May 31

I am imprisoned at the District Office on Juniper Street. An all-day meeting. Imagine your dullest class. Imagine you have this class all day with only two short bathroom breaks and one 45 minute lunch. Imagine endless PowerPoints of charts and numbers and vocabulary you don't really understand. That's what I face today.
Tomorrow we begin with acting out parts of Romeo and Juliet, so please prepare for that or do more writing on your Multigenre Projects. Remember you need 1, 500 words altogether. If you can't think what to write look over at the right side of the blog for a list of possible things to write.

May 26

Today's warmup is to write an obituary for Romeo, minimum 150 words. I'll give you ideas on how to do it:

I just found out we don't have school on Monday. (Shows you how dense I am.) That really makes me want to remind you of what you (and I) face over the next two weeks:You need an official rehearsal for your acting.You need two props for your acting.You need a backdrop for your acting.You need several genre's of writing that add up to 1,500 words.Remember that in my world every paper needs revision so the first draft you give me of any genre will not get you any points. If you do a paper without showing me anything until you are done you might find you need to do something over again because you misunderstood the assignment, so please check in with me or Ms. Legakis soon.You've had very little homework in this class but now is the time for you to manage your time--all of it. That might mean working over this holiday. Excuses about not having enough time to do 1,500 words will fall helplessly to the ground since you will have four uninterupted days to finish this work. Ms. Legakis is out sick today so we can only use the lab today.

May 25

Work on your backdrops or on your Multigenre Project.

May 24

There is a warmup today. You may either do the Advice Column or the Diary. Whichever one you do must be at least 150 words. See the directions by going to the Yellow Star on the desktop.

May 23

SSR + work on Multigenre Projects.

May 19

We'll begin the Multigenre Project today. I want to show you some of the kinds of writing you can do.

May 17

Today we begin the next part of the course. We will spend most of our time the rest of the way in the lab.

Today we'll work on "The Wedding". By the time you leave today I'll expect you to hand in:
A Guest List with at least 10 guests
A Menu
A long paragraph telling what each table would talk about
A description of the ceremony

If time we'll talk about the acting you will be doing.

May 12

We'll spend most of the period watching the film today but I may stop the movie occasionally to point out important points.

May 11

SSR + a drawing/writing exercise called CHARACTERS.

May 10

Here's today's warmup:
Save as LastNameFirstInitialFIGHT

In 100 or more words tell me a story about a time when two people were arguing. They were about to fight it out when a third person tried to stop the fight. It could be real situation that you witnessed or took part in. Or it could be a story you make up.
Did the fight happen? or was it stopped? Did anyone get hurt--physically or emotionally? Where did this all take place? When? Why did the people want to fight? Was there any lesson learned because of what happened--or didn't happen?


Next we'll act out a bit of the play, then see that part in the movie.

May 5

We'll do a worksheet, then watch the film.

May 4

SSR + watch more of the film

April 29

5th period, 20 minutes SSR, then we will write another quatrain or two.

6th period, Ms. Legakis will tell you what is happening.

April 28

Right after attendance we will go to the library to get copies of Romeo and Juliet.

5th period will do a brief writing exercise, then you will write your own love quatrains, two of them, that will go together. Each line should have ten syllables, so you will have 80 syllables when you finish. I'd also like you to scan your poem(s) with slashes and u's.
If we get through this part we will add the last parts to form a sonnet.

April 27

Both classes begin with 20 minutes SSR.

5th period will use a new seating chart today. We have decided, due to low levels of student cooperation, that you should sit in different seats until we can gain enough cooperation to allow learning to take place. Once we gain your cooperation we will allow you to, again, sit where you choose.
5th period's lesson today will be on sonnets.

6th period will

April 25

5th period will do 20 minutes SSR. Then we'll do a worksheet on SONNETS and SCANSION.

April 22

20 minutes SSR followed by a movie about Shakespeare.

April 21

Continue with WebQuests.

April 20

SSR today, then we'll resume work on your Webquests.

April 19

Today we'll go to the lab so that you can do something called a webquest.

Here are the rules:
1. work with a partner
2. Put your answers on a Word document.
3. Save your work as LastNameFirstInitialLastNameFirstInitialWEBQUEST.
4. Click on the url to get started: http://mrslux.pbworks.com/w/page/21790825/Shakespeare-webquest

April 18

SSR for 20 minutes. Then we'll discuss class rules. Then we'll show you a short film about Shakespeare (since today we are starting Romeo and Juliet).

April 8

Benchmark tests today. If you finish early, Silent Reading.

April 7

Today you will present your drawings and then we have a review sheet for The Odyssey.

April 6

Twenty minutes SSR then most of you will finish the drawings from yesterday. If your drawing is done you have two responsibilities: 1. prepare to present your drawings to the class 2. do the homework from last night

March 31

We'll begin by defining five themes: courage pity revenge loyalty hospitality Then I have six questions for you to answer after reading pages 694-696. 1. Who recognizes Odysseus when he gets back to the Palace? 2. Eumaeus is the guy who takes care of the pigs for Odysseus family. When Odysseus asks him about the dog what does Eumaeus say? 3. In showing us how the old dog is treated what is Homer telling us about conditions in Ithaca? 4. "You know how students are: without a master they have no will to labor or excel." What does this mean? 5. What happens to the dog in lines 1079-1081? 6. Eurycleia is Odysseus' nurse. She recognizes him even though he is still looking like a beggar. How does she recognize him?

March 30

Start with 20 minutes SSR. Then Ms. Legakis is going to talk to you about how the Greeks fought their wars. Then we will show you parts of the movie Troy to give you some idea what these warriors looked like and how they fought.

March 29

We are beginning the second part of The Odyssey today. First I'd like to show you two short films about the last thing we read: Helios and his cattle. Then I'd like you to read page 690 in the textbook and answer these questions: 1. Odysseus' home is filled with men who want to kill him and take his wife. How does Odysseus get back into his home? 2. Why did Odysseus son, Telemachus, take off for Sparta? 3. Why did Telemachus need to sneak back to Ithaca? 4. Odysseus has been away for 20 years. In your opinion was it wrong for other men in Ithaca to try to marry Odysseus' wife (Penelope)? Explain why you think it was OK or NOT OK for the men to try to marry Penelope. Now try reading page 691 and answer these questions: 5. "Wolfish troup of watchdogs" means a bunch of guys who are hanging around Odysseus' house, eating his food and trying to marry his wife while Odysseus is at war. Why is Telemachus angry at these men? 6. A 'swineherd' is someone who takes care of pigs. Why does the Swineherd kiss Telemachus on the head when he first sees him? Turn the page: 8. Why does Telemachus call the Swineherd 'Uncle'? 9. Why doesn't Telemachus recognize his father? 10. What does the goddess Athena do to Odysseus while he's sitting in the big hall in his house?

March 25

Twenty minutes SSR.
Then we'll do a writing exercise designed to prep you for STAR testing.

March 24

We'll begin with questions about Helios and his cattle. Please read pages 684-686 and answser the questions I've given you.

Then we have a writing assignment meant to begin Part II of The Odyssey.

"Imagine that someone has been absent from home for many years. What might that person think or feel upon returning home? Make a list of possible reactions, and save your notes.

Now write a short story about what happened when this person first returned. Half page or more. Put your name on your paper.

March 23

Twenty minutes SSR.

Then some writing: we'd like you to (at least) fill one side of one piece of paper on this subject...

Remember (or imagine) a time when you were told NOT to do something (or eat something) but you did it anyway. Tell us what it was that you were not supposed to do or eat. Then relate the story of what happened. Did it work out OK? Did something bad happen?

And let us know WHY you did this despite instructions NOT to do it.
Who told you not to do this?
Where did this happen?
When did this happen?

If we have time we'll ask you to read pages 684-686 and answer a few questions.

March 22

5th period we have two films for you to see. Then we'll ask you to write up a summary of Circe's prophecies (predictions). You will be asked to write about The Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis. Half page minimum. If we have time we have a little writing assignment for you.

6th period you will finish the summaries that you started yesterday, then we have one film to show you. And then Ms. Legakis will do her PowerPoint presentation. You will be expected to take notes and hand in these notes before you leave today.

{Ms. Dodd, the summary is done on pages 678-680 in the Blue Book, lines 660-716. They should be sure to talk about the Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis.}

March 21

Twenty minutes SSR.
Then 5th period will finish the assessment from Friday.
Both 5th and 6th periods will watch a film about the Sirens and answer a writing prompt. If time you may also see a PowerPoint presentation about Scylla and Charybdis.

March 17

We'll begin with a review assignment on The Oddysey. It's called a Cloze Passage.

Then Ms. Legakis will show you a PowerPoint presentation while you take notes on a worksheet.

March 16

Begin with 20 minutes silent reading.

Then we will ask you to do a fill-in-the-blank exercise about Physical Education.

Then we have a fill-in-the-blank worksheet meant to help you review The Odyssey. There will be a test on The Odyssey on Friday and the things on this worksheet will be a big part of the test.

March 15

First thing is to clean up what you didn't finish Friday and yesterday. Ms. Legakis will return to you your papers from yesterday for you to finish. Remember you must have a paragraph on the back for credit.

After Odysseus escapes Circe she sends him to the land of the Dead. We won't be reading this chapter. We'll watch some film and do some writing but we won't expect you to remember anything about this chapter except what you see in the films.

For today's writing I ask you to answer the following questions: Each answer must be a minimum of 40 words and I'd like more:
1. Where do dead people go? Is there more than one place? What do these places look like? Describe them.
2. Imagine you could visit with one dead person. He or she could be famous or could be someone in your family. Who would you visit? List three questions that you would ask this dead person.
3. Odysseus meets a blind person in the land of the Dead. Greeks believed that blind people could see the future. Do you agree or disagree? Why?

March 14

Twenty minutes SSR.
Then we'll resume the Circe work from Friday.

March 11

Begin with 20 minutes SSR.
Then Ms. Legakis will talk to you briefly about hospitality.
Then we'll go to the lab. This time we want you to do some internet research about a goddess-CIRCE, and answer 7 questions. You probably won't finish the questions today. We'll go back to this Monday after SSR so you can complete them.

March 10

We'll begin by showing you another film. This one shows the full story of the Cyclops.
Then we'd like you to read pages 664-667 in the book and answer these questions on a piece of paper:

1. What's a flock? {307}
2. What's a lugger? {314}
3. Why did Odysseus and his men chop out a six foot section of wood? {317}
4. "The men I would have chosen won the toss." {328} This was an important job. Why did Odysseus let his men draw lots to see who would do it? Why not just pick the best guys?
5. On line 332-334 it says the ewes all came into the cave almost as if god told them to come in. This is a kind of foreshadowing (prediction) of what was to happen. Why was it important that the lambs came in?
6. What happened on line 338?
7. On line 360 Odysseus says his name is Nohbdy. Why do you think he lied about his name?
8. What kind of wood did they use for the pole? {372}
9. What did they do with the pole? {374-385}
10. Why did Polyphemus yell for his buddies to come running? {394}
11. On line 403 we see that Odysseus has tricked Polyphemus. How exactly did he trick him?
12. On line 408 we find out that Polyphemus has a powerful dad. Who is Polyphemus dad?
13. What's a great doorstone? {412}
14. What's a heavy fleece? {422}
15. And, finally, draw a picture on the back of your paper showing what is happening on lines 440} Put a caption at the bottom showing me you really know what's happening here.

March 9

We'll start with 20 minutes SSR.

Then I want to show you a little movie that previews what we are going to read.

And finally I'm going to ask you to read pages 660-663 in the blue book and answer these questions:

Put your name on a piece of paper and answer these questions as your group does the reading.
1. Who was Polyphemus?
2. What does Polyphemus do to Odysseus' men?
3. Why didn't Odysseus and his men just walk out of the cave?
4. Why didn't Odysseus and his men kill Polyphemus when they had the chance?
5. Finally draw me a scene from this chapter. Use the rest of your paper to do the drawing so that the whole one side of your paper is filled.

Odyssey "Cyclops"

Odysseus and The Cyclops

March 8

We'll start in groups. I will ask you to read the selection I've given you. As you are reading list bullet points or arrows telling what you read, in sequence. Minimum 8 bullet points. ONE PAPER PER GROUP. I'll check this paper after about 25 minutes and you will receive credit if the paper shows you made a good faith EFFORT. Make sure every group member's name is prominently shown on your paper.

Then we will use this paper to fill in the PLOT SUMMARY worksheet that I also have given you.

And finally you will be asked to reply to a prompt about this part of the story. Everyone will do their own work on this last part.

March 7

Begin with 20 minutes SSR.

Then we will read part of The Odyssey and fill in a worksheet. You will need a piece of paper and a pen or pencil. We'll begin with ten questions here:

1. Who exactly is Odysseus?
2. Who exactly is Calypso?
3. Who exactly is Poseidon?
4. Where in the world is this story happening?
5. When is it happening?
6. Why is Odysseus stuck on this island?
7. Is this a poem or a story?
8. Who is Athene?
9. What's an Ogygia?
10. Who is Hermes and why is he going to Ogygia?

and I'll add ten more before we finish.

March 4

Two things today:

1. SSR for 20 minutes

2. Write your God or Goddess stories. They need to be 300+ words. And I have two requirements:
-use some dialogue (My mom said: "Get out of here you ugly monster!"
-use some description (sounds, smells, tastes, feels, sights) (Apollo was dressed like a gangster with a purple tophat and long sequined coat.)

The story is about how a god or goddess messed with you or your family. Be sure to put your name on your paper.

Due at end of period but you can hand it to me on Monday if you are desperate.

March 3

We'll begin by watching two short films. These movies are an introduction to several of the Greek gods. Your part is to take notes on each god. I'll collect your notes at the end of class. We will be going to the lab so that you can do some of your own investigating and add some details to your notes.

On the front side of your paper you will take notes on each god featured in the movies.
On the back side you will write notes on one god. Tomorrow you will tell a story about how this god tormented you or your family. So pick a god whose powers can be used to torment you.

March 2

First I'll introduce my new student teacher, Ms. Legakis.

Then we'll start with SSR, and finally, get back to The Odyssey.

I want to show you a short film clip that is about Calypso, the goddess who is holding Odysseus when we enter the story.

After showing the film I have a problem for you all to work on in groups. I'd like you to think about a situation in your own family or one you read about or saw on TV or in the movies. This situation involves a man who is married but struggling to remain faithful to his wife. The other woman wants to hang onto the man.
On paper I'd like you to tell me about such a situation and how it was resolved. Did the husband stay with his wife or cheat? Was there a divorce? How to did the husband handle things. I'd like this to be 100 or more words. Put your name at the top. Discuss it with your group but write your own story. Make up a story if you must but I'm hoping most of you will write about a real situation or one from TV or movies.

March 1

First thing I'll collect your voyage stories from yesterday. The deadline for this work is 4pm today. After that you may not hand it in.

We'll begin by reading in the text, pages 640-642 about the Trojan War.
Then I want you to go to the internet and find Troy on a map. Now look at the map on page 650. Find Troy on that map. Now let's go to to the lab and look at maps.

Let's plan a trip. Go to Google Maps. Ask for directions for trip from Athens, Greece to Rome, Italy, to Valetta, Malta. See if you can go by boat. Otherwise you might have to fly. Open a Google Docs file and copy and paste the directions on that file. Now we will begin reading the story. Turn to page 651. On your WORD document tell me what the first five lines of the story are about. SAVE this (your trip to Rome and your summary of the first five lines) as LastNameODYSSEY1.

February 28

We'll begin with silent reading, then move on to this month's topics:

1. Read "The Odyssey" by Homer.

2. Write a "Response to Literature"

We'll begin by having you do a little writing. This requires 300+ words in 4 or more paragraphs. I'd like you to imagine that, the day you graduate from high school, you set out on a voyage that will last two years. We'll assume that you have several thousand dollars saved, enough to keep you travelling for the full time. Where would you go? What kinds of things would you expect to happen to you? Who would you meet? Structure your writing this way:
First paragraph - intro (just a short, general talk about why you chose to go to these places)
Second paragraph - description of one place you went. What kinds of adventures did you have?
Third paragraph - description of one person you met on your voyage
Fourth paragraph - conclusion. Did you enjoy the voyage? Was it a good thing or a bad thing?

February 18

Twenty minutes SSR.
Then to lab to do a writing assignment.

I have stamps and envelopes to mail your Letters of Appreciation. Please see me as I have most of the letters locked in my cabinet.

February 17

Today work on:
STATION to STATION, 50 pts., 4 paragraphs about JFK's assassination.
LETTER OF APPRECIATION, 40 pts., must be done 100% correct or no credit
WORD SEARCH, 20 pts., about JFK. Go to this website: http://www.armoredpenguin.com/wordsearch/
For credit you need a minimum of 30 words about JFK, his assassination, his Presidency. When you finish go to the bottom and hit "Make Puzzle". Then go to the bottom and hit "List this puzzle with the Public"

And remember there are still those book questions that many of you haven't done: pages 951, 964 & 969.

February 16

Begin with 25 minutes SSR. There will be no points for this today.

Then the sub will show you a couple movies.

February 15

You will type your Letters of Appreciation today. Be sure I've proofread your yellow copies before you begin typing.

When you finish that please return to work on your STATION to STATION work.

If you want to know what your letter should look like see my typing book, page 83.

You must have three paragraphs to get credit for this assignment.

Do letter on MICROSOFT WORD.

February 14

We'll start with 20 minutes SSR. You may fill a piece of paper with words or read for credit.

Then you will resume work on your Letters of Appreciation. If a few people finish writing these letters we will go to the lab so they can type them. Otherwise we'll stay here.

February 11

Begin with 20 minutes SSR.

Then we will go over how to write a Business Letter.

On the yellow paper I've given you please copy the letter on page 971 in the textbook.
Now that you see what the letter should look like I've given you a "Letter of Appreciation" to write on your own. Follow the directions on the back side. Do this on the other side of the yellow paper.

February 10

I'm ill. I hope you will give me so consideration today.

I want to use today for you to work on your Station to Station projects(four paragraphs on JFK's assassination) and to catch up on the last three days of book work.

If you have finished the work from Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday and you have four paragraphs on JFK's Assassination then I have a letter for you to type. It's in my Blue Typing book on page 83.

February 9

Begin with 20 minutes Silent Reading.
Just like the past two days the pacing guide instructs that you should read pages 965-968 and answer the nine questions on page 969. Save as LastName969. You may do on Microsoft WORD or on Google docs or hand write them.

February 8

Pacing guide wants us to do more of what we did yesterday. This time they want you to read pages 959-963 in the Blue book and answer the questions on page 964. Open A WORD document. Hit F12, save as LastName964. Then type the answers. As long as you save the file correctly there is no need to type the questions. (If you don't like typing just print your answers on a piece of paper but please, please, be sure to put your name on the paper. Due at the end of the period.
Then resume work on your Station To Station on the JFK Assassination. You need four paragraphs on four different topics by Friday.

February 7

Silent reading first.
Then we'll begin working on page 950-953 in the Blue Book, which is from the pacing guide. I'l ask you to do the questions on Page 951. See the red hyperlink on the right side of the page here. Save as LastName951.
If time we'll also go to the lab to work on your Station to Station exercises on The Kennedy Assassination.

February 4

We'll do silent reading then go to the lab to work on the Station to Station exercise.

We'll also listen to a tape of page 580.

February 3

We'll finish reading "American History", then we'll go to the lab so you can do some research on the assassination of JFK.

The game I'm going to ask you to play I call "Station to Station". The idea behind it is to take one piece of information and follow it where it leads. In theory every person will end up in a different place even though each person began the journey in the same place.
I have provided you with a start point.
http://www.jfk-assassination.com/articles/index.php

Now read over the start point. Find something that interests you. It might be a name of a city or a food or a question (why did Oswald kill him?) Using Google Search or Google Images or some such, investigate this topic. On a new Google Docs document write a brief summary of what you learned. One stipulation. Try to keep the topics concerned with our main theme: the Kennedy Assassination.
Now you have at least one new website to read. Within that website fine another topic or question to investigate. On that same Google Docs document tell me a bit about what you learned.
Now try the same process again. As you go to one website use that to search for the next topic.
Do this four times so that you have four summaries. Include pictures where that will help your explanation. Assume you are teaching a sixth grader with this exercise so don't make your explanations too complicated.
Name your document LastNameKENNEDY.
This will be due tomorrow, Friday, at the end of the period.

February 2

We'll begin with 20 minutes silent reading. Then the pacing guide wishes us to read in the Blue book, page 565. If time we will talk about the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963.

February 1

The pacing guide asks us to read "American History", a story on page 565 of the Blue Book. We'll start that today. Then we will some investigating about the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963.

January 31

First we'll discuss some new rules, then SSR for twenty minutes.
Lastly we will do an activity connected to Fred Korematsu Day.

At the main high school we have a new printer that can create posters, 13" x 19". On our computers we have a program called Microsoft Publisher that can help you make such posters. I'd like you to try. The goal would be to print a few of the best posters tomorrow. The theme of the posters would be Heroes of Liberty. I'd like you to focus on key people like:
Rosa Parks
Nelson Mandela
Fred Korematsu
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Cesar Chavez

And particular times:
the Civil Rights Movement
the Movement for Women's Rights
The Gay Rights Movement
Japanese Internment or perhaps discrimination against Muslim Americans today
The Farm Worker Movement

You'll need to do some quick reading but most of your time should be spent on the poster itself.

January28

We should finish the story today. Then we'll go to the lab and do the questions from Wednesday (see below for the questions) and one activity connected to the story from the Blue book.
Bring a blue book to the lab.

Last work on this story is on page 514. Type your answers on Google docs and save as LastNameTHUNDER3.

Do questions 3-6.

If time work on your research papers. We will get back to those on Monday.

January 26

We will continue to read the Thunder story aloud in class. And I will ask three more questions.
We will do 20 minutes of SSR. Remember that SSR is being graded this semester. You can fill one piece of paper instead of reading for credit. Those not reading get no points for this. Reading represents about 50% of your grade in June.
I processed all the papers you gave me yesterday. Many of you had wrong answers for one or more questions. As you know you get zero credit on assignments until they are right. So please fix your errors and resubmit them to me for credit. We'll only be in the lab for about 15 minutes so you'll need to hustle to get today's questions done.

January 25

First thing today we will get back to reading that story that we are required to read. We'll begin on page 500.

Then we will go to the lab. You will answer three questions about the reading we just did, then you will go back to work on the research projects.

January 25

Today I want you to make progress on your research reports. This will cause some problems between us. Please be polite when you tell me I'm tormenting you.
I will be acting as your editor. I will strive to give you feedback intended to improve your writing and thinking skills. In doing this I will make demands on you that you might not like.
By Thursday I would like you to:
1. Produce a Works Cited with four entries including at least one book and one magazine article.
2. Learn about your topic. Many of you have already written copiously about your subject based upon prior knowledge. The purpose of this paper is to push you to learn things you didn't already know and to produce an interesting document that your classmates would want to read. This means reading about your subject--and not just Wikipedia. Books, magazines and longer treatments are crucial.
I want to emphasize that at this point my goal is QUALITY NOT QUANTITY. I expect to ask all of you to rewrite and improve what you have done to date.
I will be reviewing your sources. If I think your sources are UNRELIABLE OR SUPERFICIAL (Wikipedia is superficial most of the time) I will require that you add other sources.

January 24

January 24
I'm going to ask all classes to write me a note again. I hope this is acceptable. I will distribute a syllabus to all students. And we will, of course, do 20 minutes of silent reading. I have some new rules governing SSR which I will describe. Finally we will begin some reading. The story they want us to read is on page 498: "Sound of Thunder".
If we can get our next novel then your homework will be to read the first 20 pages.

Students will be able to analyze literature in terms of mood and tone
Students will be able to evaluate informational material in terms of argument

January 24

New rules for silent reading:

You can, of course, read. You will receive credit for that.

Or you can write. Fill one piece of paper for each twenty minute SSR. Write whatever you like. I won’t read it unless you ask me to. You can, if you wish, simply copy words out of a book. This is the alternate way to receive credit.