17 February - Happy Weekend!

English 10 

Today was the end of our unit on letter writing. I liked what I was seeing as I was walking around the room. Engaged students writing about issues and using their previous work for success. I'm looking forward to reading these next week. I'll be out of town this weekend, so I won't be available.

Next week we'll be starting in on Unit 5 - Latin American Literature. We'll look at some great short stories and poetry as well as a bit of non-fiction regarding the region. I've also got a really fun television show for us to watch. If you have any missing assignments from this unit, I can still take them OR I will give you credit based on what I see in the letter. All grades will be updated by the end of the next week.

15 and 16 February - Moving on Through

English 10

Today was a choice day! We had the option to complete missing assignments for this unit, revise earlier assignments, review letter examples from the unit, or prepare for writing by completing vocabulary and grammar practice. No matter what you chose, I hope that it helped to prepare you for Friday.

On Friday we'll have our in-class writing. We'll start with an outlining and planning activity, and then we will write. The letter will be worth FIVE total points - two for grammar, one for organization, one for tone, and one for examples. Be sure to use your earlier readings, your research, and your great writing skills on Friday. I'm looking forward to seeing your letters. Next week we'll begin our study of Latin American literature.

AP Language

Good day in AP Language land as we had our fourth group meeting focused on Passage 3 and the patterns, themes, and motifs that you're discovering in your book so far. This is a great way to reflect on the usage of your book in your SourcePack and in your overall conversation in your research paper. Remember that you'll have two more group meetings to discuss and finish your work as a team. March is focused on the writing. 

From there, we talked about the Style Reading assignment for this unit. We're looking at jargon both in language and style. Go back to your sources - you could hopefully find one source to provide all this content for you. 

Next class is our whole class writing workshop focused on the Annotated Bibliography. We'll have the rubric posted and time to conference on the entries you've written. You'll have ample time to keep writing. The due date is posted. Use your resources and complete your task to show your skill!

AP Research

Today was the last day of our week focused on data collection. This is one of the last steps of your method, so it's a great time to check in on the previous steps and make sure that they're ready and aligned. There are a few important tasks to be completing right now:

1. Complete your BoK Analysis. This assignment is aligned to your PREP Reflection this week, so they work together really well.
2. Check in on your draft and finalize your earlier writing. You should be finalizing your Introduction and Literature Review. 
3. Collect data. Next week we have a lesson on data and visualization, so hopefully this will help out as you're working through the process.

As always, keep striving and working. Use your time wisely and avoid procrastination. I know that college is on the brain, but that is completely out of your hands - AP Research is completely under your control. Enjoy the long weekend and see you Tuesday!

14 February - Happy Valentines' Day!!

AP Language

Solid day in AP Language as we reviewed citations (in-text and end-text), the connection between the SourcePack and the Annotated Bibliography, and some sample AB Entries. Remember that the SourcePack and the AB are connected by a chain. For each of the sources in your SourcePack, you should write an AB Entry. The SourcePack should include key excerpts you'll use to write your paper. Remember that on the day of the timed writing, you'll only have your SourcePack which you built.

Next class is a Group Meeting. You'll be focused on Passage 3, the next chunk of the novel, and your finalized topics. The end of the month is soon, so books should be done by then. Next week we've got a day for writing workshop. I hope you'll find it helpful.

AP Research

We're in a bit of a holding pattern in AP Research right now as we're in the space to collect our data. You have ample time during class to meet with participants, work with spreadsheets and sources, and derive the information you need to address your research question. Keep questing. Keep hunting. Track your progress. 

Next class will be your final whole class workshop. Next week we'll be completing your PREP conferences, more on that on Thursday. We have very few College Board lessons left - they really just focus on the creation of the paper. Keep moving! I'm loving what I'm seeing!

13 February

English 10

Solid day in English 10 today as we did our final study of letters and prepared for our timed writing in class on Friday. I liked what we did today as a class as we worked to understand letter structure and read a few which had some play in their structure. Next class will be a choice day for us in preparation for Friday's timed writing. If you need to focus on grammar, there's NoRedInk; for Vocabulary, we have Membean activities; there's also make-up work or revisions if any of you need that. Keep in mind that we have a new rubric for this assignment on Friday!

9 and 10 February - End of the Week

English 10 - 9 February

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

AP Language

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

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

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

AP Research

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

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

8 February - Wednesday

AP Language

Great day in AP Language land today. We took time to read our books to prepare for our third group meetings, and then we launched into those meetings and conversations. The meetings today focused on discussing research topics, passage two, and then other key elements that your groups are seeing in the novels. I hope that you're finding the discussion questions useful and helpful. Keep developing your ideas in your Google Docs and on Schoology in the Discussion Board.

The second part of class focused on reading skills - especially CER and ROR. We looked at a text connected to the ideas presented in Into the Wild. Consider how authors create patterns in their text to relate their key claims. How does an author show how multiple pieces of evidence relate to the same overall claim? If you need additional help, remember that you have a myriad of daily videos on AP Classroom via the Exam 2 MCQ feedback. Access that. Come in at Lion Time. I'm always here to help.

At home, you have plenty of choices. Read your books. Build your sourcepacks. Complete your AB entries. Next class we'll be focused on non-print sources and have time to work on ABs and sourcepacks. Be ready and prepared. Don't waste time!

AP Research

Solid day in AP Research as we got back to Manzanar and understood the final section of the paper - Data Analysis and Data Collection. I hope that Manzanar showed you that the massive amount of work that you're in the process of doing will be reduced to something very simplistic. I'm sorry if it took the wind out of your sails. I think that the paper makes clear the way that choices can be justified and active language can be used to make everything clear and connected.

Now we move into the process of data collection. The next few classes are all for you. If you need to make phone calls, do it. If you need to meet with people, do it. This is the time to do what you need to do to get the data you need. Don't waste this time and allow yourselves to scramble. Keep up with your weekly assignments and reflections! Turn in your plan for the unit if you haven't done so yet.

7 February - Research Writing Process

English 10

Solid day in English 10 today. It was our only real class of the week because next class we have registration meetings. Today we reviewed the Research Write-Up assignment and the essential feedback for the group. We then took time to either revise and resubmit, complete the assignment, or move to the next step - our letter planning.

Next week we'll be focused on planning our letter before we write. You'll be writing in a timed environment, so proper preparation is important. You'll have access to your notes and preparation documents - but you'll be writing under a timer, so you'll need to be ready.

6 February - Rolling On Along

AP Language

Solid day today as we took time for direct instruction related to building the Annotated Bibliography. This assignment will look at your skills related to Claims and Evidence and Reasoning and Organization Reading. In this assignment you'll be writing a paragraph about 5-7 key sources. These should be the same source in your sourcepack. Remember the lesson - the research topic/question/prompt is your filter for your entries. 

The Annotated Bibliography is due on March 8. The Timed Writing - Synthesis will be on March 24. Remember that you must complete your sourcepack before that date in order to write on your topic that you've prepared. Don't forget that group meetings have also shifted. New dates are 2/16 (Meeting 4), 2/23 (Meeting 5) and 3/1 (Meeting 6). This is the date that the book should be finished. 

Be ready for your meeting next class. Meet your daily goals. Prepare and produce an item daily. Use Lion Time or After School if you need me!

AP Research

We finished out our presentations today with a lot of success and gold medals. There will be one more presentation before we begin our final PODs. In the next presentation you'll be reviewing your data, analysis, and your reflection on your hypothesis. This will be an assignment for Quarter 4. So, don't worry about it for now. Build off of what you've done and keep moving forward.

Right now you're going to find yourself in a few different spaces. You should be writing your paper. Revise what you've already done. Keep finalizing writing. I'll be assigning your final draft of your Introduction and Literature Review in a few weeks. You should be collecting your data and setting up meeting with participants. Remember that you can use class time to meet, have calls, and do this important work. You can also leave class and visit others in the building. We'll talk about this procedure on Wednesday. Lastly, don't forget your plan for the unit. Submit that this week.

Next class you'll have a good amount of working time! Accomplish your goals and move forward. Avoid being Richard the Second from Shakespeare - "I wasted time, and now doth time waste me...". See you Wednesday.

3 February - Friday Feels!

English 10

Great day in English 10 today as we took time to review good letter writing, zoomed in on an effective body paragraph as an example for our writing next week, and then we ended with time to work on our major assignment - the research write-up. If you didn't finish it in class, I will take it this weekend. If it's turned in on Monday, I'll hit it with a penalty.

Next week we have registration on Thursday. We'll start with planning our letters on Tuesday and revise our write-ups, if we need to. Be ready for a writing workshop next class! This unit will be ending pretty soon.

AP Language

We're all caught up on this wacky week! Next week we'll have our lesson on the Annotated Bibliography and our next group meeting. Read and prepare! We'll be writing next week!

2 February - Rolling into Quarter 3

AP Language

Today was our Course Selection Day - so a bit of a nothing day for us. Next week we'll get back into the research process with our lesson on the annotated bibliography and our next group meeting. Remember that the group meetings have been rescheduled due to registration. Group Meeting 3 is now on Wednesday 2/8. If you were absent today, be sure that you meet with your counselor during Lion Time in order to get your registration complete.

AP Research

Another great day with presentations. Our final four will present on Monday. I'm looking forward to seeing what we have ahead. Remember to submit your slides and have them in your PREP folder if they exist elsewhere. After we finished up our presentations, we reviewed our major assignment for this unit - the BoK Analysis. This assignment is mostly completion, you'll be copying and pasting or paraphrasing from your best source paper. The reflection question at the bottom is worth half of your points on this assignment - be specific in your response to this question.

There is a new PREP Reflection question opened for your thoughts and writing. Start to collect your Quarter 3 Reflections. Submit your plan for Weeks 22-27 by the end of next week. Have a plan and be ready to work through this portion of the course!

1 February - Happy Black History Month!

English 10

Wonderful day in English 10 today as we read our first example of letter writing. We also took some time for direct instruction on the structure and elements of an effective letter. As we read Helen Keller's letter, we talked about imagery, imagination, and the challenges that disabled people face from non-disabled people. Keep in mind that you'll take a reading and writing SOL next year, so we're focused on developing our reading skills and our writing skills in this unit.

The end of class was a bit of time for researching and working on our write-up assignment. This is due at the end of next class. Remember that it's worth three points - one for each section. Since we had a lot of class to work on it, there will be a late penalty of 10% if it's turned in late. Be productive next class and meet your goals!

AP Language

Today was our Course Selection Day - so a bit of a nothing day for us. Next class we'll have our feedback from Exam 2 and time to look at the next step of the research process. If you were absent today, be sure that you meet with your counselor during Lion Time in order to get your registration complete.

31 January - The End of the Month

AP Language

Solid day in AP Language as we got our feedback from Exam 2 in all of our essential skills. The tools that you have on AP Classroom for feedback are really essential in this process of developing goals and being accountable to yourselves for your learning. Use the feedback to chart a course forward. As you read, consider the skills in which you see a weakness and apply it to your books. There are also several Progress Checks unlocked for you to practice. For the FRQ checks, come in during a Lion Time and we can review it together and I can explain your grade as I score. This is a great way to improve your writing skills.

The second part of class looked at our Synthesis SourcePack assignment. This is a crucial completion task. Remember that you're cobbling together your sourcepack to include your prompt and five to seven sources with citations. Use the examples provided in AP Classroom (Exam 2, Question 1 and Progress Check Unit 6) as well as the Synthesis Prompt PDF in Current Lessons. These are great examples of your final product. I'm also here to help. Failure to complete this assignment will mean that I choose your prompt for you.

Keep working through the research process. This is the week in which you should finish developing your question. The SourcePack Template is the most important task to complete now. Use the earlier work to complete this essential task.

AP Research

I love days like today in AP Research. They really are some of the best days. I was very pleased with the presentations we saw today for our second round of elevator pitches. We'll continue to pitch on Thursday with another round of four presentations. Remember that we're at the point in the class where the work that you see each other do and the relationships you form in this class are among your most powerful tools. I can't tell you what to do, but you can tell each other and give specific suggestions.

Continue working to collect data, write, review sources, and do the work that you need to do. Remember that you'll have a graded assignment each week to help me get grades for you this quarter. Your next graded assignment will be your plan for Unit 4 and Data Collection. Next class after our presentations we'll look at another major assessment for this unit - the BoK Analysis. Have your best source selected for next class - it'll be a great help.

Kicking off Quarter 3 - 30 January

English 10

We had an easy start to the beginning of the third quarter today with our class based research day. We spent time on the databases looking for information related to our problems that we can use to fill our letter with solid evidence. Then, we pivoted and considered the person. Remember, it has to be a real person to whom you can write. You'll need to pick a person and then research them. LinkedIn is a great place to go to see their educational and working history. That can help you to write your letter and choose information that will really relate to them.

If you've fallen behind, it's time to get caught up. We'll be working on this first major assignment for part of every class this week. It's a lot of points to start the quarter! Make them count!

End of the Semester - Blue Day - 25 January

AP Language

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

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

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

AP Research

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

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

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

24 January - End of the Quarter/Semester - Grey Day

English 10

Today was our end of the quarter catch-up day to focus on raising and finalizing our grades for the end of the quarter/semester. If you didn't complete an assignment in class, it can still be accepted. You'll need to have it in by the end of the day tomorrow for it to be scored. 

If you're looking for something to work on, it should be your research topic and research write-up. Work with the databases to find information and prove your point about your problem/issue. We'll have a full class to work on our write-ups and our research when we return from the semester break and to start looking at the elements and structures of letter writing. Enjoy the break. Remember that I won't be available to respond to email from Thursday to Monday.

23 January - Closing out Semester 1

AP Language

Wonderous work in AP Language as we're starting out the development of our research topics and questions. This week is all about this work so that we are ready to move forward when the second semester begins. Remember that your goal is to find five to seven sources which you can use to argue your position on the topic. If the issue is a debate or conversation, then what can you use to explain your position in the issue. One of your sources will be a counterargument - remember that this may be another approach to the idea or issue, and not just an opposite idea. Consider the nuance that many of the sources provide to your issue. One source will need to be a non-print source. One source will be your book.

You should use the Research Question document and the Research Write-Up document to track your progress and topic development. Talk to your group. Use your book! This will be due in approximately two weeks. Remember to have something made from each class to take you to the next.

AP Research

We're all continuing working on our end of quarter tasks in AP Research today. I'm working to read and review your work up to this point and provide feedback. Please check your documents for feedback. Remember that next class we'll have a Early Release - so we just have an hour together. We'll start our next unit on data collection. Be prepared to lay out your plan to move ahead and be ready to meet with your participants (if applicable) to generate your data! Be sure that your final two assignments are submitted to be reviewed!

20 January

English 10

Easy day to end the week in English 10. We spent most of the day in the library working with the databases to refine our problems and lock in our issue for our research. Now we're focused on researching and refining our problem and finding information about the issue. The information is going to be key as we are writing our letters soon. 

Next week we only have one class, and it's going to be our catch-up day. That's our time for wrapping up the quarter and getting our grades complete. You can feel free to work this weekend if you'd like, but we will have time on Tuesday.

19 January

AP Language

Wonderful day in AP Language to end our week together. We took our second group meeting to discuss passage one and work as a group to understand some of the main ideas and elements of our books. Using the Google Doc to track your progress and work is key - remember, we want to have made something every day. As you read and work - keep thinking about research questions. The document to help you develop these questions is posted, and next week we'll really be focused on that work. 

The second part of the class focused on reading skills - Claims and Evidence Reading and Reasoning and Organization Reading. Remember that these are only skills that improve with work, and the way that you work them is by reading. Apply these same questions to your books as you read and discuss.

Over the weekend, focus on reading. Get ahead in your novels. Many groups may be resectioning and segmenting because you have more time before your next meeting - that's totally fine. Be sure to keep space so that everyone in the group can be successful. 

AP Research

Today was our first of two working days to end the quarter and semester. As a reminder, you have two assignments due to end the quarter. Be sure that you submit your PREP reflections for the second quarter. This would be questions for Weeks 11-20. Have thorough responses, clearly cite sources if applicable, and be precise in your writing. Remember that some of these questions may be asked of you later in the year. If you haven't submitted your draft of your introduction and literature review, this is past due. Remember, an outline is acceptable - I need to see forward progress on your paper.

We'll continue working next week and begin Unit 4 - Data Collection - on Wednesday. The pitches will begin on January 31. Use the recording from the 17th to find the key questions to answer. Create sentence starters for yourself. Also, this is a great chance to start making your slides to begin the process of your POD. Lock in your edits and show me what you've got!

18 January

English 10

A solid day in English 10 as we began our unit on letter writing and research. The first part of this assignment is your research topic. It's due at the end of class on Friday. For this, you'll want to respond to the discussion board. Be sure that you are specific in your problem. You need to answer questions like WHO? WHERE? and WHAT TYPE? as you look at your problem. The databases we have and the slides from today's lesson are helpful in this work.

Next class we're in the library to work with the librarians to refine and decide on our research topics. We'll also start to collect sources in our note taking document. You'll want a charged laptop for our work. We'll also have time next week to finish up assignments that need finishing. Be ready for an end of the semester catch-up day soon!

17 January

AP Language

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

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

AP Research

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

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

Friday the 13th of January - Scary Tech Issues

English 10

Ugh. Some tech issues hit a few of us as we were writing our final essays today. If this happened to you, feel free to complete the assignment on your own this weekend or next week with me in Lion Time. If you were absent, I would recommend using Lion Time so you have access to your folders.

Over the weekend you'll want to spend some time brainstorming ideas for the problem you'll be focused on in our next unit. We'll do the official assignment to start on Wednesday next week. Remember that there's no school on Monday in honor of Dr. King.

12 January

AP Language

Lovely day in AP Language land! We opened up our day with an understanding and teaching/learning lesson on specificity in our research questions/topics. Keep in mind that nothing is good, really, the first time you do it - writing and research questions are especially true of this fact. As you begin your reading and questing toward a research question, keep thinking and revising. The word is recursive. The process builds on itself. 

Check out the lesson progression and mark your calendar. Note that we're working through chunks to build this whole thing. If you miss class, you should see me to review what you miss and complete your tasks. 

The homework is reading. Meet your goals. Get ahead instead of playing catch-up. I will see you after the long weekend in honor of Dr. King.

AP Research

It was a workshop day for us today to get done the work we need to complete. If you're in the process of clearing your revisions from the IRB, be sure that you have shown those by the end of next week. If you're writing, then keep writing and submit your draft as soon as you can for me to review. If you're building presentations, then use some of our earlier recordings to help you set up your slides. Keep moving forward.

Remember that your final grades for this quarter will be your Quarter 2 Reflections (due next week) and your Intro/Lit Review Draft (currently due). The reflections will be scored for quality, the draft will be scored for completion. No feedback will be given on the draft because I can't, ethically. 

Next week we'll start working on Elevator Pitch v2.0. This will likely be a major grade to start Quarter 3 and Unit 4 - Data Collection.

11 January

English 10

A pretty light day in English 10 today for the middle of the week. We took our Membean Vocabulary Test and then worked on our writing workshop to prepare for Friday. Friday is our end of the unit assessment, our final definition essay. You can use your folders, your notes, and your outline that we worked on today. This grade will replace the earlier essay grade once it's completed. 

Next week we're going to be starting in on our research and letter writing unit. You'll have a lot of choice in this unit, and I'm excited to see what you come up with. We'll be talking about how to structure a letter, how to do good research, and some essential writing skills.

If you need to keep working with the outline form tonight, go ahead. The recording will help. If you were absent, you will want to work on it a bit before coming in on Friday.

10 January

AP Language

A bit of a Groundhog Day situation in AP Language as we finished our second AP Examination of the year. Our midterm exam. Over the next few days I'll be reviewing your work and giving feedback on AP Classroom. We'll have a day in the next unit devoted to reviewing feedback for the good of the group and understanding our grades in our skills. 

Tonight, be sure that you've completed your remaining assignments like your discussion board post and your vocabulary cards. Next class we'll be getting into groups and having books issued to us; we'll start to understand what a good research question is and how that will guide us throughout the next unit. We'll be focused on the Synthesis Prompt - Question 1.

If you've missed part of the exam or need to use extra time for whatever reason, be sure that you've coordinated that with me. I'd like to have all exams in to be scored by the end of the week.

AP Research

Wonderful day in AP Research today as we went back to Manzanar and understood the way to construct the method section of our academic paper. The method section is ironically one of the most important sections and one of the shortest actual sections. Note the way that the student highlights their assumptions, hypothesis, the breakdown of their method and of course, justifications of choices. There are also some great moments of reflection in the paper. 

We should all be focused on writing at this point. Next class we will have a whole class working and conferencing day. Some of you will need to clear edits with me, some of you will move forward to data collection. Remember to use your sample papers wisely as you are writing. Next week we'll begin to end this unit on method with our final assignment. 

9 January

English 10

Writing workshop day today in English 10 as we prepare for our final essay on Friday. Today our goal was the drafting of our introduction paragraph and the completion of our pre-writing. I was glad to see that so many of you were digging into history and other parts of the word to define your concepts. I'm already seeings some great growth in your approach. Remember that the whole goal as part of this is to get faster in our writing, planning, and especially our thinking. That's key when it comes to writing exams next year.

We'll finish our writing workshop next class by putting together body paragraphs. Be ready for your vocabulary test. Keep practicing with Membean if you need to. We may even get started with the next unit on Wednesday, but our goal is to be ready for Friday over anything else.

6 January 2023 - Closing out Quarter 2

AP Language

Ugh! The bane of our existence! AP Classroom. The program was super glitchy, so some of you may need to get in your extended time in Lion Time on Monday. Next class we'll complete the FRQ - Rhetorical Analysis and Argument; hopefully we won't have the same problems as we had today. 

If you have something to complete, please do so. A few of you need to submit your final five vocabulary cards and very few of you need to complete the discussion on your choice of book for Unit 5. We'll begin in earnest on that unit next week after we finish our exam. The next AP Exam will be after Spring Break, at the beginning of Quarter 4.

As always, please let me know what I can do to support you

AP Research

Fun times in AP Research today. Interesting work and interesting conversations related to data, data collection, and the way that we weave our limitations into our discussions and analysis. I like the way that we're getting super aware of what we're doing and why we're doing it. Keep in mind the importance of Peer Review during this process. Having a friend to check behind you for limitations and gaps is important. It's easy to develop blind spots in this work, a friend can help us stay clear on the path.

Over the weekend, be sure to complete your newest PREP Reflection Question. I've updated the document in Course Resources. You'll have two more of these questions before the end of the quarter. You should also be actively writing and creating content. Draft! 

Next week we'll have a lot of working time. Be sure to get your permission slips signed and completed. Also, clear your revisions if you haven't yet. See you next week!

5 January 2023 - Moving on Along

English 10

Great day in English 10 as we finished "The Overcoat" and discussed Gogol's messages about society in Russia in the 1800's and some of the connections to our world today in 2023. This is the last text that we'll read for our Russian and Eastern European Literature Unit. I hope that you found something to enjoy in this unit. Our next unit is going to be focused on research and letter writing. I'm excited to teach you some new skills and open up some choices for you.

The remainder of class focused on preparing for our essay. Next class we'll have a writing workshop and look at outlining a response. It should be a useful day to prepare for writing the essay. You'll be writing on Friday of next week, so the time we have in advance is to prepare for excellence. Remember that this is the essay score that matters as this is the final chance to show this skill this quarter.

4 January - Off to Second Semester

AP Language

Easy day to start the pivot to Semester Two today. It was a working day to close out our unit on The Crucible as well as to prepare for the next unit on research and synthesis writing and our upcoming midterm examination.

First, your FINAL set of vocabulary is due. For this unit, it's just five words. The words can come from the play, the articles we read, AP Classroom, or the tone word sheet. Next semester you'll be doing something different for Style Reading, so we'll pivot in a lot of ways.

Second, there's AP Classroom. The MCQs are one of the best ways to practice for the exam as practice questions and getting accustomed to the interface are key. Focus on your feedback and where you're facing struggles. Track the questions that give you pause. Keep practicing. Remember that if you do an FRQ practice, let me know via message or email so I can go and score it.

Third, next unit! There's a lot of choice in the next unit as you're creating your own research question based on your choice of a non-fiction text. Take time to make an informed choice and answer the discussion board post in the Unit 5 Folder. You'll lock in your choices next week. 

Be ready for your midterm examination. We're checking-in and moving on!

AP Research

Today was a day focused on data and alignment between data, method, and the research question. I hope that you found today's lesson helpful as you are getting ready to start collecting your data from your participants and sources. Today's lesson makes supremely clear how important it is to know what you're doing and why you're doing it. Our focus on assumptions and limitations was highly important. Remember that to show you're an aware researcher, then you'll need to demonstrate you're aware by having these clear discussions.

We didn't have a chance to finish the full lesson today, so we'll complete this work on Friday. Be ready for a reflection question on Friday as well. Remember that you do have a writing assignment due. Put together your ideas as they currently stand before we move into the next section and the writing of our third element of the paper. The best thing to do right now is write, draft, outline, and pull together your paper. Make content.

Welcome Back - 3 January

English 10

Welcome back to the grind everyone! I hope that you all found time to rest and recover over break. I had a good time seeing family and friends in Oregon and in North Carolina. There were definitely a few days on the couch reading and playing video games too. 

Today we reviewed "The Overcoat" read a bit more and prepared for the ending and Akaky's revenge for the theft of his coat. We also started working on our planning and pre-writing for our final essay. We have seven classes to the end of the quarter - you'll have the end of this unit, some assessments on Membean, and our final essay for the semester. Keep in mind that the grades will replace with your essay, so the goal is to show improvement or maintain. 

Next class we're finishing "The Overcoat" and focusing in on our essay prep. Be ready for a quick turn to the next unit!

Off to the New Year!

AP Language

Solid day in AP Language land today. We looked at Act IV in some segments in order to understand the major changes at play from Act I to Act IV and the way in which these changes communicate meaning to us as readers. From there we worked into our final conversation on The Crucible to understand the main arguments that Miller is presenting and the connections that this text has to the overall line of reasoning that we're creating in this classroom through the texts that we read.

Over Winter Break there is no work assigned. If you have tasks to complete, it's recommended that you complete them. I've also opened up AP Classroom so that you can review your MCQ skills before our second AP Exam. This exam will happen soon after we return from break and gives you a chance to reset on all of your grades before we move into the second semester.

Enjoy your break! Check out the Weekly Exigence for some ideas on how to spend your time!

AP Research

Fun times in Research land today as we flexed our creative muscles. I'm excited to see the end result. If you're going to be doing anything for class over the break, work on writing your paper. This is the best thing to do to be ready for the return and the beginning of data collection.

15 December - Happy Break, Grey Day Students!

English 10

A solid day in English 10, even with the cold rain and lack of a school cancellation. We focused on Part Two of "The Overcoat" and looked at the coat itself. It's important that we notice the changes that come with the coat. I was also happy to see your attention to details as you looked at the text and considered their importance to the overall text. This story is all about Akaky, what happens to him, and how he reacts to that. I'm excited to take you through the end of the story when we return.

When we return we'll be working on our final essay for this unit. We'll also get started with our next unit focused on research skills. I wish you a happy and restful break. If you weren't in class today, be sure to review the recording and complete the Zoom test. 

14 December - Lookout for Snow and Ice!

AP Language

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

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

AP Research

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

13 December

English 10

Great day today everyone as we started our final story of the year "The Overcoat" by Nikolai Gogol. We focused in on the character of Akaky and the various struggles that he faces including himself, his coworkers, and the weather in St. Petersburg. I hope that you enjoyed my photos of the city, it's an incredible place.

Next class we'll be finishing the story and getting started with our pre-writing for the final essay. The end of this story is really fantastic. I hope that you enjoy it. If you were absent, the story is posted in our folder.

12 December - The Last Week of School

AP Language

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

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

AP Research

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

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

9 December - End of the Week

English 10

Solid work today in English 10. We had a great conversation and seminar around some major themes in this unit including heroism, bravery, villany, and justice. I was happy to see a lot of engagement, collaboration, and critical thinking. We ended class with reading "Misrule of Law" and discussing the rhetorical triangle in the text. Keep in mind that you can use this text as you are writing your essay, which we'll get started with next week. We have one more thing to read too - it's a fun story about ghosts and Russia.

Enjoy the weekend. If you have missing assignments, be sure to get them in!

8 December - End of the Week

AP Language

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

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

AP Research

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

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

As always, I'm here to support you.

7 December

English 10

A good day in English 10 today as we finished one major text and reflected on some of the major ideas that it presents to us. It's an emotional film, and I always get really choked up at the end, but inspired too. Remember that this unit is all about preparing ourselves for our next attempt at our essay assignment. I hope that you're seeing some new examples of heroes and villains that you can use for your next essay attempt.

Be sure that you complete any missing assignments. We'll be reading next class and then taking some time to work through the pre-writing for our essays. I'm looking forward to a great last week before break begins!

6 December

AP Language

Today's class focused on Acts I and II of The Crucible. This is a quick play with a very tight plot and message, so we'll move through it before break. We focused on the main plot, who's involved, and why that matters in terms of establishing conflicts and topics in the play. Remember that as Miller comments on Puritan society, he's also commenting on 1950's society. The work we'll do next class will help you make those connections.

For tonight, read Miller's article called "Why I Wrote The Crucible" - Understand his exigence, context, and the message he's trying to convey. We'll look at the article in more detail next class. Annotate to mark your thinking. Also, start collecting vocabulary now.

If you have tasks to complete to end Unit 3, turn in your work ASAP. I would like to have your scores finalized before Winter Break begins. As always, come to Lion Time or after-school if you need anything.

AP Research

Easy day today in AP Research as we await the feedback from the IRB. I'm looking forward to presenting your work and helping you gain approval. We'll conference next class to review your feedback and guide any revisions.

What can you be doing right now? Writing your paper. Designing your slides. Preparing for your final assessments. It's important to always use the time that you have to move forward. This is a great time to build your paper in process, save the time you'll need in January and February when you'll be chasing down data.

5th of December - Monday!

English 10

Easy day today in English 10. We took our vocabulary test on Membean (our first one!) and then went back to Poland and Escape from Sobibor. As we're watching and studying this film, I hope that you're getting the idea of your next essay. We'll go back to defining concepts, so how does this movie provide evidence for defining different concepts? We have two more things that we'll be reading before getting to that assignment, but it's always a good idea to be thinking.

Next class we'll finish with Sobibor and take time for a speech from another part of the world. I'm hoping that we'll be done with all our readings before we start Winter Break, then we'll come back and write about it. 

Have a great week, everyone!

2 December 2022 - Friday

AP Language

It was a feedback day today in AP Language as we reviewed our most recent demonstration of writing skills. The feedback really revolved around two themes - being explicit and supporting all your claims. We looked at the rubric, the high scoring samples, and prepared to write again after Winter Break. That's when our next timed writing will fall.

From there we spent the rest of class working through our summative tasks for Unit 3. Next week I'll be scoring your vocabulary cards and your visuals/reflections on color in The Great Gatsby. Everything should be submitted for me to review ASAP. Reading is Acts I and II of The Crucible. We'll have a Weekly Exigence recording for you to help you out, but focus on characters, conflicts and irony. Who knows what? Who doesn't? Why does this matter? Make connections to the world of the 1950's, and let's be active in our reading and thinking!

Enjoy the weekend and the reading. It's fantastic!

AP Research

It's the final day for IRB! Submissions are due! We're conferencing, we're writing, we're thinking, and we're doing wonderful things. I'm looking forward to supporting you next week as I present your work to the FHS IRB. 

Next week we'll review feedback and edits and take a look at another POD presentation. We'll also take a bit of a detour to writing the papers and outlining too. Remember that we want to have a good chunk of our paper done by the time we get going on break.

Happy December - First of the Month

English 10

Easy day today as we worked through the end of the week in English 10. We started off with our final Membean training before our first test. The test will happen on Monday of next week. If you want to keep training and practicing over the weekend, you can! The words on the test will be the words you've been working with. 

After we finished with that we took time for our film Escape from Sobibor. It's an intense, true story about a group of Jewish prisoners who escaped from their concentration camp. A story of resistance, bravery, evil, and heroism. Great concepts for us to reflect on in this unit. We'll finish the movie next week and start to prepare for our next essay.

30 November - End of the Month

AP Language

Full day in AP Language today as we discussed our choice articles for the end of Unit 3 and began our discussion and work on The Crucible. The notes at the end of the recording on allegory and The Crucible are important to review as you get started with reading. By the time I see you on Tuesday, you'll want to read and annotate Acts I and II. Pay attention to characters and symbolism. Consider the connections to the world of the 1950's in America we were discussing today.

Next class is our end of unit working day for The Great Gatsby. You'll have vocabulary due, your reflections and any other tasks for Unit 3. We'll also be reviewing the most recent timed writing, so you won't have a complete class period to work.

Enjoy the reading. The Crucible is an absolutely fantastic book!

AP Research

We're on our final days to prepare for the IRB which meets on Tuesday the 6th. You'll need to have your proposal folder complete with your: AP Research Proposal Form, any survey/interview questions, any consent forms, and other tools as needed. Be sure that you are checking yourself for alignment and for final touches. It's natural to make changes, be able to explain why you are making the changes you are making. 

Next class is the final working day. We'll conference as well. Be ready! Be justified! Be aligned!

29 November - Grey Day

English 10

Solid day today in English 10. We did our first silent conversation, took time for Membean, and explored a poem called "Babi Yar" by Yevgeniy Yevtushenko, a Ukrainian poet. In reading the poem, we started to focus on the ideas of memory, truth, and deception. The poem acts as a memory and a monument to a horrible event. We'll continue to focus on this theme in the next few days as we watch a film about a Holocaust concentration camp from which the Jewish prisoners escaped. It's a great story. We'll use this as well as our other texts from this part of the unit to complete our next definition essay. Be ready for that before the end of the month.

If you're missing any assignments, now is a good time to complete them. Check your SIS for an accurate accounting of your grades and assignments to this point.

Welcome Back! 28 November

AP Language

Today was a workshop day to construct our visuals displaying color at work in The Great Gatsby. The goal in this summative assessment is to display your skill as a reader and understand the way that Fitzgerald uses a specific color to create a meaning in his novel. The organization and construction of the meaning in this novel is painstakingly built by Fitzgerald, this is a means to display your understanding of that.

Be sure that you have submitted your reflection questions which display your thinking in words. Sometimes art can be difficult to understand, so the reflection questions will help you display your skill. If necessary, your motif tracker MAY be assessed if skill demonstration is lacking in the other areas. 

Next class will be our end of the unit seminar related to non-fiction connections to The Great Gatsby. Select one of the posted articles and read/annotate. Consider connections to the unit and novel. Be thoughtful and critical. We'll be starting our next unit on The Crucible this week as well. Be aware of your due dates for vocabulary to round out Unit 3.

AP Research

Today was a day for our first POD viewing. We watched, we analyzed, and we discovered the route to a high scoring presentation. The rest of this week is devoted to completing your proposal form and any supporting documentation for that proposal (consent forms, surveys, etc.). The IRB is going to meet next week, so everything needs to be completed this week/weekend. 

The next two classes this week are going to be workshop days. We will meet together to discuss your work to this point as a graded conference. I'll see half of you on Wednesday and half on Friday for conversations. Be ready to show me your IRB/Proposal at this point. 

Off to Thanksgiving - Grey Day

English 10

Easy day today in English 10. It was our pre-holiday catch-up day. If you are missing an assignment, today is the day to complete work. The most important work is the essay from Unit 2 on heroes or villains, since that is a major assignment. Many of you are also missing the work from the substitute day. That assignment is open to you in Schoology in the Unit 3 folder. 

If you would like to continue to work and submit things over the holiday, that is acceptable. I will continue to receive and score your work. When we return, we'll start to focus on resistance and fighting back as themes in our unit. I'm excited to share the next few texts with you. Enjoy Thanksgiving! Be safe!

Off to Thanksgiving Break - Blue Day

AP Language

Today was our day to finish our work and conversation on The Great Gatsby. We focused on conclusions and arguments - it's important to notice how Fitzgerald is completing the novel by making his various points clear to us as an audience. There are so many messages in this novel - consider the ones that you understand the most thoroughly. You don't have to understand everything, but you need to understand something and thoroughly.

We finished class by focusing on our motif trackers. These should be mostly complete when we return to school so that you can complete your visual and the questions at the back of the tracker. We also have vocabulary due the week that we return. The week we return is for summatives and wrapping up the unit. We'll soon move on to Unit 4 and The Crucible.

Note that if you were not in class for the writing day, then you'll need to come on 11/30 to complete your double timed write. If you are not satisfied with your writing scores there will be a reassessment option. Enjoy Thanksgiving. There's no work assigned, but if you are behind then you should get caught up.

AP Research

Easy day today in AP Research land. We took a quick assessment to check our ethical practices and alignment to our guiding principals of beneficence and non-maleficence. The rest of our class time was given over to preparing for our IRB meetings.

Remember that all of your documents to support your research proposal should be completed by the week of December 5th. The IRB will meet, review proposals, and then give approvals and/or edits. Remember the principal of alignment between the steps of your proposal. Check your surveys for bias and leading questions. Working with your peers is great during this time as they will often see your blindspots.

Enjoy Thanksgiving! I hope that it's a restful and relaxing time! Eat lots of pie!!

Cheers to the Weekend - 18 November - Friday

English 10

Solid day today studying "In Praise of Feeling Bad About Yourself" by Szymborska. She's a wonderful Polish poet, awarded by several presidents in Poland and the Nobel Committee too for her work. I hope you enjoyed it. We finished our day with vocabulary and time to get caught up. Remember that if you are behind on the work from last class, that assignment is still open to you.

Next class is going to be our Unit Catchup Day. If you have a missing assignment, that class is designed for you to get caught up before we go out on Thanksgiving Break. Let me know how I can help you. SIS has been updated with everything turned in to this point.

17 November

AP Language

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

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

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

AP Research

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

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

Have a great weekend!

15 and 16 November - Blue and Grey Updates

Happy Tuesday/Wednesday Everyone - I'm going ahead and posting this today for everyone since I'll be out tomorrow doing some follow-up from last week's appointments.

AP Language

Class is focused on Chapter 7. Everything comes to a head in Chapter 7 and we have several turning points in the text. Remember that we're reading this novel not just as a story about these characters, but also as an argument about ideas related to America. The thinking and questioning of the text in today's slides should help you to see how these ideas are moving to resolution and to see the statements that Fitzgerald is forming. Considering who "wins" and "loses" in this text and why is a great way to formalize arguments. 

Next class is your double timed writing. There are tips in the Weekly Exigence for how to prepare. The best thing to do is review your feedback from your most recent writing assessment and the feedback to the class. Focus on a few points (remember you can't fix everything at once) and consider how you'll do that differently on Thursday/Friday when you write. Bring a charged laptop - you'll be typing since the exam has gone digital. 

Outside of class, focus on finishing The Great Gatsby. Before Thanksgiving Break we'll work through Chapters 8 and 9. You should also be wrapping up your motif tracker and vocabulary. You'll have summatives coming due after Thanksgiving Break - so adequate preparation now will lead to great outcomes then. I'll be after school on Thursday if you need anything. As always, feel free to reach out.

AP Research

Today we kicked off our working week focused on our IRB Proposal and the tools related to completing our inquiry project for the year. The deadline for IRB submission is December 6. This is a firm deadline. By this date I need your completed proposal form as well as every tool related to your study including consent forms and surveys. The team will give you feedback to prompt revisions and then you will be free to move forward.

All of the work that we've done up to this point has been designed to create the structures you need to complete this work. Pull together your various threads. Formalize your ideas. Show your process. 

As a secondary task, be sure that you are also writing your introduction and literature review - slay many beasts at once in order to be successful. Next week we'll be taking a few checks to help us keep moving forward.

English 10

Today's class is a day with a substitute since I'm out dealing with some personal medical things. During class you're completing the assignment on Anton Chekhov's "A Problem". Open the assignment and the slides and work through them. The story is posted as a PDF and there's a recording of me reading the story with pause points. Be sure to submit your slides as your grade by the end of class - the work won't be accepted late since today is a substitute day. I hope that you enjoy the story about Sasha and the idea of what it means to be a "criminal".

Once you've finished the story, take time with Membean. Remember that you need to do TWO, fifteen minute sessions each week. Once you've met your goal, you're set. Enjoy the day, and I'll be back with you on Friday!

14 November - Ugh, Filters!

For some reason, the FCPS filter keeps me from posting and updating at school. I hope this is resolved soon, but the issue is with Blogger. Be sure that you're keeping up with the regular posts on Schoology. That really is the best resource right now for all of us until this is worked out.

7 November

AP Language

Lovely day for feedback in AP Language today. We updated our score sheets, saw a bit of growth, and reviewed targeted feedback for our next writing assignments. Keep in mind that the feedback you get is derived right from the work you've done. Take a look at the rubric you received and the work you did. Do you see the feedback in your work? You may want to annotate your work in order to prepare for your next attempt. We'll be doing a timed write again soon to resubmit these writing skills.

Tonight your goal is to complete Chapter 6. Read and annotate for more information about Gatsby and his past. Your timeline will be a helpful tool here. Also, be sure that you complete your motif tracker as you are reading. Keeping up with this assignment bit by bit will really help you. Consider why Fitzgerald organized the appearances of the color in this way. How does it help him to make an argument about an idea?

AP Research

Today was our kickoff for Unit 3 - Method, Approach and the Design of Scholarly Inquiry. This unit is the make or break method because it's what distinguishes the pass from the fail. You have to have a means to answer your question and you have to be able to explain and justify each part of that plan. I think that a lot of you are now seeing a new way to use your existing work, be sure to keep paying it forward as we move forward. 

For tonight, you should complete your Expert Advisor Research - find one potential expert in your field. Research them. How may they be helpful for you? This is a great chance to try to reach out and get additional help - for some of you it may be a chance to get ready for your futures. We'll discuss these people next class as a means to discuss ethics and proper work in our field. Also, keep writing. Use the plan and sketch your outlines. Putting the content together helps! 

The Weekend - 4 November - Friday

Remind people to vote! It's our duty to participate in democracy in order to keep it alive!

English 10

Easy day in English 10 to wrap up our unit studying Asian literature and culture. Our final assessment was our three paragraph essay focused on the idea of a hero or a villain. We'll write this same structure of essay two more times this quarter. Today was your first attempt. Use this as a chance to see how you've grown from your very first writing assignment - the letter - and set yourself a goal for the second quarter.

Next week we're starting in on our third unit of the year - Russia and Eastern Europe. This is one of my favorite parts of the world and an interesting mishmash of cultures. I hope that you'll enjoy the texts and authors I'm going to show you. Enjoy the weekend. If you have Membean training to complete, be sure to log in and complete your 30 minute goal.

3 November - Thursday

AP Language

Really lovely day focused on Gatsby today in AP Language. The work we were doing around conflicts between past and present, fantasy and reality, and Gatsby and other characters is key. This is the mid point of the novel, and everything is going to turn pretty quickly. It's important to see what ideas are established before the changes occur.

This weekend is a great weekend to focus on getting ahead. If you've fallen behind on reading or the motif project or vocabulary, get yourselves caught up. Monday's class is a working day focused on resubmissions and our motif projects. Make next class great by being thoroughly prepared. I liked the energy today! Let's maintain!

AP Research

Lovely day to end Unit 2 in AP Research. Next week we're focused on starting our work on developing method. This is going to be a long, hard, winding slog, but we will reach the promised land of IRB approval and access to our research subjects.

This weekend should be a writing weekend for you. Pull together your resources to help you write - the PDFs in Schoology, your earlier work (your poster, annotated bibliography, source list, research question organizer), and the templates you have to help you. Give me a solid hour of writing this weekend to start working. I've also given you a new PREP reflection for Week 11 to complete. This is the beginning of Quarter 2 - mark that in your reflections.

Be sure that you use this opportunity to get ahead; there's a lot looming - so listen to your teacher and do what I say, please. See you Monday.

2 November

English 10

Welcome to Q2. This is a quick one because of all of our holidays built in, so it'll be important to stay focused and make up for any lost time. 

A very good day in English 10 in which we did a lot. Next class we'll be kicking off the quarter with our first major writing assignment - our heroes/villains essay. We've planned, prepared, and written, so we're ready for Friday. Come armed with your work up to this point. If you were absent for our workshops, use the recordings and handouts to catch yourselves up. I'm also available after school. 

Our next unit starts next week! I'm excited to take you to one of my favorite parts of the word, Russia and Eastern Europe. Be ready for the next phase of our adventure.

1 November - AP Language and AP Research

AP Language

We had a big conversation today in AP Language that we needed to have. Stop waiting to start the class and get going. It's not going to get any better with avoidance. I am here for you, but you have to do. You have to produce and you have to show. If you are planning to reassess your project for Quarter 1, please let me know via email so that I can prepare.

Today's class focused on Carnegie and his ideas about wealth, power, and charity in America of the 1890's. We reviewed concepts like logos, pathos, ethos, the rhetorical triangle, and the argument structure. I liked seeing your conversations and your disagreements about some of the ideas. It's important to make connections back to Fitzgerald as we read outside texts. Consider purpose, commonalities, and contrasts. 

Next class we're looking at Chapters 4 and 5. Focus on conflict and especially time. Read, annotate, and pay attention to the idea of truth and how it comes out in the text. Update your motif tracker and collect your vocabulary. As always, I look forward to seeing your thoughts.

AP Research

AP Research was wrapping up today with first presentations. We'll finish those on Thursday for the six who didn't present. One of the best things about days like today is seeing you all celebrate each other. Focus on getting comfortable at the board, speaking with confidence, and being sure of what you know. All of these practices will help us to do this.

Tonight focus on writing. You have everything that you need to start crafting your introduction and literature review. Use the files posted today as well as your sample papers, Body of Knowledge, and existing work. You have everything you need, you just need to put it together differently.

I look forward to seeing your next steps. Unit 3 starts on Monday the 7th. Check your messages for your recording.

28 October - End of the Quarter

It was an early release yesterday, and updating the blog must have slipped my mind. I'm working this weekend to finalize grades and score submissions. Remember that anything submitted by Monday morning, 9:00 am, will be scored before grades are finalized.

English 10

Today was a big writing day for us in English 10. We worked through the first portion of our first essay - the introduction paragraph and the first example and commentary in our body paragraph. Remember for this essay I want you to have two pieces of evidence and commentary (at least). You can choose to select a different character/person or you can focus on another thing that the person/character did. At the end of class we took time for Membean training. Remember to stay focused on Membean when you're working. Don't get wasted minutes, they'll bring down your completion score and your accuracy.

Over the weekend, enjoy the end of the quarter. I think we've been doing really well in here so far. If you see anything missing, please turn it in. If you want to do a redo, you can submit by Monday morning. If you were absent, be sure to see the recording on Schoology and complete the writing workshop we did today - the handouts are posted in Schoology for you.

26 and 27 October

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

English 10

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

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

AP Language

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

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

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

AP Research

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

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

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

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

25 October - Tuesday

AP Language

Solid conversation this morning across time periods. Looking at Hughes, Lorde, and Steele gives us some interesting ideas to track like identity, power, truth, and the fleeting nature of money. It's important to ask ourselves where we put our power as people. These three authors show us various routes to power and various points of view. The recording summarizes our key takeaways.

Tonight you have Chapter 3. Read and annotate for details. It's another party and all the colors are at play. Consider how identity is in flux in this chapter and what we learn about our main characters and how we learn it. Keep building vocabulary and tracking your color as you move through the novel.

Lastly, as I said, if you have things that are out there - turn them in. Get a grade and then my feedback to improve your tasks/work. I will be actively grading this week to update scores before the end of the grading period.

AP Research

Today's class focused on the final aspect of the introduction of the paper - the literature review. This section will serve many important roles for you and do a lot of the heavy lifting to support your research question. The ideas we came to about showing links and conversations between the sources is key. Consider how the earlier source list and annotated bibliography can help you to complete these tasks.

Next class will be a workshop day focused on our posters and pitches. We'll present these next week. If you have tasks to complete for the first quarter, be sure that those are in as soon as possible. My scores are due on Monday.

Friday the 21st - End of the Week

English 10

Super easy day today leading into the long weekend. We finished our work with Spirited Away in order to understand some elements of Asian culture at play in a text - I hope that you noticed the hero, the elements of their culture, and the idea of mindfulness and focus on the moment. I love this film and the director/writer has a lot of other great films out there too.

We then moved on to two computer based tasks - Membean and NoRedInk. Thank you for your efforts. Please get your permission slip signed this weekend. We'll use Membean in class every day to help improve our vocabulary through the year. Next class is going to be a writing class, note that we'll be starting Quarter 2 with a major grade, so be ready for that! Enjoy the long weekend! Happy Diwali!

Thursday the 20th of October

AP Language

Solid day today in AP Language land. We discussed Joan Didion's "Keeping a Notebook" and focused on the ideas of truth, memory, and accuracy. I loved the outcomes that we came to related to the purpose of truth and the way in which it can be modified as needed. I also really enjoyed the conversation around credibility and irony. The thinking is getting pretty high level, which I enjoy. Keep in mind connections to The Great Gatsby as we are working through parallel texts. 

Over the weekend there are a few things to settle up - here they are listed out for you:

1. Complete your Unit 2 Tasks. You have a project due. Some of you are still missing vocabulary. All assignments are due so that I can complete your grading for first quarter. 

2. Select an article from the folder and read this weekend. Annotate for the ideas of power and privilege. These articles are all written by African American authors, a population absent from The Great Gatsby. We'll be having a seminar on these texts next week.

3. Begin tracking your color from The Great Gatsby. This novel exists as a PDF, so find that and use the find feature to find your color easily. Use the tracker posted and begin to track your color. I think that white, blue, green, yellow, and grey are really productive colors.

AP Research

Easy day to end the week this week in AP Research as we are in a working day. To end the quarter, you need to submit your Annotated Bibliography and your Quarter 1 PREP reflections. There will not be an additional question this week to give you the chance to get caught up. Today we spent our time in class writing, practicing our pitches, composing our posters, and/or reflecting on our research up to this point. 

Next week we'll have a short week due to Diwali - Happy Festival of Lights! We'll see a College Board lesson on turning our AB into a Literature Review and have additional time to write. Your posters and pitches will be due the week of November 1.

19 October - Grey Wednesday

English 10

We almost finished Spirited Away but got caught by the last ten minutes, oh well. We'll finish it up on Friday. Friday is going to be a working day for us - there's going to be time for finishing the viewing guide and then we've got two online assessments to take care of - vocabulary and grammar. These two assignments are completion based, so get them done and get your A. These are also going to likely be the final grades for the quarter. Finish strong, raise your grades, show your skills!

18 October - Tuesday!

AP Language

Today's class focused on a recap of the major ideas in Chapter One and the key changes to Chapter Two. We discussed characters, first impressions, Nick's tones, and the importance of Nick's actions in framing the narrative we have. We did some close reading in class as well with some key passages of Chapter Two and noticed the key similarities and differences between Chapters One and Two. The more things change, the more they stay the same, right?

Tonight we're taking a break from The Great Gatsby. Be sure to complete and submit any Unit 2 tasks like vocabulary or your project. I look forward to reviewing your work. You'll also want to go back to Chapters One and Two and begin your color tracker. Follow the directions in the assignment on Schoology. Tonight you're reading and annotating an article by Joan Didion. Focus on the ideas of memory, truth, and accuracy. This is a great way to contrast Nick and consider the ideas of honesty and reliability with narrators.

AP Research

Today was our second AP Research lesson from College Board devoted to our presentations of our research. Our next major assignment is going to be our Research Poster version 1.0 and our Elevator Pitch. This will be our summative assignment to show the completion of our Unit. I hope that you can all also see the connection between the poster, elevator pitch, and your eventual introduction of your paper. In effect, the poster is the outline of your introduction.

Your AB is due. Be sure that you submit no later than Thursday so that I have time to review your work and get you feedback. This is one of your last major grades of the quarter. I'll also open up a space to submit your reflections up to this point. These will be reviewed for thoroughness of thought and apparent effort. I'm sorry that I missed some elements of our work today, I wasn't very good with the recorder. I hope the slides help.

17 October - Beginning the Week

English 10

Today we started our viewing of our major text for this unit Spirited Away. It's a great film from Studio Ghibli which really brought Japanese animation to America. We focused on the characters of Haku and Chihiro and the establishment of the plot and conflicts that will drive the film.

Next class we'll be viewing to finish the film. We have a bit more than an hour left in the movie. The viewing guide is going to be a major assignment for you - so be ready to finish strong. We'll do some writing about the movie after we finish it and start next quarter with our final project on the unit. Be ready for a strong finish!

14 October - The Real End of the Week

AP English Language

Whoo! Lots going on in AP Language as we begin Unit 3 - The Great Gatsby. Today was a day about framing the novel for you - we considered some of Fitzgerald's main settings, his topics and motifs, the conflicts in the text, key characters, and the symbols that we'll be focused on as we are reading. All of today's work is guided to help you read and interpret this novel. The recording is gold. Use it as you are reading and annotating.

This weekend is a weekend for finishing Unit 2 tasks and getting into Gatsby. If you have work outstanding, it needs to be completed. Focus on your final project - This is (my) America. Use the recordings, template, and rubric to help you navigate this work. We'll also work through Chapter Two next class - note the differences between Chapter 1 and 2. There are a lot!

AP Research

Great day in AP Research land! We completed our College Board lesson on definitions, hypothesis, and assumptions (as well as biases) in our research papers. The work that we were doing today was geared toward the writing of our introductions of our academic papers as well as understanding the use of our annotated bibliography entries. Consider what the sources are giving you. How can you show that in your reflections on the sources?

This is the work that you have this weekend. Write! Complete your entries! There's also your reflection questions for the quarter, I'll be asking for those in about a week or so to close out First Quarter.

13 October - End of the Week

English 10

Great day today everyone as we spent our class in Japan. We focused on poetry and art today - and this class was our final class before we start our film next week. Remember that the film is the major work for this unit and the last thing that we'll study. 

Over the weekend, focus on any missing assignments that you may have. Most of us are doing fine in the gradebook, but a few could do better. You'll have your final assignment for this unit coming up soon, and those will be your final grades for this quarter. Keep pushing to the end!

Remember that next week is the last full week of the quarter.

AP English Language 

Due to the PSAT and the loss of yesterday's classes - we had a bonus workday today. I hope that you found the time useful. I saw a lot of work on vocabulary and on projects. Use the video below, Mr. Friedman and I are trying to do what we can to provide you support. 

Submit your end of unit tasks as soon as you can. Have the first chapter of The Great Gatsby read for Monday. We have a lot to discuss on Monday related to this wonderful book.

Tuesday the 11th

English 10

Today's class focused on reading and understanding religious texts - we looked at Hinduism, Shintoism, and Buddhism to understand some of the key values of these societies. I also thought we found some interested similarities between these religions and faiths with which we're more familiar. Next class we'll be taking a look at poetry and art before we start our movie next week.

The Seventh Friday - 7 October

We are seven weeks into the school year, that leaves twenty-nine to go! Also, I won't see Blue Day classes for a whole week. Be sure to keep up with what you have coming due.

AP Language

A great end to the week in AP Language. We were seriously focused on writing, especially timed exam writing, as we reviewed our teamwork, the scoring guidelines and anchor papers, and the work of others. I hope that this is helpful to you as you shift your approach to these types of assignments. Looking at the exemplars and the rubric again and again is the best way to do this work.

We are at the end of the unit and moving to Unit 3 - The Great Gatsby. I won't see you again for a week. So, there are a few things to complete.

1. Vocabulary cards are due. Submit your whole set. I'll be grading soon!

2. Resubmissions/Late What's the Situation projects are due by 10/17. Raise your grade. Avoid the NHI.

3. This is My America projects will be due in one week. Use the template that I created to help you. If you have questions, don't wait until the end. Work with me during Lion Time or outside of school. An email can also be helpful.

AP Research

Lovely lovely day in AP Research today. Our conversation was so rich as we discussed our keystone sources, our Annotated Bibliography, and our eventual Literature Review. The connections that we built were so important, the recording is golden.

I won't see you for a week. Use this time to write your AB entries. If you write three or four a day every day then you'll have the assignment complete by the 14th. You should also complete your seventh PREP reflection this weekend - it lines up well with today's work and conversation. Don't be afraid to tweak your research question. If you see something, say something. Right?

Enjoy the long weekend. Learn the history of the native people who were here before us. Know on whose land you tread.

Thursday the 6th - Grey Day

English 10

In class we were focused on Japan and the concept of Zen. This concept we saw at action in several Zen parables today in class. We discussed irony and paradoxes as well as the difference between topic and theme. We read in order to understand and completed a short analysis activity related to the reading.

I won't see you again until Tuesday. On Tuesday, we hopefully won't have any more power outages, and will look at some other religious texts from across Asia. Have a lovely weekend!

Tuesday the 4th! G'mar tov!

AP Research

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

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

AP Language

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

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

Monday - 3 October 2022

Happy October my lovelies! One full month done with school. On to the next one, right?

English 10

Great day today in English 10 to start our unit on Eastern and Southern Asia. We'll be looking at literature and writing from Japan, China, and India in this unit. Today was our soft start, we did some research to learn more about heroes, art, and religion in these cultures. We learned mostly from each other as we completed a gallery walk to display our thoughts to each other.

If you're missing a project, be sure to get that completed as soon as you can. Missing scores will go in after the revision window closes. If you're not happy with your grade, we can do revisions or corrections. I'll have your rubrics back to you next class. As always, reach out with any questions you may have!