7 and 8 December

Today was a relatively low-key day due to the Cultural Observation falling on the 8th. Bodhi Day is a Buddhist holiday for prayer and meditation.

AP Language

Today we engaged in a new note-taking strategy called sketchnotes which can be helpful when showing connections between important ideas or concepts when reading. I think that they're great in helping us think about a text like this one (which is so heavily visual) and hanging on to that visual aspect. Keep in mind that when colors or symbols are interacting, Fitzgerald is showing us the interaction between ideas. Consider which ideas win and which lose, for lack of a better word.

We also took time to work on the second phase of our rhetorical analysis project. The next step involves us building a prompt - so you have to have a rationale for the excerpt in order to do this well. Remember that you will need to show completed Level 2/DIDLS annotations and a rationale for your selected excerpt.

For next class, read and annotate Chapters 6 & 7. They run together. Six is short, seven is longer (but a TON happens and it really moves). Pay attention to character interactions and how cars play a serious role in the action. We're nearly done with this book, if you can believe it. So be alert for upcoming end of unit assessments.

English 10

Today's class was our day focused primarily on completing our research. This is the last day where you'll be getting a majority of class to finish this work, so you should be done or nearly done. Your slides or project (in whatever format) is due on Thursday/Friday. Keep in mind that you need to have a recommendation paragraph and your slides need to show in-text citations for your database.

Outside of working on our projects, we discussed writing a bit and what I'm seeing with your projects. All projects will be scored by the end of the week. If you'd like to do a resubmission, you'll have next week to turn that in.

Next class we'll take time to discuss the parameters of Step 3 and begin our process of finding our author and text(s) to study for the final phase of this work. Keep in mind that this phase will be a longer one because of the fact that we have to do research and read something by the author of focus.

22 and 23 November - Off to Thanksgiving Break!

AP Language

Today was a reading and working day for us in AP Language to kick off our mini-project on Rhetorical Analysis process. The goal for today's class was to select an essay to focus on for this project and to annotate the passage. Our next step is going to be to focus in on a particular passage from this article for our analysis prompt.

Over the break you should get caught up if you're missing anything. I'll have all scores in the gradebook and then if you'd like to do a resubmission, that window will be open. We'll start in on our study of The Great Gatsby after Thanksgiving. Feel free to start reading ahead if you would like.

English 10

Today's class was a very simple class. We were mostly working on our own to complete two tasks. First, the Youth Survey, which is an FCPS survey for 10th and 12th graders. Remember that you don't have to complete this survey if you don't want to.

After you opted out or completed the survey, you worked to complete and turn in your projects. If your album cover and tracklist are on paper, turn that in to the orange folder on my desk. Your paragraphs should be turned in to the space on Schoology. If your track list or album cover are electronic, feel free to turn in everything on Schoology.

I hope that all of you have a wonderful and fantastic Thanksgiving Break! There's nothing to do for this class over the break, but if you have any missing work, I would recommend getting it done now. 

27 and 28 October - This is the end...

Quarter 1 is now officially over. Grades have been posted for Quarter 1. No changes will be made. Remember that quarter one counts less than your other quarters because I know that you are readjusting to things. If you've faced challenges, it is important to reflect on those and chart a new course forward. Don't keep repeating the same process and expect a different outcome. You should also know that the course will begin to get more difficult as we move forward. With that, on to the the updates.

AP Language

Today was essentially our end of the unit for The Crucible. We discussed some of Miller's ideas and purposes through the play as we participated in a jigsaw discussion on excerpts from his article. I think that it is extremely important that we noticed the ways in which history and humanity stay the same throughout the eras, even though there are significant changes. 

After that, we launched into our mini-project where we're comparing Mean Girls and The Crucible - the playlist for the clips are linked on Schoology. Remember to use your viewing guide and select ONE element for your compare/contrast. Decide if the elements are generally similar or different between the two texts and then explore the importance of this similarity OR difference. You'll construct a visual comparing/contrasting the two elements (character, conflict, theme, motif, setting, etc.) and then the mini-essay. Follow the outline on the back of the viewing guide for the mini-essay.

Be aware of the following assignments that will open Quarter 2:

• AP Classroom FRQ and MCQ (10/29 or 11/3)
• Timed Writing - The Crucible Unit Exam and Mini-Project (11/8 or 11/9)
• Vocabulary Cards 2 (11/8 or 11/9)
• Websites will be scored the week following.

We're opening Q2 with a lot of points! Use this weekend to get ahead and be prepared. Remember that we're going to be studying The Great Gatsby next.

English 10

We had a very chill and easy day to end quarter one. I am very happy that so many of you completed your test corrections and used this opportunity to raise your scores before the end of the quarter. I also hope that by reviewing your work and your answers that you see your mistakes, and don't repeat them in the future. After test corrections, we took time for some grammar and then moved to our novels.

We will finish this unit by Thanksgiving Break. Your final assessment on your book will be a project - more on this later - that focuses on how the characters have grown up through the course of the book. There is a graphic organizer we'll begin to fill out to help us track these changes. For now, it's important to keep reading!

Next class we'll have our NoRedInk Diagnostic Test (remember you'll get a 4.0 for completion of the test) and any time afterwards will be for you to collect and complete vocabulary. These two assignments will be your first grades for Quarter 2, and both are very easy ways to start with a 4.0 - just do the thing!

September 10 and 13

AP Language

Another lovely day in AP Language made better with a visit from Mr. James Baldwin. Today we worked through letters as a genre and discussed the ways in which letters can accomplish what other texts do, but a bit differently. We then read through James Baldwin's "My Dungeon Shook" in order to understand some of these structures, our rhetorical vocabulary, and the concept of paradox in the text.

Projects should be turned in by the end of the weekend. Next class we'll conduct a gallery walk to display our work to our peers and share our knowledge. You should be actively completing vocabulary cards each time we read something - remember that the magic number is ten for the unit.

Reading for the weekend is very short - take a look at John and Abigail Adams' letters between each other on pages 250 to 254. Consider the way in which the connection between the audience and speaker is manipulated to wit in the construction of the argument. Keep all your reading notes in your notebooks - I'll check those towards the end of the unit.

English 10

Today in class was a day for us to talk about close reading and annotating. Remember that when we annotate we're putting our thoughts on paper - we're recording what we see about a text so that we can remember it later. This is going to lead to great outcomes when it comes to our work as readers, writers, and thinkers. We practiced annotating and close reading today as we worked through different excerpts from religious texts. We did this to understand elements of their culture from the reading.

Over the weekend, focus on any missing assignments you may have. Your South Africa reflection can be submitted on Schoology. If you'd like to get ahead, begin work on your project by interviewing your family about your background. We'll begin on the final project in earnest next week. The project overview is posted on Schoology for you if you'd like to review it now.

The Long Weekend (Before and After)

AP Language

Today in class we had a workday in which we focused on reading/annotating/vocabulary and/or our first project of the year called "What's the Situation". Remember that the reading will be officially assigned to you later in this unit, this is just a chance for us to get ahead a bit.

Over the weekend, be sure that you've uploaded your dirty outline as well as completed any forms (syllabus signature and/or the student questionnaire). Next week we'll have additional time to work on our project in class. Your project is due at the end of next week.

We've got some diagnostics coming to us around the corner. So far so good in AP Language land! Keep pushing and striving.

English 10

Today in class we started our first country focus - South Africa. We began by looking at a clip from a movie about South Africa called Sarafina, and then we did some research on South African culture. We learned a lot about the culture and especially about the strife in South Africa and the various examples of culture clash. From there we read. Our story we're reading right now is "The Train from Rhodesia" by Nadine Gordimer.

To finish the story, complete your story notes. Remember to note new vocabulary words, draw the setting to the best of your ability, and fill out the column notes based on your reading. Turn this in to me next class!

Closing the Week - Friday, October 2nd - Grey Day

Reminders below for AP Language and English 10 are the same as for today's classes. Remember that if you have decided to check out books from school, please let me know. You will be able to come to school on the 12th of October to retrieve your books for the year. I'll share more details about this next week. Over the weekend/Monday be sure to complete your assignments, especially if anything is missing. 

AP Research

Today we took time to conference and continue our development of our research questions and the supporting elements of those questions. Some of you may find it useful as your question develops to continue to go back and revise your problem statement. Consider how your evolving question will continue to send you back to your sources and databases to find more information that you need. There's always more to do, but we're making great strides.

Next week you'll have two assessments - first will be your quiz on our CRAAP method for testing sources. Second will be the submission of your source list. The magic number is twenty five. I'll have all of this uploaded next week for you! Remember that as you work on your own, I'll keep myself available for questions and check-ins.

Happy October! Blue Day - 10/1 - End of Week 4

Time certainly flies when you're busy and having fun! Congratulations on making it to the end of the first month of virtual school. We've been adjusting and supporting each other through it - and I'm a fan of all of that. Below are your reminders moving into the weekend.

Please, mark your calendars! Book collection for my classes will be on October 12 at Fairfax High School. Remember this is your time to collect your novels for the year. Please see the Book Form (Day 5) and register your preference if you haven't already!

AP Language

Today was a day to brush off our close reading and annotating skills as we investigated the conclusion of Occom's "Narrative". This was a great way for us to pair our work with rhetoric and the rhetorical situation as we were able to dig deep and explore his message to his audience. 

Over the weekend your priority is Mini-Project 1. If you have questions or need a review, feel free to email me/share a draft with me and ask for feedback/or attend Office Hours on Monday.

The other items hovering on us are our first vocabulary cards - use Google Slides and follow the template on Google Classroom. Our revisions of our diagnostics - next week we'll discuss structure and organization. 

Lastly, the reading which will be discussed next week is Vowell's "The Wordy Shipmates." It's available on page 267 in the textbook. This is low priority right now, but it's our next text to consider if you'd like to get ahead.

English 10

Today we had our timed writing in class to finish our writing diagnostic. Remember that you're getting four grades on this assignment - one for your argument/thesis, one for the examples, one for explanation, and one for style. I hope that you were able to use your planning and earlier work to be ready and feel prepared for our task today. If you were not able to complete the planning steps, you will be able to get partial credit based on your essay that you wrote today. Also remember that you can redo this essay if you're not happy with your score.

Our other task for class today and on to the weekend is to work with Desmond Tutu's speech from our textbook on forgiveness in South Africa. Remember that the questions and tasks in the textbook are there to help you but aren't required. To get credit, complete Homework Assignment 4. Interact with one of the two choice activities at the end of the speech - there's an interview and a Google Earth field trip. Then, submit the South Africa reflection.

Be sure that if you're missing anything from before that it's turned in. We're at our mid-point, and I don't want anyone to fall behind.

Kicking off Week 4 - Blue Day

AP Language

A great day in AP Language filled with reading, discussion, and reflecting. As always, I love seeing your thoughts and opinions related to our study.

Use your PearDeck notes or the slides in class to help you as you revise and continue to read the texts in our class. The approach to finding rhetorical appeals and considering the rhetorical situation is a great strategy for you to use as you read non-fiction and sort through the various ways that authors make their arguments complete.

For tonight, our reading is Samson Occom's From "A Short Narrative of My Life". It begins on page 226 in the textbook. As you read, consider his audience for the text and the way in which he appeals to them. Think about when this was written and who was buying books at that time. 

Don't forget about your mini-project due on October 5. If you have any questions, please let me know. Begin the revision process on your outlines - you have ample time to work on them and resubmit for a new score.

English 10

Today we began our study of South Africa by learning about its history and starting our reading of Nadine Gordimer's "The Train from Rhodesia".

Tonight, you should use your story map to finish reading and studying the story. Pay attention to the way that the woman and her husband get into an argument. Think about how the argument could be symbolic. What does the woman realize at the end of the story? I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Don't forget that next class is our in-class essay. Be sure that Homework 2 and 3 are done to help you be ready - the topic of the essay is competition.

Please let me know if there are any questions or concerns - enjoy your afternoon!