3 and 4 May

AP Language

Today was one of our final examination review days. We took a look at several years worth of AP Examination FRQ prompt packs and high scoring samples. We focused our work around finding the speedbump prompt, noticing sophistication in the student responses, and any final strategies for the FRQ. You are READY! Be confident in your skills. Take care of yourself over the next few weeks as you are working through your exams.

Be sure that you're focused on finishing any of your novel tasks. Check out the review of the final projects and keep in mind that your first project is due soon! I would suggest completing the creative project first and the research second.

English 10

Today was a day to get a bit ZEN as we focused on learning about Zen philosophy and its practice. Zen focuses on losing ourselves in the moment, mindfulness, and an attention to detail to focus on living in the moment. We watched a brief video, engaged in some discussion, and read some Zen parables for our activity around theme.

We ended the day with test corrections. If you have not finished your test for any reason, be sure to do so ASAP. There are also several missing projects from Unit 5. If you have missing work it is important to complete that task quickly. There are only NINE (810 minutes) classes left in this semester before we reach final exams. Do not miss the chance to raise your grade before the closing of the quarter on June 3.

1 and 2 March

AP Language

Today we kept our selves on along as we continued through our writing days. The paper is due next week, so our days building to that eventuality are days for writing, conferencing, and working with partner groups to develop the draft. Use this time! Be efficient. Get content drafted. Your paper is due on the 10th of March at the end of the day. The 10th is the last day of the unit, so vocabulary cards are also due that day. 

English 10

Today was a really wonderful day. We took time to make a choice of what to read and then worked to collaborate with our peers to understand, analyze, and draw connections between the texts that we've read. I was glad to see your communication and collaboration with each other. Today was our last day of reading in the unit. Next class we will start with our final projects and final tasks for the unit.

Your quizzes have been returned to you online. You can do test corrections and recoup any missed points. Test corrections are due on March 8/9. I will not accept them after this date. You can also use rubles to raise your score, but that's a limited route - so I'd suggest the corrections. Next class will be a workshop day for us, so you'll be able to work on the final project or complete any final tasks for the unit like vocabulary or test corrections.

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!

Homework for A-Day Students

AP English III

Solid discussion today around the ideas of structural/systemic racism and the elements of Maya Angelou's "Graduation" which helped us to come to our conclusions. As I've always said, the way to get into a text is through the tone. By investigating tone, its development, and its changes, we can really see what authors think and why they think it. Here are your reminders for Friday's class.

You have vocabulary cards due to me on Friday - numbers sixteen through twenty. Make sure that you are using a variety of resources to complete these cards. There is also reading in Beloved - Chapters 3, 4, and 5. As you're reading, connect to the motifs that we've pulled out. Understand what is happening and why it's important to the narrative. How does it contribute to the message Morrison is crafting.

Lastly, we will have our final discussion on Baldwin on Thursday. I've posted the whole article to Google Classroom; be sure that you've completed the final section.

Oh, and the answers for the multiple choice are: C, B, B, B, B, A, B, E, A.

English IV

Today in class a few of you were able to finish your first project and everyone else is very close. On Friday we'll have the goal of finishing projects one and two so that I can start grading for the weekend. Additionally, we read a section of A Doll's House - Act III. Next class we'll be moving closer to the conclusion in order to see how Nora and Torvald resolve their problems.

Make sure that you're focused on your projects and test corrections at this point. If you need help with anything, come during lunch for extra assistance.

Homework for A-Day - 26 November

What a good first day back! I'm a bit tired, but I think I'll rally. Here are the things to accomplish before next class.

AP English III

Today we had a very thorough conversation related to Sethe, slavery, and some of Morrison's other key ideas in the opening of Beloved. You all were very engaged in the work which was lovely to see. For tonight, we have a parallel author to read and consider. On Google Classroom you'll find Angelou's "Graduation" which is all about her...graduation. There are a lot of big parallels to Beloved that we can also draw. Pay close attention to her tone and especially how it changes in the text.

For Friday we'll have Chapters 3-5 of Beloved as well as the next set of vocabulary cards (16-20). Remember to review the previous slides about what to do if you've been losing points on vocabulary cards.

English IV

Today in class we focused on our first project. Some of you were able to get this done and everyone else got some great decisions made related to the project. We'll have more time on Wednesday and Friday to keep working on these projects. For tonight, I would say to finish choosing which projects you'll do for this adaptation of A Doll's House. From there, you may want to take a look at your Act I test corrections. It's important to make any corrections now, so that you're in a good place before we finish our unit!