So close...

Only two days of school left as I write this. 😎

None of us wanted the year to end this way, but this is where we are. I will miss getting to say goodbye to you all in person.

With the two days we have left there are a few things you should do or check on. ⏰

1. One last READING PROGRESS UPDATE. 📚
2. Do the COURSE EVALUATION form too if you didn't do it last week. (Must be signed into your stu.sandi.net account.) ✅
3. Did you take the SPRING LEXILE TEST? Directions are at the top of your classwork page in Google Classroom. I'll add your scores to PowerSchool as an ungraded assignment late Tuesday afternoon. 📖
4. Did you turn in your Suspenseful Narrative Project? Did you also post the opening on Flipgrid? Be sure to go read your project steps doc for directions for Flipgrid. 🗣
5. BOOK RETURN. If you have textbooks at home you can return them to campus on Wednesday 6/10. Ms. Cooper will even accept books you borrowed from our classroom if you want to turn in those too. (You can also return my books in the fall, and you can loan them to friends during the summer.) 📚

I'm not having an office hour this week because I will be busy grading narratives and entering grades, but if you need me you can still reach me by email, and Remind. 

Thank you to everyone who sent me goodbye emails. I'm writing back to all of you as quickly as I can. I hope to see all of you again in August, even if you are still six feet away. 😘

Last full week of school

Source: Harvard's Celebration of Diversity

Wow, this is the last full week of the school year. I miss you all so much. If we were on campus you'd have finals starting on Friday. I'm not giving you a final exam, but there are a few things you need to do THIS WEEK.

1. Read the news: Don't just watch it. Find an article to read. Better yet, read several from different sources. All media has bias, so you often need to read more than one source to compare the facts. Then write about it in your English Journal. Think of it as your last "article of the week" assignment, but really I just want you to know what is going on. Consider ways you can help. 
2. Attendance Form: Be sure you do it before noon on Friday 6/5. It includes some trivia questions. You can Google them.
3. Suspenseful Narrative: It's a story. There is an assignment for it in Google Classroom. Get it done well and on time. There won't be time for regrades and if you turn it in late I may not have enough time to get it graded. 
4. Regrade Requests and Late Work: Everything needs to be in by Friday 6/5. If your score was low on your Poe/Laughton Essay you can revise that and request a regrade. If you still need to turn in your Suspenseful Moments Project or your Famous Person Project, finish those by Friday 6/5. Be sure to click "TURN IN" in Google Classroom or I won't know you did the work. 
5. Attend a Zoom call: Mrs. R will be on Zoom at 3:00 PM on Tuesday and Thursday. Join one of those calls to check in, especially if you have questions. (Link in Google Classroom.)

GET FREE AUDIO BOOKS: Check out https://www.audiobooksync.com/ for two free teen audio books each week. New books each Thursday, so get the ones for this week before they are gone. (Note: I've appreciated and used this service for years. It's safe and they don't steal or misuse your info. I'm currently listening to Serpent&Dove. It's good so far.)

• Register on their site by entering your email and then read the directions for activating your SORA app. (Use the set up code not find my school.)
• Once you get the books you have them. They don't expire. 
• Get the SORA app SORA for ios, SORA for Android. 
• You can also go to https://soraapp.com/welcome and use your computer to listen to the books. 

Returning classroom library books: A lot of you have asked me how you can bring back books you've borrowed from our classroom and I've been trying to figure out a safe way for you to do that. I'll keep you posted. If you are moving, try to give any books you have to a friend who will be at PL in the fall. 

Remember Monday and Tuesday next week are still school days. I'll probably have to enter attendance by noon on Tuesday, so be ready to check in fast next week. 

Narrative Writing Project (The Suspenseful Story)

Welcome back to the blog!

We have one last big project before the end of the year. It is your Narrative Writing Project.

The last narrative you wrote was your memoir back in the fall, now you get to write a fictional story using what you know now about suspense. Yep, you get to write a suspenseful story.

You can find the project steps doc in Google Classroom and you should watch the video version of the directions HERE.

Remember to complete your ATTENDANCE FORM for this week by 12:00 noon on Friday 5/29.

If you haven't done your Spring Lexile Test you can also find the links for that at the top of your classwork page in Google Classroom.

Important Due Dates:

• Friday 5/29: Attendance form by noon and Quizizz for this project by 3:30. (See project steps in Google Classroom.) 
• Friday 6/5: Your suspenseful story is due in Google Classroom AND on Flipgrid. 
• Monday 6/8: Last day to request a regrade on any major writing project from this semester. 

Office Hours: 

• Mrs. R has a zoom session at 3:00 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Link will be posted in the stream in Google Classroom when I open the meeting. Come by and say hi or bring your questions. 

Wrapping up your famous person project

Welcome back!

Did you know this is a short week? Technically, Friday is not a school day according to our school calendar. This means I have to turn in my attendance on THURSDAY, so do the WEEKLY ATTENDANCE FORM right now.

1. Take this TEST:
I'm getting lots of questions about the spring lexile test. I know you have been reading, so here is your chance to show off your progress. This is the same test you took in September and January. You will find a new assignment for this in Google Classroom. Please mark it as done when you have finished your test. If you have a problem let me know. If you start and have to stop you can pick it up again later.

2. Finish your Project:
Your famous person project is still technically due on Friday 5/22. You can turn it in late though. Just remember to click "TURN IN" or I won't know you are done and I won't grade it.

3. Check your grades:
Speaking of grades, If you turned in your Suspenseful Moments essay on time last week, it should have a grade in PS. If not, please go check your document for a note from me. You may need to revise and turn it in again.

4. Keep reading:
If you need help with book suggestions please message me on Remind. You know how I love to make book recommendations.

The Famous Person Project

Welcome Back!

I won't release your attendance form for this week until Tuesday, but if you want to prove you were here today, you can complete a READING PROGRESS UPDATE.

This week we begin your second, graded, distance learning, project. It's about a famous person of your choice. You can find the project steps doc in Google Classroom and you should watch the video version of the directions HERE.

On Tuesday, I'll make your ATTENDANCE FORM live for this week, but you will want to make some progress on your project first. That way you'll be able to tell me how great you are doing, and also ask me questions about the project when you fill out the form.

For this project you are doing an analysis of the way a famous person of your choice is presented in various media.

A few important due dates: (These are also all in Google Classroom.)

1. Attendance form for this week is due by 12:30 PM on Friday May 15th. 
2. The Quizizz for this project is also due Friday May 15th by 3:00 PM. 
3. The Famous Person Media Organizer is due by Monday May 18th at 4:00 PM. (If you do it after that, I probably won't grade it. It's a progress grade. You have a week. Don't procrastinate.)
4. Your analysis: essay or screencast, is due Friday May 22nd at 4:00 PM
5. Office hours with Mrs. R. are Tuesday and Thursday from 3-4 PM. Stop by. Link in Google Classroom. 

Reminders: 

• Turn in your Suspenseful Moments Essay in Google Classroom if you didn't last week. Yes, you have to actually click turn in on your document and then again in Google Classroom. I won't grade it if it isn't turned in because I'll think you're not done yet. 
• Keep reading. Your independent reading requirement has not gone away. 
• Hang on to any books you borrowed from our classroom. I promise I will let you know how you can bring them back later. 
• Email or message me on Remind if you have questions or want to meet. 

Greetings my young padawan...

Welcome back,

1. Please do the ATTENDANCE FORM for the week of May 4th. Do this by 3:00 on Friday 5/8 or I have to mark you absent for the week. You ONLY have to do the form ONCE each week.

2. You should be making great progress on your SUSPENSEFUL MOMENTS book project. See Google Classroom or the post below for more information.
All parts of your project are due by 5/8, but you can turn them in early too.

3. Office Hours: Mrs. R will have optional office hours on Tuesday and Thursday from 3:00-4:00 PM. (I had to change them slightly because of a staff meeting.) You will find the zoom link in Google Classroom. (It will be posted just before the hour.) Office hours are for students to stop by to say hello and ask questions. They are not required, but I do love getting to see you.

If you have some spare time, and want to watch some of the Star Wars saga, this graphic may help you orient yourself. May the force be with you.

Suspenseful Moments Book Project

Welcome Back!

1. Learn more about your suspenseful moments book project by watching THIS VIDEO. Then go over to Google Classroom to review the project assignment. Many of you already have a head start on this because you were doing the things I asked you to do last week. The whole project, all the parts, and the essay, is due by Friday May 8th. If you need more time please let me know, but I think two weeks should be plenty of time. Get started today.

2. Please do the ATTENDANCE FORM for THIS WEEK. I have to mark you absent on Friday if you haven't done the attendance form by 3:00 PM on 5/1. You only have to do this ONCE a week. If you already did it for this week you don't have to fill it out again. (If the last attendance form you did was LAST week then you need to do this one.)

We are beginning the grading phase of our distance learning experiment. If you are not familiar with the "no harm" grading policy please see the post below.

Office Hours: Mrs. R will have optional office hours on Tuesday and Thursday from 2:00-3:00 PM. You will find the zoom link in Google Classroom. (It will be posted just before the hour.) Office hours are for students to stop by to say hello and ask questions. They are not required.

Week of 4/20

Welcome back
I hope you are reading a good suspenseful book. Next week I'll be assigning your first distance learning project and it will be a lot easier for you to do if you have already read a good suspenseful book.

Do you understand the "no harm" grading policy? 
I have a PDF of your grade from what it was as of work submitted by 3/13. This includes your Poe/Laughton essay that was due on 3/13. Those are graded and the scores are in Power School. (You can revise and request a regrade if you want to.) So, your grade in Power School today is the lowest your grade can be in June.

It is not true that grades can ONLY go up. Between now and June your grade can go up and down. If you don't do your assignments, or do them poorly, your grade can go down. In June though, I will compare the grade you have in Power School to the grade you have right now. The grade you earn then will be the higher of those two grades.

For example, if you have a C now and you do your work well, your grade could go up and stay up. If you don't do your work now your grade will go down, and then in June I will change it back to a C.

Your grade right now is the lowest grade you can earn in June, but you may see your grade rise or fall between now and then.

*IMPORTANT*

Please complete the ATTENDANCE form for THIS WEEK. (You only have to do it once this week.)

Class Assignments:
Monday: Go you your English Journal and add a new entry at the top with today's date. Write an entry about what you think about the "no harm" grading policy. How will it help you or hurt you? What impact do you think it will have on your learning? Do you think it is a good idea or not?

Tuesday: Want a head start on your suspense book project? Start organizing your evidence. (You don't have to do it all today, but get started.) Get a copy of the organizer here. Share it with your teachers.

Wednesday: Most of you still need to create your suspense organizer with the link from Tuesday. Remember to share it with me at jroberts4@sandi.net. Also be sure you did the attendance form for this week linked above. You only have to do it once a week, but if you don't do it by 3pm Friday I have to mark you absent for the whole week.

Thursday: Lets get an update on your reading progress. FILL OUT THIS FORM about your reading. Also, do you remember that last week I gave you a practice Quizizz about suspense? Next week I'm going to give you that same quiz for a grade. Want to PRACTICE some more?

Friday: New discussion question assigned to you in Google Classroom. Go there to answer it. And while you are there fill out the email request form, if you didn't already, to have your stu.sandi.net email turned on.

Week of 4/6 and 4/13: Distance Learning Begins

Welcome back everyone,

First read my letter about our distance learning plan. It will probably answer a lot of your questions.

Second complete THIS SURVEY about yourself. (Most of you did this last week.)

If you do not have a laptop CLICK HERE. The pick up date for PLHS was 4/9, but I'm told you can go any weekday. Just read the directions in the link above first.

Until 4/27 you will be able to find your current assignments in the slide deck below. I'll add a new slide every few days with something you should work on. Click the square box next to the gear icon if you need to see the slide in full screen.

The post just below this one has some good suggestions for accessing digital books. If you need a book to read please get one of the library apps. Adults can apply for a library card online and use the temporary card number to borrow digital resources.

While school is closed

Welcome,

While school is closed, I'll post some activities here that you can do at home. I'll use the slide deck below and add a new slide everyday on top. You can flip through the slides to see previous days.

Remember, except for reading, all of the activities here are optional. Click the square box next to the gear icon if you need to see the slide in full screen. 


Be sure you have books!
Physical books are great and I hope you have a lot, but if you want to access digital books I have two app suggestions:

Cloud Library- This is the app for the San Diego City Public Library. Once you get the app you'll need to enter your library card number, (or your parent's library card number). Then you can borrow ebooks and audio books. If you also get the Kindle app from Amazon then you can send those ebooks to your Kindle app for easier reading. (If you don't have a library card see the Libby app below.)

Libby- This is the app for the San Diego County Library. You can often get a digital library card right from your phone without having to visit a library. With Libby you can also opt to send books to the Kindle app.

Epic- If you have younger children in your household, you should look at Epic. It is free for 30 days and has tons of kids books online.


Remind: If you haven't joined our class on Remind yet you can find directions for that on our Google Classroom.

If you can't remember your district password you can message me on Remind or email me. I will make you answer security questions and everything.

Poetry Analysis

Goals: Learn some elements of poetry analysis.

Agenda: 
Read
Poetry Analysis

• Is your book checked out to you? 
• Do you need a new book or an extra book? 

Ms. Dowd will be teaching you some important aspects of poetry analysis. 

I'll add her slides here later today. 

Reminders: 

• Your POE/LAUGHTON ESSAY is due today. 
• Keep reading. You should be done with book #8 and starting on book #9. 
• Have you joined Remind for your class period? Codes are posted in the classroom or email Mrs. R and ask for your class code. 

Writing Groups

Goal: Writing groups for your Poe/Laughton essays.

Agenda: 
Read
Refresh: What are writing groups?
Poe/Laughton Essay with your group

Getting Started:

• Refresh: What are writing groups?
• What kinds of discussion help writers most?
• Follow the procedures in the chart or on THIS PAGE with your group. 

Essay Rubric: (below)
How does your essay compare to the rubric?
What do you still need to work on?

Reminders: 
Final Draft of your Poe/Laughton Essay is due this FRIDAY. 
Read: You should be on book #8 and it should be finished by Friday, 3/13. (But we won't do book reviews until Monday, so you can still keep reading over the weekend.)

Rubric: Comparative Analysis <<Full Rubric Here

Criteria	An excellent paper will meet these expectations
Genre, focus, and organization	Introduction includes, novel/film’s title, author/director, an overview of both texts. Thesis statement provides a clear claim and focus. Points are addressed in a logical order. Strong conclusion.
Evidence and interpretation	Develops interpretations that demonstrate a thoughtful, comprehensive grasp of the text/film. Uses through textual and cinematic examples to support the thesis in an academic voice.
Writing conventions	Standard English spelling, punctuation, and capitalization are used appropriately (especially when punctuating dialogue). Transitional words connect evidence.

Assembly

Good morning, (or Good afternoon)

Today we will be going to the Place for Peace assemblies every period. You will still come to class. We will take attendance and then we will head to the big gym.

Reminders: 

• Tomorrow (Wednesday) we will have writing groups for your Poe/Laughton essays. Be sure your essay is ready for that. 
• Keep reading book #8
• If you haven't joined the Remind class for your period you should do that asap. Codes are posted in the classroom. 

Article of the Week OR Essay Progress

Goal: Complete the first Article of the Week for this new grading period. Or choose to do the AOW for homework and work on your essay instead.

Agenda: 
Read
Reading progress update
Article of the Week
OR
Finish your essay on "Cask of Amontillado"

Tell me about your reading: 
Reading progress update HERE.


Article of the Week: 

• Go HERE to access your article. I'm sending you to the Newsela home page. 
• It is UP TO YOU to choose the article you'd like to read today. 
• Be sure to include the title and author in your response. 
• Write a two paragraph response in your English Journal (the frame to the right is for your first paragraph). 
• First paragraph = summary,   Second paragraph = your thoughts/opinions

OR

Finish your Poe/Laughton essay: 

• Last week we spent four days of class time on this essay, but if you still need more time and/or help, you could decide to do the article of the week as homework and use our class time today to work on your essay. 
• The complete draft of your essay is due before school tomorrow. 

Check Powerschool 

• Check your Powerschool. Your first 6 week grades for this semester should be done. 

Reminders:

1. A COMPLETE draft of your Poe/Laughton Essay is due Tomorrow before school. Be sure you have all of your paragraphs completed including an introduction and conclusion. 
2. Book #8 should be finished by FRIDAY. 

Final Essay Progress Day

Goal: Use this day to finish your five paragraphs. If it's not done by the end of class, it's homework this weekend.

Agenda: 
Read
Intros and Conclusions
Work on Essays
Use New Tools

Introductions and Conclusions
Click HERE for an outline that should help you craft your introduction and conclusion.

Work on Essays 

You know what to do. As a reminder, your essay template is in Google Classroom. You do not need to click "turn in" when you're done, because I can still see all of your work. Here are the resources you might need:

• Evidence from Night of the Hunter
• Evidence from "The Cask of Amontillado" 
• Video Tutorial on Mood Paragraph (from Tuesday) 

New Tools 

If you are totally done, I want you to use this NEW TOOL to check your work. This awesome app will help you to make your sentences clear and concise. It's great for anyone to use before turning in a paper. 

Reminders: 

Draft of your essay is due Tuesday 3/10.
If you did not finish this week, it is homework. 

More Essay Progress

Goal: The essay continues. Your goal today is to complete the paragraph on theme.

Agenda:
Read
Self-score English Journal
Intros and Conclusions
Make progress on your essay

1. English Journal Self Score:

1. Open your English Journal
2. Review the English Journal Scoring Guide. 
3. Determine how you would score your English Journal. 
4. PASTE this sentence below into the TOP of your English Journal and be sure it is complete. 

March 5, 2020 Self Score:        

I believe I have earned a ______ <<(Your score 1-5) on my English Journal because_______________________ _______________ <<(Your reasons you think you earned that score.) 

2. Essay Progress: 

• Let's take a look at the mood and irony paragraphs you have already. 
• Today, your goal is to finish your theme paragraph. 
• If you are ready, you can move on to your intro and conclusion. 

 3. Intros and Conclusions

Reminders: 
The draft of your complete essay is due Tuesday 3/10, so please catch up if you are missing one of your body paragraphs. We will have more time for intros and conclusions tomorrow.
Finish reading book #8 by 3/13. 

Poe/Laughton Essay Progress

Goals: Take a school survey and make progress on our comparison essays

Agenda: 
Read

Progress on "Cask/Night" essay

2. Essay Progress: 

• Yesterday, we worked on the mood paragraph of your essay comparing Poe and Laughton's works.
• Today, you should make progress on the irony paragraph.
• Tomorrow, we will work on the theme paragraph.
• Complete draft due Tuesday 3/10 for writing groups.

Click to enlarge. Remember, your paragraphs must include all 6 of the elements on the yellow banner.

Reminders: 

• This Friday 3/6 is the end of the grading period for the first six weeks of this semester.
• Book #8 should be finished BEFORE Friday the 13th. 
• See additional dates and reminders in the post below. 

Essay: Comparative Analysis Poe and Laughton

Goal: Getting started on our comparative analysis paper.

Agenda:
Comparative Analysis Assignment
Modeled Writing: Mood Paragraph

Comparative Analysis Assignment:

1. You have a new assignment in Google Classroom called "Essay: Comparative Analysis Poe and Laughton"
2. Read the prompt carefully to yourself and then write one of your body paragraphs. 
3. Mood Paragraph tutorial video. 

Writing Task:Consider the short story “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe and the movie The Night of The Hunter (1955) directed by Charles Laughton. What techniques do the author and director use to create the theme and mood?

Write a comparative analysis essay about these two works. Consider how each uses irony, mood, and other literary and cinematic techniques to reveal the theme. 

Collected Evidence: The examples you submitted.

Examples of Theme, Mood, and Irony in Cask of Amontillado

Examples of Theme, Mood, and Irony in Night of the Hunter

Click this image to see it larger.

Due Dates: 

• Essay draft due Tuesday 3/10 for writing groups. You will get a draft grade. Have all your paragraphs done. 
• We will have writing groups on 3/11 and 3/12. 
• The final draft is due 3/13. 

Coming Soon: (Don't panic.)

• We will have an end of unit, in class, essay test on Thursday 3/19. We will be preparing for it on Monday-Wednesday of that week. 

Night of the Hunter: Day 3

Goals: Review day 2, and continue taking our notes on irony, mood, and theme in the film.

Agenda: 
Read
Review notes from yesterday
Watch part three.

Join Remind: 
Use the code I gave you in class to join our class remind messaging system. 
If you were absent you can find the code as part of a non-graded assignment in Power School. 

Reminders: 

• I am reshowing any part you ask for at lunch today. You are welcome to bring your food and watch it again.
• Keep reading Book #8 at home. 
• I'll be reshowing part 3 at lunch tomorrow if you want to see it again. 

Collecting Evidence from Night of the Hunter

Goals: Collect and analyze examples of theme, mood, and irony in Night of the Hunter.

Agenda:
Read
Turn in "Cask of Amontillado" paragraph. 
Collect evidence about Night of the Hunter

Turn in "Cask of Amontillado" paragraph: 
Use THIS FORM to turn in your paragraph. 
Copy and paste it from your EJ. 


Collecting Evidence:
Just as you did for "Cask of Amontillado," today you will work with your partner to collect examples of theme, irony, and mood from Night of the Hunter.

• Use this FORM to submit your responses. 
• Use the notes you took while watching the film. 
• Remember that your answers will be shared with all of my classes to support your work when we begin writing our comparative analysis essays. 
• Use complete sentences, please. 

Movie at Lunch:

Remember if you missed part 2 of Night of the Hunter I am re-showing it during lunch today. We will watch part three in class on Monday.

Reminders:
Keep reading. You should be on book #8.
Next Friday 3/6 is the last day of the grading period. Check your grades and talk to your teachers.