Dear classmates,
This blopg post is going to be about English I, and my tips, tools, and methods for survivng it. My first tip is to always come prepared for class. As long as you have an outside reading book, pencil, notebook, and are ready to learn, you will be fine. Second tip is to always annotate your books, marking vocabulary words in them that you are not aware of the definition, or take mini-notes about things that Dr. D says or y'all are learning. It will come in handy, trust me! One time, I jotted down a side note about one of our wordly wise words, like something Dr. D quickly mentioned, and right before the test I was flipping through my notebook, saw it, and read it. This helped me out once we got the test because it was related to one of the questions on the test, and what do you know? I got it right! My third and last tip is to keep all handouts. Even if you are not an organized person, I would keep these handouts in my laptop, in my folder or locker, or even shoved in the bottom of my backpack (not really). My point is to just KEEP THEM. I say this because one time, one day before we took our poetry test, Dr. D handed out a worksheet about stressed and unstressed syllables on words- how to read them, figure them out, and what they are called. Well it was the end of the day, I was anxious and not paying attention as well as I could have, except I heard her say that it wouldn't be on the test. So I blew off listening about it, but I kept the worksheet because I am a tad OCD and don't like to throw things away. Before we took the poetry test I glanced over that worksheet just incase it was a bonus or anything like that. Turns out there was a 5 point question about it on the test. I freaked out but then, in my mind, I remembered me looking over it and I surprisingly recalled things on the sheet. I got a 4/5 on that question which is better than a 0/5 which I would have recieved if I wouldn't have kept the handout. Those are just a few, great tips about English I you should remember.
Tools and Methods that helped me get through this year in English were quite simple actually. The tools I used were a binder that contained homework, handouts, and notes because I am always neat, a pen because I prefer that over pencil and you have to take test in pen, and my reading books, the in-class book and outside reading book because you never know when you will have just a few minutes to crack open a book and read a few pages. Methods that I thought were helpfully for surving the year- there is just two. Number one, ENGAGE yourself in the class because if you don't then you will not pay attention or learn anything, and that will come back to bite you. Number two, ASK the TEACHER QUESTIONS. I say to ask the teacher because if you talk to your friend during class it looks like you are being disrespectful, and that just puts you on the teachers bad side, and we all don't want that. Right? Another reason I say to ask the teacher is because if you ask the teacher it helps them know that you are tuned in and paying attention, also that you are confused about something, therefore they may be able to exaggerate on it more for the whole class. I hope my tips, tools, and methods help you guys, and they don't only work in English they work in any class!
Good luck and goodbye (because it is my last blog post of the year),
ksparkless77
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Participation during 4th quarter
Good morning,
If I were rating myself 1-10 based on how much I participated in 4th quarter, I would give myself a 9.5/10. That is still a 95% and a high A, woo hoo! The reason I gave myself a 9.5 out of 10 was because there was one time I didn't come to class with an outside reading book and had to borrow one from Dr. D, and one other time I asked to go to the bathroom right before class and didn't get that done before during break. Let's not get into that because that is a whole, other story. Besides those minor misshaps, I have been prepared for English well. I always do my homework and have it ready for the beginning of class the next day, I always have my notebook, class reading book, pens, pencils, and any other materials I may need. I will admit though, I do borrow Terri's highlighters quite often, but that is because I find them highly amuzing. I check my email and assignments daily because I am terrified I will miss an assigment, and those are just give away points (kind of). I know this sounds a little weird, but I enjoy taking notes. So anything Dr. D tells us we need to write down, I'm on top of it! I've learned if I make my notes colorful and fun it is easier to learn them and not make the learning so drab, but that's just me. My class participation is excellent, especially when we were doing poetry because I loved our poetry unit! Sometimes I will ask questions and sometimes I will chime in my opinion or answer to the question. I don't ask questions because I either understand the material being presented to me, or a fellow classmate will ask it.
I grade myself differently when coming to group presentations, group discussions, or really anything where a group is involved! I cannot explain how much I love group work. In group work I feel like so much more is accomplished then if you were just doing it alone, by yourself. I think I get less side-tracked in group work verse self working because in group work you always have people there to pull you back in if you need it. I would grade myself a 10/10 on this subject because I am usually not the one getting side tracked, I am the one pulling people back into the discussion, calling on people who haven't spoken yet, and making sure everyone who has something to say, says it. I think of myself as a teacher sometimes. Lol! If I compare my participation this quarter to previous quarters, I will have to say it varies a bit. First quarter I was extremely prepared, tuned in, but less involved in class discussions. I was like that mainly becuase I didn't know whaat highschool would be like, and I didn't want to start off on the wrong foot with the teacher. Second quarter came around and I was still prepared, doing my homework and all, and starting to get more into class discussions. Third quarter might have been my worst quarter, not grade wise but focused wise. I believe this because we have just come back from Christmas break, and I was to excited to where I had trouble paying attention. Also I believe this was my worst quarter because many breaks broke it up to where I was either lazy becuase we just came back from a break, or jumpy and happy because another break was just right around the corner. I still believe my participation was very good throughout the year compared to other people- no names will be mentioned.
Stay intuned,
ksparkles77
If I were rating myself 1-10 based on how much I participated in 4th quarter, I would give myself a 9.5/10. That is still a 95% and a high A, woo hoo! The reason I gave myself a 9.5 out of 10 was because there was one time I didn't come to class with an outside reading book and had to borrow one from Dr. D, and one other time I asked to go to the bathroom right before class and didn't get that done before during break. Let's not get into that because that is a whole, other story. Besides those minor misshaps, I have been prepared for English well. I always do my homework and have it ready for the beginning of class the next day, I always have my notebook, class reading book, pens, pencils, and any other materials I may need. I will admit though, I do borrow Terri's highlighters quite often, but that is because I find them highly amuzing. I check my email and assignments daily because I am terrified I will miss an assigment, and those are just give away points (kind of). I know this sounds a little weird, but I enjoy taking notes. So anything Dr. D tells us we need to write down, I'm on top of it! I've learned if I make my notes colorful and fun it is easier to learn them and not make the learning so drab, but that's just me. My class participation is excellent, especially when we were doing poetry because I loved our poetry unit! Sometimes I will ask questions and sometimes I will chime in my opinion or answer to the question. I don't ask questions because I either understand the material being presented to me, or a fellow classmate will ask it.
I grade myself differently when coming to group presentations, group discussions, or really anything where a group is involved! I cannot explain how much I love group work. In group work I feel like so much more is accomplished then if you were just doing it alone, by yourself. I think I get less side-tracked in group work verse self working because in group work you always have people there to pull you back in if you need it. I would grade myself a 10/10 on this subject because I am usually not the one getting side tracked, I am the one pulling people back into the discussion, calling on people who haven't spoken yet, and making sure everyone who has something to say, says it. I think of myself as a teacher sometimes. Lol! If I compare my participation this quarter to previous quarters, I will have to say it varies a bit. First quarter I was extremely prepared, tuned in, but less involved in class discussions. I was like that mainly becuase I didn't know whaat highschool would be like, and I didn't want to start off on the wrong foot with the teacher. Second quarter came around and I was still prepared, doing my homework and all, and starting to get more into class discussions. Third quarter might have been my worst quarter, not grade wise but focused wise. I believe this because we have just come back from Christmas break, and I was to excited to where I had trouble paying attention. Also I believe this was my worst quarter because many breaks broke it up to where I was either lazy becuase we just came back from a break, or jumpy and happy because another break was just right around the corner. I still believe my participation was very good throughout the year compared to other people- no names will be mentioned.
Stay intuned,
ksparkles77
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Over the year readings
Hey guys,
It makes me sad to see my freshman year coming to and end, but then I get over-joyed knowing I will be a sophomore next year. I can't wait! This year I have learned a lot from those 150+ minutes every weekend, actually more than I thought I would learn. I learned who my favorite author is, my favorite types of books to read, and my strong points and weak points of writing. Surprisingly I love reading about true stories because I find I can relate to them more than made up ones. I also discovered how much I love reading books that have movies based off of them, preferably Nicholas Sparks books.
One thing I did not do this year with my outside reading is read books that pertained to the English I course. Meaning, I didn't read books that related to literary elements or books about theme. Although, as I read, I have started to take notes in my books. Sometimes I mark vocabulary words I don't know or a foreshadowing moment. Sometimes I might even make connections to my life in general! Next on my reading list after I finish Water for Elephants (which is getting really good by the way), I am going to tackle the summer reading books we were assigned. I already know the category in which I want to read my free read- I think it will be a Nicholas Sparks book, one that I have not read or seen the movie.
Reading Log:
Water for Elephants: 2 hours
Macbeth: 1 hour
Finish the year out strong,
ksparkles77
It makes me sad to see my freshman year coming to and end, but then I get over-joyed knowing I will be a sophomore next year. I can't wait! This year I have learned a lot from those 150+ minutes every weekend, actually more than I thought I would learn. I learned who my favorite author is, my favorite types of books to read, and my strong points and weak points of writing. Surprisingly I love reading about true stories because I find I can relate to them more than made up ones. I also discovered how much I love reading books that have movies based off of them, preferably Nicholas Sparks books.
One thing I did not do this year with my outside reading is read books that pertained to the English I course. Meaning, I didn't read books that related to literary elements or books about theme. Although, as I read, I have started to take notes in my books. Sometimes I mark vocabulary words I don't know or a foreshadowing moment. Sometimes I might even make connections to my life in general! Next on my reading list after I finish Water for Elephants (which is getting really good by the way), I am going to tackle the summer reading books we were assigned. I already know the category in which I want to read my free read- I think it will be a Nicholas Sparks book, one that I have not read or seen the movie.
Reading Log:
Water for Elephants: 2 hours
Macbeth: 1 hour
Finish the year out strong,
ksparkles77
From the perspective of Lady Macbeth
Hello All,
It is I, Lady Macbeth, the one behind the dirty, murderous plots. I wanted to start out thanking those Three Weird Sisters for giving my husband that wonderful vision into the future, I couldn't have done what I, or should I say Macbeth, did without you guys. Secondly, I wanted to say thanks to the guards who had once guarded Duncan's sleeping chambers. I am glad y'all took the wine I offered so easily because if y'all wouldn't have...Well then Macbeth would've had to kill y'all the hard way, and we both know nobody wanted that to happen. Now that Duncan is dead I must persuade Macbeth to strike again, or if he cowards out, I might have to do so. If you are in line in front of my darling husband for the throne you better watch your back and sleep with one eye open.
My goal as future queen is to keep the attitude of feeling no pain when one dies. I don't want to feel bad when Macbeth kills again I have to go in and rub my hands into a wound just to frame others. I want to be able to go into the bed chambers and slaughter the victim leaving them as red as the devil's horns. That is what a strong woman does, and I am a strong woman.
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, Lady Macbeth
(ksparkles77)
It is I, Lady Macbeth, the one behind the dirty, murderous plots. I wanted to start out thanking those Three Weird Sisters for giving my husband that wonderful vision into the future, I couldn't have done what I, or should I say Macbeth, did without you guys. Secondly, I wanted to say thanks to the guards who had once guarded Duncan's sleeping chambers. I am glad y'all took the wine I offered so easily because if y'all wouldn't have...Well then Macbeth would've had to kill y'all the hard way, and we both know nobody wanted that to happen. Now that Duncan is dead I must persuade Macbeth to strike again, or if he cowards out, I might have to do so. If you are in line in front of my darling husband for the throne you better watch your back and sleep with one eye open.
My goal as future queen is to keep the attitude of feeling no pain when one dies. I don't want to feel bad when Macbeth kills again I have to go in and rub my hands into a wound just to frame others. I want to be able to go into the bed chambers and slaughter the victim leaving them as red as the devil's horns. That is what a strong woman does, and I am a strong woman.
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, Lady Macbeth
(ksparkles77)
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