Mr. Davis
Week 18:
12/14/15
Collect RAP "Golden Mean" and "Carpe Diem"
Review for final exam
Reminder: Review guide is due on day of final for 10 points EC!
Quizlet list for final 20 roots and affixes here.
Quizlet list for vocabulary/lit terms is here.
12/15/15
Review for final exam
12/16/15
FINAL EXAMS: 1st hour and 4th hour
12/17/15
FINAL EXAMS: 2nd hour and 5th hour
12/18/15
FINAL EXAMS: 3rd hour and 6th hour
Week 17:
12/7/2015
- Bell Assignment: What do you anticipate and/or enjoy the most about the upcoming holiday season (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzi, Dwali, Festivus, etc.)? Explain.
- Provide Final Exam Study Guide. Completion of study guide could earn up to 10 points EC.
- Continue and finish Book 22 of the Iliad
- Reminder: 3rd roots and affixes quiz on Thursday! (roots 21-30) Quizlet list here.
12/8/2015
- No bell assignment
- Watch clip from Troy
- Collect questions for Book 22 of the Iliad
- Assign questions for Book 24 of the Iliad (final book of Iliad we will read)
- Begin reading Book 24
12/9/2015
- Bell Assignment:
- Finish reading book 24 of the Iliad
- Watch clip from Troy (if time allows)
12/10/2015
- Free Write Thursday
- Roots and Affixes Quiz #3
- RAP: Horace “Golden Mean” and “Carpe Diem”
12/11/2015
- Time to study with final exam review guide
- Afternoon classes will be at main campus due to Holiday assembly
Week 16:
11/30/2015
- Bell Assignment: Imagine you have been unjustly sentenced to death and you get one opportunity to stand before the judges who sentenced you and speak. How would you approach the moment? What would you say?
- RAP: from "The Apology" - due tomorrow
- Roots and affixes quiz #2 Thursday!
12/1/2015
- No Bell Assignment
- Collect RAP: from "The Apology"
- Discuss the question: For what reasons have wars been fought?
- Notes over The Iliad p. 224-228 - be ready to check for completion tomorrow
- Watch the first 20 minutes of Troy - shown to understand character relationships and setting
12/2/2015
- Bell Assignment: Continue the story starter - "Rage. Anger. Disgust. These were the only emotions I felt knowing I would never again see..."
- Check Iliad notes for completion
- Introduce Iliad characters and begin reading book 1: questions here
- Roots and affixes quiz #2 tomorrow! Quizlet list here. Allow time in class to study.
12/3/2015
- No Bell Assignment
- Roots and affixes quiz #2
- Finish book 1 of the Iliad - questions due tomorrow
12/4/2015
- Bell Assignment: Free Write Friday
- Begin book 22 of the Iliad: questions here
Week 15:
11/23/2015
- No Bell Assignment
- Collect facts from Roman video
- Roulette Writing activity: "Thanksgiving Gone Wrong" - in-class assignment only! No make-up needed.
- Discuss article: "A Shopping Guernica Captures the Moment" - Peter S. Goodman
- P/T CONFERENCES BEGIN TONIGHT!
11/24/2015
No School - Thanksgiving Break! P/T CONFERENCES CONTINUE TODAY!
11/25/2015
No School - Thanksgiving Break! P/T CONFERENCES FINISH TODAY!
11/26/2015
No School - Thanksgiving Break!
11/27/2015
No School - Thanksgiving Break!
Week 14:
11/16/2015
- Bell Assignment: “Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute (or law), once a year; to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow.” ~Edward Sandford Martin
What does the quote mean? Do you agree? Why?
- Review RAP Koran
- Review for Unit Quiz tomorrow
- Roots and affixes quiz Thursday!
11/17/2015
- No Bell Assignment
- Middle East Unit Quiz
- Collect RAP Koran
- Roots and affixes quiz Thursday!
11/18/2015
- Bell Assignment: Continue the following story starter -
“As we approached the tenth floor, the elevator jolted and then came to an abrupt stop. The lights flickered for a second before resuming their constant light. The elevator wouldn’t move. I couldn’t believe it; I was stuck in the elevator with…”
- Practice and review roots and affixes. Graphic organizer here. Due Tomorrow.
- Quiz over the first 10 roots and affixes tomorrow.
11/19/2015
- No Bell Assignment
- Introduce Essential Question and Big Idea for Ancient Greece and Rome
- Watch video on Greeks: Accessible here. Must record 15 facts from video! Due tomorrow!
11/20/2015
- Bell Assignment: Free Write Friday
- Watch video on Romans: Accessible here. Must record 15 facts from video! Due Monday!
Week 13:
11/9/2015
- Bell Assignment - Wednesday is Veterans Day. Take some time to write about the men and women who have defended the United States of America. Do you personally know any veterans? What would you want to ask or tell a veteran if you had the opportunity?
- Collect extra credit recaps from Poetry Slam.
- Collect RAP “Noah and the Flood” - due today
- RAP Psalms: due tomorrow!
11/10/2015
- Bell Assignment - Read the following quote: “By swallowing evil words unsaid, no one has harmed his stomach.” - Winston Churchill What does the quote mean? Do you agree with it? Why?
- Questions over RAP Psalms? Collect RAP sheet.
- RAP: Parables. Due Thursday.
11/11/2015
NO SCHOOL!
11/12/2015
- No Bell Assignment
- Collect RAP Parables.
- Quiz over Parables
- Introduce roots and affixes list. Will begin quizzing on Thursdays starting next Thursday 11/19. Quiz is over first 10.
- TED Video: Maz Jobrani - "Did you hear the one about the Iranian-American..." No recap or assignment
11/13/2015
- Bell Assignment: Free Write Friday.
- Collect Bell Assignments
- RAP: from The Koran - Due Monday
Week 12:
11/2/2015:
- Bell Assignment- Read the following quote: “I tell my students, it's not difficult to identify with somebody like yourself, somebody next door who looks like you. What's more difficult is to identify with someone you don't see, who's very far away, who's a different color, who eats a different kind of food. When you begin to do that then literature is really performing its wonders.” – Chinua Achebe
What does the quote mean? Do you agree? Why?
- Share literature-inspired letters in small groups
- Vote group bests
- Vote class bests
- African unit cool-down. Due tomorrow.
- REMINDER: Extra credit opportunity this Thursday, November 5 from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Edardsville Public Library: TEEN POETRY SLAM (Actually just a reading, not a slam). Go, watch, write a recap - 5 points EC. Go, read something not your own, no recap - 5 points EC. Go, read something of your own, no recap - 10 points EC.
11/3/2015:
- No bell assignment
- Briefly discuss African unit cool-down and then collect.
- Introduce Middle Eastern unit:
1. What do you think of when you hear "Middle East"?
2. Essential Questions
3. Background information notes. Student copy here. Completed copy here.
11/4/2015:
- Bell Assignment: Choose one of the following prompts:
1. Start a story: Your parents tell you that you’re moving across the country or to a new country.
2. Start a story or poem including the following words: desert, dessert, sacrifice, tradition
- Finish covering Middle East background information notes
- Introduce Epic of Gilgamesh. RAP from "Epic of Gilgamesh"
11/5/2015:
- No bell assignment
- Finish reading "Epic of Gilgamesh" - RAP sheet due Friday at beginning of hour
- EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITY - TEEN POETRY SLAM TONIGHT @ EDWARDSVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY 7:00 - 8:00 P.M.
11/6/2015:
- Bell Assignment: Free Write Friday
- Collect Bell Assignments
- RAP: "Noah and the Flood" OYO (on your own)- Due Monday
Week 11:
10/26/2015
- Bell Assignment:
The Ibo people described a bike as an iron horse because they had never seen it before; think of a common thing all people all familiar with and describe it as if seeing it for the first time (iPhone, television, credit card, car, garbage disposal, etc.)
- Assign reading for chapters 20-25. Discussion preparation document here.
- Discussion document will be used for fishbowl discussions on Wednesday 10/28.
- Quiz over chapters 20-25 will be Thursday 10/29.
- Literature-inspired letter due Monday 11/2. Document posted 10/22.
10/27/2015
- No Bell Assignment
- Finish reading Chapters 20-25.
10/28/2015
- Bell Assignment: Start a story or poem that includes the following words: shrine, desecrate, ominous, hope
- Fishbowl discussions over chapters 20-25
- Quiz tomorrow!
10/29/2015
- Bell Assignment: Free Write Thursday
- Quiz over chapters 20-25
- Any remaining class time used to complete literature-inspired letter due Monday 11/2
10/30/2015
NO SCHOOL - Teacher Institute Day
Week 10:
10/19/2015
- Bell Assignment: Let’s pretend that the district wanted to do away with the homecoming dance. Would you be upset? What would your argument be either to keep the dance or do away with it?
- Read chapters 14-16.
- Will read today, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Will need to complete chapters 17-19 before Thursday.
- Quiz over chapters 14-19 on Thursday.
- Lit circle discussions on Friday over chapters 14-19.
- Vocabulary for 14-16 here. 17-19 here.
10/20/2015
- No Bell Assignment
- Continue reading 14-19
10/21/2015
- Bell Assignment: Start a story or poem that includes the following words: department, scorched, zeal, charge
- Continue reading 14-19
10/22/2015
- No bell assignment
- Quiz over chapters 14-19
- Assign literature inspired letter. Here is the rubric. Letter is due Monday 11/2.
- Time to finish documents for tomorrow's discussion
- Time to complete free write for tomorrow
10/23/2015
- Bell Assignment: Free Write Friday
- Collect bell assignments
- Lit circle discussion over chapters 14-19
Week 9:
10/12/2015
NO SCHOOL - Columbus Day
10/13/2015
- Bell Assignment: While Columbus Day is a federal holiday, some states don’t celebrate the day, some people don’t celebrate the day, and some people have renamed it “Indigenous Peoples Day.” What are your thoughts on Columbus Day?
- Finish reading chapters 11-13. Discussions tomorrow, Quiz thursday.
10/14/2015
- Bell Assignment: Start a story or poem that includes the following words: pride, potent, recoil, tiger
- Lit circle discussions over chapters 11-13
- Quiz over 11-13 tomorrow
10/15/2015
- Bell Assignment: Free Write Thursday
- Quiz over chapters 11-13
10/15/2015
- At the main campus for Homecoming assemblies and activities. No class.
Week 8:
10/5/2015
- Bell Assignment: How do you like the novel so far? What do you think of the Umoufia tribe? What about Okonkwo?
- Review chapters 1-8
- Self-select roles for chapters 9&10
- Begin reading chapters 9&10. Discussion will be Thursday.
10/6/2015
- No Bell Assignment
- Finish reading chapters 9&10 and prepare for discussion Thursday.
10/7/2015
- Bell Assignment: Start a story or poem that includes the following words - homecoming, audacity, train, world
- Short quiz over chapters 9&10
- Hot Seat activity - a student will act as a character from the novel. They will field original questions from the audience and answer as best as possible based upon our interpretations of the characters. Students who do not role-play as a character will have to develop 2 questions per character.
- Lit circle discussions take place tomorrow!
10/8/2015
- No Bell Assignment
- Lit circle discussions over chapters 9&10
- Vocabulary for 11&13 here.
10/9/2015
- Bell Assignment: Free Write Friday!
- Collect bell assignments
- Read chapters 11&13
Week 7:
9/28/2015
- Bell Assignment: Okonkwo is motivated by fear; by what are you motivated? Why?
- Collect lit circle practice assigned Thursday 9/24.
- Assign lit circle groups
- Meet with lit circle groups, self select roles for reading
- Read chapters 5&6 in TFA and complete lit circle preparation
9/29/2015
- No Bell Assignment
- Finish lit circle preparation (5-10 mins)
- Meet in lit circles and discuss reading (15 mins)
- Select group to present the reading (10 minutes)
- Self-select roles for next reading
9/30/2015
- Bell Assignment: Start a story or poem that includes the following words: subdue, frenzy, blue, Miley Cyrus
- Get materials for chapter 7-8 reading and complete lit circle discussion prep: next discussion on Friday 10/2
- Be ready for quiz tomorrow! (5th and 6th will take quiz on Thursday)
10/1/2015
- Share bell assignment from Wednesday
- Things Fall Apart Quiz (5th and 6th will do this Friday, will do discussion today)
- Time to finish preparation for discussion
- Document: 5-8 vocab here and here.
10/2/2015
- Bell Assignment: Free Write Friday
- Collect bell assignments
- lit circle discussions over chapters 7-8
- 5th and 6th hour will do quiz as they did discussion yesterday
Week 6:
9/21/2015
- Bell Assignment: How difficult was it to agree or disagree with the statements on the anticipation guide? Why? Do you think you might change your stance after reading the novel?
- Collect RAP sheet from Kaffir Boy
- Graded Whole-class Discussion over anticipation guide for Things Fall Apart– 2 contributions expected (4th and 6th hours - 3 contributions). If you do not get all your contributions (or if absent), write 1 well-developed paragraph (per contribution) over 1 of the statements.
9/22/2015
- No bell assignment
- Provide letter about Things Fall Apart: Letter is for parents and students regarding limited copies of text
- HERE IS THE LINK FOR THINGS FALL APART! Things Fall Apart FULL PDF
- Read and Analyze "The Second Coming" by W.B. Yeats. Student analysis response sheet here. Directions here. WB Yeats background here. NOTE: DO NOT COMPLETE "STATION 8." WE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME.
9/23/2015
- Bell Assignment:
Start a story or poem that includes the following words:
"sun, water, darkness, anarchy"
- Share findings from Analysis of "The Second Coming"
- Background on Chinua Achebe and Things Fall Apart (TFA)
9/24/2015
- No Bell Assignment
- Read chapters 1-4 in TFA
- Complete chapter 1-4 lit circle practice. Document here.
9/25/2015
- Free Write Friday
- Finish reading through chapter 4. Lit circle practice (assigned yesterday) due Monday 9/28.
- Provide lit circle guidelines. Document here.
- Provide sample presentation over chapters 1-3. Example here. **NOTE: Do not just copy my example. Use it as a model.
Week 5:
9/14/2015
- Bell Assignment:
Read the following proverb:
"A handful of patience is worth more than a bushel of brains" - Dutch Proverb
What does the proverb mean? Do you agree? Why?
- Collect African dilemma tales RAP sheet
- Read about features of African Oral Literature p.88
- RAP: Song of a Mother to her Firstborn p. 89-93: Due Wednesday!
- Proverb bumper sticker project: due Tomorrow!
9/15/2015
- No Bell assignment
- Share proverbs in small groups. Choose best and share to class. Vote on class best. Collect proverbs.
- Finish RAP: Song of a Mother to her Firstborn (see link on Monday)
- Provide copy of "Voices of Africa: Leonard" blog post (additional pictures the blog page - posted 9/15)
Will be used for informal, non-graded discussion tomorrow.
9/16/2015
- Bell Assignment:
Continue the story starter:
"I couldn't believe what I just heard. I stood in the checkout line, utterly confused.
'I said, we don't serve your kind here! Are you deaf?' the clerk shouted..."
- Collect RAP sheet for Song of a Mother to her Firstborn
- Discuss blog post "Voices of Africa: Leonard"
- RAP: Telephone Conversation: Due Friday
9/17/2015
- No Bell Assignment
- RAP: Kaffir Boy: Due Monday 9/21
9/18/2015
- Bell Assignment: Free Write Friday
- Collect RAP sheet for Telephone Conversation
- Discuss Kaffir Boy - RAP sheet due Monday
- Assign anticipation guide for Things Fall Apart
Week 4:
9/7/2015
Labor Day! No School!
9/8/2015
- Bell Assignment:
Is it important for us to have a “labor day”? With as many other holidays we have, do we need just one more day?
Why?
- Introduce new unit: Africa
- Essential questions and big ideas to guide the African unit:
Q #1: What is the African literary tradition?
BI #1: Importance of oral and written traditions and the influence of other cultures imposing their values and traditions
on African culture.
Q #2: How does colonization affect African cultures?
BI #2: Impact of apartheid policies.
- Annotate African background information. Instructions of how to annotate here. Background info here.
- Annotations will be used in a graded whole-class discussion tomorrow 9/9!
9/9/2015
- Bell Assignment: What images come to mind when you hear the word 'Africa'? Why do you think of these images?
- Graded whole-class discussion over African background information. Each student is expected to contribute by either
sharing an annotation, asking a question, or making a connection. 2 contributions per person (3 for 4th hour).
- Finish with famous folks
9/10/2015
- No Bell Assignment
- Brainstorm common English proverbs
- RAP: African Proverbs
- Assign create your own proverb bumper sticker: due Tuesday 9/15! See the bottom of p.2 of the African Proverbs RAP sheet. See some example proverbs here.
9/11/2015
- Bell Assignment: Free Write Friday
- Discuss African American storytellers p. 118-119
- RAP: African Dilemma Tales (folktale)
Week 3:
8/31/2015
- Bell Assignment:
What are a couple of things that you have noticed about the creation myths that we have read and presented in class?
What have you learned? What are the similarities? Differences?
- Discuss bell assignment and transition into writing assignment
- Assign Creation Myth Analysis: due Thursday 9/3! (the assignment says Wednesday but was changed to Thursday)
- Computer lab to work on analysis
9/1/2015
- No Bell Assignment
- Computer lab to finish Creation Myth Analysis: due Thursday! NEED 2 COPIES OF FINAL DRAFT
- Notebook check on Thursday. Click here for requirements!
- Unit test Friday
9/2/2015
- Bell Assignment:
Continue the story starter:
"The Dawn rose with her ball of fire high in the sky. I awoke in my tent to the sounds of the morning. A new day, but
an important day for our tribe. Today is ..."
- Review for unit test on Friday
9/3/2015
- No Bell Assignment
- Test over the first unit is tomorrow
- 1st notebook check: click here for requirements!
- New Unit begins monday!
9/4/2015
- Unit 1 test!
- Free Write Friday after test
- Collect bell assignments
Week 2:
8/24/15
- No Bell Assignment
- Collect RAP sheet from 8/21 ("How the World Was Made")
- Introduce Creation Myth Assignment: Presentations begin Thursday 8/27!
- Assign groups, time in computer lab to view myths, pick a myth, and start working on presentation!
- Possible Myths: Babylonian, Chinese, Egyptian, Inca, Inuit, Maori, Mayan, Norse, Yoruba. OR check out Big Myth for a few more options (Aboriginal, Zulu, Navajo) - click on "download materials" and then click "creation" under the desired culture.
8/25/15
- Bell Assignment:
What was your favorite story to hear as a kid? What made it your favorite? The story or the teller? Why?
- Recap Creation Myth Assignment. Will be in computer lab tomorrow (8/26) and it is due Thursday 8/27.
- RAP: "Genesis: In the Beginning" and RAP: "Coyote and the Origin of Death". Both RAPs due tomorrow and THERE WILL
BE A SHORT QUIZ!
8/26/15
- Bell Assignment:
Fill in the blank and continue the story starter:
"Knowing the world was incomplete, the creator realized what was needed to perfect the world. The creator said ‘Let
there be ________'....."
- Short quiz over "Genesis: In the Beginning" and "Coyote and the Origin of Death"
- Collect RAPs "Genesis" and "Coyote" from 8/25
- Time in computer lab to work on Creation Myth Presentations. Presentations begin tomorrow!
8/27/15
- No Bell Assignment
- Present Creation Myths in class and take notes. Note sheet here. Notes will be used for an assignment next week!
8/28/15
- Bell Assignment: Free Write Friday
- Collect bell assignments
- Finish Presentations
- Watch TED Talk: “East vs. West – Myths that Mystify." Write a 1 paragraph summary/reflection as your exit ticket (ticket to get out of the room).
Week 1:
8/17/15
- Welcome
- Role Call
- Provide Classroom Expectations and Routines/Procedures. Classroom Expectation sheet should be signed by guardian and returned by Friday 8/21 for 10 points.
- Assign iPoem/letter assignment: Due Wednesday 8/19!
8/18/15
- Bell Assignment:
On Monday, I asked you to envision the school year ahead of you and determine what goals you have for the year. On paper, write for 5 minutes about the things you want to accomplish. (academically, athletically, personally, etc.)
bell assignment sheet
- Assign textbooks
- Introduce classroom website
- Recap and work on iPoem/letter assignment: Due Wednesday 8/19!
8/19/15
- Share poems/letters in small groups, choose group and class bests. Grade writings. Writings will be collected at the end of the hour.
- EXTRA: Check out Mr. Davis' iPoem (posted 8/19 on blog, or document is here)
8/20/15
- Bell Assignment:
Today’s Quote:
“If we were to wake up some morning and find that everyone was the same race, creed and color, we would find some other causes for prejudice by noon.” ~George Aiken
What does the quote mean? Do you agree with it? Why?
- Introduce Big Question/Big Idea for "The Beginnings Unit" (informal class discussion)
- Read Introduction to World Myths and Folktales (pages 1-10). Take notes on myths, folktales, and their importance.
- Signed classroom expectations due tomorrow!
- EXTRA: Check out blog post "Introduction to World Literature" (posted 8/20)
8/21/15
- Bell Assignment:
Free Write Friday. Write about anything you choose.
- Collect bell assignments
- Collect classroom expectations (if not previously collected)
- RAP (Read, Analyze, Personal Reflection) “How the World Was Made” p. 10-16 in textbook.