Sept 28, 2026

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

• Checking in
• Recapping last week
• Eng 9
• Update to A3
• AM: Finishing up "The Veldt"
• Analyse for literary terms
• Tone
• Foreshadowing
• Symbols
• Characterization
• Thematic Statement
• Connect to "Freedom"
• The Art of Lawrence Paul
• A note on Indigenous vocabulary
• Discussion: what comes to mind when you think of Indigenous art?
• 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
• Freewrite
• Eng 12
• Returning to "This is Water"
• What literary terms and critical lenses can you apply?
• In what way are you the young fish?
• How does this connect to the other two texts?
• Returning A1 - yay! A few notes:
• Your feedback is in the third person. This is because I'm selfish, and am using this as an opportunity to create your interim report card comment at the same time. Everyone got a positive note, and a note on what to focus on for the future
• I'll be collecting this assignment today - feel free to take pictures
• I encourage you to see this as the beginning of a conversation about marks - the value of this assignment is purposefully low
• I usually don't tell you what mistakes you've made, but rather circle them. Your task is to figure out what's wrong, and fix it. If you can't, ask, and I'll let you know
• I am truly sorry about my bad writing
• You have the right to challenge!
• You have the right to redo!
• A redo would mean starting from scratch under the exact same conditions, without notes and without my feedback.

• Update on A3 - I've changed the task, to avoid too much emphasis on literary analysis
• Examples and rubric
• Time to begin planning

Sept 25, 2026

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

• Checking in
• Reviewing the last few days
• Eng 9
• Returning to yesterday's discussion: is technology moving too fast?
• Discussion: predict the world 5 years out, 50 years out, and 500 years out
• Introducing "The Veldt"
• Listening to the audio
• Initial reaction
• Analysing for
• Tone
• Symbols
• Foreshadowing
• Characterization
• Thematic statement
• Freewrite
• Connect this text to "Freedom"
• Eng 12
• Literary terms
• Nonfiction
• Parable
• Didactic
• Irony
• Intro of a parable
• "This is Water"
• Initial reaction
• Connect to other texts
• Freewrite: in what way are you one of the two young fish?

Sept 24, 2026

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

• Checking in
• Update: I'll likely be pushing back the due dates coming up
• Eng 9
• Freedom
• Live performance
• Time to analyse lyrics
• Discussion
• Leave notes for yourself for A3
• Literary terms
• Characterization
• Tone
• Theme/Thematic Statement
• Foreshadowing
• Freewrite: Technology is moving too fast. Agree or disagree?
• Background on Ray Bradbury and "The Veldt"
• Eng 12
• Update: your Monday FIT is an assembly
• The Lottery (page 227)
• Initial thoughts and discussion
• Analyse for literary terms
• Symbols
• Tone
• Characterization
• Foreshadowing
• Thematic statement
• Analyse for critical lenses
• How does this connect to "APE****"?
• Consider:
• Feminist lens
• Marxist lens
• Historical lens
• Thematic statement
• Symbols
• Freewrite: When society runs into troubles, is it better to look to the past for lessons, or to imagine a better future?
• Background on David Foster Wallace and "This is Water"
• FIT is a lesson on Truth and Reconciliation Day

Sept 23, 2026

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

• Checking in
• Recapping yesterday
• Eng 9
• Background on "Freedom" - note Kendrick Lamar
• Listening to "Freedom"
• First impressions
• Second listen
• Analysis
• Third listen
• Live version
• Brainstorm
• How might this work in your assignment 3?
• Distributing "The Veldt"
• Eng 12
• So many elections! A primer.
• Return to "APE****"
• Worksheet discussion
• Analysis - how might you use this in your assignment?
• Literary terms
• Characterization
• Tone
• Theme/Thematic Statement
• Foreshadowing
• Introducing "The Lottery"
• Shirley Jackson
• Listening to the story
• First response - what did you think?
• Second response - analysis for literary devices and critical lenses
• Third response - how might this connect to "APE****"?

Sept 22, 2026

 Hello! Here's what we're up to:

• Checking in
• Recapping last week
• Eng 9
• In the news: MORE SHARKS
• Introducing Assignment 3
• Literary terms!
• Scanning for previous knowledge
• Terms
• Denotation
• Connotation
• Metaphor
• Simile
• Symbolism
• Allusion
• Activity
• PM: Fire drill!
• Eng 12
• Recapping A3 and A4 and literary terms
• Literary term:
• Allusion
• Introducing the critical lens
• Think of them like wearing different tinted sunglasses
• They allow us to interpret connotation through well-researched fields
• Each topic has entire disciplines of researchers who have careers dedicated to them
• These will be helpful for A1, A4, and the literature presentation
• Examining each one
• Philosophy time: we study literature to create a second space where we can freely discuss ideas, to prepare us for the ambiguity of the world
• "APE****"
• Background
• The Carters
• The Louvre
• Optional worksheet to practice analysis
• The video
• Reaction
• First thoughts?
• What did you notice?
• What critical lenses popped out to you?
• Second viewing - find literary devices
• Class discussion
• Time to fill out the form - complete as much as you can before tomorrow's lesson

September 18, 2026

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

• Review of A2 details and rubric
• Rules:
• Unless I've given permission, no devices allowed (no headphones or smart watches)
• You have access to dictionaries and thesauruses (thesauri?)
• Be sure to take a beat before finishing, and reread carefully
• If in doubt, choose the simpler word
• Once complete, you may do what you'd like - you're encouraged to read

September 17, 2026

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

• Checking in
• English 9
• In the news: sharks!
• Review of A2 instructions and rubric, as well as advice on persuasive and narrative writing
• Writing lesson!
• Periods and commas
• Practice for tomorrow's in-class paragraph
• The best thing you can do is show me some of your writing
• English 12
• Assignment 2
• Review of A2 instructions and rubric, as well as advice on persuasive and narrative writing
• Circling back to grammar: structure
• Take some time to plan, and show me any work. Once people are feeling ready, we're going to get started on the next two assignments
• Short texts
• Taking a look at the schedule
• Introducing A3 and A4
• Literary devices
• Denotation
• Connotation
• Metaphor
• Symbolism
• Onomatopoeia
• Introducing critical lenses
• These will come in handy in your Assignment 1, Assignment 4, and in your literature presentations (later in the course)
• Example: The film Pocahontas 
• "APESHIT"
• Background
• Beyonce and Jay Z
• The Louvre
• Heads up on language
• Video
• Initial reaction
• Distributing optional worksheet, due for Monday
• Reminder: tomorrow is the in-class paragraph