Keith PondContactkpond@madisonprep.org
480-345-2306 ext 211 (Not currently available; please utilize email.) Hello to all of my classes. I hope that you are all staying healthy and safe during this very strange time in our history. I miss having everyone in class and hope that we can all return to normal very soon. In the meantime, we will be moving forward with adjusted classes. For all of my classes, I am looking simply to continue forward while reading some truly excellent literature. Read, enjoy, and discuss; participation is the goal, so do not worry about grades on quizzes or other assignments at this time. Check your particular class below for information about how to proceed. I look forward to virtually seeing all of you, starting next Monday! Office HoursIf students have questions, please email me and I will respond as quickly as possible. A live or recorded Zoom chat may be introduced if there are many issues with a particular section.
Classes/DutiesHS Literature
HS Composition Self-Reliance ExtracurricularsAssistant Basketball Coach
AssignmentsWEEK Of: March 30 30 March 2020: Good morning everyone! Welcome back! This morning, I will be answering initial emails from you guys and trying to make sure that everyone has the access that they need. If you have already checked in with me, thank you so much. If you haven't, no worries...I will be in contact today using the address that we have on file. Each of my classes has its own section below, so check it out and, of course, please let me know if there is anything that you need.
26 March 2020: First Zoom posting! This is a greeting for all classes, so take a look and see what you think (sound quality is a little off, and my dog helped). Pond First Zoom 25 March 2020: Look to this space for an addendum to the syllabus for your class and for information about how to access these classes. This will be updated throughout the day on Wednesday the 25th as links go live. FOR ALL CLASSES, PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING: Classroom expectations Advanced Composition: 30 March 2020: Here you go, the first lecture for the third trimester. Please give it a listen (it is almost 18 minutes) when you get a chance. There is a short reading assignment for next Monday and a short writing assignment for next Tuesday. Advanced Composition Lecture 1. The plan is to begin reading 1984 by George Orwell. We will do a very easy beginning to the re-start during the week of 30 March. Please start by reading the classroom expectations and then signing up for my CommonLit.com classroom. The instructions to do this are below. This virtual classroom is where I will post assignments and links to supplemental material. Once you have signed up for the classroom, you can utilize the first assignment link that is listed after the sign up instructions. The book is available on-line as well, and that link is posted below. CommonLit.com sign up instructions. (This should show up as a download indication at the bottom of your page. Open the downloaded file and proceed from there.) First assignment: Sign up for CommonLit and enroll in the Advanced Composition class (89ZQNQ). Then, read the following article and complete the questions: First assignment: https://www.commonlit.org/en/students/student_lessons/4493826 (I am aware that the reading level of this article is listed as "8th Grade," but I think it does a good job of presenting what a dystopia is.) Download the free 1984 ebook. This is from Planet eBook and seems to read well. Students can adjust the view and size of print. You are also welcome to use a print copy. If you cannot do either of these options, please email me and I will see what other options may be available. https://www.planetebook.com/free-ebooks/1984.pdf When you have completed these steps, email me at my school email address (posted above). This assignment is scheduled to be completed by Friday, April 3rd. If you cannot complete this by that date, do not worry. This is new for all of us. If you would, email me to let me know that you have seen the assignment and to check in, and that will be a great start. Classic Literature: 31 March 2020: Here is the first lecture of the third trimester for Classic Literature. Some of you will appreciate the fact that it is mostly review, others maybe not, but it should get us all to the same page. The lecture file is just over 26 minutes. Classic Literature: Lecture 1. We will continue to read Dante's The Inferno. You all already have the packet that we will be using, so that is helpful. FIRST ASSIGNMENT: Please read the classroom expectations file linked above, and then create a Zoom account (many of the instructors will be using this platform) and email me at the linked address above so that I know you have seen my page. Pretty simple, right? I will post more information this week. The plan right now is to have at least one Zoom lecture per week recorded for the class to watch when they are able to do so. Shakespeare: Please start by reading the classroom expectations file linked in the first paragraph above. 27 March 2020: Hello! I look forward to class starting up on Monday, even if it will be quite a bit different than usual. Please send me an email and let me know if you are having any issues getting the play. Also, some of the material will work better if we can all meet at the same time on Zoom, and since there are only ten of us, I am hoping that we can arrange that. We are going to start off with the comedy Much Ado About Nothing. Here is a link to a free version of the play: http://shakespeare.mit.edu/much_ado/index.html You are, of course, welcome to use a print version also. If you cannot obtain the downloadable version or a print copy, please email me and I will try to find a solution. To prepare, please read "Verse and Prose in Shakespeare" (accessed 18 March 2020): https://www.bl.uk/shakespeare/articles/prose-and-verse-in-shakespeares-plays We will have a slow and methodical beginning to the class to get everyone up to speed. Your first assignment is read "Verse and Prose in Shakespeare" and obtain a copy of Much Ado About Nothing. Then set up a Zoom account. Once you have checked off these items, email me by Friday, April 3. If you have been unable to complete these three items, do not worry. This is new for all of us. Just email me with your progress and we will move on from there! Many of your classes will be asking you to set up a Zoom account. I am planning on doing some recorded Zoom lectures as well, so you should be working on getting that accomplished. Class InformationAdvanced Composition: Use your
Writer's Notebooks! Remember to use your Writer's Notebooks! These should be used to store your observations about the world around you, and to write down ideas that you can utilize for inspiration. "You only fail if you stop writing."-Ray Bradbury Movie List for Shakespeare: Much Ado About Nothing. Dir. Kenneth Branagh. MGM. 1993. Film. Much Ado About Nothing. Dir. Joss Whedon. Lionsgate. 2013. Film. Othello. Dir. Trevor Nunn. Image. 1990. Film Shakespeare in Our Time. National Endowment for the Arts Presents Shakespeare in Our Communities, 2011. Film. Why Shakespeare? National Endowment for the Arts, 2011. Film. |
Hello to everyone. My name is Keith Pond, and I am the Composition and Literature teacher here at James Madison Preparatory School. I feel extremely fortunate to be a member of the team here, and look forward to bringing my love of reading and writing to the students.
I was born to a small family of traveling performing elves and was handed off to a band of assorted woodland creatures when I inexplicably outgrew my family's caravan of ferret-powered wagons. I was home schooled deep in the enchanted forest and spent my time much like other children climbing trees and racing unicorns. After an unfortunate incident involving a neighboring tribe of goatherds and a 1967 Chevy Nova, I was forced to find employment writing ads for shady furniture stores and ghost-writing personal ads in free newspapers. Here, I found my calling. Even though I am quite old, I only age in years that are prime numbers, therefore I am technically considered orange. Pardon me? Uh...okay...yes, sorry about that. I am being told that the purpose of this bio is to give real information. Who knew? So.. . I have lived in Arizona for most of my life, graduating from Dobson High School in Mesa and receiving my BA in Literature from Arizona State University. Like many, my path out of college consisted of some twists and turns. I was involved in bicycle racing and the outdoor industry through college and into the first phase of my professional life. In that environment, I have worked every conceivable position from floor sweeper to mechanic to shop owner. After deciding to move on, I became involved in the retail cellular phone business. For ten years I worked in a variety of positions, finally culminating in regional management responsibilities. In my spare time I enjoy mountain biking, reading, writing and basketball, among other things. And, of course, I love being with my family as much as possible. I have seen how important it is for young people entering college and professional life to be able to present their thoughts and ideas in a cogent and readable fashion. I hope to bring excitement to this process, and look forward to the school year ahead. Thank you. |
