Syllabus starting March 30
GREETINGS, ONLINE SCHOLARS! Our administration is attempting to make online learning more manageable for all of us, creating a split-day schedule. In a typical week, our English class falls on GREEN days, and except for shortened weeks, we will run class twice a week. BLUE days are when your other classes meet. And GREY days are set aside for longer term projects, and office hours where you can communicate with teachers (via email, phone, video-conferencing). To help you manage this schedule, I will keep our calendar as it has been both here on Squarespace and on Canvas. I hope this well help you better manage your time, and give you more time to focus in the weeks to come.
MONDAY: NO CLASSES
No classes will meet today. Teachers are conferencing with the Administration and making adjustments to their courses to fit with the new schedule the Administration has created.
I should have the new syllabus up by seven pm on Monday night.
TUESDAY: OUR FIRST GREY DAY
Students should check the syllabus for week-long assignments and activities . You have this entire day to plan for your own learning.
The English Department will keep office hours on GREY days from 12:50-1:50. I will either be responding to email live, or be hosting a live Q&A via Zoom, or possibly both.
Teachers are using this day for planning the week and grading materials.
HW: You should have read chapter 18 already in GE. Review it before we meet for class today. In the chapter, Pip meets the mysterious Mr. Jaggers who had an astounding proposal for Pip, who discovers “a liberal benfactor” who wants a better life for Pip. What impact will this “new life” have on Pip and what he has learned from Joe? Speaking of which…what has Joe taught Pip so far? What is Pip’s value system, so far as we know it?
WEDNESDAY: OUR FIRST BLUE DAY (Periods EB-4)
On Blue Days, you will working primarily working on Early Bird through periods four.
There will NOT be additional homework assignments on these days. Neither will we have planned, classroom activities.
You MAY work on assignments from your other classes on these days, but that’s up to you. Schedule your day as it works best for you.
THURSDAY: OUR FIRST GREEN DAY (Periods EB, and 5-9)
Complete the short writing assignment on Canvas. Though Pip lives in relative poverty (in comparison to our world experience), he hopes for a better life in a better world. How does Pip’s hopes for the world contrast with the harsh reality of the world he inhabits?
From 9 am to 9:30 am, fifth period will meet for a Zoom, classroom wide discussion about communities in crisis.
From 10:10 to 10:40 am, sixth period will meet for a similar large group discussion.
In our Zoom meeting, I will cover expectations for using this software, and we will have general chaos sharing out our experiences so far, since we have last met. From there we will discuss Pip’s world. We will aim to make connections between Pip’s hope for a safer world and our own hopes for a safer world.
You will use the second part of “classtime” to read chapter 19, the last in part one of GE.
HW: Watch part one of documentary “Victorian Slum House,” keeping notes as indicated. Notes will be due on Canvas next week. You will also need to read chapters 20 -22 before class on Tuesday next week.
FRIDAY: Second Grey Day
From 12:50 to 1:50 today I will be available to take any questions about 3rd quarter grades. You should only reach out for a conference if you see a missing assignment in the canvas gradebook AND if you believe your grade is lower than it should be.
Next week, Monday and Wedensday are blue days, Tuesday and Thursday are green days. No school Friday for the religious holiday, so no grey days next week.