November 19, 2013

Announcements and Reminders:   Grade letter reports go out to parents today, November 19. Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday, November 21. You have six  (6) days until your Book-of-the-Month  assessment on November 25.   Read your book and collect  themes and evidence for those themes! ******************* The Effects of TV Essay on MYAccess  If you have below a 3.2 on your essay so far, work on it from home or during CaveTime to get it up to at least that before we go to the lab again as a class.  Full points will be 4.5. When you work on your MYAccess essays, make sure you carefully read any teacher comments -- both those that come up when you log in, and the ones that are embedded on your essays.  I won't get around to all of the essays, but check to see if yours is one I have looked at. Remember to organize your essay like this: Begin by telling your central idea and the three or four main pieces of evidence that you are using to prove it.  Each body paragraph should focus on one of those pieces of evidence, and add support (examples, statistics, explanation, anecdotes, etc.) The concluding paragraph will restate the central idea and your three supporting ideas for it.  ______________________ As you work, don't forget to make certain that you have correctly spelled  our Essential, Non-Negotiable Spelling words.  Essential, Non-Negotiable Spelling – Set 1 Essential, Non-Negotiable Spelling – Set 2 If you need to complete a make-up assignment for spelling, pick up one of the make-up forms, or write on your own paper, writing five complete correct sentences, correctly using and spelling the work you had misspelled. ___________________________________ Book orders for Scholastic Reading Clubs are due by this Friday. See this link for more information. Book Orders Books make great gifts.  If you order now, you will have your book before Christmas.

1. Individual Reading and collecting themes and evidence for those themes.

2.  Outlining your essay about the effects of television. Essay Outline for Effects of TV.doc

3. Finish looking at literary elements in "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi."
     Complete partner work on characters.   Ranking Characters in Rikki.doc
        How do these ideas about the characters suggest themes?

“Common sense ain't common.”  ― Will Rogers

“Common sense is seeing things as they are; and doing things 

as they ought to be.” 

― Harriet Beecher Stowe

Evidence of theme?  Some possible themes for "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" include these: Courage and skill can defeat the forces of evil. When lost or abandoned, one can still find a place to be fostered and loved. One can find love and acceptance in a new and different society. Kindness to the weak and needy often pays off in the end.  Hints to other themes: What is the author saying about bravery? What is the author saying about common sense?  What is the author saying about the differences between males and females?  We only learn confidence and competence by facing hard things.  It takes going out on your own to become the best you can be.

B5 did not yet do this.
B6 needs to finish.
B7 needs to finish.
B8  did not yet do this. They need to fill out their worksheets and look at the poem  (D, below) also.  

_________________________________________________________ 

4.   Writing:  Select one of these ideas to respond to.  Label it 

with today's date and "Friendship and Right or Wrong?"

In your composition book, write for five minutes, writing at least 
a half-page. 

            a.  Friendship is more important than choosing right 

over wrong. 

     
(or)  b.  Choosing right over wrong is more important than 

friendship.

or         You should tell on a friend if he or she does something 

wrong.

    
 (or) You should not tell on a friend if he or she does something 

wrong. 


B5 did the writing
B6 did the writing and listened to the story.
B7 discussed the continuums
B8  

 
5. Read and discuss "After Twenty Years" on page 192  in our 

Literature textbook.

Themes for After Twenty Years

If you were absent:  Continue to read your science fiction or fantasy book if you have not completed it, and collect themes and evidence for those themes on the chart.  If you need more room, you can print the chart:  Book of the Month Theme Chart.doc Here are the other handouts in case you have lost yours or left them at school: Nov BkM Sample.doc       November Bk of Mon Directions.doc Complete this outline for your essay on The Effects of TV:   Essay Outline for Effects of TV.doc   If your essay does not follow the outline, go to MyAccess and revise it to follow the outline.  You can have more than three reasons, but make sure you support each with a body paragraph. Writing:  Select one of these ideas to respond to.  Label it with today's date and "Friendship and Right or Wrong?" In your composition book, write for five minutes and writing at least a half-page.        a.  Friendship is more important than choosing right over wrong.        (or) b.  Choosing right over wrong is more important than friendship. or  You should tell on a friend if he or she does something wrong.      (or) You should not tell on a friend if he or she does something wrong.  Read "After Twenty Years" online at  http://www.readbookonline.net/readOnLine/636/ Fill out the literary elements worksheet for it:  Literary Elements Worksheet.doc

Note to teacher:  We need a lesson on logical fallacies.