7th grade and 6th grade: Extra Credit!!!

For those of you wanting to boost your averages before the end of the marking period, here is an extra credit opportunity. 

1. Read the interview with the author of “A Series of Unfortunate Events." Here is the link: 

Daniel Handler Has Not Abandoned Lemony Snicket

2. Then, comment on the blog post in a 5 sentence by responding to anything that interested you about the article. 

3. You must use textual evidence from the article in order to receive the credit. (See my example in the comments.)

The extra credit will count as an additional homework assignment. Easy-peasy, right?

Homework for 7th grade 11/25-11/30

It's time to start thinking about the next Book Project due December 10th. Therefore this week students must focus on completing 4 of the 5 two-column note entries due this week for their independent reading book.

Monday 11/26

1. Review notes on reading skills to prepare for midterm tomorrow!
2. Find an independent reading book. Come after school to sign out one from my classroom library or go to your own library. Here is a list of books that might interest you. They are all popular books that can be found at your local library.

For the lovers of this series read- Rodrick Rules (Diary of a Wimpy Kid,Book  2) by Jeff Kinney For the Basketball lovers read-  Hoops by Walter Dean Myers  Game by Walter Dean Myers For a modern take on Muslim traditions read-  Does My Head Look Big In This?  by Randa Abdel-fattah For a taste of what is feels like to raise yourself read-  Miracle's Boys by Jacqueline Woodson For my graphic novel fans read-  American Born Chinese  by Gene Luen Yang  For the Tupac fans out there read- After Tupac and D Foster Jacqueline Woodson

Tuesday 11/27

1. Read your independent reading book for at least 20 minutes. Complete reading entry #1 in your notebook. Focus on these reading skills: main idea, characterization and inference.

Wednesday 11/28

1. Read for at least 20 minutes. Complete reading entry #2 in your notebook. Focus on these reading skills: main idea, characterization and inference.

Thursday 11/29

1. Review the book 3 packet we did in class to prepare for midterm on extended response tomorrow.
2. Read for at least 20 minutes. Complete reading entry #3 in your notebook. Focus on these reading skills: main idea, conflict and inference.

Friday 11/30

1. Read for an hour or more this weekend. Complete reading entry #4. Focus on these reading skills: main idea, point of view and inference.

Homework for 6th grade 11/26-11/30

Note: In order to get a head start on December's independent reading book projects, HW# 2.3-2.4 will also count as three reading entries for the book project due next month. All 6th graders will be completing their project on Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.

Monday 11/26

1. Review notes for midterm exam tomorrow! (Reading skills include: main idea, inference, conflict, point of view, figurative language, characterization)
2. Read chapters 20-23 in Where the Mountain Meets the Moonand complete HW #2.1:
3. Make sure to finish your RAFFFT response if you didn't in class!

HW#2.1 in writing notebook
1. At the end of chapter 20, how does Ma most likely feel?
2. How does Minli infer that the beggar is the king?
3. What is the point of view of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon? First or third person?
4. In chapter 23, "...the sun seemed to disappear like a closing flower." means what?
5. On page 137, why is the magistrate "dumbfounded?"

Tuesday 11/27

1. Catch up on any missing homework or class notes.

Wednesday 11/28

1. Read chapters 25-27 in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

2. Complete HW #2.2 the two-column notes entry on figurative language and inference skills.

Thursday 11/29

1. Review notes for midterm exam tomorrow! (Writing skills include: RAFFFT short responses, graphic organizers and extended response)

2. Read chapters 28-31 in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and complete HW#2.3 the two-column notes entry on figurative language and inference skills.

Friday 11/30

1. Read chapters 31-37 in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon  and complete HW#2.4 the two-column notes entry on figurative language and inference skills.

Student Exemplars- 6th grade ELO 2 Compare and Contrast Essay

Here is an example of great literary analysis from a student's compare and contrast essay:

"In the story Eleven,  Rachel tries to cope with feeling different maturity levels. For instance, Rachel said, "Mrs. Price put the sweater on my desk, but when I opened my mouth nothing came out" (Cisneros 239). In fact, Rachel still didn't disagree with the fact that the sweater wasn't hers. Its important to cope with being mature and immature in our daily lives because there is always going to be a time and a place to have fun and joke around and there is always going to be a time to be serious... In conclusion, Rachel copes by thinking of the big party that her family is going to throw her."

What I like most about this student's writing is how to she uses the quote from the story to draw a conclusion about the time and place to mature in your own life. Stories allow us to figure out the truth in our own life.

Homework for 7th grade 11/19- Holiday break

Monday 11/19 (RN#2.9 and WN#2.8)

1.Finish process step 3 in ELO 3 packet (if you didn't in class today) and complete process step 4 in ELO 3 packet (thesis statement)

Tuesday 11/20 (RN#2.10 and WN#2.9)

1. Get progress report signed by your parent.
2. Finish introduction paragraph in writer's notebook
3. Complete holiday assignment and sign parent letter too.
4. Find a NEW independent reading book!

Holiday Break (Due 11/26)

You will receive a letter detailing the holiday break assignment that your student is to complete by 11/26. Please ensure that this work is completed because it will help prepare your child for the midterms on 11/17 and 11/30 the following week.

Homework for 6th grade 11/19-Holiday Break

Monday 11/19 (WN#2.10 ELO 3: Plot and Theme/RN#2.6)

1. Finish process step 4 in ELO packet (plot diagram and theme)
2. Read Ch. 18 in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

Tuesday 11/20 (WN#2.11 ELO 3: Outline)

1. Finish the exposition and rising action paragraphs for process step 5 in ELO 3 (outline)
2. Read Ch. 19-24 in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon 
3. Get progress report signed by your parent.

Holiday Break Homework (Due 11/26)

Your student will receive a letter home detailing the work he/she is to complete during the holiday break. Please ensure they complete the work to the best of their ability. It is to help prepare them for the midterms the following week on 11/27 and 11/30.

Examples of Book Reviews Written by Kids (or young adults)

Many of you have been asking questions about the book review part of the Independent Book Project assignment. Here is a link to the teen literary magazine call "Teen Ink" who publish student-written book reviews.

Check it out for inspiration:Book Review Examples

If you're interested, check out the rest of the Teen Ink website. There are even writing contests you can submit too!