Daily Update, 2/28

Behavior note of the day:  I’m having some trouble with students interrupting class very regularly.  It might be talking, loudly tapping a pen, unzipping a backpack to try to find something, crumpling a piece of paper, or even silently waving and trying to send messages across the room.  

  Today, this stopped class about every 7 minutes.  Someone did something that was loud enough or distracting enough to make me stop and wait.  

Please talk to your students.  If you find that yours was one of the ones who was distracting, please help them understand the need to focus a little better.  Thanks! 

 

Absent student note of the day:  The big thing to make up is class notes on the history book.  I’ve posted them, below.  You have to complete them from the book, or from your electronic version.  Feel better, and come back soon.  And don’t cough on me.  Cough on the student next to you, maybe, but not on me. 

  

THURSDAY, 2/28: STOPPING POINTS / DUE WORK

AM CORE

History: p. 244: we talked about the Indian caste system, today; the

five basic levels of it, how it was similar to and different

from Egypt, and why the Aryans would have created it to

begin with.

Homework:   “Create an American caste system.  What will you

base it on?”

English: “Ginger for the Heart”– Think It Over questions.

Homework:    None.

Portfolio: Editing of the Evidence Paragraph, Draft #2

Homework:    Final Drafts of the first Strength and Evidence

Paragraphs are due Friday.  They lose 30% if they come in on

Monday.

PM CORE

History: p. 243:  We finished “The Aryans Bring Change”

Homework:   Summarize your notes on how the Aryans changed

India.  Write 1 paragraph, 8-12 sentences.

English: Practice books, pages 65-66.  

Homework:    Be ready for an open-book test on “The Qualities of

Friendship.”

Portfolio: Editing of the Evidence Paragraph, Draft #2

Homework:    Final Drafts of the first Strength and Evidence

Paragraphs are due Friday.  They lose 30% if they come in on

Monday.

 

 Ancient Civ. Notes, Chapter 4 - Page 4

 Ancient Civ. Notes, Chapter 4 - Page 5

 

Finally, happy early Leap Day.  Tomorrow is the first February 29th since 2004.  And ladies, take note:           (from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leap_year#Long_term_leap_year_rules)

Folk traditions

 In the English speaking a world, it is a tradition that women may propose marriage only on leap years. While it has been argued that the tradition was initiated by Saint Patrick or Brigid of Kildare in 5th century Ireland, it is dubious as the tradition has not been attested before the 19th century ^[7]. Supposedly, a 1288 law by Queen Margaret of Scotland (then age five and living in Norway), required that fines be levied if a marriage proposal was refused by the man; compensation ranged from a kiss to £1 to a silk gown, in order to soften the blow.^[8] Because men felt that put them at too great a risk, the tradition was in some places tightened to restricting female proposals to the modern leap day, 29 February, or to the medieval leap day,24 February. According to Felten: “A play from the turn of the 17th century, ‘The Maydes Metamorphosis,’ has it that ‘this is leape year/women wear breeches.’ A few hundred years later, breeches wouldn’t do at all: Women looking to take advantage of their opportunity to pitch woo were expected to wear a scarlet petticoat — fair warning, if you will.” ^[9].

In Greece, it is believed that getting married in a leap year is bad luck for the couple^{[citation needed]}. Thus, mainly in the middle of the past century, couples avoided setting a marriage date in a leap year.