Individual Conferencing now until end of 6 weeks

I am finally getting to know your names for the most part.  I am looking forward to getting to know you even better through conferencing which I am starting this week.
I will be visiting with 6 students during class time on Tuesdays and Thursdays until the end of the 6 weeks. We will visit  one on one for about 5 minutes each.  Please bring:

• Your journal to check off items 1-5

1. Thought for the Day
2. Background notes on LOTF
3. Leadership: Three Important Characteristics
4. Evidence of Leadership in LOTF (sticky notes or notes from presentations)
5. Clock appointments - questions from chp 2 LOTF

• Syllabus Signed Sheet if I don't have it yet
• Reading rate for LOTF (20 min without music - do it on your own and report if necessary)
• Words to learn for LOTF chapters 1-3
• What are you reading outside of class?

WOW. That is a lot to learn in five minutes but we can do it.

Join vocabulary.com NEW Link for periods 3 and 4!

Join Vocabulary.com to strengthen your vocabulary skills.  You will need to know the vocabulary listed for Lord of the Flies - chapters 1-3 by the end of September.  Join our class.  You can set up your own list of words and test yourself through activities and games. Remember: Words are Power!

ELA Sophomore Classes WSHS Rands

Period 1:           http://vocab.com/join/2AVQWPQ

Period 3            http://vocab.com/join/YPQKFV

Period 4            http://vocab.com/join/1HCCE72

Visit the URL above and your will get an account.  It is free!

Routines in Place

Week 2 Sept 11-15 Routine in place

I think we are in a routine of sorts now.  We finished listening to chapter one Lord of the Flies.  You practiced some ways to gather evidence based on a prompt which will lead to a piece of writing to show your understanding of a theme.  You gathered evidence to show the leadership qualities of each Ralph, Piggy and Jack.  Your work entailed journal writes #3 and #4.  You will now use this evidence and other ideas from the text to write 3 paragraphs on Monday.  You will be turning this short composition in to help me assess your writing skills and needs.

For week three, we will need to cover chapters 2-3-4.  That means you will be reading a bit on your own.  I will have some questions for you to answer to guide your reading.  Please bring your outside reading books with you every day as well.  You will need to read at least 30 minutes a day to complete your book by Oct 14 and write me a letter convincing me to read your book.  Please don't tell me the ending!  Your letter assignment is detailed under Inter-Textual Connections in the left hand menu bar.

First Week Reflection

Hello Sophomores,
You made it through the first week.  You make up three large, energetic classes.  I know that energy will propel you to read with passion and write with heart & vigor.  We accomplished a lot the first week by just getting to know each other, and learning the routine of West with the many guidelines for safety and academic success.  Everyone has class texts now.  That is an accomplishment, too.  Just be careful of that load you will be carrying around on your backs.

We did a little writing in your journal to break it in and get you in the habit.  I will be checking journals once a month or so in journal groups so that you all have a chance to read your work to one another and I can easily give you a grade. Generally, I will grade five entries at a time worth five points per entry or 25 pt for the check in.

Our first Journal entry was based on a Thought for the Day (author unknown).  It gave us some food for thought in starting the new academic year.  If you missed the chance to write in your journal, choose a line and elaborate  (See sidebar to the right - Assignments and Due Dates - Journal Entry 1:

Write a paragraph to include the lifted line with some elaboration plus at least 3 sentences to develop the thought. Use examples such as experiences from your life or others, or from books, movies and other media. Or just explain your idea with concrete details.

State a conclusion that ties it all together. 

(The lines to choose from are under Assignments and Due Dates: Journal Entry #1 in the right hand side bar.)

Have a nice weekend!   Mrs. Rands

Bring Lord of the Flies along with your journal, tape, pens, pencils, and syllabus signed - for Monday.  (And I still need your name cards!)