Wednesday, 18 February 2026

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

Tuesday, 17 February 2026

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

Thursday, 12 February 2026

Feb 12, 2026

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

Wednesday, 11 February 2026

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?

Tuesday, 10 February 2026

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

Monday, 9 February 2026

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?

Friday, 6 February 2026

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