26 April - SOL Reading Day

AP Language

Good luck on the SOL Reading today everyone! Take deep breaths, take your time, and understand what the question is asking you - no worries at all! We'll have another choice board working day for our next class. Try to put some time into finishing your first task if it's not already complete. I see a lot of in progress assignments on AP Classroom, so get those wrapped up. 

Next time I see you, your goal should be to conference and take me through your improvements and evident growth. You may find it helpful to annotate your work with this in mind. Don't forget to reference the skill descriptors as you are working in particular skills. I'm after school today (Wednesday) and Thursday to offer any help you may need!

AP Research

Great day in AP Research land as we are moving toward our submission date. We took time today to do some our best work, peer review. I loved seeing you all working together for this class and offering such wonderful feedback to each other. We also reviewed the instructions for DigitalPortfolio and how to navigate what the Originality Report means and how to use it. If you were absent, please check this very important recording from today.

Next class is Submission Day! Bring snacks! Bring drinks! Bring a celebratory mood. Let's kill it!

19 April - Almost End of Week

AP Language

Today was our day to get into FRQs and the final round of Rules for Good Writing. I hope that you all were able to find spaces to develop your writing further and find more spaces to lock in with your Line of Reasoning and show the assessor that you are meeting the goal of the prompt. Remember, sometimes it's better to be more simple and direct than get lost in the words.

See the recording for our various lists. Memorize the thesis structures if you need to. There are plenty of Progress Checks on AP Classroom to practice with all of your skills.

Next class we'll be completing our first choice assignment - this should be focused on developing your first key focus skill. I'll have letter grades for you on Monday, so you'll be able to chart your course forward.

AP Research

Congratulations to our first POD being done! Hooray! We'll keep working through PODs tomorrow, Friday, and into next week. Be ready by having your slides submitted, your abstract submitted, and have your reflection questions prepped, even if they're not turned in yet.

Remember our process over the next few days. Come to class, check in, and then off to a separate space to prepare while others are presenting. 

At the end of class we reviewed the process of submitting and checking on Digital Portfolio. Have a draft uploaded by the end of next week - and follow the guidelines - so we can run our final checks.

17 April - Back in the Building

AP Language

Today we started the process of reviewing feedback from our final practice examination. I'll have grades finalized pretty soon, it does take me a good amount of time to process eight grades for all of you. So, hopefully today's class helped you get started on the process of reflecting and making a plan to improve before the end.

Tonight, review the choice board for Unit 6 and reflect on your process this year. What will be your path to finish this course in Unit 6? What are going to be your key skills for focus? I'm here to help you figure this out, be sure to meet with me and conference as you need to!

If you were finishing your exam in the hallway today, then please use the recording to review our classwork today on ROR and difficult questions.

AP Research

We are in examination season in this classroom, so it's time for us to finalize our work and move toward the finish. I've scheduled your PODs for the next few days, be sure to check your email and accept the invitation. You'll have observers at your POD, and it'll be recorded for College Board. Be sure that you submit your slides so that I can access them easily. Your paper is also due at the end of the month.

Once we finish PODs we'll have a lesson to finalize our paper and do all of our checks with Digital Portfolio. Be sure that as you are finishing this part of the course you are submitting all of the needed assignments for your exam: Academic Paper, POD Slides, Abstract, Final Reflections.

I am very excited to see the end of your work this year. Let's enjoy the final!

12 April - Out of the Building

AP Language

Good morning all. I very much regret that I had to be away today during your MCQ. I hope that it went well and that you navigated the challenge. I should have everything scored and back to you next week to take us to our final unit of the year to prepare for the AP Examination. 

If you have part of the exam to finish, please email me or see me to schedule a time to get that settled. It is very important that you have your scores and feedback next week as soon as possible. You'll need it to make your plan for the unit and review for the exam.

Please work to submit your vocabulary assignment as soon as you can. It's the final grade of the third quarter. The main thing that I'm looking for is your analysis of the passage and your analysis of the synonyms and the word itself. In your analysis of the grammar in the passage and in the words you should focus on why this word/this structure is appropriate for the style and purpose of the text. That should be your line of reasoning for this assignment - go back to the example and notice how I focused on criminal language throughout all of my analysis.

AP Research

Sorry to be away from you this morning, but a family emergency has called my attention. I should be back with you all next week and am available over email if you need me. Today should be a day for you to be finalizing some of your key tasks and planning for your presentations, which begin next week.

I will schedule presentations with you on Monday in class. Note that we will begin presenting on Wednesday, so I will need a few people to go first. We'll try to run three presentations on Wednesday during class. Remember that while people present, you will have time to finalize your paper, your own presentation, or other tasks as needed.

In the last week of April we will have our final peer review of the paper and review the process for submitting it and checking it on TurnItIn for plagiarism and AI writing. 

If there's anything I can do for you, please let me know.

10 April - Welcome Back!

AP Language

Double Timed Writing Day! Double Timed Writing Day!

Whoo! Sorry to get back to it right away, but we had to follow the schedule given. Today was our FINAL double timed write. The next time that you do this, it'll be times three and for all the marbles on examination day. Next class we'll be completing the MCQ. Remember that this is your final reset of grades to go into Quarter 4. We'll be preparing for the examination by polishing our skills and focusing on our essentials where we need. I'll work hard to get your essays scored and returned next week for feedback.

Remember that you have an assignment due - your vocabulary assignment on jargon. If you need assistance in completing this assignment, please see me during Lion Time or after school.

AP Research

It's the final countdown my lovelies. The paper and presentation are due at the end of this month. You'll have the next two classes to prepare, and then we'll begin the process of POD presentations on Wednesday of next week. I'll be able to host you for presentations on Wednesday during class, after school, Thursday during Lion Time or after school, or possibly during the Friday teacher workday. We'll also have the following week to complete presentations. 

Throughout this month it is imperative that you use your time and each other to the best of your abilities. We can do anything when we're focused and determined. Let's pick ourselves up and push ourselves forward. I'm so excited to get you to the finish. Remember to submit your final reflections this week! There's no question this week so that you can complete your earlier questions.

30 March - End of the Unit

AP Language

Great final working day for Quarter 3. Remember that we will be returning to class after Spring Break to our double timed writing - you'll be writing on Question 2 and 3 followed by the MCQ. This is a total reset on your grades for the beginning of the Fourth Quarter - so be prepared in the best way that you can.

If you would like to/need to submit a revision of your Annotated Bibliography, please do so. I'll accept these until April 13 to be reviewed. Submit your assignment that's due before you begin your break, you won't have time after we return.

I'm very excited to take you all into the end of the course, let's finish with style!

AP Research

Today was a fantastic day to end the unit in AP Research since we're doing another round of peer review. We've got access to revision guides, sample papers, each other, the rubric, and earlier lessons so that we can put together an accurate and high scoring representation of our work this year. 

The final reflection questions have been posted. These are due on April 13 to Schoology to end the quarter. You will have nothing but time to work, revise, and prepare for presentations when we return. Note, there are just two classes before we begin PODs on April 17. Work hard, be ready. Remember, we're basically done by May 1.

21 February 2023

AP Language

Today was a day for a writing workshop, and what a wonderful day it was. Lots of people were visiting and asking questions and I saw a lot of positive collaboration at the tables. Keep in mind the workflow for this assignment.

1. Select your sources (five to seven). One non-print, one counterargument source, and don't forget your book.

2. Select your excerpts from your sources for your SourcePack. Copy and Paste. Follow the template and examples.

3. Write your AB entries on these excerpts. Follow the rubric and use the exemplars given as well as your sentence starters.

4. Meet with me during Lion Time or after school to review and revise!

Next class we'll have our next group meeting for your books and some direct instruction focused on all of the reading skills. The lesson will go really well if you read and annotate in advance. This article connects to a few of the different topics and sources, so be sure to think critically as you read. Your Annotated Bibliography is due on March 8/9. Remember that we'll have an assignment due almost every week in March. Don't get wasted by time by wasting time. Accomplish daily goals and checkpoints!

AP Research

Today was a day for data (and not the Star Trek android). We watched a great TEDTalk on data visualization which led to some great outcomes for us on the way that we'll display our data and how that display can help the audience understand our key outcomes and understandings. I really loved our class discussion on these concepts.

From there, we discussed various means to organize qualitative data. Keep in mind that frequency is a quantitative data point. You'll want to have a means to organize your data and be able to explain why you have chosen to organize that way. Use your Body of Knowledge to help you make these decisions and justify your choices.

Next class is going to be a conferencing day for us. Be ready for that grade by preparing in your PREP. Keep meeting your goals and moving through your plan. There will be more time for working and data collection next week!

10 January

AP Language

A bit of a Groundhog Day situation in AP Language as we finished our second AP Examination of the year. Our midterm exam. Over the next few days I'll be reviewing your work and giving feedback on AP Classroom. We'll have a day in the next unit devoted to reviewing feedback for the good of the group and understanding our grades in our skills. 

Tonight, be sure that you've completed your remaining assignments like your discussion board post and your vocabulary cards. Next class we'll be getting into groups and having books issued to us; we'll start to understand what a good research question is and how that will guide us throughout the next unit. We'll be focused on the Synthesis Prompt - Question 1.

If you've missed part of the exam or need to use extra time for whatever reason, be sure that you've coordinated that with me. I'd like to have all exams in to be scored by the end of the week.

AP Research

Wonderful day in AP Research today as we went back to Manzanar and understood the way to construct the method section of our academic paper. The method section is ironically one of the most important sections and one of the shortest actual sections. Note the way that the student highlights their assumptions, hypothesis, the breakdown of their method and of course, justifications of choices. There are also some great moments of reflection in the paper. 

We should all be focused on writing at this point. Next class we will have a whole class working and conferencing day. Some of you will need to clear edits with me, some of you will move forward to data collection. Remember to use your sample papers wisely as you are writing. Next week we'll begin to end this unit on method with our final assignment. 

Wednesday the 12th of May

AP Research

Today was our prep day for our final presentations. I'm excited to see our virtual presentations on Friday and to bring the course to a conclusion for you all. Keep in mind that next week we will submit our Academic Papers and begin on the Choice Board activities. Since you've already worked as a group on an advertising video for AP Capstone, I would suggest looking at the smaller options in the choice board for your final tasks. The choice board is posted in the Classwork tab for your review.

AP Language and English 10

See below for your reminders and announcements. Please let me know if there's anything that I can do to help and support you here at the end of the year.

Friday the Seventh of May

Three weeks left everyone. Three weeks left!

AP Research

Today we hit the essential end of the course. Next week is all about final presentations. It's hard to believe we're actually here and that we've made it this far. 

This weekend you should be focused on your POD and final tasks. Note that all of the reflection questions have been posted as well as all of the materials to prepare you for the end of the year assessments. If you are presenting virtually, I'd recommend coming to class on Wednesday the 12th to practice and prepare - a run through is always a good idea.

After next week, we will only have our final choice assignments left for the year. This will provide us a chance to be fun and creative to wrap up our year. I'm excited to see what you come up with and create for us (me and Ms. Greeves).

AP Language and English 10

Check the post below as well as the reminders on Google Classroom as you're working through the weekend. Keep in mind that the quarter will soon end, be sure that any of your missing assignments are submitted ASAP.

Wednesday - 5 May 2021 - Cinco de Mayo!

AP Research

Today we took care of final conferences (I'll finish those with you on Friday) as well as taking time to prepare for our final assessments next week. The focus right now in class is our POD as well as the final submission of the Academic Paper. Remember to follow your instructions on Digital Portfolio in order to submit your paper.

Presentations are scheduled for next week on Monday and Friday. Wednesday will be open for conferencing, review, or make-up presentations if needed. Keep in mind that you should do a final practice this week using your Poster Presentation and Mock POD Rubric. Submit that rubric as evidence of completion of the task.

The week of the 17th will take us to our final tasks for the course. I've got some fun things for you to choose from to end the year. I'm looking forward to seeing what you create.

AP Language and English 10

Be sure to see the notes below as you prepare for class at the end of the week. Remember that if you have any missing assignments, now is the time to submit them. We have very little time left in this quarter of the year, and I want to make sure that everyone is in a good place to end our time together.

April's Finished - On to May (April 29, 2021)

AP Language

Today in class we spent time discussing symbols and characters who function symbolically. We then took time for a brief close reading to see the way in which multiple levels of meaning are woven in to the text. Ellison really is a master at this, and sometimes it hits pretty fast. If you see a big passage with lots of moving parts, try to always grab on to the parts that make the most sense to you. Remember that there are always multiple meanings in a text, your job is to always focus on constructing and developing one.

Over the weekend, focus on finishing your MCQs and reading in Invisible Man. MCQ 8 is due on Monday as is the most recent round of vocabulary cards. Remember that your cards should come from MCQs and Ellison's novel. Next week we'll finish our focus on the AP Examination - and begin preparing more individually and with some choice. MCQ 9 is available for extra credit/extra practice/replacement of a previous MCQ. 

As always, let me know if there's anything I can do to help. It's gonna be May next week - off to the last full month of school!

English 10

Today's class focused on reading in order to understand pages 126 to 135 in our novel. We met a new character called "The Limper" who embodies one of our clear conflicts in the novel as well as a type of brutal power. Also, we discussed more about Tzesar Markovich and Shukhov. Especially their character traits.

Over the weekend be focused on any missing work and updating your notes from the reading so far. Next week will be our last week with this novel. I look forward to hearing your final thoughts and reflections on the book. From there we'll be working on a lot of end of the year assignments. Be ready for the year to end fast!

AP Research

Remember that next week you have two assessments due. You'll need to meet with me to complete your EOC Conference, and you'll need to meet with a peer to complete your Mock POD. I'll be available all next week during class time as well as on Monday. If you haven't yet scheduled your POD for the week of May 10, be sure to do so ASAP. Reply to the email in your inbox to set your date and time.

Mid-Week - Wednesday the 28th

AP Research

Today we had a great conversation on PODs and scoring. We got in-depth on the rubric and by seeing the work of a student presenter, we get a good idea of the requirements of the rubric. Over the weekend, be sure to complete your reflections for question set three. Remember that for your POD you'll be asked three questions - one from each set. Be sure that you review the earlier questions we've already done - be sure that the answers align with your work as it currently stands.

Next week you'll be working mostly asynchronously. Your goal will be to complete your Mock POD (See the assignment posted on Classwork) as well as your EOC Conference. Details are posted in the recording.

AP Language and English 10

Be sure that you're checking in with any missing assignments so far this quarter. We'll be focused on our novels next class to continue our process of reading and unlocking meaning in the text. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help. More details are in the post below.

Friday - 23 April 2021 - The End of the Week

AP Research

Great day today everyone as we met for our final session of peer review. Today we began our day by focusing on some key notes and takeaways from the Chief Reader Report from 2020. This is a great resource to see some of the trends in the performance of students on the academic paper last year. The suggestions are important for us as we are winding up our work and finalizing our papers. Being sure to be explicit about our process, our ethics, and our reflection on our work are all key takeaways for me.

Be sure to submit your document as a record of today's work with your group. We'll meet together next week to go over the plan for Unit 6 (the last unit of the year) and the final assessment tasks for the year. On Wednesday we'll also take a look at another Presentation and Oral Defense and practice with scoring. We're a few weeks out from submission - stay focused on your process and the rewards will flow!

AP Language and English 10

Be sure to follow the reminders and guidelines below as you are reading and working over the weekend. Be sure that any missing assignments that you can turn in are submitted ASAP. This is not the quarter to fall behind since we don't have much time left.

End of the Week - AP Research

AP Research

With the information we reviewed on Wednesday, you should be all set to finish your draft of your academic paper. Given our earlier rounds of peer editing, it's my hope that you feel well prepared, and that you have completed a solid piece of work. Remember that your example AP Research papers as well as papers in your Body of Knowledge are very useful here as models for your work. 

Next week we'll meet on Friday to review our papers as a complete draft. Use these days to write, revise, and create your slides. The reflection document has been updated. If you have trouble writing your abstract, let me know and we can meet to review this task.

Firmly in the Middle - Wednesday the 14th

AP Research

Today we started talking all about the end of things because that is where we find ourselves. At the end. The section guide posted in the Classwork tab will review the requirements for your Conclusion/Final Directions section of the paper. Remember that if you've already discussed your limitations and implications, that you may choose not to review them again. This section of the paper can be pretty short - remember that the Manzanar paper was only about one page. You should also check in on your bibliography when you complete the paper - use Control + F to find your sources in the body of the paper. Make sure that everything is properly cited; ask for help if needed.

Friday the 16th and Wednesday the 21st are going to be working days for you. These should be days for you to finish your Academic Paper. We'll meet again as a group on Friday the 23rd to do another round of Peer Review - bring a complete draft of your paper to that meeting. Reflection questions have been updated. Begin working on your slides if you haven't yet. Hopefully the examples were helpful for you.

AP Language and English 10

Reminders posted below are the same as what you will find for yourself. Remember that any missing assignments from this week should be submitted ASAP, don't let things pile up this quarter.

End of Week 28 - Friday the 9th

AP Research

Today was our day to meet very quickly and discuss the sections we're focused on creating right now - the Findings and the Analysis of the Data. Keep in mind that the section guide views this as one section, but we should really see it as two. The majority of our day was spent on Peer Review to give feedback and suggestions for improvement moving forward.

Next week we'll look at the conclusion section of the paper as we end Unit 5. By the end of next week, you should find yourself with a full draft of the Academic Paper. It's a beast coming in at 4000-5000 words. I hope you recognize your achievement here - it's a big deal.

Focus now on editing, revising and finalizing your report. Remember that it is a good time to also begin the construction of your slides. Unit Six will focus on the POD and we will also complete our presentations in the next unit to be scored. Mark your calendars for May 10th. This will be our presentation week. Remember that everything is due to Digital Portfolio by May 20 at 11:59 PM. You may want to access your Digital Portfolio now and review the requirements for submission.

AP Language and English 10

See the post below for your reminders over the weekend. Be focused on the reading of your novels as well as turning in assignments from this week. As a reminder, I'll be in BBCU on Monday from 10-11:15 for Office Hours if you need me.

7 April 2021 - Wednesday

AP Language / English 10

Note the reminders below or on Google Classroom related to today's classes. Remember that if you miss anything, recordings are all posted on the stream on Google Classroom. I'm looking forward to seeing you all on Friday to keep working with our novels.

AP Research

On Friday we'll be focused on Peer Review of the Findings and Analysis sections of your paper. Think of these two as clearly linked. The Findings will present your key takeways, groupings, or charts/graphs/tables of data. The Analysis will explain key links and takeaways from that data. Remember to go back to the sample papers posted in our classroom space for examples of this in action. I look forward to seeing you Friday for a productive and useful day.

Friday the 12th of March

AP Research

Today in class we really did a deep dive on the Academic Paper rubric. We noticed that many rows of the rubric (1-3 and 6) are identical in their score description for a high pass - level 4/5. This means that it is Rows 4 and 5 where we must focus as writers and researchers to earn our distinction. As we discussed in class, the best style for this type of paper is one that is clear and direct, so that you are able to clearly guide your assessor through the choices you made and why they were the best choice for you. Sources from your body of knowledge can be really helpful in adding to your justification.

As we keep writing and developing, keep working with your peers to share drafts and get constructive feedback. Be sure that you're always using the rubric to guide your feedback and conversations.

Next week we'll move on to Unit 5. These final units of the year involve mostly finishing our writing and our POD as most of our data has been collected by this point. We'll meet as a group on Wednesday next week to kick off the unit. Be sure to submit any assignments from Unit 4 before the end of the day on Monday.

AP Language and English 10

Be sure to complete any of your tasks from Unit 3 as we're now fully moved in to Unit 4. If you need any assistance with anything, please let me know. I'm happy to meet you Monday. Research papers should all be returned by the end of next week. I appreciate your patience as I read and review your work. Remember that you will have the chance to resubmit your essays before the end of the quarter.