Welcome to Mrs. Warren's Blog! 2011-2012

Back to the Grindstone!

2012-01-08T11:42:00.000-08:00

Well, Christmas break was great while it lasted! Although, I do prefer my Christmas breaks to be snowy and spent by the fire, but this year it was in the 60's and there were FLIES in my HOUSE! That is just wrong! However, now that we are underway, I think I'll be A-OK if we don't have much snow because MAY 16 sounds AMAZING! Last summer was sooooo short; I think an extended summer is in order for 2012.

Check out the calendar for this coming week's updates and class assignments. It's time for us to get back to work. We've got the state literacy test on MARCH 6-7, and the AP LANG test on MAY 16. It won't be long and we'll be thinking about PROM--APRIL 21. Now that the semester's begun, we have hit the ground RUNNING. My babies will be seniors before they know it!

Can you feel it? That snow and semester test feeling is in the air!!

2011-12-04T08:27:00.000-08:00

We are in CRUNCH time! All of my classes have A LOT going on for the next two weeks before semester tests. Make sure to check out our class assignment calendars to see what is in your future and due dates for notebooks,journals, etc.

For English III students, there will be no more Articles of the Week until the new year---oh my, I'm almost deaf from the cheering I just heard! Ha ha! However, don't forget that you should finish a novel by December 16th and complete your November/December One-Pager on that day! It's worth 50 points.

AP students will write a synthesis essay before we begin preparation for our huge semester test.

Are you getting in the Christmas spirit? I am trying, but I have TONS of shopping to do. Woe is me! No, really I enjoy shopping a great deal--much to my husband's chagrin...Look it up kids. I keep telling you that you need the dictionary.com app on your phone!

Hope everyone has a great week! Remember, if you need something, I'm only an e-mail away!
Mrs. Warren

Three Weeks Until Semester Tests!! WOW!!

2011-11-27T14:30:00.000-08:00

I hope that everybody had a great Thanksgiving break. My family sure did. We spent last week at Disney World and had sooooo much fun! The first picture is of the kids and I in line for Splash Mountain--one of our favorite rides. Then, my daughter and I had dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table where we got to meet several princesses. Finally, just thought I'd share that we did have trying moments, "Get off that! Leave him/her alone! No, we aren't buying you anything right now!"

Can you believe that the first semester is almost over? I sure can't. We have only three weeks until semester tests. WOW!

In AP, we have to continue studying argument writing, and we need to get a couple synthesis essays under our belt before the semester is over. We also need to have a journal and notebook check at the end of the semester.
In English III, we will be working on narratives and continuing our study of early American documents. Students also need to finish reading a novel by December 16th.

Honestly, I really needed the vacation I just took. Now I feel refreshed, and I think I can get through the mounds of papers that I need to grade. Be looking for an Edline update towards the end of the week. If you need me, I'm only an email away!

Thank You!

2011-11-09T17:45:00.000-08:00

I would like to take a minute to thank all of the parents of my AP Language & Composition students who came to our parent night. It was so nice to be able to showcase student work and for them to have an audience other than me! One of my favorite parent quotes of the night was a statement to the effect of "There's a lot of talent in this room." That is the truth. We have some VERY talented students at PGHS.
This past Monday and Tuesday, Mrs. Gaulin and I attended a two day workshop from AAIMS for AP. I learned so many helpful strategies and lessons that I will be sharing with the students over the next few months to help prepare them for the May exam.

I do not want to leave out my English III students; they are a talented bunch too. I am hoping to hold a parent night for them in the second semester.

Can you believe we only have a couple of weeks until Thanksgiving break, and then we will turn around and it will be Christmas? Time is moving so quickly, and I don't feel like we've accomplished nearly enough. We are working hard every day, but there is always more to do.

I will be updating grades this week, so be on the Edline lookout. I hope that you have a great rest of the week! Give thanks!
Mrs. Warren

Busy Week Ahead!

2011-10-30T13:19:00.000-07:00

We will be having an AP Language and Composition Show and Tell on Thursday, November 3rd in the high school library. Please accompany your child and let him/her show you what we have been doing in AP Language & Composition class. Parents will also be able to provide some feedback as well. This is a drop-in event from 4:30 to 7:30, and there will be snacks, of course! I'm looking forward to seeing you! Please feel free to email me if you have any questions.

English III classes will continue reading The Crucible this week. We will have some important small group work where we look at the layers of meaning in this play toward the end of the week. Also, these students will get the treat of meeting Mr. Alan Thompson this Tuesday. Mr. Thompson is a museum registrar at our very own PG Battlefield Park. He is going to come and talk to the students about reading and writing in his job. It will be a great day!

Please check the assignment calendar tabs above for more information on the happenings in our class. Looking forward to a GREAT week.

Let the Second Nine Weeks Begin!

2011-10-16T15:22:00.000-07:00

Wow! I cannot believe we are already 1/4 of the way through this school year. It just doesn't even seem possible!

I will be entering grades tomorrow for the end of last nine weeks. We have to send them on Tuesday. I imagine that tomorrow is going to be a day that is frantic with the turning in of late work.

In English III, we are going to begin reading The Crucible, a play by Arthur Miller. It is about the Salem Witch Trials, but also indirectly about McCarthyism. Another cool thing we are doing in the English III classes are Tell it Like it Is Tuesdays! We will have several guest speakers come in to talk to us about how they use reading and writing in their jobs. Officer O'Brien has already spoken to the students about reading and writing in police work. This week, we will have a labor and delivery nurse. In upcoming weeks we will hear from a lawyer, a museum registrar, and a fireman. I hope there are many more speakers who will be able to share with us why it is so important to be a fluent reader, writer and speaker.

AP Language and Composition classes are working on more rhetorical analysis writing. Toward the end of this week and the beginning of next, they will also be working on a more creative type project. I'm hoping that a break for creativity, while at the same time maintaining rigorous standards, will help give them a little boost before we move into argument writing.

On Tuesday, October 25th, all juniors at PGHS will take the ASVAB test in the morning.
Monday, October 31st is picture re-take day.

I also want to take a minute to give a shout out to my former student, Caleb Smith. Caleb was in my English class when he was in 9th grade. Then, I had him every year after that in my drama classes. He is such a great kid...well, I guess he's a man now! My husband and I went to watch him at MSSU last night. He played Antony in Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. It was so fun to watch him perform. He did a great job. I love seeing my former students succeed. I wish him all the best, and I hope to see him on my TV or on the big screen some day!

Hope everyone has a great week. Remember to enjoy each day to the fullest because we are not guaranteed tomorrow!
Mrs. Warren

Homecoming Week!

2011-10-02T19:12:00.000-07:00

Do you have your spirit week outfits ready? I hope so. My Star Wars outfit is sitting on my dresser just waiting for tomorrow.
Here are some float building pictures. Since my computer's crashed three times while trying to do this, I think I'm going to call it a night. Enjoy! May the force be with us this week!

We worked hard on the float today! I hope we win, and we have a nice trophy to display in our room for the rest of this year. There's nothing like bragging rights!
Oh yea, we'll still have to do some English work this week, even though it is homecoming! Sorry!

It's Parent/Teacher Conference Week!

2011-09-18T17:43:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody! I hope you've had a restful, rainy weekend. I haven't felt the best this weekend; I think allergies are getting the best of me. I also spent lots of time grading so not much relaxing, but that's the way it goes for teachers.

Next Saturday won't be restful either because I'll be with my AP Language and Composition students at Springdale High School for our first Saturday Test Prep Session of the year. We'll leave on a bus from PGHS around 7:30 am. It will be an all-day affair, and we will come home tired but full of knowledge. I strongly encourage your AP students to attend.

I also updated grades tonight. I've graded all make-up/late work and pretty much everything but last Friday's reading folders and AOW. Please take a moment to check grades and assignments for the upcoming week.
Hope you get to sleep tonight in between the crashing thunder and flashes of lightening. :-)
--Mrs. Warren

Busy, Busy, Busy!

2011-09-12T17:52:00.000-07:00

If you haven't checked lately, I updated grades today. I have also updated the assignment calendars for this week, so be sure to check those out too. We had a very busy Monday, and we'll just keep working all week long. It make us stronger and smarter! Also, if your child has been absent, he/she has make-up work. We ALWAYS have work to do.

I sent a note home with your child today asking you to give permission for me to video, photograph, and possibly use your child's work samples. I know that you signed a similar slip for our school, but I am working on my National Board Teacher certification. NBPTS requires that I use their forms and permission slips. The videos and work samples are focused on my instruction and interaction with the students. Any student names I use will be first names only. I will have to submit two fifteen minute videos and several student work samples. Thank you for your help in this matter.

Important dates to remember:
Parent/Teacher Conferences are Tuesday, September 20 and Thursday, September 22 from 3:30-6:30.

AP Saturday Prep Session at Springdale High School is Saturday, September 24 from 8:00-3:00. We will take a bus and leave from the school probably around 7:15am.

Have a good week. Please feel free to email me if you have any questions or concerns.
michael.warren@pgtigers.org

--Mrs. Warren

Square Dancing is Done and Grades are Posted!

2011-09-07T13:34:00.000-07:00

I hope that everyone had a great Labor Day weekend. I always enjoy the Clothesline Fair and square-dancing. My husband and I were even able to stay for the competition dancing which was a lot of fun to watch!

Well, if you haven't looked already, you might want to check out the edline updates for grades. I must say that in general, grades are not really where I would like them to be. Here are some tips to help your child in our English III class:

We have weekly grades for reading 35-40 pages of a novel (20 pts) and the article of the week (25pts).
Check the calendar on this website for assignments when absent. Just because you are absent, does not mean that you are excused from the work.
Do your best. Many students are okay with turning in half-completed work. Half-completed work that is turned in late is pretty much a zero. I expect your best at all times.

If your child is in AP Language and Composition, you may see that his/her grades are not what you are used to seeing. Please keep in mind that this is a college-level class, and your child will probably be pushed out of his/her comfort zone. This is a good thing! That means that he/she is learning. I will do everything in my power to protect grades with the understanding that your child will do everything that I ask of him/her. Please also remember that in May your child will take the AP exam and will receive weighted credit (so a C in the class becomes a B). It is also strongly suggested that your child attend all of the Saturday prep sessions to help get ready for the test.

Saturday Prep Sessions for AP English will be :

Saturday, September 24 at Springdale HS

Saturday, January 21 at Prairie Grove HS

Saturday, February 25 at Rogers HS

Please feel free to contact me if you have any concerns! Hope to see you at parent/teacher conferences on September 20 and 22 from 3:30 to 6:30.

--Mrs. Warren

Week Two--Complete!

2011-08-27T16:02:00.000-07:00

We survived another week. I'd like to give a shout out to the PGHS Tiger football and golf teams for jobs well done! GOOOOO TIGERS! Classes have been going pretty smoothly, and I think we are getting back into the swing of things.

Next Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday I will be gone to the Arkansas Leadership Academy Teacher Leadership Institute. I know it's early for me to be away so many days, but this is a great professional opportunity that helps support great teachers. I am so blessed to be a part of it! This is my fourth year to be involved with ALA, and I am a better teacher because of ALA. If you don't know much about it, here is a link. Check out what ALA's all about ! http://arkansasleadershipacademy.org/

The most important thing for students to realize about my being gone is that all the work I leave for them to do IS REAL! It's not just busy work. It's important work that I expect them to COMPLETE THOROUGHLY and with MAXIMUM EFFORT!

English III classes have been working on the Native American experience in early American literature. We will read our final Native American piece this coming week, and then work on a couple of different projects to wind up this section. Students will write a synthesis essay about what they've learned. We will also take a look at Native American stereotypes. Click on the calendar link above for more details.

AP students are reading and taking notes out of their Language of Composition books about rhetoric and close reading. This, too, IS NOT BUSY WORK! The information students are reading and taking notes about will serve as the foundation for all that we will learn this year. It's important. AP students will also have a test over this information on THURSDAY when I return. TAKING GOOD NOTES WILL PROVE VERY BENEFICIAL!! See the calendar above for specifics on assignments.

Reading students will spend time working on vocabulary skills and critical reading of non-fiction texts.

Hope everyone has a great week! It's a good week for learning!
Mrs. Warren

NOOKS!

2011-08-22T18:39:00.000-07:00

Today was a Monday...I spent most of the day trying to figure out what I did with my keys. I hate it when that happens! However, it was also a good day because I gave my reading class their NOOKS today. It is so cool to see students excited about technology. I hope that they accomplish A LOT of reading this year.
We also went to the library in all my English classes today so everybody in my English III classes should have a book to read. Students should read 35-40 pages of a book of their choice by Friday.
AP students--Don't forget about AP Parent Night tomorrow at 6:30 in the cafeteria! We'd love to see you there.

First Week-DONE!

2011-08-21T18:21:00.000-07:00

Well, we made it. At least I think we all made it! The first week of school was a great one in room 204 of PGHS. It was great to see all of my students again and hear all about their summers. I was really impressed with their "Where I'm From" poems. I learned even more about students I thought I already knew. My AP classes are pretty full, especially first hour, but we will make it just fine. I'm glad to have so many students who want to give AP a shot and who are up for the challenge. Don't forget that we are having an AP Parent Night this Tuesday, August 23 at 6:30 in the PGHS cafeteria. Come by and see how taking AP classes can benefit your child and ask any questions you may have about the AP programs. My English III classes spent time learning about Early American literature, and this week will start with reading Native American works.
All classes will visit the library tomorrow for library orientation. Students should start reading this week!

It's Almost Time for School!

2011-08-06T18:41:00.000-07:00

Hello! I am getting really excited about the new school year. My room is pretty much ready for my students, and I'm just about ready to go. I've spent a lot of time this summer preparing for the upcoming school year. It will be great! Who doesn't look forward to new backpacks, pencils, notebooks and Friday night football games? School supplies just make me happy!
Please check out our class blog often to see what's going on in AP Language and Composition, English III or Reading.

2011-01-04T09:10:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year and Welcome Back!
I don't like to make resolutions, but I know some things I really need to do a better job at-- making more posts about our work during this semester and keeping up with the class assignment calendars. What are your goals?

I'm excited about this semester. I hope you are too! What? What's that you say? You're ready for a snow day. Ok, I'd take one or two, but I don't ever want to go to school on a Saturday again!

2010-11-16T09:44:00.000-08:00

Every time I attend the Arkansas Teacher Leadership Academy, I get inspired. The ways of teaching and learning are changing. The way I learned as a student is not the way my students learn. As an educator, I am constantly evolving. I am constantly learning. This is necessary for my students and their future. This morning, it just hit me that I am finally ready to break away from the traditional ways of "doing school." I need my students to have a laptop or an i-pad in my class--every single day! This is their world. It's time for their teacher to join them. Now, figuring out how to get these tools in their hands is my task. They needed them yesterday!

2010-11-07T16:41:00.000-08:00

Oh my! It's been a while since I've made a post. It has been a whirlwind of year, and I can't believe we are in our second nine weeks and staring Thanksgiving in the face. Over the past couple of weeks, we said goodbye to our U of A intern, Ms. Jackson. I will really miss her, and I know the students will too. She is beginning her next rotation at Southwest Junior High in Springdale on Tuesday. We know she'll do a great job.

As for my students, Pre-AP English classes are beginning work on Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. Hopefully, it won't seem Greek to them by the time we are done with it! My English II students will continue reading and analyzing short stories. We are also going to focus on argumentative essays.

All classes will also continue with their independent novel reading. We will also begin some much needed grammar/sentence composing work.

There's so much to do! Let's get to it!

2010-09-12T19:18:00.000-07:00

Well, I must say that these first few weeks of school have really been great. Of course, there's more work than time to do it, but that is par for the course. Ms. Jackson, our U of A intern, has been a great help. She will be gradually taking over some of the teaching duties. I can't wait to see what creative lessons she has in store for our students.

I did spend time this weekend grading independent reading assignments. Students are to read from their self-selected novel each week. The goal is to complete one book a month. Each Friday, students will be asked to do some kind of work with their novel. Each week this is worth 20 points. After completing the novel, students will complete a "one-pager." To really accomplish a book a month, most students are going to have to read about 4o pages a week or more. To my dismay, many students are only reading 15-2o pages a week. This is not nearly enough.

Practice is what makes us better at football, basketball, driving, playing instruments. Reading is no different. This past week in class, we figured how many hours a year students spend reading. Then, we figured how much time they spent texting. They were shocked at the numbers. I am asking that these students spend some time practicing one of the most valuable skills they will ever need. Reading.

2010-08-30T19:30:00.000-07:00

We are starting our second full week of school. I can honestly say that I have really enjoyed the time with my new students. It has been great getting to know them, and I hope they are learning more about me as well.

Our routines are becoming a little more established. Each week students will have a vocabulary test. They get the words on Monday, and the quiz is on Friday. In addition, each Monday students will receive an article of the week. They should read, highlight and annotate the article. They should also write a page reflection about the topic of the article. This is not a summary. The final weekly grade students can expect revolves around their independent reading. Students had the opportunity to check out books from the library last Friday. It is expected that each student finish a book a month. Each week, we will complete activities that demonstrate the student is reading. These weekly points add up quickly. Don't miss out on them!

We are on our way--TODAY!

2010-08-18T09:01:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our English II classroom, and to those of you in my new reading class, welcome back! Have teachers been telling you how excited they are today to be starting school? to have you in their class? to see what the year brings? These phrases sound so cliche, don't they? You may not believe them.

But you know what? They are really true. Your teachers are here and keep coming back year after year after year because they love their jobs, and they love working with kids. I am no exception. I have been getting ready for this new school year pretty much all summer. I have been to countless meetings, read several books, and in general, have just been doing a lot of thinking about how our class will to this year.

Just so you know a little about me, I will tell you that I very rarely ever do things the same way twice. I am constantly searching for new, improved and more exciting ways to teach and learn. That is another one of the aspects I love about my job. I am a life-long learner. I hope you will be too. We will work hard, but I hope it is so fun that you hardly realize that you are working!

Another person who will be working with us is a teacher by the name of Ms. Jackson. She is an MAT intern from the University of Arkansas. She will gradually be assuming the teaching role in our classroom until the end of October. We are lucky to have her.

I am glad I am your teacher. It is no accident. Let's have a great, adventurous year!