Dec 10

Classwork

Today was an action packed day.  We started off with a warm-up that forced us to go back and use vocabulary from Units 1-6.  After reviewing some of our work on the warm-up, students began analyzing epic similes on their own.  Then we dove into excerpts from Book 13, looking for their connection to themes present in The Odyssey.  For today's powerpoint, click here.

Homework

Finish Levels 1-4 for your epic simile analysis (see powerpoint or notes from class)

Works on Book 13 excerpt theme analysis (see powerpoint or below)

Book 23 due Friday

Study Vocabulary Units 1-6 for next week's final

Today's Powerpoint

Dec 9

Classwork

Today the juniors took their practice ACT and the rest of the school followed a special schedule.  This meant that only periods 1 and 7 had class with me today.  In class students were given time to work on Book 22 and Book 23 handouts.

Homework

Book 22 handout due Wednesday

Book 23 handout due Friday

Study Units 1-6 Vocabulary for the Final next week

Dec 8

Classwork

Today in class we continued our work with similes and epic similes.  Using the definition of epic simile we transformed our own similes in to epic similes by adding more details and points of comparison.  We also reviewed the plot of book 13.  Click here for today's power point, so scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Homework

The Book 22 Handout is due Wednesday, Dec. 10

Study Units 1-6 Vocabulary to prepare for our final next week

Today's Powerpoint

Dec 5

Classwork

Today I forgot my laptop at home and we went 'old school'!  There was no powerpoint used for today's notes on similes and epic similes, but if you need a refresher check out the post for Dec 8.  In class we created our own similes and compared our understanding of what a simile is to examples of epic similes in The Odyssey.  We also started to work through a four step process to help us deeply analyze a simile or epic simile.

Homework

Epithets for Books 13, 16, and 17 due Monday.

Unit 7 Vocabulary Test is Monday

Dec 3 & 4

Classwork

Wednesday and Thursday were mostly spent taking a 132 question test on Books 1-12 of the Odyssey.  On Thursday, once we were done with the test, we took sometime to analyze the mistakes we made on our Unit 7 vocabulary homework.  We pushed ourselves to think metacognitively - asking, "What about the definition of the word and the sentence would have made someone pick this word instead of the correct one," "What clues are there in the sentence that could help point me to the correct word," and "What do my incorrect answers show me about how I can better study for Monday's Test?"

Homework

• Epithets in Books 13, 16, and 17 worksheet due Friday, 12/5
• Unit 7 Vocabulary Test on Monday, 12/8

Dec 2

Classwork

Today we moved our discussion to analyzing what kind of leader Odysseus was.  We focused on evidence that we could find Book 12.  To shape our discussion, we created two T-Charts.   One focused on what Odysseus told his crew and what he didn't tell his crew.  The other focused on evidence that he was a good, trusted leader versus a untrusted manipulator.  Click here to see today's powerpoint or scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Homework

• Study for the Odyssey Books 1-12 Test
• Study for the Unit 7 Vocabulary Test

Today's PowerPoint

Dec 1

Classwork

Today in class we focused on irregular verbs and Book 11 of the Odyssey.  Our warm-up was Irregular Verbs Exercise 2.  We also got a list of (almost) all the irregular verbs in the English language.  

After working with irregular verbs, we focused on how Odysseus interacted with two different ghosts - his mother Anticlea and a crew-mate Elpenor.  We asked ourselves what Odysseus's treatment of these two ghosts revealed about his character.  Click here to see today's powerpoint or scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Homework and Important Dates

• Irregular Verbs Exercise 3 due 12/2
• Unit 7 Vocabulary Worksheet due 12/3
• Odyssey Test on 12/3
• Unit 7 Vocabulary Test on 12/8
• Irregular Verbs List

Today's PowerPoint

Nov. 24

Classwork

Today we took our Unit 6 vocabulary test.  When we finished the test, we worked on creating a timeline of Odysseus's journey from Troy back home to Ithaca.

Homework

• Books 11-13 Packet due Monday, Dec. 1
• Book 16-17 Packet due Monday, Dec. 1
• Study for The Odyssey test on Books 1-12 on Wednesday, Dec. 4
• Study for Unit 7 Vocabulary Test on Monday, Dec. 8

Nov 20 & 21

Classwork

Thursday and Friday were ACT Aspire testing days for Freshmen at PMSA.  This meant that I only saw 1/2 of each of my classes on each day.  In class we built off of our basic understanding of verbs and the difference between regular and irregular verbs.  We spent time working to identify the correct form of a verb to use in about 20 different sentence and discussed how different forms of a verb are used.  After spending a nice amount of time with our verbs, we shifted over to the Odyssey.  As a class, we tried to create a working definition of the phrase 'superhuman strength' that we could use as we analyzed Odysseus's actions.  Below is a wordle that reflects the notes I took from the discussions all 5 of my classes had while trying to define superhuman strength.  Click here to view a copy of these notes.

Superhuman Strength Wordle

Homework

1. Read Books 11 & 12
2. Complete pages in Odyssey Packet for Books 11 & 12 by Monday, 11/24
3. Unit 6 Vocabulary Test on Monday, 11/24
4. Test on Books 1, 2, 5, 9-12 of The Odyssey on Tuesday, 11/25
5. Odyssey Books 11-13 Packet due 12/1
6. Odyssey Books 16 & 17 Packet due 12/1 (get a jump start....this will be handed out on Monday)

Nov 19

Classwork

Today in class we reviewed the work we did on our Unit 6 Vocabulary Packets.  As we corrected our vocabulary work, we looked for evidence showing words we understood really well and words we didn't know well.  After reviewing our vocabulary work, we assessed Odysseus's epic hero status.  We gave Odysseus a grade for his overall performance in each of our 4 epic hero categories: superhuman strength and craftiness, emerges victorious from perilous situations, helped and harmed by gods, and embodies ideals that a his/her culture considers admirable.  Click here to view today's powerpoint or scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Homework

1. Read Books 11 & 12
2. Complete pages in Odyssey Packet for Books 11 & 12 by Monday, 11/24
3. Unit 6 Vocabulary Test on Monday, 11/24
4. Test on Books 1, 2, 5, 9-12 of The Odyssey on Tuesday, 11/25
5. Odyssey Books 11-13 Packet due 12/1

Today's PowerPoint

Nov 18

Classwork

Today was divided between learning about regular and irregular verbs and evaluating Odysseus's epic hero status.  Click here to see today's powerpoint, or scroll down to the bottom of the page.  We also got 2 handouts in class: a blank timeline and Verb Tense Formulas.

Homework

Unit 6 Vocabulary Packet due tomorrow, 11/19

Study for Unit 6 Test

Catch up on your Odyssey reading if you fallen behind

Today's PowerPoint

Nov 17

Classwork

I was out sick today :(  In class you were given questions about Book 10 to answer.  If you didn't finish them in class, you needed to complete them for homework.

Homework

Unit 6 Vocabulary Packet due Wednesday

Book X Questions due Tuesday

Book X Graphic Organizer due Tuesday (bonus day since I wasn't here to collect this)

Nov 14

Classwork

Today we took notes on the basic ingredients of an epic and then focused on what it takes to be considered an epic hero.  We made from action films, comic books, and cartoons to various traits/qualities of an epic hero.   Click here to see today's powerpoint, or scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Homework

Read Book X (10)

Complete Book X Graphic Organizer due Monday

Unit 6 Vocabulary Packet due Wednesday

Today's PowerPoint

Nov 12

Classwork

Today in class we talked about Book 5 and tried to figure out the very complicated relationship between Calypso and Odysseus.  Click here for today's powerpoint or scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Homework

Book 5 and 9 questions due Friday, November 14

Study for the Unit 6 Vocabulary Test

Today's PowerPoint

Nov 10

Classwork

Today all my classes were in the computer lab, taking practice ACT Aspire Reading tests.  We did this to prepare for taking the actual ACT Aspire tests later this month.  Want to know more about ACT Aspire?  Check out their website: http://www.discoveractaspire.org/assessments/test-items/

Homework

1. FOR PERIOD 1 ONLY: Due Wednesday: Complete Journal Response Chart for Books 1, 2, and 5
2. Due Wednesday: Read Book 9 of The Odyssey
3. Due Wednesday: Complete the Note-Taking and Summarizing Chart for Book 5 and Book 9.
4. Due Wednesday: Complete a Journal Response Chart for Book 9
5. Study Unit 6 Vocabulary Words

Resources

• Example Journal Response Chart
• Sample Note-Taking and Summarizing Chart
• Note-Taking and Summarizing Chart Instructions & Tips
• PowerPoint with another sample Journal Response
• PowerPoint with another sample Note-Taking and Summarizing Chart

Nov 7

Classwork

Today we took our Unit 5 Vocabulary Test and learned how to use the journal graphic organizer as we read The Odyssey.  Click here to view today's PowerPoint, or scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Homework

1. Read Book 5 of The Odyssey
2. Periods 3, 4, 6, and 7: Complete Journal entries for Books 1, 2, and 5 of The Odyssey

Links

• Sample Journal Response
• Blank Journal Response Sheet
• Today's Powerpoint

Today's PowerPoint

Oct 31 - Happy Halloween

Classwork

Today we finished up our Odyssey Research Project Presentations and dove into major notes on creating proper Works Cited and Bibliography Pages.  Many students are still making major formatting errors, so most of today focused on setting up the Works Cited page.  See below for today's powerpoint.

Homework

1. Due Monday - Read The Odyssey books 1-2 (pgs 1-38)
2. Due Monday - Complete Books 1-2 Comprehension Check Worksheet
3. Due Wednesday - Revised Individual and Group Works Cited pages (make sure to staple your first draft behind your final draft)
4. Study Unit 5 Vocabulary - Test next Friday!

Resources to Use When Reading The Odyssey

1. Odyssey Terms and Characters List
2. Map of Character Relationships from the Odyssey

Today's powerpoint