December 15, 2008

Real fast.
Homework:
Sections 1 and 2- Pages 72-75 in vocab book.
Sections 3,6,7- Sections 6 and 7 were given a worksheet to complete.  I forgot 3.

Today:
Sections 1 and 2- I collected the DuPont Challenge essays.  I will get them organized during the folowing week.  We began our next assignment which will be a debate.  I have done this project for years. 

Sections 3,6,7- There is no vocab until January.  We don't have time. I plan to finish up the sentence structure unit we are doing and have a quiz on Thursday.  Then we will watch a movie that will tie in with our next writing piece.  I am still deciding what we will do next.

December 12, 2008

Real fast:

Sections 1 and 2: The final draft of the DuPont Challenge is due Monday.  There are numerous requirements that we have reviewed in class.  Please make sure you have done this perfectly.  I will be grading the paper based on the requirements and the content.  Please go here to check off what must be done for Monday.  Please hold off on submitting the papers until I give the go-ahead. 

Sections 3,6, and 7: No homework.  Enjoy the weekend.

December 11, 2008

Sections 1 and 2
Today:
Daily Buzzword
Vocab quiz on unit 6
I reviewed the exact requirements for the DuPont Challenge.
We finished peer editting the essays.

Homework:
I want a perfect draft tomorrow.  This way, after someone reads it over Friday, it will be more than perfect!  The final draft is due Monday.

Sections 3,6, and 7
Today:
Daily Drill
Vocab quiz on unit 5
Continued our lessons on sentence structure.  There are notes at MrBoZ.com.

Homework:
None tonight.  We start a new vocab unit next week.  There will be a quiz right before the winter break.

December 10, 2008

Real quick:
Both classes have a quiz tomorrow.
Sections 1 and 2 have unit 6.
Sections 3,6, and 7 have unit 5.

All classes did more of what we did yesterday.

December 9, 2008

Sections 1 and 2
Today:
Daily Buzzword
Reviewed vocab
Handed out a grade slip to be signed.
Discussed the future of the DYPF 2008
Students began peer-editting their DuPont Challenge essays

Homework:
Finish Unit 6

Sections 3,6,7
Today:
Daily Drill
Section 3 got a grade slip that needs to be signed.
Reviewed vocabulary.
Continued working of Sentence Structure, subject and verbs.  We are on lesson 4 of 10 for the unit.

Homework:
Finish Unit 5
There is a quiz on Thursday.

December 8, 2008

Sections 1 and 2
Homework:
Completing the Sentence unit 6

Today:
Daily Buzzword.  Reviewed Unit 6 vocabulary.  Then we continued to discuss the sample essay so the students will know how to comment on each other's essays when they peer edit tomorrow.

Sections 3,6,7
Homework:
Completing the Sentence unit 5

Today:
Daily Drill.  Reviewed unit 5 vocabulary.  We continued to discuss sentence structure.  The notes are on MrBoZ.com. 

December 4, 2008

Sections 1 and 2
Homework: None
Today:
Daily Buzzword- If you are absent, copy it from mrboz.com.
We reviewed the choosing the right word and discussed the context clues.
The big thing we did in class today was review the feedback from the Delaware Theathre Company!  The plays have been returned, and the students were the first to see what they said.  I am going to take some time to review the feedback and compare it to how I scored them.  I also want to think about our next steps based on what they suggested the students improve.  I took a few pictures of the kids looking over the comments.  I will say that I found it kind of exciting.  When I gave back my comments, the students knew I wasn't so sure about what was a good play.  These people know, and now they are seeing how they did.

Sections 3,6,7
Homework: None
Today:
We finished all 5 daily drills for the week and handed them in.  I will grade two of the five pages for accuracy.
Then we played with the words from unit 5.  I had them divide them into nouns, verbs, and adjectives.  Then, trying to tie the vocab into the sentence unit we are doing, I asked them to use the word fugitive as a subject and use the five verbs from the unit to make sentences.  Then they were to add some of the adjectives from the unit to the sentences.  The goal was to show them that sentences are made up of words that have a purpose.  The vocabulary we study is there to improve the quality of the words they use in their sentences.

December 3, 2008

Sections 1 and 2
Homework:
Choosing the Right Word unit 6

Today:
After doing the Daily Buzzword and checking the vocab homework, we began studying an essay so they will be prepared to help each other improve their DuPont Challenge Essays.  This way they have some direction when the begin reading another's essay.  Students tend to look only for the grammar mistakes.  While finding all the mistakes is important, right now we also have to see if the essay is up to the standards of a national essay contest.

Also, the good draft will not be due on Monday, December 8th.  I am pushing it off until the 15th.  We will need to spend more time peer editing.  There might even be another draft due next Thursday or Friday.

Sections 3,6,7
Homework:
Choosing the Right Word unit 6

Today:
We did a daily drill.  I also handed back the checked daily drills.  I am finding that students are not taking their time when we do the drills.  Many students received low grades on these because they are not even copying the correct answer from the board as we review it.  I use the daily drill to review grammar.  They need to pay attention.

From there we went on to discuss simple subjects and simple predicates.  We finished lesson 2 of a 10 lesson chapter on sentences.  Students are expected to keep a notebook which they will use for a test later. The notes are found at www.mrboz.com.

December 2, 2008

Sections 1 and 2
Homework:
Pictionaries 11-20 and Synonyms unit 6
Good Rough Draft of DuPont Challenge essay due Wednesday

Today:
Daily Buzzword
Listened to words 11-20 unit 6
I lectured on MLA format, citations, and works cited.

Sections 3,6,7
Homework:
Pictionaries 11-20 and Synonyms unit 5

Today:
Daily Drill
Listened to words 11-20
Finished lesson 1 on sentence parts- complete subject and complete predicate

December 1, 2008

Sections 1 and 2
Today
We started a new daily drill that we will use for at least the month of December.  It is called Daily Buzzword.  The actual activity is located on the Merriam-Webster website called Word Central.  Each day they post a word, give a definition and a sentence, and ask a question.  Most times the questions require some thought.  We discuss the possible answers then check the site.  The site then gives a lengthy explanation.  I am into words and their derivations, so I find it fascinating.  The students are required to keep track of each day's word.  I will quiz them on the words later.

Homework
Pictionaries 1-10 unit 6
They also have a good rough draft of their essay due on Wednesday.  Today we looked at the winning essay from last year.  Tomorrow we will study how to use citations.

Sections 3,6,7
Today
Daily Drill
We started unit 5 in vocabulary
We also started a unit on sentences.  For the next two weeks, we will be doing grammar.  The students are expected to keep notes in a notebook which they will use for the test at the end.  We took a diagnostic test today, and they didn't know much! 

Homework:
Pictionaries 1-10 unit 5
MANY STUDENTS did not turn in BOTH poems before Thanksgiving.  I informed those students of their missing work today,

November 20, 2008

Real quick today-

Sections 1 and 2 should continue to research for their DuPont Challenge essays.
Sections 3,6, and 7 should be working on their poems.  It would be good if they came in with something tomorrow so we can make it sound like a poem.  I will show them a few more things to help them write their poems tomorrow.

November 19, 2008

Sections 1 and 2:
I collected the DuPont Challenge progress reports.  Those who did not have it today will receive a score of two grades lower because it was not on time.  We spent the whole period listening to progress reports. We will need two more periods I am sure!  After each presentation, I asked questions or gave suggestions.  I want the whole class to hear my suggestions because I am sure there are many others who have the same problems or concerns.  I also want the whole class to hear the topics each student is working on.  I love hearing about scientific discoveries.  When I hear something I have never heard or, I ask lots of questions.  Those questions help the students figure out what else they need to research.  For homework, the students should be continuing to research for their essays.

Sections 3,6, and 7:
We did a daily drill.  Then I handed out a sheet that explains the poem project.  (I made a web page that explains it.)  Then I led the classes through various exercises to help focus their poem writing.  The better students will be working on this outside of class.

November 18, 2008

Sections 1 and 2:
Today we read examples of what the presentations should look like.  If you go to the DuPont Challenge section of MrBoZ.com, you will see the handouts we used today.  The students were taught exactly what they need to have in their presentation.  They were also told to have two copies because I would like to collect them that day.  I might read them if I have time.  I will have already have listened to them anyway.  I might use them in the future.

Sections 3,6, and 7:
We did a daily drill.  Then we continued to read and discuss an example of the poem I would like them to write.  I am calling the poem, "Thanksgiving in Six Pictures."  The subject of the poem is Thanksgiving.  The poem will be a series of six very descriptive sections that use imagery to give a feeling of Thanksgiving.  It will be between 75 and 100 words and have a line that repeats but changes throughout the poem.  It should resemble the same poem I linked to above.  If I have time, I will make a web page for the assignment.  The homework this week would be to work on this poem and possibly a second poem if we have time.

November 17, 2008

Sections 1 and 2 have a sheet due Tuesday and a presentation Wednesday.  I have a lot to do, so I don't have time to explain.  The students know what they are responsible for.

Sections 3,6, and 7 do not have vocab this week.  Each day in class, we will be doing a daily drill.  These will be on a slip of paper.  At the end of the week, we will organize all five, and I will give them a grade.  If they are absent, they should get the make up sheet.  I do not have time to scan these in an make a web page. They are available in class.

To all parents, I will try my best to have stuff on-line, but I want to dedicate my time to getting grading done this week.  I will try to keep you updated.

November 14, 2008

Sections 1 and 2
Today we spent time watching a show called Wired Science, by the magazine Wired.  We discussed cross-referencing facts in stories to check the validity of statements made on web pages.  I also used one segment to show the students a great example of what their DuPont Challenge essay should sound like.  I gave them a paper that requires them to think about different aspects of their topics. 

They do have homework.  By Tuesday, they should have written answers to the questions on the sheet on their topic.  And on Wednesday, they will present their topics to the class.  I will explain those requirements on Tuesday.  In short, they need to find an appropriate topic to write on soon.

Sections 3, 6, and 7
The students do not have homework.  They took a quiz on Unit 4 today.  Each class did something different, but I am winding down the speeches.  Next week we will get back into daily drills, vocab, and start a grammar unit on sentences so they can begin to improve their sentence structure in their essays.

Have a nice weekend.

November 12, 2008

I have been so busy lately.  Basically, section 3 has been doing all their vocab in class, so they have no vocab homework.  Sections 6 and 7 have to finish unit 4 in the book for Thursday, with flashcards due Friday and a quiz on Friday, too.  Sections 1 and 2 have been starting the DuPont Challenge.  There is a web page on MrBoZ.com.  There are no firm due dates for that assignment yet.  They do not have vocab this week. They should be searching for a topic to write on.

I have grades ready to be inputed.  I will get to that ASAP.
-MrBoZ

November 7, 2008

I have to get out of here, so I will make this fast.

Sections 1 and 2 took quiz 5 today, and I introduced them to the next writing topic, the DuPont Challenge.  We reviewed the topic and read part of the winning essay from 2007.  I will put a web page up on MrBoZ.com next week which will explain everything.  If you want to know more about it now, just do a Google search, and you will find it easily.

Sections 3,6, and 7 finished up the first three vocab assignments for unit 4.  Then we continued on with the presentations.  That's about it.

It is a new marking period, and I do have some grades I need to put in the book.  I should have a grade update by Nov. 12.  The year is rolling right along!

Have a nice weekend.

November 6, 2008

Homework
1,2:
Study for unit 5 quiz on Friday
Finish one side of the cartoon sheet I gave for vocab review

6,7:
Choosing the Right Word unit 4 with context clues

3: None

Today
1,2:
Checked vocab bookwork was done and reviewed answers.
Handed back the plays so they could read my chicken-scratch comments.

6,7:
Daily Drill focusing on vocab review
Reviewed vocab homework
Scored 2 speech competitions

3:
Daily Drill
Did Choosing the Right Word in Class and handed in.
Listened to two speeches.

November 5, 2008

Homework
1,2:
Completing the Sentence Unit 5

6,7:
Synonyms Unit 5

3:
None (some need to finish their essays)

Today
1,2:
We reviewed words from unit 5 vocab,
We watched the rest of the videos.
We chose winners.  You can see the names of the winners here.

6,7:
Daily Drill- vocab review for units 1-3.
Sections 6 and 7 did a neat activity!  I wanted them to practice getting up in front of the class, so I assigned them a vocab worb.  They were to read the word and definition with lots of emphasis as if they were reading their inspirational speech.  To make it interesting, I paired them up.  Two of them stood in front of the class and competed to see who could do the best job.  Then the class and I (mostly me) made a decision as to who won.  The kids were nervous, but I wanted to challenge them.  Tomorrow we begin reading the inspirational speeches.  (I do not have time to record them.  Sorry.)

3:
Daily Drill, synonyms in the vocab book in class, listened to one student give here speech.  We will begin our speeches tomorrow.

November 3, 2008

The marking period grades are done. I already have some grades for the next MP.  When I get time, I will enter them.  I am looking forward to the next marking period.  It is a fresh start!

Homework
1,2:
Pictionaries, synonyms, choosing with context clues Unit 5

3,6,7:
None (except too many students did not hand in their essays!)

Today
1,2:
Began unit 5 words
Continued to watch plays to determine a winner.

3,6,7:
Warm-up (vocab review)
Checked who was finished essays and collected.
Began unit 5 words.  I tried something different in class today.  I had the students do the pictionaries to start learning the words.  Instead of talking at the students about the words, I had them wrestle with them a little and teach them to each other.