Spirit Week

Well, you have certainly done well this week. The test grades were fabulous. Very proud of you. Your letters of advice to the 6th graders were outstanding. I now know you are capable of writing clearly, concisely, and with feeling, so I intend to tap into your writing talents in the near future. You have been warned. (mwa ha ha ha). Thank you, Emily Conrad, for introducing me to the written form of the "evil laugh."

Your kindness and compassion were what I liked the most in your notes to the 6th graders. All of you gave appropriate warnings and suggestions, but almost all of you ended your messages with encouragement and wishes for their success. Well done! Your attitude toward them shows great character and maturity. I was touched. I think I'm going to cry. Sniff, sniff... my poppets are growing up!

Just kidding. It would take a bit more than that to make me cry, but I am pleased with your progress.

So, onward we go in Greek mythology.

• Monday 1/28: Took Test II

• Tuesday 1/29
  
• Quizzed over Poseidon and Apollo.
  
• Wrote letters to 6th graders.
  
• HW: read 44-49

• Wednesday 1/30
• Quizzed over Apollo & Artemis
• Watched Drive Through History DVD segment on Oracle at Delphi
• HW: read 50-63

• Thursday 1/31
• Quiz over Hermes, Hades, Persephone & Demeter
• Finish Drive Through History DVD segment
• HW: read 64-69

• Friday 2/1
• Quiz over Dionysus
• Catch up discussion day
• You all can decide if you want to play "Greek Mythology Trivial Pursuit" between houses, or boys vs girls (this is not a wise move for one of the genders who shall remain nameless. You know who you are). Or, I can split you up randomly. Since we are reading faster than we are discussing, Friday will be our catch-up day. No guarantee of "GMTP;" it all depends on how far we get in discussion on Thursday
  
• Homework: massive Greek crossword puzzle (mwa ha ha ha)
  

See you tomorrow,
Mrs. Dixon

Monday's Mythology Test Objectives & Book Report Info

Hello, poppets!
I'm back in town and, after HOURS spent on the phone with "technical support," I'm back online. The people with the very thick accents at technical support were quite technical, but not very supportive.

I can honestly say I was very impressed with your responses during the review on Friday. They were, for the most part, thoughtful and insightful, and you kept the chatting to a minimum. Well done!

I think most of you understand the material over which you will be tested; however, just for the record, I'm posting a list of test objectives. If you have any questions, email me or call me tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon.

Here we go...

• The test is over pages 9-37 in D'Aulaire's
  
• Be able to spell all names correctly
• Know all twelve Olympians' names and their role in Greek mythology (e.g., Artemis: goddess of the hunt; Ares: god of war)
• Be able to spell all names correctly
• Know the names of the mortals involved in the stories and what happened to them
• Be able to spell all names correctly
• Key places: Athens, Egypt, Greece, Tartarus, and others from your reading and our discussion. No maps. Aren't you disappointed?
  
• Be able to compare and contrast gods and/or goddesses
• Know short definitions of vocabulary words
• Be able to discuss the way Greeks used myths to explain natural phenomena
• Be able to spell all names correctly
• You will not be tested over the DVD on ancient Greece. However, the DVD is an excellent source of bonus questions.
  
• And the last thing you should know...
  
• Be able to spell all names correctly!! (Are you beginning to see a theme here?)
  

The test is multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, and essay. You all are bright, creative people, so I expect thoughtful, articulate answers on the essay. When (not "if") your parent, friend or sibling quizzes you, give them the answer in complete sentences which you could actually write on the test. (What a concept!)

I'm sorry I am a zero when it comes to information regarding your book reports. Please email Mrs. Ammons with questions. So far, here is the information she has relayed to me regarding your book report objectives:

• Due date: Feb 25th (she had said the 24th, but it is, in fact, Monday, Feb 25th)
• Part I: List the top 10 events in the character's life
• Part II: In a good paragraph (7-10 sentences) explain why you chose this biography.
• Part III: In another good paragraph, explain how you are either like or not like this person.
• Part IV: In 1 1/2 - 2 handwritten pages, summarize the biography. She does not want something she would read on the book cover, but she would like a good summary of the book you read. Note: if you have bigger handwriting, you must write at least 2 pages.

If you have questions, email her at mammons@wamemphis.com.

See you Monday,
Mrs. Dixon

Vocab & upcoming test

• Vocabulary for the day: irreverent, hubris, vainglorious
• Vocabulary from the first day is on the handout I gave you

• For Thursday, 1/24
  
• Yes, there is a quiz tomorrow over anything we've talked about since we began D'Aulaire's.
• We will watch some scenes about Athena from the Greek DVD
  
• We will view some slides from my Greek trip and look at more "artifacts" from Greece
• For Friday, 1/25
• Test review--Olivia, Caroline & Lacey get to choose the candy I will throw at you for correct answers (must be individually wrapped)
• All book report titles to be finalized on Friday
• For Monday, 1/28
• Test over pages 1-37 in D'Aulaire's
  
• I will post test objectives, so keep checking the blog
  

Vocabulary words - Tuesday 1/22

irony - humor based on opposites or something humorous based on contradiction (e.g., big, tough NFL player scared of mice; or, frail, petite grandma decking NFL player)

Also know:
gadfly, strait, ford, forge, bellows, sinister, discord, oblivion
These are not all your vocabulary words. These are just from today's stories. Stay tuned for more!

Final score for Are You Smarter Than The Other Houses?
Columba 8
Becket 9
Boniface 9
Athanasius 11.

ATHANASIUS CONTRA MUNDUM!! Way to go Olivia, Lacey & Caroline!

Tomorrow, after the quiz, we finish Ares and discuss Athena.

Choices for book reports must be made by Friday, January 25th. If you selected a biography under duress and would like to change it to something more interesting, now is your chance due to the gracious nature of your fabulous English teacher.

7th grade English grades

By the end of the week, I should be able to enter grades so they'll show up on edline. It has taken longer than we thought due to some computer glitches. Oh, and I had to get top secret clearance for classified information. I think my stint as an undercover acrobat in the Moscow circus kind of threw the investigators. Check out my picture online (http://www.moscowcircus.biz/biographies.htm). My code name was "Daria Bogdanova."

Anyway, for the students, it's a lucky break. For parents who want to know the numbers, you are welcome to email me and I'll be happy to let you know how your student is doing on quizzes and tests.

Do svidanja,

uh, I mean, goodbye...
Mrs. D

Book reports & schedule

Just a reminder: your book report title is due on Friday. That does not mean you need to bring in a questionable title on Friday. It means you need to finalize the book you plan to read for your report on Friday. If you are wondering if that biography about Shaquille O'Neal or Zac Efron is appropriate, you need to submit that tomorrow.

Here's a newsflash: a biography about Shaquille O'Neal or Zac Efron will not be appropriate.

Regarding the format for the book report, Mr. Black will talk to you about that soon. In the meantime, just read your biography with comprehension. Look for key elements about that person's life which motivated him or her to do whatever outstanding thing he or she did.

Below is the tentative schedule for the next few days:

• Thursday, 1/17
  
• Quiz
• I will return your test (cue scary music) and we'll go over it quickly. We will not have time for prolonged negotiations regarding your answers. If you have questions, please back them up with facts. In other words, if the answer is "Athens," please do not ask me if "Themistocles" will do.
• We will finish pages 17-23 in D'Aulaires'.
  

• Friday, 1/18
  
• Quiz
• Discuss Hera, Zeus, Io, Argus, and Hermes (pages 24-27)
  

• Monday, 1/21
  
• No school!
  
• Read your biography.
• Clean out from under your bed.
• Hug your mother.

• Tuesday, 1/22
  
• Quiz
• Discuss Hephaestus, Aphrodite, and Ares (pages 28-32)

• Wednesday, 1/23
  
• Quiz
• I'm bringing objects and slides from my Greece trip because we'll study my favorite goddess, Athena. I promise, it's cool. It won't be like having to watch Great-Aunt Bertha's slides from her Greece trip in 1979.
• Possibility for popcorn, but no promises
  

Remember, spelling counts on quizzes and tests.
Mrs. D

Test information

Hello, poppets!
I've been sewing pirate costumes this weekend, so I'm in a nautical mood...

Here are my objectives for the test which will be on Tuesday, not Wednesday. I know, I know...you really want to watch the DVD and I want you to see it; however, we must move on and actually read a myth or two before I leave you in March.

So, here are some things I would like you to be able to identify, discuss, or list for the test (in no particular order):

1. Greek geography (you have the maps)
2. Differences between Sparta and Athens
3. Discuss the time periods of ancient Greek history. Be able to list the time periods and some facts regarding each. Remember the mnemonic: "My Mother Dances Around Class After History."
4. Key people from Greek history: politicians, playwrights, poets, medicine, architecture, and the military
5. Why we study Greek mythology
6. What ancient Greeks valued
7. Why ancient Greeks invented myths
8. Differences between myths, fables, folktales, legends (and examples of each)
9. Sources or "authors" of Greek myths
10. Beginnings of Greek civilizations
11. What city-states are, in what period they took place and how they ended
12. Persian Wars
13. Peloponnesian Wars
14. Importance of the battles at Marathon, Salamis and Action
15. Phillip II and his son
16. Hellenism

The test will probably be discussion, short answer, matching, T/F and maybe some multiple choice. We will review on Monday. I hope that helps!

For those of you who have not yet turned in your map, it's 2 points off per day that it's late. Also, a map turned in after the due date is automatically ineligible for extra-credit points.

Special thanks to Allen Coe who was so gentlemanly in class on Friday when I was struggling with all the video equipment. He has earned Padawan Learner ranking and may just make a great Jedi someday.

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. D

Good news!

No quiz on Thursday or Friday. Before you get too excited, remember there's an ENORMOUS test on Monday. Just kidding. It's a regular test just like any other. In the next day or two, I will post a list of things you should be able to discuss or identify; but, if you've listened in class and taken good notes, you should be fine.

And bringing chocolate (Dove, to be specific) can't hurt.
Mrs. D

Helpful website (continued)

Forgot to tell you...
If you use the website, start at "Late Bronze Age: Minoans & Mycenaens." That's where we started the lecture on Tuesday. If you scroll down, you'll also see links to The Dark Ages, The Archaic Period, The Classical Period, etc.

Helpful website

http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/history/history.htm

Since you don't have a textbook, this website is pretty good about explaining what we're going through in class. You will not be tested over the material on this website. Just use it to help fill in any gaps you have in your notes. Some of the dates may be a little different, but generally, the information is the same.

Of course, you can use online encyclopedias as well, but sometimes the reading is a little tough. Hope that helps!
Mrs. Dixon

Stellar students

Congratulations to our own Olivia Pridemore for being chosen to compete in the Wordsmith Writing Contest! Olivia's paragraph truly captured the wonder of the "Man & Manatee" picture you were asked to describe. Katherine Nash was chosen from the other 7th grade English class. I know both ladies will represent Westminster well. Well done, Olivia and Katherine!

Friday's class

Discussion topics covered:

• Continued to explore how ancient Greek culture has influenced and continues to affect western civilization.
• Emphasized specific areas such as government, art, literature, philosophy, medicine, sports, architecture, and theatre
• Discussed how culture values are expressed in myths
• How do we know what Greeks valued? Beauty, art, heroes, etc. Very important list of values was discussed.
• Defined myths.
  
• You have a short a definition I'm not crazy about and you have a longer definition I like.

The week to come (if all goes as planned)

• Monday: Finish intro to myths.
  
• Tuesday & Wednesday: Lightening overview of Greek history. Be ready to take volumes of notes. We are going to cover 3000 years in two days. Take some Advil before class. Figure out some abbreviations for your notes (e.g., "G" for Greece, "Ath" for Athens, "Min" for Minoans, etc). Buckle your seatbelt.
  
• Thursday & Friday: DVD, The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization. If behavior is exemplary on Mon, Tues & Wed, I'll serve popcorn which you can eat while you take notes on the video. The video will help bring to life the history we discussed on Tues & Wed. Lots of battle scenes for the guys. Good re-enactments. Excellent portrayal of life in ancient Greece. I know you're all breathless with anticipation.

Assignments:

• Five-point quizzes every day
• Map of ancient Greece due on Friday, Jan 11
• Test on Intro to Myths and Greek history probably on Monday, Jan 14
  

Quiz Hint

Interesting news and tidbits on the blog are also fair game for bonus quiz questions

Welcome back

Class today:
Mr. Black opened the class with a writing assignment which will enable him to select students whose writing prowess might just earn them an award in the Wordsmith Writing contest.

We then launched into a discussion of why Greek myths are important for us in the 21st century. The students came up with great reasons to study myths! Kudos to James, Grace, Brennan, Kenton and Olivia (remind me if I left you off the list) for providing mature, thoughtful answers to questions about the relevance of Greek myths. We will continue our discussion tomorrow.

Assignments:
Map of Ancient Greece: Due January 11. You have all the information you need to complete the assignment. Dazzle me with your creativity!

If you don't have a 3-ring binder for English, I suggest you get one by Monday. Nothing fancy. Get some kind of pockets to put in it for things that aren't 3-hole punched. Keep all handouts in your notebook and bring them back to class every day.

Five point quizzes: These will begin on Monday. All lecture material and reading material are fair game for quizzes. Each day, you must bring the small white notepad to class. Should you forget it, your quiz grade will go down by one point. Notepads should be in by Monday.

Your "Ten Rules" sheet is due Monday with your signature and your parent's signature. For every day it's late, you lose 2 points out of 10.

No need to bring your grammar book to class at this time. The only text you will need is D'Aulaires.

Housecleaning:
Someone asked me during the lecture/discussion today if they should be taking notes. If I go to the trouble of presenting a lecture (especially a powerpoint), you need to write down the highlights of what I say or what your classmates add to the discussion. If you hear me say "Excellent answer, James" or the like, that information is probably good test material or just good for you to know. Listening to your teachers and relevant comments from your classmates and recording that information in your notes is a valuable skill. Learn it now! :)