Pigeons are Seagulls

Goodbye SAS!

Have a good weekend and I'll see you Monday for the final week of test prep.

Xoxo,
Beltran

Plato Is My Homeboy

Thanks for the class discussions today and your thinking.  There's nothing like a little philosophy to get the hamster running...If you are so inclined (I'm talking to you kiddos aiming to pass the test!), check out the model essays for Q3 2013.  You are welcome to come see me with questions.  And keep in mind, I'm here to help so if you want to do any practice essays or tests, let me know and I will score/read/offer feedback.

Tomorrow (cue the ballad), is the last SAS for the year.  (Next Friday 5/5, some of you will be out due to testing and the rest of us will be prepping for AP Language/Study Hall).

Have a great rest of your day,
Beltran

Read the Model Essays

First off, we all know some of you don't even check the blog (which is ironic since the ones reading this aren't the ones I'm talking about.)  Secondly, even if you do read the blog, do you do what I ask?  If you do, read the three model essays for the 2009 Q3 prompt.  Come to class with any questions or comments you have.

Tomorrow, we will handle our last day of Argument.  I will be handing out a prompt.  You'll have 5 minutes to read and annotate THEN we will circle up and discuss.

Friday is our FINAL SAS.  Goodbye, junior year.  Goodbye Class of 2018.

Here's to hairy legs, great lunch conversations and splitting headaches that make you want to curl up in a ball,
Beltran

Model Essay Tomorrow

Please have a copy of the model essay that scored an 8 for class tomorrow.  (Make sure you look before you print so you don't end up with several pages - you just need essay 3A.)

Tomorrow in class we will read through the model and then attack another prompt.

Woo-wee!

Long live coffee shops,
Beltran

Donkey

Assumptions.

Logical Fallacies.

Crash Course Philosophy video from Hank Green.

Mabel and her "F".

Have your worksheet completed for class tomorrow.  Bring it (the worksheet - that's the antecedent) and your brain.

xoxo

Happy Weekend

Have a great weekend, lovelies. I'll see you Monday.

Beltran

Salt & Pepper

SAS tomorrow!!! Be ready, presenters.

Yours,
Beltran

Dedicated to Sweater Vests and Cardigans

It's amazing what you see when you're paying attention...That's today's life lesson.  As for AP lessons, the same can be said.  Paying attention to sources, charts, images, bias - it's all one big ball of interconnectedness, and it's your job to make it make sense.

Tomorrow, have the Q1 packet (and an essay if you wrote one for practice) in class.  We will be looking at model essays together.

T-minus 3 weeks to the language exam...Do you have a blue pen?  A watch?

Beltran

“The more pain I train myself to stand, the more I learn. You are afraid of pain now, Unk, but you won't learn anything if you don't invite the pain. And the more you learn, the gladder you will be to stand the pain.” ― Kurt Vonnegut, The Sirens of Titan

Today Tomorrow Thursday

Today - TED Talk questions created.  Game next Tuesday.

Tomorrow - Sources for Synthesis.  Have a blue pen.

Thursday - College Board and laptops.

And you know what happens on Fridays...

Also, George Saunders, people ---> 2013 Syracuse Commencement Address.

Books, too.  Read books.

xoxo

TED Talk Game Prep Tomorrow

The title says it all.

Bring notes and your brains to class...plus, perhaps a fun TED Talk for our brains.

Love and Light,
Beltran

From Jumping Bunnies to Yo-Yo Ma

I truly do love seeing who you are when you present - well prepared?  Thoughtful?  A bit nervous?  Polished?  Arrogant?  Exciting?  Hesitant?  It's amazing, and I always learn a little something new.

Have a great weekend and I'll see you next week for some Synthesis Review.

Beltran

Model Essay Review Q2 2014

For class today, access the model essay for Q2 here.  Read and discuss in your small groups.

What is the difference between rhetorical strategies and devices?  (Perhaps you would be interested in looking at previous released prompts???The internet is at your fingertips...)

Make sure you read and discuss the first page of the Scoring Commentary (it includes the "Overview" and "Sample 2A Commentary".)

Pay attention to the transitions and specific rhetorical choices made by the Student Writer.  What do you notice?  

For extra practice in terms of elevating your own writing, make sure you utilize the second document (totally optional) entitled "Writing With Precision at the Sentence Level".

AP Language Exam in 13 school daze...(don't email me to say I misspelled "days"...as if)

Beltran

Abigail Adams

Tomorrow we will continue working with Abigail Adams' letter to her son.  Come to class with your brain ready to engage with the text.  Only 4 weeks until the lovely AP Language Exam!

Make sure you come to class tomorrow with a blue pen!

Love and Light...

Your Affectionate Teacher,
Beltran

P.S. - Today's song was Just One Look by Doris Troy.

Happy TED Talk Prep Tuesday

I love TED Talks and what they can add to a person's mind palace.  It's ever important to find your elusive creative genius, to march to the beat of your own drum, to recognize that I am because of you.  From beat boxing to managing the crevices of life, there is a little lollipop moment for everyone.

See y'all tomorrow,
Beltran

P.S. - Highly recommend The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead.  Just sayin'...

Thus It Begins..

Official test prep is upon us.  Today in class I handed out 4 documents.  If you were absent, you can grab the sheets tomorrow in class (or whenever you return).  I would pay particular attention to the second sheet labeled "Analysis always does two things...".  It's golden.

Tomorrow, have your Interesting Stuff Journals as well as your TED Talk notes (prom dress or sweatpants for use in class). We will be making cheat sheets for the talks we've viewed the past few months.

I'll see you tomorrow,
Beltran

Also, we are doing a new family puzzle and I thought it would serve as a good list of books to read as well...I'll share in class tomorrow.

Happy Friday

Thank you for teaching me many things today.  I feel like I learn something new each SAS Friday.

Have a happy weekend!
Beltran

P.S. - 22 school days until the AP Language Exam!!!

Quick Post

Gotta rush out and get back to the munchkin but wanted to say thanks for a great day of discussions.  Keep reading and thinking and questioning everything!

Tomorrow is SAS.  I'll be looking forward to that.

Enjoy your afternoon/evening,
Beltran

P.S. - Some more book recommendations headed your way...the best way to prepare for the AP exam (besides test prep itself) is to read.

Tomorrow

Hi. lovelies -

I plan on being back tomorrow...in preparation for our second East of Eden discussion, please consider the following:  Multiple people repeatedly claimed during Monday's discussion that the book would be boring (it's important to make note of this particular word) without Cathy, but why? So, why?

I'm interested in hearing what you have to say.  Also, bear in mind that there are no accidents in our curriculum...I don't "randomly" choose TED Talks, now do I?  So...Put those Legos together.

Love and Light,
Beltran

The Fever Persists

My munchkin is still feeling under the weather so I will be home with her again tomorrow.  My partner in crime will stay with her on Thursday if necessary so plan on seeing me then for MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT East of Eden.  I feel (based on your emails and those index cards) that there is more to be said.  Specifically we will be discussing Cathy and the theme of good versus evil so prepare your thinking about that for class.

Friday will be SAS as usual.

For tomorrow, though, you will need to HAVE WATCHED and TAKEN NOTES on the TED Talk I linked yesterday.  It's 30 minutes long so plan accordingly.  In class I expect you to answer the following questions and leave your work in the class tray.  Please WORK ALONE.

If you happen to finish early, work on your Interesting Stuff Journal and/or prep for Thursday's class discussion.

Apologies for being absent but life happens.

Questions Below...

1.   Why did Chimamanda Adichie feel that she had to describe herself as "a happy African feminist who does not hate men and who likes lip gloss and who wears high heels for herself but not for men"?

2.   Adichie lists some ways that marriage can have a positive impact. List at least 3 of them.

3.   What do you think is meant by the Nigerian expression, "bottom power"? Write it in your own words.

4.   In your view, is there still room for progress in the journey towards the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes? Explain and support your view.

5.   Defend, challenge AND qualify Adichie’s claim that we should “all be feminists” by creating a chart that lists all the evidence for, against, and “in between”.  Aim to have at least 3-5 reasons for each column.

Motherhood Calls

I'm so sorry to be missing TED Talk Tuesday but motherhood and a sick young one calls.  My kiddo's fever was gone all day and is now back.  Boo.

Here's the deal:

1.  Watch the TED Talk on your own before class on Wednesday.  Take notes as usual and open your mind to a perspective that is not yours.

2.  Come to class tomorrow and be prepared to work in groups on a practice multiple choice.  Read it on your own for the first 15 minutes of class and then form into groups to complete the questions.  Feel free to discuss but don't look up anything online.

3.  Leave your work in the class tray.

4.  If there is any leftover time, feel free to add to your Interesting Stuff Journal and/or read for pleasure.

P.S. - Period 4, your advisory stickers are supposed to go out tomorrow.  Please help the sub out.

Hoping to see you Wednesday,
Beltran

East of Eden

This is a beyond beautiful book.  Thank you to those of you who read...if you "own" the book as Adler would contend, you are altered.  Steinbeck lives on.

In gratitude for what I heard today,
Beltran

p.s. - check the blog later tonight just in case my daughter isn't feeling well...I'll have a sub.  But hopefully I will see you tomorrow.