Weaver's Word Café

Final Reflections...

At the beginning of the year, I assigned a writing activity called "Where Are You Now?" Students responded to a series of prompts that required them to reflect on where they are in life. Then, students placed their responses in envelopes that they decorated in class. I kept those until today, when I passed them back for students to read them and reflect on how they have changed throughout the year. Students responded to their letters by reflecting on the following questions:

Who are you today? How have you developed as a person/student? What accomplishments are you proud of? What goals are you still working on? How are you feeling about yourself right now?

HOMEWORK: Study notes, handouts, etc. for the final exam. Also, prepare to write your final response to the essential question by reviewing the Notes on Response to Lit Standards and Strategies.

Lovinggood Summer Program...

Lovinggood will host an academic summer program beginning June 8th and ending on June 25th. The program will be in session Monday through Thursday with students reporting from 9:30 to 11:30. Parents must provide transportation for this program.

Students will concentrate on improving reading and math skills. The teachers will focus on remediation and acceleration, particularly in math. Emphasis will be placed on previewing skills for the next grade level.

Students are either required or encouraged to attend depending on their promotion/retention status. Registration forms will be distributed to students in the next few days.

HOMEWORK: Finish response to literature essays by proofreading and editing final drafts. If you type your essay, you must set the margins to one inch on all sides, use 12 pt Times New Roman font, and double-space.

Wrapping Up...

Students took a short-answer test on the novel That Was Then, This Is Now. After the test, students worked with their study guides and novels to compose drafts of their response to literature essays. We will use tomorrow's class time to finish the essays.

Here are some tips:

• Use the Style Builders packet you received at the beginning of the year
• Review the Notes on Response to Lit Standards and Strategies
• Keep up with requirements by reviewing the Response to Literature Options

HOMEWORK: Make-up work, as needed. Optional: continue working on response to lit essays.

Preparing to Write...

Students, as you prepare for the essay assignment next week, remember to review the standards on your menu options handout for the response to literature essay. In class, we listed some of the strategies we've learned to use to demonstrate those standards. Also, review your study guide questions for each chapter. Those students who have been recording page numbers will be able to quickly cite quotes or paraphrased passages from the text in support of their interpretations, evaluations, analysis, and/or reflections.

Download Notes on Response to Lit Standards and Strategies

Continue to review study guides for each chapter to prepare for Monday's novel test.

HOMEWORK: Have a great Spirit Week!

Catching Up...

Since we've had a series of field trips coincide with our novel unit, I allowed students to catch up on any missing assignments. In addition, students should be planning out their essays, noting specific passages from the text that will support their evaluations, interpretations, and analysis.

HOMEWORK: Complete any assignments that you have not turned in. Most of the handouts and assignments are available through this blog.

Bryon's Call...

After reading chapters 10 and 11, students wrote and discussed their answers to the following post-reading questions:

Chapter 10: Write a journal entry in which you convince readers of That Was Then, This Is Now that Bryon's decision to call the police was right or wrong.

Chapter 11: Bryon says, "I go over everything that happened last year,...trying to figure out what I could have done different, what I would do different if I had the chance..." If you were Bryon, what would you have done differently? Write a brief journal entry explaining your answer.

NOTE: Because none of the classes have finished reading the novel, I am postponing the essay until the final week of school. We will write the essays in class at the beginning of that week.

HOMEWORK: Finish comprehensive vocabulary word search handout, which you picked up on the way into the classroom. If you were absent, please see me for a copy of this assignment.

 

Finding M&M...

Students finished reading chapters 8 and 9 and complete the study guide questions for these chapters. Please make sure you are keeping up with page number for the answers that you find.

Download Study Guide Questions - Chapt. 8-9

HOMEWORK: Complete the crossword puzzle for chapter 6-9 vocabulary.

Download Ch_ 6-9 Vocabulary Crossword

See yesterday's blog entry for Response to Literature essay topics and instructions.

Paths Diverge...

Thank you, students, for the effort you put into the Studio Head assignments. For the most part, the images and drawings students put together effectively represented the chosen characters.

If you want to get ahead with the response to literature essay, please see the attached options menu handout below. (WARNING: Some of the prompts give away the end of the novel.) Choose one essay topic, and compose an essay that demonstrates the standards listed on the handout. The essay must be typed, in 12 pt. Times New Roman font, on paper with one-inch margins. You will need to support your ideas with references from the text, including direct quotes with parenthetical citations. Begin thinking of ideas and an organizational strategy appropriate to the prompt. We will discuss more requirements in class.

Download Response-to-lit-options

HOMEWORK: None assigned.

Author Talks...

While reading chapters 6 and 7, most classes took time to hear from the author, S.E. Hinton. To listen to her interview about her life and writing, click the following link:

http://www.wiredforbooks.org/sehinton/

HOMEWORK: I look forward to seeing your Studio Head work. Remember to follow directions, be creative, and have fun with this assignment, which is due tomorrow.

Fracturing Relationships...

Relationships are starting to unravel in That Was Then, This Is Now. Thank you, students, for a passionate discussion about the nature and level of friendships.

Remember to keep up by answering the study guide questions and recording page numbers.

Download Study Guide Questions - Chapt. 6

Download Study Guide Questions - Chapt. 7

HOMEWORK: Studio Head is due May 6th.