12 December - Writing Day!

English 11

Great day today everyone! I'm so proud of all of you and excited to read what you wrote for me today. The goal of today's class was to complete our Research Write-Up OR the Summative Writing Assignment. I'm so glad to see that I have a good amount of work to grade. I'm planning to score on Sunday. If you have other items to submit like your Vocabulary Project/Test or your formatives (like your outline) try to get those in as soon as possible so that I can update your grades.

Next class we'll be doing a review activity for our reading test and then the test is going to occur on Wednesday. For this test you'll be reading and responding to questions to demonstrate your reading comprehension and interpretation skills.

If you need additional help, please make a LT appointment for Monday or Wednesday. I'm after school on Thursday for additional help. The goal is to complete all of our Unit 2 work before we go out on break so that we can do revisions and resubmissions after. 

28 October - Happy Monday and End of Quarter 1

English 11

Ugh! Unfortunately there's no recording of today's great class because of a technical issue. I'm sorry about that. At least we have records and learning artifacts, right? I'm really proud of the way that you all worked through two texts with a similar vibe - Public Enemy's "Fight the Power" and then Frederick Douglass's "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July." We explored the way in which both of these texts use tone to express arguments about topics. We also focused in on understanding how Douglass was crafting an effective argument.

We looked at the speech in three phases - his introduction, body, and conclusion. We remembered the elements of each phase of writing and then saw the way in which Douglass did just that. Remember that everything is an argument - so everything has a thesis, body with assertions, evidence, and commentary, clear connections between paragraphs, and a conclusion. We'll be focused a lot on writing in this unit, so we'll be doing a lot of this work to understand reading as writing.

We ended the day with vocabulary and began List 3. If you have any grades to raise here at the end of the quarter, now is the time. If you have anything missing (reading tasks, vocabulary quiz) please come in and make sure that those tasks are complete. As always, be in touch with any questions or concerns. Next class we'll be focused mostly on writing.

17 April - Practice Exam, Day 1

AP Language and Composition

Today we started our final practice examination. Today and over the next three classes, we'll complete an examination task. At the end of that, you'll reflect on your performance, your process, and determine any strategies that you think will be effective for you on the Mock Exam and ultimately, the real AP Examination. This is a process you should complete with all of your AP Examinations. I'd also suggest checking out BlueBook on your computers - there are practice examinations loaded, and you can explore the interface and tools for testing. It's very similar to the PSAT.

The other major task to chip away at right now is your Argument Bank. Keep reading. This mitigates some of the vocabulary issues because you're experiencing and encountering more high-level vocabulary. The final goal is that you process fifteen texts and consider their use for your eventual writing tasks, but they help with reading tasks too. AP Classroom unlocked practices can also be helpful during this time.

Use Lion Time and After School during this unit. Let's review and process and make a plan for success. I should have all of your essays scored and feedback to you by next week. All the best! Let's slay this beast!

6 March - Bonus Grey Day!

AP Language

Easy day today in AP Language land as we had a bit of a bonus day. I hope that you found it helpful and useful. We had the chance to settle up business related to writing, reading, or our research work. Here are some guidepoints for you to consider where we are at this moment.

1. Researching - Do you have a finalized research question? Have you begun to collect sources in your sourcepack? Are you building an argument? Do you have some annotated bibliography entries written? At this point you should have 2-3 documents in your sourcepack and processed through an annotated bibliography.

2. Reading - Have you completed the reading of Invisible Man - Chapters 13-15? Have you watched the videos and participated in the discussion? Have you read and annotated Plato's "Allegory of the Cave" for next class? Engage in reading to be a better reader!

3. Writing - Have you met for a writing conference? Completed your most recent timed write? Have a plan to do so if it's missing? Remember that writing takes time, so it's important to work diligently and often. I'm available to assist outside of class as needed! We'll have another timed write coming up soon!

Looking forward to seeing everyone on Friday! For those of you participating in the Cultural Celebration - be sure to keep up with the class time that you're missing. We can always use Lion Time next week or after school to get caught up!

21 February - Oratory and Argument

AP Language and Composition

A rollercoaster day in AP Language, but I think we ended on a high and came to some good understandings about finishing out the year. Remember, you need to put in the real work. No more coasting, no more cruise control, it's time to move with purpose and intention. So, let's make that happen. Take the slides, feedback, and thinking to begin to revise your essays from our practice. Don't delete anything. I have some sample papers and other tools that are helpful - let's keep working together to revise and change scores to get to a 1/4/0. The goal is for you to figure out a method to devise an argument so that you can always employ that tool.

We started the day with reading skills and dug into reasoning and organization as well as rhetorical situation. I hope you all saw our connection to the AP Examination and some of the key questions and skills we're asked to demonstrate in our work. Take some time to read Chapter 10 for Friday's class. It's a strange chapter with a lot of symbolism, but I have faith in you. Pay attention to white paint, power, vision, and the connections to the American government. Use the video on Chapter 10 to get a handle on what's happening.

8 February - Writing Argument Day

AP Language and Composition

We did something brand new today! We did some team work writing to lean into our skill for the quarter, argumentative writing. In this quarter, you'll be presenting argument based research on America, and on the AP Exam, you'll complete two argumentative FRQs. As I love to say, it takes time and constant effort to develop these skills. So we need to start now and be intentional. I hope that you enjoyed the chance to work with new people today in the room. You'll see them again soon.

For next class - Monday - we have Chapters 5-7 of Invisible Man. In this section, TIM says goodbye to the South and heads to New York. As Ella would say, "Drop me off in Harlem." Watch his scene at the chapel in Chapter 5 and try to understand what you can about The Founder. It's important to note the impact the story has on TIM. In Chapter 6 he says goodbye to Dr. Bledsoe; it's an intense scene. In Chapter 7, we have the return of The Vet. Remember my video channel is available as a guide to help with processing chapters.

All the best for the weekend! Enjoy!

6 February - Chapters 3 and 4

AP Language and Composition

Really fantastic work today everyone digging into the key conversations in Chapters 3 and 4. As we worked through today's class we saw the way in which characters function as symbols of key ideas. Remember, characters aren't real. As we watch characters interact in be in conflict, it's important to ask yourself which characters aka ideas win and why that is. Also consider what TIM understands, what he doesn't and why. He's trapped in a cycle, so we need to follow how he's continuing to repeat mistakes and what helps him to break free. Thanks Arianna Grande...

Remember that you may have some small housekeeping to complete. Log in to AP Classroom and check on your Unit 2 Progress Check. Next class we have an argumentative writing assignment, so you'll want the feedback before writing again in the same way. Please email me when complete since I don't get notifications from AP Classroom. You also have the beginning of the research topic to complete - this is a means to revise and refine, so please submit to show me where you are. Remember you're defining America. If you'd like to come to Lion Time or after school to work with me, please do so.

Looking further ahead, we have Chapters 5, 6, and 7 coming up next week. As you read these chapters, you'll be confused by Chapter 5. It's a story within a story, the story of The Founder. Try to understand what you can about him and then understand how this sits in the same cycle as we've seen today - TIM and older men. Chapter 6 is a great look at Bledsoe, and Chapter 7 will take us to New York and the end of Section 1. 

See you Thursday for writing!

31 January - Chapter 2 and Jim Trueblood

AP Language

Great day in AP Language today as we dealt with one of the most difficult and complex chapters of the book, Chapter 2. During today's class we focused a lot on characters and their importance in the novel. As we move through this opening section of the book, it's important to see the way in which TIM interacts with different characters and how they affect him. Consider what he understands and what he doesn't understand. We often will understand more than he does because we can see things that he doesn't. 

Remember to use your motif trackers as you are moving through the book. All of the motifs are present in the Prologue, Chapter 1, and Chapter 2. As we move to Chapter 3, you'll start to see some gaps in the motif chart. 

Next class we'll be finishing up our work on James Baldwin. Be sure to read and annotate the second half of the article. If you lost your paper copy, the PDF is posted for you. Next week we'll get into Chapter 3 and 4. Keep reading and getting into this fantastic and challenging novel. I'm excited to help you continue to discover. Next class I'll be out and you'll have a substitute. Be sure to complete all of the tasks by the end of the day.

18 January - Langston Hughes and Reflections and Writing Practice

AP Language

Today's class was our day focused on understanding and reflecting on Langston Hughes and what he has to say about the dangers of conformity, especially for African American artists and poets. I enjoyed seeing the way in which you were updating your documents with new ideas, collaborating with each other virtually and in-person, and delving into the text. Wonderful work. Keep reflecting on these authors, their arguments, and the connections between them as we delve into this unit. 

We ended class with AP Classroom and argumentative writing practice. We took a position on the extent to which a truism is true. Keep in mind that with these types of questions, you're explaining nuance and how much something is valid - always, sometimes, or never - the evidence that you use will help to explain that validity and extent. Use key words from your thesis to guide your assertions and your commentary. We'll do some scoring of these next week.

For tonight, keep in mind that we have our first chapter of Invisible Man coming soon. Next class will be our registration meeting, and then we'll be diving into Chapter One and the Battle Royale. Use your motif tracker and resources to get through this text! See you next time!

11 January - Looking at Langston Hughes

AP Language

We had a really lovely day today in AP Language with another fantastic Harlem Renaissance voice - Langston Hughes. Today we got to hear his voice both as a poet and as a social critic; it's interesting to notice how he's saying the same thing (his argument) in various styles. Today's class was a reading, writing, and thinking day -- our essential skills in AP Language! We'll continue to reflect on this essay next class. Be sure that you've completed your discussion board post and submitted your annotations document. Note that the annotations document won't be graded, just the discussion board.

Next class we'll be focused on some writing skills and argumentative writing. There's no reading for next class. Use the time to get into Invisible Man. You'll want to be ahead in the reading so that we can really focus on comprehending and interpreting skills in class.

9 January - Zora Neale Hurston

AP Language

We spent a great class with Ms. Zora Neale Hurston today in AP Lang. She is definitely one of my top ten writers, probably top five if we're just looking at American literature and writers. We didn't quite finish our work at the end looking at Hurston's piece through the frame of an argument, so I'd recommend finishing by reflecting on those questions tonight. How does she use evidence and commentary throughout her essay to support her thesis? In what ways does she create clear organization between sections and ideas using her main argument? How does she develop and employ an engaging voice throughout the essay? All of these are key questions in FRQ 1 and 3 - the argument questions - so it's important to see how authors do this so that we can too.

Next class we're looking at Langston Hughes. His text is pretty difficult, so we'll work through it in class - no reading necessary for next class. Use this time to get into Invisible Man - use the audiobook, YouTube playlist, and other resources. Don't forget to check in with your motif tracker as you read - it's a great tool too. We'll be working through Chapter 1 next week!

Ending the Midterm - Ugh! Technology...

AP Language

I hate AP Classroom sometimes. I'm completely locked out now. I sent a help request, so hopefully it's resolved soon. We finished our midterm today with the FRQx2. We completed the Rhetorical Analysis (FRQ2) and the Argument (FRQ3). Keep in mind that the RA is going to be your summative writing score, and the FRQ3 is going to be a practice score. We're just putting our feet in the water with that task; it's our focus for second semester. I'm looking forward to reading your responses.

This is really our last class - on Friday we're having a party. Sign up for something using the discussion board in the Unit 4 folder. We'll need plates, utensils, napkins, cups, and food. I'd also recommend getting started with Invisible Man. The book is challenging for a lot of reasons, so getting into your reading process. I'll share a video playlist that may be helpful for many of you as we get into break. A good goal would be to try and read the first five or six chapters before we start reading it as a class. Not an assignment, just a suggestion. There's also the audiobook available on Spotify!

See you Friday!

14 November - It's Tuesday!

AP Language

We had a fantastic day today discussing the importance of Chapter 7 in The Great Gatsby. I think of this chapter as the fulcrum of the whole novel, everything rests on this. Past this, the conclusion is pretty much baked in, so we'll move quickly to the end of the novel. I liked seeing the engagement that you all brought to our opening conversation to track changes. I also appreciated all of you trying something new with me today with our annotations assignment. 

We paid all of this reading and thinking forward to start understanding Fitzgerald's main arguments to us at the end of the novel. This is key for your project. The arguments have been building the whole time, so now it's time to show and explain how that happened. Next class we'll be doing a graded assignment to see where our skills are as we're wrapping up and preparing for our projects. For tonight, read and annotate Chapter 8. Pay attention to Gatsby. Understand what happens to him and what it means on a symbolic level. Remember, he's not a real person. Be sure that you have also responded to today's discussion board post from the work we did today in class. 

Always excited for tomorrow! See you Thursday!

2 November - End of the Quarter!

AP Language

Really good time today in AP Language to round out the week. We focused on Chapter 6, which is really the beginning of the end of the novel. I appreciated your engagement in the discussion and in the close reading. I'm especially impressed by the depth that you went into on our last passage - it was just two sentences! As we hit the back half of the novel, consider the major ideas that you're seeing and the arguments that Fitzgerald is making about this world, these people, and this society.

For the weekend, you should be sure that any final resubmissions are in. Remember that I need your rubric to rescore your project. If absolutely necessary, you can send me a photo of the rubric. I should have all grades updated by the end of the week. If you are interested in reassessing on your writing, there is an opportunity to do that today - Thursday - after school. If you can't make this, we may have a time slot on Tuesday, this is TBA.

Feel free to read ahead into the rest of the novel this weekend, focus on your project, or take a bit of a break if you're all caught up. I'll be out on Wednesday, so pay attention to Schoology for your lesson and listen for the substitute's instructions. All the best!

31 October - Happy Halloween!

AP Language

Solid day today in AP Language as we had some really big conversations about the power of the past, memory, truth, and identity. I appreciated the way in which you were closely reading the chapters to understand the way in which our motifs are interacting with each other to create arguments in the text. We're hitting the back half of the novel, so it's important to see how things are shifting to create key meanings. Remember, the characters aren't really characters - they're ideas. It's time to pay attention to who's winning, who's losing, and why. 

For next class, focus on reading Chapter 6. There are some major changes that occur in Chapter 6, so pay close attention and see the shifts as they occur. Don't forget that as we are working in class, you should be filling out your motif charts. As the ideas are activated in conversation note the ideas in the chart. Remember, you don't need quotes or page numbers, just collect the data. Next week we'll have a bit of a catch-up space to work on projects, draw some big connections, and collaborate together. I'm really enjoying the energy that I'm seeing in class around Gatsby and the increasing depth of analysis and reading. Keep practicing! Keep writing!

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.

14 October - The Real End of the Week

AP English Language

Whoo! Lots going on in AP Language as we begin Unit 3 - The Great Gatsby. Today was a day about framing the novel for you - we considered some of Fitzgerald's main settings, his topics and motifs, the conflicts in the text, key characters, and the symbols that we'll be focused on as we are reading. All of today's work is guided to help you read and interpret this novel. The recording is gold. Use it as you are reading and annotating.

This weekend is a weekend for finishing Unit 2 tasks and getting into Gatsby. If you have work outstanding, it needs to be completed. Focus on your final project - This is (my) America. Use the recordings, template, and rubric to help you navigate this work. We'll also work through Chapter Two next class - note the differences between Chapter 1 and 2. There are a lot!

AP Research

Great day in AP Research land! We completed our College Board lesson on definitions, hypothesis, and assumptions (as well as biases) in our research papers. The work that we were doing today was geared toward the writing of our introductions of our academic papers as well as understanding the use of our annotated bibliography entries. Consider what the sources are giving you. How can you show that in your reflections on the sources?

This is the work that you have this weekend. Write! Complete your entries! There's also your reflection questions for the quarter, I'll be asking for those in about a week or so to close out First Quarter.

Wednesday the 28th of September

AP Language

Absolutely fantastic, y'all. We began our reading of our choice texts today as a means to understand the essentials of rhetoric and argumentation. These texts have a lot of connections between them especially around the ideas of language and identity and you can use them for your final projects, which makes them even better.

Next class is going to be our working day for the end of Unit 2. Be ready to read, work on your project, complete any missing work, or complete vocabulary. I would recommend using Lion Time this week or after school if you need it. I'm here to support you at the end of the unit. Your readings will be due next week as will your vocabulary cards. Be ready to finish this unit and move on to our first novel, The Great Gatsby.

AP Research

Today was our working day to begin Unit 2. You'll have a lot of time during this unit to write, so most of your work should happen in class with your cohort. Remember that this is a time that it is good to work with your peers and at times better to work with them than to work with me.

By the end of this week, you should be complete with all Unit 1 tasks. All reflections are complete. All assignments are submitted. Our goal at this time is the completion of your annotated bibliography to support the creation of your introduction of your academic paper.

Next class we'll take some time to read another high scoring paper and time to write entries. It'll be a bit of a rinse and repeat model for the next few classes, but it's a bit of what we need right now. 

13 September - Tuesday

AP Language

Sorry to have had to abandon you in the photo line. Unfortunately the line was long and the class time was short. I will get you your student ID's next class. 

Class was lovely, but fast. We did a lot of work related to the rhetorical situation. It's a great framework for breaking down a text and understanding the way that the pieces work together to function and create meaning. We also worked on a method to analyze pieces of a text called DIDLS - remember that these two frameworks work together to help you read, write, and think. Use them.

For tonight remember that you should be working through your vocabulary regularly. Collect and work on words daily. If you haven't submitted your first five, be sure to do so. There's also our choice reading. Next class you'll need your laptop for our workshop day. You'll also need to bring your spiral notebook which you'll leave behind. Prepare accordingly.

AP Research

Lovely day in AP Research today as we took some time for what we needed and then gathered together to do some active reading and annotating. We'll continue to come back to this paper as we move through the year - it's our benchmark of a good paper. This one got a FIVE, and I think it's clear to see why.

Right now, we're focused on the introduction. It's important to recognize how the student uses sources and how the sources that the student uses are used to frame their work and lead to the research question. This is your paper - so annotate it and use it.

Keep working with your databases. Use new key words as you work with your research questions. Keep revising and paying your work forward. Try to fill new gaps daily and to continue using your sources and your databases to do that work. 

See you Thursday!

11 and 12 April - Welcome to Q4

AP Language

Welcome back everyone! It was lovely to see all of you today and to kick of our fourth quarter together. As we work through this final unit of the year, we'll be reading our novels and preparing for the AP Examination. Be sure that you are reading your books regularly and staying up with all assignments. Remember that there will be fewer of them this quarter.

Submit your quickwrite on AP Classroom to the Unit 5 Progress Check. I'll score and give feedback soon. Additionally, there's an article posted for next class from Teen Vogue which will help you with understanding our next big concept - necropolitics. This concept is at play in the novels you're reading in some way, shape, or form. 

Your first assignments have been posted for this quarter - submit your reading plan and begin to work through your first reflections. See the unit plan document for your review of how to complete your reflections and the prompt.

English 10

Today we took time in class to read the first part of "Tuesday Siesta" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and work through some of the literary elements at play in the text. We'll finish the story next class. Keep in mind that this story is the LAST thing that we are reading in this unit, so we're moving on to finishing up tasks as well.

Before we went out on break, I gave you your project options - be sure that you choose which one you're completing. We'll have time next classes to work on the project - hopefully you'll finish your work in class and not have to finish over the weekend. Next week we'll take our exam on this unit, so gather your notes and begin to study. Keep in mind the test will be open book and open note, like normal.