English
805-688-6487, Ext. #2346
Summer Contact: June & August by email: dsiegal@SYVUHSD.ORG.
Please allow 3-4 days response time. I will be unavailable during July.
Regular Office Hours for 2013-2014:
Lunches &
Wed. + Fri. 3:15-4:15
ATTENTION INCOMING HONORS FRESHMAN: In case you did not receive the summer reading letter in the mail, here it is.  Even though I love the lazy days of summer (who doesn't?), by the middle of August, I know I'll be looking forward to meeting you all and and starting another full and and fabulous year.WELCOME!
 
Summer, 2013

Dear Incoming Honors Freshman:

Congratulations on your eighth grade graduation and welcometo Santa Ynez High School!  This letter confirms you have registered for Honors English 1. Your first assignment is to participate in a summer reading program to enrich your learning experience during the year.  This summer, the assignments for incoming ninth graders are TheOnce and Future King by T H White and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.  

 

Please respond to the reading by generating six single-sided, handwritten pages of notes for each novel. Some strategies for creating notes are on the back of this letter.  The notes can have any format as long as they help you organize character, setting, conflict, and theme; avoid recording plot summary only. The notes are your own ideas, not information from other sources.  Please bring your notes to our first class session. You will use them as a resource for both a discussion and an essay.   

Please understand that this letter is only an acknowledgement that you have registered for the honors level.  Our guidance staff will spend the summer reviewing the prerequisites to ensure that this is the best placement for you.  Completing the summer reading does not guarantee your placement in honors. If you are unsure about your eligibility, please contact Mrs. Shaw in the guidance office.   

In addition to supplementing your studies during the school year, the summer reading is an opportunity to measure your own fit for this level of rigor.  To be successful at the honors level, students must first have an aptitude for reading, writing and thinking; just as important is an attitude of intellectual curiosity and a passion for learning.  These qualities will become evident as you approach your summer reading task.  If you feel unable to handle the material confidently, we urge you to re-consider the honors placement.  To get a strong start in high school, it is essential that you have the correct level in English.  The work should be challenging, but not overwhelming.  The honors track is still an option in subsequent years for students who maintain an A or B at the college prep level.  It is natural for some students to need a year or two to gain the maturity necessary to be successful in a self-directed, fast-paced learning environment. 

If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Siegal at school or call 688-6487 x 2346. We look forward to working with you next year.

Sincerely,

Diane Siegal                                                                               Melanie Dickey

 
NOTE-TAKING STRATEGIES:

Use various strategies throughout your note-taking. Pick a strategy that is most useful to assist you in remembering and locating the key events from the chapter (or section).  The font is very small here, but I was able to zoom in and read it. If you are unable to read it, there are print copies available in the guidance office.

Character Web

 

Draw 4 suns per page. Add as many radials as needed to give descriptive words about character. Add radials as needed throughout the whole book. Start a new sun for each character. Include page #’s.

Venn Diagram

 

 

 

 

Use this strategy when showing comparison/contrast. Most effective with setting and character.  Similarities in the center. Differences on the outside. Include page #’s

Illustrated

key quotes

 

 

 

Divide page into quarters. In each box, illustrate an important quote. Pick quotes that are rich with meaning. Record the quote & explain why you selected this quote. Include page #’s

Hot Dog

Quotes & responses

 

 

 

Divide paper vertically. On left, record important quotes. On right, explain why you selected this quote. That includes questions, connections, character analysis, literary device, etc.  Include page #’s

T-chart

What I Know

What I Don’t

 

 

Use this strategy when you have legitimate questions.

Summary on left. Questions on right. Include page #’s. Good strategy with difficult texts.

Pulling Threads

This is an advanced strategy, used with books that employ a lot of literary devices (LD). Identify a key passage that is rich with LD’s (e.g. metaphor, simile, irony, distinctive diction, imagery, double entendre). Identify the literary device and discuss why you think the author wanted to bring attention to this passage. Include page #’s

STARs

 

 

“Strategies for Active Readers” is helpful with reading comprehension. Divide page horizontally into 4 sections. Include page #’s

Label as follows:

Summary

Connection

Question

Prediction

 

 

 

BRAIN POWER IS SUSTAINABLE!

     

 

Pro & Con

 

 

Divide the paper vertically. In the left margin, label an important issue.

Label top left side of page “Pro” and top right side “Con” and discuss each side of the issue. Include your own opinions/perceptions. Include page #’s

Cause & Effect

A→B→C=D

 

This is a flow chart and it’s an advanced strategy. Add specific events (similar to  letters above) as necessary to record the causes that lead up to an important event. This strategy can be used to cover an entire book, or a specific section. Include page #’s 

Explicate a Passage

Who, What, Where When & Why it matters

 

Select a pivotal event in the text and write a paragraph in which you thoroughly discuss who said this to whom, what is important about it to the greater story, where it occurred, when it occurred and why it matters to you. Make your paragraph flow; not bullet points. Include page #’s

Comparison to other book or movie

 

 

Divide paper hamburger style.  Give a brief (1-2 sentences) overview of other book or movie. Make the comparison specific, not general. Keep the focus on the summer reading book, not the other book or movie.

Character Analysis

This is useful with books that have  a lot of characters. Pick at least 3 characters. Divide the page horizontally and vertically into thirds (that will give you 9 squares).  In left boxes, list names of characters. In center boxes, list answers to following questions:

What car would (s)he drive?

His/her favorite food?

Favorite music?

Favorite team/sport/recreation?

Favorite vacation spot?

Favorite tv/movie

What movie star could play him/her?

In right boxes, explain your rationale. Answers should be plausible. Include page #’s

Shifting perspective

 

Pick an exciting or important passage from the book, and re-tell the key events from a unique perspective (perhaps a minor character, a piece of furniture, a pet in the room, a dust bunny…) Write it in the 1st person (e.g. “I saw him walking toward me and my tail starting wagging in circles.” –from Arthur’s favorite beagle, Henry)

Letter to author

 

 

Write a letter to the author with real questions or observations about his book. In the case of Ray Bradbury, who is a local, now in his ‘90’s, we will send it to him if it’s a genuine question or comment. He usually writes back if your letter is well considered.

 

 

      

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

                            

ATTENTION JUNIORS General Communications: If you have any questions or comments, I check my school email regularly and my phone extension is 2346. I post grades alternately on the parent portal about every 7 days and in the classroom every other7 days. I'm easily  accessible through the school email, which is the best way to schedule a conference if you  want some solid, uninterrupted time after classes on Wednesdays or Fridays.