Jennifer Holzhausen's Homework Blog

April 29, 2008 (Blue)

B1 and B2 - Collected some final drafts of the Research paper.  Collected journals.  Students took the first half of the English 11 Core 40 End of Course Assessment today.  No assignment unless you are one of the students who needs to turn in a final draft packet on Thursday.

B3 - Checked outline rough drafts.  Ran through the Powerpoint lecture over Plagiarism and how to avoid it.  Peer-edited outlines.  Went to the computer lab for the rest of the period to begin drafting the trend paper.  I have the Writing Plans graded and recorded. I will get those back to you on Thursday.  I have 3 junior research paper rough drafts left, then I can hit the Comparative Analysis rough drafts for you guys... realistically, it probably won't happen until this weekend.  After I finish commenting on those, I'll get the Comparative Critiques graded for you so you have a better idea about your grades at this point.  We're getting down to the wire, and all I can tell you is that I am doing what I can to keep my head above water.... Most of the time I feel like I'm just spinning my wheels.  How are you guys doing? Hang in there!  Only 18 more days!!!!  :)  Assignment:  Rough Draft of Introduction and one of the body sections of the paper for Thursday.

April 28, 2008 (Gold)

G2 - Collected some final drafts.  Went ahead and "assigned" journals for Friday.  We decided to get those graded and out of the way early.  Students will be taking the Core 40 test starting Wednesday, and I will grade the journals while they are testing on the second day.  Tried to finish watching the video for A Raisin in the Sun, but it went longer than expected.  Assignments:  Prepare journals for Friday and complete final drafts (if applicable).

G3 and G4 - English 9 Benchmark Assessment for Writing.  I did not have an opportunity to finish the Rough Drafts for today, so students MIGHT have an opportunity to write the final drafts on Wednesday in class.  After the Benchmark test, students were given time for pleasure reading.  I signed pleasure reading logs and passed out new calendars.  Students received 2 copies of the calendar... one is to stay in the binder.  One is to go home.  I told students that Wednesday might be a little hectic because there will be a substitute and plans are still up in the air for that day.  They were asked to be flexible and prepared for anything I give the substitute for them to do.

April 25, 2008 (Blue) SSR Day

B1 and B2 - Collected some final drafts.  If you were absent and your paper was due, I will be calling you today.  Went ahead and "assigned" journals for Tuesday.  We decided to get those graded and out of the way early.  Students will be taking the Core 40 test starting Tuesday, and I will grade the journals while they are testing.  Tried to finish watching the video for A Raisin in the Sun, but it went longer than expected.  Assignments:  Prepare journals and complete final drafts (if applicable).

B3 - Collected Writing Plans.  If you were absent, it was due today regardless of your absence.  Be sure to get that to me by the end of the day if you have not already done so.  There were several people who were gone on a field trip. Unfortunately, we need to stay on task because we do not have any extra time at this point in the semester.  I passed out sample copies of an outline, a 2-year old "A" paper (not every page, but enough to get the idea), and samples of Works Cited and Works Consulted.  These are not perfect examples, but they are good ones.  You should look at them for ideas regarding the formatting and organizational lay-out of your paper.  Assignments:  Draft out (and type) an outline for Tuesday.  (This is a DRAFT outline, so I do not expect it to be as detailed at this point as it will be when you finish your final draft of the paper.  It will evolve and change, and it should...) On Tuesday, I will check your outlines, then we will brainstorm and peer-edit the outlines.  You will then have time to work in the lab to draft out the paper that day.  For Thursday, you will need the Introduction and at least one body section completed for peer-editing.  If you were absent today (Friday 4/25), the sooner you get your packet of materials and are able to get started, the less pressure you will feel for that first draft assignment that is due on Thursday.  Please do not wait to get started on this!  Megan E--Claire will bring your packet to you on Sunday.  Erin and Sam, Tyler has your packets.... everyone else needs to pick up their packets from the Absence Folder in my room.

HAVE A NICE WEEKEND!

April 24, 2008 (Gold)

G2 - Finished Creative Letters Presentations.  Began watching the film adaptation of A Raisin in the Sun.  If you have a Final Draft to work on, make sure you pay attention to the due date that you were given.  Final Drafts are due on the date given, regardless of absences.  I forgot to print midterms today, so I will do that for Monday.  I have four Rough Drafts left to grade in this class, and I will have those finished by Monday as well.  All grades will be current at that point. 

G3 and G4 - Draft #2 of Persuasive Essay collected for Mrs. Northouse's comments.  TEST:  Romeo and Juliet Acts III, IV, and V.  Passed back midterm reports.  All grades are current.  Midterms may be signed for 5 bonus points added to Test grades!  There is a Benchmark Writing Test scheduled for Monday.  This is not something the students can study for, but they are aware of the fact that it will count for a grade. 

April 23, 2008 (Blue) SSR Day / Shakespeare's Birthday

B1 and B2 - Finished Creative Letters Presentations.  Began watching the film adaptation of A Raisin in the Sun.  If you have Final Draft to work on, make sure you pay attention to the due date that you were given.  Final Drafts are due on the date given, regardless of absences.

B3 - Public Library Day #2.  Assignment:  Continue working on research.  Writing Plan is DUE on Friday.

 

April 22, 2008 (Gold)

G2 - Creative Letters presentations.  All presentations were due today, regardless of the number we were able to get through.  Those who did not present today will go at the beginning of the period on Thursday.  No additional assignment unless you need to work on your Final Draft of the Research paper.  Pay attention to the due date that you were given...

G3 and G4 - First draft of the Persuasive Essay is DUE for peer-editing today.  A revision should be completed for Thursday which will be turned in for Mrs. Northouse's feedback.  Today, we will also play some review games to prepare for Thursday's test over Acts III, IV, and V of Romeo and Juliet.  Assignment:  Review Acts III, IV, and V for the Test on Thursday.  Complete the revision of your essay to be turned in at the beginning of the period on Thursday as well.

April 21, 2008 (Blue) 2-Hour Delay!

2-Hour delay due to fog...

B1 and B2 - Creative Letters presentations.  All presentations were due today, regardless of the number we were able to get through.  Those who did not present today will go at the beginning of the period on Wednesday.  No additional assignment unless you need to work on your Final Draft of the Research paper.  Pay attention to the due date that you were given...

PARENTS:  I am more than half-way through the rough drafts... It took me 1 1/2 weeks to get to this point.  I expect it will be about a week before they are all finished at this point...

B3 - Public Library Trip #1 today.  If you missed class, please spend time at the Public Library on your own to begin working on non-internet research for your trend analysis paper.  Assignment:  Research.

April 18, 2008 (Gold) Early Release Day

G2 - Students rotated around the room in various combinations of groups to 7 different "Stations" to complete tasks related to their learning and understanding of  A Raisin in the Sun.  Collected Act III worksheets.  A few students received their Rough Draft packets back.  Assignment:  Complete the Creative Letters Presentation project for Tuesday.  If you have not yet read the introduction section for the Drama unit in the textbook, be sure to read and take notes over that on your own.

G3 and G4 - Checked Essay Packets for a grade.  Collected First Drafts for 10 bonus points.  Students will spend the period working on their essays, revising, peer-editing, whatever it takes to get them polished up and ready for the next draft.  Assignment:  The first draft is officially due on Tuesday for peer-editing.  We will also review for the test on Tuesday.  The Test over Acts III, IV, and V will be on Thursday.  I have been working on developing a calendar for the rest of the year.  I should have that ready to go on Tuesday.  I just need to finalize the last 2 days of our Romeo and Juliet unit, and then we will be ready to start The Odyssey, our last unit for the year.

 

April 18, 2008 EARTHQUAKE IN INDIANA

Ok... so we had an earthquake in Indiana today.  Right now, they are saying it was a 5.4 on the Richter scale.  Well, here's a little bit about my experience with this...

First of all, I was afraid it was a ghost shaking my bed!!!!!

I woke up and was all foggy... the bed was shaking and it wouldn't stop shaking... not just a quick "I bumped into the bed shake..." it was more like a "someone's tugging on one of the posts and won't stop shaking the bed" kind of shakes.  I looked at Jason's alarm clock (which is easier to see than my own) and it was fuzzy. Was afraid I was having some kind of out of body experience! Haha

But, yes, it woke me up. I shot straight up when I felt It and heard my lamp rattling on top of the nightstand.

I immediately ran around the bed and grabbed the remote to turn on the TV to make sure it was an earthquake, but I figured it was. I was just glad it didn't get worse. 

Jason was at the airport.  He called about an hour later to make sure I was awake.  (I forgot to set my alarms yesterday and got to school at the last second...).  He told me they shut the airport down for an hour, so all flights were delayed.  They evacuated the tower and everything.

Smokie was acting NUTS yesterday... crying up a storm. It was almost comical because I was imitating her cry... it was non-stop for like 5 minutes yesterday. She finally quit after I kept imitating her. We thought it was because she wanted to go outside, but it might have been her having premonitions. She was at my heels the last couple of nights... last night, I couldn't get her away from me.

So, after it happened, I went to the kitchen to go ahead and get the coffee started and emailed WTHR to let them know I felt it where I was... Smokie was under the couch. She was under there for a long time. When she did come out, she was right at my heels... had to push her away from sneaking into the bedroom to go under the bed.

This morning, on my way in, this lady called in to WZPL and told the DJs her cat was laying on the windowsill behind the blinds. When it happened, the cat got spooked pretty bad and got tangled up in the blinds trying to get down the wall!!!!!!! Poor thing!!

April 17, 2008 (Blue)

B1 and B2 - Students rotated around the room in various combinations of groups to 7 different "Stations" to complete tasks related to their learning and understanding of  A Raisin in the Sun.  Collected Act III worksheets.  A few students received their Rough Draft packets back.  Assignment:  Complete the Creative Letters Presentation project for Monday.  If you have not yet read the introduction section for the Drama unit in the textbook, be sure to read and take notes over that on your own.

B3 - Assigned the Writing Plan assignment for Friday, April 25.  Went to computer lab 315 for the rest of the period so students could begin their research.  If you have not turned in your permission slip and field trip money, please remember to bring that to me before we leave for the Public Library on Monday. Assignment: Research!!