31 March - Happy Spring Break!

English 10

Timed Writing Day! Timed Writing Day! 

Today was an easy way to end the quarter and our unit on Latin America as we completed our Latin American Letter. We completed our mini-research project and wrote a letter to a leader in Latin America about a problem facing their country. I hope that you appreciated this chance to learn a bit more and explore issues in our world. I'll be reading and reviewing your work after I return from my trip, so you'll come back to updated scores, and we'll finalize grades for the quarter.

There is, of course, no work over the break. If you are missing work and want to get caught up, please do so. Membean and NoRedInk are open for practice. I'd suggest doing what I like to do, read a good book :) I have plenty of suggestions.

I'll look forward to seeing you when I'm back from South Korea and sharing stories. Our last unit of the year will be on The Middle East. Get ready to finish in style and with strength!

23 March - The End of the Week (Grey Day)

English 10

Today was our last reading from our unit on Latin American Literature. We read Luisa Valenzuela's "The Censors" - I really love this story and its approach to irony and character. It's a short but packed story. We made a lot of connections to our contemporary world in today's class as well. This may be a possible problem for you to focus on in your letter next week, but more about that later.

At the end of class we took time for ourselves as needed. Remember that next week you'll have your final vocabulary test for the quarter and we'll be working through your final assessment - the Latin American Letter. Be sure to meet your goals next week as we research, plan, and then write across our last three days.

15 March - Hey Wednesday!

English 10

Great day in English 10 today as we completed our Poetry Scavenger Hunt. We looked through the poems we've read so far this year and reflected on our changes in our approach to poetry, our favorites, least favorites, and some extensions on poetry around the world. Keep in mind that this assignment serves as your quiz on poetry, so it's open to be resubmitted if you need to.

Be sure that you've checked in on your SiS. We have two stories left in this unit - Marquez and Valenzuela - and then we'll be moving on to our final projects. We should have everything done by the time we go out on Spring Break. 

13 March - Kicking off the Week

English 10

An easy way to start the week today in English 10 with our poetry tournament. We looked at eight poems by Pablo Neruda - a combination of sonnets and odes - in order to understand the essentials of a poem and what makes a good poem good. Remember to use these chances to collaborate in order to share and exchange ideas. I hope you enjoyed this low stakes approach to poetry appreciation. Next class we'll be doing a scavenger hunt related to poetry to finalize our study of poetry in this unit.

If you have missing assignments from last week or earlier in the unit, it's important to get those made up and submitted. I'm available for Lion Time on Wednesday and also after school. Be sure to get any missing assignments in now! 

9 and 10 March - End of the Week

English 10

Thank you English 10 for your work yesterday while I was away. I appreciate that when I came back I had a folder full of work from you all. I'm excited to see what you put together for me. Next week we're going to look at some poetry before we begin ending our unit on Latin American literature.

AP Language

Today was our final writing workshop to prepare for submission of the annotated bibliography. This assignment is now due. I love that people have already submitted work and received feedback. This makes all of our lives easier. Remember, you can resubmit this assignment - just remember to give me back the rubric. 

Next week we're going to start moving into the writing and planning phase of this assignment. We'll be focused on outlining, writing, and giving peer feedback. Having a complete or nearly complete SourcePack is essential, so be sure that this corollary assignment is nearly complete!

Have a great weekend. Please come in for Lion Time if you need additional help!

AP Research

Today was a great day in AP Research land because it was a day for peer review. This is becoming one of the most important parts of the class because remember, I can't give you direct feedback. I can ask you plenty of questions to help guide you, but if you want to know what to do, then you have to go to each other. Thankfully you're all well trained and able to provide amazing feedback to each other. Today is an example of that.

Work with your revisions. Move forward and polish your work. We'll do another run of this after Spring Break as we consider our Data/Findings, Analysis, and Conclusion. Keep writing. Keep building. Every little bit counts. We'll begin next week in Unit 5. Be sure to complete your PREP reflections so that they are ready to be checked.

2 March - Happy Long Weekend

English 10

Great day in English 10! I love "The Night Face Up". It's a perfect example of great imagery, mood, and the way that a great ending can really make a story complete. I hope you liked this first reading about the doppelganger, and our second text focused on the concept. We have one more story to look at which will happen on Tuesday; it's probably our strangest one, but it's also super short. 

If you are missing your letter, be sure that you make an appointment to get that done next week at at Lion Time or after school. We'll be doing a major assignment next week to cap off our first part of the unit. Be ready for some arts and crafts to display your knowledge!

28 February - The End of the Month!

English 10

Today we started working through our first story in our Latin American literature unit - "The Night Face Up". It's an interesting look at the concept of the doppelganger, and it's a pretty great story too. Next class we'll be taking a vocabulary test and looking at the next part of "The Night Face Up". Be ready for a quick class on Thursday - remember that it's an Early Release Day!

If you've got a missing assignment, be sure to make an appointment next week to complete your work! That first letter is an important assignment!

22 February - Latin American Kickoff

English 10

Ole! Solid day in English 10 as we began our study of Latin American literature. We reviewed key literary devices and began to learn a bit about our first two authors - Cortazar and Borges - as well as the first concept, the doppelganger. Next class we'll start our first text on this idea. We'll also have time next class for some vocabulary training before our next vocabulary assessment.

If you haven't written the letter from last unit, please be sure to make an appointment to get that done. We can do Lion Time this week or next. Remember that you'll get the better of the two grades, so you want there to be two to choose from!

17 February - Happy Weekend!

English 10 

Today was the end of our unit on letter writing. I liked what I was seeing as I was walking around the room. Engaged students writing about issues and using their previous work for success. I'm looking forward to reading these next week. I'll be out of town this weekend, so I won't be available.

Next week we'll be starting in on Unit 5 - Latin American Literature. We'll look at some great short stories and poetry as well as a bit of non-fiction regarding the region. I've also got a really fun television show for us to watch. If you have any missing assignments from this unit, I can still take them OR I will give you credit based on what I see in the letter. All grades will be updated by the end of the next week.

End of April and Beginning of May - Hooray!

AP Language

Great day today as we reviewed our most recent and last MCQ of the year and took a look at the synthesis prompt. We'll have a few other reviews related to the AP Examination, but at this point, we've seen it all. Keep in mind your wellness strategies as you work through the next few weeks - it's a slog and a half, but it will end!

The next few weeks are time to work through our projects related to our novel and other finishing tasks. You'll have ample time in class to work through projects. The MCQ Bonus will lock soon. If you want to complete that, be sure to do so quickly. You must complete the full thing for the bonus. See you in May!

English 10

Great day today in English 10 as we began our unit on Japan. We took time to understand the unit as a whole, our goals for the unit, and our essential questions. From there, we went into our beginning investigation of Japanese culture. I was happy to see your collaboration and sharing today as you learned from each other. Keep these notes! They may be helpful to you as you move through the unit and get to your final project.

Next class we're going to be looking at sacred texts key to Japanese religion. Your projects are due on Sunday. Be sure to get your work in and avoid the late penalty! Enjoy the weekend!

13 and 14 April

AP Language

Wowza! What a day! Great conversation and analysis as we worked through our novels and some really important concepts at the heart of our work this unit. I am so impressed by your professionalism and attention as we work and talk together. Continue to think about necropolitics as you are reading and working through your books. This may be part of your thinking as you consider your reflections as well.

Remember that your reading plan is due. Turn in your dates and either chapter sets or page number sets. Your reflections are due next week. You should turn in at least one, but you can turn in more if you so choose to. Keep an eye out for vocabulary as you're reading. Cards are due at the end of the unit.

Keep reading and enjoying! I'll see you next time!

English 10

Great work today everyone with our finishing of "Tuesday Siesta" by Marquez. I was glad to see the engagement that you all had with the end of the story and the amazing read of the symbolism you saw in the actions of the mother, the priest, and the sun. Excellent job. This is the last story in our Latin American unit. Next class we'll do our test review session and have time to work on our projects. Keep in mind that next week will be the final week of the unit. Your project will be due next week, you'll have a final test, and your vocabulary is due. Don't miss these milestones - get off to a good start for Q4!

30 and 31 March

We made it to the end of the quarter! Yay! Enjoy your break! I'll be finding myself with some good books and my feet in the sand and hopefully some WARMTH!!!

AP Language

Good end to the quarter today, everyone! We did a lot of work to reflect on MCQs and strategies as we broke down and worked through our first full-length MCQ work. The session is recorded below. We applied our strategies and skills for our first Matchbox MCQ - and I was happy to see the results!

From there, we took time with our novel groups. Remember that each time you meet with a group you should use the document to record your conversation. These will be key as you read and work through the novel. They'll also serve as a record of your participation, so be sure to keep up with the document. 

All work is due to me by Friday morning to be scored. Be sure to turn in your rubric if you're resubmitting your paper - and no, I won't take a photo of it. If you would like to complete the linked reflection below to improve an MCQ score from this quarter, feel free to do so. The form will lock on Friday morning.

English 10

Good times today working through Luisa Valenzuela and "The Censors". Itr's a pretty short and fantastic story about how quickly a person can be changed by their devotion to a task. A good example of irony, foreshadowing, and suspense at play. I hope you enjoyed it. We only have one story left in the unit, and we'll read that after Spring Break. 

Today I handed out your final project instructions. We'll work on that in earnest after we return. Remember that you'll have a final test AND a final project in this unit. Review the options and select one of the options there. If you have any missing assignments from the quarter, be sure that it's in by Friday morning. I will not accept any work to be scored beyond this.  

Enjoy your break! It is definitely well-earned!

24 and 25 March

Just one week to go in the quarter before we hit Spring Break! Remember that any work to be scored must be in by the end of the day on March 31 so that I can close my gradebook on April 1.

AP Language

After today's class, be sure that you have completed these goals by the end of the weekend. I'm looking forward to taking you into next class because of the piece that we'll be working through.

1. Complete your book form. Finish your shopping. If you check out a book, be sure to record your book title and number on the roster which the substitute has. Divide your book into five chunks and start to complete your reading.

2. Do you have any missing work? Do you want to work on your rewrite of your research paper? Remember everything needs to be in by March 31st. 

3. Next class we're discussing Brent Staples's article called "Just Walk on By - Black Men and the Public Space". I've posted it for you in Schoology. Read and annotate. Be ready for our final seminar of the quarter.

English 10

During class you have one major thing to complete and that is your NoRedInk End of Year Assessment. Follow the link and open the assignment on NoRedInk. It's for completion, so answer all the questions. You can only skip five times and still get an A.

When that's done, if you have missing work, you should focus on that. If your work is all done in the gradebook, then you should complete the Poem Hunt assignment. We will have time for this next week, so making up missing work would be the more important goal.

22 and 23 March

AP Language

Today's class looked a bit like a reality show. We had a quick challenge followed by several rounds of conversation around our articles for class. I was happy to hear your outcomes and conclusions related to Tannen, Steele, and Sullivan. It's wonderful to see the way that you are all seeing elements of the veil and double consciousness at play.

Next class is a substitute day. I'll be on campus, but won't be with you because of some other responsibilities. You'll have a working and reading day. Keep in mind that the quarter will end next week. Any resubmissions of research papers or other late/missing work must be in by the end of the day on March 31 to be scored. Your work right now is relatively light, so focus on catching up or getting ahead as you need to.

English 10

Today we took time to finish our work on the concept of the doppelganger. We finished reading Cortazar's "The Night Face Up" and then worked through an episode of The Twilight Zone called "Mirror Image." I think that each of our texts has shown the concept of the doppelganger in an interesting way which has power in its own way. 

Next class will be our day for our end of year grammar diagnostic. This won't be for an accuracy grade, just completion. If you have any zeroes in the gradebook, now is the time to submit late work. I will not accept any work past March 31, so the time is now! If you have any questions about anything, please let me know. 

18 and 21 March

AP Language

Today we completed our first full-length multiple choice set. I'll have these returned to you soon so that we can review your data from the first of these. Over the weekend, you have a few assignments to settle up. I'll review them in terms of importance.

1. Complete your AP Classroom checks from Unit 6. This includes the MCQ and FRQ. These close on Sunday night. 

2. Submit your personal reflection. Remember to focus on at least two communities and use evidence to explain how you are a member of that community. The response is only 200-300 words. Keep it casual.

3. We'll have another seminar next class. Go into the folder and pick ONE of three articles posted for you. We'll be looking at other marginalized communities and liberation movements next class.

Outside of this remember to work through your vocabulary cards as you meet new words and consider your book for the unit. You'll submit your book form next week, but if you know what you want, go ahead and submit that now to get ahead. 

English 10

Today's class was a look at the beginning of "The Night Face Up" by Julio Cortazar. It's a great story! Super engaging and exciting that starts off with quite a bang. We read the first half of the text and will finish it next week as we complete our study of the doppelganger.

This weekend is a good weekend for you to complete any work from Unit 4 which may be missing including your SOL Essay, Unit Project, or Vocabulary. If these assignments are missing they need to be turned in. I'll be scoring your work this week and finalizing grades, so be aware of what needs to be done. I'm available during LT and after school if you need me.

16 and 17 March

AP Language

Great day today, everyone! We worked through WEB DuBois and did a wonderful job understanding some of his main ideas including education, power, stereotypes, double consciousness, and the veil. We're going to encounter these ideas throughout the novels we're reading in this unit, so this is a good formative piece for us to begin with. Continue to reflect on the text and his ideas, especially as they apply to you.

Tonight you should complete your personal reflection. If you know the book you want to read, then you can complete the form as well. Next class is our full MCQ to prepare for the AP Examination. Any time you have after the MCQ is for working on this unit's tasks which are due. Don't forget about your MCQ and FRQ on AP Classroom which will lock on Sunday night.

English 10

Today's class was our foray deeper into the concept of the doppelganger. We read a short story by Jorge Luis Borges called "Borges and I", and we applied the strategy of close reading to understand the complex text. At the end of class we took time to complete an extra credit opportunity or complete our projects and vocabulary from Unit 4. Keep in mind that projects and vocabulary are now late, but still will be accepted. Please turn in your work to earn your points. We only have a few classes left in this quarter, so it's important to turn in all of your assignments now.

As always, please ask for any help you may need. I'm here for you.

14 and 15 March

AP Language

Today was a really wonderful day to start a new unit, which is exactly what we did! Unit 5 is our exploration of ignored American voices. In this unit we're going to explore various communities that have been marginalized for whatever reason in our country. There will be a lot of self-direction and choice in this unit, so I'm very excited to see what you all come up with.

Your first assignment for the unit is your personal reflection which is due on Friday. Follow the guidelines and reflect on the various communities to which you belong. By understanding this, you'll be able to select a novel which is a window on another world. You'll submit this electronically to Schoology on Friday.

Next class we have a seminar on our first core text from the unit - WEB DuBois From the Souls of Black Folk. You'll be reading Chapter One. Be sure to use the reading guide posted to understand each paragraph in the chapter. We'll work through this text together as a group next class! Be sure to read and annotate!

English 10 

We took time at the beginning of class today to work through the last part of our projects from Unit 4 on Russia and Eastern Europe. Be sure to complete these projects tonight if you haven't done so, remember you can't get back your points if the work is late.

After that, we began on our newest unit - Latin America. We went over several concepts that we'll study in this unit, the countries, and our first key concept - the doppelganger. We explored this in ourselves by creating our doppelganger and considering how they're similar and different from us. If you didn't turn this in at the end of class, be sure to get it to me as we start next time.

Homework for B Day Students - 14 February 2017

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!!!!  Make me your valentine by doing your homework tonight.

AP English III:

There are many things for you all to be working on/complete over the next few days. I'll outline the specific instructions for each task below.

1. Invisible Man reading. Your task is to read and annotate to the end of Chapter Two, the Trueblood chapter. It's a challenging piece of writing in terms of the language, the ideas, and the disgust you'll be feeling. Stay focused on the motifs to help you get through. The idea of double consciousness can also be productive. We expect you'll be coming in with a lot of questions.
2. Invisible Man blogging. Your task is to set up and post your introduction post as well as your posts on the Prologue, Chapter One, and Chapter Two. All of the posts should be up no later than 6:00 PM on Thursday the 16th. The posts are meant to be a more thorough version of your motif charts. You should identify how the motif is seen in the chapter as well as its importance within the chapter. There is a great version of the blog project here from last year. Keep in mind that in the example students tracked two motifs and did vocabulary as well, this is not part of your task this year.
3. Outlining for Research Papers. Your task is to create a Google Document and share with me (daniel_miller (at) dpsnc (dot) net). In the GD you should include your argument statement and outline one of your topics. You should share this no later than Sunday so that you can get feedback before the full outline is due on 24 February.

There's a lot going on in AP English III right now. Stay ahead and use your time wisely. See your teachers if you start to fall behind and need help!

English II:

Today we spent all of class working on our projects to finish our unit on Latin American Literature. If you are able, continue to work on your project at home or on your device. Remember that final projects will be graded next week!