U.S. History

Argumentative paragraphs to answer the essential question are due today -- highlighted for text structure and with score sheet stapled to the front.  The paragraph should also be submitted already to turnitin.com (unhighlighted).  The metacognitive writing (see 1/2-sheet instructions) is due tomorrow.  Students completed a self-assessment in red ink/pencil/marker on their Skills Breakdown page, updating it from when we last self-assessed at the end of the last unit.  Folder cleanout!  Take all of your "Current Unit" papers and sort them out by skill.  We began structured review of the Unit-Closure Work Packet (parts 1 through 4; focusing on 1 today)....to review and also to check (and edit) where needed.  (This packet serves as a sizeable portion of the final exam.)  More review tomorrow!

KCC

HW reading reminder -- due Friday.  (Big picture thoughts for students -- as we work on this challenging writing and our next reading assignment comes due, communicate with me if it gets to be too much.  Yes, it's a college class and some stress and "kick it in gear" is appropriate, but should things become genuinely overwhelming, just talk with me.  When REALLY needed, I can definitely make adjustments.)  Writing day in the lab today...we'll be back in the lab tomorrow with a projected due date for the papers set for Wednesday.  Curiosity research w/ scores and feedback was returned to the students with clarification that they can edit, improve, and/or add to their research and resubmit it to improve the score, if needed/desired.  (Many of the research scores were very good.)

World History

We began work on our first case study -- a sedentary village agri-culture, the Catal-Huyuk.  Pick up an instruction sheet and work at it online for 40 minutes.  We'll be back in the lab tomorrow to add additional time and more notes.

U.S. History

The final lab day for the argumentative writing on the essential question.  When finished, print, and then use highlighters to follow the instructions on your "Edit My Writing Now" handout.  Edit whatever you find in that process that needs improving.  THEN, print your true final draft and highlight this to show the core thesis concepts and text structure -- submit with your score sheet (self-score) by the start of class tomorrow.  Be sure, also, to submit it to turnitin.com UNhighlighted.  Pick up the "Metacognitive Writing" 1/2-sheet -- a quick, easy assignment due by the start of class Wednesday.

KCC

Reminder -- reading homework is due next Friday.  Today is a writing day!  (Lab time)  First, however, I added a few more "notes to self" for them for their writing, provided a handout with guidelines for using quotes and excerpts, and a new handout for use once they are "done" with their essay -- "Edit My Writing, Now."  We'll have more lab time in class on Monday and Tuesday, and the final essays are due at the start of class on Wednesday.  (The final draft of the essay will also be highlighted to show intended text structure; also submit UNhighlighted to turnitin.com.)

World History

We finished viewing the N.G. DVD.  We then went to the lab to begin work on the Catal-Huyuk case study; pick up a work page with instructions.  We'll have more time in the lab on Monday.  For make-up work, if absent today, spend ~30 minutes on the Catal-Huyuk at home (once you have the instruction page) so that your total exploration time is adequate.  ; )

U.S. History

Writing day!  Once you've "finished" your E.Q. argumentative paragraph (using your many helper pages), then print it and use the "Edit My Writing Now" page -- step-by-step.  Then, go in and make those necessary edits!  ; )  When done, you will print your true final draft; highlight this one, also, to show your themes and text structure and turn it in with your score sheet once you've self-scored in something other than black pen.  Submit this paragraph, also, on turnitin.com.  We will be back in the lab for one final work day on this.

KCC

Students each shared a small piece of their research with the class and then submitted their entire packets of research for scores.  Finish work on the outline and then begin transforming those ideas and evidence into a written paragraph.  To aid the process, students' were asked to review their old group work paragraphs with feedback and their "Writing: Notes to Self" page.  Additionally, we color-coded a pseudo-sample paragraph to create a visual structure for argumentative writing.  The score sheet was provided to the students and discussed.  (There will be a few more insights shared tomorrow, and then we'll be in the lab to type.)

World History

We continued screening the National Geographic DVD.

U.S. History

Finish work on the outline and then begin transforming those ideas and evidence into a written paragraph; we were in the lab.  To aid the process, students' intro "What is History" paragraphs were returned with individualized feedback; add these scores to your skills tracking page.  Add personalized reminders from this feedback onto your "Writing: Notes to Self" note page that we began on Wednesday.  I had everyone also add notes to selves about "tightening" the writing (being concise), using 3rd person formal voice, and using more evidence (show with details).  The score sheet and a helper page "Edit My Writing Now" were provided to the students and discussed.  We'll be back in the lab tomorrow to finish.

WEDNESDAY -- KCC

Writing prep -- individual work to organize thoughts in outline form for the end-of-unit argumentative writing on the essential question.

WEDNESDAY -- World History

We viewed the first 45 minutes of "National Geographic -- 30 Years of N.G. Specials."

WEDNESDAY -- U.S. History

The substitute teacher finished with the distribution, highlighting, and discussion of the Target handout and the Winter handout -- to help us prep for writing. The outline work page was distributed, also; use this to make your decisions and organize your ideas for an effective paragraph. 

KCC

Research day!  Have your read and highlighted/underlined articles ready to submit by the start of class tomorrow (along with verifications of credentials and score sheet).

World History

We finished our structured review of the Communal UCWP.  We went through a short slideshow about the power of language as a early-in-the-year frame of reference.  We then began our next unit -- on Agri-cultures...Add a couple of notes to the Mental Map Timeline (see a reliable classmate or me) and set up your E.Q. and C.Q. pages (see classmate or me).  

U.S. History

Students shared one of their research facts and source credentials.  The research was then collected for a grade.  We began working toward our E.Q. argumentative writing...We talked through a quick plagiarism slideshow and made a note on a new note page we set up: "Writing: Notes to Self," and I also demo'd how to take short notes from a reading.  Pick up and complete the "Target" writing sample handout and check it in with me or a reliable classmate.  The "Winter" "Writing Tutorial" handout was distributed and discussed; we did some color-coding and markings on the back side -- see a reliable classmate or me.  We'll finish the markings on the "Winter" paragraph tomorrow.

KCC

We checked in on Part 4 of the UCWP and 20 minutes of class provided to finish the pages (finish for homework as needed).  We then went to the lab to do curiosity research -- use your 1/2-sheet score page and your full-sheet tips/tricks (highlighted) page.  We'll be back in the lab tomorrow for a full period of research -- due first thing Wednesday.

World History

Metacognitive writing is due today.  We discussed the answers to the "minions poster analysis" and prizes awarded.  We had a structured review of the UCWP vocab -- study time and practice quiz questions...students were encouraged to make edits onto their UCWP each time we went over "quiz" answers so they have exactly what they need for when it is time in January to study, again, for the final exam.  

U.S. History

Research day!  Use your 1/2-sheet score page for instructions, and use your whole-sheet tips & tricks sheet (that we highlighted and used last unit) to get to those experts.  Expert creds AND quantity of material matter. ; )  Have your read (and highlighted/underlined) articles ready to turn in by the start of class tomorrow.

KCC

HW reminder and date change -- the next section of text reading and note-taking will now be due Friday, November 4th.  We finished the Claim/Evidence ("circles") analysis page on the Nash article for a score.  Take E.Q. notes (and C.Q. questions) from the two articles provided on the topic of slavery, and do the same on the 8-minute clip from the film Amistad that depicts the Middle Passage -- warning: the clip depicts the gruesome voyage.  Prepare yourself before viewing.  Students began work on part 4 of the Unit-Closure Work Page to close out the study guide portion -- finish for homework as needed.  We'll be in the lab on Monday to research.