August 27 -31

It's the second week of school and the last week of August. It's been a pleasure to meet everyone, and I look forward to starting our first novel as a class, The Grapes of Wrath, as well as learning the basics of rhetorical analysis (an important 11th grade English unit, and the skills needed for the SAT essay).

MONDAY/TUESDAY: Journal warm-up. Collect Letter to Freshman Self. A Step Toward Falling (summer reading) discussions and activities. Notes: Aristotle's Rhetorical Triangle. 

Due: Letter to Freshman Self.

Signed syllabus and Turnitin.com form. 

Homework:  Summer reading written homework, (if you haven't already turned it in).

Please read pages 1-3 in the Rhetorical Analysis Packet. 

WEDNESDAY: Journal warm-up. Current event day - read and annotate two opposing viewpoints. Discuss and debate, vote. Outline the majority opinion in a synthesis/ACT-style outline response based on the discussion

Due: n/a

Homework: (same as Monday)

THURSDAY/FRIDAY: Journal warm-up. Quiz: syllabus quiz and summer reading questions. Receive Vocabulary list #1 for next week. Gallery Walk: The Grapes of Wrath.  Intro to Grapes of Wrath. Begin reading.

Due: Summer reading written homework.

Homework: Please read The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 1- 2. Think about how the dialect of the characters affects how believable it is.

Enjoy the three-day weekend!

First Week!

Welcome to the first week of school! I'm looking forward to meeting everyone and kicking off the new year together.

WEDNESDAY: (minimum day) Journal warm-up. Welcome and introduction. Share journal answers using the bucket. Receive syllabus, Turnitin.com forms. Summer reading announcements. Begin work on Interest Inventory Sheet.

Due: First journal entry, completed in class.

Homework: (for next class) Completed Interest Inventory Sheet.

(for next week) Signed syllabus, Turnitin.com forms, review summer reading.

THURSDAY/FRIDAY: Journal warm-up. Interest Inventory Worksheet activity.  Discuss syllabus, including upcoming units, procedures and routines, lockdown instructions. "Eleventh Grade: The Dark Side" PowerPoint.  Summer reading group activity. Introduce the Letter to Freshman Self assignment. 

Due: Completed Interest Inventory Sheet.

Homework: (for next class)
Type or neatly handwrite the Letter to Freshman Self assignment for next class. 

Review summer reading books, especially A Step Toward Falling.

Please syllabus and Turnitin.com signed.

(for next Thursday or Friday)
Summer reading assignments will be collected.

Welcome to English 3!

I'm Ms. Mogilefsky (also known as Ms. M).  I'm excited to work with you this year as we explore a variety of well-known books, short stories, nonfiction articles and essays that are an important part of the conversation about the nature of American life, past and present.

In this extremely interactive class, we will read American literature, as well as a wide range of nonfiction pieces – essays, memoirs, letters, speeches, articles about current events, literary criticism, and even legal briefings.   You'll also read books and articles of your choice as you work on research-based pieces, independent reading, current events assignments, debates, and other activities.  Themes from classic texts will be read and discussed alongside related current events, and you'll have a lot of opportunities to express yourselves verbally and in writing.  

I know junior year can be stressful: SATs, ACTs, extracurriculars, CAASP testing, and thinking about life after high school.  All of the activities we'll work on will help you succeed and I look forward to a productive and enjoyable year with you. 

What to Bring to Class (after the first day)
Please bring the following to class with you every day:

• 3-ring binder with the following section tabs: Current Unit, Vocab/Grammar, Reference, and Homework

• Plenty of paper

• Pens or pencils to write with

• Current novel/readings

I don't mind eating or drinking in class as long as you clean up after yourself and it's not disruptive to other students or the class (please, no sharing food during class time).   

Cell phones: I have a cell phone charging station in the front of the classroom where students may, at their own risk, charge phones during class time while they are set on silent mode.  Otherwise, cell phones must be completely turned off and put away in backpacks or purses or they'll be collected. Even adults (just about everyone I know!) struggle to keep from the distraction of a phone, and if it's out of reach and turned off it'll be easier for everyone.  This will help you to develop good habits for college and/or your work life and will help us maximize productivity during class time.

Procedures/Routines
I believe that English is the most important subject at school (every teacher thinks that about their subject, and I am no exception)!  In English 3, we'll work on reading, writing, speaking and listening skills that will help you achieve your goals in every other class at PVHS, at university and/or on the job, and even in your personal life.  Because there is such a wide variety of skills we'll practice, I like to set up routines so that students know what to expect from class.  Here is the basic framework: 

Monday/Tuesday, 113 minutes: 
10 minutes journal time
5 minutes random sharing of journal answers 
15 minutes practice this week's vocabulary and grammar
40 minutes: work on current novel -  reading, debates, skits, presentations, etc.
40 minutes: work on current writing unit - practice, read and evaluate drafts, learn new concepts
3 minutes go over any homework, file papers away in notebook, answer questions

(every other)Wednesday, 85 minutes:
10 minutes journal time
5 minutes random sharing of journal answers
65 minutes Current Events - (read and annotate both sides of a current issue, discuss/debate, vote, various writing assignments, short and long , supporting your position)
5 minutes summarize which skills we practiced,  go over any homework, file papers away in notebook, answer questions
 
Thursday/Friday, 113 minutes: 
10 minutes journal time
5 minutes random sharing of journal answers 
15 minutes, approximately 15 question quiz covering this week's vocabulary, grammar, reading and other skills/current unit
80 minutes: work on current novel -  current writing assignment, debates, skits, presentations, etc.  
3 minutes: go over any homework, file papers away in notebook, answer questions

Additional Info

Novels
The longer novels/play we will explore together this year are:
The Grapes of Wrath
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
The Great Gatsby
A Raisin in the Sun

We'll also work on a brief gender unit, a two-week fundamental Supreme Court case unit, and a science/nature unit where we'll read and discuss a variety of shorter articles, essays, and briefs about the topic. 

Journals
Composition books for journals will be provided.  Each day, questions will be posted in the front of the room and students will write a one page response in the journal.  Journals can be kept in the classroom and will be counted as an assignment for credit and checked at random intervals.  

Also...
Be sure to read Where You'll Go is Not Who You'll Be by Frank Bruni as well as the school-wide novel, A Step Toward Falling and be ready to discuss your opinions about these books during the first week of school.

Curious browsers can check out the syllabus (on the right hand side bar of this blog).  Otherwise, we will cover it in class the first week. 

I look forward to a great year with the class of 2020.  Have a spectacular rest-of-summer!