English Agenda for November 15, 2010

Monday, November 15, 2010--Room 209~2:20 PM
~Strengthening the Net Through Student Engagement~

I. Departmental Features--

• October Minutes
• UPDATE--PROPOSED English 2010-2011 SIP
• *New Spreadsheet--Please review attachment before meeting
• **NEW--Introduction of Eagle Rounding Site
  
• NEW Document Cameras (5) for English from Media

• *Grade Level Team Meetings--Please bring Q1 County Assessment data to discuss

II. The Nitty Gritty/Updates/Reminders--

• Senior Writing Project Quarterly Reflections--ALL Grades
  
• Senior 1st Quarter Reflections: Narrative/Creative Writing

• ACCUPLACER Testing--November 10 & 11--English 11 Classes--Thank you!
  
• *Interesting observations to share regarding scheduling

• HAMLET In-County Field Trip--Monday, November 29 (B Day)--8:15 to 11:00 AM--100 Seniors

English Agenda for October 18, 2010

Monday, October 18, 2010--Room 209~2:20 PM
~Strengthening the Net Through Student Engagement~

I. Departmental Features--

Media Updates--Linda Norris

Student Services Info--Julia Southern

CHS SIP Plan for 2010-2011--Mag & Joelle
New Template Online
Impetus from Race to the Top--Teacher Accountability for Student Progress
Designed to be a Working Document--Open to Revision Throughout the Year
Collaborative Alignment of Goals on INROADS:
_HCPSS_CHS_English Department_Grade Level English Teams_Appendix Ds
Seminal to Teacher Planning and Instruction

II. The Nitty Gritty/Updates/Reminders--

October 20--NCTE's National Day on Writing--Rus

Senior Writing Project Quarterly Reflections--ALL Grades
Student Writing Folders
English CPR--Digital Portfolios--Rus, Kristin, Shanea, Mag

ACCUPLACER Testing--November 10 & 11--English 11 Classes

Grade Level Team Meetings--November 15th Department Meeting

The National Day on Writing

from readwritethink.org

OCTOBER 20, 2010

Event Description:
To draw attention to the remarkable variety of writing Americans engage in and to help make writers from all walks of life aware of their craft, the National Council of Teachers of English has established October 20, 2009, as the National Day on Writing. To celebrate composition in all its forms, NCTE invites diverse participants to submit a piece of writing to the National Gallery of Writing, unveiled on this day.

from CHS:
National Writing Day

from NCTE:
About the Initiative
Ideas

from NWP:
How Local Sites Can Participate

from DePaul University:
Resources for Writers

Senior Writing Project (Fall 2010)

This week, CHS teachers will receive a copy of the Student Resource Packet for the Senior Writing Project (Fall 2010) from the HCPSS Office of Secondary Language Arts. This packet is also being distributed in English classes to ALL Centennial students, Grades 9-12. It describes the Senior Writing Project in language appropriate for a student audience.

Students may use writing artifacts they complete both in English classes and in various content area subjects this year for their required and cumulative English portfolios.

As the year progresses, teachers will receive more info about the Senior Writing Project from English colleagues, ITLs, and CHS administrators, AND if they sign up for the CHS Professional Development Strand facilitated by Shanea Bradley and Mag Polek:

• The HCPSS Senior Writing Project is now a required capstone assignment that demonstrates student growth in analysis, synthesis, process, research, and creative expression throughout the high school experience.
  
• This culminating, performance-based assessment of secondary language arts will involve all curriculum content areas in grades 9-12.
• The project requires seniors to revisit all four years of high school for the purpose of reviewing, assessing, and reflecting on their growth and development as writers in multiple subject areas from the freshman to the senior year.
  
• Beginning this fall, in order to facilitate their growth and progress as writers, students in grades 9-12 will collect writing samples (artifacts,documents) from multiple disciplines and periodically assess their improvement as writers through a series of written reflections completed in English classes.
  
• In addition, seniors will choose and submit/present a major product option (writing collection, reflective essay,podcast, PowerPoint, blog, musical arrangement, skit, painting, photo essay, sculpture) in English classes during the third quarter, thus allowing graduating seniors the opportunity to demonstrate their growth and writing prowess through a variety of media.
  

The continued support and effort of all teachers will strengthen our students' interdisciplinary network of literacy and writing skills.

Indeed, "We Are All Writers Now."

• http://ideas.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/29/we-are-all-writers-now/

English Agenda for August 24, 2010

Tuesday, August 24, 2010--Room 209 following Staff PD
~Strengthening the Net Through Student Engagement~

I. Departmental Features--

"The Unwritten" by W.S. Merwin (See links in previous post)
Student Engagement Criteria

MSDE AYP Data; HSA, SAT, and AP Results
CHS SIT Plan for 2010-2011

II. The Nitty Gritty/Updates/Reminders--

September 3rd PD; Senior Writing Project

Classroom Supplies and Equipment
English Birthdays/Addresses/Phone Numbers

Vocabulary Workshop Books--Numbers

High School Writing Manuals

English Web Page
Teacher Web Pages

Language Arts Expectations
Student Writing Folders
Student Aides

CHS English Department Plagiarism Policy
Signed Classroom Copy
Student Notebook Copy
NYTimes Article on Plagiarism 8.01.10

Syllabi, Etc.—3 Copies to Mag: Include Grading Policy, Class Procedures, Expectations, Materials, Departmental Plagiarism Policy, and turnitin.com

Substitute Lesson Plans: Keep updated and current in a clearly visible folder in the classroom; include Syllabi, Objectives, Seating Charts

III. Grade Level Team Meetings--

Book Charts--As a team, please review 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.~

Poet Laureate W.S. Merwin

Appointed by the Library of Congress in July 2010, W.S. Merwin is the 17th U.S. Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry.

• "News from the Library of Congress" (July 1, 2010): http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2010/10-157.html

• NYTimes Article (June 30, 2010): http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/01/books/01poet.html

• PBS NEWSHOUR: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/art/blog/2010/07/ws-merin-appointed-as-next-poet-laureate.html
  

• Bio and Poems of W.S. Merwin: http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/123

• Another Bio with More Poems: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/poet.html?id=4676&utm_medium=email&utm_source=CampaignMonitor&utm_content=142043064&utm_campaign=PoetryMediaService&utm_term=WSMerwin
• "To the Light of September": http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/poem.html?id=31161
  

• Online Poems and More: http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/poets/m_r/merwin/merwin.htm

• The Atlantic Online Article (1997): http://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/unbound/poetry/antholog/merwin/pdmerwin.htm

• FOOLING WITH WORDS with Bill Moyers ("Fooling with words is the play of poets."): http://www.pbs.org/wnet/foolingwithwords/main_poet.html
  

Summer Reading Suggestions

Taking the Summer to Read and Write Ourselves into Better Readers and Writers: School may be out, but now’s not the time for students to stop learning. As NCTE’s Reading Commission Guideline "On Reading, Learning to Read, and Effective Literacy Instruction" points out, learning to read is a lifelong process, and, of course, the more we read, the better readers we become. This goes for writing as well. NCTE’s "Beliefs on the Teaching of Writing" give us principles for teaching the “increasingly multifaceted activity” of writing. Summer is a perfect time for reading and writing for personal pleasure—and learning, too.

• CHS Summer Reading 2010
• English AP Titles 1981-2010
• HCPSS Approved High School Textbook List
• Howard County Library High School Summer Reading List
• 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

English Agenda--June 8, 2010

TUESDAY, June 8, 2010--2:20 PM in Room 209

I. Departmental Feature--

• English AP Lang & Comp Exam--May 2010--Holly Pasciullo & Kristin Shipp
  
• English AP Lit & Comp Exam--May 2010--Doc Costantini & Mag Polek

II. The Nitty Gritty/Updates/Reminders--

• Senior Writing Project Pilot 2010-2011
  
• CHS English Summer Reading List 2009: Input for 2010
  
• HCPSS Approved High School Textbook List
  

Taking the Summer to Read and Write Ourselves into Better Readers and Writers: School may be out, but now’s not the time for students to stop learning. As NCTE’s Reading Commission Guideline "On Reading, Learning to Read, and Effective Literacy Instruction" points out, learning to read is a lifelong process, and, of course, the more we read, the better readers we become. This goes for writing as well. NCTE’s "Beliefs on the Teaching of Writing" give us principles for teaching the “increasingly multifaceted activity” of writing. Summer is a perfect time for reading and writing for personal pleasure—and learning, too.

• Howard County Library High School Summer Reading List
  

• English Awards 2010
• English Schedule 2010-2011

• End of the Year Items : Writing Folders, Final Exams & Keys, Books, Classrooms, Teacher Materials
  

Thank you!

English Awards 2010

Congratulations, Seniors!

CHS English Award:
Miriam Farkas

HoCoPoLitSo All-County Writing Awards:
Promise & Achievement--Sean Huang
Promise & Achievement--Shuning Li

1st Place Personal Essay--Daniel Negulescu
2nd Place Personal Essay--Hannah Keyes
3rd Place Personal Essay--Shuning Li
1st Place Short Story--Sara Bailey

CHS/Distinguished Eagle in Publications Award:
Alice Crowe

CHS/Wingspan Awards:
Aura of Wingspan--Lindsay Scheetz
Editorial Excellence--Miliana Budimirovic
Editorial Excellence--Lenore Wilson
Editorial Leadership--Kelsey Marotta
Excellence in Photography--Samantha Hawkins

CHS/Eyrie Awards:
Aura of Eyrie--Julie Price
Excellence in Marketing--Cara Mogavero
Excellence in Marketing--Jordan Schwartz
Excellence in Photography--Annie Emery
Excellence in Production Management--Kathryn Barry
Excellence in Publication and Design--Jennifer Lucht
Excellence in Publication and Design--Julie Silverman
Excellence in Publication and Design--Hannah Vorce

Poetry 180

The following poem is from Poetry 180, A Poem a Day for American High Schools sponsored by The Library of Congress. Many Centennial seniors read The Things They Carried, a 1998 novel by Tim O'Brien about the Vietnam War, in English 12 classes.

Lesson

Forrest Hamer

It was 1963 or 4, summer,
and my father was driving our family
from Ft. Hood to North Carolina in our 56 Buick.
We'd been hearing about Klan attacks, and we knew

Mississippi to be more dangerous than usual.
Dark lay hanging from the trees the way moss did,
and when it moaned light against the windows
that night, my father pulled off the road to sleep.

Noises
that usually woke me from rest afraid of monsters
kept my father awake that night, too,
and I lay in the quiet noticing him listen, learning
that he might not be able always to protect us

from everything and the creatures besides;
perhaps not even from the fury suddenly loud
through my body about his trip from Texas
to settle us home before he would go away

to a place no place in the world
he named Viet Nam. A boy needs a father
with him, I kept thinking, fixed against noise
from the dark.

poetry180

from Call & Response, 1995
Alice James Books, Farmington, ME

English HSA Online Testing--May 18, 2010

HSA Testing Schedule for the week of May 17:
May 17 - Government
May 18 - English
May 19 - No Testing
May 20 - Biology
May 21 - Algebra
*The following link includes past tests for ALL subject areas:
Past HSA Tests--ALL Subject Areas

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.
• Students 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 under the heading ~English HSA online Resources~
• 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: there are three 50 minute sections with two five minute breaks.
• 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

English Agenda for April 19, 2010

English 11 & 12 Teachers:
Room 209 from 2:20 to 3:20 PM-- *Please plan to meet for one hour.

• High School Professional Development Session: "The Essay, The Forgotten Genre?"
• Mary Teague, Instructional Facilitator, Secondary English

English 9 & 10 Teachers:
Room 207 at 2:20 PM--*Please bring a few student writing folders to share.

• Responding to Student Writing: Where are we? Where are we going? How do we "deliver useful feedback, appropriate for the writer and the situation"? How do we "analyze writing situations for their most essential elements"? from "NCTE Beliefs about the Teaching of Writing"
• NCTE Writing Beliefs
• Judy Ryan, English 10 Teacher, will facilitate this session.

English Agenda for March 15, 2010

English Department Agenda
Monday, March 15, 2010--Room 209 at 2:20 PM
"Beware the ides of March."
*Please plan to meet for one hour.

• CHS Administrative Updates

• Student Course Registration Review
• Course Placement Reviews due by March 31st
• TENTATIVE English Schedule 2010-2011

• Sadlier-Oxford replacement vocabulary books for 2010-2011
• Damaged books = $10.26 @ (includes tax)
• Obligation form (3 copies needed for front office at year's end)
  

• HoCoPoLitSo Promise and Achievement Awards--Nominations (2 Seniors)
• The Emily Davis Memorial Scholarship Award--Nominations
• English Department Award 2010--Nominations

• English HSA After-School Tutoring--Wednesdays (5 weeks) beginning April 14
• SIP Objective: With administrative support, English 10 teachers will conduct after-school intervention classes as warranted for those students identified as needing additional support to improve their English and reading skills, based on the results of class performance and quarterly assessments.

• Ideas/input for next year--
• Responding to Student Writing: Where are we? Where are we going? How do we "deliver useful feedback, appropriate for the writer and the situation"? How do we "analyze writing situations for their most essential elements"? from "NCTE Beliefs about the Teaching of Writing"
• NCTE Writing Beliefs
• Asian-American Literature Study Group--Ha Jin, Maxine Hong Kingston, Jhumpa Lahiri, Chang-rae Lee, Amy Tan, etc.

• Data Conversation Team Meetings: *Please bring documents as needed. Teachers will meet in grade level teams to discuss 2nd quarter assessment results and implications for instruction.
• SIP Objective: English teachers of Grade 9, 10, and 11 classes will each meet quarterly as a team to analyze county assessment data and to collaborate effective strategies for differentiating instruction.
  

• Reminder--
• High School Professional Development Session
• "The Essay, The Forgotten Genre?"--Monday, April 19th; CHS English Department Meeting with Mary Teague--Grade 11 & 12 English Teachers; Room 209 from 2:20 to 3:20 PM

• Open Agenda

NCTE National African American Read-In

The Twenty-First National African American Read-In
Sponsored by the Black Caucus of NCTE and NCTE

In February 2010, hold an African American Read-In event
any day of the month, from Monday, February 1
to Sunday, February 28, 2010

• "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."
• Centennial teachers are encouraged to plan a "Read-In" and feature relevant selections/works by African American authors in their classrooms.
• NCTE National AA Read-In (2010)

English Agenda for February 8, 2010

~CANCELED due to SNOW~
English Department Agenda
Monday, February 8, 2010----Room 209 at 2:20 PM

• CHS Administrative Updates
• English HSA After-School Tutoring--Wednesdays (5 weeks) beginning April 14: SIP Objective: With administrative support, English 10 teachers will conduct after-school intervention classes as warranted for those students identified as needing additional support to improve their English and reading skills, based on the results of class performance and quarterly assessments.
  
• Responding to Student Writing: Where are we? Where are we going? How do we "deliver useful feedback, appropriate for the writer and the situation"? How do we "analyze writing situations for their most essential elements"? from "NCTE Beliefs about the Teaching of Writing" NCTE Writing Beliefs
  
• Data Conversation Team Meetings: *Please bring documents as needed.Teachers will meet in grade level teams to discuss 2nd quarter assessment results and implications for instruction. SIP Objective: English teachers of Grade 9, 10, and 11 classes will each meet quarterly as a team to analyze county assessment data and to collaborate effective strategies for differentiating instruction.
  
• Reminder: High School Professional Development Sessions--Thursday, February 11, 2010; LA Teachers, Grades 11 & 12; Centennial High School from 12:00 to 2:30 PM
• Open Agenda

Lunch Agenda for January 20, 2010

Wednesday meeting (1/2 day) 11:30 AM in the English Office for a few important updates. Teachers will:

• Appraise ideas/criteria for recommending course selections for students for next year
• Survey what's in store for eleventh and twelfth grade English teachers on the February 11th Professional Development Day (at CHS from 12:00 to 2:30 PM)

--Grade 11 Assessments no longer in pilot mode next year
--Plans for a future Senior Writing Project Requirement
--Teaching the Informational Essay Genre
--Effective Use of 6+1 Traits of Writing

• Acquire exciting ways to "defrag" laptops from Rus VanWestervelt
• Examine a "Critical Thinking" Question Wheel to support the application of "academic rigor": In applying academic rigor, the teacher provides students with opportunities to move from basic knowledge to an application of knowledge reflecting higher critical thinking.