Vocabulary and Project

Today the students were given the definitions for the second set of vocabulary words. The test will be on Monday. Also the students had some time to get their project in order. Click here for the sheet. Students should get together this weekend to start the filming of the project so they have some time to make adjustments.

Homework:
Study for vocab II test on Monday
Start project

The Other Foot

Today we read the story "The Other Foot" which dealt with hate and racial issues. In the end, it was a happy ending. Afterward, the students were able to work on their packets. We are almost done as we have read the last story. If students want to read the rest of the book, copies will be available for them tomorrow.

Homework:
Read AR
Study for Vocab II
Packet section: The Other Foot

The City

Today we read the story "The City" which seems to be the most descriptive story so far. Ray Bradbury did a great job with vivid descriptions of the death of a character. Afterward, the students wrote a paragraph on how they think the story will end.

Homework:
Read AR
Vocab II due tomorrow
Packet section: The City (make up your own theme)

Project and Theme Review

Since I got an early jump on Thanksgiving and didn't post Wednesday, here it is: Wednesday I went over what the expectations are for the advertising project. I wasn't able to upload the new sheet yet, but click here to see what is required. NOTE the dates are not correct. I will upload the new one tomorrow.
Today we did a practice on comparing theme between "The Veldt" and "The Rocket." For the most part, the students seem to understand what to do, but just need to be more detailed in their explanations.

Homework:
Read AR
Do Vocabulary II

The Rocket

Finally, a story with a genuine happy ending. Nobody died and everybody was happy at the end of "The Rocket." Tomorrow, students will be taking the first of the vocabulary quizzes. Remember to study the definitions we gave to prepare.

Homework:
Study for vocab 1 quiz
Read AR
Packet section for "The Rocket"

AR

Today students were given time to do AR and go to the library. There are about four weeks left, so I will start including AR into the edline grades so everybody can see the effect of not earning AR points. Today was also the second packet check. If students complete it, they must show it to me tomorrow.

Homework:
Read AR

Marionettes Inc.

Another story, another ending with death. We read Marionettes Inc. today which was about robots replacing guys so they don't need to spend time with their wives. In the end, the guys wind up losing which could mean the theme is husbands can never win!

Homework:
Read AR
Packet section: Marionettes Inc.

The Visitor

Today we read the story "The Visitor." In the story, sick people from Earth were exiled on Mars to live out their lives, but they longed to go home. A new visitor brought power and enjoyment to the sick people, but as usual in this book, it wasn't a happy ending.

Homework:
Read AR
Packet section: The Visitor

Theme Formative

Today the students took a formative on comparing how two stories use a common theme. Picking out evidence and explaining how the evidence proves the theme is the main focus this term so we'll see how it goes. Tonight was McTeacher's night to raise funds for Green 8 activities. Thanks to all who came out, both working and to buy food, to support us.

Homework:
Read AR

Zero Hour

Today we read a story called "Zero Hour" in which aliens invade earth through the use of children. Creepy ending! We skipped ahead in the book because "Zero Hour" is part of a formative the students will be taking tomorrow on comparing theme.

Homework:
Read AR
Finish packet: Zero Hour

Vocabulary and Theme Practice

Today the students were given the official definitions for the first set of vocabulary words in their packets. Click here for the definitions. We also went over how we will compare two stories to a theme of the students' choice. We set it up as a T-chart with the theme being compared the topic, whether the stories handle the theme similarly or differently being the star ideas, the dashes being evidence from each story to back up the theme, and finally the dot to explain how the evidence proves the theme.

Homework:
Read AR
If not completed, do packet for "The Last Night of the World"

Registration and The Last Night of the World

Today the counselors from the high school visited to go over registration and answer any questions about high school. Since the presentations were during core classes, the schedule was adjusted and we read "The Last Night of the World." Is was a really short story about how a couple faces their last night on Earth. Afterward, the students did a short writing assignment with the focus on indenting and capitalization. Their assignment was explain how they would spend their final 6 hours if the world would end at midnight.

Homework:
Finish packet for "The Last Night of the World"
Read AR

The Rocket Man

Today we read "The Rocket Man" and students had time to work on their packets. The story ended with another death and a twist the students felt was "messed up." When checking the students' packets today, I noticed many of the students were summarizing the stories in the theme section. I reminded them they were not suppose to summarize, but they need to find evidence from the stories that support their choice of theme. It is important students do this because they will be able to use these notes on their formative that has been rescheduled for next week.

Homework:
Read AR
Work on packet: The Rocket Man

The Long Rain

Today we read the story "The Long Rain" and it was was a long story. For cores 3-5, the classes were split between Ms. Brown and myself so we could get everybody involved in answering questions and reading. The packet was checked today not for a grade, but more to see if the students are keeping up. If the planner was stamped "Not Completed" in red, it means they have some work to do before the check for grade on Wednesday.

Homework:
Read AR
Finish vocabulary page 1
Finish packet for The Veldt, Kaleidoscope, The Highway, and The Long Rain

Halloween and The Highway

Sorry about not posting last night, I was passing out candy. I'll include yesterday's summary here. We read the story "Kaleidoscope" and again, the students were shocked at the ending. The stories in this book are different in the way there are very few stories with happy endings.
Today we read the story "The Highway" and although the character in the story didn't die, the effect of the atomic bomb being dropped on the U.S. must have been catastrophic. Afterward, the students wrote a paragraph on a prompt about the story. In these writings, we are trying to focus on proper formatting and capitalization. If there is a mistake, the student will be marked down and can correct the paragraph to improve the grade.

Homework:
Read AR
Work on packet (vocabulary and The Highway) -if you need the packet, it is in edline