Fletcher Checks In #5

Howdy, Young People.

I'll be on campus more and more during the month of August, so if you need to see me face-to-face, it's will be easier to catch me.  I have meetings and other teachery stuff to do before you kids arrive on the scene on September 1.  I'm going to be in my room fooling around today, tomorrow and Friday. 

So, how have you liked blogging?  The blog has been active and interesting this summer.  I have a pretty good sense of many of you as writers and thinkers.  I've had only two people tell me that they are dropping AP, but there are many who have signed up but haven't said a word yet, and some who have requested invites but haven't responded yet.  And there will likely be a few latecomers still signing up. 

Also, in the interest of full disclosure, I removed three posts so far this summer, but each time I removed a post, I sent an email to the student who wrote the post with an explanation as to why it was removed.

I WILL NOT GRADE ANY BLOG POSTS put up after midnight on Friday, August 20, but you are free to talk and post and I will continue to read and respond to you.  I just have to draw a line as far as the grading part goes.  Unlike previous years, I am going to ensure that the blog stays active all year, and that you continue to post and discuss what we are reading and working on in class.  Your blog work will be part of each grading period.  We will also do some Google doc work this year with vocabulary. 

Will you tell me if you are still having trouble with the 'comment' feature?  Some of you mentioned having trouble with comments earlier in the summer; I thought it had cleared up, but I recently heard from a student that she cannot comment.  Does the glitch clear up over time?  For example, if you write a comment, but it won't post due to Interference of Irritating Internet Imps (IIII), can you save it as a small word doc or text file, and try again later?  Does that work?

We have three days of time together (September 1, 2, 3), followed by a three-day weekend.  On Wednesday, September 1, I'll collect your annotated webographies, distribute the syllabus, give you a manila folder, and return your notebooks.  Many will be graded, but some probably won't be -- but in any case, you'll need your notebook to review vocab.  On Thursday and Friday, you will have a test on the summer work:  a vocab test, a short answer test on the summer reading and the blog, a timed write, and a short multiple choice exam.   After the vocab test, I'll re-collect the notebooks that I'm not done grading yet.  Everyone should have their notebooks for keeps by the Tuesday after Labor Day.  No promises, though.  

August is a month of anticipation and dread.  I never want vacation to end, but at some point I just reconcile myself to the fact that it IS ending, and I start to get excited to meet you and see you face to face.  Obviously, school wouldn't even make sense without students, but it's you kids who make my work fun and interesting. 

Time for the positive self-talk!  You're going to finish everything on time! It might be hard, but you can do it!  Don't worry about the grade so much -- focus on producing work that you feel satisfied with.