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- What is RICA?
- What constitutes a "challenging" book?
- Why use block scheduling?
- Is there an opportunity for extra credit?
- Does my student have any homework?
- What novels will be read in advanced English?
- What is DGP?
- Why does it take so long to get writing projects back to the students?
- What are Second Chance Passes?
- What rules do students follow for final drafts?
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What is RICA?
RICA is reading in the content area. Our RICA class is fourth block on the
A day. The time is divided in this way--the first 30 minutes is Drop
Everything and Read (DEAR)silent reading of library books; the second 30
minutes is Flex time (flexible learning time)--a time to get a head start on
homework, get extra help from a teacher, visit the library,get makeup work,
or retake a test or quiz. Reading in the Content Area (RICA) a mini lesson
with the objective of improving reading in all academic areas is the last 25
minutes.
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What constitutes a "challenging" book?
In order to qualify for "challenging" book status a book must first be on
the Accelerated Reader list. Books that are AR have already been evaluated
for reading level and point value. We DO NOT count points, but points are
considered when determining whether a book counts as two or three books.
General guidelines for lengthier works are as follows:
Pages--from 250 - 350 AND 10 - 20 points equals two books
Pages--from 351 and up AND 21 points and up equals three books
In order to take advantage of this opportunity, the student must contract
with me BEFORE reading the book. An individual book mark that charts daily
progress must be completed on challenging books. Books must meet the
minimum requirements to qualify. If there is any question, see me.
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Why use block scheduling?
Here are some of the benefits of block scheduling:
(1) Students can explore knowledge in depth.
(2) Students can use and benefit from a variety of instructional strategies.
(3) To have time to include meaningful and active learning experiences that
incorporate higher order thinking skills.
(4) Teachers and students utilize time more efficiently for instruction.
(5) Teachers are able to spend more time with students who are experiencing
difficulty.
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Is there an opportunity for extra credit?
Yes, students in regular English may create vocabulary flashcards.
Instructions are given to all students at the beginning of the year. These
are for the three units in each review section. For example, units 1-3 is a
review section. Flashcards created in the prescribed manner will receive 20
extra credit test points.
These flashcards can be of immense academic benefit if constructed on a
weekly basis, used for the daily quizzes and the unit tests. This
opportunity is only available following a review section.
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Does my student have any homework?
Yes, almost every night. We use the Vocabulary Workshop text in my class
room. Students have specific written assignments due on certain dates.
When I assign each unit, we as a class write down the assignments, quizzes,
and the unit test date. Even if he or she has no written work (done at
school), the student should be studying for either a quiz or the unit test.
The vocabulary workbook is challenging and requires extra effort on the part
of the student.
If we are having a "vocabulary vacation", it will be posted on this site.
Students are assigned three novels (or the equivalent) to read each nine
weeks so your student should probably read some every night. Time is given
during the school day, but many students will need to read at home also.
All classes will have DGP quizzes. Students should review for these quizzes.
Advanced English classes have outside reading that is also homework.
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What novels will be read in advanced English?
The first novel assigned is Johnny Tremain, Newbery Medalist. We are also
required by the county to teach Animal Farm so you can count on that one for
sure. Night by Elie Wiesel is one that will be assigned the last nine weeks
of school.
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What is DGP?
DGP stands for Daily Grammar Practice.This activity begins immediately after
the bell. Each “week” is on a three day cycle. Day I—parts one and two are
completed. Day II—parts three, four, and five are completed, and on Day
III, a quiz is given over student work. Students are encouraged to write
notes on their student work for this can be used during the quiz.
Copy and refer to the instructions on the front board. Students have been
given the color coded appendices used for corrections. Do NOT wait for me
to begin your work. We use the same sentence for all correction parts. You
must turn in all five sentence parts with ALL of the corrections or
notations made in class. These are due on the day of the oral quiz. You
actually take the quiz on this paper.
The oral quiz is the class period AFTER the diagramming (part V). You may
use your DGP corrections or any notes you have written on your student work
to answer the quiz questions. Time is limited, however. Student work is
one half of your grade. You are penalized for incomplete, missing, and/or
inaccurate student work.
If you are absent the day of the DGP quiz, you do not have to make it up,
but you MUST turn in all five sentence parts of DGP. Here’s a clue—if you
still have the five parts of DGP in your notebook without a grade recorded
on the paper, I have recorded a zero for your grade.
Stickers are awarded for AHA! Moments, correct diagramming on the board, and
anything else I deem to be “sticker worthy.” Stickers make you happy, feel
smart, and “may” be redeemed for not so fabulous prizes.
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Why does it take so long to get writing projects back to the students?
The short answer is because it takes a tremendous amount of my time to grade
them. Unfortunately, I usually have to take these home to get them done.
Students understand this, especially when I explain what I do with the
papers and how I evaluate each one. Each paper takes about ten to fifteen
minutes to evaluate. On a good day (or night) I can grade about five or
even six in an hour.
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What are Second Chance Passes?
Each student received two Second Chance Passes in each academic class.
These are used for academic purposes, such as turning in an assignment one
class period late, retaking a test or quiz, or extending a writing
assignment deadline. Some restrictions do apply. Not all tests are
eligible to be retaken; however, students will be notified in advance.
Vocabulary workbooks (unit pages) can not be turned in late. Oral quizzes
can not be retaken, and reading check deadlines cannot be extended.
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What rules do students follow for final drafts?
Guidelines for Formal Drafts
“Final drafts should be as perfect as you can get them.”
Typed Drafts
1. Double space the text.
2. Indent each paragraph by pressing the “Tab” key.
3. Print on the front of clean, unlined paper.
4. Print in black ink only.
5. Font size should by 12 or 14 only.
6. No fancy fonts.
7. Never print on the back of the paper.
8. Present the assignment neatly, no crossed out words, scribbles,
blobs of white out, or words added between the lines.
9. Papers are delivered in person, not email.
10. Do NOT use all capital letters—that is the equivalent of screaming.
11. You are not composing a text message or an email. Therefore, do not
use shortcuts. Use standard English which could be understood by
anyone.
Handwritten Drafts
1. Write your paper on clean paper using blue or black ink only. Use
your best handwriting—print or cursive, whichever is most legible.
2. Do not write on the back of the sheet of paper.
3. Do not use pages from a spiral notebook.
4. Skip one line before beginning the first paragraph, but do not skip
lines between paragraphs.
5. Indent each paragraph approximately one inch.
6. Present the assignment neatly, no crossed out words, scribbles,
blobs of white out, or words written between the lines.
7. Write out “and”; do not use a symbol.
8. Do not divide words at the end of a page. If you do divide words,
use a dictionary so you divide them between syllables. Never
divide proper nouns.
9. Leave a right margin; do not write to the edge of the page.
10. Do not write on the last line of a page.
EVERYONE FOLLOWS THIS FINAL SECTION
All Drafts, Typed and Handwritten
1. Center the title on the first line of the first page of the draft.
2. Do not underline the title or put quotation marks around it. When
the title is where the title goes, everyone knows it is the title.
3. Capitalize the first, last, and all important words in the title.
What words are unimportant when inside the title? Answer----short
prepositions, conjunctions, and articles. However prepositions of
more than five letters are “promoted” to important.
4. Always use complete sentences—no fragments or run-ons.
5. Every sentence in a paragraph should relate to the topic sentence.
6. Use proper grammar.
7. Punctuate correctly.
8. Spell all words correctly. Don’ relay on spell check. (See why?)
9. Stay in one verb tense. You are not a time traveler.
10. Avoid talking directly to the reader, using “I,” “you,” ”your”, etc.
11. Double check the homophones—their, they’re, there/your, you’re/it’s,
its, etc.
12. Avoid slang; it quickly looks dated. (“the bomb” “getting’ jiggy”—
see how those sound?)
13. Avoid contractions—for example, write “do not” instead of “don’t.”
14. Write out numbers that can be written in one or two words. Use a
combination of words and numbers for large rounded numbers. For
example write “3 million people.”
15. Do not begin a sentence with AND, BUT, SO, OR.
16. Avoid vague terms like NICE, GOOD, STUFF, DUMB, and A LOT (which you
may notice is two words not one).
17. Be sure all pronouns have antecedents clearly stated.
18. Never write THE END at the end of your paper.
19. DO NOT put the pages of any final draft into plastic sleeves. This
causes more work for me and may (WILL) affect your grade.
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