Feb 20, 2026

 Hello! Here's what we're up to today:

• Checking in
• Heads up - today is what I call a "pivot" day, so there's lots of information, but not a lot to do
• People missing A1
• Hand in A3! Please note: I don't mark assignments that come to my email. Put it on the Teams assignment (Word document - not a PDF or Pages or Image), or hand it in in person.
• A warning on plagiarism
• So many assignments! Here's what's coming up on the calendar:
• Circling back to A2: make sure you're on the same page
• Recapping A4
• Introducing A5 (visual), A6 (quiz) and A7 (essay)
• Eng 8: Introducing A8 (freewrites)
• Distributing the novel
• Collecting numbers
• Introduction to the novel
• Background on The Hate U Give
• Angie Thomas and her goals
• Background

• 1619 Project
• Slavery and racism in Canada
• Emmet Till
• Rodney King
• Ferguson Riots and the birth of the Black Lives Matter movement
• George Floyd Protests
• Background on Dry
• Discussion: where do we get our water?
• Headline: Sunshine Coast reservoirs
• Neal Shusterman
• Reading the novel aloud
• Freewrite
• Looking ahead at next week
• Eng 9, read Chapters 2-3 by Thursday
• Eng 8, read to page 53 by Thursday

Feb 19, 2026

 Hello! Here's what we're up to today:

• Checking in
• Let's take a pause to talk about books!
• Assignment 2
• How's the progress? What's your timeline? Checking in with each group.
• Introducing Assignment 4 - Literature Presentation
• Describing both books
• Establishing an order of presentations
• Working on Assignment 3
• Your goal today is to finish your rough draft, and show me for feedback. It is due tomorrow.
• When I check in, I'll be focusing on the Writing Tips, to make sure it's formatted properly
• Reviewing Writing Tips
• Reviewing Academic Writing Rubric
• Tomorrow, we'll start talking about the novel study, and do some reading and writing

Feb 18, 2026

 Hello! Here's what we're up to today:

• Checking in
• Eng 8: How to integrate quotes
• Recap of key resources
• Paragraph structure
• Academic Writing Rubric
• Writing tips
• Lesson Notes
• Time to write
• Your goal today is to write the first half of your paragraph, and show me

Feb 17, 2026

 Hello! Here's what we're up to today:

• Checking in
• Returning Assignment 1
• Reminder: this is the start of a conversation we'll be having about marks. If you're disappointed, or feeling shame, it's best to tell me and work together. This is often a chance for students to adjust course early.
• All your comments and your mark for this is on Teams - both for clarity and for my own need to write interim report cards. In the future, all comments will be written, but the mark will still be on Teams
• This is also my first chance to say: I'm sorry about my writing.
• Reminder:
• Review of rubrics
• Right to challenge
• Right to redo
• Please return them (feel free to take a picture). This is the only assignment I'll be keeping
• Use this feedback for your next assignment
• Recapping last week
• Recapping assignment 3, and each assignment
• Circling back to our final text
• Tone
• Thematic Statement
• Writing guidelines
• How to write a paragraph
• How to integrate quotes (tomorrow for Eng 8)
• Mr. McLean's Writing Tips
• Teacher example
• Time to write
• Your goal today: write down a plan. It should include
• Eng 9
• Texts you'll use
• Literary term you've chosen
• Specific examples (2 or 3)
• Eng 8
• Texts you'll use
• Thematic Statement
• Specific examples (2 or 3)
• Checking in on assignment 2
• Progress in book
• Timeline
• Plan

Feb 12, 2026

 Hello! Here's what we're up to today:

• Checking in
• Recapping yesterday
• Recapping Assignment 3 - delayed by at least one day
• Analysis of story:
• Examples of characterization
• Examples of symbolism
• Identify tone
• Identify thematic statement
• Connect to first text
• Discussion: First Peoples Principles of Learning. What do we do well? What are we bad at?
• English 9
• Discussion: When you think of Indigenous Art, what do you think of?

• The Raven and the First Men
• Background on Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun (pass around the book)
• Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun - video from MOA
• Ovoids
• "Solid Cement Indians"
  "On the Other Side"
  "Haida Hot Dog"
  "Neo Totem Pole"
• Red Man Watching White Man Try to Fix Hole in the Sky
• Activity
• What do you see?
• What are some possible symbols?
• Offer a thematic statement
• Offer your opinion
• Connect to other two texts
• English 8
• Recap of geography of Coast Salish Peoples
• Literary term:
• Myth
• Discussion: What myths do you know?
• Background on E Pauline Johnson
• Intro to "Legends of the Capilano"
• "The Two Sisters"
• Opinion
• Tone
• Thematic Statement
• Connect to other two texts

Feb 11, 2026

 Hello! Here's what we're up to today:

• Checking in
• Reminder of Assignment 3
• English 9
• Literary term:
• Characterization
• Activity
• Freewrite: Tomorrow, all satellites crash, and cell phones are useless forever. Is the world better or worse?
• Reading "The Veldt
• Reaction:
• Opinion
• What did you think of the story?
• How accurate a prediction is it?
• Analysis
• Find examples of characterization
• Find symbols
• Identify tone
• Identify Thematic Statement
• Connect the two texts - how might they relate for Assignment 3
• English 8
• Literary terms:
• Characterization
• Activity
• Freewrite: Should young people be treated equally to adults in court?
• Background on Langston Hughes, and a note on vocabulary
• Reading "Thank You M'am"
• Reaction:
• Opinion
• Characterization
• Symbols
• Tone
• Thematic Statement
• How might this connect to Assignment 3?

Feb 10, 2026

 Hello! Here's what we're up to today:

• Checking in
• Recapping yesterday
• Eng 8: 
• Ms. C and literary terms
• Allusion and Tone
• Recapping Assignment 3
• Eng 9
• "Freedom"
• Recap of Beyonce's context
• Thoughts on Kendrick Lamar
• Voice at the end of the song
• 1st listen and reaction
• Difficult terms and allusions
• 2nd listen
• Analysis for A3
• Thematic statement
• Symbolism
• Tone
• Eng 8
• "the last great american dynasty"
• 1st listen and reaction
• Difficult terms and allusions
• 2nd listen
• Analysis for A3
• Thematic statement
• Symbolism
• Tone
• Freewrite