Tell me ODYSSEUS
The Teaching Program for Homer’s Odyssey
Joy Marie Sever, Ph.D
The Poseidon Mural © 2007 Matthew Willey.
I read Homer’s Odyssey for the first time in September 2001. In the years to follow, I would travel to ancient temples in Greece, to the Center for Hellenic Studies in Washington, DC., and to classics-themed theatre performances, dramatic readings, and exhibits. In 2005, I co-founded TellmeOmuse with artist and muralist Matthew Willey. We started visiting classrooms where the Odyssey was being taught – beginning with the Center School in Manhattan at the invitation of teacher Deborah Marx. Students of all ages were asking thoughtful questions, expressing strong opinions, and enthusiastically debating Odysseus' decisions on his journey. The students were engaged in the reading and the discussions. These were timely observations. In 2007 the New York Times reported students’ difficulty with reading comprehension. In 2010 I self-published Tell me ODYSSEUS.
Testing conducted in 2006 showed that “in rich and poor districts alike, reading scores plunge from the fifth to sixth grade, when most students move to middle school, and continue to decline through eighth grade. The pattern is increasingly seen as a critical impediment to tackling early high school dropout rates as well as the achievement gap separating black and white students” (New York Times, 2007).
Reading proficiency is linked to future success. Attaining that proficiency requires the ability to read and comprehend complex texts. In 2010, the new common core curriculum standards emphasized the necessity of mastering complex, grade-level appropriate text in order to succeed in the future. Verifying that it provides the appropriate level of text-complexity for today’s high school students, Homer’s Odyssey was identified by literacy experts as a text exemplar in the new standards for the ninth and tenth grades.
Tell me ODYSSEUS Timeline
TELL ME ODYSSEUS presents Homer’s Odyssey in 30 Stories, with a lesson plan/guide for each story. Each Story Guide contains a 150-word story summary, story-relevant details, text-dependent assessment materials (from quick descriptive questions to in-depth, essay-style questions), thought-provoking Journey Journal questions to help students apply the story to their own life, useful tables and charts, the Odysseus at Sea Mediterranean Journey Map, and a Ship Count Crew Count. Tell me ODYSSEUS helps pace the Odyssey according to students’ individual needs and interests (300 pages).
2005 The vision
The founding of TellmeOmuse LLC in New York City. The work to design an “Odyssey teaching program” begins.
2007 Reading comprehension in the news
Reading scores across the US show stagnation; declines evident as students as students enter middle school. The issue: difficulty in reading comprehension. “Trying to Find Solutions in Chaotic Middle Schools,” New York Times, January 3, 2007, Elissa Gootman.
2010 Tell me odysseus is on the right path
Lead authors of the new English/LA standards emphasize the importance of text-dependent assessment materials, citing the close connection between text comprehension and the acquisition of knowledge (Publishers’ Criteria for the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts and Literacy, Grades 3-12. David Coleman and Susan Pimentel.)
February: TellmeOmuse publishes Tell me ODYSSEUS.
August: New Common Core State Standards released. Homer’s Odyssey identified as a text exemplar for grades 9 and 10, based on the level of complexity that high school students must master in order to succeed in the future.
Tell me ODYSSEUS Contents
Tell me ODYSSEUS is a comprehensive, flexible, and easy-to-use teaching program consistent with literacy experts’ recommendations. Testimonials from educators verify the program’s benefits. The program gives teachers the tools and resources to teach Homer’s Odyssey—lesson plans, rich resource materials, engaging teaching tools, games, and original artwork. For teachers without enough class time to teach the entire book, the program’s flexibility makes it very easy to teach individual stories.
Background on the Trojan War and Odysseus’ role in that War
The 30 Stories of Odysseus’ Journey with a text-dependent teaching unit and teaching aids for each story; aligned with the new Common Core Standards.
Mediterranean Journey Map with Odysseus’ story-by-story Ship Count + Crew Count!
60 People, Places, and Potions with pronunciations and definitions
Two ways of teaching the Odyssey—in chronological order (beginning with The Wanderings of Odysseus and his departure from Troy), and in medias res (the way Homer told the Odyssey, beginning with the stories from Olympus and Ithaca)
Timelines for both storytelling versions (chronological and in medias res)
Book and line references to the 30 Stories in four popular Odyssey translations (Robert Fitzgerald, Richmond Lattimore, Robert Fagles, and Stanley Lombardo)
Recommendations for further reading.
• Engaging • Accessible • Flexible • Fun •
Stories Leading Up to the Trojan War
The Wedding of Peleus and Thetis, the Apple of Discord, The Judgment of Paris, Backstory on the Birth of Paris, Paris Abducts Helen, the Oath of Tyndareus, Achaeans Declare War Against the Trojans ... sound familiar?
ODYSSEUS AT SEA
A Mediterranean Journey Map
Our Mediterranean Map is an original map that Matt and I created in a sequence of research-design-research-design steps over many months.
The reverse side of the Mediterranean Map contains the popular Wanderings of ODYSSEUS Ship Count and Crew Count.
Odyssey CARD Games
Memory | Definitions | Storytelling
All three Odyssey Games contain content found in Tell me ODYSSEUS.
On June 18, 2013, I presented "A new story-centered teaching method for teaching complex texts to high school students" to Peter Cohen, President, McGraw Hill School Education, and editorial VP Daniela Perelli. I watched Peter smile as he turned the 300 pages of Tell me ODYSSEUS. In an email, Peter wrote, “Thank you for sending me your well prepared teaching program, Tell me ODYSSEUS. You have clearly thought through how to engage kids in the classics and inspire them to read more deeply.”
Testimonials from teachers, parents, home-schooolers, and literacy experts can be found below.
Central Park, NYC
Temple of Athena, Delphi, Greece
Teachers, Home-schoolers, and Curriculum Experts Attest to the Appeal and Benefits of Tell me ODYSSEUS
I couldn’t put it down. It was exactly what I needed to prepare to teach the Odyssey again. Clear and lively writing, meaningful prompts opened up students’ discussion and thinking. Janet Rogow, Teacher, Mamaroneck High School, NY
Very happy with responses and level of engagement from students. Phil Nichols, Dean of Academics, English, Plumstead Christian School, PA
This is not your mainstream curriculum. We normally do not purchase curriculum—but this was different. A reference resource that helped me fill in details and deepen my understanding. Margaret Groninger, Teacher, Mamaroneck High School, NY
Engaging historical information and helpful breakdowns. The timelines and maps were especially useful to students! Vanessa Snowden, NYC Public School Teacher
Your teaching program appears to be just what we need. The content information is excellent, and several of the assessment tools can be used to address our state standards. Ivy Morrison, Curriculum Liaison
I am excited about teaching the Odyssey again! Helped me look at aspects of the epic that I hadn't considered before. Provides the story to students in an engaging way. It makes it FUN! A great way to have students connect to the literature. John Roukis, Teacher, Manhattan Village Academy, NYC
I absolutely love what you’ve done. The materials are incredibly thorough; they’ve helped me understand everything that is going on. Ann Harrison, Parent Home-Schooling her 13-year old son.