A Wrinkle in Time

Madeleine L'Engle, Born November 29, 1918

Happy 100th birthday to Madeleine L'Engle, the beloved author of the “A Wrinkle In Time” Quintet! Many fans of her award-winning books don't realize that these classic stories were nearly never written -- frustrated after years of having her writing rejected by publishers, L'Engle decided to give up writing on her 40th birthday. She later admitted that she was failed to do so and continued to work on her stories subconsciously. Shortly after her birthday, during a cross-country camping trip, she had the idea for what would become her most famous novel, "A Wrinkle in Time." After finishing the novel the following year, it was rejected nearly thirty times before being published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux in 1962.

In discussing the reasons for its rejection, L'Engle wrote that "A Wrinkle in Time had a female protagonist in a science fiction book" which was very unusual. Moreover, many publishers likely found the book to be "too different... because it deals overtly with the problem of evil, and it was really difficult for children, and was it a children's or an adults' book, anyhow?" After its initial publication, the novel has been continuously in print and it's often cited as one of the most beloved children's books of all times. L'Engle ultimately wrote four sequels to "A Wrinkle in Time," including "A Swiftly Tilting Planet" for which she won a National Book Award.

In describing the appeal of writing for children, L'Engle, who died in 2007 at the age of 88, once said: "The child will come to it with an open mind, whereas many adults come closed to an open book. This is one reason so many writers turn to fantasy (which children claim as their own) when they have something important and difficult to say."

Text from A Mighty Girl Facebook group

Thursday/Friday, November 29/30, 2018

Announcements and Reminders Thursday/Friday, November 29/30, 2018:    Welcome to class! As you come in, please get out your composition notebooks.  Our next spelling set is on these words:  December 5/6: here/hear barely/barley 10. here/hear How long have you been here? I can't hear you. hear/here 11. barely/barley I just barely made it into class on time. I enjoy bread made from wheat and barley. barely/barley Remember to make sure you have done the following:  completed your Canvas Assignments:  Outsiders Text Messages and Argument PreQuiz, turned in your Theme and Evidence Worksheet (goldenrod) from your October Book of the Month,  completed and revised and edited your PEE writing on MyAccess for your October Book of the Month.  Be rereading your book for the December Book of the Month -- the letter to an author.  I have checked everyone's October Book Assignment and Canvas Assignments within the past two days.    You will need to let me know when you have written,  finished, or revised your October Book of the Month assignment (PEE writing)  on MyAccess. We will finish up The Outsiders next time.  If you feel you couldn't finish it in about 20 minutes, take your questions and read at home -- online.   Here is The Outsiders -- the whole book -- online: https://mrachampion.weebly.com/uploads/2/3/1/5/23159626/the_outsiders_by_s_e_hinton.pdf

-

Targets for Today: I can read a novel, understand what I'm reading, and answer questions about the reading. I can (in my Letter to an Author) correspond instead of just complimenting. I can write an effective body paragraph for an argument essay.

Today’s  Agenda Thursday/Friday, November 29/30, 2018: Welcome to class! As you come in, please get out your composition notebooks. 1. Get out an Outsiders book and your questions, read and answer questions. 2.  Look at our spelling words for December 5/6 December 5/6: here/hear barely/barley 10. here/hear How long have you been here? I can't hear you. hear/here 11. barely/barley I just barely made it into class on time. I enjoy bread made from wheat and barley. barely/barley 3.  Writing a body paragraph for an argument essay     A2 -- with Mrs. Hilton Possible Thesis Sentence for a whole essay:  Pandemic is one of my favorite games because of the unique gameplay and because of its educational value.  One of the body paragraphs for the essay:        The unique gameplay of “Pandemic” is one of the reasons it is my favorite game. Unlike most games, “Pandemic” is cooperative instead of competitive. This means that players work together to beat the game instead of working against each other and that they either win or lose together. One of the biggest attractions of cooperative games is the depth of strategy involved, and “Pandemic” is no exception. Each player plays a character with a special ability, and players’ abilities can stack as they work together to beat the game. For example, the Researcher (who can take or give any card from their hand to any player in the same city) can give a card to the Scientist (who can cure a disease with 4 cards instead of the usual 5) to help cure a disease. As a result, players’ actions are about more than just moving yourself toward the finish line—they’re about figuring out the best possible way to work with other players to cure the diseases. The unique cooperative gameplay and complex strategy of “Pandemic” make it so much fun, it’s one of my go-to games to bring to a friend’s house. Important Note:  Today we are writing in a less formal style.  Many of your writing assignments in junior high and high school will require a more formal style in which using I and me and my and mine would not be allowed.  Formal or Informal?        The unique game play of “Pandemic” is one of the reasons it is my favorite game. (topic sentence) Unlike most games, “Pandemic” is cooperative instead of competitive. This means that players work together to beat the game instead of working against each other and that they either win or lose together. One of the biggest attractions of cooperative games is the depth of strategy involved, and “Pandemic” is no exception. Each player plays a character with a special ability, and players’ abilities can stack as they work together to beat the game. For example, the Researcher (who can take or give any card from their hand to any player in the same city) can give a card to the Scientist (who can cure a disease with 4 cards instead of the usual 5) to help cure a disease. As a result, players’ actions are about more than just moving yourself toward the finish line—they’re about figuring out the best possible way to work with other players to cure the diseases. The unique cooperative game play and complex strategy of “Pandemic” make it so much fun, it’s one of my go-to games to bring to a friend’s house. (concluding sentence) Body Paragraphs: Develop one of the reasons stated in the thesis Format: POINT in ________________________ Evidence 1 Explanation 1 Evidence 2 Explanation 2 Concluding sentence Teacher Modeling writing a body paragraph--   “Would you rather live on a deserted island that no one knows about, or would you rather colonize Mars (which is 33.9 million miles away from Earth) with all of NASA’s support?” Work together as a class to write a body paragraph --  “Would you rather live on a deserted island that no one knows about, or would you rather colonize Mars (which is 33.9 million miles away from Earth) with all of NASA’s support?” A2 got to here and B5, B6, and B7 4.  Writing your Letter About Literature -- Corresponding instead of just Complimenting  Reader's Response "Not all books are right for all readers. " What was your response to a book that has had a special meaning to you?    Thoughts  Emotions   Actions

If You Were Absent:

Vocabulary:

Help and Enrichment  Here is The Outsiders -- the whole book -- online: https://mrachampion.weebly.com/uploads/2/3/1/5/23159626/the_outsiders_by_s_e_hinton.pdf

October Book of the Month/PEE Writing on MyAccess -- Another Example

Here is another example of PEE Writing about theme.

Notice that we will use quotation marks around the poem (instead of italics as with a book), and we will use line numbers instead of pages in the parenthetical citations. 

One of the themes in the poem "Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout" by Shel Silverstein is "The choices we make have consequences."

The poem states that "though her parents would scream and shout, She simply would not take the garbage out" (5-6).    This was a choice that Sarah made, refusing to obey her parents.  She also made the choice to live with the consequences, the garbage that "piled up to the ceiling" (7).   In fact, she kept making the same choice until  "the garbage reached so high That finally it touched the sky" (33-34).  Her stubborn choice had consequences.  

Not only did the garbage pile up, but the poet tells us that  "there in the garbage she did hate Poor Sarah met an awful fate That I cannot now relate. . . " (42-44).   So one of the consequences that came from her choice was an awful fate -- probably her own death.  This shows that the choices she made and the choices we make do have consequences.  



Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout
by Shel Silverstein

1. Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout
2. Would not take the garbage out.
3. She'd wash the dishes and scrub the pans
4. Cook the yams and spice the hams,
5. And though her parents would scream and shout,
6. She simply would not take the garbage out.
7. And so it piled up to the ceiling:
8. Coffee grounds, potato peelings,
9. Brown bananas and rotten peas,
10. Chunks of sour cottage cheese.
11. It filled the can, it covered the floor,
12. It cracked the windows and blocked the door,
13. With bacon rinds and chicken bones,
14. Drippy ends of ice cream cones,
15. Prune pits, peach pits, orange peels,
16. Gloppy glumps of cold oatmeal,
17. Pizza crusts and withered greens,
18. Soggy beans, and tangerines,
19. Crusts of black-burned buttered toast,
20. Grisly bits of beefy roast.
21. The garbage rolled on down the halls,
22. It raised the roof, it broke the walls,
23. I mean, greasy napkins, cookie crumbs,
24. Blobs of gooey bubble gum,
25. Cellophane from old bologna,
26. Rubbery, blubbery macaroni,
27. Peanut butter, caked and dry,
28. Curdled milk, and crusts of pie,
29. Rotting melons, dried-up mustard,
30. Eggshells mixed with lemon custard,
31. Cold French fries and rancid meat,
32. Yellow lumps of Cream of Wheat.
33. At last the garbage reached so high
34. That finally it touched the sky,
35. And none of her friends would come to play,
36. And all of her neighbors moved away;
37. And finally, Sarah Cynthia Stout
38. Said, "Okay, I'll take the garbage out!"
39. But then, of course it was too late,
40. The garbage reached across the state,
41. From New York to the Golden Gate;
42. And there in the garbage she did hate
43. Poor Sarah met an awful fate
44. That I cannot right now relate
45. Because the hour is much too late
46. But children, remember Sarah Stout,
47. And always take the garbage out. 

Poem found at https://www.edhelper.com/poetry/Sarah_Cynthia_Sylvia_Stout_by_Shel_Silverstein.htm

Tuesday/Wednesday, November 27/28, 2018

Announcements and Reminders for Tuesday/Wednesday, November 27/28, 2018:        Prepare for your spelling test:     Today --  November 27/28 November 27/28: were/we’re/where/wear then/than 8. were/we’re/where We were happy to see you. We’re going to lunch. Where is he? Did you wear your coat to school? 9. then/than First we ate, then we played outside. I like dark chocolate better than milk chocolate. and  are/our We are happy. Our mother is happy.                     If you have not received a satisfactory grade for your October Book of the Month-- your PEE writing done on MyAccess under the prompt "Theme in Literature" -- see the teacher comments on MYAccess.  Then revise and edit for an improved grade.  Let Ms. Dorsey know you have done that.   If you haven't done it at all,  do it! If you have revised and edited your PEE Writing/October Book of the Month on MyAccess, you will need to let me know that it is ready to be rechecked.  Make sure first that you have met all or most of the requirements.  See the rubric for what you need.  If your CANVAS assignments are late,  you can still do them for reduced points.  Create your text messaging based on The Outsiders, and briefly write what you know about writing an argument essay.   Your November/December Book of the Month will be due December 11.  You are writing a letter to the author of a book or books that have somehow impacted your life.  Watch for lessons to help you do this.  We will send the letters in to a national contest.   If you need to catch up on reading The Outsiders, the entire book is available online at  https://mrachampion.weebly.com/uploads/2/3/1/5/23159626/ the_outsiders_by_s_e_hinton.pdf Here is your question packet: The Outsiders Reading Road Map.docx

Targets for Today: I can correctly spell commonly confused words.  I can read a novel and show my comprehension by answering questions.   I can notice emotions, thoughts, and actions that are the result of reading a book or story.

Today’s  Agenda for Tuesday/Wednesday, November 27/28, 2018: 1.  Prepare for Spelling Test #4. 2. Take Spelling Test #4 -- and any needed retakes. 3.  Read from The Outsiders and answer questions about my reading.  4.  Correct the spelling test and hand it in.  5.  Learn more about our Letters About Literature (Book of the Month) Assignment.           See CANVAS for the handouts.

If You Were Absent: See above.

Vocabulary:

Help and Enrichment

Tuesday/Wednesday, November 27/28, 2018

Announcements and Reminders for Tuesday/Wednesday, November 27/28, 2018:                            Prepare for your spelling test:      Spelling tests today --  November 27/28 November 27/28: were/we’re/where/wear then/than 8. were/we’re/where We were happy to see you. We’re going to lunch. Where is he? Did you wear your coat to school? 9. then/than First we ate, then we played outside. I like dark chocolate better than milk chocolate. and  are/our We are happy. Our mother is happy. If you need a reminder for how to do the book assessment -- and examples, see  Friday/Monday, November 2/5, 2018. More examples are on  Thursday/Friday, November 8/9, 2018. See this post for instructions on Using MyAccess Teacher Comments.       Assignments now on Skyward and available to do on CANVAS:    These are due by the end of Tuesday, November 20!! I've extended the window to submit these.  Get them done as soon as possible for up to 8/10 points.  You have a new assignment on CANVAS to write  a set of Text Messages from one Outsiders character to another.  You will select one scene and imagine that a character could text another character about what's going on.  Complete this and turn it in by Thanksgiving Break.  You will use a  Fake Text Message Generator and turn it in on CANVAS.  After you write your text messages, CREATE IMAGE, the DOWNLOAD image, save to folder,  attach to the assignment, and submit the assignment.  Here is another  example:  Outsiders Text Messages! Also, on Canvas, answer these questions:  What do you know about the parts of an argument essay?  What makes a good argument?  What makes an effective argument essay? You need to click on the bar for submitting the assignment before your text box will appear.   See CANVAS -- Assignments  November/December Book of the Month   Reread your choice of a book (or book series) that has had an impact on you.  You will write a letter to the author of the book you read about how the book has affected you -- as part of the Letters About Literature contest. If you can't think of a book to use, see me.  We will work together in class on how to write an effective letter.  Your finished letter is due by December 11.  Video -- http://www.read.gov/letters/videos.html --Watch the "Introduction to Letters About Literature." If you need to catch up, you can find the whole book of The Outsiders at https://mrachampion.weebly.com/uploads/2/3/1/5/23159626/the_outsiders_by_s_e_hinton.pdf The Outsiders Reading Road Map.docx

Targets for Today: I can spell commonly confused words. I can read  a novel and answer questions about it. I can notice

Today’s  Agenda for Tuesday/Wednesday, November 27/28, 2018:

If You Were Absent:

Vocabulary:

Help and Enrichment