Week 4: 2A HSA Online Practice Schedule and Directions

Online HSA Practice Schedule:

This week you'll begin your online HSA review course. The instructions for completing this are below. Follow the steps and you'll get your weekly homework credit. It's that simple! It will take you about fifteen minutes or so to complete each indicator review.

For this homework assignment you'll get to practice answering HSA-style questions. The sytem will tell you what you get right and wrong, and you'll have a chance to correct yourself and learn from your mistakes. We'll go over all of this material in class, but this give you an opportunity to get more practice in at home!

Each week leading up to the HSA Benchmark in late October you'll have to complete test questions for two separate indicators. The schedule is spelled out below. Aditionally, your blog reponse for the next five weeks will be centered around your work on this HSA review website.

Here are the three questions you'll have to answer every week in the comments section of this blog:

1. What concepts/ideas did you learn about when you studied the two HSA indicators for this week's homework?

Example Response: This week I worked on questions that dealt with pre-reading and during reading strategies (indicators 1.1.1 and 1.1.2). In these questions I learned how to...

2. What was easy/difficult for you in these questions? How did you do on each indictor? Did you score over or under 50% (i.e. 5/10)? Be specific!

Example Response: I found these questions very easy because I am a strong reader. I was able to use the reading strategies I learned in night grade and the strategies we're working on with Mr. Sabath to answer all of these questions. Some of the passages were a bit long, but I know I have to get used to reading on these tests. The poetry was also a bit tricky, so I'd like to get more practice reading poetry in this class with you, Mr. Sabath! Despite this, I got 90% of all the questions right for each indicator, so I think I'm ready for these kind of questions. (Or, I got less than 50% right on these questions, so I need extra practice with these kinds of questions that will appear on the HSA).

3. What is your opinion of this online test prep site? Why do you like it? Why don't you like it? Be specific!

Example Reponse: I love this site because it gives me a chance to practice my test-taking strategies.

Homework Schedule for First Quarter indicators:

September 12-18: Do the online exercises for indicators 1.1.1 and 1.1.2

September 19-25: Do the online exercises for indicators 1.1.4 and 1.2.2

September 26 –October 2: Do the online exercises for indicators 1.2.3 and 2.1.1

October 3 – 9: Do the online exercises for indicators 2.1.4 and 2.2.1

October 10 – 16: Do the online exercise for indicators 3.1.3 and 3.1.4

Online HSA Practice Directions:

High School Assessment Online Practice

Step 1: Go to http://apps.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/hsaprep/

Step 2: Enter your email address and name.Use this every time because the system will keep track of your progress.

Step 3: Pull down the subject tab to English.Choose the“By Indicator” test type that you are working on for the week.

Step 4: For each indicator, print out your results and return this data to class to get your homework grade for each week.Optionally, you can copy and paste your results into an email and send them from your PGCPS Gmail account to peter.sabath@pgcps.org.IF YOU DO THIS, PLEASE LIST YOUR NAME AND CLASS PERIOD IN THE SUBJECT LINE (eg. 2A, 2B, 3A, or 3B).If you don’t have a printer, bring in a letter from a parent stating this and use the charts attached (or create your own charts) to keep track of the questions you get right and wrong.Write down the indicator at the top of each chart and for each question put a check (or X) in the correct column if you get it right or in the incorrect column if you get it wrong.

As it is the first quarter, now you only have to focus on the first quarter indicators below as you prepare for your first quarter HSA Benchmark Exam during the last week of this quarter (October 17-26).

Overview of indicators for each quarter:

First Quarter Indicators: 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.1.4, 1.2.2, 1.2.3, 2.1.1, 2.1.4, 2.2.1, 3.1.3, 3.1.4

Second Quarter Indicators: 1.1.3, 1.2.1, 1.2.4, 1.2.5, 1.3.5, 2.2.2, 2.2.3, 2.2.5, 3.1.6,

3.1.8

Third and Fourth Quarter Indicators: 1.3.3, 2.3.1, 2.3.3, 3.1.1, 3.2.2, 3.3.1, 3.3.2,

4.1.1, 4.2.1, 4.3.1

Week 3: Online Vocabulary Building Procedures 3B

Greetings, Young Scholars!

This week you'll explore a free online resource for learning vocabulary, which is called Vocab Ahead. Every week you'll be responsible for learning 10-20 vocabulary words. You will primarily study these on your own at home and have a short quiz at the beginning of every week. You can find the first 15 words by scrolling to the the bottom of this blog - I've embedded these words here for you to look at just in case you have trouble getting into your Vocab Ahead accounts.

Here's the site: http://www.vocabahead.com/

Here's what you need to do get access to the first list of words for the year:

Step 1: Go to the site listed above. Just click on the link!

Step 2: Enter the STUDY ROOM. You'll see the link here on the ribbon at the top of the screen. Second from the left.

Step 3: Click on the REGISTER tab in the top right. Follow directions to register. It's free! Don't worry!

Step 4: Login using your user name and password.

Step 5: Go to the SHARED LISTS tab on the top right of the screen in the study room and scroll down until you see "sabath sept 5-11"

Step 6: Click on this list and then click on GET THE LIST. This will enable you to copy this list to your account.

Step 7: Go to the VIDEOS tab in your study room account and click on the drop-down arrow. Now you should see the "Sabath sept 5-11" list. Here you can watch the videos for these 15 vocab words, which you'll be quizzed on at the beginning of next week.

Step 8: You can now study these words by watching the videos for each word, as well as quizzing yourself and creating study flashcards! Isn't this fun?

Step 9: Create a list of these words in the appropraite section of your porfolio for vocabulary building (i.e. your Reader/Writer Notebook in the Writing section). I will check this next week, so get it done! Make sure you write down each word, definition, and an original example sentence.

We will walk through these steps in class, so don't worry. Once you've completed the nine steps above, please respond to these questions in the comments section of the Blog:

1. What do you think about the Vocab Ahead website? Will these videos and this system help you improve your vocabulary? Why/why not? Will you still use a dictionary to study words in the more traditional way?

2. Tell me which vocabulary video you liked best and why. Use the word from this video in a creative, original sentence related to your life and personality. Here's an example sentence: I like to accentuate the importance of education in the classroom because this is your passport to success in the future. And another: I love to hike the acclivity that is known as Crescent Rock on the Appalachian Trail in Harpers Ferry, WV.

Good Luck!

Week 3: Online Vocabulary Building Procedures 2B

Greetings, Young Scholars!

This week you'll explore a free online resource for learning vocabulary, which is called Vocab Ahead. Every week you'll be responsible for learning 10-20 vocabulary words. You will primarily study these on your own at home and have a short quiz at the beginning of every week. You can find the first 15 words by scrolling to the the bottom of this blog - I've embedded these words here for you to look at just in case you have trouble getting into your Vocab Ahead accounts.

Here's the site: http://www.vocabahead.com/

Here's what you need to do get access to the first list of words for the year:

Step 1: Go to the site listed above. Just click on the link!

Step 2: Enter the STUDY ROOM. You'll see the link here on the ribbon at the top of the screen. Second from the left.

Step 3: Click on the REGISTER tab in the top right. Follow directions to register. It's free! Don't worry!

Step 4: Login using your user name and password.

Step 5: Go to the SHARED LISTS tab on the top right of the screen in the study room and scroll down until you see "sabath sept 5-11"

Step 6: Click on this list and then click on GET THE LIST. This will enable you to copy this list to your account.

Step 7: Go to the VIDEOS tab in your study room account and click on the drop-down arrow. Now you should see the "Sabath sept 5-11" list. Here you can watch the videos for these 15 vocab words, which you'll be quizzed on at the beginning of next week.

Step 8: You can now study these words by watching the videos for each word, as well as quizzing yourself and creating study flashcards! Isn't this fun?

Step 9: Create a list of these words in the appropraite section of your porfolio for vocabulary building (i.e. your Reader/Writer Notebook in the Writing section). I will check this next week, so get it done! Make sure you write down each word, definition, and an original example sentence.

We will walk through these steps in class, so don't worry. Once you've completed the nine steps above, please respond to these questions in the comments section of the Blog:

1. What do you think about the Vocab Ahead website? Will these videos and this system help you improve your vocabulary? Why/why not? Will you still use a dictionary to study words in the more traditional way?

2. Tell me which vocabulary video you liked best and why. Use the word from this video in a creative, original sentence related to your life and personality. Here's an example sentence: I like to accentuate the importance of education in the classroom because this is your passport to success in the future. And another: I love to hike the acclivity that is known as Crescent Rock on the Appalachian Trail in Harpers Ferry, WV.

Good Luck!

Week 3: Online Vocabulary Building Procedures 3A

Greetings, Young Scholars!

This week you'll explore a free online resource for learning vocabulary, which is called Vocab Ahead. Every week you'll be responsible for learning 10-20 vocabulary words. You will primarily study these on your own at home and have a short quiz at the beginning of every week. You can find the first 15 words by scrolling to the the bottom of this blog - I've embedded these words here for you to look at just in case you have trouble getting into your Vocab Ahead accounts.

Here's the site: http://www.vocabahead.com/

Here's what you need to do get access to the first list of words for the year:

Step 1: Go to the site listed above. Just click on the link!

Step 2: Enter the STUDY ROOM. You'll see the link here on the ribbon at the top of the screen. Second from the left.

Step 3: Click on the REGISTER tab in the top right. Follow directions to register. It's free! Don't worry!

Step 4: Login using your user name and password.

Step 5: Go to the SHARED LISTS tab on the top right of the screen in the study room and scroll down until you see "sabath sept 5-11"

Step 6: Click on this list and then click on GET THE LIST. This will enable you to copy this list to your account.

Step 7: Go to the VIDEOS tab in your study room account and click on the drop-down arrow. Now you should see the "Sabath sept 5-11" list. Here you can watch the videos for these 15 vocab words, which you'll be quizzed on at the beginning of next week.

Step 8: You can now study these words by watching the videos for each word, as well as quizzing yourself and creating study flashcards! Isn't this fun?

Step 9: Create a list of these words in the appropraite section of your porfolio for vocabulary building (i.e. your Reader/Writer Notebook in the Writing section). I will check this next week, so get it done! Make sure you write down each word, definition, and an original example sentence.

We will walk through these steps in class, so don't worry. Once you've completed the nine steps above, please respond to these questions in the comments section of the Blog:

1. What do you think about the Vocab Ahead website? Will these videos and this system help you improve your vocabulary? Why/why not? Will you still use a dictionary to study words in the more traditional way?

2. Tell me which vocabulary video you liked best and why. Use the word from this video in a creative, original sentence related to your life and personality. Here's an example sentence: I like to accentuate the importance of education in the classroom because this is your passport to success in the future. And another: I love to hike the acclivity that is known as Crescent Rock on the Appalachian Trail in Harpers Ferry, WV.

Good Luck!

Week 3: Online Vocabulary Building Procedures 2A

Greetings, Young Scholars!

This week you'll explore a free online resource for learning vocabulary, which is called Vocab Ahead.  Every week you'll be responsible for learning 10-20 vocabulary words.  You will primarily study these on your own at home and have a short quiz at the beginning of every week.  You can find the first 15 words by scrolling to the the bottom of this blog - I've embedded these words here for you to look at just in case you have trouble getting into your Vocab Ahead accounts.

Here's the site: http://www.vocabahead.com/

Here's what you need to do get access to the first list of words for the year:

Step 1: Go to the site listed above.  Just click on the link!

Step 2: Enter the STUDY ROOM.  You'll see the link here on the ribbon at the top of the screen.  Second from the left.

Step 3: Click on the REGISTER tab in the top right.  Follow directions to register.  It's free!  Don't worry!

Step 4: Login using your user name and password.

Step 5: Go to the SHARED LISTS tab on the top right of the screen in the study room and scroll down until you see "sabath sept  5-11"

Step 6: Click on this list and then click on GET THE LIST.  This will enable you to copy this list to your account.

Step 7: Go to the VIDEOS tab in your study room account and click on the drop-down arrow.  Now you should see the "Sabath sept 5-11" list.  Here you can watch the videos for these 15 vocab words, which you'll be quizzed on at the beginning of next week.

Step 8: You can now study these words by watching the videos for each word, as well as quizzing yourself and creating study flashcards!  Isn't this fun? 

Step 9: Create a list of these words in the appropraite section of your porfolio for vocabulary building (i.e. your Reader/Writer Notebook in the Writing section).  I will check this next week, so get it done!  Make sure you write down each word, definition, and an original example sentence.

We will walk through these steps in class, so don't worry.  Once you've completed the nine steps above, please respond to these questions in the comments section of the Blog:

1. What do you think about the Vocab Ahead website?  Will these videos and this system help you improve your vocabulary?  Why/why not?  Will you still use a dictionary to study words in the more traditional way?

2.  Tell me which vocabulary video you liked best and why.  Use the word from this video in a creative, original sentence related to your life and personality.  Here's an example sentence: I like to accentuate the importance of education in the classroom because this is your passport to success in the future.  And another: I love to hike the acclivity that is known as Crescent Rock on the Appalachian Trail in Harpers Ferry, WV.

Good Luck!

Speaking Out: Week 2/Unit 1 Period 3B

This week we'll start reading a series of three speeches. This week we'll focus on Sojourner Truth's "Ain't I a Woman" speech. Here's what you have to do for this week's blog response:

Think about an issue (problem) in your school, neighborhood, country, or world. Take a minute to jot down a problem that you'd like to speak about later in this unit, such as neighborhood rivalries, homelessness, racism, guns/violence, or teen pregnancy. These are just a few examples. Answer the questions that follow:

1. What is the problem you've identified?
2. Why is this a problem to your mind?
3. Why would you like to write a speech about this problem?
4. What are some solutions to the problem?
5. How would you persuade your classmates to changes their believes about this problem you've identified?

DUE: Friday, 9/2 @ midnight

Over and out,
Sabath

Speaking Out: Week 2/Unit 1 Period 2B

This week we'll start reading a series of three speeches. This week we'll focus on Sojourner Truth's "Ain't I a Woman" speech. Here's what you have to do for this week's blog response:

Think about an issue (problem) in your school, neighborhood, country, or world. Take a minute to jot down a problem that you'd like to speak about later in this unit, such as neighborhood rivalries, homelessness, racism, guns/violence, or teen pregnancy. These are just a few examples. Answer the questions that follow:

1. What is the problem you've identified?
2. Why is this a problem to your mind?
3. Why would you like to write a speech about this problem?
4. What are some solutions to the problem?
5. How would you persuade your classmates to changes their believes about this problem you've identified?

DUE: Friday, 9/2 @ midnight

Over and out,
Sabath