8 April - Terrific Tuesday

English 11

You all were crushing it today in English 11. We started off by discussing author's purpose and brainstorming some of the reasons why an author would choose to keep key details like characters and settings ambiguous instead of specific. This took us into our study of John Dos Passos's U.S.A. We studied the "Prelude" to his larger novel to understand the role of the main character as a symbol for the blue collar American worker. We also discussed the stylistics in the text like listing, lower case letters, and shifts that made meaning clear.

From there, we focused on our SOL Reading Bank and processed the text. Today's text, as an allegory or short story, provided us a lot of conflict, symbolism, and character. We also were able to identify irony and tragedy as this text dealt with the tragedy of American capitalism. As you keep reading your plays, I hope that you'll take some time to process them with this tool.

We ended the day with vocabulary. The assignments will stay open for the rest of the week. If you did not finish your vocabulary assessment in class, please make that a priority. Next class we're going to take the time to complete our FCPS Reading Test. This will help me to prepare us for the Reading SOL since it tests your reading ability. Be sure to have your FCPS laptop to take the test. If you finish the test before the end of class, then you'll have time to finish any other assignments. 

21 February - Happy Friday!

English 11

A good day to end the week today in English 11. I'm really excited to see what you all did today for your reading quizzes, and I was so happy to see the great thinking related to Gloria Steinem's article. Here's our review of class.

We started the day by reflecting on our central question for the year - What are some American problems? Why are they important? Whom do they effect? We had some very vibrant conversation and drew a lot of connections between problems, their impacts, and the various texts we've read this year. From there, we looked at "Women Are Never Frontrunners" by Gloria Steinem. In the article she discusses sexism, misogyny, and the impact that this has on women no matter who they are in America. Steinem takes a political approach, but we can see the reality of her words in every day life. 

To end class, we completed our quiz on our books. If you didn't have time to finish, please be sure that it is turned in by Monday morning so that I can score it. In the quiz, we focused on a key passage and demonstrated our ability to understand and interpret the passage. The quiz was open book. If you were not in class, you can feel free to complete the quiz on your own, or we can meet at Lion Time.

Be in touch with any questions or concerns that you may have. We're going to be pivoting to focus on our projects here at the end of the unit, so be ready for that! Keep reading and making progress through your books. That's the best way to prepare for what we have ahead.

Have a great weekend!

18 October - Happy Friday

English 11

Solid day today, everyone! I hope that you enjoyed your reading and study of Zora Neale Hurston's "How It Feels to Be Colored Me." I really like this piece a lot. I like the way that it deals with identity and personal stories. I also appreciate the way that Hurston is able to write her story in a way that she connects to others. I was impressed with how well you were figuring out her tones, focusing on her language, and looking at her messages around identity and pride. The connections that we were able to build back to Nina Simone were really wonderful.

Remember that your Unit 1 Project is due. I appreciate that a lot of people came to Lion Time to work today. I'll be grading projects on Monday and giving you feedback. On Tuesday we'll take our final vocabulary quiz for this quarter. Be sure to study List 2 over the weekend. I gave you exercises to help you study and review. If you go Current Lessons, you can see the space to access the online resources.

As always, reach out with any questions or concerns. I'm always here to help! I look forward to seeing you on Tuesday.

Beginning the Week - 23 February

AP Language

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

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

English 10

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

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

Ending the Week - 19 February

AP Language

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

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

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

AP Research

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

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

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

English 10

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

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

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

Week 22 - 16 and 17 February

AP Language

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

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

English 10

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

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

Homework for B Day - 29 August

Remember all that I am still collecting paperwork. If you didn't have it today, please have it in by the end of the week.

AP Literature

Today in class we worked through Hemingway and really flexed our muscle with level one and level two interpretation. I was happy to see a lot of engagement and time spent focusing on the text. I was also happy to see you take risks with your ideas and interpretations.

Remember that for next class you have a small writing assignment due. You should take one like of dialogue from "Hills Like White Elephants" and write a feminist interpretation of the line. Your interpretation should be able to explain what in the line gave you the idea and its meaning. We'll keep working with Hemingway next class and transition to another author too.

AP Research

We've set up our PREP and we have a good understanding of key terms. All great things for us to do at the beginning of this course. Tonight you have work to complete in your PREP related to the Nobel Prize winner - do research and discern their problem statement, gap, and research question that won them the Nobel Prize. Consider how this work can be a model for you as you begin your QUEST.

Homework for B Day Students - 27 November 2017

English IV

Today, we finished up Act I of Twelfth Night, reading from the play and watching some of the Globe Production version to clarify the action in the last scene. I'm really excited about how well you all are understanding Shakespeare's language and humor. Next class, we will complete a group project centering on physical comedy, acting, and interpretation of the text! Looking forward to seeing you all on Wednesday!

AP English III

Today, we discussed Chapter 5 of The Great Gatsby, thinking specifically about Daisy and Gatsby as symbols of disillusionment and the American Dream. We also took a quiz focusing on interpretation and extrapolation skills from a single passage. For the second half of class, we discussed Langston Hughes's "The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain," thinking about the differences in the American Dream for people if various races/genders/sexual orientations. For next class, please read and thoroughly annotate Chapter 6 of The Great Gatsby. See you soon!