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Mark Braam » Greetings from Mr. Braam!

Greetings from Mr. Braam!

Hi, I am Mark Braam.
I am an English teacher at Fairfield High School. During the 2022-23 school year, I am teaching five bells of sophomores in College/Career-Ready English 10 and one bell of a fifth-year Journalism/Media course.
In addition to being an English teacher, I have been a journalist for the better part of a quarter century, working both in Washington, D.C., as a sports and political reporter and editor, and here as a news editor and designer at The Cincinnati Post and The Cincinnati Enquirer. You might see me at many school events with a camera in my hands and journalism students at my side!
I hope to meet you all, in the classroom, at parent-teacher conferences, or via Zoom, phone or email; meanwhile, here is my own webpage on the district website.
I have this page for a number of reasons:
1. So I can send home news (and sometimes share photos!) of what we are doing or will be doing;
2. So I can post reminders and class-specific files
3. So I can post some educational videos that I make from time to time;
4. So I can post some links to some great educational resources;
5. So I can permanently post some files, such as the class syllabus and class policies, and update them as needed; and
6. So parents and students can get an easy notification each time that I post something new.

How does this work? On the right side of this page, there is a "SUBSCRIBE" button. If you click on the subscribe button, and register, you will get an email notification every time that I post something new to the page. Please note that there is a separate page for class files, which is actually where most new things will get posted. That means you need to subscribe to both pages, please!

Now, not everything that I post will be earth-shaking(!!!), but at least you will know when and if I do.

This is a good and fast way to pass on news, get copies of homework assignments, and to permanently post some items (such as the class syllabus).

Take a look and see how it works! Please feel free to contact me at [email protected].

Mr. Braam
P.S. Many things are still different this year due to the COVID-19. THINGS WILL CONTINUE TO CHANGE!!!! That means there will also be many messages that will go back and forth, and sometimes from different platforms. PLEASE ... be patient as we all (teachers, students, parents and administrators) continue to adjust, sometimes on the fly.
 

Posts

Implicit vs explicit WS 2015

Attached is an exercise that we worked in partners/groups on Friday, Jan. 16, 2015. Students are to take Explicit statements (such as "Will you buy me a car?" and convert it into an implicit statement (such as "Hey, mom, the owner of a pizza place told me he would give me a job if I can get a car." Partners were to write their own statements, then share and evaluate each other's work. We then shared their examples with the class.

Butler Tech Application Deadline

Any student interested in applying to Butler Tech for next school year can do so by applying online at butlertech.org/hsapplication. 
A limited number of paper applications will be available in the Guidance Office. If you choose to fill out a paper application, it needs to be returned to the Guidance Office by January 31. 
All applications must be submitted by January 31 to meet the priority consideration deadline. 
If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Schur in the Guidance Office.

OGT Results for Juniors Now Available

Attention all of my junior students: Juniors who took the OGT test in October may pick up their individual score report in the Guidance Office between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Athlete of the Week (Dec 22 - Jan 4)

I have two, yes, TWO Athlete of the Week students in my classes for Dec. 22-Jan. 4
Here is the second one:

SAM MEDDINGS (SO) - Wrestling
"Sam captured the 132 pound weight class at the Ron Masanek Fairfield Invitational on Saturday. With the team score tied, Sam came up huge by defeating his opponent from Lebanon in overtime. Congratulations to Sam!"
Coach Jason Laflin

Athlete of the Week (Dec 22 - Jan 4)

I have two, yes, TWO  Athlete of the Week students in my classes for Dec. 22-Jan. 4
Here is the first one:

AMBER RUSSELL (SO) - Bowling
"Amber is now averaging 172 per game. She made the All-Tournament Team at the "Back to School Bash" and helped her team to a second place finish."

Coach David Loper

Note for all Open Enrollment students

Open Enrollment students and parents – Since I know that I have a number of Open Enrollment students in my classes, I am forwarding on this message from the district about enrolling for the 2015-16 school year.
"Please be aware that all school fees must be paid in full prior to your submission of a renewal application for 2015-16 school year. New and Renewalapplications will be accepted April 9-May 29, 2015, weekdays between the hours of 8 a.m.– 4 p.m. at the Fairfield Administration Building. This includes students who submitted relocation applications during the school year. Applications will be available on our website the first week of March, 2015."

Implicit vs explicit vs. infer 2014-15

Attached is a PowerPoint explaining the difference and between implicit and explicit and between imply and infer, along with examples that we discussed in class on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015.
We took notes in our Writer's Notebooks, including inferences that we took from a photo and from a short story text.

Nonfiction PowerPoint 2015

Attached is a PowerPoint about Nonfiction Text Features and Text Structures.

A separate Word file will be sent to be used in taking notes from the PowerPoint.
This file was viewed in class on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015.

Text Set France Terror Je Suis Charlie

Attached is the Classwork/Homework from Monday, Jan. 12, 2015. Watch the video listed on the first page, then read the accompanying articles. When finished, answer the question at the end, using and citing information from the articles and video to back your opinion.
Due Tuesday at start of class, Jan. 13.

2014-15 Independent Novel Book List

Attached is the Independent Novel Book List, from which students may pick a book to read during 3rd quarter. Students are advised to purchase the book, as they will be expected to take notes and annotate/highlight things in the book. Students also have been told that if there is difficulty in finding or paying for the books that they MUST contact Mr. Braam to find a solution in the very near future, as choices must be announced by Jan. 20 and the book must be in the classroom by Jan. 26 (no exceptions).

Student Jobs Available

Attention all Students:  If you are looking for an after-school job, check out the “Employment Opportunities” bulletin board that is located in the hallway on the main floor across from the attendance window.  

Substitute teachers still needed (also got a raise)

TELL YOUR PARENTS!!!!!

FCSD increases substitute teacher pay! Substitute teacher rates have increased for Fairfield City Schools. We recently raised our daily rate for sub teachers from $75 per day to $82 per day effective 2015. Happy New Year!

FCSD needs subs! Earn while students learn! Do you have a bachelor's degree and some free time to earn while students learn? If so, you can obtain a substitute teaching license! Visit the Butler County Educational Service Center's website at www.bcesc.org. Select 'Substitute Teaching' under the 'Educators' tab. It's an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in working with FCSD student. You can also contact the Butler County ESC at 887-3710.

Why We Proofread ... (one in a series)

Another in my students' mission to find reasons as to why we proofread.
Here, at Tri-County Mall, was Santa "Clause" ... and no, it wasn't in reference to Tim Allen.