the hughes news
Sophomore Honors English Newsletter ~ November 2021
medical leave
In case your student didn't share it with you, I'm currently on an unexpected, would-absolutely-rather-be-teaching, medical leave. After a 4-day Staycation at Lahey last week--which included emergency surgery, I'm now recovering at home through Thanksgiving.
Since my leave affected conferences, please feel free to email me at beth.hughes@wpsk12.org if you have any questions about your student, our class, or anything else. I can share with you what I would've shared in a 5-minute Zoom, and if you'd prefer the Zoom, I can try to set that up after I return.
In the meantime, please enjoy lots of solid foods in my honor!
season of gratitude
The news is about as depressing as it gets. So, I'm thankful for a season that forces me to focus on all of the Good. Because there's a lot of it. Our students need some recalibration, too.
Accordingly, a few years ago, I introduced The Gratitude Project. During the week leading up to Thanksgiving, I created a series of spaces in which students could show their gratitude. They explore various texts from OUR GRATITUDE LIBRARY, sharing their takeaways with their tablemates; they contribute to a community slide deck on gratitude (which I'll share on MY WEBSITE), and they're asked to commit a Random Act of Kindness over the Thanksgiving break. Think of it as free child labor; exploit it while you can!
There is a lot that is Broken in our world, but I'm incredibly Thankful that you've lent me your student this year and that we are learning face-to-face in a non-cohorted classroom!
real-world publishing: meet Goodreads
In addition to all of the essays and assignments that are common to the entire sophomore class, your student-author is also doing lots of real-world writing.
Every month, students publish multi-layered, analytic book reviews about their monthly choice books at GOODREADS. Goodreads is a social media platform for book lovers. The best part? In addition to getting real-world publishing experience, they are writing for an authentic audience of over 90 million bibliophiles, rather than just for Teacher-Lady. It doesn't get more authentic than that!
Click HERE to read more about how I use Goodreads in the classroom--featured at EDUTOPIA, the George Lucas' educational foundation.
moving beyond iPASS
Be sure to ask your student what they are learning, as well as how they behave in and contribute to our class. Scores alone merely show whether or not students are good at Doing School (e.g., showing up when they're supposed to, completing homework, meeting deadlines). Most students--especially honors students--have these habits mastered.
Instead, ask to see your student's returned Term 1 CLASS ENGAGEMENT SELF-ASSESSMENT. This end-of-the-term rubric provides a much more complete picture as to how deeply your learner is engaging with the content, their classmates, and with me during class.
is your student reading at home?
We read for the first 10 minutes of every class; however, you should be seeing your student voraciously reading for pleasure at home.
After all, if students wouldn't think of bypassing a workout, missing a music rehearsal, or skipping a soccer practice, they can't afford to opt out of regular at-home reading either. Check out my For the Love of Reading program HERE, and take a look at HOW READING JUST 20 MINUTES A DAY WILL GIVE YOUR STUDENT THE EDGE.
Note: November means that you should see your student enjoying their THIRD (!) book of the year over Thanksgiving. Ask your reader what they've enjoyed so far.
...and we're live!
In an effort to create a positive digital footprint--while writing for an authentic audience beyond Teacher-Lady, the students have officially launched their PASSION BLOGS! Your writer has designed their own website, published their About Me page, and posted Blog Post #1. Your student may or may not feel comfortable showing you their blog just yet; however, it doesn't hurt to ask.
In the meantime, check THIS INFOGRAPHIC for some of the many benefits your student will experience as a blogger this year.
NOTE: As you read on the permission slip you signed, to maintain cybersafety, no last names or Wakefield identifiers of any kind are allowed on your student blogger's site.
How to Contact Me
Email: beth.hughes@wpsk12.org
Website: msbethhughes.org
Location: Wakefield Memorial High School, Farm Street, Wakefield, MA, United States
Phone: (781) 246-6440
Twitter: @msbethhughes