Hello Friends!

I’ve discovered that with eLearning there’s really not much reason for me to update the blog daily.  You have your lessons, most of you are pretty amazing at staying on top of things, and you don’t really seem to need Coach and I very much! (I’m not sure whether to be crazy proud or sad! LOL! ) So lets say this is our WEEKLY update instead of daily….though I’ll be back if there’s anything exciting that comes up!

I hope you all had a WONDERFUL long weekend and enjoyed Easter!  Today (Monday) was especially glorious, so I hope you basked in it!! I sure did…I spent the morning with a good book (still finishing Romanov Sisters…it’s pretty dense) and a cup of tea outside on my patio…which led to me working in my garden….now I’m updating things to have them ready for school tomorrow morning!

The weekly lesson plan has been updated, and it lays everything out:

We are slowly finishing up the last few things before we head into straight review.  It’s harder with you guys than WHAP — with WHAP I know they’ll get the stuff we don’t cover in APUSH next year….for you…whatever we don’t cover you just won’t get…so I’m struggling to let go of things.  It’s absolutely DESTROYING me not to have a discussion about MLK’s Birmingham letter…I would argue it is quite possibly the greatest piece of rhetoric ever written — the way he balances ethos, pathos and logos and twists his audience in his hands is amazing…even more so when you realize he wrote the whole thing on individual pieces of toilet paper, hotel note paper and the edges of newspapers, with circled numbers indicating the order the pieces should be typed.  Wow.

**A quick note on timing – As always, if you don’t finish an essay in the limited time frame, make sure you send it to us via email.  However, starting NEXT WEEK (not this week) we will begin taking 5 points off of any timed assignment you do not finish inside the time frame.  That’s not to be mean, but because a part of your preparation for the exam is practicing watching your time and making sure you’ve submitted within the expected time.  Remember, on the test, if you don’t SUBMIT inside the time you’re given your whole test will be a zero.

Anway, here’s your plan for this week (it’s all on Canvas too):

Finish reading and virtually discussing Letter from Birmingham through Hypothes.is. 

Watch the Video “A Time For Justice“ — it’s an overview of Civil Rights activities in the 1950s and 1960s.  It’s NOT fun to watch, I know — but it’s very important to be aware of the realities of those times. It’s also important to notice how rhetoric played into the Civil Rights Movement.  If we were in class we’d also spend time looking at how the rhetoric of Malcolm X and the Black Panthers differed from MLK’s version — and which was more effective (hint – you can argue both!).  After you finish, you’ll be writing a “raw” mini DBQ response using the video as your document, so make sure you pay attention.

Write an RA over MLK’s Letter from Birmingham – The full letter  is much longer than a normal RA source would be, but we felt like it has SOOOOOO much you can talk about that it needed to be read in its entirety.  To help, we’ve given you almost the full time amount, but you’ve already spent DAYS analyzing the letter…. Also, you MAY use the online Hypothes.is version while you write if you’d like — but remember, the time limit is firm.  Don’t spend so long looking for examples in the document that you don’t finish.  My suggestion would be to write the essay from memory and only use the written form to look up specific little examples.

DBQ Review Videos – These are posted on Canvas.  One is me going over the new test format for AP Histories, the other is a video review of how to write a DBQ.  The DBQ Video review uses WHAP content (Mongols, Japan, Rome), but the structure is exactly the same as APUSH.  Feel free to watch these or just skim through — you know how much you need.  I’ve also added a page to this blog on how to write the DBQ if you’d rather read through it than write. (The written page uses APUSH content instead of WHAP).

Membean – 30 minutes

Assessments (what’s due to prove you’re working):

• Letter from Birmingham Interactive Analysis — Graded
• Letter from Birmingham RA  – Graded
• A Time for Justice DBQ Practice – Reviewed, not graded
• Membean – Graded (Cumulative)

Remember I’m around every day from 9-11AM and from 1- 3pm too — drop me a line if you have a question, concern, or just want to say hi! I miss you all!  Teaching a computer screen isn’t 1/3 as interesting as teaching YOU!!

Have a great week!

Ciao…

Ms. T

What a NIGHT!!  So much information!! AP hosted a “nationwide conference” (we (the AP teachers) called it our “online date with Trevor Packer” (he’s the head of AP)) to give us SOME of the details on the “New and Improved ” AP tests you will be taking.  Here are the details I know:

1. Each test is one 45 minute essay (RA for APLANG and DBQ for APUSH) The DBQ will be modified from the usual one.  Instead of 7 docs there will only be 5, and there will be a modified rubric — but I don’t get to see that until Friday afternoon at some point. For LANG the RA is exactly what you have been working on all year.  I’m happy.  You guys should ROCK THIS! The DBQ is really the easiest of the essays to write — It’s essentially a historical argument where you use a couple of sources — I think it’s a LOT better than the “3 SAQs” everyone else was predicting because SAQs come down to “do you know THIS thing…” DBQ leaves a lot of open room for you to show WHAT you know. The RA isn’t a surprise — it’s the most “AP Lang” of the English essays, so we figured that was coming.  You should be fine – we’ve practiced it more than anything else.
2. Your tests are: 
   1. APLANG is on May 20 at 1:00pm
   2. APUSH is on May 15 at 1:00pm.
   3. Those are FIRM times, so start getting ready now — make sure you have Wifi, a reliable device (can be a laptop, desktop, iPad, or phone), and that you can be uninterrupted for that hour.  If you have a problem with any of those things — please let me know.  CB asked us to share this site: cb.org/tech.  If you need help with Wifi or a device, please don’t hesitate to use the site to ask for one…You paid a lot for these tests, and they want to make sure you have what you need!
3. It’s 45 minutes HARD STOP.  The timer starts when you open the question, and when it stops at 45 minutes you have to have finished writing AND UPLOADED YOUR ESSAY. PERIOD.  So those of you who like to push time in class, writing up until the last possible second (and after…”I’m just writing my naaaaammmmee”) are going to HAVE to cut it short.  That also means it would be really good for you to get a timer or stop watch to keep time for you.
4. I get to see your essays!! Yay!! Normally after you take the test none of us ever see your essays again.  This year, since you are uploading them, I will get them sent to me by College Board on or before May 26.  I won’t know your score by then – I won’t even know how CB will be scoring them — but I’ll get to see them to know if you were way off the mark — or if you took a nap!
5. PLEASE BE CAREFUL!  CB is taking cheating REALLY seriously.  Apparently some people have been posting on Twitter and Reddit ways they are planning to cheat on the tests.  Mr. Packer told us tonight that CB is taking records of all cheating and “plans to cheat” and will be reporting students to “every college they have submitted or do submit SAT or PSAT scores to.”  That’s a serious problem for you getting into college — so PLEASE don’t play around with it.  Do your best – you’re going to be fine.

OK, so there’s more information coming out throughout the day on Friday.  Coach and I will work together Monday morning to process through everything and start planning the future.  Next week we will continue moving forward,  focusing on the 1950s, and end the week starting our Civil Rights study.   Even though the content we are covering isn’t on the test, we will be focused on using that content to develop the skills you DO need.  After next week we’ll start reviewing more aligned to the actual test.  Don’t forget to finish up this week’s work by Sunday night.

Have a great Friday!

Ms. T

The old saying is that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb… lets hope that’s true and April will be a recovery time so we can get back to normal in a healthy way!

As we head into our 3rd week of eLearning, you guys already know the drill.  In fact, some of you know the drill so well you are already ahead of the game! (Shout out to Aditya who already completed Wednesday’s lesson before we even posted it! WOOT! WOOT!) To help those of you who are less speedy, here’s the lay of the land.  This week you are expected to complete:

1. APUSH Content over the post-WWII transition to the Cold War.  Remember those Century videos you guys liked? The ones that are Peter Jennings narrating and real video footage?  I linked that to you for your overview.  I also made a copy — same video — with my comments and pointers embedded through edPuzzle.  You can use either one or the AMSCO readings – your choice.  Just take general notes.
2. There’s a new assignment on your Insert Learning login — you’ll be reading “The Lottery” and answering some questions as you go.  It’s a great story — I can’t wait to hear what you think.
3. Remember Arthur Miller who wrote The Crucible which we watched at the beginning of the year? He wrote an article when the movie was being filmed to explain why he wrote THAT play in the middle of the Red Scare.  You’ll be writing an RA over an excerpt from his explanation.  The RA is timed, so please do your best to follow the instructions and submit the RA through the quiz site.  If for some reason you can’t do that, you can always send us the link.  (**Taking more than 40 minutes just hurts you…we’re trying to help you get ready for the new AP test)
4. Membean

As always you can complete these in whatever order you’d like.  We’ve broken them down day by day on this lesson plan for you – but you can always navigate through the module using the “next” and “previous” buttons and work on any assignment any day.  Just remember it is all due by Sunday at 11:59pm.

We’ve taken your personal blogs OFF the assignment list, but we are really enjoying reading them.  If you want to keep writing them, we’d love to keep reading! We miss you guys, and love to “hear” your voice through your writing.

Have a great week — stay safe and wash your hands!

KT

Good Morning!  —

Just a quick update today!  From those who have checked in it sounds like the Insert Learning extension is working well — I’m glad to hear that.  We’ll keep working with ways to get you information in as interesting a way as possible.

Remember, we’ve tried to keep your work load down, (rather than filling the whole 240 minutes for 2 AP classes), but we DO expect you to complete what is assigned.  Here’s a recap:

• World War II Noteguide  (use the “InsertLearning” extension to complete the WWII Noteguide, then submit it to the Canvas dropbox that you will find under the “Today” button.)
• 30 minutes of Membean — same as every week!  This will start your cumulative Membean grade in the gradebook, and there’s no excuse this time — you have PLENTY of time at home!!
• 3 Personal blogs — remember, the point of these blogs is to look at the Coronavirus crisis from your own personal interest lens.  That might require you to do some research — look at the news and figure out how the crisis is impacting your specific interests.  For example, if you are interested in business, the news stories today about unemployment numbers might be something you write about.  If you’re interested in entertainment, maybe you focus on how entertainers are adapting to the inability to have an audience.

Drop Coach and I a line if you need anything, or just want to check in! I always like to hear from you!

GET OUT AND ENJOY THE SUNSHINE  – BUT DO IT SOCIALLY DISTANCED FROM EVERYONE ELSE! Miss you guys — hope you’re well.

KT

Hello all —

We’re at the halfway point of the week — well, not really, since you technically have until Sunday, but I’m hoping you’ll finish by Friday and enjoy a delightful weekend off!

First things first — big thanks to Sirisha who tried to turn in her Noteguide and discovered I hadn’t posted the dropbox!  As the rest of you finish, I’ve created the dropbox under the “Today” button on Canvas.  (Nick T – there’s also a link there specifically for you about how to create an Edublog!)

Now that we’ve sorted THAT out, I’m still eager to hear how the Google chrome extension is working? Can I use it again for next week’s lesson? Thoughts?

(To do the Noteguide, we’re trying out a new technology, the Chrome extension “InsertLearning.”  Basically this extension allows us to make any website “interactive,” by adding questions, discussion boards, sticky notes, and highlighting important information.  For this week I’ve set it up so you will use the noteguide to prove you’ve gotten the information, but in the future we’ll just use your responses on the websites themselves instead of the note guide.)

Also remember your 30 minutes of Membean (I just did mine tonight while camped out in the kitchen waiting for my daughter to have a virtual cheer practice.  I can’t believe that’s a real thing…ahhh how Corona has changed the world!) and you need to post 3 personal blogs about the CoronaCrisis from your own specific point of view. (Perhaps my point of view would be how it is changing sports — McKenna are you having virtual soccer practices??)

Drop Coach and I a line if you need anything, or just want to check in! I always like to hear from you! I’ll be on ZOOM between 10 – 11 if you want to stop by!

GET OUT AND ENJOY THE SUNSHINE  – BUT DO IT SOCIALLY DISTANCED FROM EVERYONE ELSE! Miss you guys — hope you’re well.

KT

I am so ready for a sunny day…today’s “partly sunny” will have to do!

I’m eager to hear from any of you how the Google chrome extension is working?

(To do the Noteguide, we’re trying out a new technology, the Chrome extension “InsertLearning.”  Basically this extension allows us to make any website “interactive,” by adding questions, discussion boards, sticky notes, and highlighting important information.  For this week I’ve set it up so you will use the noteguide to prove you’ve gotten the information, but in the future we’ll just use your responses on the websites themselves instead of the note guide.)

Has anyone started yet? If so – drop us a line and let us know how it’s going!

Remember to also be working through Membean (30 minutes this week) and that you need to post 3 personal blogs about the CoronaCrisis from your own specific point of view.

Drop Coach and I a line if you need anything, or just want to check in! I always like to hear from you!

Ciao..

Ms. T

Hello Friends!!

Whew! I took the weekend to UN-PLUG and I strongly encourage you to do the same thing next weekend! I put away my computer and didn’t even check email all weekend (well, until Sunday night!). It was great.  I learned how to make crepes (and I ended up actually pretty good!) I put together a 1000 piece puzzle,  I did yard work, I watched a TV show on Hulu (Private Lives of the Monarchs from the BBC)  that told me more about the English monarchs than I ever needed to know (I saw Queen Victoria’s underwear?!?!).  So while I apologize for not answering your emails, I come back entirely refreshed!

Now for you — Congratulations — you are now EXPERT online students with a whole week under your belts! Be sure to appropriately mock any friends in Plano who are total newbies this week — just do it gently because we’re all in this together!

The short form: (or in online lingo TL;DR) 

Check THIS form for your assignments.  By Friday (which really means Sunday at 11:59)  you need to have completed 30 minutes of Membean, completed at least 3 personal blog entries (Nick B, McKenna, Nick T and Anya — we do not have your blog link yet! PLEASE SEND THOSE TODAY OR WE HAVE TO COUNT YOU ABSENT!), and you will be completing a lesson on World War II on THIS Noteguide.

To do the Noteguide, we’re trying out a new technology, the Chrome extension “InsertLearning.”  Basically this extension allows us to make any website “interactive,” by adding questions, discussion boards, sticky notes, and highlighting important information.  For this week I’ve set it up so you will use the noteguide to prove you’ve gotten the information, but in the future we’ll just use your responses on the websites themselves instead of the note guide.

To set up the extension, follow the instructions at the top of the noteguide. If you have any problems, let us know.

Other things to know about this week:

1. AP Tests — UGGGGH. I wish I knew what to tell you.  Like my email said, College Board has decided that ALL AP tests will be 45 minutes long, JUST writing (no multiple choice), and will be taken at home.  I have no idea how it’s going to work, and don’t know anything about what KIND of writing.  I SUSPECT for APUSH it will be either all SAQs or maybe SAQ+ a shortened form of LEQ? Or maybe something entirely new! For APLANG the general consensus is that it will be an RA, though it could be an Argument, or it might be a shortened form of synthesis or some new thing they come up with.  In short, we have no idea.  I will let you know as SOON as I know.  For APUSH they’ve said it will only cover units 1-7 (so basically up to the end of World War II and the beginning of the Cold War.) We are considering how to move forward and would love to hear your thoughts — so I’m making a Google Form here for you to give us quick feedback.  I know what WE think, but we want to know what you want.

Overall, expect more writing as we move forward to help practice for the exams.

Reach out to us if you need anything.  Holtrop and I are working on some new stuff for next week for the cold war that will hopefully be fun(ish).

That’s all I’ve got! Have a great Monday!

Ciao…

Ms. T

You made it!! It’s FRIDAY!!

We’re wrapping up our week of review, and next week we will be jumping back into new content.  Don’t stress about reading over the weekend, though — Holtrop and I are having to do some serious shuffling of the calendar, so we’ll have a new lesson plan and new ways of getting content to you starting next Monday.

Also, as per Mrs. Redden’s email last night, procrastinators everywhere are celebrating!!  The deadline for work is now SUNDAY night at 11:59 (not Friday).  Remember, the 9 weeks ends today, so that deadline is a HARD STOP.  GRades have to go in and be final by Tuesday Morning.

As we close out this week:

1. Make sure you have a blog post from every day (Tuesday – Friday). Make sure you’ve read the instructions HERE.  (Some of you still haven’t sent us your links, and some of you are posting great thoughts but not showing a clear POV — make sure your POV is clear!) You can take as much or as little time as you’d like on this, but make sure you have at least one solid, AP level paragraph per day. Also, if you haven’t done it yet, (yes, there are still some who haven’t…)  please email the link to your blog to both Holtrop and Taylor.
2. Go to myap.collegeboard.org and work on your APLANG Unit 6 Personal Progress Check.  It must be finished by 11:59 on Sunday night in order for you to get attendance credit.
3. You need 30 minutes of Membean by Sunday at 11:59 – the first time you log onto Membean TODAY it will give you your 9 weeks Membean quiz.  This quiz can be reset ONE time if you email to request the reset during office hours Today (9-11am or 1-3pm).  That means if you take the quiz after 3 on Friday the grade stands.
4. Your DBQ rewrite is due by 11:59pm on Friday IF you choose to do it. (Remember, rewriting is always an option, never required.)   Email the corrected DBQ to Taylor before 11:59 on Friday night.

Coach is working on finishing grading your Argument essays now, and will scan them and send them to you ASAP so that you have a chance to do corrections on those as well.  We talked Thursday afternoon, and I think his plan is to get them to you by Friday so you will be able to do corrections by Monday if you need to.

If you want to stop by and say Hi, I’ll be on Zoom today drinking a cup of tea and waiting to chat from 1:30 – 2:30.  Feel free to stop by if you have questions or just want to say Hi!

Holtrop and I will both be monitoring our emails as well, so you can send us messages there as well.  Feel free to reach out and break up our monotony!

Have a great Friday and a wonderful weekend!!

Ciao…

Taylor

So this is going to be a LONG adventure!  I’m sure you’ve heard by now that FISD has extended our digital learning experiment all the way to April 3.  Figuring out how to teach an AP class online is one thing…figuring out how to make AMSTUD something of its former self is…well..another.  But Coach and I are ON THE CASE!  We will be doing all we can to make the next few weeks engaging, fun, and educational — all without spreading a virus!

For this week, though, remember Frisco ISD has declared this week a “week of review,” so we are focusing on making sure technology works  reviewing content. On that note, if you have tech questions or concerns — this is the week to speak up and let us know!

Speaking of this week:

Officially: THIS page has a list of your assignments.  You are EXPECTED to do each assignment on the day it’s assigned (hence the “suggested due dates.) Remember the catch is that everything is technically “DUE” 11:59pm on Friday night.  Completing these assignments will give you attendance credit for the week. (For a much longer and more drawn out explanation, go read Monday’s blog post.)

For today, here’s your assignment:

1. Complete your own blog post for today (yep, again….every day.  That’s what a journal IS.)  Make sure you’ve read the instructions HERE.  (Some of you still haven’t sent us your links, and some of you are posting great thoughts but not showing a clear POV — make sure your POV is clear!) You can take as much or as little time as you’d like on this, but make sure you have at least one solid, AP level paragraph per day. Also, if you haven’t done it yet, please email the link to your blog to both Holtrop and Taylor.
2. Go to myap.collegeboard.org and work on your APUSH Unit 6 Personal Progress Check.  It must be finished by 11:59 on Friday night in order for you to get attendance credit.
3. You need 30 minutes of Membean by Friday at 11:59 – the first time you log onto Membean on Friday it will give you your 9 weeks Membean quiz.  This quiz can be reset ONE time if you email to request the reset during office hours on Friday (9-11am or 1-3pm).  That means if you take the quiz after 3 on Friday the grade stands.
4. Your DBQ rewrite is due by 11:59pm on Friday IF you choose to do it. (Remember, rewriting is always an option, never required.)   Email the corrected DBQ to Taylor before 11:59 on Friday night.

Coach is working on finishing grading your Argument essays now, and will scan them and send them to you ASAP so that you have a chance to do corrections on those as well.  We’ll keep you posted.

If you want to stop by and say Hi, I’ll be on Zoom today drinking a cup of tea and waiting to chat from 10 – 11am.  Feel free to stop by if you have questions or just want to say Hi!  (Demand Wednesday was non-existent.  I think my only visitor was Ayan who might have set an alarm to ask me a single question! I won’t be back on in the afternoon, but if you want to set up a one on one tutorial, feel free to email me!)

Holtrop and I will both be monitoring our emails as well, so you can send us messages there as well.  Feel free to reach out and break up our monotony!

Have a great Thursday!

Ciao…

Taylor

Back for Day 2?!  I’m so glad to “see” you again!

Remember, Frisco ISD has declared this week a “week of review,” so we can’t take any grades on new content, so we’re focusing on making sure technology works and we are ready to dig in next week (on campus or off.) On that note, if you have tech questions or concerns — this is the week to speak up and let us know!

Speaking of this week:

Officially: THIS page has a list of your assignments.  You are EXPECTED to do each assignment on the day it’s assigned (hence the “suggested due dates.) Remember the catch is that everything is technically “DUE” 11:59pm on Friday night.  Completing these assignments will give you attendance credit for the week. (For a much longer and more drawn out explanation, go read yesterday’s blog post.)

For today, here’s your assignment:

1. Complete your own blog post for today (yep, again….every day.  That’s what a journal IS.)  Make sure you’ve read the instructions HERE.  You can take as much or as little time as you’d like on this, but make sure you have at least one solid, AP level paragraph per day. Remember to make it clear what “lens” you are looking through.  Also, if you haven’t done it yet, please email the link to your blog to both Holtrop and Taylor.
2. Go to myap.collegeboard.org and work on your APLANG Unit 4 Personal Progress Check.  A couple of you are already done (Shout out Ayan and Sarvesh!!).  It must be finished by 11:59 on Friday night in order for you to get attendance credit.
3. You need 30 minutes of Membean by Friday at 11:59 – the first time you log onto Membean on Friday it will give you your 9 weeks Membean quiz.  This quiz can be reset ONE time if you email to request the reset during office hours on Friday (9-11am or 1-3pm).  That means if you take the quiz after 3 on Friday the grade stands.
4. Your DBQ rewrite is due by 11:59pm on Friday IF you choose to do it. (Remember, rewriting is always an option, never required.)   Email the corrected DBQ to Taylor before 11:59 on Friday night.

Coach is working on finishing grading your Argument essays now, and will scan them and send them to you ASAP so that you have a chance to do corrections on those as well.  We’ll keep you posted.

If you want to stop by and say Hi, I’ll be on Zoom today drinking a cup of tea and waiting to chat from 9 -10am.  Feel free to stop by if you have questions or just want to say Hi!  Depending on demand (lol…) I may be back again in the afternoon from 2-3pm.   My WHAP kids will be coming by too, but the more the merrier!

Holtrop and I will both be monitoring our emails as well, so you can send us messages there as well. (Hopefully we won’t scare Microsoft tomorrow, and we will be able to respond to you via email!) Feel free to reach out and break up our monotony!

Have a great Wednesday!

Ciao…

Taylor