Oct 22, 2026

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

• Eng 9
• Checking in
• Reminder about the Independent Novel Study - if you want it to count on your midterm, it's time to start planning
• Student presentation
• Teacher notes
• Class discussion
• Freewrite
• There will be a quiz next week on Tuesday
• Make sure you're reading up to the proper moment
• Review literary terms:
• Characterization
• Thematic Statement
• Tone
• Symbolism
• Conflict (new)
• Part of the film
• Eng 12
• Checking in
• Reminder about the Independent Novel Study - if you want it to count on your midterm, it's time to start planning
• Life of Pi
• Background and reception
• Major themes
• Heads up about structure: this has a long exposition - it takes awhile to get going, but the themes its laying down are part of the whole book
• Reading first part aloud - don't skip the author's note, it matters in this one
• Quick philosophical point: why we read books
• Recapping A6
• Time to work
• Reminder: read chapters 1-5 by Monday

Oct 21, 2026

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

• Eng 9
• Checking in
• Hand in A5!
• I'll be deciding whether to keep A6 by tomorrow
• Student presentation
• Teacher notes
• Class discussion
• Reminder of A7
• Freewrite - What is your reaction to Maverick meeting Chris?
• Introducing the movie
• Eng 12
• Checking in
• I assume no one would be upset with me delaying A6 by one day?
• Anyone who didn't complete A5 yesterday can do it again on Tuesday
• Looking ahead to novel unit
• Distributing Life of Pi
• Vote on second book
• Born a Crime
• Adrift
• 1984
• Looking at the reading schedule (roughly 25 pages, 3 times a week)
• A7 - Literature presentation
• Determining the order
• A8 - Something creative
• A9 - Something in class
• A10 - Essay
• Recapping A6
• Time to work

Oct 20, 2026

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

• Eng 9
• Checking in
• Recapping of A5 instructions
• Recapping of reading plan
• Looking ahead: we'll be leaning into freewrites and watching the film
• Time to work on A5 - due tomorrow
• Eng 12
• Checking in
• Time to prepare for A5
• A5
• Post that inspired the article
• You have the right to dictionaries and thesaurus
• No talking or communicating

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

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

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

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