Review

Today we spent the period answering the four questions below as part of the OMM warm-ups we've been working on throughout the unit.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. What two visions does Lennie have down by the river? Why do you think Steinbeck includes these visions?
2. What surprises Lennie about George's behavior when he meets him by the river? What does Lennie want from George? Why?
3. Explain the reaction of the men when they reach the scene. How is Slim's reaction different from Carlson's? Why?
4. Finally, do you agree with George's decision to shoot Lennie? Explain.

The Day Before Break...

We began the day working on the notes and chapter summary for chapter 6. Afterward, students prepared their notes for collection and handed them in. There is no new homework over break.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Wednesday and Thursday

Wednesday we began the day by reviewing the notes for chapter 4. Students then had the rest of the period to silently read chapter 5 and take notes. Students should have finished the chapter summary for homework.
Thursday we discussed chapter 5 and then finished the book out loud in class, briefly discussing the ending.

Monday and Tuesday

Monday we finished the partner quotation assignment we began Friday (see below) and I collected both the resulting posters and the initial written work.

• Choose one of your quotations and write it up using one of the theme frames from the back of your tan handout.
• Once you are happy with the sentence, write it up neatly in poster form. 

Tuesday we got news seats and then spent the rest of the period reading and talking notes on chapter 4 of Of Mice and Men. Students should complete the chapter summary for HW. 

I have posted a copy of OMM here for student use.

A Focus on Theme

I began the day by checking student notes for chapter 3 while students worked a short quotation analysis assignment. After a short discussion of chapter 3, students spent the rest of the period working with partners on the quotation analysis activity below.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1) Choose two quotations from your notes on chapter three. For each quotation:

• Copy it down neatly with the correct punctuation and citation.
• Paraphrase the quotation.
• Explain why it matters.

2) Choose one of your quotations and write it up using one of the theme frames from the back of your tan handout.

Both partners must have their own written work.

Tuesday

Today we began with a review of phrases and clauses (independent and dependent) on page 70 of the grammar book. I checked the chapter two notes and we talked through the chapter. We wrapped up the period reading some of reading D aloud.
HW Finish reading D, including notes and quotes, due 11/10

Chapter 2

Today students completed the sentence frame below for their warm-up. After discussing it, and the first half of chapter 2, students had the rest of the period to finish chapter 2 and work on their notes.
HW Finish reading C (through the end of chapter 2) and notes (including a chapter summary), due 11/9
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 When George says, “With us it ain’t like that. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us. We don’t have to sit in no bar room blowin’ our jack jus’ because we got no place else to go,” what he means is paraphrase quotation (14). This illustrates a theme from the handout because explain what the quotation says about the theme.