Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Sunday, October 5, 2014

Grammar and Punctuation in Pre-AP English 10

Sophomores have a variety of ways that they work on their grammar and punctuation in class. Teachers provide extensive feedback on student writing on Turnitin so that students can learn from their mistakes. The Quickmarks on Turnitin even tell students the grammar or punctuation rule being violated so that they can learn from that.

Students also can visit The Writing Center or with their teachers during collaborative time to go over any grammar and punctuation rules that they do not understand after reviewing their Quickmarks. In fact, students are encouraged to visit the Writing Center at any time during the writing process for essays.


And of course, teachers provide direct instruction in class on grammar and punctuation.  These lessons often move quickly so that the students who already understand the rules, can get to the new information.


Yesterday in Ms. Roehl's English class students reviewed punctuation rules for coordinating conjunctions, subordinating conjunctions, conjunctive adverbs, and semicolons.  Students were challenged to write more complex sentences this weekend in their compare/contrast essays.  Students also learned how to eliminate passive voice sentence structures in their writing to challenge the stronger writers to write at a professional journalist active voice level.


Whew! That was a busy day. Some students stayed after class to ask for a way to practice these rules even more since they wanted to catch up with their classmates who were able to discuss how to punctuate complex sentences by analyzing the types of clauses. English teachers love hearing students say stuff like, "Can you help me understand the coordinating conjunction even more?"


Therefore, the Pre-AP team will put together a weekly tutorial here for students.  The tutorial this week is on the coordinating conjuction. Tutorials will include both videos, websites, and quizzes for more practice on the rules and writing style ideas that we discuss in class.


Here's some information to review on how to punctuate with a coordinating conjunction--(the FANBOYS). For And Nor But Or Yet So.


If you want to watch another teacher explain this rule, click here for a video tutorial.


Here's a college website that explains the rules.


After you review these sources, take this quiz on punctuating properly with the coordinating conjunction.

Mon, Oct 6, 2014 Daily Agenda

Fri, Oct 3, 2014 Daily Agenda

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Friday, September 19, 2014

Fri, Sep 19, 2014 Daily Agenda

First Semester College Planning Checklist for Sophomores


Below is some college search advice from the counselors and Pre-AP English team.

·       Register for and take the PSAT test Friday, Sept. 19, Wednesday, September 24(during Collaborative time in the Commons) and Friday September 26 during the lunch room in the cafeteria.  Registration is $20.00

·       PLAN test is on Wednesday, Nov 5.  This is a practice ACT test.  Take the test seriously.  It is a graduation requirement.  It gives you an indication of strengths and weakness on the ACT test.

Study Hard and do well in school – take your sophomore grades seriously. Your grades (9-12) will appear on your EHS transcript.  Also, think before you act: plagiarism and academic dishonesty may need to be reported on your college applications.

National College Fair is Tuesday, October 7th and Wednesday, October 8th at the Minneapolis Convention Center.  There is an evening program from 4:30 – 8:00 pm on Tuesday for all students if you do not want to miss school.

Get involved in extracurricular activities.  You never know where your involvement will take you! 

Get to know your teachers. You may need one or two to write a letter of recommendation for you. Don’t be caught senior year with limited options in this area, especially since some selective schools have requirements of English and math teachers.

Take advantage of your MEA break or any other school break and family trips to start visiting colleges.  Be sure to contact the college prior to visiting and schedule a tour.  Begin to think about what you are looking for in a college in terms of size, majors, location, activities, etc.  Minnesota colleges like St. Olaf have special days planned for MEA Break.  They feed you two meals, give you a tour, and let you meet professors. Lots of ninth and tenth graders are there.

If you start researching schools now, you’ll discover any specific requirements like California public schools (like Berkeley, UCLA, UCSB) require a high school world history class. Click here for University of California requirements.

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Author Heidi Durrow is coming in the spring!

The Pre-AP 10 team is so happy to announce that Heidi Durrow, award-winning author of The Girl Who Fell from the Sky, is coming to speak with our students on April 8, 2015! I know. We think it's amazing, too. Heidi Durrow has been communicating with Pre-AP 10 teachers and students on Twitter and via email as we read her book. She's gracious enough to make a stop at EHS to work with our tenth grade students when she's in town speaking at the Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference next April. We can't wait to meet her! Here's a picture of Ms. Hatten's first hour class with their books AND bookmarks from Ms. Durrow that arrived today in the mail!

Thu, Sep 18, 2014 Daily Agenda

Wed, Sep 17, 2014 Daily Agenda

Tue, Sep 16, 2014 Daily Agenda

Monday, September 15, 2014

Friday, September 5, 2014

Pre-AP English 10 Awarded Art Start Grant



The Pre-AP English 10 team is excited to announce that today we were awarded an Art Start grant for the third year in a row.  Art Start grants are funded through Minnesota Legacy Funds and given to educators and organizations committed to preserving Minnesota's heritage.

Last year we used the grant to take 60 EHS students on a two-day seminar to Ft. Snelling State Park to learn the Dakota language, write poetry, create art, explore the park's ecology, and discuss the history of Minnesota. Our teachers for those two days were: Dr. Gwen Westerman, an English professor and poet from Mankato State University and author of Mni Sota Makoce and Follow the Blackbirds; Glenn Wasicuna, a first speaker of the Dakota language and teacher at Dakota Wicohan; and Julie Boada, an Anishinabe artist and puppeteer.

Read this Sun Current article to find out more about last year's amazing experience.


Passion Project Pep Talks

EHS juniors having been visiting Pre-AP English 10 classrooms this week discussing their Passion Projects and encouraging sophomores to make the most of this awesome personalized learning opportunity. In this photo Amelia B. provides a sample passion project to Ms. Hatten's 1st hour.