Discussion of "Syntax" in AP Vertical Team Blog

Hey folks...so, next Friday we're discussing "Syntax"...something I know I don't have a great handle on. It's going to be a learning experience for me, to say the least. Throughout the next week, if you have a comment on the chapter, or a question, or whatever, post it in the comments section.

AP Vertical Team Meeting 2/15/6

Today, three of us met in my room to discuss integrating strategies from the AP Vertical team guide in order to help transform the way we collectively go about our business.

Today, the topic of discussion was diction. We discussed the following:

• LEAD (Low or Informal Diction, Elevated Language or Formal Diction, Abstract and Concrete Diction, Denotation and Connotation) - This is an acronym the guide suggests for helping students indentify AND analyze diction in a work. We discussed how younger students would be able to handle identifying the level of diction, and the methods we could use to help scaffold them up to the analytical task.
• Vocabulary/Connotation - We acknowledged that connotation is a bit more difficult for younger students, which led us into a general discussion of vocabulary intruction department wide. Many times we have a hard time getting students to recognize and understand complex words, much less the meanings suggested by the words. We talked about the things we do when we "do" vocabulary. We also talked about working to create a vocab list. We weren't sure about the overall setup, but its a discussion we'd like to revisit. More on that later.
• We decided that next Wednesday, February 21st, we will have a working meeting to discuss and develop some semblance of a list of vocabulary words. (We should probably take into account the thematic units being discussed/developed at the lead teacher meetings.)
• We will discuss the section titled "Syntax" from 36-53 for next Friday, February 23rd.

Finally, we hope that more department members will attend these meetings. We are being paid through the grant, and think it is a great opportunity to talk about structuring and improving our instruction. If you can't, try to read along, and comment in the next post titled "Syntax".


(I am adding this note as I will be printing out this post to insert into people's mailboxes. Hey, check out our blog at www.mackenglishdept.blogspot.com! I'm posting any and all department information, so if you don't, you're missing out.)

AP Vertical Team Meeting 2/1 7:30

Well, we met again last Thursday morning. We all read the chapter beforehand, and discussed the following items:

• Utilizing a SIFT Method Chart/Graphic Organizer across grade levels and in all classes. We think that this is one possible option for starting to use the same terminology on a mass scale.
• We started to discuss structuring information and activities over the grade levels. We figured that a good way to get students to start discussing tone would be to have them read various opinion/editorial pieces in 9th and 10th grade. Then they could start working with texts with subtler tones in 11th and 12th (such as novels and poetry).
• We also talked about the best ways to go about building skills, specifically in reference to the literary elements. We think it best to limit literary element discussion in each grade to just a few essential terms. We realize that as much time as we devote time to literary elements, students have no idea what we are talking about most of time. We also spoke about implementation of uniform double entry journals.
• I'm sure we spoke about more, but, since four days have lapsed, I think I've forgotten some stuff. I guess random disfunctional notes in the margins of my AP Vertical Team booklet may not be the best way to go. CURSE YOU ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER! Anyway, if I've forgotten major things, pop them in the comments.
• Lastly, we are meeting again Thursday 2/8 at 7:30. We are reading pages 25-36. On the docket are tragedy, diction, and denotation & connotation.
  

Even More Contests & Boquard's Tech Infusion Link

Susquehanna U puts together a publication for student writing and photography. Here goes:

The Journalism Department of the Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University (that's a mouthful) is having a high school journalism contest about the importance of the availability of free media. Word.



Lastly, Lesley put a sheet in all of our mailboxes which described Project Poster. Here's the link: Project Poster. Looks pretty neat.

Tandberg Distance Learning

Hey dudes, far be it from me to plug the Buffalo Teacher Center, as I've never taken a class there, but I just signed up for a one day three hour workshop to be trained on the giant double TV sets currently used to hold the floor down in the library. I guess the thing offers virtual field trips in addition to distance learning and other things. I'll let you know what I find out. There was a BTRC email in my Lotus notes account.

If anyone else is interested, there are like 8 slots still open.

AP Vertical Team Meeting 1/25 7:30

Before the Meeting: The Vertical Team was to read pages 1-12 of the AP Vertical Team's Guide for English

Minutes: Generally, we discussed different points raised by the AP VTGfE. These included:

• the overall look and feel of our vertical team. We decided to skip the ice breakers, and headed straight to the overall schematics.
  
• the need for gathering information about the incoming freshmen. With a change in curriculum, it is necessary to inquire about the ELA experiences incoming freshmen will be bringing to us in the 2007-2008 school year
• the need to develop common methods and terminology for the various things we do. The guide includes different strategies that support the type of thinking necessary for AP Language & Literature. In the coming months, while reading through the guide, we are planning on isolating strategies which are integral. We will then implement these strategies slowly this year, ultimately planning on wider implementation in 2007-2008.
• the possibility of creating student writing portfolios that follow students throughout their high school careers. These portofolios would be started with next year's incoming class
• the possibility of securing funds to buy AP materials & for training
  

Next Meeting: 2/1/7

Next Meeting Items: Read APVTGfE 13-24 in order to discuss S.I.F.T. method of literary analysis. Discuss schoolwide vertical implementation methods.

Darfur Workshop

Anne sent along an email from Fanny Zanolli about a workshop for English and Social Studies about Darfur. The application thingy is above. Below is the text from the email:

Hi! I'm still part of some listserv opportunities from my former job and sometimes opportunities come across my home email, which I will share with you. Earlier this week, the Holocaust Resource Center sent out over 1000 invitations to area 7th-12th grade English and Social Studies teachers alerting them about a special Teachers Workshop on the genocide that is happening today in Darfur and how to integrate this information into their classrooms. This workshop will be held from 10AM-2PM on Saturday, February 3rd, at Daemen College's Schenck Hall. This invitation is attached below for more specifics.

Please pass this along to others so that we can reach as many people as possible and forgive me if you have already seen this information\.

Lunch is included, and there is no charge.

Sincerely,
Fannie Lynn Zanolli