Welcome Back and Happy New Year!

AP English Language

Great day to kick off the year in AP Language today as we looked at our midterm results and discussed our reading and writing skills. Remember that most of your grades are going to reset as we begin this next unit. Review the feedback slides and the tools you have available on AP Classroom like the daily videos paired with questions and skills where you struggled. We can always sit together to read and write or review - this is a great strategy as we move into the second semester. This is where the rubber really meets the road and things get difficult. Stay ready!

Next class we'll be starting Invisible Man. This is a great book! It's a challenge, but if it doesn't challenge you, then you don't really grow. We've got resources like the audiobook and my YouTube channel to help provide support to you as you read. Get into the mess and enjoy the journey. We'll start by reading the Prologue together in class next time. 

Ending the Midterm - Ugh! Technology...

AP Language

I hate AP Classroom sometimes. I'm completely locked out now. I sent a help request, so hopefully it's resolved soon. We finished our midterm today with the FRQx2. We completed the Rhetorical Analysis (FRQ2) and the Argument (FRQ3). Keep in mind that the RA is going to be your summative writing score, and the FRQ3 is going to be a practice score. We're just putting our feet in the water with that task; it's our focus for second semester. I'm looking forward to reading your responses.

This is really our last class - on Friday we're having a party. Sign up for something using the discussion board in the Unit 4 folder. We'll need plates, utensils, napkins, cups, and food. I'd also recommend getting started with Invisible Man. The book is challenging for a lot of reasons, so getting into your reading process. I'll share a video playlist that may be helpful for many of you as we get into break. A good goal would be to try and read the first five or six chapters before we start reading it as a class. Not an assignment, just a suggestion. There's also the audiobook available on Spotify!

See you Friday!

11 December - The Last Week before Break!

AP Language

A bit of a whirlwind day to kick off our last week today in AP Language. Today's class was focused on feedback and preparing for what we have to come next class. Next class you'll be writing two essays in one class period - FRQ 2 (Rhetorical Analysis) and FRQ 3 (Argument). Today we reviewed the scoring guidelines and sample papers to understand the requirements of FRQ 3. We also reviewed scoring guidelines and feedback from your Gatsby essays because these are close to FRQ 2 - you're doing the same task, but not with a non-fiction text. I hope that, as always, you found the feedback and review helpful. 

If you have not yet submitted your Gatsby motif work, that is past due. NHI scores will be entered this week. I would also ask that you submit your reflection letters based on the work that you've done so far. The reflections that we did today on the MCQ and FRQ could be helpful content for you to use as you reflect on your skills.

On Wednesday we'll have our timed writing, and then on Friday it's our end of the year potluck! Hooray! We'll do some signups next class for items. Please sign out your copy of Invisible Man using the book signout form in the Unit 4 Folder. Use your resources to prepare for next class and our essays. I'm excited to see your work.

7 December - Midterm is Halfway Done!

AP Language

Not the most exciting day in AP Language land today, but it was a day we had to do. Today we engaged in demonstrating our skills via the MCQ portion of the examination. These were always my biggest challenges when I was in your shoes as a student. Remember that there is a ton of feedback baked in to AP Classroom. Review your responses. Look at your skills. We'll review and reflect next class on our demonstrations of skills before we move into our final essays of the year.

If you haven't completed tasks from Unit 3 - those need to be completed ASAP. Be sure that you've submitted your reflection letter and your project/questions on The Great Gatsby. If you missed the in-class Gatsby analysis essay, make an appointment to get that settled before you go out on break. 

We will be having our end of the year celebration and potluck on December 15 - that's Friday before we go out. Think about what you'd like to bring! I'll start doing signups next week. You may also want to start reading Invisible Man - the next unit's major text. I've got a link to an audio version here which you may find helpful!

5 December - Let's Get Ready to MIDTERRRRRRRRRM

AP Language

Welcome to the midterm examination my lovelies. Today's class is your reading day it's a day for you to prepare for the examination ahead of you and reflect on where you are in the skills and competencies necessary in this class. So, what are you going to do today to study and prepare? Here's your to do list:

1. Be sure that you've submitted your Gatsby visual and artistic explanation questions. You completed your analysis in-class last time. Apologies for the lack of clarity in the instructions document. If you have a paper visual, give it to the substitute and make sure that it goes in the folder. Remember that I'm grading the visual and your explanation questions as your demonstration of reading skills.

2. Organize and use your notebook as a reflection tool. Look over your rubrics, your skill descriptors, and the feedback that you've received. Use the assignment in Schoology to write me a reflective letter about where you are in your reading and writing skills. Be sure to cite evidence as you write. At the bottom, do a quick PEWCAM analysis (bullet points are fine).

3. Feel free to use the unlocked AP Classroom Progress Checks to prepare for your MCQ. You'll be doing this on Thursday. You'll also be getting feedback on your most recent writing assignment before you write again!

I'll see you on Thursday as we begin our midterm exam!

1 December - Gatsby Assessment Day

AP Language

Today was our assessment day on The Great Gatsby. In today's assessment you curated your own passage from the novel and explained the way in which Fitzgerald creates meaning through language and motifs. I'm excited to read your essays and see the way in which your skills as a reader and writer have progressed. Remember that in this class, everything is practice for our eventual final exam - the AP Examination. On that test, you'll be asked to write an analysis as well, but it'll be cold. So you need to develop the process now in order to do that. 

Over the weekend, spend your time completing your visual representations of the motif and the connected questions explaining your art. Remember that you're just talking to me as you answer these questions, so feel free to be colloquial in style. You may also want to spend some time on AP Classroom preparing for the MidTerm. I've unlocked a few more MCQ Progress Checks to help you.

I'll see you next week - not on Tuesday since I'm at a conference - but Thursday to begin our MidTerm Exam! Tuesday is a preparation and reflection day for you. I'll look forward to reading your thoughts, but more on that later.

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.

Homework for A-Day Students: 22 January

AP English III

Today was a day devoted to close reading - remember that we were working out this particular muscle as we're going to be using it a TON for the midterm examination on Thursday. As you complete the multiple choice aspect of the midterm you are doing a close reading of the questions, answer choices, and the passages themselves. On the rhetorical analysis your task is to present a close reading in words as you accomplish the goal of the prompt.

Next week we will have our ending of Beloved with our project presentations on Monday and Wednesday and the final projects coming due on Friday. Remember that you will likely share a link to your project in order to submit it to me. I will have a rubric for you to outline the way in which you'll be graded.

Please use the slides to give yourself checkpoints as you are finishing your project and preparing for your presentation. Remember that I am available to give extra feedback as it is needed.

English IV

Today in class we did a bit of creative writing, a bit of study and analysis of our poem "About School" and then we did some writing before finishing our poet projects. All a lot of great work focused on poetry skills.

Next class we're going to have a quiz to check in on our reading and understanding skills. As a way to prepare, look over all of your notes on literary devices and poetry reading skills. It would be a great idea to bring a dictionary with you next class too - remember that knowing the words is one of the best ways to understand what a poem is saying!

Homework for the Weekend - A Day - 17 January

AP English III

Today in class we spent time working through an AP Multiple Choice sample and then three chapters of Beloved focused on better understanding of the three key female characters through close analysis of their language and syntax. Remember as I said today in class, the book is starting to come to a conclusion. Start to pay attention to the ways in which Morrison is coming to a conclusion about her key motifs and topics to create themes and arguments.

For the weekend, your first priority is to finish reading Part Two of Beloved. This is just two chapters (don't forget to finish what we started in class). As you read, focus on Paul D and Stamp Paid. Why is Morrison choosing to focus on these two men immediately after three chapters filled with the voices of women? 

At this point, you should be actively constructing your final project. This is due on February 1. You'll complete your presentations earlier that week. This will be a Q3 grade. 

The final grade for Q2 will be your AP Midterm on Thursday. This will be approximately twenty-two multiple choice questions and a rhetorical analysis timed writing. 

English IV

Today in class we worked through a great poem by Claude McKay called "The Tropics of New York" in which we learned a new method of working through poetry called TP-CASTT. In this method, we look at important parts of a poem to see how they work together to create meaning. So, tonight I want you to practice this with the poem I gave you at the end of class.

Tonight, or over the weekend, read "About School" - Use TP-CASTT to understand it and take notes as you read. Then, answer the attached questions. Be sure to try your best on all of the questions that you can answer.

Third one's a charm...I hope.

Here we are with another cancelled day of school - and I have to agree. The trip to the grocery store had a few dodgy moments, but the drive from Raleigh was pretty clear. I think tomorrow it'll all be cleared up, and we're back on Thursday for a full day.

AP English III:  If I'm right then Thursday will be your day for allegory presentations and the following Tuesday will be the day for monologues and rhetorical analyses. We'll also be starting to get into our new unit on the Harlem Renaissance and introduction to Invisible Man.

English II:  Your next class is the Persepolis unit exam (Thursday/Friday). If you are going to turn in the extra credit project it will need to be in by the end of next week. We'll be starting our next unit as we wrap up our graphic novel projects (please work on those at home since you have time - especially those of you who really want to work on the art).

Russian I:  Your exam will likely be on the 20th instead of the 17th. This gives us more time to review and practice. Make sure that you are working through the exercises in your textbook and reviewing Chapter One and the Introduction. Don't worry about the information around my/your - that'll be covered as part of Chapter Two.

Russian II/III/IV: Same as above on the exam and preparation. If you are working on missing work/reassessment items, be ready to do that on Friday. Remember to check PowerSchool as everything's been updated in there.

We will have final ruble/bathroom pass cash-in on Thursday and Friday next week. 

Homework for A-Day Students: 13 January 2016

English II

It's the final call for any missing work or assignments.  I've plugged in zeroes for any work I haven't seen and given partial credit where I thought I could.  Some of you are failing for the quarter because of missing work, so please get this work turned in.

On Friday we'll continue with our study of Latin American authors and take a look at a short story that isn't nearly as strange as the first one we read.

Russian I, II, III

We did the writing portion of our exam today and then on Friday you'll have part two.  Make sure that you've studied your grammar, vocabulary, and other necessary topics since you'll have a traditional exam format of multiple choice, writing, and listening.  Hopefully I'll have reports on your performance today by next class.

11 January 2016 - Homework - A Day Students

Russian II/III

All of you should be preparing for your performance task on Wednesday which is the writing of your letter.  Remember that you can prepare your note cards with vocabulary to help you compose your writing assignment and bring that with you on Wednesday.  It looks like many of you have a good idea around your writing, just don't forget the basics.  If you want more one-on-one help with your writing, please see me tomorrow (Tuesday).

Russian I

You should focus on the studying of your cases and verb conjugation rules for your exam since those are the two areas bringing many of you down.  Next class we will be doing some writing for our exam.  We will first begin with some translation work, then after lunch you'll be writing for me in Russian.  Keep working on your family writing to prepare for this since you'll be doing one of the paragraphs in this timed writing environment.

Don't forget that for all of you that there will be the test on Friday.  If you miss the test on Friday you will only have Tuesday morning at 7:00 to make up the exam.

Homework for A-Day: 5 January 2016

Welcome back to all of you! It's time for a new year and to finish out the second quarter, which is happening next Friday! Here's what you need to take care of to prepare for next class.

Russian II/III

Today you all got your final performance task for the unit. Now is the time to start to prepare. Go through the assignment and plan out what you're going to say and make sure that you're going through all of the requirements of your particular assignment. Look up vocabulary that you're going to need, so that we can practice and work with it during our workshop day on Monday.

If you're missing any work or need to do resubmissions/reassessments, please take care of that this week.

Now, on to the exercises.  Russian II and III, these exercises are for practice and to develop mastery.  Russian III students, we will work through exercise nineteen next class, make sure it's complete.  Russian II students, you have exercises solely for practice - we'll take a look at those tomorrow, but not for a grade.

Don't forget - midterm next week.  Wednesday for performance task and Friday for test.

Russian I

We'll have our test next week and you all also learned about your performance task - you'll have to present one of your paragraphs on your family in a timed, testing environment with no notes or help.  Make sure that you review your previous drafts to prepare for this.  Keep using and reviewing your chapter one vocabulary; the more you use it, the more you'll know.

Many of you have missing or very low scores in quizzes, projects, and previous assessments.  Remember that the last time to work on resubmissions/reassessments is this week.  Please settle your business.

English II

We'll keep reading Cortazar next class - I hope that you're liking the story; it gets really good as we keep going.  For tonight, make sure that you're finishing your missing major work. If you don't know what you're missing, please shoot me an email and ask.  Better that you check and be sure than not check and do badly for the quarter.  You all (4A) had a great start to the year today, let's keep it up!

Oh My! The Whole Last Few Days...

Everyone!  My sincerest apologies for leaving off the blog post for two days.  Here's what needs to be done over the long weekend as well as some reminders.

Russian I

We will begin a new unit on Tuesday which will look at adverbs, adjectives, and a few other types of pronouns.  To prepare for this, start looking at your chapter two vocabulary.  Much of this vocabulary focuses on the house and family, so I would recommend labeling things around your house to help you.  Make some flashcards and mark stress on them.  Just work on identifying and memorizing.

We're going to keep working on cases in this next unit and how these parts of speech (especially adjectives and pronouns) continue changing for case.  Practice with your case endings.  Memorize.  Drill and practice.  Ask for suggestions if you need them.

Russian II

Tuesday will officially be the end of the semester for you.  We will finish the exam and then finish project presentations on Russian Holidays.  I've received two new prezis but I don't know how the other groups are planning on presenting, make sure that you are prepared for Tuesday.

In addition, you've all seen the exam now so I expect that you'll be studying over the weekend and practicing with what you've seen.  Expect a few additional questions on the same concepts to test your knowledge.

English II

Some of you still need to tie up some loose ends from the end of the semester on Tuesday.  I know that a few of you have made arrangements to take the Heroes Unit Quiz with me after-school.  Thank you for that, make sure to meet your commitment.  In addition, there are also the speeches.  The scores will be entered on Monday and finalized on Tuesday - so if you have your speech and haven't yet submitted it (you'll see a score of 50%), then stop by and see me on Tuesday.

I also want to take a quick second to remind you all about second semester.  No more free passes.

AP English III

Over the weekend you need to begin with your study of The Crucible.  If you have yet to begin your reading of the play then you will now be paying the piper with some heavy reading for the weekend.  Your task is to read to the end of Act II.  As you read, you must also start your front cover annotations on characters.  Remember that since this is a play you will be given a character list in the play.  Use this.

The language of the play is simple and direct.  So look for the complex in the simple.  Read Miller's "Why I Wrote The Crucible" - annotate it heavily and understand his context and purpose for the play.  From here, you should be able to begin the annotation of your back covers and within the margins of the text.  Remember that this is an allegory - connect the dots.

Homework for A-Day Classes: 1/12/2015

Russian II

Very excellent job today on presentations.  I especially enjoyed eating pelmeni and getting flowers - you know how to make me feel special!  For tonight you need to review for your mid-term examination.  For the mid-term we'll be focusing on three big concepts:

• Aspect of verbs in Russian
• Numbers and counting in Russian - be sure to know your currencies and how to count them in Russian.
• Verbs of motion

A good activity is working through what we did today in class.  You can also use the online exercises available from the UCLA Beginner's Russian website.  Please let me know if you need any help studying and preparing!

Russian I

I enjoyed the activity today in our mad libs activity.  Tonight you need to finish your preparation for the mid-term examination.  Make sure that you can work within all six cases in Russian and that you can work with the verbs.  If you are able to do this with few to no errors then you're in good shape.  There are several online exercises on the UCLA Beginner's Russian website as well - you'll have to pick and choose to see what is most useful for you.

English II

Remember that if you did not present your speech today in class then you will need to present on Wednesday or outside of class.  Also, if you didn't have your speech ready to be turned in today, make sure that it is ready for us on Tuesday or Wednesday.  For tonight - focus on reviewing for your quiz next class.  Study your notes from class and from today's review game.

Also, as promised, here is the video on the Epic Hero Cycle which includes a lot of information to know for your exam.

All of you have assessments next class to finish the quarter - make sure that you do your best work on these to finish strong.

Homework for A-Day Students: 1/8/2015

Russian II

Tonight everyone you need to continue working on the verbs of motion assignment on the film Ирония судьбы.  Please make sure that you have at least two sentences written using two different verbs in each group - this is the next step of the assignment.  Make sure to really understand the difference between the sentences when you use the different verbs of motion.  Continuing to practice and work with these concepts is really the only way to improve on these.

Also, please do what you need to do in order to be successful.  Too many of you had blank homework sheets today in class - this is completely unacceptable.  You need to try and come to me with questions if you don't know what to do.  That's the acceptable way forward.

Russian I

Tonight I think it would be a good idea if you all went through the back side of the question sheet on the cartoon we watched last class and continued the work we started today in class.  Remember to start with the question as the beginning of your answer and then add in the needed information.

In addition, self assess and use your study guides to figure out where you need to spend time this weekend.  Use your textbooks or your Russian grammar reference books to find exercises and practice.  If there are concepts that you don't understand.  Please ask for help.

English II

You have your speeches due on Monday.  Make sure that when you complete your final draft that you can submit your planning, as well as a rough draft with your final draft so that we can see the development of this work.  The speech is a major test grade, so make sure that you are giving us your best work.

And Winter Break is Done...

I had to go in today so my winter break is officially finished.  All of you have the weekend remaining, so enjoy it.

Russian II

I have your study guides ready for your midterm.  Be ready to receive these on Tuesday as well as finish our film and begin our holiday study.

AP English III

I went through all of the websites and unless I'm missing something a lot of you are procrastinating a bit too much.  By the end of this weekend you should have everything done except for your group synthesis.  If you're not going to be able to meet this goal then you have yourselves or your groupmates to blame.  You must have your work ready to move on to the next phase before Monday's class.

Don't forget as well that you need to finish reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

Russian I

You have your study guide as well as your reference books.  I hope that many of you have been working hard over break to improve your skills.

English II

I went through and saw that a lot of you aren't doing too well because of missing assignments.  I've got something to take care of this, but I don't think a lot of you are going to like it.  I guess we'll have to see.

Remember everyone, at the end of the day you've got to do the work yourself because nobody else will.  If you don't do the work then the only person to blame is yourself.  Ask for help if you need it.

Homework for Winter Break - A-Day Students - 12/19/2014

Russian I and Russian II

You do not have anything that you need to submit over break but you should all be working daily on reviewing and studying the content we've learned so far this year.  I would highly recommend the exercises in our textbook, the exercises from the Schaum's Russian Grammar, or the online textbook from UCLA located at this link.

Remember everyone that when we return from the break we will have cumulative mid-term examinations.  Focus on the topics we've studied, review and practice.  Spend time with authentic uses of the language like television shows or movies - especially those of you in Russian II to learn more about the use of verbs of motion or aspect as it's really more of a sense of how it works more than anything else.

English II

Over break you need to put together a draft of your speech over break.  Make sure that you have created a speech that flows together well so that when we come back from break you can move on to the next portion of the assignment which is revising the speech and preparing for your final presentation of the speech.

And lastly, a New Year's song from Russia!  С НОВЫМ ГОДОМ ВСЕМ!

Homework for A-Day Students - 12/17/2014

Russian II

Tonight everyone you need to start reviewing for your semester exam which will fall on the final day of the semester, 1/16/2015.  The mid-term exam will have everything from Russian I as well as the work we have done on aspect, numbers and counting, and verbs of motion.  Practice and review nightly.  I would also recommend going through your portfolios and looking at your previous mistakes - this is key in starting to begin your growth.

Lastly, do some pre-research on your holiday choices.  Rank your top four as we will pair off for holidays next class.

Russian I

Next class we will finish our work through our review packets as well as do some work on phonetics and pronunciation.  From today you should feel confident conjugating first and second type verbs, working with the nominative case, the accusative case, and the prepositional case.  Keep practicing!  Use the exercises in your text books, go back to the exercises in the packet we did not touch today and try doing some of those.  Work nightly and keep practicing.  Your mid-term is also coming in the new year, you'll have a study guide next class.

English II

Today in class you all did a great job of working on your speeches.  Once you've worked through today's questions and have full answers, you've got a great start to your final project.  You should take what you did and either type it out or write it out as a speech - maybe add some details or elaborate more.  Remember the goal of your speech.

In addition, if you didn't finish the bumper sticker assignment, get that done and turned in next class.  Lastly, remember that any missing assignments are due next class - Friday!