August 28 - September 1

Welcome to the first week of school!  This week, we'll get to know each other, talk about your expectations of me as your teacher, my expectations of students, and what our goals are for the year.  We'll also get familiar with routines and procedures in the class, and warm up for an engaging, productive year ahead.

SUMMER READING: There will be questions on the upcoming weekly quizzes covering Where You Go is Not Who You Are  and Warriors Don't Cry. 

MONDAY: (minimum day - all classes, 35 minutes per class) Find seats, welcome and introduction, journals passed out and started, share.  Receive syllabus, begin work on Interest Inventory Worksheet.

Due: First journal entry, completed in class.

Homework: Bring the Interest Inventory Worksheet for next class - you will have time to work on it in class, but you can start on it before next class if you think you'll need more time.

Read through the syllabus and ask parents/guardians to read, sign and return the signature page by September 6.

TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY: Journal, share.  Discuss summer reading.  Interest Inventory Worksheet activity.  The "dark side" of 11th grade PowerPoint (cheating, meltdowns, drugs).  Overview of the specific units we'll cover to prepare you for the writing you'll be expected to do during the year.  Discuss syllabus, procedures and routines.  Write one-page letter giving advice to your freshman self.

Due: Interest Inventory Worksheet

Homework:

• Finish Letter to My Freshman Self for next class.
• Study classroom rules/procedures from notes and syllabus for first quiz. 
• Go over the syllabus with your parents/guardians and before September 6th, bring the signature page of the syllabus to class 
• Turnitin.com permission form due back signed by September 6.
• Work on gathering supplies (binder with tabs, Frederick Douglass book, etc. per syllabus) for next week.

THURSDAY/FRIDAY: Journal, share.  Review procedures and routines.  First quiz covering procedures, classroom rules.  Turn in Letter to Freshman Self.  Warriors Don't Cry gallery walk.  Warriors Don't Cry small group discussions. 

Due: Letter to Freshman Self

Homework:

• Signature page of syllabus due by next class, Sept 5 or 6. 
• Turnitin.com permission form due back signed by September 6.
• Get supplies for class (notebook with tabs per syllabus).
• Please review Warriors Don't Cry for next week; the second week quiz on Thursday/Friday will cover this reading.
• Please read and annotate the article "I'm a White Man. Hear Me Out."  by Frank Bruni and come with opinions about the article for Tuesday/Wednesday.

Enjoy the three-day weekend!  I look forward to seeing you next week in class.

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, and CAASP testing at the end of the year.  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 novels/play we may explore together this year are:
A Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
The Great Gatsby
A Raisin in the Sun
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

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 will 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, Warriors Don't Cry 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 2019.  Have a spectacular rest-of-summer!

June 5 - 9, Finals Week!

 It was truly and honor and a privilege to facilitate such an interesting group of students.  I often joked about "the four-hour version of the class" and my (optimistic? ambitious? bloated?) lesson plans are a reflection of how much I enjoyed reading, writing, and being involved in discussions with you.  I've learned so much during our time this year and I hope you feel that your reading, writing, speaking and listening skills are even better than they were a year ago.  

I've gotten to know many of you fairly well and hope that you visit me next year and keep me posted about what's going on in your life. 

Here's what we're doing this last week:

MONDAY, JUNE 5: (all classes minimum day) Read more sample college essays.  More work time on laptops for drafts and individual help.  Pass out editing checklist. 

Due: Be able to access your essay drafts electronically, and have an idea matched to a prompt with a document created and some sentences with details under the prompt.

Homework:  Type out a full rough draft by the beginning of the final. 


WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7 (4th period) /THURSDAY, JUNE 8 (5th and 6th):   Short, anonymous class evaluation so I understand what was the most helpful and also improve the section next time.  Volunteers from class will share paragraphs and receive helpful feedback.  Work time on laptops and direct, one-on-one feedback for drafts during the class period.  You'll have at least one full hour to work on drafts in class during the final.

A full draft is due to Turnitin.com by the end of the final.

Please note, due to how far along we are in the semester and the fact that this is your final for the class, NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED. Thanks for understanding.

Have a wonderful summer as seniors!

May 29-June 2

Welcome!  This week we'll turn in journals and kick off the final assignment: the college essay.  Here's the agenda for the short week:

MONDAY: HOLIDAY - Memorial Day, no school.

TUESDAY: Journal warm-up.  Present Raisin projects briefly to the class.  Interactive brainstorming activity.   Finish brainstorming sheet if there are any questions unanswered.

Due: Raisin projects.

Homework:
1. Fill out the rest of the Brainstorming Activity Sheet and bring it with you on Thursday. 

2. Make sure your journal is ready to turn in.

3. On a separate piece of paper, please make a list of colleges you might apply to this summer or fall. Go to their websites (or our College and Career Center) and find out what kinds of essay prompts they require, making notes of them on your list. I will provide the latest UC and Common App prompts in class, but if there is a unique prompt for one of your school choices, please bring that to class on Thursday.

NOTE: If you aren't planning on going to a university, please see me about an alternate assignment.  If you have a different writing requirement (for example letters asking for a recommendation to apply to a military academy), please let me know and that can be substituted in for the college essay assignment. Otherwise, you'll work on a two-page research paper on a job title of your choice, with details provided on Thursday.

THURSDAY: Journal warm-up.  Hear from a senior that has been through the college app process. Go over UC and Common Application prompts.  Read sample essays that have been successful in the past.  Match an idea from your brainstorming sheet to a prompt, keeping in mind which traits you'd like to emphasize and anything in the rest of the application you may want to explain.  Begin matching a good story/event from your life to a prompt.  Create a new document, choose a prompt, and begin writing out some details that could be worked into a a unique essay that demonstrates something positive about you.  Come to class on Monday prepared to work those details typed into the document into a rough draft.

Due:  Journals in the classroom bin at the end of the period.  Brainstorming sheets completed.

Homework: Begin matching a good story/event from your life to a prompt.  Create a new document, choose a prompt, and begin writing out some details that could be worked into a a unique essay that demonstrates something positive about you.  Come to class on Monday prepared to work those details typed into the document into a rough draft.

May 22-26

We're truly in the home stretch now!  The class will complete and upload the final draft of the Sustainable Foods essay this week, and then receive a Raisin in the Sun group assignment (graded individually).  After that, there is a final journal check and a good draft of the college essay (or alternate assignment).  Be sure to have any late work in for partial credit by June 2.

Here's what's in store for the week:

TUESDAY: Journal warm-up.  A Raisin in the Sun discussion.  Introduce the Raisin in the Sun final assignment.  Decide and submit group roles for Raisin assignment by the end of the class period.  Check in about the Sustainable Foods Essay.  Read one model essay and one unfinished essay as a class and talk about their strengths and weaknesses. Time on laptops in class. 

Due: Please read A Raisin in the Sun, Act III, (finish the play). 

The final draft of the Sustainable Foods Essay is due Tuesday, May 23 at 11:00 p.m. to Turnitin.com. 

Homework:  Make sure your essay is submitted to Turnitin.com (see due section above).

Work on the Raisin group assignment - materials are due on Tuesday, May 30.  Be ready to share what you have with the class in an informal presentation with your group. 

THURSDAY: Journal warm-up.  Last current event topic: the heroin/opioid epidemic and proposed solutions - read articles in class, discuss/debate.  Class time to meet with Raisin groups, laptops.

Due: n/a

Homework: Complete the Raisin group assignment - materials are due on Tuesday, May 30.  Be ready to share what you have with the class in an informal presentation with your group.

Have a marvelous Memorial Day!

May 15-19

Hello!  It's CAASP week, so our class will effectively have one meeting (half of you on Tuesday and the other half on Thursday).  Please click here for the CAASP schedule and parent letter.  Please come to class first, then you'll head to the MPR.

MONDAY/WEDNESDAY: Journal warm-up. Read A Raisin in the Sun, Act II, Scene I. 

Due: Read Act 1, Scene 2 of A Raisin in the Sun.

Homework: For Friday, please read A Raisin in the Sun, Act II, Scene II. 

Continue working on Sustainable Foods Essay final draft. Final drafts will be due on Tuesday, May 23.

6th period only: WEDNESDAY:  Journal warm-up.  Read and evaluate model sustainable foods essays.  Time on library computers to work on essays, individual help.


FRIDAY: Journal warm-up. Read A Raisin in the Sun, Act II, Scene III.  Time on laptops and individual help on final drafts of essay. 

Due: For Friday, please read A Raisin in the Sun, Act II, Scene II. 

Homework: Please read A Raisin in the Sun, Act III, (finish the play). 

Continue working on the final draft of the Sustainable Foods Essay. Final drafts will be due on Tuesday, May 23 at 11:00 p.m. to Turnitin.com.

May 8-12

This week we'll begin reading and acting out A Raisin in the Sun, as well as working on drafts of the Sustainable Foods essay. 

TUESDAY: Journal warm-up.  Check in about the sustainable foods essay rough draft that is due to Turnitin.com.  Intro to A Raisin in the Sun.  Begin reading and acting out the play.  (If you were absent, please read through Mama Younger's entrance during Act I, Scene I, page 498 in this linked version.)

Due: Continue working on draft of sustainable foods essay.

Homework: Finish full rough draft including information from 3 sources.  The full rough draft will be due to Turnitin.com by Tuesday night, May 9 by 11:00 p.m.

THURSDAY: Journal warm-up.  Last vocab quiz covering vocab, grammar, and reading of Raisin in the Sun.  Read and act out A Raisin in the Sun through the end of Act I Scene I.  Work time on laptops for sustainable foods essays with opportunity in class for individual help.

Due: Finish full rough draft including information from 3 sources.  The full rough draft will be due to Turnitin.com by Tuesday night, May 9 by 11:00 p.m.

Homework: Read Act 1, Scene 2 of A Raisin in the Sun.Be thinking about how you could re-interpret a brief exchange from the play in a new context (situation).