Free Onine Learning and Fun Activities

Greetings Parents,
While most schools have put a distance learning plan firmly into place, parents may be concerned with learning loss and want fun and engaging extended learning for their young scholars.

WeAreTeachers has provided a list of 190+ FREE online learning resources. 

Thanks, WeAreTeachers ~~~ You ROCK!

https://www.weareteachers.com/free-online-learning-resources/


ON the MAKE:
Looking for activities to keep the kiddos creative? Check out SkillShare!

Scholastic Books offers a great article recommending free audiobooks for kids when they need a cool-down moment:

Finally, WeAreMighty

In an effort to provide a much-needed distraction, this website has provided great virtual escapes for those suffering from cabin fever. These trips offer glimpses into NASA, zoos and even the Smithsonian!

Enjoy your day!

Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! 2019-2020

Together We Will

Greetings DHS Parents and Students,

I am elated about the new school year. I welcome all of my T-STEM and PreAP students to an enlightening year of learning.

 In PreAP we will be preparing for the rigors and challenges of AP classes in the coming years. Note: ADVANCED PLACEMENT: The Advanced Placement (AP) are PREPATORY advanced academic programs that make rigorous, college-level academic content available to secondary school students.

I will also incorporate technology in ALL of my classes:

Note:  TEXAS SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS (T-STEM) : rigorous secondary classes focusing on improving instruction and academic performance in science and mathematics-related subjects and increasing the number of students who study and enter STEM careers.

IN THIS CLASS YOU WILL BE EXPECTED TO:

•            • Read and take notes independently and be able to return to class for lecture, discussion and question and answer

•            • Follow directions: oral, written and electronic communications

•            • Complete all assignments on time

• Complete full essays including: o Expository – essays

o Persuasive – writing with the intent to influence

o Procedural – “how to”

Paula J. Sanders, MA Ed.

English Language Arts

PreAP and T-STEM

#TogetherWeWill

#BrighterTogether

Summer Learning Loss...Is it Real? What Can We Do?

 May 17, 2019

Absolutely.  It is real, but there is a remedy! Many students who are not avid readers or who haven't had real-world work experience throughout the summer, generally return to school and desperately need a review of the most basic strategies in Language Arts, Math, and Science.

The best method of engaging young people to continue learning throughout the summer is to point them towards ideas that truly interest them. Brooking Institute gives this suggestion, "... offer engaging options for students over the summer so that summer learning programs do not feel like punishment for students who would rather be enjoying summer vacation.  Doing so would set more students up for success as the school year gets underway. (https://www.brookings.edu/research/summer-learning-loss-what-is-it-and-what-can-we-do-about-it/)

SummerLearning.org has found that:
• Summer learning loss, which is disproportionate and cumulative, contributes substantially to the achievement gap.
 • Students who attend summer programs have better outcomes than similar peers who do not attend these programs

Simple programs such as Vacation Bible school, supervised visits to the library to explore (most libraries are building an elaborate graphic novels section which adolescence seem to gravitate towards.  For older youths, becoming a junior counselor at a summer camp also continues the trend of learning through teaching. 

The overall goal is to NOT allow children to simply sit inside all summer focused on the small screen of their phone nor the lure of a video game playing binge. As parents and educators, if we want our young people to truly excel we will get them off the couch and out into creation. To influence them to be life long learners, we too must do the same.
If you are in the DFW area, please click the link to find activities (some even FREE) to attend throughout the summer!
https://www.visitdallas.com/things-to-do/events/children-family/index.html
Learn together this summer!

Paula J. Sanders-Nelson is a 13-year educator, artist, and writer.

Final 9th Week: What's going on?

As we near the end of a fantastic school year here are a few updates about what is going on in Ms. Sanders English I Class:

WHAT ARE WE READING:
"Lord of the Flies" by William Golding

WHAT ARE WE WRITING:

We will begin composing Persuasive Essays to prepare students for English II next year!

Understanding Epic Poetry through The Odyssey

Who?
ANCIENT GREECE - HOMER - THE ODYSSEY (Epic Poem, Greek, c. 725 BCE, 12,110 lines)  (Gr: “Odysseia”) is the second of the two epic poems attributed to the ancient Greek poet Homer (the first being “The Iliad”), and usually considered the second extant work of Western literature.
When:
It was probably composed near the end of the 8th Century BCE and is, in part, a sequel to “The Iliad”. It is widely recognized as one of the great stories of all time, and has been a strong influence on later European, especially Renaissance, literature.
Who:
The poem focuses on the Greek hero Odysseus (or Ulysses, as he was known in Roman myths) and his long journey home to Ithaca following the fall of Troy. His adventure-filled ten year journey took him through the Ionian Islands and the Peloponnese and as far away as Egypt and North Africa and the western Mediteranean, as the displeased sea-god Poseidon prevented him from reaching his home.
What:
 Ten years after the Fall of Troy, and twenty years after the Greek hero Odysseus first set out from his home in Ithaca to fight with the other Greeks against the Trojans, Odysseus’ son Telemachus and his wife Penelope are beset with over a hundred suitors who are trying to persuade Penelope that her husband is dead and that she should marry one of them. (https://www.ancient-literature.com/greece_homer_odyssey.html)

Parent-Teacher Conferences
February 14th 
2:00pm-6:00pm









HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Happy New Year ~2019~ Time to Gleam! 

Let's start the year off with a positive outlook on academic success and reach new heights.
Your ultimate goal as a high school freshman is LEVEL UP!

Make accumulating your 6-8 credits to become a high school Sophmore a reality!
We Believe in You!
You MUST Believe in YOURSELF!

https://opportunity.org/learn/lists/10-habits-of-successful-students#.XDJwwlxKg2x

10 HABITS OF SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS

1. Get Organized. Making a plan for what you're going to do and when you're going to do it will make sure you're always ahead of the curve - literally. 
   
2. Don't multitask. Studies have shown that multitasking is physically impossible. 
   
3. Divide it up. Studying isn't fun to begin with, and forcing yourself through a study marathon will only make it worse. Dividing your work into manageable chunks and rewarding yourself when you finish each chunk will make studying (more) fun.
   
4. Sleep. Don't underestimate the importance of those eight hours of zzz's every night! Getting a good night's rest will sharpen your focus and improve your working memory.
   
5. Set a schedule. Do you work better right after school or after you've eaten dinner? Are you more productive in 90-minute blocks or half-hour spurts? Find a schedule that works for you, and stick to it. 
   
6. Take notes. Taking notes will not only keep you more engaged during class, but will also help you narrow down what you need to study when exam time rolls around. It's much easier to reread your notes than to reread your entire textbook!
   
7. Study. This one might be obvious, but did you know that there's a right and a wrong way to study? Review your material several days ahead of time, in small chunks, and in different manners (for example, write flashcards one day and take practice tests the next). In other words, don't cram. 
   
8. Manage your study space. Find a place that will maximize your productivity. Look for places away from the television and other distractions. Whether it's your local library or just the desk in your bedroom, set aside a study space that you'll want to spend time in. 
   
9. Find a study group. Sitting down with a group of people who are learning the same things as you is a great way to go over confusing class material or prepare for a big test. You can quiz each other, reteach material, and make sure that everyone is on the same page. After all, teaching someone else is the best way to learn. 
   
10. Ask questions. You're in school to learn, so don't be afraid to do just that! Asking for help - from a teacher, a tutor or your friends - is a surefire way to make sure you truly understand the material.