30 November - End of the Month

AP Language

Full day in AP Language today as we discussed our choice articles for the end of Unit 3 and began our discussion and work on The Crucible. The notes at the end of the recording on allegory and The Crucible are important to review as you get started with reading. By the time I see you on Tuesday, you'll want to read and annotate Acts I and II. Pay attention to characters and symbolism. Consider the connections to the world of the 1950's in America we were discussing today.

Next class is our end of unit working day for The Great Gatsby. You'll have vocabulary due, your reflections and any other tasks for Unit 3. We'll also be reviewing the most recent timed writing, so you won't have a complete class period to work.

Enjoy the reading. The Crucible is an absolutely fantastic book!

AP Research

We're on our final days to prepare for the IRB which meets on Tuesday the 6th. You'll need to have your proposal folder complete with your: AP Research Proposal Form, any survey/interview questions, any consent forms, and other tools as needed. Be sure that you are checking yourself for alignment and for final touches. It's natural to make changes, be able to explain why you are making the changes you are making. 

Next class is the final working day. We'll conference as well. Be ready! Be justified! Be aligned!

Welcome Back! 28 November

AP Language

Today was a workshop day to construct our visuals displaying color at work in The Great Gatsby. The goal in this summative assessment is to display your skill as a reader and understand the way that Fitzgerald uses a specific color to create a meaning in his novel. The organization and construction of the meaning in this novel is painstakingly built by Fitzgerald, this is a means to display your understanding of that.

Be sure that you have submitted your reflection questions which display your thinking in words. Sometimes art can be difficult to understand, so the reflection questions will help you display your skill. If necessary, your motif tracker MAY be assessed if skill demonstration is lacking in the other areas. 

Next class will be our end of the unit seminar related to non-fiction connections to The Great Gatsby. Select one of the posted articles and read/annotate. Consider connections to the unit and novel. Be thoughtful and critical. We'll be starting our next unit on The Crucible this week as well. Be aware of your due dates for vocabulary to round out Unit 3.

AP Research

Today was a day for our first POD viewing. We watched, we analyzed, and we discovered the route to a high scoring presentation. The rest of this week is devoted to completing your proposal form and any supporting documentation for that proposal (consent forms, surveys, etc.). The IRB is going to meet next week, so everything needs to be completed this week/weekend. 

The next two classes this week are going to be workshop days. We will meet together to discuss your work to this point as a graded conference. I'll see half of you on Wednesday and half on Friday for conversations. Be ready to show me your IRB/Proposal at this point. 

Wednesday - 9 December - Grey Day

AP Research

We'll meet as a group on Friday for a working day together. This will give me the chance to check-in and conference with each of you so that we can make sure that everything is going in a good direction for submitting proposals and tools. Don't forget that we'll also have a small assessment on Friday related to ethical practices. 

Keep developing your proposal and tools. A quick email or meeting can help save you a lot of time and energy. This is also a good time to check in with your reflection questions and Body of Knowledge - you've got a lot of answers and resources there as well. As always, let me know what you'll need, and I'll do my best to provide it.

AP Language

We got through the activity today! Thank you to the classes yesterday for struggling through it and giving me feedback to make changes for today. Remember that you have a quiz on Friday on The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Prepare by reviewing your notes, our slides, and other resources. The quiz will focus on identifications, quotations, and short answer.

Don't lose your project work while this is going on. If you haven't drafted your rhetorical analysis - be sure that you do now. Remember that the goal is to show how the author makes their argument clear to you via the choices they make. Our next step is the group essay, which is very simple. You should be able to complete everything in advance of the due date.

English 10

Good working and thinking today as we began our work in Persepolis, Part 2. We'll keep seeing how Marji responds to her new life in Austria and the new potential she has. We'll finish this part of the book pretty quickly, as you'll see next class.

Looking at the Weekend - Ending Week 13

Good Day Students! Welcome to the end of another wonderful and productive week.

English Students - This weekend is made for you to get mileage out of your projects. In AP Language a clear goal is to construct your analysis. I'm available all next week, and especially on Monday, to help you with this work. Vocabulary cards, finishing Huckleberry Finn, and preparing for our novel assessment are also key tasks. For English 10 it's clear that we need to be creating our content for our graphic novels. Start to write, draw, and create. If you still need to complete the brainstorming, be sure to get that done too!

AP Research - Today was all about ethical choices in research and method design. Remember that much of this is so individual to your own inquiry projects because of the design of your own individual methods. Ethical choices related to what we do and why we've done it as well as how we do it. Your job as a researcher is to make sure that your assessor is always aware of the ethical choices that you have made.

Focus this weekend on the TEDTalk about ethics in research and data. There are some great insights related to this conversation that I think will give you further information to ponder. Next week your goal is to complete your Inquiry Proposal form for the IRB meeting on December 14. You have to submit the proposal form as well as any/all forms, surveys, questionnaires, tools for your method. You should put everything in your PREP and share that folder with me to present on your behalf.

As I said today in class, this is a good time to use Mondays and our working days to get meetings with me. Next week you'll have Wednesday to work and Friday we'll be together for a quick check on ethics.

Grey Day - 2 December 2020

AP Language - Thanks for getting things done during our Return Period today. I'll have scores updated for AP Classroom later this week. Remember that you should be coming to class on Friday with a good working draft/outline of your rhetorical analysis to work in some peer editing teams.

English 10 - Remember to review and prepare for your assessment. I hope you liked the Kahoot today as  a way to review the first part of Persepolis.

AP Research

Today was a day where we launched into method and Unit 3 - the design of our method and the implementation of it. Lots of new information today, so lots of me talking and presenting. Later in the unit you'll have long stretches of independent work, so I like to think that I get in all of my time at the beginning in this one.

Our focus today was on types of method and their connection to the research question approach and design. Keep in mind that your credibility comes through your supporting sources - using them to help you in the design and choice of your method is a great strategy to ensure you're making the best choices.

Next class we'll look at ethics and ethical choices in method design and implementation. This will help you to work through and complete most if not all of your research proposal. These are due on the 14th in the morning for the IRB meeting in the afternoon. 

For now, begin on the proposal. You've likely got the preliminary phases finished - so working through those areas now will save you time next week as you finalize your method and develop your tools.

Back from Break - Homework - A Day - 2 December

AP Research

Great work today with our scientific sample paper. This is a writing week as we move toward approval. Be sure that your Proposal and Supporting Documentation is prepared and shared! From there, beginning to write would be a good use of your time. Take a look at your Method and Introduction Outlines. Start writing. Use your sample papers and rubrics as you write.


On Wednesday I'd like to see your method outline for a score. If you're working with an expert adviser, I need their contact information so that I can contact them.

Russian I

We've got an examination on Friday, so most of today's class was spent reviewing for that. I've given you all a set of exercises that review the essential skills on Friday's examination. There's going to be work with the alphabet, grammar related to gender and possession, and then conjugation of verbs (regular first and second as well as our mutants).


Use the exercises to prepare. Check them with me during lunch over the next few days to be sure you're doing it right. Remember that for every correct exercise you'll be getting part of an extra credit point.

Advanced Russian

Today in class we did some independent work with vocabulary, some guided work with exercises, and then some individual or partner work related to our projects. Remember that next week on the 10th we'll have a quiz on grammar topics. On the 16th and 17th we'll present our projects.


For tonight you should continue to work with your vocabulary. Come to next class with new words in your head well enough to use them. We'll keep working with vocabulary as we start each class this month with the goal of increasing your words to increase your abilities with the language! Учите на век!

Homework for the Weekend - A Day - 15 November

AP Research

Today was a workday for all of us. I was reviewing your proposals and you were working with each other or on your own. I'm planning to sit with you at the beginning of next week to go through your proposals and address feedback. As you are working this weekend, don't forget that we have a new reflection posted for this week.

I would highly suggest that you all spend the time that you need this weekend working through your method. Do you have a firm understanding of what data you need to collect and how you are going to get it? How are you taking these generalized methods and making them specific to your question and study?


You'll have the chance to recoup your points next week if you missed any. Please review your work as it is returned to you. I'll hopefully have them all returned to you on Google Classroom by the end of today.

Russian I

Today in class we finished the first part of Doctor Zhivago and did a bit of review on prepositional case. Next class we'll review prepositional case even more. Be sure that you've finished the exercise where you use the verb "to live" and change the location into prepositional case. Take this time to learn this pattern so that you know it for the rest of this class.

Advanced Russian

We went to the grocery store today to learn about Russian habits related to food. We also spent our time using numbers in a variety of ways to talk about quantities and the cost of things. Fun times! Over the weekend you should all be focused on learning your numbers both in terms of how to spell them and how to use them. I hope that our work together today was helpful in reminding you of the key patterns when using numbers.


Focus as well on genitive case - we use it a lot when working with numbers. Next week we'll keep working with numbers as we learn more about telling time and dates next week.

Homework for the Weekend - B Day - 14 November

AP Lit

Today in class we had a great time discussing elements of rationality and irrationality in the text and the way in which they are connected to some of the major themes of this novel. Are there ways that these ideas also connect to some of our philosophies as well?

From there we spent the great majority of class preparing for our assessment on The Stranger. Next week you'll have our Unit Multiple Choice Practice as well as the Free Response. The free response essay will be a Question 3 and you'll be expected to use The Stranger for your response.


For tonight, construct your book card for The Stranger. Read Chapter 5. Be ready for our final class on The Stranger in which we'll make a circle and some big discussions.

AP Research

Today we had an assessment followed by working time. I was happy with what I saw on the assessment. If you missed something, it was probably because you were confusing unethical practices with poor method design. Remember that if we're working in the spirit of ethics, we are doing what is needed. There are some issues that we can't correct, but we need to be able to explain them clearly.


Tonight your first priority is to complete your DRAFT proposals. Submit that to Google Classroom so that I can read and review. After that, it's time to start constructing the pieces for your beast. Think about your method. Conference with your peer. Log your work and conferences! Think about your consent forms and instruments. Keep grinding away!

Homework for A Day - 13 November 2019

AP Research

Today we had an assessment followed by working time. I was happy with what I saw on the assessment. If you missed something, it was probably because you were confusing unethical practices with poor method design. Remember that if we're working in the spirit of ethics, we are doing what is needed. There are some issues that we can't correct, but we need to be able to explain them clearly.

Tonight your first priority is to complete your DRAFT proposals. Submit that to Google Classroom so that I can read and review. After that, it's time to start constructing the pieces for your beast. Think about your method. Conference with your peer. Log your work and conferences! Think about your consent forms and instruments. Keep grinding away!

Russian I

Today in class we started our work with cases. We're focusing on learning the PREPOSITIONAL CASE first because the changes are pretty straightforward and easy to track and see. Tonight, practice with this first case by completing the exercise given to you. Look at the question. Write your answer using the verb жить - to live. Be sure to put the word in the parenthesis in the PREPOSITIONAL CASE by changing the ending.


Remember that we'll have our verb quiz reassessment next week. Review and study - let me know what you may need.

Advanced Russian

Today in class was all about numbers, the genitive case, and vocabulary! Lots of new words and information today in class, so we'll be working with it over the next few days. Begin to learn the numbers and the questions/prepositions used with them. Tonight, your homework is pretty basic. Learn the numbers. Learn how to say them. Write them. Use them. The more that you do, the better you will learn.


Complete the three exercises on the sheet I gave you today in class. Write out all numbers as words. Be sure that you are focused on learning the spelling and the pronunciation of the words. We'll be playing with numbers all this week!

AP Research Homework - 12 November

AP Research

Today in class we were a bit rushed for time because of the early release schedule. We'll plan to finish any remaining conferences next class, so please be ready if you have not yet crossed that threshold.

Tonight your main task is to finish your DRAFT proposal. It should be submitted by the end of this week to Google Classroom. Next class we will have our ethical dilemmas assessment. You'll be able to use your notes that you have taken in this unit to help you. Remember that these issues don't necessarily have right or wrong answers (well, sometimes they do). The important thing is to always make sure that we are working in consideration of any ethical implications, even those that don't affect us right now.

The weekly reflection has also been posted. As always, reach out if you need anything.

Homework for the Weekend - B Day - 7 November

AP Literature

Today in class we had a lot of great work going on related to themes and the way that they are developed through a text. We really enjoyed seeing the work that you did and the questions that you developed related to this text.

Tonight/This Weekend there's Chapter 3. Be sure that you're looking at the themes, topics, motifs, and Mersault. What's changing? How is it changing? Why is the change important?

If your tests or annotations are missing, be sure that they are complete by the end of the week. Any missing projects should also be turned in this week to be considered on-time. We'll hopefully have everything back to you next week.

AP Research

Today we had our next ethical dilemma as well as our work with the DRAFT proposal form (simple really is better). I enjoyed having the opportunity to conference with you today. If we didn't talk today, then we'll talk on Tuesday. The ethical dilemma assessment will fall on Thursday!

Be sure that you are updating your PREP folder as we are working in this unit. Your expert adviser research should go in Weekly Work; there should also be the Planning Out the Work document that should be updated daily. Today, if we conferenced, be sure to log that in the conferences folder.


The proposal folder should also be populated. There's the DPS proposal form, copies of any questions or surveys, consent forms, and the DRAFT form.

Homework for A-Day: 6 November 2019

AP Research

Today we had our next ethical dilemma as well as our work with the DRAFT proposal form (simple really is better). I enjoyed having the opportunity to conference with you today. If we didn't talk today, then we'll talk on Friday.

Be sure that you are updating your PREP folder as we are working in this unit. Your expert adviser research should go in Weekly Work; there should also be the Planning Out the Work document that should be updated daily. Today, if we conferenced, be sure to log that in the conferences folder.


The proposal folder should also be populated. There's the DPS proposal form, copies of any questions or surveys, consent forms, and the DRAFT form.

Russian I

Today in class we reviewed the way that we do conjugations for first and second type. It's an important process to learn. Be sure that you are taking a look at the process for first or second and then to learn the endings that are connected to each person.

Use the slides to remind yourself of the process. Use Duolingo to review too. I'm available for extra help if you need it. We also have exercises for practice too.


Next class we have our quiz on verb conjugation types and our city projects are due. Be ready for these assignments!

Advanced Russian

It was all about using the language today in class so that we could accomplish some key goals. It's really all about vocabulary right now - because knowing some of our key words and phrases will help us to make the choices that we need to make. Be sure that you're focused on vocabulary, declensions, and conjugations as we prepare for the assessment on Friday.

The assessment will focus on vocabulary (Everyone) and then be different for the different classes after that. Russian II will be deciding on which aspect and why. Russian III and IV will be looking at new vocabulary and declensions of those new vocabulary words.


Be sure - Russian II - that you have decided on a text for your aspect project. Also be sure to look over your exercises and your notes to review. If you have questions on exercises, I'm available outside of class.

Homework for Monday - A Day - 4 November

Welcome to Q2! We're going to keep the party going as we move toward our breaks in this quarter of the year.

AP Research

Today we had a very thorough lesson on ethics as it pertains to designing our method and making sure that we always work with ethics in mind. I've posted today's slides as well as the TEDxVictoria talk on ethics and honesty in research/science.

These issues are all important for us to consider as we develop our means of completing our research and fill out our proposal to Durham Public Schools. Remember that part of submitting our work to outside review is to ensure that we are working ethically.

Tonight, prepare for our workday next class. I'm going to sit down and speak with you about your expert advisers. Are you prepared for that conversation? Are you completing your proposal? Are you making decisions with justification? We should be working and chipping away regularly - that's how we will get this finished!

Russian I

Today in class we reviewed the process for completing First and Second Conjugation! Now we know a lot about how to work with verbs. Remember that we either drop ть or we drop it like it's hot. Then we add the ending. Remember the key questions:

1. Who is doing the action?
2. Is it first or second or a mutant?
3. If you know these questions you can do the conjugation.


To review tonight we have an exercise focused on just second conjugation and then a mixed one! Do what you can and be ready for another help session! We'll have our quiz on Friday.

Advanced Russian

Today in class we were working all together to review the essentials of aspect and then we split to look at our individual topics in more depth. Remember that there will be a quiz on Friday related to new vocabulary (Russian III and IV) and key words related to aspect (Russian II). Start preparing now for this quiz.

Tonight you should continue to work through exercises to practice with your skills. Russian IV and III have exercises on paper. Russian II are on page 215. Be sure that you find the key words to choose the aspect, then use the list of verbs to find the right verb and put it in its proper form. Don't forget - lose the coin toss - show me your work!


Next class we're going to the post office! Be ready!

Homework for the Weekend - B Day - 31 October

Happy Halloween from Ofdaniel and Boris the Russian peasant! Enjoy the evening and the long weekend! Remember that since we had an assessment in AP Literature there are no posts in Google Classroom. If you were absent, be sure that you have scheduled your make-up test.

AP Literature

This weekend there are two things to complete in order to prepare for Tuesday. First, finish your mini-project on Pop Culture and Philosophy. Remember that in this assignment you are applying the game plan to a piece of pop culture to argue that it is indicative of one of our three key philosophies. Your piece of pop culture should be cited.

Be clear in your claims about the piece. Use clear examples. Explain how they lead to the philosophy.

Additionally, spend time with Mersault in prison. Read Chapter 1 of Part Two. How does the new setting make Mersault feel? How is irony at play? What changes do you notice from Part One to Part Two?

AP Research

Be sure that this weekend you begin to work on your work moving forward and that you organize your PREP folder completely. Remember that there should start to be content in more of your sub-folders like PROPOSAL and CONFERENCES. Also, the Planning Out the Work log should reflect all the tasks you've completed in the first quarter.

This weekend research THREE potential Expert Advisers. These should be people you could actually contact. You can have more than one and they can be shared. Create a Google Doc in WEEKLY WORK and explain why they are a good adviser for you. Do research into the work they do.


Don't forget that you should be working on your PROPOSAL Draft daily as well as your REFLECTION for the week on today's lesson. Do a bit every day and this will get done!

AP Research - Weekend Tasks - 25 October

AP Research

It's the end of the first quarter my lovelies and you have passed your first major milestone. Be sure that your PREP folders are reflective of all the work you have done this weekend.

Over the weekend you should READ YOUR INSTRUCTIONS. Annotate. Highlight. Develop questions. Try to know what you need to do and what you don't need to do.

I'll be checking your PREP folders on Sunday to make sure that they have your essential tasks from Quarter 1. These essentials are your:

• Seven reflections - See the Document in Google Classroom.
• An updated Planning Out the Work Log which reflects all that you have done so far this year.
• Your Annotated Bibliography, Poster, Pitch, and Introduction Elements in your Assessment Task Drafts folder. If you have sub divided these into an Introduction Folder, great!

Remember as I said today in class, we must be grinding for the next three weeks. It's time to work out of our bad habits and be focused on a clear progression forward.