First Week of School: August 29 - September 2

Welcome to the first week of school!  This week, we'll get to know each other, talk about your expectations of me as your teacher, my expectations of students, and what our goals are for the year.  We'll also get familiar with routines and procedures in the class, and warm up for an engaging, productive year ahead.

MONDAY: (minimum day - all classes, 35 minutes per class) Find seats, welcome and introduction, journals passed out and started, share.  Receive syllabus, begin work on Interest Inventory Worksheet.

Due: First journal entry, completed in class.

Homework: Bring the Interest Inventory Worksheet for next class - you will have time to work on it in class, but you can start on it before Wednesday if you think you'll need more time.

Read through the syllabus and ask parents/guardians to read, sign and return the signature page by September 7.

WEDNESDAY: Journal, share.  Interest Inventory Worksheet activity.  Teacher/Student Contract exercise, the "dark side" of 11th grade.  Overview of ACT/SAT changes, 11th grade English standards, and the specific units we'll cover to prepare you for the writing you'll be expected to do during the year.  Discuss syllabus, procedures and routines.  Write one-page letter to yourself as a freshman.

Due: Interest Inventory Worksheet

Homework:

• Finish Letter to My Freshman Self for next class.
• Study classroom rules/procedures from notes and syllabus for first quiz. 
• Go over the syllabus with your parents/guardians and bring the signature page of the syllabus to class. 
• Work on gathering supplies (binder with tabs, per syllabus) for next week.

FRIDAY: Journal, share.  Review procedures and routines.  First quiz covering procedures, classroom guidelines.  Turn in Letter to Freshman Self.  Receive Vocab/Grammar sheet for next week.  Gallery Walk.  Grapes of Wrath introduction including anticipation guide, video of Dust Bowl, Depression PPT.  Pick up a copy of The Grapes of Wrath for next week.

NOTE: There will be an assembly for all juniors for the second half of the class period.  We will pick up the book earlier in the period and the Gallery Walk and Grapes of Wrath introduction is scheduled for Wednesday. 

Due: Letter to Freshman Self

Homework:

• Signature page of syllabus due by September 7
• Signed Turnitin.com permission form by September 7. 
• Get supplies for class (notebook with tabs per syllabus) before September 7.
• Read Chapter One of The Grapes of Wrath and answer the Chapter One questions on the handout for Wednesday, September 7.

Enjoy the three-day weekend!  I look forward to seeing you next week in class.

August 2016: Welcome to English 3!

I'm Ms. Mogilefsky (also known as Ms. M).  I'm excited to work with you this year as we explore a variety of well-known books, short stories, nonfiction articles and essays that are an important part of the conversation about the nature of American life, past and present. 

In this highly interactive class, we will read American literature, as well as a wide range of nonfiction pieces – essays, memoirs, letters, speeches, articles about current events, literary criticism, and even legal briefings.   You'll also read books and articles of your choice as you work on research-based pieces, independent reading, current events assignments, debates, and other activities.  Themes from classic texts will be read and discussed alongside related current events, and you'll have a lot of opportunities to express yourselves verbally and in writing.  

I know junior year can be stressful: SATs, ACTs, extracurriculars, and CAASP testing at the end of the year.  All of the activities we'll work on will help you succeed and I look forward to a productive and enjoyable year with you. 

What to Bring to Class (after the first day)
Please bring the following to class with you every day: 

• 3-ring binder with the following section tabs: "Hot" tab, Vocab/Grammar, Writing, Current Unit, Reference Sheets

• Plenty of paper

• Pens or pencils to write with

• Current novel

I don't mind eating or drinking in class as long as you clean up after yourself and it's not disruptive to other students or the class (please, no sharing food during class time).   

Cell phones: I have a cell phone charging station in the front of the classroom where students may, at their own risk, charge phones during class time while they are set on silent mode.  Otherwise, cell phones must be completely turned off and put away in backpacks or purses or they'll be collected. Even adults (just about everyone I know!) struggle to keep from the distraction of a phone, and if it's out of reach and turned off it'll be easier for everyone.  This will help you to develop good habits for college and/or your work life and will help us maximize productivity during class time.

Procedures/Routines
I believe that English is the most important subject at school (every teacher thinks that about their subject, and I am no exception)!  In English 3, we'll work on reading, writing, speaking and listening skills that will help you achieve your goals in every other class at PVHS, at university and/or on the job, and even in your personal life.  Because there is such a wide variety of skills we'll practice, I like to set up routines so that all of the aspects of English are covered and students know what to expect from class.  Here is the basic framework: 

Monday/Tuesday, 113 minutes: 
10 minutes journal time
5 minutes random sharing of journal answers 
15 minutes practice this week's vocabulary and grammar
40 minutes: work on current novel -  reading, debates, skits, presentations, etc.
40 minutes: work on current writing unit - practice, read and evaluate drafts, learn new concepts
3 minutes go over any homework, file papers away in notebook, answer questions

(every other)Wednesday, 85 minutes:
10 minutes journal time
5 minutes random sharing of journal answers
65 minutes Current Events - (read and annotate both sides of a current issue, discuss/debate, vote, various writing assignments short and long supporting your position)
5 minutes summarize which skills we practiced,  go over any homework, file papers away in notebook, answer questions
 
Thursday/Friday, 113 minutes: 
10 minutes journal time
5 minutes random sharing of journal answers 
15 minutes, approximately 15 question quiz covering this week's vocabulary, grammar, reading and other skills/current unit
80 minutes: work on current novel -  current writing assignment, debates, skits, presentations, etc.  
3 minutes: go over any homework, file papers away in notebook, answer questions


Additional Info

Novels
The novels/play we'll explore together this year are:
The Grapes of Wrath
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
The Great Gatsby
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
A Raisin in the Sun

We'll also work on a brief gender unit, a two-week fundamental Supreme Court case unit, and science/nature unit where we'll read and discuss a variety of shorter articles, essays, and briefs about the topic.

Journals
Composition books for journals will be provided.  Each day, questions will be posted in the front of the room and students will write a one page response in the journal.  Journals will be kept in the classroom and will be counted as an assignment for credit and checked at random intervals.  The reasons we write in the journals include:

• Helps meet the California State Standards for 11th Grade writing that requires students to reflect in a variety of lengths of output and for different audiences. 
• The questions connect what we're learning to your life outside of school.   
• This is one space where you can freely express yourself in writing.   
• It's a good way to settle into class and focus on the material we'll cover.  
• The material and questions reviewed in warm-ups are almost always on the weekly quiz. 
• Some of the questions will ask you to evaluate your own learning, and the value you're receiving by taking the class.  Taking ownership of your own learning and providing feedback to me will help me to address minor issues before they become larger problems.