Jennifer Holzhausen's Homework Blog

April 30, 2015 (Gold)

G1/G2/G4 - End of Course Assessment Day #4: Session Three.  Assignment: Work on your presentation. Presentations will start on Wednesday in all of these classes. G2 - Please be working on your extra credit opportunities. I will take them as soon as you finish.

April 29, 2015 (Blue)

B1 - TEST: Of Mice and Men. Late study guides for the novel were due today for half-credit.  After the test, I collected copies of the novel while students worked quietly on other assignments. Assignment: None!  Bring your textbook to class next time.

B2 - End of Course Assessment Day #4: Session Three.  Assignment: Work on your presentation. Final Drafts of the Research Paper are all graded for this class. Scores will be posted and papers will be passed back to you on Friday, after the ECA.

B4 - Comparative Analysis Draft #2 DUE for peer-editing. Students peer-edited, then we ran through Bibliography and Note Card lectures for the Research-Based Analysis paper.  I collected 3 potential inquiry questions from each person today.  Students were also assigned the Writing Plan assignment today.  Assignments: Comparative Analysis Draft #3 DUE for my comments on Friday. Start working on your research. I will find you and get your inquiry questions back to you ASAP in order to help you get started on this. Writing Plans for the Research-Based Analysis paper are DUE on Tuesday.

April 28, 2015 (Gold)

G1/G2/G4 - End of Course Assessment Day #3: Session Two.  Assignment: Work on your presentation.  

April 27, 2015 (Blue)

B1 - In class today, we wrapped up our informal debate about the ending of the novel.  For the remainder of the block, students were asked to work with a partner on the Test Review Sheet to help study for the test.  Assignment: The test over Of Mice and Men will be Wednesday.  This is the last call for the study guide over the novel. Wednesday is the last day I will accept them for half-credit.  

B2 - End of Course Assessment Day #3: Session Two.  Assignment: Work on your presentation.  Your Final Drafts have all been graded.  I will post grades and pass them back on Friday after ECA.

B4 - I checked Comparative Analysis Draft #1.  We discussed several preliminary issues/requirements at the beginning of the block, then students engaged in 3 15-minute peer-editing rounds.  After peer-editing, we discussed a few common questions, then we moved on to discuss the 5th paper, the Research-Based Analysis.  Assignment: Revise and complete Comparative Analysis Draft #2 for peer-editing for next time.  In addition, please write three preliminary research-based questions you would like to consider for your final paper.  

April 24, 2015 (Gold)

G1/G2/G4 - End of Course Assessment Day #2: Session One.  Assignment: Work on your presentation.

April 23, 2015 (Blue)

B1 - We finished watching Of Mice and Men in class today.  Journal: Write about whether or not you think George did the right thing at the end.  Defend your response with examples and support from the novel.  For the remainder of the block, I divided the room into two teams, and they debated on the subject using support from the novel.  Assignment: None. We will review and discuss major themes from the novel in class on Monday.  You will have the test on Wednesday of next week.

B2 - End of Course Assessment Day #2: Session One.  Assignment: Work on your presentation.

B4 - Comparative Analysis Outline DUE. As I checked outlines, students shared their ideas in their groups. I shared some sample analysis paragraphs, and several worked on their analysis paragraphs by the end of the block.  Assignment: Full draft of the paper due on Monday for peer-editing.

April 22, 2015 (Gold)

G1/G2/G4 - End of Course Assessment Day #1.  At the end of the block today, students were given some time to work on their research paper presentations. Assignment: Start working on your research paper presentation. G2: In addition, please be sure to come see me for your individualized extra credit opportunities. Most of them are really quick and easy fixes to your paper!

April 21, 2015 (Blue)

B1 - In class today, students began watching Of Mice and Men. We will finish it in class on Thursday. Depending on how things go at that point, we will either have the test over the novel on Monday or Wednesday of next week.  Assignment: None!

B2 - End of Course Assessment Day #1.  At the end of the block today, students chose their time slots for their research paper presentations. Assignment: Start working on your research paper presentation.

B4 - In class today, we finished watching Matilda.  Students were asked to bring laptops or Chrome Books to class. I shared the outline assignment with them (on Moodle), and students began working on their outlines in class today.  Assignment: Outline for the Comparative Analysis DUE on Thursday.  Please bring laptops or Chrome books again next time to start working on drafts.

April 20, 2015 (Gold)

G1/G4 - We discussed the research paper presentation assignment today. I shared a sample PowerPoint I created a few years ago, then students signed up for their individual presentations (day/time). For the remainder of the block, we discussed the rules and expectations for the End of Course Assessment (ECA), beginning in this class on Wednesday.   Assignment:  Start working on your presentation. Get some good sleep on Tuesday night, and eat a good breakfast Wednesday morning. You can do this! :)

G2 - I passed back final drafts of the research paper and some other graded work today.  We discussed the most common mistakes and errors, most of which were also marked on the rough drafts and were not addressed in the final revision.  I explained the curve and gave students the opportunity to come see for individual extra credit assignments for an additional 10 points toward their final drafts.  We then walked through the expectations for the research paper presentation assignment, and students signed up for their individual presentations (day/time).  For the remainder of the block, we walked through the rules and expectations for the End of Course Assessment (ECA), beginning in this class on Wednesday.  Assignment: Come see me for information about your individualized extra credit assignment.  Start working on your presentation. Get some good sleep on Tuesday night, and eat a good breakfast Wednesday morning. You can do this! :)

April 17, 2015 (Blue)

B1 - Groups presented their collages today. After presentations, we walked through Robert Burns' poem, "To a Mouse...," and discussed its importance in inspiring the title of Of Mice and Men.  After reading and discussing the poem, we listened to and discussed the lyrics of "Meant To Live," by Switchfoot, and discussed the song as a way to better understand the lives of the characters in the novel.  No Assignment!

B2 - SAT Vocab. Test #22.  After the test, I passed back the contents of students' Benchmark folders, starting with essays they wrote in elementary school.  I also distributed the presentation assignment sheet and the rubric I will be using to grade them. Presentations will begin after ECA's.  For the remainder of the block, I gave them a quick pep talk for the ECA.  Assignment: Begin working on your presentation if you want to. Please don't stress too much over them. I would really like for you to just simply talk about the topic with the class.

B4 - We finished watching Matilda today.  Assignment: For next time, please come up with an organizational plan for your paper. This might look something like the chart you created for the Comparative Critique, or it could be an outline of sorts. We will begin drafting in class next time. BYOD.