19
Today all students took the science or social studies PASS test. Remaining classes did non-English, physically relaxing yet mind-stimulating work.
20
Today all students took the math PASS test. Remaining classes did non-English, physically relaxing yet mind-stimulating work.
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Today all students took the ELA PASS test. Remaining classes did non-English, physically relaxing yet mind-stimulating work.
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All students went through a quick review for tomorrow’s PASS test.
15
We finished up our final day of PASS testing and moved back to regularly scheduled programming. Sixth period continued with Monster while first period began it. Second period had another day of research (before tomorrow’s final day). We also took a quick look at the Great Expectations Research Project Rubric
None.
16
Only fourth and seventh periods met today due to PASS testing. Fourth period students had another day of research — the next-to-last day — and seventh period took a bit of a break with a logic puzzle.
17
All classes took the English PASS test today. Since it’s a secure test, that is all anyone can cay about it.
Fourth period had class during the sixth period and continued research for their papers. Seventh period continued working on connotation and bias.
18
Almost all classes today worked on PASS prep for tomorrow’s English test. Second and fourth periods continued their research for the Charles Dickens/Victorian England
We’re beginning to wrap up a number of units — convenient since we’re nearing the end of the year. First period worked on “Flowers for Algernon” after a PASS review (page 402) and a bus evacuation drill. It amounted to little more than explaining the homework as the drill had taken a fair chunk of our time.
Second and fourth periods worked on Great Expectations, which we’re finishing tomorrow. We began as we often do: analyzing sentences to determine sentence type:
We made our own web of characters to look at the inter-related nature of the novel’s various story lines.
Second Period's Web
Fourth period completed the task with fewer variables and the results were clearer.
Fourth Period's Web
(A simplified version from a previous is here, password “done”).
Sixth period went over potential essay questions as a summary of The Giver. Student-created notes are below:
Seventh period shifted from propaganda techniques to bias. We had a review of connotation and then began looking at how words can take on positive, negative, or neutral connotations. We ranked some near-synonyms to determine the range of different shades of meaning.
We also went over some extensive notes about bias, available here.
First period had the second day of the PASS test today. We’re now done with testing until May 7. Second and fourth periods completed (almost) working on their posters for Lord of the Flies; we’ll be presenting them tomorrow. Sixth period took a break and wrote some blues — with mixed results, which might be all the more appropriate for the blues. Seventh period self-evaluated and continued with drama.
Eighth graders had the PASS test today. Seventh graders worked on our drama unit, breaking into groups to complete act one.
As tomorrow is the PASS extended response writing test, most classes went over PASS materials. In addition, second and fourth periods began a short creative poster mini-project regarding the symbolism and plot developments in chapters nine and ten of Lord of the Flies.
None.
An urgent reminder to first and sixth periods: you’ll have to have your PASS practice letter (to someone you admire) completed tomorrow or you will get no credit.
14
Today we completed the PASS test for 2011! We’re done!
Now we’ve got some heavy lifting in all classes.
None
15
Today we completed the second day of Pass testing. Not much more to write about than that.