OMHS English 9 Cohort

Life in the 1930s

2008-04-06T21:01:00.002-04:00

In preparation for reading To Kill a Mockingbird, check out this link: Life in the 1930s.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt
The Stock Market Crash of 1929
WPA
KKK
Photos

Spring Break Extra Credit

2008-03-14T15:49:00.001-04:00

Caught in the Act of Reading--Bring in a picture of yourself reading in an interesting location.

Bonus Book Projects--Complete a project about the book you read during Independent Reading.

Have Fun and Read if you get bored!!!!

Coming Up...

2008-03-02T19:49:00.001-05:00

Note: Students need to finish their novels by next Monday!

Monday
Vocabulary Introduction
Reading Time (Log #4)
Poetry Shopping
Writing Workshop: The Poet’s Brain

HW: Draft #1

Tuesday
Comma Lesson
Poetry Analysis
Writing Workshop
Poet Research

HW: Draft #2

Wednesday
Poetry Analysis
Writing Workshop
Reading Time

HW: Draft #3

Thursday
The Raven

HW: Study; Reading Log #5

Friday
Weekly Quiz
Writing Conferences
Reading Time

HW: Final Draft Due Tuesday; Practice Poem; Finish Novel!

Next Week
Tuesday: Poetry Cafe
Wed-Fri: Book Chats

Spring Break Extra Credit--Caught in the Act of Reading
Bring in a photograph of you reading (preferably in an interesting location) and receive up to 5 point extra credit.

Extra Credit

2008-02-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

What is the most important thing you learned last semester? This could be about school, relationships, yourself, etc. Post a comment by clicking on the comment link below. Follow the instructions. Please be aware that your comment will not appear until it has been approved. Come back later to see what your classmates have written and feel free to respond (politely) in agreement or disagreement to each other.

This Week: February 11-15

2008-02-07T12:34:00.000-05:00

Check Grades Here.

This promises to be a fun week in the English 9 Cohort.

Wednesday-We will begin the Independent Reading Project. Students will be reading in class for 30 minutes, three times a week for the next month. Students will also need to read outside of class to finish their books.

Students can read any fiction book that is on an appropriate level and has not been turned into a movie.
Students can read as many books as they want to, as long as they finish at least one.
Because we have not read all the books that students can choose from, we are requiring students to have a signed permission slip by Wednesday.

Friday-We will be performing the play "I Never Saw Another Butterfly." Based on a true story of the Holocaust, the play allows students the opportunity to reflect on the experiences of teenagers in the Holocaust. Parents are welcome to attend (if their children are comfortable with them coming to our class). Second Period will perform at 9:15. Fourth period will perform at 11:00. We may end up needing an extra day to rehearse. If so, the performance will be postponed to the following Wednesday. We will let you know if the performance will be postponed.

Vocabulary Quiz Review

2008-01-31T07:26:00.000-05:00

Click here for the vocab review.

Welcome!

2008-01-30T13:43:00.000-05:00

Thanks for checking out the website. We have not yet updated everything from last year, but check back next week as we begin to regularly post student assignments and links for extra help!

Final Update

2007-06-08T13:32:00.000-04:00

Students and parents can check current grades here.

Many students have improved greatly and matured into responsible students; however, for others, grades have taken a turn for the worse lately. Some students have begun to relax and are no longer taking homework and assessments seriously. Please remind students that everything we are doing still counts and can greatly impact their grades.

Upcoming Assignments
--Shakespeare Quiz--Monday--20 points
--Portfolio--Thursday--100 points (extra credit up to 20 points)
Overview
Reading Reflection
Writing Reflection
Language Reflection
Overall Reflection
Cover Letter Model
--Study Guide--due the day of final

Extra Credit
--Come in to go over TKAM test or County Assessment after school
--Revise Personal Narrative or ECR
--extra section and motif for portfolio

Final Exams
2nd/3rd--Monday June 18
4A/4B--Tuesday June 19
--Study Guide will be give out on Tuesday of next week. I have attached the vocabulary so that students can begin studying that now.

We are available after school Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of this week. Please encourage students to take advantage of this opportunity to improve their grades.

Thank you for your continued support,
Kim Feldman

The End is Near

2007-05-09T08:12:00.000-04:00

I know it has been a while, but I wanted to send a quick update as we enter the last half of the last quarter! Here are a few reminders and announcements:

New/Old Homework Policy--For the past several months we have been accepting late work and late homework sometimes five to six weeks after it was originally due. However, this will not be allowed by 10th grade English teachers. In an effort to better prepare students for the 10th grade, we will go back to the policy originally outlined on the syllabus. We will no longer accept homework after the day it is due. Students may come after school on the day they miss an assignment to receive partial credit. If they do not come it is a zero. The best way for students to avoid this whole problem is to be diligent about doing homework every night.

Homework Problems--Please talk to your students about academic integrity. We have had massive problems with homework lately. Many students are not doing it. Others are writing down anything, hoping that we won't read it (when we do read it, these papers receive zeros). Others are copying homework from other students which is a form of cheating and will result in a zero for both the student who copied and the person who allowed him/her to do so. This is very disappointing and frustrating. It is a waste of their time and mine. This does not relate to all students, but please talk to your student about the importance of doing their work, thinking for themselves, and taking pride in what they do.

Current Grades--Current grades are now available here. Please encourage students to take advantage of free after school tutoring Monday to Thursday in our classroom. We want students to be successful this quarter and prepared for next year. There is no reason for students to have less than a C in this class with all of the support available if they want it.

End of the Year--The end of the year is fast approaching, but it is not over yet. We will be finishing To Kill a Mockingbird in the next week and assessing student understanding of the text. We will then begin Much Ado About Nothing as our last text for the year. We will culminate the year by completing reflective portfolios to help students synthesize what they have learned. Through all of this, students will have MANY end-of-the-year assessments and finals that count toward their grade. Please encourage students to buckle down and get the most out of these last weeks of school. Unlike middle school, the end of the year is very academically intense--it is NOT a time to slow down.

Interim Reports--Students will be receiving interim report cards on Friday. Ask to see them!

Parent Survey--Please take a few moments right now to take an online survey about our school. It should take about 10 minutes and responses will be kept confidential. A letter containing more information will be sent home with students today.

Survey: http://tphcpss.org/jkatz/GOAL2parent.tp4
Login: GOAL2
Password: parent

Thank you so much for your continued support. We look forward to a strong finish to a challenging school year!

Spring Break Extra Credit

2007-03-28T15:31:00.000-04:00

The end of the quarter is rapidly approaching. This is your last chance to improve your grade. What better way to spend Spring Break than expaning your mind!

Extra Credit Opportunities

Read a book and write a quality review.
Take a picture of yourself for the "Caught in the Act of Reading" Bulletin Board. This picture should be of you reading a book in an interesting place--your back yard, at the beach, in a coffee shop, under a tree, or even a nook of your bedroom. We want to see you reading!
Revise one of your essays for more points (be sure to pick it up before you go on break).

Check grades here. Play Performance and County Assessment are not included.

Update

2007-03-14T12:48:00.000-04:00

With only two weeks until Spring Break, we have a lot to do. Fortunately, most of it will be done in class. There are several BIG assignments coming up that could have a great impact on student grades for the quarter.

--Research Project--100 points--Students will create and present PowerPoint presentations based on the research. The PowerPoint and Speech are worth 50 points and the Process Folder is worth 50 points.
--Play--50 points--we are working on producing play to be performed in class. Rehearsals are worth 25 points and the performance is worth 25 points. Students can earn extra credit by memorizing their lines for the play.
--Quarter 3 Vocab/Grammar Test--50 points--this will cover all the vocab and grammar for this quarter.
--Quarter 3 County Assessment--40 points--This is a county-wide mandatory test to check student preparation for the HSAs.

Because most of this must be done in school, it is essential that all students are present and focused each day for the next several weeks. Thank you for your ongoing support!

Grades are updated! Click here.

WEEKLY QUIZ PRACTICE

Week 5 Agenda

2007-02-20T13:21:00.000-05:00

February 20-23

Tuesday
Weekly Quiz
Read Chapter 5

HW: Finish Chapter 5 and complete handout

Wednesday
“Hangman”
Begin Chapter 6

HW: Read chapter 6 and 7; complete handout 2nd period and 4th period

Thursday
Poetry and Art of Terezin
Read Chapter 8

HW: Finish Chapter 8

Friday
Film Clip
Read Chapter 9
Sample Found Poem

HW: Write a Found Poem

Week 4 Agenda

2007-02-09T09:40:00.000-05:00

February 12-16

Monday
Vocab Introduction
Discuss Chapter 1 and 2
Motif Log

HW: Grammar Practice

Tuesday
Read Chapter 3
-Timeline
-Map
-Motif

HW: Read Maus and look for connections to Night

Wednesday
Maus/Night Comparison
Begin Chapter 4

HW: Read Chapter 4; complete handout

Thursday
Review
Discuss Chapter 4—Motif Log
“Hangman”

HW: Finish “Hangman” activity; study

Friday
Weekly Quiz #12
Begin Chapter 5
Class Website
omhsenglish9.blogspot.com

HW: Finish Chapter 5; complete handout

Holocaust Exploration

2007-01-31T15:02:00.000-05:00

Use the links below to complete your handout. Click "back" after completing each section to return here for the next link.

Terms

Timeline

Photos (Click back after viewing each photo)
Deportation
Einsatzgruppen 1
Einsatzgruppen 2
Einsatzgruppen 3
Child
Barracks 1
Barracks 2 (Elie Weisel)
Barracks 3
Aerial Photo
Clothing
Roll Call
Survivors 1
Survivors 2
Crematorium
German Girl

Welcome Back!

2007-01-31T14:06:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the long hiatus in web postings. A computer crash at the end of last quarter threw me off for a while, but now we are ready for a new quarter. This quarter promises to be a powerful learning experience as we explore non-fiction through a Holocaust Unit. We hope to develop ideas of tolerance and social responsibility as we study the memoir, poetry, art, and film created to document this moment in history.

Reminders for This Week
Weekly Quiz on Friday (2/2)--vocab and grammar (focus: prepositions)
Open-note Quiz on Monday (2/5)--Holocaust background
Persuasive Essay due Tuesday (2/6)--all drafts

We will begin posting the Weekly Agenda again next week.

Week 6 Agenda

2006-12-19T13:43:00.000-05:00

Sorry that it has been so long since I last posted assignments and grades. It is a busy season. Here is this week's agenda, upcoming Extra (Learning) Credit opportunities, and updated grades.

Extra (Learning) Credit
-Bring in school appropriate song lyrics with three devices from the Poet’s Toolbox identified and labeled. (5)
-Read and review an extra novel as part of the independent reading project. (5)
-Create a visual to express your understanding of your Poetry Café poem (collage, photo essay, PowerPoint, sketch, etc.) or dramatically interpret your poem. (5-10)
-Memorize extra lines of your Poetry Café poem. (1-10)
-Read your own poem at the Poetry Café in addition to your Café Poem. (5)
-Maximum of 15 points extra credit.

Monday
Intro Vocab
Reading Time
Writing a good ECR

HW: Novel Reading Check

Tuesday
ECR
Gayle Danley

HW: Poetry Reading

Wednesday
Reading Time
Grammar Practice
Review Game
Writing Workshop

HW: Poem Final Draft due tomorrow; study

Thursday
Weekly Quiz #9 (Reading Time)
Writing a good BCR

HW: Finish BCR

Friday
Reading Time
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas: A Study in Dialect
Games
HW: TBA

Important Reminders!
-Final draft of poem due Thursday December 21. If you are going out of town, it is due the day you get back from Winter Break.
-You should finish reading your novel by January 5.
-You should have 8 lines of your Poetry Café Poem memorized by January 10.

Happy Holidays!

Week 5 Agenda

2006-12-04T13:14:00.000-05:00

Week 5: December 4-8

Extra Credit
You may share your descriptive writing with the rest of the class for 3 points extra credit. Make sure you practice it ahead of time and write legibly so you can read it.

Monday
Introduce Vocabulary
Writing Workshop: Editing
Reading Time
Finding Forrester Packet

HW: Final Draft due Tomorrow--see last week's agenda for more details
(two rough drafts and prewriting are also due)

Tuesday
Share Descriptive Writing (optional extra credit)
Weekly Quiz 7 Corrections
What is poetry?
Why do people write/read poetry?

HW: Finding Forrester Packet

Wednesday
Reading Time
Grammar Lesson: Phrases
How do you read a poem?

HW: Poetry Practice

Thursday
Review
Mother to Son

HW: Study; Poetry Practice

Friday
Weekly Quiz #8
Reading Time
HSA Practice

HW: Poetry Practice; Binder Check next Monday

Week 3 Agenda

2006-11-27T13:21:00.000-05:00

November 27-December 1

Monday
Book Pass
Introduce Vocabulary
Finding Forrester Exposition
Introduction to Descriptive Writing
Model of Descriptive Writing

HW: Prewriting for Descriptive Writing

Tuesday
Finding Forrester
Writing Workshop: Drafting (Rubric)

HW: Complete Draft; Get Book Permission Slip signed

Wednesday
Reading Time (Bring Book and Permission Slip)
Grammar Lesson: Using Clauses
Finding Forrester

HW: Finding Forrester Handout

Thursday
Vocabulary/Grammar Review
Finding Forrester

HW: Complete Finding Forrester Packet; Study

Friday
Weekly Quiz
Reading Time

HW: Revise Essay

Happy Thanksgiving!

2006-11-20T12:56:00.000-05:00

I am very pleased to announce the start of a fun and exciting new unit. This has long been a favorite of my students and me. This week we begin the Independent Reading Project, which will offer all students the chance to read for fun while learning about themselves as readers. I encourage parents to get involved by helping students make wise choices--choosing the right book is essential for students to get the most out of this project.

Because these books may not be approved by Howard County, we are asking parents to fill out a persmission slip for students to read the books they choose. Thank you for your cooperation!

Updated grades have been posted. Click here or on the link in the sidebar.

Week 2 Agenda

2006-11-13T14:26:00.000-05:00

November 13-17

New Website Feature
Student Grade Reports

Students and parents can now access student grade reports. These will be updated weekly so students and parents can know how students are progressing in the class.
Each student's password is the last six digits of his or her student ID number. Students will receive their password on Tuesday in class, and we will email parents as soon as possible.
If you would like your password at any time, just email Ms. Feldman at the address to the right.
If you would like to change your password, email Ms. Feldman a new 6 digit password.
I hope this new feature will further aid students and parents as we empower students to take control of their own education.

School News
After School Bus

OMHS is now offering a 3:30 bus for students who need to stay after school for academic puposes Monday through Thursday.
Students must submit a parent permission form to have access to this bus.
Students must be with a teacher until 3:30 to get a ticket for this bus.
The English 9 Cohort will be offering daily tutoring for all students--please take advantage of this free opportunity!

Extra Credit
Speak Art Project
Choose one of the following mini-projects to express your understanding of the novel.

Create a visual representation of the novel—you can do a collage, photo essay, or sketch that shows the images, themes, and symbols prevalent in the novel.
Write a poem based on the novel. You can use the bio poem format or create your own poem.
Due Monday

Monday
Picture Day
Introduce Vocabulary
Symbols/Motifs
Read Together

HW: Read 141-155; complete handout

Tuesday
Grammar Lesson: Clauses
Read pp. 155-159
Scene Studies

HW: Read 160-170; complete handout

Wednesday
Vocab/Grammar Review
Scene Studies

HW: Read 171-184; study

Thursday
Weekly Quiz
Finish Novel

HW: Extra Credit due tomorrow

Friday
Calculating Final Grades
Speak Synthesis

HW: 7 Habits Worksheet

Quarter 2 Week 1 Agenda

2006-11-08T21:40:00.000-05:00

It’s a New Quarter!
Guess what!?! You all have a 100 in all of your classes as of today! It is a new quarter—a fresh start. Any mistakes of the past are behind you as you embark on this new quarter as an older and wiser and more experienced high school student. Start this quarter off right by following the tips below:
-Get organized
-Do all of your homework—homework assignments are easy points and teachers tend to be more lenient on students who complete their homework-Ask for help before it is too late
-Study for your quizzes and tests
-Make up missing work immediately rather than wait until there is too much to handle

Good Luck!

Week 1: November 8-10

Wednesday
Group Questioning
Reading Lesson: Irony
Read together

HW: Read pp. 77-99; complete chart

Thursday
Quarter One Reflection
Reading Lesson: Symbol
Discuss/Read together (pp. 100-123)

HW: Finish pp. 100-123; complete handout

Friday
Reading Art
Reading Time

HW: read pp. 123-137-complete handout

Late Bus Service--OMHS will begin offering a late bus for students staying after school for tutoring and make-up work. You must get a permission slip signed if you are interested in taking advantage of this opportunity. Service will be Monday to Thursday at 3:30 beginning on November 13.

Week 9 Agenda

2006-10-23T16:16:00.000-04:00

October 23, 2006-October 27

This week, we are working on writing our Goals Essay.
--Model Essay
--Essay Rubric

Monday
Grammar Lesson: Conjunctions
Writing Lesson: Introduction/Conclusion
Writing Workshop

HW: Finish Rough Draft

Tuesday
Grammar Review
Type Rough Draft

HW: Vocabulary Review

Wednesday
Grammar Review
“Migration”

HW: Finish Reading Migrations and answering questions

Thursday
Grammar Review
Revise Essays (Final Draft Due)

HW: Vocab Review; Study

Friday
Grammar/Vocab Test
Game

HW: Speak Anticipation Guide

Important Dates
Thursday 10/26 Essay Due
Friday 10/27 Grammar/Vocab Test
Wednesday 11/1 County Assessment
Friday 11/3 End of Quarter 1

Extra Credit

2006-10-09T16:46:00.000-04:00

Read the following article written in 2004 about Arthur and William.
Looking Back at Broken Dreams

Do one or both of the following activities:

Write a short summary about what has happened to them in the 10 years since they finished filming Hoop Dreams. Turn this in to us (do not post the summary below). The summary is worth up to 7 points extra credit.
Post a comment below about what we can learn from the story of William and Arthur. What does their story teach us about ourselves or our world? This post will be worth up to 5 points. Feel free to respond respectfully and politely to each other's postings. Note: For your protection, your comments will not appear online until we read and approve it.

This is due on Monday October 16.

Week 7 Agenda

2006-10-09T16:36:00.000-04:00

October 9-13

Monday
Introduce Vocabulary
Discuss Chapter 14
Read Chapter 15

HW: Chapter 16; complete handout

Tuesday
Hoop Dreams

HW: Hoop Dreams Packet

Wednesday
Grammar Lesson: Pronouns
Read Chapter 17
Reading Lesson: Symbol

HW: Read Chapter 18

Thursday
Vocab Review
BCR
Read Chapter 19

HW: Revise BCR; Study for Weekly Quiz; organize binder

Friday
Binder CheckWeekly Quiz
Read Chapter 20

HW: Read Chapter 21

Week 5 Agenda

2006-09-26T13:39:00.000-04:00

September 25-29

Monday
Chapter 5 Quote Identification
Introduce Vocabulary
Read Chapter 6

HW: Complete Chapter 6; Motivation Handout

Tuesday
Go over homework
Introduce Character Project
Reading Lesson: Point of View/Dialect
Read Chapter 7

HW: Complete Chapter 7; Point of View Journal

Wednesday
Grammar Lesson: Adjectives and Adverbs
Project Check
Read Chapter 8

HW: Complete Chapter 8

Thursday
Vocab/Grammar Review
Reading Quiz
Reading Lesson: Tone
Begin Chapter 9

HW: Complete Chapter 9; Chapter 9 Handout; study vocab/grammar

Friday
Weekly Quiz
Project Check
Begin Chapter 10

HW: Complete Chapter 10; Chapter 10 summary;
Character Project due on Tuesday

Character Mini-Project
Choose one of the following:
--create a MySpace Page for a character in the story
--write a Bio Poem for a character in the story
--create a small Collage representing the different passions, struggles, events, and conflicts in Greg’s life
This Project is worth 25 Points

Week 4 Agenda

2006-09-18T15:40:00.000-04:00

September 18-22

Monday
Vocab Introduction
7 Habits Presentations
Share Pictures

HW: Character Worksheet

Tuesday
Noun-Verb Review
Introduction to Metacognition
Begin Slam!
Focus on visualizing and connecting

HW: Chapter 1 Handout

Wednesday
Grammar Lesson: What is a sentence?
Focus on Literary Terms (Character, Setting, Point of View)
Slam! Chapter 2

HW: Summary of Chapter 2

Thursday
Guest Speaker
Vocab/Grammar Review
Slam! Chapter 3
Focus on Talking to the Text

HW: Talk to the Text for Chapter 4

Friday
Vocab/Grammar Quiz
Read Chapter 5
Focus on Conflict

HW: Summary/Prediction Worksheet

Week 3 Agenda

2006-09-14T08:11:00.000-04:00

September 11-15

Monday
Introduce Vocabulary
Type Bio Poems
Presentation Workshop

HW: Great Discovery

Wednesday
Grammar Lesson: Verbs
7 Habits Presentations

HW: Grammar Practice

Thursday
HCC Panel
Vocab Review
7 Habits Presentations

HW: Study Vocab; 7 Habits Activity

Friday
Binder Check
Vocab/Grammar Quiz
7 Habits Presentations

HW: Bring in two pictures. One should represent some aspect of your personality and one should represent something that you love. These can be photographs of you, pictures from the internet, or pictures from a magazine. It needs to be something we can keep because we will use it to create a class collage.

Binder Check (10 points)
___Syllabus
___Agendas (Week 2 and 3)
___Vocabulary
___Quiz 1
___Grammar
___ Parts of Speech Notes
___ Noun/Verb Practice
___Reading
___Writing
___Ideas/Word Choice Handout

Week 2 Agenda

2006-09-06T14:03:00.000-04:00

September 5-8

Tuesday
Organize Binders
Introduce Vocabulary
Mission Statement
Introduction to Metacognition
Sophie’s World

HW: Bio Poem #2 Bio Poem Template #1 Bio Poem Template #2

Wednesday
Basketball Coach Presentation
Revision Workshop (photo shoot)
Sophie’s World

HW: Bio Poem Draft #2

Thursday
10th Grade Panel
Vocab Practice
7 Habits Introduction
7 Habits Groups

HW: Study Vocabulary; 7 Habits Worksheet

Friday
Vocab Quiz
Publish Bio Poem
7 Habits Group

HW: Speech Planner

Welcome

2006-08-24T09:18:00.000-04:00

Welcome to our class website. A cohort is a group of people united in an effort. Our hope is that parents, teachers, and students will be united this year in an effort to empower our students to be successful high school students. Reading and writing are essential to a student's success in high school. This cohort is dedicated to giving students the skills necessary to succeed in high school and beyond.

This web site is a tool to enable parents and students to know what is expected from week to week. We will also post handouts and useful links for varioius projects and assignments. Please let us know what we can do to make this a useful tool for everyone.

Weekly Agenda
Week 1: August 28-August 31

Monday
“The Sun Goes Down on Summer”
Our Syllabus
Letters of Introduction

HW: Write first draft of your letter of introduction

Tuesday
What is a good student?
Classroom Expectations
Letter of Introduction Rubric
Peer Editing/Revision
Sophie’s World

HW: Write final draft of your letter of introduction

Wednesday
Group Mixer
Introduction to metacognition
Continue Sophie’s World

HW: Complete Reading Inventory; bring in forms and materials

Thursday
Speech Demo
Grammar Diagnostic
Reading Diagnostic
(take digital pics)

HW: Speech Planner

Due on Friday

Signed
Parent/Guardian Contact Form
Photograph/Video Permission
Student Release Form
Internet Permission

Supplies
1” binder for English only
4 labeled dividers
loose leaf paper
pens or pencils

Optional
Tissue
Index Cards