Monday, August 23rd--Happy First Day of School! :-)

READING


Organization

• I explained the agenda--its purpose and location.
• Why are we in this class?  I explained how people are selected for the class, and that nine weeks from now, we're all going to be stronger readers.
• How do we talk to Ms. Willis?  I went over the right way and the wrong way to approach me with questions and concerns.  Thanks to Shannyn (1st) and Colin (2nd) for helping me out.
• We wrote questions we each had about class; then we pair-shared about what questions we have about class.  Finally, I answered people's questions.  (I will need to finish this tomorrow.)
• Everyone wrote a letter to me about what I need to know about them in order to work better with them in class.

Big Ideas

• Why do we do what we do in this class?  Because research says it works.  (For each activity we did today, I explained WHY we were doing it, why it works.)

Vocabulary

• We learned two new words:  NOVICE and ADVERSITY. 

Independent Reading

• We spent ten minutes or so reading Earthbook as a way of finding out what "Just Right Reading" is--finding a text you can read easily and comfortably.

AP ENGLISH

Organization

• I reminded everyone about what the agenda is, and why it's there.
• I told everyone what supplies were needed:  binder; spiral; five dividers; highlighter.

Big Ideas

Wikispace--I explained the benefits to using our site:  ourap.wikispaces.com

1. It allows everyone an equal chance to speak and be "heard".
2. It encourages listening--you have to read each other's comments.
3. It provides for continuation of or preparation for class discussions.
4. It provides a break from the Reading Journal, with less formality.

What Do We Want Out of AP English?

• We discussed people's wallwisher responses.  We will come back to these goals throughout the term.

What does a good reader do?  What does a good writer do?

• We discussed each of these in pair-shares, and we'll discuss them in more detail tomorrow.

Vocabulary

• I explained the purposes of the www.vocabsushi.com site, and everyone created an account, took the placement test, then started playing games and exploring the site.  I recorded everyone's beginning level. We'll use this site weekly--our goal being growth in our vocabulary.