ELA 10: Feb. 1-5

We survived the first semester!! I’m excited to continue the work we’ve been doing with reading and writing this year. Most of you are returning from first semester, but some of you are transplants from other ELA 10 classes. Welcome, if you’re new! I write a weekly blog to keep parents and students up to speed on what’s going on in class.

I’m happy to report that, overall, the students performed very well on the midterm exam.  It was a challenging exam--multiple choice especially is tricky for lots of kids--but the results were great! Students will get their combined reading and writing scores on Monday along with their final grades for English for semester one.  Later in the week, we will spend some time discussing the test , but students who wish to discuss their own tests with me one on one should plan to come see me in AA or before school.

This week we will be recommitting to our independent reading for second semester and making plans for sharing our book recommendations with one another. This semester each student will write at least one book review (see samples here) so that they can begin sharing their book suggestions with one another. We will spend Monday looking at suggestions for books to read this semester and examining some popular authors.

Later in the week, we’ll begin discussing our Unit 3 focus question: How does drama shape or reflect our social norms?  We’ll read two plays in this unit: Antigone and A Doll’s House. With each play, we’ll consider whether or not the playwright was challenging the social norms of the time or simply reflecting them.  Then, we’ll look at modern dramas--tv shows, movies, etc--and consider how pop culture is shaping and reflecting the norms of today.  

There are no major assignments or projects to be thinking about just yet, but if you could, ask your student what he or she is reading for an independent novel. Students who are strong readers become students who are strong writers. The best thing you can do to support your student at this point in the semester is make sure they’re reading!!

Have a great week!  Next week I’ll give you some more information about scheduling and how to make choices about English classes for Eleventh Grade.

​