Book Report Guidelines

Please follow this link to make sure you know what to include in your book report and what format to follow:  https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/703/01/.

PBL TASK 13 POSTPONED

Dear Students,

I am postponing the due date for this task until your projects have been completed. I will follow up with the science and math teachers to confirm a date. I apologize for any inconvenience or stress this may have caused you.

Sincerely,

Ms. Carpenter

PBL Essays

Ninth grade Narrative Essays are due on December 9, 2013. Please refer to the PBL site if you need information on the essay or the handout I gave you. Your essay must be proofed and posted on your ELA component page on the website you created. Eleventh grade your Argumentative Essays are also due, please follow the same instructions. Email me if you have questions.

Book Report

Complete book reports are due by December 19th. The end of the quarter is 12/20. Please submit reports through the 10K Book form. Here is the link: https://docs.google.com/a/harmonytx.org/forms/d/19ozttboPZeBuwGwxUOib9CT85D4P9A99ILXO8oNwZs0/viewform

Thanksgiving Assignment

Please remember to read this week and create a 3-5 slide presentation on what you read. Be sure to include details about the plot, character, and setting. This needs to be emailed to me by 12/2/13.

Important Reminders

STAAR Practice Tests for ELA will be December 2-6. Benchmark Testing Dates are from December 9-20. Reading Summaries are due weekly on Fridays. Complete Book Report will be due December 13th. Please follow previous format posted on the blog and submit via the Book Form on the blog. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask or request a conference with me.

Missing Work/Late Assignments. Please remember it is your responsibility to request make up work when you are absent. There is still a 2 week cut off time. If you have work that is late, 2 weeks after the due date, I will not accept it and a failing grade will remain in the grade book. Please be current with your work and check the database frequently. If you need resources, please let me know.

PBLs 2nd Quarter

Eng I and Eng III classes, the next task you will need to complete for your ELA component is Task 13. You will need to begin writing your respective essays, revise, and proof them before you post to your website. The deadline for your essays to be written and proofed for publication is December 9, 2013.

Mock STAAR

We will administer the Mock STAAR tests from 11/18 - 11/22. Please practice your writing and reading strategies. Take these tests seriously as they help us determine how prepared you are for the actual test, as well as indicate whether you may need additional help.

Narrative Essays

Please follow the link to become familiar with narrative rubric:

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson116/NarrativeRubric.pdf

Expository Essays

Please follow the link below to become familiar with the rubric you will be graded on for expository essays:

www.tea.state.tx.us/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=2147504094‎

Edmodo

All Students. Make sure you have joined your appropriate group. Juniors should all be in the group. I will be closing groups at the end of the week. Freshmen you have two groups, Freshmen, Freshmen AP. Freshmen is sbyt88, Freshmen AP fbg6p3. We will do a lot more discussions and take quizzes in Edmodo this quarter.

Reading Summaries

Please keep reading. Independent reading is expected on a weekly basis. Reading summaries will resume next Friday, November 1. I would like your reading summaries to be two paragraphs long (10 sentences) about the plot, the characters, and conflicts.

Second Quarter

Freshmen

We are entering the second nine week grading period and we want to make sure we start strong and finish strong. Please take advantage of all extra credit opportunities that are provided. Don't wait until the end to request extra credit. Extra credit is given at my discretion and is offered to every student. Thank you all for your excellent behavior at the Chamber Theatre Production. You have a total of 8 extra credit opportunities from that performance. I will accept them up to October 31st. For those who were unable to make the field trip, you can still do the assignments, but you may need to read the short stories in order to complete them.

Juniors

I will keep you posted on extra credit opportunities this quarter.

10 K Book Race

Hi Students,

I am posting a link that will take you to a form to log the number of pages you've read as well as post your book report. I understand that you have emailed them to me, which I will grade. However, I still need you to follow this link and enter the required fields. You can simply copy and paste your report into the appropriate field. Going forward, you will only need to enter your book information on this form and you won't have to email me your book reports. Please follow this protocol so I can give you credit for the pages you've read and you can qualify for the incentives. Here is the link: https://docs.google.com/a/harmonytx.org/forms/d/19ozttboPZeBuwGwxUOib9CT85D4P9A99ILXO8oNwZs0/viewform

Warm regards,

Ms. Carpenter

Freshmen Field Trip

Our first field trip is scheduled for October 22, 2013. We will be going to a theatre performance in Dallas, TX. More details to come. There will be an opportunity for extra credit with this field trip.

Book Report/Reading Conference Due

Your book reports and reading conferences will beginThursday, October 10th. Please make sure your written report is typed in Google Docs and emailed to msmcarpenter@gmail.com. Also, be sure to track your page numbers so that I can enter them for the 10K Book Race. Be advised that you should be reading your second novel as well and be finished in the next two weeks for your final book report and conference for the quarter.

1st Quarter Benchmark

9th grade Benchmark will be this Friday, October 11th. 11th grade Benchmark will be Thursday, October 10th. Review all notes and anchor charts to review what we've learned in Unit 1.

Official Benchmark

Benchmarks will be taken between October 7 and October 18th. Review all of your notes and academic vocabulary. We will revisit content to improve weak areas based on pre-test.

Reading Conferences

The end of the first quarter is approaching quickly. You should have already completed your first novel and should be reading your second novel for this nine week period. I will begin conferences next week. Please write a formal book report and be ready to discuss your first novel by the week of October 7. Visit this link to help you write a book report: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/703/01/ Please email me if you have any questions. Your second conference and book report will be due October 18.

BENCHMARK (PRE-TEST)

Thursday, September 24, 2013, 9th and 11th grade will take an ELA Benchmark. This is a practice for the official Benchmark the week of October 7th. Please do your best and treat it as the real test. I will take put the grade in the gradebook. Review all of your notes and vocabulary words. Good luck!

Late Work/Missing Assignments

Please be advised it is your responsibility to keep up with your missing work. Check the Gradebook to see what assignments you are missing. If you are within the two week limit, you could still earn up to a 70. If it is beyond the deadline, you will receive a failing grade. If you have been absent, remember that you are required to request make up work from me. Let's keep up the good work and finish this quarter strong!

PBL Delay for 9th Grade

Due to MAP Testing, 9th grade PBLs will be delayed to the week of September 30th.

Reading Summaries

Please continue your weekly reading. Work towards your weekly reading goal. Summaries are due every Friday. I need to see one full paragraph summarizing the plot, characters, and important details.

Chromebooks

Please bring your Chromebooks to class starting this Thursday, September 12, 2013. They are essential for class, especially Reading Labs. Make sure they are fully charged.

PBL

Get ready for your first PBL project! 11th grade will begin their project this Friday. 9th grade will begin next week.

10K Book Race/Reading Requirement

The first nine weeks quarter ends on 10/21/13. You're expected to have read 2 full novels by 10/18/13. I will start conducting conferences to grade you on your novel completion. Your first novel should be finished by 9/21/13. Immediately begin your second novel to complete your goal by 10/18/13. Refrain from waiting until the last minute. Keep track of your page numbers and you will be rewarded.

Weekly Reading Summary

Please remember to have your weekly reading summary turned in by Friday. The expectation is a full paragraph (5 complete sentences). Also, make sure your reading summary is providing information about the plot, characters, and action. I don't need you to write a response or a reflection. Thank you and keep the momentum for reading. It will pay off in the 10K Race.

Reading Summary

"The habit of reading is the only enjoyment in which there is no alloy; it lasts when all other pleasures fade."

- Anthony Trollope Reading Summary is due this Friday, September 7, 2013. Remember it needs to be at least one paragraph about your weekly reading. Try to reach your weekly reading goal. Track your page numbers. Reading summaries are due EVERY FRIDAY.

Home Visit

Home Visits

Why we visit Homes?

Overall goal of home visiting is to help strengthen relationships between parents and teachers. Home visiting programs are an effective way for teachers to get parents involved in their child's education and to let parents and children know how much they care.

However, home visits are only the beginning. Harmony Science Academy embraces the idea of parents as partners and actively involves parents into education.

We experienced immediate benefits of home visiting. As parent and teacher relationships improved, and kids at the home visit campuses began doing better academically and socially. Here are more benefits:

·  Strengthened parent/teacher relationships

·  Increase in overall student achievement scores

·  Decrease in student suspensions

·  Increase in student attendance

·  Feeling of trust, mutual respect, empowerment, and accountability by parents, students and staff

 Please don't hesitate to contact me at msmcarpenter@gmail.com or mcarpenter@harmonytx.org to schedule a visit.

Diagnostic Testing

MAP Testing will be done in two weeks. This is a diagnostic test used to see where you are academically and help me plan lessons to develop your weak areas. This data will also connect to other programs for your Chromebook. Grades 9 and 11 will be tested in Language, Reading, and Math.

Reading Assignment

All students should have chosen a book for independent reading. Your first reading summary will be due this Friday, August 30, 2013. I expect at least one paragraph. Set your self a weekly goal. Remember that you have a full nine weeks to read one novel.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” 
― Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!

Announcements

Our first Writing Assessment window is between August 21-September 13. MAP (Measuring Academic Progress) assessments will also take place during the same time frame. Both assessments will help determine your strengths and areas of improvement. The first Benchmark will be between October 7-18.