My freshmen have been working on Task 2 essays this week. I’ve tried to ingrain in their brains that a Regents essay has nothing to do with a “real” essay, that there’s a way to write a Regents essay and a “real” essay should never be written like a Regents essay. Here, we were sorting out what details from the article could be used to support positions on either side.
This was the last full week of school. We’ve got a three-day weekend (I’m headed to the mountains!), so I have four days next week, two of which will be taken up by final exams. I won’t see my seniors on Tuesday, since they’ll be at Six Flags, an annual senior tradition.
The following week, we’ve got a PD day on Thursday, and then the last day of school is the following Tuesday. The time will fly, I know, especially as attendance starts to dwindle. In the meantime, there are finals to grade, AP classes to shape for next Fall, performance reviews to write (mine!) and grades to do (theirs!).
I’m also deep in the throes of planning for this summer’s tech invitational. I had an incredibly productive meeting today with the Tech Advisory Committee that will help tremendously in shaping the course. I’m excited!
But for now, all I’m thinking about is the lemonade I’m making for this weekend (I had lot of fresh lemons to use up!), the laundry in the machine and the camping preparations to be made.
Have a good weekend and get outside!!
Created with Paul’s flickrSLiDR.
[For people who say that teachers don't work hard...]
Monday-I’m taking a bunch of kids to the Columbia University campus for a tour and a stop at the Welcome Center to get information. I have a trip planned to NYU as well, for the same students, sometime before the end of classes.
Tuesday-My Opening Act students are performing at The Public. The show is at 6:30, but we’re leaving school at 1:30 to do a run-through of lighting cues at the theatre.
Wednesday-I’m helping a teacher chaperone a field trip to The Hispanic Society of America. Then, I have a meeting with a colleague to plan for this summer’s NYCWP Summer Technology Invitational.
Thursday-Another Tech Thursday meeting and more planning for the invitational.
Friday-A Technology Advisory Committee meeting and more planning for this summer.
On top of all this, I have a June 1st deadline for the project I’m consulting on for NBC, which means I have to get it done before I go out of town for Memorial Day weekend.
I’m definitely looking forward to heading out of town Saturday morning for a weekend of camping in the Berkshires.
My kids rocked the AP exam on Wednesday plus many of them were inducted into the National Honor Society last night (all four officers are in my class!). The occasion called for more than mere munchkins…
And…..I decided today that I’m helping to chaperone a school trip to Spain next winter! I am beyond excited…
Good news! The NYCWP Summer Tech Invitational is now open for registration.
Ken Stein and I will be leading a three week seminar that will look at Web 2.0 tools in the context of Writing Project practices. The seminar runs from July 9th to July 26th, Monday through Thursday (Can I get an AMEN for Summer Fridays?!). This year, the seminar will be held at Info Tech High School in Long Island City, Queens. Participants will receive three CUNY graduate credits, or can opt for a stipend, which are limited in number. (Personally, I would go for the credits as they are much more valuable than the stipend.)
Download the application
here. Feel free to run off copies and distribute to whomever is interested. Remember, seminars are more fun when you bring along your fellow teacher-friends!
[composed and posted with ecto]
Good news! The NYCWP Summer Tech Invitational is now open for registration.
Ken Stein and I will be leading a three week seminar that will look at Web 2.0 tools in the context of Writing Project practices. The seminar runs from July 9th to July 26th, Monday through Thursday (Can I get an AMEN for Summer Fridays?!). This year, the seminar will be held at Info Tech High School in Long Island City, Queens. Participants will receive three CUNY graduate credits, or can opt for a stipend, which are limited in number. (Personally, I would go for the credits as they are much more valuable than the stipend.)
Download the application here. Feel free to run off copies and distribute to whomever is interested. Remember, seminars are more fun when you bring along your fellow teacher-friends!
