Wednesday the 24th of February (End of Week 23)

AP Language

If we didn't have the chance to complete our conference today, then I invite you to come and meet on Monday during office hours. Please sign up for slot or email me to reserve a time to meet. Keep in mind that we are moving to the end of the writing process with our research papers. Convert the outline into a draft, and then begin the process of editing and clarifying. Watch out for large paragraphs and look for places to break up the conversation.

Next week we'll begin our reading of Invisible Man. I'm so excited to hear your thoughts and impressions.

English 10

Remember that next week we'll start to finish our unit with our final task - the interpretation. Be sure that your preliminary steps are complete so that you have all that you need to finish this task. 

AP Research

Great work today everyone as we discussed the main methods of organization for qualitative data. Keep in mind that many of you are working with both qualitative and quantitative data in your projects, so it's important to have a clear method and reason for organizing the way that you have. We also took our first foray into analysis as we discussed various methods of statistical analysis. 

You should, hopefully, by the end of this week have enough data collected to begin the process of analysis. Organize your data, use your charts and tables, consider your question and what you are trying to show. Remember to use your Body of Knowledge to justify your choices.

I've uploaded your newest reflection question - POD 1.3 in the Classwork Tab. Next week will mostly be a working week on your own to begin the process of data analysis. Remember that you should have a working draft of your Introduction/Literature Review and Method by the end of this unit for peer review and conferencing.

As always, let me know how I can support you!

All Classes

Remember that Thursday and Friday will be asynchronous for all classes. Your assignments have already been posted, and I also uploaded recordings (as needed) to assist you in completing that work. I will not be available on Thursday, but I may be free to meet on Friday. If you need me, please reach out, and I will do what I can to assist. Progress reports will be sent out on Tuesday morning, next week.

Beginning the Week - 23 February

AP Language

Today was our day to get caught up on our research paper unit. Since we didn't have class last week, we took today for writing conferences. For those of you who didn't complete the conference today, we'll meet on Monday during Office Hours or on Tuesday/Thursday next week during class.

Thursday will be asynchronous. Use that time to complete your AP Classroom FRQ and/or the drafting of your paper. I've uploaded the template for MLA formatting your document here as well as the recording. Keep in mind that the place to submit your paper is live and the final rubric is posted there for you to use.

English 10

Today was also our catch-up day on our museum and research unit. The main goal for today was to complete our supporting work so that we can focus on the final part of this unit next week - the final interpretation of the piece. Be sure that all of your tasks on Google Classroom are submitted and marked complete. If you're not sure what to do, reach out for help via email or in a private comment. 

Thursday's class is an asynchronous one. I've already uploaded the outline assignment as well as a recording to help you complete that assignment. The outline will make sure you have a clear claim that you will then finalize next week in your final assignment in the unit. Our next unit is one of my favorites - we'll be looking at literature from Eastern Europe and Russia - I'm excited to show you all one of my favorite parts of the world and one of my favorite books. 

Ending the Week - 19 February

AP Language

Today we had a bit of a bonus day because of yesterday's snow day. Options for today's class and Return Period included: drafting our research papers, participating in writing conferences, reading in Invisible Man to prepare for future seminars, resubmitting research paper tasks, or completing the synthesis FRQ on AP Classroom.

Remember that your research paper is due by March 5 - as is the FRQ on AP Classroom. This FRQ is a full essay - no more half-stepping for us, the exam draws on apace! This FRQ is a great dry run to see how well you are accomplishing the skills of this writing unit. You'll receive a completion score for the FRQ as well as an AP score to see how your skills line up for the final exam in May.

Next week we'll be having our catch-up days as well as asynchronous days school-wide. Please be in touch and let me know how I can support you. I'll also have Office Hours on Monday if you need to meet me then.

AP Research

Quick meetings can be great meetings - thanks for being present and prompt! Keep in mind that your analysis of the BoK paper will be due soon, try to turn it in on Monday. This gives you a great chance to go back to an important source and engage in some critical reading and reflection around your own work. Consider how this paper can show you more and be even more helpful for you now as you begin writing and working with data than it was when you first encountered it. This analysis can be helpful in a lot of ways as we think about where we find ourselves in the inquiry process.

Next week we'll take a bit of a look back at the idea of variables - qualitative and quantitative - and possibly reexamining your questions and preliminary data to get ready for analysis and related tasks. Your BoK analysis may help you to set up your preliminary charts and help you get a handle on what data analysis may look like.

As always, let me know how I can help you through this work. No researcher is an island, to paraphrase Milton - reach out and ask questions of me and each other - we're all here to help. Enjoy the weekend!

English 10

Today was a working day within our museum field tripping unit and a day to meet with counselors to review and enter course selections for next year. Remember that if you weren't able to meet that you should still enter your course selections on SiS. (Seventh Period - I've asked Ms. Rotella about rescheduling your meeting with your counselors; I'll keep you posted on how this develops.)

Next week is a catch-up day and an asynchronous day. The goal will be to complete the outline for your final interpretation of your item in your museum. The template for the assignment and a video are posted for you to use. I'll take you though more tools in the databases as we finish our interpretation work. If you're missing earlier steps in the process, it's important to get those complete now. Remember to check your school email often as well as your messages during class for updates or check-ins from me.

Remember that I'm still holding office hours on Monday. If you need to meet, please drop in on BBCU or claim a signup spot in my calendar, that's posted in Google Classroom under Classwork.

Snow Day! 18 February

Good morning everyone! We find ourselves with an official snow day today - no virtual or in-person learning will be held today. I wanted to let you know that I will be available over email today if you have any questions about anything.

If you have missing assignments - today gives you a wonderful opportunity to get caught up before our upcoming catch-up days and asynchronous time. If you're all caught up - I'd recommend getting ahead with your final tasks for Unit 3 (the research paper). 

I'll be grading and getting caught up myself through the day. Please reach out if there's anything I can do. When we meet again, I'll let you know of any updates to our schedule and lessons -- I'm sure there will be a few.

Week 22 - 17 February

AP Research

Today we began Unit 4 which is our unit to complete data collection and to codify our process up to this point - this means writing. By the end of this unit we will have completed a final draft of our Introduction + Lit Review as well as a rough draft of Method. Keep in mind that as you are engaging in your method now, it is important that you track and document your process to make it easier to write about later.

Your first assignment in this unit is your BoK analysis. One of the goals of your academic paper is to fit the style and requirements of your field, so analyzing a paper in your Body of Knowledge will help you in this goal. Complete the document using ONE of your key sources. I would suggest applying the analysis to a source which is very important to your investigation.

As always, if there is anything that I can provide for you, please let me know. I look forward to seeing you Friday for our quick check-in.

Week 22 - 16 and 17 February

AP Language

What a day! We had a very thorough day working through James Baldwin's "Notes of a Native Son" - we especially focused on the connection between James and his father (their shared disease) as well as the way in which Baldwin breaks the cycle in the end of the text. There were also hints of double consciousness and the veil at play.

Next class we'll be having writing conferences related to your research paper tasks. Next week will mostly be on your own to complete your research papers and read in Invisible Man. Remember that progress reports will be sent on Friday of this week.

English 10

Today we worked through the process of DEEP LOOKING in which we sectioned a non-print text in order to find its details and unlock its meaning. Use this process to complete your notes on your item from your museum - be sure that if you need to change items, that you pick one in the same museum so that you don't have to restart parts of this process.

Next class will be time for us to meet with Student Services related to course registration. Remember to check out your options for course registration in Google Classroom - there's a Google Slide show covering your options for classes in eleventh grade. We'll also have a chance next class to begin finishing our final task in this unit.

Week 21 - Tuesday the 9th of February

AP Language

Today was our kick-off into Invisible Man. We read the Prologue together and completed our motif chart together. Remember that this section of the novel is actually the end - as he says, "the end is in the beginning" - so as you move into Chapter 1, you'll notice big differences in his voice, style, and attitude. One of our main questions is "How did he end up this way?" The novel will help us answer that.

One suggestion as you read this novel is to build connections to other texts we have read. Seeing how DuBois's ideas are brought into the chapter - especially with this idea of distorted vision - may help you interpret the text.

Next class is asynchronous. There will be a Google Form posted for you to complete for your work. You'll also have access to your returned research paper tasks and the final rubric, focus on drafting to prepare for submission at the end of the month. Reach out for help - I'll do what I can.

English 10

This week our goal is to decide on a piece in the museum/space we've been studying which will be our focus for the final step of our project. Next class, you'll have time to finish any of the previous steps that you missed, and move forward with your research on your chosen piece.

I hope that you all appreciated the time to meet with each other and share your findings so far. If you're not so interested in what you're looking at so far, maybe the work of a peer can take us in a new direction to help us find an interest we didn't know we had. Use the recordings to resubmit your Drag and Drop or other assignments for this unit so far.

Remember that Thursday/Friday will be asynchronous. There will be a Google Form posted for you to log your attendance and do your work for class. Use the class time as you need to - get caught up or get ahead, but no matter what, keep moving forward.

End of Week 20 - 5 February

AP Language

Today was a day for us to engage in some critical thinking and reading as we explored DuBois's ideas. The concept of "the veil" and "double consciousness" are going to remain with us for some time, so it's important to continue to reflect on these ideas as we keep encountering them in different spheres.

Over the weekend you should aim to complete remaining research paper tasks. Next week we'll shift gears into writing and drafting, so a thorough outline is key to completing the next step easily. See the recording for information on completing and revising where you are.

Sign up for Office Hours on Monday if needed.

English 10

Today was our final working day in Week 20. This week our task has been focused on researching our one choice museum in earnest to create our presentation about the museum. Be sure that you have completed Step 1 and Step 2 in this project by the end of the week.

Further, as part of our research skills, we've been focusing on learning MLA citation style. Remember that there is a lesson on NoRedInk to lead you through this concept. I have a drag and drop activity to test your skills on this, be sure to turn it in by Monday.

AP Research

It's a bit of a broken record in AP Research since so much of the work is on you right now to hunt down and find your data. We've actually come to the close of this unit on Method. As you keep putting your method into practice, be sure to document the ways in which you implement your method. These contacts and steps are important and should become part of your work. 

Next week we'll meet on Wednesday for Elevator Pitch 2.0. Remember to embrace the beginning of your POD by putting information together on multiple slides. Pitch 2.0 really begins to prepare our POD, so let's feed two birds with this work.

Beginning Week 20

AP Language

Today we began our study of the Harlem Renaissance and eventually our reading of Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison. Keep in mind that as we are beginning this unit, we are also finishing our research papers. Your next step is due on February 8th - the Synthesis SourcePack assignment. See the template document to complete that work.

Tonight you will need to read Chapter 1 from The Souls of Black Folk by WEB DuBois. There's a reading guide to help you prepare for our class on Thursday/Friday where we'll do some close reading and focus on key ideas in the text which will show throughout the unit. It's a good idea to start collecting vocabulary now, as you will have a set of cards due eventually.

I hope that you enjoyed today's class. I'm looking forward to seeing your thoughts and questions on DuBois's text.

English 10

Today in class was our working day to kick off Week 20. This week our task is to complete Part 2 of our Museum Unit, which is the research on our choice museum. We'll be putting together a tourist information reference on the museum for someone who would visit. We'll be using resources and information from the Internet to complete this work, so citing our information and using proper format will be one of our goals this week.

Access the lesson on NoRedInk to review citations and get more practice. You'll be getting a grade on citations in the second assignment this week, so your knowledge will be assessed in the project. Be sure that work from last week is complete before moving on.