Grades

The last day of the marking period is Friday, January 31st.

Many of you are still missing assignments. In fact, many of you have dropped 10 points or more in your marking period grade because of book talks and book reports. You need to have six book talks or book reports this marking period. If you turn them in by Wednesday, January 29th, I will accept them without any lateness penalty. After that date, I will not accept ANY late work for the second marking period.

Take this seriously and make up your work.

Renzulli, SnapGrades, email

361 - I have uploaded a holiday assignment on Renzulli.com. If you have completed your learning profiles, you should be able to access it. If you don't have one, you need to speak with me.

Remember, parents and students, you may email me whenever you have a question. My email is trbasile@gmail.com.

SnapGrades is here!

SnapGrades is up. I have uploaded all of my students into the system. Everyone has received his or her password. Parents will receive information about passwords as well so they can monitor their children's progress.

Alternative book projects

I've assigned Book Talk #6 for all of my classes to be turned in on Monday, December 8th. I have prepared a list of five alternative assignments to do *instead* of a book talk.

Book Review: Write a review of the book you have read in the style of a book review you might find in a magazine or newspaper. TeenInk.com has a lot of good ones.

Book Advertisement: Create a movie poster advertising the book you've finished. Include a (half-page typed, full-page handwritten) summary of the book.

Rap/Poem: Write a rap or a poem inspired by the book you read. It should discuss characters, plot, and setting.

Diorama: Create a three-dimensional diorama of a scene from the book. Include a paragraph summarizing the scene.

Character Journal: Write a (one-page typed, two-page handwritten) journal from the point of view of one of the characters in your book. Take a scene and write about it from a character's perspective.

If you do not wish to do any of these alternative projects, you may do a standard Book Talk instead.

In ALL of these assignments, you must include the title of the book, the author of the book, and YOUR NAME. I have many homework assignments with no name on them.

Spelling bee

I just witnessed and judged the spelling bee and I want to send congratulations to Jessica from 382 for winning second place! Aiyanna from 361 also participated and did very well. I'm proud of both of you.

Conferences and celebrations

I was pleased to see many parents last night at parent-teacher conferences. Thank you to those who came. If anyone would like to contact me about work, you may email me at trbasile@gmail.com.

I also would like to congratulate the students of the month for the month of October!:

382 - Jugens
383 - Andrew
361 - Coty

These students have a 100% homework turn-in rate, excellent behavior, and great classwork. Congratulations to you all. I will arrange your independent library periods soon. (Dunessa, I haven't forgotten about yours; I have to reschedule because I didn't want you to miss class today).

Renzulli update, parent/teacher conferences

My original goal was to take all three classes to the computer lab by Friday, November 21st, to set up their Renzulli accounts. Unfortunately, I will be missing two periods with 383 this week because of our half-day tomorrow. I will take 383 to the computer lab next week when we have a free period.

I hope to see all of my students' parents tomorrow at parent-teacher conferences. Remember, the two sessions take place during 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm and 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm.