TAKS Prep course

Lesson Plans for 1^st 9 Weeks

8.15.2005– <Journal entry, DOL, TAKS Practice (1-2 objective questions)>  Rules, procedures and policies, Pass out syllabi, Letter to parents, TAKS Testing Dates, Restroom passes, student handbooks, Student info. sheets, Sharing our work in class policy and the idea behind it (not to embarrass anyone), Annual theme (Goals)  Homework:  Have Journal folders ready to use for next class period.  Be prepared for rules and procedures quiz!!!

8.16.2005– <Journal entry, DOL, TAKS Practice> Write a practice essay  (will use same essay for all essay work until specified).  Complete it for homework.

8.17.2005– <Journal entry DOL, TAKS Practice> Self-evaluate essays using Do’s and Don’ts sheet.  Use highlighters to code errors in paper. 

8.18.2005 – <Journal entry: If you could be any color what would you be and why? DOL, TAKS Practice> Rewrite essays, correcting highlighted areas and adding “Do’s” in their place.

8.19.2005– <Journal entry: Describe your best friend in a paragraph of 5 sentences or more.

DOL, TAKS Practice> Share essays in class and evaluate together. Homework: Make suggested changes.

8.22.2005– <Journal entry: What is your favorite thing about Waxahachie High School and why?   DOL, TAKS Practice> Continue Sharing essays

8.23.2005– <Journal entry: Write your own obituary in a half-page.  Evaluate use of examples in essay.  Use the “My Life, Friends and Family, People in the News” chart to gather examples on this topic.  First, complete one as a class.  Then students complete their own.  Can any of these be added to the paper?

8.24.2005– <Journal entry: What would you be doing today if you were not in school? DOL, TAKS Practice> Practice> Rewrite paper using examples from the chart completed yesterday.  Evaluate papers as a class as volunteers share theirs. 

8.25.2005 – <Journal entry; Write a paragraph explaining what it takes to write a good essay.  DOL, TAKS Practice> Discuss the importance of including philosophy in a paper.  Look at examples. Define and develop philosophies for several topics. 

8.26.2005– <Journal entry: What is your life philosophy and why?, DOL, TAKS Practice> Add philosophies to essay. Develop 4 philosophies for current essay (for daily grade at end of class) and include them in the paper.

8.29.2005– Journal entry:  Why is it important to plan ahead?

DOL and TAKS Practice

Discuss Pre-writing for the TAKS essay, Taking notes from overhead.

Read p. 250 as a class.

Practice planning and organizing an essay; Complete in the Measuring Up Book, pp.253-254 1-4 only (on your own paper).  Note: The Me/ My family and friends/ People in the News chart will not be effective for the essay on p. 254 because the prompt asks only about you.  Choose an organizational pattern on p. 250.

8.30.2005—Journal, DOL and TAKS Practice

Discuss Essay Rubric

Evaluate sample essays to determine common characteristics of successful essays

9.1.2005—Journal, DOL and TAKS Practice

Complete Highlighting activity (philosophy, reflection, anecdote, facts)

Evaluate sample essay and compare with own essay.

9.2.2005—Journal, DOL and TAKS practice

Discuss methods for Revision and editing

Revise/ Edit essays for completion by tomorrow.

9.3.2005—Journal, DOL and TAKS practice

Turn in Essays for exam grades

Begin 1^st lesson of Study Island