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Today I decided to allow you to turn in your writing prompt for "The Secret Goldfish" on Tuesday, IF you want to. But, if you turn it in on the "real" due date (Friday) you'll get a +5. We'll discuss all the details tomorrow, but I wanted to let you know.
WELCOME!! I'm so glad you see (or meet) you guys! I hope that you had just as much fun and got just as much rest as I did over break... I also hope you had TONS of fun-with-the-family time, isn't that the best?? Okay, now to official stuff - It's worth mentioning that second semester is a busy one, all the skills you started developing during the fall semester will be honed and perfected so that you will be MASTERS when it comes time for the exam in May... don't worry - it's a LONG time until May! I'll get you ready, I PROMISE! Also, I cannot stress to you strongly enough that you need to CHECK THE BLOG - I keep it up to date, and it WILL help you! seriously... Okay, enough of this - let's get going!
Mon (1/9)
** Oh wait, only I had to come to school today! I hope you got loads of extra sleep today :) You know, I'm sure you enjoyed today so much ... why don't you just go ahead and take next Monday off, too? ... joking, of course, but isn't it nice to start the semester with two four day weeks back-to-back?
Tue (1/10)
** It's second semester update sheet time! I know you'll get a new syllabus in many of your classes, but that's not how we do it in AP Lang... so, check out the update, AND, if you have not already done it.... MAKE THIS BLOG A FAVORITE!
** YOU will have to do a tiny bit of talking today... what book are you reading for your first AM LIT independent reading? Do you like it? Do you love it? Do you OWN it? This is a not-so-subtle reminder that it is due Tuesday, January 31st! FYI- both books are free kindle downloads and they're free at Project Gutenberg, too.
** I'll be checking your transcripts today, too (of course!)
** Today we're going to read one of my favorite short stories... I should tell you up front, it's an old WordMasters piece, but don't hate it just because it used to be a WordMasters... it's called "The Secret Goldfish" I think you'll like it, it's pretty great! We're going to do quite a lot with it, so be sure to read carefully -
** We'll have the first vocab quiz on January 23rd, but you know, it's never too early to start making those flash cards - I'm just saying... (FYI- vocab quizzes will be every Monday)
Wed (1/11)
** Remember when I said you should pay attention to the annotating for "The Secret Goldfish"? well - here's one of the reasons why -- today you'll be doing the WM MC for the piece. So, have it finished and have it IN CLASS with you today!
** After you finish the MC we'll divide into 5 groups to look at some questions about the story. Just one question, so don't stress :)
** You'll also get a writing prompt for the story - we were planning to have you do this in class on Friday, but we forgot about tomorrow's PSAT day, so... you know what they say about the best laid plans, right? ANYWAY, you're going to write the prompt at home - it's due (typed - manuscript format, please) FRIDAY, now even though you're typing it, it's still like an in-class write, so don't freak out about it.
Thur (1/12)
** It's ALL about the PSAT today... hopefully this will help you, especially if you're taking the REAL THING on the 28th! (maybe I'll see you there... I'm proctoring!)
** Today we'll revisit "The Secret Goldfish" - this time with groups - I think you'll find many interesting things to discuss with this story - so, did you like it?
** Yes, you'll be sharing from your group - you might as well get over the fact that you don't like to talk in class - you're going to have to in here!
Fri (1/13)
** I'll collect your write on the story then we'll get back to it -
** Today we'll revisit "The Secret Goldfish" - it's time for group sharing - I think you'll find many interesting things to discuss with this story - so, did you like it? Just as an aside, you might as well get over the fact that you don't like to talk in class - you're going to have to in here!
** I hate to do it to you, but ... you're going to have homework. You need to read and mark "A Letter From a Birmingham Jail" by Martin Luther King, Jr. That unit will begin on Tuesday and you need to read it in advance! Yes, I know it's long, but... it's AMAZING! Be prepared to be impressed!
Well, I hope your first week back was a good one - enjoy your long weekend! See you on Tuesday :)
