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

Feb 9, 2026

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

• Checking in
• Recapping last week
• Heading to the library!
• Reminder that books have due dates and late fees
• Once you've chosen your book, go hang out on the large staircase
• Reviewing Assignment 3
• Literary terms
• Assonance
• Alliteration
• Allusion
• Tone
• How to analyse songs and poems
• Listen to it once, give a first impression
• Scan the text for ideas you don't understand
• Listen to it again, and this time analyse the text for literary terms
• If time, listen to it a final time, and give your opinion
• English 9 - "Freedom" by Beyonce (feat. Kendrick Lamar)
• Background
• Marriage of Jay Z and Beyonce
• Infidelity and Solange
• Lemonade Project - interweaving legacies of slavery with modern relationships
• Grammy's reception
• Lyrics
• Song
• Performance from "Homecoming"
• English 8 - "the last great american dynasty" by Taylor Swift
• A note on censorship
• Rebekah Harkness
• Holiday house
• 
  
  
  
  
• The album "folklore"
• Taylor Swift, sexism, and politics
• 
  
  
  
• Analysis: how might this fit into Assignment 3?

Feb 6, 2026

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

• Checking in
• How'd yesterday go?
• Did anyone not complete?
• Reminder: I take a long time to mark things
• Circling back to Assignment 2. I'll come around and check with each of you on:
• Group members
• Names of books
• Timeline to finish the novel
• Timeline to complete the assignment
• Introducing Assignment 3
• Eng 8: Ms. C teaches!
• Literary terms
• Denotation
• Connotation
• Thematic Statement
• Metaphor
• Simile
• Symbolism
• Freewrite

Feb 5, 2026

 Hello! Sorry I can't be there today. Here's what you're up to:

• Take a few minutes to prepare for the in-class paragraph
• Remember: no devices allowed, and no notes
• The only exception is that you may have a copy of the cognitive bias (Eng 9) / logical fallacies sheet (Eng 8), only if there is no handwriting on it. Otherwise, you may have a copy that is between the yellow box and the pencil sharpener.
• Please stagger your desks, and do not talk during the class. If you are done early, please hand it in, and then you may work on other projects, quietly. Remember to write your name.
• Feel free to use paper from the plastic drawers by the telephone
• You may access the dictionaries or thesauruses along the side of the class if you would like

• Here is your prompt for the in-class paragraph (English 9):
• "Write either a persuasive (argument) or narrative (story) paragraph in response to a specific cognitive bias of your choice"
• Here is your prompt for the in-class paragraph (English 8)
• "Write either a persuasive (argument) or narrative (story) paragraph in response to a specific logical fallacy of your choice"

Feb 4, 2026

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

• Checking in
• Recapping yesterday's answers for the bracket and Assignment 1
• Determining the "most powerful"
• Intro to narrative writing
• Literary terms
• Plot structure
• Children's book
• Imagery
• Two adjectives per noun
• Student example
• Narrative voice
• 1st or 3rd person?
• Past or present tense?
• Teacher example
• Freewrite - respond to a picture
• Write down your thoughts for a narrative response for Assignment 1
• What do you plan to write tomorrow? Make a plan
• Checking back in on Assignment 2
• What book are you thinking of?
• Who is your partner?