What a fantastic finals week!! You rocked it! I know that I give a lot of extra credit, but did you all notice that every single person (Did you hear that? Every. Single. Person.) cited their material and had really well supported intelligent things to say? It was soooo awesome. Remember at the beginning of the year when it was pass/fail to cite and most people had to fix it??? Remember that I had to have some people sit at my computer while they were presenting and fix it?? I do. :) But no more, my little juniors. You grades are awesome and YOU EARNED IT! Have a wonderful summer! Thanks for the food, the laughs, the smiles, and the good times. (6th period- thanks for helping me work on my patience. LOL :) Work hard, be yourself, be proactive about what you want in life-- and enjoy the journey! 

Last grade post :
Final presentation: 3rd period- 115.34%, 4th period-118.79%, 6th period- 112.57%
1st Semester Average: 3rd period- 70.27%, 4th period- 82%, 6th period- 80.07%
2nd Semester Average: 3rd period- 79.59%, 4th period- 81.69%, 6th period- 79.35%
Third period- tremendous improvement this semester!! :)
Wondering if I rounded that grade? Check the Aries full site and check you posted grades.

We have had our ups and downs, our laughs and groans, our ideas challenged and supported. I have loved this class of 2018 and I will miss you as you become juniors! Some of you I have known since freshmen year and it is crazy to think of a year without you! Some of you I just met this year and... still the same weird loss. I have taught a lot of years and it has been a long time since I just really liked and felt connected to a class this much. I sincerely wish you all the best and hope that you will come in and let me know how you are doing!!! :) (And bring me more pictures!!!:)
Class of 2018 totally ROCKS!!!

Performance tasks are in and it couldn't have been an easier grade! We did a lot this year and it really shows! Thanks so much for putting in your best effort on that. They were awesome! Keep it up! You will do so well next year if you keep being yourselves and trying your best.

Thank you for all the late work too! Scores keep going up!
But my favorite-- your Scorpion presentations!!!! So awesome! I am just so happy that we can present and eat! Study for other finals! You rock! Thanks to all the groups who already showed me, took direction so seriously, and really did shine even here at the end when I know that you are stressed and tired! They are so, so pretty your slide shows!! Edit if you need to so that you get all your points and come to share food and ideas on the day of your final. Food? Just what makes you connect with who you are. :)

Most of (all of!) our pieces ended sadly this year, BUT that doesn't have to be true for us. These are all warnings of things to come if we don't embrace who we are and strive to be better. On that note- here are the last things in class we are striving for:

Group Presentation: comparing the themes, issues, and symbols in The House of Scorpion to real life and learning our lesson, choosing our battles, making a difference. Extra credit: 4th section- why culture matters and/or food that reminds you most of who you are (to share with class). Draft due this week; loaded on my computer for Hill check and back up. Presentation and food date: Finals. 100 pts.

Annotations of your articles (3) to support your groups presentation: Due finals.

Performance task: Can you now annotate and take what you need from sources and then fashion your thoughts into an MLA essay on your own? This is a model of the junior test and the same as the one you took last semester for finals. Test date: Tuesday/Wednesday. 50 pts.

Notebook: Lit. Terms, Symbolism, Hero Motif, Paragraph sheets- body and intro/conclusion,

After the brief time out that some of you took during 3rd quarter, grades are looking better! Thank you! Please turn in missing things and make the last of you last points: Scorpion presentation, packet, performance task, etc. Last chances to make up tests and old work closing next week!  

F 451 Test Averages: P3- 74%, P4- 81%, P6- 84%
F 451 Packet/annotation Averages: P3- 112%, P4- 110%, P6- 100%
Class Averages: P3- 71.23%, P4- 73.63%, P6- 72.26%
Make up tests and work!

I had a long weekend and came back to happy smiley faces!!! I can't thank you enough! :) :)
Thank you as well to Pals, the Freshman Leadership Class, (the mystery peeps for the cool signage,)  and PTA for the super Teacher Week surprises! :)