Happy Halloween

After a short sentence correction warm-up, we spent the rest of the period on some questions about chapter 4 (below).

Be safe this weekend!
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Answer the following in complete sentences. You may work with a partner, but take turns writing if you do.

1. What are some things we learn about Crooks from the description of his room at the beginning of the chapter?
2. Why do you think Crooks is mean to Lennie? Is it the same reason Curley’s wife is mean to Crooks? Explain.
3. What new details do we learn about Curley’s relationship with his wife? How does this change your feelings about her?
4. When Curley’s wife says, “They left all the weak ones here”(77), is she including herself? Should she? Explain.
5. Crooks says, “You guys comin’ in an’ settin’ made me forget”(82). What did he forget? How does this affect his change of heart at the end of the chapter?
6. Choose, quote and explain one thematic quotation from this chapter.

Of Dreams and Fist Fights

Today we warmed up with a bit of quotation analysis and then talked about the exciting events of chapter three. We wrapped up the day by reading some of chapter 4 out loud.

HW Reading #6 with notes

Theme & Quotations

Today we began with a short quiz on reading #4. We finished our discussion of the chapter two questions and I collected them. From there, we moved on to a writing and talking about a two quotations from reading #4, focusing especially on how they illustrate one of the themes of the text. We spent the final minutes reading silently.

HW Reading #5 with notes

Recapping Chapter 2

Today we started with a brief sentence correction warm up and did some questions on chapter two. We started our discussion of those questions at the end of the period, but we'll have to finish that tomorrow.

HW Reading #4 with notes

Reading Time

Today, after a brief sentence correction warm up, we spent the day reading and taking notes on Reading #3 (the rest of chapter 2). Expect a quiz and a note check tomorrow.

Friday: Chapter 2 and Thematic Quotes

Friday, we had another quick quiz on the night's reading and then spent the rest of the short period talking about theme and looking at thematic quotations from notes.

HW: Catch Up

Uh, Yes, There was Reading Homework

We began the day with a quiz on last night's short reading assignment. This seemed to come as a surprise to many students who had not read. Please remember, you are expected to read and take notes (with quotations) pretty much every night.

We spent some of the period working on some discussion questions for chapter 1, talked about these as a class and then had a few minutes to read in most periods.

HW Reading Assignment #2. Expect a quiz.

Of Mice & Men

Today we began Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. We did a short introductory warm-up and then read about half of chapter one aloud. Tonight, students should finish the chapter and take notes according to the introductory handout they were given today in class (available at the handouts page).

Test Time

Today we had our final exam on The Odyssey. It took the whole period. Students needing extra time may come in after school or before school (or at lunch by appointment) on the 21st to finish.

HW Bring Of Mice and Men

Personal Odyssey Project

Today we went and got our next book, Of Mice and Men, which we'll start on Wednesday. We spent the rest of the period finishing the personal odyssey folder project that we started Friday. These are due tomorrow.

Odyssey test tomorrow, including vocab.

The Personal Odyssey

Today we shared a couple of the paragraphs from last night's homework (which I collected). We then began work on the personal odyssey project, which will become the student's English portfolio folder.

The Odyssey Exam will be Tuesday.

You're the Hero!

Today we warmed-up by plotting our own hero's journeys (we'll use these again tomorrow). Next we looked at a couple example paragraphs from last night's homework and moved on to the other side of yesterday's handout.

HW: Finish the second side of the handout with another paragraph.

Also, expect a test on Monday. It will include the vocabulary, the hero's journey, and at least one paragraph about theme with a good topic sentence. You may use your Odyssey notes on the test.

A Return to the Hero's Journey

Today we applied the Hero's Journey (from our notes before The Odyssey) to Telemachus and Odysseus. We started work on a paragraph assignment (handout given in class) based on a short passage about Telemachus.

HW Finish the handout and paragraph.

Themes, Themes, and More Themes

Today we warmed-up for the whole period, working on thesis statements for themes from The Odyssey. The assignment is available at the handouts page.

The End of the Odyssey

After turning in the past two weeks worth of warm-ups, we finished The Odyssey and summarized books 16 through 24 in notes. We then finished the paragraph portion of the handout given on Friday (available at the handouts page).

Vocab Quiz #2 & a Visit from Ms. Dimick

Today began with a visit from Ms. Dimick to go over Saturday school and the discipline policy. After that, we had our vocabulary quiz and began the final step in our work with Fields' "Argos."

HW Finish numbers 1 through 4 on the handout (available here) and make an attempt at the paragraph assignment at the bottom of the page.

The Secret of the Bed

We spent the first part of the period working some more on the poem "Argos" from Tuesday. We then finished book 22 and moved on to book 23. One more book!

HW: Vocab Quiz Tomorrow

Blood on the Floor

After adding the word "guile" to our vocab charts, we wrapped up the notes on book 21 of The Odyssey. Students did the short assignment below, which we discussed and then I collected.

1. Explain, in detail, the epic simile in lines 1736 through 1744 of book 21.
2. Why do you think Homer employs this simile? What does this show about Odysseus? Explain.

Finally, we read most of book 22.

HW: Make flashcards for Friday's vocab quiz. I will check them tomorrow. Remember small pieces of paper will do; there is no need to buy note-cards.

Annotation: An Introduction

Today we practiced text annotation with the poem "Argos." This took much of the period. We wrapped up by speeding through book 21, "The Test of the Bow."

HW: Add to your annotation if necessary.

Penelope & the Beggar

Today we added the word "contemptible" to the vocab charts and then spent the rest of the shortened period reading book 19.

Poor Old Argos

We added the word "reverence" to the vocab charts today, and then moved on to book 17 of The Odyssey where Odysseus is reunited with his faithful dog, Argos. Students read this chapter silently and answered some comprehension questions which we then discussed and I collected.

Odysseus Returns

After briefly revisiting Mrs. Nystrom's poem from Tuesday, we continued with the Odyssey, summarizing books 10-12 and reading 16 with notes (in periods 5 & 6) and reading book 17 and doing some comprehension questions (in periods 2 & 4). We also had our binder check today.

A Grievous Journey

Today we added the word "grievous" to our vocab charts and then continued with The Odyssey. In periods 2 and 4 we read book 16 and took some notes. In periods 5 and 6 we shared some student representations of Scylla and Charybdis, and then finished book 12.

HW: The binder check has been postponed until tomorrow.