Skip to main content
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

Steinbeck/Bio M&M intro

This Powerpoint file includes bio information on author John Steibeck, plus background information for "Of Mice and Men." 

This information was originally presented in class on Monday, Oct. 6. A separate file will be posted with the accompanying worksheet.

Of Mice and Men Reading/HW/Quiz Schedule

Here is the schedule for "Of Mice and Men." (Schedule is subject to change due to school and class activities and progress.)

Books were handed out today in class. They are to be brought to class EVERY day; point will be awarded for having the book. 

They are now property of the student. The students are not only allowed to write in the book, they are EXPECTED to write (and highlight)  in the book!!!

Losing a book will require a student to purchase a new one. 

Warnings about Parking, Being Outside of Building

Parents/Guardians: 

* Beginning TODAY (Wednesday, Oct. 1), any student parking on school grounds is required to have a parking permit. Applications may be picked up in Mrs. Planert’s office (The Jungle/Pitstop). Any student found parking after that date without a permit will be automatically issued one and the $55.00 fee will be assessed to their student fees.

* Attention all students: Per Administration, beginning TODAY (Wednesday, Oct. 1) , students will NOT be allowed to go outside on the plaza during lunch. You will need to remain inside the building while you eat. Any students that are found outside will receive discipline. 

Computer Lab Wednesday & Thursday

Note: We will be in the computer lab on both Wednesday and Thursday (Oct. 1-2)

It is a different lab than the one we have been in. It will be Room #3107. It is in the front hallway of the third floor, to the left of the library/media center. It is very close to the restroom and the 400 Wing. 

BRING YOUR FLASH DRIVE/A HARD COPY/AN EMAIL WITH YOUR FILE ATTACHED/ETC. TO WORK ON AND SAVE

Also, if you need it, go to the usual classroom and bring your Writer's Notebook along to the lab.

Sensory Details/Peer Editing Homework

Today (Sept. 29) students were to have their rough drafts in class. We then discussed how to take their work and add sensory details to bring the reader into the story with them.

* The homework for Tuesday Sept. 30 is to fill in the attached sensory details chart, then take at least two of them and add the details to their personal narratives. They were to then highlight the two new sensory details that they had added. (This work was begun and possibly even finished in class.)

* In addition, students must bring a hard copy of their updated stories -- either handwritten or typed -- to class on Tuesday so that they can participate in peer-editing exercises. Not having a copy of the story means not getting points for that day's work. 

DO NOT FORGET TO BRING THE HARD COPY 

Why We Proofread (an ongoing series)

Make sure that what you write cannot be interpreted to mean something else (or else we all may end up eating the pastor)!!!
Don't forget that you can send me grammar and spelling mistakes that you have found on local signs for extra credit. 

Fairfield Lane Library Teen Events for October

Teen Writing Club
Wednesday October 1
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Join us each month to hone your creative writing skills and get thoughtful critiques and feedback on your writing. Writers will also have the opportunity to interact with other published professional writers. This month writers will Skype with Darynda Jones, NY Times bestselling author of the YA Darklight series and the popular adult paranormal Charley Davidson Series.
 
Book Theater: Film & Read-a-Like Club                     
Saturday October 4
1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Like movies and books? Watch riveting films and take home the read-a-like to discuss for next month’s meeting.
October 4 – Watch I, Frankenstein, read The Dark Endeavour by Kenneth Oppel
  
Crafty Creations for Teen
Wednesday October 15
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Ready to get your craft on? Learn how to make artful, practical and fun creations!
 
ACT/SAT Test Prep
Saturday, October 18, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Ages 15-18
Are you planning to take the ACT or SAT soon?  Joins us at the library for a fun test prep session where we'll play games and share other valuable resources that will help boost your scores.
 
Trick or Teen: Food Fear Factor
Wednesday, October 29, 6-7:30 p.m.
Do you have what it takes in this freaky food challenge? Join us for a ghoulish Halloween celebration and a costume contest!

Why We Proofread ... an ongoing series:

Here is even another example of why it is important to read and edit what we write; the last time I checked "4 in 10" is not a "majority" of anything!

Welcome to Mr. Braam's Website!

Some of you are expecting this email and some are not.

At the beginning of the Fairfield school year and my sophomore English class, I sent home a request, along with the syllabus, that all of my students and parents sign up for my webpage on the district website. Many of you did ... but too many of you did not. 

That is why on Thursday, I had my students go online and subscribe for email alerts during class and, if they knew their parents' email addresses, also sign them up.

You may unsubscribe if you wish, but these emails alert you to things that have been posted on the site, which includes homework and classwork, links to valuable English resources, photos of the classroom, demonstration videos that I have created for class, tutoring opportunities, updates on district items that I think are of value to my students and their parents, and even job openings at local businesses that will hire kids.

Please take a look around the site. I think you will like it

Tutoring Help Available

The National Honor Society will have tutoring in the library on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning next week (Sept. 30) for any student needing assistance in a course.  No signups ahead of time ... just show up. This also includes other subjects than English!!!

 

Progress Reports, Conferences

Just a reminder: Progress reports were sent home Monday (9/22) with students.

Also, on Thursday (9/25), we will be having parent/teacher conferences at the high school. Please look at your child's Progress Reports to see if I have requested either a face-to-face or phone conference.

HW: Personal Narrative

For Tuesday (Sept. 23): Please come to class with three (3) specific narrowly focused ideas that you might be interested in writing about for your personal narratives. You must have these ideas ready at the start of class, because the day's exercises are based on you having them.

Also for Tuesday (Sept. 23): if you had not finished the four mentor texts and questions that were originally due Monday, you must have them ready to hand in on Tuesday also.

For Wednesday (Sept. 24): Students will be required to hand in their final topic choice for the personal narrative.

For Thursday (Sept. 25): Students must have either a flash drive or an email account to be able to store their text for the personal narrative. They will get time in class to get started.

For Monday (Sept. 29): Rough draft due of personal narrative. Needed that day at start of classs to participate in peer-editing

Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!!!

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.