Catalyst #49 April 20, 2015 Question of the week: What would be your perfect day? Imagine that money and location do not matter. You do, however, have only 24 hours. Answer at least two of the following: 1. How would your day begin? What would you do first, where would you be and with whom? 2. What would the middle of your day include? What would you do, where would you be and with whom? 3. How would your day end? What would you do last, where would you be and with whom? Answer at least two of the following: 4. Look back at your responses. What do they say about you and what you value/care about? 5. Have you already been able to do some of the things you listed? Why or why not? 6. Would you rather have unlimited time, unlimited money or unlimited good health? Explain your answer.

Catalyst #50 April 21, 2015 SAT/ACT/MFL VOCABULARY 1. BULWARK (noun) “bull-wark” Context clues: The gate was not a strong enough bulwark against the large, powerful crowds; they managed to break through and enter the restricted area. A. Write the words that are ANTONYMS of bulwark: PassagewayRoomBarricadeBlockadeEntrance B. List at least three structures you have seen that act as bulwarks. 2. APHORISM (noun) “Ah-for-is-um” Context clues: The end of spring break gave truth to that old aphorism: “All good things must come to an end.” A. Complete the three synonyms for aphorism: sa_ _ _gpro_ _ _ b wi_ _ _ m B. Write one aphorism you have heard before. It could be about any topic; here are some topics to get you thinking: education, love, luck, wisdom, success, hard work, stress money, time, health 3. EMBROIL (verb) “im-broy-uhl” Context clues: Marco and Julia found themselves embroiled in a heated argument about who was the best athlete; three hours later, their debate continued without an end in sight. A. Complete the synonyms for embroil: en_ _ _gle in _ o _ _ e B. In what way does the word embroil sound like or look like what it means?

Catalyst #51 April 22, 2015 Self-Evaluation #3 In your journal, write “Completed Self-Evaluation #3” Then, complete the rubric as follows: 1- Write your name, period, today’s date and round #3 at the top of your rubric. 2- In each category, circle the box that you feel best represents your work in this class this month. Make sure that you give yourself 5 grades total (3 on front, 2 on the back). 3- Under Comments on the back: Explain why you chose at least 2 of the scores that you did. Be sure to write in complete sentences. 4- DO NOT add up your totals. (I will do this once I grade you as well.)

Catalyst #52 April 23, 2015 SAT/ACT/MFL MATH PREP 1. If 2ab + 6a = 4 and a= ½ then b is equal to what ? A. 1B. 2C. 3D. 4E If what is value of rt – su? A. -1B. 0C. 1D. 2E SAT QUESTION OF THE DAY: If x -2 = 16, what is the value of x 2 ? A. 1/16B. 1/4 C. 2D. 4E. 13 SAT HINT: Remember that x -1 is equal to 1/x

Catalyst #53 April 24, 2015 College Freshman Seminar: Interdependence 1. In your own words, what does it mean to be a “good listener”? 2. Why/when might it be important to be a “good” listener? 3. Complete the notes about active listening on the handout provided by locating the answers around the room. You will now have a chance to practice these active listening skills through a scenario: If you are Person A, you have a problem that you want/need to discuss. If you are Person B, you are working on actively listening to this person. 4. Reflect: What part(s) of active listening did you use when listening to your partner? 5. Reflect: What part(s) of active listening did you not use/find difficult to use when listening to your partner?

Catalyst #54 April 27, 2015 Question of the Week: When have you experienced or made a change in your life? (The change could be big or small: a change of where you lived, your job, your attitude, your dress, etc.) 1. What was this change? Choose 3 of the following to answer: 2. When did this change happen? 3. What was your life/situation/personality like before this change happened? 4. What was your life/situation/personality like after this change? 5. Was this change for better or for worse? Explain your answer. 6. How did you feel at the time that the change happened? Do you still feel the same way? Why or why not? Be sure to answer this question: 7. “To improve is to change” – Winston Churchill Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Explain your answer.

Catalyst #55 April 28, 2015 ACT/MFL/SAT Vocabulary 1.TANGIBLE (adjective) “tan-juh-bull” Context clues: Brian went to the gym every morning, but, to his frustration, he did not see any tangible improvements in his physical appearance. A. Write down the words from the following list that are tangible: Justice, brick, grass, freedom, automobile, dinner, despair, yellow, computer B. Write your own definition of the word tangible. 2.MOROSE (adjective) “more-o-suh” Context clues: Ed, looking morose, stared out at the rain and felt sorry for himself. A. Complete the synonyms (same meaning) for morose: Dep_ _ _ _ _ d Bl _ _ Mi _ _ _ able B. Write down two ANTONYMS (opposite meaning) for morose. 3.FIDELITY (noun) “fuh-dell-uh-T” Context clues: Isabella swore everlasting fidelity to Derek, but, the next weekend, she kissed another guy. A. Write down the ANTONYMS for fidelity: Faithfulness, defiance, loyalty, betrayal, lying, devotion B. Use the word fidelity in a sentence of your own.

Catalyst #56 April 29, 2015 College Freshman Seminar: Gaining Self-Awareness 1. First, let’s clarify: what does self-awareness mean? 2. On the handout, take the self-defeating habits quiz by checking each statement that you agree with or identify with. Pick one of the self-defeating habits that you checked on the list. What is an example of when this self- defeating habit has affected your life? 3. In a group of three, read about the three success rules on p Have one person read each rule. ◦A. Record Rule 1 and summarize it in a sentence of two. ◦B. Record Rule 2 and summarize it in a sentence or two. ◦C. Record Rule 3 and summarize it in a sentence of two. 4. Which of these rules do you find to be the easiest for you to live by? Why? Give an example. 5. Which of these rules do you find to be the most difficult for you to live by? Why? Given an example. 6. Add at least one more rule for yourself to the above list. 7. What will you attempt to do in the next week to live by one or more of these rules?

SAT/ACT/MFL MATH PREP 1. The 5 in the place marked p is how much larger than the 5 in the place marked r? A. 100,000B. 10,000C. 1,000D. 100E If n can be any positive whole number, up to 10, for how many values of n can equal a whole number? A. 2 B. 3C. 4D. 5E SAT QUESTION OF THE DAY The odometer of a new automobile functions improperly and registers only 2 miles for every 3 miles driven. If the odometer indicates 48 miles, how many miles has the automobile actually been driven? A. 144B. 72C. 64D. 32E.24 Hint: You can set up a proportion to solve this problem. Catalyst #57 April 30, 2015