Mrs. Higdon's Pre-AP English I and II Google Site


Week 1 Closing Video

Week 2 Closing Video

Week 3 Closing Video

Week 4 Closing Video

Week 5 Closing Video

SEE MORE VIDEOS FOR 2ND SEMESTER ON PAGE TWO!

Week 6 Closing Video

Second 6 Weeks Week 1 Closing Video

Second 6 Weeks: Week 2 Closing Video

Second 6 Weeks: Week 3 Closing Video

WIN_20201023_08_16_49_Pro.mp4

Third Six Weeks: Final Exam Instructions Closing Video

Recording #12.mp4

Third Six Weeks: Week 5 Closing Video -- Final Exams/Extra Credit Due! Have a Great Break!

Recording #13.mp4

Announcements

See the Transitioning to Voluntary In-Person Learning and the New TABS Class Schedule below.

What to bring if you return to classes in person:

  1. Chromebook and charger

  2. Earbuds

  3. Pen / pencil

  4. Paper

  5. Jacket (my room gets cold!)

  6. Wear a mask

  7. Don't forget to do the self - med check up!

My Room #: TRWF 4609

My English classes will be in Google Classroom. That is where you will check in for attendance, attend the Google meet, and complete assignments each class day. I will post your grades in Focus.

To access your specific Google Classroom English classes, follow these instructions and use the codes below:

  1. Go to fwisd.org

  2. Click on the my fwisd classlink -- here is the url: http://www.fwisd.org/myfwisd

  3. Click the Google Classroom icon

  4. Click + Join and enter the correct code for your class below.


Pre-AP English I: Pre-AP English II:Period 1: 5yu5cpj Period 3: exggropPeriod 2: dybytjo Period 7: zgekn5bPeriod 5: gikwt2s Period 8: qy6g7cr

The link to the Google Meets for each class are in the classroom at the top of the page.

Voluntary In-Person Transitional Plan for TABS: https://www.fwisd.org/cms/lib/TX01918778/Centricity/Domain/20/TABS%20in-person%20transition%20plan%20fall%202020.pdf

School / Class Schedule:

In-person: 8:00-8:30 Office Hours Virtual Processes Students/ TABS café holding tank

In-person Virtual

1/5 8:30 – 10:00 9-10

2/6 10:05- 11:35 10:15- 11:15

11:35- 12:20 Office Hours (15 min) / Lunch(30min) TABS café and upstairs cafe

3/7 12:20 -1:50 1:00-2:00 change to 12:45-1:50

4/8 1:55 – 3:25 2:15- 3:15

FRIDAY: All Virtual

  • For attendance purposes, periods 11-18 (1-8) will conduct check-in engagement activities

  • Instructors will provide asynchronous assignments, office hours, virtual and in-person tutoring

Mrs. Catherine Higdon

Bio -- Fun Facts about Mrs. Higdon

  • I teach Pre-AP English I and II

  • I have taught at TABS for SEVEN years -- WOW! LOVE IT!

  • I have taught for a total of 20 years!

  • My Daughter, Harmony turned 13 in July -- OMG! Official teenager in the house!

  • I love art, music, theater, and the great outdoors

  • Stranger Things is my favorite NETFLIX binge -- TEAM DUSTIN!

  • We have three cute kitties: May, Amelie, and Sigmund. Sigmund is the oldest -- 17 years old, blind, and sooo amazing! He knows his way around, jumps on everything, constantly grooms the youngest cat, and loves to climb the stairs and hang out with us in the rec room! He has taught us a lot about perseverance.

Contact Information

Email: catherine.higdon@fwisd.org

Google Voice Phone Number: 940-600-1970

Virtual Office Hours

Times: M-Th 11:35-12:20

Fri 9:00-12:00

1:00-2:30 (by appointment)

Class code: saxg6pq

Meet link: https://meet.google.com/lookup/au5tdqlvav?authuser=0&hs=179

Lesson Plans

Week 1: Getting to Know You and Getting to Know TABS, Pre-AP English, and the Google Classroom

Week 2: Short Stories Unit

Assignments due this week: Plot quiz, plot diagram

Readings students will be assigned this week (students will need their English Lit Textbooks this week OR they can access the stories online):

  • Pre-AP English I-- "Checkouts" by Cynthia Rylant

http://mrsbonakdar.weebly.com/uploads/7/9/3/2/7932245/checkouts.pdf

  • Pre-AP English II -- "The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant" by W.D. Wetherell

https://www.spart5.net/cms/lib/SC01000802/Centricity/Domain/797/TheBasstheRiverandSheilaMant.pdf

Week 3: Short Stories Unit Continued

Assignments due this week: Vocabulary and plot diagram drawing (or digital creation) for the short story reading from last week (see above short stories). Also, students will write a short analysis of the story in which they will explore plot elements and theme.

Week 4: Short Stories Unit Continued

Assignments due this week: If students did not present their plot diagram drawings, they will this week. Students will work on writing a short analysis of the short story reading in which they will explore plot elements and theme.

Concepts and Assignments that will be introduced:

  • Pre-AP English I: How to avoid run-ons and fragments, the "Once I Was; Now I Am" 2-Paragraph Paper

  • Pre-AP English II: How to avoid run-ons and fragments, the "My Most Valuable Possession" Descriptive Essay

Week 5: The Descriptive Essay

Assignments due this week: 1. If students did not turn in the "Theme" writing assignment from Week 4, they must do that this week. 2. Complete STAAR Warm-ups. 3. New writing assignments are as follows:

Pre-AP English I: Once I Was; Now I Am Descriptive 2-Paragraph Paper

  • Rough Draft Due Monday / Tuesday

  • Final Copy Due Wednesday / Thursday

Pre-AP English II: My Most Valuable Possession 3-Paragraph Paper

    • Rough Draft Due Monday / Tuesday

    • Final Copy Due Wednesday / Thursday

Week 6: First 6 Weeks Wrap-up!

STAAR Benchmark activities in all Pre-AP English classes this week. These are graded activities.

The STAAR Benchmark will be given during the week of October 19th.

SECOND SIX WEEKS!!!

Week 1: Science Fiction and Fantasy Unit

Assignments due in both classes: Boom Learning Cards: Commonly Confused Words Card Deck 1

Boom Learning Site: Each class period has a unique web address. Please see Google Classroom, Week 6,

Boom Cards for the web address and password.

Stories that will be introduced this week (in literature books):

Pre-AP English I: "A Sound of Thunder"

Pre-AP English II: "There Will Come Soft Rains"

Week 2: Science Fiction and Fantasy Unit Continued

Assignments due in both classes: Reading for the story assigned to class last week. There will be a timed quiz over the story. And students must turn in the reading question and answer assignment that went along with the story.

English I: "A Sound of Thunder" Google Slides Reading Activity

English II: "There Will Come Soft Rains" Deep Thoughts Reading Activity

Continue prepping for STAAR benchmark (we will discuss the plan / procedures for the test more in class next week)

Students will complete an analysis of the short story next week -- to be assigned on Wednesday to A-day students / Thursday to B-day students

Week 3: Science Fiction and Fantasy Unit Continued

GRADED ASSIGNMENTS:

  • Warm-ups

  • Boom Cards: Run-ons

  • Prewriting for Major Essay

    • English I: "A Sound of Thunder"

    • English II: "There Will Come Soft Rains"

Week 4: Science Fiction and Fantasy Unit Continued AND STAAR Benchmark Review

  • STAAR Benchmarks: English I -- November 3rd / English II -- November 4th TESTING BEGINS AT 8:00 AM! Check student email for details. If you are lost and do not know where to go online or in person on test day, just read the Stream in your English Google Classroom for help.

GRADED ASSIGNMENTS:

  • Warm-ups

  • Marjor Essay Rough Draft Due -- Editing Day: A-Day, Monday / B-Day, Tuesday

  • Major Essay Final Copy Due: A-Day, Wednesday / B-Day, Thursday

  • Review for Benchmark Wednesday / Thursday

Third Six Weeks Graded Assignments English I and II:

  1. Warm-up Wednesday-Thursday 12/9-12/10

  2. EXTRA CREDIT DUE A-DAY WEDNESDAY/ B-DAY THURSDAY, DEC 16TH/17TH AT 10:00 PM -- this will take the place of one low DAILY grade.

  3. FINAL EXAM TWO PARTS (TEST GRADE): DUE A DAY MONDAY 14TH / B DAY TUESDAY 15TH

    1. Benchmark Composition Revision

    2. Benchmark Corrections: Multiple Choice Section

  4. Warm-up 12/7-12/8

  5. Check in AND Warm-up 12/2-12/3: ENGLISH I "The Pedestrian" / ENGLISH II “Harrison Bergeron” Fun Facts

  6. Exit Ticket Questions

  7. Short Story Quiz -- I will open the quiz for ten minutes during class time.

  8. Warm-up 11/30 - 12/1

  9. READ and DO: English I "The Pedestrian" or English II “Harrison Bergeron” short story and notes

  10. Warm-up 11/18: Boom Cards -- Fun with Phobia

  11. WARM-UP 11/16-11/17: Pre-reading Question

  12. Vocabulary Activity

  13. 11/11 Warm-up / In Class Assignment

NOTE: Students must complete the Friday check-ins for attendance credit. There is a check-in video and question each Friday.

SEE MORE LESSON PLANS FOR 2ND SEMESTER ON PAGE TWO!


Syllabi for English I and II Below (in Order)

Texas Academy of Biomedical Sciences Pre-AP English I Syllabus.docx
Texas Academy of Biomedical Sciences Pre-AP English II Syllabus.docx