the course of the school year; the first
vocabulary test is on 9/18/20.
Media:
Students learned about the ethics and laws of Journalism.
In coming weeks, students will learn about photography
and begin working on the school newspaper and
yearbook. Please visit longhornscene.com.
Please sign up for Remind to receive assignment reminders for your
student. I sent out an email with instructions earlier this school year.
Mrs. Hagan - English IV:
A bit about the American Reading Company (ARC)
English I, II, & III
All students are engaged in the ARC Literacy Labs
designed for their individual grade levels. Each lab
consists of two high-interest, core texts, which means
the class reads the grade-level books together. Each
fictional core text is paired with a nonfiction book,
which provides information, vocabulary, and discussion
designed to create deeper understanding of the novel.
We are truly excited about the books we are reading!
All students will be completing their IRLA (individual
reading level assessment) as soon as possible. Students
meet one-on-one with their teacher, who assesses their
level of reading engagement, their word attack skills,
their vocabulary, and their reading level. (The IRLA
indicates the level a student can read independently with ease
and may guide students when they select their independent
reading books; students are not limited by their IRLA.)
All students are required to complete and log outside reading;
therefore, there is always FUN homework to do!
“If a book is well written, I always find it too short.”
Senior Composition/MPCC Dual Credit:
We have had a great start to our year!
This week we will have a vocabulary quiz
on Friday. We will work on developing
editing skills and revising our narrative
essays while exploring how to add
multiple story lines into one narrative.
We will continue to study ACT questions
daily.
Please email me with any questions!