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We have completed the reading for our Mythology unit and are now working on our own “Personal Odyssey”–a timeline to reflect the journey of our lives thus far.  We have worked in class to plan and organize this project.  Most students will be able to finish the entire project during class time.  The completed timeline  is due on Friday, January 27. 

Starting on Thursday, the students will begin work on our next topic, “Reading for Life.”  This will include an overview of public and consumer documents  and a short unit on the newspaper.

We’re starting the new year by reading  very condensed versions of Homer’s The Iliad and The Odyssey.  This will complete our unit on mythology.  The students are also working to complete their independent reading  mythology journals.  Here are next week’s  deadlines:

The Trojan War  (and study guide)–Wednesday, January 10

Independent reading journals–          Friday, January 13*

* Please note that journals turned in early (before 1/13) are eligible for extra credit.

We have just begun reading The Giver, a science fiction novel written by Lois Lowry.  The students have been given an ambitious reading schedule, a vocabulary packet for the entire book and  some guidelines for approaching their work.  In addition, the students are completing their work on an Etymology packet.  Here are this week’s assignments:

Students will be reading Ch. 1-4 and working on discussion questions and vocabulary for the chapters.  All work is due on Wed.

Wednesday, 11/2:  Quiz on Chapters 1-4.  Discussion questions and vocab. due.

Thursday, 11/3:  Etymology packet is due.

Monday, 11/7:  Quiz on Chapters 5-8.  Discussion questions and vocab. due.

We have just completed our first major unit–Short Stories.  the students have begun learning how to analyze literature by focusing on basic story structure:  plot, characterization, conflict, setting and theme.  This initial study provides a fundamental understanding and vocabulary for our year’s work with novels, mythology and other fictional work.  We will begin reading our first novel, Lois Lowry’s The Giver, by the end of this week.  In the meantime, we will be working with vocabulary and dictionary skills during class time.  A reading schedule for the novel will be posted by the end of the week.

Due Date:  Mouthbooks (culminating activity for short stories) are due on Monday, 10-17.