Wednesday, October 7, 2026

The Adventure

Big Idea: What does it mean to be human?

Nuance Academy: None

After today I should be able to: Identify what is important in a text.

Reading: Today you should finish up to page 17.


Agenda:

  1. Word of the Day
  2. Submit link to Padlet wall
  3. The Hobbit chapter 1 quiz
  4. English Journal
    1. What is your experience reading fantasy literature? Why do you like/dislike it? How was the reading of the first chapter? When you start a new book, what is your process for understanding it and getting into the narrative?
  5. The beginning of the adventure. Let's dive into chapter one.
    1. Collect quotes with page numbers of how Gandalf shakes things up for characters. Complete the following sentence: Gandalf promotes growth in __ by ___ in order to ___.
    2. Write down the names of the dwarves mentioned so far in the book. Choose the four you think are most important. Create a symbol for each of the four dwarves and tell why it fits. For example, "Thorin is a ___ because___"
    3. Create a diagram of the quest that the dwarves present to Bilbo. Make sure you include all of the steps on the quest. What Tookish thing awakens in Bilbo?

Homework:

  1. Membean session
  2. Read The Hobbit



Tuesday, October 6, 2026

Looking at Chapter 1

Big Idea: What does it mean to be human?

Nuance Academy: None

After today I should be able to: Identify what is important in a text.

Reading: Today you should finish up to page 17.


Agenda:

  1. Word of the Day.
  2. Pass back second paragraph and give feedback.
  3. Read for ten minutes.
  4. Great Ideas Padlet wall.
    1. Choose three of the Great Ideas. You will follow this idea throughout the novel.
  5. Reading Notes for The Hobbit (11 total)
    1. Three notes for chapter 1
    2. Two for chapter 2
    3. One for chapter 3
    4. Two for chapter 4
    5. Three for chapter 5

Homework:

  1. Membean session
  2. Read The Hobbit



Monday, October 5, 2026

Starting The Hobbit

Big Idea: What does it mean to be human?

Nuance Academy: None

After today I should be able to: Identify what is important in a text.

Reading: Today you should finish up to page 17.


Agenda:

  1. Word of the Day
  2. Read for ten minutes.
  3. The Great Ideas desk work: Courage.


Homework:

  1. Membean session
  2. Read The Hobbit



Wednesday, September 30, 2026

The Syntopicon

Big Idea: What does it mean to be human?

Nuance Academy: None

After today I should be able to: Identify what is important in a text.

Reading: Read a book of your choice


Agenda:

  1. Word of the Day
  2. Finish Wisdom and Virtue lecture
  3. Introduce the Student Syntopicon
  4. Syntopicon Scavenger Hunt

Homework:

  1. Membean session



Monday, September 28, 2026

Odysseus Body Paragraph

Big Idea: What does it mean to be human?

Nuance Academy: None

After today I should be able to: Identify what is important in a text.

Reading: Read a book of your choice


Agenda:

  1. Today you will write your second body paragraph. I will grade it like the last time. Your goal is to show improvement. 
  2. You need: 
    1. A topic sentence based on the charges against Odysseus.
      1. Odysseus is guilty/not guilty of the charge of [CHARGE] because... 
    2. For example,... 
    3. This evidence suggests... 
    4. Consequently if... 
    5. Therefore, due to the fact that... 
    6. You will also take a vocabulary test based on the words you have learned so far this year.

Homework:

  1. Membean session