Temperture Reading

Okay, the first quarter just ended.  Whew . . . and everyone by now has learned a little bit about AP class expectations and should have a greater idea on what will be on the AP exam.  So let’s do a temperature check. What is working? What needs to be changed? And what can be sacrificed to achieve this change?

Due Date:  Monday, October 28^th.  Worth 50 points for your response and comment to two students.

Step One:

Read this self-assessment on what your AP Lang teachers are doing:

What We Are Doing Correctly that Contributes to Our Students’ Success:

● Several “Life Lines,” i.e. multiple extensions on deadlines in order to get our students to turn in their assignments.

● Specific feedback/commentary on important writing assignments.

● Dense reading assignments from AP Multiple Choice passages that prepare students with the skill of “Close Reading.” (Something that cannot be taught explicitly but must be experienced)

● Artistic reading assignments that teach students styles they can incorporate into their own writing.

● Engaging current events from the blog site and from the use of Factoid Friday/Thursday to prepare students for whatever topics might appear on the AP exam.

Specific Things We Can Start Doing NOW that will Better Prepare Students for the AP Exam and College:

● SAT Vocabulary Word Lists to use within Blog site responses.

● More Practice on specific types of writing without the penalty of any grade.

● More Handouts of AP Scored prompts that show students what superior and inferior AP exam essays look like.

● Strategies that help organize an approach to the Rhetorical Essay question.

● A formal writing assignment similar to what they might receive in college.

●  More Grammar instruction to help correct silly repetitive errors.

Specific Things We Are Willing to Sacrifice or Limit in Order to be a Better Teacher:

● Spend viewing hours watching Fringe 

● Spend viewing hours Surfing the bay.

● Set our alarm clocks on the weekend to get up at a regular time so we can get more things done.  In other words, no more sleeping in till noon!

● Limit our whining about how overwhelmed we are to 1/2 hour per week.

● Check our Engrade messages more regularly. 

Step Two:

Now that we shared our affirmations, goals, and pledges, please view the three very SHORT videos to learn more about how to be successful in an AP class then respond to the prompt below.

Link to AP video from AP central

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T00h6Z9oy1s   (around 3 min)

Advice to Taking an AP Course

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz46VaOYgJs    (9 very important minutes)

“Do The AP Way”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YzvjUqZvsI    (3 entertaining minutes)

Step Three:

Answer This Prompt:

Bullet specifically all the things you are NOW doing correctly that contributes to your success in any AP class and/or the future AP exam.

Bullet specifically three things that you know you CAN now start doing that will contribute to your success.

Bullet specifically at least one thing you are willing to limit or give up in order to be successful in your AP class.

Template for you to Copy/Paste your answers on:

These are the things I am currently doing correctly that will contribute to my success in any AP class and the future AP exam: ●   Dakine . . . . ●   Ya ta dah, ya ta dah ●   And so on, and so on ●   And hopefully even moreJ These are the three things I know I can start doing right now that will contribute to my success: 1.  Bipidty 2.  Bop-ity 3.  Boo This is the one thing I am willing to limit or give up in order to be successful: 1.  Make it meaningful---no silly answers here!!

Step Four:

After posting your response, comment back to two students about their response.  Actually SAY something by making a personal connection to whatever they posted or by drawing a different conclusion to how they viewed something.  EXPLAIN that personal connection in detail or EXPLAIN your different conclusion in detail.

Due Date:  Monday, October 28^th.  Worth 50 points for your response and comment to 2 students.