Monday, May 18, 2020

Last assignment--that's right. Your last assignment is a 2-part assignment and has two due dates, but all the parts are related to the same material.


  • Part 1 is 10 questions about a poem and some lyrics written about Penelope (see instructions on the LEFT). Due May 26 on turnitin.com.

  • Part 2 is the last page of the same assignment. It is an ESSAY based on the different ways that Penelope, Odysseus' wife, is portrayed in "The Odyssey" and in the poem and song. Read the instructions carefully. Check back for an example essay to be posted on May 28. Due June 5 or earlier, to turnitin.com. This is your final. 
  • There will be a short, reflective question asked of you via email (for points) on June 5. 

Friday, May 15, 2020

Just a quick reminder that you have a Journal Reflection paper due on Monday,

The paper due after that relies heavily on the reading from Books 21-23, so make sure you feel comfortable with that reading.

Happy Friday, all. Just 3 more weeks of school! Finish strong!

Monday, May 4, 2020

This week:
Read one version of Book 22.
Write 2 journal entries (10 minutes each) on two days.
Finish your Sirens revision (upload to turnitin) and begin your Odyssey paragraph revisions on Tuesday or Wednesday (due Friday--double check the directions!)

Sunday, April 26, 2020

Hello all!

This week I posted 2 versions of the reading, to both help those of you who struggle with the reading and to satisfy the craving for a more poetic version that some of you seek. You only need to read ONE version. Both will get you the information you need. 

I will also post some fun videos that explain specific aspects of the epic poem. The videos are NOT required; they are a resource you can choose to use.

DO REMEMBER TO WRITE 2 JOURNALS this week (10 min each).

Finally, there will be a new NoRedInk assignment opened on Tuesday. This is also supplemental. Yes, most of you need grammar instruction. However, you have a lot of other things to manage, so if you have to skip something, you could always go back and "master" any topic you choose later (or even in the summer).

Monday, April 20, 2020

REMINDER: review the calendar every week, to keep you on track (just like when we were in the classroom!)

This week: there is an OPTIONAL review sheet, for those of you who like to organize your thoughts on paper, for Books 9-12. Don't submit it, but you can ask questions via email if something occurs to you that you need to clarify.

Begin your JOURNALS. These are meant to develop personal connections to literature and to help you stay in the habit of writing reflectively on a regular basis. READ THE DIRECTIONS. It saves you a lot of time, in the long run, if you read carefully the first time (life lesson!!). If you have further questions, once you have tried a few of the prompts, email me. I won't post the Reflection until May 11. WRITE TWO ENTRIES PER WEEK (it's only 10 minutes per time).

We have been doing a lot of reading, analyzing/marking of text/answering questions. All this has led up to the ANALYSIS PARAGRAPH assignment that is posted on the left. Just as we do in class, I am giving you several options (6) and asking you to write on a few (2). Write them as analysis, not summary. Have a clear topic sentence and ALWAYS cite your evidence. Between Friday and Monday, revise the best of your two paragraphs, and submit ONE paragraph to turnitin.com.

There is no reading this week, only writing. I expect that you can write a paragraph in about 30 minutes at this point, which is what we were doing in class. If you are spending significantly longer than this, you need to contact me so we can talk about your process and work to reduce that time.

Thursday, April 16, 2020

Clarification for Book 12 paragraph:
Write a paragraph comparing Margaret Atwood's portrayal of the Sirens with the original story. Compare and contrast paragraph with evidence. Your topic sentence should make a judgment about which is more accurate to their fearsomeness, or irony versus bewitching songs, or which is a more monstrous description, or which version is trickier, etc. It's your opinion on the two versions.
DUE 4-17

Friday, April 10, 2020

Don't forget to submit (via email) a picture of your completed hero cycle worksheet for your hero book by MONDAY, April 13. I do not expect you to have completed The Odyssey hero cycle. We will do that together later. For now, to be on track, you should submit only the book you read at home. Please remember--some books will have all 12 stages, but most will skip one or two. That is fine. You must have at least 6 clearly detailed stages to fulfill the expectations.

I have graded (given feedback in turnitin) Book 9 questions in turnitin.com and will transfer those "grades" to the gradebook on Monday or Tuesday. I am working on Book 10. Remember, the best answers always include specific details or quotes from the text to support your answer. These questions are meant to be the prewriting for paragraphs and essays we will write later this term.

WARNING: DON'T COPY YOUR FRIEND'S ANSWERS. I am getting some thinly re-worded answers that are the same. I won't call you out on it for Book 9, but I can guarantee I will not accept it for paragraphs and essays. You only learn when you own the thinking.

Thursday, April 2, 2020

Hello. At this time you should be done reading Book 9, and your answers to the questions should be submitted in turnitin.com. HERE IS WHAT TO EXPECT OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS:

This week, read Book 10, and submit the questions (last page, questions 2-4) to turnitin.com by April 7. DON'T FORGET TO DO YOUR NOREDINK ASSIGNMENTS!

At this point, I have marked up the text for you on Books 9 and 10. It is YOUR turn. Show me your understanding of the character interactions and their flaws/heroic qualities.

There are two versions of Book 11 for you to read. You will mark up one version.

  • If you can print, print version 1 and mark up the margins, then take pictures with your phone and email them to me. Be thorough.
  • If you do not have a printer, I uploaded a second version. Make a copy of the googledoc (name it Book 11 +your first and last name) and use the highlighter and comment tools in googledocs to "mark the text." When you are finished, share your document with me via email. This is due APRIL 10


When we finish Book 12 next week (by April 17), we will make sure you can complete the first half of Odysseus' hero cycle (through Stage 6)--I will post an example.

I will also post a couple fun, short videos about The Odyssey. We will then take a week to review your understanding of the Odyssey story and write paragraphs.

You will be submitting written paragraphs for a grade at the end of that week.
As always, read the directions thoroughly, then ask me questions via email if you get stuck (sooner is always better!). Don't give up and don't wait until the last minute. I am here to help.

Thursday, March 26, 2020

A new NoRedInk assignment has been unlocked. The focus is on citating work correctly in paragraphs. It should take 20-40 minutes. As always, if you read the lesson first, you will be more successful the first time you complete the answers. 

Miss you all! Look for new reading assignments starting the middle of next week (around April 1).

Sunday, March 15, 2020


UPDATE ON LESSONS
As was stated originally, you need to complete a fiction (or nonfiction memoir) story that contains at least 6 of the 12 stages of the hero cycle (you have notes on the hero cycle in your journal and there is a backup copy on the class blog). You must finish the book by April 9. Given that we will be reading The Odyssey in a more compressed time frame, it is best if you complete the book, and the assignment of listing the hero stages on your hero’s journey circle before we return to school. If you still need help finding a book, email Mrs. Elizabeth Beazizo, our librarian, who has offered to help while we are out of the building (beazizo_elizabeth@salkeiz.k12.or.us)

We are missing out on interactive, in-class grammar lessons. I have assigned alternate lessons in NoRedInk.com. If you are new to my class, I have attached directions on how to join below. If you are not new to my class, continue to use the same account. Complete both practices. They are graded, but if you finish them, the lesson will keep giving you practice until you master the answers for full points. HINT: actually read the lessons that come before the practice. It will save you a lot of time and frustration.

Read The Invocation and Book 9 of The Odyssey (scanned and posted on the left side of the blog by Tuesday, March 17). I included notes to help you see some of the values clashes we were just beginning to explore as we started this unit. Complete questions 3, 4, and 5 at the end of that section, and submit your answers on turnitin.com. I realize there will be a higher percentage of similarity because your answers are about the same events. However, direct copying will be given a zero and answers that reflect group-think rather than individual thought will be docked points. This work represents the missed time from March 16-18. If we end up missing time beyond the 31st, I will posted additional readings, with notes on the pages to help you out.

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

You will be required to read a book outside of class for this unit.
The ONLY requirements are that the book meets at least 6 of the steps of the hero's journey (see your notes from March 4/5) and that you can complete it by April 9/10 in order to complete the comparison activity on April 13 (turned in by the end of class).
Don't have a good idea? Go see our wonderful librarian, who has lots of ideas!

Thursday, February 27, 2020

TO BE COMPLETED AFTER THE SOCRATIC SEMINAR #2 (Thursday/Friday)

Reflection on 451 Socratic Seminar #2

      1) What was the most thought-provoking idea, or set of ideas, that we got to discuss? Explain.
     2) Was there any part of your discussion today that caused you to rethink your own ideas or to see a situation from a new perspective? Explain.
       3) What was valuable about today’s Socratic Seminar?
      4) What could have gone better (offer solutions to difficult moments, awkward topics, ways to better include everyone, etc.)?

  MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST Mon (B classes) and Tues (A classes).
  In-class essay test Wed/Thurs (see topics on the LEFT side of this webpage).

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Updated due dates/Reminders:

Finish the book before Monday's class (2-24).

We have written 3 practice quote analysis paragraphs in class. Your REVISED, BEST paragraph is due on Monday, 2-24, by the end of class. No late work will be accepted for this assignment. 
Absent? Type it and email it to me on Monday.

The Close Reading Proficiency Test is Tues/Wed (2-25/2-26)

There will be a multiple choice test AND an in-class essay the following week.

Monday, February 10, 2020


Activities for Tuesday/Wednesday (2-11/2-12)--REMEMBER YOUR HANDOUTS!

Re-read BRIGHT ORANGE handout on “The Fifties” and connect the examples described in each paragraph to passages in Fahrenheit 451 (include page #s and some context) in the margins of the article--in pairs, or alone. After 10 minutes and stand up with your handout and a pencil, move to another part of the room and “give one answer/get one answer” from another student. 3-5 min, then return to seats.

Next, we practiced identifying a motif in the text yesterday (hands). But we have also identified mirrors, fire, music, animals/nature, religion, knowledge vs. ignorance, censorship, happiness, as potential motifs. Work in groups of three to trace a second motif in Part 1 and the beginning of Part 2, using the same format as we did in class Monday, but written in your journals. 30 minutes 
We will share out  findings on Thursday.

For the second half of class, write a second practice analysis paragraph. I have provided 4 themes, and a quote for each of those themes. Answer the prompt for one of these 4 choices in your journal. REMINDER: you are still not allowed to include more than 4 words from the quote in your own paragraph.

Students who finish early should read quietly until the bell. No cellphones today.

Thursday, February 6, 2020

Be sure to use the posted resources--especially the summary (to double check your understanding of plot) and the examples of both close reading practice and analysis paragraphs. As you identify your own strengths in your work, the examples will help you with the gaps in your understanding so you can achieve higher proficiency in these standards.

Remember: the reading schedule is somewhat fluid, but you must complete each section before the deadlines (Part 1 is done before class Mon., 2-10, Part 2 is done before class Thurs/Fri., 2-13/2-14, the book is finished before class Mon., Feb. 24). Reading 60 to 80 pages in one sitting is not the optimal way to read Bradbury's work, so be sure to read shorter passages over the week.

Monday, February 3, 2020

Just a quick reminder that you need to complete the REFLECTION portion of the Socratic Seminar (4 questions on page 2 of the handout from class) by the beginning of Tues/Wed class (we won't have time to check it on Monday). This is a completion grade--you get as much out of it as you put into it.

Absent on Friday and need to make up the Socratic Seminar? Answer the 10 questions (see posted pre-discussion worksheet) in your journal, have a conversation with your family about those questions, then write your reflection. I will be grading your reflection for CONTENT to make up the Socratic Seminar points you missed. 

You should be reading the first 25 pages of Fahrenheit 451 in order to be ready for discussion and close reading practice on Tues/Wed. Monday is teacher-modelled close reading, which will be posted at the left side by Tuesday (in case you missed class).

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

New semester, fresh start! It's going to be a great term!

For THURS/FRI (1-30/1-31), make sure you have marked up the poem in your blue packet "The Death of Reading" and that you have identified/summarized the poet's argument before you come to class.
The blue packet of readings will be the basis of our Socratic Seminar on Thurs/Friday. We will also check out the next book, Fahrenheit 451, on Friday.

General reading schedule:
Part 1 (pp. 1-65) Done with Part 1 by class, Feb. 10
Part 2 (pp. 67-106) Doner with Part 2 by class Feb. 13/14
Part 3 (pp. 107-158) Done with book by class, Feb. 24

See the calendar in class for additional interim deadlines.

Friday, January 10, 2020

FINALS ARE COMING!

Click HERE for my "prepping for this final" recommendations.
Click HERE for a copy of the directions for the Reflection Letter you will turn in on the day of the final.

Your individual paragraph about your fiction book (Book #2 of this unit) is due Tuesday or Wednesday in class (1-14/1-15). It is formatted the same as the group paragraph (see video at left for reminders!).  If WEATHER interferes, your paragraph is STILL DUE--turnitin.com is already open so you can submit your paragraph when you finish it between now and that class. Don't forget to submit it online, no matter the weather.

HERE is the final PROMPT. You may think about, brainstorm, prewrite, but you cannot bring any writing to the final except what is allowed on the actual prompt (optional quotes).

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Upcoming Deadlines:
Ender's Game essay corrections due before or by January 10th.
Book 2 (fiction) Reading Log Check #1: Jan 9/10, 10 pts for enteries in all 5 categories
Book 2 (fiction) Readling Log Check #2: Jan 16/17, 20 points based on the QUALITY of entries in Word Bank (L4 proficiency) and Connections (Elaboration proficiency, W2)
Book FINISHED by Monday, Jan. 13
Individual paragraph based on fiction book due END of PERIOD, Jan. 14/15.

Finalized "group" essay due Friday Jan 17 OR at the beginning of your class final. No late papers will be accepted after the beginning of your final.