Getting ready for the 2013-2014 School Year

Hello and welcome!

I am so excited to begin the 2013-2014 school year with you at Kell High School!

This blog will be the invaluable tool for your World Literature class or your Yearbook class.  It will be updated at least weekly, probably more often, so make sure you check it on a regular basis.  I’ll use it to communicate with students and parents, list makeup work, upload handouts, let you know when I’ve sent something home, give you more information about an assignment, update you about your deadlines and due dates, for just about everything, really.

I’m looking forward to meeting all of you, and please feel free to contact me at any time:

kimberly [dot] bundschu [at] cobbk12 [dot] org

seven seven oh, six oh nine, five four eight one

So you can utilize this blog effectively, I'd like to give you a small tour of its features

•  You can receive an email every time I post an update.  Type in your email address in the "Follow this blog" text box to the right.
• The Weekly Updates tab (the main page of this blog) will be updated weekly (at least) with information, announcements, and updates for the class.  It's a way for parents to keep up with what your child is doing in our class, as well as for students to have a preview of what's coming up.  This tab is mostly filled with general information, while the other tabs at the top of the page will have specific information you'll need for the class.  Since I teach two different courses, I'll give my posts section headers in bold so you know to which class the information below is pertinent.  
• The Calendar tabs at the top of the page will show the lesson plans for the day for your 10th World Lit class or your Yearbook class.  You can check here to see what we will be doing, or to see what we did if you are absent.
• The Kell Calendar tab at the top of the page is the official calendar for Kell High School.  It will have dates and deadlines for the school, as well as list events.
• The Resource tabs at the top of the page will have links to everything we use in your 10th World Lit class or your Yearbook class.  Everything from the syllabus, to handouts, PowerPoints, Links, assignments, study guides ... everything we use.  If you miss a day, check the calendar to see what you missed, then go to the Resource tab to get the resources we used that day.
• The SUMMER READING TAB has a list of all of the Summer Reading assignments for your English classes.  Make sure you've read one of the 10th World Lit Summer Reading books if you're in 10th World Lit!  Yearbook, since it is an academic English elective (and you have a Summer Reading assignment in your English class) there is no Summer Reading assignment this year.  

Materials:
In addition to paper, pencils, pens, etc. you will specifically need a bound journal (composition book, spiral notebook, etc.) in which to record daily work.  Many stores have them on sale right now, including a certain store whose name begins with W, who had them for 50 cents.

10th Literature students will also need to purchase the Sadlier Oxford Vocabulary Level E Student Workbook.  The school will order the books within the first few weeks of class at a group discount.  After that time, students will need to purchase theirs on their own.

Hello Kell High School Parents and Students! Are you ready for the 2013-2014 School Year?

I am so excited to begin the 2013-2014 school year with you at Kell High School!

This blog will be the invaluable tool for your World Literature class.  It will be updated at least weekly, probably more often, so make sure you check it on a regular basis.  I’ll use it to communicate with students and parents, list makeup work, upload handouts, let you know when I’ve sent something home, give you more information about an assignment, for just about everything, really.

To make sure you're ready for day 1, please make sure you've read your summer reading!  You can click the tab above or click here for

I’m looking forward to meeting all of you, and please feel free to contact me at any time:

kimberly [dot] bundschu [at] cobbk12 [dot] org

seven seven oh, six oh nine, five four eight one

End of the Year and Have a Great Summer!

Hello all!  We made it!

I hope you had as good of a year as I did here at Kell High School.
Some students have asked, so I will keep up the resources from this year through most of the Summer. 

If you are scheduled to be in my class next year, the 10th Grade World Literature Summer Reading Assignment can be found here.  Make sure you read one of the books thouroughly and completely!

If you were in my class last year, the 11th Grade American Literature Summer Reading Assignment can be found here.  Again, make sure you read one of the books thouroughly and completely!

Have a great summer and I'm looking forward to seeing you in the 2013-2014 School Year!

Week 19--Final Exams!

As we get ready for next week, please keep the following things in mind.

1. Your study guide, and resources are at the top of the Current Resources page.  Study study study!
2. Your Summer Reading for next year is also on the Current Resources page.  Make sure you pick up one (or two if you're in honors next year) of the books!  Read it over the summer.  I recommend in June to get it out of the way.  If you'd like some structure to take your notes, you can use the Graphic Organizer attached to the Parallel Reading Assignment. 

At this point, it's up to you!  Good luck!

Just so you know, here is the schedule for next week.  It's all backwards, and we have early release Tuesday though Thursday (but busses on Tuesday will be at 3:30).

Also we are offering Semester Extension, but only for EOCT classes.  Click here for the information that I recieved today.  I'm sorry that I did not have this information sooner, and that my class doesn't qualify for this extension as we are not an EOCT class.

Week 18--5 days to Final Exams

Hello All!

Remember, at this point, since we've taken the Unit Test today there are only 2 ways for you to bring up your grade.

1. Vocabulary Remediation.  If you would like to bring up your Writing and Language Summative average, you may replace ONE vocabulary quiz grade by doing this assignment.  You must follow all of the directions carefully as if you don't, you won't earn credit.  This is an opportunity, and not mandatory.  The deadline of Wednesday, May 15th at midnight is a hard deadline.  There will be no late credit.
2. Final Exam Study Guide.  Your final exam for this semester is cummulative for this semester.  You need to be prepared to deal with any of the concepts, elements, devices, and types on that list.  You can do it!

If you'd like to calculate what you need on the final exam in order to get the grade you want/need in the class, you can use the formula below:

X(0.85)+E(0.15)=G

X is your current grade in the class going into the final.
E is the grade you earn on your Final Exam
G is your final grade in the class.

I'd recommend that you input your current grade (X), then plug in the grade that you'd like to have in the class (G, for example, 70).  Then solve for E to see what grade you need to make on the Final Exam just to pass. 

For example, if your current grade is a 73, you need a 54 on the final to just pass, but you'd need a 80 in order to earn a C (74) in the class.

Important Update--Make up Socratic Seminars and Vocabulary Remediation

Hello All!

Yesterday's Socratic Seminars went really well.  If you missed our class, there is a make up session for the Socratic Seminar today during Leap Tutoring.  Meet me at 3:35 in the Media Center!  If you can't make this session, then you need to see me to arrange a different time.  It should take about 15 minutes. 

Also, yesterday I passed out 2 very important documents.

1. Vocabulary Remediation.  If you would like to bring up your Writing and Language Summative average, you may replace ONE vocabulary quiz grade by doing this assignment.  You must follow all of the directions carefully as if you don't, you won't earn credit.  This is an opportunity, and not mandatory.  The deadline of Wednesday, May 15th at midnight is a hard deadline.  There will be no late credit.
2. Final Exam Study Guide.  Your final exam for this semester is cummulative for this semester.  You need to be prepared to deal with any of the concepts, elements, devices, and types on that list.  You can do it!

We only have 6 more days til Final Exams!  It's up to you to earn the grade you want in the class.  You can do it!

Week 17--10 days til Final Exams

Hello All!

Last week students completed the Last Story of the Year!

We also passed out the SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENT. Click here if you somehow misplaced your assignment.  Yes, you have to do it.  Yes, a book (or two) from that list.  The assignment for Honors or College Prep is on the 2nd page--read it carefully!

This week we're going to individually complete our Socratic Seminar Questions in preparation for our Socratic Seminar on Wednesday.  Students were assigned this assignment on April 26th, so they know that they need to complete the questions on their own if they aren't here on Monday and Tuesday.

We have our ATA on Thursday!  Remember if you get an A on the ATA, you don't have to take the unit test!