Freshmen: Today we focused more closely on how to use the rubric to assess writing, the idea being that if you can assess someone else's writing, you can assess your own. Further, if you can assess your own, you can improve it before handing it in to be assessed by me. Again, read for 20 minutes tonight.
Sophomores: Today we focused on the importance of activating prior knowledge, or back ground knowledge - sometimes called schema - when reading. To aid with this while reading Life of Pi, we are starting a very brief and simple research assignment. The 3 Facts assignment is due next Wednesday. See me if you need a topic. Chapter 10 from Pi is due on Friday; Part 1 is due next Wednesday.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
August 26 and 27
Freshmen: We focused on the elements of good writing, specifically according to the Six Traits model. We also got through page 25 in our vocab books. Your homework is to read these two nights.
Sophomores: We took a diagnostic vocabulary quiz, and you turned in your short essays on what the commonalities among creation stories reveals about humanity. We then began Life of Pi and discussed some interesting issues that run through the text. For Friday, finish Chapter 10. There will be a quiz. The reading schedule for the book is posted on an earlier entry.
Sophomores: We took a diagnostic vocabulary quiz, and you turned in your short essays on what the commonalities among creation stories reveals about humanity. We then began Life of Pi and discussed some interesting issues that run through the text. For Friday, finish Chapter 10. There will be a quiz. The reading schedule for the book is posted on an earlier entry.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Life of Pi Reading Schedule
Read all the chapters up to and through the chapter listed before class on the date it is due.
Chapter 10 due 8/29.
Part I due 9/4.
Chapter 45 9/5.
Chapter 53 9/8.
Part II 9/15.
We will finish the book together in class on 9/15. You will need The Power of One for class on 9/17.
Chapter 10 due 8/29.
Part I due 9/4.
Chapter 45 9/5.
Chapter 53 9/8.
Part II 9/15.
We will finish the book together in class on 9/15. You will need The Power of One for class on 9/17.
Six Traits Score Grade Scale
Six Traits Conversion Chart
Six Traits Score Grade/Percent
30 100
29-28 95
27 92
26 90
25 88
24 85
23-22 83
21 80
20-19 78
18 75
17 72
16-15 70
14-13 68
12 65
11 63
10-6 60
5 59 or below
Six Traits Score Grade/Percent
30 100
29-28 95
27 92
26 90
25 88
24 85
23-22 83
21 80
20-19 78
18 75
17 72
16-15 70
14-13 68
12 65
11 63
10-6 60
5 59 or below
Sophomore World Literature Disclosure Statement
Sophomore World Literature is a reading and writing-intensive course that will expose students to a wide range of literature, authors, styles, cultures, time periods, ideas, and writing techniques.
In addition to the short stories contained in our classroom set of A World of Stories and the sophomore summer reads Haroun and the Sea of Stories and First They Killed My Father, we will read the following novels – Life of Pi, The Power of One, The Alchemist, Siddhartha, and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. We will also read The Tao te Ching daily, as well as study the haiku form and some of its masters. Additionally, we will study many of the teachings of Joseph Campbell that relate to our course. Finally, we will regularly read and listen to essays from NPR’s This I Believe series. Students can expect nightly reading assignments, small and large group discussions, vocabulary, in and out of class writing assignments, projects, quizzes, and tests. The students should keep all books, assignments, and notes for the duration of the semester, as we will often go back to these texts and ideas and build upon them.
The course will focus on excellent literature from a wide variety of authors, religions, and places, and the common theme that ties them all together is that at the heart of each piece lies a distinct philosophy about life, faith, God, or the human spirit. During the course of the semester, students will examine these philosophies as they cultivate and articulate their own personal philosophy. This will culminate with our class participating in NPR’s This I Believe program.
This is my third year teaching at Judge, my eleventh in the diocese, and I must say that this course has become my favorite. I taught middle school English, literature, and religion at JE Cosgriff Memorial Catholic School for eight years, and I have been on the boys’ basketball coaching staff here at Judge for the last 15. This will be my fifth year as the head coach of the freshman boys’ basketball team. I have a degree in English and a Utah State Teaching License from the University of Utah and a Masters of Teaching degree from Grand Canyon University. I have published work in Today’s Catholic Teacher, Teaching K-8 Magazine, The Salt Lake Tribune, Middle Ground, and The Utah Council of Teachers of English Journal. I am married, and my wife, Laura, and I have three children: John Marshall, Jacob Atticus, and Sarah Astrid.
I’m happy to discuss any issue with you. My voicemail extension is 237, though I think I’ll be easier to reach via email at jbaird@judgememorial.com.
Grading:
We will use Judge Memorial’s standard grade scale. Students’ grades will be determined, in general, using the following point system:
• Major writing assignments: 100 points.
• Minor writing assignments: 25 to 50 points.
• In-class writing assignments: 10 points.
• Quarterly Prayer assignment: 100 points.
• Preparation: 100 points for the quarter.
• Participation: 100 points for the quarter.
• Vocabulary Bell Work: 100 points for the quarter.
• Reading Due dates and points will vary.
• Other assignments, tests, and quizzes will have point values that vary.
Homework Policy:
All work (assignments, reading, etc.) is due at the start of class. Late work, in most cases, will not be accepted. In general, there won’t be extra credit assignments; however, when there are, they will be made available to the entire class.
All writing homework should be word processed. In the event you have computer problems (printer dies, etc.), do one of the following things BEFORE CLASS: email me the assignment (jbaird@judgememorial.com), bring it to school on a disk or jump drive and print it in the lab, or hand write it. If you email me something, I would suggest pasting it inside the email document as well as sending it as an attachment to ensure everything gets through. Be sure to notify me of what you’re sending in the subject box. If you don’t do one of these things before class, the assignment is late and won’t be accepted. I would suggest printing a hard copy, because if the email you sent me didn’t get to me, there’s nothing I can do about it.
You can follow what we do each day in class or check up on homework by going to my blog at bairdenglish.blogspot.com. Just look for the entry with that day’s date. If you are absent, you are expected to check the blog and are responsible for any homework listed there the day you return. Simply being absent doesn’t excuse you from the work, especially the reading. I will post assignments there that you can copy and paste into your word processing program as well.
Important Things to Know:
• You will typically have nightly reading assignments. You can expect to cover around 100 pages a week. Manage your time well and break your reading up into smaller chunks.
• You can expect to have a finished piece of writing (multiple revisions and a finished draft) due every two to three weeks.
• The semester exam is worth at least10% of your semester grade, and will cover and combine all of the things we studied throughout the semester.
• We will begin class the same way every day: at the bell, you will check the board and begin the assignment listed there (typically vocab work). After 5-10 minutes of this, we’ll have prayer and proceed from there.
Necessary Materials:
You need to bring the following items to class each day, beginning tomorrow:
• Our class text. The second week of school we’ll start Life of Pi.
• Our Vocabulary book.
• A 3-ring binder (two-inch width recommended) with five sections: notes, terminology, finished drafts, in-class prompts, and assignments. Include plenty of loose-leaf paper for assignments and notes.
• Blue or black pens, as well as a red pen for editing.
NOTE: Because of the nature of our daily prayer routine, you also need to bring the Tao te Ching with you to class each day. This is a key part of your participation grade.
In addition to the short stories contained in our classroom set of A World of Stories and the sophomore summer reads Haroun and the Sea of Stories and First They Killed My Father, we will read the following novels – Life of Pi, The Power of One, The Alchemist, Siddhartha, and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. We will also read The Tao te Ching daily, as well as study the haiku form and some of its masters. Additionally, we will study many of the teachings of Joseph Campbell that relate to our course. Finally, we will regularly read and listen to essays from NPR’s This I Believe series. Students can expect nightly reading assignments, small and large group discussions, vocabulary, in and out of class writing assignments, projects, quizzes, and tests. The students should keep all books, assignments, and notes for the duration of the semester, as we will often go back to these texts and ideas and build upon them.
The course will focus on excellent literature from a wide variety of authors, religions, and places, and the common theme that ties them all together is that at the heart of each piece lies a distinct philosophy about life, faith, God, or the human spirit. During the course of the semester, students will examine these philosophies as they cultivate and articulate their own personal philosophy. This will culminate with our class participating in NPR’s This I Believe program.
This is my third year teaching at Judge, my eleventh in the diocese, and I must say that this course has become my favorite. I taught middle school English, literature, and religion at JE Cosgriff Memorial Catholic School for eight years, and I have been on the boys’ basketball coaching staff here at Judge for the last 15. This will be my fifth year as the head coach of the freshman boys’ basketball team. I have a degree in English and a Utah State Teaching License from the University of Utah and a Masters of Teaching degree from Grand Canyon University. I have published work in Today’s Catholic Teacher, Teaching K-8 Magazine, The Salt Lake Tribune, Middle Ground, and The Utah Council of Teachers of English Journal. I am married, and my wife, Laura, and I have three children: John Marshall, Jacob Atticus, and Sarah Astrid.
I’m happy to discuss any issue with you. My voicemail extension is 237, though I think I’ll be easier to reach via email at jbaird@judgememorial.com.
Grading:
We will use Judge Memorial’s standard grade scale. Students’ grades will be determined, in general, using the following point system:
• Major writing assignments: 100 points.
• Minor writing assignments: 25 to 50 points.
• In-class writing assignments: 10 points.
• Quarterly Prayer assignment: 100 points.
• Preparation: 100 points for the quarter.
• Participation: 100 points for the quarter.
• Vocabulary Bell Work: 100 points for the quarter.
• Reading Due dates and points will vary.
• Other assignments, tests, and quizzes will have point values that vary.
Homework Policy:
All work (assignments, reading, etc.) is due at the start of class. Late work, in most cases, will not be accepted. In general, there won’t be extra credit assignments; however, when there are, they will be made available to the entire class.
All writing homework should be word processed. In the event you have computer problems (printer dies, etc.), do one of the following things BEFORE CLASS: email me the assignment (jbaird@judgememorial.com), bring it to school on a disk or jump drive and print it in the lab, or hand write it. If you email me something, I would suggest pasting it inside the email document as well as sending it as an attachment to ensure everything gets through. Be sure to notify me of what you’re sending in the subject box. If you don’t do one of these things before class, the assignment is late and won’t be accepted. I would suggest printing a hard copy, because if the email you sent me didn’t get to me, there’s nothing I can do about it.
You can follow what we do each day in class or check up on homework by going to my blog at bairdenglish.blogspot.com. Just look for the entry with that day’s date. If you are absent, you are expected to check the blog and are responsible for any homework listed there the day you return. Simply being absent doesn’t excuse you from the work, especially the reading. I will post assignments there that you can copy and paste into your word processing program as well.
Important Things to Know:
• You will typically have nightly reading assignments. You can expect to cover around 100 pages a week. Manage your time well and break your reading up into smaller chunks.
• You can expect to have a finished piece of writing (multiple revisions and a finished draft) due every two to three weeks.
• The semester exam is worth at least10% of your semester grade, and will cover and combine all of the things we studied throughout the semester.
• We will begin class the same way every day: at the bell, you will check the board and begin the assignment listed there (typically vocab work). After 5-10 minutes of this, we’ll have prayer and proceed from there.
Necessary Materials:
You need to bring the following items to class each day, beginning tomorrow:
• Our class text. The second week of school we’ll start Life of Pi.
• Our Vocabulary book.
• A 3-ring binder (two-inch width recommended) with five sections: notes, terminology, finished drafts, in-class prompts, and assignments. Include plenty of loose-leaf paper for assignments and notes.
• Blue or black pens, as well as a red pen for editing.
NOTE: Because of the nature of our daily prayer routine, you also need to bring the Tao te Ching with you to class each day. This is a key part of your participation grade.
Freshman English Disclosure Statement
Freshman English Disclosure Statement: 2008-2009
Freshman English is a writing intensive course designed to help students improve their ability to write in a range of genres for a wide variety of audiences and purposes. Our emphasis will be on both the process as well as the finished product, and much of our time will be spent doing. Our primary focus will be on non-fiction, however, we will also spend some time on fiction, and read poetry daily while also writing a fair amount of it.
Though our emphasis will be on composition, reading is an essential part of the literacy continuum, and therefore students will be expected to read for 20 minutes at home daily, whether from a book of their own choosing or from one of our class texts. Our class texts include our freshman writing text, Sleeping Dogs Don’t Lay, Speak, Lord of the Flies, and Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.
This is my third year teaching at Judge, my eleventh in the diocese. I taught middle school English, literature, and religion at JE Cosgriff Memorial Catholic School for eight years, and I have been on the boys’ basketball coaching staff here at Judge for the last 15. This will be my fifth year as the head coach of the freshman boys’ basketball team. I have a degree in English and a Utah State Teaching License from the University of Utah and a Masters of Teaching degree from Grand Canyon University. I have published work in Today’s Catholic Teacher, Teaching K-8 Magazine, The Salt Lake Tribune, Middle Ground, and The Utah Council of Teachers of English Journal. I am married, and my wife, Laura, and I have three children, John Marshall, Jacob Atticus, and Sarah Astrid.
I’m happy to discuss anything of importance with you. My voicemail extension is 237, though I think I’ll be easier to reach via email at jbaird@judgememorial.com.
Grading:
We’ll use Judge’s grade scale. Students’ grades will be determined, in general, by the following:
• Major writing assignments: 100 points.
• Weekly reading grade: 100 points.
• Minor writing assignments: 25 to 50 points.
• In-class writing assignments: 10 points.
• Quarterly Prayer and Great Thoughts Assignment: 150 points.
• Quarterly Letter-to-the-Editor Assignment: 100 points.
• Preparation: 100 points for the quarter.
• Participation: 100 points for the quarter.
• Vocabulary, other assignments, tests, and quizzes will have point values that vary.
Homework Policy:
All work (assignments, reading, etc.) is due at the start of class. Late work, in most cases, will not be accepted. In general, there won’t be extra credit assignments; however, when there are, they will be made available to the entire class.
Major assignments should be word-processed. Minor assignments can be neatly handwritten in blue or black pen. In the event you have computer problems (printer dies, etc.), do one of the following things BEFORE CLASS: email me the assignment (jbaird@judgememorial.com), bring it to school on a disk or jump drive and print it in the lab, or hand write it. If you email me something, I would suggest pasting it inside the email document as well as sending it as an attachment to ensure everything gets through. Be sure to notify me of what you’re sending in the subject box. If you don’t do one of these things before class, the assignment is late; the same goes if you email me something that I don’t receive – a hard copy is always the safer route.
Important Things to Know:
• You will have 20 minutes of reading homework Monday-Thursday, plus you should read for 20 minutes on either Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
• If we are reading a book together, you may use your 20 minutes of reading to meet the due dates, or you can read extra – your call.
• You can expect to have a finished piece of writing (multiple revisions and a finished draft) due every two to three weeks.
• The year will end with a Capstone Project, which is a multi-genre research project and presentation on a topic of interest. You may want to start thinking about possible topics now. More specifics will come, and we will do a little bit of work each quarter in preparation for this project.
Necessary Materials:
You need to bring the following items to class each day, beginning tomorrow:
• A book to read, preferably fiction.
• Our class writing text.
• Our class vocabulary book.
• A 3-ring binder (two-inch width recommended) with five sections: notes, vocabulary, finished drafts, in-class prompts, and assignments. Include plenty of loose-leaf paper for assignments and notes.
• Blue or black pens, as well as a red pen for editing.
NOTE: Because we’ll spend the first 10 minutes of virtually every class period in silent reading, you should always have a book to read from, even if you are done with our current text. This includes the first couple of weeks before we start a text. Other days – typically block days – we will start with vocabulary work.
Please sign this, indicating you have read it, and return it to me by ________________.
I’ll return it to you soon so you can keep it for your reference. Thank you.
Jeff Baird
Freshman English is a writing intensive course designed to help students improve their ability to write in a range of genres for a wide variety of audiences and purposes. Our emphasis will be on both the process as well as the finished product, and much of our time will be spent doing. Our primary focus will be on non-fiction, however, we will also spend some time on fiction, and read poetry daily while also writing a fair amount of it.
Though our emphasis will be on composition, reading is an essential part of the literacy continuum, and therefore students will be expected to read for 20 minutes at home daily, whether from a book of their own choosing or from one of our class texts. Our class texts include our freshman writing text, Sleeping Dogs Don’t Lay, Speak, Lord of the Flies, and Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.
This is my third year teaching at Judge, my eleventh in the diocese. I taught middle school English, literature, and religion at JE Cosgriff Memorial Catholic School for eight years, and I have been on the boys’ basketball coaching staff here at Judge for the last 15. This will be my fifth year as the head coach of the freshman boys’ basketball team. I have a degree in English and a Utah State Teaching License from the University of Utah and a Masters of Teaching degree from Grand Canyon University. I have published work in Today’s Catholic Teacher, Teaching K-8 Magazine, The Salt Lake Tribune, Middle Ground, and The Utah Council of Teachers of English Journal. I am married, and my wife, Laura, and I have three children, John Marshall, Jacob Atticus, and Sarah Astrid.
I’m happy to discuss anything of importance with you. My voicemail extension is 237, though I think I’ll be easier to reach via email at jbaird@judgememorial.com.
Grading:
We’ll use Judge’s grade scale. Students’ grades will be determined, in general, by the following:
• Major writing assignments: 100 points.
• Weekly reading grade: 100 points.
• Minor writing assignments: 25 to 50 points.
• In-class writing assignments: 10 points.
• Quarterly Prayer and Great Thoughts Assignment: 150 points.
• Quarterly Letter-to-the-Editor Assignment: 100 points.
• Preparation: 100 points for the quarter.
• Participation: 100 points for the quarter.
• Vocabulary, other assignments, tests, and quizzes will have point values that vary.
Homework Policy:
All work (assignments, reading, etc.) is due at the start of class. Late work, in most cases, will not be accepted. In general, there won’t be extra credit assignments; however, when there are, they will be made available to the entire class.
Major assignments should be word-processed. Minor assignments can be neatly handwritten in blue or black pen. In the event you have computer problems (printer dies, etc.), do one of the following things BEFORE CLASS: email me the assignment (jbaird@judgememorial.com), bring it to school on a disk or jump drive and print it in the lab, or hand write it. If you email me something, I would suggest pasting it inside the email document as well as sending it as an attachment to ensure everything gets through. Be sure to notify me of what you’re sending in the subject box. If you don’t do one of these things before class, the assignment is late; the same goes if you email me something that I don’t receive – a hard copy is always the safer route.
Important Things to Know:
• You will have 20 minutes of reading homework Monday-Thursday, plus you should read for 20 minutes on either Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
• If we are reading a book together, you may use your 20 minutes of reading to meet the due dates, or you can read extra – your call.
• You can expect to have a finished piece of writing (multiple revisions and a finished draft) due every two to three weeks.
• The year will end with a Capstone Project, which is a multi-genre research project and presentation on a topic of interest. You may want to start thinking about possible topics now. More specifics will come, and we will do a little bit of work each quarter in preparation for this project.
Necessary Materials:
You need to bring the following items to class each day, beginning tomorrow:
• A book to read, preferably fiction.
• Our class writing text.
• Our class vocabulary book.
• A 3-ring binder (two-inch width recommended) with five sections: notes, vocabulary, finished drafts, in-class prompts, and assignments. Include plenty of loose-leaf paper for assignments and notes.
• Blue or black pens, as well as a red pen for editing.
NOTE: Because we’ll spend the first 10 minutes of virtually every class period in silent reading, you should always have a book to read from, even if you are done with our current text. This includes the first couple of weeks before we start a text. Other days – typically block days – we will start with vocabulary work.
Please sign this, indicating you have read it, and return it to me by ________________.
I’ll return it to you soon so you can keep it for your reference. Thank you.
Jeff Baird
August 25
Freshmen: Today we focused on what writing is, and the behaviors it involves. We also did pages 21-23 in our vocab book. Read for 20 minutes tonight.
Sophomores: Today we shared the creation myths you collected and focused on what creation myths from around the world have in common, and discussed what that reveals about humanity. You handed in your Joseph Campbell interview summaries and think sheets as well. Your homework is to write a brief, typed essay that answers the following: What do the commonalities in creation stories reveal or suggest about humanity? This is due Wednesday. Also for Wednesday, have your vocab books and Life of Pi.
Sophomores: Today we shared the creation myths you collected and focused on what creation myths from around the world have in common, and discussed what that reveals about humanity. You handed in your Joseph Campbell interview summaries and think sheets as well. Your homework is to write a brief, typed essay that answers the following: What do the commonalities in creation stories reveal or suggest about humanity? This is due Wednesday. Also for Wednesday, have your vocab books and Life of Pi.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Friday, August 22
Freshmen: Read for 20 minutes this weekend. Finish your vocab pretest if you need to. Be sure to start preparing for your Prayer and Great Thoughts assignment. Be sure to bring your binder and vocab book, along with whatever novel you are reading, to class every day next week.
Sophomores: Find two creation myths from different cultures and bring them Monday. Also, type up a one page summarization of the Moyers-Campbell interview for Monday. I will collect your think sheets then. Get Life of Pi for Wednesday.
Sophomores: Find two creation myths from different cultures and bring them Monday. Also, type up a one page summarization of the Moyers-Campbell interview for Monday. I will collect your think sheets then. Get Life of Pi for Wednesday.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
August 21
Freshmen: Today we went over how to do our Prayer and Great Thoughts assignment and took a vocabulary pretest assessment. We also discussed the summer reading. Your homework is to read for 20 minutes from a book not on our class list and bring your binder to class on Friday.
Sophomores: We took a quiz on the Tao introduction and continued with the Moyers-Campbell interview. Your homework is to read One, Two, and Three from the Notes section at the back of the Tao for Friday, and for Monday, you need to have found and brought in two creation myths from two different cultures (do not bring in the ones from Genesis). Have your binders for Friday and Life of Pi for next week.
Sophomores: We took a quiz on the Tao introduction and continued with the Moyers-Campbell interview. Your homework is to read One, Two, and Three from the Notes section at the back of the Tao for Friday, and for Monday, you need to have found and brought in two creation myths from two different cultures (do not bring in the ones from Genesis). Have your binders for Friday and Life of Pi for next week.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
August 19 and 20
Freshmen: We took our summer reading exam today. You should be finding a book and reading for 20 minutes each night, Monday-Thursday, and again on weekend (remember to choose one that's not from our class list). For Thursday you need to have your disclosure signed and also have your binder and your vocabulary book.
Sophomores: We took our summer reading exam today and began watching an interview between Joseph Cambell and Bill Moyers where they discuss the commonalities of world myths. For Thursday, bring your disclosure back and have the introduction to the Tao te Ching read. There will be a quiz on Thursday. Also be sure to get your vocab book and bring it to class.
Sophomores: We took our summer reading exam today and began watching an interview between Joseph Cambell and Bill Moyers where they discuss the commonalities of world myths. For Thursday, bring your disclosure back and have the introduction to the Tao te Ching read. There will be a quiz on Thursday. Also be sure to get your vocab book and bring it to class.
Monday, August 18, 2008
August 18
Freshmen: Welcome to Judge Memorial. Here is your homework: Read for 20 minutes from a book that is not on our class list. Our summer reading quiz will be on Tuesday. Review the disclosure with your parents and return on Thursday. Also for Thursday, have the vocabulary book and a 3 ring binder. Be sure to bring whatever you are reading to class each day.
Sophomores: Welcome back. Our summer reading quiz will be on Tuesday. Review the disclosure with your parents and return on Thursday. Also for Thursday, have the vocabulary book, and be sure to have read the introduction to the Tao te Ching, written by Jacob Needleman. There will be a quiz. Be sure it is the correct translation by Jane English and Gia-Fu Feng, ISBN # 0679724346.
Sophomores: Welcome back. Our summer reading quiz will be on Tuesday. Review the disclosure with your parents and return on Thursday. Also for Thursday, have the vocabulary book, and be sure to have read the introduction to the Tao te Ching, written by Jacob Needleman. There will be a quiz. Be sure it is the correct translation by Jane English and Gia-Fu Feng, ISBN # 0679724346.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)