Mid-Week Reflections - Wednesday

Today has been a day focused on grading for substitute teachers, and let me just say that I am feeling pretty brain dead today. I had such a pile of classwork for Latin; I only got through one class worth. I'll devote more time tomorrow to the other class and will finish it up on Friday. I wrote a letter to send home in lieu of a progress report, so at least the parents of the students in those six classes will know that work is being assigned, graded, and learning (of some sort) is happening.

The PSAT has now become a day for just testing. We're going to create a schedule for just tenth and eleventh graders to come to school and test. I think that this going to make planning the day a lot easier. Now if I could just get all of the accommodations processed, I'd be in a good place. There's not too much I can do there, so I'm trying to keep it out of mind in order to stay present where I can have some impact.

I'm going to spend time for the rest of the day preparing for next week's professional development focused on activating strategies. I think I'll focus on a few approaches to opening up class and creating high-interest attention grabbers. I've got a post-observation conference during the last block of the day as well as a conference call. It'll be a busy end to the day. I'll be glad to leave my computer on my desk, run by the grocery store on the way home, and then go for a run.

Ok. I took my time. Back to the mine.

19 February - WorkKeys, Done!

English 11

Great work today, everyone! We did the WorkKeys test. I'm so happy from looking at the data that so many of you felt prepared from our practice and focus on writing over the last few weeks and the year so far. If you were absent, don't worry, there's a retest opportunity. I should know your results soon, and I'll communicate them with you as soon as possible. 

After our WorkKeys test today, we took time for ourselves. There was our reflection form (you can't do it if you were absent because it relies on the test), and then we cleaned out notebooks or just relaxed a bit. Next class we'll be focusing solely on our books and research based presentations related to the books. Be ready to do some work related to your book on Friday, so read in order to prepare. We'll have our presentations in mid-March, which isn't too far away. Looking forward to seeing you on Friday, unless of course this snow that's falling has other plans for us.

5 December - Let's Get Ready to MIDTERRRRRRRRRM

AP Language

Welcome to the midterm examination my lovelies. Today's class is your reading day it's a day for you to prepare for the examination ahead of you and reflect on where you are in the skills and competencies necessary in this class. So, what are you going to do today to study and prepare? Here's your to do list:

1. Be sure that you've submitted your Gatsby visual and artistic explanation questions. You completed your analysis in-class last time. Apologies for the lack of clarity in the instructions document. If you have a paper visual, give it to the substitute and make sure that it goes in the folder. Remember that I'm grading the visual and your explanation questions as your demonstration of reading skills.

2. Organize and use your notebook as a reflection tool. Look over your rubrics, your skill descriptors, and the feedback that you've received. Use the assignment in Schoology to write me a reflective letter about where you are in your reading and writing skills. Be sure to cite evidence as you write. At the bottom, do a quick PEWCAM analysis (bullet points are fine).

3. Feel free to use the unlocked AP Classroom Progress Checks to prepare for your MCQ. You'll be doing this on Thursday. You'll also be getting feedback on your most recent writing assignment before you write again!

I'll see you on Thursday as we begin our midterm exam!

9 and 10 February - End of the Week

English 10 - 9 February

Today was our Course Selection Day - so a bit of a nothing day for us. Next class we'll have our last day to study and review letters and a writing workshop. Wednesday is going to be our catch-up date and on Friday we'll write our letters. If you were absent today, be sure that you meet with your counselor during Lion Time in order to get your registration complete.

AP Language

We took a trip to look at some art today in AP Language in order to understand the means by which we extract evidence from non-print sources. We learned two methods today - Deep Looking and the OPTIC method. We looked at two paintings and applied the methods to each in order to determine claims, evidence, and possible uses for our research. We also took a look at two sample Annotated Bibliography entries to show you the means by which to construct them. Follow the models and remeber to be a STAR.

You should have two AB entries written by the end of today's class/this weekend/this evening. You should have an idea for a potential non-print source. You should be actively constructing your sourcepack. These items can run in conjunction or isolation, but you need to be completing tasks. Remember, each class you should have a record of your work to take you to the next day. Next class you'll have ample time to write and work with your sources.

Any questions or concerns? Please see me at Lion Time or after-school next week. Annotated Bibliographies are due on March 8/9.

AP Research

I'd say it's an easy day in AP Research, but that's not really true. Now is when we hit the major work of this course, which is the data collection. Without the data, you can't answer the question, and collecting the data can be an arduous process. It is important that you set daily goals and meet them. Have alternative plans. You may even need an alternative method, just in case. Track your progress. Track your changes. Consider your hypothesis and what's borne out from the actual data.

Your next major assignment is your BoK Analysis. Complete this and submit it by February 27. Next week you'll have both classes for working time. You should be writing, collecting data, and considering the fact that everything is due by May 1 at 11:59 PM. That gives us TEN weeks to complete this process. I hope you can see the urgency of each class.

End of the Semester - Blue Day - 25 January

AP Language

Easy day to end the quarter and semester in AP Language. We're focused on researching, finding key sources to use for our arguments, and refining our topics even further. Keep checking in with our discussion board post and reply to yourself and others. Help to make ideas more specific. Consider the work we've seen so far from College Board and a synthesis prompt and response.

What can you discuss? What can you analyze? What is the argument on the prompt that you can make on the prompt? What's a possible counterargument or another approach to the issue?

Next week we'll discuss feedback from the Exam and look at our first task, the Annotated Bibliography. You'll want about five to seven good sources and a more refined research topic in order to really access the lessons next week. Enjoy the long weekend - remember that I'm not available until Monday.

AP Research

Simple day to end the quarter and semester in AP Research today. We looked at our unit plan for Unit 4 - Data Collection and Analysis. The major task today is outlining the next six weeks of your work in the course. It's a good idea to make a plan now if everything goes perfectly. Design your bailout plans and backup plans now so that you can initiate them when needed. 

Throughout this unit you're focused on collecting the data to answer the question. A lot of you are focused on working with other people, so you'll need to give yourself the time and space to do this effectively. Be ready to be annoying and be ready to use class time super effectively. 

We'll have six elevator pitches on Tuesday and then the following six on Thursday. Be sure to submit your visuals to the space on Schoology. New reflection question is unlocked for your consideration. Enjoy the long weekend!

17 January

AP Language

Really lovely beginning to our week in AP Language today. We were focused in on what the synthesis question is, what the prompt pack looks like, and what a high scoring sample looks like. I also took us through a bit of a revision activity so that we could focus on tweaking some of the content in order to clarify the content and especially the commentary. We ended our day with some time in our books to prepare for next class.

Next class is Meeting 2. Review the unit plan to see what you'll be doing. Remember that if you're responsible for bringing Passage 1, then you should have that selected in advance of the group meeting. Keep reading. Get into your books. If you have any work to complete from the AP Exam, it needs to be settled this week.

AP Research

Wonderful day in AP Research to start the end of the unit on method development. Today, since we're getting back into a focus on our presentations skills, we watched a POD. I hope that you enjoyed seeing the student's work and understanding the essential elements of the POD rubric and assessment. From there we talked about the elements of Elevator Pitch 2.0 and looked at some sample questions and work to help us put that together. 

Next class is a working day for us focused on the Elevator Pitch. We'll be writing, thinking, and crafting. This is a great chance to start putting your eventual slides together too. Remember to submit your drafts and your reflection questions. These are your final major assessments of the quarter. Be ready to pitch next week!

14 December - Lookout for Snow and Ice!

AP Language

Great work focused on Act III. This is the turning point of The Crucible - we're baked in and the conclusion is coming. Notice how ideas come to conclusions and arguments are finalized at the end of this play. The ideas we saw around John Proctor and his connection to another person whose name starts with J is important. We also started to note the idea of tragedy. Consider why this society is tragic and why Proctor is a hero who fails.

For tonight, submit any tasks for Unit 3 and be sure to finish the play. Act IV reads quickly. Focus on who wins, who loses, and how ideas come to a conclusion. I'm excited to finish this and take us into the break.

AP Research

Easy working day in AP Research today. We're writing, we're planning, we're creating! It's important to use this time now before you're inundated with data and responses and the analysis. Remember that if you need anything, please ask. I'll do my best to get you what you need or want. Next class is our holiday celebration. Feel free to bring snacks for the good of the group. You have an assignment due when we return, but it should be pretty much complete now. Submit as soon as you can.

12 December - The Last Week of School

AP Language

Good day today reading Plato's "Allegory of the Cave" - it's a rigorous yet rich text. I hope that you were able to see some of the larger connections to truth, reality, manipulation, lies, and power. There's also the idea that it's an allegory, which is what our play is, so there's a connection point there. Plato's ideas are at the heart of a lot of what we are doing in class and what a lot of our authors are pursuing in their texts. Use the multiple choice questions to practice before the examination. We'll do a second AP Exam in January.

For tonight, focus on finishing The Crucible. We've got Act III next class and then Act IV after that. This is also a key time to complete your vocabulary or any other tasks missing from the last unit. Show your skill before our mid-point examination. 

AP Research

Solid day today everyone as we had a lesson focused on the construction of the academic paper. Today's lesson I hope makes clear the need to focus on the essentials of the paper. What are you doing that's new? How are you showing what's new? Use your existing papers and the papers in your body of knowledge to help you structure your paper and your POD (remember, it's a buy one get one situation here).

It's important to be writing right now. You don't have time later to waste now. Working through a survey with multiple respondents is work! And that is also time. Your paper should be written to the method (or at least outlined) by the time we come back from break. Submit your drafts!

8 December - End of the Week

AP Language

Excellent day in AP Language today as we understood the rhetorical situation for The Crucible and some of the key motivations pushing Miller in the construction of his allegory. Be on the lookout for vocabulary as we are reading. The articles in this unit can get you all ten of your words. Continue to review previous readings if you need to. I hope that watching the film today brought some new understandings to the play.

For tonight, focus on any assignments you need to submit for Unit 3 including reading reflections and vocabulary. In Current Lessons there's a link to a cartoon. Watch the cartoon as you start reading the article I gave you in class "The Allegory of the Cave". You don't have to finish reading the article on your own, but you can if you want.

AP Research

Great day in AP Research. I love days when we get to talk and conference. The IRB had feedback for you all to push you in a good direction moving forward. Consider the edits and feedback you received today this weekend and into next week. I'll need to see your edits for you to clear the IRB. Remember that if you make changes to your research question, then those changes should be seen in other areas, like your survey questions.

Over the weekend, complete your newest PREP question. Check your email for your feedback written out. This is also a great time to be writing and pulling ideas together on your paper. I think that we're all going to be in a great place to get started with participants after Winter Break.

As always, I'm here to support you.

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!

17 November

AP Language

Today was our assessment day - double timed writing - Question 2 and Question 3. I am very much looking forward to scoring these essays and getting you feedback to push you further into your development as readers, writers, thinkers, and communicators. I hope that you found that the prompts approachable and that you see improvements in some of your writing skills. 

Over the weekend, spend your time with Gatsby. We're finishing the novel before Thanksgiving Break so that we can focus on our summative assessments upon our return. Read and annotate Chapters 8 and 9. They run together to complete the conclusion of the novel. Think about who wins and who loses and how this helps Fitzgerald to communicate an argument about an idea. Your vocabulary can be submitted. Don't submit the motif tracker, but keep developing it. Be ready for assessments when we return from Thanksgiving. We'll complete most of the work in class. 

Our next unit will be on The Crucible by Arthur Miller. If you'd like your own copy of this play, now's a good time to order one.

AP Research

Today's class was very similar to our last class - it was our IRB Working Week this week. The work that we are doing now is some of the most important work that we have to do. I appreciate seeing your effort and the support that you are giving to each other. I'm also glad that so many of you are finding a new purpose for the work that we have done earlier in the course like our Annotated Bibliography and our Research Posters.

Next class we'll be having our Ethical Practices Check. This is for a grade. I've opened up your newest PREP Reflection question as well for the weekend. Continue to work, plan, and create. The goal is the pass IRB with as few revisions as possible in order to begin your work with your data.

Have a great weekend!

26 and 27 October

The blog was blocked yesterday, so here are updates for yesterday's English 10 class and today's AP Language and AP Research classes. Remember that tomorrow is the last day of the quarter and an early release day, there's no Lion Time. Any work (or revisions) submitted by 9:00 am on Monday will be scored for this quarter.

English 10

Great day today in English 10 as we got started on our first major writing assignment - our definition essay. For this assignment we're defining a concept - a hero or a villan - and using a text or several to provide examples. Remember that you'll get a full grade for this assignment - on each part of your essay. Today we worked through the assignment and the outline; we also planned our evidence. This will put us in a great place for our writing workshop next class. We also finished up with Membean. Remember that we'll take time each class for this, so have your laptops ready.

For tonight, be focused on the end of the quarter. If you have a project resubmission, be sure to give me the rubric. If you see any missing assignments, now is the time to complete them to raise your grade for the end of the quarter.

AP Language

Great day today in AP Language as we focused in on lies, Chapter Three, and the simmering conflict between fantasy and reality in the text. We discovered the ways in which many of the characters, including Nick, lie and began to understand some of the reasons for those lies. Continue to notice trends in the text related to this essential conflict.

Over the weekend, we're taking a break from Fitzgerald and spending time with Andrew Carnegie. The article is posted on Schoology for you. Read and annotate. Consider what Carnegie's burden is for other rich people. How do the people of The Great Gatsby measure up? 

If you have any work to submit - vocabulary or America projects - they are due. I'll be able to score work submitted by Monday morning and update grades.

AP Research

Easy day in AP Capstone today as we had our end of unit working day. The priorities in our room are as follows:

1. Complete any tasks for the end of the quarter. Some of you are missing your reflections for the quarter and your Annotated Bibliography. If you would like to do a reassessment of either task, be sure that the reassessment is in by Monday morning to be rescored.

2. Your next class is for your poster and pitch. You'll have two minutes to present your pitch. Fill in the blanks on the three sentence starters. Use the template provided. Submit a PDF of your poster to the assignment to the space. We'll be focused on giving and getting feedback next class - it's your first presentation day!

3. There's a new reflection question posted for your PREP. Be sure that you are avoiding vague language or concepts. Define everything. Don't just say method - which one? Why that? Evaluate, define, and specify at all times. 

Tuesday the 4th! G'mar tov!

AP Research

One of the best days in the world was our day today - it was a writing day. Today we took time to work through the creation of our Annotated Bibliography. As you write your entries, consider the source and what it gave you in your QUEST. Be sure to consider the feasibility and reflect on the usefulness of your source in writing your paper and conducting your eventual study. 

This assignment will serve as your reassessment for your source list, remember to find and correct any errors with citation style and formatting. Next class we're going to do a bit of a guided reading assignment with a source - bring your best source to class - we're going to be analyzing!

AP Language

Wild day in AP Language with a team timed write and our Unit 1 Seminar. I loved hearing your ideas and the connections that you were building across the unit and our authors. We talked about so many of our texts and so many ideas crucial to our final project. Use the recording, I think it's pretty golden.

If you are missing any work from the unit, that work is due. Vocabulary is now due for the unit. Be sure to turn in your complete set of vocabulary cards. Submit any missing What's the Situation projects. If you want to make revisions, please do so. I'm available for help - just let me know!

30 September - Happy Friday!

AP Language

Easy peasy, pumpkin squeezy as we round out September and kick off October! Today was our end of Unit 2 working day. There's a few goals that we have as we close out, so let's review:

1. Do you have a missing project? I'm working through grading and should have them finished by the middle of next week. Be sure to submit if missing. I'll give back rubrics with feedback to guide revisions if needed/wanted.

2. Vocabulary is open to be collected. Remember that words should come from class readings or resources (like the tone word sheet). If you don't know why you lost points on earlier vocabulary cards, be sure to reach out and ask. 

3. Our seminar is next class. Be sure that you have finished your choice reading and annotated it for the author's message and elements of the rhetorical situation. How does the author convey an argument? What stands out to you? What connections can you make?

4. Your final project for this unit has been assigned and reviewed. I'll be giving you some more time over the next classes to work on this further. For now, start by considering your examples and your thesis. What is America to you? How can you prove that? What's the counter argument?

Reach out if you need me!

AP Research

Lovely Friday! We took our time today to read a Level 4 paper and understand some of our key elements that are at play in the paper. From there, it was off to the mines as we are writing, finishing work from Unit 1, or completing reflections on our work so far.

Next week will be a lot of time for you to write your Annotated Bibliography. Don't be afraid of being repetitive. Use the templates and support that you have to complete this work. It may seem daunting to write twenty five entries, but the supports are there to help you do it.

Enjoy the weekend. Your Annotated Bibliography is due Week 8 - that would be October 14.

23 September

Sorry for the delay. The blog was blocked so I couldn't run an update. But it looks like we're back in business.

AP Language

A bit of a rushed day today, but we still got a lot done. Be sure to go back and check the letters between John and Abigail. I'd recommend rereading as you now have a bit more of a framework for reading. Over the weekend you have a few priorities. Let me outline for you here:

1. Be sure that you apply your feedback from today's gallery walk and submit your final project. I'll begin grading on Tuesday, so have it in by then.

2. Select and begin to read your choice article. You don't have to finish it, but be sure that you've started. We'll start to work through these next class.

3. Vocabulary is going to be due soon for the unit. The space will be opened soon. Be sure that you apply feedback from round one as you complete these assignments.

AP Research

A fast class today, but a good class as we kicked off Unit 2. This unit is designed to help you write and refine your ideas to develop your introduction of your academic paper. The first step to this is to submit your Source List - the firm due date is Tuesday for this. This will lead you to the Annotated Bibliography which is your first major writing assignment.

The lesson today and the slides are crucial in helping you do this work. Use the templates. Use the samples. Ask for help as you need it! Over the weekend, be sure to complete your Source List and submit. Begin to write your entries - having a few done for next week would be a great way to start our conferences. Lastly, be sure to complete your Week 5 Reflection in your PREP.

End of the Week - 15 September

AP Language

Great day today for our first official working day. There are a few things that have been announced today - the recording is a great recap. Generally we:

1. Set up our writing notebooks/portfolios to be used through the year.

2. Reviewed the first mini-project of the year, the template, and the resources to complete it as well as the rubric.

3. Understood the reading diagnostic, how to access it, and how it will be used.

4. Reviewed AP Classroom, the joining process, and how Progress Checks will be used this year.

The majority of class was spent working independently. Over the weekend, you should complete your reading diagnostic if you didn't in class. There is also a reading assigned for next week. It's a speech by Mario Cuomo. There's a PDF, it's in the textbook, and there's a video of him presenting the speech. Annotate for tone. Use your tone words sheet. Notice especially where the tone shifts and how he demonstrates that shift.

AP Research

A pretty straightforward day today in AP Research land as we reviewed our CRAAP test for sources and the College Board Policy on Falsification and Plagiarism. From there, we took some time as we need to work through our source list, reading log, reflection questions, or research question development. At this point in the course you should be finalizing your research question. We can of course continue to make edits, but you should be locking in some of your decisions now.

Over the weekend be sure to complete your newest reflection question. It's a POD question you could get at the end of the year. Next week we'll start to transition out of Unit 1 and into Unit 2. Be ready for a lesson on your next major assignment - the annotated bibliography.

See you Monday!

End of the Year - Last Classes

AP Language

Here we are in our Groundhog Day rotation until the 3rd of June. Remember that since exams begin on the third, that is the last day to submit any of your work for this quarter to be scored. The most important assignments are your creative project, research poster and presentation, and your reflections. Prioritize these tasks.

As always, as you need me, ask! I'm here to support you as you push to the finish. 

English 10

It's quite the same for all of you my lovelies. We're completing our portfolios to show our skills, our knowledge, and our artifacts of our learning for the year. Once you're complete with this work, you are done for the quarter and for the year. Seventh period's exam will be on June 3. Make sure that your work is turned in my this day so that I can finalize your grade in the timeframe.

21 and 22 April

AP Language

Today was a very simple day in AP English Language land. We took our second full length AP MCQ in order to reflect on our strategies and skills in our approach to the exam. I was happy to see a lot of you bouncing around, skipping questions, and using your time much more efficiently. Excellent! Hopefully you'll see that you are maintaining in your accuracy or growing. We'll do one more of these before the exam.

Be sure that you are meeting your reading goals, reflecting on your reading for your five reflections, and collecting vocabulary. Please submit your reflections as you complete them so that you can build your points. All reflections will be entered as one fifty point grade in SIS. Your vocabulary will be due in May.

Lastly, you do have a bonus assignment open. It will close tomorrow. Complete it if you'd like the extra practice, feedback, and a small gift in your quarter scores. Enjoy the weekend and your books! It looks like it should be nice and warm - a good time to be outside with a great book!

English 10

A pretty basic day in English 10 with our last in-class essay of the year. I'll have these scored and reviewed for you next week. I hope that when you look at this last one that you feel happy with it. You've grown a lot as writers this year - remember what you were doing at the beginning of the year and look at what you're doing now! Celebrate your growth and keep finding places to keep climbing.

Next week you will have your unit test to open the week and your projects will be due at the end of the week. You'll have all of class for the test and then the next class is yours to finish the project and turn that in. If you have any other assignments to turn in as part of this unit, they need to come in next week. I'm looking forward to taking you to our final place of the year - Japan! We'll have a quick and fun unit to end our year before we begin on our final portfolio.

15 and 18 April

AP Language

Today's class was a relatively low-key day given the observance of Good Friday. Be sure that if you were absent that you check out the recording for our AP essay review. The bonus assignment is unlocked and will be open all week for you. Remember to submit a thesis and body paragraph (at least) to be scored.

The other major portion of today's class was focused on our novels. If you did not submit your reading schedule, do so immediately. It's now late. You have reflections due next week. Meet your goals and keep reading. 

Next class we'll have one of our final seminars of the year - there are two texts for you to choose from in the folder on Schoology. Read and annotate ONE in preparation for our seminar. We'll be discussing some solutions to problems in our next seminar, so a bit of a more optimistic discussion.

English 10

Great day today, y'all. We took our time to work through our first project workshop day and then moved into our test review. Remember that your projects and tests will be the week of the 25th. Focus on using your time in class effectively as you work through your projects. I'm looking forward to seeing your creative writing or your research - whichever you choose.

Next week we'll have an in-class essay (SOL 3) and time to work on our projects. We'll also finish our test review next class. Be ready for a quick end to this unit and then it's off to ASIA!

10 and 11 January

AP Language

Welcome back! It was good to see so many of you today in class. We had a relatively easy day since we had to complete academic advising for English today. While I was doing that, there was time to work on AP Classroom Progress Checks, Vocabulary, or get ahead on your motif projects. We started off with our reflection from the unit mini-project on RA (find that link in the folders).

As a reminder, vocabulary is due. Please submit on Schoology. AP Classroom work will be unlocked during class or Lion Time, so plan accordingly to complete that work. Next class will be your full workshop for the motif project, you may want to complete part of that work tonight to be better prepared for your class time next class. I also need to check your novels, so don't forget your notes. 

If you have anything missing, now is the time to complete those tasks. Please reach out if you need me for anything.

English 10

Today's class was a day for us to get our heads back on our shoulders and pointed in the right direction as we return to school and to Unit 3 - Research. At this point in the project, most of you are either studying your text (in some way, shape, or form) or you're ready to research the author/historical context to support your claim.

We understood at the end of today's class what our thesis is for this final presentation and what type of research we need to support that claim. Your task is to find the biographical or historical information to help you complete this project. By the end of next class you should show me your research notecard which includes your citation and your three notes.

Next class we will review the structure of our final project and have time to work. Keep in mind that you have just two grades left this quarter - so be sure to stay focused on completing these tasks.