Well, friends, I have to tell you... you can look at this whole blog debacle this semester in one of two ways. You can either view it as an example of the fact that even adults sometimes just plain mess up, or you can view it as a life lesson that sometimes, you take on more than you can handle and when you do, you just have to choose to let some things go. Since I love learning, I choose to see it as the second. The blog died this semester. For that, I apologize. Maybe you can take another of my classes and we can blog in that class? :)
However, while we are apologizing, the thing that does not require an apology is this semester with this class! I have had, honestly, the BEST semester with you guys. I tend to have a little bit of an effusive personality and sometimes I like to use hyperbole (look it up!) :), but I am being completely plain in this. You all have been an absolute JOY. I have felt so incredibly blessed throughout this entire crazy, stressful semester. I have had all great classes, but you all were just such a refuge for me. It was so... comfortable, I guess... to come in to fourth period with you guys. You showed enthusiasm for learning, respect for me, kindness for each other, and passion for life. (That, by the way, is an example of grammatical parallelism. Just so you know.) I have soooo enjoyed getting to know each and every one of you. You have made teaching the true pleasure that I genuinely view it as being. Thank you so much, and nothing would make me happier than to see any one of your names on my rolls in the future, whether it be Holocaust Literature or English IV AP. I hope you all have an incredible summer, and I can't wait to hear your names in the next two years at Cleveland as you accomplish much and wow more teachers. Love you!!!
Mrs. Davis
Monday, May 3, 2010
I Do Apologize.
Posted by A. Davis at 6:36 PM 1 comments
Friday, February 19, 2010
Opening of "Troy"
Odysseus: [voiceover] Men are haunted by the vastness of eternity. And so we ask ourselves: will our actions echo across the centuries? Will strangers hear our names long after we are gone, and wonder who we were, how bravely we fought, how fiercely we loved?" These are powerful first lines. The opening lines, opening scenes, in movies really set the tone for the movie. What reactions do you have to these lines, knowing the epic characteristics and the text of The Iliad as you do?
Posted by A. Davis at 8:57 PM 4 comments
The Iliad

We took notes over the characteristics of an epic. What examples can you point out from The Iliad that fit the criterion?
Posted by A. Davis at 8:56 PM 0 comments
Try Your Hand...

Iliad Game Here is an Iliad Game on the Internet. It's pretty fun. Give it a try and post any comments you have about it.
Posted by A. Davis at 8:56 PM 1 comments
Monday, February 8, 2010
Week of February 8
I am really sorry that, due to the snow day, our Inferno unit got a little off-kilter. However, I bet you were soooo glad to have the day off, huh? :) For that reason, this week will be a little crammed so that we can try to catch up. We'll get it worked out, though.
Monday, 2/8
Inferno Catch-up
Illiad Intro, notes
Tuesday, 2/9
Books 1-10, notes
Wednesday, 2/10
Books 11-15, notes
"Love" activity
Thursday, 2/11
OFF!!!
(Parent conferences 12-7)
Friday, 2/12
OFF!!!
Posted by A. Davis at 6:44 AM 0 comments
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Week of February 1
Well, guys, what with the unexpected snow, we missed hearing the rest of the cantos presented. I did not have time to revise my sub plans, so I just told the sub to have you all go ahead and take the test, doing the best you can, and I will sort it all out later. We will also finish the cantos when I get back, as well as watch the clips from "What Dreams May Come". I think it will help you visualize it. I hope you all have a wonderful, productive week!
Monday, 2/1
Define Unit 2
Inferno Test
Inferno Seminar
Tuesday, 2/2
Watch "Camelot", questions
Arthurian legends notes
Get codes
Read for homework
Wednesday, 2/3
Watch "First Knight", filling out chart
Thursday, 2/4
Finish "First Knight"
Friday, 2/5
Vocab quiz
??? (I forgot) :)
Posted by A. Davis at 4:17 PM 0 comments
The Power of Writing
We talked about this a little bit in class, but you have now read some pieces of The Inferno. What do you think about the power Dante had as a writer to create this fictional hell and place people in it from his contemporary culture? Do you think it was ethically correct for him to do this? Would you enjoy a chance to have this sort of power in writing? What are your thoughts on this text?
Posted by A. Davis at 4:16 PM 10 comments