Jennifer Holzhausen's Homework Blog

December 21-22, 2017 (Gold/Blue) FINAL EXAMS

G2/G4/B3 - Final Drafts of the Argumentative Essay were DUE by the end of the block. Students took Final Exams and then had time to work on their essays. Students were expected to turn in what they had by the end of the block. Parents: Please know that we have been working on this essay in class for the past three weeks. Students completed the rough draft for this paper in pieces, and I returned the rough draft pieces within 48 hours of receiving them, even if they were late. 

G3/B1 - Final Exam. Students exchanged their Secret Santa gifts. :)

B2 - Written Final Exam. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Please be patient with all of your teachers as we wrap up our grades for the semester. Grades are not officially due until Tuesday, January 9, so please understand that it will take us some time to grade everything fairly and get your grades posted. I will be taking a few days off from grading to enjoy time with my family for Christmas. 

 

December 20, 2017 (Blue)

B1 - Journals DUE. While I collected and graded journals, students were asked to work on their Final Review.  Assignments: Study the information given to you on your Final Exam Review Sheet. Our Secret Santa Exchange is Friday, so get your shopping done!

B2 - Binders DUE. Textbooks DUE. Students were given the rest of the block to study for other final exams and complete the course survey for IU while I graded their binders.  Assignment: Come to class with your binder and be prepared to write thoughtful reflections for your final exam.

B3 - Test Review Sheets DUE. Late Work DUE. Students took the test over Acts III, IV, and V today. After the test, they were encouraged to work on their final drafts of the Argumentative Essay. Assignments: Final Drafts of the essay are due on Friday.  Study the information given to you on your Final Exam Review Sheet. 

December 19, 2017 (Gold)

G3 - Journals DUE. While I collected and graded journals, small groups started working with our poetry theme of the day: "The End of the World." Students watched several movie trailers and examined poems based on the individual themes the groups chose.  At the end of the block, we worked on unpacking the song "It's the End of the World As We Know It," by REM.  Assignments: Study the information given to you on your Final Exam Review Sheet. Our Secret Santa Exchange is Thursday, so get your shopping done!

G2/G4 - Conclusion Paragraphs DUE. Test Review Sheets DUE. Late Work DUE. Students took the test over Acts III, IV, and V today. After the test, they were encouraged to work on their final drafts of the Argumentative Essay. Assignments: Final Drafts of the essay are due on Thursday.  Study the information given to you on your Final Exam Review Sheet. 

December 18, 2017 (Blue)

B1- In class today, we created a journal list. That is posted on Google Classroom. Today's journal: What is the most plausible idea out there about how the world will end? After sharing a few responses, we got into our poetry theme of the day: "The End of the World." We watched several movie trailers with different ideas about how this may occur, then students were split into groups to examine poems based on the individual themes the groups chose. Assignment: Journals are due on Wednesday. Our Secret Santa Exchange is Friday, so get your shopping done!

B2 - Research-Based Analysis Final Drafts were DUE today. I collected borrowed textbooks. Students worked on their binders. Assignment: Binders are due on Wednesday.

B3 - Conclusion Paragraphs DUE. Students worked on a test review sheet for the Acts III, IV, and V test. Students were encouraged to work on their Final Essays, which may be collected early for some bonus points. Assignments: Test Review Sheets are due next time. Please study these test review sheets for the test for Wednesday. If you have any missing work from this part of the unit, it is due on Wednesday before the test. Final Drafts of the essay are due on Friday. 

December 15, 2017 (Gold)

G2/G4 -  Body Paragraph #3 DUE today. Students watched Romeo and Juliet (Acts III, IV, and V) in class today. At the end of the block, I distributed the test reviews sheets for the Acts III, IV, and V Test on Tuesday and assigned the Conclusion paragraphs. Assignment: Please write your conclusion paragraph for the essay. If you are behind on the essay, please catch up. All late work is due on Tuesday.  You have a test over Acts III, IV, and V on Tuesday, and the review sheet will be collected at that time. The Writing Lab is still an available option to you if you need help or are struggling with the use of support in your paper. Be sure to see me as soon as possible to sign up for time in the Writing Lab.  Have a productive weekend!

G3 - In class today, we created the Class Journal List (posted on Google Classroom). Today's Journal: Write about your favorite stuffed animal from when you were a child. After sharing a few of these precious stories with the class, we moved into our poetry theme of the day, "Animals." Students listened to two songs ("I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" and "Blackbird") and we analyzed the lyrics for several applicable poetic techniques. We wrapped up with "The Fish," by Elizabeth Bishop.  Assignment: If you haven't been shopping for your Secret Santa gift yet, be sure to do that before Finals Day next week. Journals are due to me on Tuesday.  Have a good weekend!

 

December 14, 2017 (Blue)

B1 - Journal: Find an inspirational quotation and integrate it into a short, encouraging & inspirational letter of hope to the person you are giving a gift for Secret Santa. After sharing a few with the class, we moved into our poetry theme of the day, "Hope and Encouragement." Students watched two videos and we analyzed the lyrics for several applicable poetic techniques. That was all we had time for today.  Assignment: If you haven't been shopping for your Secret Santa gift yet, be sure to do that before Finals Day next week. Have a good weekend!

B2 - Today was a Mental Health Day. I was available for questions/concerns. Students worked on their binders and final drafts of their papers. Assignment: Final Drafts of the Research-Based Analysis paper are due on Monday. Please be sure to bring back the Rough Draft Comments, Source Pages, and Number Codes Sheet. Print two copies for some bonus points toward participation. Continue working on your Binder. I might collect those on Wednesday.

B3 -  Body Paragraph #3 DUE today. Students watched Romeo and Juliet (Acts III, IV, and V) in class today. We will work on the essays and review for the test in class on Monday. Assignment: Please write your conclusion paragraph for the essay. If you are behind on the essay, please catch up. The Writing Lab is still an available option to you if you need help or are struggling with the use of support in your paper. Be sure to see me as soon as possible to sign up for time in the Writing Lab.

December 13, 2017 (Gold)

G2/G4 - Body Paragraph #2 DUE. Students were given some time in class to work on their body paragraphs prior to turning them in. We then read Act V, and we finished reading Romeo and Juliet in class today. Assignment: Please complete the third body paragraph for Friday. We will spend time in class working on your essays, so please try to catch up. If you were absent, please finish reading the play. The textbook pages and the audio link are posted on Moodle.  Please use them to read/review anything you have missed.

G3 - Students shared their Article of the Week reflections, then we moved into our poetry discussion. Today's theme was "War." We watched two music videos and discussed the song lyrics for examples of poetic techniques using the terms students defined as part of their homework for today.  That was all we had time for today. No Assignment!

 

 

December 12, 2017 (Blue)

B1 - Students shared their Article of the Week reflections, then we moved into our poetry discussion. Today's theme was "War." We watched three music videos and discussed the song lyrics for examples of poetic techniques using the terms students defined as part of their homework for today.  We were unable to finish our discussion of the third song, so we will try to do that next time. No Assignment!

B2 - Comparative Analysis Final Drafts DUE.  Rough Drafts of the Research paper were returned today. Students had the block to work on their papers. Assignment: Work on your Final Draft of the Research paper. These are due on Monday, 12/18.

B3 - Body Paragraph #2 DUE. Students were given some time in class to work on their body paragraphs prior to turning them in. We then read Act V, and we finished reading Romeo and Juliet in class today. Assignment: Please complete the third body paragraph for Thursday. We will spend time in class working on your essays, so please try to catch up. If you were absent, please finish reading the play. The textbook pages and the audio link are posted on Moodle.  Please use them to read/review anything you have missed.

December 11, 2017 (Gold)

G2/G4 - Body Paragraph #1 DUE. In class today, we read all of Act IV. The play and the audio links are posted on Google Classroom. Assignment: Body Paragraph #2 due next time. Please use the feedback you were given in class today to help you with the second body paragraph. Don't make the same mistakes twice!

G3 - Homework for "There Will Come Soft Rains" DUE. Journal: What advantages or "handicaps" do you have when compared to others? After sharing a few journal entries and discussing them, we reviewed satire (Irony, Parody, Satire Notes), then we read "Harrison Bergeron," by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. At the end of the block, students were given a list of Poetry Terms to define for next time. Assignments: Write a 250-word reflection to the Article of the Week. I have posted an alternate question on Google Classroom for you. In addition, please take the notes over the poetry terms posted on Google Classroom. We will be using these terms when we study poetry later this week.

December 8, 2017 (Blue)

B1 - Homework for "There Will Come Soft Rains" DUE. Journal: What advantages or "handicaps" do you have when compared to others? After sharing a few journal entries and discussing them, we reviewed satire (Irony, Parody, Satire Notes), then we read "Harrison Bergeron," by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. At the end of the block, students were given a list of Poetry Terms to define for next time. Assignments: Write a 250-word reflection to the Article of the Week. I have posted an alternate question on Google Classroom for you. In addition, please take the notes over the poetry terms posted on Google Classroom. We will be using these terms when we study poetry next week.

B2 - Students were given the entire block today to work on their rough drafts and peer-edit in their groups, as needed. Assignments: Rough Drafts of the Research-Based Analysis paper were due to me by 1:30pm. Students were given an opportunity to print their source pages for some minimal bonus points toward participation. Comparative Analysis Final Drafts are due to me on Tuesday. Please be sure to print two copies and bring back your comments & Number Code Sheet from the Rough Draft. 

B3 - Body Paragraph #1 DUE. In class today, we read all of Act IV. The play and the audio links are posted on Google Classroom. Assignment: Body Paragraph #2 due next time. Please use the feedback you were given in class today to help you with the second body paragraph. Don't make the same mistakes twice!