Presidents' Day Weekend (18 and 22 February)

English 10

Movie day! Movie day! I hope you enjoy the movie - it's a good one, and the ending is fantastic. I know you didn't finish, so we'll take care of that next week. Be sure that as you watch, you are completing your viewing guide! This is going to be your grade for this film. If you missed anything, the movie is posted in Schoology for you.

AP Language

If you've received an extension on your outline for the weekend, be sure that your work is in as soon as possible. I'd like to finish all of the outlines on Tuesday to get you your feedback to begin drafting. Today is a timed writing day! I'm not with you, so it's a timed writing day. I hope you enjoy the prompt - it's a bit perfect for Fairfax High School students, if you think about it. This is a good time for this essay because it'll help us as we develop our drafts in our own research papers. Don't forget about your next assignment - the template is there to help you complete it easily. Just use a page for each of your five sources and only give five sources - I know some of you have more.

I'll be back with all of you on Wednesday, Delta Airlines willing, I suppose!

16 and 17 February

AP Language

Today was our full on library day to focus on the completion of our outlines. The better the outline, the easier the paper. We began by reviewing the requirements of MLA formatting and setting up our outline documents. We also reviewed the rubric in order to understand how to earn full credit for this assignment.

Keep in mind that an outline is a picture of your thinking. You don't have to use all of this as you move to the draft, but you'll find it easier to put together with a thorough and complete outline. Be sure to review the samples posted as you complete this task - they're very instructive.

English 10

A good day in English 10 today with some poetry, some focus on major ideas, and a bit of movie time at the end to relate to our themes that we're exploring in this unit. I also enjoyed seeing you all work through the silent conversation - I think that's a fun and interesting way to share our thoughts and see what people think, even anonymously.

Next class will be our full movie day for Escape from Sobibor. You'll get your viewing guide back to finish as you watch the film. Be sure that it's complete. If you don't finish the movie, then we'll finish it up next week. If you haven't done your vocabulary, do so now from the things we've read so far this unit. We'll be ending the unit in a few weeks, so be ready for another quiz and your end of the unit project.

14 and 15 February

Happy Valentine's Day! Remember everyone, "If you can't love yourself, then how in the heck are you going to love somebody else?" Be sure to always take time to love yourself and your amazingness! I love all of you and am so happy to be your teacher. Now, on to the business.

AP Language

Today's class was a bit of a set-up and then delivery as we discussed some of the requirements and suggestions around building your eventual paper. The important thing is to realize that this paper is very different from what you've done in the past, even though it looks similar. Beware the temptation to turn this into a body of quotes and paraphrases with a bit of context - this isn't a report, it's an argument. The evidence is here for YOU to present and prove YOUR argument as valid.

We discussed ways to revise the argument, the goal of using evidence in the body, and some other suggestions - put these forward as you work through your outline. The next step of the process is also part of today's lesson. This is a very simple assignment - basically just a copy and paste job. See the template and the samples posted.

As always - let me know if you need me. Lion Time can be very useful right now!

English 10

Today we had a solid day where we took a bit of a thematic diversion away from Russia and Eastern Europe to investigate Burma. The line to connect the two areas is unfortunately not a very good one - the connection betwen authoritarianism and the limiting of personal freedom and expression. Our author Aung San Suu Kyi is a victim of these same policies today - an important reminder that the ideas we explore in class are more than ideas for some people in this world.

Class focused on our law and justice seminar and then we read and analyzed her speech "Misrule of Law" - see the recording if you were absent. Next class we'll make some more connections back to our unit and take time for test corrections. If you haven't yet finished your test, come and see me tomorrow during LT to finish that.

English 10 Update

Sorry about yesterday, y'all. I guess with my appointments my brain was a bit distracted. Instead of a movie, we had the continuation of low-key days in English 10 with our course registration meetings in the Career Center today. Junior year is a very important year in your high school trajectory, so I am glad that you had the opportunity to sit down and speak with your counselors about where you want to go and how you're going to get there. I also appreciated having the opportunity to speak with a few of you about your plans and goals moving forward.

Be sure that you complete any of the assignments that may be lingering over you right now. Some of you need to finish/make-up the test. Some of you need to finish your adaptations of "A Problem". If you have any questions about where you stand in class, be sure to ask ASAP. Next week we'll be watching our film, doing test corrections, and studying the 20th Century in Russia and Eastern European literature and culture.

10 and 11 February

AP Language

Today was a basic day - a day for an FRQ and MCQ on AP Classroom. As a reminder, this is the last time you'll be scored on the easier FRQ scale. From here on out the translation of the six point rubric to the 4.0 grading scale will be a bit more stringent. Why? Because it's second semester, the exam is three months away, and you've done each of the tasks already. Welcome to the big leagues.

The goal for other remaining class time is the work on our outlines. I've included two examples of high achieving outlines as models for you. Feel free to ask me questions and conference as you're doing this work, it's very helpful. As you build your outlines, find your vocabulary words, the end of the unit will be here soon!

English 10

Today's class was our movie day. We're currently watching Escape from Sobibor a true story about how a group of prisoners at a Nazi concentration camp called Sobibor united together to escape their prison. It's a great story of resistance and relates well to our unit. 

If you weren't in class today, the movie and the viewing guide is posted in Materials. We'll finish the film next class. This remains a fantastic time to pull together your vocabulary for the unit so far. I'll have quizzes returned to you next week and we'll have time to do some revisions of those as well.

8 and 9 February

English 10

Today was a quiz day for us - so it was a pretty simple day. The quiz asked you about all of the things that we've studied so far in this unit including fairy tales, poetry reading, our short story "A Problem" and some of the historical and cultural context we reviewed to open the unit.

After the time for the assessment, there was time available to complete any remaining tasks and begin with your vocabulary for this unit. Remember that you are responsible for ten words each unit we read texts together. You can submit your work electronically or on paper, as long as it's complete - we're good! Remember to give me the text, the word, the definition, and two synonyms.

AP Language

Today was our first full-on library day. Huzzah. You know how to access the databases, how to find resources, and how to outline, so now it's time to do it. As you are working and researching and finding, you should also be revising. Remember, this is a recursive process - it builds on itself. Your outlines are due next week - you have ample time to build this boat, but stay on your grind.

Next class we'll take time for our AP Classroom MCQ and FRQ followed by time in class for researching and outlining. See you then!

4 and 7 February

English 10

Good times today in English 10. We took our class time to finish our work on Anton Chekhov's "A Problem" by reimagining the story in a more modern context - we changed the setting and the parameters, but we kept the story the same. This allows us to really understand the themes and the conflicts in a very real way.

Next class we'll be taking a brief quiz on the first section of Russian literature. Be sure to review your notes, slides, and previous lessons so far in the unit. The quiz will be a mix of multiple choice, true or false, short answer, and matching. This also gives you a great chance to pull your vocabulary together, too! 

AP English Language

Today's class was all about moving forward to our next steps - the outline! First, you have to revise your question. We discussed today in class the importance of reasons. As you do research, you'll probably find more reasons to support your argument, but it's important to have an idea of what you're looking for. Also it's important to define your concepts clearly. What does "effective" mean in the scope of your investigation? Pin down your terms so that your argument is clear.

We'll be back in the library next class to complete revisions and work toward our outlines. Use the rubric posted as you create your outline. 

2 and 3 February

AP Language

Wow! What a day! We did a lot of great work today as we really collaborated to make each other better researchers. We reflected on our questions, found some of their glitches, and then began the process of revision with our cohorts. Now - it's time to put the pedal to the metal and revise!

Your next step is to submit your revised research question (version 2.0). Use the same document, it's returned to you, make a copy and put it in your folder for this assignment. When you have finished your revision and written your argument, resubmit the document at the Step 2 assignment space. 

We'll be in the library next class, and we'll discuss the next steps of the project which involve the source pack and the outline.

English 10

It was a wonderful Wednesday for Anton Chekhov. We read "A Problem" today and discussed characterization, irony, symbols, and themes. I really love this story and the ending, especially. Seeing what Sasha does at the end to Ivan is a great example of an ending that works on a lot of levels. If you enjoyed today's reading, then you'll want to take a look at some of Chekhov's plays - I think they're even better.

Tonight is a great night to pull together vocabulary if you haven't already done so. Between our poems and our story, you can probably find ten words. Next class we'll be doing an activity with today's story and next week we'll have our quiz on the first part of our unit. Be sure that you're reviewing regularly so that you're prepared!

31 January / 1 Feburary

AP Language

Good day today in the library - our goal right now is to develop our first research questions so that we can move into the process of peer review and further revisions. Remember that your final research question isn't due until next week, so the process of revising is key. Figure out the path you want to take. Carve out a part of the conversation that you can conduct in four to seven pages. Remember, narrowing your scope and focus is key - and the research databases are here to help you do this.

English 10

Today's class was a day to get Romantic (big R not little r). We talked about Romanticism as a literary movement, understood the main tenents of their philosophy and then looked at two poems - one by Pushkin and one by Lermontov.

We applied our TP-CASTT skills as we analyzed the poems and then did a bit of creative work as we analyzed the poems and understood their themes. We also worked through a fair amount of vocabulary. Don't forget to collect your vocabulary lists while you are reading - you have ten words due at the end of the unit.

Next class we'll be reading a short story by Anton Chekhov and doing an activity with it. I think you're going to really enjoy it. The recording is posted if you were absent or need to review - slides are under Materials.

27 and 28 January

AP Language

Today was our day to begin our fourth unit on research and synthesis writing. We reviewed our task on the exam - the synthesis prompt and two student responses. Though these responses are scored using the old rubric, they're still indicative of what the assessors are looking for in your response. From there we discussed the importance of specificity and the development of the research question. This is going to be our focus over the next few classes because the question is the key to the paper.

Next class we're in the library to explore databases and develop our questions further. Your questions are due first for completion, then we'll revise and resubmit for quality. Don't fall behind in this unit! Each day we have a goal to complete.

Remember that your Gatsby assignments are due tonight. Please submit your quote, annotations, and essay electronically.

English 10

What a wonderful class today! We did some great work today as we read Russian folk tales to understand some of the essential elements of narrative and of Russian culture. I loved seeing you all read, think, and communicate with each other about these stories. Remember that most of them exist on YouTube as cartoons - check that out if you'd like.

There's no homework over the weekend. Be sure to begin your vocabulary list for this unit from our reading today. I look forward to seeing you next class to begin looking at some poetry.

Opening Up Quarter 3 - 25 and 26 January

AP Language

Today was a super simple day for us - registration day! We met, reviewed the requirements of our writing assignment due next class, and then we headed down to the Career Center. Remember that Mrs. Kim is here to help you as you make your plans for after high school. There are a lot of different pathways you can take to get to your goals. Make the best decisions for you!

Work through the completion of your 1Q1P (it's due next class) and be ready to get going with Unit 4. We'll have days in the library to start and lots of working days ahead of us - use your time wisely to accomplish your steps!

English 10

Today was a solid day! We started a new unit focused on Slavic Literature - the literature of Eastern Europe and Russia. We did a lot today to focus on the culture, some of the authors, and some of the major themes that we'll be looking at through the unit like power versus freedom, individual versus society, and the power of literature to speak truth. We played bingo to do our learning to make it a bit more fun.

After bingo we took time to set some intentions for ourselves. We didn't finish the entire activity, so give yourself some time to check out more of those videos later on. Next class we'll look at some fairy tales from Russia to get more of a handle on the culture and what these people believe.

End of the Quarter / Semester - 19 and 20 January

We're halfway home everyone! The back half always seems to run a bit faster than the first. Keep on pushing, and remember AP kiddos, we end in May, really.

AP Language

Today's class was a bit of a catch-up day for us since we're ahead of the other AP Language group and since we've had a lot of absences lately. Remember that everything is here and recordings are useful if you've missed class time. If you need more - please let me know.

Quarter 2 closes today! Your class is the last chance you have to submit assignments to be scored. I appreciate everyone communicating and staying on top of things. We did a bit of a look ahead to Unit 4 - check the recording and the new folder/files to see what's on tap.

Over the long weekend, I would focus on your analysis of your quotation to complete your project on The Great Gatsby. Keep in mind that this is an analysis. The previous day's feedback may be useful in how you approach this assignment. Next week we'll begin with registration and then begin Unit 4 later in the week. 

English 10

Today was our final day for the end of the quarter and the end of our third unit of study for the year. By the end of today's class the goal was to complete your presentation of your research and submit that assignment to be scored. There were a lot of absences today in class - so I hope that if you are at home, or wherever you may be, that you find the time to complete this work and get it submitted.

Follow the template to complete your task. Keep in mind that your evidence (from the text and the research) should be focused on the importance of your text. There's not a lot of writing in this project, it's more about putting the pieces together and showing the ideas to a viewer.

Our next unit is going to focus on Russia and Eastern Europe. I'm really excited to take you to this part of the world. There are a lot of great videos about Russia loaded in the folder if you'd like to take a look!

14 and 18 January

Enjoy the long weekend! Do something for your community in the spirit of Dr. King to celebrate his legacy. I'd say go to DC and tour the monument, but the weather may not be the best for that.

AP Language

Today was our day for a writing workshop focused on rhetorical analysis. We discussed the importance of the rhetorical situation when considering the author's argument as well as the importance of the line of reasoning. It's especially important that our commentary on the evidence is connected to one strong line of reasoning that the author conveys in their text. It is also important that we have sufficient evidence to show and convey that line of reasoning to the assessor. I hope our review of the rubric and my feedback was helpful.

Take this feedback forward as you complete your FRQ on AP Classroom as well as your analysis of your quotation for the end of the color motif project. For your motif project, it's all about the one quotation. Show how the part (quote) relates and conveys the whole (argument). Remember that you've read the whole novel and you know about Fitzgerald, so you can also comment on his exigence and context for the novel. This writing assignment is not due until Quarter 3. So, don't stress this now.

This weekend your focus should be AP Classroom and any other assignments in SIS that are marked as missing or blank. I will have grades updated when I see you next.

English 10

Today was our day to make up for lost time and lost internet resources from last class. I really appreciate everyone's maturity and dedication to the classroom today as we worked to get things done and make this a better experience for everyone. 

Over the weekend, I would highly recommend making up for any lost time related to Unit 3 - World Research. If you are missing any part of the unit so far, you should work to complete that as soon as possible. Next class we will be finishing the final product and submitting that for review. This is the final grade of the unit and quarter - so I can't take it late. Use the previous lesson slides to help you gather all the pieces and work toward completion.

I look forward to a productive end of the quarter with all of you. Please reach out if you need anything at all. 

12 and 13 January

AP Language

Today was a creation day in AP Language - we farmed the text and created our visuals for our The Great Gatsby color assignment. By collecting all of the examples of the color in the novel, you're able to see the whole picture and really understand the meaning of that color in this novel. This is the idea that you'll explore further in your writing assignment. How does this quotation using the color relate to the overall meaning of the color in the novel? This is the question you should take with you to your writing assignment and planning.

For tonight, I would find and annotate your chosen quotation. If you have any work to complete - vocabulary, AP Classroom Progress Checks, or elements of the last unit, then be sure that the work is done as soon as possible. I am only accepting work during the end of the quarter because of the snow days. Stay on top of your assignments and be sure to ask if you have any questions about where you stand.

See you next time for our writing workshop on deep analysis.

English 10

Today's class was a class focused on our final project for this unit - a display of our text and our interpretation of that text. For this final interpretation, you have three options. You can do a research poster, a slideshow, or an essay. Different types of texts work better with different formats - so consider what works best for what you studied.

For this project you'll need to have the same requirements no matter how you display your ideas. Be sure to refer to the slides posted on Schoology for requirements and templates. By the end of our next class I need to see all of your work leading up to the final project if you haven't had it checked yet. 

We'll be transitioning to our next unit on Wednesday and Thursday next week - be ready to travel off to a new and exciting part of the world!

10 and 11 January

AP Language

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

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

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

English 10

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

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

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

Snow Day to Start 2022

Happy Snow Day, y'all!

I hope that you're able to stay warm, safe, and dry while the snow falls. It's really falling heavily, so I'll be taking Bruno out in a bit to see what he thinks about all of this. Be sure to check Schoology for updates to your class. If you're in 2nd or 6th - be aware that this class will not be able to be made up. Try to take some time for class if you can today - there are resources to help you do this.

I'll be available via email if you need me. Please reach out and enjoy the day!

17 December and 3 January 2022

AP Language

Today was a lovely day! We worked through the end of The Great Gatsby and had wonderful analysis and discussion of some key passages. I am so glad to see the depth of thinking that you're accomplishing with this text. Keep this going! It'll lead to a great outcome as you keep working and thinking and growing.

Most of our conversation focused on outcomes and resolutions. Be sure that you've updated your annotations based on our conversations in class. I'll be checking your books soon after we return from Winter Break.

There's no homework over the break. When we return, though, we have a few things to work through. There's our end of unit seminar (choose one of the articles for this), our vocabulary assignment, and our final work with the novel. Review the project and be ready for some workdays when we return! Also be ready for a fast end to the quarter - it'll be here before you know it.

English 10

Today was our classroom catch-up day. If you are missing your reading notes, your author paragraph, or your research on your country then today should have given you ample time to complete those tasks. If you need more time, please finish over the break and show me your work when we return. If you are missing anything from Unit 2 (like our soundtrack project) I hope that you will get that turned in as soon as possible so that I can update your scores in the gradebook. 

We took time in class today to watch Persepolis. If you missed today's class - feel free to find it online and watch if you'd like.

When we return from break we'll be focused on finishing this unit and completing our final steps of our project. It'll be a quick finish, so be ready to work diligently to complete your assignments. Keep in mind that NO LATE WORK will be accepted during the last week of the quarter.

15 and 16 December

AP Language

Today's class was a writing day! But, it was a bit of a special writing day since you were the one who constructed the prompt. I hope that through this mini-project you've developed a process by which you can break down and analyze a text in order to extract and trace the meaning in the passage. By increasing your speed and skill with this throughout the rest of the year, you'll be completely ready for the exam (and life, on a larger scale - sorry in advance for ruining all movies).

Next class we'll be discussing the end of The Great Gatsby - Chapters 8 and 9. It's a sad, but rich ending, so I hope that you enjoy it. I'm looking forward to a rich end to a wonderful book. Be aware that your vocabulary will be due in January. We'll also have our final seminar - choose one of the articles to read and annotate in advance of that seminar day.

English 10

Today was our reading day! We locked in to our author/creator and spent our day focused on studying our text or texts of choice. I am so happy to see how focused and dedicated you all were today in class. Keep in mind that if you didn't finish your notes, then you'll have the chance to do so on Friday during our Unit Catch-Up Day.

If you have any missing work from this part of the year, it's important to get it done as soon as possible so that I can update your scores as soon as possible. Use the time on Friday if you need to for this, but be sure that your reading notes are finished first.

13 and 14 December

AP Language

Today we focused on non-fiction, genres, and a new type of non-fiction called process analysis. This allowed us a chance to go back to the end of Chapter 7 and see the process of Myrtle's death in a new light. I think that we were able to understand a lot more about what Fitzgerald was trying to accomplish in that scene now than we did before. Be sure that your group work on Woolf/Petrunkevitch is submitted so that I can review that - just one for the team.

Tonight you need to complete and submit your prompt for your rhetorical analysis. For this I need your prompt (see the samples in the folder), your excerpt, and then your rationale for the excerpt. It must be submitted to Schoology so that I can print them for you. Next class, you'll complete the timed write!

The last reading - Chapters 8 and 9 will be covered at the end of the week (or beginning of January). I hope you enjoy the end of this book - the last paragraph is one of the best written paragraphs in American literature, I think. I've also posted your final choice articles for our seminar in January. Lots of stuff to get ahead on - but be sure that your prompt is submitted ASAP!

English 10

Today's day was a day for us to focus on Step 3. At the beginning we codified our choice of which author/creator we'll study and now we'll move into Step 3B - Which text/piece will we study? Use the slides from today's class to select your note taking method for your text. Based on the type of text, you'll want to select a note taking method that works best.

I recommend using TP-CASTT for songs/poems, the idea web is great for paintings, sculptures, and non-fiction pieces, the story map is fantastic when studying fiction or short stories. Pick your text(s) and begin your notes. Next class is going to be what I call a "reading day" - you'll have all class to work through your reading notes and hopefully have those done before the end of the week.

When we return from break we'll work through Steps 3C and 3D. Keep in mind that these are our last major grades of the quarter - be sure that you're meeting your goals and staying on your grind!

9 and 10 December - The End of the Week!

Just one more week of school until Winter Break! Keep pushing!!!

AP Language

Today's class we kept zooming in in order to strengthen our annotation skills. Today it was all about two lines of dialogue since Chapter Seven is so dialogue heavy. We read, we illustrated, we annotated, we worked! I love what you were able to find and note - especially related to how decisions are being made in the text. Remember, we're nearly done.

Over the weekend I'd recommend re-reading the end of Chapter Seven (Myrtle's death) and consider the slide we didn't get to today. The reading for the weekend is a choice - either Woolf or Petrunkevitch. Both texts are what we call a process analysis so pay attention to the steps in the process in the article. We'll also return to our projects next class - be sure to have an excerpt, Level 2 annotations, and your rationale for the passage's importance.

English 10

Today's class was a day for us to start to transition into our final step of our research process - Step 3. In this step we're focused on ONE creator from our country and an item (or items) that they've created. This is where our research on the culture and history of the country will come into play since so many authors reflect their culture in some way in their texts.

Tonight your country slides are due for Step 2. Please submit your work to Schoology when you're finished. Follow the template for what to do with each slide. From there, we'll move into Step 3 next week. First you'll pick your creator and then you'll move into your reading notes.

Also keep in mind that if you would like to resubmit your soundtrack projects, you now have your feedback to use in that process. If your soundtrack is missing, work to complete that project as soon as you can - get your points because we only have a few weeks left in the quarter.

7 and 8 December

Today was a relatively low-key day due to the Cultural Observation falling on the 8th. Bodhi Day is a Buddhist holiday for prayer and meditation.

AP Language

Today we engaged in a new note-taking strategy called sketchnotes which can be helpful when showing connections between important ideas or concepts when reading. I think that they're great in helping us think about a text like this one (which is so heavily visual) and hanging on to that visual aspect. Keep in mind that when colors or symbols are interacting, Fitzgerald is showing us the interaction between ideas. Consider which ideas win and which lose, for lack of a better word.

We also took time to work on the second phase of our rhetorical analysis project. The next step involves us building a prompt - so you have to have a rationale for the excerpt in order to do this well. Remember that you will need to show completed Level 2/DIDLS annotations and a rationale for your selected excerpt.

For next class, read and annotate Chapters 6 & 7. They run together. Six is short, seven is longer (but a TON happens and it really moves). Pay attention to character interactions and how cars play a serious role in the action. We're nearly done with this book, if you can believe it. So be alert for upcoming end of unit assessments.

English 10

Today's class was our day focused primarily on completing our research. This is the last day where you'll be getting a majority of class to finish this work, so you should be done or nearly done. Your slides or project (in whatever format) is due on Thursday/Friday. Keep in mind that you need to have a recommendation paragraph and your slides need to show in-text citations for your database.

Outside of working on our projects, we discussed writing a bit and what I'm seeing with your projects. All projects will be scored by the end of the week. If you'd like to do a resubmission, you'll have next week to turn that in.

Next class we'll take time to discuss the parameters of Step 3 and begin our process of finding our author and text(s) to study for the final phase of this work. Keep in mind that this phase will be a longer one because of the fact that we have to do research and read something by the author of focus.

3 and 6 December

AP Language

We really killed it today. We zoomed in on a significant passage in the forest of Chapter 3 - and we found a lot of significant meaning as we kept examining the text. I'm really happy with what you're seeing in the text - as you keep looking you keep finding. All of this work that we're doing is so important in building the skills to analyze and build a rhetorical analysis that works.

Over the weekend you're reading Chapters 4 and 5. Pay attention to the idea of time, especially past versus present, it's super productive. Build links to the ideas of fantasy/reality as you look at these chapters. You should also be able to finish your vocabulary at this point. 

Next class we're going to work through Chapters 4 and 5 as well as take our next step on our project workshop. You'll need to come in with Level 1 annotations of your text for the next workshop.

English 10

Today was a day to move into Step 2 of our new unit. We solidified our choice of country and then began the process of researching that country and building our slide deck about the country. We went to the library and heard from Mrs. C as she reviewed the tools of the library catalogue and the online databases. I love these databases - they do a lot of the work for you.

Next class will be our whole class workshop. You'll have the entire class to finish your Step 2 work. If you finish, you'll be able to move on to Step 3 - finding an author and a text by that author to study. Keep in mind that you have to finish each step before you move on to the next one, so no half-stepping and no missing assignments!

1 and 2 December

Welcome to December, everyone! Just a few more weeks until we go out for Winter Break. Be sure that you're using all the class time that we have efficiently - that will lead you to a great break!

AP Language

Today's class was a time for us to focus on Chapter 2 and all of the contrasts that are apparent to us through the chapter. What I think is really interesting is the fact that these two chapters, on the outside, are pretty similar. Consider the direction of the plot and the basic events: Nick narrates, goes somewhere, there's a gathering around a table, Nick leaves. But when we zoom in, these similarities go right out the car window.

We then touched in on Lorde and Hughes to understand what they are telling us and why these concepts may be important in breaking through this novel. We'll come back to them later, so be sure to read deeply if you've not yet.

Next class we're looking at Chapter 3. It's a bit of a long one. Pay attention to the way that tone is created in the chapter and the shifts that it takes. The minor characters at our first Gatsby party are pretty important as well. Today's slides are posted with our Rules for Good Writing.

English 10

Today we kicked of Unit 3 by looking at different countries around the world. In this unit, you're choosing your whole adventure. Which country? Which author? Which text? You can choose to read a set of poems, a short story, or an article for the later portion of this unit.

Next class we'll be writing about our country before we move on to Step 2 - the poster/brochure/slide show on our country. Having good research from today will really help you to conquer Step 2 easily. Then we'll have to do some reading and annotating to finish the project out. 

If you have your project from Unit 2 missing, tonight gives you a good chance to complete that work. Don't miss your chance to get caught up; now we're moving on and we'll have things to do every day of class.

29 and 30 of November - Three Weeks to Break

AP Language

Today we read the first chapter of The Great Gatsby and explored the characters, the setting, and the major ideas that Fitzgerald presents in the opening of his novel. I was very pleased to see you annotating closely and paying attention to the details. This is a book that is all about the details - dig deep into those interesting sentences that draw your eye. It's all intentional in this book.

Tonight you have reading and annotating to accomplish. First, read Chapter 2. Pay attention to Tom when he's not with Daisy, the power of alcohol, and the minor characters - you may want to view them as symbols more than actual people. This is also our first party scene.

The other reading is to select either Hughes or Lorde to read as well. These are two African American authors who provide an interesting perspective on Black art - this art was highly consumed by wealthy whites in this time period, so their perspective is key. Also, we don't get any African American voices in this text - so these texts will help provide that.

English 10

Today was our classroom catch-up day for Unit 2. The major task was to complete the soundtrack project and then to submit any missing assignments for the unit. Remember that your work is due at the end of the day today in order to avoid a late penalty. I'll have everything scored soon and then we'll have a chance to do any rewrites or resubmissions.

We also took time to work through our year-long portfolio. For this portfolio you're making one slide for each unit of study we have. So far, that means you should have two slides. For each side include the following:

1. Unit number/name
2. A country of interest from the unit
3. An author or writer who interested you. Why did you choose this particular author?
4. Your key takeaway from this unit. Write this as a whole sentence.

Next class we're going to start Unit 3 - this is our research unit, so we'll be picking our own topics for research and spending time in the library over the next few classes. Be ready!

22 and 23 November - Off to Thanksgiving Break!

AP Language

Today was a reading and working day for us in AP Language to kick off our mini-project on Rhetorical Analysis process. The goal for today's class was to select an essay to focus on for this project and to annotate the passage. Our next step is going to be to focus in on a particular passage from this article for our analysis prompt.

Over the break you should get caught up if you're missing anything. I'll have all scores in the gradebook and then if you'd like to do a resubmission, that window will be open. We'll start in on our study of The Great Gatsby after Thanksgiving. Feel free to start reading ahead if you would like.

English 10

Today's class was a very simple class. We were mostly working on our own to complete two tasks. First, the Youth Survey, which is an FCPS survey for 10th and 12th graders. Remember that you don't have to complete this survey if you don't want to.

After you opted out or completed the survey, you worked to complete and turn in your projects. If your album cover and tracklist are on paper, turn that in to the orange folder on my desk. Your paragraphs should be turned in to the space on Schoology. If your track list or album cover are electronic, feel free to turn in everything on Schoology.

I hope that all of you have a wonderful and fantastic Thanksgiving Break! There's nothing to do for this class over the break, but if you have any missing work, I would recommend getting it done now. 

18 and 19 November

AP Language

Great work today y'all as we looked at Andrew Carnegie and his "Gospel of Wealth". I hope that you'll be taking some of these ideas forward from Carnegie and Didion as we begin our work with The Great Gatsby. 

Next class we'll delve into our project on rhetorical analysis. We'll overview the project and then take time to work. You'll not have any work over break - it's against FCPS policy to assign work over breaks. If you have any missing assignments lingering, this weekend provides a perfect opportunity to complete those tasks.

I'll have all of your work scored soon. If there is anything that you would like to resubmit, we can discuss that after Thanksgiving.

English 10

Today was a day for writing! We looked at sentence starters, organization, and structure in order to complete our paragraphs for our soundtrack project. I hope that you find the resource that I gave you in class helpful. One thing that I like to do as I write is to create sentence starters with blanks and then fill in those blanks as I write. Remember that you can always change the templates, but use them to start to help you get comfortable.

The project is due at the end of next class. Next class will also be our catch-up day since we're at the end of the unit. If you have anything missing for this unit I would suggest completing it this weekend so that you can focus on your project in class on our last day before break.

16 and 17 Novemer

AP Language

Today's class was focused on close reading and analysis of Joan Didion's "On Keeping a Notebook" - we focused on the way in which she creates a very unique voice in this text through her use of details, shifts, and interesting flashes of memory. As we did this work, we were analyzing the text to consider her main ideas for us on truth, memory, and accuracy. All of these are significant ideas as we begin with The Great Gatsby. 

For tonight, your assignment is to read and annotate Andrew Carnegie's "Wealth". In this text he reflects on the burden and responsibility of the wealthy toward society. This is a great text before we get into Gatsby since all of those characters are ridiculously wealthy - you may want to consider how they do or do not follow Carnegie's ideas.

Remember that your websites are due by the end of the day on Wednesday. Submit the link so that I can review your work.

English 10

Today was a day for us to really begin in earnest on our final project for this unit - our soundtrack of our characters' lives. By this point you should know which character you're focused on and what the general trajectory of their life is. We watched a video on album cover design and then took those ideas to heart as we began to craft our album covers for our project. Remember that part one and two of this project are very simple. Next class we'll start with part three - our paragraphs.

At the end of our creation time we took time to read and complete tasks. If you are missing vocabulary or your character tracker, I hope that you were able to get that complete during today's reading/working time. Be sure to submit anything that's missing - our unit will be ending next week!

12 and 15 November - Beginning Unit 3

AP Language

What a great day! I'm feeling a lot better and getting back to myself. I was very glad to be with you all today and take you through our overview of The Great Gatsby. The slides from today's class are posted as is the recording of the overview. Feel free to review these documents as you check and review your notes.

Over the weekend, and to start the unit, we'll be reading some parallel texts to help us better appreciate the novel. Tonight, it's Joan Didion. You can find her in the Unit 3 Folder. Read and annotate this text. Consider the idea of the observer, the idea of honesty and memory and accuracy, and the idea of a reliable narrator. These connections will help us to better understand Nick when we meet him. I would also recommend beginning your vocabulary now - don't wait!

Websites are due at the end of the weekend. Hit publish, and then turn in the link. Only one person needs to do this for the group. If there is anything else that you need to turn in from Unit 2, be sure to do so quickly, as it will soon incur a late penalty.

As always, if there is anything I can do for you, please let me know!

English 10

A good day filled with some good work! I am very glad to see how well you are completing your work and wrapping up this unit. Today we took time to read our books, finish our character trackers, and review our final projects for class. Next week we'll pivot over to our writing and start finishing our projects.

Over the weekend, be sure that you have any of your previous assignments complete. Especially the vocabulary and the character tracker. The character development tracker is a great tool to help you write your paragraphs for your soundtrack project - you'll use a lot of those ideas as you write your paragraphs.

I've included our screenshot from our notes today in class - this may be a useful document for you as you're thinking about your books, characters, and your soundtrack project.

10 and 11 November

AP Language

I'm back! Not at 100%, but good enough to be with you all today, and I am very happy to be with you instead of where I was. Today was a pretty simple day, and I appreciate you all being nice to me. We took time to talk, work through some big ideas related to our unit, and then we finished our day as we needed.

As a reminder final tasks from Unit 2 are due or now past-due. If you are missing something, be sure to complete it as soon as possible so that I can finish my grading quickly. Your websites are due by the end of the weekend. Be sure that someone from the group submits the link. On Friday/Monday we'll be starting our unit on The Great Gatsby. I'm excited to share this text with you - it's one of my favorites.

English 10

Today was a very easy day for us since I'm still riding the struggle bus and recovering from my procedure on Monday. I appreciate all of you being kind and following instructions today. We completed a grammar assignment before we took some time with our books. As we are reading, it's important to note that there are only FOUR classes left until our projects are due. 

After reading time, we met in small groups to collect information related to our characters and how they are changing. I think that this is very helpful as you are working to complete your soundtrack projects. Remember that if you have anything missing (like vocabulary) that you submit that as soon as possible. I'll be finishing your grades for this unit over Thanksgiving.

Keep On Keepin' On, Y'all!

Hey Everyone - I'm really sorry to be away from you all for these two days. I'm feeling really good this morning and should be back at school on Wednesday. Be sure that you've submitted your assignments on Schoology. If you're in English 10, you have a PearDeck to complete. Just do your work in the slides and it'll save everything for me to check when I close the session later today. 

AP Language

Next class we'll have our seminar and time to finish up our websites before the weekend. I'll also take time to check your annotations, so be sure to have your books and notebooks. If you're done with The Crucible tomorrow, then you can return your book to me if you checked out a school copy. We'll be starting with The Great Gatsby on Friday/Monday. You can check out a copy from me or purchase your own. I'm excited to share this book with you all - it's a good one!

English 10 

Next class we'll be spending the majority of time with our novels and getting ready for our final project - the soundtrack to the character's life. Be prepared for a day with some reading, working on our next vocabulary checklist, and a bit of a creative activity focused on our book, which will help you with your final project.

Beginning Quarter 2 - 11/4 and 11/5

AP English Language

Happy Diwali everyone! Due to the fact that today was a holiday, we took it pretty easy. Our main goal at this time is to construct our websites and focus on our assessments coming next week. Here is our to do list for the weekend and into next week.

1. To open the week you'll have your end of unit assessments. There is the mini-project (visual and essay) as well as your annotations of The Crucible and your timed essay. Keep in mind that the essay will be open book/open annotation. There are also vocabulary cards due.

2. Our website presentations will be run as a seminar. Be prepared to discuss your individual text as well as your group's argument. I'm looking forward to our symposium on social commentary. More details next week. Your websites will be assessed at the end of next week. This will give you time for further edits and revisions before they are assessed.

Keep in mind that we will begin our tardy policy next week. See the letter posted for more information. This quarter is where things are going to start getting real - it's time to start chipping away at things bit by bit instead of trying to do one big push. 

English 10

Today's class was a very easy class due to the fact that we have a religious observance today - Happy Diwali! We reviewed the final project for this unit, completed our NRI diagnostic, and took time to complete our vocabulary documents and submit them. 

As a reminder, the final project will be due the week we go out for Thanksgiving Break. I know this feels like a while away, but it'll be here pretty soon! Remember that there are three parts to this project - the album cover, track list, and then the paragraphs. We will have future time to work on this in class, but be sure to begin so that you can chip away at your assignments bit by bit.

29 October / 3 November - Beginning Quarter 2

AP Language

Today was a day for finishing up and completing tasks. Since we're at the end of the unit, we took time to complete our second progress check on AP Classroom for our FRQ and MCQ skills. Remember that these grades are going onto second quarter. I'll review your work and enter scores when I return from Alaska next week.

Remember that we have several assignments coming up in the next few weeks. I hope that you were able to find some time after the AP Classroom assessments to get started. Next class we will have the entire class devoted to our major project - the social commentary websites. I hope that you'll be able to use that time to be productive and complete most of your work as a team. 

English 10

Today was a very easy day in English 10. We took time to complete our NoRedInk Grammar Diagnostic and then used the remaining class time to work on our novels. Remember that you have vocabulary due pretty soon after the quarter begins, so I hope that you were able to complete your ten words and get that submitted or at least close to finished. All of these assignments will go on Quarter 2. Keep in mind that Quarter 1 is now finished and your grades have been posted.

Next class we'll dive deep into our novels and begin to consider the way in which the characters are changing and developing. Remember that we are finished with these books by Thanksgiving Break.

27 and 28 October - This is the end...

Quarter 1 is now officially over. Grades have been posted for Quarter 1. No changes will be made. Remember that quarter one counts less than your other quarters because I know that you are readjusting to things. If you've faced challenges, it is important to reflect on those and chart a new course forward. Don't keep repeating the same process and expect a different outcome. You should also know that the course will begin to get more difficult as we move forward. With that, on to the the updates.

AP Language

Today was essentially our end of the unit for The Crucible. We discussed some of Miller's ideas and purposes through the play as we participated in a jigsaw discussion on excerpts from his article. I think that it is extremely important that we noticed the ways in which history and humanity stay the same throughout the eras, even though there are significant changes. 

After that, we launched into our mini-project where we're comparing Mean Girls and The Crucible - the playlist for the clips are linked on Schoology. Remember to use your viewing guide and select ONE element for your compare/contrast. Decide if the elements are generally similar or different between the two texts and then explore the importance of this similarity OR difference. You'll construct a visual comparing/contrasting the two elements (character, conflict, theme, motif, setting, etc.) and then the mini-essay. Follow the outline on the back of the viewing guide for the mini-essay.

Be aware of the following assignments that will open Quarter 2:

• AP Classroom FRQ and MCQ (10/29 or 11/3)
• Timed Writing - The Crucible Unit Exam and Mini-Project (11/8 or 11/9)
• Vocabulary Cards 2 (11/8 or 11/9)
• Websites will be scored the week following.

We're opening Q2 with a lot of points! Use this weekend to get ahead and be prepared. Remember that we're going to be studying The Great Gatsby next.

English 10

We had a very chill and easy day to end quarter one. I am very happy that so many of you completed your test corrections and used this opportunity to raise your scores before the end of the quarter. I also hope that by reviewing your work and your answers that you see your mistakes, and don't repeat them in the future. After test corrections, we took time for some grammar and then moved to our novels.

We will finish this unit by Thanksgiving Break. Your final assessment on your book will be a project - more on this later - that focuses on how the characters have grown up through the course of the book. There is a graphic organizer we'll begin to fill out to help us track these changes. For now, it's important to keep reading!

Next class we'll have our NoRedInk Diagnostic Test (remember you'll get a 4.0 for completion of the test) and any time afterwards will be for you to collect and complete vocabulary. These two assignments will be your first grades for Quarter 2, and both are very easy ways to start with a 4.0 - just do the thing!

25 and 26 October - Ending Quarter 1

AP English Language

Lovely work today everyone as we worked through tracking the changes apparent between Act I/II and Act IV of The Crucible in order to understand Miller's main arguments. Remember that in an allegory everything stands for something else, so it is important to recognize that the resolution of these characters connects to the resolution of the Red Scare in 1950's America.

For tonight you should read and annotate "Why I Wrote The Crucible" by Arthur Miller. Use this as a means to check and deepened your understanding of the play. It's not often we have an author tell us exactly what they meant to do. You should also begin to revise your drafts of your rhetorical analysis - we'll have another check-in on this work soon.

English 10

Today was an examination day. Not the most fun or exciting day in English class, but a necessary day for us to show what we've learned and how far we've come. I'll work to have these exams scored and back to you by next class so that we can do any test corrections before the end of the grading period.

For tonight, enjoy a night off. We'll get back into our books next class and begin with the second half of our books, remember that you'll have vocabulary due again very soon!

21 and 22 October - End of Quarter 1

AP Language

Today was a movie day! We watched Act III of The Crucible and understood some of the major moments of Act III as well as the way in which they connect and deepen some of Arthur Miller's larger ideas. Over the weekend your main task for me is to finish your reading of the play. Act IV is very quick. Pay attention to the ideas of reputation and confession at the end of the play.

For your project, you have a deadline on Monday/Tuesday which is your rhetorical analysis rough draft. You'll meet and share your drafts/plans/work. See the video from a few days ago for help with this.

Remember that any missing/resubmitted work is due by Friday. I'll be scoring and updating grades this weekend. If you are completing the reflection for the second timed writing, that is available at the form linked on Schoology. The reflection is due by the end of the day tomorrow - Friday the 22nd.

English 10

Today was our review day! We went over all of our concepts and ideas that are going to show up on our examination next week. Remember that you'll have grammar skills, reading and writing skills, and a bit of vocabulary with your literary devices. The exam is going to be paper/pencil as well as computer based - so bring your laptops.

Any missing or late work is due by the end of the day on Friday. Don't miss this chance to submit anything that you may need to submit. I'll still take it! You can submit on Schoology or bring me hard copies of assignments.

I've posted our review game on our Schoology page! Feel free to access the questions to help you study and review over the weekend.

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.