Friday, 13 November 2026

Nov 13, 2026

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

  • Eng 9
    • Checking in
    • Important note: all missing or redone work must be done before Thursday, November 19th, for it to count towards the midterm
      • List of missing work
    • Progress report: where do we stand in this process?
    • Reminder of criteria for final submission
    • Prep for essay
      • How to make a Works Cited List
      • Mr. McLean's Writing tips
      • Peer editing evidence
        • The best thing is for someone to write all over your essay, offering advice
        • The second best thing is for someone to leave a final note
        • The least best thing is to take a picture of someone looking at your work
    • Time to work
    • Monday, hand in your essay - we'll start on Shakespeare!
  • Eng 12
    • Checking in
    • Silent reading
    • Small change in reading schedule
    • Small change to the essay assignment
    • Important note: all missing or redone work must be done before Thursday, November 19th, for it to count towards the midterm
      • List of missing work
    • Student presentations are delayed - renewed presentation schedule
    • Time to focus on creative write:
      • Discussion: when you tell a story, how much do you embellish? Do you think a lie can tell a story more truthfully?
      • Beginning of Big Fish and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
      • Choose your story
        • Do you want to make the mundane remarkable?
        • Do you want to make a pivotal moment as big as it felt?
      • Choose how you might turn it into a tall tale
        • What genre? What tone?
    • For Monday:
      • Come to class knowing the true story, and the direction you want to take the tall tale

Tuesday, 10 November 2026

Nov 12, 2026

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

  • Eng 9
    • This is time for you to finish your rough draft of the essay on The Hate U Give
    • Tomorrow, come to class with a complete rough draft. We'll work on peer editing and citations
  • Eng 12
    • This is a work period. Three things you might work on today:
      • Begin brainstorming your topic and question for Assignment 10 - the essay (note: if you haven't finished the novel, you're not expected to get very far, but it's worth writing some beginning ideas)
      • Begin brainstorming ideas for your Assignment 9 - the tall tale
      • Read the novel

Nov 10, 2026

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

  • Eng 9
    • Checking in
    • Recapping assignment instructions
    • How to write a paragraph
    • How to write a conclusion
    • Examples
    • Time to write
    • Distributing Much Ado About Nothing
  • Eng 12
    • Checking in
    • It's possible I won't be here on Thursday - if that's the case, start turning your attention to Assignment 9 and 10
    • Time to gather your wits
    • In-class paragraph time!
    • Tips:
      • Make your argument specific and debatable
      • Use varied, integrated quotes for support
      • Spend as much time as you can analysing the quotes: if the basic writing foundation is set, this is where the points are

Monday, 9 November 2026

Nov 9, 2026

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

  • Eng 9
    • Checking in
    • Recapping essay instructions
    • How to write an introduction
    • Example of an introduction
    • Time to work: your goal today is to complete your plan and your introduction
    • Tomorrow, we'll work on body paragraphs 1 and 2
  • Eng 12
    • Checking in
    • Student presentation
    • Teacher notes
    • Time to prepare for your in-class paragraph tomorrow. You may:
      • Read
      • Prepare your page of notes
      • Practice writing a paragraph
      • Show me your paragraph response

Friday, 6 November 2026

Nov 6, 2026

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

  • Eng 9
    • Checking in
    • Reminder about independent novel project
    • Missing work list
    • Student presentation
    • Finishing the film
    • Recapping essay instructions
    • Time to work - your goal is to complete the plan
  • Eng 12
    • Checking in
    • Reminder about independent novel project
    • Missing work list
    • Silent reading - I'll be phasing this out soon
    • Student presentation
    • Teacher notes
      • Note the sudden shift in book style
      • Changes from importance of theme to imagery and tone
    • Freewrite - trying out imagery
    • Time to prep for Tuesday's in class paragraph
      • Reminder of paragraph structure and example
      • Mr. McLean's writing tips
      • Practice writing a response
        • Teacher example of a paragraph response to class example
      • Reminder: notes have to be individual

Thursday, 5 November 2026

Nov 5, 2026

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

  • Eng 9
    • Checking in
    • (AM: Immunization forms)
    • Would you like an explanation of the US Midterms?
    • Student presentation(s)
    • Teacher notes
    • Discussion: what did you think of the book?
    • Returning quizzes - right to challenge and redo (a different quiz)
    • Film
    • Reaction
    • Start on plan - tomorrow our job is to complete it by the end of the lesson
  • Eng 12
    • Checking in
    • Returning some late assignments
    • Silent reading
    • Student presentation
    • Teacher notes
    • Freewrite

Wednesday, 4 November 2026

Nov 4, 2026

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

  • Eng 9 - Take your kids to work day
  • Eng 12
    • Checking in
    • Silent reading
    • Did you want an explanation of the US Midterms last night?
    • Writing lesson - sentence structure
      • If in doubt, keep things simple.
      • Other than that, this will be an activity to make complex sentences
      • Reviewing basics of sentence structures
      • Activity - slowly building a complex sentence
    • In-class paragraph details and practice
      • Reviewing paragraph structure
      • Reviewing literary terms
      • Best things to have on your notes:
        • Literary term meanings and examples
        • My feedback for your writing so far
        • Notes from the novel

Tuesday, 3 November 2026

Nov 3, 2026

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

  • Eng 9
    • Checking in
    • Student presentation
    • Teacher notes
    • Discussion
    • Film
    • Reaction
  • Eng 12
    • Checking in
    • Life mirrors English 12
    • A5 for those who missed it
    • Silent reading
    • Returning to yesterday's discussion - freewrite
    • Returning A6
      • The right to challenge remains, but I won't be accepting redos for this one.
    • Writing practice - vocabulary
    • In-class paragraph details and practice
      • Reviewing paragraph structure
      • Reviewing literary terms
      • Best things to have on your notes:
        • Literary term meanings and examples
        • My feedback for your writing so far
        • Notes from the novel

Monday, 2 November 2026

Nov 2, 2026

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

  • Eng 9
    • Checking in
    • Student presentation(s)
    • Teacher notes
    • Freewrite
    • Checking in on the essay plan
    • Walk?
    • Film!
  • Eng 12
    • Checking in
    • Silent reading
    • Student presentation
    • Teacher notes
    • Freewrite
    • Walk?
    • Writing lesson
    • Tomorrow will be A5 for those who missed it

Friday, 30 October 2026

Oct 30, 2026

 Happy Halloween!

  • Eng 9
    • Quick lecture from Mr. McLean: firecrackers are bad
    • Lesson from Ms. Atkins
  • Eng 12
    • Checking in
    • Time for those to write A5 who need to
    • Clarification on what redoing A5 would look like
    • Silent reading
    • Student presentation
    • Teacher notes
    • Freewrite
    • Overton window videos!
    • Lesson on writing skills - vocabulary
    • The Monster Mash!

Thursday, 29 October 2026

Oct 29, 2026

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

  • Eng 9
    • Checking in
    • Student presentation (AM)
    • Teacher notes
    • Class discussion
    • Freewrite
    • Pivot to essay
      • Recapping criteria
      • Structure of an essay
      • How to make a plan
      • Time to brainstorm
    • Movie, if time
  • Eng 12
    • Checking in
    • Silent reading
    • Recapping upcoming assignments
    • Teacher presentation
      • Religion is hard to talk about!
      • Heads up on Wikipedia - I'm a big fan
      • Religious make up of the world
      • Hinduism
      • Islam
      • Christianity
      • Atheism
      • Agnosticism
      • Discussion: 
        • What role does religion play in your life? Or: how do you feel about religion's role in your world?
    • Teacher notes from yesterday
      • Freewrite
    • Handing back A5! 
      • Right to challenge
      • Right to redo
    • Missing Overton videos!
    • Tomorrow, anyone missing A5 can do their response

Wednesday, 28 October 2026

Oct 28, 2026

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

  • Eng 9
    • Checking in
    • Rejigging the next few days, for a student teacher lesson
    • List of missing work
    • Returning A5
      • Right to challenge
      • Right to redo
      • Please put them up!
    • Student presentation
    • Teacher notes
    • Class discussion
    • Freewrite
    • Film and reaction
  • Eng 12
    • Checking in
    • We have a bit of time in tomorrow's lesson - what writing skill would you like to practice
    • Student presentation
    • Teacher notes
    • Class discussion (if time)
    • Freewrite (if time)
    • First reactions to the novel

Tuesday, 27 October 2026

Oct 27, 2026

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

  • Eng 9
    • Check in
    • Reminder: tomorrow is Collab PM
    • Time to prepare
    • Quiz!
    • If time, we'll watch part of the movie
  • Eng 12
    • Check in
    • Checking on A5 redo
    • Reminder: tomorrow is Collab PM
    • Time to get your videos in, and prepare your written response
    • Overton window videos!
      • After each one, we'll have a discussion on your idea
      • I'll be marking as we go, and I'll hand back the marks tomorrow
    • Life of Pi
      • Upcoming assignments
      • A heads up: religion is hard to talk about!
      • Discussion: what place does religion have in your life?
      • Primer on religions
      • Time to read

Monday, 26 October 2026

Oct 26, 2026

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

  • Eng 9
    • Checking in
    • Debriefing Provincial Election Results
    • Student presentation(s)
    • Teacher notes
    • Class discussion
    • Freewrite
    • Returning A3
      • Sorry about my handwriting
      • Right to redo
      • Right to challenge
    • Part of the film
    • Reaction
    • Reminder: quiz tomorrow! To prepare:
      • Read up to and including Chapter 17
      • Understand:
        • Thematic statement
        • Symbolism
        • Characterization
        • Tone
        • Conflict
  • Eng 12
    • Checking in
    • Debriefing Provincial Election Results
    • Recapping presentation criteria
    • Structure for each lesson:
      • Student presentation
      • Teacher notes
      • Class discussion
      • Freewrite
    • Teacher presentation
    • Class discussion
    • Initial thoughts on the novel
    • Time for A6
    • Coming up
      • Tomorrow, we'll show the videos. Please send them before the lesson. We'll discuss everyone's ideas
      • Tomorrow, anyone who didn't complete A5 can
      • Wednesday, read the next section

Thursday, 22 October 2026

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

Wednesday, 21 October 2026

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

Tuesday, 20 October 2026

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

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