English Agenda for November 16, 2009

English Department Agenda
Monday, November 16, 2009----Room 209 at 2:20 PM
Recorder: Kristin Shipp

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more,
Or close the wall up with our English dead.
In peace there's nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness and humility,
But when the blast of warre blows in our eares,
Then imitate the action of the tyger:
Stiffen the sinews, conjure up the blood,
Disguise fair nature with hard-featured rage,
Then lend the eye a terrible aspect;
Now set the teeth, and stretch the nostrill wide,
Hold hard the breath, and bend up every
Spirit to his full height! On, on, you noble English!

[ http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/William_Shakespeare/ ]
William Shakespeare, King Henry V, Act 3 scene 1

I. Departmental Features--

• Media Center Resources Update--Linda Norris
• CHS School Improvement Plan (SIP) 2009-2010
• Instructional Strategies Database (Intranet--Secondary Language Arts)
• Instructional Strategies Database
• Poetry Out Loud--Rus VanWestervelt and Corey O'Brien
  

II. The Nitty Gritty/Updates/Reminders--

• Book Orders
• Administrative Updates
• ACCUPLACER Testing--College Readiness Initiative--HCPSS and HCC--Rescheduled for Tuesday, December 1--English 11 (86 students)--In the DELL Lab--All Day
  

Monday, October 19, 2009

I. Departmental Feature--

• October Minutes
• Media Center Resources Update--Linda Norris
• CHS School Improvement Plan (SIP) 2009-2010
• Instructional Strategies Database (Intranet--Secondary Language Arts)

II. The Nitty Gritty/Updates/Reminders--

• Book Orders
• Updates from CHS (10/15) & County (10/14) ITL Meetings
• ACCUPLACER Testing: College Readiness Initiative--HCPSS and HCC--English 11 on Thursday, November 19 in the DELL Lab--All Day
• HoCoPoLitSo Poet-in-Residence Visit: Terence Winch; Wednesday, October 28th during Period 5

September 21, 2009

I. Departmental Feature--

• Outcomes of Data Conversations from September 4, 2009: Implications and Goal Setting
  
• Individual Reading Conferences (IRCs)
  
• Metacognitive Log Prompts
  
• October 10 SAT
• October 14 PSAT

II. The Nitty Gritty/Updates/Reminders--

• SGA Letters to Soldiers Feedback
  

• NCTE National Gallery of Writing: http://galleryofwriting.org
• October 20, 2009--the National Day on Writing: http://www.ncte.org/dayonwriting
• National Writing Project: http://www.nwp.org
  

• Letters About Literature--Maryland Humanities Council

Updates from CHS (9/17) & County (9/16) ITL Meetings

• Budget
• Schedule Changes, Drop/Add Signature Forms
• Interim Reports issued to students on October 9
• Hall Passes
• CHS Staff Reference Info Folder on CLC
• Contact chsabsence@hcpss.org to report flu-like symptoms
  

• Printshop
• Textbook Replacement Plan
• Quarterly Assessments--Grades 9-11
• Sample Anchor Papers Needed
• Poetry Out Loud: http://www.poetryoutloud.org
• Writing Manuals
• Textbook Selection Committee
• LA Coordinator/Facilitator Visits

• Student Writing Folders
  

• ACCUPLACER Testing
• College Readiness Initiative--English 11

• Substitute Lesson Plans
• Please keep current in a clearly visible folder in your classroom
• Include Syllabi, Objectives, Seating Charts

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

• Room 209 at 1:00 PM
• Warm greetings to all, and a special welcome to Shanea Bradley in English 9 & 11 this year
  and to Christine Duignan, Johns Hopkins English Intern!

I. Departmental Feature--

• Letters to Soldiers--Fall 2009 SGA Project--Ann Mulhollen

II. The Nitty Gritty/Updates/Reminders--

• Classroom Supplies and Equipment
• Vocabulary Workshop Books--New Procedures
• High School Writing Manuals--Revisions & Inserts
  http://www.hcpss.org/aboutus/writing_manual.pdf
• English Web Page: http://englishroost.blogspot.com/ Teacher Web Pages
• Language Arts Expectations
  Student Writing Folders
  Student Aides
• CHS English Department Plagiarism Policy
  
  • Signed Classroom Copy: http://docs.google.comDoc?id=dgf8pxs2_92rrbtfjdj
  • Student Copy: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgf8pxs2_93dc2bm9gz
• Three-year Textbook Replacement Plan
• Syllabi, Etc.—3 Copies to Mag
  Include Grading Policy, Class Procedures, Expectations, Materials, Departmental Plagiarism Policy, and turnitin
• Substitute Lesson Plans
  Keep updated and current in a clearly visible folder in your classroom
  Include Syllabi, Objectives, Seating Charts

III. Grade Level Team Meetings--

• Book Charts-- As a team, please check your syllabi for BALANCE and DIVERSITY
  (Gender, Race/Ethnicity, Time Periods, Genres)
• Check current English Book Inventory Binder in 601 for ordering needs
  

~Thank you for all that you do for our students and for CHS.~

Summer Reading Suggestions

• CHS Summer Reading--June 2009
• English AP Titles 1981-2009
• Howard County Library--http://www.hclibrary.org/index.php?page=218
• Enoch Pratt Free Library--http://www.prattlibrary.org/
• American Library Association Book Lists and Book Awards, including Best Books for Young Adults and Outstanding Books for the College Bound--http://www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists

June 8, 2009

I. Departmental Feature--

• English AP Literature & Composition Exam--May 2009--Mag Polek
• English AP Language & Composition Exam--May 2009--Holly Pasciullo & Kristin Shipp

II. The Nitty Gritty/Updates/Reminders--

• April Minutes--Liz Chung
• English Awards 2009 at http://englishroost.blogspot.com
• English Schedule 09-10
• CHS English Summer Reading List Input
• Echoes and Reflections: A Multimedia Curriculum on the Holocaust
  http://www.echoesandreflections.org
• Summer School Classes--June 29 to August 7 (8:00 to 12:45 PM at CHS)
• End of the Year Clean-up--Final Exams & Keys, Books, Classrooms, Teacher Materials

~Thank you for all you have done this year for our students and for CHS.~

English Awards 2009

Congratulations, Seniors!

CHS English Award: Stephen Rane

HoCoPoLitSo All-County Writing Awards:
Promise & Achievement--Yang Liu
Promise & Achievement--Stephen Rane

1st Place Personal Essay--Sarah Hayashi
2nd Place Personal Essay--Caitlin Pomerantz
3rd Place Personal Essay--Bill Ge
1st Place Poetry--Jessica Stein
3rd Place Poetry--Megan Lieberman
2nd Place Short Story--Aaron Mick

Distinguished Eagle in Publications Award: Alyssa Bailey

Wingspan Newspaper Awards:
Editorial Excellence--Shelby McKay
Excellence in Newspaper Writing--Eric Feinstein
Excellence in Newspaper Design--Rahel Boghossian
Aura of Wingspan--Clara Heck and Megan Leiberman

Eyrie Yearbook Awards:
Excellence in Publication and Design--Chloe Heckman
Excellence in Production Management--Maria Souza
Aura of Eyrie--Courtney Brown, Lauren Hunter, and Kristen Mathe

Maryland Voices Creative Nonfiction Journal Awards:
Editorial Excellence--Claire Li
Excellence in Graphics and Design--Aimee Kutt

Aquila Literary Magazine Awards:
Editorial Excellence--Amanda Lauer, Pattie Lin, Kate Calvert, and Claire Shreibfeder

English Online HSA--Thursday, May 21, 2009

Testing Tips for Parents & Students:

• Parents, please encourage your son/daughter and be positive; ask your child to discuss HSA class activities with you.
• Be aware of test anxiety levels and reassure your child that the class activities conducted throughout the year have prepared sophomores for this important assessment.
  
• Make sure your child sleeps well the night before the test and eats breakfast that morning.
• This year, students in Howard and Montgomery countries will complete the HSA tests online. Parents and students can view a sample online test (students are doing this to prepare in English classes as well) on HSAonline practice (a direct link to www.pearsonaccess.com). Once on the site, select EPAT. Sample tests and answers are also available for downloading.
  
• More HSA info and links are listed below.
  
• No points are deducted for wrong answers. Therefore, students are encouraged to attempt all questions, even those about which they are uncertain.
• Students, arrive at your assigned testing room early so you have time to get settled, relax, and focus.
  
• Testing will begin promptly and last approximately three hours.
• Bring a snack and drink in your backpack. You will get a short break at the end of each section of the test when you may eat a snack/have a drink in the hallways outside of the computer areas, and use the restroom. A healthy snack will help keep you alert during the entire test.
  

Sophomores--remember that your families, teachers and administrators at CHS support you and wish you well. Just think, you are almost juniors!

• Some content adapted on 5.03.09 from http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/testday.html; thank you also to Shawn Hastings-Hauf and Kristen McManus for their contributions.
  

"Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)"
Green Day Album: Nimrod, International Superhits
Written by Billie Joe Armstrong
Release Date: November 13, 2001
http://www.greendayauthority.com/Lyrics/

Another turning point
A fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist
Directs you where to go
So make the best of this test
And don't ask why
It's not a question
But a lesson learned in time

April 21, 2009

National Poetry Month Resources--
http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/41
Ars Poetica: Poems about Poetry: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/20035

I. Departmental Feature--

• English HSA Bridge Plans & Mastery Class--Kelli McDonough
• After-School HSA Prep--6 Thursdays (10th Grade English Team)
• Online HSA Testing--Week of May18-22

II. The Nitty Gritty/Updates/Reminders--

• March Minutes
• Nominations for the 2009 English Award and The Emily Davis Memorial Scholarship
• Summer School Classes--June 29 to August 7 (8:00 to 12:45 PM at CHS)
• Letters from Home--SGA Writing Project
  

APRIL is National Poetry Month

Do I dare
Disturb the universe?
In a minute there is time
For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse.

Sources and Sample Activities:
1.) http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/41
This website from the Academy of American Poets includes information on the history of National Poetry Month.

2.) The 2009 poster features the lines "Do I dare/Disturb the universe?" from T.S. Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" at http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/20220 and in TextFlows format at http://www.textflows.com/player/playFlow/20220.

3.) http://www.readwritethink.org/calendar/calendar_day.asp?id=478
In honor of National Poetry Month, students are introduced to a variety of poetic forms. One (or more) student each day is assigned as "poet of the day" for the month of April. Students are provided with several models for creating different forms of poetry, such as Shape Poems, Acrostic Poems, Diamante Poems, or Instant Poetry Forms. Each student might select one form of poetry and write an original poem, which he or she may also illustrate. On their assigned days, students will read their poetry out loud to the class.

4.) http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=246
Is a Sentence a Poem?
Students are given (or directed online to) a picture and asked individually to describe the picture in one sentence of less than twenty words. Afterward, the class analyzes syntax, imagery, and meaning in a chosen one-sentence poem by a canonical author to decide what makes it a poem. Students return to their own descriptive sentence to decide whether it is, is not, or could be a poem, justifying their reasoning. This exercise encourages students to dissect an established poem while defining the characteristics of the genre of poetry. Students then apply their knowledge during reflection upon their own work.

*Excerpts accessed on March 31, 2009.

March 16, 2009

"We make out of the quarrel with others, rhetoric, but of the quarrel with ourselves, poetry." William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) (Awarded the 1923 Nobel Prize in Literature)

I. Departmental Feature--

• Vocabulary Development--A Model Lesson--Jill Eisner
• Developing Effective Practices in Vocabulary Instruction
• NCTE Council Chronicle article (March 2009) "Everyday Writing: Words Matter More Than Ever in the 21st Century Workplace" http://www.ncte.org/library/NCTEFiles/Resources/Magazine/CC0183_Everyday.pdf

II. The Nitty Gritty/Updates/Reminders--

• February Minutes
• Dear Soldier--SGA Writing Project
• Local English Assessment Data from INROADS
  Grade Level Team Meetings
  4th Quarter Assessments & Final Exams
• Official Ballots for Senior Superlatives--Rus VanWestervelt
• Feedback on Great Source 2005 Vocabulary Books
• --Vocabulary for Achievement, Third Course (9th Grade)
  --Vocabulary for Achievement, Fourth Course (10th Grade)
  --Vocabulary for Achievement, Fifth Course (11th Grade)
  --Vocabulary for Achievement, Sixth Course (12th Grade)
• Utilization of the High School Writing Manual and Style Guide (especially for MLA Research Paper Guidelines) http://www.hcpss.org/aboutus/writing_manual.pdf
• English Academic Support Day--Wednesday, March 25
• Junior interviews will take place March 31 to April 2 during English classes this year; please complete the resume writing lesson by March 23
• End of Third Quarter--Friday, April 3
  

February 9, 2009

"The limits of my language mean the limits of my world."
--Ludwig Wittgenstein, Austrian Philosopher 1889-1951

I. Departmental Feature

• Vocabulary Development--
  "Content-Area Vocabulary: A Critical Key to Conceptual Learning" by Janis M. Harmon and Karen D. Wood from Adolescent Literacy in Perspective, October 2008
• PowerPoint Summary and Discussion
• Survey of Great Source 2005 Vocabulary Books

II. The Nitty Gritty--

• Administrative Visit
• English Academic Support Day--Wednesday, February 11
• Poet-in-Residence Liz Rees visit--Thursday, February 12
  Kristen McManus' 4B 10 GT class
• International visitors from England--Tuesday, February 17
  Mag Polek's 4B 12 AP class
• Junior interviews will take place March 31 to April 2;
  complete the resume writing lesson by March 23

Updates--

• ETS Criterion Online Writing Evaluation Program
  Grades 9 and 10; Regular and Review Classes
  http://criterion28.ets.org/cwe
• ACCUPLACER--English 11 Classes
  College Readiness Elective
• CPR Rhetoric Activities

Reminders--

• Celebrate African American Writers throughout February: Twentieth National African American Read-In

2009 National African American Read-In

Celebrate the Twentieth Year for the National African American Read-In:

• Sponsored by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and NCTE
• For this year only, the National Director has extended the African American Read-In for the entire month of February.
• Schools, churches, libraries, bookstores, community and professional organizations, and interested citizens are urged to make literacy a significant part of Black History Month by hosting and coordinating Read-Ins in their communities. Hosting a Read-In can be as simple as bringing together friends to share a book, or as elaborate as arranging public readings and media presentations that feature professional African American writers.
• Accessed on January 28 from http://www.ncte.org/action/aari/packetinfo

Inauguration Poem

Poet Elizabeth Alexander was selected to compose and deliver a poem at President Barack Obama’s Inauguration Ceremony at the United States Capitol on January, 20, 2009. She is the fourth poet in history to be so honored. She delivered her poem after President Obama’s Inaugural Address. Accessed on 1.12.09 from http://www.elizabethalexander.net/events.html

Read "Praise Song for the Day" Inaugural Poem by Elizabeth Alexander from http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/20/us/politics/20text-poem.html

Other sites of interest:

• http://www.elizabethalexander.net/home.html
• http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/245
• http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/17/AR2008121702027.html?hpid=topnews
• http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/books/01/12/alexander.poet.inaugural/index.html
• http://www.pic2009.org/pages/schedule