12/7: HOMEWORK: Read through the first 7 pages of the Budhhism packet (stop after "Last Words of Buddha"). The first 4 pages are Siddhartha/Buddha's back story. The next 3 are his teachings. Please mark up the text. Make note of what you understand and of what is confusing to you. Try to pay attention to connections to Hinduism and particularly where the philosophy differs from Hinduism.
If you are looking for "We Croak" see 11/14 (below) - click on the two links (read + respond).
Reading schedules: A Block: Devourers Tues 173 Fri 197
Persepolis II finish for Tues Sympathizer Tues 166, Fri 254 Astonishing Tues 85 Fri finish Family Life Tues 130 Fri 174 The Best We Could Do Tues finish Beautiful Forevers Tues 152. Fri 200
G Block: The Best We Could Do Tues - finish, Beautiful Forevers Tues chap 10, Thurs chap 14 Persepolis 2 finish for Tues, Devourers finish for Tues, Sympathizer Tues chap 12, Thurs chap 14
In class: ON THE FRONT OF THE NOTECARD: Write your way into book group. Write about what is on your mind from the book, what you wnat to talk about, etc. Make sure to note questions/confusions. Fill the front of the card.
12/6: HOMEWORK: read for groups tomorrow. If you were out for the painting day, you need to create images that convery the central idea in each of the two Gita chapters you read AND write a paragraph describing the image and what you are trying to represent and why (this is part of an assessment grade). Please turn this in by 12/12.
Back in the original groups today, presenting the Gita chapters. As the final part of the assessment - (on the back of the cheat sheet notes you wrote for today): What are the most important takeaways from your study of Hinduism/Bhagavad Gita?) List the 4-6 most important takeaways from our study and for each, briefly tell me why they matter.
12/5: HOMEWORK: Make sure to write up your presentation notes. You need to explain the visual in writing (what it is, how it works,etc.) and write up your notes about the most important ideas for each chapter that you'll be presenting to your orginal group members. Keep in mind that no one in your original group read your chapters, so te notes should make connections to what they already know and use that prior knowledge to explain new concepts.
A Block: each group chose and painted an image that could serve as the central teaching tool for teaching the chapter (these visuals, along with each individual person's notes about teaching the chapters, will constitute an assessment).
12/4: HOMEWORK: Make sure to write up your presentation notes. You need to explain the visual in writing (what it is, how it works,etc.) and write up your notes about the most important ideas for each chapter that you'll be presenting to your orginal group members. Keep in mind that no one in your original group read your chapters, so te notes should make connections to what they already know and use that prior knowledge to explain new concepts.
G Block: each group chose and painted an image that could serve as the central teaching tool for teaching the chapter (these visuals, along with each individual person's notes about teaching the chapters, will constitute an assessment).
12/3: Both classes reviewed their chapter work in an effort to boil down what is most important for classmates to know.
Both classes met in book groups.
11/30: G Block: Please work together in your like chapter groups to pull together your best work for teaching the chapters.
Remember that your focus should be to understand the chapter and its main ideas, and to connect these to Hindu practice (so use the Hinduism notes, the VV Raman podcast information and what we've already read in teh Gita to help you). You should be able to 1)summarize the chapter's main ideas in a setence or two, 2) list the 4-6 most important concepts in the chapter) and know why they are important, 3) identify/wrestle with questions/confusions and 4) speak about poetic image(s) that fiunction in the manner of the VV Raman quote.
Everybody share. Share summaries first to make sure that you all read the chapters in the same way. Then, talk about questions and confusions you had. Work to clear those up (do this by returning to the text, by rereading the introductory notes, by looking at my Hinduism handout, checking other notes you have from other chapters in the Gita etc.). If there are questions/confusions you cannot answer, one person in the group email me (make sure to tell me what chapters you are reading). At this point, open a google doc and share with me (cathy_nicastro @wrsd.net). Title it Gita and list your chapters (i.e. Gita 5+6). Put everyone's name on the top. Start with the summary - come up with the best of your work to use as the one-two sentence overview of the chapter. Talk with each other about the most important ideas you each came up with and decide which to include, in what order and why (what you need to say about these in order to get the ideas across to your classmates). Once you agree on teh most important points and what to say about them, add them to the google doc. If you had questions that you think were important for others to understand, mark those down too. Finally, turn to poetry. Please strive to find at least two images between the two chapters that speak to something important about the human condition. Talk about what you see in the image (drawing it would be a good idea) and how that image sheds light (telescopes or zooms in on) something important.
One person in each group please email me at the end of the period to let me know where you vstand (are you done? do you need more time on Monday? etc.). Please remember that you are reading for Monday.
11/29: Please read ALL of today's entry before you start working. Here's the grading criteria.
To start: look at the comments I made on your chapter 12 summaries (you do NOT need to fix them). I was trying to guide you more toward what I want you to do with these chapters, so read the comments in that light.
Some of you are clearly just taking down notes as you read. That's NOT the assignment. Rather, I want you to take in what you read and then decide why it matters, what's most important here in terms of understanding the path to Brahman? I would advise you to mark up the texts as you read, make notes and ask questions on the text, then use those to help you synthesize what you've read to do the work (below).
Stop worrying about the battlefield. Arjuna's battle is internal, just as it is for all of us. Some of you are getting distracted thinking about the stopped action - it's not important.
Please continue to work your way through your two chapters. Remember that your focus should be to understand the chapter and its main ideas, and to connect these to Hindu practice (so use the Hinduism notes, the VV Raman podcast information and what we've already read in teh Gita to help you). You should be able to 1)summarize the chapter's main ideas in a setence or two, 2) list the 4-6 most important concepts in the chapter) and know why they are important, 3) identify/wrestle with questions/confusions and 4) speak about poetic image(s) that fiunction in the manner of the VV Raman quote. Do teh best you can with this - you'll be meeting with others who've read the same chapters so you can put your heads together to come up with the best ideas. Bring your best to the table.
I expect this might take a few days, so don't rush it: Once you are finished, meet in like chapter groups (those who've read 5+6 meet toegther, 7+8 meet together, etc.)Everybody share. Share summaries first to make sure that you all read the chapters in the same way. Then, talk about questions and confusions you had. Work to clear those up (do this by returning to the text, by rereading the introductory notes, by looking at my Hinduism handout, checking other notes you have from other chapters in the Gita etc.). If there are questions/confusions you cannot answer, one person in the group email me (make sure to tell me what chapters you are reading). At this point, open a google doc and share with me (cathy_nicastro @wrsd.net). Title it Gita and list your chapters (i.e. Gita 5+6). Put everyone's name on the top. Start with the summary - come up with the best of your work to use as the one-two sentence overview of the chapter. Talk with each other about the most important ideas you each came up with and decide which to include, in what order and why (what you need to say about these in order to get the ideas across to your classmates). Once you agree on teh most important points and what to say about them, add them to the google doc. If you had questions that you think were important for others to understand, mark those down too. Finally, turn to poetry. Please strive to find at least two images between the two chapters that speak to something important about the human condition. Talk about what you see in the image (drawing it would be a good idea) and how that image sheds light (telescopes or zooms in on) something important.
At the end of the class period today, please have one person in each group email me to tell me how you are doing, where you are in the process, and how much time you think you'll need tomorrow to work on this together. Thanks!
11/28: I read and commented on the chapter 12 notes. If your group did not finish, please do that first and please read and revisit the chapter based on my comments. MAKE SURE to read and to use the introduction to the chapter to help you understand main ideas in teh chapter itself. The intro is a good overview and it's designed to help, BUT the notes should come from the actual chapter itself (most of you did this). Please make sure that group members' names are on the document,so I can give you credit. If I did not comment on yours, please reshare.
Read the chapter in its entirety, THEN decide what the most important points are (for longer chapters, you might want to break them up into two page sections, then identify what's important, next two pages, etc.).
Finally, you should each start to do this same work with the pair of chapters you've chosen. In your groups of 4, ONE person should read 6+7, ONE person should read 8+9, ONE person should read 13+14 and ONE person should read 16+17 (so that in your group, ALL chapters are covered). You'll work by yourselves first (just as you did for chpater 12), then you'll get together with others reading the same material. Please make sure you have read the two chapters (and marked them up) before class tomorrow.
11/27: Please meet in book groups today for a short while. Talk through what you've read, your questions, your impressions, etc. Then, set a page number for the next two book group meetings (Monday 12/3 and Thursday, 12/6). One person in each group email me that title, group members' names and the page numbers for M and for Th.
Then, choose groups of 4 (has to be four - if a five is necessary, that's fine, but no threes or pairs). You'll be working in these groups as we jigsaw the rest of the Gita (perhaps a group assessment). To get your feet wet, start today by reading chapter 12 "The Way of Love." Remember that this chapter comes directly after the two chapters when Krishna reveals himself to Arjuna in all his divinty. Arjuna's head is spinning (it's a lot to take in for a human) and he hasn't really found his balance. This chapter is Krishna's first attempt to help him do so.
Read by yourself and mark up the text. You should be working to understand the most important ideas in the chapter (ideas that help Krishna tecah Arjuna how to live) and for poetry that reveals something important about the human condition (VV Raman's quote). After you've read, take notes. Write a summary of the chapters central ideas (a couple of sentences) then a list of the most important points, questions, poetic images and why (THINK about what you were need to tell someone who had not read the chapter). Do thsi work on your own, then get together with your group and compare notes. Put your best ideas in a google doc that you share with me and I will try to comment before tomorrow's class.
Tomorrow, you will each do the same work with two chapters of the Gita. Decide today which chapters (6+7, 8+9, 13+14, 15 + 16). Mrs. Madelle should have those chapters today, so you can choose and take them. Bring them to class tomorrow.
11/26: HOMEWORK (both classes): Please read 2x for 1/2 hour each. Book groups will meet tomorrow. A Block: Please sign out ans start reading your books. Read for 1/2 hour in class today and for 1/2 hour tonight. We'll meet in book groups tomorrow.
11/20: G Block: Meet in book groups. Please take notes that I can see. Please spend the rest of the class reading. Have a geat break!
11/19: Start by revisiting the Hindu art of the divine. Go to the Met's collection and browse the art (when you get to the page, click on "works of art" at the top of the page). You can double click on any piece to make it bigger and to read a little bit more about the art. There are several pages, so please make sure to browse (look at sculpture and at paintings). Find 4-6 pieces that interest you AND that connect with your ideas about the divine from the Gita. For each, write down the title of the piece and the accession number (that's the easiest way to find the art again). and a few comments about why you chose this art. Pair up (or groups of three) and share with each other. In a google doc that you share with me, write about how the art helped you to understand something important about the nature of the divine (and/or how the Gita chapters helped you to understand the art in a new and different way). Finally, review what you've read so far in the Gita and tell me about three concepts you think you understand and three that are just a little out of reach.
11/15: A Block: Just for Jane - go ahead and take a copy of Persepolis (there should be some on the top of the bookcase near the cork board). Talk with Sean about how much you want to have read by the end of break. Have a great vacation:)
EVERYONE: I’ve jumped ahead a little in the Gita to two chapters that reveal the nature of the Divine (we’ll backtrack to the other chapters, later. These really do stand alone and can be pulled out). At one point during Krishna’s teachings, Arjuna gets confused; he’s forgotten that Krishna is divine. In these two chapters, Krishna not only reminds Arjuna of his divinity, but he also reveals it in all its awesome and awe-filled/awe-ful majesty. These are the sections where poetry is probably most profound.
Read through the notes and the text, marking up the imagery that most compels you, that gives you sense of what’s divine, of its power, or its danger, etc. There are plenty of contradictions – those are part of the nature of the divine. When you are finished, please choose three images that particularly stick out to you (because they function in the spirit of the V.V. Raman’s quote). Copy each down (write down the verse and page number) and for each, describe what you see in the image and how this image reveals something essential about the divine AND how understanding that helps you to understand something essential about humanity. Write a paragraph for each.
NOW - with the imagery from the Gita in your head, explore some Hindu art of the divine. Go to the Met's collection and browse the art (when you get to the page, click on "works of art" at the top of the page). You can double click on any piece to make it bigger and to read a little bit more about the art. There are several pages, so please make sure to browse (look at sculpture and at paintings). Find 4-6 pieces that interest you AND that connect with your ideas about the divine from the Gita. For each, write down the title of the piece and the accession number (that's the easiest way to find the art again). and a few comments about why you chose this art. If there's time, pair up and share with each other.
11/14: HOMEWORK: Read section 5 of the Gita. In class, read and respond to this article.
11/13: Homework and classwork are here.
11/9: We talked about new possibilities for book groups and people made their choices. We also looked at the poetry as visualized by students in an effort to understand how V.V.Raman's quote applies and especially how the poetic imagery helps to give insights into the teachings of the Gita.
11/8: HOMEWORK: You'll find the assignment here for finishing session 2 and for looking more closely at poetry in the vein of V.V.Raman's quote.
Discussions about 2.55-72 as the essence of the Gita, the section that Gandhi said could stand in for all of the Gita, if the rest were lost. We also talked about Arjuna's approach - not about what people believe but more about how this beliefs work/manifest themselves in the world.
11/6: HOMEWORK: You'll find the assignment here for wrapping up book group (reflection on back of the card (see homework on 11/5).
11/5: HOMEWORK: G and A Blocks: On the back of today's book group notecard: return to the book to explore some idea that intrigues you either from your reading or from discussion. Reread parts of the book that will help you to think differently/more deeply about the book. Write about what you did, what you found and why it matters on the notecard. Fill the back of the card. Please also read and mark up the rest of session 2 in the Gita.
In class: G and A: Start by writing about what’s on your mind about your book. What are you thinking about? What seems significant to you? What ideas do you want to bring to today’s discussion? Fill the front of the notecard. In groups today, talk about the end of the book. Make sure everyone has a change to share. Build on what you’ve talked about in previous discussions. Think about what your takeaways from the novel are – about culture, about conflict, about thematic ideas that the book has been wrestling with – and about why these matter. Talk together, if there’s time, about what you’d like to share with the class about this book (without spoiling anything).
11/2: HOMEWORK: Both groups reading for Monday to finish. G Block: we examined and explored the duty in our lives and looked at the back story of the Gita. A Block: We worked on the 2nd section of the Gita and looked at Hindu art.
11/1: HOMEWORK: Both groups reading for Monday to finish. G Block: we started the Gita. Epic background, the start of this civil war, watching Arjuna's trauma. We are reading this through the lens of two quotes: V.V. Raman's "Poetry is to the human condition...what the telescope and the microscope are to the scientist" and translator Eknath Easwaran's "The battlefield is the perfect backdrop, but the Gita's subject is the war within, the struggle for self-mastery that every human being must wage if he or she is to emerge from life victorious. "
A Block: we examined and explored the duty in our lives.
10/31: HOMEWORK: Both groups reading for Monday to finish. G Block: book groups. A Block: we started the Gita. Epic background, the start of this civil war, watching Arjuna's trauma. We are reading this through the lens of two quotes: V.V. Raman's "Poetry is to the human condition...what the telescope and the microscope are to the scientist" and translator Eknath Easwaran's "The battlefield is the perfect backdrop, but the Gita's subject is the war within, the struggle for self-mastery that every human being must wage if he or she is to emerge from life victorious. "
10/30: HOMEWORK: G Block: reading for tomorrow in book groups. A Block: please make sure to read the section about proper names so that we can proceed with the Gita tomorrow. In class, we read and talked about Elie Wiesel's Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech as a way to think about our role as citizens and thinkers.
10/29: A Block- please meet together in groups. Talk about the books (get questions out of the way first and interesting plot points) - push yourselves to move beyond plot to think about the questions or insights you are gaining from the reading. What new ideas do you have about relationships, about the conflicts, about the culture? What is interesting you most and why does that matter? What are your most important takeaways? Please share with me your best ideas in a google doc (cathy_nicastro@wrsd.net). Remember that you should be finishing the books for Monday (Persepolis and Zen Bones people, I have some supplemental materials for you). If there is time, please go over the Hinduism handout I gave you last week AND finish the introduction packet for the Bhagavad Gita (including the section about characters). We'll start the Gita tomorrow, so whatever you don't finish in class is homework. Add to the google doc any insurmountable questions from the Hinduism handout.
10/26: HOMEWORK: Read for Monday (A Block) and for Tuesday (G Block). In class - G Block met in book groups.
10/25: HOMEWORK: Read for Monday (A Block) and Read for Friday (G Block). In class G Block: we did a little speed dating with the Gods in an effort to see how they are depicted and to think about how that might inform our thinking. We also revisited the concepts Majmudar writes about (dharma, maya, atman, karma, yoga, Brahman).
A Block: Book groups + Here are my notes about Hinduism.
10/24: HOMEWORK: Read for Friday (G Block) and for Thursday (A Block). In class: G Block: We revisited Majmudar's introduction and wrote about what we love as a way of finding a way in to understanding the concept of Maya and its relationship to Brahman.
A Block: We revisited Majmudar's introduction, and spent time talking about the concepts he outlines in the text. We talked about the setting of the Gita and looked at the attributes of Hindu gods in art.
10/23: HOMEWORK: Read for Friday (G Block) and for Thursday (A Block).
Book groups
10/22: G Block: Please read for 30 minutes 2x between now and Tuesday when we'll meet in book groups Keep track of how much you get done. A Block: Read for Tuesday. See book group page (linked above) for groupings and for page numbers.
In class: Read Amit Majmudar's introduction to his translation of the Bhagavad Gita. Instructions are here
10/19: HOMEWORK: G Block: Please read for 30 minutes 2x between now and Tuesday when we'll meet in book groups Keep track of how much you get done. A Block: Read for Tuesday. See book group page (linked above) for groupings and for page numbers.
In class: G Block:we worked with V.V. Raman and with Vedic art. A Block: We started in book groups, then read and discussed the first two sections of Amit Majmudar's introduction to his translation of the Bhagavad Gita.
10/18: G Block- HOMEWORK: Please listen and respond to V. V. Raman's conversation about Hinduism. Here's the assignment. Make your decision about your reading book and bring books in tomorrow.
A Block: HOMEWORK: Read for 30 minutes in your choice books for tomorrow. In class, we worked with V.V. Raman, with Vedic art and with the concept of maya.
10/17: G Block: HOMEWORK: Please listen and respond to V. V. Raman's conversation about Hinduism. Here's the assignment. Please read for 30 minutes before Friday in your choice book
We finished the presentations and looked at book possibilities.
10/16: HOMEWORK: Please listen and respond to V. V. Raman's conversation about Hinduism. Here's the assignment. Please read for 30 minutes before Friday in your choice book. In class, we finished the presentations and the Veda artwork
10/15: A Block: We dipped our toes into Hinduism by reading selections from the Rig Veda and the Upanishads. We also looked at possibilities for book group reading.