Four Point Grades

Please comment on the four-point grading system we have been using this semester. In particular, let me know what you think of the following:

• Do the grades give you a clear picture of your achievement in the class?


• Do the grades of "Advanced," "Proficient," "Just Okay," and "Needs Work" put more emphasis on the quality of your work?


• Do these grades make it harder to determine your overall grade in the class?


• What other comments do you have about this grading system?

Reading Report #2

For this reading report, please reflect on the quality and usefulness of the reading you have done for the past 3 weeks. Consider this: how has your reading helped make you a better student, citizen, or thinker? Refer to two or three of the texts (print or electronic) that you have read and explain how they helped you grow as a person.

Yowlinin

If you have further comments to add about the story "Yowlinin" by Margo Lanagan, post them here. You may also respond to other students' comments about the story.

Wilding

Add a comment here if you have more to say about the story "Wilding," by Jane Yolen, which we read in class on September 18. You may expand upon ideas you shared in class, explain a new idea that has occurred to you since, or respond to one of the other blog comments. Remember that you are striving to demonstrate higher-order thinking, but any thoughtful questions or comments are welcome.

Reading Report #1

Please tell me about the reading you have done for the first two weeks of school. I am interested to know the scope and type of reading that you have done. Don't just list articles or books; tell a little bit about what you read -- what you thought of it, whether it was hard reading or not, whether you would recommend it to others. You may mention the reading you have done for other classes, but I am mainly interested in the reading you have done on your own, by your choice. Try to give a good picture of your reading habits. I will grade your report on its clarity and completeness, so express yourself well and be thorough. Remember to check spelling and other mechanics before you publish.

What are you curious about?

In class the past couple of days, you have been brainstorming about topics that pique your curiosity. Now, please share some of your ideas with the rest of the class via the blog. Write about one or two intriguing questions. Don't just ask or list the questions; explain your interest. You might also want to read the ideas posted on the 5th period blog at tsaleone0708.blogspot.com.