Off to Thanksgiving Break

Dear Grey Day Students - Thanks for a great last class before our break next week. Keep in mind that we won't be meeting next week because of the holiday break. I'm not assigning anything to be completed over the break; however, if you have missing assignments you should submit them now so that you can be on a good footing when we return. I'll be sending progress reports on Monday.

AP Research

Today we discussed the literature review and its function within the introduction. Keep in mind that each section of the paper has a specific goal/purpose - as we keep moving through, we'll continue to build the plane while we're flying.

Remember that one of our main resources are our other sources - use them as models and exemplars for help to navigate your task. Keep in mind that your paper should, in the end, look like their papers, since you want to be filling the gap in current scholarship. Our AP Rubric and example high scoring paper can also help us here.

Keep writing, working, revising, thinking and reading. When we return from break, we're off to Unit 3 so that we can begin to construct our method and gain approval for our inquiry.

Ending Week 11 and Reminders for Next Week (Thanksgiving Break)

Blue Day Students - Remember that Tuesday of next week I won't be available since I'll be back in North Carolina celebrating Thanksgiving in a garage at a ten foot distance from others. Since I'm traveling, I set up an asynchronous day for you. When you log in to Google Classroom on Tuesday you'll see a form to complete. After you complete the form you should take time to work on your project or any missing assignments.

English 10

We had a really rich day working through the final chapter of the first part of Persepolis. I really liked the conversation that we were having around choices and the mixed outcomes that choices can have. I also really enjoyed all of the participation as we shared ideas and insights about the end of the novel. From there we took time to plan out our stories and some of us even began to draw.

Over the weekend be sure to finish your planning of your project and be sure to check in on any of your missing assignments. Tuesday will also give you time to finish up work before the break. Don't forget to log in to Google Classroom and complete the form.

AP Language

Today's PearDeck was student paced - so you can continue to access your work and continue with our discussion questions or project workshop. Keep in mind that there is nothing assigned over the break and Tuesday will be an asynchronous day.

Over the weekend, I would suggest working on your project to finalize your close reading and annotation of your chosen "text". The first step in the project will be the rhetorical analysis, followed by the team essay and then compiling the website. Use the thesis model to break down your text and focus on the essentials.

This is also a good time to check in on any missing assignments you may have. Don't forget about the FRQ practice on AP Classroom as well as the Sedaris discussion post.

As always, reach out with any questions or concerns. I'll be available on Monday for Office Hours.

Wednesday - 18 November - Grey Day

English Students:

I hope that you enjoyed the time to read and work today in class. Keep in mind that I won't be assigning anything additional next week during the Thanksgiving Break so that you'll have a chance to unplug and unwind from things. To be honest, I'm not even planning on bringing my computer with me anywhere. Take this time to get caught up and then to focus on our end of unit projects. Reach out with any questions or concerns that you may have.

AP Research

Today was a working day for you to focus on writing your Annotated Bibliography entries and to look back on your poster presentation and graphic organizer in order to find any places to tighten up your language or make clearly needed revisions before we move on. On Friday we'll transition out of Unit 2 by discussing the elements of the Introduction and Literature Review in order to bring together all of our loose threads so that we can move on to Unit 3 and begin to design our Inquiry Proposal and Method to Collect and Analyze Data.

Beginning Week 11 - 17 November 2020

Dear Students - In all of our classes today we opened the day with time to reassess and resubmit assignments, to get caught up on some assignments which may be missing, and to get ahead on assignments which are coming up. I hope that all of you were able to use today's class time to be productive and show your skills and knowledge. Reminders for the classes are below.

AP Language

Today we spent time in class going back to the idea of language, identity, and the skill of rhetorical analysis. I hope that as we are reading, thinking, and discussing, you are able to see the way in which you will accomplish the individual part of your group project - the rhetorical analysis. Keep in mind that as you are writing a rhetorical analysis, you're doing what we do in discussion. Picking out small details and finding the way in which they contribute to the author's argument. We're focusing our work on satire and social commentary, so hopefully this helps you to set a purpose and goal for your reading and notetaking.

Next class we'll be working through Chapters 29-33 in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and we'll have time to work in our groups on our project. Come prepared with your choice text and the beginnings of your notes/annotations. We'll review an outline structure you may find helpful to complete part one of your project.

English 10

Today we took time to settle up some of our missing assignments or to get ahead on the parts of the project yet to come. The most important things to make sure we submit (if missing) are the major point assignments: Day 16 Analysis, Unit Project Brainstorming, and the Teenage Rebellion quickwrite. Remember that you can always turn in assignments late and still get full credit.

After that we discussed and read "The Shabbat" and thought about how the death of her friend will affect Marji moving forward. Next class we'll be finishing Part One of Persepolis, so we'll see if we are right.

For tonight, stay focused on submitting any missing work from today. I won't be assigning anything over Thanksgiving break, and Tuesday will be an asynchronous day, so you'll have more chances to get caught up as we move forward.

Closing out Week 10

Dear Students - I hope that you're enjoying class and our study of some great pieces of literature, or our progression into the research process - as you find yourselves. This weekend AP Language and English 10 Students should focus on reading, making progress on our final unit project, and any missing assignments. Remember that you can also resubmit formerly submitted assignments - check your comments and be sure to highlight or clearly show your changes, especially if the comment resolves.

AP Research

We're quickly coming to the end of our second unit of the course in which we determine the elements of our introduction and finalize the foundation of our research paper and inquiry. Next week we'll be finishing this unit of study and moving into the third unit which will have us complete our Research Proposal and begin the process of learning about ethics and method as it relates to research. 

This weekend your goal should be to complete your Annotated Bibliography. Please submit this document next week in order to complete Unit 2 and move on into Unit 3. Additionally, you should consider drafting and/or outlining the introduction to your research paper, especially for those choices which you feel very confident. Don't forget your weekly reflection document - I've updated it for Week 10. 

Ending Week 10

English 10

Great work today in class everyone. We had a full day discussing rebellion and the way in which Marji and her parents are acting as rebels. Then we connected and thought about how music is used in the book as well as in our own lives.

We finished the day writing about a song (show or video game) that we use to escape and rebel - like Marji has Kim Wilde, we all have something too.

Be sure to check in on any missing work this weekend. If you haven't turned in the Scavenger Hunt, Day 16 Assignment, or Brainstorming for Project, then be sure to turn them in this weekend so I can update scores in SIS.

AP Language

Our presentations in class today were very rich and thorough - wonderful job groups on taking your first task and knocking it out of the park. I'd suggest going back to that document we created as a group to further refine and improve your own annotations.

Over the weekend you should focus on reading. We have our next chapter set in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as well as the selection of our text for our analysis project. Bring this text with you on Tuesday as we'll have time to do a close reading and annotating workshop to begin writing our analysis.

On Google Classroom, I've posted our video on building a website. If you need anything, please reach out or visit on Monday. If you have any missing assignments, please work to get them completed and submitted this weekend.

Grey Day / Veterans Day / Early Release - 11/11/2020

Reminders and homework for AP Lang and English 10 are the same as posted below. Continue reading, thinking, and contributing to the success of the group. Reach out with any questions or concerns. Also, do check in on missing assignments - there are a few of you who are missing vocabulary cards, written reflections, or in-class assignments.

AP Research

On Friday we'll be meeting another major milestone as we complete our first elevator pitches and present our research posters. Like I said today in our quick meeting - we're making choices now which we'll later need to defend with our proposal. All of these assignments work together and support each other - I hope that you can all see that. 

Keep in mind that as you work to complete your poster/pitch, there's also the Annotated Bibliography floating out in the miasma. Keep using the templates and go back to our slides related to constructing the AB. Use your source list and focus on essentials. As always, reach out with any questions or to ask for any help. I'll provide what I can.

Blue Day - Beginning Week 10

AP Language

Great day today in AP Lang as we worked for the most part in our groups. Due to the fact that we have a group task ahead, it's good for us to do a bit of a dry run to move through these chapters in this section of Huckleberry Finn. Continue to read and contribute to your group's work in order to prepare for Thursday's class. We'll begin by going through these chapters as a class, learning and sharing with each other.

If you did not submit your vocabulary cards or your Amy Tan/Mark Twain reflection, please do so. I'll be updating the gradebook later this week.

For tonight's homework - complete your reading and group teaching preparation for Thursday's class. You may also want to consider your choice of text for the project. I've included a list of possible texts for the Contemporary Essay. Most all of these can be found in PDF form via a Google search, some are in our textbook.

Looking forward to seeing your chapter presentations on Thursday!

English 10

Big things poppin' in English 10 and absolutely nothing stoppin' us! Today we had a great day full of brainstorming and planning for our final assignment with Persepolis as well as some team reading - many thanks to those of you who volunteered to read today.

As we read, we dealt with some discussion and analysis questions. I was happy to see so many of you really clearly discussing irony and other devices we learned last class.

Remember to submit your Brainstorming and work from last week (Scavenger Hunt and Day 16) if it's still missing. For tonight, you should try to read the next two chapters in Persepolis and complete the discussion board post in Google Classroom.

End of Week 9 - Grey Day - 6 November

Reminders and announcements for English 10 and AP Language are posted below. Be sure that this weekend you complete the asynchronous assignment from Day 16. There are also final projects you can begin to think about and plan, but remember we'll have more time on Wednesday to complete tasks such as the group contract (AP) or the brainstorming (English 10).

AP Research

Happy Friday/Working Day Researchers. Keep in mind that you should be focused on your three essential assessments in this unit. There's the Annotated Bibliography, the Poster, and the Pitch. These assignments are all connected to each other - so, I hope you can see the usefulness of working on all three at once. 

Remember that you have templates to help you with all three assessments as well as the rubric for the Annotated Bibliography. During today, I hope that you took time to work, collaborate, and practice pitching with Ms. Greeves or the librarians. 

I've posted your new reflection question in the document on Google Classroom. Be sure to take a look and answer this weekend in your PREP folder. This is also a great time to continue writing and planning. Our next step is to complete our proposal form!

Blue Day - 5 November - Hybrid Learning Begins

Dear Students! 

Thanks for being with me on this journey as we figure out what it is to learn in school and at home at the same time. If you watch the news, I hear that we'll be on Channel 4 today this evening, so keen an eye out for your English teacher tonight...notes and updates for classes are below.

English 10

What a great day today in English 10 focusing on literary devices. We focused today on six key devices which will all probably show up on your SOL Reading test next year. We then did a scavenger hunt in Persepolis to find these devices.

Over the weekend, be sure that your scavenger hunt is turned in as well as the Day 16 Assignment. If you've finished that, then go on to the brainstorm for the final project, but know that we'll spend time on that in class next week - so you don't need to get it done now.

Have a great weekend! Come to Office Hours on Monday if you need anything!

AP Language

Well - we survived our first hybrid class! I was glad to have you all along for the ride. Today we had a great discussion on symbols and discovered wonderful connections between four key symbols. Keep looking at the way in which these symbols interact and develop as we move through the text.

Over the weekend, focus on vocabulary cards and your next chunk of reading (all the way to Chapter 27). There will be more time for group contracts and group tasks next week. The next chapter set is an adventure called "The Grangerford Event" - there's a lot of satire here, so keep those eyes peeled. Look out for new characters too - lots of routes for satire coming into this text in this section.

As always, please reach out for any questions.

Kicking Off Q2 - Grey Day - 11/4

Since we didn't have a Blue Day yesterday, today is a bonus day for Grey Day English classes. I hope that you enjoyed the new class setup today. As always, I appreciate and welcome your feedback.

AP Language

Today we had an enrichment day to reflect on the quarter, talk about some test taking skills for future exams, and hopefully have some time to work with our classmates and get to know each other better.

Next class we'll be focused on our reading of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. You've got Chapters 11-16 (a bit of a transitional section with some mini-adventures). Pay attention to symbols and big ideas as these will be the focus of our work on Friday. We'll also be discussing the final project for this unit and beginning our task with it. Don't forget that you should submit the Amy Tan Reflection (Day 16 work) and Vocabulary Cards.

English 10

Today in class we took some time to read in Persepolis, work as groups to learn more about each other, and reflect on our vocabulary and in general on Quarter 1 of the year. I know that there were some quirks to our first stations day; hopefully next time we do this it'll run a bit more smoothly.

Take a look at the asynchronous work from last class if you haven't yet. You may want to review the assignment tonight and do some reading to prepare to complete the work. We'll practice a bit with this skill next class as we examine several important scenes in Persepolis.

AP Research

Today in AP Research we had a quick lesson to review the components of the first research "poster" and pitch for class. Keep in mind that one of the key functions of this work is to check and ensure the ever important idea of alignment exists between all of the areas of our work. Go back into the work that you've done so far, especially as it relates to your research question and consider how you can repurpose some of that work for this new task. 

Next class you'll have a full day to work - spend it practicing your pitch with each other or Ms. Greeves. There's also AB Entry writing or developing the poster. Next week we'll present our work and review the elements of the Inquiry Proposal form in order to submit our proposals for review and authorization.