Ms. Simon Says…

In order to access the online version of your textbook, you will need the registration code for your grade:

Grade 9:    4696215 – 130

Grade 10:     4696215 – 10

Here are the full instructions on how to access your textbook online:

• Go to http://www.classzone.com
• Click Language Arts, Middle School or High School, Florida, and GO.
•   Choose your book cover for given grade level.
•  All of the resources above the red line are open and do not require a Username or Password. All students may access. To sign up for an account, click Online Book.
•    Choose New Visitors, then Create Student Account.
•   Type in the Activation Code from the top of this page for your given grade level text. Use the eEdition code.
•  Students are to type in their birthday. The birth date is never used again – it just verifies the ages of the students registering for an online account.
• Fill in all the information, check the agreement box, and click Create Account.
•  Registration is complete. Scroll down on how to add additional Activation Codes for other grade level books or Essay Smart. Write down your username and password!
•  Click Enter another activation code.
•  Go to the top of this form and enter the code for Essay Smart for your grade level. (For grades 9-12, that code is: 4696215-20.)
•  Click on Go to Classzone to begin using your online book. Essay Smart is located in the center of the page. The pages of the student text are under Online Book link in lower left hand corner.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please let me know so I can help you.

My 9th and 10th grade students will need to complete two 30-minute sessions of Reading Plus a week in order to earn a participation grade for this assignment. But don’t think of this as just as a boost to your grade — think of it as a boost to your reading comprehension skills, which will ultimately go a long way to helping you do your best on the FCAT Reading Examination.

To log into Reading Plus, just follow these easy instructions:

1. Go to htttp://www.readingplus.com/users.
2. Type in the following site code when prompted: hialehigh.
3. Select your class from the drop-down box.
4. Find your name in the roster, and then type in your password, which is your student ID #.

I will be checking every Sunday evening at 9:00 PM to see if you’ve completed your two sessions for the week. You can check how many sessions you’ve completed by clicking on “My Progress.” Each session can last anywhere from 30-45 minutes. Sessions may be completed on separate days or even on the same day, however the system only allows you to complete two sessions per day. Don’t forget to read at a pace that is comfortable to you, but don’t race — remember the system will suspend you if it feels you are going too fast.

Make sure to complete your two sessions every week, or it will negatively affect your grade in my class. Should you have any questions or concerns, please let me know in the comments below.

Update: If you find that your computer seems to be unable to run the Reading Plus program, you may need to download Java, an application required in this program. You can download Java for free here: http://www.java.com/en/.

We will be holding our first official Student Book Club meeting on September 28th during lunch in room 346. We have a lot of exciting ideas for the club this year, including new book recommendations, ideas for fun field trips, and fundraising strategies. All students are welcome to attend, even if you’re a new member.  If you’d like to learn more about our club, you can visit our page.

Here are the full instructions for accessing your practice tests online:

• Log on to your Student Portal
• Click on the Apps/Services/Sites Link at the top of your portal
• Click on the Virtual Library Link (2^nd link in the 3^rd column)
• Click on the Secondary Resources link (3^rd link from the top)
• Click on GALE Cengage Learning (Senior) link (4^th link from the top)
• Click on the “Testing & Education Reference Center” button under the Electronic Resources Page
• A page entitled INFOTRAC will appear
• Click Proceed
• A page entitled Testing & Education Reference Center will appear
• Under the High School Tools tab click on Advanced Placement Exams (AP)
• A list of online practice tests will appear
• Click on the course subject link of your choice

Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to let me know.