April 27

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: After Mrs. DuBose overcomes her morphine addiction and dies, Atticus tells Jem that he would have sent Jem to read to her anyway "to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand" (112). Defend or challenge Atticus' definition of bravery as an invisible strength rather than an observable action.

We wrapped up our discussion of madness in To Kill a Mockingbird with each group sharing the incidents that explain their characters' moments of madness.

Students used the Recap app to share responses to questions about Anna Quindlen's essay, "On the Greatness of Scout." Students who didn't finish during class time should complete this tonight.

Students began preparing for tomorrow's timed writing. They will plan answers to three possible topics, and they'll be allowed to use this planning tomorrow when we write.

Coming Up
Friday, 4/28 - Timed Writing (major grade)
Saturday, 4/29 - AP World History practice test, 9am
Tuesday, 5/2 - To Kill a Mockingbird Socratic Seminar (major grade)

Today's Board

April 26

Students completed the Nelson-Denny test to measure their current reading level. The district requires us to collect this data each semester.

We continued our discussion of madness from yesterday. Students worked with their groups to identify and describe madness in different characters from To Kill a Mockingbird. We will finish this work tomorrow. We will also discuss the Quindlen essay tomorrow, so be sure you've read it!

Coming Up
Thursday, 4/27 - Timed Writing Prep
Friday, 4/28 - Timed Writing (major grade)
Saturday, 4/29 - AP World History Practice Test, 9am
Tuesday, 5/2 - To Kill a Mockingbird Socratic Seminar (major grade)

Today's Board

April 25

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Atticus explains that he must still defend Tom Robinson even though he knows he will not win the case, arguing that "Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win" (76). Sometimes even when we know that we will not succeed, we must still take on a challenge. Defend or challenge Atticus' belief.

Students had about 10 minutes to finish the chapter 20 multiple choice from yesterday, then we went over the answers.

We recapped the scene at the end of chapter 9 of To Kill a Mockingbird where Atticus and Uncle Jack are discussing the upcoming trial and how it might impact the family (pages 87-89). Students worked with their groups to find connections to the idea of "madness" in the passage. Then they responded to the following:

• Explain how chapters 9 and 10 are juxtaposed (placed close together for contrasting effect). 
• How do these chapters foreshadow and symbolize the idea of "madness"?

All of this work was done as notes. We will continue this conversation tomorrow.

Students should read the essay, "On the Greatness of Scout" by Anna Quindlen, for tomorrow. 

Also, bring your iPad tomorrow!!!

Today's Board

April 24

IRT: ~15 minutes
WNB: Article of the Week - "What Happens to Your Brain When You Give Up Sugar?"

We discussed examples of logos, ethos, pathos, repetition, and parallelism in Atticus' closing argument from To Kill a Mockingbird. Students then completed the SMELL chart handout. We watched the film version of the scene and analyzed specific elements using the chart handout. With the last 15 minutes of class, students completed as many AP multiple choice chapter 20 questions in that time before handing them in. We will start with this tomorrow!

Today's Board

Week-at-a-Glance

April 21

Students had the first 30 minutes of class to work on their next blog entry, due by 11pm Sunday, 4/23. Here are some reminders!

Blog Checklist

1st & 2nd periods
We watched the courtroom scenes from To Kill a Mockingbird. We analyzed Atticus' closing argument from chapter 20, looking for examples of logos, ethos, pathos, repetition, and parallelism. We will finish the analysis and compare this to the film version on Monday.

4th period
Each group answered the clarifying questions that were posted on their body biographies. Students completed the "I like & I wonder" handout and handed it in.

We watched the courtroom scenes from To Kill a Mockingbird. We will complete the analysis of Atticus' closing argument from chapter 20 on Monday.

Today's Board

April 20

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: After Atticus shoots the rabid dog, Scout wonders why Atticus never told her he was good at shooting, and Miss Maudie explains, "People in their right minds never take pride in their talents" (98). Defend or challenge Miss Maudie's claim.

1st period
Each group answered the clarifying questions that were posted on their body biographies. Students completed the "I like & I wonder" handout and turned it in.

2nd period
We completed two more rounds of the gallery walk, then each group answered the clarifying questions that were posted on their body biographies. Students completed the "I like & I wonder" handout and turned it in.

4th period
Students participated in a gallery walk to view some of the body biographies. We will finish this work tomorrow.

Don't forget: Your next blog entry is due by 11pm Sunday, 4/23!

Today's Board

April 19

Students had the first 30 minutes of class to work on their next blog entry, due by 11pm Sunday, 4/23. I reviewed expectations and reminded them where to find resources. We will also have time in class on Friday.

1st & 2nd periods
Groups had about 15 minutes to finish up their body biography posters. Students then participated in a gallery walk, viewing other groups' posters and leaving questions and comments along the way. We will finish this work tomorrow.

4th period
Since we did not meet on Thursday because of the half day, this class had the remaining class time to finish their body biography posters and will complete the gallery walk tomorrow.

Today's Board

Tutorial schedule change

April 18

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Outside entry

We completed an AP multiple choice practice and discussed the answers. Students used the remaining class time to finish their body biography assignments. We will begin presenting these in class tomorrow!

Today's Board

Week-at-a-Glance (Atticus' speech will be covered Thurs & Fri; the essay scheduled for Friday will move to next week)

April 13

We used the first 30 minutes of class to view the film version of To Kill a Mockingbird, comparing the opening of the film with the opening of the novel.

Students had the remaining class time to continue working on the body biography project. We will present these in class on Wednesday.

(Same board as yesterday, so here's a picture of the ducklings that just hatched in the AP biology classroom.)

April 12

We visited the library to celebrate National Library Week!

Today's writer's notebook entry was a response to the article of the week, "New Guideline Will Allow First-Year Doctors to Work 24-Hour Shifts."

Students used the remaining class time to work on the body biography of a To Kill a Mockingbird character.

(I erased today's agenda before I could take the picture, sorry!)

Body Biography reminders

April 11

We used the first 30 minutes for blog time. I explained the format for the next post, then students had time to read or write the entry. This entry is due by 11pm Sunday, 4/23. All information is available on Classroom.

We resumed our studies of characters from To Kill a Mockingbird. Students worked with their groups to create a body biography of an assigned character. We will continue this work tomorrow, and presentations are tentatively scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday of next week.

Today's Board

April 10

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Outside entry

I reminded students to update their Currently Reading pages in their notebooks.

We finished discussing the "Will the Real ___ Please Stand Up?" handout. We also matched up foil characters from To Kill a Mockingbird and discussed what made them different.

We watched a few scenes from the film version to reinforce our understanding.

Today's Board (with foil character activity)

Week-at-a-Glance

April 7

We started class with 30 minutes of blog time. The "About Me & Goals" blog entry is due today! All info is on Classroom.

We went over the answers to the chapter 3 AP multiple choice handout.

Students collaborated on Slides to share the quotes they discovered for the "Three Points of View" activity. They handed in the written portion.

We discussed the first half of the "Will the Real __ Please Stand Up?" handout. We will finish this work on Monday.

We watched a few scenes of the film version of To Kill a Mockingbird to reinforce our understanding of chapter 3.

Today's Board

April 6

Students had a substitute today. Here's the agenda that they followed:

• First 20 minutes - Independent Reading Time. Library passes are in a holder on the board by my computer if anyone needs one. Some kids may read on devices, and that's okay.
• Writer's Notebook (allow about 10 minutes): What does it mean to live a double life? Have you ever felt like you are a different person in different situations? 
• We started the "3 Points of View" handout yesterday. Each table knows what they should be doing. I told them they could have 20 minutes to finish (no devices). 
• AP MC Chapter 3 handout - Allow about 10 minutes to work independently, then they can check their answers with their table (no devices). I'll go over this with them when I return.
• "Will the Real ___ Please Stand Up?" Instructions are clear. Students may work together, even across tables, but they should not use their devices. We'll look at this together when I return.

April 5

We used the first 30-ish minutes of class to work on our first blog entry. I reminded students where to find resources (on Classroom). This "about me" entry is due Friday.

I went over the chapter 1 AP multiple choice questions from yesterday.

Students worked in groups to discover different points of view on situations and themes in To Kill a Mockingbird. We will finish this work tomorrow.

Today's Board

April 4

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Article of the Week - "5 New Brain Disorders That Were Born Out of the Digital Age"

We did a collaborative annotation with the "Novel Achievement" article from yesterday. Students responded to each other's thoughts and questions in a round-robin writing activity.

Students completed practice AP multiple choice questions. We will go over the answers first thing tomorrow!

Today's Board

April 3

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Write about a time when you were somewhere where you didn't feel like you belonged or fit in. Where was it? What was it like?

We went over the answers to the SAT writing practice (Improving Paragraphs 1-3 handouts). We also went over the answers to the chapter 8 multiple choice questions.

Students completed a 3-2-1 writing assignment for one chapter of To Kill a Mockingbird. They handed this in before the end of class. (Students who were absent should attend tutorials Tuesday or Thursday A block to make this up.)

Students read "Harper Lee's Novel Achievement" and marked passages that provide new insight to the novel. We will start with this tomorrow.

Today's Board

Week-at-a-Glance