What you missed 11/18-19
November 18, 2009 |
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| Today we explored the importance of effective imagery in poetry and how it suggests emotions and ideas. We also analyzed song lyrics as poetry to determine what the imagery in the song suggests. |
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What you missed November 16-17
November 16, 2009 |
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| Today students were given the novel list for this unit (See download below) and were instructed to choose a book to have in class Monday/Tuesday of next week. We read the poem "Power" by Corrine Hales and discussed how poets use imagery to paint a picture with words. We read the story "The Ravine" to determine when a risk is worth taking and convinced Vinny to jump or not to jump based on our own vivid word pictures. |
| Downloads |
 Book Choices (358.85 KB)
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What you missed 11/12-13
November 12, 2009 |
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| Today we kicked off our next unit in which we will explore when risks are worth taking. We discussed our thoughts and feelings about poetry. Students created a poem from 200 random words. A good time was had by all. |
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What you missed 11/3-4 (homework)
Due Date: November 3, 2009 |
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| Today students turned in the final draft of their memoirs and submitted an electronic copy to Turnitin.com. Students also worked on the Soundtrack of [My] Life project. (See below.) |
| Downloads |
 The Soundtrack of [My] Life (30.21 KB)
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What you missed 10/30-11/2
October 30, 2009 |
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| Today students finished planning their public service announcements in class. PSAs are due Tuesday 11/10 (B) and Wednesday 11/11 (A). |
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What you missed
October 28, 2009 |
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| Today students started planning their PSAs (30-60 second video or 2 posters) to promote positive change in society. |
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What you missed 10/23-26
October 23, 2009 |
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| Today we shared the descriptive dialogues we created from photographs. We explored how prejudice affects relationships and identified dramatic irony in the short story "Pulling Up Stakes". |
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What you missed 10/21-22 (homework)
Due Date: October 21, 2009 |
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| Today we shared rough draft #2 of our memoir with a partner. We learned about using a consistent verb tense in our writing and played a review game: "Swat That Verb Tense!" We learned how to write effective dialogue and wrote a one-page conversation between characters based on their photographs. |
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What you missed 10/19-20 (homework)
Due Date: October 19, 2009 |
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| Today we reviewed the questioning strategy for understanding what we read. We also made critical text-to-self and text-to-world connections by engaging in role play dramas with the short story "The Swede". |
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What you missed 10/15-16
October 15, 2009 |
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| Today we learned a questioning strategy to help in reading comprehension and in identifying with characters. The three questioning levels are "On the Lines," "Between the Lines," and "Beyond the Lines." We read the short story "The Swede" and generated questions in each category. |
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What you missed 10/12-13 (homework)
Due Date: October 12, 2009 |
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| Today we reviewed the three types of irony: verbal, situational, and dramatic. Students worked together in small groups to demonstrate each type of irony by acting out a short scene or illustrating a poster. |
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What you missed 10/8-9 (homework)
Due Date: October 8, 2009 |
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| Today we finished the memoir comic squares for Alice Walker's essay. We reviewed how writers shrink time by summarizing less important information. We learned what irony is and how to identify it. We read Chris Crutcher's memoir "Fireworks" to see how irony is used in the story. |
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What you missed 10/6-10/7 (homework)
Due Date: October 6, 2009 |
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| Today we learned how writers compress time to include only the most important events and information. We read Alice Walker's memoir "Beauty: When the Other Dancer Is the Self" and illustrated the most significant scenes from the story. |
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What you missed Sept. 30-Oct. 5 (homework)
Due Date: October 5, 2009 |
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| Today we went to the computer lab and typed up our first drafts of our memoirs. |
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What you missed 9/28-9/29 (homework)
Due Date: September 28, 2009 |
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| Today we reviewed voice in writing, defined and identified figurative language (simile, metaphor, hyperbole), and revised a short story to improve the writing. |
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What You Missed for 9/24-9/25
September 24, 2009 |
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| Today we discussed what makes a memory, why some experiences are remembered and others are forgotten. We read two memoirs and reviewed memoir elements in each. We defined "voice" in writing (the writer's personality on the page) and practiced mad, soft, and fast talking (in writing) to reveal our own "voices". |
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What You Missed 9/22-9/23
September 22, 2009 |
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| Today we discussed our views of reading and read two mini-memoirs about how and why people read. We also explored the reader-writer relationship through a listening and viewing activity. You had to be there! |
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What We Did Today
September 17, 2009 |
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| Today we read the short story "Cradle Hold" and discussed our personal beliefs and how they are shaped by our family culture. |
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What We Did Today
September 16, 2009 |
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| Today we read the short story "Cradle Hold" and discussed our personal beliefs and how they are shaped by our family culture. |
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"I Am From" Poem
September 16, 2009 |
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Joey's Memoir
September 15, 2009 |
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