Thursday, September 4, 2008 - WELCOME TO THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

Objectives:
After this class, students will be able to:
1. submit an inventory of personal and professional data.
2. share their thoughts in front of a group.
3. create a list of questions about AP English.

Agenda:
1. Personal Introduction: My name is Ms. Kingsbury, and this is my fifth year teaching at Overbrook High School. I specialize in teaching seniors and guiding them through the requirements of their senior projects. At OHS, I'm a member of the Distributed Leadership team sponsored by a grant from the University of Pennsylvania. I am also a new teacher mentor. I received my BA from UPenn as well in December 2000 and my teaching license in 2003 from West Chester University. I will soon be attending Drexel University for my MS in Learning Technologies. Personally, I love to read, write, and take pictures. I have a personal website for my writing, one for my photography, as well as a MySpace page. I live with my 4 year old daughter, my boyfriend, and my 4 cats. This is a very big year for me, because I will be attempting to achieve National Board Certification as an English teacher. You will learn more about this project soon.

2. Students' turn! Students will complete a personal inventory as part of the data collection and information-gathering required by the NBPTS. Students will receive 50 points for their effort. This inventory includes the following questions and is completely confidential:

Ms. Kingsbury
Getting To Know You! Survey
School Year 2008-2009
The Basics:
Your Full Name:
Preferred to be called:
Parents’ Names:
Home Address:
Your Parents’ Phone #:
Your Cell Phone #:
Your Email Address:
Your Website:
Your Birthday:
Your Home/Work Life:
Who do you live with?
What is your annual household income?
What is your ethnic heritage and/or culture?
How do you get to school?
Do you have a mentor? If so, who?
Do you have a job? If so, where? If not, why not?
Your Educational Background:
What has been your favorite class in the past and why?
What has been your worst class in the past and why?
Do you consider yourself an excellent student, average student, and poor student? Explain your choice.
Describe your thoughts and concerns about English class with Ms. Kingsbury this year:
Your Future Goals:
Are you planning to go to college? If so, where? If not, what are your plans?
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Has anyone else in your family been to college before?
Where do you plan to live when you grow up?
Do you have any dream goals?
Your Interests:
What are your 5 favorite things in the world?
Who do you most admire and why?
What 5 things drive you crazy?
What do you think of politics?
Do you like to read? To write? Why or why not?
What else should I know about you?

3. Group Share: In order for Ms. Kingsbury to quickly learn students' names and interests, we will have an inventory group share. Students will each introduce themselves and give one piece of information from their inventories.

4. Questions About AP English: Students will receive their syllabus for AP English tomorrow. They will take 5 minutes to generate as many questions as possible that they have about AP English, both general questions and specific. Ms. Kingsbury will answer these questions on the class website.

5. Blast from the Past: Reading the thoughts of previous AP English students: Thanks to Mr. Schira's dilligence, students will have an opportunity to read letters written especially for them from past AP English students.

HOMEWORK: You didn't think you'd get away without homework on the first day of class, did you? Don't be silly - there is homework every day for AP English! Tonight, students should:

• get a notebook.
• On the first page of that notebook, write a one-page entry about your initial thoughts on the first day of school. Which classes are you excited about? Which classes seem intimidating to you? Was there anyone you were happy to see? What are your personal goals for this school year? What are your fears? How can Ms. Kingsbury help you be successful this year?
• feel free to read the course syllabus located on the class website. Print it out even! Put it into your notebook for future reference.
  

PLEASE NOTE: If you are absent on the first day of class, please cut and paste the personal inventory into an email and send it completed to ms.kingsbury@verizon.net.