Wed. Sept. 30, 2015: Unit One: Introduction

Today, I presented a Powerpoint explaining the questions you should be able to answer in this short unit as well as what the unit is about. The focus is on societal ideals. If you were not here, the Powerpoint notes are in your portfolio.

Tues. Sept. 29, 2015: Sask Career Login and inventory

Today, all students created a log in for Sask Careers as well as completed four "Inventory" assignments. See me if you were not here.
If you were here and did register, you need to go into "Know Yourself" and then  "Inventory" and complete the following by the end of the weekend:

* Learning Styles Quiz
* Traits Quiz
* Multiple Intelligence Quiz
* Skills Quiz

If you have any trouble, see me or Mrs. Waterman as this is a requirement.
You also have some assignments to submit. See earlier blogs to make sure everything is in.

Thurs. and Fri. Sept. 24 and 25, 2015: Group Activity

Today, students were placed in groups to discuss their article critiques. They then had to fill in a reflection sheet on the changes that could be made to their critiques. I then examined what each student came up with and have allowed those students to resubmit by Tuesday's class.

On Friday, you had presentations. I am still meeting with students to discuss their critiques.

Wed. Sept. 23, 2015: Comma Concerns

Today, I discussed outstanding assignments and how to use the results from the pre-test to help you improve. If you have not handed in the pre-test or the introductory paragraph, you need to do so ASAp as I will be marking everything this weekend.
I then gave you a Powerpoint on the comma. In it, we discussed what a dependent and independent clause is and the ways to ensure that two independent clauses can be joined together (there are four rules: they are in your "15 Common Errors" booklet).
I then gave you handout on the four comma rules for use in dependent situations  (Entitled "Chapter 18"). These are to be read actively and completed for Tuesday, September 29 and submitted.

Be sure to have your article critique submitted prior to tomorrow's class as we will be using them. If you haven't submitted the critique by the deadline, an alternative assignment will be provided.

Mon. Sept. 21 and Tues. Sept. 22, 2015: Writing Lab

On Monday and Tuesday, you were given class time to work on your article critique for "Life and Literature in Early Britain."
By Tuesday, however, most are to be working on their independent novel study (reading). If the article critique  is complete and a student did not bring a novel, the student will be provided with an alternate reading assignment to complete, which must be submitted.

Fri. Sept. 18, 2015: Text Critique Introduction and Practice

Today, I gave the students a booklet entitled "Understanding Text Critiques." We reviewed it and discussed. I then gave you the rest of the class time to create a rough text critique for the Article "Life and Literature in Early Britain." They were able to take these home to finalize. We will imput them into the computers on Monday.

Thurs. Sept. 17, 2015: Discussion of Active Reading Life and Literature in Early Britain

Today, we discussed the reading that you were to have submitted yesterday. It was returned for this purpose. From this short reading, I was able to come up with 31 questions of value (what is relevant). Active reading should help you understand a piece of writing in this way.

Wed. Sept. 16, 2015: Introduction/active reading/assignment

Today, I gave you a handout to introduce this unit and the questions we will examine. The sheet also explained how to read a short prose text offering up steps I expect you to follow. I also gave you your first reading: "Life and Literature in Early Britain" that you are to read and submit by the end of class today (or the end of the day if you need more reading time.) If you were not here, these assignments are in your portfolio.

Tues. Sept. 15, 2015: Independent Novel Study: Initial Activity

Today, I reaffirmed the submission requirements expected at this grade level (first and last name, class designation and date in the upper right hand corner). I also discussed the importance of proofing work before submission to catch lack of capitals on proper nouns, lack of periods, and misspelling of words that are being copied directly.

Today, you were to all have your novels here. I gave you the assignment entitled "Independent Novel: Initial Activity."
You were to complete this assignment in-class. You must see me if you weren't here and allow time to do it as it is a timed activity and must be done as the introduction to the novel study.

Mon. Sept 14, 2015: Writing Lab and Assignment Completion/Submission

Today, you completed your paragraph and the "15 Common Errors" pre-test. You then submitted a hard copy of both assignments into the "in" box and sent me an electronic copy of the essay. Some of you emailed it to me (at dawn.benoit@nwsd.ca) or brought me your USB to transfer it over. Those who did not do all the steps will have to meet with me to get an alternative or figure out what to do to get this one properly submitted.

Writing Lab/Novel Study

Today, you worked on completing your paragraph and pre-test. You have until the end of class to finish these and hand them in.

You also need to email me your paragraph. The address is as follows:

dawn.benoit@nwsd.ca

If you cannot email it, we will need to move it using your USB.

You were also to have your novel for today's class. Be sure to have it for Monday. If it is not here on Tuesday, you will not be able to do an assignment.

Thurs. Sept. 10, 2015: Writing Lab

Today, we reviewed one question from the Fit to Print Introduction Worksheet (#2) in order to show that accuracy matters. I also returned your MLA book citation activity to allow for further discussion about efficiency and proofing for accuracy.

You were then given the remainder of the class to work on your two assignments which are due by the end of the day on Monday (I have extended it). Keep in mind that the paragraph must also be emailed to me at :

dawn.benoit@nwsd.ca

Wed. Sept. 9, 2015: Working Lab

Today, you were given time to work on the computers (paragraph creation) and/or work on your pre-test (using Fit to Print to aid you).
These assignments are both due on Friday,

In addition to a hard copy submission, I also want you to email me your paragraph to:

dawn.benoit@nwsd.ca

These need to also be sent by the end of the day on Friday. See me if you are having difficulties.

Tues. Sept. 8, 2015: Assessment of writing and common errors

Today, you were given three different handouts:

1. Computer Usage Steps
2. Grade 12 English Language Arts Pre-Test
3. Paragraph Writing Assignment

We discussed that students were to have all supplies here for today and novels registered for Friday. This class also had to hand in their assignment from Friday (Fit to Print worksheet).

We then discussed the two assignments that you will be doing this week (both due at the end of class on Friday)

One is a personal paragraph (explained in computer usage steps and handout on paragraph writing): the other assignment is a pre-test to determine writing concerns. To do this activity, you will need to refer to your Fit to Print text.

If you were not here, these papers are in your portfolio. See me at lunch, in the morning before school or during RTI for help.

Fri. Sept. 4, 2015: Locating Information from a Text

Today, the students were given a sheet of questions to answer in relation to their text Fit to Print. These were to be answered by the end of class and submitted. If a student was not done, it can be completed by the end of the day (use RTI to stay caught up) or for Tuesday, though there is no reason this should take that long.

A reminder: You need a USB key here for Tuesday, as well as your other supplies (see your course outline).

Thurs. Sept. 3, 2015: MLA Citation

Today, you went to the library and took out the following text:

Buckley, Joanne. Fit to Print: The Canadian Student's Guide to Essay Writing. 8th ed. Ed. Sandy

          Matos. Toronto: Nelson Education, 2013. Print.

If you were not here, you need to get this from the library.

We then examined how to cite a one author book.

I explained that the purpose of citing is so that someone else can find the same book that you are referring to. We discussed how the 5Ws are the key items:

Author (last name [comma] and then first name[period])
Title (underlined when writing by hand [period])
City of publication (no need for province/state or country [semicolon])
Name of publisher [comma]
year of this publication (the most recent date [period]
medium of publication (usually just a matter of putting down whether the student got it from print or from the web [period]).

We then took this story and organized it so it is a continuous line, double spaced, and then indented on the second line and on any additional lines if there are any:

Mayer, Mercer. All by Myself. Racine: Western 

          Publishing Company, 1983. Print.

 

The students were then given books and instructed to create a citation. Part of this was also to ensure they know how to hand in assignments (first and last name, date, and class in upper right hand corner). These were then submitted. If a student misses a step, the student can meet with me and do a make-up to demonstrate understanding. Students who are absent can also meet with me to do this assignment. The goal is to ensure understanding and proficiency.

Wed. Sept. 2, 2015: Novel Study Information

Today, we finished discussing the course outline. Be sure to get your supplies for next Tuesday. I then gave you two handouts: The first one was your major independent novels study assignment options; the second one was your novel study choices. We discussed this assignment at length and set up some dates. If you were not here, these handouts are in your portfolio. Please see me for further clarification.

The independent novel study dates are as follows:

Friday, September 11: Must have chosen the novel and have it in class (from teacher approved list or
                                     with teacher approval).
Friday, October 9:       First month check-in
Friday, November 6:   Second month check-in
Friday, December 4:   Third month check-in

Wednesday, January 6, 2016: Novel study is due. There will be no extensions on this assignment due to the time it takes to carefully assess as well as the large amount of time given to complete this project.

Tues. Sept. 1, 2015: Introduction

 Today, I introduced this course to the students and provided them with a supplies' list that is to be met for next Tuesday.