Monday, 19 October 2026

Oct 19, 2026

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

  • Eng 9
    • Checking in
    • Debriefing the municipal election results
    • Silent reading
    • Student presentation
    • Teacher notes
    • Class discussion
    • Time for A5 - tomorrow will be a full block to complete it
  • Eng 12
    • Checking in
    • Debriefing the municipal election results
    • Life of Pi arrived! I'll be launching our next two units on Wednesday
    • Alberta referendum and the Overton Window
    • Recapping A5/A6
    • Time to work on either - I'll come around and check with each of you
      • A5: 
        • Show me some of your writing if you can
        • I have an extra practice article if you would like
        • Do you understand:
          • Overton window
          • How to find biases/fallacies
          • How to write the paragraph
      • A6: Tell me:
        • Who is in your group?
        • What will the medium be?
        • What will the topic be?
        • Are you aiming for: Unthinkable, Radical, Acceptable, Sensible, Popular
    • Tomorrow is the in-class paragraph

Friday, 16 October 2026

Oct 16, 2026

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

  • Eng 9
    • Checking in
    • Silent reading
    • Student presentation
    • Teacher notes
    • Class discussion
    • Freewrite
    • Time to work on A5
  • Eng 12
    • Checking in
    • List of missing work!
    • Returning A4 (for those who handed it in)
      • Recapping assignment instructions and rubric
      • You have the right to challenge and redo
    • Recapping A5 and A6
      • We are shocked, SHOCKED, to announce I've pushed back the due date for A6, as the 23rd is a Pro D day
      • Explanation of expository paragraph
      • The rubric will be the same as your A3 - this is meant to solidify your paragraph skills
    • Returning to the Fox News article:
      • What Overton Window are they shifting?
      • Teacher example of the structure of a response
      • Time to complete your own response
      • Building a response together
    • Time to work - either on A5 or A6
      • I have copies of an extra article to practice on, for those who would like it
      • For A6, by Monday, I would like to know:
        • Who is in your group?
        • What will the medium of your video be?
        • What Overton Window are you trying to shift?
          • Consider which category you want to aim for:
            • Unthinkable
            • Radical
            • Acceptable
            • Sensible
            • Popular
    • Monday will be a work period: you may prepare for A5, or get going on A6. The best way to get ready to is to write a practice response using either of the articles, and then give it to me for feedback during class or during FIT.
    • A reminder about leaving room at the end of class

Thursday, 15 October 2026

Oct 15, 2026

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

  • Eng 9
    • Checking in
    • (PM - earthquake drill)
    • Silent reading
    • Recapping A5
    • Time to work - your job is to show me initial plans today
    • Tomorrow, have chapters 8 and 9 complete
  • Eng 12
    • Recapping yesterday
    • Difference between logical fallacies and cognitive biases
    • Cognitive biases - group activity
    • Example of a news article - note inverted pyramid structure
      • Identify logical fallacies
      • Identify cognitive biases
      • Identify the overton window being shifted
    • Example of an expository response to the news article

Wednesday, 14 October 2026

Oct 14, 2026

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

  • Eng 9
    • Checking in
    • Switching seats
    • Silent reading
    • Student presentation(s)
    • Teacher notes
    • Class discussion
    • Recapping A5
    • Time to work on A5 - your goal is to get started on your good copy tomorrow
  • Eng 12
    • Checking in
    • Switching seats
    • Recapping A5 and A6
    • The bracket! Which one is most powerful?
    • Example of logical fallacies in the media
      • Identify logical fallacies
      • What Overton window is being shifted?
    • Time to plan for your A6
    • Tomorrow, we'll do the cognitive biases, but quicker, and then I'll show you an example of A5

Tuesday, 13 October 2026

Oct 13, 2026

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

  • Eng 9
    • Checking in
    • Update on interim report cards
    • How'd Friday go?
    • Silent reading
    • Student presentation
    • Teacher notes
    • Class discussion
    • Checking in on A7
    • Turning attention to A5
    • Tomorrow, read the next two chapters
  • Eng 12
    • Checking in
    • Update on interim report cards
    • How'd Friday go?
    • Hand in your A4. It needs:
      • A good copy
      • A properly formatted MLA works cited
      • A rough copy with evidence of three peers having provided feedback
      • A brainstorm/plan
        • A note on peer editing, which I forgot to update you on
    • Returning A3
      • Reminder: you have the right to challenge (especially for a subjective one like this) and to redo
      • Also, note that two assignments is enough to start to project some (very very limited) patterns. If you're concerned, start talking to me now
    • Freewrite: What is an opinion you have the makes you an outlier? Explain.
    • Reminder about A5 and A6, and a look ahead at the week
    • What is the Overton Window?
      • Article
      • Video (a heads up on the video's biases - their funding, their belief about politicians, and about guns)
      • Examples
    • Introducing Cognitive Biases and Logical Fallacies, and THE BRACKET

Thursday, 8 October 2026

Oct 9, 2026

 Hello! Sorry I couldn't be there!

  • English 9 - you may work on any of the following:
    • Make a plan for Assignment 5 (Visual) by answering:
      • Which communities will you choose?
      • What symbol will you create?
      • How will you depict it?
    • Read ahead in The Hate U Give (Chapter 5 should be read before Tuesday's class)
  • English 12 - you may work on any of the following:
    • Edit your Assignment 4 (paragraph) - Consider asking the teacher to provide feedback on your work. For Tuesday, you'll need to include:
      • A good copy
      • A rough copy with evidence of three peer reviews
      • A works cited
      • A rough copy and/or plan
    • Brainstorm a response for Assignment 6 (Overton Window Video)

Oct 8, 2026

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

  • Eng 9
    • Checking in
    • Silent reading
    • Student presentation on Chapter 2-3
      • Note on class expectations
      • Note on how assessment happens
    • Recapping A5
      • Examples
      • Rubric
      • Brainstorm
    • Tomorrow, there will be a TOC. You'll be expected to use that time to (a) create a plan for A5 and/or (b) read ahead in THUG
  • Eng 12
    • Checking in
    • Time to work on A4
    • Introducing A5 and A6
    • Introducing The Overton Window and Logical Fallacies
      • Activity: The voting age should be changed
      • Handout
      • Video explaining the Overton Window (background on the makers of the video)
      • Example
      • Initial reaction and plans