Jennifer Holzhausen's Homework Blog

October 31, 2012 (Blue) PSAT's/Halloween

We had a shortened schedule due to PSAT testing today.

B2 - We only had a small handful of people here today.  I checked double-entries for the Yolen article, then we conversed about a variety of unrelated topics.  Assignment:  None!  We will start A Cinderella Story on Friday.

B3/B4 - Extra Credit assignment (notes for the "Nuclear Disarmament" essay) DUE today.  Quiz:  "On Nuclear Disarmament."  After the quiz, we discussed the author's main claim, support, and counterarguments in the essay (as time allowed).  Students in B4 worked with partners to construct a set of notes over this material.  B4 was then required to turn in their notes at the end of the block for a grade.  Assignment:  Read "Montgomery Boycott" (p. 880+) and be ready for a quiz over this essay on Friday.

October 30, 2012 (Gold)

G2 - Quiz: "Abolishing the Penny Makes Good Sense."  We discussed the big question on page 586 for quite a while.  Next, we took notes (as a class and with partners) over the author's main claim, primary pieces of support, and the counterarguments made about abolishing the penny.  Assignment:  Read "On Nuclear Disarmament" (p. 594-599.)  Take notes over the article like we did in class today, and I will give you up to 5 points Extra Credit.  Be ready for a quiz at the beginning of the period on Thursday.

G3 - Final Drafts of the Comparative Critique DUE.  We had one group give their Cinderella presentation today, then we discussed the Bruno Bettelheim article.  I checked DEN's and groups went through a discussion sheet together.  Assignment:  Read "America's 'Cinderella'" By Jane Yolen and do a DEN.  On Monday, we will start watching Cinderella Man for this paper. 

G4 - Quiz: "Abolishing the Penny Makes Good Sense."  Next, we read through pages 116-119 in the Grammar Book together.  Students in this class completed exercises A & B on page 119 for a grade.  (If you were absent, please plan to make this up in class next time.)  Next, students took notes over and discussed the author's main claim, primary pieces of support, and the counterarguments made about abolishing the penny. Assignment:  Read "On Nuclear Disarmament" (p. 594-599.)  Take notes over the article like we did in class today, and I will give you up to 5 points Extra Credit.  Be ready for SAT Vocab. Test #16 and a Quiz over "On Nuclear Disarmament" at the beginning of the period on Thursday.

October 30, 2012 (Gold)

G2 - Quiz: "Abolishing the Penny Makes Good Sense."  We discussed the big question on page 586 for quite a while.  Next, we took notes (as a class and with partners) over the author's main claim, primary pieces of support, and the counterarguments made about abolishing the penny.  Assignment:  Read "On Nuclear Disarmament" (p. 594-599.)  Take notes over the article like we did in class today, and I will give you up to 5 points Extra Credit.  Be ready for a quiz at the beginning of the period on Thursday.

G3 - Final Drafts of the Comparative Critique DUE.  We had one group give their Cinderella presentation today, then we discussed the Bruno Bettelheim article.  I checked DEN's and groups went through a discussion sheet together.  Assignment:  Read "America's 'Cinderella'" By Jane Yolen and do a DEN.  On Monday, we will start watching the movie for this paper. 

G4 - more info later today.

October 29, 2012 (Blue)

B2 - Final Drafts of the Comparative Critique DUE.  We had one group give their Cinderella presentation today, then we discussed the Bruno Bettelheim article.  I checked DEN's and groups went through a discussion sheet together.  Assignment:  Read "America's 'Cinderella'" By Jane Yolen and do a DEN.  On Friday, we will start watching the movie for this paper.  Be sure you have the DEN to show me on Friday if you are not going to be here on Wednesday.

B3/B4 - Quiz: "Abolishing the Penny Makes Good Sense."  In class, we worked together on grammar.  We read through and discussed pages 116-119.  Students completed exercise B on page 119 and turned it in for a grade.  Next, we took notes (as a class and with partners) over the author's main claim, primary pieces of support, and the counterarguments made about abolishing the penny.  Assignment:  Read "On Nuclear Disarmament" (p. 594-599.)  Take notes over the article like we did in class today, and I will give you up to 5 points Extra Credit.  Be ready for a quiz at the beginning of the period on Wednesday.

October 26, 2012 (Gold)

G2 - In class today, we discussed the subject of "Downtime."  We then read "Doing Nothing is Something," by Anna Quindlen (p. 580-582).  Students completed a chart over the essay's claim, support, and counterarguments.  As time allowed, we walked through the questions at the end of the piece together.  We had a little time at the end, so we went over Fragments (p. 116-119) and students completed and turned in the  exercise at the bottom of page 119 for a grade.  Assignment:  Read "Abolishing the Penny Makes Good Sense" (p. 586+) and be ready for a quiz over this piece on Tuesday.

G3 - Groups presented their assigned versions of the Cinderella story to the class.  Assignment: One group will present on Tuesday.  Comparative Critiques Final Drafts (x2 copies with commented RD) are DUE on Tuesday.  Read and do a DEN for the Bruno Bettelheim article, "'Cinderella': A Story of Sibling Rivalry and Oedipal Conflicts" (p. 651+).

G4 - In class today, students took an Opininnaire and discussed the subject of "Downtime" in small groups.  We then read "Doing Nothing is Something," by Anna Quindlen (p. 580-582).  Groups worked together to complete a chart over the essay's claim, support, and counterarguments.  As time allowed, we walked through the questions at the end of the piece together.   Students were then asked to complete #10 writing a complete MESHY style paragraph.  Assignment: Read "Abolishing the Penny Makes Good Sense" (p. 586+) and be ready for a quiz over this piece on Tuesday.  In addition, you should be studying for the SAT Vocab. Test for List #16, which will be Thursday.

October 25, 2012 (Blue)

B2 - Groups presented their assigned versions of the Cinderella story to the class.  Assignment:  One group will present on Monday.  Comparative Critiques Final Drafts (x2 copies with commented RD) are DUE on Monday.  Read and do a DEN for the Bruno Bettelheim article, "'Cinderella': A Story of Sibling Rivalry and Oedipal Conflicts" (p. 651+).

B3/B4 - Passed back and went over graded work.  In class today, we discussed the subject of "Downtime."  We then read "Doing Nothing is Something," by Anna Quindlen (p. 580-582).  Students completed a chart over the essay's claim, support, and counterarguments.  As time allowed, we walked through the questions at the end of the piece together.  That was all we had time for today, so we will do the Fragment exercises in class at the beginning of the block on Monday.  Assignment:  Read "Abolishing the Penny Makes Good Sense" (p. 586+) and be ready for a quiz over this piece on Monday.

October 24, 2012 (Gold)

G2 - Went over the Reading Comprehension Test from the end of the first 9 weeks.  Next, I distributed and discussed the new homework calendar for the new unit on Persuasion and Debate.  Next, we reviewed notes and pages 572-577: Argument and Persuasion.  Students took a grammar pretest over run-ons, fragments, and complete sentences.  Assignment:  None!

G3 - Students worked on their Cinderella presentations for the entire block today.  We also wrapped up the Cinderella stories groups made up in class on Monday.  Assignment:  If you have a handout that you would like for me to photocopy for you, please have that to me by 3:30 tomorrow.  Comparative Critique Final Drafts are due from this class on Tuesday.  Cinderella presentations will take place in class on Friday.

G4 - Went over the Reading Comprehension Test from the end of the first 9 weeks and passed out copies of SAT Vocab. List #16.  Next, I distributed and discussed the new homework calendar for the new unit on Persuasion and Debate.  Next, we reviewed notes and pages 572-577: Argument and Persuasion and students took new notes over Logos, Pathos, and Ethos.  Students took a grammar pretest over run-ons, fragments, and complete sentences.  Assignment:  Start studying vocab.

October 23, 2012 (Blue)

B2 - Passed back Comparative Critique Rough Drafts and the remaining graded Critiques.  Students worked on their Cinderella presentations for the entire block today.  Assignment:  If you have a handout that you would like for me to photocopy for you, please have that to me by 3:30 tomorrow.  Comparative Critique Final Drafts are due from this class on Monday.  Cinderella presentations will take place in class on Thursday.

B3/B4 - Distributed new homework calendars today for our new unit on Persuasion and Debate.  Next, we reviewed notes and pages 572-577: Argument and Persuasion.  Students took a grammar pretest over run-ons, fragments, and complete sentences.  Assignment:  None! 

October 22, 2012 (Gold) Welcome Back!

G2 - Students went to the computer lab today to work on revising their Benchmark Writing assessment scores for about half of the block.  With the remainder of the block, I asked students to play some fun, academic games.  Assignment: NONE!

G3 - Students read and discussed an article titled "Freshman Term Paper Discovers Something Totally New about Silas Marner."  Next, we walked through the 14 Variants scholars have determined to exist amongst "Cinderella" stories.  Groups created and shared their own "Cinderella" stories with the class.  At the end of the block, I put students into new, temporary project groups for the "Cinderella" presentations.  Students met with their groups to pre-plan an approach to their presentations.  As students left the room, I passed back their Critique paper final drafts and Comparative Critique Rough Drafts.  Assignment:  Be prepared to spend the entire block on Wednesday working with your group on your "Cinderella" presentation.  Your Final Drafts of the Comparative Critique are due next Tuesday, so please be working on your revisions during the downtime this week.

G4 - Students went to the computer lab today to work on revising their Benchmark Writing assessment scores for about half of the block.  With the remainder of the block, I asked students to play some fun, academic games.  Assignment: NONE! 

October 5, 2012 (Blue)

B2 - Students read and discussed an article titled "Freshman Term Paper Discovers Something Totally New about Silas Marner."  Next, we walked through the 14 Variants scholars have determined to exist amongst "Cinderella" stories.  Groups created and shared their own "Cinderella" stories with the class.  At the end of the block, I put students into new, temporary project groups for the "Cinderella" presentations.  Students met with their groups to pre-plan an approach to their presentations.  As students left the room, I passed back their Critique paper final drafts.  Assignment:  None - except to be prepared to spend the entire block on Tuesday after break working with your group on your presentation.  Have an awesome Fall Break!! :)

B3/B4 - Students went to the computer lab today to work on revising their Benchmark Writing assessment scores for about half of the block.  With the remainder of the block, I asked students to play some fun, academic games.  Assignment: NONE!  Have an awesome Fall Break! :)