Tag Archives: Odyssey

Schaffer Organization, Game Play, and Foldables

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First and sixth periods did some work with the Schaffer model of organization. Together we wrote an example Schaffer model paragraph; I’ve put one of the paragraphs online as an example for others.

For second and fourth periods, it was the big day: students turned in and played the Odyssey board games they’ve been working on. Pictures are available here.

Seventh period had a split day: those students who didn’t do the homework went to one side of the room to do yesterday’s homework. The remaining students did group work, reviewing plot organization and analyzing the plot from “The Amigo Brothers.” We finished up by creating foldables of the major elements of the plot.

Homework
  • First and sixth periods:
    • begin planning your persuasive essay;
    • complete any additional research as necessary. (You can come in early and use the library’s computers for this.)
  • Second and fourth periods: wait for it… no homework.
    The second time this year. (Are you feeling okay, Mr. Scott?)
  • Seventh period:
    • students who didn’t complete the homework yesterday (those reading in class today) are to complete the questions for “The Amigo Brothers;”
    • students who did homework yesterday are to finish their illustrated foldables.

Assessing Sources, Starting Afresh, and Propaganda

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First and sixth continued assessing online sources and began researching for their persuasive writing topic.

Second and fourth periods began a lightning quick unit covering propaganda and letter writing (not as odd a combination as one might expect) as we finish up the Odyssey project.

Seventh period began a new short story in our short story unit. We’ll be finishing up the unit next week.

Homework
  • First and sixth periods: none.
  • Second and fourth periods:
    • find one example of transfer or glittering generalities in advertising; print it, identify it, and bring it
    • work on Odyssey project;
    • study for phrases test.
  • Seven period: read “Letters from Rifka” (page 224).

Appositives, Evaluating Sources, and the Plot

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First and sixth periods worked on evaluating web sources as we move the the research phase of our unit on persuasive writing. We’ll be spending a bit more time in the lab this week, researching our topics.

Second and fourth periods went over appositives and appositive phrases in a flash before spending the rest of the period working on the Odyssey project. We’ll be having a small test on phrases next Monday.

Seventh period used Freytag diagrams to examine the plot of a couple of short stories.

Homework
  • First and sixth periods: none.
  • Second and fourth period:
    • continue working on project;
    • study for phrase test next Monday.
  • Seventh period:complete a Freytag plot diagram for “The Three Little Pigs.”

Infinitives, Persuasion, and a Story

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First and sixth periods went over yesterday’s quiz and continued looking at persuasive techniques in action.

Second and fourth periods went through a lightening-quick overview of infinitive phrases. Afterward, we spent time planning our Odyssey project.

Planning the Game Board

The Joy of Group Work

Seventh period began a new story, “The Bear Boy,” and began looking at predicting as a reading skill.

Homework
  • First period: define the vocabulary words
    • deject
    • inject
    • project (2 definitions)
  • Second and fourth period
    • Use each of the following infinitive phrases in a sentence of your own.
      • to give the right answers
      • to go home after school
      • to run after the bus
      • to read the entire book over the weekend
      • to spend the night at my cousin’s house
    • Continue planning project
  • Sixth period: none.
  • Seventh period: questions 1-5 on page 196.

Presuasion, Narratives, and a Project

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First and sixth periods learned about persuasive techniques.

Second and sixth periods continued working on the Odyssey project. Today was one of the final days of full in-class preparation. The project will likely be due 21 October (but no earlier).

Seventh period read “Papa’s Parrot” as we continue working on context clues for words and narrative structure.

Homework
  • First and sixth periods: find an opinion piece (either online or in a newspaper) and find one example of one persuasive technique. Copy the sentence, identify the technique, and bring it to class tomorrow.
  • Second and fourth periods: read “Odysseus’s Bed” (in other words, complete the Odyssey).
  • Seventh period: answer questions 1-5 on page 31.

Persuasion, Planning, and Short Stories

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First and sixth periods turned in their memoirs and began a new unit today. We’re working on persuasion, and we’ll be creating a persuasive piece of writing after learning about persuasive techniques.

Second and sixth periods reviewed the weekend’s reading before heading to groups to do some more planning for the board game Odyssey project.

Seventh period began a short story unit, looking at context clues and working on an anticipation guide for the first story we will read tomorrow.

Homework
  • Second and fourth periods: Read “Death at the Palace” from Odyssey.
  • All other classes: none.

Final Conferences and Project Planning

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First, sixth, and even seventh periods (my seventh grade class) all had a final day of workshop to clear up any last-minute problems before the final turn in of their writing projects on Monday.

Second and fourth periods reviewed homework and then began planning for the Odyssey board game project.

Homework
  • First, sixth, and seventh periods: complete final drafts for turn-in Monday.
  • Second and sixth periods: read pages 1083-1091.

More Exploring and Some Reviewing

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First period completed the Explore Test. Second period didn’t meet due to an overlap in scheduling with the Explore Test.

Fourth period simply reviewed the now-completed first half of the Odyssey. We’ll finish the epic next week.

Sixth period had a sentence fragment review. We’ll be adding this to the rubric for the memoir project.

Seventh period practiced finding content gaps and plugging them, so to speak.

Homework
  • First period: none.
  • Second and fourth periods:
    • answer questions 1-4 and 6-12 on page 1075;
    • read 1078-1083.
  • Sixth period: none.
  • Seventh period: complete second draft.