Exam Review, both AP and Gifted.
We will also go over the complicated exam schedule for next week.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Begin final examination reviews; comprehensive review sheets given to EVERY student.
Warning about my exams, paraphrased from class discussions:
In the event that you haven't noticed, I am extremely right-brained, and my tests tend to reflect this. They are long, rambly, and conversational in tone--not difficult, I don't think, but specific and long. Thus, the three-page review sheet. I try very hard to run a relaxed classroom atmosphere, so sometimes it's deceptive how much material we are actually getting through. Even in a class in which we giggle much of the time, a wealth of "stuff" has been covered. (See how sneaky?) Don't panic about my exam--but definitely organize your notes and study.
The AP exam has 148 multiple choice questions and an FRQ from a previous College Board test; the Gifted II exam has 195 and contains multiple reading passages. Both take a while to finish, but if you go in assuming it's like a game of Trivial Pursuit you'll feel better.
And I haven't had anyone fail in quite a while.
Sophys: Julius Caesar Memorizations!!!
Warning about my exams, paraphrased from class discussions:
In the event that you haven't noticed, I am extremely right-brained, and my tests tend to reflect this. They are long, rambly, and conversational in tone--not difficult, I don't think, but specific and long. Thus, the three-page review sheet. I try very hard to run a relaxed classroom atmosphere, so sometimes it's deceptive how much material we are actually getting through. Even in a class in which we giggle much of the time, a wealth of "stuff" has been covered. (See how sneaky?) Don't panic about my exam--but definitely organize your notes and study.
The AP exam has 148 multiple choice questions and an FRQ from a previous College Board test; the Gifted II exam has 195 and contains multiple reading passages. Both take a while to finish, but if you go in assuming it's like a game of Trivial Pursuit you'll feel better.
And I haven't had anyone fail in quite a while.
Sophys: Julius Caesar Memorizations!!!
Wednesday, January 9: Back from Jury Duty!!!
APees: Heart of Darkness and love to the accountant character
Gifted English II: Julius Caesar; memorizations due Thursday, January 10!!!
:-)
Gifted English II: Julius Caesar; memorizations due Thursday, January 10!!!
:-)
so much for new year resolutions
. . .so I'll be catching up while your child takes his or her final exam. It's so chilly in here that they are drinking cocoa and two students are wrapped in blankets like little snausages.
Monday, January 07, 2008
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
As it stands right now, it looks as though I have jury duty tomorrow. Just to be clear--I love the idea of being on a jury, and I really like watching Law and Order. I just kind of wish it didn't have to hit this close to your semester exams, so if they excuse me for any of the various reasons they could find (ahhhh--rejection!) I will scuttle right back to BHS and teach my heart out. If you don't see me, I'm still waiting to go to voir dire. (Not that you care, or that this is even relevant in an assignment blog, but I still harbor fantasies of being a prosecuting attorney. I'd love to wear expensive suits and yell, "No, YOU'RE OUT OF ORDER!")
Be nice to Mr. Bailey; he's always extremely nice to you. (That would be particualrly relevant to the clowns in fourth period, btw.)
APees: Read over the "Layers of Meaning" handout relevant to Heart of Darkness and carefully read as much of the text as you can. We will discuss a specific passage of the novella tomorrow in class before launching into Project Review for My Semester Exam.
Gifted English II: Finish enacting Act V of Julius Caesar; divide up parts under Mr. B's supervision and see how much you can get through. IF YOU FINISH I have an amazing JC scavenger hunt that you can work on in pairs. If not, we'll do it tomorrow!!! Memorizations STILL due Thursday (you've had a month, so stop grumbling) and please check the Author of the Day presentation grid on the overhead cart. Please. Thank you!
Be nice to Mr. Bailey; he's always extremely nice to you. (That would be particualrly relevant to the clowns in fourth period, btw.)
APees: Read over the "Layers of Meaning" handout relevant to Heart of Darkness and carefully read as much of the text as you can. We will discuss a specific passage of the novella tomorrow in class before launching into Project Review for My Semester Exam.
Gifted English II: Finish enacting Act V of Julius Caesar; divide up parts under Mr. B's supervision and see how much you can get through. IF YOU FINISH I have an amazing JC scavenger hunt that you can work on in pairs. If not, we'll do it tomorrow!!! Memorizations STILL due Thursday (you've had a month, so stop grumbling) and please check the Author of the Day presentation grid on the overhead cart. Please. Thank you!
Monday, January 7, 2008
APees: Today, we discussed the following elements of Heart of Darkness:
*imperialism
*physiognomy
*asceticism
*Florida being a "dark place on the earth" as much as Marlow's London
*the imagery of color and death in the opening chapter
*the need for close reading and analysis in understanding the novella--beyond travelogue to symbolism and commentary (whether on race, exploration, economic classes, or environmental issues)
. . .and somehow that included a rant about EPCOT. Go figure. Please read as much as you can tonight; tomorrow will involve further reading and reflection.
Gifted English II: Julius Caesar review of Acts I-IV; reading and dramatic re-enactments of Act V. Sixth period is a little bit behind third; please catch up by finishing Act IV, scene iii (the ghost scene). MEMORIZATIONS DUE THURSDAY, PEEPS!!!
*imperialism
*physiognomy
*asceticism
*Florida being a "dark place on the earth" as much as Marlow's London
*the imagery of color and death in the opening chapter
*the need for close reading and analysis in understanding the novella--beyond travelogue to symbolism and commentary (whether on race, exploration, economic classes, or environmental issues)
. . .and somehow that included a rant about EPCOT. Go figure. Please read as much as you can tonight; tomorrow will involve further reading and reflection.
Gifted English II: Julius Caesar review of Acts I-IV; reading and dramatic re-enactments of Act V. Sixth period is a little bit behind third; please catch up by finishing Act IV, scene iii (the ghost scene). MEMORIZATIONS DUE THURSDAY, PEEPS!!!
Monday, January 7, 2008: A New Year; A New Start!
Welcome back to an exciting new year! We still have two weeks to go before we complete this semester, but there are a few announcements I need to make before we get underway:
1. For those of you who know and love Mrs. Hannot ( a science teacher who left BHS this year to join Mrs. Tapley in Osceola County) please keep her in your thoughts and prayers--her husband became very ill this weekend, and she saved his life via CPR. He is in the hospital and is in very bad shape.
2. On a more student-centric note, NHS applications are due no later than Friday. If you need a leadership letter from me, see me ASAP. (This announcement applies only to seniors and juniors; sophomores need to continue working on community service and grades and can apply next year.)
3. Registration begins soon! Stay posted! Guidance will be distributing handbooks to 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students near the end of this month.
4. If anyone is interested in traveling with me next year to Prague in the fall (seniors and grads only) or Germany and Croatia in the spring (all ages) then come to the travel meeting on Tuesday, January 15 at 7 p.m. in room 313.
5. If anyone is interested in earning community service hours this month, our first ushering date is for Shakespeare's As You Like It on Saturday night at 7 p.m. See me for details. Admission to the play is included and counts toward service hours!
There are many exciting things to do this semester, and I hope that everyone is on board and ready to go!!!
Please see the following post for today's curriculum.
And friendly reminder: NO CELL PHONES IN MY CLASSROOM. It is my personal pet peeve and drives me crazy. You might be allowed to use them in the hall--fine, fine--but increasingly some of you are using them in class. NO NO NO.
:-)
1. For those of you who know and love Mrs. Hannot ( a science teacher who left BHS this year to join Mrs. Tapley in Osceola County) please keep her in your thoughts and prayers--her husband became very ill this weekend, and she saved his life via CPR. He is in the hospital and is in very bad shape.
2. On a more student-centric note, NHS applications are due no later than Friday. If you need a leadership letter from me, see me ASAP. (This announcement applies only to seniors and juniors; sophomores need to continue working on community service and grades and can apply next year.)
3. Registration begins soon! Stay posted! Guidance will be distributing handbooks to 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students near the end of this month.
4. If anyone is interested in traveling with me next year to Prague in the fall (seniors and grads only) or Germany and Croatia in the spring (all ages) then come to the travel meeting on Tuesday, January 15 at 7 p.m. in room 313.
5. If anyone is interested in earning community service hours this month, our first ushering date is for Shakespeare's As You Like It on Saturday night at 7 p.m. See me for details. Admission to the play is included and counts toward service hours!
There are many exciting things to do this semester, and I hope that everyone is on board and ready to go!!!
Please see the following post for today's curriculum.
And friendly reminder: NO CELL PHONES IN MY CLASSROOM. It is my personal pet peeve and drives me crazy. You might be allowed to use them in the hall--fine, fine--but increasingly some of you are using them in class. NO NO NO.
:-)
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