3 May - Where's Spring?

English 10

Rainy and chilly Wednesday. Ugh. Where is spring? I want us to have more outside classes and reading time. Oh well. Today we opened our class by looking at two suras from The Qur'an to understand more about Islam and Muslim values and culture. This is a great thing for us to do to understand more about the characters and lives we see in Persepolis. 

From there, we went into our chapter study for today's class. We discussed "The Party" and "The Heroes" and the arrival of a new, important character. Be aware that we're hitting the mid-point of our book! We should be done with it by mid-May. We'll take our test on the book and then look at our final projects. After that, it's the final examination portfolios.

If you are missing your writing assignment or any other assignments, be sure to get those in ASAP. See last class's recording to review the steps to the writing assignment. You've got an outline, sample paragraph, and great earlier activities to help you.

2 May

I hope that those of you taking AP Examinations (APES and Psych) felt ready and prepared. Hopefully as you're taking some of these other exams you can use some of our strategies here in class. Be sure that if you're missing class for any reason that you catch up with the recordings!

AP Language

Today was our day to review FRQs for the last time. I hope that if any of you are doing a revision or a new version of an FRQ that today and last class have been especially helpful for you. If you've missed class, then you need to be sure to review the recordings. Next class we'll make our plan for the exam and then have time for the choice board and conferences.

We will be closing out and moving toward our final examination period starting around May 16. You should have all of your choice board activities completed by that date and your class grades finished. The final doesn't relate to these skills, so that's why we're moving on to the final and finalizing grades.

Please submit your artifacts and plan your conferences. I'm here Wednesday and Thursday after school, and you can come in to Lion Time as well!

AP Research

Easy peasy in AP Research since we're over the hump and past the submission date. I'm very happy that everyone submitted their drafts and met final goals. Now it's time for us to close our year together. Be sure that you complete your grades for Quarter 4. Submit your final reflections and your final tasks here as they are completed. Everything should be done by May 16 so that we can move firmly into our final examination tasks.

Remember that your final examination tasks are due on May 31. That is the date of our final. Be sure that you have reviewed your options and planned your course ahead. All of our days are working days in the month of May with the exception of the final when you'll present one of your artifacts.

1 May

Happy May Day!

English 10

Today in English 10 was our day for writing. We found an important panel from Persepolis and analyzed elements of language and art to show how Marjane Satrapi is creating meaning in the text about the situation in Iran, herself, and the citizens of the country. I'm looking forward to reading and reviewing your responses. If you were absent, please see me for a Lion Time pass so that we can complete this together OR complete it at home if you feel able.

Next class we'll take a bit of a side quest with our reading and look at the Qur'an. We'll also take a look at our next few chapters of Persepolis to understand the way in which the revolution is progressing in the country. Don't forget that we will have a vocabulary test on Friday. Get in some Membean training to prepare! After today, we just have 13 more classes until final exams. Stay ready! Stay woke!

28 April

AP Language

Great days are continuing in AP Language. Today was a day focused on skill development and especially ROW, RSW, RSR, and CEW - the skills of rhetorical analysis. If you were missing from class for whatever reason, be sure to check the recording and review. We had a bit of time for choice board activities and completed a few conferences. Please keep working on your own to review your feedback, complete your new or revision task, and submit your work. There are spaces on AP Classroom as well as here to submit. Remember to meet with me during Lion Time, After School, or in class.

Next class will be mostly a working day and conferencing day. We'll be starting AP Examinations next week, so most of our days will be geared to be working days. Note that we will have some focused review on the essential tasks, so keep up with the recordings.

AP Research

Today was submission day for our AP Research academic papers. Congratulations on finishing the course. Today is effectively the end of Quarter 4. From here on out we're completing our Final Examination and other finishing touches. Be sure that you've completed all of your tasks to end out Quarter 4: PREP Reflections, Academic Paper PDF, and Final Reflection Question.

For the final exam we've got nothing but working time to get us through most of May. A lot of you have a lot of AP Examinations, so I understand that you'll need a lot of time in class to prepare. Be sure to review the requirements for the Choice Board and make your plan for completion. I'm excited to see your final presentations on May 31.

27 April

English 10

Absolutely wonderful day in English 10 today. I love watching you all read and engage with our memoir, Persepolis. It's a great book that tells a really fantastic story. We'll continue to learn more about Marji, Iran, and Islam as we work through the novel. Next class we'll take a bit of a pause and begin our first writing assignment for the quarter. We did a bit of practice for this today as we broke down a panel from "The Letter". We ended class with some independent time to finish up any missing or needed assignments - remember you'll have a vocabulary test next week! Thanks for a great discussion and class. 

AP Language

Today was a holding pattern for us as we didn't have class yesterday with the SOL. We were working through completing choice board items and conferencing to show growth and development of skills. I loved the conversations we were having today and the growth that you were showing me. We're going to keep in this holding pattern for the next few classes. Keep completing your tasks. Show me your improvements. Let's complete conferences during Lion Time or after school. 

26 April - SOL Reading Day

AP Language

Good luck on the SOL Reading today everyone! Take deep breaths, take your time, and understand what the question is asking you - no worries at all! We'll have another choice board working day for our next class. Try to put some time into finishing your first task if it's not already complete. I see a lot of in progress assignments on AP Classroom, so get those wrapped up. 

Next time I see you, your goal should be to conference and take me through your improvements and evident growth. You may find it helpful to annotate your work with this in mind. Don't forget to reference the skill descriptors as you are working in particular skills. I'm after school today (Wednesday) and Thursday to offer any help you may need!

AP Research

Great day in AP Research land as we are moving toward our submission date. We took time today to do some our best work, peer review. I loved seeing you all working together for this class and offering such wonderful feedback to each other. We also reviewed the instructions for DigitalPortfolio and how to navigate what the Originality Report means and how to use it. If you were absent, please check this very important recording from today.

Next class is Submission Day! Bring snacks! Bring drinks! Bring a celebratory mood. Let's kill it!

25 April

English 10

Kinda a strange day because of the assembly this morning. Second period, we didn't really have class today. We'll get regrouped on Thursday and complete the majority of our lesson from today. We'll also have our end of year grammar test on Thursday through NoRedInk. It's just a completion grade, so don't stress on your accuracy, just do your best.

In ESOL English 10 we were able to have class which was great. We took time to read, getting caught up or ahead, and then looked at our upcoming writing assignment. We'll complete this assignment next week on Monday.

The EdPuzzle has been put in the gradebook as a zero if it is missing, be sure to get that taken care of before your next graded assignment.

24 April

AP Language

Great day in AP Language land as we kicked off Unit 6 - Our Choice Board! This unit is designed to give you ample time to improve your skills in preparation for the AP Examination. Next time I see you, you'll be taking me through your work, showing and explaining your changes, and seeing the development of your skills in real time. Remember that I'm here to support you through all of this. If you get writer's block, let me know. I'm pretty handy with a sledgehammer.

For sake of ease, please submit an artifact of your task here on Schoology. It could be a note, a link to a doc, or whatever. This will help our revision conferences. You can also come in at Lion Time on Tuesday or after school on Wednesday/Thursday if you need me or more time with me. Remember, we have very little time left before the AP Exam.

Next class - Wednesday the 26th - you'll have the Reading SOL in the Aux Gym. Check your email for your seating assignment. Have your charged laptop, your computer charger, and your brains turned on. If you'd like a practice test - you can find one easily on Google. Just look for VA SOL Reading for 11th Grade. There are a few PDF tests out there to get comfortable with questions.

AP Research

We keep on rolling through our presentations with just two left for Thursday's Lion Time. As I'm looking at your work, the only thing I see that needs to be done is some final steps to close out the unit. Please be sure to submit your reflections for Quarter 3/4 to the assignment space. You should answer all of the remaining questions. 

Next class, Wednesday the 26th, we'll be doing some final peer review, turning in a PDF to Digital Portfolio, and using some of the online tools. Please have a draft submitted to DigitalPortfolio before I see you next time. DO NOT SUBMIT UNLESS YOU ARE CONFIDENT THAT YOU ARE DONE! I've submitted all scores for presentations completed. I'm very happy with what you've been doing. Let's finish strong!

20 April

English 10

Today's class focused on Chapters 3 and 4 of Persepolis. We learned more about the Satrapi family, their background, and the history of the country. Note the way that the author, Marjane Satrapi, is making parallel the way that we're learning her family history and her country's history. We also previewed and outlined our writing assignment for next week.

If you are missing the EdPuzzle assignment or need to get caught up on reading, please do so this weekend. Let me know if you have any questions!

19 April - Almost End of Week

AP Language

Today was our day to get into FRQs and the final round of Rules for Good Writing. I hope that you all were able to find spaces to develop your writing further and find more spaces to lock in with your Line of Reasoning and show the assessor that you are meeting the goal of the prompt. Remember, sometimes it's better to be more simple and direct than get lost in the words.

See the recording for our various lists. Memorize the thesis structures if you need to. There are plenty of Progress Checks on AP Classroom to practice with all of your skills.

Next class we'll be completing our first choice assignment - this should be focused on developing your first key focus skill. I'll have letter grades for you on Monday, so you'll be able to chart your course forward.

AP Research

Congratulations to our first POD being done! Hooray! We'll keep working through PODs tomorrow, Friday, and into next week. Be ready by having your slides submitted, your abstract submitted, and have your reflection questions prepped, even if they're not turned in yet.

Remember our process over the next few days. Come to class, check in, and then off to a separate space to prepare while others are presenting. 

At the end of class we reviewed the process of submitting and checking on Digital Portfolio. Have a draft uploaded by the end of next week - and follow the guidelines - so we can run our final checks.

18 April

English 10

I was very glad to be back with you all today. I'm still going through some challenges, but they're reaching some closure, and that helps with healing. Thank you for a really great class today. We began our reading of Persepolis by analyzing and reading Chapters One and Two. We'll study a few chapters every day of class. I was glad to see everyone reading and enjoying the story. The whole book is in two parts, but we're just reading Part One.

We focused today on characters and conflicts. We also dipped our toes into allusions since the book is filled with them - mostly history and culture from Iran. 

Be sure that you've completed the EdPuzzle on Iran. If you need a code, it's ficrova - I'll be checking EdPuzzle again and updating grades. Next week we'll have a grammar test, so be ready with some NoRedInk practice. See you Thursday for another round!

17 April - Back in the Building

AP Language

Today we started the process of reviewing feedback from our final practice examination. I'll have grades finalized pretty soon, it does take me a good amount of time to process eight grades for all of you. So, hopefully today's class helped you get started on the process of reflecting and making a plan to improve before the end.

Tonight, review the choice board for Unit 6 and reflect on your process this year. What will be your path to finish this course in Unit 6? What are going to be your key skills for focus? I'm here to help you figure this out, be sure to meet with me and conference as you need to!

If you were finishing your exam in the hallway today, then please use the recording to review our classwork today on ROR and difficult questions.

AP Research

We are in examination season in this classroom, so it's time for us to finalize our work and move toward the finish. I've scheduled your PODs for the next few days, be sure to check your email and accept the invitation. You'll have observers at your POD, and it'll be recorded for College Board. Be sure that you submit your slides so that I can access them easily. Your paper is also due at the end of the month.

Once we finish PODs we'll have a lesson to finalize our paper and do all of our checks with Digital Portfolio. Be sure that as you are finishing this part of the course you are submitting all of the needed assignments for your exam: Academic Paper, POD Slides, Abstract, Final Reflections.

I am very excited to see the end of your work this year. Let's enjoy the final!

13 April - Still Gone, End of the Week/Quarter

I'm very sorry to be away from you all on the last day of the quarter. I appreciate that I have seen a lot of things get turned in. I'm grading and giving feedback as you complete items. Here are a few quick reminders for the long weekend.

AP Language

Be sure to submit your final assignment for this unit. Your grades will be resetting pretty soon once we finish the scoring of the practice AP Examination. If you have missed any or part of the practice exam, please see me next week to get that settled. The best times would be Wednesday after school or Thursday at Lion Time. Juniors won't have Lion Time on Tuesday because of required programming.

AP Research

We'll have one final working day and then begin our presentations. I'll schedule those with you on Monday. Use this last weekend well! You'll be getting your first AP Exam out of the way, and then we'll move on to reflecting on the year and having some fun before graduation.

English 10

Today is our first day of Quarter 4 and our unit on graphic novels and Middle Eastern literature. We're going to start by diving in with our country of focus and our type of literature to focus on. If you didn't finish the assignment today in class, please do so by the next time I see you. Go to EdPuzzle, log in with your FCPSSchools account, and find your assignment. You can always redo this if you'd like. We'll start reading our book from Iran next class, so knowing this information about the country will help you to better understand the book.

12 April - Out of the Building

AP Language

Good morning all. I very much regret that I had to be away today during your MCQ. I hope that it went well and that you navigated the challenge. I should have everything scored and back to you next week to take us to our final unit of the year to prepare for the AP Examination. 

If you have part of the exam to finish, please email me or see me to schedule a time to get that settled. It is very important that you have your scores and feedback next week as soon as possible. You'll need it to make your plan for the unit and review for the exam.

Please work to submit your vocabulary assignment as soon as you can. It's the final grade of the third quarter. The main thing that I'm looking for is your analysis of the passage and your analysis of the synonyms and the word itself. In your analysis of the grammar in the passage and in the words you should focus on why this word/this structure is appropriate for the style and purpose of the text. That should be your line of reasoning for this assignment - go back to the example and notice how I focused on criminal language throughout all of my analysis.

AP Research

Sorry to be away from you this morning, but a family emergency has called my attention. I should be back with you all next week and am available over email if you need me. Today should be a day for you to be finalizing some of your key tasks and planning for your presentations, which begin next week.

I will schedule presentations with you on Monday in class. Note that we will begin presenting on Wednesday, so I will need a few people to go first. We'll try to run three presentations on Wednesday during class. Remember that while people present, you will have time to finalize your paper, your own presentation, or other tasks as needed.

In the last week of April we will have our final peer review of the paper and review the process for submitting it and checking it on TurnItIn for plagiarism and AI writing. 

If there's anything I can do for you, please let me know.

11 April - Grey Day Returns

English 10

Welcome back y'all. It's time for the back half of the year. It's a quick push to the end, but I'm sure we'll finish strongly and with style. Today's class was a class for us as we needed it to be. We were able to revise or complete assignments and complete grades to see where we stand at the end of the year. If you have anything left to resubmit or complete, be sure that it is in by Thursday so that I can finalize grades on Friday.

On Thursday we'll be starting our last content based unit of the year. We're studying literature and culture from the Middle East. I'm excited for this unit and the chances that we'll have to tell our own stories to end our year together.

10 April - Welcome Back!

AP Language

Double Timed Writing Day! Double Timed Writing Day!

Whoo! Sorry to get back to it right away, but we had to follow the schedule given. Today was our FINAL double timed write. The next time that you do this, it'll be times three and for all the marbles on examination day. Next class we'll be completing the MCQ. Remember that this is your final reset of grades to go into Quarter 4. We'll be preparing for the examination by polishing our skills and focusing on our essentials where we need. I'll work hard to get your essays scored and returned next week for feedback.

Remember that you have an assignment due - your vocabulary assignment on jargon. If you need assistance in completing this assignment, please see me during Lion Time or after school.

AP Research

It's the final countdown my lovelies. The paper and presentation are due at the end of this month. You'll have the next two classes to prepare, and then we'll begin the process of POD presentations on Wednesday of next week. I'll be able to host you for presentations on Wednesday during class, after school, Thursday during Lion Time or after school, or possibly during the Friday teacher workday. We'll also have the following week to complete presentations. 

Throughout this month it is imperative that you use your time and each other to the best of your abilities. We can do anything when we're focused and determined. Let's pick ourselves up and push ourselves forward. I'm so excited to get you to the finish. Remember to submit your final reflections this week! There's no question this week so that you can complete your earlier questions.

31 March - Happy Spring Break!

English 10

Timed Writing Day! Timed Writing Day! 

Today was an easy way to end the quarter and our unit on Latin America as we completed our Latin American Letter. We completed our mini-research project and wrote a letter to a leader in Latin America about a problem facing their country. I hope that you appreciated this chance to learn a bit more and explore issues in our world. I'll be reading and reviewing your work after I return from my trip, so you'll come back to updated scores, and we'll finalize grades for the quarter.

There is, of course, no work over the break. If you are missing work and want to get caught up, please do so. Membean and NoRedInk are open for practice. I'd suggest doing what I like to do, read a good book :) I have plenty of suggestions.

I'll look forward to seeing you when I'm back from South Korea and sharing stories. Our last unit of the year will be on The Middle East. Get ready to finish in style and with strength!

30 March - End of the Unit

AP Language

Great final working day for Quarter 3. Remember that we will be returning to class after Spring Break to our double timed writing - you'll be writing on Question 2 and 3 followed by the MCQ. This is a total reset on your grades for the beginning of the Fourth Quarter - so be prepared in the best way that you can.

If you would like to/need to submit a revision of your Annotated Bibliography, please do so. I'll accept these until April 13 to be reviewed. Submit your assignment that's due before you begin your break, you won't have time after we return.

I'm very excited to take you all into the end of the course, let's finish with style!

AP Research

Today was a fantastic day to end the unit in AP Research since we're doing another round of peer review. We've got access to revision guides, sample papers, each other, the rubric, and earlier lessons so that we can put together an accurate and high scoring representation of our work this year. 

The final reflection questions have been posted. These are due on April 13 to Schoology to end the quarter. You will have nothing but time to work, revise, and prepare for presentations when we return. Note, there are just two classes before we begin PODs on April 17. Work hard, be ready. Remember, we're basically done by May 1.

29 March - It's Wednesday!

English 10

Easy day for the middle of the week in English 10 today. We took time to review our previous work on writing, set a goal for this last writing assignment of the quarter, read a letter by a great American woman, and then took our vocabulary test for the end of the quarter. 

Next class we'll be writing our final letter for the third quarter. Remember that you'll get the better of the two grades, so improvement or maintaining mastery is the goal. You'll be able to use your research, your planning, and other resources that you've acquired from class. That will take us to Spring Break! When we return, we'll start in on our last unit of the year - the Middle East!

Monday and Tuesday - 28 and 29 March

Sorry for the oversight with the post yesterday, the meeting we had after school took the wind out of my sails.

English 10

Today was the beginning of our final assessment week for Latin America. This week we're focused on writing a letter to a Latin American leader that presents our argument about a problem or issue in their country. I loved the seriousness that I saw today. We were engaged in the task and working hard. Keep that up and we'll have a great last week before break.

Next class we'll look at an example letter to prepare for our writing workshop. We'll also have a Membean vocabulary test next class - so be sure to prepare a bit for that. Friday is the day we'll write our letter. I'll grade them after I get back from my trip and we'll have the time when we return to complete any revisions that we need to raise our grades.

AP Language

Timed Writing Day! Timed Writing Day!

Today we went through the process of writing our synthesis essays. I am looking forward to reading and scoring your responses. If you were absent, be sure to schedule a make-up session. I can see you Wednesday or Thursday after school or we can do it after Spring Break at the very latest.

All scores have been entered for the Annotated Bibliography. If you would like to resubmit the assignment, please do so. Resubmissions will be accepted until the 13th of April. There are comments to guide you in the process of revising. If you are missing this assignment, it will still be accepted.

Next class we're focused on Jargon/Vocabulary. The goal will be to submit that assignment to cap off this unit. I'll have your work scored to guide any resubmissions when we return from break. See you for the last class!

AP Research

Great work today as we watched our final POD to prepare for our examination season to begin. This final POD is a great example of a rule of thumb I like to follow, "The more complext the topic, the simpler the slides." Don't let perfect be the enemy of good. Most all of you can build the slides you saw today, so you should.

Next class we will have our next round of Peer Review. You should have four sections of your paper read to be shared with a classmate. Be sure that you've done your revisions to update your existing sections. Check for alignment!

Be sure that Spring Break pushes you forward. I hope you'll find time to relax, but if you're finding a need to use that time, please do so. PODs BEGIN ON APRIL 17.