17 September - End of the Week - Blue Day

Good Afternoon Students and Adults!

Today was a day full of reading and thinking. We're also getting more acquainted with our classroom procedures like using our interactive notebooks for our journals and using PearDeck to take daily notes. I also really appreciate all of the help that you offer to each other with finding and accessing materials!

Over the weekend make sure that you have any missing work from Week 1 turned in. I know that getting oriented in online/virtual school is difficult, so I want to make sure that we get the support and time we need. I'll be grading on Sunday and Monday and changing scores. Further reminders are below.

AP Language

We have our Writing Diagnostic this weekend which is our main focus. The diagnostic should take you no more than 40 minutes. Time yourself. Remember that you're just submitting an outline, so don't write a whole essay for me.

Additionally, if you didn't submit your Close Looking Practice, please do so. This is just a simple completion activity so that I can see how you're processing non-print texts.

English 10

Be sure that you complete your Homework Assignment 2 this weekend. It's a document where we will look at our first essay question and break it down to understand it. The assignment is pretty simple, turn it in on Google Classroom. Also, be sure to play with your online textbook more since we'll really use it a lot next class.

Next week we'll start moving into the land of writing more, one of my favorite places to visit. Enjoy your weekend and let me know what I can do to help!

16 September - Grey Day

Today was a Grey Day, but it was a pretty great day in my guest room (aka A132, for now). The homework posted below for the Blue Day sections is pretty much the same for us today. Remember our discussion today on grading - I view this as a class where you should resubmit, and where you should turn in things late. Remember that I grade by standards, and that there is often much more to a piece of work than if it came in on time or not.

AP Research

The next few classes will find you working independently to build your Body of Knowledge. I'll be available in our meeting space if you need me for anything, but you've also got plenty of other support. Keep reading to build your reading log. Look for the elements of an effective research question that we discussed today. 

I've also posted your first weekly reflection. You will have a question every week. Be thorough and thoughtful in your answers - some of these will also be POD questions, so it gives us good practice for the future.

As always, everything is available for you in Google Classroom. If you've got a question or concern, feel free to email me. I'm continuing to score your assignments right now and hope to have your work from this week back to you by the end of Monday.

15 September - Blue Day

Good Afternoon Students and Grown-Ups,

Be sure to continue to check Google Classroom for daily updates and reminders. Please ensure that any work from Week 1 is turned in today, including the Homework Assignment 1. Also, remember that in this class I will grade on standards, not assignments, and you have the opportunity to resubmit work after it is scored to improve your grade. Here are your class specific reminders.

English 10

If you didn't submit your Homework Assignment 1 - "My Single Story" please do so. I'd love to take this opportunity to better know you and your story more. Be sure to follow the instructions on Google Classroom.

AP Language

Today we focused on visual rhetoric and the rhetorical situation. We practiced with a painting, and tonight you'll continue that practice with a prescient image. Use your online textbook to find Ana Juan's New Yorker Cover. Apply your strategy from class. Answer the three "READ" questions with this text. You can answer them quickly (no more than a paragraph for each question). Submit your work as a quick practice with our skill.

Also, be sure that you've submitted HW Assignment 1 and your Summer Assignment. If there are questions or concerns, please let me know.

Monday - September 14. Asynchronous Day.

Happy Monday and Good Morning!

Today is a day for independent working as well as submitting any assignments to be scored/marked as completed. Remember that there is a list below outlining what should be turned in for credit. If you see an error in your grades, wait until the end of the day, because I will be scoring and updating the gradebook through the day.

As a reminder you have a homework assignment which should be submitted before our next class meeting/at the end of today. Remember that Mondays are the official end of our week in this class - ironic, I know. 

I am available today for Office Hours as well as Back to School/Meet the Teacher Drop-Ins. I will have my Blackboard Collaborate Space as well as Google Meet (AP Research) available this morning from 9:30 to 12:00. Please visit or email if you have questions.

Don't forget to do your Google Form check-in for today's attendance!

End of Week 1 - Blue Day - 10 September

Good Afternoon Everyone -

Today was a great day in class - we all were engaged in some critical reading and thinking in all of our classes today as well as some getting to know each other activities. Our week in this class officially closes every Monday - so remember that assignments described below are due on Monday.

AP English Language

Today was a day to start our work on "What is America?" by looking at Thomas Jefferson's "Declaration of Independence" in order to understand the elements of and relationships between elements of the rhetorical situation. We'll be considering this with many of the texts we study this year.

For your first homework assignment, I've presented to you the "rough draft" of our document as well as a TEDEd video related to the revision of the document and Jefferson's writing process. Follow the instructions and submit your work via Google Classroom. If you have questions, please let me know via email or Office Hours.

Other graded assignments for this week are as follows: Notebook Cover + FlipGrid Recording. Tell Me About You Survey. You can also submit your Summer Assignment. It's due on Day 3 - Tuesday.

English 10

Today we investigated the idea of the "single story" by watching an EdPuzzle video and considering the connection between culture clash and stereotypes. I enjoyed our chat in the class and seeing your responses to the questions. Remember that if you didn't finish the video, or the survey, both are still available for you.

Your homework assignment is available in Google Classroom, and it will have you consider the idea of the single story in your own life. Follow the outline in the instructions to construct your slides. Be as creative as you'd like, but be sure to follow the outline. I'll be available for help via email or in Office Hours if you need me.

Other graded assignments for this week are as follows: Notebook Cover + FlipGrid Recording. Tell Me About You Survey. EdPuzzle - Single Story Questions

Also, as a final reminder for everyone, BTSN open office hours for parents will be next Monday, the 14th, from 11am to 12 pm, and next Wednesday, the 16th, from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm.  Students will need to make sure that their parents have their teachers’ office hour links and that they need to share their school laptop with their parents.

As always, let me know if you have any questions!

Day 2 - Grey Day - 9 September 2020

Good Afternoon Grey Day Students!

The major announcements and reminders are posted below for AP Language and English 10 students, since the lessons are basically the same between the two days. The important reminders for all classes are to complete your FlipGrid postings and to complete the sharing of your notebook covers. There is also information for parents to review - including a Google Form for signatures.

AP Research

Today was a great first day of our investigations. Your reminders are generally the same, but we don't have a FlipGrid since we're so few in number. I loved seeing your notebook covers and starting the process of getting to know you. Once you've finished your syllabus review, it would be best to start reading. Remember that you should cast your net wide as you're finding sources. You don't know right now what's going to be the best source, so grab it all.

As you read and review, use your interactive notebook. Slide 9 is where you can record your annotations and other important notes.Try to read a bit every day to keep the momentum up!

Day 1 - 2020 - Virtual Schooling

Good Evening Fairfax Families,

Today was a great day to kick off the 2020 school year. The virtual start provided some amusing missteps (like my forgetting to allow chat and audio/video permissions), but overall we had a great start. I've enjoyed watching your FlipGrid videos and seeing your interactive notebook covers. Here are a few notes from our first day of school.

All Classes (Especially Parents/Guardians)

The Blackboard space for class is pretty barren, because the course content is housed in Google Classroom. The main thing for you to draw your attention to is the syllabus and course policies document. This is available in FCPS 24-7 as well as in Google Classroom. I would highly recommend reviewing the document with your student and filling out the Google Form at the end of the document together.

If you did not share your Interactive Notebook or complete your FlipGrid video, be sure to do so. I've noticed that some people have submitted one or the other, in which case I've awarded partial credit. I'll check again tomorrow and correct any scores. Remember that homework should be complete by the end of Monday (in a perfect world), since Monday is your asynchronous/homework day.

AP Language (3rd and 5th)

Tonight you should get familiar with your online textbook for our class since we'll be using this in our next session. If you need the links for the FlipGrid or a reminder of the Interactive Notebook, check out our class slides which are in Google Classroom. As always, you can email me with questions/comments as well.

Further reflection on our key question of "What is America/an American?" is also warranted. We'll delve deeper next class and throughout the unit.

English 10 (7th)

I enjoyed our opening conversation on culture and our work with the poem "About School". We were hitting on some important themes related to culture clash and conformity today, and we'll carry those forward next time we meet. For tonight, I would reflect further on these ideas and how you've seen or experienced them in your life. Additionally, if you need to submit a video or share your Interactive Notebook, please do so. I'm looking forward to seeing your recordings and getting to know you better.

I hope that you had as good of a first day as I did. See you on Thursday!

Kicking Off 2020-2021

Good Morning Fairfax High School - 

Welcome to Tock the Dog - in Norton Juster's The Phantom Tollbooth - Tock was a Watch Dog, who patrolled the entrance and gave helpful advice to those entering beyond the tollbooth. I hope that you will find this blog to be a place where you can find such advice and help.

All of our classroom content will be housed in Google Classroom. We will use Blackboard Collaborate Ultra for our live meeting sessions. You should have received a link to Collaborate in your FCPSSchools email account. If you navigate to Blackboard (FCPS 24-7 Learn) you can find our course there, and there is a link to our Google Classroom space for you to use.

Parents - I hope that this space will be helpful for you so that you don't have to log in to Google Classroom every day. This is a space for you to find helpful information about due dates, course content, and general updates. Please see this as a resource for you as well as your student.

Closing the Year

Dear Students -

I don't know if there are those of you who check this and don't check Google Classroom - but if there are, please go check out the updates on Google Classroom. There's a course evaluation form for the end of the year as well as a video message from me for the end of the year as well.

If you are in grades 9-11, you have time to improve your scores in our classes. Please reach out if you haven't done so and you're interested in work opportunities. Many of these are already posted for you in Google Classroom.

We'll be collecting textbooks at Jordan on the 28th from 10 AM - 2 PM. I've got a roster with a lot of seniors who have novels signed out (The Stranger, Frankenstein, Their Eyes Were Watching G-d, Twelfth Night) and copies of Perrine's Literature. Be sure to look under your beds and in your bags for books. I know that the sometimes find themselves under car seats. Russian students don't need to worry about returning books unless you are a senior - please bring back books that you will no longer need.

With that - I'll say happy summer! Hopefully we get ourselves back to some semblance of life before COVID-19 and find time to be with people and on beaches or wherever it is we want to be. All my best, always.

End of the Week - 8 May 2020

It's the end of the week! Next week we will begin AP Exams for all classes (except Russian which will occur in the first week of June). Remember to go to myap.collegeboard.org in order to access your demo, check your email address, and ensure that you are ready to test.

If you are a ninth, tenth, or eleventh grader, remember that you have the opportunity to decide how your spring semester grade will be shown on your transcript. You can either get the grade (factored into GPA) or you can get a PC19 (a pass, but no GPA). If you are trying to improve your grade be sure that you complete assignments here and when you submit, let me know if you want to improve your Semester 1 or Quarter 3 score.

Next week I will be working at school on Monday to distribute signs for graduating seniors - assignments for the week will be posted on Sunday afternoon. I will not be available for Office Hours on Monday, but I will be free on Tuesday for extra time if you need me.

Special Announcement - Freshmen through Juniors

Dear Underclassmen (Russian, AP Research),

You have the opportunity to now improve your academic standing by completing work assigned via remote instruction. You can add points to your S1 or Q3 grade by completing assignments. All of you are currently passing, so this is just gravy to improve academic standing and improve your GPA.

Any work must be submitted by May 25. You can email me, submit on Google Classroom or DuoLingo, or you can send me screenshots of your work. Just be sure that you tell me where you want me to put the points.

I'll continue to post assignments next week and the week after to give you opportunities to improve your Russian skills and academic standing. There are plenty of assignments already available on Google Classroom/DuoLingo to begin this process.

As always, let me know if you have questions or concerns.

Opening May!

Good Morning Students!

Happy May! The weather is beautiful, the birds are singing, and soon I'm going to go for a run. But before I do that, I wanted to post an overview of what you can find on Google Classroom.

Russian Students - This is a great time to be in Russia (usually) because of the May Holidays. For this week's assignment we have some language and cultural skills to work on. See the details on Google Classroom.

AP Literature - The final round of practice prompts are posted for you to peruse. (See what I did there?) Feel free to turn in your essays for my scoring and feedback. Exams begin NEXT WEEK! Be sure that you are ready by following the College Board guidelines. I'll have a recorded lesson later this week on Zoom about final tips for the exam.

AP Research - The last three weeks are upon us before papers are submitted. I look forward to reviewing your paper with you before you submit. Please reach out for any and all assistance you may need.

Lastly - If you've signed up for my texting service, please let your friends who are in our classes know as well. Shoot me a message with your name, and I'll get you signed up for my class reminders via text!

Texting Notifications - Text to Enroll!

Dear Students -

I've set up a number for texting communication and announcements for the rest of the school year. I messaged some of you already today. If you got a message from: 919-864-0294 that's me. If you didn't get a text and would like to enroll, just text your name to that number and I'll reply.

I'm available at this number Monday-Friday from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm (and maybe a bit outside of those times too).

All the best!

End of the Week - May 1, 2020 - Updates/Announcements

Dear Students,

As we begin the month of May, I wanted to reach out with one of my weekly updates. As always, I hope that you are doing well mentally and physically. Remember to try to spend time each day making yourself glad and reflecting on what you find to be thankful for in your life right now.

AP Examinations are coming this month. I've posted a video in Google Classroom for those of you who want a bit of help navigating the new process for this year. Remember that you need your "AP E-Ticket" for each examination, and you need to be logged in thirty minutes before the exam begins. The AP English Literature examination will be held on May 13 at 2:00 PM. I'll continue to review any work that you submit on AP or Google Classroom to prepare you for the examination. AP Research papers are due to Digital Portfolio by the 26th of May.

Russian students - With this week, and the assignments and information I've posted, we have completed the work in our courses for Russian I, II, III, and IV. In the following weeks I will continue to post assignments and tasks for you in order to reinforce your skills with Russian. We'll also be interacting with more Russian texts (songs, stories, poems, videos) in order to stretch ourselves a bit. I will also keep posting lessons for you in DuoLingo.

This week I've started a new book (already about halfway done with it), and I've realized that my coffee consumption has gone WAY up while I've been at home. There's nothing stopping me from just making another pot of coffee these days. I'm also enjoying my runs or mini-workouts on days when it rains.

Continue to take care of yourselves and others. I miss you all! Grades have been finalized for Q3 at this point and all grade changes have been made.

End of Phase 2 - Week Four - 27 April 2020

Good Morning Students,

Welcome to the final week of Phase 2 and the end of April. It certainly has been an interesting month. Who would have been able to guess back in August that this is how we would be ending our school year. Below, I've outlined the assignments that I've posted for you all to complete this week. As in previous weeks I'm available for you all from 1-3 PM for Office Hours as well as from 10-11 AM for AP Research Office Hours.

AP Research

We should be finishing our academic paper at this time and building a plan for final submission by the deadline. I've posted a great video on Google Classroom related to justifying your new argument or understanding. There are other plenty of great videos given by College Board to help you finish up too.

I'm available during Office Hours for you all week. Be sure that if you're ready to do a final review of your paper, that you schedule time with me so that we can read it over together.

AP Literature

I'll be making a lot of grade changes today to your S1 grades. You should see these in PowerSchool once I make them, and I already emailed most of you to let you know of the changes to your scores. This week, I thought we should do something a bit on the fun side. I love that so many of you have been reading on your own over this time away from school. I'm getting emails saying that some of you have read two or three books so far, so let's share some book art.

On Google Classroom you'll find the assignment to complete. It's the same idea as the Book Pamphlets which we discussed before leaving. I've reposted the assignment in Google Classroom and welcome your submissions.

Russian I

I've posted the Unit Assessment for Unit 3 on Google Classroom. This assessment will review the use and creation of adverbs as well as plurals in the nominative case. There are also some DuoLingo assignments that have been unlocked for you which relate to vocabulary skills that have been covered in our textbook so far. Please submit all work via Google Classroom or DuoLingo

Advanced Russian

In Google Classroom I have posted Unit Assessments for Russian II (Chapter Seven) and Russian III (Chapter Nine). There is no assessment for Unit 12 as the assessment is usually covered in the Final Examination for the year. In addition, on DuoLingo there are several additional exercises unlocked for you which deal with related grammar and vocabulary topics. Assignments can be submitted via Google Classroom as well as DuoLingo.

AP Students - Don't forget to login and check your College Board account information. Be sure that your email address is accurate as well your phone number. Exams will begin soon and you need to be sure that you are getting the most accurate information to access your at-home exams.

End of Week Three - April 24, 2020

Dear Students -

I hope that all of you have been able to find some peace and security this week. I had a bit of a downward turn myself this week, but a little bit of time alone to think, reflect, and write about where my feelings were coming from really helped me. It's about learning how to react and adapt to a new situation, and we have to remember that it keeps changing day to day.

Now that Governor Cooper has closed schools for the rest of the year, know that I will continue to provide online opportunities for instruction for you all. I hope that during this time you can find a bit of a chance to learn for learning's sake. Delve into your interests and passions. Investigate and ask questions that spark your curiosity. READ! The Regulator (a great, independent bookstore here in Durham) is still open and processing orders online. I found that they're faster than Amazon right now.

If you are still working on AP or Google Classroom to submit work for scoring, know that I will do a final check on Monday morning. I'll be changing and submitting paperwork on Monday. Some of you have already been contacted as to how grades will be changed in your favor. If I didn't contact you, it was because I did not see evidence of completion of work samples or  I do not have an email on file for you. If you would like to reach out, please do so. I will respond on Monday.

With that being said, I hope that you all will enjoy the weekend. I'm tutoring English to my favorite little Russians tomorrow morning and then tackling my workshop/barn outside. I've got to get that thing organized and this gives me the time to do it, right? I've done really well with food this week - I made everything that I planned to make and ate leftovers for lunch, so tonight I'm getting take-out. I don't know what, just yet...maybe Chinese?

All my best!

DM

Wrapping Up Phase 2 - At Home Instruction

Dear Students - Happy Thursday,

Just as a reminder that if you are trying to improve your Q3 or S1 grade for the year given the work that I have been posting, please be sure that everything you want to have scored has been turned in by the end of the day tomorrow, Friday the 24th.

I'll have everything graded and all points updated in PowerSchool by Tuesday. If you have a question about your grade changes, please let me know and I can review any changes with you.

Remember that AP Examinations are coming! AP English will be held Wednesday the 13th at 2:00 PM. AP Research papers are due to DigitalPortfolio on May 26. The AP Russian Examination is live on June 3 and June 4 - you should see an email from NEWL confirming your registration.

I'll be available for you this week during the morning and in afternoon Office Hours from 1-3 PM.

End of Week Two // 17 April 2020

Happy Friday Students!

I hope that all of you have had a good week filled with some time outside when the weather is on our side and a bit of time for yourself - especially if you're in a crowded house. I've enjoyed hearing from you this week. If we're discussing work, reviewing strategy for the AP Exam, or just talking about books and what we're eating. As always, let me know how I can help and support you all. I'm always here for you, even if I don't see you every day.

Over the weekend, continue to work as you can. Make submissions and ask questions, but remember that I'm not working weekends right now. I'll assess work and respond to questions/comments/emails on Monday. I will also have new assignments posted on Monday. Remember that you can work on assignments from any week, and you don't need to do all parts of the assignments. Use this time to focus on what skills you need to review in advance of AP Exams or in advance of the next phase of your academic career.

I did want to say that any of you who are planning to continue in Russian, know that there will be adjustments made to the beginning of your next Russian course to fill gaps due to this interruption of instruction. Also, Russian students enrolled for the AP Exam, if you would like to be dropped from the examination, please let me know ASAP. I need to have the list finalized by the beginning of May.

Next week is the last week to submit work in order to improve your standing for the academic year so far.

Lastly, on a personal note, here's what I've been doing with my time this week and a few realizations I've made about myself:

• I finished reading Vasily Grossman's Stalingrad, and now I'm on to Michelle Obama's Becoming. I'd recommend both for different reasons. Next on my list is a book called Severance by Ling Ma. It's recommended with a warning by a former student of mine, so I'm looking forward to it.
• I've been playing a LOT of PlayStation. I bought Final Fantasy 7 Remake last week, and it's consuming a lot of time. Confession - I play during Office Hours sometimes if there's nobody working with me. I remember why I was able to stay up later when I was younger; I was usually playing video games deep into the night and holding myself awake with them and the autonomic responses of my fingers. Then, as now, I stand up and the lizard brain takes over. Once I lay down, I'm out.
• On TV I've discovered a show called Women of the House. It stars Delta Burke, whom I just find totally hilarious. It's a spin-off of another show called Designing Women about a group of well, designing women in Atlanta. In the show Suzanne (Burke) is a Republican congresswoman who takes over after her husband dies. It's a weird mix of politics, humor, and the nineties. I'm laughing.
• In terms of music I've rediscovered a musical group called HaDag Nachash. They're Israeli and their name means The Snake Fish in Hebrew. The video below is a good song of theirs that finds its way into my runs this week.
• Realization: I've gotta be doing something, and when I can't do the thing I want to do; I find something close by to fill the gap. Point: I can't get fancy coffees anymore, so I cleaned my espresso machine to make it work 100% again. It took me about an hour to clean that thing. Point: I can't go to the gym anymore, so I run so much more now. I've done 50+ miles this month so far. I've fallen in love with running again - just put on some music and turn my brain to the simple process of left/right and breath in and out. Helpful right now.

Miss you all so much! Let me know what I can do for you!

Beginning of Week Two - Phase Two // 13 April 2020

Good morning everyone! Welcome to Week Two. Today is technically a holiday for Durham Public Schools, so I will not be available today. I will be on my regular schedule for the rest of this week. I have posted the assignments for the week in Google Classroom today and will have everything returned to you by the end of the day tomorrow if there is something waiting for my eyes. For now, let's look at the summary of our week.

AP Research: Complete Week 1 (if needed). Finish paper (original timeline). Review final section guide. Meet with me for final review. Submit paper.

AP English Lit: AP Exam Review Packet - Annotations, Outlines, Responses. Submit one essay to be scored and commented upon.

Russian 1: Begin Chapter Three. Learn about adverbs and how to use and form them. Complete DuoLingo lessons for support.

Russian 2: Begin Chapter Seven. Focus on learning plurals in all cases. Focus on the difficulty of genitive plural (tons of irregularities/exceptions).

Russian 3: Begin Chapter Nine. Using modals and imperatives to tell people what to do. Focus on aspect and how aspect choice leads to mood and emotional connotation. Videos to support.

Russian 4: Begin Chapter Twelve. Final Chapter! Learn about verbs of positioning and placement. Review conjugations.

Remember that we still have AP Examinations (Research, Literature, Advanced Russian) to prepare for and tasks to do in order to keep sharp. I am here to continue to support and help you no matter what it is that you may need right now. Please reach out. I also wanted to say a quick thing about grades.

Seniors - Any work that you submit can be added to your S1 grade. This grade will be used to determine your GPA and class rank for final transcripts this year. You will get a PC19 (Pass due to COVID-19) for the Spring Semester as long as you are passing the class in Q3. If you submit work right now I can add points to S1 or Q3 if you are not already passing Q3. The maximum number of points is TEN.

Underclassmen - Since you are not graduating this year, you will remain focused on your Q3 grade. Any work that you complete right now can be applied to your Q3 grade in order to raise your GPA/Class Rank for the year and earn a credit for the class. Again, the maximum number of points is TEN.

End of Week 1 - Easter Weekend - April 11, 2020

I meant to post this yesterday, but I got carried away with my new video game, so my apologies are included as well.

We're at the end of Week 1 of Supplemental Instruction. I appreciate everyone of you so much, and will continue to give feedback to any and all assignments submitted - no matter when they are submitted. Feel free to continue to use these assignments to focus on the skills you find necessary or needing improvement.

I'll be posting new work on Monday and returning everything submitted over the weekend. Monday is a holiday for DPS, but I will be working a bit. I also have appointments settled for Monday which will be kept. Starting Tuesday I'll be back on regular schedule for Office Hours and recordings/lessons.

As always, let me know what I can do for you.

Tuesday, April 7, 2020 - Happy Passover!

Happy Tuesday Everyone!

I appreciate that I am seeing you all working and turning in assignments for feedback. As always, let me know what I can do to support you right now. I wanted to let everyone know that tomorrow (April 8th) will begin Passover. I'll be busy all day cleaning and cooking, so I'll be taking the day off and won't be available. I will return work with feedback for the rest of today and on Thursday.

Chag Pesach! Happy Passover!

Beginning Phase 2 - Online/At-Home Instruction

Good Morning Students!

All classes in Google Classroom have been updated with assignments for Week One of Phase Two. If I've given too much to do, let me know. It's a bit of an adjustment for us all right now. I'll be making recordings later today for each class to go over what is available for you all. Those should be posted later today.

Here's a brief overview of our week in each class.

AP Research: Check-in on your progress in completing your paper. Reflect on where we are. Prepare for what's ahead with conclusions.

AP English Lit: Finish Twelfth Night and working on Question 3 and poetry. Prepare for modified AP Examination with literary devices. Keep working on writing skills.

Russian I: Finish working with Chapter Two. Unit assessments. Practice on DuoLingo for cases and vocabulary needs. Culture.

Advanced Russian: Finish working with Chapter Six/Ten. Unit assessments. Practice on DuoLingo for verbs, cases, and vocabulary needs. Finishing Anna Karenina.

All week I'm available for you from 1-3 PM for Office Hours. Other availability this week is below:

Wednesday: 9-10 AM - AP Literature: Media Talk
Tuesday-Friday: 10-11 AM - AP Research: Extra Office Hours
Wednesday: 11-12 PM - Russian: Grammar/Vocabulary Help Session

Friday: 9-10 AM - AP Literature: Feedback on the Week
Friday: 11-12 PM - Russian: Feedback on the Week

If you need me outside of these times please let me know. I can be flexible!

IMPORTANT FORMS - Please Complete (ALL CLASSES)

Dear Students -

As we transition out of Phase I of Online Instruction to Phase II it is important that I have accurate contact information and that I provide you the instruction that you want and need. So, I have two forms below for you to complete to help with that.

Parent/Student Contact Information - I left my binder at school with all of my contact sheets and updated information. PowerSchool is ridiculously out of date. Please complete this form!

Online Instruction Phase II Requests - I want to make sure that you get what you need, as always. Please complete this form and let me know what I can do to support you during this time.

Thank you for your help with this.

Week 2 - Supplemental Instruction

Good Morning Everyone! Welcome to Week 2!

This week we're going to proceed much as last week with our schedule and recordings. See below for information related to your own particular class.

AP English Literature (9-10 am): Today we'll review some important information and the assignments in AP Classroom that are unlocked. Then, we'll take a look at the released materials from Friday from College Board. Through the week we'll continue to look at the released materials in our own way, review important skills, and maybe get into some of our own text choices (what we're reading, other authors outside of the AP released ones). Remember that there is an important announcement from College Board on Friday related to AP Exams

AP Research (10-11 am): This is a working week. If you are needing to complete revisions to earlier steps in your process due to school closing, come and check in so that we can get some of that done together. If you are continuing to move forward as normal, remember that I'm available for drafting and review. Please think about times that would work in the next two weeks as possible peer editing times - especially if the normal window for this class doesn't fit in your schedule.

Russian (11-12 pm): I'll be unlocking new assignments on DuoLingo today and then we'll be looking at some of the verb conjugation work that pairs logically with the work we did on plurals. First we're mining for verbs from our vocabulary list, then conjugating and reviewing. This week we'll focus more on translation and using the language to accomplish key skills since we've reviewed the case functions/declensions.

See your specific classes for handouts/posts/recordings. Don't forget that I have office hours this week from 1-3 PM. I won't be available Monday after 2:30 PM because of a Leadership Team meeting. Below you'll find our Zoom room link!

March 26 - Zoom Lessons/Recordings and General Information

Happy Thursday Everyone! Though do the days of the week really mean much to anyone anymore? Today I posted recordings on Google Classroom for each of the groups. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns related to any of this.

Remember that I'm available from 1-3 PM for Office Hours. We can review this work or just chat about anything you'd like.

AP English Literature: Today we took a look at the poem posted by College Board and the writing task. We did some close reading and analysis to really deal with how elements of a poem's structure are connected to meaning. Tomorrow we'll take a look at some of the materials posted for today as well as other feedback related to AP Classroom assignments.

AP Research: Today we built two calendars and discussed what a final assessment may look like given that there are no more PODs. One calendar is for those who aren't really affected by the school closure/national shutdown; the other is for those on the other side of that line. Please keep in mind that we still have working days in our calendar where you can conference and ask questions.

Russian Language: We discussed the main usages for nominative, genitive, and prepositional cases as well as some new/review vocabulary. A lot of what we're doing is just reviewing and reinforcing the basics. Tomorrow we'll go over the other cases. Remember that you have access to DuoLingo for free and you can join our class so that you can do focused lessons. Ask for the code if you need it.

Signing Off - Wednesday the 25th

I was going to do this thing where I recorded a Zoom message, but then I realized today that it takes forever to upload those, so it's best to do that sparingly and as needed.

I'm signing off for today! Thank you students for attending class and for sending emails and messages. I am so appreciative and thankful for all of you. Please help me by reaching out to your classmates. Let them know what's going on, check in on each other, and let them know that I'm here to support you as much as I can!

Please continue to complete the form related to the AP Examination posted below. I've also recorded lessons and have another tomorrow to be uploaded. As content for more of those recordings - I created a Needs Assessment form. Let me know what else we can do in the mornings to review and reinforce what we know.

Keep working on your assignments posted on Google Classroom and AP Classroom as much as you can! I always enjoy reading what you write and giving feedback to help you grow further.

Take care of yourselves and your loved ones! I look forward to seeing you tomorrow!

AP Students - Form to Complete

Dear AP Students -

Please complete this form so that I can see potential needs for completing AP Examinations at home. This is a MUST DO. If you do not respond to the form I will make contact to check on your needs. Please help me by telling others about this form. You should do this for each of your AP classes.

I've also posted this in Google Classroom.

Starting Week 1 - Assignments Posted / Online Lessons

Dear Students -

Assignments have been posted in Google Classroom for all classes for this week. I'll be available tomorrow via ZOOM and will post the link and schedule for online classes this week tomorrow.

You can also email me questions or leave comments on the class posts in Google Classroom. Remember that all previously assigned work is on PAUSE for the time being. You can submit any of this work and we can conference over it and review it together. This is a great thing to do this week in the afternoons during open time.

AP Students have access to free online lessons that align with topics to be covered on the modified AP Examinations. Currently for my students there are only lessons for AP English Literature. When there are lessons for Research, I'll post those too. Here is the schedule:

AP English Literature and Composition:

Wednesday, March 25, 2020 - 12−12:45 p.m. ET:  Explain the function of structure in a text.

Thursday, March 26, 2020 - 12−12:45 p.m. ET: Explain the function of contrasts within a text.

Friday, March 27, 2020 - 12−12:45 p.m. ET: Explain the function of specific words and phrases in a text.

I hope that you all are doing well. I look forward to seeing some of you this week during our online classes and meeting times.

March 21 - Outline of Week 1 / AP Updates

Dear Students,

Monday is an annual leave day for teachers. I will have the assignments posted for the week as well as the schedule for my availability during the week posted for you then. If you need to reach me outside of the scheduled time for your class, feel free to drop me an email to set up an alternative time for meeting. Please check your AP Classroom pages (AP English students) as well as Google Classroom pages for work and announcements.

I will be available daily on ZOOM at certain periods for each of my classes. Consider these classroom hours where you can drop in and we can work to review material, go over work that you have already submitted, or whatever else you may need. You might want to go ahead and get ZOOM set up on your computer now. Here is my schedule for Week 1:

Monday - No Availability (Annual Leave Day)
Tuesday through Thursday - Morning 9:00 am - 12:00 pm // Afternoon 2:00 - 4:00 pm
Friday - Morning 9:00 am - 12:00 pm // Afternoon 1:00 - 3:00 pm

Mornings will be scheduled for each of the classes (please see Google Classroom) and afternoons are drop-in time. Remember to come to my ZOOM ROOM (sorry, ya'll, but the dad jokes are going to get worse before they get better).

AP Updates - The College Board has made significant changes to the examinations this year in order to accommodate the loss of instructional time due to COVID-19. Here are an outline of those changes as it applies to English and Research. Full information is at their website!

AP English Literature - At home examination consisting of free-response questions that cover Units 1-7 (don't worry, we've covered these as AP Units do not equal Mr. Miller Units). The examination will be 45 minutes.

AP Research - No Presentation/Oral Defense, you'll just submit your academic paper as your examination score.  The deadline to submit has been pushed by about a month to May 26 at 11:59 Eastern Time. This should give those of you who need time to make and execute contingency plans the ability to do so.

March 18 - Update - DPS Announcement

Dear Students,

I hope that you all are doing well during this time. I know that my own anxieties have been activated over the last few days, but I'm doing what I can in order to mitigate those worries and keep myself and others safe and healthy. I've been reading outside, doing some work to set up these next few weeks for us, and spending time with Zoe.

Durham Public Schools has given us further guidance about what instruction will look like during this time. We teachers are not permitted to give grades for assignments given or collected during this time. This is a time for us to focus on reviewing the information and skills we have already learned. For this reason I am suspending the assignments already given to you all. All of the work that was to be collected to close out the third quarter will be collected at a later date. I would suggest that you finish these assignments quickly (if you can) so that you can submit them to be scored at a later date.

Beginning on Monday I will start to post lessons/activities/materials in our various Google Classroom pages. I will also post a schedule of my availability via phone, Google Hangout, and Zoom conference for those of you who need to ask questions or would like to review the activities with me. I will give you feedback for whatever you submit, but no grades will be given during this time.

If you have assignments from earlier in the quarter that you would like to resubmit, please wait until we have further guidance about grades during this quarter. I will collect any work, but I will not be able to issue grades until I have further feedback about this situation.

As always, please reach out if you need something. I'll do what I can!

DM

Russian Update // Русские новости

Russian Students

I'm going to set up DuoLingo classroom spaces for you all to access lessons to keep up with recent topics. See the attachments on Google Classroom for instructions on how to access.

Updates for All Classes - 13 March - Before the Closure

AP Research

Welcome to crazy town everyone. Over the next few days (or weeks) I hope that all of you stay safe and secure. Remember to think and be smart. Don't panic. Plan! Don't freak out. Focus!

You should continue to move forward with your work for this class as it related to your Academic Paper and Presentation/Oral Defense. I have posted the reflection questions in the document to take you to the end of the quarter. Additionally, I have posted PREP Check 3.2 to outline what is due for your final PREP Check. Be aware that you will need to be creative in your approach to peer editing during this time, but I think that you can do it.


Once I have an idea of the expectation related to instruction, I'll let you know. Let's just keep moving forward with what we know we need to do. Remember, 46 days are left until we submit!

AP Literature

If you did not complete your sonnet group projects today and submit them, please be sure that they are submitted by the end of the day on Monday so that I can assess them and get them in the gradebook for you all. Remember that we will not be evaluating each other as members of the group. Since we are not able to present in person, I would like for you to submit a recording of what you would say to accompany your slide. You could also submit a video with your slides if you would like.

Outside of this be sure that you are finishing Twelfth Night in advance of our timed writing on this text. I'll post reading and analysis guides for you next week. The timed writing will likely be the final assessment for Q3. We will return and jump into our independent novels. Go ahead and get started on your pamphlet, heck, go ahead and read a few extra books if you can!


Stay safe during this time, I'll keep you all updated as I learn more.

Russian I

Today in class we took time to work on our floor plan projects to close out Quarter 3. If you did not finish and submit your floor plan project, there is a space for you to turn it in electronically on Google Classroom.

Advanced Russian

I hope to see all of you very soon. Stay tuned to this website as well as your Google Classroom pages as that's where I'll be posting my updates for our classes.

Homework for the Weekend - B Day - 12 March 2020

AP Literature

Today in class we had a day for group work. First we completed our review of Act 3, Scene 4 via a translation into a more modern context. From there, we went into our Sonnet Group Presentations in order to prepare for the final presentations on 3/24 and 3/26. Please be sure that you have downloaded and shared the templates amongst your group. The project is due by 3/23.

Over the weekend, prepare for your assessment on Act II, III, and Sonnets. There are also vocabulary cards due. This also is a great weekend to get ahead on your reading for the Companion Novel Assignment.

Stay safe! Stay sanitized! I'm sorry that our field trip was cancelled, I'll have refunds to you as soon as I can.

AP Research

Today was a day to kick-off Unit 5. This unit's goal is for us to have ample time in class for us to finish the work that we are doing in this classroom. Remember that your paper is the key because the POD is based off of your paper. I hope that our reading of a paper today was helpful for you. The takeaways related to the METHOD/LIT REVIEW/RESULTS and connections between these sections were key. You may find it helpful to reflect on all the papers we've read today as you consider what you need moving forward. If you need another sample paper, please ask and I'll find what I can.


Tonight, complete Reflection 23. This is the end of Week 23. Tonight you should complete writing through to METHOD (perhaps revising based on what we saw today) and start to outline your RESULTS section. We'll be doing some PEER EDITING on the 18th after our next work day. Be ready!

Homework for A Day Students - 11 March 2020

AP Research

Today was a day to kick-off Unit 5. This unit's goal is for us to have ample time in class for us to finish the work that we are doing in this classroom. Remember that your paper is the key because the POD is based off of your paper. I hope that our reading of a paper today was helpful for you. The takeaways related to the METHOD/LIT REVIEW/RESULTS and connections between these sections were key. You may find it helpful to reflect on all the papers we've read today as you consider what you need moving forward. If you need another sample paper, please ask and I'll find what I can.


Tonight, complete Reflection 23. This is the end of Week 23. Tonight you should complete writing through to METHOD (perhaps revising based on what we saw today) and start to outline your RESULTS section. We'll be doing some PEER EDITING on the 17th after tomorrow's work day. Be ready!

Russian I

Today we had a great day learning some new grammar/vocabulary as well as playing with dominoes to see the matches we can make in Russian for agreement. Remember that some of our words can be wild-cards -- they work with any gender and case.

For tonight you should finish your house project floor plan and a rough draft paragraph. You'll turn this in to me on Friday before the quiz so that I can check for completion and mark any errors. We will have our quiz on Friday - it will cover adjectives and their endings. I think that you'll be prepared if you keep studying your charts.


Outside of this, focus on vocabulary. We'll be wrapping up the quarter soon. Be sure to check for any missing work.

Advanced Russian

Today in class we had a day to work with music and find lots of language related to our verbs of motion. I enjoyed seeing a lot of you really listening intently, and finding that you were able to understand a bit of these songs once you focused on the grammar you know. This is a great type of activity to learn how to use language and grammar more conversationally.

Tonight, you should all focus on your projects. You should walk into class with a ROUGH DRAFT of one of your stages of your journey. Use the slides to see the example. Follow the template and remember that you're writing only A and B type sentences for the stages.


Your unit examination is going to fall on the 23rd of March. The projects will be due shortly. I'll have a unit study guide for you soon.

Homework for B Day Students - 10 March 2020

AP Literature

Today in class we had time to review the various ways in which language is manipulated to create meaning in Shakespeare's sonnet as well as in key moments of Act 3. We finished our day by watching the comedy come alive as worked through the Globe Theatre production.

For tonight you should spend time reviewing Act II and III in advance of the assessment on Monday. Remember that vocabulary cards will also be collected. The tenth card can be one of your own choosing. Remember that we have multiple major assignments coming up soon to prepare for including a timed writing, MCQ, and our group presentation. Next class you should be coming in with a clear idea of what your portion of the presentation will be.



AP Research

Today was our final working day for this unit. Hopefully by the end of today you were able to get to the point that you are either done with your POD/PAPER through to the data section. If you don't have this complete, I hope that you have a clear plan by which to complete this.

I will be checking all PREP Documents for you today. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Be sure that you are continuing to work as you can daily to maintain your progress toward your eventual goals.


Our next drafting workshop will occur on March 16. We'll take another look at another sample paper before then. We also have another round of pitches coming up soon! Be ready to keep going through the process!

Homework for A-Day -- Spring Forward -- 9 March 2020

AP Research

Today was our final working day for this unit. Hopefully by the end of today you were able to get to the point that you are either done with your POD/PAPER through to the data section. If you don't have this complete, I hope that you have a clear plan by which to complete this.

I will be checking all PREP Documents for you today. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Be sure that you are continuing to work as you can daily to maintain your progress toward your eventual goals.


Our next drafting workshop will occur on March 13. We'll take another look at another sample paper before then. We also have another round of pitches coming up soon! Be ready to keep going through the process!

Russian I

We did so many things today in our classroom today! We were designing our Russian houses, we were practicing with our grammar through a quick exercise review, and we were also doing some culture as we celebrated International Women's Day. I hope that the women in your lives enjoy the cards you wrote for them.

Tonight for homework our main goal is to prepare for Friday's quiz. You'll be quizzed on your adjective case endings. Can you do the exercises? Can you finish them? This is a great practice for you. Also, use the example paragraph to complete a rough draft of your project paragraphs. Come in next class with at least one of your paragraphs done.

Wednesday will be our last review day before our quiz on Friday.

Advanced Russian

Today in class we had a day to work on our projects (and to look at an example version of the writing) as well as to review our translations related to verbs of motion in our chapters. Tonight, there are a few tasks for you to complete in order to prepare for Wednesday.

First, remember that your reassessments of your quiz are due next class. You can also put rubles on your assessment. We will be taking our unit exam around the 23rd of March, so remember that these quizzes are your way to prepare. Second, you should be able to write the rough drafts for your projects tonight. Follow the project guidelines and the sample paragraph. That will help a lot as you finish your work.

Next class we'll spend time with some real Russian texts that use verbs of motion, should be an interesting day to say the least.

AP English Homework

Today we did a close reading/discussion of Act 3 Scene 1, with special attention to questions of language. We also watched and had an initial discussion of scenes 2 and 3. For homework, read closely act 3 scene 4 and reread sonnet 94. Start reviewing Act 2 and 3 for an upcoming quiz. Collaborate with your group members in becoming experts on your Shakespearean and companion sonnets.

Homework for A Day Students - Weekend - 5 March

AP Research

Dear students! Please turn in your documents for your PREP Check 3.1 to Google Classroom. If you don't turn them in by Sunday, I'll go hunting in your portfolio for what I need. As a reminder you should submit your:

• Data Sets/Planned Data Sets (depending on where you are in the collection process)
• Task Log
• Reflections to Number 21
• Record of Communication (Expert Adviser and Participants - If none, say none.)
• Paper Draft to Method Section

This is forty points for completion. This is also a good weekend to check on everything! Be sure that you have POD Slides started, you've revised your paper, you're continuing to get ahead for what you have coming next!

Russian Classes

I hope that you all enjoyed your day with Russian culture and investigations. If you did not turn in your work to the substitute today in class, then give it to me on Monday. Remember that next week we will have quizzes (Russian I) and the days to complete our grammar/vocabulary project (Russian I-IV). This weekend is a good one to study vocabulary, complete exercises, and work on your projects.

Homework for B-Day Students -- 4 March 2020

AP Literature


Today we read and discussed various features of Sonnet 55 (including meter, scanning, caesura, assonance, enjambment, and other devices). The best way to get a handle on iambic pentameter is to memorize a perfectly metrical line and always have it ready to hand (mine is: "she is as in a field a silken tent"). Some lines in Shakespeare are not always perfect, which can affect meaning. Then you all gave me some great starts for your pitches for the sonnet projects. We will keep fine-tuning this as we go along, but I was impressed by your attention to the companion sonnets. We then began watching a different version of TN, Act 3 scene 1. This scene is pretty complicated! We did not get to discuss it in its entirety. I would like everyone to use the viewing guide to review/reread the scene, in addition to Scenes 2 and 3, for Friday. We will also talk about Sonnet 94. Be sure to annotate!!! Point out devices, key words, images, anything that stands out, and comment on what you observe. See you Friday!

AP Research

Good Afternoon All! Today was a day to begin our conferences and our check on data check. We will finish these on Friday with Mr. Ellison leading the conversation. I want to remind all of you that you are having your first PREP Check this weekend. I'll be looking at four folders for documentation. These are as follows:

1. Research Records - I should see data sets here. Even if they are blank, they should be here.

2. Records of Communication - Participants and Expert Advisers should be logged here.

3. Weekly Work - 21 Reflections. Task Log updated to most recent tasks.

4. Assessment Task Drafts - A draft through the method section.

Homework for (Super) Tuesday - 3 March 2020 - A Day

AP Research

Good Morning All! Today was a day to begin our conferences and our check on data check. We will finish these on Thursday. I want to remind all of you that you are having your first PREP Check this weekend. I'll be looking at four folders for documentation. These are as follows:

1. Research Records - I should see data sets here. Even if they are blank, they should be here.
2. Records of Communication - Participants and Expert Advisers should be logged here.
3. Weekly Work - 21 Reflections. Task Log updated to most recent tasks.

4. Assessment Task Drafts - A draft through the method section.

Russian I

Today in class we had a day to review our case endings and to begin on our grammar and vocabulary project - The House of My Dreams / Дом Моей Мечты. For this project you need five rooms and two items. You should use adjectives to describe everything, especially in your writing. We'll take a look at a sample paragraph next week.

I also reviewed the quiz goals for next week Wednesday. Make sure that you're reviewing your charts and grammar packets daily to be ready for the quiz. Working with the exercises that I've assigned are also helpful.


I'll be available for extra help on Monday and Tuesday for the quiz. You'll get progress reports on Thursday!

Advanced Russian

Today in class we did a bit of everything. We now have our paper that goes over ALL of the prepositions we can use with verbs of motion and Russian III/IV students learned the last few verbs of motion in the language. Remember - I will never ask you ask you about these words; they're just for extension and awareness.

From there we moved to review our translation exercise to see A, B and C type sentences and how to transform them into Russian. We finished with a review of our most recent quizzes and our newest project.


Next class we'll have time with Anna as well as time to work on the project assigned today. This will be your first in-class workshop, so remember there's just one left after that.

Homework for B-Day Students - 2 March 2020

AP Literature

Today we watched and discussed Twelfth Night 2.5. We discussed complexities in Malvolio's character and the various ways in which the comedy functions (physical, props, wordplay). We also talked about some strategies for comparing sonnets. Pitches Wednesday! Be sure to see the final slide to review your homework before next class. Read and be ready for that!

AP Research

Today was our day to start to talk about DATA! And I don't mean the android from Star Trek. Today we started to build our data tables - think about our organization - and consider how to make our data digestible to our readers (bite-sized). Take all of this forward as you're working this weekend. Remember that as we work we are building the next section of our paper - RESULTS.


I've posted Reflection 21 for you to complete. Remember that you should also check in on your previous POD Questions. Next week I'll be checking your PREP Folders for your first check - have everything ready and organized for me.

Homework for A-Day Students - 28 February 2020

February is over! It's on to March. Also, we're at the middle of the quarter, expect progress reports next week! The quarter will end on March 26 for all classes.

AP Research

Today was our day to start to talk about DATA! And I don't mean the android from Star Trek. Today we started to build our data tables - think about our organization - and consider how to make our data digestible to our readers (bite-sized). Take all of this forward as you're working this weekend. Remember that as we work we are building the next section of our paper - RESULTS.


I've posted Reflection 21 for you to complete. Remember that you should also check in on your previous POD Questions. Next week I'll be checking your PREP Folders for your first check - have everything ready and organized for me.

Russian I

Remember to turn in your poet projects this weekend if you haven't yet done so! They should be turned in by Sunday to be scored as on-time!

Today in class we learned our case endings for the rest of the cases for adjectives - Dative Case and Instrumental Case. Remember that these cases are used for indirect objects (Dative) and with tools (Instrumental). From there, we went on to working with our film.


Over the weekend you should finish all of Exercise 2.9 focusing on your case endings. We also have a bit of a scavenger hunt this weekend with a song. Look at the song lyrics, listen to the song, and find all of the adjectives you can! Try to identify which case they are in. I posted the song here so that you can listen as you read.

Advanced Russian

Today in class we had our second assessment on Verbs of Motion in Russian. I will have these scored and back to you soon. Hopefully you all felt more prepared this time around than our first quiz as we are continuing to learn and focus on our process of creating sentences in Russian about our motions and travels. Over the weekend there are two things for you to accomplish: First, submit your poet projects. They should be turned in to Google Classroom. I've attached the slides here for your overview of the project. Second, complete your translations. Russian II should just do the ones on the front. Russian III/IV should do the ones on the front and the back. We'll take some time to review these on Tuesday - if you're unsure, give it a try and then ask me for help.

Homework for the Weekend - 27 February 2020 - B Day

AP Literature

Today was a day to focus on language and its usage in Act 2, Scene 4 as we understand some of what is going on between Orsino and Viola/Cesario. It's also an important day for us to look at the way in which comedy can be used in order to open up a text and make us question some of the actions of our characters in this play.

For tonight/the weekend there are a few things to be aware of. First, finish reading and reviewing Act 2. We'll finish our study of Scene 5 in class on Monday. Check in with your notes and viewing guides. Remember that we're combining the Act II Quiz with Act III. This is also a time to make sure that your vocabulary cards are complete for Act II. Secondly, collaborate with your group and consider your companion sonnet. Next class you'll be able to make your pitch. Lastly, take a look at Sonnet 53. What do you notice about the structure? What do you notice about the style Shakespeare uses?


Any missing assignments should be completed/submitted by Tuesday, at the latest.

AP Research

Today was our day for another round of Peer Editing. Thank you for giving thoughtful feedback to your classmates and for your feedback to me about ways that we can make the class productive moving forward. We have THREE sections left in our paper. But thankfully, they'll go pretty quickly - all we need is the DATA! So, here are my suggestions for tonight:

1. Spend some time with your PREP Folder. Remember that next week I'll check them. Have updates in your required folders (Weekly Work, Research Records, Assessment Task Drafts). Also, be sure that all of your reflections are complete.

2. Work on your POD slides. Do you have slides that line up with where your paper is?


3. Get your data sets together. Next class we'll start to discuss and consider ways to represent our data for our reader/viewer. Bring in what you have, even if it's empty, so that we can build what we need!

Homework for A Day Students - 26 February 2020

AP Research

Today was our day for another round of Peer Editing. Thank you for giving thoughtful feedback to your classmates and for your feedback to me about ways that we can make the class productive moving forward. We have THREE sections left in our paper. But thankfully, they'll go pretty quickly - all we need is the DATA! So, here are my suggestions for tonight:

1. Spend some time with your PREP Folder. Remember that next week I'll check them. Have updates in your required folders (Weekly Work, Research Records, Assessment Task Drafts). Also, be sure that all of your reflections are complete.

2. Work on your POD slides. Do you have slides that line up with where your paper is?


3. Get your data sets together. Next class we'll start to discuss and consider ways to represent our data for our reader/viewer. Bring in what you have, even if it's empty, so that we can build what we need!

Russian I

Today we had our quiz on colors and then we tried to finish our poet cultural projects. Remember that if you didn't finish your project today in class that they are due by the end of the weekend. We then took some time to start on exercises together. Exercise 2.9 is a great one to work on your case knowledge. Use your charts and your information in your textbooks.


Be sure that you're studying the other vocabulary in the Chapter - other adjectives and nouns. Next week we'll begin to work on our grammar project for this unit!

Russian II, III, IV

Today in class we did some review of A, B, C type sentences and the various destinations for these types of action. I was happy with the work that you all did because I think that you clearly understand that A sentences can do A work, B can only do B, and C can only do C. Remember that there should be alignment between the question and the answer. Also, remember to use the preposition after the verb to create a complete sentence/idea.


Your quiz will be on Friday. Using your notes will cost you 500 rubles. Be prepared. Study and review your activities and exercises. Please finish your poetry projects before Sunday. They are due!

Homework for B Day Students - 25 February 2020

AP Literature

Today was a class geared around sonnet analysis and skill as we worked through Sonnet 29 in class and then went forward with our sonnet analysis projects. Remember that in the project you should work to compare and contrast a Shakespearean sonnet with one of your own choosing. The sonnets should have something in common (theme/image/tone/idea) and some difference as well. There are roles for each people in the group.

For tonight be sure to read Act 2, Scene 5. This is the scene where the plot against Malvolio goes. Pay attention to the humor and comedy - consider the idea of comedy at someone's expense. Is it still funny? Additionally, be sure that any missing work is turned in this week so that I can update and complete the gradebook this weekend.


Be sure to see us with any questions or concerns.

AP Research

Today was our working day to prepare for our Peer Review 3.0 Day. Next class you will be expected to have a full draft of your Introduction+Literature Review and Method. Hopefully after our work on crafting Literature Reviews and the templates/requirements of a Literature Review, you feel more prepared. Check out Reflection 20 - It's a good question to use as you draft or review your draft.

Have a full copy of your draft as a hard copy or as a full document in Assessment Task Drafts.


Our next classes will focus on data analysis, data sets, and data visualization. It's time to finish our process and move on! Remember the elements of your PREP folder which should be updated as you are working.

Homework for A Day Students - 24 February 2020

After an unexpected long weekend I am ready to go! Let's conquer the end of February!

AP Research

Today was our working day to prepare for our Peer Review 3.0 Day. Next class you will be expected to have a full draft of your Introduction+Literature Review and Method. Hopefully after our work on crafting Literature Reviews and the templates/requirements of a Literature Review, you feel more prepared. Check out Reflection 20 - It's a good question to use as you draft or review your draft.

Have a full copy of your draft as a hard copy or as a full document in Assessment Task Drafts.


Our next classes will focus on data analysis, data sets, and data visualization. It's time to finish our process and move on! Remember the elements of your PREP folder which should be updated as you are working.

Russian I

Today we spent time looking over Accusative case endings for adjectives before having a small writing workshop and then going on to our film. We'll likely finish the movie this week. Be ready for your quiz next class by studying your colors! Know your words and how to hear the gender of the word. It's a vocabulary quiz, not a grammar quiz, so just focus on learning the meaning of the words and their spelling.


Outside of this continue to focus on your endings. Hopefully the word wall helps. Trying to focus daily on one case makes the work a lot easier.

Advanced Russian

Today in class we focused on A and C type sentences as we reflected on a series of travel in the past and then the general round trip made by those actions. We spent time also reviewing our paired prepositions - remember we have to talk about going FROM and TO a place. It's important to have both sides of the equation. I'll review your in-class work tonight and have it ready for you next class.


For tonight, finish the exercises which we started in class. Also be aware of our quiz on Friday! It will look similar to the last quiz. Use our last quiz to study and prepare. This quiz will focus on the verbs that are newer - to lead, to swim, to fly, to run.

Snow Day 2 - 2/21/2020

With the way my neighborhood looks, I would expect a normal day on Monday. Remember that our next school day will be an A day. The ACT is scheduled for Tuesday for all juniors - it will run first through third period.

See the post below to review what you should be working on. I've begun to score AP Literature Poetry Critical Analysis Projects. If you are missing this project, please submit via Google Classroom/Drive. The gradebook is updated for other assignments.

Enjoy the long weekend!

Snow Day 1 - 20 February 2020

Tomorrow we have our first snow day of the year with the predicted snow. I, as always, am skeptical of its arrival. Continue to work on the assignments outlined in the most recent posts. Certain classes should be aware of shifted dates as outlined below:

AP Research - Our writing workshop will be pushed back a day to accommodate a workshop day before peer review day. I do want you to have a hard copy of your paper for this round of peer review, let me know if you need me to print for you.

Russian I - We will only have our quiz if our next class is a full ninety minute class. У нас будет контрольная работа только если у нас будет девяносто минут на занятие.

AP Literature - Read your sonnet and Shakespeare. Enjoy! Get caught up if needed and submit work online.

Advanced Russian - Prepare for your upcoming quiz and work on your poet projects. Remember that the date of Olympiada is the same!

Homework for B-Day / 19 February 2020

AP Literature

Today in class we spent our time with a close reading of Sonnet 18 and then some critical viewing of the Globe Theatre. We studied Act 2, Scene 2 and 3 - a very critical scene in Twelfth Night as the conflict and the plot is getting developed.

For tonight, you should continue with reading. We have Sonnet 29 and Act 2, Scene 4. Things for reading are available in the slides. Be sure that you are building your vocabulary cards - you should do one per scene.

If you have any missing work it should be turned in this week.

AP Research

Today was an important day. If you were absent, be sure to see me for the handouts that you missed and to see your classmates for the information as well. Our mini-lesson was geared on the Literature Review and how to create that section of the paper. Be sure to see the slides and the templates below.


Next class will be a full workday. We will also finish any conferences that we need to. There will be a drafting day on Tuesday. Be ready with your Intro + Lit Review and Method section ready to go!

Homework for A-Day Students / 18 February 2020

AP Research

Today was an important day. If you were absent, be sure to see me for the handouts that you missed and to see your classmates for the information as well. Our mini-lesson was geared on the Literature Review and how to create that section of the paper. Be sure to see the slides and the templates below.


Next class will be a full workday. We will also finish any conferences that we need to. There will be a drafting day on Monday. Be ready with your Intro + Lit Review and Method section ready to go!

Russian I

Today in class we worked on reviewing the differences between our nouns and our adjectives as we looked at the endings available to us as we activate cases. From there, we spent time with our poet projects. By the end of today's class you should have selected a poet and set up your slides on that poet. I hope that all of you will enjoy this quick foray into Russian literature and culture. Be careful - this is how I got started in Russian!


Tonight, be sure that you complete your exercises on Nominative, Genitive, and Prepositional Cases. Learn your colors. We'll have a quick spelling quiz next class, then on to our new grammar and our movie!

Advanced Russian

We did a lot today! We learned our final verb of motion (to run) and we also learned that Mr. Miller can't conjugate the verb after seventeen years with it. From there we took time to work on the poet culture project. Remember that these projects will be due next week.


After that, we spent time reviewing our quiz. As we did this we were focused on cases (accusative or dative) and the idea of the A, B, and C type sentences. Remember that identifying the sentence type is so important to do this work. Look for your clues in English! Tonight, check in with your new exercises and keep studying your verb cards. We'll have our second quiz on Verbs of Motion next week on Friday. It will be similar to this one we reviewed today, but will focus on newer verbs.

Homework for Monday - 17 February - B Day

AP Literature

Dear Students - Remember that poetry projects are due today to Google Classroom or via hard copy. If you need an extension, I hope that you have already asked for it. Remember that you can submit multiple files on Google Classroom if needed.

For tonight you should read Sonnet 18 and Act 2, Scene 2 and 3. Remember that you are also constructing a vocabulary card for each scene of Shakespeare. They'll be collected at the end of the act. For ideas of what to read for - see the last slide of the set for your anchors.


See you Wednesday!

AP Research

We're just working, working, working as we keep building our task. Remember that you should complete your BOK Analysis and then the two reflections left for you on Google Classroom. Remember that one will focus on presentation, and one will focus on alignment in the paper. Take a look at your findings and takeaways on this assignment. Be sure to use this as you're building your Lit Review. (We'll focus on this next class).

We'll be peer editing our papers on the 25th. Be sure that you have a complete introduction, lit review, and method (as much as possible). Remember that you can write based on projections and then make edits later.

Homework for A Day Students - Weekend - Valentine's Day - 2/14/2020

AP Research

We're just working, working, working as we keep building our task. Remember that you should complete your BOK Analysis and then the two reflections left for you on Google Classroom. Remember that one will focus on presentation, and one will focus on alignment in the paper. Take a look at your findings and takeaways on this assignment. Be sure to use this as you're building your Lit Review. (We'll focus on this next week).


We'll be peer editing our papers on the 24th. Be sure that you have a complete introduction, lit review, and method (as much as possible). Remember that you can write based on projections and then make edits later.

Russian I

Today in class was a day to review the way in which we build complete sentences and agreement between adjectives and nouns. Remember that we're using our Chapter 1 knowledge to know what to do with nouns and our Chapter 2 knowledge to know what to do with adjectives. Keep studying and reviewing how to make these changes.


I was happy to see your improvement on the Backpack assignment. I'll have these back to you soon. Please complete your exercises this weekend - Chapter 2, Exercise 2 and 4 - Use your cases and notes to do this work. Remember to focus on learning your colors - we'll have a quiz on vocabulary next week!

Advanced Russian

Class today was a day for playing with verbs of motion to talk about traveling around Moscow. As we worked with this activitiy we were using actual Russian texts (maps) to talk about our travels. Remember our process - We use A sentences to talk about plans (What we will do.) We use B sentences to talk about going (travel to a destination in the moment). We use C sentences to talk about round trips (Today I went to the Kremlin).

Remember Russian III and IV, it's not enough to use the prefix - you need a preposition too!


Over the weekend, continue to study your cards and complete the remaining exercises. We'll have more time to work with our verbs next week. Don't forget to make corrections to your quizzes for a reassessment.

Homework for the Weekend - B Day Students - 13 February

AP Literature

Our main task for the weekend is to complete the Poetry Critical Analysis assignment. These are due on Monday. You can submit your work electronically or on hard copy (or you can do both if needed). Remember that you must have two citations for this - the poem itself and the criticism. Both will be cited in your analysis.


Be sure to apply notes and feedback from your timed poetry writing to the work that you are doing this weekend. Remember that poems, like stories, have beginnings, middles, and ends. Showing how ideas develop across beginnings, middles, and ends will often allow you to construct a much more thorough analysis. No more than 500 words please!

AP Research

Today was a day like many other - a day for working and completing the goals we have ahead of us. I hope that you are using these days and this protected time to complete the steps in your method, analyze the data you're collecting, and then organize it to make sure it answers your question.


If you haven't yet finished the BOK Analysis it needs to be done and checked on Monday. Completing this assignment will lead you to both Reflections 18 and 19. Complete these only after you've completed and received a score on the analysis assignment.

Remember that you should be working in Research Records, Weekly Work, Assessment Task Drafts, and Records of Communication. Document all of your work in your PREP Folder as you are completing and working through

Homework for A Day Students - 12 February 2020

AP Research

Thank you for working with the substitute teacher and with Mr. Ellison today. A few reminders to guide you as you continue to work at home on your studies:

1. Be sure that you document all of your work in your PREP Folder. Especially important right now are Research Records, Records of Communication (participants/expert advisors), Task Log.

2. Complete your BOK Analysis and Reflection 17.

3. Our next major assignment will be a peer editing/revising day focused on Introduction, Lit Review, and Method. Hopefully, as you are moving through this unit, you are making decisions and finalizing these elements of your paper. I hope that you all see how the analysis assignment helps with the drafting elements.

4. We will have a round of conferences in the coming classes to check in on things.

Russian I

Today in class we focused our work on our case learning with adjectives. We were using genitive case and nominative case to talk about identifying animals and to discuss either having or not having something. Remember that as we do this work it's all about agreement with the noun. Whatever gender and case the noun is in, the adjective has to match. As I said in class, we can sort of change the shape of words to fit them where they need to fit.


Continue to study and review your declension charts - both nouns and adjectives - to learn these partnerships. Tonight, you should finish the Chapter 2 exercises which were assigned last class. We'll go over those before getting back to our film on Friday!

Advanced Russian

Today in class we had a writing workshop about verbs of motion followed by a new verb (to swim). We ended our day reviewing our exercises for homework tonight as well as reviewing some of the key cases and prepositions we use in Russian to complete full ideas with travels.


For tonight, complete your exercises - follow the instructions and use the model exercise we completed today at the end of class. Continue to study your verb cards. You should know most of your conjugations by this point. I think that a lot of you should also focus on your noun case endings - they work together with the work we're doing now.

Homework for B-Day Students / 11 February 2020

AP Lit

Today was a day to review our work so far with Shakespeare. We created Scene Panels and did some wonderful analysis on Twelfth Night. The slides are helpful for the review at the end.


Next class you will have a quiz on Act I of Twelfth Night. I will not be checking annotations, but if you are still missing vocabulary cards they are due at this time. Additionally, you should have a draft of your project for Thursday. After the quiz you will work in groups to provide peer editing on your drafts. The projects are due on Monday and they will be your primary focus this weekend.

AP Research

Today was our working day to kick-off the week. Our major task for this week is to complete the Body of Knowledge Source Analysis. Please use the form that is in the assignment or the form given to you in class. You may complete either a hard copy version or an electronic version for your score. Hopefully by studying one of your sources in depth, you will get a better understanding of how to construct elements of your own academic paper. Consider how they show their data and how that data is made clear for a reader. How does the language they use lead to an understanding for the reader?


By the end of this week/beginning of next you should be ready with a new draft or a revised draft of your Introduction/Lit Review and Method section. We'll be doing another run of peer editing next week!

Homework for Monday - 2/10/2020 - A Day

AP Research

Today was our working day to kick-off the week. Our major task for this week is to complete the Body of Knowledge Source Analysis. Please use the form that is in the assignment or the form given to you in class. You may complete either a hard copy version or an electronic version for your score. Hopefully by studying one of your sources in depth, you will get a better understanding of how to construct elements of your own academic paper. Consider how they show their data and how that data is made clear for a reader. How does the language they use lead to an understanding for the reader?

By the end of this week you should be ready with a new draft or a revised draft of your Introduction/Lit Review and Method section. We'll be doing another run of peer editing next week!

Russian I

Today in class we began to learn our adjectives and the rules for working with them. Remember that adjectives must agree with their nouns by gender and by case. We started to learn the way that we make these changes today - especially focused on nominative and genitive case. From there we moved to arts and crafts - coloring and writing about our creations. Continue to study your new vocabulary tonight (colors) and complete the exercises in your textbook - Chapter 2, Exercise 2 and 4. Focus on being able to identify cases in this work, vocabulary, and gender.

Advanced Russian

Today was a day focused on Anna Karenina and our first attempts at quizzes. Remember the main takeaway from our conversation today - you have to remember the point of view of the speaker as they talk. Also remember that in a Russian brain, a person can only go one place at a time - it doesn't matter if they go other places.


You have the chance to redo your quizzes all this week and the beginning of next. Focus on your verb cards and your cases. Studying and learning these are the majority of your homework. We'll do some writing next class on Anna and her verbs of motion before learning some new verbs and vocabulary.

States and No School

Well - nobody went to school today with the weather issues, but we still had the State Championship meet. Finals start in just a bit. We'll have today's class likely on Wednesday with the films for Russian I, II-IV classes; AP Research - I'll give you Reflections for two weeks on Monday (you were supposed to get one today) as well as the BOK Analysis assignment.

Take the time this weekend to work on poetry projects Russian students. Those of you working on AP Research should be writing your paper sections that you can, or you should be getting your hands dirty with data. Document the process!

2/6/2020 Early Release - Weather - Weekend Homework - B Day

AP Research

We didn't have class today with the early release due to weather. Don't fear! Keep working at home! Come in on Monday with data collected and drafting done! It will help a lot. We'll make sure that we are ready to keep moving forward then.

AP Lit

Today in class we finished Act I of Twelfth Night. It was a day to go back to London and see the professionals on stage. I am glad that you're getting the humor more as you are watching the play. Shakespeare always makes more sense the more you work with him.

For tonight and the weekend be sure to work on your Poetry Analysis project. Remember that you are heavily annotating the selected poem and then you will write a 500 word analysis that uses a critic to support your interpretation. Come in on Thursday with a draft of this essay - you'll have time to work in class on peer review. Monday will be a day to review Act I and prepare for our assessment. If you haven't started your vocabulary cards yet - be sure to - they are due by Thursday!

Homework for A-Day Students: 5 February 2020

I will not be with you all on Friday since we have the NC State Swimming Championship Meet. Go AquaFalcons! I hope you enjoy the day I have planned for you while I'm away!

AP Research

It's a lot of working days as we are going through this unit. It's good to build in time to break - but make sure that you're continuing to meet your goals as we go forward. Continue to use this time to develop your draft, collect your data, and analyze/group it as it's coming in. This can be a helpful strategy to get ahead on the process of data analysis. As you work - be sure that everything is logged in your PREP Folders (Task Log/Research Records/Assessment Task Drafts).

For those of you who need help with statistical testing, see the post from a few days ago. There's a great resource there from Ms. Saveliff on calculator programming for statistical testing.

You should be prepared to work on a second draft of your paper toward the end of next week! Get ahead!

Russian I

Today we spent time to finalize our work on Unit 1 - The longest unit of the year as it provides a lot of the foundation for our work with the Russian language this year. I hope that you felt prepared for the assessment. You'll have a chance to make test corrections next week.

Tonight you should begin to work through your Chapter 2 Vocabulary. Begin with the adjectives and focus on colors. This will be our first set of words to focus on learning as we develop our case knowledge with adjectives. Also, complete a Falcon Notes sheet to summarize Unit 1. If you didn't have time to do this in class, be sure to finish it for homework.

I hope that you all like the movie I have for you on Friday!

Advanced Russian

Today in class we had a rapid-fire review of verbs of motion before launching into our first assessment. I will have these graded and returned to you next week. If you were absent, be sure to see me to make up the quiz that you missed today.

Be sure that you are continuing to study your cards regularly. Some of you are having trouble with conjugating - learn these patterns well so that you will have them moving forward. For tonight, there is no homework except for vocabulary work. Be sure that you are focused on your vocabulary for the unit so that you have the verbs, means of transportation, and the destinations.

Homework for Tuesday - B Day - 4 February

AP Literature 

Today in class we spent some time watching the professionals do Shakespeare with a Globe Theatre production of Twelfth Night. I hope that watching the actors on stage helped you to make better sense of the humor in Act I, Scene 3. From there we reviewed Act I, Scene 4 before spending the end of class with our independent projects.


Tonight, read Act I, Scene 5 - Pay attention to Olivia, Malvolio, and Feste. Use our notes structure to help you make sense of the play. Additionally, finish your set of vocabulary cards. You should have FOUR from the poets we studied earlier, FIVE from Shakespeare (one per scene) and ONE from your choice poem. Speaking of your choice poem, be sure that you are moving forward with your work. The analysis will be due soon.

AP Research

Today we began Unit 4 - This is the unit where you will do most of the work in this class that is all your own. It's time for us to collect data and organize it so that it aligns with our question. As I've said, there are very few grades in this quarter - in fact I can only come up with seven so far. Be sure to complete everything to your best!


Be sure that you are building your data sets and checking in with your work. If you're doing everything right then the process should begin to be moving toward completion soon. Use this time to complete elements of your POD and Paper that you can. Be sure to use the rubric and your peers as you do this work!

Homework for Monday - 3 February 2020

AP Research

Today we began Unit 4. This is the unit where you will do most of the work in this class that is all your own. It's time for us to collect data and organize it so that it aligns with our question. As I've said, there are very few grades in this quarter - in fact I can only come up with seven so far. Be sure to complete everything to your best!


Be sure that you are building your data sets and checking in with your work. If you're doing everything right then the process should begin to be moving toward completion soon. Use this time to complete elements of your POD and Paper that you can. Be sure to use the rubric and your peers as you do this work!

Russian I

Today was our final review day before our Unit 1 Examination on Wednesday. For the exam on Wednesday you should know how to conjugate verbs, change words for cases, and also the way that cases are used to build sentences. Remember that you can buy a cheat-sheet - but you have to buy it before the test on Wednesday.

Study your Chapter 1 Vocabulary as well as your Grammar Charts. Knowing this information is key. Additionally, be sure that you have finished and turned in your About Me project if you didn't do so already.

Advanced Russian

Today in class we spent the majority of our time applying what we know about Verbs of Motion by watching an episode of Орел и Решка and then writing about their travels around Калининград. As we did this we were working on using our verb knowledge and our case knowledge in advance of the quiz on Wednesday.

On Wednesday we will take time to review homework - have it all finished - before we have our quiz. Remember to have your cards - you will have these checked on Wednesday. Friday will be a day with Anna Karenina.