English 9--9/30/2016 & 10/3/2016

Block 1 ACE (55 minutes)
Block 2 ACE (64 minutes)
Block 3 BDF and Block 4 BDF (82 minutes)

Jump Off (2-3 mins.)
--Quietly and independently, read the claim below in order to decide whether you agree or disagree.  Try not to make a snap judgment; instead, truly consider the claim and its implications before making your decision.  Be prepared to briefly discuss your decision/opinion.

The claim: Year-round schooling should be mandated by the government of our country.  In other words, students and teachers should no longer have summers off.

S. the C. (8-10 mins.)
--Reminder:  Last class, we briefly discussed the main standard that drove the lesson (RI.4).  As a result of those discussions, the following list of targets emerged:

• When reading nonfiction, I can...
• tell how the author feels about the topic he/she is writing about
• pick out words that show how the author feels about the topic
• explain how the author's word choices show how he/she feels about the topic.

--Today's class allows for RI.2, RI.3, and RI.4 (if you want to challenge yourself!) skills practice, which ought to help you prepare for an assessment taking place next class.
--agenda/HW

Literacy Activity #1 (Old Business) -- Article of the Week #1 (8-10 mins.)

--When looking through responses about claims following Article of the Week #1, it became clear to me that more instruction/practice is necessary in order to move forward.  Please compare your index card response to the appropriate exemplar below:

What is the author's/authors' main claim?  In other words, what is/are the author(s) of the text ultimately trying to argue?

The authors' main claim is that both the swimmers and the Rio authorities have not been completely truthful within this exaggerated case.

• "[N]ot everyone has concluded Ryan Lochte and his teammates are entirely in the wrong or that the account offered by Rio authorities is entirely accurate."

The author's main claim is that games like Pokémon Go should have rules and ethics to keep players safe.

• "[A] technological revolution is upon us, and it is past time for an industry-wide set of ethical standards for augmented reality."

The author's main claim is that Blurryface by Twenty One Pilots has no organization or focus; therefore, the album is not very nice to listen to.

• "Blurryface tries to be a bit of everything at once and ends up delivering a very frustrating and disjointed series of tracks that try far too hard to be different...it plays like a messy collection of interesting ideas that never quite come together the way you hope they might."

--What exactly is a claim?

--How can a reader find an author's claim?

Literacy Activity #2 (New Business) -- Article of the Week #2 (20+ mins.)
--Reminder in some blocks/new information in others: the protocol for Take a Stand

• Momentarily, I will make a debatable statement:
• If you agree with the statement, STAND UP next to your desk.
• If you strongly agree with the statement, STAND ON your desk chair.
• If you disagree with the statement, STAY SEATED in your desk chair.
• If you strongly disagree with the statement, SIT ON THE FLOOR next to your desk.

--The claim: Year-round schooling should be mandated by the government of our country.  In other words, students and teachers should no longer have summers off.

--show your position
--cold-calling--students randomly selected to briefly explain their stance (no more than three sentences)

--Transition

• Pick up a copy of Article of the Week #2 from the front table. 
• Purposefully read only the information located in the box at the top of the page and be ready to discuss your understanding of the directions.
• Purpose: You should know exactly what to do while completing Article of the Week #2.

--Q & A about the directions

• Some of the key reasons why we do Article of the Week:
• purposeful and active reading practice
• argumentative writing learning/practice

--active/purposeful (oral? independent?) reading of Article of the Week #2 as per directions

• How can you also challenge yourself by RI.4ing it?

Teambuilding Activity -- Artifact Bags (remainder of class)
--I hand a paper bag to random student--he/she then displays items from the bag one at a time, briefly describing what he/she is seeing

--guess who?!
--owner of bag further describes, explains, shares anecdotes, etc. as a form of introduction to teacher/peers
--REPEAT THE PROCESS...

DEAR -- Free Reading Books (time permitting)
--students without books will read Upfront newsmagazine

HW (Class Preparation)
--Prepare for a formal assessment next class (Tuesday, 10/4 [ACE] or Wednesday, 10/5 [BDF]) about Rilke's letter that aims to assess your ability to hit the following targets:

• When reading nonfiction, I can...
• pick out the author's main point
• pick out the important details that the author uses that connect back to his/her main point
• explain how the author's details connect back to his/her main point
• tell how the author feels about the topic he/she is writing about
• pick out words that show how the author feels about the topic
• explain how the author's word choices show how he/she feels about the topic.

HW (Take-Home Assessment)
--Finish your work with Article of the Week #2, which is due at the beginning of class next time (Tuesday, 10/4 [ACE] or Wednesday, 10/5 [BDF]).  This task will include purposefully reading the directions in the box at the top of the first page and completing your best work with regard to the directions.  Good luck!
Miscellaneous
--Read your free reading book for at least 10 minutes between now and next class.  ALWAYS BRING YOUR FREE READING BOOK TO CLASS.  You have up until the first full week of December to finish your book.