English 10

1. English 10 Mr. Josefino Rivera, Jr. AOSR September 8-9, 2010

2. Homework for Friday/Monday Summer Reading Project due Tuesday/Wednesday, September 21/22. www.aosrenglish10.wikispaces.com

3. Today’s Objectives • Share highlights from letters to Mr. Rivera and patterns in class. • Show knowledge of course and ask questions about it. • Problematize how we listen and debrief. • Share and discuss your “querencia.” • Learn the summer reading assignment– due next Thursday/Friday, September 16-17.

4. Letters to Mr. Rivera (C Block) • However that’s not to say I learn slowly, it merely depends on the class. For example, math and science are easy to learn since they’re my favorite subjects. Yet on the other hand, language classes come slowly because I find them rather boring and full of moments where the teacher will rant on for the whole period expecting the information to be absorbed like a sponge. • I might be the definition of an “international student.” When asked where I’m from, I keep it short and simple and say Cape Cod, Massachusetts even though I’ve never lived there. I was born there but moved to Greece, Washington D.C., Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador, Denmark, and now Rome. • If you knew me, you would realize that I’m not your average teenager. I’m actually very mature for my age. • The class I enjoyed the most was Geometry. It made me start loving math and choose my IB path, which brings me to my hopes and fears this year. At the end of sophomore year, you find out if you can enter the IB program and do do so you must maintain a 3.0 GPA. My greatest fear is not to achieve this goal. • I’ve lived in Rome my entire life. I absolutely love my hometown, especially because we are completely engulfed and surrounded by ancient monuments. • I’m not a fan of writing, though I journal a page each day. • P.S. You have the best haircut among all the teachers I have ever met.

5. Letters to Mr. Rivera (F Block) • A book I loved was Veronika Decides to Die by Paulo Coelho because I could recognize myself in Veronika’s character. In fact, when I read it, it was very shocking and at a certain point, I started crying. • I enjoy improving my English because it always turns out to be useful for me. • I like it when there are short lectures in class that aren’t completely serious because I have a short attention span. Copying work down from the board is my least favorite way to learn. • People would find it surprising that I am interested in writing. • My favorite class in my past year was science. I loved it because I’m the kind of person that likes to see and learn how things happen and work. • My learning style is kinesthetic. I like to work in groups and do projects rather than having to work alone. • My hopes for this year are to enter the IB program. It’s required to have and maintain a 3.0 GPA and get excellent grades. My fear is that I will not be able to keep up the good work, disappoint my family and especially myself. • I was born in Rome, but my family moved to Indonesia when I was 3 weeks old. After almost 4 years, we moved back to Rome for 2 years (I learned Italian). From there we moved to Canberra, Australia (where I learned to speak English with an upward accent and detest Vegemite). Then we moved to Havana, Cuba for 3 years and I learned a vulgar, botched Spanish. • I learned that if success is the petrol or fuel of our life, failure is surely the emergency brakes.

6. Course Information Card Quiz • This course will be organized according to… • Two major texts we will read in this course are… • The semester final is worth…% of my grade. • If I have an unexcused absence, my late work will be worth… • Food is not allowed in HS 15, but I can bring… • Five materials I must bring to class every day are… • If I am not happy with my grade on an essay, I have…(amount of time) to revise it. • When I need help outside of class, I should… What questions do you have about this course?

7. Daily Journal • Please put your homework on your desk for credit: materials and course info sheet. • Get out a sheet of paper and answer the following questions in one paragraph. Please provide examples and commentary to support your ideas. Where is your “querencia” and why? When was a time you had to go to your “querencia”? What did you bring and how does it symbolize your “querencia”?

8. Listening Activity • Read the listening behavior on the card but do NOT tell anyone what it says. • Mingle around the room and summarize your response to your partner, while performing the listening behavior on the card. • Make sure both people respond. • Visit another person if time permits.

9. Debrief • What behavior did you have? • What did that feel like? • What behavior did you encounter? • What did it feel like to speak to someone with that behavior? • How should you behave when speaking to a partner or a group? • Pair share with your table partner your summary.

10. Participation Rubric

11. Speed Dating • Introduce yourself. • Shake hands. • One of you shares ideas. The other listens. • Please make sure you explain your ideas so someone else understands why you think the way you do. • Then switch.

12. Speed Dating Questions Share your responses to the following prompts: • Where is your “querencia” and why? • Describe a time you had to retreat to your “querencia.” • What artifact did you bring and how does it symbolize your “querencia”? • Where is your “querencia” when you write? How is it similar or different to your other “querencia”?

13. Summer Reading Project

14. Last One Standing

15. Homework • Summer Reading Project due Tuesday/Wednesday, September 21/22.

16. Exit Card 3 adjectives to describe how your first week of school is going 2 things you learned about listening 1 question you have about this class