30 and 31 March

We made it to the end of the quarter! Yay! Enjoy your break! I'll be finding myself with some good books and my feet in the sand and hopefully some WARMTH!!!

AP Language

Good end to the quarter today, everyone! We did a lot of work to reflect on MCQs and strategies as we broke down and worked through our first full-length MCQ work. The session is recorded below. We applied our strategies and skills for our first Matchbox MCQ - and I was happy to see the results!

From there, we took time with our novel groups. Remember that each time you meet with a group you should use the document to record your conversation. These will be key as you read and work through the novel. They'll also serve as a record of your participation, so be sure to keep up with the document. 

All work is due to me by Friday morning to be scored. Be sure to turn in your rubric if you're resubmitting your paper - and no, I won't take a photo of it. If you would like to complete the linked reflection below to improve an MCQ score from this quarter, feel free to do so. The form will lock on Friday morning.

English 10

Good times today working through Luisa Valenzuela and "The Censors". Itr's a pretty short and fantastic story about how quickly a person can be changed by their devotion to a task. A good example of irony, foreshadowing, and suspense at play. I hope you enjoyed it. We only have one story left in the unit, and we'll read that after Spring Break. 

Today I handed out your final project instructions. We'll work on that in earnest after we return. Remember that you'll have a final test AND a final project in this unit. Review the options and select one of the options there. If you have any missing assignments from the quarter, be sure that it's in by Friday morning. I will not accept any work to be scored beyond this.  

Enjoy your break! It is definitely well-earned!

28 and 29 March

AP English Language

Wonderful work today during our seminar on Brent Staples's "Just Walk On By" - I think that our review lately has been a fantastic way for all of you to develop some important frames with which you'll read your novels. Consider ideas like double consciousness, the veil, stereotype threat, and necropolitics.

Next class is going to give you the chance to find these things as you'll have a reading day next class. We'll also take some time to review for the AP Examination and focus on multiple choice testing strategies and ways to focus on working faster AND smarter.

Remember that any missing assignments are due by the end of the day on the 31st. Our final grade for the quarter was today's seminar, so, if you're satisfied with where you are, then you're done! Focus on fourth quarter and read your novels. If you're not pleased, then be sure to see me and get caught up while there's time.

English 10

We had a good day today with Pablo Neruda, though some of you were a bit harsh on some of his poetry. We read a collection of poems, one of them even about a giant tuna fish. I was happy to hear you reading and discussing poetry, and I hope you found a new way to break down and understand poetry.

From there we completed our final task for the quarter - our poetry scavenger hunt. Be sure that you check SIS and see that you have no missing assignments. If it's missing, turn it in! Next class we'll do some reading together and then take time to close out the quarter.

24 and 25 March

Just one week to go in the quarter before we hit Spring Break! Remember that any work to be scored must be in by the end of the day on March 31 so that I can close my gradebook on April 1.

AP Language

After today's class, be sure that you have completed these goals by the end of the weekend. I'm looking forward to taking you into next class because of the piece that we'll be working through.

1. Complete your book form. Finish your shopping. If you check out a book, be sure to record your book title and number on the roster which the substitute has. Divide your book into five chunks and start to complete your reading.

2. Do you have any missing work? Do you want to work on your rewrite of your research paper? Remember everything needs to be in by March 31st. 

3. Next class we're discussing Brent Staples's article called "Just Walk on By - Black Men and the Public Space". I've posted it for you in Schoology. Read and annotate. Be ready for our final seminar of the quarter.

English 10

During class you have one major thing to complete and that is your NoRedInk End of Year Assessment. Follow the link and open the assignment on NoRedInk. It's for completion, so answer all the questions. You can only skip five times and still get an A.

When that's done, if you have missing work, you should focus on that. If your work is all done in the gradebook, then you should complete the Poem Hunt assignment. We will have time for this next week, so making up missing work would be the more important goal.

22 and 23 March

AP Language

Today's class looked a bit like a reality show. We had a quick challenge followed by several rounds of conversation around our articles for class. I was happy to hear your outcomes and conclusions related to Tannen, Steele, and Sullivan. It's wonderful to see the way that you are all seeing elements of the veil and double consciousness at play.

Next class is a substitute day. I'll be on campus, but won't be with you because of some other responsibilities. You'll have a working and reading day. Keep in mind that the quarter will end next week. Any resubmissions of research papers or other late/missing work must be in by the end of the day on March 31 to be scored. Your work right now is relatively light, so focus on catching up or getting ahead as you need to.

English 10

Today we took time to finish our work on the concept of the doppelganger. We finished reading Cortazar's "The Night Face Up" and then worked through an episode of The Twilight Zone called "Mirror Image." I think that each of our texts has shown the concept of the doppelganger in an interesting way which has power in its own way. 

Next class will be our day for our end of year grammar diagnostic. This won't be for an accuracy grade, just completion. If you have any zeroes in the gradebook, now is the time to submit late work. I will not accept any work past March 31, so the time is now! If you have any questions about anything, please let me know. 

18 and 21 March

AP Language

Today we completed our first full-length multiple choice set. I'll have these returned to you soon so that we can review your data from the first of these. Over the weekend, you have a few assignments to settle up. I'll review them in terms of importance.

1. Complete your AP Classroom checks from Unit 6. This includes the MCQ and FRQ. These close on Sunday night. 

2. Submit your personal reflection. Remember to focus on at least two communities and use evidence to explain how you are a member of that community. The response is only 200-300 words. Keep it casual.

3. We'll have another seminar next class. Go into the folder and pick ONE of three articles posted for you. We'll be looking at other marginalized communities and liberation movements next class.

Outside of this remember to work through your vocabulary cards as you meet new words and consider your book for the unit. You'll submit your book form next week, but if you know what you want, go ahead and submit that now to get ahead. 

English 10

Today's class was a look at the beginning of "The Night Face Up" by Julio Cortazar. It's a great story! Super engaging and exciting that starts off with quite a bang. We read the first half of the text and will finish it next week as we complete our study of the doppelganger.

This weekend is a good weekend for you to complete any work from Unit 4 which may be missing including your SOL Essay, Unit Project, or Vocabulary. If these assignments are missing they need to be turned in. I'll be scoring your work this week and finalizing grades, so be aware of what needs to be done. I'm available during LT and after school if you need me.

16 and 17 March

AP Language

Great day today, everyone! We worked through WEB DuBois and did a wonderful job understanding some of his main ideas including education, power, stereotypes, double consciousness, and the veil. We're going to encounter these ideas throughout the novels we're reading in this unit, so this is a good formative piece for us to begin with. Continue to reflect on the text and his ideas, especially as they apply to you.

Tonight you should complete your personal reflection. If you know the book you want to read, then you can complete the form as well. Next class is our full MCQ to prepare for the AP Examination. Any time you have after the MCQ is for working on this unit's tasks which are due. Don't forget about your MCQ and FRQ on AP Classroom which will lock on Sunday night.

English 10

Today's class was our foray deeper into the concept of the doppelganger. We read a short story by Jorge Luis Borges called "Borges and I", and we applied the strategy of close reading to understand the complex text. At the end of class we took time to complete an extra credit opportunity or complete our projects and vocabulary from Unit 4. Keep in mind that projects and vocabulary are now late, but still will be accepted. Please turn in your work to earn your points. We only have a few classes left in this quarter, so it's important to turn in all of your assignments now.

As always, please ask for any help you may need. I'm here for you.

14 and 15 March

AP Language

Today was a really wonderful day to start a new unit, which is exactly what we did! Unit 5 is our exploration of ignored American voices. In this unit we're going to explore various communities that have been marginalized for whatever reason in our country. There will be a lot of self-direction and choice in this unit, so I'm very excited to see what you all come up with.

Your first assignment for the unit is your personal reflection which is due on Friday. Follow the guidelines and reflect on the various communities to which you belong. By understanding this, you'll be able to select a novel which is a window on another world. You'll submit this electronically to Schoology on Friday.

Next class we have a seminar on our first core text from the unit - WEB DuBois From the Souls of Black Folk. You'll be reading Chapter One. Be sure to use the reading guide posted to understand each paragraph in the chapter. We'll work through this text together as a group next class! Be sure to read and annotate!

English 10 

We took time at the beginning of class today to work through the last part of our projects from Unit 4 on Russia and Eastern Europe. Be sure to complete these projects tonight if you haven't done so, remember you can't get back your points if the work is late.

After that, we began on our newest unit - Latin America. We went over several concepts that we'll study in this unit, the countries, and our first key concept - the doppelganger. We explored this in ourselves by creating our doppelganger and considering how they're similar and different from us. If you didn't turn this in at the end of class, be sure to get it to me as we start next time.

10 and 11 March

AP Language

Today was our last working day for Unit 4 - Research and Synthesis writing. Your papers are due as are your vocabulary cards and other finishing up elements of the unit. I'm really happy to see so much growth in your writing and your approach to the task over the last few weeks. This unit is where we're coming closest to college level work, so your gains have been meaningful.

Papers will be marked late if they are missing on Monday morning. AP Classroom progress checks for the end of the unit will close on Tuesday night. Don't wait until 11:30 PM on Tuesday night to complete this. It won't end well for you.

We'll be starting Unit 5 on Monday/Tuesday. It's a lot of choice in the next unit, and it's our last unit, so I'll be interested to see the directions that you take yourself.

English 10

Today was the end of Unit 4 and the end of our study of Russia and Eastern European literature. We took our time in class today to complete our SOL Essay 2 and then use remaining time for any final unit tasks. I'm looking forward to reading these essays and seeing the way in which you've grown as writers so far this year. I should have these scored for you by the end of the weekend.

On Monday/Tuesday you will need to turn in your project to avoid the late penalty. We'll be moving to our next unit as well on Monday, so after we finish the unit introduction you'll have time to finish and submit projects. Our next unit is focused on Latin American literature and thought - there are plenty of great authors for us to meet!

8 and 9 March

Happy International Women's Day!

AP Language

Today was another day on our Groundhog Day rotation - another writing and conferencing day. We're rounding out the unit right now, so I want to outline your requirements to close the unit out.

1. This week your paper and vocabulary cards are due. Turn in your paper as a PDF. Don't forget your MLA formatting for the document and the works cited page. Vocabulary cards are also due. Give me the paper copy of your rubric when you turn in your paper. 

2. The MCQ and FRQ for the unit is due next week. It's opne for you to complete at your time and leisure. This will be scored on the more stringent scale - it's a full essay. Follow the instructions.

3. Checklists for participation can be turned in when they are full. If you need to meet for a conference, be sure to see me for that ASAP!

I think that's all. I'm after school on Wednesday and Thursday if you need me!

English 10

Today was a day where we worked on a few elements of our ending of the unit. We reviewed the final project requirements and took forty minutes to start our work on those projects. Keep in mind that this project is due on Monday. We'll do presentations of our projects later next week. We're also moving into our next unit soon - so be ready for Latin America and the literature from there. It's a great part of the world.

The second major thing we worked on is our SOL Essay preparation. We'll be writing next class. Use the packet that we worked on today to gather your ideas and thoughts together. I'm hoping that I'll see a lot of growth on these essays from our first one in Quarter 1. 

Please turn in your vocabulary, test corrections, and other work to finish the unit ASAP. Next class we'll talk about how to set up our final projects.

3 and 7 March

AP Language

Another writing day in the books! Don't forget about your vocabulary cards and your writing conference. It's a great chance for us to talk and review your work. We'll finish conferences next week. The paper is coming due soon. Use Lion Time, it's super valuable! There's also vocabulary to be completed - just five cards for the end of the unit.

English 10

Today was our working day to get us to the end of the unit. Normally this is a catch-up day to make up missing work, but so far this quarter we've been doing a great job in class of finishing our work and getting it turned in. I'm really proud of all of you for this!

I handed out the final project and reviewed its components for all of you. Remember you can choose a creative writing project OR a research project. You're only picking one. Next class is going to be our workshop day for the project, so don't worry about starting it now. Projects will be collected and presented next week. If you're working on test corrections over the weekend or other tasks for class, remember that the corrections are due on March 8. No test corrections will be taken after this date.

1 and 2 March

AP Language

Today we kept our selves on along as we continued through our writing days. The paper is due next week, so our days building to that eventuality are days for writing, conferencing, and working with partner groups to develop the draft. Use this time! Be efficient. Get content drafted. Your paper is due on the 10th of March at the end of the day. The 10th is the last day of the unit, so vocabulary cards are also due that day. 

English 10

Today was a really wonderful day. We took time to make a choice of what to read and then worked to collaborate with our peers to understand, analyze, and draw connections between the texts that we've read. I was glad to see your communication and collaboration with each other. Today was our last day of reading in the unit. Next class we will start with our final projects and final tasks for the unit.

Your quizzes have been returned to you online. You can do test corrections and recoup any missed points. Test corrections are due on March 8/9. I will not accept them after this date. You can also use rubles to raise your score, but that's a limited route - so I'd suggest the corrections. Next class will be a workshop day for us, so you'll be able to work on the final project or complete any final tasks for the unit like vocabulary or test corrections.