28 February - The End of the Month!

English 10

Today we started working through our first story in our Latin American literature unit - "The Night Face Up". It's an interesting look at the concept of the doppelganger, and it's a pretty great story too. Next class we'll be taking a vocabulary test and looking at the next part of "The Night Face Up". Be ready for a quick class on Thursday - remember that it's an Early Release Day!

If you've got a missing assignment, be sure to make an appointment next week to complete your work! That first letter is an important assignment!

Monday the 27th of February

AP Language

Great day in AP Language as we explored a metaphor and understood the connection between a research paper and a dinner party. I would like to emphasize that today we were really beginning with the planning of our response. You're starting to chart out your paragraphs, your assertions, and the essential voices you'll bring to this conversation. Remember, you're curating a conversation. Show links and connections that reinforce your argument. 

As I've begun to read entries for ABs, the main thing that I'm seeing missing is the ROR point on the source. How is the evidence organized in the source? How does this reinforce the claim? Consider the work we did with Staples focused on his organization of his evidence in the body of his article as you do this part of your summaries.

Next class we'll be looking at some sample prompts and doing some planning. You'll also have a good amount of time to work. You should be finishing your AB/SourcePack within the next few classes.

AP Research

Today was a day focused on the Academic Paper - this is the majority of our score, and we have a rubric to guide ourselves, so today was a great day. We looked at three papers, broke down the rubric, and really strove to understand the goals of the rubric and what the assessors are looking for. All of this was geared toward our next major assignment, the final draft of the Introduction/LitReview and draft of your Method.

Next week, March 10, we'll engage in peer review related to our paper sections. We'll use the rubric and several revision guides to help work through our process. Have content. Have words. Don't worry about having it be perfect, we'll get it there together. Next class is more of a working day for you. We'll also finish required conferences and PREP checks. Next week you'll have most days for working and meeting your goals. Keep striving and pushing forward! Slay your beast!

24 February - End of the Week

English 10

A simple day to end the week in English 10. We did a bit of grammar to review some of the issues I saw from your letters that you wrote, then it was some quick time with devices for Membean. We ended our day by looking at our first key idea - the doppelganger - in an episode of The Twilight Zone called "Mirror Image". We thought about literary devices, techniques in the episode, and then wrote about the concept for today's graded assignment.

If you have missed your chance to write your letter, please schedule a time with me next week to complete that. We only have Lion Time on Tuesday of next week because of Early Release on Thursday. 

23 February - End of the Week, Blue Day

AP Language

I saw lots of engagement today in AP Language land. We were using our group meeting to build our argumentative tool box - this is a great thing to do for the AP Exam. You'll need to be able to think fast on the exam and pull out great examples to support your argument. Using these articles and sources we've worked through all year as you write your timed essays for the exam will help to raise your Evidence/Commentary and Sophistication score.

Over the weekend, make your SourcePack and your Annotated Bibliography your focus. Having your SourcePack complete would be one of the best things that you can do to prepare for next class. We'll be doing an activity to finish up SourcePacks and check them. Keep in mind that your AB is due soon!

AP Research

Wonderful day in AP Research for conferencing and working to end the week. We're finding ourselves in different places, but as long as we keep moving forward then we're doing what we need to do. Remember that you have a major assignment due on Monday - the BoK Analysis. Download the document, complete it based on your power source, and then submit it to the space. Be sure that you're thorough in your completion of each section.

There's a new reflection question posted - be sure to complete it in your PREP Folder. We'll be assigning some final drafts of paper sections soon, so be ready for some writing focused work next week.

22 February - Latin American Kickoff

English 10

Ole! Solid day in English 10 as we began our study of Latin American literature. We reviewed key literary devices and began to learn a bit about our first two authors - Cortazar and Borges - as well as the first concept, the doppelganger. Next class we'll start our first text on this idea. We'll also have time next class for some vocabulary training before our next vocabulary assessment.

If you haven't written the letter from last unit, please be sure to make an appointment to get that done. We can do Lion Time this week or next. Remember that you'll get the better of the two grades, so you want there to be two to choose from!

21 February 2023

AP Language

Today was a day for a writing workshop, and what a wonderful day it was. Lots of people were visiting and asking questions and I saw a lot of positive collaboration at the tables. Keep in mind the workflow for this assignment.

1. Select your sources (five to seven). One non-print, one counterargument source, and don't forget your book.

2. Select your excerpts from your sources for your SourcePack. Copy and Paste. Follow the template and examples.

3. Write your AB entries on these excerpts. Follow the rubric and use the exemplars given as well as your sentence starters.

4. Meet with me during Lion Time or after school to review and revise!

Next class we'll have our next group meeting for your books and some direct instruction focused on all of the reading skills. The lesson will go really well if you read and annotate in advance. This article connects to a few of the different topics and sources, so be sure to think critically as you read. Your Annotated Bibliography is due on March 8/9. Remember that we'll have an assignment due almost every week in March. Don't get wasted by time by wasting time. Accomplish daily goals and checkpoints!

AP Research

Today was a day for data (and not the Star Trek android). We watched a great TEDTalk on data visualization which led to some great outcomes for us on the way that we'll display our data and how that display can help the audience understand our key outcomes and understandings. I really loved our class discussion on these concepts.

From there, we discussed various means to organize qualitative data. Keep in mind that frequency is a quantitative data point. You'll want to have a means to organize your data and be able to explain why you have chosen to organize that way. Use your Body of Knowledge to help you make these decisions and justify your choices.

Next class is going to be a conferencing day for us. Be ready for that grade by preparing in your PREP. Keep meeting your goals and moving through your plan. There will be more time for working and data collection next week!

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!