Parallel Reading Abstracts, due Friday

Hello all!

We've been working on our Parallel Reading Abstracts for about 6 weeks now.  Since they're due on Friday, but have been available to turn in for 3 weeks, I told the students in class on Monday that today I'd be putting in Z's (zeros) for any student who has not yet turned in the assignment to turnitin.com.

When a student turns in the assignment, I will delete the Z, so that the grade will be blank, as communication that the student turned in the assignment.  There will be no late penalty if a student turns in the abstract by Friday.  After  Friday, the student will loose 10 points per school day late.  The final deadline for submitting the abstract is next Wednesday, December 5th.  No abstracts submitted after December 5th will be graded.

I plan on grading as many of these projects as I can this weekend, since the end of the semester is so close. 

Some students have already turned in their abstracts.  Most students are well on their way to turning in their abstracts by Friday (turnitin.com is open until midnight).  Some students have not gotten their books yet, or were still reading their books today.  This project was assigned about 6 weeks ago, and students have gotten multiple reminders and checks each week about their progress. 

Total papers turned in thus far:    Thursday
1st period: 8%                            26%
2nd periond: 11%                       14%
5th period: 11%                          14%
6th period: 3%                            17%
7th period: 18%                          27%

The class with the most papers turned in on time by Friday (percentage of the whole class) will receive a reward on Monday.

Week 15 (out of 18)

Some students have already turned in their Parallel Reading Assignment which is due to turnitin.com on Friday.  That's awesome!  Some students told me today they haven't finished reading their book.  That's terrifying!

Parallel Reading Abstract due 11/30, no submissions after 12/5 accepted. 

Julius Caesar Presentations assigned on 11/27.

1st and 2nd Period in Writing Lab on Wednesday and Thursday to work on Parallel Reading Abstract, and Julius Caesar Presentations (when students finish).

5th, 6th, and 7th Period in Writing Lab on Tuesday and Wednesday to work on Parallel Reading Abstract, and Julius Caesar Presentations (when students finish).

Vocab Unit 6--Presentations 11/27 or 11/29.
Vocab Unit 6 mini quiz 12/3
Vocab Unit 6 workbook 12/5
Vocab Unit 6 Quiz 12/10

A lot to do!

Extra Credit Assignment

To earn extra credit on the Midterm Exam, you must complete the following assignment in total.  This assignment is worth 5 extra credit points.  If this puts your exam grade over 100, it will be applied to your lowest summative grade (that is not a zero); the same if you exempt this exam.

1. You must create a mini-poster (8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper).
2. Your mini poster should identify a key Language Arts vocabulary word for drama.
3. You must clearly define this term.
4. You must explain how this term applies to Julius Caesar.  If there is not an example of that term in Julius Caesar, do not choose that term.
5. You must have a picture.

Color is optional, but encouraged.  Neatness is a requirement.

This will help you to better understand Julius Caesar, and help your classmates as well as these will be placed on the back wall for them to use as we study the rest of the play.

This assignment is due on Monday, 11/26.  No late work is accepted.

Exam Exemptions

Since students have been asking, [edit] I've copied the requirements from the exam exemption form that I received from Ms. Stoddard.

Criteria:

Ø  90% or higher (per class, per semester and no more than 4 days absent)

Ø  80% - 89% (per class, per semester and no more than 3 days absent)

Ø  74% - 79% (per class, per semester, no more than 1 day absent and NO ZEROES)

o   Seniors = You can EXEMPT 4 (3 if minimum day) FINAL EXAMS PER SEMESTER (AP/EOCT classes may not be exempted)                                                                      

o   Juniors = You can EXEMPT 3 FINAL EXAMS PER SEMESTER (AP/EOCT classes may not be exempted)

o   Sophomores = You can EXEMPT 3 FINAL EXAMS PER SEMESTER (AP/EOCT classes may not be exempted)

o   Freshmen = You can EXEMPT 2 FINAL EXAMS PER SEMESTER (AP/EOCT classes may not be exempted)

DISQUALIFYING FACTORS:                                                                                        

• Students with ISS, OSS are not eligible for any exam exemptions
• A conduct grade below an “S” for the semester (N or U) in a class, you may not exempt that class exam
• 3 tardies to a class equals an absence and will be added into the total absences for that class
• Students accumulating 7 or more school tardies not eligible for any exam exemptions

I would like to point out that the policy says absence, not excused absence, so those sick days do count.

Week 14 (out of 18)

Important things to remember this week:

1. Vocabulary Mini-Quiz Monday--Unit 5
2. Vocabulary Workbooks due Wednesday--Unit 5
3. Meet in Writing Lab on Wednesday for MLA workshop.  Bring your Parallel Reading Book (or at least the publication information).
4. Benchmark on Thursday--Shakespeare's Life (5 questions), Julius Caesar Acts I and II (14 questions, Cold Reading Passage (6 questions).
5. When you come back you need to be DONE with AT LEAST your rough draft of your Parallel Reading Abstract.
6. Vocabulary Quiz--Unit 5 the Monday we return.  (As we saw today, these words are difficult, so make sure you study over the break!)

Remember, every day you have homework.  You need to study 10 minutes each day (5 whatever we're reading, 5 vocabulary).  Your deadline is to have read 2/3 of you book by now.  If you're behind you should be reading reading reading every day.  If you're on target, you need to be reading every day. 

You can do it!  Just pace yourself!

Week 13

Hello All!

You may have noticed some changes in Pinnacle.  This morning I updated Pinnacle with ALL of the remaining assignments for the rest of the semester.  I want there to be no surprises going into your final grades for the semester.  The due dates are accurate.  If you have any questions, let me know!

Some students are getting extra credit today for bringing me back their signed Unofficial Progress Reports.  I do accept emails in lieu of signatures!  kimberly [dot] bundschu [at] cobbk12 [dot] org.

We're plugging through Julius Caesar a bit more each day!  Check the calendar (to the right or on the tab above) to see how far we're getting each day!

Make sure you're reading, reading, reading your parallel reading book!

2nd 6 week Official Progress Report

Ladies and Gentlemen, the time has come once again.

My grades are due on Monday and I'm grading the epic narratives furiously so that they will be on the next official progress report.  Every other grade is up to date as of just now.  Basically, if it's not in there, you didn't turn it in. 

Since Official Progress Reports will go home on Wednesday, November 7th, my Unofficial Progress Reports, with comments, will be sent home on November 5th.  I do accept emails to kimberly [dot] bundschu [at] cobbk12.org in lieu of signatures on these Unofficial Progress Reports. 

I want to make sure you know that the communication lines are open and I would love to discuss your child's progress in class.