February 28

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Outside entry

We wrapped up the logical fallacies portion of our argument and persuasion notes.

We read an excerpt from Carl Sagan's speech, "On Nuclear Disarmament," and discussed rhetorical devices and the structure of his argument.

With the remaining class time, students began working on the midterm reading reflection. We will have more class time to work tomorrow, and this assignment is due by 11:59pm Thursday.

Today's Board

February 27

IRT: 20 minutes
WNB: We calculated our reading rate for today's entry. We discussed and students wrote about different factors that influenced their reading rate.

Formula for calculating reading rate

We completed another PSAT writing multiple choice, checked our answers, and discussed frequently missed questions.

We continued working on the argument and persuasion notes. We have just a few more to finish up tomorrow.

Today's Board

February 26

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: The newspapers are full of reports about war, epidemics, terrorism, and environmental crises. Some problems are so serious that they may threaten civilization. What can be done to make the world safer?

We took care of a few housekeeping items: students were reminded to turn in the Educating Esme questions on Classroom, they handed in a scored article to add points to their lit terms test, and students who were absent Friday were told to come in after school today or tomorrow to make up the lit terms test.

I passed back "The Interlopers" short answers from last week and walked through a mark up process with students. They handed this in to have 1 answer scored.

We began taking notes over argument and persuasion. We will finish this work tomorrow.

Looking forward to meeting parents at open house tonight! Here's the brief presentation that I'll share.

Today's Board

Week-at-a-Glance

February 23

Students took the literary terms test today. Absent students should plan to stay after school Monday or Tuesday to make up the test.

Grades have been entered! Dig out a scored article of the week to hand in Monday for extra points.

Today's Board

Hebron's Spring Open House is Monday, 2/26, at 6:30pm. I look forward to meeting the parents of these great kids!

February 22

WNB: Outside entry

We began our day in the library.

Students completed a Google Forms quiz over commas and apostrophes (on Classroom).

With the remaining class time, students finished creating their questions for Educating Esme. We looked at a few as a group and discussed what to do when two answers appear to be "right."

Lit terms test tomorrow!

Today's Board

February 21

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: "The more you get into someone else's stories, the less they become an 'other.'" - Glynn Washington (Inspired by this story from NPR.)

Students completed practice PSAT writing multiple choice questions. We discussed those that were frequently missed. We will complete another practice passage next week.

Students worked with a partner to write lit term questions about a passage. We'll finish this work tomorrow.

Today's Board

February 20

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Article of the Week - "No, there haven't been 18 school shootings in 2018" // Students read, annotated, and responded to the article in their notebooks.

I presented a quick lesson on gerunds and infinitives (also available on Classroom).

Students used the remaining class time to complete the 2 poem TWISTT work from Friday. We discussed the tone of each poem and what we would need to change if we wanted to alter the tone.

This week:
Test Friday over lit terms. Absent students should plan to stay after school Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday (2/26-28) to make up the test.

Today's Board

Week-at-a-Glance