August 31

Today's WNB: Use you REQUIRED choice from summer reading as your resource for today's entry. Choose one character. How would that character fit in at HHS? Be sure to include the title (underlined) and author in your response.

Students who did not hand in the article of the week yesterday were reminded to do so today.

Students handed in the mini poster from the 3-2-1 assignment.

The written portion of the 3-2-1 assignment is due on Classroom today.

Students sat in groups based on which summer reading book they chose, and we began some literature circle activities, discussing characters, symbols, and themes. We watched the short film "Oktapodi" and looked for characters, symbols, and themes. Students then drew connections between their book and the film.

Students had a little time at the end of class to work on the 3-2-1 assignment (due today) and the reading reflection assignment (due tomorrow).

Today's Board

August 30

I demonstrated how to do a book talk today by introducing students to The Memory of Things by Gae Polisner. Students will share their own titles beginning next week!

Each week, we will read, annotate, and respond to news article in our writer's notebooks. Students learned about this today and practiced with our first article: "Sacrificing sleep? Here's what it will do to your health."

With the remaining class time, students worked on the summer reading reflection (on Classroom, due Friday) or their 3-2-1 assignment (on Classroom, due Thursday).

Today's Board

August 29

We took some time to set up our writer's notebooks today. Students who did not bring their notebooks today should bring them ASAP and meet with me to set them up.

We completed our first notebook entry: Write a letter to yourself when you're 30 (it will be the year 2031/2032. Tell yourself what you want to be remembered for from these teen years and what you think should be important in your life when you're grown up.

We discussed reading expectations, and students began working on a mini-poster and 3-2-1 assignment over their required choice book from the summer. This assignment is posted on Classroom and is due Thursday, 8/31.

Tomorrow, we'll be working with the list of books that students kept for summer reading, so be ready!

Today's Board

August 28

Welcome back!

I introduced myself and my classroom and discussed expectations. Students received a calendar, and we filled in important dates. We signed up for Google Classroom and explored the syllabus. Be sure to share that with your parents this evening and have them complete the form! With the remaining class time, students completed an interest survey.

Tomorrow, we will set up our Writer's Notebooks and begin discussing the required choice from summer reading.

My 2nd period class is scheduled to take school pictures on Thursday, 8/31, so dress accordingly!

Today's Board

Week-at-a-Glance

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog! Here I will share the happenings of my English II PAP classes.

A little about me: I'm starting my 19th year of teaching. I enjoy teaching because something new and different happens every day! I'm a baseball fan (go Rangers!) and an animal advocate. In my free time, I volunteer at an animal shelter. I have two dogs of my own, Boomer and Baxter.

I'm looking forward to a great year of reading, writing, and learning together!

Boomer & Baxter