29 April - Meeting Tomas Rivera

English 11

I hope that all of you enjoyed reading Tomas Rivera today. One of the things that I try to do as an English teacher is make sure that we hear from all types of voices in our classroom. Also, I try to read new things each year. Tomas Rivera helps us to accomplish both aims. I appreciate that as a Mexican-American, he shares his very personal story about his relationship with his mother, his family, and his G-d. I appreciated the way in which you saw the parallel conflicts and some of the symbolism that he was weaving into this text.

I've done my best to codify our work on our answer document together. Remember I'll be looking closely at your themes, topics, and devices. You should have ALL of them covered when it's submitted. This will be a great formative assignment leading up to your Reading SOL because it helps with active studying and preparing. At the end of class, we took some time to prepare for the upcoming vocabulary quiz, check in on our Drama Projects, and complete any missing work (still need some vocabulary turned in...).

On Thursday we'll have a mostly workshop class. Be ready for a productive day. I hope to hear a lot of speeches and do some writing work for us to process our independent reading choices. As always, be in touch with any questions you might have. If you haven't finished the MAP test yet, be sure to schedule time for Thursday's Lion Time to get that settled!

7 March - End of the Week with Emily Dickinson

English 11

And with that, the week is complete. Great work this week, y'all. I'm really excited to see these presentations that you all are putting together based on your books. I appreciate the way that you're focused on presenting your own argument, digging into source material and information, and putting various viewpoints together to support your overall idea. Each team/person is in a slightly different place, and that's totally okay. Next week we'll focus on taking some time to finish our planning and put the final product together. We'll start presenting week after next - remember that you can sign up for any date you'd like - but all presentations must be completed by March 25th.

After our start with our presentations, we moved into reading and studying poetry. We looked at a famous American poet - Emily Dickinson - and we discussed diction, imagery, and figurative language. These poems stretch our brains a bit because they read like riddles, but using the clues the author provides, we were able to figure it out.

We ended the day with vocabulary and began our study of List Six. If you missed the vocabulary quiz, please make an appointment to get that settled. At the end of the quarter, it's important that we settle missing work as soon as possible. 

I look forward to seeing you next week. We'll be finishing our book study next week, so if you have a missing quiz or need to finish reading, make that the priority for the weekend! You may also want to begin to pull together any materials that you'll need for your project.

5 December - Let's Get Ready to MIDTERRRRRRRRRM

AP Language

Welcome to the midterm examination my lovelies. Today's class is your reading day it's a day for you to prepare for the examination ahead of you and reflect on where you are in the skills and competencies necessary in this class. So, what are you going to do today to study and prepare? Here's your to do list:

1. Be sure that you've submitted your Gatsby visual and artistic explanation questions. You completed your analysis in-class last time. Apologies for the lack of clarity in the instructions document. If you have a paper visual, give it to the substitute and make sure that it goes in the folder. Remember that I'm grading the visual and your explanation questions as your demonstration of reading skills.

2. Organize and use your notebook as a reflection tool. Look over your rubrics, your skill descriptors, and the feedback that you've received. Use the assignment in Schoology to write me a reflective letter about where you are in your reading and writing skills. Be sure to cite evidence as you write. At the bottom, do a quick PEWCAM analysis (bullet points are fine).

3. Feel free to use the unlocked AP Classroom Progress Checks to prepare for your MCQ. You'll be doing this on Thursday. You'll also be getting feedback on your most recent writing assignment before you write again!

I'll see you on Thursday as we begin our midterm exam!

1 December - Gatsby Assessment Day

AP Language

Today was our assessment day on The Great Gatsby. In today's assessment you curated your own passage from the novel and explained the way in which Fitzgerald creates meaning through language and motifs. I'm excited to read your essays and see the way in which your skills as a reader and writer have progressed. Remember that in this class, everything is practice for our eventual final exam - the AP Examination. On that test, you'll be asked to write an analysis as well, but it'll be cold. So you need to develop the process now in order to do that. 

Over the weekend, spend your time completing your visual representations of the motif and the connected questions explaining your art. Remember that you're just talking to me as you answer these questions, so feel free to be colloquial in style. You may also want to spend some time on AP Classroom preparing for the MidTerm. I've unlocked a few more MCQ Progress Checks to help you.

I'll see you next week - not on Tuesday since I'm at a conference - but Thursday to begin our MidTerm Exam! Tuesday is a preparation and reflection day for you. I'll look forward to reading your thoughts, but more on that later.

26 September - Substitute Day - Jury Duty

AP Language

Sorry to be away from all of you today serving my civic duty to serve on a jury. It's my first time, so we'll see how it goes. I had a heck of a time figuring out where to park and how to walk over here, but I made it to court. I hope that you all enjoyed the day with each other to collaborate and communicate. Apply feedback to your projects and make your finishing touches. Please submit your projects to Schoology so that I can review them and get you feedback. 

We'll be looking at our last reading of this unit next class; it's Mario Cuomo's 1984 Democratic Convention Speech. On Schoology there's a link to a recording of the speech and you should have a handout copy from the substitute. Read, annotate, apply a strategy, and consider connections between this text and the others we've studied so far.

Our next unit will be focused on The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I'll give you a school copy, but if you like to write in your books, you'll want to purchase your own. It's a great text. I'm excited to share it with you all.

See you next time, I hope!

24 March - Friday Feels Fantastic

AP Language

We completed our writing conferences today, for the most part, today. If you were absent or chose not to conference today, be sure that you are seen on Monday for your conference. If you have submitted your Synthesis SourcePack and received a 4/4 it will be printed for you. If you do not submit your SourcePack by 4:00 PM on Monday the 27th then you will be given another prompt. If you would rather write on a different prompt because you are finding yours difficult, that is an option as well.

All tasks are now due. I have graded all submitted and resubmitted work as of this morning. Remember that any revisions to Annotated Bibliographies can be submitted after Spring Break. Don't forget about your Jargon Assignment. You should definitely try to complete that assignment before we go out on Break. Trust me.

AP Research

Today was the end of our independent working week. I hope that you all were able to find time to move your process of data analysis and collection toward its conclusion and to continue the process of revising your research papers in advance of our next round of peer review.

Next week we will have one day for working and one day for peer review. Remember that you should have FOUR completed sections of your paper for Thursday's peer review workshop. Bring your earlier revised sections and your additional new work. We'll continue to review for alignment, justification, clarity, and rubric score points. On Tuesday, we'll be focused on our PODs and building our slides after watching our final example presentation.

Note that you only have two reflection questions that haven't been given to you. Reflections for Quarter 3 will be due after Spring Break - as we discussed today in class, be sure that your answers are as specific as they possibly can be. Define your sources and concepts so clearly that nobody else could provide your answer. 

As always, if you need me, please reach out! And thank you for being a lovely group while I was away.

22 March - Well Suited Wednesday

AP Language

The beginning of writing conferences today in AP Language land. This is one of my favorite parts of the year because I get the chance to sit down with each of you and discuss your writing. From what I saw today, here are a few big takeaways:

1. Be sure to clearly structure your paragraphs. Remember that you're writing by hand. Show indents, skip lines, and be careful with small grammar mistakes (SOPHISTICATION SCORE).

2. Think about the ultimate effect or consequence of your issue. This will help you to reinforce your Line of Reasoning in your commentary.

If you'd like to come in during Lion Time or after school for your conference or for an additional conference, please do! I'll complete the rest of class conferences next week. Be sure to use this time to prepare for next week's final assessment.

AP Research

We continued our writing, analyzing, and conferencing in AP Research today with our second of three independent working days. From our conversations it is clear that many of you are moving well through the process - it's time to keep going. Move toward the end of your data collection, check your analysis, write everything down and make sure that it's clear to anyone who reads your paper or views your presentation.

Next week we'll have our next round of peer review, I'll expect that you have FOUR of the SIX sections complete to be reviewed. We'll also be watching another POD next week so that we can prepare for our presentations. Presentations will be during the week of April 17.

20 March - Starting the Week Write...Get It?

AP Language

Hooray! It's rough draft day! We took 55 minutes today to plan and draft our final essay for this unit. Remember that you will write your final essay next week. This is the final week to prepare for that assessment. This week you should complete any remaining tasks (submitting AB or SourcePack), meet with me for a writing conference, and review your work with your peers. We also have plenty of practice opened up on AP Classroom. There's also the Jargon/Vocabulary assignment due after Spring Break that you could get done now.

Set your goals. Keep yourself accountable. Be ready for the end of this quarter and your final assessments.

AP Research

Easy day in AP Research today as we began our latest string of working days. You have this week to continue working through your process of data collection, organization, and analysis. As I expressed in our conferences, it is important that you continue to hold fast to your sources throughout all sections of the paper. As you see discrepancies between your data conclusions and the data in the existing conversation, be sure to point those out. Remember, any discrepancy is a new understanding.

I would recommend that you finish your academic paper and then complete your POD slides. We'll watch another high scoring POD next week before we get into our next round of Peer Review. Remember your next deadline - there is Peer Review on March 30. When we return from Spring Break, you'll have your PREP reflections due to be checked. These are our last grades for Quarter 3. Be sure that you are ready to finish strong and then finalize your tasks to submit in April.

16 March - After the Ides of March

AP Language

A bit of a blah start in AP Lang today with our Integrated Reading and Writing Field Test. I think that the best thing about this is now you've seen what the SOL is kinda like, so you're ready for that at the end of April. Remember that there are plenty of online released tests to practice for the SOL Reading.

After that, we played Russian Roulette - AP Language Style. This is a game designed for fast thinking and fast planning. We also had the chance to see multiple types of synthesis prompt across the years. What did you notice about them? Did you see a lot of the key similarities? Remember - the task is always the same, it's just the evidence and question that changes.

Next week is our week for writing conferences. You'll be writing on Monday. Be ready! Have a complete SourcePack. Review your feedback on the AB. If you haven't turned in the AB and gotten feedback, you'll really want that before you write next week. Make a plan to come in after school or at Lion Time. I'm here to help!

AP Research

We finished Manzanar today! Hooray! It's kinda funny how the work that we do is so front loaded, the conclusion for this paper was just two paragraphs. I hope that you see how each paragraph and each sentence within has a clear purpose. We did a lot of discussing and reflecting today in class and it was all pretty fantastic. You should start finishing your papers as soon as you can. Finalize your data. Work through your analysis. Write what you can now. Don't forget about your POD.

Next week we'll have a string of independent working days. Some of you will also conference with me to complete that from before. We also have our reflection question posted for this week. Be sure that these are all complete for your final check. That final check will happen AFTER Spring Break.

The ending time has come everyone. We will begin our POD presentations in mid-April. That's only about seven classes from now. Be sure that you are filling your time with productivity. Papers are due April 28.

14 March - Tuesday Feels

AP Language

Today was a day focused on outlining and planning in preparation for our timed writing. Remember that you will write your essays in four classes. Each of the following days are focused on preparing for that eventuality. Today we reviewed the elements of effective planning and looked at each others' work to provide feedback. Next week we'll be doing a rough draft (so another version of today) and beginning writing conferences with me. Next class we'll be playing a bit of a game of Russian Roulette; don't worry, we'll all survive.

At this point, SourcePacks and Annotated Bibliographies are due. All ABs should be submitted by the end of this week to be scored. If you are having trouble, you need to come in and see me for help. 

AP Research

Today we begin our transition into Unit 5 - Final Elements. During this time we are focused on completing our final assessments, our academic research paper and our POD. You will be given ample time during this unit to write, work, reflect, and revise. It is now crunch time when it comes to data. You'll need to set yourself a drop-dead date to end your data collection and begin your analysis and writing.

Our next day for Peer Review will be on March 30. By this date you are expected to have four of the six sections completed. Remember, even if you haven't collected ALL your data, you can still write your analysis for the preliminary data. Then run the test again when you have it all and check for alignment. As you consider your conclusion, remember your hypothesis. Did the end come out as you thought it would? Why or why not?

Next class we'll be looking at Manzanar one last time. Be sure to bring our best friend as we work toward the end!

23 February - End of the Week, Blue Day

AP Language

I saw lots of engagement today in AP Language land. We were using our group meeting to build our argumentative tool box - this is a great thing to do for the AP Exam. You'll need to be able to think fast on the exam and pull out great examples to support your argument. Using these articles and sources we've worked through all year as you write your timed essays for the exam will help to raise your Evidence/Commentary and Sophistication score.

Over the weekend, make your SourcePack and your Annotated Bibliography your focus. Having your SourcePack complete would be one of the best things that you can do to prepare for next class. We'll be doing an activity to finish up SourcePacks and check them. Keep in mind that your AB is due soon!

AP Research

Wonderful day in AP Research for conferencing and working to end the week. We're finding ourselves in different places, but as long as we keep moving forward then we're doing what we need to do. Remember that you have a major assignment due on Monday - the BoK Analysis. Download the document, complete it based on your power source, and then submit it to the space. Be sure that you're thorough in your completion of each section.

There's a new reflection question posted - be sure to complete it in your PREP Folder. We'll be assigning some final drafts of paper sections soon, so be ready for some writing focused work next week.

1 February - Happy Black History Month!

English 10

Wonderful day in English 10 today as we read our first example of letter writing. We also took some time for direct instruction on the structure and elements of an effective letter. As we read Helen Keller's letter, we talked about imagery, imagination, and the challenges that disabled people face from non-disabled people. Keep in mind that you'll take a reading and writing SOL next year, so we're focused on developing our reading skills and our writing skills in this unit.

The end of class was a bit of time for researching and working on our write-up assignment. This is due at the end of next class. Remember that it's worth three points - one for each section. Since we had a lot of class to work on it, there will be a late penalty of 10% if it's turned in late. Be productive next class and meet your goals!

AP Language

Today was our Course Selection Day - so a bit of a nothing day for us. Next class we'll have our feedback from Exam 2 and time to look at the next step of the research process. If you were absent today, be sure that you meet with your counselor during Lion Time in order to get your registration complete.

6 December

AP Language

Today's class focused on Acts I and II of The Crucible. This is a quick play with a very tight plot and message, so we'll move through it before break. We focused on the main plot, who's involved, and why that matters in terms of establishing conflicts and topics in the play. Remember that as Miller comments on Puritan society, he's also commenting on 1950's society. The work we'll do next class will help you make those connections.

For tonight, read Miller's article called "Why I Wrote The Crucible" - Understand his exigence, context, and the message he's trying to convey. We'll look at the article in more detail next class. Annotate to mark your thinking. Also, start collecting vocabulary now.

If you have tasks to complete to end Unit 3, turn in your work ASAP. I would like to have your scores finalized before Winter Break begins. As always, come to Lion Time or after-school if you need anything.

AP Research

Easy day today in AP Research as we await the feedback from the IRB. I'm looking forward to presenting your work and helping you gain approval. We'll conference next class to review your feedback and guide any revisions.

What can you be doing right now? Writing your paper. Designing your slides. Preparing for your final assessments. It's important to always use the time that you have to move forward. This is a great time to build your paper in process, save the time you'll need in January and February when you'll be chasing down data.

18 October - Tuesday!

AP Language

Today's class focused on a recap of the major ideas in Chapter One and the key changes to Chapter Two. We discussed characters, first impressions, Nick's tones, and the importance of Nick's actions in framing the narrative we have. We did some close reading in class as well with some key passages of Chapter Two and noticed the key similarities and differences between Chapters One and Two. The more things change, the more they stay the same, right?

Tonight we're taking a break from The Great Gatsby. Be sure to complete and submit any Unit 2 tasks like vocabulary or your project. I look forward to reviewing your work. You'll also want to go back to Chapters One and Two and begin your color tracker. Follow the directions in the assignment on Schoology. Tonight you're reading and annotating an article by Joan Didion. Focus on the ideas of memory, truth, and accuracy. This is a great way to contrast Nick and consider the ideas of honesty and reliability with narrators.

AP Research

Today was our second AP Research lesson from College Board devoted to our presentations of our research. Our next major assignment is going to be our Research Poster version 1.0 and our Elevator Pitch. This will be our summative assignment to show the completion of our Unit. I hope that you can all also see the connection between the poster, elevator pitch, and your eventual introduction of your paper. In effect, the poster is the outline of your introduction.

Your AB is due. Be sure that you submit no later than Thursday so that I have time to review your work and get you feedback. This is one of your last major grades of the quarter. I'll also open up a space to submit your reflections up to this point. These will be reviewed for thoroughness of thought and apparent effort. I'm sorry that I missed some elements of our work today, I wasn't very good with the recorder. I hope the slides help.

21 September - Blue Wednesday

AP English Language

Solid work with one of my favorites today - Mr. James Baldwin. As a queer, African American thinker and writer in the 1960's and 70's he faced a lot of criticism but he never wavered in his beliefs. His passion is apparent in the letter we read today. Keep in mind that everything we're doing right now is geared toward the project - put this forward into your work.

For tonight, you should complete your slides for your gallery walk. The project is due on Friday. Use our practice in class recently as you write and determine the rhetorical situation for your text of choice. Be sure that you include citations. Lion Time is a great time to work on the project together. 

You'll also need to read the letters between John and Abigail Adams on page 250. Annotate for argument. Use the technique from today if you'd like.

AP Research

This is the end my friends, of Unit 1. We finished our conferences - which were fantastic by the way - and we spent a lot of time revising and thinking. A few important reminders for all of you:

1. You can't talk to anyone - asking questions/surveys/interviews - until you pass IRB in December. 

2. Don't worry about making your phrasing exact right now. Let your research question be gangly. Make sure it has all the parts. We'll revise later. Let's make sure our boat can float before we buy curtains for the portholes.

3. Keep using your databases and your question at the same time. If you have words in your question that need to be defined or pared down, use the BoK. Use a keyword term to search for the term in your field. How do people measure "unity" or "addiction"? What is meant by "mental health"?

4. Always remember feasibility with your question. What do you know? What can you discuss? You're not a trained psychologist, so what can you comfortably and knowledgably discuss related to anxiety or depression or belonging? How can sources help you do this work?

Unit 2 begins next class. We'll be focused on writing and our sources.

19 and 20 October

AP Language

Solid work today, y'all! I was happy to see a lot of great engagement around our lesson on objectivity, subjectivity, and sensationalism via Colonial Era Captivity Narratives. All of these lessons recently are devoted to allowing us the context to understand the end of The Crucible. I hope that you've enjoyed the readings.

If you did not finish the activity today in class feel free to finish it for homework or during our next Lion Time (tomorrow). I'll score them over the weekend. Remember that this is one of our last grades for the quarter. Next class we'll be looking at Act III. Be sure to read and annotate in advance. Pay close attention to the courtroom - note the irony in the scene and the way in which things quickly escalate against John.

English 10

Today's class was a day for us to finish things up - we finished up our reading of "The Forsaken Olive Trees" and took a bit of time to tie up loose ends. Remember that any missing work for Quarter 1 is due on the 22nd. That is this Friday! Don't miss this chance to turn in your work for credit. 

Next class we'll be playing our review game to get ready for our Quarter 1 Exam. The exam will be on Monday the 25th or Tuesday the 26th (depending on your class). You have the study guide and all the materials you need to prepare. This test is going to be a lot of points - so it will have a strong effect on your grade. Prepare and be ready to do your best work!

Early Release Day - 5 March 2021

AP Research

Next week is our final week of this unit. The major tasks that we have ahead of us are meant to provide a check-in on our larger process and make sure that we're all moving toward our goals in the class. On Friday of next week you'll meet together as a writing group to discuss your academic paper drafts and give constructive feedback. We'll do some work as a group on Friday before you meet to discuss the rubric and what to look for as you read.

Data collection should, mostly, be complete at this point. If you're still chasing down a few sources of information or a few last survey responses, that's not a bad place. But you may want to ask yourself if that additional data is needed at this point. Is it possible to go deeper into the analysis of the data you have instead of finding more?

I'll be available on Monday and Wednesday to assist you next week asynchronously. We'll meet on Friday to submit tasks and do our writing workshop. Be aware that your PREP Check deadline has been extended. The newest reflection question has been posted.

AP Language and English 10

Note your reminders below. Assignment submission spaces are open on Google Classroom for your final tasks in the research unit. Please reach out and let me know how I can help out.

End of Week 17 - 15 January

AP Research

Good planning ensures less severe emergencies in the future. That is the goal of this most recent assignment. Take a look at your calendar over the next six weeks as well as your research question and proposal. What data do you need in order to do what you said you would? Where does the data exist? How will you get your hands on it? 

Keep in mind that the next several classes will be workshop classes for you to get a lot done during class time. I'll have our meeting available and open, but you may also find it helpful to meet with each other, other great resources in the staff (librarians, administrators, other teachers), or expert advisors. This is also time for you to work with participants, conduct interviews, and send surveys. Set a goal for each day and a plan to accomplish that goal. This will ensure your success.

Your reflection document has been updated and your final assessment task for the quarter has been posted. Now is when the rubber meets the road and the class is all yours.

English Classes (English 10, AP Language)

Remember that the final day of the quarter is Friday, January 22nd. Also remember that we will only have one meeting day next week - Friday - because of the holiday and vacation schedule. Be sure to submit any missing or resubmitted work as soon as possible. See your posts on Google Classroom or reach out with an email if you need help. 

Closing Week 14 - Friday the 11th

AP Research

Happy Friday! Today we used our return period to complete our quick assessment on ethical practices. Class time today is our final working session before submitting our IRB paperwork. The main task that you have ahead of yourselves at the moment is compiling and gathering your materials to submit for IRB approval.

There is a space on Google Classroom for you to submit your work. Be sure that you submit your proposal and any/all tools that you will use to gather data and complete your method. The team will meet on Monday afternoon, review your work, and give any feedback. We'll go through this on Wednesday as we continue moving forward.

Next week we'll also take a look at some PODs and become more familiar with the POD rubric. I've also posted a new reflection question for you - it relates to the work we're doing now on method development.

AP English and English 10

Keep in mind that we have final projects due next week. My goal in collecting them next week is so that you will have a break that actually is that - a break. Be focused on your tasks, check in on any missing assignments, and submit your work. I'm available on Monday during Office Hours for any support or help you may need.

13 October - Blue Day - Beginning Week 6

Did you miss the opportunity to pick up your novels for the year yesterday? If so, no sweat! 

I'll be set up in the lobby of Fairfax High School on Monday, October 19 from 1-3 PM. Come on down and get your books! Remember that if you choose not to check out a book from school, then you can read on the screen via an eBook or PDF or purchase your own copies (hard copy or eBook).

AP Language

Today we had time to begin our reading and study of James Baldwin and to begin putting a bow on Unit 1 with our final projects.

Remember that all mini-project work should be submitted today to be scored. Additionally, Writing Diagnostic resubmissions are due on Monday the 19th. 

This final project is due on the 26th. Remember that you can meet with me in advance to review your work and conference. Reach out to schedule a time during Office Hours on Monday - if that doesn't work for you, let me know. I can be flexible.

Enjoy your reading tonight of Baldwin's letter based on the work we did with the introduction. Vocabulary cards can be created from this text - try to get three new words from this text.

English 10

Today was a day to focus on writing. We spent our time working through notes and feedback from our writing diagnostics before taking another diagnostic focused on our grammar. Remember that by finishing the diagnostic you'll get full credit. This will be a helpful tool for us this year as we develop our writing by improving our grammar skills.

For tonight, you should focus on submitting any missing work from last week and revising your essay. Focus on showing your growth and understanding by applying our notes from the writing workshop. Any rewrites of essays are due on 10/19.