As an introduction to the style and satire of Mark Twain, we last session read Twain's humorous essay,"Advice to Youth". Today, Katya examined the text and identified areas of satire and the techniques used by Twain to humorously criticize accepted social conventions such as getting up early, always telling the truth, and always obeying one's parents. With respect to telling the truth, we then turned to first paragraph of the novel ,"Huck Finn" where Huck, as narrator, tells the reader that most of what was written in the earlier novel,"Tom Sawyer" was true except for a few lies which Huck explains is acceptable as a trait of human nature. We then discussed when an " untruth was a lie" and the difference between not telling the truth to protect oneself and not telling the truth to protect another. This led to an examination of all fiction- itself an untruth by definition- as a paradoxical means of instilling a greater truth to the reader. Katya participated in class discussion about how art, like fiction, distorts reality ,to show people something new or to emotionally impact the viewer. She exhibited a strong understanding of how conventional values-which Twain disdains- can become less fixed upon close examination . Last, we reviewed Katya's answers to the comprehension exercise that accompanied the essay .Katya's work showed a strong understanding of the essay. For homework ,I assigned reading the first 3 chapters of the novel.

We began with reviewing landmark Supreme Court decisions: Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896 that legalized racial segregation and Brown v. the Board of Education in 1954 that reversed the Plessy decision. We discussed the difference between de jure and de facto segregation and how de facto segregation continues to impact American society today. We then moved on to civil disobedience and the Civil Rights Movement. We discussed women and equal rights. We concluded with affirmative action and equal opportunity.

In this activity, Katya reviewed transformations of quadratics. This included translations, reflections and scale changes.

Katya was given a large canvas and instructed to paint the first layer of primer. She continued this process on the 2nd canvas.

During this period, we traced and viewed what and who influenced Lin-Manuel Miranda to write the musical, "Hamilton." From the musical influence of rap musician Eminem to Ron Chernow's book, "Hamilton," we viewed performances and interviews today about the cultural phenomenon of "Hamilton," the musical. We listened to Eminem's most famous song, "Lose Yourself" and then saw the his influence when Lin-Manuel Miranda performed at the White House Poetry and Spoken Word Jam in 2009. No one viewing this performance knew it would be the first song of a new, blockbuster musical and yet, they were entranced. We also saw Hamilton biographer Ron Chernow comment that Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr were both child prodigies who had so much in common and yet, they foolishly engaged in a duel on July 12, 1804 in Weehawken, NJ that killed Alexander Hamilton - Founding Father, Framer of the U.S. Constitution and the U.S. economic system, BFF to George Washington and first Secretary of the Treasury in George Washington's Cabinet. Both Chernow and Lin-Manuel Miranda agree that the loss of Hamilton was a huge loss to U.S. history and government.

In this activity, Katya solved linear systems of two unknowns using the method substitution. This is a more useful method of solving a system because it can be used if you solve systems involving linear and quadratics.

In this activity, Katya worked with simplifying radicals with cubed and fourth roots using both numerical and variable expressions.

In this activity, Katya simplified radical equations with numeric and variable powers.

Katya was absent today.

As we will begin reading Twain's "Huck Finn" next week, today, as an introduction, I provided instruction on Twain's life, satire and humor in Twain's writing , the three forms of irony and the use of verbal irony in satire. Katya took notes on these topics. I then distributed a humorous essay by Twain entitled "Advice to Youth" which Katya read. I pointed out Twain's satiric style and use of irony and hyperbole . Last, I distributed a question sheet on the essay which we reviewed and which Katya started. For homework due Monday, I assigned completing the questions we did not complete in class.