Fall 2007 Volume 12, Issue 1 prima newsletter for excellence through classics Wichita Kids Get Hooked on the Aeneid Special Interest Articles: Information provided by Cynthia Crone- Koepsel, Wichita Collegiate School, Wichita, Kansas • Spotlight On Introducing the To introduce an antiquated classic to Aeneid at Wichita seventh graders in such a way that they will Collegiate School be intrigued by its relevance is no easy task. With two thousand years having passed • 10 Questions with since the birth of the Aeneid, how does one Ginny Lindzey gain the interest of all students as quickly as possible? • Emphasis on Oral Latin: geography Using the creative lesson described below, lesson from Rose English teacher Cynthia Crone-Koepsel Williams and aims to “hook” each and every student from TPR / TPRS with the start. Jaime Claymore One critical piece to Crone-Koepsel’s plan: do not announce anything about the fact that the class is going to start reading the Aeneid. Instead, she structures the lesson so as to get students thinking ahead of time about some issues in Vergil’s classic. Nicole S. illustrates Paris’ difficult decision in “I have found that the ‘bait and switch’ awarding the golden apple “to the fairest.” technique is an awesome way to get my class to come along with my plan willingly,” Individual says Crone-Koepsel. in support of their choice. They are also to consider how another group might Highlights: As students enter the classroom, they see undermine their arguments, and to have three options written on the board: “Wisdom examples to combat these potential attacks. Chair’s remarks 3 worthy of all honor, and success in war”; “Most beautiful spouse of all”; and “Ruler of By day two of the lesson, students are well- ACL Technology Tour a mighty kingdom, and great wealth.” armed with ideas, and eager to discuss Tour of Rome 4 them with classmates. But they must wait Instead of immediately jumping into just a bit longer, as Crone-Koepsel explains 10 Questions 6 discussion, Crone-Koepsel directs students the rules of the debate. to keep their thoughts to themselves, listing News & Events 8 on paper all the reasons they can think of for Each team is given time to air its arguments choosing one of these items over the others. in two round-robin types of “stand and ETC Grant Winner As students think and write, Crone-Koepsel deliver.” No one is allowed to debate the Danielle Schaefer 13 posts markers for each of the three options speaker during these two rounds. around the room. After ten minutes have passed, she asks students to indicate their Crone-Koepsel’s debate structure has a choices by quickly walking to the marker for unique twist: the freedom to switch teams at their option. any time. Upon hearing a compelling argument from another group, any student In their newly-formed groups, students take may pick up his or her chair and move into a few minutes to discuss why they made the that group. Deciding to switch sides is choice they made. For homework, students difficult for students at first, but becomes are asked to come up with strong arguments easier as the ideas start flowing. Story continues on page 2 Page 2 PRIMA Spotlight On: 7th graders and Vergil at Wichita Collegiate School Continued from page 1 Next, Crone-Koepsel opens up the forum for free debate, with one group debating one other group at a time. “I have to say that the discussions that emerge [are] passionate!” notes Crone-Koepsel. Moments of deep intellectual revelation mix with moments of humor, as students sometimes tip their chairs back to waddle across the room and join another group right in the middle of a speech. Within the structure of a debate, students’ ideas fly. And “the active process of thinking on their feet, reasoning, synthesizing values, and applying historical and philosophical thoughts...is an incredible experience,” Crone-Koepsel remarks. “I, the teacher, merely act as a mediator. I move the talk from one group equably to another when I feel a group has conducted the discussion long enough,” she says. Even as class time runs out, students’ enthusiasm for the debate often has not. When all is said and done, Crone-Koepsel reads aloud the story of the Golden Apple from Black Ships Before Troy. Then it’s back to the board and the three options presented on the first day of the lesson. These three options, of course, are exactly the same as those presented to Paris by Athena, Minerva, and Venus as he chooses “the fairest” of the three goddesses. By this time, Crone-Koepsel has the full and undivided attention of her seventh grade classes, and students are eager to begin the adventure of the Aeneid. After their verbal sparring over these ethical and moral issues, many of Crone-Koepsel’s seventh graders feel a deep, human bond with the characters of the Aeneid. They understand first-hand what Paris went through in making his own dramatic choice. “My students are switched on to the reality of the living human characters within the Aeneid, and this creates a lasting love of this classic story,” Crone-Koepsel says. Contact Ms. Crone-Koepsel at [email protected]. From top: William S. depicts the gift of the Trojan Horse; Ellie N. illustrates Iris’ presence at the burning of the Greek ships; Miles C. shows Aeneas dragging Hector’s body around the walls. PRIMA Page 3 Note From the Chair: How to support ETC, elementary classics Salvete omnes: Nashville. And please encourage your students to enter our T-shirt contest. Tempus fugit! It is hard to believe we are beginning the second quarter of a new Please share what you are doing in your school year! classrooms with us. You can choose to submit your ideas to PRIMA for The school where I teach had a major publication, post them on our ETC Blog, technology makeover the summer. The or compile them as resources for teachers and students are getting used to Quintillian, the ETC shop on CafePress. the new look of the classrooms with sleek Take advantage of your ACL membership computer towers, flat screen monitors, and what ETC has to offer as part of it. and computer projectors. Major software Apply for an ETC grant. Consider updates, an innovation in paying for presenting at the 61st Annual ACL school lunches by finger scanning, and Summer Institute in New Hampshire at the the streamlining of our internet based University of New Hampshire in Durham, Zee Ann Poerio holds the ETC gradebook program added to this from June 27-29, 2008. flyer and the ACL TMRC technological transformation. Catalogue at her presentation on We are always looking for topics of Ancient Coins and Classics for the Imagine how the ancients felt when new interest to give the elementary and middle Sewickley Area Women's Club. this was an opportunity to share technology was introduced to them. I am school teachers more choices from the modern day connections that we sure they were as amazed and excited sessions at ACL Institute. Nominate an have with the ancients including with the innovations of their day as we are ACL member who has contributed to the ancient influence on modern day today. I invite any of you to share your promotion of elementary and middle coinage and women's dress. technological discoveries, especially those school Classics programs in the past for a that help you bring the study of the Merita/Meritus Award. We need to ancients into our modern world. recognize those who helped build and strengthen the elementary and middle I encourage you to visit the ETC website school level programs. at www.etclassics.org to see how we have been working to meet the needs of the ETC celebrates 20 years as a standing teachers of elementary/middle school and committee of the ACL in 2009. We are beginning Classics programs. planning some special events and hope you will join us in California. We welcome Invite your colleagues to administer the your suggestions and ideas to help Exploratory Latin Exam and the National promote the study of Classics at the Mythology Exam this year. Visit the elementary and middle school levels. teacher resource page and download the Please consider supporting our projects great certificates designed by Katie and donate directly to ETC by making Robinson, of the NCLG, to commend checks payable to “Excellence Through students who have prepared for these Classics.” Payment can be sent to the exams. American Classical League at the following address: The American Classical Consider sharing links or lessons that we League, Miami University, 422 Wells Mill can post on the teacher’s resource page, Drive, Oxford, OH 45056. at www.etclassics.org/resourceteacher. Submit materials for publication in the Gratias! TMRC. Share photos from your travels to ancient sites on the photo album page or Zee Ann Poerio view pictures from the ACL Institute in ETC Chair [email protected] Page 4 PRIMA “Rome in Situ and in the Lab”: Technology workshop & study tour The American Classical League and its This workshop-tour is designed for 30-50 Committee on Educational Computer teachers of Latin, Classical Studies, and Applications are planning a two-week related fields. Travel companions (adults technology workshop and study tour in only) are welcome to attend and Rome and Campania from July 20 to participate in all activities except computer August 3, 2008. lab workshops, if desired, at a reduced rate. Scholarship funds are available from Accommodations and a computer lab will the ACL and other organizations.