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Today we completed the PASS test for 2011! We’re done!
Now we’ve got some heavy lifting in all classes.
Homework
None
Tag Archives: PASS
PASS 2011, Day 2: Math
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Today we completed the second day of Pass testing. Not much more to write about than that.
Group Discussions: Charles, Giver, Expectations
Cover of The Giver
All classes had some form of group work or group discussions today.
First period looked at various aspects of The Giver from both students’ perspective and Jonas’ perspective. Second and sixth periods used Shirley Jackson’s “Charles” to look at point of view and inferences. Finally, fourth period had time to continue group work on the motifs of Great Expectations.
Homework
- First period: read The Giver through chapter 15.
- Second and sixth periods: complete PASS practice on page 353.
- Fourth period: read through chapter 10 of Great Expectations.
Book Fair and Self-Evals
We had a quick day: book fair and self-evaluations of our practice PASS test from yesterday. Simple, relatively painless.
Homework
- First, second, and sixth periods: none.
- Fourth period: read through chapter 15.
PASS work and Presentations
All classes worked on PASS preparation in one form or another.
Fourth period also worked on the PASS test in a sense: we didn’t have time to do a practice test but we went over the requirements briefly and students will complete it for homework.
Homework
- First, second, and sixth periods: students who didn’t complete the PASS practice today need to complete it at home.
- Fourth period:
- read chapters 13-15 (due Wednesday);
- complete the PASS practice (log-in required for linked site).
Introductions, Presentations, and Details
Second and sixth periods touched briefly on that eternal teaching topic: adding details. We’re in the midst of a three-week writing workshop to review materials for the PASS test and wrap up the unit on The Diary of Anne Frank.
First period is working on the same, but their topic was a little different: effective beginnings.
Fourth period took a class period to share their best song selections from their Romeo and Juliet soundtrack project: lots of different styles and connections.
Homework
- First, second, and sixth: remember that you have ten pieces to write before next Friday. We’re working in class, but you should be working at home as necessary.
- Fourth period: read through chapter four of To Kill a Mockingbird.
Timed Writing, Figurative Language, and Presentations
First period began another timed writing. When we do the final timed writings about poetry, hopefully the whole process will take one period. For now, we’re going slowly. It’s practice in analyzing poetry as well as preparing to write a test essay cue — PASS preparation, in other words.
Sixth Period at Work
Second and sixth periods finished working with the three poems for figurative language. We looked at three poems: “Concrete Mixers,” “The City is So Big,” and the famous “Harlem Night Song.”
Sixth Period at Work
We’ll begin the timed writing tomorrow, analyzing one of the poem’s use of figurative language.
Sixth Period at Work
Fourth period had the final presentation for the poetry project.
Fourth Period Presenters
The student-teachers lead their colleagues through a look at the following topics:
- exact rhyme
- approximate rhyme
- internal rhyme
We’ll be including this material on the mid-term exam.
Homework
None
PASS Day 2
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Math testing today. Everyone is ready for the whole thing to be over with, but one more day.
First period had class after all the testing. We worked on our projects for The Glory Field. I also announced that I’ll be foregoing a test on The Glory Field and folding it into the final exam instead. There were cheers, I’m sure.
Second period continued with Flowers for Algernon. Next class we’ll be getting to the climax.
Homework
None — it’s PASS time.
Final PASS Writing and Novels
We spent first and second periods administering the second day of the PASS writing test.
Fourth period went over the chapters we’d completed yesterday. We did a bit of administrative house cleaning, as I pointed out the reading schedule (available here and at courses.ourenglishclass.net).
Seventh period began The Glory Field.
Homework
- First, second, and seventh periods: journals.
- Fourth period: see “Courses” site.
Book Fair
All classes went to the spring book fair today. This year we were given only fifteen minutes in the fair, which seemed fair enough.
Afterward, first and seventh periods began working on linking verbs, with the eventual goal of working on subject/verb agreement.
Second period evaluated their PASS exams.
Fourth period worked on quoting and the use of square brackets.
Homework
- All classes: journal
Monster and Final PASS Testing
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First and second periods didn’t have class today due to pass testing.
Fourth and sixth periods really started getting into the meaty part of Monster. We had a few people testify and the kids are all excited about the book — an English teacher’s dream. It’s an excellent book for teaching students to read carefully and pick up the implications of what’s being said, and what’s not being said.
PASS Day One; First Takes
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First and second period didn’t meet because we were having the ELA pass test. Students later said it went fairly well.
Fourth and sixth periods had the first take of their Much Ado About Nothing scenes. We filmed the first take and will do one more day of filming. I’ll be using those takes to give students a grade. Here is the rubric for the project.
PASS Day One
We had no first or second period classes due to the PASS writing test.
Fourth and sixth periods continued with Algernon. We’ll be finishing up this week.
Book Fair
All classes finished up working with Mrs. Weaver-James regarding the PASS writing test that is coming up 11 March and then we went to the book fair.
Homework
- First period: make sure you’ve read through chapter 8 of The Giver.
- Second period: finish Lord of the Flies.
PASS Overview
Mrs.Weaver-James, an instructional coach at Hughes, was a guest teacher in all classes today, giving students some important information about the upcoming PASS test.
Tomorrow, we’ll be going to the book fair, with Mrs. Weaver-James taking the few minutes of class time beforehand to finish up what we started.
Homework
None.
