Bellwork for December

If you have missed any bell work in the last month, here is what you can do to make it up:

Choose as many prompts from THIS LINK as you need and add them to your RWN.

Remember, your spirals are due the last week before winter break. The semester ends in January, but getting your missing work completed before break is a great idea. For one, you won't have to worry about it on the break. For two, it'll give me some extra time to grade it. :)

And perhaps most importantly... if you are currently failing during the break (after I've entered any missing work turned in this week), I will be notifying parents. 

Reading Project: Making Comparisons across Genres (Independent Reading Short Stories)

Choose one of the following stories and complete the handout (extra copies located in the green crate).

"A Sound of Thunder" by Ray Bradbury

"Blind Failure" by Karl Taro Greenfield

excerpt from A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

"Marigolds" by Eugenia Collier

"The Scarlet Ibis" by James Hurst

Bellwork for 11/17 to 11/21

Monday:

What might the following ideas symbolize in a story:

• Winter? (death, lonely, depressed, a time for reflection)
• Spring? (birth, rebirth, new growth)

HINT: Symbols represent concepts beyond the literal meaning.

Tuesday:

Write the following sentence in DAILY ENTRIES, and correct using a colored pen/pencil/marker (only 1 mistake):

My science teacher has a pet rat. It's red eyes freak me out.

It's = it is (contraction)

Its = possessive 

Wednesday:

A civil war is fought between citizens of the same country.

Besides the Civil War in the United States, what other instances (examples) of civil war can you name?

Use your phones/devices to help.

Thursday:

Write the following sentence in DAILY ENTRIES, and correct using a colored pen/pencil/marker (only 1 mistake):

Ms. Arons' superb students read much more then the other classes.

Then = time, sequence of events

Than = comparison

Friday:

Create Your Own Mission Statement -- Project

What is a mission statement?
According to Wikipedia, "A personal mission statement "provides clarity and gives you a sense of purpose." It helps define "who you are and how you will live." It is a guide to help you down the road of life. If it's meaningful to you, then that's all that matters, after all, you're going to be living by it."

Create your own personal mission statement that reflects your values. Brainstorm by jotting down ideas in your RWN.

Ex. To go to college, to travel the world, and to start a family of my own.


PROJECT DIRECTIONS: You will need to get a alphabet outline from Ms. Arons. Then, write your mission statement on it. Add TWO images/drawings of things you'd like to do with your life (career ambitions, family goals, places you want to visit, etc.). Decorate/color/make it neat and tidy.

Bellwork for 10/6 to 10/10

Monday
Copy the quote & respond:

"You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.”  ― Maya Angelou

Tuesday
If you had $1 million, what would you do with it? Be as specific as possible and give reasons why.

Wednesday
Write the following statements, and then agree or disagree with them. You should explain if you kind of agree/disagree or strongly agree/disagree.

1. I experience inspiration.
2. Something I encounter or experience inspires me.
3. I am inspired to do something.

4. I feel inspired.

Thursday
What types of criminal or scientific investigation do you know about?
List the methods those types of scientists use to track down the truth.

Friday
How does learning about the past give us insight into our own time?

Are you the inspirational type? Informational Article

DIRECTIONS:Create Cornell notes with Psychology Today article.

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

1. Read the article and CIRCLE/UNDERLINE important words/phrases.

2. Put a * by the topic/main idea.

3. Identify (and label) at least ONE text feature (Hint: we took notes yesterday over these in the vocab section of your RWN).

4. Chunk the article into pieces and create a higher level thinking question for each chunk --- minimum of FOUR questions.



HOMEWORK

Research and find a motivational quote that inspires you.

It needs to come from a real person, and you should be able to tell me who that person is. You may have to do additional research to find this out.

Write your quote on colored paper --- make it colorful and tidy (bonus points for those that end up on the wall!).

EX. "The Earth laughs in flowers." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson, an American poet and writer

"Who Killed the Iceman?" Informational Article

Read & analyze "Who Killed the Iceman?" Answer the questions from the margins of the article in your Daily Entries section of your Reader/Writer Notebook. Then answer the writing prompt below.

Iceman (Page 1)

Iceman (Page 2)

Iceman (Page 3)

Iceman (Page 4)

Independent Reading Short Stories (1st Six Weeks)

I will scan the handout ASAP and post. In the meantime, extra copies can be found in my classroom. Here are links to the short stories:

• Gift of the Magi
• Text Analysis Question: What does this story seem to be saying about material possessions? 
• Christmas Memory
• Pancakes
• Sound of Thunder
• Text Analysis Question: How would you describe the business practices of Time Safari, Inc.? Did they take care of their customers?
• The Raven
• The Cask of Amontillado
• The Necklace

"The Most Dangerous Game" (short story) 9/18 & 9/19

Read the short story here.

Then complete the following chart in your Daily Entries section of the RWN (Reader Writer Notebook).

You will also need to complete a 1 page Cornell Note handout over sensory details. Grab a copy of the handout in class and then do the following: pick out 10 sensory details in the story. Quote the text and identify which sense is described. Then generate questions about the purpose of those details and answer in the summary box at the bottom. 

"Checkouts" (short story) 9/17

Download a PDF copy of the story here:
Page 1Page 2Page 3Page 4

Bellwork for 9/15 to 9/19

Final Draft Personal Narrative

Personal Narratives were due Monday, Sept. 15th. 

-10 Tuesday

-20 Wednesday

-30 Thursday

-40 Friday

-50 Any day beyond this week.

If you have a documented absence on the DUE day, then you may have an extra day to submit your assignment. Late point deductions will adjust accordingly.

Bellwork 9/12

Using the 5 senses, describe the following scene: a freshly mowed lawn. 

What do you...

• Smell?
• Touch?
• Taste?
• Hear?
• See?

Personal Narrative Writing

The following slide will be completed 9/10/14. 

FOR THE NEXT PART, YOU WILL NEED A HANDOUT TITLED "A Moment of Introspection"

"The Rights to the Streets of Memphis" by Richard Wright

You can find a copy of the full text for the story here.

"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" by James Thurber

Find a copy of the full text online HERE.

Find an audio version available free on Audible.com HERE. You must have an Audible.com account to hear it, but the accounts are free. 

Two Hands Activity

BELLWORK for 9/3 & 9/4

If you missed one of these, add it to your Daily Entries section.

Sept. 3, 2014

Directions: Pick one of the following questions to copy into your Reader Writer Notebook, and then answer the question. Give examples.

• How powerful is love?
• What makes a hero?
• Does good always triumph?
• What is family?
  

Sept. 4, 2014

If you could be somewhere else right now having a grand adventure, where would you be? Describe the moment.

Binder Cover Project

Presentations on Friday!

Click to see the file:

Project Rubric
More Project Info

BELLWORK for 8/26

An opinion/editorial writer on the Huffington Post website discussed the overuse of many English words. She created the following list:

Here are 12 words that have been so overused they really don’t mean anything anymore: 

• literally: Originally meant "in a literal or strict sense," but is used as a more general intensifier for things that are not strictly true. Because of this, "in a figurative sense," the exact opposite of the original meaning, has now been added to the dictionary as a definition for literally.

• unique: Originally meant "unlike anything else," but is used to mean "different, to some degree, from the standard or the norm."

• awesome: Originally meant "causing feelings of fear or wonder," but is used as a general, positive descriptor like "great" or "cool."

• amazing: Originally meant "causing overwhelming surprise or astonishment," but is used as a general, positive descriptor like "great" or "cool."

• totally: Originally meant "completely, in every part," but is now used as a general intensifier, much like "really."

• basically: Originally meant "essentially" or "fundamentally," but is now used as general verbal filler.

• incredible: Originally meant "impossible to believe," but is now used as a general, positive descriptor like "great" or "cool."

• really: Originally meant "actually true," but is now used frequently as a general intensifier.

• very: Meaning "to a high degree," we all just need to stop using it in every other sentence.

• honestly: Originally meant "in an honest and genuine manner," but is now often used as general verbal filler.

• absolutely: Originally meant "in a complete and total manner," but is now used as a general intensifier.

• unbelievable: Originally meant "impossible to believe," but is now used as a general, positive descriptor.

BELLWORK: Pick three of the above words and use your available resources (internet, dictionary, thesaurus, etc.) to find a synonym that conveys the same meaning... but better.

Ms. Arons' English I Pre-AP Syllabus

English I Pre-AP Syllabus

Fall 2014/Spring 2015

CONTACT INFO:

Ms. Arons

E-mail: tina.arons@fwisd.org   

Twitter: @MsArons

Course Overview: 

English I students will develop skills in literacy through reading, writing, research, listening and speaking. As an honors course, students will engage in rigorous academic work in order to prepare students for honors or Advanced Placement coursework later in high school as well as the STAAR and PSAT assessments.

Students will be assessed mainly through individual and team projects demonstrating depth of knowledge. Eastern Hills High School will issue a binder for students to use in all their courses. This binder is a required and assessed part of my classroom.

According to the Texas Education Agency, students in this course will "read and understand a wide variety of literary and informational texts" and "compose a variety of written texts with a clear controlling idea, coherent organization, and sufficient detail." 

Students will be expected to read and complete work outside of class to prepare for instruction during class.

For additional information, updates and extra credit opportunities, please stay connected through my class blog: http://aronsclassblog.blogspot.com/

Grading Policy:

Projects:  40%

Tests/Quizzes:  30%

Daily:   30%

Make-Up Work Policy:

Students will be allowed to make up any missing work within the six week grading period at times to be determined by the teacher. It is the students’ responsibility to get make-up work outside of class time. 

Conference Time:

Tutorials are available per request and appointment. Regular tutoring times are posted outside the classroom door. Parent conferences should be scheduled during 6^th period or before/after school. 

Late Work Policy:

Late work will be accepted given its completion in the six week grading period. However, points will be deducted.

  

Supplies:

Spiral notebook -- hole punched so it will fit in the binder

Binder (provided by EHHS)

Notebook paper

Pen (blue/black ink ONLY) or pencil

Pencil bag with holes punched so it will also fit in the binder

Classroom Rules:

1.     Follow directions and respond politely to all staff and students.

2.     Begin working on assignment upon entering the classroom.

3.     Use appropriate language and a low level voice.

4.     No food, drink or candy. Students may only have water in a container with a lid.

Classroom Policies:

1.     Cell phones and electronic devices are allowed for ACADEMIC purposes only; otherwise, they will be confiscated and --- upon repeated offense --- turned into the office for retrieval limited to parents or guardians. 

2.     Dress code will be enforced.  Come to class with appropriate clothing for school per district policy.

3.     Students will have two restroom passes per six weeks. It is the students’ responsibility to keep up with their passes.

Consequences for not meeting expectations: 

1.     Warning/redirect behavior

2.     Conference with student and/or parent

3.     Referral to assistant principal

4.     Schedule a parent conference

Welcome to my blog, class!

Click around to see the resources available. And to find out more about me. More will be added throughout the year.

For updates, you can join the email list or follow me on Twitter @MsArons.

Comments are moderated. So, please be courteous and avoid profanity or else your post may not be approved.

Warmest wishes,
Ms. A