English II
Today since we had our quiz on Russian literature we have no official homework to complete. However, I have given you your final project for our Russian literature unit, and it would be a good idea to start working on your project tonight. Next class we'll spend some time in the library working on these projects - make sure that the time in the library is useful by starting tonight. Remember you have to select one of the four projects to complete. Consider what you think will give you your strongest work. Your projects are due on October 8th.
Russian I
Tonight for homework I want you to complete the reinforcement exercises from my Russian grammar textbook. You're completing exercises 51, 52, 53, and 54. For most of these you need to review your notes on gender and possessive pronouns. Remember to select the appropriate pronoun based on the gender of the item. We'll continue working on this and phonetics for Friday's class.
Make sure that with the homework that you write out all of your answers and sentences. Don't just fill in the blank or write the word - writing the whole sentence will help you with your handwriting and your grammar knowledge.
Russian II/III
Tonight you'll continue working on questions and answers as you work through exercise one in chapter four. There are fifteen questions there. I want you to select ten and then complete the example where you give answers to the questions. Make sure that you follow the model. Use this as a chance to check in with verbs and to practice your knowledge of the one-stem verb system in Russian. This is also a good chance for you to review your intonation patterns as we'll be doing some speaking related to questions and answers next class.
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Homework for B-Day Students: 29 September 2015
AP English III
For tonight you have two major things to accomplish and bring with you to class on Thursday. First you have your rough drafts of your argumentative essay. The rough drafts should be approximately half of your final draft. The final draft is five to six pages, so this should be two to three pages. For the rough draft workshop make sure that you have your introduction, conclusion, and one whole topic written out in paragraphs. As we have spent several days discussing, one topic does not equal one paragraph. Consider your transitions between different elements of your topic and make a point to me.
Secondly for Thursday you have your vocabulary cards. Remember that these come from your vocabulary bookmark. Use the resources in the previous post to complete this assignment. If you can't find a part of the card, then say so - don't leave anything blank on your cards.
Lastly, make sure that you have reviewed the final two chapters of Grapes of Wrath to finish our discussion that we started today. You'll need to purchase/find a copy of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in the next few classes, so go ahead and get one sooner rather than later.
English II
For homework tonight you should be preparing for your quiz on Gogol's "The Overcoat" and the poetry of Anna Akhmatova. The topics you need to study are in the previous post. Make sure that you are highly prepared - remember that I pushed this back so that you could get yourself more ready.
For tonight you have two major things to accomplish and bring with you to class on Thursday. First you have your rough drafts of your argumentative essay. The rough drafts should be approximately half of your final draft. The final draft is five to six pages, so this should be two to three pages. For the rough draft workshop make sure that you have your introduction, conclusion, and one whole topic written out in paragraphs. As we have spent several days discussing, one topic does not equal one paragraph. Consider your transitions between different elements of your topic and make a point to me.
Secondly for Thursday you have your vocabulary cards. Remember that these come from your vocabulary bookmark. Use the resources in the previous post to complete this assignment. If you can't find a part of the card, then say so - don't leave anything blank on your cards.
Lastly, make sure that you have reviewed the final two chapters of Grapes of Wrath to finish our discussion that we started today. You'll need to purchase/find a copy of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in the next few classes, so go ahead and get one sooner rather than later.
English II
For homework tonight you should be preparing for your quiz on Gogol's "The Overcoat" and the poetry of Anna Akhmatova. The topics you need to study are in the previous post. Make sure that you are highly prepared - remember that I pushed this back so that you could get yourself more ready.
Monday, September 28, 2015
Homework for A-Day Students: 28 September 2015
English II
Your homework for tonight is to finish the preparation for your major quiz on "The Overcoat" and the poetry of Anna Akhmatova. The poetry is available on your handouts and the whole text of "The Overcoat" is at this link. Make sure that you've read over the story and the poetry as you prepare. For the quiz you will have questions on:
Your homework for tonight is to finish the preparation for your major quiz on "The Overcoat" and the poetry of Anna Akhmatova. The poetry is available on your handouts and the whole text of "The Overcoat" is at this link. Make sure that you've read over the story and the poetry as you prepare. For the quiz you will have questions on:
- characters, symbols, conflicts, literary devices in "The Overcoat"
- themes and literary devices for Akhmatova's poetry
The test will also look at your knowledge of vocabulary from these pieces, so make sure that you have defined all of the words on your bookmark. The final part of the test will be a short answer question, make sure you remember the key parts of your effective paragraphs!
Lastly, don't forget your opportunity to earn back extra points - revise your writing based on our workshop today and turn that in no later than Friday to earn a new grade.
Russian I
For homework tonight you should be working on your vocabulary studying of chapter one. Begin by focusing on the nouns. You should work on the spelling, the reading, and the gender knowledge of the nouns in your chapter one vocabulary list. You'll have a vocabulary quiz next Thursday - so it is important to start to prepare now!
Russian II/III
For tonight I want you to select five of the verbs from which you made your verb cards and I want you to work on writing questions and answers using these verbs. For example:
О чем разговаривают Таня и Виктор?
Они разговаривают о классе.You need to create five question/answer pairs. Make sure that as you do this you work with the conjugation of the verbs as well as the case governance that occurs with these verbs as well.
Friday, September 25, 2015
Homework for B-Day Students - 25 September 2015 - Weekend Edition
AP English III
This weekend you have two things to complete and a few things to take care of which will move you on into Thursday. First, let's deal with Tuesday. On Tuesday you'll be turning in your journals (both the Transcendental daily reflections and your warm-ups) as well as your personal reflection on the week. For the personal reflection consider the week as a whole - What did you learn about yourself through this experiment? What have you learned about others? Have you transcended? Why or why not? The idea in this reflection is to focus on one key idea and explain thoroughly - show us that you can focus your writing.
For Thursday, you will have your rough draft workshop on your argumentative essays as well as your first vocabulary cards due. Use http://www.merriamwebster.com or http://www.dictionary.com or http://www.etymonline.com to look up definitions, word parts, and meanings. Remember to account for all of the information needed on the cards.
Remember that for the rough drafts you need to have fifty percent of your final draft - focus on presenting your introduction with argument, two body paragraphs and your conclusion. This is a good frame that will allow us to deal with the essay as a whole. After our draft workshop in class, Ms. Ginocchio and I will be available for individual conferences.
English II
Even though some of you were not in class today we will still have our overall quiz on Gogol's "The Overcoat" on Tuesday. Use the link in the previous post to access the full text and to begin preparing yourself using the tips below to study. If you've taken good notes and read the whole story you will be in good shape for this quiz.
This weekend you have two things to complete and a few things to take care of which will move you on into Thursday. First, let's deal with Tuesday. On Tuesday you'll be turning in your journals (both the Transcendental daily reflections and your warm-ups) as well as your personal reflection on the week. For the personal reflection consider the week as a whole - What did you learn about yourself through this experiment? What have you learned about others? Have you transcended? Why or why not? The idea in this reflection is to focus on one key idea and explain thoroughly - show us that you can focus your writing.
For Thursday, you will have your rough draft workshop on your argumentative essays as well as your first vocabulary cards due. Use http://www.merriamwebster.com or http://www.dictionary.com or http://www.etymonline.com to look up definitions, word parts, and meanings. Remember to account for all of the information needed on the cards.
Remember that for the rough drafts you need to have fifty percent of your final draft - focus on presenting your introduction with argument, two body paragraphs and your conclusion. This is a good frame that will allow us to deal with the essay as a whole. After our draft workshop in class, Ms. Ginocchio and I will be available for individual conferences.
English II
Even though some of you were not in class today we will still have our overall quiz on Gogol's "The Overcoat" on Tuesday. Use the link in the previous post to access the full text and to begin preparing yourself using the tips below to study. If you've taken good notes and read the whole story you will be in good shape for this quiz.
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Homework for A-Day Students - Weekend Edition - 24 September 2015
Russian II/III
This weekend you are making verb cards from chapters one through three. For your verb cards I am looking for a few things - here's your list:
This weekend you are making verb cards from chapters one through three. For your verb cards I am looking for a few things - here's your list:
- the verb in its infinitive form with the translation into English
- the stem of the verb
- the structural transcription of the verb
- the present and past tense conjugation (use structural transcription if you need to)
- case governance of the verb
- Russian III ONLY - Aspectual pair of the verb.
You should focus on commonly used verbs - don't look at vague verbs, try to look at ones you actually use.
Russian I
You have your list of words to analyze for gender this weekend. Remember to practice your handwriting, your reading, and to identify the gender, the hardness or softness of the ending, and the pronoun (he/she/it) you would use to discuss the item.
English II
On Monday you'll be having a big quiz on "The Overcoat" - sections one through five. Here is a link to the online version of the text if you want to look at the whole thing. Here's how you should prepare for your quiz this weekend:
- Reread the whole story from beginning to end - we read it over several classes. This will help you to keep everything in order.
- Review your notes - pay attention to notes on the characters, the situation/plot, the conflict, and the main symbol.
- Prepare any questions about things you don't understand.
- Know any and all vocabulary from the story.
This will be a large quiz on Monday and will greatly affect your grades. Make sure that you are prepared.
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Russian Nursery Rhymes
Russian I Students:
Here's the video I mentioned today in class about the rooster poem. Try to practice your reading and follow along!
The character of the goat (коза) uses the beginning to sing the rooster's (петушок) praises and then lure him with a potato (картошка). Try to see how much of the cartoon you understand. You'll hear the rhyme a few times in it.
Russian II and III - Have some fun with this. Listen for the case endings and verb endings - they're clearly in there!
Writing Help for AP English III
This information is mostly useful for the AP English III students, but it could be helpful to English II also.
As I have told many of you, I’m happy to look at revised outlines and rough drafts as you work on your argumentative essays. The best way to do this is to send me your work electronically (via email or Google Doc) or give me a hard copy to mark-up. Then, I can give back the draft with comments, or we can meet to discuss it. I can give you the best feedback if I have time to read your work carefully. It is also very helpful if you have specific questions or alert me to specific challenges you are facing, e.g. having trouble with the conclusion or transitions, you’re not sure you have adequate explanation of evidence, etc… This will help me help you.
My email address is jg239 [at] duke [dot] edu. I generally won’t answer any work- or school-related emails after 7 pm. Also, because I am a graduate student and have assignments of my own to complete, do not send me your work the night before it’s due and expect me to drop everything to get you same-day feedback. On rare occasions I may be able to do this, but don’t plan on it!
Helpful writing resources for you:
UNC Writing Center: This website has loads of helpful handouts that can help you with many aspects of the writing process, from grammar issues, to specific parts of a writing assignment, to writing for specific academic fields. http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/
Purdue OWL: Website run and updated by Purdue University. This is a great reference for styles, such as the MLA style we use in our course, and it also has resources similar to the UNC writing center above. I cannot recommend this site enough; I still refer to it every time I have to write a paper for graduate school. https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/
Grammar Girl: Simple, clear explanations of common grammar and usage quandaries. Don't depress your teachers; if you don't know the right way to punctuate something or the right word to use, look it up! If you're still not sure, ask us! http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl
My email address is jg239 [at] duke [dot] edu. I generally won’t answer any work- or school-related emails after 7 pm. Also, because I am a graduate student and have assignments of my own to complete, do not send me your work the night before it’s due and expect me to drop everything to get you same-day feedback. On rare occasions I may be able to do this, but don’t plan on it!
Helpful writing resources for you:
UNC Writing Center: This website has loads of helpful handouts that can help you with many aspects of the writing process, from grammar issues, to specific parts of a writing assignment, to writing for specific academic fields. http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/
Purdue OWL: Website run and updated by Purdue University. This is a great reference for styles, such as the MLA style we use in our course, and it also has resources similar to the UNC writing center above. I cannot recommend this site enough; I still refer to it every time I have to write a paper for graduate school. https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/
Grammar Girl: Simple, clear explanations of common grammar and usage quandaries. Don't depress your teachers; if you don't know the right way to punctuate something or the right word to use, look it up! If you're still not sure, ask us! http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl
Homework for All Classes - A and B Day - 22 and 23 September
I'll be out tomorrow in observance of Yom Kippur, so I wanted to go ahead and make this post now to everyone.
Russian II and III
On Thursday you will have a vocabulary quiz on your nouns in Chapter Four. I will ask you to put these nouns into several cases and they may be paired with possessive pronouns in some areas. This is a reminder to continue to study and review your case endings - the results of the test showed me that this is still needed.
Russian I
You should begin to review and study the vocabulary words in Chapter One of our textbook. Begin your work on the nouns because that's where we'll start on Thursday. In addition, you have some new readings that you can use to help you study and review the alphabet. If you are still feeling behind on the alphabet or anything from the first test, please make time to see me and build in extra practice - you'll need to get this down pat!
English II
Tonight you'll be reading the fourth part of "The Overcoat" - it's when things really start to go downhill for Akaky. As you read, pay attention to your new vocabulary and do your definitions - we will likely check vocabulary in the next few days. Also, think about and take note of the following ideas as you read:
Russian II and III
On Thursday you will have a vocabulary quiz on your nouns in Chapter Four. I will ask you to put these nouns into several cases and they may be paired with possessive pronouns in some areas. This is a reminder to continue to study and review your case endings - the results of the test showed me that this is still needed.
Russian I
You should begin to review and study the vocabulary words in Chapter One of our textbook. Begin your work on the nouns because that's where we'll start on Thursday. In addition, you have some new readings that you can use to help you study and review the alphabet. If you are still feeling behind on the alphabet or anything from the first test, please make time to see me and build in extra practice - you'll need to get this down pat!
English II
Tonight you'll be reading the fourth part of "The Overcoat" - it's when things really start to go downhill for Akaky. As you read, pay attention to your new vocabulary and do your definitions - we will likely check vocabulary in the next few days. Also, think about and take note of the following ideas as you read:
- How do the police/government officials treat Akaky? Why?
- What generally happens to Akaky in this section?
- Is there any irony in this section? Where?
We'll review things on Thursday/Friday and start wrapping up this story and our unit on Russian literature.
AP English III
You should now have your journals to keep working on your Transcendentalist for a Week reflections. Feel free to staple the previous entries into your journal instead of simply recopying them. For tonight, you should spend time working on your vocabulary cards - remember that you need to do cards for five words. Follow the instructions on the cards and ask if you have questions. I also recommend using www.dictionary.com for this assignment as well as the website in your assignment sheet.
Additionally tonight you should begin drafting and working on your rough drafts. The drafts will be workshopped in class on October 1 (the same day that your cards are due). You need to have fifty percent of your final draft to get credit - my recommendation is that you do (at least) your introduction, two body paragraphs, and your conclusion. After our workshop, Ms. Ginocchio and I will be available for conferences.
Have Thoreau and Emerson as well as Steinbeck in class on Friday - we'll be pulling a lot of ideas together.
Monday, September 21, 2015
Homework for Monday - B Day Students - 9/21/2015
English II
Tonight you'll be writing your Personal Reflection #2 - this will be on the story "The Overcoat". Here is your prompt, make sure that you answer the question clearly using a solid paragraph. You may want to write more than one paragraph.
Have you ever had an object that you wanted the way that Akaky wants his overcoat? What was the object? What did it symbolize for you? What happened to you once you got the object? Did you change like Akaky is changing in the story?
AP English III
Today we started to crack the surface on Emerson and "The Over Soul". The next few classes are going to be key in helping you really make sense of what he is saying and what he means. For tonight, start your project on being a Transcendentalist for a week. Remember the idea is to transcend your everyday experience, so think about something you can give up to accomplish this goal. Have fun with this assignment and discover something about yourself. Remember that you will write one page a day about your experience for five days and then complete a final reflection on the week, due on the 29th of September.
For tonight as well, read Thoreau's "Where I Lived, and What I Lived For" - while you work on Wednesday there will be a reading guide which will help you to get through the main ideas of this piece. Continue to draw connections to Emerson - it'll make things a lot clearer. Here's the link to Thoreau's piece if you don't have 50 Essays.
Tonight you'll be writing your Personal Reflection #2 - this will be on the story "The Overcoat". Here is your prompt, make sure that you answer the question clearly using a solid paragraph. You may want to write more than one paragraph.
Have you ever had an object that you wanted the way that Akaky wants his overcoat? What was the object? What did it symbolize for you? What happened to you once you got the object? Did you change like Akaky is changing in the story?
AP English III
Today we started to crack the surface on Emerson and "The Over Soul". The next few classes are going to be key in helping you really make sense of what he is saying and what he means. For tonight, start your project on being a Transcendentalist for a week. Remember the idea is to transcend your everyday experience, so think about something you can give up to accomplish this goal. Have fun with this assignment and discover something about yourself. Remember that you will write one page a day about your experience for five days and then complete a final reflection on the week, due on the 29th of September.
For tonight as well, read Thoreau's "Where I Lived, and What I Lived For" - while you work on Wednesday there will be a reading guide which will help you to get through the main ideas of this piece. Continue to draw connections to Emerson - it'll make things a lot clearer. Here's the link to Thoreau's piece if you don't have 50 Essays.
Friday, September 18, 2015
Homework for the Weekend - A Day Edition - 18 September
Russian II/III
Today you survived your first exam. Congratulations. If there were areas of the exam which were difficult for you then I would suggest studying over the weekend to review while it's still fresh in your minds. Over the weekend begin to study the nouns in chapter four. We will have a spelling test on Thursday covering these nouns.
Russian I
From the reading performance I think that many of you were not totally prepared for today's test. I will grade your tests this weekend and prepare you for corrections on Tuesday during the first half of class. Be prepared to move forward. Make sure that you are ready for Tuesday and that you can correct anything that you missed today.
English II
This weekend you'll be writing your Personal Reflection #2 - this will be on the story "The Overcoat". Here is your prompt, make sure that you answer the question clearly using a solid paragraph. You may want to write more than one paragraph.
Have you ever had an object that you wanted the way that Akaky wants his overcoat? What was the object? What did it symbolize for you? What happened to you once you got the object? Did you change like Akaky is changing in the story?
Today you survived your first exam. Congratulations. If there were areas of the exam which were difficult for you then I would suggest studying over the weekend to review while it's still fresh in your minds. Over the weekend begin to study the nouns in chapter four. We will have a spelling test on Thursday covering these nouns.
Russian I
From the reading performance I think that many of you were not totally prepared for today's test. I will grade your tests this weekend and prepare you for corrections on Tuesday during the first half of class. Be prepared to move forward. Make sure that you are ready for Tuesday and that you can correct anything that you missed today.
English II
This weekend you'll be writing your Personal Reflection #2 - this will be on the story "The Overcoat". Here is your prompt, make sure that you answer the question clearly using a solid paragraph. You may want to write more than one paragraph.
Have you ever had an object that you wanted the way that Akaky wants his overcoat? What was the object? What did it symbolize for you? What happened to you once you got the object? Did you change like Akaky is changing in the story?
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Homework for B-Day Students, Weekend Edition, 17 September 2015
English II:
Tonight you need to read section two of Gogol's "The Overcoat". As you read, make sure to complete the following tasks:
Tonight you need to read section two of Gogol's "The Overcoat". As you read, make sure to complete the following tasks:
- Collect five new vocabulary words. Collect more if you want, but five is the minimum.
- Take notes on the symbol of Akaky's coat. Why do you think it is important? What does it symbolize?
- Take notes on how Akaky changes as a person - go back to what we've discussed in section one and compare how he is now in section two. What causes these changes?
Don't forget we will have a quiz on Monday to start class on section two. If you take good notes you'll do well on the quiz!
AP English III:
Over the weekend you'll be reading one of the most difficult things of the entire year, Ralph Waldo Emerson's "The Over Soul". I'm telling you now that it's difficult to encourage you to work hard on this. As you read - here are some tips:
- Use paragraph three as his argument. In this piece he is defining an abstract concept. Use the later paragraphs as examples of the concept.
- Consider the purpose of each paragraph. What is it telling you? How does it help to clarify the argument he is presenting about "The Over Soul"?
- Use the five traits of Transcendentalism to help you make sense of this - How do you see him working these ideas into his article?
- Use Jim Casy to help you make sense of all of this. Remember that Steinbeck is putting a lot of this philosophy into practice with Ma, Casy and Tom. Use Grapes of Wrath to help you make sense of this piece.
- Develop questions - if you want you can post them as a comment here and I'll try to respond through the weekend.
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Russian Students Post
https://open.spotify.com/user/djmiller01/playlist/54mDUxWvfmhL4dZBHtCVY8
Here's the link to my Spotify Russian Music playlist. There's a bit of everything, so have some fun. A great activity is following along with the lyrics as you listen, it'll help you train your ears. You'll need to copy and paste the link.
Here's the link to my Spotify Russian Music playlist. There's a bit of everything, so have some fun. A great activity is following along with the lyrics as you listen, it'll help you train your ears. You'll need to copy and paste the link.
Homework for A-Day Students: 16 September 2015
English II
Tonight you need to read section two of Gogol's "The Overcoat". As you read, make sure to complete the following tasks:
Tonight you need to read section two of Gogol's "The Overcoat". As you read, make sure to complete the following tasks:
- Collect five new vocabulary words. Collect more if you want, but five is the minimum.
- Take notes on the symbol of Akaky's coat. Why do you think it is important? What does it symbolize?
- Take notes on how Akaky changes as a person - go back to what we've discussed in section one and compare how he is now in section two. What causes these changes?
Don't forget we will have a quiz on Friday to start class on section two. If you take good notes you'll do well on the quiz!
Russian I, II, and III
We have exams coming up on Friday. Russian II/III - You'll be having your case exam. Make sure that you're studied and prepared with nouns, adjectives, and pronouns of all types. Use your notes and your grammar review packets to help you to prepare. We've been drilling this information daily so you should be ready to go.
For Russian I we will have our alphabet and phonics test. Make sure that you know all of the letters and their sounds. The handwriting helpers will be gone, so know your stuff!
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Homework for All Classes - 14 and 15 September
All Students - Here are your reminders for the next class.
Russian II/III
Next class we will spend a lot of time reviewing for our exam on cases which is coming soon. You should be spending time nightly drilling and memorizing case endings and constructions which will lead you to a better understanding of Russian. To begin, make sure that your exercise packet is as complete as you can make it. We'll start by fielding questions there before we move on.
Russian I
Continue to study your phonetics and handwriting for the coming exam on the alphabet. We'll have our last day of practice on Wednesday.
English II
Using your copies of Gogol, go through the text and stay focused on finding new vocabulary words. Write the words and the definitions at the bottom of the page if you don't have your bookmarks. We'll spend some time reviewing before we move on.
AP English III
Continue your rereading and reexamination of Steinbeck. For tonight, read and annotate chapters five through eight focusing on:
Russian II/III
Next class we will spend a lot of time reviewing for our exam on cases which is coming soon. You should be spending time nightly drilling and memorizing case endings and constructions which will lead you to a better understanding of Russian. To begin, make sure that your exercise packet is as complete as you can make it. We'll start by fielding questions there before we move on.
Russian I
Continue to study your phonetics and handwriting for the coming exam on the alphabet. We'll have our last day of practice on Wednesday.
English II
Using your copies of Gogol, go through the text and stay focused on finding new vocabulary words. Write the words and the definitions at the bottom of the page if you don't have your bookmarks. We'll spend some time reviewing before we move on.
AP English III
Continue your rereading and reexamination of Steinbeck. For tonight, read and annotate chapters five through eight focusing on:
- motif of person to animal and the American Dream
- the use of irony in the text (grab bag)
- the characterization of Ma and Jim Casy
- pay special attention to Jim Casy's philosophy and how Ma responds to certain elements of it.
If you're interested in more about the Dust Bowl, check out the PBS Documentary which we looked at a bit in class. Here's the link to it.
Friday, September 11, 2015
Homework for the Weekend - B Day - 11 September 2015
AP English III
First off, here are the links to the supplemental texts that we looked at today in class.
New York Times Book Review of Kozol
Washington Post Article about Wake County
Economist Article on Charter Schools
NPR Transcript on Pre-K
Remember to use these if you would like as you are revising your essay outlines this weekend. Work hard on these and remember to include and show all of the ideas that we have been learning in regards to analyzing a text and constructing an argument. Remember that your outlines are due on Tuesday.
In addition, make sure to read/annotate chapters one, two and four of The Grapes of Wrath - we will begin our study of that text on Tuesday.
English II
You have no homework this weekend - make sure that you study and review your notes - we'll have our Russian literature test sooner than you think!
First off, here are the links to the supplemental texts that we looked at today in class.
New York Times Book Review of Kozol
Washington Post Article about Wake County
Economist Article on Charter Schools
NPR Transcript on Pre-K
Remember to use these if you would like as you are revising your essay outlines this weekend. Work hard on these and remember to include and show all of the ideas that we have been learning in regards to analyzing a text and constructing an argument. Remember that your outlines are due on Tuesday.
In addition, make sure to read/annotate chapters one, two and four of The Grapes of Wrath - we will begin our study of that text on Tuesday.
English II
You have no homework this weekend - make sure that you study and review your notes - we'll have our Russian literature test sooner than you think!
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Homework for the Weekend - A Day Students - 9/10/2015
Russian II/III
After our writing conferences today I can say that all of you are ready to finish your writing assignments and turn in on Monday your final drafts. Make sure that you account for all of your changes and read through it several times to make sure that it is correct and grammatical. In addition, try to add some adjectives for your nouns - this will help you to better learn all of the endings.
I will not be with you on Monday, so you will turn in your work to Ms. Ginocchio.
Russian I
This weekend I want you to continue working on your handwriting and pronunciation as you begin studying Russian cities. Make sure that you write each city five times - and each time you write the name of the city, say all of the sounds and the word as a whole. In the last column, tell me where the city is. Use Yandex maps to find your cities. If you need a Russian keyboard you can use this one at this link.
On Monday you'll start your research on these cities.
For my Russian students, here's Полина Гагарина - a wonderful Russian singer.
English II
Over the weekend you have no homework to complete - please stay focused on studying your notes from the two pieces we've read so that you are constantly preparing for your unit test on Russian literature.
After our writing conferences today I can say that all of you are ready to finish your writing assignments and turn in on Monday your final drafts. Make sure that you account for all of your changes and read through it several times to make sure that it is correct and grammatical. In addition, try to add some adjectives for your nouns - this will help you to better learn all of the endings.
I will not be with you on Monday, so you will turn in your work to Ms. Ginocchio.
Russian I
This weekend I want you to continue working on your handwriting and pronunciation as you begin studying Russian cities. Make sure that you write each city five times - and each time you write the name of the city, say all of the sounds and the word as a whole. In the last column, tell me where the city is. Use Yandex maps to find your cities. If you need a Russian keyboard you can use this one at this link.
On Monday you'll start your research on these cities.
For my Russian students, here's Полина Гагарина - a wonderful Russian singer.
English II
Over the weekend you have no homework to complete - please stay focused on studying your notes from the two pieces we've read so that you are constantly preparing for your unit test on Russian literature.
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Homework for B-Day Students: 9/9/2015
AP English III
Tonight your only homework is to work on your outlines and to revise! Put to practice all that we have learned over the last few days of class, and show me how you are growing as a writer. Remember to start with your argument revision since that is the heart of the essay - then move forward into developing your topics, details, and explanation. Please come to conference as you are working - remember that five minutes face-to-face can really help you a lot as you go through this process. The revised outlines are due to class on 9/15/15. You will need to submit your original and the revised copy.
Next class make sure that you have Kozol - we'll be finishing him up and getting ready to move to Oklahoma.
English II
Your homework is the same as the A-Day students. I want you to write your personal reflection on the prompt using a clear detail from the story to support your opinion. You're going to write three of these reflections - so remember to keep them together on the same piece of paper. Your prompt is:
Do you agree with Sasha's final thought that he is "indeed a criminal"? Why or why not? Use one clear piece of evidence from the text to support your idea.
In addition, if you are still missing the travel paragraph, or the vocabulary work you will need to get that turned in for credit by Friday.
Tonight your only homework is to work on your outlines and to revise! Put to practice all that we have learned over the last few days of class, and show me how you are growing as a writer. Remember to start with your argument revision since that is the heart of the essay - then move forward into developing your topics, details, and explanation. Please come to conference as you are working - remember that five minutes face-to-face can really help you a lot as you go through this process. The revised outlines are due to class on 9/15/15. You will need to submit your original and the revised copy.
Next class make sure that you have Kozol - we'll be finishing him up and getting ready to move to Oklahoma.
English II
Your homework is the same as the A-Day students. I want you to write your personal reflection on the prompt using a clear detail from the story to support your opinion. You're going to write three of these reflections - so remember to keep them together on the same piece of paper. Your prompt is:
Do you agree with Sasha's final thought that he is "indeed a criminal"? Why or why not? Use one clear piece of evidence from the text to support your idea.
In addition, if you are still missing the travel paragraph, or the vocabulary work you will need to get that turned in for credit by Friday.
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Back from the long/birthday weekend...Homework for 9/8/15 - A-Day
Remember: Each and every day makes us older and hopefully wiser, too.
Russian II/III
Thursday we will begin with our writing conferences which we cut today in order to work on phonetics. Make sure that for Thursday you are fully prepared with a paragraph that has all nouns, pronouns (of all types), and adjectives translated into Russian into the appropriate case. Your paragraph should reflect all six cases. If you use a translator/dictionary for a word, indicate that so that I can give you another, easier word or reference my dictionary.
For verbs, put your verb analysis chart at the bottom of your work. Verb in English with tense and subject (for II and III) followed by aspect and directionality (III only). As we conference we'll go over the individual verbs you need.
Bring your textbooks - we'll use them in class during conferences.
Russian I
Looking at your handwriting packets I see that a few of us will be having a working lunch to correct some mistakes and misunderstandings. The grades are already posted in PowerSchool - if you have B lunch, you could come to lunch on Wednesday instead of waiting until Thursday to earn your credit back.
For tonight's homework, study your alphabet and your new vocabulary. I encourage you all to make flashcards which will help your handwriting and memory. Study the main words, not really the whole phrases. Also, continue to practice with your phonetics packet - we'll have more phonics work on Thursday.
English II
I've updated PowerSchool to reflect missing assignments including the vocabulary work. If you want to, please turn in your work tomorrow to me or Ms. Ginocchio and we'll fix the grade as soon as we can. Remember that missing work must be turned in by Friday to be eligible for full credit.
For tonight you will be writing your first of three personal reflections to a text - remember that you will keep this until the end of our unit on Russian literature when it will be collected for a full quiz grade. For tonight, you will reflect on Chekhov's "A Problem" - your prompt is:
Do you agree with Sasha's final thought at the end of the story that he is "indeed a criminal" or not? Why do you agree or disagree? Use one clear example from the story to support your opinion.
Remember to follow your rules for good paragraph writing and build complexity by talking about a story.
Russian II/III
Thursday we will begin with our writing conferences which we cut today in order to work on phonetics. Make sure that for Thursday you are fully prepared with a paragraph that has all nouns, pronouns (of all types), and adjectives translated into Russian into the appropriate case. Your paragraph should reflect all six cases. If you use a translator/dictionary for a word, indicate that so that I can give you another, easier word or reference my dictionary.
For verbs, put your verb analysis chart at the bottom of your work. Verb in English with tense and subject (for II and III) followed by aspect and directionality (III only). As we conference we'll go over the individual verbs you need.
Bring your textbooks - we'll use them in class during conferences.
Russian I
Looking at your handwriting packets I see that a few of us will be having a working lunch to correct some mistakes and misunderstandings. The grades are already posted in PowerSchool - if you have B lunch, you could come to lunch on Wednesday instead of waiting until Thursday to earn your credit back.
For tonight's homework, study your alphabet and your new vocabulary. I encourage you all to make flashcards which will help your handwriting and memory. Study the main words, not really the whole phrases. Also, continue to practice with your phonetics packet - we'll have more phonics work on Thursday.
English II
I've updated PowerSchool to reflect missing assignments including the vocabulary work. If you want to, please turn in your work tomorrow to me or Ms. Ginocchio and we'll fix the grade as soon as we can. Remember that missing work must be turned in by Friday to be eligible for full credit.
For tonight you will be writing your first of three personal reflections to a text - remember that you will keep this until the end of our unit on Russian literature when it will be collected for a full quiz grade. For tonight, you will reflect on Chekhov's "A Problem" - your prompt is:
Do you agree with Sasha's final thought at the end of the story that he is "indeed a criminal" or not? Why do you agree or disagree? Use one clear example from the story to support your opinion.
Remember to follow your rules for good paragraph writing and build complexity by talking about a story.
Friday, September 4, 2015
Homework for B-Day Students: Weekend Edition - 9/4/2015
AP English III
This weekend for homework you have a few things to read and consider as we start moving to the end of Kozol and into The Grapes of Wrath. I would like for you to read "On Compassion" by B.L. Ascher which is in 50 Essays or at this link. Read and annotate the piece closely: pay attention to her argument and the way in which she proves the argument to us as an audience. How does she appeal to ethos, pathos, and logos?
In addition, read over chapter twelve in Kozol as well as his Epilogue. For the Epilogue, look at it only as a conclusion - go to your notes on a conclusion and notice how he does what he needs to do over the course of several pages.
You'll be getting your outlines back next class - be ready to start revising!
English II
Your homework for this weekend is the same as the A-day students below. Using your vocabulary bookmark select five words from our study so far and use them to write a short story (about 100 words) about someone borrowing money from another person. Try to include some conflict in the story because that always happens when people borrow money. When you turn in your story you will also turn in your vocabulary bookmark to get full credit!
This weekend for homework you have a few things to read and consider as we start moving to the end of Kozol and into The Grapes of Wrath. I would like for you to read "On Compassion" by B.L. Ascher which is in 50 Essays or at this link. Read and annotate the piece closely: pay attention to her argument and the way in which she proves the argument to us as an audience. How does she appeal to ethos, pathos, and logos?
In addition, read over chapter twelve in Kozol as well as his Epilogue. For the Epilogue, look at it only as a conclusion - go to your notes on a conclusion and notice how he does what he needs to do over the course of several pages.
You'll be getting your outlines back next class - be ready to start revising!
English II
Your homework for this weekend is the same as the A-day students below. Using your vocabulary bookmark select five words from our study so far and use them to write a short story (about 100 words) about someone borrowing money from another person. Try to include some conflict in the story because that always happens when people borrow money. When you turn in your story you will also turn in your vocabulary bookmark to get full credit!
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Homework for A Day Students: 9/3/2015 - Weekend Edition
I won't see all of you until I'm thirty-one! Thankfully that happens on Saturday, so we won't have to wait too long. Here are your reminders for the weekend:
Russian II/III
Continue to work on the grammar exercises to help you review genitive, accusative, and prepositional case. A lot of you were making some breakthroughs today in terms of case construction and knowledge, keep practicing and learning. In addition, go back to your paragraphs - apply the dative case and continue to edit and develop. I will be collecting finalized versions for cases soon!
Russian I
I want you to make sure that your handwriting packets are complete this weekend so that you can completely study the alphabet. After today's class we've done all the letters, and now we're starting to get at phonetics too. Continue to write, read, and practice. We'll be doing all of that next weekend.
For my Russian language students - here's a fun song that you can listen to this weekend just for the heck of it.
English II
We've started studying Chekhov and will continue that work next week. For the weekend, I want you to write using your vocabulary. Construct a short story using FIVE vocabulary words from your bookmarks. The story should be about someone borrowing money from another person. Don't write more than a paragraph or two - I want the stories short. Include some conflict - that always happens when people borrow money.
When you turn in the story you will also turn in your vocabulary bookmarks - so make sure that all the words on them are defined.
Russian II/III
Continue to work on the grammar exercises to help you review genitive, accusative, and prepositional case. A lot of you were making some breakthroughs today in terms of case construction and knowledge, keep practicing and learning. In addition, go back to your paragraphs - apply the dative case and continue to edit and develop. I will be collecting finalized versions for cases soon!
Russian I
I want you to make sure that your handwriting packets are complete this weekend so that you can completely study the alphabet. After today's class we've done all the letters, and now we're starting to get at phonetics too. Continue to write, read, and practice. We'll be doing all of that next weekend.
For my Russian language students - here's a fun song that you can listen to this weekend just for the heck of it.
English II
We've started studying Chekhov and will continue that work next week. For the weekend, I want you to write using your vocabulary. Construct a short story using FIVE vocabulary words from your bookmarks. The story should be about someone borrowing money from another person. Don't write more than a paragraph or two - I want the stories short. Include some conflict - that always happens when people borrow money.
When you turn in the story you will also turn in your vocabulary bookmarks - so make sure that all the words on them are defined.
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Homework for B-Day Students: 2 September 2015
AP English III
Tonight for your homework you have two key things to accomplish. First, continue to revise and edit your outlines and especially pay attention to the refutation. Most of you left this out of your original outlines and as we discussed today, it is necessary. Find a place to include this and start to develop it.
In addition, complete your rereading and annotation of chapters eight and ten from Kozol. Continue to notice the way in which he is building and developing his argument as the text proceeds.
English II
If you didn't finish your tone analysis work, make sure to turn that in at the beginning of next class!
Tonight for your homework you have two key things to accomplish. First, continue to revise and edit your outlines and especially pay attention to the refutation. Most of you left this out of your original outlines and as we discussed today, it is necessary. Find a place to include this and start to develop it.
In addition, complete your rereading and annotation of chapters eight and ten from Kozol. Continue to notice the way in which he is building and developing his argument as the text proceeds.
English II
If you didn't finish your tone analysis work, make sure to turn that in at the beginning of next class!
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Homework for A-Day: 9/1/2015
Russian II/III
The exercises tonight for homework are intended to be used so that you will memorize your case endings for the accusative and genitive cases. Practice and then practice some more. Here are the exercises you should study and complete:
For Accusative case - pages 82-85.
Russian II and III: Exercise 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 30, 31, 32, 33, 37.
Russian III: Exercise 25 and 26.
For Genitive case - pages 122-123.
Russian II and III: Exercise 15, 16, 17, 29, 21, 24.
I'll have your written work to you returned soon.
Russian I
Please complete the additional handwriting work tonight to finish your study of the letters. Only focus on the handwriting exercises. Do not worry about translating words that you don't know. I'll collect all of your handwriting work on Thursday.
English II
If you did not complete your tone analysis and imagery from the Pushkin poem, make sure to finish that tonight and turn it in on Thursday. Also, if you were a late addition to the class you need to complete your paragraphs and turn them in on Thursday too.
The exercises tonight for homework are intended to be used so that you will memorize your case endings for the accusative and genitive cases. Practice and then practice some more. Here are the exercises you should study and complete:
For Accusative case - pages 82-85.
Russian II and III: Exercise 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 30, 31, 32, 33, 37.
Russian III: Exercise 25 and 26.
For Genitive case - pages 122-123.
Russian II and III: Exercise 15, 16, 17, 29, 21, 24.
I'll have your written work to you returned soon.
Russian I
Please complete the additional handwriting work tonight to finish your study of the letters. Only focus on the handwriting exercises. Do not worry about translating words that you don't know. I'll collect all of your handwriting work on Thursday.
English II
If you did not complete your tone analysis and imagery from the Pushkin poem, make sure to finish that tonight and turn it in on Thursday. Also, if you were a late addition to the class you need to complete your paragraphs and turn them in on Thursday too.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)