We are going full speed ahead with our mythology/epic unit. Today we started group presentations. We had three excellent presentations about Aphrodite, Poseidon, and Artemis. Good job presenters! Get the notes from one of your buddies if you missed today.
I gave journal topics today. We will start class with five minutes for journal writing for the next several days. Your journals entries must be at least one half page to get full credit. Journals will be due Tuesday, April 15. Here are the prompts:
Odyssey Journal Questions
Name_________________________
Respond to the following journal prompts during the first five minutes of class for the next six days. You should write a minimum of a half page for each entry. Staple this paper to the top of your entries to turn in on Tuesday, April 15.
1. What are the characteristics that someone must have to be a hero?
2. Have you ever been on a journey? Here did you go? What did you do? If you have never been on a journey, where would you like to go?
3. If you were going to write an epic poem, who would you want as the hero? Why? Describe this superhero of yours.
4. Odysseus and his crew encounter various monsters on their voyage home. Have you faced “monsters” in your life? How have you dealt with them?
5. Odysseus, as the hero of The Odyssey, displays many abilities in having to deal with beings of all kinds and with various cultures. Think about the qualities Odysseus displays that help him interact with the various people he meets on his journey. Choose a quality, such as “open-mindedness,” and tell how this quality can be useful today when you are dealing with people.
6. Odysseus does not tell his men about the dangers they face with Scylla and Charybdis. Do you believe that it is best to know what is going to happen to you if it is dangerous, or would you rather face the danger without knowing about it? Why or why not?
I also gave a chart of Greek and Latin roots, prefixes and suffixes for you to study for the upcoming test on Tuesday, April 15. You'll need to see me for the chart. The format won't work right here, and it is best that you have the chart in the proper format.
Also, we will follow a strict reading schedule for The Odyssey. I will put a schedule of the quizzes in the due date column to the right.
Reading schedule:
We will be reading Part One of The Odyssey from your purple literature books during the next five days of class. Please keep up with the following reading schedule:
Date, Pages
Monday, April 7, 651-658
Tuesday, April 8, 660-665
Wednesday, April 9, 666-670
Thursday, April 10, 673-677
Friday, April 11, 678-686
We will be having a test on the group presentations about the Greek Gods, The Odyssey, and Greek and Latin roots, prefixes and suffixes on Tuesday, April 15.
We are packing it in during the next several days. I'm expecting great work from each of you.
It turns out we DID do something while you were gone ;)
Email Mrs. Cheney
shannon.cheney@besd.net
If you send me an email to my district address, please put your name in the subject bar. Emails from unrecognized sources are filtered to a spam folder in my school district's system. I look through my spam folder every day, and if your name is in the subject bar, it is easier for me to retrieve your email. Thanks.
Hope to hear from you soon!
If you send me an email to my district address, please put your name in the subject bar. Emails from unrecognized sources are filtered to a spam folder in my school district's system. I look through my spam folder every day, and if your name is in the subject bar, it is easier for me to retrieve your email. Thanks.
Hope to hear from you soon!
When is this due?
January 21
Journal--12 entries
Glossary--16 words
Book report
Journal--12 entries
Glossary--16 words
Book report
Spelling/Vocabulary list, 8th
- omen
- banishment
- elder
- smirk
- feigned
- cowering
- depositions
- skiff
- sparse
- shrouded
- moseyed
- brandished
- moron
- sullenly
- corny
- smoldering
- barrage
- spewing
- defiant
- inferno
Links
8th grade disclosure document
I am looking forward to spending this trimester with your student in 8th grade language arts. We will be enjoying our time together through reading, writing, and learning to use the English language effectively.
Reading
We will be reading one novel and one play as a class this trimester. I also encourage students to discover the joy of reading good books on their own. We will go to the library once every two weeks to check out books, and I will give class time (15 minutes) every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for reading. Each student is expected to bring a book to class on these days. The students will earn a reading grade based on their participation and behavior during reading time.
Writing
We will be following the writing process to complete several writing assignments this trimester. The writing process requires students to complete multiple steps before they turn in a finished project. I will generally require students to have an adult read and evaluate their drafts based on criteria I provide. Your feedback will help your student see how they can improve their writing.
Plagiarism will not be tolerated. If a student plagiarizes any work, he/she will earn a zero on the assignment and a referral to the office. Plagiarism means “the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own original work.” (http://www.dictionary.com/) Close imitations most often happen when a student cuts and pastes from an internet source and then changes a word or two here and there while claiming it as his/her own work. When students are assigned to write, they must write their own sentences and paragraphs; they must form their own ideas. If I suspect a paper is cut and pasted, it is easy for me to search the internet to find evidence. Please do not allow your student to plagiarize.
Language
I teach the correct use of written and oral language in my class. Students will be expected to use correct grammar in their writing as well as during oral presentations. Students will be required to give at least one oral presentation during the trimester.
Materials
Students are to come to class prepared. Students should have a spiral notebook for a daily journal/glossary. We will write every day, and it is best if students have a spiral notebook used ONLY for their journal/glossary. Students are also to bring a pencil or pen to class as well as the book they are currently reading. Students who come unprepared will receive a reduction in their citizenship grades.
Makeup/Late Work
You will be given two late-work vouchers to use during the trimester. I will only accept late work if it is accompanied by a voucher. If you use them all up the first two weeks of the trimester, you will not receive additional vouchers. Use them wisely. You may turn unused vouchers in at the end of the trimester for extra credit.
For your convenience, I am now on the internet: http://mrscheney.blogspot.com/. I do my very best to post every day. I post assignments, resources, notes, helpful hints, and upcoming due dates on my webpage. There is also a link to the SIS student login page, so students can easily check their grades. I encourage all students and parents to check my blog when there is an absence, as there will be far more detailed descriptions of what you missed there than I can provide in the minute or so before or after class.
Grading Scale
I will grade on the following scale:
93-100% = A 90-93% = A- 87-89%= B+
84-86% = B 80-83% = B- 77-79% = C+
74-76% = C 70-73% = C- 67-69% =D+
64-66% =D 60-63% = D- 0 –59% = F
Class Rules
My class rules are posted in my room. We have gone over the rules in class. If you have any questions about the rules or any of my policies, please contact me. I do my best to answer all emails within 24 hours. You are welcome to visit my classroom at any time.