Author: litalive

litalive

Assignments for 03/09/2026

Assignments for March 9th, 2026

St. Patrick's Day shamrocks

Explorations in British Literature

We discussed the rest of the chapters for Quiz #1 and almost all of the assignment for Quiz #2. (We will finish that next week as well as the questions for Quiz #3.)

Next week, read the following:

  1. Oliver Twist — Chapters 28-40
  2. Study Guide Questions — Pages 13-16 (through Chapter 40)

Please bring any questions to class or anything you don’t understand. We watched today more of the BBC version of Oliver Twist and will continue that next week. Look for Noah and Charlotte to appear again later in the story. There are lots of characters, so make a list if you need to.

American History

We discussed the key events in Chapters 21-23 as well as went over the Chapter Reviews about what the students should know in each one. We then had extra information about Theodore Roosevelt and did a crossword puzzle in class. For next week, do the second crossword puzzle on the life of Teddy Roosevelt and read Chapter 24. On March 16, we will do our second set of Presidential reports, and on March 23, we will have a game review and a final test over Chapters 21-24. Next week, we will go over the puzzle and the answers as well as Chapter 24 (The Great Depression) and the Chapter Review.

Watch these short videos on Black Tuesday and the Stock Market crash of 1929 and the Teapot Dome Scandal.

The Great Depression Explained in One Minute

The Teapot Dome Scandal

No-Spin Economics

We took a quiz on Crash Course Economics #4 on Supply and Demand, made up tests, and then studied the coins (past and present) of our country. We also did an in-depth study of our one dollar bill. Thanks to Brady, who brought lots of coins for us to examine. Next week, we will examine all of our bills, the microprinting and watermarks, and the great lengths our government has gone to in order to prevent counterfeiting. Don’t forget to bring a magnifying glass to be able to see the microprinting on our bills. I will give you a sheet with information on the new $100 dollar bill as well.

Study for a quiz on the sheet I gave you today. On March 16, we will have a quiz on the information there. It will be matching on the obverse and reverse sides of the coins and bills and True/False on the other information. We will also go over the sheet on Crash Course Economics #5 on Macroeconomics that day. On the last day before spring break, we will have a quiz (25 True/False) on Crash Courses #3 and #5. Next week, we will examine the bills.

Here is Crash Course Economics #6 (Productivity and Growth). We will continue with this after our Spring Break.

Watch the video, and I will give you the questions next week.

Quick Looks at Great Books

We discussed the rest of the questions for Quiz #3 and took it. Then we voted on the way to finish this book. For next week, if you voted for finishing the book in five weeks, read the following:

Chapters 54-71 (Abridged version)
Chapters 82-117 (Unabridged version)

Study guide questions 84-105

If you voted for finishing the book in six weeks, read the following:

Chapters 54-63 (Abridged version)
Chapters 82-103 (Unabridged version)

Study guide questions 84-93

We will play one review game next week and take Quiz #4 before we go over all the questions. Bring any questions you have to class with you and ask them before Quiz #4.

Watch this celebration of Carnival in Venice, Italy where the biggest celebration is today.

Debate

We finished our last Sylvia Snidely advertisement today and checked to see how they illustrated the logical fallacies they were assigned. Then we finished the last three one-on-one debates. You will receive all of these back next week.

You were given a list for your notebook of the email address and phone number of each student for your reference. Then we met in groups to prepare for the debate on the JFK assassination, which will be two weeks from today. (March 16) Next week, you should have a timed written statement of your part in the debate for your group to preview. (Please call or email your team member(s) who were absent today and give them whatever you assigned them to do.) We will have judges there to decide the winner (most persuasive) of this debate. Contact me if you have any questions at all.

Previous Assignments for School Year 2025 – 2026:

litalive

Assignments for 03/02/2026

Assignments for March 2nd, 2026

St. Patrick's Day shamrocks

Explorations in British Literature

We went over all the introductory pages in the study guide and took the Introductory Quiz. Then we talked about the Victorian Age and watched the BBC version of our book. It helps so much to put faces to what we read about!

Next week, read the following:

Oliver Twist — Chapters 15-27
Study Guide Questions — Pages 10-13 (through Chapter 27)

We will finish discussing the previous chapters and have our Quiz #1 and Quiz #2. If there’s something you don’t understand, bring your questions with you. This is a great book, and I know you’re going to enjoy it.

Watch this scene from the book to get an idea what Mr. Gamfield was like.

American History

We had a game competition to review for the test on Chapters 18-20. Then we took the test.

For next week, read Chapters 22 and 23. (World War I and the Roaring Twenties) We will go over Chapters 21-23 and cover what you need to know from the Chapter
Reviews. Watch the following videos about your reading in these chapters.

Watch about the sinking of the Lusitania and the Zimmerman note.

Watch this short video about aviator Charles Lindbergh.

No-Spin Economics

We received the quizzes back from class last week. (GREAT grades!) We briefly reviewed Penny Candy Chapters 3 and 4 and then took the quiz. Students were also given the answer sheets to study for Penny Candy Chapters 5 and 6 which they had already read.

For next week, we will have a short quiz on Crash Course Economics #4 on Supply and Demand. This is a repetition of Chapter 3 in Penny Candy. We will take a quick quiz on Crash Course #4. (Ten True/False questions) We will then spend the rest of our time examining the coins in America, which the students will find really interesting. (Don’t forget to bring a magnifying glass to class next Monday. Also, watch the following video and complete the sheet you were given.

Crash Course Economics #5 — Macroeconomics

Quick Looks at Great Books

We finished our discussion of last week’s chapters, took questions, and took Quiz #2.

For next week, read the following:
Chapters 12-53 (Abridged version)
Chapters 63-81 (Unabridged version)

Study guide questions 66-83.

We will finish the last question from last week’s reading and take Quiz #3. Then we’ll take questions about this week’s reading and take Quiz #4.

Debate

You all had your own opinions to offer for the one-on-one debates this week! I liked that you chose your own sides for this debate. Next week, we will finish the last Sylvia Snidely commercial, the one-on-one debates, and then work in teams for or next debate on the JFK assassination. Everyone should do research on what your side needs for the debate and which part you would like to do for that debate. (Public Forum Debate style)

Previous Assignments for School Year 2025 – 2026:

litalive

Assignments for 02/23/2026

Assignments for February 23rd, 2026

Pink heart hanging ornament

Explorations in British Literature

We reviewed the tenets of Romanticism and Neo-classicism and the poets and then took the quiz. Then we went over the assignments for today.

For next week, we will start our new novel, Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. Read the following:

  • Introductory pages — 1-7
  • Oliver Twist — Chapters 1-14
  • Study guide questions — pages 8-10 (through Chapter 14)

We will discuss the Introductory pages and have a quiz on them. Then we will start the book itself and go over the study guide questions. We will take Quiz #1 and continue the book for the next week.

American History

We finished our reports and then took the test on the first 24 Presidents. We used the rest of the time to review for next week’s test over Chapters 18-20. We completed extra pages and Crossword puzzles for Homesteading, Immigration, Inventions, and Big Business. Complete the page on Jane Addams for homework. Read the information on the first page and complete the crossword puzzle on the back. It will be a good review for Jane Addams and her Hull House in Chicago. You can learn a lot of details about settlement houses on this one sheet. Review the sheets we did in class, and review the Chapter Reviews as well. You have already read Chapter 21. We will go over it for the next two weeks. We will have a game review for the chapters before we take the test.

No-Spin Economics

We reviewed for our quiz and then took it. We then went over Chapters 3 and 4 in Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? We will have a quiz next week on these two chapters. (All True/False and Multiple Choice)

For next week, study your sheets for Penny Candy Chapters 3 and 4 for the quiz and read Chapters 5 & 6. Complete the sheet you were given on CC Economics #4.

Crash Course Economics #4—Supply and Demand

Quick Looks at Great Books

We discussed the entire reading (Questions 19-48) and answered questions.

Here is the assignment for next week:

  • Chapters 28-41 (Abridged version)
  • Chapters 36-62 (Unabridged version)

Study guide questions 49-65.

Debate

We did Sylvia Snidely commercials and played the balloon game to practice debating skills. Next week, do not hesitate to research the subject for your one-on-one debate and prepare to take four minutes to defend your side. A coin toss will let you decide who goes first.

Previous Assignments for School Year 2025 – 2026:

litalive

Assignments for 02/16/2026

Assignments for February 16th, 2026

Pink heart hanging ornament

Explorations in British Literature

We went over today’s homework as well as reviewed for the quiz next week on the Romantic period. Study the authors and the poetry and and novels that characterized it.

Don’t forget to find a copy of Oliver Twist by next week. You don’t need it in class, but you will need it for next week’s assignment. It’s fine to borrow it or get it from your local library.

For next week, complete pages 130-145, along with the questions. (Victorian Voices of Protest, The Lady of Shallot, Aurora Leigh, and School Daze, School Daze, an excerpt from Dickens’s novel Hard Times.)

Watch this short video on why you should read Charles Dickens.

American History

We had a review of all the Presidents (1-24) today and then did the last of the reports on the Presidents. If you had a report due today, please plan on giving it at the beginning of the hour next week. I reviewed all that you would need to know for the Presidents’ test next week as well as covered the Chapter Review for Chapters 19 and 20. Read Chapter 21 and study for the test! We will have a test on Chapters 18-21 two weeks from today with a game review that day as well.

U.S. Grant

Rutherford B. Hayes

James Garfield

Chester Arthur

Grover Cleveland

Benjamin Harrison

No-Spin Economics

We went over the worksheet on Crash Course Economics #2—Specialization and Trade and then played the game on Free Trade. Free trade benefits everyone involved. The game proved that to us. Then, we went over Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? Chapter 1. Next week we will have a quiz on The Law, Penny Candy Chapters 1 and 2, and Crash Course Economics #1.

Just study the sheets you filled out for these. You don’t even have to read the chapters again!

For next week, watch Crash Course Economics #3 and print out Crash Course Economics Episode 3.

Crash Course Economics #3—Economic Systems

Also, read Chapters 3 and 4 in Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? and complete the sheet you were given on Chapter 3.

Quick Looks at Great Books

We discussed the entire reading (Questions 1-18) and did Quiz #1. Then we did pages 52-56 and 62-68 in your Literary Terms notebook.

Here is the assignment for next week:

  • Chapters 13-27 (Abridged version)
  • Chapters 16-35 (Unabridged version)

Study guide questions 19-29.

Debate

We collected homework and went over Susan B. Anthony’s speech and determined if it debated the subject well. Then we broke into groups and practiced for the Sylvia Snidely commercial next week. Students chose a one-on-one debate, partner, and subject. That debate is due two weeks from today. (February 23)

Previous Assignments for School Year 2025 – 2026:

litalive

Assignments for 02/09/2026

Assignments for February 9th, 2026

Pink heart hanging ornament

Explorations in British Literature

We began studying the Romantic period in British Literature, the first half of the 1800s. We began a comparison of the Neoclassicism and Romantic movements and saw how they developed into crossovers of literature, government, people, places, and things. Then, we discussed the “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard” by Thomas Gray and how it was a transition from Neoclassicism and Romanticism. Then, we went over the poetry of Robbie Burns and how he became the national hero of Scotland. We will finish “Tintern Abbey” by Wordsworth next week.

For next week, read and answer the questions on pages 113-119. Read John Keats’s “Ode to a Nightengale” and anger the questions on pages 123 and 124. Lastly, read the excerpts of Jane Austen on pages 123-129, Do Part B on page 129.

Listen to Robert Burns’s poem set to music on YouTube. Recognize it?

Secure a copy of Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens in two weeks when we will be ready to start it.

American History

We went over last week’s test. Save it to study for the final exam! We went through Chapters 18 and 19 and went over the Chapter Review for Chapter 18. (We’ll do Chapter 19 next week.) For next week, read Chapter 20 and prepare your report if you were assigned one. I will give you notes of all to study for the Presidents’ test two weeks from today. (George Washington – Grover Cleveland’s second term) We will have the second test later in the semester.

Watch this brief story of Custer’s Last Stand and the Battle of Little Big Horn.

No-Spin Economics

We went over the homework and the Economic IQ test, the sheet on the summary of The Law, and Crash Course #1 as well as the extra credit questions. For next week, watch Crash Course video #2 on Specialization and Trade and complete the sheet you were given. After we go over the answers, we will play a game on free trade so that you can see how it really works!

Crash Course Economics #2 — Specialization and Trade

Quick Looks at Great Books

We played a competitive game to review the entire play, Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand. The students did an amazing job and actually tied for the second time this year! They knew the play really well! Then we took the test and are ready to start our next book, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. The assignment for next week is as follows:

  • Chapters 1-12 (Abridged version)
  • Chapters 1-15 (Unabridged version)
  • Study guide questions 1-18 (Yellow study guide)

We will have Quiz #1 after we have gone over the questions and taken any questions you may have.

Watch this short visitor to look at Chateau d’If today.

Debate

We had an interesting discussion on the death penalty today as well as going over what we covered in class last week. I’m eager to check the homework and see how you did! We also covered the Logical Fallacies in your text and how NOT to use them in your debate.

For homework, read the speech by Susan B. Anthony on page 16 in your text and answer the three questions on page 17, complete the sheet your were given in class, using deductive reasoning to determine the height of the students, and work with your group to make a video or act out in person an ad to elect Sylvia Snidely to the Senate over the incumbent (commercial is due two weeks from today) Communicate with your group on the best way to illustrate the logical fallacies you were given.

Previous Assignments for School Year 2025 – 2026:

litalive

Assignments for 02/02/2026

Assignments for February 2nd, 2026

Pink heart hanging ornament

Explorations in British Literature

We went over all the the students had done for homework, including two major historical events the Bubonic Plague and the Great Fire of London. Jonathan Swift’s famous essay on “A Modest Proposal” was also discussed.

Students were also given the book for second semester. We will do some of the first pages together in class. For next week, complete the reading and questions on pages 107 and 108, Blake’s “The Lamb” and “The Tyger” on pages 109 and 110, Wordsworth’s reflections on Tintern Abbey on pages 111 and 112. We will continue to discuss Neoclassicism and Romanticism.

Watch this short video of the Romantic period.

American History

We had a game review on the tested chapters and then took our test on Chapters 10-17. For next week, read Chapter 19 on The Gilded Age. Make sure you know who called it this and why. We will go over Chapters 18 and 19 and the Chapter Reviews as well. We only have Chester Arthur left from our last group of Presidents before our first test. I will review what you need to know about each President.

Watch the following video on the Statue of Liberty.

No-Spin Economics

We first started with a “What’s Your Economic IQ?”, a test so that you can see what you know now and what you will know at the end of the semester. For next week, watch the following two videos and complete the sheets you were given in class.

The Law by Frederic Bastiat

Crash Course Economics —What is Economics?

Quick Looks at Great Books

We reviewed all of Cyrano de Bergerac and took the second quiz. Next week, we will have a competitive game review and take the final test. (You will also receive a study guide for our next book, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas.) Study for the test on Cyrano de Bergerac and complete the following terms: Characters and Characterization pages 52 and 53, Conflict pages 57-59, Dialogue pages 60 and 61, Genre pages 66-68, and Irony pages 69-71.

Debate

Welcome to Debate class! If you were not there to receive a text, review Deductive Thinking Skills and Logic Puzzles before next week. (I will give you the text next week.) Pages 5 and 6 in your text, and a page with Men’s Quartet, and Letter Perfect. On the back of the last page write a syllogism that is both valid and true. (Look up the word syllogism if you don’t have a text.)

Previous Assignments for School Year 2025 – 2026:

litalive

Assignments for 01/26/2026

Assignments for January 26th, 2026

Happy snowman looking upwards

Explorations in British Literature

Next week, we will go over all of today’s homework, review for our test on the Elizabethan Age, and pass out the new pages for second semester. We will start work on our new pages.

American History

We will still have our game review over Chapters 10-17 and take the test. As well, read Chapter 18 in your text.

Watch these videos on the subjects in Chapter 18, the Age of Industry.

Nicola Tesla

The Gilded Age

No-Spin Economics

We will begin our new semester next week now. Please bring a notebook to hold the pages you will receive each week.

Quick Looks at Great Books

Review Acts IV and V of the play. Please bring your study guides to class as we will fill most of it out. We will take Quiz #2 and review for our test next week.

Watch this final scene of the play.

Debate

We will begin our new class this week. Please bring a notebook to hold the text I will give you for the class. We would have had no homework this week, but we will begin next week.

Previous Assignments for School Year 2025 – 2026:

litalive

Assignments for 01/19/2026

Assignments for January 19th, 2026

Happy snowman looking upwards

Explorations in British Literature

We went over all of today’s homework in addition to the various appearances, attitudes, social status, religion, and politics of the Puritans and the Cavaliers. We also started a review of terms for our Elizabethan test two weeks from today.

For next week, read Samuel Pepys’s diary account of the Great Fire of London and answer the questions on page 89. Read the satiric poems on pages 91 and 92 and answer the questions following each poem. Read the satire on the Elizabethan Theater and answer the three questions that follow. Read “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift and answer the questions on 94 and 95. Read Samuel Johnson’s biography excerpt and answer the questions that follow on page 98. Lastly, read Daniel Defoe’s Journalistic Fiction of the 1665 plague and answer the questions on page 101.

We will review for our test, and I will give you the pages to add to your notebooks for second semester.

American History

We reviewed Chapters 16 and 17 and reviewed the Chapter Reviews as well, circling the ones you need to know. (The Civil War and The Reconstruction) We also went over the Civil War game you have been playing each week. Next week, we will have a competitive game review before our test on Chapters 10-17.

No-Spin Economics

We will begin our new semester. Please bring a notebook to hold the pages you will receive each week.

Quick Looks at Great Books

Read Acts IV and V to complete your reading of Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand. We will complete the study guide together in class. We will discuss the last two acts and take Quiz #2. Don’t forget to bring your Literary Terms notebook to class with you.

Watch this scene from Act I of the play.

Debate

We will begin our new class this week. Please bring a notebook to hold the text I will give you for the class.

Previous Assignments for School Year 2025 – 2026:

litalive

Assignments for 01/12/2026

Assignments for January 12th, 2026

Explorations in British Literature

We went over any questions on our Twelfth Night test and our quiz on Macbeth. We covered Dr. Faustus and the questions on page 63. Then we went over “The Galley” and the questions on pages 65 and 66. We reviewed the rhyme scheme of Shakespeare’s sonnets and the questions. We read Bacon’s essay on Studies and answered the questions on page 69. We then read the poems on page 71 and answered the three questions. We talked about the Cavaliers and the Puritans and the philosophy of the Cavaliers.

For next week, read John Donne’s: “Meditation XVII” and answer the questions on page 76. On page 77, read “Holy Sonnet X” and answer the three questions. Then read John Bunyan’s The Trial of Faithful and answer the three questions. Then skip to page 80 and read the excerpts from Paradise Lost and answer the questions through page 85. Read his short poem “On His Blindness” and answer the questions on page 86.

American History

We reviewed some of the Presidents we had reports on and then played games on the Presidents we have studied and the Civil War. For next week, read Chapter 17 on The Reconstruction. We will go over Chapters 16 and 17, and I will give you what need to know from the Chapter reviews. Two weeks from today, we will have a test on Chapters 10-17.

Watch these one minute videos from our reports today.

Andrew Jackson

William Henry Harrison

James Buchanan

U.S. Government

We reviewed those things we have studied this semester. This is the same competitive game we played the first day of class. They did much better this time! Next week, we will play anther review game before we take our final exam for Government. Study your text and the copies of tests you saved. Watch one more time the video on the Space Force since it was created after our textbook.

Quick Looks at Great Books

Read Acts I-III in Cyrano de Bergerac. We will do most of the pages in the study guide together. Read page 9 to know what to do on page 10 to create what the Hotel de Bourgogne might have looked like at the time.

Don’t forget to bring your completed Literary Terms notebook to class next Monday.

Practical Public Speaking

Next week, we will do the impromptu speeches of those who were absent today. Also, we will do the Demonstration speeches for Asher, Daniel, and Glory.

I’m looking forward to next semester. You are familiar with those in the class, but next semester, you will be working as a team. We will work on logic and individual debates, along with three major debates.

Previous Assignments for School Year 2025 – 2026:

litalive

Assignments for 12/15/2025

Assignments for December 15th, 2025

Artistic scene of winter village

Explorations in British Literature

We watched parts of Act IV and all of Act V on our video, and the students watched Shakespeare’s characters come to life. We took the final quiz (#3), and next week we will do our final test. We will also discuss Macbeth and how Shakespeare’s tragedies work. Study for our test and our quiz on Macbeth.

Watch this brief summary of Twelfth Night.

Review this summary of Macbeth.

We will also observe some of the traditions of Elizabethan England. (Shakespeare’s time)

American History

We reviewed and then took the quiz on the videos you watched. We discussed Chapters 14 and 15 and went over what to study for the test in these chapters.

For next week, read Chapter 16, and we will go over the Chapter Review at the end. Watch the following one minute videos on the next set of Presidents.

William Henry Harrison

John Tyler

James K. Polk

Zachary Taylor

Millard Fillmore

Franklin Pierce

James Buchanan

U.S. Government

We caught up today with the lessons the students had already done—State Government, City Government, and the Post Office. We will go over the military next week. Complete the military part of our government by doing the Air Force page. Here are the crossword answers for Lesson 24: Air Force (United States).

Watch the following theme songs of the branches of the military. (Air Force included)

Space Force (newest branch of the military)

Quick Looks at Great Books

We watched some of the BBC video and reviewed the entire book with the study guide questions. Next week, we will do a brief Jeopardy game review and Chronolog review before we take our final test on Silas Marner. In the time left, we will celebrate a Victorian Christmas in honor of Charles Dickens and George Eliot!

Complete the following pages in your Literary terms notebook: Conflict, (pages 54-56) and Dialogue (pages 66-67)

Practical Public Speaking

Next week, we will finish our Demonstration speeches with Brian, Landon, Avalyn, Asher, Ana Leah, Grant, Daniel, and Glory.

Previous Assignments for School Year 2025 – 2026: