A Week of Blended Learning: What it Looked Like for Junior Honors This Week

This week, I tried to be very purposeful in how students were selected to attend class.  Here is the break down of the week for Junior Honors English:

Monday:
All students attend class.
Film discussion with novel groups.
Discussion/assignment of argumentative essay.

Tuesday:
Two Reading Groups attend to work on drafts, get one-on-one assistance from Mrs. Schmitt
Two Reading Groups out of class to draft on own.

Wednesday:
Other two Reading Groups attend to work on drafts, get one-on-one assistance from Mrs. Schmitt
Yesterday's two Reading Groups out of class to draft on own.

Thursday:
All students attend class.
Whole class practice and individual practice for integrated quotes, MLA citations, works cited.
Get feedback from Mrs. Schmitt.
Return Literary Analysis Tests; discuss opportunity for retakes

Friday:
Selected students are invited to attend class.
Invitations are based on:

1. Make up missed test

2.  Redo your test

3. Work on MLA issues (students who need more practice based on yesterday's work)

Here are students working on the Tuesday/Wednesday drafting days:

Okay, okay, SP is on her phone, but she got right to work. ;-)

60% of the Time It Works Every Time (but even better!)

We had our first out-of-class Blended Experience, and based on feedback, the students who opted to come to class had great success!  A big advantage of having the ability to choose to come to class or not is that the scenario allows students who need extra help to get more one-on-one attention.  Of the two Junior Honors classes, I had 26% in-class attendance.  And guess what? 100% of them said that their one-on-one time with Mrs. Schmitt was helpful!

Now, it remains to be seen how well the out-of-class students perform, but I have never been so excited to collect data in my life!

Check out how different this classroom environment was:

Pretty easy to get the teacher's attention and assistance when the classroom looks like this...

Make it Happen Monday 4.6.15

Poem of the Day: Listen by Miller Williams

http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/index.php?date=2003/11/05

Freshman College Prep Agenda

Monday: April 6, 2015

EQ: How does an author reveal theme?

What makes a book “good”?

Tech Expectations: Open and on

1.     Poem of the Day

2.     Broncos Read

3.     March Madness Best Book

4.     R&R #49

5.     A Theme Revealed

a.     Practice through poetry

HW:  Group reading assignment for tomorrow.  Finish book!

Take notes on the main message of the novel.  Have specifics to share.

Junior Honors Agenda

Monday: April 6, 2015

EQ:  How do I best craft my argument?

What structure is best to establish my argument?

Tech Expectations: Open and on

1.     Poem of the Day

2.     Broncos Read

3.     Drafting (use your DEJs—but don’t list!)

HW: Rough draft due tomorrow.  Bring PRINTED copy.

Junior College Prep Agenda

Monday: April 6, 2015

  

EQ:  What are my writing strengths and weaknesses?  Am I reaching my writing goals?

How can I persevere when I struggle?

Tech Expectations: Open and on

1.     Poem of the Day

2.     Broncos Read

3.     R&R # 26

4.     Research essays—corrections

HW: none