Category: English 20

Parent Guide: He-y, Come on Ou-t!

This week in class, we’re reading “He-y, Come on Ou-t!” by Shinichi Hoshi (translated by Stanleigh Jones).

“He-y, Come on Ou-t!” is an allegory about the consequences of environmental destruction, in which a town discovers a mysterious hole that seems to be the perfect solution to their trash problems.

As we read, we will be discussing the themes of Man vs. Nature and Technology, Progress & Industry as they relate to the text. We are trying to answer these big questions :

“How do we view nature?”, “Who’s in control: man or nature?”, and “What should the future look like?”

Ways to support your child:

Parent Guide: The Scarlet Ribbon

This week in class, we’re reading “The Scarlet Ribbon” by Emily Hoffman.

“The Scarlet Ribbon” explores how difficult it is to keep people away from what brings them joy.

As we read, we will be discussing the themes of Beauty & Happiness, Fate & Free Will, and Love as they relate to the text. We are trying to answer these big questions :

“Can we control our fate?”, “How are we changed by love?”, and “How can we achieve happiness?”

Ways to support your child:

 

Parent Guide: The Rose that Grew from Concrete

This week in class, we’re reading “The Rose That Grew from Concrete” by Tupac Shakur.

In Tupac Shakur’s “The Rose That Grew from Concrete,” the speaker describes a flower that grew in an unlikely place.

As we read, we will be discussing the themes of Fate & Free Will and Resilience & Success as they relate to the text. We are trying to answer these big questions :

“How does a person overcome adversity?” and “Can we control our fate?”

Ways to support your child:

Parent Guide: Five reasons why being kind makes you feel good

This week in class, we’re reading “Five reasons why being kind makes you feel good — according to science” by Jo Cutler, Robin Banerjee.

In the informational text, “Five reasons why being kind makes you feel good — according to science” Jo Cutler and Robin Banerjee discuss why being kind to others can improve your mood.

As we read, we will be discussing the theme of Morality as it relates to the text. We are trying to answer this big question :

“What is good and how do we know?”

Ways to support your child:

Parent Guide: Discover Writing Prompts

Here’s the deal for this OPTIONAL writing activity.

Students can create a new “Discover” post in their iBlog. They can then use the score I give on that post to replace any other “Work From Home” mark in Google Classroom – if that is fair. A mark already in PowerSchool can only go up I offer.

Some students will see the prospect of writing a post as a burden, others will see it as a challenge, while others may see it as a relief. Participation in “Discover” writing prompts is optional.

I offer the choice to “Discover” as an outlet for working through complicated thoughts and feelings during a chaotic time. Students can respond in a variety of genres, media, or format – discover.

Each “Discover” prompt begins with a single word and a few suggestions for getting started.

Ways to support your child:

  • Ask you child if there are any “Work From Home” marks they’d wish to improve.
  • Encourage your child to make the writing personal, the prompts are optional and can be adapted. Be creative, be original, discover.

 

Parent Guide: City Systems

This week in class, we’re reading “City Systems” by Barbara Radner.

In the informational text “City Systems,” Barbara Radner discusses government workers and the city systems that help a city run.

As we read, we will be discussing the theme of Community as it relates to the text. We are trying to answer this big question :

“What is the importance of community?”

Ways to support your child:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3VM-3qcfbw

 

Parent Guide: Grit

This week in class, we’re reading “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance” by Angela Lee Duckworth.

In the TED Talk “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance,” Angela Lee Duckworth discusses the role that grit plays in success.

As we read, we will be discussing the themes of Education & Knowledge and Identity as they relate to the text. We are trying to answer these big questions :

“What is the goal of education?” and “What makes you who you are?”

Ways to support your child:

 

Parent Guide: A Lifeline for Lions

This week in class, we’re reading “A Lifeline for Lions ” by Pamela S. Turner.

In the informational text “A Lifeline for Lions,” Pamela S. Turner discusses an outbreak of a disease that negatively impacted Serengeti National Park’s lion population in 1994.

As we read, we will be discussing the themes of Community, Man vs. Nature, and Social Change & Revolution as they relate to the text. We are trying to answer these big questions :

“Who’s in control: man or nature?”, “How do people create change?”, and “What is the importance of community?”

Ways to support your child:

Parent Guide: Working at the Hospital

This week in class, we’re reading “Working at the Hospital” by Barbara Radner.

In the informational text “Working at the Hospital,” Barbara Radner describes the different jobs at the hospital.

As we read, we will be discussing the theme of Community as it relates to the text. We are trying to answer this big question :

“What is the importance of community?”

Ways to support your child:

Parent Guide: Readtheory KP Goal (100)

Students will be assigned a Readtheory goal in Google Classroom that depends on their accumulated “Knowledge Point” score or KP.

You can help support your child’s learning by asking them to show you their “Readtheory Dashboard” and recording their “Knowledge Point” total at the beginning of the week.  Periodically check that that number is increasing during the week.

I have asked that they accumulate 100 KP this week. I hope this is attainable in the 3 hours work limit per week per course per child.

If the 100 points goal is too hard (or too easy) to achieve in one week, let me know – have the student leave a comment in the assignment stream in Google Classroom. I will make adjustments where necessary.

How can students earn knowledge points?

Students can earn knowledge points in the following ways:
• Answer a regular question correctly: 1KP
• Answer a challenge question correctly: 2KP (+1KP for regular question)
• Pass a quiz: 15KP awarded
• Get a perfect score on a quiz: 30KP awarded