Monday, September 15, 2014

Week 4, Day 1
Objective: understand cultural background to literary texts, grade level vocabulary, and listening for understanding; revising and editing

1. Bell Work: clear off your desk and get ready for your SAT Week #3
2. SAT Quiz #3
3. Work on Week 4 DRE
4. Grades
1. I have graded "Unlocking Word Meaning," "Vocabulary for Onondaga, Modoc, and Navajo Stories," and "Literary Terms for Onondaga, Modoc, and Navajo Stories."
2. Check SkyWard
3. If it is showing a "zero" for you, that means that you either didn't turn it in OR didn't give me access to it.  If you did not give me access, I sent you an email requesting access.  
4. You must turn it in TODAY by 4:00pm to get credit.
5. Friday was the end of the first three weeks, so grades are posted.  Please stay on top of your grades.  It truly is harder to fail my class than to pass...IF YOU DO YOUR WORK!!!
6. If you have questions, email me and I will get back to you as soon as possible.  
7. I have not graded the Onondaga, Modoc, and Navajo Open-Book Test yet.  I'll be working on that this week.
5. Remind Texting
1. Only a few people signed up for the reminder texts from Friday's blog post.  Please check the blog post and sign-up.  I may even send out extra credit opportunities on there.  Also, make sure you sign up for your class period AND Avalos English III.
6. Online Textbook
1. Still working on getting you online access.  Should know a little more by tomorrow (HOPEFULLY!!)
7. SAT Quizzes
1. Please study!
2. These quizzes build up and the ONLY way you are going to do well is to STUDY!  You have to LEARN these words.  You are tested over the same words for 5 weeks.  It is my hope that by having you test over them for that long it moves the information from short-term memory to long-term memory.  But in order for that to work, you HAVE TO STUDY!!!!!  Not just cram!
8. You may study the Week 4 SAT Words for the rest of the class period.  
1. Use quizlet!
2. Write them down on your own paper.
3. Make flashcards.
4. Do whatever will help YOU learn them!!!!!

Friday, September 12, 2014

Week 3, Day 5
Objective: SWBAT write in a voice and style appropriate to audience and purpose, use technology for aspects of writing, vocabulary development, establish and adjust purpose for reading such as to find out, to understand, to interpret, to enjoy, and to solve problems, read silently with comprehension, read to be entertained, to appreciate a writer's craft, to be informed, to take action, and to discover models to use in his/her own writing

1. Grade Week 3 DRE
1. Beginning this week, if you have "extra" corrections on the DRE just mark them off with your red pen, but don't count them wrong.  Only count it wrong if it is something that I have on mine, that you don't have on yours.  (But remember, if you corrected it in another way like adding a period and capitalizing the first letter of the new sentence rather than putting a semi-colon, that is okay too!)  Use your judgement and BE HONEST!!!!!!!!!
2. Bell Work: Free Write...Write about anything that you want to write about.  (At least 40 words, underlining every 10th word, and include at least 2 of the current week's SAT words.)
3. Turn your Vocabulary and Lit. Terms in here
4. Make sure your Short Answer Questions for the Origin Myths are turned in here
5. Remind Texting App
1. I will be using Remind (formerly Remind 101) to send you updates about school and English class.
2. I would like for you to sign up for these updates and I will do my best to remind you of upcoming tests, events, due dates, etc.  But the texts should not be excessive.
3. Each of you will need to sign up for the class period you're enrolled in AND the one for All English III students.  
4. Text your class's code to the phone number: 210-441-7299
1. 1st period: @avalos1st
2. 2nd period: @avalos2nd
3. 3rd period: @avalos3rd
4. 4th period: @avalos4th
5. 5th period: @avalos5th
6. 6th period: @avalos6th
7. All English III students: @AvalosEng
6. Free Read--everyone MUST read for a minimum of 20 minutes.
7. Then, you may continue free reading OR
1. Free Rice (make sure you are signed in and in my group)
1. If you can't get into my group (haven't received the confirmation email) it is okay, I'm still working to resolve the issue.
2. Sorry!!!!
3. You can still play to gain knowledge and help others!!!! 
2. Free Write (maybe you like to write...you may do so, write a novel, a diary entry, song lyrics, a poem, whatever you are inspired to write.)
3. Study for your SAT Week #3 Quiz on Monday (use Quizlet to help you study!)
8. Reminders: 
1. SAT Quiz on Monday!!!! (Week 1, 2, AND 3 words will be on there!!!!)  STUDY!!!!!

Please note: Fridays are not a time to work on things for another class.  You need to be productive for English class.  Please stay on task.  This is NOT a free day.  This a chance for you to do what you enjoy the most with regards to this class: reading, writing, or vocabulary development.

The more you write the better writer you will become.

The more you read the better reader you will become.

You have to PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Week 3, Day 4
Objective: understand cultural background to literary texts, grade level vocabulary, and listening for understanding

1. Bell Work: Why didn't the Native Americans write their stories down?  What did they do instead?  What were their stories about?  How did they get passed on?
1. Remember...40 words (at least!)
2. Underline every 10th word.
3. Use at least two of the SAT words we've had so far.
4. Please and thank you!!!
5.  in Google Docs
2. Work on Short Answer Questions over "The Earth on Turtle's Back" (Onondaga), "When Grizzlies Walked Upright" (Modoc), from The Navajo Origin Legend (Navajo)  (pg. 20-28)
1. Make a copy of the document
2. Open-Book
3. Work with your group
4. Due Friday
5. Turn it in here  
3. Finish working on Vocabulary and Literary Terms for these three stories (Due Friday!)
4. Reminders: 
1. Bring a book to read tomorrow.
2. Week 3 DRE is due tomorrow.
3. SAT Quiz on Monday.
4. It's almost FRIDAY!!!!  

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Week 3, Day 3
Objective: understand cultural background to literary texts, grade level vocabulary, and listening for understanding

1. Bell Work: For the three stories you're about to read (or have already started), take your best guess at answering these three questions: What is the relationship between literature and place? How does literature shape or reflect society?  What makes American literature American??
1. At least 40 words, underline every 10th word.
2. Use at least 2 SAT words
2. Onondaga, Modoc, and Navajo background
1. As a class, read page 19.
2. Important Information:
1. Think about the geography of where each of these tribes originated from as you read.
1. Onondaga lived in what is now upstate New York. (maybe along the coast)
2. Modoc lived in what is now southern Oregon and northern California. (mountainous)
3. Navajo lived in what is now considered the southwest in Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico. (some mountains, but a lot of desert)
3. Listen to or read  "The Earth on Turtle's Back" (Onondaga), "When Grizzlies Walked Upright" (Modoc), from The Navajo Origin Legend (Navajo)  (pg. 20-28)
4. Short Answer Questions over "The Earth on Turtle's Back" (Onondaga), "When Grizzlies Walked Upright" (Modoc), from The Navajo Origin Legend (Navajo)  (pg. 20-28)
1. Make a copy of the document
2. Open-Book
3. Work with your partner/group (no more than 3 per group)
4. You will have class time to work on it tomorrow.  
5. If you need a hard copy of it, Mr. Galvan has them.
6. Due Friday
7. Turn it in here  
5. I am working on getting you access to the textbook on-line.  It will probably be next week before it happens, but I am working on it.  Please be patient.
6. Have a great day!!!

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Week 3, Day 2
Objective: Introduce Unit 1, understand cultural background to literary texts, grade level vocabulary, and listening for understanding

1. Bell Work: Recognizing when and where a story takes place helps you set expectations for reading.  Think of  a movie or television show you have seen recently.  What clues helped you understand the story’s setting?
1. Remember...40 words!
2. At least 2 SAT words (from Week 1, 2, or 3)
2. Create a copy of this document 
1. Please put YOUR NAME in front of the title "Vocabulary/Literary Terms."  For example: Chelsea Avalos Vocabulary/Literary Terms
3. Vocabulary for Stories
1. The definition and part of speech are on page 18.  For the sentence, you must use the word in the sentence.  You may make up your own (it better make sense) or you may use the one from the textbook.  It tells you after the definition on what page number the word can be found.  They should be in the textbook between pages 18-28.
1. Ancestors
2. Depths
3. Protruded
4. Unconscious
4. Literary Terms
1. For literary terms you will put the definition (you will have to figure out the definition by reading the paragraph(s) in the middle of page 18) and an example of this literary term.  For the example, it will NOT be the literary term in a sentence.  It is an example of that literary term.  It may or may not be a complete sentence.  (An example of an origin myth would be the Onondaga story, "The Earth on Turtle's Back."  
1. Origin Myths
2. Themes
3. Archetypes
5. If time permits, listen to or read "The Earth on Turtle's Back" (Onondaga), "When Grizzlies Walked Upright" (Modoc), from The Navajo Origin Legend (Navajo)  (pg. 20-28)

Monday, September 8, 2014

Week 3, Day 1
Objective: Begin Unit 1 Introduction; recognize distinctive and shared characteristics of cultures through reading.

1. Bell Work: This week you are going to read 3 Native American origin myths: "The Earth on Turtle's Back", "When Grizzlies Walked Upright", and "The Navajo Origin Legend".  What are your predictions of what these stories will be about? What do you know about Native American stories?  (Were they written down or spoken?  How were they passed down through the generations?)  
1. Remember...40 words!
2. At least 2 SAT words 
3. Underline every 10th word.  Please and thank you!
2. Week 2 SAT Quiz
3. Week 3 DRE
4. Week 3 SAT Words
5. If you haven't already, create an account on Quizlet.com
1. Join Avalos English III.
2. I will approve you joining.
3. Put your username/password on your document.
6. Read Snapshot of the Period, pages 2 and 3 of textbook.  

Friday, September 5, 2014

Week 2, Day 5
Objective: SWBAT write in a voice and style appropriate to audience and purpose, use technology for aspects of writing, vocabulary development, establish and adjust purpose for reading such as to find out, to understand, to interpret, to enjoy, and to solve problems, read silently with comprehension, read to be entertained, to appreciate a writer's craft, to be informed, to take action, and to discover models to use in his/her own writing

1. Bell Work: Free Write...Write about anything that you want to write about.  (At least 40 words, underlining every 10th word, and include at least 2 of the current week's SAT words.)
2. Grade DRE
3. Finish sharing American Literary Time Period Research (if needed)
4. Friday Free Day...kind of.  Your choice:
1. Free Read 
2. Free Rice (make sure you are signed in and in my group)
1. If you can't get into my group (haven't received the confirmation email) it is okay, I'm still working to resolve the issue.
2. Sorry!!!!
3. You can still play to gain knowledge and help others!!!! 
3. Free Write (maybe you like to write...you may do so, write a novel, a diary entry, song lyrics, a poem, whatever you are inspired to write.)
4. Study for your SAT Week #2 Quiz on Monday
5. Reminders: 
1. SAT Quiz on Monday!!!! (Week 1 and 2 words will be on there!!!!)  STUDY!!!!!

Please note: Fridays are not a time to work on things for another class.  You need to be productive for English class.  Please stay on task.  This is NOT a free day.  This a chance for you to do what you enjoy the most with regards to this class: reading, writing, or vocabulary development.

The more you write the better writer you will become.

The more you read the better reader you will become.

You have to PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Week 2, Day 4
Objective: Students create a Literary Period Timeline in order to demonstrate familiarity with works by authors in American fiction from each major literary period.  

1. Bell Work: Yesterday, you did research on an American Literary Time Period.  From what you looked up, what author seems like the most interesting and learn more about?  What piece of literature from your time period would you most like to read?  (Please use complete sentences, needs to be at least 40 words with every 10th word underlined.  You do NOT have to use SAT words in today's bell work, but kudos to you if you can!!!)
2. American Literature Time Period Research (only about 5-8 minutes)
3. Present your American Literary Time Period to the class (each group should only take 3-5 minutes to present their information...pretty informal, just trying to get all the information to the entire class.)  If you don't finish, you can finish tomorrow.  
1. Native American Literature
2. Puritan/Colonial Literature
3. American Revolution Literature
4. American Romanticism Literature
5. American Gothic Literature
6. Transcendentalism Literature
7. American Realism Literature
8. American Naturalism Literature
9. American Modernism Literature
10. Harlem Renaissance Literature
11. American Contemporary Literature
4. As each group presents their information, record it in the appropriate section of your document from yesterday...but ONLY in the LEFT column.  We will use the right column later.  
5. Create an account on Quizlet, join my class, and study for your SAT Quiz on Monday
6. Reminders:
1. DRE Week 2 is due Friday.
2. SAT Quiz Week #2 on Monday.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Week 2, Day 3
Objective: Students create a Literary Period Timeline in order to demonstrate familiarity with works by authors in American fiction from each major literary period.  

1. Bell Work: What is the importance of understanding the historical context of what we read? (At least 40 words, try to use two SAT words, and underline every 10th word...please and thank you!!)
2. Discuss bell work
3. Don't forget that the Strategies for Unlocking Word Meaning Worksheet is due by 4:00pm today.  Important note: you may skip #11 and #13...I forgot that those were on there.  We will discuss this when I get back in October.  Sorry about that!!!!
1. Turn it in here 
4. American Literature Time Period Research
1. Form groups of 2-3 and pick a time period to research
1. Native American Literature
2. Puritan/Colonial Literature
3. American Revolution Literature
4. American Romanticism Literature
5. American Gothic Literature
6. Transcendentalism Literature
7. American Realism Literature
8. American Naturalism Literature
9. American Modernism Literature
10. Harlem Renaissance Literature
11. American Contemporary Literature
2. Make a copy of American Literature Timeline
3. It may be smart for one person in each group to make a copy and then share with your group.  
4. Record your research there, but only in the LEFT column.  We will use the right column later.  
5. We will come together tomorrow and present what you find
6. Information that you may want to consider: dates of the time period, characteristics of the literature from that time period, noteworthy authors of the time period, major works of the time period, important historical events of the time period, etc.  The textbook has a wealth of information in it!  If you use the internet, please list the websites that you use to obtain your information (citation.)

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Week 2, Day 2
Objective: Expand vocab through reading, listening, and discussing; rely on context to determine word meaning; and apply meanings of prefixes, roots, and suffixes in order to comprehend.  

1. SAT Quiz #1
2. Bell Work: Communication plays a big part in life.  When someone has the option of speaking or writing, when does he or she choose the latter?  In complete sentences, write the circumstances or situations in which writing is preferred over speaking and why.  (Write at least 40 words.  Use at least two SAT words.  Underline every 10th word.)
3. Week 2 SAT Words
1. You can find the new words and a link to the Quizlet Study Set at the top of the page by clicking on the "SAT Words of the Week" tab.
2. Your SAT Quizzes are cumulative.  This means that each week you will be tested on the current words and the previous week's words.  They build up.  This means you can't just cram/memorize the words and definitions for the test and then forget it.  You will be tested on each word up to 5 times!!!!  I am trying to move this knowledge from short-term memory to long-term memory!
4. Open Strategies for Unlocking Word Meaning
5. In another tab, open and make a copy of Strategies for Unlocking Word Meaning Worksheet
6. Save a copy of 250 Stems and Roots.
7. Work with a partner and complete the worksheet listed in #3.  
8. When finished, turn it in here 
1. Due tomorrow by 4:00pm.  
9. Important Note:
1. Sr. Galvan and I have started putting grades in SkyWard.  If an assignment is showing as an "*" or "asterisk" it is NOT missing.  The assignment just hasn't been graded.  If it is showing up as a "0" or "zero" the assignment HAS been graded and you did not turn it in.  Please let your parents know this.  SkyWard will send out alerts and even though I haven't marked it as "missing" it will say that it is.  I appreciate you staying on top of your grades and taking care of business.  We will do our best to make sure that things get graded in a timely manner.  
10. As always, if you have any questions, feel free to email me at cavalos@godleyisd.net.  I will do my best to get back to you as soon as possible.