The document provides instructions and an agenda for the first week of an English class. It includes directions for icebreaker activities to help students get to know each other, as well as assignments explaining the format of journal entries and a friendly letter for homework. Students are also given information on making inferences from clues and a gallery walk activity where they observe the classroom and write predictions about what the class will entail. Group work and presentations follow to discuss their observations. The document outlines the materials needed for the class and schedules a review of the syllabus.

1. September 4, 2007 Please sit at the table for the card you have been given. Silently read my letter to you at your table Fill out index card (follow directions to the right) Name Toss Activity Review Friendly Letter To Mrs. Milis’ Class INDEX CARD INSTRUCTIONS Name (please print) Address Phone Numbers Birthday E-mail address Computer at home (yes or no) One thing you think I should know as a new teacher at LQHS

2. Name Toss Activity Purpose : To get to know each other’s names Directions: When the stuffed animal comes to you do the following: Catch it and say: “ M y name is _______ _______ and I like ____________” Gently throw it to someone else who has not caught it before

3. Friendly Letter Instructions Write a friendly introduction letter back to me. Your letter should contain 5 paragraphs and be similar in format to my letter.

4. Friendly Letter Instructions Use the following outline to help guide your writing, and do not forget to sign your letter when you are finished. Par. 1: Brief Introduction Par. 2: Background (where you grew up, what schools you attended, unique school/English class experiences you would like to share) Par. 3: Hopes for this English class! Par. 4: Hobbies and Interests Par. 5: Future Dreams and Goals *You may use some of the wording from my letter to help you write your return letter.

5. Friendly Letter Instructions Letter Format : (MLA format) 12pt font Times New Roman 1 inch margins Do not double-space Skip a single line between paragraphs Skip 4 lines between “sincerely,” and your typed name Sign letter between “sincerely” and your typed name

6. What is the format of a friendly letter? September 4, 2007 Dear Students , Welcome to my class. My name is Mrs. Martinez-Milis, but you may call me Mrs. Milis. I will be your English teacher this year. I am looking forward to a great semester, and I hope to get to know each of you as the school year progresses. I enjoy working with students to improve their communication skills so that they may become highly successful adults. I hope to help you this semester by encouraging you to become a self-motivated, independent thinker capable of working by yourself or with a team to accomplish and achieve your learning goals. Now, let me tell you a little more about myself. I love teaching, but I have a number of other interests as well. In my free time, I love to watch movies, go dancing with my husband, buy new clothes, and read. I also frequently visit my friends and family in Palm Desert and Santa Barbara. I love to travel. I visited my extended family on the island country of Cyprus this summer. You’ll here all about it, during our Greek mythology unit. I took many pictures at ancient Greek ruins. We even visited a temple dedicated to Zeus-ruler of the Olympians. It’s great to get away sometimes. My plans for the future are to continue doing what I love: teaching! I do have a few crazy dreams. I’d like to go skydiving. I’d like to own a big snake. I’d like to learn more about natural healing and hypnosis. However, right now my major dream is to help each and every one of you become successful. For now, I am enjoying life tremendously. I hope you will write back and tell me some things about yourself. Sincerely, Mrs. Athena Martinez-Milis Date top right Indent paragraphs. Skip four lines Skip 1 lines between paragraphs  Use a comma after salutation

7. Enjoy the rest of your day!

9. Daily Agenda: September 5, 2007 DO NOT SIT DOWN!!!! WAIT FOR MORE DIRECTIONS BE PATIENT OK, HERE GOES…

10. Activity Directions 1. You will find your assigned seat silently by communicating with others without speaking. 2. Every desk has a card on it. When I stop the music, you will turn over the card at the desk you are at. If the card has your name on it, that is your seat. Sit down. You get candy! 3. If everyone can find their assigned seat before 10 minutes are up, you will have successfully met your first class challenge. Everyone gets treats!

11. Daily Agenda: September 5, 2007 Class Debrief Place your homework and your homework sheet in front of you facing the board. Make sure your name is on your HW sheet. Complete the “ Tell Me About Yourself Handout ” while I take roll. Mingling Activity Homework: see sheet

12. Mingling Activity The purpose of this activity is to talk with people you don’t know to see if you share similar interests. While the music is playing, you and a person you do not know will discuss your interests, curiosities, worries, favorite movies, etc; When the music stops, find another person you do not know and have a conversation with them. After three turns, we will debrief and those students that remember the most about their acquaintances will be treated.

13. Homework Journal Writing Today’s activity focused on communication as a key component in life and in the English-language arts curriculum. Reflect on today’s activity and discuss how the ability to communicate shapes our relationships with others. Provide examples to support your opinion.

14. Focus on Thoughts and Ideas When you write a journal, let your thoughts flow onto the page. Focus on your thoughts and ideas. Think of journaling as brainstorm/1 st draft writing. Low pressure. Journals may be handwritten. Journals must always be ¾ of a page (at least 4 lines from the center whole punch). If you type your journal, double-space it. It must still ¾ of a page.

15. Daily Agenda: Sept. 6, 2007 Learning Objective : Students will understand the concept of inference-making and be able to apply it to evaluating the class and the teacher. Place your homework and your homework sheet in front of you facing the board. Make sure your name is on your HW sheet. Lesson: Inference-making Gallery Walk Group Collaboration Group Presentations

16. Making Inferences What is an inference? http://www.google.com/ Our Definition:

17. Making Inferences What can we infer about this man?

18. Making Inferences What can we infer about these people?

19. Brave Volunteer???

20. Gallery Walk Walk slowly and silently around the room observing the different artifacts (clues) that may give you some insight into what this class might be like. Write down observations that lead you to make inferences (predictions ) about the class. Space is provided on your handout. Walk clockwise Around the room

21. Making Inferences From a Text Read the student letter Write down clues that help you guess at what writing, reading, speaking/listening, thinking, and homework will be like in this class (see example below) It looks like we will be doing a lot of writing. The writing will probably be creative, because I saw poems in the classroom and the student letter I read said, “we played with words.” I don’t know what it means to “analyze everything down to the last punctuation mark,” but it sounds scary. Writing: “ we analyzed everything down to the last punctuation mark” “ We played with words” “ I had to write a lot” “ Poetry was my favorite” Your Opinion: How will it be this year? Category

22. Group Collaboration In your groups, choose one recorder (writer) Discuss your observations and answer questions on handout (I will collect one handout for each group). What things did you find in common? What things were new? Together, create a poster using images and text to convey your group’s understanding of the class and me.

23. Group Presentations

24. Obtain Class Materials Materials Needed : 1 Spiral Notebook (70-100 sheets of paper) (for classwork and notes) 1 (2 - 3 inch) 3-Ring Binder ( Plain White ) (classroom portfolio) 1 Yellow Highlighter 1 Pen and 1 Pencil 100 3x5 Lined Index Cards (vocabulary study) 1 folder with side pockets (to carry H.W. sheets back and forth) Additional Suggested Materials : 5 packs of mini post-its (1½ inches by 2 inches) ( to make notes in texts) Public library card for books and research 1 USB flash drive 256MB (this item can hold all your work for the next four years) Dictionary and Thesaurus (vocabulary study)

25. Enjoy your day! No Homework

26. Daily Agenda: September 7, 2007 Come in quietly and read the class syllabus to yourself. Write down any questions you have as you read. Whole-class review of syllabus LCP skits Review Homework: (for parents only)

27. http://lqhs.edublogs.org/ What can you do at our class website?

28. Homework Have parents read and sign handouts You get to keep the folder!!!