AGS Freshman English is Picking Up Steam
Pre-Ap English just completed the first six-weeks. A lot of the students have adjusted to the pacing of being in high school, which moves a bit faster than they are used to. Some students are chomping at the bit to get into bigger projects and read more books in order to discover their academic mettle. This past six-weeks, students learned about paragraph writing and being able to include cited quotations in their writing. They wrote topic sentences, produced evidence from their novel, explained their quotes, wrote concluding sentences and attached a bibliography to their writing. As a backgroud to their reading, students learned about the Great Depression and were able to discuss it in a Socratic Seminar. They learned about some elements of film, though this will be ongoing. In the vocabulary area, students have been introduced to root words in order for them to begin expanding their understanding of new words; this will continue throughout the first semester. It is anticipated that the STAAR, Texas's new end of year assessment tool, will be considerably more difficult than TEKS, so we are preparing accordingly. AGS students have registered with Weebly.com in order to maintain an electronic portfolio. Last of all, the service learning element of AGS has been introduced and the system for recording service learning activity is in place.
Our next novel is Lord of the Flies. Students should have purchased the book by the end of the week of 10/6/11. The first six chapters should be read by the 13th and 14th of October. Let's just say it's going to be a busy 2nd six weeks. We will have a Model UN convention on 10/11(for which students must write a position paper), a field trip on the 12th, and after that a major project and writings over LOTF, then more roots tests, grammar, and independent reading. Don't forget the Book Owl Competitions that have just gotten started but are starting to pick up steam, just like the new six weeks.
Our next novel is Lord of the Flies. Students should have purchased the book by the end of the week of 10/6/11. The first six chapters should be read by the 13th and 14th of October. Let's just say it's going to be a busy 2nd six weeks. We will have a Model UN convention on 10/11(for which students must write a position paper), a field trip on the 12th, and after that a major project and writings over LOTF, then more roots tests, grammar, and independent reading. Don't forget the Book Owl Competitions that have just gotten started but are starting to pick up steam, just like the new six weeks.
This is a picture I took of St. Francis of Assisi church in Ranchos de Taos, NM.
I snapped it on January 25, 2006, which happens to be the birthday of which famous Scottish poet? Classes that can answer this qualify for a supper party, complete with haggis.
I snapped it on January 25, 2006, which happens to be the birthday of which famous Scottish poet? Classes that can answer this qualify for a supper party, complete with haggis.
Contact Information:v Mr. V. Martinez 1517 W. Cesar Chavez St. Austin, TX 78703,
Rm# 167, School Ph. # 512 841-1949 email: victor.martinez@austinisd.org
Rm# 167, School Ph. # 512 841-1949 email: victor.martinez@austinisd.org
