January 31

We used the first 35 minutes of class to cover several items. Students read, annotated, and responded to today's article of the week while I conducted reading conferences with individual students. Students had time to read independently when they finished the notebook work.

Today's article: "What Teenage Boys Still Don't Know about Sexual Assault"

We continued reading Julius Caesar and wrapped up Act II today. Students answered questions about Scenes 1 and 2 in their notes. We will read Act III Scene 1 tomorrow and should finish reading the play on Monday.

Today's Board

January 30

WNB: Choose 1 statement that you strongly agree or disagree with and explain. Too much ambition inevitably leads to disaster. // Politicians are more concerned with power than with issues affecting people's lives. // Violence leads to more violence. // Crowds can be easily manipulated and moved to violence.

We started class with a recap of Act I of Julius Caesar. Students then completed a quiz over their notes and Act I. Students who did not take the quiz in class today will need to come in during A block Thursday.

We went over the "Improving Paragraphs 2" handout (4th period will do this tomorrow).

We began reading Act II Scene 1. We will finish Act II tomorrow.

Today's Board

January 29

I'm off campus at a meeting today, so here is the agenda students will follow.

Student Agenda for Tuesday, 1/29
I’m glad you’re here today!

No devices necessary for the first 40 minutes of class.

1. 20 minutes: Independent Reading Time 
2. ~10 minutes: Writer’s Notebook - Choose 1 statement that you strongly agree or disagree with and explain.

• There is never, ever a good reason to betray a friend.
• Advice from family members is more valuable than advice from friends.
• People are 100% responsible for their own fate.

3. Improving Paragraphs 2 - This is similar to the SAT Writing section. Keep this--we’ll discuss the answers in class tomorrow.

You may use your iPad if you want to access No Fear Shakespeare.
4. Finish reading Act I of Julius Caesar. Answer the following in your notes.

1. Act I, Scene 2, lines 25-177 - Take note of the persuasive techniques that Cassius uses as he tries to get Brutus to join the conspiracy to assassinate Caesar.
2. Act I, Scene 2, lines 300-315 - What is Cassius thinking in this soliloquy?
3. Act I, Scene 3 - This scene is full of bad weather and omens, building suspense and foreshadowing Caesar’s death. Create a chart to track what Casca, Cicero, and Cassius each thinks the omens mean and provide line numbers (from the book) to support your answers.

5. You will have a quiz tomorrow over your notes from Friday and Act I. Be sure to bring your iPad!

Have a great day!

Today's Board

January 28

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Students planned a response to a sample STAAR prompt--Write an essay stating your opinion on whether maturity is dependent on a person's age.

Students looked for great sentences during IRT today and copied them onto a decorated index card to display in the hallway.

We examined some of the major relationship themes in Julius Caesars through a four corners activity.

We began reading Julius Caesar. We will continue reading tomorrow.

Today's Board

Week-at-a-Glance

January 25

We started class with a visit to the library so students could recheck books or find new books. Students could also use this time to finish the "On Women's Right To Vote" SOAPSTone assignment from yesterday (due today on Canvas or handed in).

Today's WNB: In your own words, define "tragedy" and give examples. Why are books, movies, the news, etc. concerned with tragedies? How are they used as a form of entertainment in our society?

Students read and took notes over Shakespeare, the characteristics of Shakespearean tragedy, and how to read drama as we get ready to read Julius Caesar. I provided a very brief historical background of Caesar, and we will resume this discussion on Monday.

Today's Board

January 24

We used the first 35 minutes of class to cover several items. Students read, annotated, and responded to today's article of the week while I conducted reading conferences with individual students. Students had time to read independently once they completed the article of the week.

Today's article: "Nerd Alert: Reading Is Good for Your Health"

I passed back the Night essays. Students should keep this so we can practice sentence revision soon.

We read "On Women's Right To Vote," a speech given by Susan B. Anthony, and students worked independently to complete and hand in a SOAPSTone chart. Digital versions should be turned in on Canvas; written versions should be handed in to the appropriate tray.

Today's Board

January 23

We started class with the district-required Nelson-Denny assessment.

Today's notebook entry: What's so important about the right to vote?

Students used the remaining time to complete the SOAPSTone analysis of "On Nuclear Disarmament" from yesterday. They also added a response to the question found on slide 33 of the Argument and Persuasion notes on Canvas.

Today's Board

January 22

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Is there such a thing as too much ambition? Explain.

I passed back book talk grades today. I should have Night essays ready by Thursday.

We recapped our notes from last week and read "On Nuclear Disarmament" by Carl Sagan. Students tracked persuasive elements throughout the speech and completed a SOAPSTone chart (story and notes available on the Argument and Persuasion page on Canvas).

We will complete the district-required Nelson-Denny assessment tomorrow, so students should bring their charged iPads.

Today's Board

Week-at-a-Glance

January 18

2nd & 3rd Periods

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: The newspapers are full of reports of war, terrorism, epidemics, and environmental crises. Some problems are so serious that they may threaten civilization. What can be done to make the world safer?

We finished the argument and persuasion notes (slides 18-end). You can find these notes on the Argument and Persuasion page on Canvas.

I'll be passing back book talk grades on Tuesday. I should have the Night essays ready by Wednesday.

4th Period

We finished up the last few book talks during independent reading time. We then completed the writer's notebook entry for today (same as 2nd & 3rd above).

We finished the argument and persuasion notes (slides 11-end). You can find these notes on the Argument and Persuasion page on Canvas.

I'll be passing back book talk grades on Tuesday. I should have the Night essays ready by Wednesday.

Today's Board

January 17

IRT: ~15 minutes
WNB: Article of the Week - "An Epidemic of Loneliness" - Students read and annotated the article then wrote a response in their writer's notebooks.

Students used the first 30 minutes to read, annotate, and respond to the article of the week and read independently when finished.

We wrapped up book talks today. Grades for this assignment will be entered tomorrow.

We continued argument and persuasion notes from yesterday. We should finish these up tomorrow. (Fourth period did not get to notes--we had so many students who needed to complete book talks.)

Today's Board

January 16

IRT: ~15 minutes
WNB: Would you rather have more time or more money?

A few more students shared book talks today. We'll take time tomorrow to finish these up.

We discussed sentence variety and sentence structure and practiced tracking sentences with a sample essay. Students will do a similar activity with their own essay after I grade and return them.

We started notes over argument and persuasion. We will continue this work tomorrow after book talks.

Today's Board

January 15

We wrapped up our work with Night today as students completed a timed writing. This will be a major grade.

Students who finished before the end of class had time to read or work on other homework.

Be sure to bring your iPad tomorrow! We will also resume book talks tomorrow, so be prepared for that.

Today's Board

January 14

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: What's the biggest misconception about teenagers today? When you hear people say, "Kids today," what do they usually follow it up with?

We officially started independent reading time today. I reminded students to track every book they read on the currently reading pages in their writer's notebooks. Students should include the title, author, genre, number of pages, and date they started the book. When they finish, they should note the date finished and provide a 1-2 sentence reflection.

Students began sharing book talks today. We will continue this through the rest of the week. The protocol and rubric are available on Canvas.

We discussed theme and big ideas in Night. Students have a timed writing assignment tomorrow. They will choose to write about perspective, the brown bag activity, or big ideas. They will be allowed to use their notes on this assignment, and they will have the entire class period to work.

Today's Board

Week-at-a-Glance

January 11

Students who did not hand in their annotated articles from yesterday were reminded to do so when class started.

Second and 4th periods visited the library to choose books for independent reading time. Third period had time in the library on Wednesday to choose a book, so we read for 20 minutes.

Today's notebook entry was an outside entry. Students who need inspiration to write should visit the "Ideas for Outside Entries" link on the Course Resources page on Canvas.

Students completed a brown bag activity and made connections between random objects and Night. Absent students should plan to come to A block tutorials on Monday to make up this activity.

We will begin book talks on Monday!

Today's Board

January 10

I demonstrated another book talk with Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys. Students will begin sharing their book talks on Monday.

Today's notebook entry was an article of the week. Students read and annotate a news article and then respond in their notebooks. More detailed instructions for this activity can be found on the Course Resources page on Canvas. Today's article: "Trump and Democrats Meet Again on Shutdown but Remain Far Apart on His Border Wall Demand" from January 6

We discussed perspective and point of view and looked at several examples. Slides for this work can be found on the Night page on Canvas.

We will begin independent reading time tomorrow, so students should have a book. Second and 4th periods will visit the library again to choose a book during that time.

Today's Board

January 9

We spent some time setting up our writer's notebooks today. The setup slides are available on Canvas on the Course Resources page. We also wrote our first entry: Write a letter to yourself when you're 30 (it will be the year 2032/2033). Tell yourself what you want to be remembered for from these teen years and what you think should be important in your life when you're grown up.

We visited the library and heard about all of the great things it has to offer. We didn't have quite enough time in 2nd and 4th periods to check out books, so we will go back on Friday.

Today's Board

January 8

We began class with a Q&A session to clear up any information from yesterday.

I demonstrated how to do a book talk and shared Nic Stone's Dear Martin. Students can find the book talk process and rubric on the Course Resources page on Canvas.

Students added page numbers to their summer reading list and handed it in.

Students also discovered common threads they share personally. We read an excerpt from Farewell to Manzanar and compared the story to Night, looking for similarities and differences.

Today's Board

January 7

I enjoyed meeting my new spring semester students today!

We walked through Canvas and looked at important documents--the syllabus and summer reading assignment. Students should be prepared with the summer reading assignment tomorrow.

Students worked in groups to figure out a poem puzzle. We finished class by responding to a few deep questions that hopefully will reveal students' personalities and writing styles.

Today's Board

Week-at-a-Glance