Q3 Test Study Guide

This is a link to the study guide I put up on the projector screen in class today.

ODY RVW Part 2

Today, students reviewed Part 2 of The Odyssey. I had a handy powerpoint that I used in class to spur things along, and illustrate particular stories. No, I'm not going to post it here. Please review your textbook, not my powerpoint, to prepare for tomorrow's quiz.

As a special and rare treat, I also shared with my classes the scene from the 1997 film, The Odyssey, in which "the crusty old beggar" passes Penelope's archery contest, and transforms into his true form before the dazzled crowd of suitors.

Just so you know, curricular movies are not some kind of mystical secret jealously guarded by the English Teacher cabal. You just type "The Odyssey" into the YouTube search bar. Watch it whenever you want, I don't care. But don't get mad when I won't show it in class. It's right there waiting for you.

HW:

• Study for ODY Part 2 Quiz tomorrow.
• Also, we'll take a Membean quiz, if I can track down a mobile lab. I owe you one that got pushed because of TNReady.

Ending ODY Part 1

Students had a small window in which to review for the Odyssey Part 1 Quiz, either by conversing with each other, or asking me questions.

Then, students completed the ODY Part 1 Quiz (it included items about plot, lessons of the stories, and details concerning Epic Poetry terms.)

With the remaining time in class, the students and I began reading Part 2: The Return of Odysseus, which begins on pg. 1090.

HW:

• Continue reading Part 2, up to page 1103 (stop @ "The Challenge")
• Oh, do a session of Membean, while you're at it.

ODY Part 1: RVW

Today was a glorious day! Or, at least glorious in the regard that just about all of my students were in class, and not taking one TNReady Test or another.

So, in order to review the major portions of The Odyssey Part 1, we flew through a pretty snazzy Powerpoint file I made a couple years ago.

I'm not uploading it in this post. If you saw it in class, good for you. If not, you're fine. You can review from your textbook like everyone else.

Review for what? Review for your Part 1 Quiz on Monday.

HW:

• ODY Part 1 Quiz Monday.
• Do a Membean.

TNReady English Test

Due to the sitting of the TNReady Test for English I, I did not see any of my morning students in any kind of significant, English-class way. The test lasted from 8ish to 11:45ish.

Students, please remember: at this point I am prohibited from discussing the test items with you, just as you are prohibited from discussing the test items with each other.

HW:

• Check the ODY reading calendar I sent out and make sure you're where you need to be.

Odyssey Reading Schedule

Worried about missing English class due to TNReady?
Nervous about what chapter of The Odyssey you're supposed to be on?

Fear Not!

Mrs. Syes and I have drawn up a calendar for all the Odyssey assignments:

Link to the Word Doc Reading Calendar

Link to the PDF Reading Calendar

HW:

• Well, see the above document, for one.
• Get a great night's sleep! Have a lil' something for breakfast on your way in tomorrow! Because Thursday, 3/3, is the English I TNReady Test! See you in the Auditorium!

Original Myth Signups

This is the document that keeps track of who has signed up for what.

Shut Your Complaints

A student in 3rd period complained that the Invocation of the Muse is "hard." This poem is thousands of years old, and he complained about a modern English translation. As a courtesy to Jalen, I won't mention his name here.
Complaints? Check this out. It's the original Greek text. And I'm not making you read this version.
So...shhh. Be glad, and read.

Shout out to Ms. Howell, my Latin colleague, for hooking me up with this classic text.

SING IN ME, MUSE!

Ohhhhhhh YES. It's time to INVOKE THAT MUSE! And begin...

The Odyssey

"...the story of that man skilled in all ways of contending..."

Before we dove into a couple of juicy tidbits that the student edition of the text cuts out, all Freshmen received a copy of:

Notes on Epic Poetry

This link takes you to the un-annotated version. Check with a classmate to see the notes we added to it in class. Long story short, The Odyssey is an epic poem, and we can find evidence of every one of those notes our text. 

Today's focal points (both are in the Notes sheet):

• Invocation of the Muse
• If you're going to recite an epic poem, yeah, you better pray to a Muse to help you get through it in one piece. The invocation, remember isn't Odysseus himself, it's Homer, or the Narrator, asking for diving assistance delivering a great story.
• in medias res (thanks, Ross and Nandita in 6th, for correcting my butchered Latin punctuation)
• The Odyssey starts in the middle of the story, then goes back to tell you about the first stuff through the magic of FLASHBACK.
• In fact, in the student text, Odysseus is one boat ride away from home. He's been gone from his island of Ithaka for (10 Trojan War Years+9.5 years trying to sail home).
• But King Alcinous asks him, "Dude, where've you been? What've you seen, and done?" and that begins a multi-chapter flashback in which Odysseus recounts his adventures.

 HW: 

• Begin reading the the next passage: The Cyclops. It's long, you have 2 days to read it
• Choose a topic for your Original Myth (Due Friday)
• Do a session of Membean. It won't kill you.