Joe!!!

A few words:  pasta, Joe, wow.

I’m so grateful. Just grateful.

Love and Light,
Beltran

My Former Students

Today is a tough day for me and my family. Most of you current readers don’t know why, and that’s okay. What matters is that some of my former readers do and their kindness flowed my way in many forms today.

So to my lovelies, thank you. You may no longer be in my class, but you’ll forever be in my heart.

Love and Light,
Beltran

Tuesday Testing

Math today.

Math, math, math.

More Math tomorrow and the next day and the next. 

But the AWESOME news is that TED Talks are next week, and I am beyond excited to see and hear what you create.  Though I can imagine you are stressed, I hope you realize what a glorious opportunity this is to put a punctuation mark on your junior year in Room 853.

Shout outs to the 2 amazing Create Somethings I witnessed at lunch.  Books and books.

Much love and light,
Beltran

Today's Song:  No song so how 'bout a quote? "There are always flowers for those who want to see them." ~Henri Matisse

Gratitude

Maya Angelou said that “Thank You” are the greatest words you can say. So to all of you well wishers and laugh makers and Light creators, Thank You.

Today was a good day.

Love and Light,
Beltran

Today’s Song: “Sugar” by Maroon 5

Week One of Testing Done

Thank you for doing your best on the tests.  You are doing a good thing for the school.

In great news, tomorrow is Friday and we have Create Something Presentations in periods 1, 2, and maybe 3.  (Though 3rd might have a little "fun" planned.)

Periods 4 and 5, meet me in the PAC so 1) I can mark you present for Attendance and 2) so you can be let in to the Slam.  It should be good!!!

Next week, there is no school on Monday and testing/Block schedule resumes on Tuesday with periods 1, 3, and 5.  Math is on the agenda.

Starting the following week (the last full one of the year...) TED Talks commence.  Make sure you sign up for a slot.  If you don't, your final grade will slowly wither away...

Enjoy the rest of your day!

Love and Light,
Beltran

P.S. - Rereading Cheryl Strayed.  Have you read the book that shall not be named?  It's DELICIOUS!!!

When Your Soul Isn't On Fire

I haven't danced 5 times in one day.
I haven't socially interacted with my students.
I haven't had my brain fed with your voices.
It.
Is.
Soul.
Crushing.
Is this what your school days are like?
Sit.
And.
Get?

I am grateful for...
- laughs at lunch,
- chips in freezer bags,
- morning chats with M.E.
- sweet smelling hand lotion,
- and the chance to reread some Cheryl Strayed.

Thanks for the presentations at lunch...very nice indeed.

See periods 2 and 4 tomorrow.

Love and Light,
Beltran

How Is It Only Tuesday?

Today’s Create Somethings were amazing. Shout out to Team S - Sarah, Sean, Sophie and Sal. Wow wow wow.

Love and Light,
Beltran

Dylan Saved the Entire School

Mad respect to period 1 for their calmness and kindness today with the testing "chaos" and made shout out to DR for saving the day (and likely the whole school's test scores).

I can't say I'm a fan of these tests but y'all did great.

Thanks also to those of you who presented Create Something 2.0 during lunch.  If you want, stop by and see some presentations tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday.

Friday we will be presenting CS 2.0 in periods 1 and 2 and heading to the PAC for the Poetry Slam (periods 3, 4 and 5). 

Also, TED Talk sign ups were posted today at lunch so sign up for your slot.  First come, first serve.

Love and Light,
Beltran

Today's Song: "Testing Sadness"by Teacher Lady

Happy Friday

I hope you all have a great weekend.  Enjoy the time away from school and I'll see you on Monday for testing. 

Monday's schedule is ODD so I will see periods 1, 3 and 5.  :)

Love and Light,
Beltran

Today's Song: "Dancing in the Moonlight"

Happy Thursday!!!

Hope you had a wonderful day today.  Thanks for listening to all the info.  Any questions??  Email me.

NOTE: We are slated to attend the Poetry Slam (It's back on!!!!) next Friday 5/25 during period 3, 4 and 5.  So if you signed up to present Create Something we will have to squeeze you in at lunch.  We will figure it out.

I'll put TED Talk Sign Up Sheets in the hall tomorrow at lunch so sign up when you're ready.

Love and Light,
Beltran

Today's Song: "This Is How We Do It" M. Jordan

Empty Classroom, Full Heart

So...it's 7:39am and a ton of you are testing...is the proctor talking right now?  Are you power posing?  Winking? 

Tommy's here so all is well.

Love and Light,
Beltran

You Got This

I have no doubt that you are ready.  Crush the test.  Use your whole heart (and maybe this review form too!)

Have fun and know that you are prepared. 

Take your time, wear layers, find that cutie pie and power pose.

I'll be sending you all my love and light,
Beltran

Today's Songs: Dance Party!!

I Just Want Wednesday to Be Here Already

Lovelies Who Read the Blog,

You are ready if you're taking the test so just trust that and breathe.  Be humble when approaching the exam and review all you have been taught. 

Tomorrow we will dance a bit and do some last minute reminders.  I will be here early as usual on Wednesday and I will be sending you lots of love and light as usual.

Make sure you leave your pages read Post-Its since the contest ends on Wednesday as well.

See you tomorrow for the last pre-test day.

Love and Light,
Beltran

Today's Song: "Meet in the Middle" Diamond Rio

AP Language Testing Locations:
LIBRARY:  A-K
Auto Shop:  L-R
Dance Room:  S-Z

Hi, Lovelies -

If you are interested in some test prep for Language (archaic and footnotes work), consider checking out the link below.  I would specifically look at the first passage on the 2017 released exam.  The 2013 exam has great practice passages for footnotes as well as "archaic" texts. 

Or not.

Some quality test prep.

Also, instead of freaking out about rhetorical devices and cramming for the Rhetorical Analysis essay, why not focus on some of the more commonly found devices?  Below is a list...Make sure you know what they each are and WHY THE RHETOR WOULD USE THEM.

Or not.

1.  The Appeals: Logos, Ethos, and Pathos 
2.  Juxtaposition: when two words are put in opposition or two paragraphs....any time it's used to show contrast
3.  Antithesis: direct opposites
4.  Tone:  whatever you do, aim to understand the TONE of the passages you're given...All MC answers will fall under that "Tone Umbrella"
5.  Allusion:  references to history or literature or common knowledge
6.  Hyperbole:  exaggeration...why do rhetors use this device/strategy??
7.  Parallel Structure: the same grammatical pattern
8.  Denotation & Connotation:  literal meaning and evoked meaning

And, in the 2017 Princeton Review Book there is a 1792 released passage by Mary Wollstonecraft.  It's great practice on the off chance you get an antiquated text for MC. 

Good luck on APUSH tomorrow.

Love and Light,
Beltran

Today's Song:  Not Telling because some of you peek before class!

Wednesdays Are Tricky

Hi Lovelies,

Today was a day for you with built in study/prep time.

Thanks for completing the CHKS (if you had to) and for using your time wisely.

Tomorrow, plan on more study time and before I forget, BEST OF LUCK on APUSH on Friday.  :)

Love and Light,
Beltran

Today's Song: "Tricky" Run DMC

You are Fierce

What a competition.

I am exhausted. 

See you tomorrow.

Love and Light,
Beltran

Today's Song: "Freedom" Wham!

Final Multiple Choice Monday

And a good time was had by all...Make sure you study footnotes if you're taking the exam next Wednesday.  :)

Tomorrow we will be reviewing TED Talks - so maybe a little friendly competition?  Bring your notes on TED Talks and be ready to remember...

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are test prep days for whatever you need.  And let me say good luck to all of you taking AP exams.  It's not easy but you can do hard things.

I'll see y'all tomorrow,

Love and Light,
Beltran

Today's Song: "Mighty Quinn" Manfred Mann

Have a Great Weekend

Good luck on the SAT if you’re taking it.

See you Monday!

Love and Light,
Beltran

Today’s Song: “Poison”

Dribble Dribble Margaret Drabble

I started calling today's rhetor Dribble, not Drabble.  Oops.

Today you reviewed a Q3 and hopefully got a refresher on what the AP exam expects in terms of evidence and structure.

If you have any questions, please make sure you ask or send me an email.

SAS is tomorrow so make it count, please.

I'll see y'all then (and maybe at the volleyball game as well??).

Love and Light,
Beltran

Today's Song: All over the place..."Tainted Love" to "Bohemian Rhapsody" to "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"

Fallacy Day

Lovelies,

Make sure you know and can identify the common fallacies on the AP Language test.  The list was gone over in class today.  See me if you were absent or have questions. 

Tomorrow we will be working on some Q3 so look over some of the released prompts if you have the time or desire.

Friday is SAS and check out that Kanye West video.  The "reporter's" response is classic in terms of its control, credibility and concession. 

See you tomorrow.

Love and Light,
Beltran

Today's Song: "Walking on Sunshine" Katrina and the Waves

Final TED Talk Tuesday

We ended with the blunt Larry Smith and his 2011 TEDx Talk. I’m not feeling like linking but I’m sure you’re quite capable. And the cherry on top was Angela Duckworth’s TED Talk on grit. You can google that one too.

Tomorrow we will be prepping for the test with some work on fallacies so please have your test prep book.

Enjoy the rest of the May Gray Day.

Love and Light,
Beltran

Today’s Song: “Put Your Records On” CBR