TODAY IN CLASS
Picture Day.  Between legitimate delay and a certain amount of straggling, our actual teaching time varied today by section.  Here's the condensed overview. I showed the class the four "big questions" (essential questions) for the unit we're about to begin.  We focused on the first one:  "What makes a true hero?"  The process was for students to list out (own notebooks/for prep and discussion, but not to hand in) people who could be considered heroes in their own time.  The three time spans were pre-20th century (pretty broad, I admit!), 20th century, and Contemporary ("Now"). I asked for a mix of real historical people and legendary/fictional heroes.  After making their own lists, small groups shared, looked for names in common, gave reasons for their choices, and in general began the process of noting the varied qualities or reasons that someone is known as a hero.

We barely began the debriefing process--we'll continue tomorrow. 

BUT . . continue reading

FOR TOMORROW
You'll be in a different seat, very likely not with the same people you worked with today.  And today's groups probably made different progress.  So for tomorrow, just make sure to add some notes of your own.  For at least two--and better yet, three-- of the individuals in each time period, be sure to jot down some reasons they could be called heroic.

In class, we'll talk about a few more, and try to draw some useful generalizations from what we've done that will lay the foundation for really getting started next week.