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English First Peoples 12

July 6/21 Day 1: Introductions and What you can expect from this course

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First, as always: I would like to acknowledge that I am humbled and honoured to be a guest on the unceded, ancestral, shared territories of the Katzie and Kwantlen First Nations.  I am grateful to live in this beautiful place with all of the Ancestors of this place and the Spirit beings of All My Relations on this land.

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Why do we acknowledge territory? This is the very first lesson we will be walking into. We will discuss this in our sessions together this week. 

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WELCOME TO ENGLISH 12 SUMMER SCHOOL

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We will be face to face for 5 hours per week. We will be using a combination of lessons delivered from my website and Microsoft Teams/email. Details to follow.  WE WILL BEGIN ALL OF OUR TIME TOGETHER WITH THE ABOVE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.

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You will check here for your daily assignments or for updates on check ins for the day.  I am trying to make sure that you are able to read the text clearly from all devices.  Please let me know if you are having trouble viewing this page on your phone, lap top, or ipad.  I will do my best to make the visual presentation as accessible as possible. 

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You also need to know that we will be delivering First People's English 12 content. This is nothing different from any other English class except that all of the pieces we work with are written by Indigenous authors. Also, we approach the "delivery" of content from a way guided by First People's Principles of Learning and ways that Indigenous people have taught youth for thousands of years. I will talk more about that in class tomorrow.

IMG_20200204_173356_624.jpg

Sto:lo (Fraser) River

on Katzie and Kwantlen Lands

introducing:

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ms. elke: 

I am Anishinaabe/Metis on my mother's side of the family and Germanic/Celtic on my father's side. I have 3 children: Dylan is 28, Kendra is 26, Dante 18. 

 

I have been teaching for nearly 20 years (all with Mr. G, except 1).  Teaching everything from Theatre to Socials to English to Art and First Nations.  I love history, learning about my Indigenous heritage, drumming, singing, and getting to be outside. This is my 15th or 16th year of teaching summer school.

 

I am really looking forward to getting to know you all. I really love teaching summer school and love working with students who excel in the trades. You have been my most favorite people to work with. You teach me so much about how to be a better teacher and a better person. I hope you enjoy our 15 days together - face to face and on  line. We will make this work to our benefit!

Mr. Gubert (Mr. G):

My name is Livio Gubert and although my last name does not sound Italian I am from both of my parents who immigrated to Canada after World War 2.  Most of my students call me Mr. G because I think my last name kind of sounds funny or people are unsure of its pronunciation.  So, either Mr. G or Mr. Gubert (just sound out every letter) is totally fine.

 

Unlike Ms. Elke this is my first year doing summer school in a while.  However, being the trades support teacher and having an opportunity to teach again with Ms. Elke were opportunities that I could not resist.  For those of you who do not know Ms. Elke you know what I mean and those who don’t you are all in for a treat.  Ms. Elke is awesome!  Ms. Elke and I are both relationship oriented teachers and I am looking forward to getting to know you all over the summer and to continue to work together next year while you are completing your level 1. 

 

Personally, I have 2 children (Sienna and Nathan) who aren’t too happy that their dad is teaching summer school.  I have been described by my wife as being addicted to my outdoor pursuits.  But that is okay as I feel that everyone needs hobbies that are healthy and help ground them and give them purpose.

 

I am excited at the opportunity to get to know all of you.  I would prefer if we would be together face to face but we will have to make the most of the situation.  PLEASE let me know if you are struggling with anything.  My work number is 604-258-8560.  Send me a text and I will get back to you ASAP.  Daily communication will be a requirement and necessity to our work together and success.  You are not in this alone.         

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HAND OUTS FOR TODAY: July 6/21
CLICK ON THE ICONS TO LOOK AT THE DOCS ASSIGNED TODAY

Intro conversation page

Assignments and info - July 7, 2021

Good morning Summer School English 12 2021 Peeps!

 

To echo Mr. G's words, it was really great to be introduced to you all yesterday.  Honestly, I don't think I have ever been so excited to be in a space with human beings in person in my whole life! LOL!  

 

1)  Today I am sending along the updated version of the Family history/Life story assignment, taking out the stuff you don't need to worry about. In it I have also tried to communicate what we will be looking for when we "assess" it for your "marks" (yuck...to put a number on your story...argh!).   See the bottom of this section for the updated version.

 

2)  THIS IS AN IMPORTANT CHANGE TO THE ASSIGNMENT FOR TODAY!!!!

 

Mr. G and I were talking after school yesterday and we feel that we want as much time with the novel in person with you as possible.  This means I have to ask you to complete the Thomas King The Truth About Stories assignment today instead of tomorrow.  I am really sorry for the last minute change but we think that if you have more time with us to spend with the novel, you will get more out of the novel.  Please know that all deadlines are flexible. LET US KNOW IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE ANSWERS OR IF YOU NEED SOME HELP. 🙂

 

3)  I will be bringing my drums to school tomorrow. I really feel that it is good for us to begin our time together in a good way. If you have your own hand drum, please bring them to class tomorrow.  We will begin with the drums for both the am and pm sessions.  I am really excited to share these teachings with you.

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4) Mr. G and I thought that it would be good if we were in school everyday during our class time.  What this means is if you are able and wish to come to school everyday to get help or to have more 1 to 1 instruction time, we got you.  All we ask is that you stick to your class time (am or pm) to manage the Covid safety piece.  We will speak to this more tomorrow.

 

PHEW! Ok. That is enough from me.  I may not get to everyone for a check in today, so make sure to check in with Mr. G at some point - sending your assignments is also a check in.

 

Chi miigwech (thank you very much in Anishinaabemowin),

Have a wonderful day.

Assignment for The Truth About Stories Lesson

Link to audio for

The Truth About

Stories read by

Thomas King

Follow up to the questions.

Stories

In addition to the Thomas King story, I would like to share some Katzie stories: The Sockeye Salmon story and some stories of creation and this land. 

Sockeye Salmon ppl (1)Artist Name
00:00 / 24:27

Assignment July 8/21

Good morning, everyone.  Today in class we will be going over the Truth About Stories and some of the key pieces found in that lecture.  I will be talking about how stories are used in many cultures, especially Indigenous cultures, I also have created a short power point - added to the pieces from yesterday (posted above) for the folks who have chosen to do 100% online learning.  It is important that you check out the notes in the power point because it gives a back ground to get you all ready for the novel and helps us to understand the unique structure of this story.
 
Today we start the novel There There by Tommy Orange. The novel is about 12 different people who find themselves  linked together by story and their actions at the Oakland Powwow.   Tommy Orange, the author, is from the Cheyenne and Arapaho Nations, a master storyteller, like Thomas King.  He does not use time in a linear way. Some of the chapters contain memories from the character's child hood or memories from earlier parts of the story they share in the chapters.  Spiders and spider webs are key symbols. The connections between the characters are like they are connected by webs. When we link them all together when the novel is done, the whole thing looks like a giant spider web.

All of the characters are linked together - sometimes in not really obvious ways.  To help us link all of the characters together (as one of the final projects for this novel) we will be filling out a chart.  I will go over them during our class time and post the filled in version as we go so I don't give anything away.  If you feel lost, please don't hesitate to reach out when you lose the thread of the story. For people who choose to be at home working online for the full course, please reach out if you are getting things mixed up in your head.  I will be explaining connections during our class time and you will miss that part.  I will post as much as I can in terms of notes but I won't get everything. 
 
Below you will find: (1) an audio file of me reading the prologue section.  ALL AUDIO WAS RECORDED IN MARCH, APRIL AND MAY FOR MY PREVIOUS CLASSES. SORRY FOR THE OVER FAMILIAR TONE :)   (2)The questions for the prologue are in a doc below.  (3) the audio file for the second "chapter"/section Tony Loneman (4) the questions for the Tony Loneman section (5) A chart to keep track of the characters.  
 
You can send the answers in an email or call me to talk about the answers.  Thursday I will share a power point with you. It has stuff from the next chapter in it that I don't want to spoil for you. 
  
 



























 

00:00 / 33:04

There There: Prologue Audio

00:00 / 26:41

There There: Tony Loneman Audio

Assignment July 9/21

ASSIGNMENT JULY 9/20

 

Today you will be working on the questions from yesterday and the next chapter in the novel, called Dene Oxendene.  This will be posted to the website, too.  Continue to work on your Family History/Life story project – it is due tomorrow.

FOR TODAY:

  1.  Write a couple of sentences reflecting on your experience with the drumming and singing yesterday.

  2. Complete your choice of 4 questions from the Prologue questions. PLEASE BE SURE TO ANSWER #2 IN ADDITION TO YOUR CHOICES. I am really interested in what you think about how Tommy Orange used the prologue.

  3. Complete your choice of 4 questions from the Tony Loneman chapter. These are all your choice. I don’t have any specific questions I need you to answer. Choose which ones speak to you.

  4. The new chapter is Dene Oxendene.  Listen to the audio or read the PDF or both.  Again, choose 4 questions that interest you.

  5. KEEP TRACK OF THE CHARACTERS ON THE CHARACTER CHART OR IN A LIST OR HOWEVER YOU NEED TO DO THIS 😊

  6. Keep working on your Family/Life history project.

 

To clarify these are the assignments from the week that are due tomorrow:

  1.  The Truth About Stories Questions

  2. The couple of sentences on drumming

  3. Prologue questions

  4. Tony Loneman questions

  5. Tony Loneman characters on the character chart

  6. Dene Oxendene questions

  7. Dene Oxendene characters on the character chart

 

THERE WILL BE NO NEW ASSIGNMENTS TOMORROW. FRIDAYS WILL BE CATCH UP DAYS. PLEASE SUBMIT ALL ASSIGNMENTS BEFORE 2:30 TOMORROW.

 

Don’t forget, Mr. G and I will be at school today and tomorrow to help you out, so take advantage of that help if you are struggling to get the work done. 

 

Let us know if you need help. Thank you for your hard work.

Dene Oxendene #1

Assignment July 12/21

Good morning everyone,

 

Assignments for today:

PLEASE CHECK IN BEFORE 1:30  IF YOU ARE NOT IN CLASS

  1. Read, listen to, or both: Opal Viola Victoria Bear Shield

  2. Choose 4 questions to answer from the question sheet for Opal

  3. Read, listen to, or both: Edwin Black

  4. Answer the 4 Questions on the question sheet for Edwin.

FINISH ALL ASSIGNMENTS AND GET THEM IN.

MR. G AND I WILL BE REACHING OUT TO PARENTS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT HANDED ANYTHING IN.

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Items Due Monday July 13, 2020:

  1. The Truth About Stories questions

  2. Drumming reflection (if you were not in class for drumming on Weds, you can’t)

  3. Prologue chapter questions

  4. Tony Loneman chapter questions

  5. Dene Oxende chapter questions

  6. Family/Life History Assignment

Items Due Tuesday July 14, 2020:

  1. Opal Victoria Viola Bear Shield questions

  2. Edwin Black questions

 

This will be assigned tomorrow:

  1. Bill Davis questions

  2. Calvin Johnson questions

Opal Viola Victoria Bear Shield
Edwin Black

Assignment July 13/21

Good morning everyone,

 

Assignments for today:

PLEASE CHECK IN BEFORE 1:30  IF YOU ARE NOT IN CLASS

July 14, 2020

Today we will be starting Part II of the novel.  I will be assigning the following sections, as we discussed in class:

Read/listen to or both:

 

  1.  Bill Davis

  2. Calvin Johnson

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Do the questions provided in the word document for both. PLEASE COMPLETE ALL QUESTIONS.

For report cards, your work must be in by 2pm today (Wednesday).  Any later than 2,  and the left over assignments will go on the final report card.

 

Due today:

  1. Family History project/life history project

  2. Drumming reflection

  3. The Truth About Stories

  4. Prologue Questions

  5. Tony Loneman

  6. Dene Oxendene

  7. Opal Viola Victoria Bear Shield

  8. Edwin Black

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New Today:  These questions are on the same page

  1. Bill Davis

  2. Calvin Johnson

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Mr. G and I are in school today from 830-230. Be sure to come in if you need help.

Don’t take a 0 – come in!

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Bill Davis
Calvin Johnson 1 (1)

Assignment July 14/21

Assignments for today:

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PLEASE CHECK IN BEFORE 1:30  IF YOU ARE NOT IN CLASS

  1. Read, listen to, or both: Jacquie Red Feather and Orvil Red Feather

  2. Complete and hand in questions for  both sections

 

FINISH ALL ASSIGNMENTS AND GET THEM IN.

MR. G AND I WILL BE REACHING OUT TO PARENTS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT HANDED ANYTHING IN.

 

Items Due Weds July 15, 2020:

  1. Family/Life History Assignment

  2. The Truth About Stories questions

  3. Drumming reflection (if you were not in class for drumming you can’t)

  4. Prologue chapter questions

  5. Tony Loneman chapter questions

  6. Dene Oxende chapter questions

  7. Opal Victoria Viola Bear Shield questions

  8. Edwin Black questions

  9. Bill Davis questions

  10. Calvin Johnson questions

NEW

  1. Jacquie Red Feather questions

  2. Orvil Red Feather questoins

Jacquie Red Feather
Orvil Red Feather

Assignment July 15/21

Assignments for today:

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PLEASE CHECK IN BEFORE 1:30  IF YOU ARE NOT IN CLASS

  1. Read: pages 134 to 155 – these are all contained in the PDF. The audio will be up later in the day

  2. Complete and hand in questions

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Items Due Thursday, July 16:

  1. Family/Life History Assignment

  2. The Truth About Stories questions

  3. Drumming reflection (if you were not in class for drumming you can’t)

  4. Prologue chapter questions

  5. Tony Loneman chapter questions

  6. Dene Oxende chapter questions

  7. Opal Victoria Viola Bear Shield questions

  8. Edwin Black questions

  9. Bill Davis questions

  10. Calvin Johnson questions

  11. Jacquie Red Feather questions

  12. Orvil Red Feather questions

 

NEW

  1. Interlude and the small chapters questions – see attached.

Interlude pages 134 to155

Mr. G and I will be having mid-course conversation with you to determine your "grade" for the course so far.  Please have a look at the question sheet. We will hand it out in class on Weds or Thurs. 

July 16/21 Mid-Course Conversation

Assignment July 19/21

Today please read Opal's second chapter and Octavio Gomez.

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Please do all questions. I will try to get the recordings of all the chapters up today and tomorrow. I was doing my masters all weekend and didn't have time to record.

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Thank you for understanding.

Opal Viola Victoria Bear Shield 2
Octavio Gomez

Assignment July 20/21

Assignments for today:

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PLEASE CHECK IN BEFORE 1:30  IF YOU ARE NOT IN CLASS

  1. Read:

  2. Daniel Gomez and

  3. Blue and

  4. Complete and hand in questions

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Daniel Gonzales
Blue

Assignment July 21/21

Please read or listen to Thomas Frank and answer the questions.

Thomas Frank

Assignment July 22/21

Assignments for today:

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PLEASE CHECK IN BEFORE 1:30  IF YOU ARE NOT IN CLASS

  1. Read:

  2. Powwow

  3. Answer the questions

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For ppl who have chosen to do the medicine bag/bundle assignment, be here at your regular time tomorrow for your discussion with Mr. G and I.  We will give out more details in class today.

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The audio will be up later today.

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Everything is due Monday at 1pm - no extensions b/c we need our marks in by 5 Tuesday. 

FINAL PROJECTS and Final conversations

Here are the hand outs I promised for the final projects.  One is for the medicine bag and one is for the character web. We will use the medicine bag as the framework for our final conversations to determine your final "grade" - in conjunction with the work you have done in class.

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