February 27

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: What circumstances could cause people to hold grudges?

We read "The Interlopers" by Saki and examined the story for various elements of style. We will continue this work tomorrow.

Students received a copy of the midterm exam review.

I reminded students to complete their peer reviews ASAP and turn in their revised essays by 11:59pm Thursday. I'll be available A block Thursday to answer any questions.

Coming Up
Thursday, 2/28 - Revised Unit 1 PT Essay due (major grade)
Monday, 3/4 - Writer's Notebook Check (minor grade)
Tuesday, 3/5 - Midterm Reading Reflection (major grade)
Thursday, 3/7 - 2nd period midterm exam
Friday, 3/8 - 3rd & 4th periods midterm exam // early release

Today's Board

February 26

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: People in the public eye often cultivate an image that sets them apart from others. Some do it with the way they dress, others through the way they speak or act, and still others with what they design or create. You recognize these people or their work by their style--that special blend of appearance, expression, and attitude that makes each person unique. Choose an individual whose personal or professional style you admire. What is it about that person that makes them unique?

Students took a few notes over style and voice. These will be useful as we read the next few pieces in class.

Students used the remaining class time to finish peer reviews and begin working on their revisions. The revised essay should be turned in on Canvas by 11:59pm Thursday, 2/28. A block tutorials on Thursday would be a great time to come in and continue working on or finishing up the revised essay.

Coming Up
Monday, 3/4 - Writer's Notebook Check (minor grade)
Tuesday, 3/5 - Midterm Reading Reflection (major grade)
Thursday, 3/7 - 2nd period midterm exam
Friday, 3/8 - 3rd & 4th periods midterm exam // early release @12:20

Today's Board

Updated Week-at-a-Glance

February 25

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Outside entry

We spent a little time finishing up the poetry bracket from last week.

Students completed a peer review activity with the performance task essay from last week. We will continue this work tomorrow. Revisions for this assignment are due on Thursday, 2/28 (not Wednesday as it says on the board).

Today's Board

Week-at-a-Glance

February 22

Students had the first 35 minutes of class to read, annotate, and respond to today's article of the week for their notebook entry. They read independently when that was completed. I met with individual students for reading conferences during this time.

Today's Article: "Halting HIV by 2030 Is a Challenge. Here's Why It's Especially Tough in the South"

We added a few more terms to the poetry notes (I've also added these slides to the Excerpts & Poetry page on Canvas). Students turned in the spoken word response from Wednesday on Canvas. We resumed our work with the poetry brackets from yesterday.

I've started preparing the midterm exam. Students will receive an official review next week, but they can begin reviewing these items now.

Midterm Info

Today's Board

February 21

I am out of the classroom for training today, but I will be in my room for tutorials during A block lunch.

Student Agenda for Thursday, 2/21

Absent students: Choose 1 poem from Poetry Packet #2 and complete a TWISTT for Poetry chart (all available on the Excerpts & Poetry page on Canvas) and plan to attend A block tutorials on Monday, 2/25, to make up the rest of the work.

February 20

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Choose 1 to respond to in your notebook. "A stumble may prevent a fall." or "Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness."

I introduced students to spoken word poetry and shared some of my favorites: "Knock Knock" by Daniel Beaty, "Hands" by Sarah Kay, and "Friends" by Trent Shelton.

Students explored other performances from TED and chose one to analyze. (Canvas --> Excerpts & Poetry page --> "TED 10 Spoken Word Performances" --> choose 1 and complete the "Spoken Word Response" doc)

Today's Board

February 19

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: How do you feel about poetry?

Six week grades were due today. Students who scored below 70 on the "WNB Persuasive Outline" assignment may revise and resubmit for up to 75. Students who scored 70 or above handed in a scored article to add points.

We recapped what we already know about poetry and added some new definitions to our vocabulary. Today, we explored poems that employ rhyme and rhythm.

Students should finish and turn in the Unit 1 Performance Task essay and reflection assignment tonight.

Today's Board

Week-at-a-Glance

February 15

We went over the Julius Caesar test. Students who scored below a 70 may retake the test during A block lunch Thursday.

Third and 4th period classes visited the library to recheck/check out books. Second period students went individually as needed.

Students used the remaining class time to work on the performance task essay and reflection that is due Tuesday (turn in on Canvas).

Today's Board

February 14

Students had the first 35 minutes of class to read, annotate, and respond to today's article of the week for their notebook entry. They read independently when that was completed. I met with individual students for reading conferences during this time.

Today's Article: "A History of the Southern Border"

Students used the remaining class time to continue working on the performance task essay that we began yesterday. We will have more class time tomorrow, and the essay is due Tuesday.

Today's Board

February 13

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Outside Entry

We spent some time making sure we were all caught up on any outstanding assignments. Students can check Skyward for assignments that will be graded before Tuesday.

Students began working on the Unit 1 Performance Task. We will have time in class Thursday and Friday to work, and the essay and reflection will be due on Tuesday (Monday is a school holiday).

Today's Board

February 12

I was off campus at an appointment today, so students had a substitute.

Students who were absent on Monday should plan to make up the Julius Caesar test Wednesday after school or Thursday during block lunch. The test will take an hour at the most.

Student Agenda

February 11

Students took the Julius Caesar test today.

When finished, students had time to work on the persuasive outline we started Friday. After all testing was complete, some students chose to work on the body biography project from last week.

Today's Board

Week-at-a-Glance

February 8

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB:

We spent a little time discussing the Julius Caesar test review in preparation for Monday's test. I will host a live discussion on Canvas from 7:30-8:30pm on Sunday to answer any questions students might have.

We worked through the "How To Persuade" slides (available on the Argument and Persuasion page on Canvas). Students had time to draft an outline based on one of their notebook entries (Writer's Notebook Persuasive Outline assignment). (Since the network was being uncooperative this morning, most 2nd period students did this work in Notes on their iPads. We'll transfer it to Canvas next week.) We will come back to this after the test on Monday.

Groups who did not finish the body biography assignment should plan to meet during tutorials to complete the work. Options: Monday A & B block and after school, Wednesday before and after school, and Thursday A & B block.

Today's Board

February 7

I am out of the classroom for training today.

Today's Agenda

Today's Board

February 6

Students had the first 35 minutes of class to read, annotate, and respond to today's article of the week. They read independently when that work was completed. I met with individual students for reading conferences during that time.

Today's article: "Let Children Get Bored Again" (If you have trouble accessing it through the paywall, let me know, and I'll share a PDF version with you.)

Students turned in the Night Sentence Tracker on Canvas.

Students received a test review for the Julius Caesar test that is scheduled for Monday.

Students began working on a body biography assignment in which they analyze different traits of a character from Julius Caesar. This will be due at the end of class tomorrow.

Today's Board

February 5

IRT: 20 minutes
WNB: We calculated the reading rate for our current book and wrote about different factors that influenced that rate today.

Students had time to finish up the Julius Caesar work from yesterday--the outline and speeches chart. Students added a question to the back of the speeches chart. I'll pick up this work on Monday.

We revisited the Night essay and worked on revising sentences. Students chose one paragraph and completed the sentence variety tracking chart for that paragraph. Then they chose 3 sentences to improve. We will resume this work tomorrow.

Today's Board

February 4

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Which is more important: what a person thinks or what a person does?

We revisited Brutus's speech in Act III Scene 2 and completed an outline and analysis chart. We watched Antony's speech and completed an outline and analysis chart. We will wrap up this work tomorrow.

Today's Board

Week-at-a-Glance

February 1

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Outside Entry

We recapped Act II, then we watched Act III Scene 1 of Julius Caesar and discussed important plot points. We also watched Brutus's speech in Act III Scene 2 and began an analysis of the persuasive elements. We will continue this work on Monday.

Today's Board