Wednesday, August 31 ~ Greek Mythology Poster

Roots

• gest ~ carry, bear
• gloss, glot ~ tongue
• hypn ~ sleep

Greek Mythology


Work on your posters.


Mrs. West's students read here:

• I am so sorry I forgot to mention yesterday that the black cabinet on wheels has many art supplies. Help yourself!
• Also, who will be the time keeper to give a five minute clean up warning? 
• Posters will be due tomorrow in class. You will have about fifteen minutes to make any last finishing touches. If you think you will need more time, you may want to devise a homework plan with your partner(s).
• Don't forget to write all names and period number on the back!

Tuesday, August 30 ~ Groovin' with the Greeks

Roots QUIZ today.

In class today, continue working on your god and goddess posters.
Make sure your notes are in Google Classroom (Journal #4). Include the names of your group members.


West's students, please read below:
Hi guys,

I picked up a nasty bug, compliments of the tiny people in my house. While I am puking at home, won't you create beautiful posters and give our sub the best day possible? Don't forget to review the poster requirements on yesterday's post.

We will take the roots quiz tomorrow. Posters will be due on Block Day.

Now, who will volunteer to be our time keeper? We need to have a five minute clean up warning before the end of class please. 

Thank you for taking care of business today.
Gett'er done!

Mrs. West

Monday, August 29 ~ What's the big deal about those Greeks anyway?

True Colors Narrative due TODAY!

Hobbit Essays Returned

Journal #3 ~ Essay Reflection

After looking over your essay, use the rubric and feedback to write down at least two strengths from your essay and two goals for your future writing in this class. Especially, what would it take to get top scores on the top two rows from the SAT rubric? How about ways to push your score with the vocab, sentence structure and overall grammar?

REMINDER: Roots QUIZ tomorrow, Aug., 30

EQ: Why should we study Greek mythology if they are just false idols anyway? 

Mythology Posters

Gods

1. Zeus (Jupiter)
2. Hera (Juno)
3. Poseidon (Neptune)
4. Dionysus (Bacchus)
5. Apollo (Apollo)
6. Artemis (Diana)
7. Hermes (Mercury)
8. Athena (Minerva)
9. Ares (Mars)
10. Aphrodite (Venus)
11. Hephaestus (Vulcan)
12. Demeter (Ceres) 

 Characters

1. Phaethon
2. Medusa
3. Atlas
4. Nike
5. Hydra
6. Python
7. Oracle
8. Amazon

Poster Assignment Description

You will be making a poster of your god or goddess. You will have class time Tuesday and Wednesday to complete the poster. Posters will be displayed  so make 'em pretty.

 What you'll need:

• One person needs to get your poster board
• Don't forget to put your names and period on it!
• Everyone needs to bring colored pens and pencils.
• You will need to incorporate text and drawings. 

Poster Requirements
~Please record your notes as Journal #4 in G. Classroom.

• What is the basic origin and history of this Olympian? Don't forget to include both Greek and Roman names of your god.
• What is this god or goddess associated with (wine, fertility, war, death, grain, a certain planet, an occupation, etc.)? 
• What symbols usually attend this god or goddess (eagle, thunderbolt, winged shoes, etc.)? 
• Explain a favorite story in which this god or goddess chiefly figures.
• Note at least one reference or allusion one may find in arts and culture (music, painting, ads, etc.). 
• Search the Scriptures: Find a verse, passage, or story from the Bible that relates to a story from your god or goddess (perhaps the moral is similar; perhaps it is opposite; perhaps the story appears to be a modified reflection of a story in the Bible)
• Lastly, find at least one modern word (or word root) that is derived from your god or goddess.  Include that word or root and its definition on your poster. 

HW: Bring any supplies or printed images that you'd like to use for your poster tomorrow.

Friday, August 26 ~ Do you know your roots?

Roots Review

Work on your narrative......It's due Monday!


REMINDER:

• True Colors Narrative due Monday, 8/29
• Roots QUIZ - (bio-germ) on Tuesday, 8/30

Thursday, August 25 ~ Get ahead of the game!

ROOTS

• dorm ~ sleep
• gastr(o) ~ stomach
• gen ~ birth, race, produce
• germ ~ vital, part

QUIZ ALERT!
Your first roots quiz is Tuesday, August 30. (10 pts.)



Today you will have time to work on the True Colors narrative. This is time to get ahead of the game and not feel all the weight of the narrative over the weekend. Plus, you will have the added bonus of ME! I am available for questions and input.

HW: True Colors narrative due Monday, August 29. It must be PRINTED in MLA format and ready to be turned in at the BEGINNING of the period. 
Remember to refer to the helpful links (writing, MLA and rubric) posted on Wednesday's blog.
 

Wednesday, August 24 ~ How does your "true color" shade the world around you?

Reminders ~ No Block Day this week.

BRIDGETTE'S CLASSES: Both the True Colors questionnaire and the True Colors paragraph in G. Classroom are due by Friday.

Test a teacher or a parent for extra credit.

ROOTS

• dem ~ people
• dent, dont ~ tooth
• derm ~ skin

True Colors

Psalm 139:13-14

13 For you created my inmost being;
     you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.

 EQ: How do your colors interact with those of your teachers and classmates?


Opening Discussion:

• Do you think it is more beneficial to have a teacher whose colors match yours or whose colors balance yours?

Notes: Take notes on how your colors might interact with what you guess are your most challenging teacher's colors.
You can click here to view this power point.

HW: Write a 1-2 page Narrative Essay to describe a real example of how your personality type is true in your own life and how it interacts with others. Along with your story, please include some reflection of how your personality traits can be a strength or weakness when it comes to school. How will you succeed in learning from/with teachers and students who are so different from you?

This essay should be typed and in MLA format. Click here to use our writing blog to help you with this type of essay. This essay should be turned in as a hard copy on Monday, August 29. Click here to view the rubric.

Tuesday, August 23 ~ Teachers Color Our World

Today is Picture Day.
Schedule
P.1 ~ 9:10
P.3 ~ 10:40
P.4 ~ 11:30
P.5 ~ 1:00
P.6 ~ 2:00 (West)
P.7 ~ 2:40


ROOTS 

• civ ~ citizen
• cord, cor, cardi ~ heart
• cresc, cret, crease, cru ~ rise, grow

True Colors
 
EQ: How does my color affect how I learn and work?

Warm up: HW: Write a personal story about a time when you saw your color/personality type in your own life. How did your dominant colors come out? How did you react to other people because of your color (or theirs)? This assignment can be found in Google Classroom

*Did anyone test a teacher for their True Colors? (Turn in now for extra credit)

Student Discussions
In small groups by dominant colors (you may choose to join your secondary color if you feel it is a strong motivator for you), please brainstorm answers to the following questions. Be prepared to share them with the class.

• What are the strengths and weaknesses of your color? 
• How does your color play into the way you like to learn or show your learning? (What types of projects or assignments work well? What happens to you in group work, etc...)
• What do you wish other people understood about how you think?
• What kinds of teachers/class environments can you benefit from the most? 

 HW: Nope! I will accept parent/teacher True Colors throughout the week.

Monday, August 22 ~ True Colors: Are they at the root of who we are?

ROOTS

Each day 3 or 4 roots will be posted on the blog. It is your responsibility to record them on 1 document. You should list both the definition and example for each new root. Keep one running list, so that studying for quizzes is easier.

FYI: There is an app available to help you learn the roots. The cost is $2.99. This is NOT required. It is just suggested as a fun and helpful way to learn.
App name: SAT Prep Word Parts

Here you go, your first 3 roots:

• bio ~ life
• capit, capt ~ head
• carn ~ flesh

True Colors
EQ: What are your true colors? (West students record your colors here.)
EQ: How does your personality come out in the way you live, work and learn?

Notes: What do they mean? As we watch the power point, take notes on three things:

• What words or ideas from your top color match you the most?
• What words or ideas from your second color match you the most?
• What words or ideas from your least color seem the most foreign or even wrong to you?

HW: Test a teacher or your parent!

FYI: Say cheese! Tomorrow is picture day.

Block Day ~ August 18 and August 19 ~ Quiz and ICE

After you have turned in your quiz, please choose from one of the prompts written on the board.
You will have the entire period to complete both. Good luck!

HOMEWORK ~

Complete the True Colors survey located in Google Classroom.

Here are the codes for Classroom in case you missed 'em:

Bridgette's classes:

Period 1 ~ kmzx3k
Period 3 ~ 1vhn5k4
Period 4 ~ ld39mzj
Period 5 ~ awg4ee6
Period 6 ~ 9ac698
Period 7 ~ 38mbecp

Wednesday, August 17 ~ Numbered Heads

Hobbit Annotation Check ~ It's down to the final 6!

Reminder ~ Hobbit quiz and In Class Essay are Thursday and Friday. (8/18 and 8/19)
FYI: you may use a hard copy for the writing, not the quiz.

Today: Hobbit discussion



According to the letter from Thorin (28), what are the risks, benefits of taking this adventure?

What does Bilbo forget to take with him? What is Tolkien showing you by including this?

What are Bilbo's strengths & weaknesses? What does he need to learn to be a hero?

Describe Elrond and his leadership.

Why do you think Tolkien goes into such vivid description of the countryside?


Share the light/dark images you've found.
 
How does the setting reflect Bilbo's personality?

Consider Gollum: How does he embody evil? What was he like before finding the ring? Describe Gollum’s corruption through its power. Find a passage that explains the transformation.

Part of being a hero is maintaining the value of fair play. Do you believe Bilbo practices fair play with Gollum?

Do you see similarities between Bilbo and Gollum? Explain.

Tolkien is a very creative writer, especially with descriptions and changing voices. Choose a passage or two that you deem as very cleverly written.

In the end, Gandalf makes the comment: "You don't really suppose, do you, that all your adventures and escapes were managed by mere luck, just for your sole benefit?" (305). Do you agree with Bilbo or with Gandalf? If "mere luck" is not responsible for Bilbo's success, what is?

Monday, August 15 ~ Welcome to Sophomore English

Class Business

Blog check! Who will receive that E.C.?

For those of you who did not download the blog, let's do it now!

* Remember this will be the site where you can view everything that happens in our class on a daily basis.
 
Here are the necessary steps for saving the blog to your iPad:

1. open internet app.
2. mvcseng2.blogspot.com
3. box with arrow
4. "Add to Home Screen." 
5. Now your home screen should have an icon that takes you right to our class blog. 

Annotation Check

I will randomly choose six lucky winners each day for their annotative work of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. Yes, it was part of your summer reading assignment. There's an added bonus for those who completed the assignment on time.

QUIZ ALERT! 
 Hobbit quiz ~ Block Day ~ 8/18 & 8/19

ESSAY ALERT!
Hobbit In Class Essay ~ Block Day ~ 8/18 & 8/19 

Today's Activity 

Stringy Conversations

The goal? Help me to get to know you.

How it works?

• each student receives one piece of string 
• each student needs to find the other student who has a string of the same length
• after students find their matches, they take turns interviewing one another 
• find information about your match that is interesting and might give me some insight to who that student is
• you have about 5 minutes to complete the task.
• if time allows, you will have 30 seconds to introduce your match to me and the class
• finish intros tomorrow if necessary

Wednesday, August 16 ~ What's the Plan?

 Hobbit Annotation Check ~ Who will be the lucky 6?

While I do my check, you do your check of today's blog. Be prepared to answer questions.

Check out the course plan for the year by clicking on "Course Info" located above.

 Required Novels

Semester 1 ~  The Power of One
  by Bryce Courtenay  (make sure you order the young readers' condensed edition)
ISBN   978-0-440-23913-0

Semester 2 ~ Across a Hundred Mountains
  by Reyna Grande
ISBN    978-0-7432-6958-2
 

Go over syllabus. Click here for the official document. Here is a shorter version: