Week at a glance April 23 - 27, 2012

Curriculum focus: identifies, interprets, and analyzes figurative language including: idiom, imagery, and symbolism (11.1.2.K4), uses information from the text to make inferences and draw conclusions (11.1.4.K5), compares/contrasts textual aspects: character traits, themes, character motives, and author's purpose (11.1.4.K7), analyzes and evaluates how the author's style (word choice and sentence structure) and use of literary devices work together to achieve his/her purpose by using tone, mood, and imagery (11.1.4.K11d, e, and h), and analyzes contextual aspects of setting and their influence on characters and events in the story including the contexts of history, society, and culture (11.2.1.K2a-c).

This week we'll continue reading F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. Students have already met Nick, Daisy, Tom, Jordan, and Gatsby. They've encountered some of the most enduring symbols in all of literature: the valley of ashes, the eyes of Dr. TJ Eckleburg, and Gatsby reaching out to the green light across the bay. We'll continue on with readings and discussion over chapters 1 - 3. During these chapters, students will come to understand who Gatsby actually is and why he was reaching out across the bay.

• Mon: The Great Gatsby Ch I-II review.  Begin Ch I-III vocabulary, due by the end of the hour on Tuesday.
• Tues: The Great Gatsby - read and discuss Ch III.  Vocabulary due by the end of the hour.
• Wed: The Great Gatsby - Chapter III quiz; Chapter III study guide due by the end of the hour.
• Thurs: The Great Gatsby - review Ch I-III.  Crossword due by the end of the hour.
• Fri: Independent Reading Project - continue reading your selected book and taking notes for the upcoming thematic analysis and book talk.  The Great Gatsby - film review.