You will have a substitute teacher today because I will be attending the Utah Council of English Teachers Conference and meeting Neal Shusterman, author of The Schwa Was Here, Antsy Does Time, Unwind, and others. You will accomplish much while I am gone, I trust.
P.T.S.A. Reflections entries are due by Wednesday, October 19. Extra credit is available in English class for entering the literature division.
Book orders are due by the 14th. I could send an order before that if I receive enough requests.
Self-Starter: Students completed a packet about "The Perfect Paragraph." If you were absent, pick up a packet from the back of the room.
The class watched part of The Outsiders.
A1 to the point where Johnny and Ponyboy at the lot.
A2 to Johnny and Ponyboy on the train.
A3 to Johnny and Ponyboy getting help from Dally before leaving town.
A4 to Dally, Johnny, and Ponyboy at the Dairy Queen.
Students filled out a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the movie and book so far.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Self-Starter: Students picked up their composition books and the worksheet about TOPICS. Find it in the folders at the back of the room, or download here: topics and topic sentences.doc
2. We started investigating a "crime" to begin learning how to state a simple argument with evidence, rule, and conclusion. Students took some notes in their composition books under "Notes and QuickWrites," and in small groups wrote out more evidence and rules on a handout. Look in the folders at the back of the room for the information about the case and for the small group handout.
Mock Trial starts today.
Ms. Dorsey's classroom during Cave Time
Tonight is Shakespeare Night.
7 pm in the New Auditorium
Free
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
Self-Starter:
Step 1. In your composition book, label this entry Positives and Negatives and add today's date. Create a chart of two columns to list your ideas about what makes it either good or bad that October or Autumn is here:
Step 2. When the teacher directs you to do so, move to your assigned group. Working with two or three classmates, share your ideas, and decide whether you would like to argue pro or con. Select the three best reasons from your list and create a paragraph that presents your argument.
Do's and Don'ts
Do use complete sentences.
Do use
1) a topic sentence that introduces the topic and makes a statement about it,
2) three supporting details (evidence) in the body of the paragraph,
3) and a conclusion that makes the paragraph feel complete.
Do not start out using the words "I am going to tell you about. . . " or anything like that.
Do not end with "The End," or "That's all I have to say," or anything like that.
Avoid the word "you."
Write a clean copy of it on a neat piece of lined paper. Make sure all of your names are on THE BACK OF THE PAGE. Turn it in to the wire basket.
3. Reading The Outsiders (and listening to the audio book) --
A1 from page 99 (Chapter 6, 22:31) to page 104 (Chapter 6, 32:48)
A2 from page 98 (Chapter 6, 22:21? top of page 98) to page 110 (Chapter 7 -- page 110, nightmare)
A3 from page 93, (Chapter 6, 14:36) to page 101 (Chapter 6, 20:05)
A4 from page 104, (Chapter 6, 32:0) to page112 (page 110, nightmare 3:00)
List episodes/events in your composition book. Notice conflict.
________________________________________
Step 1. In your composition book, label this entry Positives and Negatives and add today's date. Create a chart of two columns to list your ideas about what makes it either good or bad that October or Autumn is here:
Positives (Pro) Negatives (Con)
Do's and Don'ts
Do use complete sentences.
Do use
1) a topic sentence that introduces the topic and makes a statement about it,
2) three supporting details (evidence) in the body of the paragraph,
3) and a conclusion that makes the paragraph feel complete.
Do not start out using the words "I am going to tell you about. . . " or anything like that.
Do not end with "The End," or "That's all I have to say," or anything like that.
Avoid the word "you."
Write a clean copy of it on a neat piece of lined paper. Make sure all of your names are on THE BACK OF THE PAGE. Turn it in to the wire basket.
Paragraphs -- Let's Make Sure You Understand
___________________________3. Reading The Outsiders (and listening to the audio book) --
A1 from page 99 (Chapter 6, 22:31) to page 104 (Chapter 6, 32:48)
A2 from page 98 (Chapter 6, 22:21? top of page 98) to page 110 (Chapter 7 -- page 110, nightmare)
A3 from page 93, (Chapter 6, 14:36) to page 101 (Chapter 6, 20:05)
A4 from page 104, (Chapter 6, 32:0) to page112 (page 110, nightmare 3:00)
List episodes/events in your composition book. Notice conflict.
________________________________________
Make up for the September Book-of-the-Month Club is available on Thursday, October 6. Come to Ms. Dorsey's room for Cave Time. Bring your book and notes. Because this is a test, you may not do it at home.
When you come to do it, you will go to Friday, September 23, 2011 on this blog.
Scholastic book orders are due by October 14.
Go here to see Stuff about Books that you used or may want to use for your Book-of-the-Month
Nonfiction
What is Nonfiction?
Survive the Savage Sea is about a real family's survival in a small raft after their boat sank.
This is a blog review of a nonfiction book about Amelia Earhart that I'd like to get a hold of.
From February-March 2011 -- Short Story (that's fiction): I read and enjoyed a biography of Mark Twain, so I went back to reread "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County." It's such a fun story. I found the full text at http://www.classicshorts.com/stories/frog.html
I also read a nonfiction account of the Irish potato famine.
What sorts of books would be appropriate for that Book-of-the-Month Project?
Literary nonfiction -- The book is written as a story or series of stories focused on a single topic.
Other books that focus on one subject
Biographies and Autobiographies
We will not use books that cover many subjects, how-to books, joke books, etc.
If in doubt, ask the teacher.
Try this link: Nonfiction
Survive the Savage Sea is about a real family's survival in a small raft after their boat sank.
This is a blog review of a nonfiction book about Amelia Earhart that I'd like to get a hold of.
Amelia Lost by Candace Fleming
Nonfiction: Biography
From February-March 2011 -- Short Story (that's fiction): I read and enjoyed a biography of Mark Twain, so I went back to reread "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County." It's such a fun story. I found the full text at http://www.classicshorts.com/stories/frog.html
 |
| Nonfiction |
Biography list from Scholastic (with books for younger children as well as teens)
Historical Fiction
For a basic list of suggested book, go to
http://cavemanenglish.pbworks.com/w/page/8952511/Historical%20Fiction
Important:
Also recommended:
Moon Over Manifest
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
Deadly by Julie Chibbaro sounds good.
The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg (950L) is about the Civil War. Homer's family is white, but his brother is sold to be a soldier, and Homer runs away to help him escape. This would be a great companion book to Elijah of Buxton.
1-14-12 I just finished reading The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg, (950L) and really enjoyed it. It's full of adventure and excitement. Here are some of the questions I have about the real (nonfiction) background for the book:
Was there really a Colonel Chamberlain in charge of a regiment from Maine?
Did the Battle of Gettysburg happen as it's described in this book?
How many men did die in that battle?
Woods Runner 870L by Gary Paulson
Were the Hessian soldiers really that brutal?
Multicultural: A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park -- based on a true story about life in the Sudan
Historical/Multicultural Fiction -- Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez
Alvarez really did grow up in the Dominican Republic during the time period portrayed in this novel. She has fictionalized the events, but kept them close enough to what really happened to show us what it would have been like to grow up in country run by a dictator -- from the perspective of a twelve year-old girl whose adult family members have either left the country or become freedom fighters.
More historical fiction-- recommended by Jessica Day George on Good Reads:
Jessica George gave 4 stars to: The Ransom of Mercy Carter (Laurel Leaf Books) by Caroline B. Cooney
bookshelves: historical-fiction, young adult
"I am a sucker for true stories of white children raised by Native Americans. I used to fantasize about it as a kid: what would it be like to be a puritan, or a product of the Victorian era, and then find yourself kidnaped and raised by natives? This book hits on exactly where the root of my fascination lay: in every single one of these true stories, the girl never returns to her white family, even when she has a choice. Why was that? Was it the carefree lifestyle? Was their new family more loving, more indulgent? This last is what Cooney postulates for Mercy Carter. Raised in a stern, God-fearing home, the people who adopted her were known to treasure their children, who were given only the easiest chores and spent most of their days playing games and being petted. This is a great book, comparing the life of the white settlers to the natives, and detailing what became of Mercy along with the other children who were taken the night of the Deerfield, Massachusetts, massacre. Interestingly enough, some of the children were taken all the way to Canada, and given to French families who wanted to adopt a child! Highly recommened for those who like historical fiction!" -- Jessica Day George
1. The Legend of Jimmy Spoon 790L -- Pioneer life, white boy from Salt Lake City who goes to live with the Shoshoni Tribe
2. Jimmy Spoon and the Pony Express 820L --
3. Sacajawea 840L -- The story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition is told to Sacajawea's son by herself and William Clark
4. Anpao: An American Indian Odyssy 880L -- A story of a young warrior's mystical search for his own destiny.
5. Tucket's Travels: Francis Tucket's Adventures in the West, 1847-1849 -- Mr. Tucket 830L --
6. Charlotte's Rose 680L - Handcart pioneers
7. Numbering All the Bones 600L -- The Civil War is nearing its end and 13-year-old Eulinda (a slave whose brother is fighting in the Union army) faces an uncertain world. civil war, prisoners of war, Clara Barton
8. Sounder 900L -- African-American sharecroppers in the South
9. Steal Away . . . to freedom 690L -- A TEENAGE ORPHAN TRANSPLANTED FROM VERMONT TO VIRGINIA AND HER SLAVE DECIDE TO ESCAPE THEIR INDIVIDUAL CAPTIVITIES.
10. Elijah of Buxton 1070L -- The first child born in a community established for escaped slaves in Canada.
11. The Bronze Bow 760L -- THE TORMENTED JOURNEY OF AN ISRAELI BOY'S ALL-CONSUMING HATRED FOR THE ROMANS TO HIS ACCEPTANCE AND ...
12. The Breadwinner 630L -- Story of a girl struggling to survive in war torn Afghanistan
13. All Quiet on the Western Front by Remarque, Erich Maria 830L World War I
War Horse --
Book for Boys
See also http://us.penguingroup.com/static/packages/us/yreaders/books4boys/theme_history.php
Many students have enjoyed reading books from Scholastic Press's My Name is America series:
http://cavemanenglish.pbworks.com/w/page/8952511/Historical%20Fiction
Important:
As usual, the book you choose needs to be a book at or near your reading level -- usually 100 below to 50 above lexile.
If you're considering a book for which I have not listed a lexile, you can look up many books at lexile.com. Also recommended:
Moon Over Manifest
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
Deadly by Julie Chibbaro sounds good.
The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg (950L) is about the Civil War. Homer's family is white, but his brother is sold to be a soldier, and Homer runs away to help him escape. This would be a great companion book to Elijah of Buxton.
1-14-12 I just finished reading The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg, (950L) and really enjoyed it. It's full of adventure and excitement. Here are some of the questions I have about the real (nonfiction) background for the book:
Was there really a Colonel Chamberlain in charge of a regiment from Maine?
Did the Battle of Gettysburg happen as it's described in this book?
How many men did die in that battle?
Woods Runner 870L by Gary Paulson
Were the Hessian soldiers really that brutal?
Multicultural: A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park -- based on a true story about life in the Sudan
Historical/Multicultural Fiction -- Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez
Alvarez really did grow up in the Dominican Republic during the time period portrayed in this novel. She has fictionalized the events, but kept them close enough to what really happened to show us what it would have been like to grow up in country run by a dictator -- from the perspective of a twelve year-old girl whose adult family members have either left the country or become freedom fighters.
More historical fiction-- recommended by Jessica Day George on Good Reads:
Jessica George gave 4 stars to: The Ransom of Mercy Carter (Laurel Leaf Books) by Caroline B. Cooney
bookshelves: historical-fiction, young adult
"I am a sucker for true stories of white children raised by Native Americans. I used to fantasize about it as a kid: what would it be like to be a puritan, or a product of the Victorian era, and then find yourself kidnaped and raised by natives? This book hits on exactly where the root of my fascination lay: in every single one of these true stories, the girl never returns to her white family, even when she has a choice. Why was that? Was it the carefree lifestyle? Was their new family more loving, more indulgent? This last is what Cooney postulates for Mercy Carter. Raised in a stern, God-fearing home, the people who adopted her were known to treasure their children, who were given only the easiest chores and spent most of their days playing games and being petted. This is a great book, comparing the life of the white settlers to the natives, and detailing what became of Mercy along with the other children who were taken the night of the Deerfield, Massachusetts, massacre. Interestingly enough, some of the children were taken all the way to Canada, and given to French families who wanted to adopt a child! Highly recommened for those who like historical fiction!" -- Jessica Day George
1. The Legend of Jimmy Spoon 790L -- Pioneer life, white boy from Salt Lake City who goes to live with the Shoshoni Tribe
2. Jimmy Spoon and the Pony Express 820L --
3. Sacajawea 840L -- The story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition is told to Sacajawea's son by herself and William Clark
4. Anpao: An American Indian Odyssy 880L -- A story of a young warrior's mystical search for his own destiny.
5. Tucket's Travels: Francis Tucket's Adventures in the West, 1847-1849 -- Mr. Tucket 830L --
6. Charlotte's Rose 680L - Handcart pioneers
7. Numbering All the Bones 600L -- The Civil War is nearing its end and 13-year-old Eulinda (a slave whose brother is fighting in the Union army) faces an uncertain world. civil war, prisoners of war, Clara Barton
8. Sounder 900L -- African-American sharecroppers in the South
9. Steal Away . . . to freedom 690L -- A TEENAGE ORPHAN TRANSPLANTED FROM VERMONT TO VIRGINIA AND HER SLAVE DECIDE TO ESCAPE THEIR INDIVIDUAL CAPTIVITIES.
10. Elijah of Buxton 1070L -- The first child born in a community established for escaped slaves in Canada.
11. The Bronze Bow 760L -- THE TORMENTED JOURNEY OF AN ISRAELI BOY'S ALL-CONSUMING HATRED FOR THE ROMANS TO HIS ACCEPTANCE AND ...
12. The Breadwinner 630L -- Story of a girl struggling to survive in war torn Afghanistan
13. All Quiet on the Western Front by Remarque, Erich Maria 830L World War I
War Horse --
Book for Boys
See also http://us.penguingroup.com/static/packages/us/yreaders/books4boys/theme_history.php
Many students have enjoyed reading books from Scholastic Press's My Name is America series:
- The Journal of Jasper Jonathan Pierce:A Pilgrim boy, Plymouth, 1620 by Ann Rinaldi
- The Journal of William Thomas Emerson:A Revolutionary War Patriot Boston, Massachusetts, 1774 by Barry Denenberg
- The Journal of Augustus Pelletier:Lewis and clark Expedition, 1804 by Kathryn Lasky
- The Journal of Jedediah Barstow:An Emigrant on the Oregon Trail, Overland, 1845 by Ellen Levine
- The Journal of Douglas Allen Deeds:The Donner Party Expedition, 1846 by Rodman Philbrick
- The Journal of Wong Ming-Chung:A Chinese Miner, California, 1852 by Laurence Yep
- The Journal of Sean Sullivan:A Transcontinental Railroad Worker, Nebraska and Points West, 1867 by William Durbin
- The Journal of Joshua Loper:A Black Cowboy, The Chisholm Trail, 1871 by Walter Dean Myers
- The Journal of Brian Doyle:A Greenhorn on an Alaskan Whaling Ship, The Florence, 1874 by Jim Murphy
- The Journal of Rufus Rowe:A Witness to the Battle of Fredricksburg, Bowling Green, VA 1862 by Sid Hite
- The Journal of James Edmond Pease:A Civil War Union Soldier, Virginia, 1863 by Jim Murphy
- The Journal of Jesse Smoke:A Cherokee Boy, The Trail of Tears, 1838 by Joseph Bruchac
- The Journal of Finn Reardon:A Newsie, New York City, 1899 by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
- The Journal of Otto Peltonen:A Finnish Immigrant, Hibbing, Minnesota, 1905 by William Durbin
- The Journal of C.J. Jackson:A Dust Bowl Migrant, Oklahoma to California, 1935 by William Durbin
- The Journal of Ben Uchida:Citizen 13559, Mirror Lake Internment Camp, California, 1942 by Barry Denenberg
- The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins:A World War II Soldier, Normandy, France, 1944 by Walter Dean Myers
- The Journal of Biddy Owens:The Negro Leagues, Birmingham, Alabama, 1948 by Walter Dean Myers
- The Journal of Patrick Seamus Flaherty:United States Marine Corps, Khe Sanh, Vietnam, 1968 by Ellen Emerson White
- We Were Heroes: The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins, A World War II Soldier, Normandy, France, 1944 by Walter Dean Myers (March 2012)
- Into No Man's Land: The Journal of Patrick Seamus Flaherty, United States Marine Corps, Khe Sanh, Vietnam, 1968 by Ellen Emerson White (June 2012) [?]
- The Journal of James Edmond Pease, a Civil War Union Soldier, Virginia, 1863 by Jim Murphy (September 2012)
Thank you to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Name_Is_America for the above list.
Important: As usual, the book you choose needs to be a book at or near your reading level -- usually 100 below to 50 above lexile.
If you're considering a book for which I have not listed a lexile, you can look up many books at lexile.com.
Impress Your Science Teacher?
Tell your science teacher about this, unless he or she already told you about it.
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3756554
Then tell him or her that you're interested also in selenography.
(Look it up.)
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3756554
Then tell him or her that you're interested also in selenography.
(Look it up.)
Interesting Information about How We Got Some of Our Nouns!
. . .such as leotard, maverick, boycott. . . . .
http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2011/09/28/140467781/wanna-live-forever-become-a-noun?live=1&sc=fb&cc=fp
http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2011/09/28/140467781/wanna-live-forever-become-a-noun?live=1&sc=fb&cc=fp
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Self-Starter: Pick up the half-sheet tape-in. Mark the paragraph as directed. Paragraphs 1 2011.doc
Spanish only: Los párrafos 1 - 2011.doc
2. About paragraphs: We will be learning how to write Mary Poppins Paragraphs: Practically Perfect in Every Way!
What is a paragraph?
A paragraph is a group of sentences that have a topic in common. Of course, there's more to it than that. A paragraph can have any number of sentences, but for our purposes, it will have at least five sentences.
We are using color coding to mark the parts of a paragraph:
The topic sentence is green because it gets thing going. It names the topic and makes a statement about it. (You could also call it a CLAIM.)
The body sentences are yellow because they throw light on the topic -- lighting up or making it clear. (They contain pieces of EVIDENCE that the topic sentence is true.)
The conclusion is red because it brings the paragraph to a stop. Later when you are writing essays, there might not be a concluding sentence for a paragraph, or it may serve as a bridge into the next paragraph.
The paragraphs we will be writing will also use transitions to bridge smoothly from sentence to sentence, and to show the relationship from idea to idea or from sentence to sentence.
Learn more at http://lrs.ed.uiuc.edu/students/fwalters/para.html
___________________________
3. Reading The Outsiders (and listening to the audio book) --
A1 from page 80 (page 45, track 2, 30:48) to page 99 (Chapter 6, 22:31)
A2 from page 75 (page 45, track 2, 22:21) to page 98 (Chapter 6, 22:21? top of page 98)
A3 from page 75 (page 45, track 2, 22:24) to page 93, (Chapter 6, 14:36)
A4 from 82 (page 45, track 2, 34:34) to page 104, (Chapter 6, 32:0)
List episodes/events in your composition book.
Students answered various questions, and we discussed Cherry's loyalty/disloyalty, whether Ponyboy was right when he said that Dallas Winston would never care about anyone, and other issues.
For some of the questions, we drew names to find out who would answer.
________________________________________
Today is the day for Book-of-the-Month make-ups during Cave Time.
Find more information about paragraphs at November 2, 2010
Spanish only: Los párrafos 1 - 2011.doc
2. About paragraphs: We will be learning how to write Mary Poppins Paragraphs: Practically Perfect in Every Way!What is a paragraph?
A paragraph is a group of sentences that have a topic in common. Of course, there's more to it than that. A paragraph can have any number of sentences, but for our purposes, it will have at least five sentences.
We are using color coding to mark the parts of a paragraph:
The topic sentence is green because it gets thing going. It names the topic and makes a statement about it. (You could also call it a CLAIM.)
The body sentences are yellow because they throw light on the topic -- lighting up or making it clear. (They contain pieces of EVIDENCE that the topic sentence is true.)
The conclusion is red because it brings the paragraph to a stop. Later when you are writing essays, there might not be a concluding sentence for a paragraph, or it may serve as a bridge into the next paragraph.
The paragraphs we will be writing will also use transitions to bridge smoothly from sentence to sentence, and to show the relationship from idea to idea or from sentence to sentence.
Learn more at http://lrs.ed.uiuc.edu/students/fwalters/para.html
___________________________
3. Reading The Outsiders (and listening to the audio book) --
A1 from page 80 (page 45, track 2, 30:48) to page 99 (Chapter 6, 22:31)
A2 from page 75 (page 45, track 2, 22:21) to page 98 (Chapter 6, 22:21? top of page 98)
A3 from page 75 (page 45, track 2, 22:24) to page 93, (Chapter 6, 14:36)
A4 from 82 (page 45, track 2, 34:34) to page 104, (Chapter 6, 32:0)
List episodes/events in your composition book.
Students answered various questions, and we discussed Cherry's loyalty/disloyalty, whether Ponyboy was right when he said that Dallas Winston would never care about anyone, and other issues.
For some of the questions, we drew names to find out who would answer.
________________________________________
Today is the day for Book-of-the-Month make-ups during Cave Time.
Find more information about paragraphs at November 2, 2010
Extra Credit Poem Memorization
Friday, September 23, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Make up for the September Book-of-the-Month Club is available on Thursday, September 29. Come to Ms. Dorsey's room for Cave Time. Bring your book and notes. Because this is a test, you may not do it at home.
When you come to do it, you will go to Friday, September 23, 2011 on this blog.
Self-Starter: Pick up your composition books. Pick up the tape-in from the back table. Follow the directions on the tape-in. Complete this editing exercise based on a sentence from the novel Jack's Run*: How'd They Do It - Capitalization, Etc.doc
How'd They Do It Caps Spanish.doc (This may not be a very correct translation, but should give some idea of what our assignment is saying.)
_________________
2. Reading The Outsiders (and listening to the audio book) --
A1 from page 57 --(disk 45, track 1, 19:16) to page 80 (page 45, track 2, 30:48)
A2 from age 49 (disk 45, track 1, 7:19) to page 75 (page 45, track 2, 22:21)
A3 from page 51 (disk 45, track 1, 10:14) to page 75 (page 45, track 2, 22:24)
A4 from page 58 (disk 45, track 1, 21:15) to page 82 (page 45, track 2, 34:34)
List episodes/events in your composition book.
To find our lists of recommended books and of books you may not use, go to
How'd They Do It Caps Spanish.doc (This may not be a very correct translation, but should give some idea of what our assignment is saying.)
Extra Credit Opportunity: (available all year)
Find errors (capitalization, punctuation, spelling, etc.) in published material (books, magazines, newspapers, copyrighted Internet text) and show me the errors.
_________________
2. Reading The Outsiders (and listening to the audio book) --
A1 from page 57 --(disk 45, track 1, 19:16) to page 80 (page 45, track 2, 30:48)
A2 from age 49 (disk 45, track 1, 7:19) to page 75 (page 45, track 2, 22:21)
A3 from page 51 (disk 45, track 1, 10:14) to page 75 (page 45, track 2, 22:24)
A4 from page 58 (disk 45, track 1, 21:15) to page 82 (page 45, track 2, 34:34)
List episodes/events in your composition book.
Extra Credit Poem Memorization
We did play a bit of Sparkle today to practice commonly confused and other often-missed spelling words.
__________________________________________*Here is a description of the novel Jack's Run by Roland Smith
From Booklist -- Gr. 5-8. In Zack's Lie (2001), after Jack's dad's arrest for drug trafficking, the family entered the Witness Security Program to hide from the dangerous drug cartel that will be exposed in court. As the story picks up in this action-packed sequel, Jack arrives in Los Angeles to stay with his college-age sister, Joanne, only to find that she has foolishly blown their cover. Kidnapped and flown to Argentina, Jack and Joanne show their mettle in a series of violent confrontations and other frightening situations. Filling in readers on the background from the previous book takes a bit of time, but once the pace of the story picks up, it never flags; both the heroes and the villains seem larger than life. Sometimes the story strains credibility but may be just the thing for readers who crave plot-driven fiction full of action and danger. Carolyn Phelan Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
__________________________________________
Reminder: Don't forget to study your commonly confused words and to watch for them -- and spell them correctly -- in your writing!
Book-of-the-Month: Find another novel, but in a different genre, and read it by October 25. For example, if you read a fantasy book in September, you could read an adventure or historical fiction or other genre this month
To find our lists of recommended books and of books you may not use, go to
http://cavemanenglish.pbworks.com/Recommended-Books
Books you may NOT use for the Book-of-the-Month assignments
A.F. Library Story Contest
Scary Story Contest  Friends of the American Fork Library are sponsoring the Scary Story Contest again!Deadline: October 22, 2011 Awards: October 27, 2011 at 7:00 pm Stop by the library or go to their web page for entry form and rules. http://afcity.org/Departments/Library/tabid/166/Default.aspx |
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
What Ms. Dorsey is Reading
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
*** This is the document you will use to type your assessment today.
When you get to the link, read and follow the directions to download.
***My September Book-of-the-Month Assessment.doc
Book-of-the-Month Assessment today
Bring your book.
We will be in Computer Lab 223, so you will be able to either type your answers or hand write them.
See the Book-of-the-Month tab above for the questions you will be answering and the grading rubric.
Today's Schedule:
1. Book share. Record in your composition book the titles and authors of books you're interested in. You should create on the last page of your composition book a chart with three columns labeled:
On this chart today you will record at least two books from the book share we are doing in class that you think you'd like to read.
2. Book Assessment -- See the pink handout for directions.
When you get to the link, read and follow the directions to download.
***My September Book-of-the-Month Assessment.doc
Make up for the September Book-of-the-Month Club is available next Thursday, September 29. Come to Ms. Dorsey's room for Cave Time. Bring your book and notes. Because this is a test, you may not do it at home.
Book-of-the-Month Assessment today
Bring your book.
We will be in Computer Lab 223, so you will be able to either type your answers or hand write them.
See the Book-of-the-Month tab above for the questions you will be answering and the grading rubric.
Today's Schedule:
1. Book share. Record in your composition book the titles and authors of books you're interested in. You should create on the last page of your composition book a chart with three columns labeled:
On this chart today you will record at least two books from the book share we are doing in class that you think you'd like to read.
Books I'd Like to Read | ||
Title | Author | Notes |
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Receive Rikki-Tikki-Tavi responses back -- You do not have to rewrite these. Consider the suggestions as you plan to write about your book of the month on Friday.
And a little bit of
to practice your commonly confused words.
District Writing Assessment -- Pretest Today
If you miss you will need to arrange a time to take this at school.
And a little bit of
District Writing Assessment -- Pretest Today
If you miss you will need to arrange a time to take this at school.
Stuff about Books
Lexile levels for some of the books you read for September:
School of Fear by Daneshvari, Gitty -- 860L
Lost Hero by Riordan, Rick - Pages: 557 -- 660L
Have you read The Phantom Tollbooth? Here is an NPR report about the book and the author:
http://www.npr.org/2011/10/25/141240217/my-accidental-masterpiece-the-phantom-tollbooth?sc=fb&cc=fp
School of Fear by Daneshvari, Gitty -- 860L
Lost Hero by Riordan, Rick - Pages: 557 -- 660L
Have you read The Phantom Tollbooth? Here is an NPR report about the book and the author:
http://www.npr.org/2011/10/25/141240217/my-accidental-masterpiece-the-phantom-tollbooth?sc=fb&cc=fp
Monday, September 19, 2011
By the way, my favorite pirate book is Pirates! by Celia Rees which is an historical fiction book about women pirates (women who become pirates) in the Caribbean. It's a long book, but very exciting, and is recommended for students in 6th through 9th grade.
Today's self-starter: Pick up your composition book. Read through the blue sheet on your desk.
If you finish early, study your commonly confused words. If more time, read your novel.
Blue sheet: You could download this to help you prepare for the assessment on Friday. Notice the grading rubric on the second page.
BoM Assessment for Sep prep.doc
2. Interrogative or Declarative? Changing a question into a statement when you writes answers to questions on tests and quizzes.
Examples:
Interrogative: What did you do over the weekend?
Changed to Declarative : Over the weekend I. . . . . .
Notice that you're borrowing words from the question.
For your book assessment on Friday, the first sentence of your answer should change the question into a statement. Examples:
Interrogative: Why do you think the author gave the book this title?
Changed to Declarative: The author gave the book Holes this title because. . . .
Sometimes the "question" will come in the form of a statement (Imperative) such as "Explain the setting of this book." You'd change it to begin your answer something like this:
"The setting of the book Stargirl is. . . . "
_________________
3. Reading The Outsiders (and listening to the audio book) -- Watch for and record cause and effect relationships under "Events/Episodes in The Outsiders" in the middle of your composition book.)
A1 from top of page 44, chapter 3 12:15 to page 57 --(disk 45, track 1, 19:16)
A2 from page 37, beginning chapter 3 to page 49 (disk 45, track 1, 7:19)
A3 from page 40, Chapter 3 ( 5:11) to page 51 (disk 45, track 1, 10:14)
A4 from page 45, Chapter 3 (page 45, track 1) to page 58 (disk 45, track 1, 21:15)
Cause-effect: Examples
Cherry and Marcia are walking with the Greaser boys because they had left their boyfriends and the Greasers were helping them get home.
Johnny and Ponyboy are so tense and nervous because they're tired of living in a place where there is so much conflict between Socs and Greasers and where they are always the underdogs.
Episodes: We finished the episode at the drive-in movie. We read the episode at the vacant lot and Ponyboy's home where Darry slaps Ponyboy and Pony runs away. We read part or all of the episode at the park.
- Spelling retake is available during Cave Time beginning September 15.
- Don't forget to be reading your book-of-the-month. See the questions for the assessment under the Book-of-the-Month tab above. You will write your answers in class on September 23.
- If you haven't finished or haven't taken the SRI, please use a Cave Time to go to computer lab 223 (by Peet and Heng) to take the test. Mrs. John knows how to help you get in and take the test. Please go knowing your own student number. Let me know when you've taken it so I can enter your points.
- If you haven't taken or haven't finished the main idea pretest, see me.
To order through me without going online, bring me the filled out order form and a check written to Scholastic Book Orders.
I'll be sending in orders on September 23, or sooner if I get enough orders.
Order forms are available on the rolling table at the back of the room near the door.
_______________________________________
Notes for your information:
What does it take for a complete sentence? A complete sentence makes a complete thought.
Do each of these show complete sentences? Which are and which aren't?
1. a. "The bird Darzee. 1.b. Because he really did not do anything other than sing."
2.a. "I would recommend this book to my sister. 2.b. Because I think she would like this book."
Answers:
Both 1a and 1b are not complete sentences. The reader can't tell what it is that's being said about the bird. The reader can't tell what is happening because he doesn't do anything other than sing." They could be corrected by changing them something like this: "I would change the bird Darzee in this story because he really did not do anything other than sing."
The sentence 2a is a complete sentence. The sentence 2b is not a complete sentence. It only gives part of a thought. It needs to be combined with 2a to create a complete sentence: "I would recommend this book to my sister because I think she would like this book."
_________________________________________________
Extra Credit: Questions you could discuss with your parents:
Are richer people better than poorer people?
Is it their own fault that poorer people are poorer and richer are richer?
Discuss either or both of these questions with a parent or guardian, and turn in a brief summary (4 to 10 sentences) about what conclusions you came to. Have the parent or guardian sign it.
Book Launch coming up in American Fork
I received this email today. I haven't read the book, but always enjoy going to book launch parties and other opportunities to meet authors. This book is for ages 10 to 14.
Copied from her email:
Posted by: "Tess Hilmo" Wed Sep 14, 2011 7:47 pm (PDT)
Just wanted to extend an invitation to my upcoming book launch for With a Name Like Love. Here are the details:
Sat. Oct 8th 3-5pm
American Fork Library
64 South 100 East, AF (Please note the 500 E exit off I-15 is closed due to construction.)
The American Fork Children's Choir is coming to sing some amazing old gospel songs right at 3:00. There will also be a prize wheel, old fashioned candy counter, craft tables for the kiddos (beaded book marks), and of course a signing. The Kings English is coming down as the bookseller. It should be quite a party!
Tess Hilmo
http://www.tesshilmo.com
advance praise for With a Name Like Love:
"Hilmo creates a town, a family and a mystery readers won't soon forget. A story about home, justice and love, beautifully told." Kirkus starred review
an American Booksellers Association New Voices pick for 2011!
"Debut novelist Hilmo creates a few truly despicable villains to balance out the goodness of the Love family. Fans of Ruth White's books will find a similarly affectionate portrait of a close-knit family of modest means, struggling to do good in the world and right by each other." -- Publisher's Weekly
Copied from her email:
Just wanted to extend an invitation to my upcoming book launch for With a Name Like Love. Here are the details:
Sat. Oct 8th 3-5pm
American Fork Library
64 South 100 East, AF (Please note the 500 E exit off I-15 is closed due to construction.)
The American Fork Children's Choir is coming to sing some amazing old gospel songs right at 3:00. There will also be a prize wheel, old fashioned candy counter, craft tables for the kiddos (beaded book marks), and of course a signing. The Kings English is coming down as the bookseller. It should be quite a party!
Tess Hilmo
http://www.tesshilmo.com
advance praise for With a Name Like Love:
"Hilmo creates a town, a family and a mystery readers won't soon forget. A story about home, justice and love, beautifully told." Kirkus starred review
an American Booksellers Association New Voices pick for 2011!
"Debut novelist Hilmo creates a few truly despicable villains to balance out the goodness of the Love family. Fans of Ruth White's books will find a similarly affectionate portrait of a close-knit family of modest means, struggling to do good in the world and right by each other." -- Publisher's Weekly
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Pirate Talk
From http://www.talklikeapirate.com/juniorpirates.html#kidstuff -- pirate curriculum
1) Learn your nautical directions:
Starboard = right
Port = left
Stern = back
Bow = front
2) Develop a pirate vocabulary:
• Aarrr!: Pirate exclamation. Done with a growl and used to emphasize the pirate's current feelings.
• Ahoy: Hello
• Avast: Stop and pay attention
• Beauty: a lovely woman,
• Belaying Pin: a small wooden pin used to hold rigging in place. Sometimes used as a bludgeoning weapon.
• Cutlass: Popular sword among pirates
• Davy Jones' Locker: The bottom of the sea. The final resting place for many pirates and their ships. As far as anyone knows, there was no real person named Davy Jones. It’s just the sprit of the ocean, firmly a part of pirate mythology since at least the middle of the 18th century.
• Disembark: To leave the ship
• Embark: To enter the ship in order to go on a journey
• Foul: Turned bad or done badly, as in ‘Foul Weather’ or ‘Foul Dealings’
• Grog: A drink that pirates enjoyed
• Hornpipe: a single reed instrument, also a dance.
• Keelhaul: Punishment. Usually tying the sailor to a rope and dragging him under the ship from stem to stern.
• Lubber: Land lover. Someone who doesn't want to go to sea.
• Matey: Friend or comrade
• Ne’er-do-well: A scoundrel or rascal
• Pieces of eight: Spanish silver coins that could actually be broken into eight pieces, or bits. Two of these bits were a quarter of the coin, and that’s where we get the expression “two bits” for a quarter of a dollar, as in the cheer, “Two bits, four bits, six bits a dollar …” (Do we feel a math lesson coming on?)
• Plunder: Treasure taken from others
• Rigging: Ropes that hold the sails in place
• Saucy Wench: A wild woman
• Tankard: A large mug, for ale
• Wastrel: A useless man
• Weigh anchor: Prepare to leave
• Yardarm: Extended from the mast and used to hang criminals or mutineers or, more prosaically, to hoist cargo on board ship
Thursday, September 15, 2011
1. Self-Starter: Pick up Composition Book.
Pick up and tape in half-sheet about Capitalization/Proper Nouns -- on the next page in your Editing section.
If you finish early, practice your commonly confused words since we will be playing a game with them a little bit later today.
Handout -----------------------------------------------------------------
Capitalization #3 September 15, 2011 from Kathi Appelt, My Father's Summers (2004)
When I was nine, my parents borrowed my grandmother's new Ford Mustang because it had air conditioning and because my grandmother insisted, and because there was no way our old Chevy could make the two thousand miles from our house on Mayo Avenue in Houston to Decker, Montana, where my father's old Army buddy owned a sheep ranch. . . . It was the first day after third grade at Pearl Rucker Elementary School, and I held the bag of peppermints Mrs. Dodge had given me, along with a note: "Thank you for being my star this year." I didn't like peppermints, but they were from Mrs. Dodge, and I loved Mrs. Dodge. So my two younger sisters wouldn't get a single one for the whole drive there and back. We drew imaginary boundaries on the vinyl seat and dared each other to cross them.
Bonus: Why isn't grandmother capitalized? ________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
2. Sparkle! We will play the spelling game called Sparkle using your commonly confused words.
confused words chart.doc
3. In your composition book, in the middle section "Notes and Quickwrites," continue to use the full two page spread labeled "Events/Episodes in The Outsiders" (Episodes/Complications which contribute to the RISING ACTION)
For each significant event/episode write a sentence that uses these words:
"Because. . . . . . . . [this is what happened:] . . . . . . . " or "[This happened. . .. ] because. . . . . "
For example,
"Because Ponyboy was walking home alone after the movie, the Socs were able to jump him."
"Because Ponyboy's brothers and friends came, the Socs stopped beating up Ponyboy and ran away."
______ More "this.. . . because. . . . " sentences.
Cherry threw a Coke at Dally because he wouldn't leave her alone and was talking dirty to her.
Dally stopped bothering Cherry because Johnny told him to stop.
Cherry and Marcia were alone because their boyfriends brought alcohol.
Johnny was scared by Two-Bit because he had been jumped.
Johnny was cut up so badly because one of the Socs who jumped him was wearing rings.
Because Johnny was so scared after being jumped, he carried a six-inch switchblade, and he would kill the next person who jumped him.
Ponyboy says mean things to Johnny because he is angry about Darry.
Two-Bit slaps Ponyboy because he says mean things to Johnny (and Johnny is "the gang's pet," meaning everyone looks out for Johnny).
_________________
Reading The Outsiders (and listening to the audio book)
A1 from top of page 33 to top of page 44, chapter 3 12:15
A2 from halfway through page 25 to page 37, beginning chapter 3
A3 from halfway through page 27 to page 40, Chapter 3 5:11
A4 from halfway through page 31 to page 45, Chapter 3 (page 45, track 1)
If you'd like to order Scholastic Books online, and benefit our classroom, go to http://pcool.scholastic.com/parentordering/login.jsp register, and enter code GKLJW.
To order through me without going online, bring me the filled out order form and a check written to Scholastic Book Orders.
I'll be sending in orders on September 23, or sooner if I get enough orders.
Pick up and tape in half-sheet about Capitalization/Proper Nouns -- on the next page in your Editing section.
If you finish early, practice your commonly confused words since we will be playing a game with them a little bit later today.
Handout -----------------------------------------------------------------
Capitalization #3 September 15, 2011 from Kathi Appelt, My Father's Summers (2004)
Tape this into your composition book. Underline the capitalized words in the passage. Then create a numbered list of all the words in this passage that are capitalized. (27? including repeats) Underline the capitalized words in the passage. For each word, tell why it is capitalized. You should list repeats, but you don't need to tell why each is capitalized once you already have.
Example: 1. Ford Mustang – It gives two brand names. Both are proper nouns.
When I was nine, my parents borrowed my grandmother's new Ford Mustang because it had air conditioning and because my grandmother insisted, and because there was no way our old Chevy could make the two thousand miles from our house on Mayo Avenue in Houston to Decker, Montana, where my father's old Army buddy owned a sheep ranch. . . . It was the first day after third grade at Pearl Rucker Elementary School, and I held the bag of peppermints Mrs. Dodge had given me, along with a note: "Thank you for being my star this year." I didn't like peppermints, but they were from Mrs. Dodge, and I loved Mrs. Dodge. So my two younger sisters wouldn't get a single one for the whole drive there and back. We drew imaginary boundaries on the vinyl seat and dared each other to cross them.
Bonus: Why isn't grandmother capitalized? ________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
2. Sparkle! We will play the spelling game called Sparkle using your commonly confused words.
confused words chart.doc
3. In your composition book, in the middle section "Notes and Quickwrites," continue to use the full two page spread labeled "Events/Episodes in The Outsiders" (Episodes/Complications which contribute to the RISING ACTION)
For each significant event/episode write a sentence that uses these words:
"Because. . . . . . . . [this is what happened:] . . . . . . . " or "[This happened. . .. ] because. . . . . "
For example,
"Because Ponyboy was walking home alone after the movie, the Socs were able to jump him."
"Because Ponyboy's brothers and friends came, the Socs stopped beating up Ponyboy and ran away."
______ More "this.. . . because. . . . " sentences.
Cherry threw a Coke at Dally because he wouldn't leave her alone and was talking dirty to her.
Dally stopped bothering Cherry because Johnny told him to stop.
Cherry and Marcia were alone because their boyfriends brought alcohol.
Johnny was scared by Two-Bit because he had been jumped.
Johnny was cut up so badly because one of the Socs who jumped him was wearing rings.
Because Johnny was so scared after being jumped, he carried a six-inch switchblade, and he would kill the next person who jumped him.
Ponyboy says mean things to Johnny because he is angry about Darry.
Two-Bit slaps Ponyboy because he says mean things to Johnny (and Johnny is "the gang's pet," meaning everyone looks out for Johnny).
_________________
Reading The Outsiders (and listening to the audio book)
A1 from top of page 33 to top of page 44, chapter 3 12:15
A2 from halfway through page 25 to page 37, beginning chapter 3
A3 from halfway through page 27 to page 40, Chapter 3 5:11
A4 from halfway through page 31 to page 45, Chapter 3 (page 45, track 1)
- Spelling retake is available during Cave Time beginning September 15.
- Don't forget to be reading your book-of-the-month. See the questions for the assessment under the Book-of-the-Month tab above. You will write your answers in class on September 23.
- If you haven't finished or haven't taken the SRI, please use a Cave Time to go to computer lab 223 (by Peet and Heng) to take the test. Mrs. John knows how to help you get in and take the test. Please go knowing you own student number.
To order through me without going online, bring me the filled out order form and a check written to Scholastic Book Orders.
I'll be sending in orders on September 23, or sooner if I get enough orders.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Friday, September 9, 2011
No Cave Time with Ms. D on Tuesday
No Cave Time will be held in Ms. Dorsey’s room on Tuesday, September 13.
If you haven't taken or finished the SRI (computer reading) test, please go to Computer Lab 223 during a Cave Time. Either white or colored slip will allow entry. Use your student number to access the SRI program. Mrs. John knows how to help you get on.
Spelling retake available beginning September 15.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
September 13, 2011
Self-Starter for “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi”:
1. Write in your composition book under Notes and Quick Writes. Respond to this prompt (under writing) : Label "Response to Bullies?" and include today's date.
If you were facing a bully, would you
§ run the other way?
§ get help from your friends and/or family?
§ face your opponent and fight?
§ try to use logic and reasoning to reach an agreement?
§ use a strategy other than the ones listed above?
Explain what you would probably do and why? Or, if you have faced a bully in the past, write about what you did.
Write about a half page or more.
Write about a half page or more.
___________________________________
2. Listen to and follow along with the short story, Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, found on page 4-15 of your literature textbook (the green one). Look also at the pictures on pages 2-3. Receive a plot diagram, and do your best to fill it out as you listen and read. (about 40 minutes) There is more than one way to divide up the rising action.
Receive a pre-filled out plot diagram and and compare it to yours.
________________________
3. Writing -- Select one of the following questions to answer in a paragraph or so and hand in to the top wire basket for your class. This will be on your own lined paper (NOT from your composition book) or on paper from the teacher if you do not have your own.
Plot and Rikki: How could you summarize the story in complete sentences using a plot diagram? (or)
Character and Rikki: How does Rikki change over the course of the story? (or)
Character: Which character in this story would you like to change (having the character act or speak differently) and why? How would these changes affect the story? (or)
Recommendation: To whom would you recommend this story and why?
If you are absent on this day, you can find the story of Rikki-Tiki-Tavi at http://www.gutenberg.org/files/236/236-h/236-h.htm#2H_4_0009.
Plot Outline.doc
Spelling retake is available during Cave Time beginning September 15.
September 9, 2011
1. Self-Starter: Pick up Composition Book.
Pick up and tape in half-sheet about Capitalization/Proper Nouns -- on the next page in your Editing section.
Handout -----------------------------------------------------------------
Lucky Trimble crouched in a wedge of shade behind the Dumpster. Her ear near a hole in the paint-chipped wall of Hard Pan's Found Object Wind Chime Museum and Visitor Center, she listened as Short Sammy told the story of how he hit rock bottom. How he quit drinking and found his Higher Power. Short Sammy's story, of all the rock-bottom stories Lucky had heard at twelve-step anonymous meetings -- alcoholics, gamblers, and overeaters -- was still her favorite.
Sammy told of the day when he had drunk half a gallon of rum listening to Johnny Cash all morning in his parked '62 Cadillac, then fallen out of the car when he saw a rattlesnake on the passenger seat biting his dog, Roy.
2. Spelling:
Dictation:
1) The Soc slammed on the brakes of the car.
2) Dally decided to break up with his girlfriend.
3) Socs jump Greasers a lot.
4) Johnny was jumped, too.
3. In your composition book, in the middle section "Notes and Quickwrites," use the next full two page spread. Label it "Events/Episodes in The Outsiders" (Episodes/Complications which contribute to the RISING ACTION)
For each significant event/episode write a sentence that uses these words:
"Because. . . . . . . . [this is what happened:] . . . . . . . "
For example,
"Because Ponyboy was walking home alone after the movie, the Socs were able to jump him."
"Because Ponyboy's brothers and friends came, the Socs stopped beating up Ponyboy and ran away."
_________________
Reading The Outsiders (and listening to the audio book)
A1 to top of page 33
A2 to halfway through page 25
A3 to halfway through page 27
A4 to
_______________________________________
Vocabulary:
events, complications, incidents, episodes
from Dictionary.Com:
episode: 2. an incident, scene, etc., within a narrative, usually fully developed and either integrated within the main story or digressing from it.
narrative: noun 1. an account, report, or story, as of events, experiences, etc.
2. the narrative -- the part of a literary work that relates events.
______________________________________
Enrichment:
More on Proper Nouns -- in case you still don't quite get it, or would just like to practice.
Proper nouns http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/propernoun.htm
Take a simple quiz on proper nouns: http://www.softschools.com/quizzes/grammar/proper_noun/quiz223.html
A game/quiz on common nouns, proper nouns, not nouns -- basketball images: http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/basketball/index_pre.html
http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/Capitalizing-Proper-Nouns.aspx Grammar Girl
This shows differences between capitalization in English and capitalization in español: http://www.elearnspanishlanguage.com/grammar/capitalization.html
About Dumpsters: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumpster
Break and Brake
Pick up and tape in half-sheet about Capitalization/Proper Nouns -- on the next page in your Editing section.
Handout -----------------------------------------------------------------
Capitalization #2 September 9, 2011 from Susan Patron, The Higher Power of Lucky (2006)
Tape this into your composition book. Then create a list of all the words in this passage that are capitalized. (26?) Underline the words in the passage. For each word, tell why it is capitalized.
Example: 1. Lucky – It is the name of a person and also begins a sentence.
Sammy told of the day when he had drunk half a gallon of rum listening to Johnny Cash all morning in his parked '62 Cadillac, then fallen out of the car when he saw a rattlesnake on the passenger seat biting his dog, Roy.
__________________________________________
Recognize a proper noun when you see one. Nouns name people, places, and things. Every noun can further be classified as common or proper. A proper noun has two distinctive features: 1) it will name a specific [usually a one-of-a-kind] item, and 2) it will begin with a capital letter no matter where it occurs in a sentence.
____________________________________ If you were absent, you could do this on another paper sized so you can tape it into your composition book.
Dictation:
1) The Soc slammed on the brakes of the car.
2) Dally decided to break up with his girlfriend.
3) Socs jump Greasers a lot.
4) Johnny was jumped, too.
3. In your composition book, in the middle section "Notes and Quickwrites," use the next full two page spread. Label it "Events/Episodes in The Outsiders" (Episodes/Complications which contribute to the RISING ACTION)
For each significant event/episode write a sentence that uses these words:
"Because. . . . . . . . [this is what happened:] . . . . . . . "
For example,
"Because Ponyboy was walking home alone after the movie, the Socs were able to jump him."
"Because Ponyboy's brothers and friends came, the Socs stopped beating up Ponyboy and ran away."
_________________
Reading The Outsiders (and listening to the audio book)
A1 to top of page 33
A2 to halfway through page 25
A3 to halfway through page 27
A4 to
_______________________________________
Vocabulary:
events, complications, incidents, episodes
from Dictionary.Com:
episode: 2. an incident, scene, etc., within a narrative, usually fully developed and either integrated within the main story or digressing from it.
narrative: noun 1. an account, report, or story, as of events, experiences, etc.
2. the narrative -- the part of a literary work that relates events.
______________________________________
Enrichment:
More on Proper Nouns -- in case you still don't quite get it, or would just like to practice.
Proper nouns http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/propernoun.htm
Take a simple quiz on proper nouns: http://www.softschools.com/quizzes/grammar/proper_noun/quiz223.html
A game/quiz on common nouns, proper nouns, not nouns -- basketball images: http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/basketball/index_pre.html
http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/Capitalizing-Proper-Nouns.aspx Grammar Girl
This shows differences between capitalization in English and capitalization in español: http://www.elearnspanishlanguage.com/grammar/capitalization.html
About Dumpsters: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumpster
Break and Brake
 |
| brake |
 |
| break |
 |
| break |
Monday, September 5, 2011
September 7, 2011
September 7, 2011
Self-Starter: Capitalization exercise in the composition book -- tape-in, list, explain.
Capitalization (and review end punctuation)
Handout -----------------------------------------------------------------
Which of the four types of sentences are the sentences in the passage from The Outsiders? Students answered on a small sheet of paper and we held a drawing for four correct answers to receive a small candy.
A4 still needs to do this.
Receive spelling test back. A retake will be available in about two weeks. If you wish to take it, study between now and then, and attend Cave Time on the date(s) specified to take the test.
Spelling retake is available during Cave Time beginning September 15.
New spelling challenge -- Commonly confused words confused words chart.doc
The test on commonly confused words will be given on ____________?
We will be working on learning these in class before we take the test.
Continue reading The Outsiders, paying attention to plot, character, setting, events, conflict.
Read to end of "jumping."
Watch video.
Read, keeping track of descriptions of characters. How do they compare with the way they are presented in the movie?
In your composition book, in the middle section "Notes and Quickwrites," use the next full two page spread, write the names of each of the narrator's gang of Greasers across the top. Take notes underneath on description for each of the characters. If you were absent, you could do this on another paper sized so you can tape it into your composition book.
Ponyboy SodaPop Darry/Darrel Johnny Steve Two-Bit Dallas/Dally
A1 read to page
A2 read to page 9
A3 to page 14
A4 read to page
If you were absent, read chapter 1.
Important Reminders: You should be reading your book for the Book-of-the-Month Assessment. The questions that will be used are now posted. See the tab above for Book-of-the-Month. You will write your answers in class on September 23.
If you were absent for the spelling test, please come to Cave Time to take it. If you need a retake, listen/watch for the days I will over that in Cave Time. Study between now and then.
Have you signed up for your book-of-the-month? Sign-ups are due, and you need to have the book read and bring it with you to class on September 23. See more about the assignment by clicking on the tab above for Book-of-the-Month.
Please show Ms. Dorsey your composition book if you have it at school and haven't yet received points for it.
Reminder of Expectations for Term 1
Did you know?
Commonly Confused Words
In the past, this set has been most frequently missed: desert/desert/dessert
I got lost in the desert.
Never desert your post if you are a soldier.
Let's have chocolate pudding for dessert.
Self-Starter: Capitalization exercise in the composition book -- tape-in, list, explain.
Capitalization (and review end punctuation)
Handout -----------------------------------------------------------------
Capitalization #1 September 7, 2011 from The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, chapter 2
Tape this into your composition book. Then create a list of all the words in this passage that are capitalized. For each word, tell why it is capitalized.
Example: 1. Dally – It is the name of a person and also begins a sentence.
Dally was waiting for Johnny and me under the street light at the corner of Pickett and Sutton, and since we got there early, we had time to go over to the drugstore in the shopping center and goof around. We bought Cokes and blew the straws at the waitress, and walked around eying things that were lying out in the open until the manager got wise to us and suggested we leave. He was too late, though; Dally walked out with two packages of Kools under his jacket.
____________________________________ If you were absent, you could do this on another paper sized so you can tape it into your composition book.
Which of the four types of sentences are the sentences in the passage from The Outsiders? Students answered on a small sheet of paper and we held a drawing for four correct answers to receive a small candy.
A4 still needs to do this.
Receive spelling test back. A retake will be available in about two weeks. If you wish to take it, study between now and then, and attend Cave Time on the date(s) specified to take the test.
Spelling retake is available during Cave Time beginning September 15.
New spelling challenge -- Commonly confused words confused words chart.doc
The test on commonly confused words will be given on ____________?
We will be working on learning these in class before we take the test.
Continue reading The Outsiders, paying attention to plot, character, setting, events, conflict.
Read to end of "jumping."
Watch video.
Read, keeping track of descriptions of characters. How do they compare with the way they are presented in the movie?
In your composition book, in the middle section "Notes and Quickwrites," use the next full two page spread, write the names of each of the narrator's gang of Greasers across the top. Take notes underneath on description for each of the characters. If you were absent, you could do this on another paper sized so you can tape it into your composition book.
Ponyboy SodaPop Darry/Darrel Johnny Steve Two-Bit Dallas/Dally
A1 read to page
A2 read to page 9
A3 to page 14
A4 read to page
If you were absent, read chapter 1.
Important Reminders: You should be reading your book for the Book-of-the-Month Assessment. The questions that will be used are now posted. See the tab above for Book-of-the-Month. You will write your answers in class on September 23.
If you were absent for the spelling test, please come to Cave Time to take it. If you need a retake, listen/watch for the days I will over that in Cave Time. Study between now and then.
Our First Class Novel: The Outsiders
Important Reminders:Have you signed up for your book-of-the-month? Sign-ups are due, and you need to have the book read and bring it with you to class on September 23. See more about the assignment by clicking on the tab above for Book-of-the-Month.
Please show Ms. Dorsey your composition book if you have it at school and haven't yet received points for it.
Reminder of Expectations for Term 1
________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Did you know?
Commonly Confused WordsIn the past, this set has been most frequently missed: desert/desert/dessert
I got lost in the desert.
Never desert your post if you are a soldier.
Let's have chocolate pudding for dessert.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Typefaces Making "News"
from NPR --
http://www.npr.org/2011/09/04/140126278/know-this-headlines-font-youre-just-my-type?sc=fb&cc=fp
Notice that the caption under the first photo says that "Gotham, the typeface used by Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign, is giving Helvetica a run for its money as the go-to typeface for declarative signs."
Where have you seen the word "declarative" lately -- in class? Five points of extra credit are available to the first person who comes to answer that question and tell me what you learned in our class that "declarative" means. It's the same meaning as in the sentence about typeface!
http://www.npr.org/2011/09/04/140126278/know-this-headlines-font-youre-just-my-type?sc=fb&cc=fp
Notice that the caption under the first photo says that "Gotham, the typeface used by Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign, is giving Helvetica a run for its money as the go-to typeface for declarative signs."
Where have you seen the word "declarative" lately -- in class? Five points of extra credit are available to the first person who comes to answer that question and tell me what you learned in our class that "declarative" means. It's the same meaning as in the sentence about typeface!
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Paragraphs -- Let's Make Sure You Understand
We will be learning how to write Mary Poppins Paragraphs: Practically Perfect in Every Way!What is a paragraph?
A paragraph is a group of sentences that have a topic in common. Of course, there's more to it than that. A paragraph can have any number of sentences, but for our purposes, it will have at least five sentences.
We are using color coding to mark the parts of a paragraph:
The topic sentence is green because it gets thing going. It names the topic and makes a statement about it. (You could also call it a CLAIM.)
The body sentences are yellow because they throw light on the topic -- lighting up or making it clear. (They contain pieces of EVIDENCE that the topic sentence is true.)
The conclusion is red because it brings the paragraph to a stop. Later when you are writing essays, there might not be a concluding sentence for a paragraph, or it may serve as a bridge into the next paragraph.
The paragraphs we will be writing will also use transitions to bridge smoothly from sentence to sentence, and to show the relationship from idea to idea or from sentence to sentence.
Here are some links to information about paragraphs:
http://www.proteacher.com/redirect.php?goto=3679 This one has an example paragraph and defines and points out each different part. It also gives hints for successfully writing a paragraph.
Learn more at http://lrs.ed.uiuc.edu/students/fwalters/para.html This provides basic information on writing a paragraph, and also provides and example paragraph, with each part explained. Note: For our purposes, each paragraph you will write in this paragraph unit will include a concluding sentence (conclusion).
Look at the Hamburger Paragraphs: Hamburger Paragraph
A sample paragraph:
Sample Paragraph about TV and Children -- Transitions
______________________________________________________
Basics of writing a paragraph:
1. Make sure the title and today's date is at the head of this entry.
2. Skip a line.
3. Indent the next line and begin with your topic sentence.
4. Create another sentence that supports the topic sentence.
5. Create another sentence that supports the topic sentence.
6. Create another sentence that supports the topic sentence.
7. Add your closing/concluding sentence. This sentence leaves the reader feeling that the piece has been wrapped up/finished.
8. Now, go back to #2 and give your paragraph a title that tells the subject of the paragraph.
___________________________________________
Example: Contrast paragraph
Title: Halloween Then and Now
Halloween is very different for my grandchildren than it was for me.Because their mom (my daughter) is a great bargain finder, they have many well-made costumes to choose from. When I was their age, we'd go to the five and dime store, and I'd pick out a cheap and uncomfortable plastic mask that came with a sort of stiff plastic tunic printed with a design suggesting that character. Also, they have many near neighbors' homes where they can trick-or-treat. On the other hand, my parents would have to drive me miles to get to the other far-flung farms where our neighbors lived. Their Halloween fantasies are enhanced by readily available DVD's and videos they can watch right in their home. There were no such things when I was in school, and if you wanted to watch a scary show, you had to catch it at the time it was shown on one of your two or three TV channels. There was no way to record it and watch it while you warmed up after returning from collecting candy. Though my grandchildren have better costumes, closer neighbors, and more access to Halloween media, my childhood memories of the holiday will always be precious and magical to me.
Blue Introduction (topic sentence)
Yellow: First detail from both sides
Orange : Second detail from both sides
Purple: Third detail from both sides
Red: Conclusion/Concluding sentence
or
Halloween is very different for my grandchildren than it was for me.Because their mom (my daughter) is a great bargain finder, they have many well-made costumes to choose from. Also, they have many near neighbors' homes where they can trick-or-treat. Their Halloween fantasies are enhanced by readily available DVD's and videos they can watch right in their home. In contrast, when I was their age, we'd go to the five and dime store, and I'd pick out a cheap and uncomfortable plastic mask that came with a sort of stiff plastic tunic printed with a design suggesting that character. Also, my parents would have to drive me miles to get to the other far-flung farms where our neighbors lived. Finally, there were no such things as DVD's or videos or TiVo when I was in school, and if you wanted to watch a scary show, you had to catch it at the time it was shown on one of your two or three TV channels. There was no way to record it and watch it while you warmed up after returning from collecting candy. Though my grandchildren have better costumes, closer neighbors, and more access to Halloween media, my childhood memories of the holiday will always be precious and magical to me. 
Green Introduction (topic sentence)
Yellow: First detail from one side.
Orange: Second detail from one side
Purple: Third detail from one side
Red: First detail from the other side.
Orange: Second detail from the other side
Purple: Third detail from the other side
Red: Conclusion/Concluding sentence
_______________
Sample Comparison Paragraph
There are three important similarities between The Eastern Woodland Peoples and the Northwest Coast Peoples. First of all, neither group had a written language. The Iroquois relied on oral storytelling to recall their history. Similarly, The Nootka used totem poles and spoken words to tell their story. A second similarity is the way these First Nations traveled in their territory. Both groups relied on canoes- birch bark in the east and cedar in the west. Finally, like the majority of First Nations, both had a respect for nature not found in Western cultures. For example, during a hunt, the hunter would make an offering to the dead animal. He thanked the animal for giving up his life. He hoped the animal would let the other animals know of his generosity so that they would give their lives in the future. In sum, there are many commonalities among first nations despite diverse environments and great distances.
Transitions in the above paragraph include first of all, a second similarity, finally, and in sum.
Sample Contrast Paragraph
My Dogs
Although I raised Marcee and Obbie from puppies, they have completely diverse personalities. Obbie is a six year old, male, toy Pomeranian whereas Marcee is a one year old, female, Boston terrier. Obbie is small and soft, unlike Marcee who has bristly hair and is much bigger. Marcee insists on sleeping on the bed, under the covers every night. On the other hand, Obbie will only sleep on the floor, under the bed. Obbie is tremendously loyal and uptight; however, Marcee is hyper and friendly to anyone she meets or sees. Around other dogs, Marcee cowers to the larger dog, yet Obbie will always stand his ground, never giving up until he is scolded. Given that they were both treated the same way all their life, it is hard to believe that they are so different in everything they do.
~© 2005 Kayla Marie Anfinson~ found at http://english120.pbworks.com/w/page/19006879/FrontPage
Green indicates the topic sentence.
Red is for the concluding sentence -- the clincher.
The orange and yellow show the first and second items being compared or contrasted.
Transitions in the Comparison Paragraph include first, second, finally, and in sum.
Transitions in the Contrast Paragraph are whereas, on the other hand, however, unlike, and yet.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)