Getting Ready for the New Year

Hello Everyone,

I know it might feel like we just got out of school for summer, but the end is nigh and it is a good idea to make sure you are prepared for the new year.

The official copy of the assignment is on the main school website, but here is a easy to digest version.

On Level World Literature Classes:

• Read Chinese Cinderella: The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter by Adeline Yen Mah (May be purchased from local bookstores, downloaded online, or checked out from a local library)
• Finish reading before the first day of school.
• We will start the year with lessons and assessments based on the pre-course reading.
• Assignment: Dialectical Journal (to be submitted to turnitin.com). 
• Click here for a Dialectical Journal template that you should use with detailed instructions of what I'm looking for.  
• You will take a test during the first two weeks of the semester.

Honors World Literature Classes:

• Read The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (May be purchased from local bookstores, downloaded online, or checked out from a local library)
• Finish reading before the first day of school.  Trigger Warning: this book, while a work of fiction, does deal with real world problems, including assault.  
• We will start the year with lessons and assessments based on the pre-course reading.
• Assignment: Major Works Data Sheet (to be submitted to turnitin.com). 
• Click here for a Major Works Data Sheet template that you should use with detailed instructions of what I'm looking for.  Yes, it is long.  Yes, I do expect you to complete it.
• Read How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster, Chapters 1, 4, 6, and 10.  
• Assignment:
• Chapter One - “Every Trip is a Quest” : Write a 1 ½ to 2 page essay in MLA format (11 font, Ariel, double spaced, work cited page) outlining each of the five elements of a quest and then applying them to Amir in The Kite Runner.
• Chapter Four - “Now Where Have I Seen Her Before”: Summarize the chapter by defining and then explaining intertextuality. Indicate and then explain TWO (2) examples from one literary work to another literary work OR one literary work to a movie.
• Chapter Six: “…Or the Bible”: Write a brief summary of the chapter focusing on the central message. Then find an example of a Biblical allusion in a literary work (excluding the works mentioned in How to Read Literature Like a Professor)and then explain how the allusion enhances your understanding of the text.
• Chapter Ten: - “Never Stand Next to the Hero”: 
• A. Explain the differences between round and flat characters. 
• B. What point is the author making when he says, “Never stand next to the hero?”
• C. Identify and then how this fits with an example from literature OR a movie.
• You will take a test during the first two weeks of the semester.

I know it might seem like a lot, so make sure you start reading the books now and looking for those memorable quotes.  

I'm looking forward to meeting you all in August!

Final Countdown

Hello All! 

We only have 20 more days of class.  I'm so pleased with how hard most of you have been working to bring up your grades and keep them high.  Thank you for all your hard work. 

In the upcoming weeks we only have a few major assignments left, and several small assignments that help build your knowledge so you do well on the big grades.  Right now we're working on our College and Career Senior Projects, due 4/29, and learning about Literary Criticisms to prepare for the Socratic Seminar and Final Exam. 

All major assignments (with the exception of the Socratic Seminar which is a performance task) are due before 4/30.  That means all make up work and the College and Career Project.  No major assignments will be accepted after that time (I need time to grade them fairly and give you the grade you've earned). 

You will know if you have exempted the Final Exam on 5/8. 

Our Senior Finals are:

3rd and 4th Tuesday May 14th
1st and 2nd Wednesday May 15th. 

I've added the dates and times of Graduation Practice and Graduation to the calendar. 

Congratulations as we enter the Final Countdown!

Spring Break and Assignment Update

Hello All!

I am so proud of how hard so many of you worked this week to get your responsibilities done and bring up your grades.  I know that I am feeling so much more comfortable with where y'all stand going into these last 28 days of high school. 

Make sure you've checked your grades.  I love how many of you have been using the opportunity to submit, get feedback, and submit again.  Your grades reflect your effort to get things done in a timely manner. 

I've graded all Photo Essays that have been submitted to me.  If your grade is a 0, I don't have it and I need it by the end of Spring Break if you want to earn credit.  If your grade is a 1, please fix the issue we've discussed preventing you from earning credit and resubmit it by the end of Spring Break.  If you don't, you'll keep the grade you've earned. 

I've graded all Reflective Essays that have been submitted to me.  At the end of the class, I'll be putting in the zeros if you haven't turned it in yet (it was due on Wednesday).  You'll need to complete it and turn it in by the end of Spring Break if you want to earn credit.

By your request, I've compiled a completely optional list of grade recovery activities.  This is specifically for students who are not happy with their current grade in the class as these assignments can add to your grade on the specific assignments listed.  You may do 3, 2, 1, or none of the assignments.  Your effort will depend on how many points are added to your grade (up to 20) and you cannot get more than 100 on any assignment using these activities.  You can find the link to the assignments here, and, of course, on the Resources Page.  I know many of you don't need it, but I wanted to give you the opportunity.

I hope you have a fantastic Break!

Photo Essay

Hello All!

I am so happy looking at the Photo Essays that many of you have already submitted--they look great! 

For those of you who haven't earned points yet, please work on what we've talked about and turn it in ASAP.  Those zeros become permanent at the end of these 6 weeks.  Don't wait until then, because before Spring Break you also have your Reflective Essay we've been working towards.

I hope you have a fantastic weekend.

Close of the First Grading Period

Hello All,

We've had a fantastic 1/3 of the semester so far.  I am so happy to have every single one of you in class and am please with your overall progress.

However, I know that some of you aren't happy with the grades you've earned on the Precourse Reading Dialectical Journal and/or the Socratic Seminar.  In that case, I have an opportunity for you!

This assignment is completely optional--no, you do not have to do it--but if you want to help your grade, I suggest you do.

You can find a copy of the assignment here and on the Resources Page.

It is due on Turnitin.com on March 1st.  Since this is an opportunity, I will not be accepting it late. 

I hope you have a fantastic February Break.

Week 3 -- Open House

Hello Students and Parents,

On Thursday, we're having our Open House.  As the Yearbook Adviser, I'll be in the cafeteria selling our Yearbook in the cafeteria.  If you'd like to speak to me specifically about the class, the best way to communicate with me is through email or you can come down to the cafeteria for a brief conversation. 

This week in Multi Lit we're finishing up our Precourse Reading, turning in the Dialectical Journal to turnitin.com and having a Socratic Seminar before starting to work with our Springboard texts.

Our Yearbook class is in crunch mode as we work hard to complete our pages for printing.  The assignments and deadlines are in the gradebook so you can see what's coming up. 

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out.  I stay late on Wednesdays (with the exception of today due to an unexpected appointment) and love it when students email me. 

Happy Wednesday!

Week 2

Hello All,

In Multi Lit this week, we've been working through our Precourse Reading of Between the World and Me and completing our Dialectical Journals, which are due on turnitin.com.  Yesterday in class I did tell students to get through page 100 by Thursday.  There may be a quiz tomorrow.  Be prepared!

In Yearbook, our first hard deadline is this Friday.  Pages must be in Presubmit before the end of the day on Friday, no more corrections, no more missing information or pictures.  Remember, it's 50% off if you are late. 

Have a great Wednesday!