PICKING UP YOUR COMPUTERS

Hi everyone! I miss you all very much. Please fill out THIS FORM which we will start doing on a daily basis beginning 4/27.

Here is the information for SDUSD Laptop Distribution if you need a Chromebook.

On FRIDAY, APRIL 10TH, you can go to any of the following high schools to get your computer between 9 AM and 12:30 PM: 

• Clairemont 
• Crawford
• Hoover
• Lincoln
• Morse
• San Diego High
• Scripps Ranch 

The process:

• Please go to the school that's closest to your home. 
• Write your name and student ID number really big on a piece of paper (so it can be read from 6 feet away). 
• Try to wear a mask, scarf, or face covering. 
• You may walk or drive as there will be separate lines for people and cars. 

If you don't have internet at home:

• Your family can sign up for Cox internet. 
• Qualifying families within the Cox service area are encouraged to sign up for the Connect2Compete program offering free Cox installation and internet services for the next 60 days.
• Additional options will also be provided to you during your Chromebook laptop pick-up time.

Learning During School Closure

We can all be historians during this time away from school by journaling our observations and keeping a record of what's happening through our eyes.

Daily Assignment: 

• Last week I sent you home with your journal. If you were absent on Friday, use lined paper or your phone notepad. 
• Your job is to chronicle the changes you observe as your community, the country, and the world respond to COVID-19. 
• Each day, take note of what you are seeing and hearing on the news, among your friends, within your family, and in your community. 
• Feel free to use video, written language, poetry, sketches, etc. as you document your experience during this global pandemic. 
• The questions below are to guide your thinking. You do not need to respond to all of them. And, you are encouraged to ask your own questions.
• When we return to school, you will be asked to turn in your journal of daily observations for extra credit. 

Guiding Questions:

• What did the government announce/declare/implement today?
• Does it make sense?
• Does it impact your life? Why or why not?
• How did your family respond?
• What is open in your neighborhood? What is closed?
• What does your neighborhood look like? Are people walking around?
• How is today different from yesterday for you, your family, our nation, the world?
• Do you see any examples of racism, privilege, and income inequality in any of the events that happened today? (Locally, at the state level, nationally, or the world?)
• Did you see anything today that gave you hope? Anxiety? Fear? (In person, in the news, or on social media?)
• What does your family need today that you might not have, have enough of, or have no access to acquire?
• What do you and your family have that others may need?

Your unique daily observations will serve as primary sources to the people in the future. 

We can create a book of our journals so that others can see the world through our eyes. 

Be authentic. Be honest. Be reflective.

As always, email me if you have any questions: cdaniel@sandi.net 

Source: 

Bryan Shaw, Mt. Diablo Unified School District 

COVID-19 School Closure Information

Welcome! I miss you all already. 

School will remain closed until April 6th and this post will remain here with information you can use to catch up on missing, incomplete, or late work from the quarter. 

Hungry while school is closed? 

There are 8 locations around San Diego that will have free lunch and a packaged breakfast for you to take for the next day beginning Monday, 3/16 from 11 AM - 1 PM. 

• Clark Middle - 4388 Thorn St, San Diego, CA 92105
• Cherokee Point Elementary - 3735 38th St, San Diego, CA 92105
• Sherman Elementary School - 301 22nd St, San Diego, CA 92102
• Zamorano Fine Arts Academy - 2655 Casey St, San Diego, CA 92139
• Kearny High School - 1954 Komet Way, San Diego, CA 92111
• Walker Elementary School - 9245 Hillery Dr, San Diego, CA 92126
• Farb Middle - 4880 La Cuenta Dr, San Diego, CA 92124
• O' Farrell Charter School - 6130 Skyline Dr, San Diego, CA 92114

Completing Your Work From Home:

• I sent everyone home with a grade printout on Friday. 
• If you have a missing score, low score, or zero anywhere on that sheet it should be your goal to improve whatever you can over the next three weeks. 
• My biggest suggestion for you is to go through each text we've read and complete all of the activities for those texts at once so they are fresh in your mind. 
• I have also uploaded a DIGITAL copy of each text in Google Classroom in case you were absent or do not have a copy of that text in your binder. 
• You are not being held accountable for any extra work; just the work we have done up to Friday, 3/14.
• Anything you complete the next few weeks can be done on paper or in Google Classroom - just email me when it's done. 
• I'm happy to FaceTime or Google Hangout with anyone who needs 1:1 help finishing an assignment (Monday-Friday from 7:30 AM - 2:30 PM). 

cdaniel@sandi.net

Daily Journals: 

• A few of you asked for our daily journals to continue. I will upload a daily journal prompt each day at the top of the blog post. 
• You can find previous daily journals posted HERE (beginning Tuesday).
• I will be happy to give extra credit for anyone who continues their daily journal over the break, but this is not required. 

Reminders: 

Stay safe and wash your hands. Here are some resources for you:

• San Diego Unified COVID-19 Website
• Center for Disease Control Informational Website
• Tracking COVID Cases in San Diego
• San Diego Department of Health FAQ Sheets

Composing a Response

Goal: Compose your written response based on the claim and evidence map; begin a new text

Agenda: 
Journal
COVID-19 Update
Compose a Response
Reminders

1. Journal
If you were going to write about the most important moment in your life, what would that be?

2. COVID-19 Update 

• You can watch this news clip of COVID-19 coverage from CNN 10 
• You can find informational updates on the San Diego Unified plan HERE 
• Please click HERE to update your contact information in case remote learning happens 

3. Compose a Response 

• There is a question in Google Classroom for you to answer using the claims and evidence on your map. 
• Mr. C mentioned you guys struggled with this yesterday, so let's talk about it. 
• The question is: Can an author write about an experience they've never had directly? 
• Your job: Answer that with a YES or a NO and explain! 
• Yes, an author can write about an experience they've never have directly because ________________. 
• No, an author can not write about an experience they've never have directly because ________________. 

Reminders:
School will resume April 6th (unless the closure gets extended). Take care of yourself, wash your hands, and stay safe!

Using Evidence In a Written Response

Goal: Finish your backward outline and reflect on the criticism of Biss’ text

Agenda: 
Journal
Evidence Map
Compose a Response
Formative Reading
Reminders

1. Journal
Can an author write about something which they have never personally experienced?

2. Evidence Map 
Yesterday we began these evidence maps. I've included photos of our class models for 1st and 3rd period:

Period 1

Period 3

3. Compose a Response 

• There is a question in Google Classroom for you to answer using the claims and evidence on your map. 
• This is in the form of an essay question so it's your job to cite evidence from the map in your response!

4. Formative Reading 

• There is an assignment in Formative called "Relations" by Eula Biss 
• You will be reading and answering questions from just one section of the text. 
• Click here to access the assignment. 
• Be sure you click "sign in with Google" and use your sandi.net account to log in (it's also assigned to you in Google Classroom!)

Reminders:
I look forward to seeing you tomorrow! Enjoy your afternoon.

Evidence Map

Goal: Learn about different types of evidence and complete a backward outline of “Relations”

Agenda: 
Journal
Evidence Map
Formative Reading
Reminders

1. Journal
What do you think is the most important part of your identity?

2. Evidence Map 

• I will pass out the following evidence map to each of you. 
• You have seen this before in this class. 
• Today we're discussing claims and evidence Biss puts forth in her piece, "Relations" 

3. Formative Reading 

• There is an assignment in Formative called "Relations" by Eula Biss 
• You will be reading and answering questions from just one section of the text. 
• Click here to access the assignment. 
• Be sure you click "sign in with Google" and use your stu.sandi.net account to log in (it's also assigned to you in Google Classroom!)

Reminders:

• I will not be here tomorrow because I will be at an English department meeting. Be ready to work with Mr. Conaty on your evidence map and written response. 
• You can access the San Diego Unified updated info on COVID-19 HERE. They're keeping info updated and they will post if there are any school closures. 

Zooming into One Section of "Relations"

Welcome, Mr. Conaty! 

Goal: Zoom into one section of "Relations" and answer Exploring the Depths questions

Agenda: 

Journal
NTW Questions
Finish Your Précis
Reading on Formative

1. Journal 

How do our intersecting identities shape our perspectives and the way we experience the world? 

2. NTW Questions 

• Both 1st and 3rd period need to finish the NTW questions in Google Classroom.
• Work through these with Mr. Conaty. 
• Be sure to use complete sentences. 

3. Finish Your Précis

• On Friday, many of you did not get to the point where you were supposed to write a 4 sentence précis
• There is a document in Google Classroom where you should write your precis using the format we always use. 
• You know how to do this, so complete the precis for Eula Biss' piece, "Relations" 

3. Reading on Formative 

• There is an assignment in Formative called "Relations" by Eula Biss 
• You will be reading and answering questions from just one section of the text. 
• Click here to access the assignment. 
• Be sure you click "sign in with Google" and use your sandi.net account to log in (it's also assigned to you in Google Classroom!)

Reminders: 
Tomorrow is a short day. Can't wait to see you!

Zooming into "Relations"

Goal: Zoom into one section of "Relations" and answer Exploring the Depths questions

Agenda: 

Journal
Finish Your Précis
Reading on Formative
Grade Check

1. Journal 

How do the social groups we're part of contribute to who we are?

2. Finish Your Précis

• On Friday, many of you did not get to the point where you were supposed to write a 4 sentence précis
• There is a document in Google Classroom where you should write your precis using the format we always use. 
• You know how to do this, so complete the precis for Eula Biss' piece, "Relations" 

3. Reading on Formative 

• There is an assignment in Formative called "Relations" by Eula Biss 
• You will be reading and answering questions from just one section of the text. 
• Click here to access the assignment. 

Reminders: 
I'm taking 4th period on a field trip tomorrow so I will not see you. Mr. Conaty will be here and your job is to keep up with our work on "Relations."

Reading "Relations" Day 3

Welcome Ms. Natheos! 

Goal: Read the rest of "Relations" by Eula Biss and answer NTW questions

Agenda: 

Journal
Reading "Relations"
NTW Questions in Google Classroom
Writing a Rhetorical Precis 

1. Journal 

How do our group memberships contribute to our identity as individuals?

2. Read the rest of "Relations" 

• Today your job is to keep reading with Ms. Natheos
• Hopefully you can get through the rest of the text. 
• Stop and discuss as you read so you can ask questions and discuss with each other.

3. NTW Questions 

• There is an assignment posted in Google Classroom called "Navigating the Waters: Relations" 
• Try to finish these today. 
• You may work with people at your table. 

4. Writing a Rhetorical Precis 

• There is a document in Google Classroom where you should write a 4 sentence precis using the format we always use. 
• You know how to do this, so complete the precis for Eula Biss' piece, "Relations" 

Reminders: 
I will be back on Monday. I look forward to seeing you!

Reading Relations: Day 2

Welcome Mr. Obermeyer! 

Goal: Read up to paragraph 28 of "Relations" by Eula Biss and answer NTW questions

Agenda: 

Journal
Read up to Paragraph 28
NTW Questions in Google Classroom

1. Journal 

Do you think you see yourself in the same way others see you? 

2. Read Up to Paragraph 28 

• Today your job is to keep reading with Mr. Obermeyer. 
• Hopefully you can get up to paragraph 28. 
• Mr. Obermeyer can use cards to call on you so you all read together. 
• Stop and discuss to make sure you know what Biss is saying. 

3. NTW Questions 

• There is an assignment posted in Google Classroom called "Navigating the Waters: Relations" 
• Try to finish these today. 
• You may work with people at your table. 

Reminders: 

• I will not be here again tomorrow. 
• Refer to the blog for the assignments you need to complete. 

Relations by Eula Biss

Please refer to the blog while I'm out the next two days.
Everything you need is posted here.

Goal: Survey the new text and read sections 1-6 of “Relations” by Eula Biss

Agenda: 

Journal
Picking Up from Yesterday: Video Discussion

Survey the Text

Read the Text

1. Journal 

What do you think of the quote, “You are made up of the five people you spend the most time with?”

2. Video Discussion 

• Yesterday we began to watch a video clip in first period that showed young students being asked questions about a black and a white doll. 
• Today we're going to continue discussion about the video before we launch into our reading. 

3. Survey the Text 

• Look up: Eula Biss
• Who is she? 
• What kind of pieces does she write? 
• Do you think she has regret about anything she has written?
• Look up: 2008, United States 

4. Read Sections 1-6

• After getting context about the piece, let's begin reading. 
• This is a long piece so we're going to go section by section to gain understanding. 
• Today our goal is to finish the first six sections; tomorrow your goal will be to read the last portion of the text.

Reminders: 

• I will not be here tomorrow or Friday. 
• Refer to the blog for the assignments you need to complete. 
• Tomorrow you will have Mr. Obermeyer, a good friend of mine. 
• Please be kind and helpful to him.

What is Identity?

Goal: Establish definitions of identity and begin reading

Eula Biss' piece, "Relations"

Agenda: 

Journal 

Identity Chart 

Invisible/Visible Traits

Survey the Text

Read the Text

1. Journal 

What is identity?

2. Identity Chart

Create this chart in your journal to begin to uncover different parts of your identity: 

3. Visible/Invisible Traits

• Next to each trait, mark "v" for visible and "i" for invisible. 
• Ask yourself the following questions: 
• Were you surprised by any of your answers?
• How do these statements help you to better understand who you are as a person?
• What are the visible characteristics of your identity?
• What are the invisible characteristics?

4. Survey the Text 

• Look up: Eula Biss
• Who is she? 
• What kind of pieces does she write? 
• Do you think she has regret about anything she has written?
• Look up: 2008, United States 

5. Read the Text

After getting context about the piece, let's begin reading. This is a long piece so we're going to go section by section to gain understanding. 

Reminders: 

Tomorrow is a minimum day. 

Wrapping Up Education

Goal: Finish slides, Screencast, SOAPSTone, and venture into new “text”

Agenda: 
Journal
Finish Slides
Screencasting
SOAPSTone Form
Analyzing a New "Text"

1. Journal 
We are now in March and the quarter ends this month. What is one goal you have for yourself by then?

2. Finish Slides

• There is a slide deck template for you in Google Classroom called "Performance Task: How to Succeed"
• Your job is to complete the slide deck AND change the theme so it's personalized. 
• The rubric is posted to the right but there is an extra credit opportunity included for screencasting your slides.

3. Screencasting

• You can get extra credit for screencasting your slide presentation and sharing them with me. 
• If you get to a point where you are done with your slides early and want to aim for the extra credit, I highly encourage it. 
• Here are the steps you should follow: 

1. Go to Chrome extension store 
2. Download Screencastify as an extension 
3. Open up your slide presentation
4. Click on the Screencastify icon in the top right of your screen 
5. Allow access to the microphone and camera 
6. Record your slides 
7. Upload your video straight to Google Classroom 

4. SOAPSTone Form

• Complete this SOAPSTone Form for Tough's text, "How to Succeed" 
• You can work with people around you, but you are each responsible to fill in your own forms. 

5. Analyzing a New "Text" 

• Not all texts are made up of words like we've been reading. 
• There is an assignment in Google Classroom called "Navigating the Waters: Median Earnings by Education" that asks you to analyze a chart that shows how much money we make on average based on different education levels.  
• This is the chart on which the questions are based: 

Reminders: 
Have a fantastic week!

Performance Task: How to Succeed

Goal: Create slides that illustrate the main idea, claims, and evidence presented in Tough's piece and screencast your slides

Agenda: 
Journal
Finish Claim/Evidence Organizer
Google Slide Deck
Screencasting Tutorial
SOAPSTone Form

1. Journal 
How are you feeling today? Write about it.

2. Finish Claim and Evidence Organizer 

• Yesterday we filled in the claims and evidence but today we'll start with breaking down the main idea of the WHOLE text. 
• The main idea should be able to include ALL claims and evidence we've presented in our work.
• It should be vague enough to cover everything but include a relevant message. 
• Finding the main idea is the toughest part

3. Google Slide Deck 

• There is a slide deck template for you in Google Classroom called "Performance Task: How to Succeed"
• Your job is to complete the slide deck AND change the theme so it's personalized. 
• I will show you your rubric in class and upload it here later:

4. Screencasting Tutorial 

• You can get extra credit for screencasting your slide presentation and sharing them with me. 
• If you get to a point where you are done with your slides early and want to aim for the extra credit, I highly encourage it. 
• Here are the steps you should follow: 

1. Go to Chrome extension store 
2. Download Screencastify as an extension 
3. Open up your slide presentation
4. Click on the Screencastify icon in the top right of your screen 
5. Allow access to the microphone and camera 
6. Record your slides 
7. Upload your video straight to Google Classroom 

5. SOAPSTone Form

• Complete this SOAPSTone Form for Tough's text, "How to Succeed" 
• You can work with people around you, but you are each responsible to fill in your own forms. 

Reminders: 

• Today is the last day of the grading period. 
• If you are trying to turn anything in for a regrade, please give it to me no later than lunch today.
• Grades will be updated by 4 o clock today. 
• PROM IS TONIGHT! See you there!! 

Breaking Down Claims and Evidence

Goal: Break down the types of evidence Tough incorporates in his text, "How to Succeed"

Agenda: 
Journal
Survey
Finish Precis/Precis Check
Model: Claim and Evidence Organizer
Individual Meetings

*Take THIS SURVEY for a group that is coming to talk to our campus next week. You can be honest; your answers are confidential and only to help the group coming to speak with us. 

1. Journal 
If an author interviewed you for their book like Tough interviewed Kewauna, what do you think would be their main message about your life?

2. Finish Precis/Precis Check 

• Yesterday at the end of class we wrote a 4 sentence precis about Tough's piece, "How to Succeed." 
• If you did not finish, now is your chance. 
• If you did finish, please be ready to show it to me as I circle around the room. 

3. Modeling Claim and Evidence Organizer 
I'll show you how to navigate this organizer, but I will only do one example of a claim and one example of evidence with you. The other two will be yours to complete!

4. Working Independently 

• Your job is to finish the other two claims and evidence boxes AS WELL AS to make an attempt at figuring out the main idea of this piece. 
• Tough tells many stories in this text so this is actually the toughest part (lol)

5. SOAPSTone Form

• Complete this SOAPSTone Form for Tough's text, "How to Succeed" 
• You can work with people around you, but you are each responsible to fill in your own forms. 

Reminders: 
Tomorrow is the last day of the grading period. If you are trying to turn anything in for a regrade, please give it to me no later than lunch tomorrow. Grades will be updated before we head into the weekend.

Writing a Precis

The Book our Text is From

Goal: Finish reading "How to Succeed" and begin to think about Tough's main ideas on a deeper level

Agenda: 
Journal
Finish Reading
NTW Questions
Write a Precis

1. Journal 
When will you know you have achieved full success? Is it even possible? Explain.

2. Finish Reading 

• Yesterday we left off at the heading "Dropping Out" 
• Today we are going to read the last portion of the text together.

3. Navigating the Waters Questions 

• There are questions in Google Classroom called "Navigating the Waters: How to Succeed" that you started yesterday (we answered #1-3 together) 
• Today you will answer #4 on your own.
• Please realize that #4 is another multiple question in one, so you should have more than one sentence as your answer.

4. Write a Précis 

• We've been practicing with writing a 4 sentence precis. 
• Your job is to write one about Paul Tough's piece, "How to Succeed." 
• You can write it in your journal or type it and share it with me. 

Reminders: 
Don't forget - you can still buy your prom tickets today. I really hope to see you there!

How to Succeed

Goal: Finish reading "How to Succeed" and begin to think about Tough's main ideas on a deeper
level

Agenda: 
Journal
Video Interview
Finish Reading
NTW Questions
Write a Precis

1. Journal 
How do you overcome things that are challenging in life?

2. Video Interview 

• We'll start today by getting a little bit of background on Paul Tough, the author of our current text. 
• As we watch, compare him to the other two authors we've read in class. Do you agree with what he's saying? Do you like or dislike the way he thinks? 
• Here he's answering the question, "Is a college education as valuable as it once was to students?" 

3. Finish Reading 

• Yesterday we began reading but today we're going to work on finishing it. 
• We will read a little bit together, then you will read the rest with your tables. 

4. Navigating the Waters Questions 

• There are questions in Google Classroom called "Navigating the Waters: How to Succeed" 
• You can work on these alone or with your table group. 
• PLEASE NOTICE that #1, 2, and 4 all ask you two questions. That means you should have two different sentences for those answers, answering the whole thing.

5. Write a Précis 

• We've been practicing with writing a 4 sentence precis. 
• Your job is to write one about Paul Tough's piece, "How to Succeed." 
• You can write it in your journal or type it and share it with me. 

Reminders: 
Don't forget - you can still buy your prom tickets until tomorrow. I really hope to see you!

Starting a New Text

Goal: Begin reading "How to Succeed," the final text of our education unit

Agenda: 
Journal
Survey the Text
Read the Text
Respond to Questions

A quick note: 
Your stories were amazing and so many of you wrote heartfelt pieces that deeply moved me. I am still working on responding to all of them and since they are lengthier pieces, my goal is to have them to you by the end of this week. 

1. Journal 
What is one personal trait you have that helps you to be successful?

2. Survey the Text 
Before reading, let's ask ourselves:

• What is the background of the author who wrote this piece? 
• What predictions can I make based on the title of the piece? 
• Looking through the text, what proper nouns do I see?
• Does it seem like this piece includes lots of people, places, and things I know? 
• How can I sort the proper nouns to get more meaning? 

3. Read the Text 

• I'm giving you each a copy of "How to Succeed" by Paul Tough. 
• This is the last major text in our Education Unit and we will be moving on next week to start a totally new topic. 
• As we go, highlight different pieces of evidence Tough uses to support his main idea. 

4. Respond to Questions 

• There are questions posted in Google Classroom called "Navigating the Waters: How to Succeed." 
• Please try to finish these today by the end of the period. 
• 1st period, work with each other and Mr. G to finish the questions. I know you can do it! 

Reminders: 
Don't forget to buy your prom tickets. Prom is this Friday evening!

Peer Review our Writing

Goal: Read, peer review our writing to a specific audience, and finish the TED Talk précis

Agenda: 
Read
Submit Your Writing
Finish TED Talk + Précis
Peer Review
Powerschool Check-Up

1. Read 
We're starting our Friday with 20 minutes of reading to get in the zone, Starbooks style. No journal prompt today!

2. Submit Your Writing

• You have had all week dedicated to writing your letter to a specific audience. Today is the absolute last day it is due. 
• Your work should be typed and submitted to Google Classroom where I have an assignment called "Op-Ed: Fake News and Bias in Reporting" 

3. Finish TED Talk + Précis 

• Yesterday a few of you began the assignment to watch this TED Talk by Eduardo Zanetta but not everyone finished.
• Write a 4 sentence précis in your journal titled "Precis: Failure is a Part of Success" under today's journal entry
• I'm coming around to check your precis and stamp it for this week's journal score

Eduardo Zanetta's TED Talk

4. Peergrade

• We're going to check out our classmates' work and score them on a rubric online. 
• You will anonymously view three classmates' work and score them according to a set of questions. 
• Take your time and give genuine feedback that could help. 
• Follow the link in Google Classroom to peergrade to get started but wait for my direct instruction to go any further. 

5. Powerschool Check-Up
Check Powerschool and make up an assignment that you didn't do so well on. You can always request a regrade on any assignment that was done on paper or submitted online (just not verbal assignments like discussions).

Reminders: 
Have a great weekend. See you Monday!

Wrapping up Writing

Goal: Finish your writing about high school and watch a TED Talk

Agenda: 
Journal
Writing Time
TED Talk
Powerschool Check
Check Out a Book

1. Journal 
What's one piece of advice you would give a middle schooler about going to high school?

2. Writing 

• Today is yours to finish writing. 
• Remember, your letter is to a specific audience. Do not lose sight of that.
• Use your thesis planning document from yesterday to help you write. 
• Your final version should be typed and submitted to Google Classroom using the MLA formatted template I provided. 

Remember, the question you are answering is:

How does experiencing failure actually help the journey toward success?

3. TED Talk 

• Put on headphones and watch this TED Talk. 
• Write a 4 sentence précis in your journal titled "Precis: Failure is a Part of Success" under today's journal entry

Eduardo Zanetta's TED Talk 

4. Powerschool Check-Up

Check Powerschool and make up an assignment that you didn't do so well on. You can always request a regrade on any assignment that was done on paper or submitted online (just not verbal assignments like discussions).

5. Check out a Book

• Check out a book from the classroom library and read if you are finished with all of your work and have extra time. 
• However, I'd encourage you to go back and make sure all of your assignments are in a good place. 

Reminders: 
Be prepared to engage in a peer review of your writing tomorrow.