August 25 - 29

This week we'll work lay the groundwork for some of the skills we'll learn this semester, including reading strategies and writing a persuasive response to literature. We'll begin a brief unit called, "Hip Hop Goes Global," including an essay by James McBride included in Best African American Essays in 2009.

MONDAY: Pass back Tweet assignment, start work on Part II of Tweet assignment.  Go to the library for tour of all of the available services, and to find an independent reading book.

TUESDAY: Sentence stem gallery walk around the classroom.  Share impressions with a partner and actively listen.  Quickwrite.

WEDNESDAY: Silent Sustained Reading Day and whole class whiparound exercise. Due: Every Day vocab sheet.

THURSDAY: Vocabulary Scaffold Organizer.  Make predictions about Hip Hop essay.  Read essay. HW: Vocabulary due on Tuesday. 

FRIDAY: Current event article or video.  Class discussion, written response.  HW: Universal outline - response in phrases about spying on teen article for Tuesday, Tweet due Tuesday, Hip hop article vocabulary due on Tuesday.

Enjoy Labor Day weekend, and we'll meet next Tuesday!

Welcome!

Welcome to 9th Grade College Prep English/Language Arts!  I am very excited to be your teacher, and I'm looking forward to a challenging, rewarding, and enjoyable year.  Below is our schedule for the first week:

Tuesday - First day of school!  "Great Wall of Happiness" exercise, syllabus handouts, overview of class, teacher and student contracts.  Homework (HW):  Please bring back signed syllabus for Friday.

Wednesday - Interest inventory exercise. Independent reading overview. HW: Bring independent reading book of your choice (age and school appropriate) to class next Wednesday for check off.

Thursday - Summer reading book Tweet exercise.  HW: Finish Tweet activity for Friday.

Friday - Introduction to "current event and vocab" Fridays.  Current event article/SOAPS activity, vocabulary activity.  Every Day paragraph assignment.  HW:  A Day in the Life of You due Monday.  Independent reading book due in class Wednesday.