Monthly Archives: December 2008

Happy Holidays and New Year!

Over the break read your independent book and enjoy time with you family and friends.

See you in 2009!

Due Friday:Your second draft of your personal narrative due tomorrow.Good job on the test!!!! 

     Due Thursday1. Complete Montana Test Prep Worksheet.2. COMPLETE Montana Folder with all work! 3. Your Montana 1948 book–bring it in!**If you did not get your holiday reading assignment click here (holiday reading assignment ) bring it in with a parent/guardian signature!** If you will not be here Friday, show me your Holiday Reading Book AND Hakim 8 & 10 worksheet on Thursday!Due Friday: Personal Narrative Draft 2 (save all drafts!) 2.  Your Holiday Book in hand!

Due Thursday:

1. Read pages 100-130 in Montana 1948.

2. Recall the idea of symbolism in literature, when someone or something represents a larger idea or theme in a story.  Think about a passage in the book that may show symbolism.  Recall Uncle Frank’s doctor bag described by David, which we discussed in class (page 87).  Be prepared to write critically about this paragraph and another one in class.

Due Wednesday:

1. Finish Montana 1948 pg 130-175

2. We will not have Writer’s Workshop on this day. We will prepare for Thursday’s exam on Montana 1948.

Due Friday:

1. Turn in your 2nd draft of your Personal Narrative.  We will not work on these in class, I will read them over the break.  You should have 2 drafts at this point.  All Drafts MUST be kept.

Due Friday: 

Please bring in your personal narrative, a copy, the same one that you had for Wednesday.

Due Monday:

Please finish reading chapters 1-7 in Joy Hakim and complete the questions handout.

Due Thursday:

1. Read pages 82-100 in Montana 1948. The plot thickens in this section and if you decide to read further, please do not spoil it for others!  🙂  Tomorrow we will have a Core All class after the Mouse Trap vehicle tests.  In that Core All I will quiz you on the major plot developments and character motivations.

2. Write down TWO statements related to what you have read so far that we may use for the “four corners” activity in a future class (agree, strongly agree, disagree, strongly disagree).

3. Begin the Joy Hakim reading and questions handout that is due Monday.  Suggestion: Complete the Prologue and Chapter 1 section tonight. (4 pages of reading with 3 questions).

Due Wednesday:

1. First draft of your Personal Narrative is due.  This must be typed and should be more than one page in length.  Be prepared to share it in an activity and begin revise it as well.

2. Read pages 66-82 in Montana 1948.  Be quiz ready – understand the developing plot, the characters’ traits and decisions, and the major and minor conflicts.  Start to think about how this novel might connect thematically to Reconstruction Era.

 Due Thursday:

1. Read pages 82-100 in Montana 1948. Write 2 statements about this section that we can use for the “Four Corners” activity.  

2. Start to work on the Reconstruction Era questions packet and reading from Joy Hakim.

Due Monday:

1. Joy Hakim Chapters 1-7 and the Reconstruction Era questions packet.

Due Monday 12/8 Montana 1948, Section 2:

Read pages 31-49 . Define the 10 vocabulary words and put them in sentences that demonstrate their meanings. Do 3 character maps–one for Wes, one for Gail, one for David. Character Map Template (this is one–you need to make 3 of them, so print three times or copy it). See handout for vocabulary words and detailed instructions.

2)    Prepare for quiz on pages 11-49 on Monday in Core All.  The quiz will cover all characters, their physical attributes, their beliefs, their relationships with one another, as well as the book’s plot development.

Reminder for Next Wednesday:
Bring in a typed, first-draft of your personal narrative.  Be prepared to share with class and revise.

Due Wednesday:

1) Re-read the prologue to Montana 1948 and write a found poem using the prologue as your inspiration.  You can lift words, phrases and lines.  You may also add words of your own.  The poem should be at least 10 lines long, but I am sure that once you get started you’ll find that it is fun to do this and you may end up with more!

Writing Workshop Update:

Tomorrow in Writer’s Workshop we will spend a substantial amount of time writing and sharing your personal narratives.  You should come to class tomorrow with a clear idea of what event you would like to write about.  Be prepared to begin writing in class.  No excuses! The final piece of writing will be due (after drafting and editing) before winter break.

Due Thursday:

A completed “Prologue and Section One” foldable with your found poem is due.  I will explain what this is in the beginning of writer’s workshop.

Due Tuesday:

Read the article “Finishing our Work” by Thomas Friedman of the New York Times.

Define the following words that appear in the article plus ANY OTHER WORDS that you do not understand.  You may write the definitions in small print in the margins of the article.  No need to waste another sheet.

1. Judicial Interventions 2. Mellifluous 3. Abysmal 4. Accountability 5. Corrosive 6. Neutered 7. Clamoring

Be prepared to briefly discuss the article’s main idea in Core tomorrow.

Below is a link to the article.

Cheers,

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/05/opinion/05friedman.html?scp=1&sq=Finishing%20Our%20Work&st=cse