25 August - Day 1

It's the first day with students for the nineteenth time around, and let me just say, I can still find ways to stay busy and get my steps in. At the nearly the end of the day, we're sitting pretty at just shy of 9,000 steps. I'm projecting that I'll get to around 12k by the time I leave campus today.

The day started by showing up early, even so, I still got caught in traffic. Tomorrow, I'll investigate the route on the side streets to the back part of campus. The hallways were full of energy this morning, which was wonderful. There were alumni, parents, students, teachers, administrators, district officials, and a lot of smiles. I was struck by how respectful and polite the students are - a bit of a shift from where I'm coming from. The first day of school is always filled with students who need assistance, don't have a schedule, or don't know where they're going, so morning duty ran a bit late. I did really appreciate the sharing of duty and the presence of my colleagues in the hallways. 

From there, I spent time getting my website put together. I've got some information related to testing, AP, and professional learning here at school. I like how it looks so far. If I can ever get my Canvas page set up and running, then I'll transfer the information. For now, the site is live at this link.

I still need to get office supplies. I figure I'll order them just to keep things simple. This afternoon, I did my lunch duty, ate my lunch, and then met with substitute teachers to provide them lessons and materials for the first week of school. We're not 100% staffed, so getting substitutes support and some instructional materials is key to ensure that learning is happening in all of the classrooms. Hopefully their colleagues will be able to provide more materials and we'll have positions hired soon. I was happy to participate in an interview this morning for a potential Math Coach.

Tomorrow, I'm sure that I'll continue to be busy and find things to do. For now, I'll look ahead to my Leadership Team meeting after school and my eventual return home.

Homework for A Day Students - 9 October 2018

English IV

Today we all submitted rough drafts of our "This I Believe" Essays. Some of you were even able to work together in some small groups to edit and receive feedback on your essays before I collected them. Next week you'll get your drafts back and we'll move forward to presenting our essays and getting our final drafts together.

In the second part of class we began reading A Doll's House to connect to our research from last class and to kick off our new unit. As we are reading the play, make connections to the world around us and to your own lives - Do you think that things are fair between women and men? Why or why not?

For tonight's homework, engage in some interviewing. Talk to at least three different people and ask them what they think are the rules for men or women in relationships. Record their ideas. Next class we'll have a bit of a debate around these ideas before reading more of the play.

AP English III

Today you all did your first timed writing! Hooray! You'll get these back on Monday next week with your essays so that we can compare and contrast skills between the full length process essay and the quicker timed writing argument. Looking at both gives us a good idea of where our writing skills are.

Tonight you should put in some time moving forward on your work for The Crucible, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, and your group projects.

• Be sure that you've thoroughly read and annotated Act II. We'll be discussing it on Thursday. We've looked at a lot of texts related to women and their roles in Puritan society. You will find it helpful to consider these texts as you look at Elizabeth Proctor.
• You should have determined your personal focus text for your group project by now. You should be annotating and analyzing with an eye toward social commentary. What is the comment that text is making about society? Which part of society? How is the commentary communicated?
• In terms of One Day, you should be at the worksite. We'll be discussing up to page 49/50 in the purple books on Wednesday's class next week. Again, keep an eye toward social commentary and don't forget all the work we did last week with Soviet Society.

The last day to turn in permission slips is Thursday. I must turn them in for audit, so Thursday really is the last day!

Homework for 15 and 16 October

There's a lot to get through for this Monday's posting.  Pay close attention to the instructions for each class.

Freshman Focus

Tonight I would like for you to sit down and talk with someone older than you about their high school or educational experiences.  Generate five questions about high school or education and then conduct an interview.  Remember that the person should be someone from your parent's generation or older.  No asking older siblings or cousins for thier feedback.  Write down your questions and the interview answers.  We'll begin by discussing our findings on Wednesday/Thursday.

AP English III

With the PSAT gracing our presence on Wednesday things are going to be a bit out of place.  Consider the assignments below due for Friday/Monday with the exception of the blog post which is due Wednesday/Thursday.

First, I would like for you to find your favorite pen.  It can be an ink pen, ball point, whichever you prefer, a fountain pen would work too.  Whichever type of pen you like to use, find it and bring it to class with you on Friday/Monday.  Additionally, be sure that you've read to the end of chapter four and five by Friday/Monday's class.  I know we didn't get through as much as I wanted today, but we will continue to get through more as we work through the text.  I think that even in our limited conversation we still hit on a lot of major ideas that work themselves out throughout the text.  Continue to pay attention to the different questions we raised, and how these questions are answered.  Additionally, now that you have your vocabulary assignment, be working on that.  I would like to collect your first bookmarks on 10/23 and 10/24.

Finally, in the post below this there is a discussion thread for A-day students and one for B-day students (coming after class on Tuesday).  Please respond to the thread question in a comment.  When you finish your comment, be sure to leave your name so that I can assign credit.  Only responses posted before class begins will be eligable for credit.

English IV

Next class you'll be getting up and presenting your Propaganda projects.  For tonight, I would like for you to spend some time finishing these projects so that they show your best work.  Be sure that you have completed all of the steps on the back and that you have completed a writing assignment which follows the guidelines given to you on the assignment sheet.  As part of your grade you will present your poster, explain your message, and take questions from the audience.  Be sure that you're ready.