WHO CAN DO EXTRA CREDIT?
Students can need extra credit for a variety of reasons - maybe they did poorly on a test and want to bring up their overall grade, maybe they had the flu and struggled to get their absent work complete - so they need to replace a few missing assignments or maybe they just had a bad quarter and want to make things right. Anyone that cares about their grade can do extra credit!
WHEN CAN I DO EXTRA CREDIT?
Extra credit can be done at any time and I definitely advise that you don't wait until the last minute of the quarter to do it. I recommend that you go ahead and do some extra credit and bank the points!
WHAT KIND OF WORK WILL THE EXTRA CREDIT BE?
As a teacher, I want to provide extra credit opportunities that mean something, true learning experiences. Giving you worksheets to complete and calling it extra credit is simply inaccurate. Extra credit requires extra work and extra effort - in order to earn extra points. Makes sense right? Therefore, extra credit work for this class will require that YOU SEEK OUT REAL WORLD EXPERIENCES WHERE YOU CAN PRACTICE THE SKILLS OF LANGUAGE ARTS - READING, WRITING, SPEAKING AND LISTENING. See the list of options lower down on this page.
WHERE DO I GET THE WORK? WHERE DO I TURN IT IN WHEN I'M FINISHED?
The guidelines for extra credit can be found on this page as a PDF download and in the classroom, behind the door, under the poster that reads "Extra Credit.
When you get your extra credit work completed, you will TURN IT IN TO THE WOODEN TRAY ON MS. HENRY'S DESK.
HOW DOES EXTRA CREDIT WORK WITH MY GRADE? HOW WILL IT HELP ME?
You can do extra credit at any time - even if you don't need the points. For example, if you do extra credit and earn say 75 extra credit points, but at the end of the quarter, you already have an A in the class - you can bank those 75 points until you need them.
Extra credit points are not "added to the top" of your grade. Grades in this class are weighted, so quizzes and tests are 70% of your grade and if you do poorly on two or three of them, your grade would fall. Extra credit points are points you bank, then when you want to use them, Ms. Henry goes in and adds your extra points to quizzes and tests where you scored less than 100.
Example:
Smith, Susie Quiz 1 Quiz 2 Test 1 Test 2 Grade
80 75 85 90 83
Then, Susie earns 30 extra credit points, Ms. Henry adds 10 points to Quiz 2, Test 1 and Test 2, so now her grades becomes:
Quiz 1 Quiz 2 Test 1 Test 2 NEW Grade
80 85 95 100 90
So basically, 30 extra credit points brought Susie's grade in Language Arts class up 7 points.
THE BIG PICTURE
In its most simple terms, the extra credit work in this class goes like this:
1. Locate an event to attend
2. Do the appropriate prep work before the event (read the book, research the author)
3. Attend the event
4. Write a one page reflection and analysis of the event
5. Turn in the typed reflection/analysis of the event to the wooden tray on Ms. Henry's desk
LOCATE AN EVENT TO ATTEND
You will need to look around online and in the local newspapers and flyers to find AN EVENT THAT HAS TO DO WITH READING, WRITING, SPEAKING OR LISTENING. I've listed some options and websites below, but don't let this list limit you - if you have an idea for an event, just bring it in and ask! I will probably approve it!
Ideas for Events to Attend
- Attend an author event at a bookstore
www.morrisbookshop.com - click on EVENTS
www.josephbeth.com - click on LEXINGTON, then click on EVENTS
www.eventbrite.com - search LEXINGTON BOOK SIGNING EVENTS
- Attend a writing class
www.carnegielearningcenterlex.org - click on KIDS & TEENS
- Attend a TEEN OR ADULT event at the public library
www.lexpublib.org
- Attend a speech in the community
Could be a Homeowner's Association Meeting, or a Neighborhood Council Meeting, or a
City Council Meeting, or a political speech or debate - if you have another idea, just ask!
- Join a book club - read book and attend discussion
Could be through church (Bible study), public library, neighborhood or school
- Submit a writing piece to an online publisher for teen writing
www.tellingroom.org/get-published/places-publish.com
- Get a Letter to the Editor published in The Lexington Herald Leader
http://www.kentucky.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/submit-letter/
- Present a speech/presentation at church, 4-H, Girl Scouts, etc.
DO THE APPROPRIATE PREP WORK BEFORE THE EVENT
If you are attending an author event - you will need to do some reading BEFORE the event - you will need to research the author and best case scenario, read the book that he/she is selling on his signing tour.
If you are attending a writing class - you will need to register/sign up and they will let you know what preparation to do in advance.
If you are attending an event at the public library - you will need to register/sign up and they will let you know what preparation to do in advance.
If you are attending a speech in the community - you will need to review the agenda if it is released beforehand - talk to your parents and neighbors about the issues on the agenda, so that when you attend you can be well-informed about the concerns of those attending.
If you are joining a book club - they will let you know what book is being read and by what date you need to have read it - they will also let you know the discussion date/location. You will need to read the book and attend the discussion.
If you submit a writing piece to an online publisher - you will need to have at least one teacher review it before submitting it.
If you submit a Letter to the Editor - you will need to have at least one teacher review it before submitting it.
If you do a speech/presentation - you will need to have at least one teacher review it before presenting it.
ATTEND (AND PARTICIPATE IN) THE EVENT
If you are attending an author event - you will need to ask at least one question of the author
If you are attending a writing class - you will need to do whatever they ask you to do during the class
If you are attending an event at the public library - you will need to do whatever they ask you to do during the class.
If you are attending a speech in the community - you will need to ask at least one question of someone on the panel.
If you are joining a book club - you will need to read the book and PARTICIPATE in the discussion - just sitting and listening is NOT an option.
If you are submitting a writing piece to an online publisher - you will need to do the actual final submission to the website.
If you are submitting a Letter to the Editor - you will need to do the actual final submission to the newspaper.
If you are doing a speech/presentation - you will obviously need to do the speech or presentation.
WRITE A ONE-PAGE REFLECTION/ANALYSIS OF THE EVENT
Must be one page typed - use the standard/default fonts in MIcrosoft Word - Calibri 10
- do not change any margins/font sizes, etc.
- must include your name and class period in the top right corner
You can organize the paper in any organization you like, but some recommendations are below.
1 page = 4 full size paragraphs or 5 shorter paragraphs
Paragraph 1 - Clear description of the event (WWWWWH)
Paragraph 2 - Why you chose this event - why it was interesting to you
Paragraph 3 - Reflection of the event itself - what happened? Was it was you expected?
Paragraph 4 - Judgement - good or bad and why, recommend to others or not and why?
Paragraph 5 - Looking forward, connect to your life and bigger picture
TURN REFLECTION/ANALYSIS IN TO THE WOODEN TRAY ON MS. HENRY'S DESK
Students can need extra credit for a variety of reasons - maybe they did poorly on a test and want to bring up their overall grade, maybe they had the flu and struggled to get their absent work complete - so they need to replace a few missing assignments or maybe they just had a bad quarter and want to make things right. Anyone that cares about their grade can do extra credit!
WHEN CAN I DO EXTRA CREDIT?
Extra credit can be done at any time and I definitely advise that you don't wait until the last minute of the quarter to do it. I recommend that you go ahead and do some extra credit and bank the points!
WHAT KIND OF WORK WILL THE EXTRA CREDIT BE?
As a teacher, I want to provide extra credit opportunities that mean something, true learning experiences. Giving you worksheets to complete and calling it extra credit is simply inaccurate. Extra credit requires extra work and extra effort - in order to earn extra points. Makes sense right? Therefore, extra credit work for this class will require that YOU SEEK OUT REAL WORLD EXPERIENCES WHERE YOU CAN PRACTICE THE SKILLS OF LANGUAGE ARTS - READING, WRITING, SPEAKING AND LISTENING. See the list of options lower down on this page.
WHERE DO I GET THE WORK? WHERE DO I TURN IT IN WHEN I'M FINISHED?
The guidelines for extra credit can be found on this page as a PDF download and in the classroom, behind the door, under the poster that reads "Extra Credit.
When you get your extra credit work completed, you will TURN IT IN TO THE WOODEN TRAY ON MS. HENRY'S DESK.
HOW DOES EXTRA CREDIT WORK WITH MY GRADE? HOW WILL IT HELP ME?
You can do extra credit at any time - even if you don't need the points. For example, if you do extra credit and earn say 75 extra credit points, but at the end of the quarter, you already have an A in the class - you can bank those 75 points until you need them.
Extra credit points are not "added to the top" of your grade. Grades in this class are weighted, so quizzes and tests are 70% of your grade and if you do poorly on two or three of them, your grade would fall. Extra credit points are points you bank, then when you want to use them, Ms. Henry goes in and adds your extra points to quizzes and tests where you scored less than 100.
Example:
Smith, Susie Quiz 1 Quiz 2 Test 1 Test 2 Grade
80 75 85 90 83
Then, Susie earns 30 extra credit points, Ms. Henry adds 10 points to Quiz 2, Test 1 and Test 2, so now her grades becomes:
Quiz 1 Quiz 2 Test 1 Test 2 NEW Grade
80 85 95 100 90
So basically, 30 extra credit points brought Susie's grade in Language Arts class up 7 points.
THE BIG PICTURE
In its most simple terms, the extra credit work in this class goes like this:
1. Locate an event to attend
2. Do the appropriate prep work before the event (read the book, research the author)
3. Attend the event
4. Write a one page reflection and analysis of the event
5. Turn in the typed reflection/analysis of the event to the wooden tray on Ms. Henry's desk
LOCATE AN EVENT TO ATTEND
You will need to look around online and in the local newspapers and flyers to find AN EVENT THAT HAS TO DO WITH READING, WRITING, SPEAKING OR LISTENING. I've listed some options and websites below, but don't let this list limit you - if you have an idea for an event, just bring it in and ask! I will probably approve it!
Ideas for Events to Attend
- Attend an author event at a bookstore
www.morrisbookshop.com - click on EVENTS
www.josephbeth.com - click on LEXINGTON, then click on EVENTS
www.eventbrite.com - search LEXINGTON BOOK SIGNING EVENTS
- Attend a writing class
www.carnegielearningcenterlex.org - click on KIDS & TEENS
- Attend a TEEN OR ADULT event at the public library
www.lexpublib.org
- Attend a speech in the community
Could be a Homeowner's Association Meeting, or a Neighborhood Council Meeting, or a
City Council Meeting, or a political speech or debate - if you have another idea, just ask!
- Join a book club - read book and attend discussion
Could be through church (Bible study), public library, neighborhood or school
- Submit a writing piece to an online publisher for teen writing
www.tellingroom.org/get-published/places-publish.com
- Get a Letter to the Editor published in The Lexington Herald Leader
http://www.kentucky.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/submit-letter/
- Present a speech/presentation at church, 4-H, Girl Scouts, etc.
DO THE APPROPRIATE PREP WORK BEFORE THE EVENT
If you are attending an author event - you will need to do some reading BEFORE the event - you will need to research the author and best case scenario, read the book that he/she is selling on his signing tour.
If you are attending a writing class - you will need to register/sign up and they will let you know what preparation to do in advance.
If you are attending an event at the public library - you will need to register/sign up and they will let you know what preparation to do in advance.
If you are attending a speech in the community - you will need to review the agenda if it is released beforehand - talk to your parents and neighbors about the issues on the agenda, so that when you attend you can be well-informed about the concerns of those attending.
If you are joining a book club - they will let you know what book is being read and by what date you need to have read it - they will also let you know the discussion date/location. You will need to read the book and attend the discussion.
If you submit a writing piece to an online publisher - you will need to have at least one teacher review it before submitting it.
If you submit a Letter to the Editor - you will need to have at least one teacher review it before submitting it.
If you do a speech/presentation - you will need to have at least one teacher review it before presenting it.
ATTEND (AND PARTICIPATE IN) THE EVENT
If you are attending an author event - you will need to ask at least one question of the author
If you are attending a writing class - you will need to do whatever they ask you to do during the class
If you are attending an event at the public library - you will need to do whatever they ask you to do during the class.
If you are attending a speech in the community - you will need to ask at least one question of someone on the panel.
If you are joining a book club - you will need to read the book and PARTICIPATE in the discussion - just sitting and listening is NOT an option.
If you are submitting a writing piece to an online publisher - you will need to do the actual final submission to the website.
If you are submitting a Letter to the Editor - you will need to do the actual final submission to the newspaper.
If you are doing a speech/presentation - you will obviously need to do the speech or presentation.
WRITE A ONE-PAGE REFLECTION/ANALYSIS OF THE EVENT
Must be one page typed - use the standard/default fonts in MIcrosoft Word - Calibri 10
- do not change any margins/font sizes, etc.
- must include your name and class period in the top right corner
You can organize the paper in any organization you like, but some recommendations are below.
1 page = 4 full size paragraphs or 5 shorter paragraphs
Paragraph 1 - Clear description of the event (WWWWWH)
Paragraph 2 - Why you chose this event - why it was interesting to you
Paragraph 3 - Reflection of the event itself - what happened? Was it was you expected?
Paragraph 4 - Judgement - good or bad and why, recommend to others or not and why?
Paragraph 5 - Looking forward, connect to your life and bigger picture
TURN REFLECTION/ANALYSIS IN TO THE WOODEN TRAY ON MS. HENRY'S DESK