Vertical Team Meeting 3/15/6

This morning the AP Vertical team met in the library to further discuss ways to integrate AP strategies across each grade level. We were kind of at a static point, as we did not meet last week and we were kind of treading water with syntax. So, we kind of took a mental inventory, discussed English department stuff (which will be in a separate post), and then we talked about plans going forward.

Here were the main talking points:

• From now on, we are going to meet on Wednesdays as close to7:30 as humanly possible. The library provides a nice transparent meeting place, provides copy opportunities for we late planners (ok, for me :)).
  
• We decided that if we are seriously working to address what we are talking about addressing, then we need to have a contingency plan for any department turnover that may occur from year to year. On that note, we will be creating a department AP resource so we can easily share strategies, aims, and goals to any new members.
• Cheryl shared that she has started to use the S.I.F.T. method of analysis with her students. In her own words, she is "really into SIFT right now." Anyhoo, we're going come to next meeting armed with some sort of handout or graphic organizer related to this technique for analysis. Tis our homework.
  
• I've just recently decided that I like to use different colored fonts. Lookout if I figure out invisotext.
• We decided that the blog is cool, and Cheryl admitted that she has been "blogbad" by reading and not posting messages. We are/were all very impressed with her usage/creativity. She promised many 4:50 am posts in the very near future.
  
• Back to business...our other homework is to read from page 54-60 in our AP Vertical Teams Guide.
• I shared that all students will continue to take AP Language.

If I'm forgetting anything AP related, let me know in the comment section, or add your very own post!

Discussion of "Syntax" in AP Vertical Team Blog

Hey folks...so, next Friday we're discussing "Syntax"...something I know I don't have a great handle on. It's going to be a learning experience for me, to say the least. Throughout the next week, if you have a comment on the chapter, or a question, or whatever, post it in the comments section.

AP Vertical Team Meeting 2/15/6

Today, three of us met in my room to discuss integrating strategies from the AP Vertical team guide in order to help transform the way we collectively go about our business.

Today, the topic of discussion was diction. We discussed the following:

• LEAD (Low or Informal Diction, Elevated Language or Formal Diction, Abstract and Concrete Diction, Denotation and Connotation) - This is an acronym the guide suggests for helping students indentify AND analyze diction in a work. We discussed how younger students would be able to handle identifying the level of diction, and the methods we could use to help scaffold them up to the analytical task.
• Vocabulary/Connotation - We acknowledged that connotation is a bit more difficult for younger students, which led us into a general discussion of vocabulary intruction department wide. Many times we have a hard time getting students to recognize and understand complex words, much less the meanings suggested by the words. We talked about the things we do when we "do" vocabulary. We also talked about working to create a vocab list. We weren't sure about the overall setup, but its a discussion we'd like to revisit. More on that later.
• We decided that next Wednesday, February 21st, we will have a working meeting to discuss and develop some semblance of a list of vocabulary words. (We should probably take into account the thematic units being discussed/developed at the lead teacher meetings.)
• We will discuss the section titled "Syntax" from 36-53 for next Friday, February 23rd.

Finally, we hope that more department members will attend these meetings. We are being paid through the grant, and think it is a great opportunity to talk about structuring and improving our instruction. If you can't, try to read along, and comment in the next post titled "Syntax".


(I am adding this note as I will be printing out this post to insert into people's mailboxes. Hey, check out our blog at www.mackenglishdept.blogspot.com! I'm posting any and all department information, so if you don't, you're missing out.)

AP Vertical Team Meeting Rescheduled 2/15/6 7:30 AM

Last week we were supposed to meet, but I screwed up the schedule. Sorry. This week we will be meeting at the above time in room 305.

Pre AP/AP Handbook - Van Vleck High School

I've been using parts of this handbook with my AP Lit class. It has a lot of good handouts & lessons for vertical teams. I will print and bind a copy for each of us. If you want a manipulable copy, you can download one here.

AP Vertical Team Meeting 2/1 7:30

Well, we met again last Thursday morning. We all read the chapter beforehand, and discussed the following items:

• Utilizing a SIFT Method Chart/Graphic Organizer across grade levels and in all classes. We think that this is one possible option for starting to use the same terminology on a mass scale.
• We started to discuss structuring information and activities over the grade levels. We figured that a good way to get students to start discussing tone would be to have them read various opinion/editorial pieces in 9th and 10th grade. Then they could start working with texts with subtler tones in 11th and 12th (such as novels and poetry).
• We also talked about the best ways to go about building skills, specifically in reference to the literary elements. We think it best to limit literary element discussion in each grade to just a few essential terms. We realize that as much time as we devote time to literary elements, students have no idea what we are talking about most of time. We also spoke about implementation of uniform double entry journals.
• I'm sure we spoke about more, but, since four days have lapsed, I think I've forgotten some stuff. I guess random disfunctional notes in the margins of my AP Vertical Team booklet may not be the best way to go. CURSE YOU ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER! Anyway, if I've forgotten major things, pop them in the comments.
• Lastly, we are meeting again Thursday 2/8 at 7:30. We are reading pages 25-36. On the docket are tragedy, diction, and denotation & connotation.
  

AP Vertical Team Discussion Post - Pgs. 13-25

Okey dokey, Dukey. We're undertaking the beginning of the literary analysis chapter of the APVTGfE. Remember, we want to try to think about instituting terminology and common methods schoolwide and decide how to introduce and build these skills from 9th - 12th grade.

For comments, suggestions, etc., click on the "comments" link directly underneath this post.

AP Vertical Team Meeting 1/25 7:30

Before the Meeting: The Vertical Team was to read pages 1-12 of the AP Vertical Team's Guide for English

Minutes: Generally, we discussed different points raised by the AP VTGfE. These included:

• the overall look and feel of our vertical team. We decided to skip the ice breakers, and headed straight to the overall schematics.
  
• the need for gathering information about the incoming freshmen. With a change in curriculum, it is necessary to inquire about the ELA experiences incoming freshmen will be bringing to us in the 2007-2008 school year
• the need to develop common methods and terminology for the various things we do. The guide includes different strategies that support the type of thinking necessary for AP Language & Literature. In the coming months, while reading through the guide, we are planning on isolating strategies which are integral. We will then implement these strategies slowly this year, ultimately planning on wider implementation in 2007-2008.
• the possibility of creating student writing portfolios that follow students throughout their high school careers. These portofolios would be started with next year's incoming class
• the possibility of securing funds to buy AP materials & for training
  

Next Meeting: 2/1/7

Next Meeting Items: Read APVTGfE 13-24 in order to discuss S.I.F.T. method of literary analysis. Discuss schoolwide vertical implementation methods.

AP Vertical Team Meeting

The AP Vertical planning team will be meeting Thursday, January 25th at 7:30 am to discuss backmapping the curriculum. So far the team consists of Chambers, Albano, Doerfel, Boquard, and myself. If anyone else wants to get on board, feel free to come.

I am giving you a copy of the College Board publication we will be using as a guide. It is in your mailbox. If you are coming, we are reading up to page 12 for next Thursday. This introductory chapter discusses the usefulness of Pre-AP.

In the Mailbox 01/16/06

Hey folks, today I will play "let me show you what I have in my mailbox."

First of all, the Buffalo News is having an essay contest. Actually looks like an interesting topic, although the prize is a pedestrian $75. Oh well, it's all about the publication. Mention it to your students, if you get the chance. The deadline is March 30th. Here's a scan of the poster sent by the news:

Also, Bedford sent us their 2007 textbook catalogue, along with a flier for The Language of Composition, which looks like it would be a good AP Language book. I know we don't have any fundage, but most companies will provide preview copies, so if you're interested, come on up and take a look. Here's a scan of the table of contents from the catalogue, which, like most catalogue, lists books for sale. Some of these look like they would be promising for AP Language course.

AP Vertical Mapping

Mrs. B would like us to meet to talk about ways to go about vertically mapping our ELA curriculum to help students prepare for the rigors of the AP curriculum. So, I am looking for interested parties. We would meet before and/or after school and be paid for it. See me for more information, and I'll raise the issue again at our meeting next week.