- Pre-AP & Pre-AP GT (1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 7th periods) will continue preparing for the LTF End-of-Course exam.
- English 8 (5th period) will continue reading the novel “Night” by Elie Wiesel.
Journal Writing Requirement for the week of 4/27 (All Classes):
A = 4 pages
B = 3 pages
C = 2 pages
D = 1 page
- Pre-AP & Pre-AP GT (1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 7th periods) will begin preparing for the LTF End-Of-Course exam.
- English 8 (5th period) will begin reading the novel “Night” by Elie Wiesel.
Journal Writing Requirements remain the same as last week for all classes.
Mr. Beckham’s classes will be turning in their “Revision/Spotlight” Project.
We will also be immersing ourselves in poetry and begin to write our own poems using common styles.
Grammar practice will be folded into our poetry work to make the tedium of grammar practice a little more interesting and fun.
Journal Writing Expectations (Beckham) - Week of 4/13/09 to 4/19/09
1st, 2nd & 6th Periods:
A = 7 pages combined (at least 2 in each journal)
B = 6 pages combined (at least 2 in each journal)
C = 4 pages combined (at least 1 in each journal)
D = 3 pages combined (at least 1 in each journal)
4th & 7th Periods:
A = 8 pages combined (at least 3 in each journal)
B = 6 pages combined (at least 3 in each journal)
C = 4 pages combined (at least 2 in each journal)
D = 3 pages combined (at least 1 in each journal)
5th Period:
A = 6 pages combined (at least 2 in each journal)
B = 5 pages combined (at least 2 in each journal)
C = 3 pages combined (at least 1 in each journal)
D = 2 pages combiend (at least 1 in each journal)
We will be continuing work on our “Revision/Spotlight” Project.
Due to Math TAKS and Good Friday, the journal writing requirements have been lowered greatly for this week.
All classes:
A = 4 pages
B = 3 pages
C = 2 pages
D = 1 page
Take advantage of this easy “A”, kids!!
Link to Pre-AP Rubric (1st, 2nd, and 6th periods)
Link to Pre-AP GT Rubric (4th and 7th periods)
Link to English 8 Rubric (5th period)
Example “Revise & Perfect/Spotlight” Project
AbiWord - A Free Word Processor (if you do not have Microsoft Word)
Google Docs - An online word processor
Journal Writing Expectations (Beckham) - Week of 3/22/09 to 3/29/09
1st, 2nd & 6th Periods:
A = 8 pages combined (at least 2 in each journal)
B = 6 pages combined (at least 2 in each journal)
C = 4 pages combined (at least 1 in each journal)
D = 3 pages combined (at least 1 in each journal)
4th & 7th Periods:
A = 10 pages combined (at least 3 in each journal)
B = 8 pages combined (at least 3 in each journal)
C = 6 pages combined (at least 2 in each journal)
D = 4 pages combined (at least 1 in each journal)
5th Period:
A = 6 pages combined (at least 2 in each journal)
B = 5 pages combined (at least 2 in each journal)
C = 3 pages combined (at least 1 in each journal)
D = 2 pages combiend (at least 1 in each journal)
Mr. Beckham’s classes will start the week off getting back into the flow of studying grammar, mixing in individual reading time and a more intensive look at vocabulary.
We will also be building towards projects in the Pre-AP and Pre-AP G/T classes, using the new grammar concepts and vocabulary focus to polish up some of our favorite writing pieces, organizing our favorites into a new final writing project.
The journal writing rubric for Mr. Beckham’s classes will remain unchanged from the previous school week.
Journal Writing Expectations (Beckham) - Week of 3/22/09 to 3/29/09
1st, 2nd & 6th Periods:
A = 8 pages combined (at least 2 in each journal)
B = 6 pages combined (at least 2 in each journal)
C = 4 pages combined (at least 1 in each journal)
D = 3 pages combined (at least 1 in each journal)
4th & 7th Periods:
A = 10 pages combined (at least 3 in each journal)
B = 8 pages combined (at least 3 in each journal)
C = 6 pages combined (at least 2 in each journal)
D = 4 pages combined (at least 1 in each journal)
5th Period:
A = 6 pages combined (at least 2 in each journal)
B = 5 pages combined (at least 2 in each journal)
C = 3 pages combined (at least 1 in each journal)
D = 2 pages combiend (at least 1 in each journal)
Mr. Beckham’s classes will continue “The Sentence” Unit, which will be dedicated to preparing the Pre-AP and Pre-AP GT classes for the LTF end-of-course exam on Friday, May 8th.
Some of the key concepts we will be working with:
- Breaking sentences down into their “meaningful chunks”.
- What are sentences made of? (phrases & clauses)
- How can be mix this new information with our established way of writing to create new skills and habits?
- Revision is a dish best served cold. (Spelunking in our journals for hidden treasures.)
Our goal will be to not only master the grammatical trivia that students are expected to know, but actually apply that knowledge to both old writing and new writing.
Journal Writing Expectations (Beckham) - Week of 3/9/09 to 3/15/09
1st, 2nd & 6th Periods:
A = 8 pages combined (at least 2 in each journal)
B = 6 pages combined (at least 2 in each journal)
C = 4 pages combined (at least 1 in each journal)
D = 3 pages combined (at least 1 in each journal)
4th & 7th Periods:
A = 10 pages combined (at least 3 in each journal)
B = 8 pages combined (at least 3 in each journal)
C = 6 pages combined (at least 2 in each journal)
D = 4 pages combined (at least 1 in each journal)
5th Period:
A = 6 pages combined (at least 2 in each journal)
B = 5 pages combined (at least 2 in each journal)
C = 3 pages combined (at least 1 in each journal)
D = 2 pages combiend (at least 1 in each journal)
Mr. Beckham’s classes will begin “The Sentence” Unit, which will be dedicated to preparing the Pre-AP and Pre-AP GT classes for the LTF end-of-course exam on Friday, May 8th.
Work Expectations (Beckham) - Week of 3/2/09 to 3/8/09
1st, 2nd & 6th Periods:
A = 6 pages (at least 2 in each journal)
B = 4 pages (at least 1 in each journal)
C = 3 pages (at least 1 in each journal)
D = 2 pages (at least 1 in each journal)
4th & 7th Periods:
A = 7 pages (at least 2 in each journal)
B = 5 pages (at least 1 in each journal)
C = 3 pages (at least 1 in each journal)
D = 2 pages (at least 1 in each journal)
5th Period:
A = 4 (at least 1 in each journal)
B = 3 (at least 1 in each journal)
C = 2 (at least 1 in each journal)
D = 1 (at least 0.5 in each journal)
Work Expectations (Beckham) - Week of 2/23/09
1st, 2nd & 6th Periods:
A = 10 pages (at least 3 in each journal)
B = 8 pages (at least 3 in each journal)
C = 6 pages (at least 2 in each journal)
D = 4 pages (at least 1 in each journal)
4th & 7th Periods:
A = 11 pages (at least 3 in each journal)
B = 9 pages (at least 3 in each journal)
C = 7 pages (at least 2 in each journal)
D = 5 pages (at least 1 in each journal)
5th Period:
A = 8 (at least 2 in each journal)
B = 6 (at least 2 in each journal)
C = 5 (at least 1 in each journal)
D = 4 (at least 1 in each journal)
As the Pre-AP classes and the English 8 class focus on TAKS Reading 8 preparation for the entire week, the G/T classes will spend the first half of the week working on the “You Decide” projects they have designed for themselves. These projects are due Wednesday 2/25.
The “You Decide” project is an opportunity for the students to look back over their body of work so far this year and create a new, short project that allows them to pursue an avenue of interest while setting for themselves an appopriate challenge.
Work Expectations (Beckham) - Week of 2/16/09
1st, 2nd & 6th Periods:
A = 10 pages (at least 3 in each journal)
B = 8 pages (at least 3 in each journal)
C = 6 pages (at least 2 in each journal)
D = 4 pages (at least 1 in each journal)
4th & 7th Periods:
A = 11 pages (at least 3 in each journal)
B = 9 pages (at least 3 in each journal)
C = 7 pages (at least 2 in each journal)
D = 5 pages (at least 1 in each journal)
5th Period:
A = 8 (at least 2 in each journal)
B = 6 (at least 2 in each journal)
C = 5 (at least 1 in each journal)
D = 4 (at least 1 in each journal)
- The rough draft for the writing project will be due for all periods on Wednesday, February 19th. (5-10 pages in writer’s journal)
- Due to the need to move into a mode of preparing on-level students for TAKS and G/T students for the LTF end-of-course exam, the final drafts for the reading and writing projects will both be taken as an extra project grade, but will be optional for most students (depending upon the quality of their rough draft).
- This week we will be working on the writing project (author imitation using the skills and strategies pulled from the author analysis) until Wednesday. Thursday and Friday will be the official beginning for TAKS/LTF preparation.