As of this posting, all grades are entered and final.
Have a great summer!
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| Need some ideas? |
Thursday, June 7, 2018
June 7
Third and 4th periods completed their final exams today!
As of this posting, all grades are entered and final.
Have a great summer!
As of this posting, all grades are entered and final.
Have a great summer!
Wednesday, June 6, 2018
June 6
First period picked up their writer's notebooks and took their final exam today!
Third and 4th periods picked up their writer's notebooks, prepared for tomorrow's exam, and helped me around the classroom.
Fourth period also had a "spelling quiz" inspired by this teacher's April Fool's prank.
Third and 4th periods picked up their writer's notebooks, prepared for tomorrow's exam, and helped me around the classroom.
Fourth period also had a "spelling quiz" inspired by this teacher's April Fool's prank.
Tuesday, June 5, 2018
June 5
IRT: ~20 minutes
Students completed a notebook check form and handed in their notebooks.
Students finished the reading reflection and turned it in on Classroom.
First period final exam is tomorrow! Bring your lit terms packet!
Students completed a notebook check form and handed in their notebooks.
Students finished the reading reflection and turned it in on Classroom.
First period final exam is tomorrow! Bring your lit terms packet!
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| Today's Board |
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| Final Exam Info & Reminders |
Monday, June 4, 2018
June 4
IRT: ~20 minutes
We quizzed ourselves with a 12-minute PSAT reading practice. Students continued working on the reading reflection assignment, due tomorrow. Students will also complete a writer's notebook check tomorrow.
English II STAAR EOC results have been posted to Skyward!
We quizzed ourselves with a 12-minute PSAT reading practice. Students continued working on the reading reflection assignment, due tomorrow. Students will also complete a writer's notebook check tomorrow.
English II STAAR EOC results have been posted to Skyward!
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| Today's Board |
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| Week-at-a-Glance |
Friday, June 1, 2018
June 1
IRT: ~20 minutes
Students began working on their final reading reflection. This is due at the end of class Tuesday. Students will also have a notebook check on Tuesday.
Students began working on their final reading reflection. This is due at the end of class Tuesday. Students will also have a notebook check on Tuesday.
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| Today's Board |
Thursday, May 31, 2018
May 31
IRT: ~20 minutes
I moved the writer's notebook check to Tuesday because students will need their notebooks to complete the reading reflection we're starting tomorrow.
We finished viewing the videos from the project we just completed.
I moved the writer's notebook check to Tuesday because students will need their notebooks to complete the reading reflection we're starting tomorrow.
We finished viewing the videos from the project we just completed.
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| Reset my board too quickly, so here's a picture for #NationalSmileDay |
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
May 30
IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Reflect on your sophomore year. What has gone well? What would you change? How have you changed? What advice would you give to incoming sophomores?
We viewed projects and rated them on quality and voice. We will continue this work tomorrow. We will also have a notebook check tomorrow.
I provided a brief overview of what to expect on the final exam. Students will be allowed to use their lit terms packet on the test. We'll talk more about the test in the coming days.
WNB: Reflect on your sophomore year. What has gone well? What would you change? How have you changed? What advice would you give to incoming sophomores?
We viewed projects and rated them on quality and voice. We will continue this work tomorrow. We will also have a notebook check tomorrow.
I provided a brief overview of what to expect on the final exam. Students will be allowed to use their lit terms packet on the test. We'll talk more about the test in the coming days.
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| Final Exam Info |
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| Today's Board |
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
May 29
Students worked to complete the poet/humanity project. They turned in the video, essay, and links on Classroom. We will watch these in class tomorrow!
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| Today's Board |
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| Week-at-a-Glance |
Friday, May 25, 2018
May 25
We started class with the most recent episode of Hawk TV.
Today was day 6 of the project. Students continued working on their analysis (poetry project) or personal essay (humanity project). They also continued curating pictures for the video portion of the project. The essay, links, and video are all due by the end of class Tuesday!
Today was day 6 of the project. Students continued working on their analysis (poetry project) or personal essay (humanity project). They also continued curating pictures for the video portion of the project. The essay, links, and video are all due by the end of class Tuesday!
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| Today's Board |
Thursday, May 24, 2018
May 24
IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: PSAT Writing
We completed a PSAT writing practice passage.
Students turned in the 5 paragraphs for their project before the end of class today. They continued working on the rest of the project, writing an analysis or personal statement and curating images for the video. We will continue this work tomorrow.
WNB: PSAT Writing
We completed a PSAT writing practice passage.
Students turned in the 5 paragraphs for their project before the end of class today. They continued working on the rest of the project, writing an analysis or personal statement and curating images for the video. We will continue this work tomorrow.
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| Today's Board |
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
May 23
IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: If you had to spend one whole day and night in one place, would you spend it at the library, the mall, or Six Flags?
Students were encouraged to return any books they've borrowed from my classroom. I attempted to guilt them into this with a picture of one of my dogs.
We continued working on the poetry/humanity project. Students wrapped up their writing and began curating images to use in their video. The 5 paragraphs are due at the end of class tomorrow; the rest of the project is due at the end of class Tuesday.
WNB: If you had to spend one whole day and night in one place, would you spend it at the library, the mall, or Six Flags?
Students were encouraged to return any books they've borrowed from my classroom. I attempted to guilt them into this with a picture of one of my dogs.
We continued working on the poetry/humanity project. Students wrapped up their writing and began curating images to use in their video. The 5 paragraphs are due at the end of class tomorrow; the rest of the project is due at the end of class Tuesday.
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| Today's Board |
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
May 22
IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Outside entry (Notebook check Thursday, 5/31)
Students completed a form to share their top reads from this semester. We also practiced our reading skills with a 12-minute PSAT reading passage.
With the remaining class time, students worked on Day 3 of the project, writing summary paragraphs and an analysis of a central poem or summary paragraphs and their view on humanity. The paragraphs are due by the end of class Thursday, and the analysis/essay is due at the end of class Tuesday.
WNB: Outside entry (Notebook check Thursday, 5/31)
Students completed a form to share their top reads from this semester. We also practiced our reading skills with a 12-minute PSAT reading passage.
With the remaining class time, students worked on Day 3 of the project, writing summary paragraphs and an analysis of a central poem or summary paragraphs and their view on humanity. The paragraphs are due by the end of class Thursday, and the analysis/essay is due at the end of class Tuesday.
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| Today's Board |
Monday, May 21, 2018
May 21
Students had a substitute today. Here's the agenda they followed. I'll be back tomorrow!
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| Today's Agenda |
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| Week-at-a-Glance |
Friday, May 18, 2018
May 18
IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Students completed a survey from the Hawk Eye about immigration. They then wrote their thoughts on immigration in their notebooks.
We began a major project that we'll be working on for the next several days. Students will choose to study a poet or study works about humanity. Students should bring their iPads (and chargers) to class each day while we're working on this project.
WNB: Students completed a survey from the Hawk Eye about immigration. They then wrote their thoughts on immigration in their notebooks.
We began a major project that we'll be working on for the next several days. Students will choose to study a poet or study works about humanity. Students should bring their iPads (and chargers) to class each day while we're working on this project.
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| Here's an overview of the project. |
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| Today's Board |
Thursday, May 17, 2018
May 17
IRT: ~20 minutes
To extend our work with the AP multiple choice questions over To Kill a Mockingbird, we watched the trial scene of the film and looked for some of the major themes.
Tomorrow, we begin a major project!
To extend our work with the AP multiple choice questions over To Kill a Mockingbird, we watched the trial scene of the film and looked for some of the major themes.
Tomorrow, we begin a major project!
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
May 16
IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Article of the Week - "Why Teens Should Understand Their Own Brains (And Why Their Teachers Should, Too!)" (This is a fascinating article, and I can't wait to read the book!)
After annotating the article of the week and responding in their notebooks, students resumed reading their independent reading books, began studying for the AP world history exam that is tomorrow, or read for other classes.
We ended class with a final question: laurel or yanny? (A great explanation of this on Wired!)
WNB: Article of the Week - "Why Teens Should Understand Their Own Brains (And Why Their Teachers Should, Too!)" (This is a fascinating article, and I can't wait to read the book!)
After annotating the article of the week and responding in their notebooks, students resumed reading their independent reading books, began studying for the AP world history exam that is tomorrow, or read for other classes.
We ended class with a final question: laurel or yanny? (A great explanation of this on Wired!)
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| Today's Board |
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
May 15
I passed back the scored rubric for the mandala assignment. Students who have questions about this grade should plan to come in during A block tomorrow (or before or after school).
Students completed an AP-style timed writing. They were given 2 prompts (the ones we planned yesterday) and chose one to complete in 50 minutes. They scored themselves using the AP rubric.
Students completed an AP-style timed writing. They were given 2 prompts (the ones we planned yesterday) and chose one to complete in 50 minutes. They scored themselves using the AP rubric.
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| Today's Board |
Monday, May 14, 2018
May 14
IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Students brainstormed reasons and evidence for 2 possible prompts for tomorrow's timed writing.
We completed some practice AP multiple choice questions using passages from To Kill a Mockingbird.
WNB: Students brainstormed reasons and evidence for 2 possible prompts for tomorrow's timed writing.
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| Prompt 1 |
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| Prompt 2 |
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| Today's Board |
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| Week-at-a-Glance |
Friday, May 11, 2018
May 11
We started our day with the new episode of Hawk TV.
For the notebook entry, students wrote about memories connected to music. I shared "Every Time I Hear That Song" by Brandi Carlile to start the conversation. For me, KT Tunstall's "Black Horse and Cherry Tree" always reminds me of driving across Arizona and New Mexico with my mom while moving her from California to Texas. We heard that song at least twice in every city we passed through.
We completed more SAT and AP style practice passages, one reading and two writing.
For the notebook entry, students wrote about memories connected to music. I shared "Every Time I Hear That Song" by Brandi Carlile to start the conversation. For me, KT Tunstall's "Black Horse and Cherry Tree" always reminds me of driving across Arizona and New Mexico with my mom while moving her from California to Texas. We heard that song at least twice in every city we passed through.
We completed more SAT and AP style practice passages, one reading and two writing.
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| I forgot to snap a picture of the board before I erased it, so here's a Liz Climo cartoon, "Moms Are Magic." :) |
Thursday, May 10, 2018
May 10
IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Select an abstract noun (fear, love, joy, betrayal, hope, anger) and explain how it applies to your book. (If none apply, come up with your own.) Be sure to include the title and author of your book along with a quote that supports your choice.
I passed back the archetype summary & critique papers, and we discussed effective and meaningful transitions.
We completed SAT reading and AP lang practice multiple choice questions over Julius Caesar and Antigone. We will continue this work tomorrow.
WNB: Select an abstract noun (fear, love, joy, betrayal, hope, anger) and explain how it applies to your book. (If none apply, come up with your own.) Be sure to include the title and author of your book along with a quote that supports your choice.
I passed back the archetype summary & critique papers, and we discussed effective and meaningful transitions.
We completed SAT reading and AP lang practice multiple choice questions over Julius Caesar and Antigone. We will continue this work tomorrow.
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| Today's Board |
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
May 9
IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Think about the careers you researched last week. What technology skills will you need to do that job?
Students handed in the mandala project and the article from yesterday. The written portion of the mandala assignment is due by 11:59 tonight.
We had a fishbowl discussion to debrief all of the information we gathered during our college research assignment. This was a great, eye-opening conversation! Students (and parents) might consider adding Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be by Frank Bruni to your to-read list. I also shared some information about scholarships on Classroom.
We completed some practice SAT-style questions over Julius Caesar. We will continue this work tomorrow.
WNB: Think about the careers you researched last week. What technology skills will you need to do that job?
Students handed in the mandala project and the article from yesterday. The written portion of the mandala assignment is due by 11:59 tonight.
We had a fishbowl discussion to debrief all of the information we gathered during our college research assignment. This was a great, eye-opening conversation! Students (and parents) might consider adding Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be by Frank Bruni to your to-read list. I also shared some information about scholarships on Classroom.
We completed some practice SAT-style questions over Julius Caesar. We will continue this work tomorrow.
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| Today's Board |
Tuesday, May 8, 2018
Monday, May 7, 2018
May 7
IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Think about the careers you researched last week. How will you use reading and writing skills to do that job?
Students continued working on their college comparison assignment. This will be due at the end of class tomorrow.
The mandala assignment is due on Wednesday.
WNB: Think about the careers you researched last week. How will you use reading and writing skills to do that job?
Students continued working on their college comparison assignment. This will be due at the end of class tomorrow.
The mandala assignment is due on Wednesday.
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| Today's Board |
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| Week-at-a-Glance |
Friday, May 4, 2018
May 4
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| Happy Star Wars Day! (May the 4th....) |
WNB: A bucket list is a list of things you want to do before you die. Some people want to travel the world; others want to go skydiving. But today's entry isn't about your bucket list. For your notebook entry today, create your REVERSE bucket list: a list of all of the things you hope you never have to do before you die, like being alone in nature for an extended period of time or eating an entire bowl of steamed broccoli.
Students began working on the college research assignment. This is due Tuesday, 5/8. Students are also working on a mandala assignment that is due Wednesday, 5/9.
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| Today's Board (Just realized the due dates are wrong: college research is due 5/8, and the mandala is due 5/9.) |
Thursday, May 3, 2018
May 3
WNB: When you were 5, what did you want to be when you grew up? What do you now want to be when you grow up?
We heard from Ashley Stevens, the college and career counselor. She shared some websites to help us learn about careers and gave us great information on steps we should be taking now to be ready for college in a few years.
Students spent some time exploring careers they might be interested in. They'll need this information as we begin the college research assignment tomorrow. The due date for this assignment may be moved up--we'll see how things go tomorrow.
We heard from Ashley Stevens, the college and career counselor. She shared some websites to help us learn about careers and gave us great information on steps we should be taking now to be ready for college in a few years.
Students spent some time exploring careers they might be interested in. They'll need this information as we begin the college research assignment tomorrow. The due date for this assignment may be moved up--we'll see how things go tomorrow.
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| Today's Board |
Wednesday, May 2, 2018
May 2
IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Outside entry
Students wrote a summary and critique that focused on archetypes in The Lion King. This was due before the end of class.
Students received a mandala assignment--due Wednesday, 5/9. I'll explain this in more depth tomorrow.
WNB: Outside entry
Students wrote a summary and critique that focused on archetypes in The Lion King. This was due before the end of class.
Students received a mandala assignment--due Wednesday, 5/9. I'll explain this in more depth tomorrow.
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| Today's Board |
Tuesday, May 1, 2018
May 1
IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Outside entry
We finished the analysis of archetypes in The Lion King, and students wrote a summary and critique of the movie. Students will need this work to complete a writing assignment in class tomorrow.
WNB: Outside entry
We finished the analysis of archetypes in The Lion King, and students wrote a summary and critique of the movie. Students will need this work to complete a writing assignment in class tomorrow.
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| Today's Board |
Monday, April 30, 2018
April 30
IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: How do archetypal characters and situations help us make predictions about a text? If you know that a story follows the hero's journey, what would you expect to encounter as you read?
We began an in-depth analysis of the archetypes in The Lion King. Students will use this information to complete a writing assignment on Wednesday.
WNB: How do archetypal characters and situations help us make predictions about a text? If you know that a story follows the hero's journey, what would you expect to encounter as you read?
We began an in-depth analysis of the archetypes in The Lion King. Students will use this information to complete a writing assignment on Wednesday.
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| Today's Board |
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| Week-at-a-Glance |
Friday, April 27, 2018
April 27
IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Article of the Week - "Too Much Sitting Is Killing You (Even If You Exercise)"
We reviewed the three short stories from this week and made connections through archetypes. Students then created a meme for one of the stories.
WNB: Article of the Week - "Too Much Sitting Is Killing You (Even If You Exercise)"
We reviewed the three short stories from this week and made connections through archetypes. Students then created a meme for one of the stories.
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| Today's Board |
Thursday, April 26, 2018
April 26
IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: What would you do if you encountered someone you thought might be evil?
We continued our archetype discovery in short stories, reading "The Possibility of Evil" by Shirley Jackson. Specific details about today's work are available on Classroom for absent students.
WNB: What would you do if you encountered someone you thought might be evil?
We continued our archetype discovery in short stories, reading "The Possibility of Evil" by Shirley Jackson. Specific details about today's work are available on Classroom for absent students.
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| Today's Board |
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
April 25
IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Why is it that we sometimes fear people who are different? Why do many people think it is important to fit in? If someone doesn't mind being different, why do we often still pressure them to conform?
Students read "The Scarlet Ibis" by James Hurst and looked for archetypes. Specific details about the assignment are available on Classroom for absent students.
WNB: Why is it that we sometimes fear people who are different? Why do many people think it is important to fit in? If someone doesn't mind being different, why do we often still pressure them to conform?
Students read "The Scarlet Ibis" by James Hurst and looked for archetypes. Specific details about the assignment are available on Classroom for absent students.
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| Today's Board |
Tuesday, April 24, 2018
April 24
IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: How important is telling the truth? Would you speak the truth only for an entire day?
We read "Like the Sun" by R.K. Narayan and looked for archetypes. Specific details about this assignment are posted on Classroom for absent students.
WNB: How important is telling the truth? Would you speak the truth only for an entire day?
We read "Like the Sun" by R.K. Narayan and looked for archetypes. Specific details about this assignment are posted on Classroom for absent students.
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| Today's Board |
Monday, April 23, 2018
April 23
IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Happy birthday, Shakespeare! Choose one of these common Shakespearean phrases to write about: "apple of her eye," "all the world's a stage," "eating me out of house and home," "good riddance," "to thine own self be true," "green-eyed monster," "tower of strength," or "wear my heart on my sleeve."
We completed the "Character Archetypes" portion of our notes and worked on the symbolic archetypes on the back page. See Classroom for more details.
WNB: Happy birthday, Shakespeare! Choose one of these common Shakespearean phrases to write about: "apple of her eye," "all the world's a stage," "eating me out of house and home," "good riddance," "to thine own self be true," "green-eyed monster," "tower of strength," or "wear my heart on my sleeve."
We completed the "Character Archetypes" portion of our notes and worked on the symbolic archetypes on the back page. See Classroom for more details.
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| Today's Board |
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| Week-at-a-Glance |
Thursday, April 19, 2018
April 19
IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: What's in a name? Many names have special meaning or history. For example, the name Hannah means "favor" or "grace." The name Vito means "life." Write about your own name. Who named you? What does your name mean? Does it have a special ethnic or religious significance? Are you named for someone in your family? Do you have any nicknames? If you could change your name, would you?
We went over the Julius Caesar quiz from Tuesday.
We began taking notes on archetypes. We will continue this work on Monday. (See Classroom for specifics.)
WNB: What's in a name? Many names have special meaning or history. For example, the name Hannah means "favor" or "grace." The name Vito means "life." Write about your own name. Who named you? What does your name mean? Does it have a special ethnic or religious significance? Are you named for someone in your family? Do you have any nicknames? If you could change your name, would you?
We went over the Julius Caesar quiz from Tuesday.
We began taking notes on archetypes. We will continue this work on Monday. (See Classroom for specifics.)
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| Today's Board |
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
April 18
IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: If you were not scared, how would you live your life? From "9 Questions for Humanity"
I introduced archetypes with a "Walk in the Woods" activity. We will begin further discussion of archetypes tomorrow.
With the remaining class time, students worked through a peer review activity with their 55 word stories. Students turned in the assignment before the end of class.
WNB: If you were not scared, how would you live your life? From "9 Questions for Humanity"
I introduced archetypes with a "Walk in the Woods" activity. We will begin further discussion of archetypes tomorrow.
With the remaining class time, students worked through a peer review activity with their 55 word stories. Students turned in the assignment before the end of class.
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| Today's Board |
Tuesday, April 17, 2018
April 17
IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: outside entry
Students handed in the article from yesterday and the funeral speeches chart.
Students took a quiz over Julius Caesar.
With the remaining class time, students worked on the 55 word story assignment, due at the end of class Wednesday.
WNB: outside entry
Students handed in the article from yesterday and the funeral speeches chart.
Students took a quiz over Julius Caesar.
With the remaining class time, students worked on the 55 word story assignment, due at the end of class Wednesday.
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| Today's Board |
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| Week-at-a-Glance |
Monday, April 16, 2018
April 16
Students had a substitute today while I took care of some personal business. I'll be back tomorrow!
Today's Article of the Week: America's Homelessness Crisis
Today's Article of the Week: America's Homelessness Crisis
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| Today's Agenda |
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