test+archive+sept

// 9/14/12 // // "What I Need to Do on Literature Projects/HW to Get an A (all year)" // Students left space for 5 items. Then drew a line.

We listened to students who did the "artifact" (oral presentation) summer reading project. Students were to listen to MY comments and make their own comments on the presentations to **infer** what I think will deserve an A this year when students show knowledge gained from literature. Even though this first set of students was presenting orally, much of what we observed as excellece could easily apply to written essays and homework. Students took notes during and between presentations on what the presenters did well. Then we discussed thier observations and I added my own. In almost every class students came up with variations on the 7 bullet points listed below:
 * Summer Reading Project wrap-up **


 * 1) Plan ahead! ( Reduce stress by doing work in chunks, and brainstorming ideas and examples in WRITING before starting actual work. Writing notes before presentations helped these students be confident and relaxed.)
 * 2) Be Clear—focus on topic and EXPLAIN your thinking.  Relate answers back to question. Never assume a teacher knows what connection your example has to the question.
 * 3) Complete ALL parts of assignment . Be on task in class and at home—mark up, reread and check off steps before, during, and after an assignment.
 * 4) Use SPECIFIC and SIGNIFICANT details to support explanations . PROVE you read and understood what was most important.
 * 5) Use specific character names/quotes <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> ...these PROVE you read and understood. Stay away from vague pronouns he,she,it...
 * 6) <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Note character emotions and points of view. <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">This shows higher level thinking about the **WHYs** of the story, **not just WHAT** happened.
 * 7) <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Be creative, original, careful <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">--show pride in your work and effort. IT is ACTUALLY more fun and rewarding.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Students will be tested in a week or so on study skill strategies we have coved so far this year, and on my expectations for in-class work and for homework. I will post the topics to review on my L**ooming Deadlines (click on link)** page a week before the assessment tentatively scheduled for Sept 29. I will add items we discussed the first week of classes to future notes on this site.