Homecoming & Satire

Friday, we reviewed the definition of satire and practice by analyzing a short clip from The Simpsons.

Monday, students again reviewed the definition of satire (for the half of the class that missed Friday) and then practiced on a short article from The Onion. Class wrapped up with an assignment at Google Classroom, which should be completed for homework if necessary.

Antigone Timed Essay

After a bit of homecoming voting, students had the period to write their Antigone timed essay.

Wrapping Up "Antigone"

Today we wrapped up our discussion of Antigone and prepared for tomorrow's timed essay by reflecting on the timed essay from The Awakening.

Poster Time

After some discussion of the quick write that began class, groups finished their posters and presented them.

More Antigone

Antigone Discussion & Term Hunt

A Quiz, Some Group Work, and a Fire Drill

More Irony with "Richard Cory"

And... the Internet is Back

Monday we started our look at Sophocles' Antigone. Students should have the entire play read and should post to our Google Classroom discussion by class time on Thursday.
Tuesday we reviewed the concept of irony

and spent a bit of time with Alanis Morrisette and Ed Byrnes.

Timed Essay #1

Today we spend the period easing our way into the first timed essay of the year.

Essay Norming

Today we spent the day looking at some timed essays on "Eleven" in preparation for the timed writing tomorrow.

Study Guide Prep

Today we spent the whole period working through the study guide. The file is at Classroom and should be posted to TurnItIn before the timed essay on Friday.

CRAs & Study Guides

After a bit of work with the draft Awakening CRAs, we started our look at the Study Guide. Final Draft CRAs are due to TurnItIn Thursday.

Friday

In my absence, students will work on this assignment.

Thursday

Today we wrapped up our discussion of "Eleven" by looking at some of the essay plans students wrote yesterday, as well as some good, bad, and amusing lines from actual essays on this prompt. After that, we spent a bit more time on general talk about The Awakening.

Quiz 2

After the second quiz on The Awakening, we had a solid first discussion of the end of the book and then wrapped up the day with a bit of "Eleven" essay planning.

"Eleven" Continued

Today we discussed "Eleven" and did a bit of prewriting related to the prompt.

"Eleven"

Today we did some work with the short story "Eleven" by Sandra Cisneros.

More Figurative Language

Today we wrapped up the first part of our figurative language review by filling out our charts and playing a quick bingo game. Prizes Monday!

A Figurative Language Review

Today we split time between reviewing figurative language and talking a bit more about the first half of The Awakening.

The First Reading Quiz

We started with our first reading quiz today, and then we circled up and talked about the first half of the book.

Ticking a Few Boxes

Today, we began with a short look at the discussion rubric, writing a quick goal for the quarter in the writer's notebook. After that, we talked a bit about the CRA paragraphs at TurnItIn and the question/forum at Google Classroom. We rounded out the day with the last two critical schools presentations.

The Awakening & Some Critical Lenses

We spent the first part of the period discussing chapter one of The Awakening and then had a short introduction to Chopin and the novel. The reading/posting schedule is below.

In the second half of the period, we took a brief look at some critical theory in small groups. Groups will share their discoveries on Monday.

Kate Chopin

Today we began our look at Chopin's The Awakening by reading one of her short stories, "The Story of an Hour." We'll discuss chapter one of the novel tomorrow.

What is Lit? Literature!

Today we discussed the definition of literature and read a couple of examples to prove the point. For homework, students should get their draft CRAs typed at Google Classroom.

Solo CRA Time

Today we discussed the Alexie short story "This is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona," and students had a few moments to look at their The Three Lilies" paragraphs in their groups. Students should draft a CRA paragraph for "Phoenix" in their writer's notebooks for homework.

CRA Focus

Today we reviewed some topic sentences and then wrote a group CRA. Students should read and annotate Alexie's "This is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona" for class tomorrow.

Another Story

Today we explored "The White Bedspread" just like we explored "The Handsomest Drowned Man" yesterday. More Monday.

Perrine's Rules and a Final Draft Paragraph

After reviewing the writing rules students read for homework, groups finished up their paragraphs at Google Classroom. For homework, students should read and annotate Marquez's "The Handsomest Drowned Man..." which is available at Google Classroom under the summer assignment.

CRA #1

Today, after getting new seats, we looked at a model paragraph, and then got into groups and started writing about "The Three Lilies."

For homework, students should peruse and annotate this handout.

Absences, Pictures, and a Teeny Bit of Work

So between the absences and the pictures, not too much happened today. We did share our thoughts about the meaning of Neruda's short story and moved towards, but didn't get to, writing our first CRA paragraph.

Analyzing & Focusing on "The Three Lilies"

Course Descriptions & "The Three Lilies"

After a relatively quick quiz on the course description, we spent the period reading and annotating Neruda's "The Three Lilies."

Reading Goals

Today we finished our discussion of "How to Mark a Book" and wrote some reading goals.

"How to Mark a Book"

Today we read and annotated Adler's "How to Mark a Book."

A Quiz & Some Discussion

Today we began with what became a long quiz and discussion of Foster's text. After that, we did the reading self-evaluation, but we didn't get to the article.

Name Tags & Some Business

We began the day by making name tags and sharing a bit about ourselves. We then talked a bit about picture day (8/31/17) and went over the syllabus briefly. Students should read the syllabus and then find, print, sign, and turn in the AP Honor statement by 8/30/17.
We ended the day by wrapping up the discussion of Blake's Newton which we began yesterday.

Academic Fair

Today, we managed to get a bit of work done despite the Academic Fair. We did a bit of warm-up writing and then had a short discussion.

Lit Circles Begin

Today we introduced literature circles and groups met to set up reading and role schedules. Start your book and check in with your group if you weren't here.

Day of Rest #2

Today we nearly finished Young Frankenstein, but we also signed up for the Human Library Project. Lit Circles begin Monday. Bring your books!

On the Eve

Today we reviewed all of the books from this year and did a wee bit of final practice. Good luck tomorrow! You are ready.

Last Minute Tips

Today we reviewed some last-minute tips for the AP test and then started a short study guide review, wrapping up with a look at question 3.

Goodbye to the Invisible Man

Today we had our final timed essay of the year. Monday and Tuesday will include some last-minute AP test prep and then, the test is Wednesday.

Pocket Poems & IM Groups

After sharing pocket poems, we had group presentations and talked about Invisible Man for the rest of the period.

MC Practice & Questions Groups

After a bit of multiple choice practice on a passage from Einstein's Dreams, students worked on Invisible Man questions in their literature circle groups. We will present those questions tomorrow.

Q1 Practice & a Bit of IM

After a bit of essay practice, we talked through yesterday's IM quiz.

MC & the Final IM Quiz

After a short practice MC passage, we had our final Invisible Man reading quiz.

Have a Great Break!

Thursday, we had our 4th IM quiz, on chapters 13 through 17, then talked about the chapters a bit. We wrapped up the day with a bit of Q2 poetry essay practice.
Friday, we began the day with a practice MC passage and then just scratched the surface of chapters 13 through 17 in small groups.

AP Practice Materials are posted at Google Classroom!

Odds and Ends

Because so much of the class was absent today for a field trip at HSU, we had a practice test and then took care of loose ends. Expect an Invisible Man reading quiz tomorrow.

Essay Practice & Lit Circles Redux

After a bit of Q2 essay practice, students began the process of forming groups for our post-AP Test literature circle project.

MC Practice & More IM Groups

Today we began with some more multiple choice practice and then did a bit more with the IM groups from Friday.

Many Things...

 After a bit of multiple choice practice, the remaining CRAs from Wednesday, and a fire alarm (in period 6), we did some close reading in groups and shared our findings.

Quizzes & CRAs

We began the day with a quick quiz on chapters 7 through 12, had a lively open discussion about those chapters, then finished the writing about "Theme for English B" in the writer's notebooks. The last part of the period was spent looking at shared analytical paragraphs at Google Classroom.

New Seats & Discussion Rubrics

Today we got new seats, did the Q3 discussion rubrics, and continued our work with Ellison's poem.

Happy End of the 3rd Quarter!

Today we signed up for poems, worked a bit more with "Theme for English B" and turned in essay cover sheets. Oh, and 6th period saw a bit of Seussical.

Poems, IM, & Cover Sheets

We began the day reading and annotating Langston Hughes' poem "Theme for English B."

We talked a bit about the National Poetry Month Extra Credit:

Then we finish the presentations from yesterday and students had a few minutes to start the essay cover sheets.

Presentations

Over the last two days, we have worked in groups on some topics from chapters 2 through 6 of IM, presenting them today. We will continue this discussion tomorrow.

Some Close Reading

Today we continued our close look at chapter one, followed by a brief foray into chapter 2. Warming up with this:

And then annotation and discussing these two passages in groups:

Peer Response

After a look at a few model paragraphs, students spent the period responding to each other's papers.

IM Chapter 1

Essay Drafts & IM Schedule

Check Google Classroom for the essay revision assignment. These are due by tomorrow and you need a printed draft for class on Thursday.

Keep up your Invisible Man reading. Here are the due dates:

• Chapters 2—6 w/ Google Classroom discussion, 3/28
• Chapters 7—12 w/ Google Classroom discussion, 4/5
• Chapters 13—17 w/ Google Classroom discussion, 4/12
• Chapters 18—End w/ Google Classroom discussion, 4/24

The Opening Chapters

After a short quiz, we considered the opening chapters of Invisible Man and watched a bit of Ken Burns' Jazz. Essay drafts are due tomorrow!

Godot and IM

After wrapping up Godot presentations, we had a short intro to Invisible Man. Read the prologue and chapter 1 over the weekend.

Godot Never Comes

Today we (nearly) wrapped up presentations and put a bow on our discussion of Godot. Invisible Man tomorrow.

Presentations

Today we enjoyed presentations from No Exit and Waiting for Godot. We'll finish up presentations tomorrow.

Work Time

Today groups had the period to work on their Godot projects.

Quiz 2

After a short quiz, partners spent some time discussing the play and focusing their thinking.

Waiting for Senior Bests

Today we did a bit more writing about Godot and shared essay topics at Google Classroom (and we did the final senior bests balloting).

Act 1

Today we had our first of two Godot quizzes and then talked a bit about Act 1.

Waiting for Godot

Here are a few bits of Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart as Vladimir and Estragon.

And here is the whole play.

"No Exit" & Godot

After some more discussion of the central ideas of "No Exit," we briefly touched on Waiting for Godot. More on that tomorrow.

• Have Act 1 of Godot read by 3/6 and Act 2 by 3/8.

Paper Norming & "No Exit"

Today we had a quick quiz on "No Exit" followed by a good discussion of the play and two of the three norming essays.