19 and 20 October

AP Language

Solid work today, y'all! I was happy to see a lot of great engagement around our lesson on objectivity, subjectivity, and sensationalism via Colonial Era Captivity Narratives. All of these lessons recently are devoted to allowing us the context to understand the end of The Crucible. I hope that you've enjoyed the readings.

If you did not finish the activity today in class feel free to finish it for homework or during our next Lion Time (tomorrow). I'll score them over the weekend. Remember that this is one of our last grades for the quarter. Next class we'll be looking at Act III. Be sure to read and annotate in advance. Pay close attention to the courtroom - note the irony in the scene and the way in which things quickly escalate against John.

English 10

Today's class was a day for us to finish things up - we finished up our reading of "The Forsaken Olive Trees" and took a bit of time to tie up loose ends. Remember that any missing work for Quarter 1 is due on the 22nd. That is this Friday! Don't miss this chance to turn in your work for credit. 

Next class we'll be playing our review game to get ready for our Quarter 1 Exam. The exam will be on Monday the 25th or Tuesday the 26th (depending on your class). You have the study guide and all the materials you need to prepare. This test is going to be a lot of points - so it will have a strong effect on your grade. Prepare and be ready to do your best work!

15 and 18 October

AP Language

Today's class was focused on a bit of a review of the beginnings (rhetorical appeals) as we looked at excerpts from Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States. Remember that right now we're focused on understanding more of the context for the people in The Crucible before we work through the end of the play. We also took time to set up our websites and work on our projects a bit - the rhetorical analysis phase.

Over the weekend you have an option of what to read - both are posted in Materials and one is also in your textbook. Choose either Rowlandson or Equiano. Consider their situation, their voice, and how they convey the troubles of their captivity. Understand their audience - it's always key. You should come to class on the 25th/26th with a rough draft of your analysis for your website project. There are only a few grades left in the quarter and little time to resubmit or submit items. Submissions will end by the 22nd of the month.

English 10

Great day today, y'all! We spent time in Palestine as we worked through the first part of "The Forsaken Olive Trees" by N. Farah. This story gives us a great opportunity to examine the importance of land and the connection between characters and their land. It's complex, but so interesting.

Over the weekend you should be focused on any missing work as well as your Quarter 1 Exam study guide. Your Quarter 1 exam will occur on Monday the 25th or Tuesday the 26th. You will be able to use your notes, books, and your study guide. Be prepared to show what you've learned so far this year in English class.

Enrichment Day - 14 October

AP English Language

Today was our Rhetorical Analysis enrichment day! I hope that you appreciated the lesson, time for reflection, and the group based practice. As you work through this project, your first goal is to complete your rhetorical analysis. Remember, we're all focused on social commentary so first you have to think of an issue that needs comment. Use your passions as a guide. If you care about climate change, then find a text which comments upon or satirizes that issue. The goal of your analysis will be to show and explain how the commentary is made clear.

I've posted the resources from today's lesson on Schoology. Blue Day students - I would suggest checking out this video as you are building and planning your rhetorical analysis. We'll have more time next class for project time. Remember that your choice of Zinn reading is due next class.

English 10

Today was our enrichment day! It was a day to explore around the world and learn a bit more about where our book and our main characters come from. I hope that you enjoyed the time to explore and travel a bit, no matter where you found yourself going.

If you didn't complete the assignment today in class, be sure that you complete and submit as much as you can by the end of the weekend. If you're missing any assignments, this can earn back some points. If you don't have any missing work, than this work can add points to a low scoring assignment.

Next class we'll be reading one of our anchor texts in this unit - a beautiful short story from the Palestinian Territories. I'm looking forward to us reading something as a whole class and then exploring one of our main themes in this unit - the connection between land and people.

October 13

The 13th is PSAT Day. If you're a sophomore, this is just a practice test. If you're a junior, then you may have a chance to get some scholarship money out of tomorrow for the National Merit Scholarship Qualification.

Be sure to bring pencils, a calculator, a snack and some water. It'll be a grueling slog, but you'll do it.

Put in a bit of time for your classes in the afternoon. Remember that grey classes will have an enrichment day on Thursday. Our next class to advance the unit will be on Friday/Monday.

8 and 12 October

 October 11 is Indigenous People's Day and a student holiday. Take  few moments to learn about the people whose land we now occupy. Learn some words in an indigenous language. Read a text by an indigenous author.

AP Language

Today was a day for our second timed writing. We're still focused on argumentative timed writes as we build our skills toward our first rhetorical analysis. I'll review your work and have scores back to you by the time we see each other again.

Over this long block of time until we see each other again you have a few things to settle. First, there's our project. If you're the website technician you should go to sites.google.com and start your site. That's all. We'll set up the template next week. Everyone in the group should select a text from the genres - read it - and begin to annotate and plan. Use yesterday's lesson on rhetorical analysis to begin your outline.

We also will have reading for next class. Select one of the two Zinn excerpts to read for Friday the 15th. Pay attention to the way in which Zinn appeals to logos, pathos, and ethos. What does this help us to further learn about the Puritans as a people? About the colonial era?

Remember that any resubmissions of Unit 1 Projects are due by 10/22 for all classes.

English 10

Today was a day to talk about grammar (run-on sentences) and essay rubrics. Remember that our essay rubric is going to be the same rubric that will be used all year with all of our essays. We did a great self-reflection on our writing skills and then we summarized the rubric to understand what's required of us.

If you didn't finish arts and crafts in class, please try to do so before the next time I see you. I will try to give you a bit of time on Friday to complete your work. Now is a good time to read, since I won't see you for a while. Remember to reach your reading checkpoint before the 18th.

6 and 7 October

AP Language

Great day today, y'all. I'm very happy that the groups were formed quickly and then worked effectively to complete the first task. Remember that this is a very long-term project. I'm teaching you a lot of things through this work, so we will not finish this until the end of the unit (around November). 

Next class we'll have our quiz on Acts 1 and 2 of The Crucible. It's a timed writing. You'll receive a grade for your essay and then a grade for your knowledge of the play. Review your annotations, review key scenes, and work to understand what's happening.

Next week will be strange for our schedule. There will also be a bit of a break from The Crucible. We'll be looking at some choice readings from Howard Zinn (a modern historian) and then two narratives from the time period. One narrative is posted, the other is in your textbook on page 193. You'll need to have one Zinn excerpt read for the Zinn day and then one captivity narrative for that class.

Holla with any questions! I'm here for you!

English 10

Today we took our day to catch-up on Quarter 1. I am so happy that so many of you got so much done! Let's be sure that as we move forward we don't fall behind. Use the time you have in class, so that you'll have less to do later. If you need to still submit something, be sure to do so today once you get home.

We will have quizzes on our book the week of the 18th. If you're reading Persepolis then you'll need to get to page 134. If you're reading The Kite Runner, then you'll need to get to page 109. Those of you reading How Does It Feel to Be A Problem should read two full stories. The quiz will focus on characters and a lot of the topics we've been discussing.

Next class we'll be talking about writing, have some time to finish our character sketches, and take time to continue reading our books. I'm looking forward to a great Friday!

4 and 5 October

AP Language

Today's class was about breaking open The Crucible in order to set a foundation for the rest of our study. We understood the main characters in the play, their essential motivations, and the way in which multiple conflicts, topics, and forces are working in the play so far.

Next class we'll continue with Act 2. This scene is all about John and Elizabeth Proctor. Notice their relationship, the way in which tension operates, and the speed of the changes in Salem. We'll have an assessment on Friday/Monday which covers Act 1 and Act 2. We'll also begin on the project in earnest next class. Be sure to review the requirements, the exemplars, and the documents in the folder for you.

If you have anything missing from Unit 1 it is extremely important that this is turned in ASAP. The end of the quarter will occur at the end of the month.

English 10

Today we did a lot of great work y'all! I'm so glad that we have time every day to read and enjoy our texts. We focused a bit on how the characters are impacted by the characters and forces at play around them. This is super important as all of our books are about growing up in the world - so we should consider the way in which the characters are affected by the forces around them.

Tonight you have vocabulary due. Be sure to upload your version of the vocabulary bookmark with your ten words, definitions, and synonyms. This should be an easy 4.0 assignment. Use Google Dictionary for help with your words. Keep in mind that you'll keep subitting the same document all year as you get more vocabulary.

Our assignment for the week is our Arts and Crafts on our protagonist. For this I want you to create an image of the main character (some of you may need to pick one). The question for you to answer in your paragraph response is: What is the main character like as the book begins? Be sure to create a clear paragraph that uses evidence from the book. These assignments are due at the end of the week.

30 September and 1 October

AP Language

Over the weekend, you should be focused on reading in Act I of The Crucible. Begin your front and back cover annotations. Track the ideas that you collect on the covers in the body of the text. Remember don't just blindly underline or highlight. Always give a word in the margin or a symbol to remind you of what you saw.

Next week is all about The Crucible. We'll be reading Act I and Act II. You may find it helpful to read it all in one sitting - it does move pretty fast. Pay attention to irony, the characters, the elements of Puritan society that you're seeing, and especially the idea of power.

Any missing work should be submitted as soon as possible. I should have everything graded and reviewed by the end of next week. Be sure to check SIS for any updates.

English 10

Today was a great day in English 10. We took a trip to Turkey to read the work of Mr. Nazim Hikmet and his poem "Some Advice to Those Who Will Spend Time in Prison." The goal of today's class was to understand the way to analyze a poem and break it down to discover its meaning. We focused on paraphrasing the poem, finding the emotions of the poem, and noticing the shifts in the emotions. All of this led us to our theme.

Over the weekend, you may not have any homework to complete. If you have submitted your project, then you are in a great place! Be sure that your vocabulary is nearly complete and keep reading if you would like. If your project is not yet in, this is the final chance to submit without a late penalty. Complete your tasks as soon as you can - reach out for any help you may need.

Beginning Unit 2 - 28 and 29 September

AP Language

And off we go to Unit 2! In this unit, we'll be looking at texts from the Colonial period of America as we are reading and studying Arthur Miller's The Crucible. For tonight, I want you to get enmeshed in the culture of the Puritan world by reading Jonathan Edwards's "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry G-d". As you read, annotate for tone, the way he uses fear, and his topics. This is a great text for vocabulary as well - remember that you have another set of ten due later in the unit.

Finish and submit your Unit 1 projects as well as your Unit 1 vocabulary to the spaces to the side. I'll have grades updated as soon as I can. Keep in mind that Act 1 and 2 will be discussed next week. Be sure to begin your reading and annotating now. See the unit plan posted below or in the unit folder for your reading schedule.

English 10

Projects are due today to round out Unit 1. Be sure that you have submitted your work to Schoology for this first unit of the year. If you are missing any work from Unit 1, be sure that you've made a plan with me for how to complete and submit that work before the end of this week. It's important that we get everything settled before we move on.

Today in class we took time to get into our novels and focus on characters. Remember that in some cases, the characters are real people, since the books are pieces of non-fiction. We're looking at conflicts and how they impact the characters as well. We're also actively reading for new vocabulary as we work through these books.

If you have your projects done, then tonight should be about vocabulary. If those things are both complete, then take this time to enjoy your book. We'll start reading something together as a class next time.

Ending Unit 1 - 24 and 27 September

AP Language

We've finished Unit 1! Congratulations everyone! I hope that you've enjoyed this introduction to non-fiction genres such as letters, speeches, and essays. We've also gotten our hands dirty with a new method of reading and analyzing readings - annotations and rhetorical frameworks - which we'll use to really extract meaning throughout the year.

Our next unit begins next week. We'll be studying The Crucible by Arthur Miller. The unit plan is attached on Schoology, and I'll give you a hard copy next week. If you want to get your own copy of the play, feel free. There are also several e-copies. No matter how you read, find a way to annotate and be consistent. Reading checks may become more frequent.

Projects and vocabulary are due at the end of the day next class. If you have any questions, be sure to ask!

English 10

Due to an issue with Schoology you're not going to be able to submit your project at the assignment spot. Instead, be sure to share your project with me or to email it to me directly. Use my djmiller1 [at] fcpsschools [dot] net account for this. Be sure that by the end of the weekend that your Unit 1 project is complete so that I can get your grades finalized for this unit.

Today we began our work in Unit 2 - The Middle East. We began reading a bit, talked for a bit, and discussed genres. Over the weekend, keep reading if you'd like, but don't feel any pressure to do so. We'll have more time next week for our novels and to wrap up vocabulary.

22 and 23 September

AP Language

Lovely work today everyone! We had a very productive first seminar for the end of Unit 1. I'm very happy that you all conducted yourselves civilly and drew some amazing connections between the various texts we studied within the unit. As we worked and discussed and listened, we were really getting some great work done related to our "This is (my) America" Project. Use the ideas we unearthed to begin in earnest if you haven't yet.

Next class will be our Progress Checks on APClassroom. Be sure that you have your username/password as well as your charged laptop. Time remaining will be spent on our project workshop or on vocabulary submissions. Our next unit will focus on Arthur Miller's The Crucible. Feel free to get your own copy if you so choose. I can also issue you one from school.

English 10

Today we put our skills to the test as we completed our first SOL essay. I was happy to see a lot of you using our resources from last class to complete your work. I will have these read and returned to you shortly. After the writing session, since we finished at different rates, we then worked independently for the rest of class.

If you're missing either of our earlier writing assignments, be sure to get those completed as soon as you can. The unit is almost over. Next class will be our final workshop for our final project, so be sure that you're moving toward completion. We will also have vocabulary due soon - you owe me ten words for Unit 1.

Beginning Week 5 - 20 and 21 September

AP Language

Happy Monday Everyone!

Today was a day to talk about structures and organization of arguments as well as the building blocks of our course - rhetoric. Remember that everything is an argument. Everything is rhetoric. Everything is based on convincing an audience of something. We applied that idea to our reading as we went to our choice readings and to our writing as we reviewed our first timed write of the year.

Tonight is a great night to prepare for your first Socratic Seminar. Prepare by reviewing your readings (Cuomo's Speech, The Letters between John and Abigail Adams, and your choice reading [Sedaris, Anzaldua, or Apess]). Make your annotations. Make connections between texts. And prepare questions! This is the most important thing. Since you're working through reading, you have a great opportunity to finish up your vocabulary as you prepare.

Next week you'll submit your final projects and vocabulary. We'll have additional time over the next few classes to work on these projects a bit in class, but you should be working outside of class a bit as well!

English 10

Today was not the most interesting day in English class, but it was a good day as we went through writing and the elements of a successful paragraph and of a successful essay. Remember that we always must begin our writing by completing the essential steps:

1. Find the Question.
2. Find evidence for each side. Pick the best side.
3. Determine the task (essay or paragraph).
4. Use the templates to complete the task.

After that, we took time to work through the final elements of our "My Personal Culture" project - the writing heavy slides. Remember that you are responding to a quotation on one (I recommend choosing a quotation from the Gaiman piece) and then constructing your paragraph at the end. 

Next class we'll be completing our writing diagnostic for the year. Your projects are due on Friday. We'll have our final quiz on this unit next week!

Weekend Work/Announcements (9/16 and 9/17)

AP Language

Today was our opening workshop day for our final unit project called "This is (my) America." We discussed the outline of the project, the requirements, and the goals of the assignment. From there, we went to choosing our own adventure: reading/annotating/vocabulary, project workshop, or making up any missed assignments.

Over the weekend you may want to finish your reading. Readings will be due for the day of our seminar which is on the 24th. This is also a good chance to finish your vocabulary. Note that the project is due on September 29th - we will have additional time in class to work through this.

English 10

Today's class was a day for us to brush off our skills on NoRedInk - we were focused on citing and paraphrasing our sources. This is an especially important skill as we are completing research, and research is at the heart of so much that we do.

If you were able to finish the NoRedInk work. then there were some options available. If you have any missing work, that is definitely the priority. Be sure that you've completed our two writing assignments so far (one on paper, one on Schoology), our notes on "The Danger of a Single Story" and our signature forms.

If you're all caught up, then today was for our year long portfolio. The instructions to set-up and begin your portfolio are posted on Schoology. This is something that you'll work on throughout the year. Right now we've been focused on Africa (especially South Africa), so you may want to focus on that slide.

Kol Nidre / Yom Kippur

I won't be available until Friday. Have a wonderful day tomorrow everyone. For those who observe the holiday, g'mar tov! May you have an easy, safe, and meaningful fast.

September 14 and 15

AP Language

Today's class was a day for us to show our skills as writers as we conquered our first timed writing. If you need additional time because of the fire drill in first period, it will be given. We can meet outside of class to finish up as needed/applicable. I loved the collaboration and sharing that went on in the gallery walks. When we learn from each other, I'm always glad.

I've posted the final assignment for this unit on Schoology. Check it out and begin to plan a bit as you need to. Next class we'll have a workshop day devoted to that task and to finish out any tasks remaining in the unit like reading (Cuomo's speech, the letters between the Adamses, and the choice of essays [Sedaris, Anzaldua, or Apess]) or vocabulary. 

English 10

Today in class we took time for reading one of our final pieces of this unit so that we could understand from where our ideas about concepts/people/the world come from. Neil Gaiman's piece gives us some interesting perspectives on ideas, their power, and their timelessness. We also looked at some items on Schoology including our vocabulary assignment and our final project for the unit.

Be sure that tonight you're focused on any missing assignments. If you're all caught up, you may want to take a look at the project and begin discussing your background with your family. We'll have plenty of days to work on this in class, but beginning the process now will help you along. Next class will be a day for you to work on NoRedInk to learn about researching skills before you put them into practice to begin a choice research activity. I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with!

Be aware that I will be out on Thursday for Yom Kippur. If you have any questions or concerns, please email me and I'll get in touch with you after the holiday. For those that observe, I hope you have an easy and meaningful fast.

September 10 and 13

AP Language

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

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

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

English 10

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

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

September 8th and 9th

AP Language

Great day today everyone! We worked through Abraham Lincoln's "Gettsburg Address" in order to understand the rhetorical appeals of logos, pathos, and ethos as well as the way in which meaning is created and layered through the text.

For tonight, I want you to interact with another speech. It's on page 272 in your textbook - Mario Cuomo's Speech to the 1984 Democratic National Convention. Read the speech or interact with it via the video linked on Schoology. Apply one of our note taking structures to help you pull apart the meaning in the speech.

Don't forget to submit your dirty outlines. For this remember to use the Singer prompt and spell out your thesis, body paragraph claims, evidence, and explanation, and a refutation. This should appear like a bullet point list, not a full essay.

Next class we're looking at letters.

English 10

Great work today in class as we worked through Archbishop Tutu's "Let South Africa Show the World How to Forgive". We focused on his main claims as well as the evidence he provided to spell out and support those claims. Remember that claims can be spread across paragraphs as can evidence. 

From there, we spent time with another South African text, before we took time to finish our day with a writing assignment. For homework, be sure to complete and submit your South Africa reflection. You can use any text that we've studied for your evidence. Be sure to answer the question clearly and provide a clear piece of evidence to support your claim. Submit to Schoology!

The Long Weekend (Before and After)

AP Language

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

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

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

English 10

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

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

Beginning Week 2 - 31 August and 1 September

AP Language

Kicking off Week 2 we're focused on writing and our skills for the AP Examination. Like I said, it's a beast, but if we know the beast and is weaknesses, then we can slay it with style. Today we discussed the finer side of argumentative writing, the essential elements of an outline, and how you'll be assessed for this question on the examination.

For tonight, be sure to complete and submit your "dirty outline". I don't want a full essay - just the planning. The assignment is posted here for you to submit via Google Docs. Next class we'll be having a working day, so be ready to be productive! Details to come!

English 10

Today in class we spent time with Malala Yousafzai. We read a speech, thought about her main ideas, and considered some of the conflicts driving that document. Tonight, I want you to continue to learn about her and think about who she is as a person. Watch the video linked on Schoology and think about these two ideas:

1. What does the interview help you to learn about Malala as a person?

2. How does this help you to understand the idea of culture clash in action?

Don't forget to find and complete the syllabus form - it's available for you in the first post on Schoology. If there is anything missing, be sure to check on those assignments as soon as you can!

Friday and Monday - Day 3 - First Weekend!

AP Language

Great First Friday, y'all! We looked at some art, reviewed the idea of deep looking to record our thinking with art or other non-print texts, and then we also learned about the structure called the rhetorical situation. This is a great structure that we're going to continue to use through the year to analyze and think about the moving parts that create meaning. 

For tonight/the weekend, I want you to practice deep looking with Ana Juan's New Yorker cover. Be sure to do your annotations and use the three questions from the end to check your understanding and prompt your thinking. Continue to review the table of contents regularly and consider the voices present and absent. Lastly, I'd like for you to continue to consider the Rough Draft of the Declaration of Independence - how does the difference between parts of the rhetorical situation change the overall meaning or impact of the document? I've re-posted the rough draft to help you. Don't forget the forms if you haven't filled them out!

English 10

We became constitutional scholars today in English 10! We took time to talk about navigating difficult documents, determining main ideas and understanding how constitutions work like cultural artifacts. I was very happy to also collect your paragraphs about your single stories - I look forward to reading these and getting you feedback next week.

Over the weekend, be sure to complete any resubmissions you may need to. The syllabus is published and ready for you to review and sign. See you next week for the continuation!

Day 2 - 25 and 26 August

AP English Language

Today we took time in class to brush off our skills of annotating and to work with what is our anchor document for this unit - "The Declaration of Independence" by Thomas Jefferson. We talked about topics and motifs, main ideas and arguments, as well as the diction that Jefferson uses to appeal to his audience (as well as who that audience was). 

Tonight, spend time with the document posted on Schoology, the "rough draft" and see what changes you note. What may have motivated Jefferson to make those changes? Is the document significantly changed from one to the next? Remember to annotate! There are also the forms to the syllabus and the optional summer assignment open for submission.

English 10

Thanks for a great day today, everyone! We started our day reflecting on the concepts of culture clash and conflict before building a bridge to the idea of stereotypes. I loved the discussion we had around how stereotypes can be indicative or a product of a culture clash. 

We then spent time with a TEDTalk from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie called "The Danger of a Single Story" and answered some questions ans we considered her speech. Tonight, keep thinking about your single story versus your full story - we'll finish our reflection next class.

Remember to access the syllabus and signature form on Schoology to complete that task. The syllabus is under Materials - Course Resources. 

Welcome to 2021-22! English with Mr. Miller!

English 10

Welcome y'all to English 10 or as I call it, Around the World in 90 Classes. We'll be exploring the cultures of the world this year through reading, writing, viewing, listening, and thinking! Today we began with a general overview of the idea of culture and some of our guiding questions for the year. I'm looking forward to the year ahead! Be sure that you access the syllabus and the signature form which are on Schoology for your first assignment. Try to have that settled by the end of the week. Next class you'll need your laptop!

AP Language

Welcome y'all to AP Language and Composition! For the first day of class we're exploring various perspectives and engaging in some close reading. Be sure to review the syllabus and complete the syllabus signature form as quickly as you can - it is linked below. The syllabus is located in the Course Information folder under Materials on Schoology. For tonight, be sure to reflect on the various authors in our textbook and complete the reflection question at the top of the handout. What voices are present? Which are left out? What may this mean? You'll need your laptop with you next class.

The Last Week of School

I’m logging off for today. If you submit your project this evening it will be scored first thing tomorrow morning and your grade will be finalized. Remember that you can cash in extra credit or resubmit your final project until the last day of class on Friday the 11th.

Tomorrow I have first period planning. If you need to meet about anything, I’ll have my BBCU open during first period. After first we’ll have THIRD PERIOD EXAM. Be sure to log in.

June 9 is 6th and 8th exams. June 10th is 5th and 7th. On June 11 – All classes will meet briefly for about 15 minutes. I will be taking attendance until June 11; I apologize for earlier confusion related to attendance requirements.

Reach out via email if there is anything that you need from me tonight

Exams Begin Tomorrow

Good evening all! A reminder that exams begin tomorrow with second period. The exam can only help and not harm your grade. If you choose not to take it, then your grade will be calculated based on your quarter average. If you have submitted late work or asked about cashing in rubles for the end of the year - I will be grading and updating SIS in the morning. Please continue to submit work if you can/would like/need.

Your final projects for quarter four are due on Monday. I'll be available on BBCU most of the day on Monday and some of the day tomorrow for conferencing and assistance. You can also feel free to reach out via email or private comment.

Keep in mind that we'll also begin our half-day schedule tomorrow for exams.

Final Assignments are Posted!

All classes will be asynchronous on Tuesday because of graduation at Fairfax High School. All final assignments, instructions, and videos to review have been posted.

AP Language

That's it! You did the thing, we talked about the thing, and now we wait for scores. I'm glad to see that so many of you felt prepared and ready for what you did. Nothing is perfect, especially this year, but I'm very proud of the work that you've all done. Now we just put the cherry on top.

Be sure to complete your planning document before moving into the main steps of the project. Submit the document to get feedback as quickly as you can. Remember that you'll submit three items for the final project - your motif chart, illustration, and written analysis. Everything is due by June 3rd. Finals begin on June 4th.

English 10

We have just a few workdays left for our final portfolios. Thank you to everyone who is consistently working and ticking off their tasks. Remember that if you finish your portfolio early, that you should review and complete any other missing work for Quarter 4. If you're done, then you're done! 

Final Full Week - 25 May 2021

AP Language

Today was an easy day. We were in and out in about thirty minutes. We reviewed the examination for the last time, talked about the drop dead date of June 3 for anything to be graded in Q4, and then took time to complete the exam set-up steps. You must complete the set-up today in order to test tomorrow.

For tonight, rest & recuperate. Be prepared. Review any vocabulary, but don't stress yourself. Get a good night's rest and be ready for tomorrow. See the slides with today's review as you prepare. For Thursday and Friday we'll begin with our Invisible Man project. Everything is posted if you'd like to get a start to it.

You're going to crush the exam tomorrow. Show it no mercy. Write and explain! We've been getting ready all year, you've got this!

English 10

Today's class was really similar to last class. We met, reviewed our goals and feedback, then got cracking on the final portfolio. Keep in mind that this is the final task for the year. Use class time to finish what you need to and take it easy in the afternoons. You should submit something each class - that way you can build your portfolio toward completion.

All Classes

If you have any missing work, be sure to complete it and submit it as soon as you can. The final day to turn in anything for Quarter 4 is June 3. After that it's just the final exam.

No More Content - Just Final Tasks

AP Language and English 10

All new content for the year is done and taught and complete! The final things we have to do in class are our final portfolios (English 10) or final motif projects (AP Language).

AP Language

Today was our day for the end of the book. We did a lot of individual thinking and reflecting, but then we also had time for some collaboration as well. The only thing we have left to complete is our final project for Invisible Man. The assignment and the exemplars have been posted for you to review. We'll take class time after the exam to work on and complete the project in class.

Over the weekend, focus on preparing for the AP Exam. If you have any missing assignments, now is the time to complete them. I've reopened all of the MCQs if you need to complete or review anything. As always, reach out if you need anything. We'll complete our examination set-up steps in class next week before the exam on Wednesday at noon.

English 10

Today's class was our day to understand and begin our final portfolios for English 10. By completing this portfolio you are showing and proving that you have all of the necessary skills to move on to English 11. For this portfolio you'll complete four items and turn them in. You can turn them in all at once or bit by bit - however you choose. By the end of the portfolio you'll have one item for reading, writing, oral communication, and research.

Each class you should complete one or two items. We'll have time over each of the following classes to complete these tasks. This is the final work of the year and your final chance to improve your Q4 grade.

One Done

AP Research

You're finished! You made it! It's over! You're done! Wahoo! I hope that all of you feel pride and accomplishment based on what you've completed for yourselves this year. This is incredible work that you've done, and I know that I am very proud as your teacher. Remember that your papers are due to College Board's Digital Portfolio by tomorrow at 11:59 PM. Follow the submission rules. I'll be checking in tomorrow morning to ensure your paper is in. That's your final score for the class. Grades will be finalized in the morning! Good luck on the rest of your AP Examinations - if you find yourself on campus in the next few days, stop by and say hello!

AP Language and English 10

We're about to start our final tasks for the year. Everything to take us to the end has been posted for you to review and see. It's time to start closing out the year, so if you have anything that you need to do, be sure that it gets done now!

The Beginning of the End - 18 May

AP Language

Today in class we got in a time machine to return to ancient Athens and learn from Plato about reality, truth, and the process to find it. As we read the "Allegory of the Cave" we see many of the same steps in TIM's journey to knowledge and truth - it's important that we reflect on the process we see and the mirror for ourselves which may be held up here. Plato and Ellison ask us to always consider what we know and where we got that knowledge from. 

Next class we'll finish with Invisible Man and have time to begin our work with our final assessment on the novel. I'm excited to see everyone's creativity and thought when it comes to this novel and the ideas that it leaves you with. If you have anything missing for class - be sure that it is complete as soon as you can.

English 10

Today in class was our time to complete our final assessment for One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. If you completed the test or project today, great! If not, be sure that you're finished and submitted by Friday so that I can do final grading. If you had any extra time in class, that would have been used for final notes/vocabulary and any missing assignments from this unit.

Next class we'll begin our final portfolio for English 10 - the instructions are already uploaded for you to review. The final classes of the year will be spent devoted to our final portfolios, so everyone will have the chance to complete everything during class.

Ending the Week - 13 May

AP Language

Today was a great day! We really ripped open Chapters 22 and 23 to understand TIM's development, the end of several cycles in the text, and the importance of these ideas as the novel draws to a conclusion. The connection to all of you as you codeswitch and alter your identities for different contexts and situations is a clear one. Remember - we're all affected by veils and double consciousness.

Over the weekend I would suggest finishing the novel. If you haven't submitted your mini-exam, be sure to do so ASAP. I'll be scoring again soon to update SiS.

English 10

Today was our classroom catch-up day for our Russian literature unit. If you have any missing assignments to turn in, now is the time before we finish the unit next week and move to our final, end of year assignments. Be sure to find your progress report which was sent to you today as a list of what you are missing. All assignments are available on Google Classroom and some even have recordings to guide you to completion. Be aware that this will be our ONLY catch-up day this quarter. 

Wednesday the 12th of May

AP Research

Today was our prep day for our final presentations. I'm excited to see our virtual presentations on Friday and to bring the course to a conclusion for you all. Keep in mind that next week we will submit our Academic Papers and begin on the Choice Board activities. Since you've already worked as a group on an advertising video for AP Capstone, I would suggest looking at the smaller options in the choice board for your final tasks. The choice board is posted in the Classwork tab for your review.

AP Language and English 10

See below for your reminders and announcements. Please let me know if there's anything that I can do to help and support you here at the end of the year.

Beginning the Week - 11 May 2021

AP Language

Today was our classroom session for our miniature AP Examination. You completed a MCQ as well as an FRQ of your choosing. I will now start the process of reading and scoring your work. If you would like to complete additional practice - please let me know and I can put things together for you. It may also be helpful for us to conference during LT or Monday Office Hours to review your progress so far.

Tonight focus on reading and moving to the end of Invisible Man. Class on Thursday/Friday will focus on Chapters 22 and 23. We have a new TIM on the scene - so watch how he starts to do things a bit differently than he has before. Keep tracking your motifs and cycles in the text. Also, keep in mind that you know your requirements for your final assignment on Invisible Man. We'll have some time next week to assign chapters and motifs, but now is a great time to plan and think as well as review the exemplars posted.

As always - if there's anything you need, please ask.

English 10

Today was our day to finish One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. We finished reading the last portion of the novel, did some critical analysis of the structure of the book, and delved into the final comprehension questions. We also took some time to think about themes in the novel - the way that they've been developed as well as the way in which they connect to texts or experiences outside the novel.

Next class will be our catch-up/get-ahead day. If you need to catch-up on missing work in the unit, that chance will be given to you Thursday/Friday. I'll send progress reports on Wednesday to let you know what you're missing. If you're all caught up, then I'd take the time to get ahead on one of the final tasks for Denisovich.

Next week you're going to turn in your final novel annotations and vocabulary. Prepare now! Be ready for the end of the year!

Friday the Seventh of May

Three weeks left everyone. Three weeks left!

AP Research

Today we hit the essential end of the course. Next week is all about final presentations. It's hard to believe we're actually here and that we've made it this far. 

This weekend you should be focused on your POD and final tasks. Note that all of the reflection questions have been posted as well as all of the materials to prepare you for the end of the year assessments. If you are presenting virtually, I'd recommend coming to class on Wednesday the 12th to practice and prepare - a run through is always a good idea.

After next week, we will only have our final choice assignments left for the year. This will provide us a chance to be fun and creative to wrap up our year. I'm excited to see what you come up with and create for us (me and Ms. Greeves).

AP Language and English 10

Check the post below as well as the reminders on Google Classroom as you're working through the weekend. Keep in mind that the quarter will soon end, be sure that any of your missing assignments are submitted ASAP.

Ending the Week - 6 May 2021

AP Language

Today in class we were focused on analyzing passages in order to deeply understand Chapter 20. This chapter in Invisible Man is one of the most important moments in the novel because of the effect it has on TIM and the clear changes that he undergoes. We did a lot of discussion and analysis today, which I think helps us to all be in good shape for our rhetorical analysis question on our exam.

Over the weekend prepare for your Mini-Exam on Tuesday/Wednesday. Be sure to review the FRQs that are available for you and to complete and submit your MCQ reflection document.

On Thursday/Friday we'll be working through Chapters 22 and 23. The novel is nearly complete. Your final project has been posted, but we'll take some more time later to get started on it.

English 10

Today was a pretty simple day. We talked a lot about how people eat and what that tells us about the person's character. Then we put our interpretation skills to the test as we read and analyzed a section of our novel.

Next week we'll be finishing our book. Over the weekend I want you to read to page 159. Keep tracking your characters, major ideas, and vocabulary as you read.

If you have any missing assignments - now is the time to get them in. We'll be finishing this novel and this unit very soon - I don't want people to have a lot of work at the end of the year. If you're unsure of what to do, please let me know. Check your most recent progress reports.

Wednesday - 5 May 2021 - Cinco de Mayo!

AP Research

Today we took care of final conferences (I'll finish those with you on Friday) as well as taking time to prepare for our final assessments next week. The focus right now in class is our POD as well as the final submission of the Academic Paper. Remember to follow your instructions on Digital Portfolio in order to submit your paper.

Presentations are scheduled for next week on Monday and Friday. Wednesday will be open for conferencing, review, or make-up presentations if needed. Keep in mind that you should do a final practice this week using your Poster Presentation and Mock POD Rubric. Submit that rubric as evidence of completion of the task.

The week of the 17th will take us to our final tasks for the course. I've got some fun things for you to choose from to end the year. I'm looking forward to seeing what you create.

AP Language and English 10

Be sure to see the notes below as you prepare for class at the end of the week. Remember that if you have any missing assignments, now is the time to submit them. We have very little time left in this quarter of the year, and I want to make sure that everyone is in a good place to end our time together.

Beginning May - Tuesday the 4th

May the Fourth be with you all!

AP Language

Today was our whole and total review on the AP Examination as well as our time to review the full length MCQ and its answers. Remember that if you haven't yet submitted MCQ 8 - it's unlocked again until Friday.

This week you should complete your MCQ reflection and tracking log and prepare to submit it on Monday the 10th. Also, keep in mind that vocabulary cards are due. This will be our final set of cards and it's a lot of points, so be sure that you're working to complete all of your final tasks.

We'll be discussing Chapters 20 and 21 next class. These are important chapters and important not just for our class but for all of us as people who live in the United States at this time. I look forward to an engaging day with you all next class to discuss this difficult portion of the novel.

English 10

Today's class was a day for Anna Akhmatova's poem called "Requiem". I was really impressed with your work today. You were able to pull out a lot of great insights and ideas as well as connections. Remember that the most important thing to do when studying a poem is to put it in your own words to understand the situation. Once you have that, you'll notice a lot of the patterns which create some of the meaning.

We went through our TP-CASTT model and then answered a discussion question based on our work today. This discussion question is your grade for the work on this poem. 

For tonight, be sure that any missing work is done and submitted. Use the recordings for any of the reading tasks that you may have missed. Next class will be a reading day - we'll be moving through a big chunk of the novel before we finish the book next week.

April's Finished - On to May (April 29, 2021)

AP Language

Today in class we spent time discussing symbols and characters who function symbolically. We then took time for a brief close reading to see the way in which multiple levels of meaning are woven in to the text. Ellison really is a master at this, and sometimes it hits pretty fast. If you see a big passage with lots of moving parts, try to always grab on to the parts that make the most sense to you. Remember that there are always multiple meanings in a text, your job is to always focus on constructing and developing one.

Over the weekend, focus on finishing your MCQs and reading in Invisible Man. MCQ 8 is due on Monday as is the most recent round of vocabulary cards. Remember that your cards should come from MCQs and Ellison's novel. Next week we'll finish our focus on the AP Examination - and begin preparing more individually and with some choice. MCQ 9 is available for extra credit/extra practice/replacement of a previous MCQ. 

As always, let me know if there's anything I can do to help. It's gonna be May next week - off to the last full month of school!

English 10

Today's class focused on reading in order to understand pages 126 to 135 in our novel. We met a new character called "The Limper" who embodies one of our clear conflicts in the novel as well as a type of brutal power. Also, we discussed more about Tzesar Markovich and Shukhov. Especially their character traits.

Over the weekend be focused on any missing work and updating your notes from the reading so far. Next week will be our last week with this novel. I look forward to hearing your final thoughts and reflections on the book. From there we'll be working on a lot of end of the year assignments. Be ready for the year to end fast!

AP Research

Remember that next week you have two assessments due. You'll need to meet with me to complete your EOC Conference, and you'll need to meet with a peer to complete your Mock POD. I'll be available all next week during class time as well as on Monday. If you haven't yet scheduled your POD for the week of May 10, be sure to do so ASAP. Reply to the email in your inbox to set your date and time.

Mid-Week - Wednesday the 28th

AP Research

Today we had a great conversation on PODs and scoring. We got in-depth on the rubric and by seeing the work of a student presenter, we get a good idea of the requirements of the rubric. Over the weekend, be sure to complete your reflections for question set three. Remember that for your POD you'll be asked three questions - one from each set. Be sure that you review the earlier questions we've already done - be sure that the answers align with your work as it currently stands.

Next week you'll be working mostly asynchronously. Your goal will be to complete your Mock POD (See the assignment posted on Classwork) as well as your EOC Conference. Details are posted in the recording.

AP Language and English 10

Be sure that you're checking in with any missing assignments so far this quarter. We'll be focused on our novels next class to continue our process of reading and unlocking meaning in the text. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help. More details are in the post below.

Beginning the Week - Tuesday the 27th

English 10

Today in class we focused on reading to cover pages 117 to 126. This section of the novel is important because it highlights some important conflicts and examples of irony in the text so far. Next class we'll look at another section of the novel to prepare us for the end.

Use your homework time right now to catch up on any missed assignments. Remember that if you're missing an assignment from last week, there are recordings to help you with your submission. If you want to use a freebie or extra credit, please say so in a comment.

Next week we'll be finishing the book. Be sure that you're keeping up with your annotations and vocabulary. We'll have a final assessment at the end of the unit and then our end of the year work. Be sure to stay focused and use class time effectively to not have a lot to do at the end of the year.

AP English Language

Today was our day to work through a full length exam MCQ as a team. Since we were working as a team, you likely worked a bit more slowly than normal. Those of us in class took time at the end of the section to compare and discuss answer choices - especially some questions that were a bit challenging.

Be sure that your group has submitted answers via AP Classroom or a Google Doc on the assignment. All group names should be on the document if submitted there. I would also recommend submitting your answers on AP Classroom to get feedback on your choices. Grades will be posted for the groups soon and we'll review once all the data is in.

Tonight, be sure to work on vocabulary cards and your reading for next class. Today was a bit of a bore because of our focus on MCQs - so next class we'll have some time for arts and crafts, of a sort. Chapters 16, 17, and 18 are a great section of the novel. I'm looking forward to your thoughts.

Friday - 23 April 2021 - The End of the Week

AP Research

Great day today everyone as we met for our final session of peer review. Today we began our day by focusing on some key notes and takeaways from the Chief Reader Report from 2020. This is a great resource to see some of the trends in the performance of students on the academic paper last year. The suggestions are important for us as we are winding up our work and finalizing our papers. Being sure to be explicit about our process, our ethics, and our reflection on our work are all key takeaways for me.

Be sure to submit your document as a record of today's work with your group. We'll meet together next week to go over the plan for Unit 6 (the last unit of the year) and the final assessment tasks for the year. On Wednesday we'll also take a look at another Presentation and Oral Defense and practice with scoring. We're a few weeks out from submission - stay focused on your process and the rewards will flow!

AP Language and English 10

Be sure to follow the reminders and guidelines below as you are reading and working over the weekend. Be sure that any missing assignments that you can turn in are submitted ASAP. This is not the quarter to fall behind since we don't have much time left.

Ending Week 30 - Thursday the 22nd

AP Language

Today in class we focused on understanding some of the major ideas at play in Chapters 13-15. These chapters provide TIM a chance to break away from some of the cycles plaguing him in the text, but unfortunately he leans right back into them. We did some close reading, focus on motifs, and great thinking as a team today.

Over the weekend, be sure to complete MCQ 7 - it will lock on Monday night. You should also finish your vocabulary cards - they'll be collected on May 3rd. Reading for next week is Chapters 16-19. I'll have videos posted on YouTube shortly.

English 10

Today was a reading day. We took time to read as a whole group or in small independent groups to focus on pages 100 to 107. This section told us a lot about Shukhov as a person - so be sure to update those character notes. We answered some comprehension questions and then did some writing focused on some of the major ideas in this novel so far.

Over the weekend, take time to finish any of you missing assignments so far. If you need to review today's work, use the recording posted to finish your questions and writing. You've had two major assignments so far - the Illustrated Quotation and Grammar Exam - so if these are missing it's important to get them in. Be sure to read to page 117 in the novel as well.

Beginning Week 30 - 20 April 2021

AP Language

Today was our day to focus on reading quickly and addressing our required task - reading and writing. There was a secondary focus today on teamwork and building stamina as we had two things to complete - an MCQ and FRQ. We'll have a lot of extra credit built in to today's Matchbox. Scores will be uploaded later this week - it'll take time for me to read over the FRQs.

For this afternoon, be sure to complete your reading and annotating in Invisible Man - Chapters 13, 14, and 15. We'll work through the chapters as a team on Thursday. I've unlocked your next MCQ for your independent work. Remember it will lock at 11:45 on Monday. We'll have vocabulary turned in soon - you should hopefully be finding your tenth word soon. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help you!

English 10

Today in class we spent our time reading and understanding a key component to the novel - Tiurin's Story. Remember that you can complete the reading questions via the Google Document or the PearDeck slides. I'll be checking them tomorrow for your answers and work. From our reading, you should also be able to find a few vocabulary words.

For tonight, be sure to keep reading. Make it through to page 100 to finish the scene of the men working. Also be sure to take time to check in on any missing assignments like your Illustrated Quotation or the Grammar Test on No Red Ink. These are both major assignments and worth a lot of points. I look forward to seeing you all next class for some more time in the prison and a closer look at some of our themes.

End of the Week - AP Research

AP Research

With the information we reviewed on Wednesday, you should be all set to finish your draft of your academic paper. Given our earlier rounds of peer editing, it's my hope that you feel well prepared, and that you have completed a solid piece of work. Remember that your example AP Research papers as well as papers in your Body of Knowledge are very useful here as models for your work. 

Next week we'll meet on Friday to review our papers as a complete draft. Use these days to write, revise, and create your slides. The reflection document has been updated. If you have trouble writing your abstract, let me know and we can meet to review this task.

End of the Week - Thursday the 15th

AP Language

It's the end of another week here in Room A132. We focused today on the idea of allusions in Chapters 11 and 12 and how they're being used by Ellison to add a lot of meaning to TIM's process of creating and understanding his identity and role in the world. Today we focused on musical allusions, The Odyssey, and the Bible in these chapters.

Over the weekend, be sure to focus on reading in Invisible Man as well as your MCQ 5. Keep in mind that the MCQ is for accuracy, so failure to complete it will result in a missing score. If you have any missing assignments, get those turned in over the weekend so that I can update your grades.

English 10

Today in class we had a bit of a chill day - it was a day to take our End of Year Grammar Diagnostic on No Red Ink and then have some independent time for working as needed. Over the weekend, you should find time to complete and submit your Interpretive Reading assignment (paragraph and recording) as well as reading in your novel to page 80. In this section of the novel you'll want to pay attention to food and the way that Shukhov works and uses his time.

Next week we'll spend more time in the camp with our prisoners as well as discuss some other End of Year assessments. Keep pushing, we've just got 12 more classes left!

Firmly in the Middle - Wednesday the 14th

AP Research

Today we started talking all about the end of things because that is where we find ourselves. At the end. The section guide posted in the Classwork tab will review the requirements for your Conclusion/Final Directions section of the paper. Remember that if you've already discussed your limitations and implications, that you may choose not to review them again. This section of the paper can be pretty short - remember that the Manzanar paper was only about one page. You should also check in on your bibliography when you complete the paper - use Control + F to find your sources in the body of the paper. Make sure that everything is properly cited; ask for help if needed.

Friday the 16th and Wednesday the 21st are going to be working days for you. These should be days for you to finish your Academic Paper. We'll meet again as a group on Friday the 23rd to do another round of Peer Review - bring a complete draft of your paper to that meeting. Reflection questions have been updated. Begin working on your slides if you haven't yet. Hopefully the examples were helpful for you.

AP Language and English 10

Reminders posted below are the same as what you will find for yourself. Remember that any missing assignments from this week should be submitted ASAP, don't let things pile up this quarter.

Beginning Week 29 - Tuesday the 13th

English 10

Today was a day to get our hands dirty working with One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. As we were reading and working today, it was all about emotion. It's important to notice the way in which authors use small details in order to create real emotion in a text. These emotional clues can help us better understand a character, a setting, symbol, or idea in a novel. Our assignments right now are all about close reading. Focusing in on the details to understand their purpose.

Remember to submit your assignments by the end of the week. For this week you have a recording to complete as well as a small writing assignment. Next class we'll have our End of Year Grammar Test. Be ready!

AP Language

Today in class we had time for our Matchbox for MCQ 4 as well as a quick review. We also had time to discuss the end of the year and to get ahead on some of our upcoming assignments. On Thursday/Friday we'll be discussing Chapters 11 and 12 - see the videos on YouTube for guidance in your reading. Additionally, MCQ 5 has been unlocked. It'll be for accuracy this time, so don't miss it. Use your strategies and don't forget to reflect when complete. See you next time for our Invisible Man class.

End of Week 28 - Friday the 9th

AP Research

Today was our day to meet very quickly and discuss the sections we're focused on creating right now - the Findings and the Analysis of the Data. Keep in mind that the section guide views this as one section, but we should really see it as two. The majority of our day was spent on Peer Review to give feedback and suggestions for improvement moving forward.

Next week we'll look at the conclusion section of the paper as we end Unit 5. By the end of next week, you should find yourself with a full draft of the Academic Paper. It's a beast coming in at 4000-5000 words. I hope you recognize your achievement here - it's a big deal.

Focus now on editing, revising and finalizing your report. Remember that it is a good time to also begin the construction of your slides. Unit Six will focus on the POD and we will also complete our presentations in the next unit to be scored. Mark your calendars for May 10th. This will be our presentation week. Remember that everything is due to Digital Portfolio by May 20 at 11:59 PM. You may want to access your Digital Portfolio now and review the requirements for submission.

AP Language and English 10

See the post below for your reminders over the weekend. Be focused on the reading of your novels as well as turning in assignments from this week. As a reminder, I'll be in BBCU on Monday from 10-11:15 for Office Hours if you need me.

End of the Week - 8 April

AP Language

Chapter 10 and 11 of Invisible Man are some of the hardest chapters to read in this portion of the novel. Chapter 11, especially, is a doozy. It'll take you on a bit of a journey through postmodernism and throw some different modes of story telling at you. Focus on what you can get out of it and bring questions to me next week as we work.

This weekend you should find time to finish your Veil Self Reflection, MCQ 3 and a bit of reading in Invisible Man. Next week, we'll be focused on reviewing Chapters 11 and 12 as well as completing our first team MCQ for an accuracy score. If you need anything, please visit on Monday during Office Hours. I hope that we will keep moving in a good direction this quarter - remember we only have 16 meetings left.

English 10

Today was all about characters and characterization. We spent a lot of time working through pages twenty six to thirty six and focusing on the characters we meet in the squad of prisoners and in the camp. We'll keep learning more about some of them as we go. We worked through some Russian words which tell us more about our characters and understood some of their key elements. Be sure that you're updating your annotations as we work.

Over the weekend, be sure that you finish your Illustrated Quotation assignment as well as any missing work from last class - the poetry notes. You should also read to page forty six. This will take you to the work site the prisoners have and their job for the day.

7 April 2021 - Wednesday

AP Language / English 10

Note the reminders below or on Google Classroom related to today's classes. Remember that if you miss anything, recordings are all posted on the stream on Google Classroom. I'm looking forward to seeing you all on Friday to keep working with our novels.

AP Research

On Friday we'll be focused on Peer Review of the Findings and Analysis sections of your paper. Think of these two as clearly linked. The Findings will present your key takeways, groupings, or charts/graphs/tables of data. The Analysis will explain key links and takeaways from that data. Remember to go back to the sample papers posted in our classroom space for examples of this in action. I look forward to seeing you Friday for a productive and useful day.

Beginning Quarter 4 - 6 April 2021

AP English Language

Today we started breaking open the AP English Exam to get at the ooey, gooey stuff inside. By understanding the structure and design of the exam, you can exploit this knowledge to your own benefit. Remember that you'll have AP MCQs assigned to you regularly on AP Classroom. You'll need to use the tracking document to track your progress and reflect. Remember that you can grab vocabulary from these sets - especially from the questions and answers - as you construct cards moving forward.

Next class we'll have time for Invisible Man. Tonight, enjoy Chapter 10 - The Liberty Paints Chapter. There are echoes of the beginning of the novel and several of our cycles come back into play. The video for Chapter 10 is uploaded. I look forward to our conversation and your thoughts.

English 10

We were going hard today and had some great outcomes as a group! I was glad to see a lot of great engagement and thinking with our poem "In Praise of Feeling Bad About Yourself". We used the TP-CASTT method to unlock the meaning of the poem and make some great connections back to the novel we're studying as well as the contemporary world. Be sure that if you didn't submit the document from today, that you use the recording to catch what you missed and submit your work.

For tonight you should focus on reading pages 29-39 of One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. You'll meet a lot of characters. Keep track of who they are and what you learn about them. We'll delve deep into the characters on Thursday. Also remember that you have an assignment due on Monday. We'll take more time to work on it after our work with the novel on Thursday.

End of the Quarter - Off to Spring Break

Have a wonderful Spring Break, everyone! If you celebrate Passover or Easter, enjoy your holiday and time for good food and reflection on the holiday. I look forward to seeing you all when we return for our final push to the end of the year. Remember that if you have any work to turn in, today is the day! I'll have all grading finished tomorrow to close out the quarter.

AP Language

If you would like to continue reading Invisible Man over the break, please do so. You can also feel free to take this time to completely rest and recharge. Read something else, enjoy a movie, reflect on the class so far. When we return we'll take a look at that self-reflection assignment and return to TIM. 

English 10

Keep reading in Ivan Denisovich if you'd like. Once you get into the novel, it moves pretty quickly. There are also plenty of shows about Russia or Russian prisons that you can watch and check out on many different platforms. When we return from break we'll take time with some of our other authors to see a few other perspectives before returning to the camp.

AP Research

It's all about finishing the paper right now for us in this unit of the class. When we return from break we'll have another round of Peer Review for the majority of the paper. Take time to write and analyze data over the break if you need to, but remember that we will have class time for this when we return as well. Our final unit of the year will be all about preparing for the POD and submission of our work. I'm excited to bring you to the end of the line.

24 March - A Rainy Wednesday

AP Research

For today's class we finished reading the Manzanar paper and discussed the way in which the student creates a strong web of evidence and justified claims in order to show the assessor what they need to show. This paper provides a wonderful model of effective writing, academic style, and essential skills for success. Using this as a model for your future work is a great idea. There are other sample papers we've looked at so far this year too.

Right now, you should be focused on the completion of your academic paper. That is what this unit is for. Stay focused on writing, revising, and processing. Clarify the tools that you used and show how they were used by you to get the results that you did. Remember to avoid absolutes in your language, unless they're justified. The goal should be to finish the paper by mid-April.

On Friday we'll meet quickly to discuss next steps and what we'll find ahead of us in the road.

AP Language and English 10

See the post below for your reminders. Remember that the quarter will end on Friday. Any missing work is due at the end of the day on Friday so that I can score it on Saturday before I begin my vacation on Sunday. 

Beginning the Week - 23 and 24 March

AP Language

Today's class was all about looking at close details in Chapters 8 and 9. Keep in mind that this is analysis at work - noticing the small details in a text that authors use to create even more meaning in the work. Your attention to detail will pay great dividends as you keep working through this novel to notice the layers of meaning.

Next class we'll take a bit of a break from Ellison - there's an article posted in the materials called "Just Walk on By: Black Men and the Public Space". We'll read and analyze this article next class to remind us of some key ideas in our course as well as build connections to the unit and spark a personal reflection.

Any and all assignments should be turned in. Keep in mind that paper resubmissions and vocabulary cards are due!

English 10

Today's class was for us to complete our third SOL essay of the year. This one was about driving and your position on changing the driving age to require new drivers be older. Remember that this assignment is the final large point assignment of the quarter. From there, additional time in class was for making up other assignments or reading in One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. There are comprehension questions posted to help you with the reading and making sense of key ideas.

Next class we'll take time to begin an arts and crafts activity related to our novel and time to finish out the quarter. Keep pushing to meet your goals and we'll be on Spring Break soon!

Ending the Week - Thursday the 18th of March

AP Language

Today in class we had an assessment and working day. The main goal was to complete our assessment on the Prologue to Chapter Seven in Invisible Man. I look forward to reading your responses and interpretations of elements of the novel so far. Expect the scores to be entered on Monday.

Beyond that, there was time for a poetry exploration and discussion as well as time for conferencing, reading, or vocabulary. Remember that next week your vocabulary cards will be collected and that you will meet the end of the grading period. Any papers to be reviewed need to be resubmitted by the end of the day on the 26th.

Please reach out during Office Hours on Monday with any questions or needs. I'm here to help!

English 10

Today's class was a bit of everything. We engaged with each other in a discussion board on unwritten rules before taking time to read through a bit more of One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. We looked at characters, especially the differences between two guards, and thought up some great topics and symbols before some discussions on the book. 

Next week we'll take a break from Solzhenitsyn to write our third SOL essay of the year. The prompt and planner is posted for you to use as you'd like. We'll write the essay in class on Tuesday/Wednesday. The essay will be the last big points of the quarter. Remember that if you're missing something from earlier this quarter, now is the time to turn it in. 

Enjoy the weekend and the beginning of spring. You may want to start reading a bit on your own to keep moving through the novel. Next week I'll start assigning reading on your own.

Wednesday Reminders

English 10 and AP Language

Be sure to follow your reminders posted below or within Google Classroom. Remember that all of our class recordings are posted there for your convenience and review.

AP Research

Today in class we focused on the idea of the findings section of the paper. This is, ironically, one of the shortest sections of the paper. Remember that the goal is to show the data/findings in a clear and logical way for the assessor. Don't confuse findings with analysis/discussion. The Manzanar paper (which we read a bit more of today) is a great resource/guide in how we can easily and directly move through the conversation for the assessor.

I've uploaded your new reflection question for the week. Remember that they will mostly be POD questions moving forward. This unit is all about finishing the paper and preparing for the POD. Keep writing and reviewing. We'll be done with this heavy lifting very soon!

Beginning the Week - 16 March 2021

AP Language

Today in class we spent our time working through allusions and some key scenes/interactions in Chapters Five through Seven. It was very important for us to notice the way in which two key characters - Dr. Bledsoe and The Vet - are foils of each other, especially in their interaction with TIM.

Next class we will have a quick assessment on the unit so far. You'll be able to use your books and resources. You also have until the 26th to resubmit your research papers with my feedback/comments addressed. If you are unsure of how to move forward, let me know and we can conference. If you submitted a paper with an extension, I will have it back to you by the end of the week.

English 10

Today we took time to being the novel we're studying in earnest. We read as a class to understand the structure and style of the novel, some of the key characters (like Shukhov, the Tatar, and Half-Ivan) as well as some key ideas like justice, fairness, and dehumanization. Continue to read on your own as you'd like. We'll continue our study of the novel as a group on Thursday.

For tonight, be sure to take time to complete and submit any missing assignments like the Final Interpretation from Unit 3 or the Unit 4 KickOff assignment. Work will be collected until the 26th, which is the end of the grading period. 

Next week we'll take one class for our SOL Essay 3 (the prompt is on teen driving) as well as a final catch-up day for the quarter. I'll release the prompt and planner for you on Thursday so that you can prepare for the essay.

Friday the 12th of March

AP Research

Today in class we really did a deep dive on the Academic Paper rubric. We noticed that many rows of the rubric (1-3 and 6) are identical in their score description for a high pass - level 4/5. This means that it is Rows 4 and 5 where we must focus as writers and researchers to earn our distinction. As we discussed in class, the best style for this type of paper is one that is clear and direct, so that you are able to clearly guide your assessor through the choices you made and why they were the best choice for you. Sources from your body of knowledge can be really helpful in adding to your justification.

As we keep writing and developing, keep working with your peers to share drafts and get constructive feedback. Be sure that you're always using the rubric to guide your feedback and conversations.

Next week we'll move on to Unit 5. These final units of the year involve mostly finishing our writing and our POD as most of our data has been collected by this point. We'll meet as a group on Wednesday next week to kick off the unit. Be sure to submit any assignments from Unit 4 before the end of the day on Monday.

AP Language and English 10

Be sure to complete any of your tasks from Unit 3 as we're now fully moved in to Unit 4. If you need any assistance with anything, please let me know. I'm happy to meet you Monday. Research papers should all be returned by the end of next week. I appreciate your patience as I read and review your work. Remember that you will have the chance to resubmit your essays before the end of the quarter.

Ending the Week - Thursday the 11th

English 10

Today was our day to begin our work on Solzhenitsyn, Soviet Realism, and the novel One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. I first read this novel when I was your age, and I remember being very affected by it. I think that it will give us all some great opportunities to think and reflect.

We played bingo today to review important concepts. I was glad to see so many of you engaged in learning and responsive in the chat. We didn't start reading in class, so this weekend, try to read the first seven pages of the novel. Fill out your notes focused on characters you meet. Next week we'll focus more on reading and discussing the main ideas.

Remember that we are finishing Unit 3 this weekend as well. If you haven't turned in your final interpretation, be sure to do so. It's one of the last big grades of the quarter.

AP Language

Today was a day to dig deep and analyze to put together some of the threads we looked at last class. I was excited to see the connections that you're making in this novel and the ideas that you're building. Remember that we're just starting, so it's best to view all of this as ideas in progress.

Over the weekend be sure to read and focus on our next chapter set - Chapters 5-7. This is a shorter span of the novel, the videos will help on YouTube, especially Chapter 5. There is a fair amount of violence in Chapter 6 - consider your motifs and how this violence is representative of cycles in the text. As you read, collect vocabulary - cards will be due soon.

Don't forget to submit your analysis assignment for today by Monday.

Wednesday, 10 March

AP Research

Today was a quick check-in for attendance purposes. Remember that on Friday we'll meet for our peer review of our introduction, literature review, and method section of the paper. I'll give you a brief training on reading and interpreting the rubric before you put that to play with the work of your peers.

AP Language and English 10

The announcements below are the same for you all, as well. I'm looking forward to seeing you on Friday to continue or begin our study of our novels. Remember to check in on any assignments from Unit 3 as we are firmly moving to our next round of skills and texts. The quarter will end on the 26th of March.

Beginning the Week - 9 March 2021

English 10

Today's class was a bit of our transition from Unit 3 to Unit 4. We took time to brush off our grammar skills and get familiar with authors and the places that they called home before taking time for conferences and time to focus on our final interpretation from Unit 3.

You should be focused on turning in your final interpretation from Unit 3 this week as we start Unit 4. Remember that for your final interpretation you can use a Google Doc or use Google Slides. Take your information from your outline as a starting point, then clean up your grammar, focus on making your transitions clear, and show that your claims have evidence. Aim to submit the assignment this week. 

If you didn't finish our Kick Off document in class, be sure that you submit that soon. It's an easy twenty points to get you some background knowledge, which we'll keep doing on Thursday.

AP Language

Today in class we focused on some of the big ideas of Chapters 2, 3, and 4 in Invisible Man. We also touched in on our annotations of our covers - especially symbols, characters, and settings. Next class we'll dig a bit deeper on these chapters and look at some rhetorical analysis to really find a lot more meaning than we already have. Continue to pay attention to cycles as they appear in the text as well as how meaning is created through the use of key details in the text.

You'll find your recording and PearDeck takeaways posted. Remember to keep reading, thinking, and annotating. I look forward to seeing you Thursday.

Early Release Day - 5 March 2021

AP Research

Next week is our final week of this unit. The major tasks that we have ahead of us are meant to provide a check-in on our larger process and make sure that we're all moving toward our goals in the class. On Friday of next week you'll meet together as a writing group to discuss your academic paper drafts and give constructive feedback. We'll do some work as a group on Friday before you meet to discuss the rubric and what to look for as you read.

Data collection should, mostly, be complete at this point. If you're still chasing down a few sources of information or a few last survey responses, that's not a bad place. But you may want to ask yourself if that additional data is needed at this point. Is it possible to go deeper into the analysis of the data you have instead of finding more?

I'll be available on Monday and Wednesday to assist you next week asynchronously. We'll meet on Friday to submit tasks and do our writing workshop. Be aware that your PREP Check deadline has been extended. The newest reflection question has been posted.

AP Language and English 10

Note your reminders below. Assignment submission spaces are open on Google Classroom for your final tasks in the research unit. Please reach out and let me know how I can help out.

Ending the Week - 4 March 2021

AP Language

Great work today, team. I was glad to finish writing conferences with you all and have the chance for some second round conferences in some cases. Remember that your final drafts of your paper are due on Monday. If your paper isn't submitted on time you will lose five points for lateness. You will have the chance to resubmit your essay after you receive my feedback, so aim to submit on time. I'm available throughout the day on Monday and during Office Hours for additional help if you need it.

Don't forget that your AP Classroom FRQ will lock tomorrow. If you don't complete it before it locks, then you can find it on Google Classroom as well. Remember that this is a good dry-run for your research paper. The FRQ and the paper are essentially the same task - if you can do one, you can do the other.

Remember to read this weekend. The YouTube channel has videos to help you process and access the chapters. We'll be working through Chapters 2, 3, and 4 next week. There's some difficult content, but I know that together we can discover some interesting truths as well.

English 10

Today we had our day to meet and conference as well as update our classroom map. I think it's great to see all of the places around the world that you've been studying so far. If you didn't add your point to the map, be sure to do so and then mark that task complete on Google Classroom.

We were able to finish almost all of our conferences today. Since we didn't finish everyone, I'll extend the final deadline for the Final Interpretation. This will give everyone the chance to meet and conference before turning in your final task. Remember that I also have Office Hours on Monday from 10-11:15 am. You can come to BBCU and we can conference about your work and ask questions.

Remember that the outline assignment will give you almost everything you need for the final interpretation. If you're doing a Google Slide show, you may want to copy and paste your information from the outline, add an image from the item, and make sure that your grammar and spelling is accurate. It's the same deal with a Google Doc, but make sure that your writing flows together and that there are clear connections between the ideas you're presenting.

Next week we'll start our new unit, which actually will be our last unit. I've got some great books, stories, poems, and articles up my sleeve - even a bit of anime too. I'm excited for what we have ahead!

Wednesday, 3 March 2021

AP Research

Today's class was a chance for us to sit down and collect our thoughts related to our inquiry projects so far. I was glad to hear that many of you have made great progress in our work. I hope that, as always, our conferences were helpful. Remember to take note of our conference and any action steps you have from our conversation.

Friday's class will be an asynchronous working day. I'll keep our Google Meet open if you need to visit for any reason. You should turn in the documents for your PREP Check before Monday so that I can review and assess them.

I've uploaded your newest reflection question in the document on the Classwork tab in Google Classroom. Our next synchronous class will be on March 12, when we will meet for writing conferences to review the introduction, literature review, and method section of your papers.

AP Language and English 10: Your assignments and reminders are the same as those posted below. Remember to reach out for assistance as we are at the end of our research unit. Final tasks are due very soon.

Beginning the Week - 2 March 2021

AP Language

Today was our day to begin the study and analysis of Invisible Man. This is going to be a long slog, but it's well worth it. In my opinion, this is one of the most important novels written in the last 100 years in the United States. It will give you new perspectives on old and contemporary issues in our society. It's not an easy read to be sure, but it is rewarding. 

As you read, continue to use the tools you've been given. Annotate. Use your motif charts. Collect vocabulary. Be active and think as you read. We won't figure everything out, but together we can figure out more.

Next class will be our final day to submit essays, conference on the writing process, or complete the AP Classroom FRQ. I'll be available on Wednesday during Lion Time for any needed conversations.

Next week we'll focus on Chapters 2-4. Use the YouTube videos to help you make sense of these difficult chapters. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

English 10

Today in class we took time to discuss some issues related to grammar before jumping in to the last task in our unit - the final interpretation. I know that the outline for this document is complicated - that's because we're working with a complex skill. The goal is always the same though: creating clear claims which are supported with evidence. I was very happy to get the chance to conference with you today - if we didn't meet today, then we will next class.

As you are working today, the main task is the outline. Completing your outline will give you a lot of great work to help you put together your final interpretation. We'll chat about outlines next class if we didn't today - work through it as much as you can so that we can have a productive conference. We can also meet on Wednesday during Lion Time if needed.