Monday, December 7, 2015

Tuesday/Wednesday, December 8/9, 2015

Just for fun:

A clause is a group of words that has a subject and a verb.
A clause could be a sentence.
However, sometimes something happens to that clause that makes it subordinate, or less than a sentence.  Often that something is adding a subordinating conjunction such as the AAAWWEUBBIS words:  
(Extra Credit Opportunity: Memorize the AAAWWEUBBIS words -- 1 point each -- in order.)
Although
After
As
When
While
Even though
Until
Before
Because
If
Since
(Extra Credit Opportunity: Memorize the AAAWWEUBBIS words -- 1 point each -- in order.)

Try it!  
A clause which is a complete sentence:  "Jeremy is in love with Julia."  
Now subordinate it: "If Jeremy is in love with Julia. . . "  It isn't a complete sentence anymore!  
or "Even though Jeremy is in love with Julia. . . "   This isn't a complete sentence either!  


Announcements and Reminders:

If needed --  Make-up work for evidence charts: Evidence Charts .docx

Charity Basketball Games
Charity Basketball games on December 17 and 18.  Seventh graders will go during B1 and A1.  Don't forget to have your grades up and to bring your dollars!
This year we have a MATCH for what funds are going to be raised.  For our usual $2,500.00 that we raise  can turn to $5,000.00.  For every dollar you contribute it turns into $2.00, and you are more than welcome to donate more.    The funds stay in OUR school.

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     Don't forget that you can practice your spelling with
Spelling practice:  https://quizlet.com/102626513/learn 

and 
  Study for the Argument Vocabulary Post Test.
Quizlet for argument vocabulary: https://quizlet.com/_1mpfek
(Notice that Quizlet provides you with several different ways to study for the test.)
Important Note: When we take the argument vocabulary post test (in Term 2), you will be expected to know ALL of the terms and their definitions. 
   
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December Book of the Month
  • There are books sorted out in the classroom for Science Fiction and Fantasy. You may spend part of today's individual reading time looking for a book.
  • Sign up for your books by this Friday, December 4. 
  • The Book Discussion will be on Dec. 14/15. 
  • Focus: Setting --- How would the characters and story be different if the setting (time and/or place) were different?

(and/or)
EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITY + AN OPPORTUNITY TO WIN FAME AND FORTUNE! (WIN A CONTEST AND SOME DOLLARS)
https://heritage.utah.gov/library/letters-about-literature
http://www.read.gov/letters/
See this packet for examples: http://read.gov/documents/LAL-Teaching-Guide-REVISED.pdf
and see page 17 for a rubric.
You may do this in place of your book of the month. Hand them in by December 14/15.





Targets for Today:

Language Standard 2 
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
Reading: Literature Standard 1 
Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
Writing Standard 1 
Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
Reading: Literature Standard 10 
By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, in the grades 6–8 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.




Today’s  Agenda:
Pick up your composition book.
If you didn't already, PLEASE TAKE JUST ONE OF THE STICKY MARKERS, AND MARK THE PAGE IN YOUR COMPOSITION BOOK WHERE YOU HAVE YOUR CHARTS FOR COLLECTING EVIDENCE ABOUT THE OUTSIDERS. 
Each chart is worth 10 points:
2 points for making the chart.
2 points each for 4 or more pieces of evidence with page numbers if possible.
  • Create a chart for whether Ponyboy and Soda should go to a different home.
  • Create a chart of whether Johnny should or shouldn't go to prison for killing Bob.
  • You could have another chart, too, to support an argument you'd like to make.
Example: 
Create a chart for should Johnny and shouldn't Johnny go to prison.
Take down page numbers and notes on what evidence is found on the page.


Johnny should go to prison.
Johnny should NOT go to prison.
Example:  Johnny and his gang knew he was breaking the law by carrying the switchblade. Page 34
(the usually law-abiding Johnny started carrying a switchblade)









 Example:  Johnny was badly beater by Bob and his gang before.   Page 33    (scarred by Bob’s rings)
Therefore he was frightened for his life.



Evidence for 

Should Soda and Ponyboy move out of their home with Darrell?




Should seventh graders read The Outsiders?  


or

 Choose your own issue.


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1. Individual Reading Time -- Your genre for this month is Science Fiction or Fantasy.
You are now being graded on your appropriate participation in individual reading time.

2. Spelling for December 14/15 test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeMLMlmX6t8
(Whose/Who's)


3. Demo for book discussion
Receive your Evaluation Sheet.
December Group Book Discussion Evaluation.docx


4. Reading The Outsiders
S.E. Hinton cared enough about the way kids were treating each other that she wrote a book.   What do you care enough about to do or say something about? 

As we read, work on your charts collecting evidence from the book.

A1 from T page 131, Track Chapter 9, cut off beginning to "page 155 woke up" minute 9:55, page 162 bottom of page. 

B5  from  page 135, Chapter 9 cut, minute 6:43. ". . . took off for the door" to  page 144, "9 cut" at minute 22:29  Video to 29:09

B6 from  page 145, Chapter 9 cut, minute 22:20 to  page 155. Read summary and last ten pages of the book.


B7 from  page 131, Track Chapter 9, cut off beginning to  page 155. 
Did NOT yet read the summary. . . .





If You Were Absent:




Think about Setting:  How does the time and place you live in influence who you are and what conflicts (problems) you experience?  How would you and your life be different if you lived in a different time and place? 

Demo Book Discussion:
The Giver by Lois Lowry

Summary:
    Jonas, the main character, is almost twelve at the beginning of the book. He lives in a seemingly perfect community where the people do not have to experience fear or hunger or much of pain or deep sadness.   He is a little worried because when he turns twelve he (and the other children his age) will be assigned their jobs in the community, and he is not sure what job he will be assigned.
     We learn that spouses are also assigned to each other, and children are assigned to parents -- just two, a boy and a girl, to each family.   The community has given up seasons and weather changes, color, literature, and much more -- but the people feel they are safe and secure.  So is it worth it?  Jonas's "job" leads to his learning more about what is actually going on in the community, and then he has to make decisions, another thing the people have mostly given up.
     The book and movie are very different from each other, so if you've seen the movie, don't expect to know the whole story.
       
Rating: I'd give this book a 4.9.  It's a book I can read over and over without getting tired of it.

About the Setting:  The Giver is set in the far future in an unspecified land -- but presumably on Earth.  The particular setting guides the story and shapes the characters.  Without the dystopian setting, Jonas would not have to deal with the conflict he faces -- choosing between seeming security and peace for himself and his people or the fuller, richer, more dangerous life that may be available outside his community.  He has grown up learning and believing the lessons his leaders have taught him, acting as he has been told to.  It seems that everyone in his community has.
If we moved the book to our own time and place,  there would be less for Jonas to rebel against -- though we do have issues that lead young people (and older) to rebel.  Come to think of it, our lawmakers are deciding daily how we will balance freedom and security in our own communities.  And we vote and choose.

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What about  the Frozen Junior Novelization  by R.H. Disney

Summary:
When a prophecy traps a kingdom in eternal winter, Anna, a young dreamer, must team up with Kristoff, a daring mountain man, and his reindeer on the grandest of journeys to find Anna's sister, the Snow Queen Elsa, and put an end to her icy spell. Encountering mystical trolls, a hilarious snowman named Olaf, Everest-like extremes, and magic at every turn, Anna and Kristoff battle the elements in a race to save the kingdom from destruction.

Rating: Three stars.  Read it; it’s worth it.
It's fun to read the story, but it doesn't pull you along.

About the Setting:  (Think about how you would finish this.)
The story is set in a cold country like Norway.  It is in a medieval-type time setting because they have kings and queens and castles, and no modern technology or transportation.
The characters live in a cold climate where ice and snow are a real danger, but which they have adjusted to and learned to survive in. However, when magic turns their country colder, everyone is endangered.

How would this be different set in a warm, perhaps tropical, climate?  The magic would have to be different.  I'm not sure what power the "Elsa" character could have there.  . . .  (Think about how you would finish this. How would the story -- conflict and plot-- be different?  How would the characters and their reactions be different?)