School Pictures & the Course Description

Today we took a quick quiz on the course description and, after getting our school pictures taken, annotated the course description and talked through some of the key points.

The First CRA

After reviewing the handout and a model paragraph, students started their own CRA paragraph on Neruda's "The Three Lilies." Paragraphs should be in writer's notebooks, first draft in nature, following the assignment handout, and using the sentence frames provided. These paragraphs and signed honor statements are due tomorrow.

"The Three Lilies"

Today we continued our in-depth look at "The Three Lilies" with a bit of writing and a lot of discussion.

Reading Goals and "The Three Lilies"

After some discussion of the Adler article students annotated for homework, and a quick reading self-evaluation, students set reading goals for the semester. We wrapped up the period by reading "The Three Lilies" aloud. Students should annotate (or reannotate) the story (available at Google Classroom) for homework.

How to Read

Today we started a look at how we will approach reading in this class, starting with this presentation and then reading Mortimer J. Adler's essay "How to Mark a Book." For homework, students should reread and annotate this article.

Grading, Foster, and the Syllabus

Today we finished our discussion about how I grade in this class, talked some about Foster's book, and started our look at the syllabus.
HW: Read the syllabus and then print, read, sign, and return the AP honor statement by next Friday. It's at Google Classroom.

A Bit of Business

Today we made nametags, took a short quiz on the summer reading, and started talking a bit about grading policies and the rules.

The First Day of the New Year

Today we started with a bit of analysis, a bit of talking, and a bit of writing.

The Project Begins in Ernest

After a few directions and some discussion of Friday's absences and what to do about them, groups began working on the project.

Class Goes On Despite the Lovely Weather

Groups that were whole, or nearly, had their final literature circle today. Students had a final quiz on their books. Students who took the day off may see me about making up this quiz on a case-by-case basis. I also collected writer's notebooks.

The Final Project Intro & LC#8

Today we talked a bit about the final project (the handout is at Google Classroom), and then students had their 8th literature circle.

LC #7

SWPRD & Theme

Today we took the school SWPRD survey and then had some work time. Be sure to do the theme paragraph assignment at Google Classroom.

Work Time

Today we used our time to work on literature circle work.

LC #6

Today we gave out lots of awards, hard a warm-up and an exit ticket (below), and groups had their 6th literature circle.

LC #2

Today groups had their second literature circles. Number three is tomorrow.

Literature Circle #1

Today groups worked on LC#1 and started their 2nd reading.

A Day of Rest

We finished the film we began yesterday. Literature Circles begin tomorrow!

The AP Test

There was a test today. Then we had pizza. And there was a movie. It was funny.

The Last Day

Today we spent the period reviewing all the books we read this year and then practicing a few question 3 essays. Good luck tomorrow!