Sprint to the Finish Line

Aim: How do we explain Bauby's perseverance? 

Quick Write: Analyze your progress report and assess your learning for last week with absolute specificity. Write at least one well-organized paragraph. If you were here on Friday and already completed this self-assessment, then please try to answer the Aim for today.

I have a question. Why is it that just when it seems students should be sprinting toward the finish line that marks the end of the semester, many of them just drop out of the race? Really? It makes absolutely no sense to me. Please enlighten me. (Extra credit for those who can.) I assure you that the latest two projects--the cultural exhibition blog post and teaching the class--will not go away. There are more project assignments coming in the very few weeks ahead so don't put off for tomorrow what you can do today. There are only so many tomorrows left in the semester.

This is how it will work: We will devote only five more days to guest teaching. If you don't teach the class in the next five days, you will take a zero on the project. Everyone should be completely prepared to teach from this day forward regardless of the sequence of the pages you were assigned. If there are too many students and not enough days left, then priority for teaching the class will be given to the students with the best attendance. This is because we do not need to discuss the memoir sequentially. That said, if you are prepared to teach the class today, then let me know. Otherwise you should just complete your missing work quietly on your computer

Reminder: Everyone is expected to be prepared for each class by reading ahead. Guest teachers are NOT expected to simply read aloud their section; they are teaching a lesson with an Aim and leading the discussion. YOU are expected to be informed enough with the day's particular section to participate in the discussion and/or activity. This can only be done by reading it prior to the lesson.

The sign-up sheet for sections is in the classroom as is the student-created rubric for grading your lesson and lesson plan templates.

What's Due

• Lesson, including written lesson plan and blog post
• Art Cultural Exhibition blog post
• Mind Maps
• Cartoons
• Argument Essays (or critical lens for those taking the ELA Regents)
• Daily Blog Postings

Remember independent reading books? Here's a list of suggestions. However, other ideas are encouraged. Just run them past me.

*****Always check Engrade for your up-to-the-minute progress in this class.*****