Good things arrived in a three-pack this week. First, 20Time launched beautifully, and I even received a handful of “You go, girl!” emails from supportive parents, thrilled to see their kids actually excited about a school project. (That’s definitely a win, but I sure wish they would’ve cc’d the principal; well, you can’t have everything.) Second, every English teacher in my school district scored free tickets to the new Hunger Games Exhibition, opening here in two weeks. (Heck, yeah!) Finally, I get to play hooky this Friday to help chaperone the easiest, breeziest field trip of all time, as our Competition Civics team, two dozen of the hardest-working kids you’ve ever met, travel to SoCal for the state meet. Did I mention the hotel has a hot tub? Or that Disneyland is nearby, so the team’s advisor (my hallway bestie) scheduled an extra day for us? Or that we’ll all be at Disneyland on Superbowl Sunday? (*Fingers crossed* that everyone in Anaheim stays glued to their TVs and far, far away from the park.)
So, yeah, things are coming up Randazzo. Oh, and my actual teaching? Nothing too complicated – this week’ll be pretty much filled with 20Time’s Guppy Tank/60-Second Project Pitches.
Here’s what it looks like:
Monday
Open with a five-minute M.U.G. Shot (Mechanics, Usage, Grammar) Monday mini-lecture/bell-ringer.
Review answers to this past weekend’s S.A.T. practice questions.
Guppy Tank presentations begin. After each quick speech and Q&A session, students in the audience vote anonymously whether they think the proposed project is worthy of this time investment. To keep things moving along, the audience may ask only two follow-up questions. Presenters must earn a two-thirds majority in order to have their project approved. Anyone who fails to meet that mark will work with me to either refine the project idea or choose a different, more appropriate project.
Return graded Argument Essays from last week.
For HW, students need to complete their essay corrections. Also, anyone who didn’t present today needs to be ready to present tomorrow.
Tuesday
Guppy Tank presentations and voting continues.
For HW, students should read their S.S.R. books. Anyone who didn’t present today needs to be ready to present tomorrow.
Wednesday
Open with a ten-minute Words on Wednesday vocabulary mini-lecture/bell-ringer.
Guppy Tank presentations and voting concludes.
For HW, students should read their S.S.R. books.
Thursday
While I hand out the Guppy Tank voting results, students will work in teams of two to complete a Greek and Latin Roots activity. This independent activity will give me time to individually confer with students who need help refining their 20Time project idea.
In Quarter Trios, we’ll play the “Just Give the Word!” game, another activity that will leave me free to meet with individuals, if I need more time.
For HW, students need to remember to bring their S.S.R. books. I’ll also make them promise to be nice to the sub tomorrow.
Friday
Sub Day – I’ll be on a six-hour bus ride. (Okay, so field trips aren’t entirely glamorous.)
Students will read their S.S.R. books.
For HW, they need to complete an Analogies worksheet and bring to class on Tuesday. (Weirdly, my district is closed on both Monday, Feb. 8 and Monday, Feb. 15 for a double-observance of Presidents’ Day. No idea why we do it this way, but who am I to question two three-day weekends in a row? Hey, I’m counting that as a fourth win!)
Hope your February is set for greatness. Teach on, everyone!
Hi Laura! I was just wondering, how do you determine presentation order for the 60-Second Project Pitches? Thanks! 🙂
Hi Kelsi,
I like to keep things simple for my planning and avoid holes in my schedule caused by the Speech Flu, so all students need to be ready to present on Day 1. Then, I’ll ask for volunteers. After those folks have presented, I then call on remaining students at random. I usually pick the kid who looks the most nervous or seems to be intentionally avoiding eye contact. I figure it’s a gift to that student to get up and get the presentation over with; I always tell them they’ll feel so much better when they’re done…and they usually do. Hope this helps!