AGENDA 9/28

Grammar Warm-up: Verbs, verbs, verbs!
(subject-verb agreement errors, verb tense errors, parallelism errors)

Debrief yesterday's class with the substitute & reminder to keep floors free of trash

Introductory Activity: The Outcast, continued
Viewing Guide for film clip from The Breakfast Club

Continue working on persuasive letters

HW: Draft of complete persuasive letter due MONDAY, 10/1
Continue to study vocabulary words
Bring independent reading book to class on Monday
Bring ID card or schedule to class on Monday--we'll be going to the textbook room to pick up Catcher in the Rye

ANNOUNCEMENT: Pust will be at the Santa Monica Public Library, main branch (6th & Santa Monica Blvd.) on SUNDAY, 9/30 from 1pm-5pm in the cafe patio area if you would like help with your persuasive letter or other assignments.

AGENDA 9/27

Vocabulary Warm-up: Persuasion Unit
REMINDER: Vocabulary quiz NEXT Friday, 10/5, over
all 35 vocabulary words (from current unit and previous unit)

Introductory activity: Talking about "Outcasts"
Student responses to outcast cluster map

Continue working on persuasive letters

HW: Draft of complete persuasive letter due MONDAY, 10/1
Continue to study vocabulary words
Bring independent reading book to class on Monday
Bring ID card or schedule to class on Monday--we'll be going to the textbook room

AGENDA 9/26

Review components of the persuasive letter: handout
Begin drafting persuasive letters--one paragraph due tomorrow.

HW: Draft one paragraph of your persuasive letter. Finish the brainstorming sheet if you haven't already.

REMINDER: Independent reading books needed by Monday; 5 points extra credit if you bring your book in by Friday. Please choose a book from the independent reading book list; all of these books are available in the school and/or public library.

AGENDA 9/25

REMINDER: Back-to-School Night Tonight!

Grammar Warm-up: Subject-Verb Agreement Review
Introduce persuasive letter project by reading sample
Tomorrow: Begin prewriting or drafting persuasive letters--class will meet in the computer lab, T110.

HW: Complete persuasive topic sheet distributed in class yesterday if you haven't already
Continue to study vocabulary

AGENDA 9/24

Vocabulary Warm-up: Persuasion Vocab
Develop one persuasive issue: generate reasons and/or counterarguments
Introduce independent reading book list

HW: Select an independent reading book from the list and bring it to class by next Monday, 10/1. If you bring your book to class before Monday, you will receive 5 extra credit points. Continue to study vocabulary words. Complete persuasive issue handout given in class today if you did not finish.

AGENDA 9/21

Grammar Warm-Up: Subject-Verb Agreement
Finish reading article
Group activity: generate reasons or questions on the
poster paper for each of the persuasive essay topics

HW: Create vocabulary flashcards for any 5 of the new
vocabulary words (index cards were provided)
On a separate piece of paper, select two persuasive topics--
these can be topics we examined in class or other issues
that you believe need to be addressed or changed. Then,
for each topic, list either 5 questions related to the topic that
you want to know more about, or 5 reasons that you think the
way you do about the topic (or any combination of reasons
and/or questions). You should have a total of 10 reasons/questions
listed, over the two topics. Contact me if you have questions.

AGENDA 9/20

Warm-up: Brainstorming the pros and cons of abolishing
compulsory school attendance laws
Share and discuss responses
Introduce new vocabulary words for persuasion unit
Answer key: definitions for new vocabulary words
Begin reading "So That Nobody Has to Go to School if They Don't Want to" by Roger Sipher

HW: Begin studying vocabulary. Remember that vocabulary is
cumulative, so review the previous words in addition to
studying the new words.

AGENDA 9/19

FIRST ADVISORY MEETING

Break into advisory groups
Overview: What is Advisory?
Advisory Letter for Parents: Spanish
Advisory Letter for Parents: English
Complete and return Advisory Information Forms to your group leader
Team Building Activities: Commonalities or Who Are You? Questions

No homework tonight! :)

AGENDA 9/18

Baseline Essays: Fast Food Nation and Chew On This

REMINDER: Make up vocabulary quizzes at lunch or after
school on Wednesday. If you were absent last Friday and do
not make up the vocabulary quiz by 4pm on Wednesday,
it will be entered as a "Z" in Pinnacle.

ANNOUNCEMENT: First Advisory meeting tomorrow!

AGENDA 9/17

Preparation for Baseline Essays - Fast Food Nation and Chew On This
Bring books tomorrow!

Submit summer free choice book essays.

REMINDER: If you missed the vocabulary quiz or supplies check
last Friday, due to absences or picture makeups, please see me to
get caught up. You may take your quiz Tuesday at lunch, or
Wednesday at lunch or after school, in room B207. On Wednesday
at 4pm, all missing quizzes will turn to Z's in Pinnacle.

If you are unhappy with your vocabulary quiz score, you must:
1) create a set of flashcards (word on one side, definition on the other)
2) see Pust at lunch or after school to make test corrections using
your flashcards.
Completing steps 1 and 2 successfully will raise your vocabulary
quiz score to a B.


HW: Prepare for baseline essay tomorrow. Bring notes you
took in class today and your FFN or Chew On This book.

AGENDA 9/14

Vocabulary Quiz!
If you finish the quiz early, work on your summer choice
book essay (~500 words, due Monday 9/17).

HW: Finish summer choice book essay and
bring either FFN or Chew on This to class on
Monday

AGENDA 9/12

Warm-Up: Vocabulary Review
View clip from Super Size Me on "Fast Food Advertising";
record two interesting facts from the clip
Discuss debate format: class debate Friday on whether Congress
should limit the advertising of junk/fast food to children

HW: Study for vocabulary quiz! (Friday, 9/14)
Complete Vocabulary Crossword to help study for quiz

REMINDER: Supplies check Friday 9/14!!!

AGENDA 9/11

Warm-up: Grammar--Subject-Verb Agreement
Quick Review of Levels of Questions
Read, discuss, and create questions for LA Times article "Limits proposed on fast-food restaurants"

HW: Study for vocabulary quiz, Friday 9/14
Work on summer book choice assignment, due Monday 9/17

REMINDERS: Supplies check Friday! Make sure you have your book, binder,
dividers, pens, paper, pencils, and handouts/assignments

AGENDA 9/10

Warm-up: Vocabulary Review (quiz Friday 9/14)
Introduction to summer free choice book assignment (~500 words, due Monday 9/17)
Summer free choice book assignment samples: Pust and Kennedy
Levels of Questions PowerPoint & Guided Notes

HW: Study vocabulary for quiz, Friday 9/14;
begin working on summer free choice book assignment,
due Monday, 9/17; complete three of each Question Level
for a total of 9 questions regarding the assigned FFN/Chew
reading you did over the weekend.

REMINDER!

Supplies check tomorrow & Tuesday: make sure you have your copy of FFN or Chew On This, your English binder with 5 divider tabs (Grammar, Vocabulary, Writing, Independent Reading, and Current Unit) and pens, pencils, and paper. I'll be checking to make sure everyone has these supplies ready on Monday and Tuesday. Thanks, and I look forward to another great week!

AGENDA 9/7

Collect homework (response to an image in FFN or Chew On This)
Introduce and discuss vocabulary words (groups)

HW: Begin studying vocabulary words (quiz Friday, 9/14)
Reread pp. 42-57 in Fast Food Nation or pp. 43-63 in Chew On This.

AGENDA 9/6

Review Classroom Rules and Procedures
View image from pg. 30 of Fast Food Nation and discuss
HW: Select another image from Fast Food Nation or Chew On This to analyze and complete Visual Analysis Handout

AGENDA 9/5

Happy First Day of School! I enjoyed meeting you today, and know that we will have a great year together. Check back often for the daily agendas and handouts.

Introductory Powerpoint & Quickwrite
First Day Student Information Form
HW: Read the Course Syllabus and write down two questions about the syllabus on a separate sheet. Bring your copy of Fast Food Nation or Chew On This tomorrow, and every day for the next two weeks. Finish your First Day Student Information Form.