Sociology

Exam prep -- make study guide/cheat sheets with CLEAR and COMPLETE definitions as well as accurate, specific examples.  Check in with each other and/or me to confirm your accuracy -- while you can have these notes out to reference during the film analysis (exam), you will be successful only if you come in having prepared and studied it.  You need to be prepared to apply the concepts, which is appropriately challenging.  Students were allowed a few minutes to preview the exam so that when we start at the very beginning of class tomorrow they are already familiar with the format and expectations for clarity/detail.  Holiday snacks were provided -- see Mrs. C if you were absent!

World History

"Re-do" work is due today.  Study!  EQ paragraphs were returned in some classes (see feedback and keep for future writing); +5 will be added to that score when entered into STI to account for the first time writing the full paragraph.  Other classes will receive their paragraphs tomorrow.  Students were alerted not to skip past the very first item on every one of their Unit-Closure Work Pages -- the E.Q.s!

U.S. History

"Re-do" work is due today.  Today is research day -- due at the end of the hour for those choosing to do this work for this unit, otherwise your previous research score will stand.  Study time!

Sociology

We finished the "Savage Inequalities" article analysis.  Students were then given the choice of whether to keep the work page for the information, or if they wish to turn it in to have me score it to replace the previous "reading claim/evidence" work (the "polygamy" article).  The EQ argumentative paragraphs (socialization) were returned to the students today.  On Monday we'll focus exclusively on making progress in prepping for the final exam -- please work on this over the weekend if you feel that you might not be confident on most of the terms.  The exam for this class will actually begin on TUESDAY (!) and we will continue and finish during the official test session on Wednesday.

World History

Materials were provided to students who signed up to re-do particular skills -- this work is do first thing, when you walk into class, on Monday.  The class period was provided for study time for final exams -- first, prep all of your materials and confirm accuracy (copies of my answer key are available), then, use your most effective strategy/ies to begin memorizing! 

U.S. History

Any remaining Kammen analyses you want to turn in to replace the Meacham claim/evidence score?

Today is writing day -- anyone wishing to do the EQ argumentative paragraph to answer our current EQ, pick up a score sheet, use your previous writings for tips and pointers, and submit your work by the end of the class period.

Monday will be research day, but if anyone wanting to do a new research assignment to replace the previous one wishes to get this done today (because you've chosen not to write), pick up a score sheet.  Be sure to use your two, full-page handouts with research tips and pointers.  Research is due by the end of class on Monday.

Materials were provided to the students who signed up to re-do the audio-visual (video) Claim/Evidence skill -- it is due first thing, when you walk into class on Monday.

The context/lens page ("12 Years A Slave") was returned to the students.

STUDY time -- prep and review your materials; collaboration with peers is welcome. 

Sociology

An analytical/informative page about our end-of-semester skill scores was provided and discussed.  Anyone wishing to redo any skills areas must see me today (or if absent, first thing tomorrow) to make arrangements, as the final deadline for "redo work" is first thing Monday.  We wrapped up our discussion of the social classes "quizzes," and I provided a handout with some summative food for thought.  I provided via SMARTboard a few notes on "Education."  Students began work on an a claim/evidence work page for the article "Savage Inequalities" -- to be completed in class tomorrow.

World History

An analytical information sheet about our end-of-semester skill scores was provided and discussed.  If you are interested in completing and "redos" for any skill areas, you need to see me today (or if you're absent, first thing tomorrow) to make arrangements, as the final deadline for any "redo" work is first thing Monday.  Remember, that redo work is independent/individual work -- no collaboration.  In lieu of a reflective paragraph to wrap up this unit, I gave a media presentation to reflect on the semester -- how the puzzle pieces come together for the "big picture."  Remaining time was allowed for final exam prep.  In 8th hour the "Iraq" work pages were returned and my answer framework provided via SMARTboard.

U.S. History

An analytical, informative handout with details about our end-of-unit skill scores was distributed and discussed.  We marked in our study materials particular items for focus and items to x-out (not study) in preparation for the final exam -- to target our study efforts.  If you wish to have your Kammen work page scored to replace the Meacham score, finish for homework and submit tomorrow at the start of class.  If you wish to do the "A New Republic" EQ argumentative paragraph to replace the previous writing, pick up an instruction/score sheet and complete this when we are in the computer lab tomorrow -- due at the end of the class period.  If you would like to conduct "A New Republic" curiosity research to replace the previous research score, pick up an instruction/score sheet and complete this when we are in the computer lab on Monday -- due at the end of the period on Monday.  If you are interested in any "redos" for other skill areas, you need to see me today (or if absent today, then first thing Friday) to set that up with me, as any "redo" work must be completed over the weekend (individually, independently) and submitted at the start of class on Monday.  Lastly, study for the final exam!

Sociology

We considered further the topic of social classes by viewing the following scenes from the Julia Roberts film Mona Lisa Smile (on You tube?): "Art History 101," "Joan Brandwyn," the wedding scene that follows, and "Accepted to Yale Law School."  A handout of "quizzes" about social classes was completed and discussed.

World History

Claim/evidence work pages (Egypt, Iraq, China) were returned with a score on the Iraq work page.  My thesis and evidence categories were provided on the SMARTboard and students were invited to see me with any questions.  Work was continued on the Unit-Closure Work Page.

U.S. History

Socratic scores were returned to the students.  We finished the Kammen analysis work in 1st and 2nd hour -- a very small bit of time will be allowed at the start of class tomorrow to finalize.  4th hour began this work later, and so, they borrowed articles to finish tonight as needed.  The final exam study guide and the Unit-Closure Work Pages were provided to the students.

Sociology

We finished "The Farm," and discussed the documentary.  Reminder that anyone interested in doing a final round of curiosity research has until tomorrow to submit the work.

World History

We were in the lab to finalize our EQ paragraphs -- due by the end of the hour.  Students were then to work on their Unit-Closure Work Pages.

U.S. History

We wrapped up our discussion about "12 Years A Slave," and then began work on a claim/evidence work page for excerpts from Michael Kammen's book Mystic Chords of Memory -- to be finished in class tomorrow.  Thursday will be a choice day -- either to conduct curiosity research for an updated score to replace the previous one or to study for the final exam.  Friday will be the same opportunity of choice with regard to EQ paragraph writing.  (Each student makes an individual choice.)  Retakes for the Constitution Test began today -- part I; part II will be tomorrow.  

Sociology

"The Farm" continued -- to be finished in class tomorrow.

World History

5th and 7th hours were provided the final exam study guide and the Urban Unit-Closure Work Page; the class time was provided for working on these items.  Tomorrow we'll be back in the lab for some reflective work and to finalize our paragraphs that were begun on Friday.

8th hour was provided the EQ writing score sheet and the class period was provided in the computer lab to complete the paragraph writing.  We'll be back in the lab tomorrow for final edits on the paragraphs and also to do reflective writing.

U.S. History

Socratic discussion today! 

Sociology

We continued viewing "The Farm" while taking notes of key analytical points -- to be continued in class tomorrow.  (A few students have selected to complete a claim/evidence work page for this film to replace their previous c/e work page.)

World History

Hours 5 & 7 did their EQ paragraph writing in the computer lab today -- a bit of time will be available Tuesday when we're back in the lab, if needed.  Hour 8 began work on the new "Unit-Closure Work Page -- Urban," and the EQ writing prep packet was distributed and discussed -- be ready to write on Monday.  (Due to computer lab availability, the 3 sections are doing the same work, but on different days.)

U.S. History

We screened from "12 Years a Slave" scenes 8, 12, 27, 31, & 34 while completing the analysis page provided.  A handout listing the 30 UN Human Rights was also provided.  The score sheet for Monday's Socratic discussion was distributed and discussed. The "12 Years a Slave" context/lens work pages are officially due today.

Sociology

We finished our notes and discussion about Social Functions of Religion and then began a new note page about Government and Economy -- via SMARTboard.

World History

A handout ("Semester Grades") was provided and discussed.  Students conducted 30 minutes of curiosity research -- score sheets were provided to guide them; you should also use the two pages of typed tips provided earlier in the semester. 

U.S. History

A handout ("Semester Grades") was distributed and discussed.  We worked on our textbook work packets -- to be finished for homework by Friday -- and read an article with accompanying flow chart about the history of U.S. political parties.  We began work on "12 Years a Slave" -- use the provided article to complete the Context & Lens work page; we will view select clips from the film and use our notes for Socratic discussion on Monday.

Sociology

We finished viewing and discussing the "Pancake Girl" video.  A handout note page was provided for discussion on some religion-related terminology and we then began taking notes on the back side of that page about some key functions of religion in society.

U.S. History

Constitution Tests were returned and recollected.  As indicated on the study guide for that test, students earning less than a 65% will need to retake it and pass in order to meet graduation requirements; the score on the first take, however, is the score recorded to comprise a portion of the 1st semester final exam.  Please see me with any questions you have or to get extra clarity as needed.  The "Crash Course: Constitution" context/lens analysis work pages were returned and discussed, also.  Students continued and nearly finished the work on the text book work pages -- #7 to the end to be finished in class tomorrow.

Sociology

We finished discussing the examples and evidence from the recent "30 Days" episode to prepare with clarity for the final exam.  I distributed 2 handouts for students to read and consider in light of our Socialization unit.  We also viewed the TED talk video of Ash Beckham -- "Pancake Girl" with a corresponding work page.

World History

We finished viewing and analyzing (workpage) the Chavin DVD and collaborated in small groups to edit notes and to add to our EQ and CQ pages.  We revisited the "Mental Map Timeline" for the year and the "Outline of Popular Details -- URBAN" to review the context of these studies and the big themes and trends.  Checkmark the items for Olmec and Chavin that we covered and make notes of which remaining things you may want to research for curiosity.  The score sheet for tomorrow's Socratic Discussion was distributed; be sure to have this with you as well as your EQ page and various note pages and work sheets from throughout the unit.  We'll be researching and writing later this week; so, be sure to get caught up and to have your materials with you.  Also, find your older research and writing score sheets to review helpful, personalized tips.

U.S. History

We continued our work on "Part II -- Textbook Work Pages" -- to be finished in the first part of class tomorrow (and/or for homework tomorrow eve).