Happy Everything

I wish you all a beautiful, healthful, happy break.

Stay safe and make good choices.

And read East of Eden.

xoxo

Some Thoughts

Everyone is entitled to their opinion.  This is a fundamental truth in my world but that doesn't mean I have to agree with them.  That some students made light of today's presentation is beyond sad.  Choosing to drink is a personal choice - of that I am sure - but when you get into a car and drive, that is the MOST SELFISH act.  That you would think you matter more than someone else.

I am not perfect by any means and I have made some very stupid choices in my life, but I can say with my whole heart, that every moment is a series of choices.  Make good ones.

For those I won't see, Happy Spring Break.  And for periods 2, 4 and 6 I will see you for class tomorrow.

xoxo

Wednesday Warriors or Worriers

What an interesting day...if you were absent, see a classmate or me for notes.  Block schedule tomorrow and Friday.

TH - 1,3,7
FRI - 2,4,6

Bring a book (East of Eden) to class.  Also, we'll be doing a bit of writing as well.

xoxo

TED Talk Tuesday

Thanks for watching Amy Cuddy.  Here's the link so you can watch it again and do some Prom Dress Notes.

Tomorrow, come to class prepared with your reading/annotations of Letter from Birmingham Jail. The text is posted on Sunday's blog entry.

Off to get the Things 1 and 2.

xoxo

But It's Monday!

Hope today made sense!  This next 6 weeks is essentially the last of it all...so your semester grade will 80% be determined before heading into the TED Talk final.  Major grades for the next six weeks: East of Eden, writing, writing writing, Prom Dress & Sweatpants Notes and Create Something 2.0.

For Wednesday's expectations, see yesterday's post.  Tomorrow, the TED Talk and a little magic with sentences.

Block schedule this Th (1,3,7) and Friday (2, 4, 6).

xoxo

Academic Moves that Matter

If I do nothing else for you as a teacher, I hope that I am able to make each of you better writers.  My goal is that you will attend your first college English, Philosophy, Psychology, etc. class and be able to not only hang with your peers but surpass them with your ability to critically think and write.  In order to do that, though, I need your help.  You simply MUST do your part since I am only one person up against the machine that is your educational experience.  What I am asking you to do isn't for a grade, or for a test, or for some mindless packet.  It's for YOU.  It's for your wallet.  It's for your future promotions, presentations, and pitches.

That being said, here's the heavy lifting for the week.

Tomorrow's lesson will center around your Synthesis essays from last Thursday as well as the text The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing - They Say I Say by Gerald Graff, Cathy Birkenstein and Russel Durst.  Read this excerpt, annotate it and attempt to understand what we're going to do for the next month. I will expect this done by Wednesday (though if you come to class already having read it, YES!).  If you don't make the time to complete this task by Wednesday, it is truly and sincerely your loss.

(Some of you lucky enough to have the means might also consider reading the whole book as an investment for senior year, college and beyond.)

In addition, I would like you to read and annotate Martin Luther King's Letter from a Birmingham Jail by Wednesday.  We will be discussing King's "academic moves" and then applying our newfound knowledge to a different text for practice.

Since I'm not one to give homework or big projects over breaks (if you haven't read East of Eden yet, well...that was mentioned in September.  That's your bad.)  we will be doing a lot this week.

Enjoy your Sunday.  It's a beautiful day.

xoxo

One More Essay for Period 6...

I am almost done with 4/5 classes.  Period 7 essays will have to go home with me because I have a dinner date and a Coffee House Show to see.  Thank you to all who presented today.  The projects were quite fun.  

Monday, we will continue work with our writing so be ready.  I know it'll be Monday but you can do it.

Have a safe and happy weekend, and please, no emails about grades.  It's JUST A PROGRESS REPORT.

xoxo 

Big Day Tomorrow

I'm wondering who among you will be ill when tomorrow comes?  It's the end of the 6 weeks and the inanimate object assignment is due...There's also SAS.  My mind is churning...

Please come to class prepared...my heart is but a fragile glass slipper of high expectations and hope.

xoxo

Q1

Be ready to write your essay in class tomorrow.  Good times (insert sarcasm).  Remember that your projects are due Friday for presentation or turning in.  If you present your project, no SAS is due.

I also asked period 7 to email me with the grade they think they deserve and why.  You do the same. Due by Friday at 3pm.  I'm interested to see who actually does take the time to send me a message.

See y'all tomorrow.

xoxo

TED Talk Tuesday

Today's TED Talk is here.  I hope you have the chance to rewatch it and consider what Hari is saying.  Despite the decorations and fillers that a person's life seems to have, there is always the deeper story of who we really are in those quiet, alone moments.  What is your "cage" and what are you using to distract yourself from feeling?

I'll see you tomorrow.  Have your Q1 packet annotated and ready to go.  We will work with embedding quotes and generating content for your Timed Write on Thursday.

Friday your projects are due and we have SAS as well - open topic.

xoxo

Daylight Savings Kind of a Monday

I came off the rails in period 7 - sorry.  It was the avocados I had at lunch.

Tomorrow, we have our TED Talk so those of you out for the field trip can just watch on your own.  I will miss you.

Wednesday have the sources from the packet read and annotated. We will be using them in class and then writing in class on Thursday.  Please don't read the 2015 model essays...thanks.

xoxo

Snapchat

So...I did it. But I don't get it. Someone will need to tutor me. #noshame #greatstudent

SAS: Koala Killings & Kindness

Shout out to periods 4 & 7 today.  Singing JB with you period 4 was too fun and the "baby come back", period 7, NO WORDS.

Have a great weekend and make sure you read the model essays posted yesterday.  I expect you'll appear on Monday prepared.

xoxo

Synthesis Stuff

I highly encourage you to read the model essays for the 2010 Q1 prompt.  Here's the link, baby birds. 

Tomorrow is SAS so please be ready.  The topic is open so anything ever in the entire world. 

"Keep it real or keep it moving."

xoxo

The Day the Crayons Quit

To be the best reader and thinker possible, you must always consider tone.  Hope today's lesson was worth your time.  Here's a great list created by the amazing Valerie Stevenson that pretty much encompasses the terms you should "own" regarding tone.

I'll see you tomorrow.

Bye, Felicia.  (couldn't resist)

Sarah Kay

I hope you appreciate Sarah Kay half as much as I do.  Wow.  Here's the TED Talk and here's her piece with her anam cara Phil Kaye. Please rewatch and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.

Tomorrow, Duncan.

xoxo

Monday Monday

So today happened.  Not exciting but necessary stuff for AP season.

In an effort to help you, HERE is the link for the online ordering of AP exams.  The deadline is THURSDAY, MARCH 17th.

And here is the link for AP Central and released exams.  Feel free to use and practice.

Tomorrow will be fabulous as will Wednesday.  Promise.  And on Friday we get to do SAS and the topic is open so choose whatever you think is worth our time.

xoxo

Next Week

Hi everyone -

Hope your schedules are exactly what you want.  Now back to reality and getting you ready to be better readers and writers...

We will be working on Synthesis next week, embedding quotes and writing quality introductions.  Just a heads up. I will have copies for you of the text on Monday so no need to print or preview this weekend.

Enjoy yourselves and go PL soccer!!!

xoxo

Articulation Tomorrow

Tomorrow we will be heading down to the Counseling Office for your 1:1 meetings.  Meet in class first so we can happy dance that it's Friday and then you will head down to the office.

Please be sure to have your manners with you.

Good Morning, Hello, Hi, Nice to see you!

Thank you so much for your help, Happy Weekend, Enjoy the rest of your day...

Kindness matters.

Have a book to read or other work to do as class will not really be class with so many of us in and out.

On Monday you should bring your Multiple Choice back to class so we can finish working with it.

xoxo

The Importance of Lotion

Thanks for participating in today's class discussion.  I'm fascinated by how differently we all consume the same piece of rhetoric.  I am firmly convinced that my life is utterly normal and magical all at the same time.  Anam Cara is real and my sincerest hope is that you find it and that you allow it to find you.

Tomorrow we are rockin' out with some Multiple Choice.  I just spent some time with it and I think it will serve as a valuable teacher or am I just a nerd?

Friday, as I hope you recall, is Articulation with your counselors.  Y'all are STRAIGHT UP NOT MY STUDENTS if you show up in their offices on Friday, have them schedule your future and then NOT SEND A THANK YOU EMAIL OR HANDWRITTEN NOTE. Just sayin'...

I'll see you tomorrow.
xoxo

TED Talk Tuesday

I am a baseball wife who is literally multi-tasking right now.  Dinner is bubbling away, two kids are doing their thing, I am typing this blog and I am trying to slurp down my smoothie. Whew!  Here's the TED Talk for today.  Please rewatch it and consider what he's saying...

Tomorrow we will analyze Popova's piece on O'Donohue so be ready.

Thursday some AP practice and Friday is articulation with your counselors.

xoxoxoxo