Othello - Final Essay Work Day 3

Happy Friday the 13th! Happy last day of classes for 2019!

Please complete this survey about your work habits.

After a few last-minute reminders, you have the rest of the day as work time.
Good luck with it!
Finish strong!
See you in 2020!



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Othello - Final Essay Work Day 2

Today is entirely set aside for you to continue work on your essay.

By now you hopefully have a working thesis statement (ok to be clumsy and messy, as long as you have a clear sense of what it means) which will then lead to naming your three topics. Follow the model we did in class yesterday!

After that, spend time collecting the best possible evidence for each paragraph.

Good luck!

Avoid this:


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Othello - Final Essay Work Day 1

Happy Tuesday!

Today you will receive your graded notebook back. You will also have time to look at the feedback I gave you on your Persepolis essay.

Here is a link to a digital version of the final essay prompt.

Then, we will turn our attention to the final essay. After I answer any questions you have, we'll talk about the thesis. To do that, we will refer back to a document I shared with you back when you wrote your essay about American Street: Crafting a Thesis

Based on that, we will create a thesis together about the role of women in the play.

Lastly, I will share this organizer with you. It is not required but it might be helpful as you pull your evidence and ideas together.

The rest of the time today and all of tomorrow are set aside for you to work on your essay. Good luck with it!



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Othello - Introduce Final Exam

Happy Monday!

Today we'll start with a look at some of the questions you wrote about over the weekend as our last formal discussion of the play.

Then, I'll ask you to complete this brief survey about your journal and your work in it. Starting today, I'll be collecting a few each night so I can grade them and get them right back to you.

Here is our schedule for the rest of the semester:

• Monday (12/9) - Discuss Act V; Journal survey; Assign final
• Tuesday (12/10) - Initial brainstorming; Preliminary thesis; Begin evidence collection
• Wednesday (12/11) - Refine thesis; complete evidence collection
• Friday (12/13) - Organize paragraphs; develop analysis; Draft essay
• Weekend - Review draft; Final proofread
• Tuesday (12/17) - Submit the final version no later than 8:10 a.m.

Here is the link to your final exam - your essay about Othello

Note: Because this is a final assessment for the semester, part of the assignment is that you demonstrate your independent skills in terms of reading and writing. Therefore, I will not be reading your thesis or any part of your paper prior to the final essay you submit (i.e. no conferences). I am here to support you and to clarify any elements of the assignment that are confusing. You will have several days of in-class time to work on your assignment and to ask any questions on the assignment or on your previous work. During class time you are to work independently in class. Use the feedback I have given to you on your previous work to guide your writing. Develop your own ideas. And, most of all, trust yourself and your writing!

Recommended homework for tonight:

• Read over the essay assignment. Come to class prepared with any questions about the process or the assignment itself.
• Create a new document titled "Final Essay - Brainstorming." Choose two of the three topics - ones you might write about in your essay. Write 4-6 sentences about each one, naming your initial thoughts about the theme as well as which characters or scenes you might use in your essay. 

Othello - Day 15

Happy Friday!

I am out today. You are going to work with your group for the first part of the day and then complete an individual piece for writing for the second half of class.

Please remember to bring your journal with you on Monday!

Have a great weekend!

Othello - Day 14

Today you'll work with your groups for two different activities.

First, we will complete the questions from yesterday.

Then, you will spend time creating tableaux. What is that, you ask? This handout explains it all:

• Othello Act IV tableaux

For Friday, you are finishing the play and writing your final journal response.

Note: I will be out on Friday. Today, I'll explain the plan and the weekend homework.

Othello - Day 13

Today we'll finish our look at Act III, Scene 3. After you act out the rest of the scenes, you'll write your own conclusion, based on the work you did with your partner.

After that, you'll meet with your group to have a discussion about the results, as well as these other questions from Act III, Scene 4 and Act IV, Scene 1:

• What words/actions from Desdemona add to Othello's changing thoughts about her?
• What sort of person is Emilia, and what seems to be the nature of her relationship with her husband Iago? 
• What is the importance of the handkerchief to Othello?
• How does Desdemona's handkerchief come into play within the relationship between Emilia and Iago?
• Why does Othello have powerful physical reactions to Iago's information? What might this mean?
• What happens with Cassio and Bianca?
• What is Othello's original plan for dealing with Desdemona? Why does it change?
• What is the news that arrives from Venice?
• How is Othello changing in act 4? What is the effect of his public humiliation of Desdemona by slapping her?

Be sure to take notes - I'll be using the wheel to call on people for our discussion!

Othello - Day 12

Happy Monday! Happy December! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving break!

Today to help us get back into the play, you'll perform the short scenes you created with a partner last time. Here is a link to the Google Slideshow you were using last time. You'll have a few minutes to finish your scene and prepare to perform it and then it's showtime!

Please keep an eye on the calendar. I will be collecting your journals next Monday. Remember - this is a significant portion of your grade. No late work will be accepted. That means whatever you have in class on Monday is what I grade. We will also start to talk about the final on that day.

Othello - Day 11

Happy Tuesday!

Today we will finish the scenes we started yesterday.

Then, you will work with a partner (or two) to examine Act III.
Make a copy of this Google Slide presentation to use for your work.

Have a great Thanksgiving break!!

Othello - Day 10

Happy Monday!

We just have two days together this week, so let's make the most of them!

We'll start with the performances of the pair dialogue work from Act II we started last week. As a reminder, you and your partner will perform a short dialogue from Act II based on lines assigned to you. Along the way, we will discuss the lines and the development of the story.

For tomorrow you are reading and journaling about Act IV, scene 1.

Othello - Day 9

Mr. Rigler will be out today!

The in-class writing scheduled for today should take around half of the period.

You are able to use the remaining time to work on your reading and journaling for the weekend, which will take you through the end of Act III.

Othello - Day 8

Today I'll introduce the "Wheel of Fun" to help us make pairs for a bit of acting you'll do today.
Here is the handout to guide that work: Othello - Act II scenes

Please remember that on Friday you will have an in-class writing. You will be able to use your book and notebook, but not your chromebook. You will have the rest of the time on Friday to read and (hopefully) complete your weekend homework!

Othello - Day 7

Today you will meet with a new group:

1	2	3	4	5
Emma Adi Aaron Daryn Josh D	Sophia Hannah Keshav Ben S Augie	Morgan Gracie Ben G Eli Matt S	Caroline Jessica Gavin Jared Lily	Maggie Lauren Matt F Josh M Ethan

Your work for today will be on this chart: First looks at Othello and Iago
Today's secretary will be the first person on the list. That person should take out their Chromebook, make a copy of the document, and share it with everyone in the group. Everyone else will just have their book and notebook.

After you work your way through the chart, we will perform the lines and interpretations.

Othello - Day 6

Happy Monday!

I hope you enjoyed the film (as much as you can enjoy a story of betrayal and jealousy and murder) and you have a good sense of the basic elements of the story.

We'll start off the day working individually to look back at the quotations you received on the first day of the unit.

1. Re-read what you wrote about the quotation on the first day
2. Search for your quotation using this digital version of the play. Identify the speaker and the act/scene. Find it in your book and underline it.
3. Now that you know the story, what else do you think your line is about?
4. We'll share these out loud, both the line and the explanation.

Othello - Day 5

Happy Friday!
Today we'll watch the final section of the film.
Be sure to check the calendar and stay caught up with your reading and journal responses.
We'll be back in the classroom starting Monday.

Othello - Day 4

We'll continue with the film in E116 today.
Don't forget about your reading and writing journal responses.

Othello - Day 3

We'll continue watching the film in E116 today. Don't forget to start the reading - and to write your journal response using the guidelines!

Othello - Day 2

Today we'll start our look at Othello by previewing the book and starting to watch the film. I've posted the new calendar - it will take us through the end of the semester!

Othello theater games day

Happy Wednesday! Congratulations on finishing your essay!

After you submit your work, you'll complete your version of the rubric and a few questions, so I have a sense of what you think of your work.

Then, we will turn our attention to some games - some just for fun, and others to start our work with Othello. You'll each receive a line from the play for our activity - you copied it into your notebook and did some writing about it. You can hold on to it and use it as a bookmark!

The only homework for Friday is to make sure you have a copy of the book.

Also, class will meet in E116 - see you there!

Persepolis - Day 12

Happy Tuesday! Happy School Chest Kickoff Day!

First, a few reminders for your essay:

• Make sure you have the required number of pieces of evidence.
• Make sure your evidence is properly distributed in your body paragraphs.
• No citations needed for images
• You need to use specific language for writing about images - use the terms we used, including:
• Panel
• Speech Bubble
• Caption
• Emanata
• Sound effects
• Splash
• Foreground / Background
• Your essay is due at the start of class tomorrow - save it and submit it as a PDF file, to preserve the spacing of your images

In class today you will give feedback to another person, using this form (I will give you a paper version).

Good luck with your essay tonight - make it excellent!

Please don't forget to own a copy of Othello for class on Friday!

Persepolis - Day 11

Happy Monday!

First a few quick matters of business:

• Please be sure to own a copy of Othello by Friday ($9 at the bookstore)
• Here is a link to the rubric for this essay: Persepolis Argument Essay Rubric
• Be sure to take the time to review my comments from your last essay as you move towards your final draft of this one!

Today's focus: the Counterclaim

• Persepolis Argument Essay - Counterclaims

A few quick reminders for your essay:

• You should have most of a draft together for tomorrow (Tuesday)
• Only use the first person voice in the sections where you are talking about your experiences. The rest of the essay should not have first (I, we) or second (you) person voice at all.

The introduction:

• Start with a statement about your topic - this is not a "grabber" in terms of using a random quotation, rhetorical question, or dictionary definition!
• Preview your main points. There should be a clear sense of the topics you will cover in your first two body paragraphs.
• Name the counterclaim.
• Finish with your thesis. Note that the thesis is in the form of fact + opinion + so what / why / because, which in this case can follow the formula: visual images (help / hinder) understanding of complex issues because they (reason A) and (reason B).
• You do not need to name the different examples you will use in your introduction, but you can if you'd like.

The conclusion:

• Re-state the thesis
• Recap your main points, including your counterclaim
• Finish with a sense of the broader implications of your thesis. If your thesis is true, what else is true as a result? What warnings or hopes for the future does your essay suggest?

Good luck with it! I can't wait to read the results!

Persepolis - Day 10

First of all - it is time to buy our next book!  Please own a copy of Shakespeare's Othello for class next Friday. You can buy a copy at the bookstore for $9.

Last night you made some decisions about your thesis and your topics:

• At this point, you should know where you land on the question: do visual images help or hinder understanding of complex issues?
• At this point, you should have a sense of two reasons why your thesis is true or be able to name two ways of how visual images impact understanding.
• At this point, you might have a sense of a counterclaim - an opposing view to your thesis.
• Thesis clarification - the counterclaim is not a part of the thesis statement, but the two reasons / topics for your first two body paragraphs will be part of it.

We'll pause to work with a partner to share what you have, and to see if they think it works - and for you to give them feedback!

Then, it is time to turn our attention to the body paragraphs and the analysis of the evidence.

• How to read a photograph
• Persepolis body paragraph activity

We will also start to talk about counterclaims today.

For Monday, your homework is to expand your outline using this form. 

Persepolis - Day 9

Happy Wednesday!

Our work for today is about structure and evidence. Use this handout for class and homework:

• Shaping your argument
• Here is a link to the full text of Persepolis for you to use

The homework is to complete the basic outline (on the handout) and submit your work to Schoology by the start of class tomorrow.

Persepolis - Day 8

Happy Tuesday!

We'll start today back in your groups (not the poster-making groups - the other ones).

• Closing questions for Persepolis

Then - it's time for the essay assignment for this unit. We'll review it in class today. Be sure to read it over tonight and do the homework assignment at the end.

• Argument essay assignment for Persepolis

Persepolis - Day 7

Happy Monday!

Today, after a short piece of individual writing, you continued working with your group to finish your poster about Marji.

For tonight, you will be finishing the book. I look forward to hearing what you have to say about it!

Persepolis - Day 6

Happy Friday!

Today you will be working in groups of 3-4 - you can choose them!

Here is the handout to guide your work.

For Monday, read pages 103-125 and write a journal response

Persepolis - Day 5

We'll start today with a look back at the essays you wrote for American Street. Take some time to review my comments and write some suggestions for yourself for future essays.

Next, we'll consider a challenging question: How do we respond to tragedy?

Today we'll spend most of the time writing, thinking about the many tragedies, disasters, political controversies, and social issues impacting our daily life.  We'll consider the ways in which our responses to these are similar to / different from Marji's, and why that might be.

For homework tonight you will write a journal response to pages 80-102. There is no particular prompt and you are not turning it in just yet. Focus on a topic or idea or question you have from these pages. You may want to click here to refer back to the journal response guide in case you forgot what a great journal response could include.

Persepolis - Day 4

We'll start off today with an individual piece of writing about Persepolis based on the work with interpretation we've been doing in recent days.

Then, we will move to a fishbowl-style discussion around those same three chapters: "Moscow," "The Sheep," and "The Trip" using these questions:

• Fishbowl questions for p. 54-79 of Persepolis

Persepolis - Day 3

Happy Monday!

Today we will continue our work with tools for interpretation, looking at literal and figurative meaning in Persepolis based on the group work you did on Friday.

Persepolis - Day 2

Happy Friday!

We'll start today with a look at the introduction to the novel. This website will also be helpful.

Then, you'll work with your group as we explore different layers of meaning: literal and figurative.

This handout will guide our work for today. Your secretary for today will type your responses into it, based on the chapter I assign to your group.

While you are working, I will check in your journal responses.

As a reminder, your homework for the weekend is to read pages 33-53 and write a journal response.

Persepolis - Day 1

Happy Monday Tuesday!

Today you will meet your new group for this unit. Together you'll spend time annotating and discussing the opening pages of the book. Refer to this handout for details:

Persepolis - Day 1 group work

As a reminder, your homework for tonight is to read pages 10-32 and write a journal response.

Graphic novels - making your own!

Happy Friday!

To help us learn how to read a graphic novel, we'll review this presentation and the printed handout.




Then you'll spend the rest of the period making your own graphic novel page!
Follow these directions to guide your work. 

For Tuesday, you will read and annotate pages 3-9.

Enjoy the long weekend!

Getting to know Iran; How to read graphic novels

Today we'll finish the film we started watching yesterday.

Then, we will turn our attention to a sample graphic novel as we start to learn how to read one.

You will work with this partner today:

• Lauren - Ben S
• Maggie - Augie
• Emma - Jared
• Caroline - Matt S - Ethan
• Adi - Ben G
• Lily - Gavin
• Morgan - Eli
• Jessica - Josh M
• Hannah - Matt F
• Daryn - Josh D
• Gracie - Keshav
• Sophia - Aaron

One unit ends - the next one begins!

Woohoo!! You finished your first essay for Freshman English!!

Congratulations! I'm excited for you and I'm looking forward to reading what you have to say about American Street!

Today we'll watch this video to help provide us with a sense of life in Iran, the setting for our next book, Persepolis. Here are some questions for you to write about in your journals while we are watching:

• What are two things you learn about the history between the United States and Iran?
• What are two things you learn about the culture of Iran beyond the food?
• Over the course of the show, what are two things that surprised you?
• What are two questions you have based on what you saw?

We will be sharing our responses as part of our discussion after the show.

Here is a map of Iran:

or we can zoom out a bit:

or maybe this perspective helps:

American Street - Day 18

Final writing day!

Today we will review the rubric and the assignment. Here are links to everything you need:

• Essay assignment
• Brainstorming activity
• Crafting a thesis
• Thesis and evidence homework
• Outline
• Essay rubric

Also, don't forget you need a copy of Persepolis for class on Tuesday!

American Street - Day 17

For today you completed at least two sections of the outline for your essay.

Before we get into individual work time for today, we'll do three things:

1. A reminder about academic dishonesty
2. Review the "conclusion" section of the outline
3. Review the organization of your essay
4. Provide and receive feedback from a peer or two, using this form (you will receive a paper copy of it

Lastly, a reminder: be sure to buy Persepolis by the start of class on Tuesday.

American Street - Day 16

Happy Monday! Happy October!

Today we will work on outlining the different sections of your essay - the introduction, the body paragraphs, and the conclusion. We will use this worksheet to guide our work.

• American Street - essay outline

Your homework is to complete the outline for two of your body paragraphs. If you'd like to do more for tonight, you can, but it is not required.

Also, the next book we will be reading is called Persepolis. Please buy it from the bookstore ($14) or elsewhere if you'd like. You will need it in class on Tuesday.

American Street - Day 15

Happy Friday! We'll start with this short activity:

• What's Up This Weekend?

We will turn our attention to quote selection and use, including the "quote sandwich" and "show-mean-matter" approach. Use this worksheet to guide your work.

• Quotation workshop

You'll have the rest of the time to work with your thesis statements.

Over the weekend you should (but nothing is required):

• Revise your thesis
• Complete the evidence selection
• Organize your essay
• Start writing?

American Street - Day 14

Happy Wednesday!

Today we will focus on writing a thesis statement. To guide our work, we'll use this handout. Please make a copy of it - you'll be working on your thesis statement later in the period.

• Crafting a Thesis

Here's another example:

Tonight you will continue to work on your thesis statement and begin the collection of evidence. Please use this handout to guide your work - it is due at the start of class tomorrow.

• Thesis and Evidence Worksheet

American Street - Day 13

Happy Tuesday!

We will start off today with some time to review the paragraphs you wrote two weeks ago. Please be sure to read the comments and the rubric. I will discuss these points:

• Informal language
• "Don't mess with the bull or you'll get the horns"
• "A good quote to show this is..." - "The topic I'll focus on is..."
• Introducing quotations
• "On page 56 it shows..."
• Thesis statements
• Observations vs interpretations
• Evidence - be sure your evidence proves your point and is not just an example
• "When Dray reaches the singing man, [he] grabs the collar of the old man's dirty coat and punches him until his body is limp" - violence has a negative impact on Fabiola and her view of the United States and those who live in it

Next, we will review the assignment and start the process of writing it.

• American Street essay assignment
• American Street brainstorming activity

You'll start the brainstorming activity during class today and then finish it for homework tonight. It is due by the start of class tomorrow.

American Street - Day 12

Happy Monday!

Congratulations on finishing the novel!

We'll spend some time today talking about the last chapters of the book and our impressions about where the story ends.

Your homework for tonight is to read the essay assignment and think about what questions you have about it. We'll talk about it and get the process started tomorrow!

• American Street essay assignment

American Street - Day 11

Happy Friday!

We'll start out the day with time to read "Kasim's Story" and chapter 29. You're going to read them on your own. While you are doing that, I will come around to check in the las set of journal responses.

Then we will have time to discuss what has been happening in the book as the action has been building over the past several chapters. I will give you three slips of paper:


Question - something you want to clarify, something you want to explore further
Text - a specific quotation from the book you want to include in our conversation
Response - a comment you want to make about a question, piece of text, character, part of the story, or just about anything else you think will be a positive contribution to our conversation
In our discussion you will have three opportunities to speak, using the structure of those slips of paper.


Over the weekend, your homework is to finish the book and write a journal response to those chapters.

American Street - Day 10

Today you will have a chance to view the slideshows created by the other groups:

1. Haiti - Earthquake
2. Haiti - Voudou culture and beliefs
3. Haiti - Immigration
4. Detroit - Geography and Race
5. Culture - Alvin Ailey Dance Company / J. Dilla

You will also have the opportunity to rate the other slideshows using this GoogleForm.

We will read chapters 23 and 24 together later in the period.

Things are getting busy! Be sure you are keeping up! You are reading chapters 25-28 for Friday.

American Street - Day 9

Happy Tuesday! We'll start by listening to chapter 20.

Then, you'll work in your groups. The goal today is to research some background information to deepen our understanding of the novel. Your group will focus on:

1. Haiti - the earthquake of 2010
2. Haiti - voudou culture and practices (especially those named and used by Fabiola)
3. Haiti - immigration - policies, practices, challenges
4. Detroit - where in the city does the story take place? what role does race play in the story of contemporary Detroit?
5. Culture - Kasim takes Fabiola to see the Alvin Ailey dance group - who are they? Why is that significant? Kasim is also listening to J. Dilla in his car - who is that? Why is he significant? What other aspects of Detroit culture appear in the book and what role do they play?

• How should you research these? It's up to you! I recommend starting with where you would typically start - a Google search, a YouTube search, or even Wikipedia.
• Watch videos, read articles, listen to recordings - build your knowledge about the topic.
• Discuss your findings with your group - in what ways does your new knowledge help you to better understand the world of the novel?
• Present your findings in a digital format. I'll give you a quick tutorial about some good ways to use Google Slides - have you ever used the "Explore" button before?
• Share your presentation with me - I will be posting them on the blog.

American Street - Day 8

Happy Monday!

We'll start today by reviewing the journal responses I collected from you last week. Here are a few notes and reminders (I'll add these to the "Journal Responses" document to the right):

• A title is not just the name of the chapter. Maybe it is helpful to think of it as more of a headline. In a newspaper you would not see a headline that simply says "Chance the Rapper" - instead you'd see something like, "Chance the Rapper says Cardi B. and Nicki Minaj's Beef was Fake." That tell you a whole lot more!
• When you use your personal voice, avoid generalizations - statements anyone could make - statements you could write without actually having read the chapters. Here are things to avoid saying:
• "These chapters were interesting" - instead, write about what was interesting to you and why
• "Nothing happens" - that's certainly not true - look at all of those words! What do you really mean by saying that? What does it add to your understanding of the book?
• "It was great" or "it was boring" or any sort of judgment about the book. Why are you writing this? Your goal is to understand and work with the book regardless of your feelings about it. Take the time to explain your opinions!
• Do not just summarize. Name events or thoughts or details and then take the time to explore what they add to the narrative. Do they add to your understanding of a character or a situation?
• Make sure your comments go along with the details you note about the book. Don't just say Fabiola's first day of school must have been tough. Was it? What did you point out about it?
• Use quotations. 
• Don't just stick them in without context or explanation. 
• Do cite the page number in the correct format.
• Your quotations do not need to be full sentences - key phrases and words are often just as valuable!

Next, I'll read chapter 16 and "Marjorie & Valerie's Story" out loud. We'll have a little time to discuss the chapters after you take some notes in your journal.

Your homework for tonight is to read chapters 17-19 and write a journal response.

American Street - Day 7

Happy Friday!

Today we'll meet in the library classroom. 

The goal of today is for you to check in with various characters to get a sense of how the story is developing for them. You will not be doing this with your group or a partner, or anyone else in the class. Instead, you will go into the ARC for a short conference with one of the tutors there. 

Look next to the name of the character to see where I have assigned you:

• Fabiola  (Aaron, Lily, Gavin, Matt S.)
• Pri    (Matt F., Morgan, Gracie, Ben S.)
• Donna    (Maggie, Ben G., Jared)
• Chantal    (Augie, Caroline, Josh M.)
• Kasim   (Lauren, Ethan, Hannah)
• Dray   (Emma, Eli, Jessica, Sophia)
• Imani   (Josh D., Adi, Daryn, Keshav)

Here are the points you need to identify for your character:

• Major concerns - what things are most important to this character? how do you know this?
• Personality traits - what emotions or other aspects of their personality do they show? To whom? does their behavior / personality change?
• Quotation - something said about your character and/or something said by your character
• When you are ready, you will go to the ARC for a short conference with one of the teachers there. They will ask you about these aspects of your character and you will explain it to them.
• You do not need to write out anything formal but my expectation is that between your annotations and notes you are prepared for the conference and you keep track of your work

After your conference, you may use the rest of the period to start your homework - read chapters 14 & 15 and write a journal response.

American Street - Day 6

Happy Wednesday!

We'll start today with some poems about 9-11 and the events of that day 18 years ago.

Then we'll turn our attention back to the novel and the set of chapters you read leading up to today. We'll discuss three new characters: Bad Leg, Detective Stevens, and Kasim.

We'll also take some time to read chapter 11 & Chantal's story in class.

Tonight you are reading chapters 12, 13, & Donna's story and then writing a response.

Asson gourd

American Street - Day 5

Today you'll start with your groups to discuss the chart you worked on yesterday.

After some group time and some discussion, you'll be writing a paragraph about one of the rows from the chart.

First, we will review this sample paragraph.

Then, it is time for you to write. This handout explains your assignment.

As a reminder, tonight you are reading chapters 9 & 10 and writing a journal response.

American Street - Day 4

Happy Monday! I hope you had a great weekend.

By now you should have submitted your journal response from the weekend.

Before we get into group work, please open Schoology and review the rubric and my comments about your paragraph analysis of the Vonnegut stories. Since there is another in-class assignment tomorrow, I want to be sure you have a good sense of what to work on with your writing.

Then, you'll meet with your group. Here is a link to the chart you'll use to keep track of your work for today. The second person on the group list is the secretary for today (Morgan, Hannah, Lily, Jessica, and Sophia). Please make a copy of the document and share it with everyone in the group, including me. You'll have about 20 minutes to work on the chart.

• American Street - topics

After group work, we'll move to an all-class discussion. Part of the goal of this exploration is to prepare you to write a paragraph response, focusing on one of these topics, in class tomorrow.

Tonight's homework is to read chapters 7 & 8 and add to your group chart. Spend time reviewing the chart in preparation for tomorrow's writing. There is no journal entry to write tonight.

American Street - Day 3

We'll start today in groups for about 10 minutes to finish the posters from Wednesday.
Please try to add something from the chapters you read for today.

After brief presentations of the posters, we'll move to a discussion of rituals and traditions. We'll write about our own rituals and traditions, then look at the ways in which they appear and play a role in the book. What are the rituals Fabiola performs? Why? In what ways are these similar to / different from our own?

---

For this weekend, you will be reading chapters 5, "Matant Jo's Story," and 6.
Please write a journal response as well.
Note - you will type up this journal entry and submit it to Schoology by the start of class on Monday.

American Street - Day 2

Happy Wednesday! Here are the groups for our unit on Zoboi's American Street.

Today you will work with your group to explore the characters and settings of the novel:

1. Fabiola
2. Donna & Dray
3. Pri & Chantal
4. Manman and Haiti (Haitian things)
5. Aunt Jo the house

The first person on the group list is today's secretary. This person will create a document to keep track of your work for today and share it with everyone else in the group. 

• Read your journal responses to chapter 3.
• Spend time looking through the first three chapters for information about your character/setting. Talk with your group - did you write about your character? What did you say? What questions do you have?
• Start your document with a list of these details and questions
• Gather 8-10 quotations - these can be things said by your character, descriptions of them, or actions described in the narrative. Type these, including page numbers, into the document.
• Everyone can help with this part by typing in a quotation or two
• The secretary will submit this document to Schoology

Poster time! Once you have completed your column of the chart, it's time to take that information and turn it into a poster about your character/setting. Your poster needs to include:

• The name(s) of your character/setting in big letters
• A central image - this does not need to be a drawing of a person - maybe there is an object or another type of illustration you create. It should be based on descriptions, details, and even colors mentioned in the text. If you'd like, I can project an image for you to trace.
• All of your quotations. You can organize these and write them out any way you'd like

We will be presenting these towards the end of the period and then hanging them in the classroom!

Your homework for Tuesday is to read chapter 4 & Princess's story, then write a journal response. Enjoy the carnival and the long weekend!

American Street - Day 1

Happy Tuesday! I hope you had a great weekend!

Today we'll start our first novel together: American Street

To help us prepare for our work with the book, here's a link to information about the author, Ibi Zoboi

Here's a map of where Haiti is:

Here's a map of where Detroit is:

We'll read chapters 1 & 2 in class together today. Along the way, the expectation is for you to be annotating and/or taking notes.

Tonight, your homework is to read chapter 3 and write a journal response.

Short stories: In-class essay

Here is your link to the writing prompt for today.

ARC visit; "Harrison Bergeron"

We'll start off today with a short visit to the ARC.

After that, you'll have time to meet with your group to review the three Vonnegut stories you read. Your goal is to make sure you understand both what happens in the stories as well as a sense of what ideas, themes, and issues suggested by them.

For the in-class writing on Friday, you will have access to the stories, your journal responses, and any notes you have. You will have the entire period to write.

Annotating - "Barnhouse Effect"

We'll start today by reviewing your scores on the STAR test.

Then, we'll turn our attention to annotating.

What do we annotate? Why?
What different strategies are there? Which ones did you use? Which ones might you try?
We'll use our annotations to help us discuss "Report on the Barnhouse Effect."

As a reminder, for tomorrow you will be reading "Harrison Bergeron" and writing a journal response.

STAR Testing

Happy Monday! I hope you had a great weekend!

We are going to take the STAR reading test today. Please do your best on this reading comprehension test. The purpose of this test is so I can understand how you read and learn and then offer you specific help. Do your best.

• Click here to go to the link for the test.
• For your username, use your first initial then your last name - so I would be NRIGLER
• Your password is your student ID number - but ONLY the number - i.e. 123XXXX - if you are unable to gain access after TWO tries, please ask for help before trying a third time.
• You will be presented with two choices - select STAR Reading
• Sometimes, the system will request a “Monitor Password.” If this happens to you, the password is “admin”
• If you are presented with a list of teachers, please select “Rigler”
• Take the test! Do the best you can!

As a reminder, your homework for tomorrow is to read "A Report on the Barnhouse Effect" and annotate it.

"Unready to Wear" + writing journal responses

Happy Friday! You are on the verge of finishing your first week of high school - congratulations!

Today we'll start off by sharing the journal responses you wrote to "Unready to Wear." Listen to the different ways in which people wrote their responses. We'll make a list of these and then talk about elements of an excellent and effective journal response. I'll post this list on the blog for your reference.

For Tuesday you will be reading another story: "Report on the Barnhouse Effect." This time you will be annotating the story. Again, I'm not going to tell you what to do - I'm more interested to see the different ways in which you annotate. This means you should have a hard copy of the story with your annotations or find a way to do it electronically.

Lastly, I'll talk a bit about the STAR test for Monday and answer other questions about the class.

Have a great weekend!

Movie time + Class policies

It's film festival day! We'll spend most of the period getting to know each other through the films you made. I'm so excited to see your creations and to get to know you better.

After that, we'll spend some time looking over the class policies and procedures. You can find a link to them over there on the right under "important links."

Lastly, we'll talk about your homework assignment for Friday.

"About Me" movies!

Today we'll spend most of the period making short films / slide shows to introduce ourselves.
You'll need roughly 8-10 pictures / videos to help tell your story.
You may use any software you'd like, and if you want to use your phone, you can. Students in the past have used iMovie, Kizoa, and WeVideo (among others).
If you are not comfortable making a video, I recommend making a Google Slideshow

You must include:

• Your name
• At least three titles, listing an activity or interest or people or something of significance to you
• 8-10 pictures

If you want, you can include:

• Video
• Music
• Just about anything else!

If you do not have personal pictures, feel free to search the internet to find appropriate ones.

Here are some samples:

• One I made last year
• The Google Slideshow sample

When you are finished, please do these two things:

1. Upload your video to your Google Drive; make sure it is shared with me
2. Put a link to it into this document

Happy first day of high school!

Greetings! Welcome! Happy first day of high school!

This site is the digital home for our class - you will find everything you need right here, from handouts to calendars to videos and more.

Please take some time today to complete this survey.