Final Exam - Final Thoughts

Happy Monday!

Today is the last day of the semester, and the last in-class time to work on your final. Here are a few reminders:

• Proofread your essay
• Make sure the title of the play is underlined or italicized (not both!)
• Make sure all quotations are properly cited (Act. Scene. Line(s)) - for example, (III.2.10-12)
• Make sure you have the minimum number of pieces of evidence in each body paragraph
• Make sure you have a topic sentence for each paragraph, and that it does not focus on one character
• Make sure you have a thoughtful introduction and conclusion
• Make sure each quotation is:
• introduced (speaker, context)
• the meaning is explained
• the link to your thesis is clear

You need to submit it to Schoology no later than 

1:10 pm on Tuesday, December 18th.

Good luck with it!! Have a wonderful winter break!!

Final exam - work day #2

Today we will talk about making a thesis statement, finishing the evidence collection, and crafting your three sub-topics.

Here is a link to the thesis statement workshop we did earlier in the year with the essay about American Street. 

Today in class we will build a sample essay about the topic of the role of women in Othello.

• We'll brainstorm for a few minutes
• We'll build topic sentences around ideas, not characters
• We'll link these together into an arguable thesis

Final exam - work day #1

Today we'll clarify the details about the final essay. After that, you'll have the rest of the period to work. Remember I am not collecting the different steps or conferencing about them.

Suggested work for today:

• Gather evidence 
• Work toward a preliminary thesis and 3 sub-topics

Othello - Introduce Final Exam

Happy Monday!

Today we'll start with a look at some of the questions you wrote about over the weekend as our last formal discussion of the play.

Then, I'll ask you to complete this brief survey about your journal and your work in it. Starting today, I'll be collecting a few each night so I can grade them and get them right back to you.

Here is our schedule for the rest of the semester:

• Monday (12/10) - Discuss Act V; Journal survey; Assign final
• Tuesday (12/11) - Initial brainstorming; Preliminary thesis; Begin evidence collection
• Wednesday (12/12) - Refine thesis; complete evidence collection
• Friday (12/14) - Organize paragraphs; develop analysis; begin a draft
• Monday (12/17) - Review draft; Revise toward completion

Here is the link to your final exam - your essay about Othello

Note: Because this is a final assessment for the semester, part of the assignment is that you demonstrate your independent skills in terms of reading and writing. Therefore, I will not be reading your thesis or any part of your paper prior to the final essay you submit (i.e. no conferences). I am here to support you and to clarify any elements of the assignment that are confusing. You will have several days of in-class time to work on your assignment and to ask any questions on the assignment or on your previous work. During class time you are to work independently in class - you may not visit the ARC. Use the feedback I have given to you on your previous work to guide your writing. Develop your own ideas. And, most of all, trust yourself and your writing!

Recommended homework for tonight:

• Read over the essay assignment. Come to class prepared with any questions about the process or the assignment itself.
• Create a new document titled "Final Essay - Brainstorming." Choose two of the three topics - ones you might write about in your essay. Write 4-6 sentences about each one, naming your initial thoughts about the theme as well as which characters or scenes you might use in your essay. 

Othello - Day 16

Happy Friday!

Today you'll finish and then perform your songs to help us recap the key moments in Othello. Hopefully, this will not only be a good reminder of the different parts of the play but also start your preparation for the final essay.

Over the weekend:

1. Complete the "Final questions" assignment and turn it in to Schoology
2. Make sure you have all of your journal entries with you in class on Monday. I will randomly start collecting journals then.
3. Organize the rest of your notes and work from the unit in preparation for the final essay.

Have a great one!

Othello - Day 15

Good morning!
First of all, we'll look at the calendar for the next two weeks.

Today we'll spend some time looking at the final scene of the play - Act V, scene 2.
We'll use this handout to guide our work. 

Then, we'll start a final creative project - writing songs to help us remember the key moments of the play! Here is the handout describing the project - we'll start today and present the songs on Friday.

Othello - Day 14

Today we'll finish the tableaux of Act IV, including a discussion of these key moments.

After that, we'll act out scene 1 of Act V. We'll need people for these roles:

• Iago
• Cassio
• Roderigo
• Bianca
• Emilia
• Lodovico
• Gratiano

For tonight - finish the play and write a journal response to Act V, scene 2.

Othello - Day 13

Happy Monday! I hope you had a great weekend!  

Today we will be creating tableaux with a group of 2-3 people. This is a "freeze-frame" of a moment in the play - I'll explain a little further.

• Use this handout to guide your work for today.

Reminder - you are reading scene 1 of Act V tonight and writing a journal response

Othello - Day 12

Happy Friday!

Today we'll finish our look at Act III, Scene 3. Instead of acting out the rest of the scenes, you'll write your own conclusion, based on the work you did with your partner.

After that, we'll have a discussion about the results, as well as these other questions from Act III, Scene 4 and Act IV, Scene 1:

• What words/actions from Desdemona add to Othello's changing thoughts about her?
• What sort of person is Emilia, and what seems to be the nature of her relationship with her husband Iago? 
• What is the importance of the handkerchief to Othello?
• How does Desdemona's handkerchief come into play within the relationship between Emilia and Iago?
• Why does Othello have powerful physical reactions to Iago's information? What might these mean?
• What happens with Cassio and Bianca?
• What is Othello's original plan for dealing with Desdemona? Why does it change?
• What is the news that arrives from Venice?
• How is Othello changing in act 4? What is the effect of his public humiliation of Desdemona by slapping her?

Don't forget - you are reading Act IV, scenes 2 & 3 for Monday and writing a journal response!

Othello - Day 11

We'll start with a short writing about Act III, Scene 4.

After that you'll continue to work with your partner to complete the slideshows you started yesterday.
With the time remaining, we'll share these scenes as we continue to try to understand how Iago was able to manipulate Othello and change his mind from being a person madly in love to a jealous man prepared to kill.

For Friday, you are reading Act IV, Scene 1

Othello - Day 10

Welcome back! I hope you had a great Thanksgiving break, and a fun bonus snow day!

First of all, I've made some slight revisions to the calendar - please be sure to follow this version.

Today you'll work with the same partner you had last week (click here if you need a reminder).
You'll be taking a close look at Act III, scene 3 - make a copy of this Google Slideshow for you and your partner to use.

As a reminder, you are reading Act III, Scene IV and writing a journal response for tomorrow.

Othello - Day 9

Today we'll bring Act II to life by working with partners to perform a brief moment of it. Use this handout to guide your work.  We'll perform the scenes during the second half of class.

Over the break, you have no specific homework, but you will need to be through Act IV by Tuesday the 27th.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving break!

Othello - Day 8

Happy Monday! It is the start of Thanksgiving week, so just two days of class for us before the break.

Today you'll meet again with your group for about 10 minutes to complete your work on the chart. After that, you'll work individually to gather and express your initial thoughts about some of the characters.

• Othello in-class writing #1

For tomorrow, keep reading - you should be through the first three scenes of Act III. Don't forget about your journal response!

Othello - Day 7

Happy Friday! I hope you enjoyed the film (as much as you can enjoy a story of betrayal and jealousy and murder) and you have a good sense of the basic elements of the story.

We'll start off the day working individually to look back at the quotations you received on the first day of the unit.

1. Re-read what you wrote about the quotation on the first day
2. Search for your quotation using this digital version of the play. Identify the speaker and the act/scene. Find it in your book and underline it.
3. Now that you know the story, what else do you think your line is about?
4. We'll share these out loud

Next, you'll get into a new group - one you'll be with for the rest of the unit.

• Here is a link to your handout for today. Make a copy of it to share with your group members.

We'll have a chance to perform these lines toward the end of the period.

As a reminder, your next reading is Act III, scenes 1-3 - it is due Tuesday, along with a journal response.

Othello - Day 6

Hard to believe, we are set to finish the film and your first time through the story of Othello. After today we'll return to the classroom and start our journey through a close reading of this complex and powerful story!

Othello - Day 5

I'll start the day by checking in your first three journal responses - the first part of Act 1, Scene 1; the end of Act 1, Scene 1; and Act 1, Scenes 2 & 3.

Also - I've added one more day to our watching of the film in E116. Tomorrow we'll see how it all comes together!

Othello - Day 4

Happy Monday! I hope you had a great weekend! We'll continue with the film in E116 today. Don't forget about your reading and writing journal responses. I'll be checking in the first three of them tomorrow!

Othello - Day 3

We'll continue watching the film in E116 today. Don't forget to start the reading - and to write your journal response using the guidelines!

Othello - Day 2

Today we'll start our look at Othello by previewing the book and starting to watch the film. I've posted the new calendar - it will take us through the end of the semester!

Othello - Day 1

Congratulations on finishing your essay! I look forward to reading what you have to say about the power of visual images.

Instead of opening the book today, we'll play some theater games to start our study of Othello. I'll give you one of these famous lines from the book and we'll use them both individually and with partners. At the end of the activity, you wrote about your quotation in your notebook and also gave a quick sense of what you think this play will be about, based on that quotation and others you heard.

Lastly, we'll do some improv games around scene starters I give you. Here's the one we actually used:

• Two people are talking. One is trying to convince the other to stop seeing a serious boyfriend / girlfriend.

Starting tomorrow, we will meet in E116 for the next four days to watch the film version of the play. 

Persepolis - Day 12

Happy Monday! Today you will be writing feedback for another person's essay while they are doing the same for you. Here is the form you will be using.

Your essay is due by the start of class tomorrow. You need to submit it in two different ways.

1. Through Schoology to Turnitin
2. Share a pdf version with me through Google Docs. Export / save it as a pdf first, then share it with me. 

I am having you submit two version of it just in case turnitin messes up the spacing. 

You do not need to submit a paper copy of your essay, but you will need to turn in the peer feedback sheet. 
As for the format, you can use either 1.5 spacing or double-spacing. 

Good luck with it - I hope you are submitting your best possible essay!

Lastly, please remember to bring your copy of Othello to class tomorrow.

Persepolis - Day 11

First a few quick matters of business:

• Please be sure to own a copy of Othello by Tuesday ($9 at the bookstore)
• Here is a link to the rubric for this essay: Persepolis Argument Essay Rubric
• Be sure to take the time to review my comments from your last essay as you move towards your final draft of this one!

Today's focus: the Counterclaim

• Persepolis Argument Essay - Counterclaims

A few quick reminders for your essay:

• The rough draft is due Monday - the final draft is due by the start of class on Tuesday
• Only use the first person voice in the sections where you are talking about your experiences. The rest of the essay should not have first (I, we) or second (you) person voice at all.

The introduction:

• Start with a statement about your topic - this is not a "grabber" in terms of using a random quotation, rhetorical question, or dictionary definition!
• Preview your main points. There should be a clear sense of the topics you will cover in your first two body paragraphs.
• Name the counterclaim.
• Finish with your thesis. Note that the thesis is in the form of fact + opinion + so what / why / because, which in this case can follow the formula: visual images (help / hinder) understanding of complex issues because they (reason A) and (reason B).
• You do not need to name the different examples you will use in your introduction, but you can if you'd like.

The conclusion:

• Re-state the thesis
• Recap your main points, including your counterclaim
• Finish with a sense of the broader implications of your thesis. If your thesis is true, what else is true as a result? What warnings or hopes for the future does your essay suggest?

Good luck with it! I can't wait to read the results!

Persepolis - Day 10

First of all - it is time to buy our next book!  Please own a copy of Shakespeare's Othello for class on Monday. You can buy a copy at the bookstore for $9.

Last night you made some decisions about your thesis and your topics:

• At this point, you should know where you land on the question: do visual images help or hinder understanding of complex issues?
• At this point, you should have a sense of two reasons why your thesis is true or be able to name two ways of how visual images impact understanding.
• At this point, you might have a sense of a counterclaim - an opposing view to your thesis.
• Thesis clarification - the counterclaim is not a part of the thesis statement, but the two reasons / topics for your first two body paragraphs will be part of it.

We'll pause to work with a partner to share what you have, and to see if they think it works - and for you to give them feedback!

Then, it is time to turn our attention to the body paragraphs and the analysis of the evidence.

• Persepolis body paragraph activity

We will also start to talk about counterclaims today.

For Friday, your homework is to expand your outline using this form. 

Persepolis - Day 9

Our work for today is about structure and evidence. Use this handout for class and homework:

• Shaping your argument

The homework is to complete the basic outline (on handout) and submit your work to Schoology by the start of class tomorrow.

Persepolis - Day 8

Happy Monday! I hope you had a great weekend!

We have a few tasks for our short time together today:

1. Complete the posters you started last week (a portrait of Marji)
2. Discuss the ending of the novel, based on your homework
3. Assign the essay for this unit
1. Persepolis Argument Essay Assignment

The homework for tonight is listed at the end of the assignment.

Persepolis - Day 7

Greetings! I am out of town today on a youth retreat with my synagogue. Here is the plan:

1. You will watch the film version of Persepolis
2. While watching the film you will complete a set of questions

Over the weekend, there is an assignment in Schoology - some concluding questions about the film. Be sure to complete it before the start of class on Monday.

Persepolis - Day 6

Happy Wednesday! Today you will be working in groups of 3-4 - you can choose them!
Here is the handout to guide your work.

For Friday, read pages 126-153 and write a journal response

Persepolis - Day 5

How do we respond to tragedy?

Today we'll spend most of the time writing, thinking about the many tragedies, disasters, political controversies, and social issues impacting our daily life.  We'll consider the ways in which our responses to these are similar to / different from Marji's, and why that might be.

For homework tonight you will write a journal response to pages 103-125. There is no particular prompt and you are now turning it in just yet. Focus on a topic or idea or question you have from these pages. You may want to click here to refer back to the journal response rubric in case you forgot what a great journal response could include.

STAR testing and American Street essays

We are going to take the STAR reading test today. Please do your best on this reading comprehension test. Again, this is so I can understand how you read and learn, then offer you specific help. Do your best.

• Click here to go to the link for the test.
• For your username, use the same name you are logging into the Chromebooks and computers with.
• Your password is your student ID number - but ONLY the number - i.e. 221XXXX - if you are unable to gain access after TWO tries, please ask for help before trying a third time.
• You will be presented with two choices - select STAR Reading
• Sometimes, the system will request a “Monitor Password.” If this happens to you, the password is “admin”
• If you are presented with a list of teachers, please select “Rigler”
• Take the test! Do the best you can!

With the remaining time, we will talk about the essays you wrote for American Street.

Persepolis - Day 4

Happy Homecoming Friday!!

We'll start today with this individual writing about literal and figurative language.

Then we'll have a series of fishbowl conversations about the three chapters you read for today. Here are questions we'll use to guide the discussion. 

For this weekend there is no specific homework - use the time to make sure you are caught up!

Persepolis - Day 3 - Literal and Figurative Meaning

Today our focus is on different layers of meaning - literal and figurative.

These handouts will take you through the process of explaining these ideas and guiding your work.

• Literal and Figurative meaning - group work
• Literal and Figurative meaning - sample

After we talk through the sample together:

1. Review your assigned chapter with your group
2. Make a copy of the handout above, share it with group members and me
3. Complete the chart
4. Present your chart to the whole class

As a reminder, you are reading pages 54-79 for Friday and writing a journal response.

Persepolis - Day 2

Happy Tuesday!

Today we will continue our look at the elements of graphic novels, building on the work you did with your groups yesterday. After a piece of individual writing, you'll return to your groups for a look at the pages (10-32) you read last night.

Resources for today:

• Persepolis - individual writing #1
• Reading a graphic novel
• Comics terminology

Homework for tomorrow: Read 33-53 & write a journal response

Persepolis - Day 1

Happy Monday!

Today you will meet your new group for this unit. Together you'll spend time annotating and discussing the opening pages of the book. Refer to this handout for details:

• Persepolis - Day 1 group work

As a reminder, your homework for tonight is to read pages 10-32 and write a journal response.

Introduction to Iran

Today we'll watch this video to help provide us with a sense of life in Iran, the setting for our next book, Persepolis. Here are some questions for you to write about in your journals while we are watching:

• What are two things you learn about the history between the United States and Iran?
• What are two things you learn about the culture of Iran beyond the food?
• Over the course of the show, what are two things that surprised you?
• What are two questions you have based on what you saw?

We will be sharing our responses as part of our discussion after the show.

Here is a map of Iran:

or we can zoom out a bit:

or maybe this perspective helps:

Remember, your homework for the weekend is to read and annotate the introduction and pages 3-9.

Introduction to Graphic Novels - Part 2

Happy Tuesday! I hope you had a great long weekend!

Today we'll continue our overview of graphic novels and then you will work with a partner to create one of your own! OK, just one page of it, but it will give you a chance to get to understand all of the components of graphic novels.

• Reading a graphic novel
• Make your own graphic novel page

Introduction to Graphic Novels

Woohoo!! You finished your first essay for Freshman English!!

Congratulations! I'm excited for you and I'm looking forward to reading what you have to say about American Street!

And now - we're on to our next unit!

American Street - Day 18

Final writing day!

Today we will review the rubric and the assignment. Here are links to everything you need:

• Essay assignment
• Brainstorming activity
• Crafting a thesis
• Thesis and evidence homework
• Outline
• Essay rubric

Also, don't forget you need a copy of Persepolis for class on Tuesday!

American Street - Day 17

Today we will briefly review the outline form, including a close look at the conclusion. After that, you will have the rest of the period to work on your own!

Happy writing!

American Street - Day 16

Happy Monday! Happy October!

Today we will work on outlining the different sections of your essay - the introduction, the body paragraphs, and the conclusion. We will use this worksheet to guide our work.

• American Street - essay outline

Your homework is to complete the outline for two of your body paragraphs. If you'd like to do more for tonight, you can, but it is not required.

Also, the next book we will be reading is called Persepolis. Please buy it from the bookstore ($14) or elsewhere if you'd like. You will need it in class on Tuesday.

American Street - Day 15

Happy Friday! We'll start with this short activity:

• What's Up This Weekend?

We will turn our attention to quote selection and use, including the "quote sandwich" and "show-mean-matter" approach. Use this worksheet to guide your work.

• Quotation workshop

You'll have the rest of the time to work with your thesis statements.

Over the weekend you should (but nothing is required):

• Revise your thesis
• Complete the evidence selection
• Organize your essay
• Start writing?

American Street - Day 14

On Wednesday we discussed writing thesis statements. We did this "crafting a thesis" activity.

For homework, you completed this Thesis and Evidence-gathering activity.

American Street - Day 13

On Tuesday we reviewed the assignment and completed this brainstorming activity.

American Street - Day 12

Happy Monday! Congratulations on finishing the novel!

We'll spend some time today talking about the last chapters of the book and our impressions about where the story ends.

Your homework for tonight is to read the essay assignment and think about what questions you have about it. We'll talk about it and get the process started tomorrow!

• American Street essay assignment

American Street - Day 11

Happy Friday!

We'll start out the day with time to read "Kasim's Story" and chapter 29.

Then we will have time to discuss what has been happening in the book as the action has been building over the past several chapters. I will give you three slips of paper:

• Question - something you want to clarify, something you want to explore further
• Text - a specific quotation from the book you want to include in our conversation
• Response - a comment you want to make about a question, piece of text, character, part of the story, or just about anything else you think will be a positive contribution to our conversation

In our discussion you will have three opportunities to speak, using the structure of those slips of paper.

Over the weekend, your homework is to finish the book and write a journal response to those chapters.

American Street - Day 10

We'll start off the day with the presentations about background information you have been working on with your group. Here are links to the presentations:

1. Haiti - Earthquake
2. Haiti - Voudou culture and beliefs
3. Haiti - Immigration
4. Detroit - Geography and Race
5. Culture - Alvin Ailey Dance Company / J. Dilla

After that, there is a second paragraph to add to what you wrote yesterday. I'll give you the prompt in class and you'll submit your work to Schoology.

Then we will turn our attention to the book and the developments in chapters 21 and 22. We'll have a short discussion, followed by time for you to read chapters 23 and 24.

For Friday, you are reading chapters 25-28 and writing a journal response.

American Street - Day 9

Happy Monday! I hope you had a great weekend!

Today we have several things to do, starting with a little reading. Please read chapter 20 on your own. While you are doing that, I will come around and check in several recent journal responses.

Next, you'll get back into your groups from Friday. You were researching background information to deepen your understanding of the novel. Your group focused on one of these topics:

1. Haiti - the earthquake of 2010
2. Haiti - voudou culture and practices (especially those named and used by Fabiola)
3. Haiti - immigration - policies, practices, challenges
4. Detroit - where in the city does the story take place? what role does race play in the story of contemporary Detroit?
5. Culture - Kasim takes Fabiola to see the Alvin Ailey dance group - who are they? Why is that significant? Kasim is also listening to J. Dilla in his car - who is that? Why is he significant?

• How should you research these? It's up to you! I recommend starting with where you would typically start - a Google search, a YouTube search, or even Wikipedia. 
• Watch videos, read articles, listen to recordings - build your knowledge about the topic.
• Discuss your findings with your group - in what ways does your new knowledge help you to better understand the world of the novel?
• Present your findings in a digital format. You can do this in a number of ways - a document filled with pictures and text; a slideshow with videos and titles; a Prezi - whatever you'd like!
• Share your presentation with me - I will be posting them on the blog.

You'll have about 15 minutes to finish your group work. This includes a discussion of your findings and the preparation of your presentation. Before you present, each person in the group will write a short response. You will write another part of the response after the presentations, which will probably happen tomorrow.

---

Tonight's homework is to read chapters 21 & 22, and "The Story of 8800 American Street" + write a journal response.

American Street - Day 8

Happy Friday! We'll start today by watching a few more of the videos we made at the start of the year - almost four weeks ago!

Next, you'll read chapter 16 and "Marjorie & Valerie's Story"

Then, you'll get back into your groups. The goal today is to research some background information to deepen our understanding of the novel. Your group will focus on:

1. Haiti - the earthquake of 2010
2. Haiti - voudou culture and practices (especially those named and used by Fabiola)
3. Haiti - immigration - policies, practices, challenges
4. Detroit - where in the city does the story take place? what role does race play in the story of contemporary Detroit?
5. Culture - Kasim takes Fabiola to see the Alvin Ailey dance group - who are they? Why is that significant? Kasim is also listening to J. Dilla in his car - who is that? Why is he significant?

• How should you research these? It's up to you! I recommend starting with where you would typically start - a Google search, a YouTube search, or even Wikipedia. 
• Watch videos, read articles, listen to recordings - build your knowledge about the topic.
• Discuss your findings with your group - in what ways does your new knowledge help you to better understand the world of the novel?
• Present your findings in a digital format. You can do this in a number of ways - a document filled with pictures and text; a slideshow with videos and titles; a Prezi - whatever you'd like!
• Share your presentation with me - I will be posting them on the blog.

----

Your homework for the weekend is to read chapters 17-19 and write a journal response.

American Street - Day 7

Happy Wednesday!

Today we'll check in with various characters to get a sense of how the story is developing for them. I'll assign you one of these characters:

1. Fabiola
2. Pri
3. Donna
4. Chantal
5. Kasim
6. Dray
7. Imani

Here are the points you need to identify for your character:

• Major concerns - what things are most important to this character?
• Personality traits - what emotions or other aspects of their personality do they show? To whom?
• Quotation - something said about your character and/or something said by your character

When you are ready, you will go to the ARC for a short conference with one of the teachers there. They will ask you about these aspects of your character and you will explain it to them. You do not need to write out anything formal - instead, use your annotations and notes to prepare.

After your conference, you may use the rest of the period to start your homework - read chapters 14 & 15 and write a journal response.

American Street - Day 6

Happy Tuesday! I hope you had a great weekend - relaxing, celebrating the new year, whatever!

We'll start today with some poems about 9-11 and the events of that day 17 years ago.

Then we'll turn our attention back to the novel and the set of chapters you read leading up to today. We'll discuss three new characters: Bad Leg, Detective Stevens, and Kasim.

We'll also take some time to read chapter 11 & Chantal's story in class.

Tonight you are reading chapters 12, 13, & Donna's story and then writing a response.

Asson gourd

American Street - Day 5

Happy Friday! I hope you enjoyed the extra bit of time to sleep in!

Today we'll continue our focus on the topics we've been exploring in the novel. You'll have the first 10 minutes to meet with your group and add to your chart. Try to be sure you

• Have something for each row
• Include information from chapters 5-8

Next, you'll separate from your group to focus on writing an individual paragraph. While you are of course free to use your book, notes, and group chart to help you, this is individual work.  

Click here for the directions.

Over the weekend, please read chapters 9 & 10 and write a journal response.

American Street - Day 4

Today you'll work with your group to find places in the book, starting in chapter 4 and the chapter "Princess's Story," where different issues appear. Have one person in your group make a copy of this document and share it with the other members of your group.

• American Street - Topics/Issues

After group work, we'll move to an all-class discussion. Part of the goal of this exploration is to prepare you to write a paragraph response, focusing on one of these topics, in class on Friday.

For Friday, you are reading chapters 7 & 8 and writing a journal response.

Remind your parents to come to Open House tomorrow night!

American Street - Day 3

Happy Tuesday! Happy September! I hope you had a great weekend!

We'll start today in groups for about 10 minutes to finish the posters from Friday. Please add something from the chapters you read over the weekend.

After brief presentations of the posters, we'll move to a discussion of rituals and traditions. We'll write about our own rituals and traditions, then look at the ways in which they appear and play a role in the book. What are the rituals Fabiola performs? Why? In what ways are these similar to / different from our own?

---

Tonight, you will be reading chapters 5, "Matant Jo's Story," and 6. Please write a journal response as well.

American Street - Day 2

Today you will work with your group to explore the characters and settings of the novel:

1. Fabiola
2. Donna & Dray
3. Pri & Chantal
4. Manman and Haiti (Haitian things)
5. Aunt Jo the house

Open this document - it is where you will keep track of your work for the first part of the activity.

• Spend time looking through the first three chapters for information about your character/setting. Talk with your group - did you write about your character? What did you say? What questions do you have?
• Gather 8-10 quotations - these can be things said by your character, descriptions of them, or actions described in the narrative. Type these, including page numbers, into the document.

Poster time! Once you have completed your column of the chart, it's time to take that information and turn it into a poster about your character/setting. Your poster needs to include:

• The name(s) of your character/setting in big letters
• A central image - this does not need to be a drawing of a person - maybe there is an object or another type of illustration you create. It should be based on descriptions, details, and even colors mentioned in the text.
• All of your quotations. You can organize these and write them out any way you'd like

We will be presenting these towards the end of the period and then hanging them in the classroom!

Your homework for Tuesday is to read chapter 4 & Princess's story, then write a journal response. Enjoy the carnival and the long weekend!

American Street - Day 1

Before we start our work with the novel, we'll talk through the class policies and procedures.

To start our work with the novel, we'll gather some background information. We'll look at the book itself, including the cover and a flip through the pages. We'll also consider some background information:

• About the author, Ibi Zoboi
• Haiti - Wikipedia entry - Map - another map, zoomed out

Then we will read chapter 1 of the book, including writing notes/annotations - up to you.

After a short discussion, we ran short on time, so the homework for Friday is to read chapters 2 & 3, and to write a journal response to them (combined into one response).

STAR testing

We are going to take the STAR reading test today. Please do your best on this reading comprehension test. Again, this is so I can understand how you read and learn, then offer you specific help. Do your best.

• Click here to go to the link for the test.
• For your username, use the same name you are logging into the Chromebooks and computers with.
• Your password is your student ID number - but ONLY the number - i.e. 221XXXX - if you are unable to gain access after TWO tries, please ask for help before trying a third time.
• You will be presented with two choices - select STAR Reading
• Sometimes, the system will request a “Monitor Password.” If this happens to you, the password is “admin”
• If you are presented with a list of teachers, please select “Rigler”
• Take the test! Do the best you can!

With the remaining time we will talk about the writing you completed yesterday.

For tonight there is no homework. Please be sure to bring American Street tomorrow!

Exploring short stories

We've already discussed journal responses and annotations as ways to respond to and work with texts. Today we will turn our attention to writing as a way of exploring ideas.

This type of writing, which can also happen in a journal response, gives you the opportunity to work with an idea and receive feedback from me. Although it is not a formal essay, you will still need to do a few things:

• Focus on a specific point
• Include at least one quotation from the text
• Comment about the language you quoted

We'll try a test one today, focused on the last two stories you read: "Report on the Barnhouse Effect" and "Harrison Bergeron." Of course you can use your annotated versions of the stories as well as your journal responses and any notes you took with your small group. You can go in one of two possible directions:

• Character-Based. You can compare/contrast one character from each story, making a conclusion about what is important about them.
• Theme-Based. You can write about a theme or idea present in both stories. Are the messages the same in both stories, or different?

You'll have the rest of the period to write your journal response. Write it in a new Google document. When you are finished, you will open Schoology in another window and then submit your assignment to where it says "Paragraph response to Stories." You will need to upload your document.

I will give you feedback on your work in a way that will hopefully be helpful for all types of writing we will do in this class.

Don't worry about the grade - focus on figuring out some cool things to say and getting your thoughts onto the page.

Vonnegut stories; Our movies; Field trip

We'll start off our Friday by watching a few of the movies you created.
Then, it's time for a little field trip! No, it's not to

although that would be cool. Instead, we are going to the ARC - the academic resource center! I'll explain more about that when we get there.

When we return we'll focus our attention on the second Vonnegut story you read: "Report on the Barnhouse Effect." We'll talk about the annotations you did to help you with the story.  If we have time, we'll do some small group work, including writing a summary, naming the conflicts, and examining the ending.

For the weekend, you are reading "Harrison Bergeron" and writing a journal response. Have a great one!

Finishing our movies; "Unready to Wear"; Journal entries

Happy Wednesday!
We'll spend the first part of class finishing the movies you started yesterday. Please be sure to share a link to your film in this document.

Next, we'll turn our attention to the story you read last night, "Unready to Wear." I'll ask you to read your journal responses out loud and together we will create a list of the qualities of an excellent journal response. This will become a document you'll refer to throughout the year as you write your responses.

Tonight for homework, as listed on the calendar, you will be reading "Report on the Barnhouse Effect" and annotating it. This means a few things:

• You need to print out a copy of the story to annotate
• You are not required to write a journal response
• Please bring the copy of the story with you to class on Friday

"About Me" movies

We'll use class time today and tomorrow to create a short video. The goal is to tell the class a little bit about who you are with the help of pictures and videos. We'll use iMovie software to help us (you are free to use different software) - here are the directions:

1. Open iMovie - watch the tutorials if you need (linked below)
2. Select "Trailer" and a theme you want to use 
3. Edit the text areas to make it a story about you - start with phrases like "I am..."
4. Use photos or videos to build your story - show what you care about, what you enjoy doing, what you think it is important for people to know about you.
5. Photos do not have to include you (there can be some landscapes to set up the story) but the majority of them should. They can be of just you, with members of your family, with friends, in different places, doing different things. 
6. When you are finished, save your movie to your Google Drive.
7. Go to this document and insert a link to your video so we can watch them!
8. And by the way, here's the one I made about me.

Opening day survey

Please take some time to complete this survey today. Thanks!

Welcome to high school!

Greetings! If you found your way to this page, good for you! Everything you need for this class will be available here - calendars, assignments, helpful links, and other details. Also, there will always be a few fun things just in case you want to click around. Here's one to get you started: