Grade 8: Due before class Monday, December 5th

Please post the conclusion to our class essay! For extra points, compliment and critique one of your classmate's conclusions.

Grade 8: Due before class Tuesday, October 25th

Find another example of foreshadowing in A Separate Peace. First, provide a quotation and page number that shows your example of foreshadowing. Then, explain the effect the foreshadowing has on you as a reader. Please write at least one paragraph. Bonus points for students who respond to other students!

If you need help finding an example, I found a few between pages 11 and 14!

Grade 12 IB B2 and 11 IB B1: Due before Monday, October 3rd

Browse the following blog:
http://www.menspeakup.org/

Write a reaction to one of the posts. Comment on at least one other classmates' post.

Grade 10 (A and F block): A block due before Monday, October 3rd; F Block due before Tuesday, October 4th

If you were turning "The Monkey's Paw" into a movie, what would you do to create the right atmosphere? Explain using details from the text! Comment on at least one other person's post.

Want extra credit? Find a youtube video of "The Monkey's Paw" that fits what you visualized while reading. Then, explain how it fits.

Grade 8: Due before Tuesday, October 4th

How might the story "I Just Kept on Smiling" change if told from Nicky Carver's point of view? From the teacher's? Explain using examples from the text. Comment on at least one other person's post.

Grade 11 IB B1: Due before Tuesday, September 27th

Read the following web page:
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/northamerica/after1500/government/excluded.htm
Write a reaction to the information you learn. In your response, include specific details from the web page. Please also include a connection pertinent to what we have been discussing in class, whether it be Cisneros, minority groups, or women's rights. Comment on at least one other post.

Grade 12 IB B2: Due before Monday, September 19th

Please read the following article from Science Daily, an online news source.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101116081430.htm

The evidence from the study described in this articles aims to explain how teaching about differences between genders leads children to create stereotypes for boys and girls. Please respond to one of the following:

• Share a memory in which you were taught (by parent, teacher, older sibling, anyone…) what a boy should do/be like or what a girl should do/be like.
  


• Explain the stereotypes for boys and girls in your own culture.

Grade 11 IB B1: Due before Monday, September 19th

Read the following poem by Elizabeth Croll. Croll describes the evolving identities of women in China. China is a very large country and contains varying attitudes. The following poem in her book describes an attitude that could be considered more traditional within China's culture.

After reading, please post a reaction to the poem. Do you think the different treatments of sons and daughters is fair? Do you think the depiction is realistic? If so, to what extent? What connections can you make to your own culture?

Please comment on at least one other post.

Daughter Order
When a son is born
Let him sleep on the bed
Clothe him with fine clothes
And give him jade to play with
How Lordy his cry is!
May he grow up to wear crimson
And be the lord of the clan and the tribe.
When a daughter is born,
Let her sleep on the ground
Wrap her in common wrappings
And give her broken tiles for play things
May she have no faults, no merits of her own
May she well attend to food and wine
And bring no discredit to her parents.

Grade 10 (A block): Due before Monday, September 19th

Consider the story "Worry" by Ron Wallace. Pretend that you are either the wife/mother, the husband/father, or the daughter. Write a diary entry from that character's perspective. Be creative!

Grade 10 (F block): Due before Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

Consider the story "Worry" by Ron Wallace. Pretend that you are either the wife/mother, the husband/father, or the daughter. Write a diary entry from that character's perspective. Be creative!

Grade 8: Due before Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

Do you think The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas provides a realistic view of World War II? Why or why not? Comment on at least one other post.

Grade 10 (F Block): Due before Monday, September 12th

Sound check! Can everyone post?? Answer the following question. Then, respond to at least one of your classmate's answers with a question or a comment.

What is your favorite book and why?

Remember, post your first comment early in the week so that everyone has time to post a response!

Grade 8 Adv: Due before Monday, September 12th

Sound check! Can everyone post?? Answer the following question. Then, respond to at least one of your classmate's answers with a question or a comment.

What is your favorite book and why?

Remember, post your first comment early in the week so that everyone has time to post a response!

Grade 12 IB B2: Due before Tuesday, September 13th

Sound check! Can everyone post?? Answer the following question. Then, respond to at least one of your classmate's answers with a question or a comment.

What is your favorite book and why?

Remember, post your first comment early in the week so that everyone has time to post a response!

Grade 11 IB B1: Due before Tuesday, September 13th

Sound check! Can everyone post?? Answer the following question. Then, respond to at least one of your classmates' answers with a question or a comment.

What is your favorite book and why?

Remember, post your first comment early in the week so that everyone has time to post a response!

Grade 10 (A block): Due before Tuesday, September 13th

Sound check! Can everyone post?? Answer the following question. Then, respond to at least one of your classmate's answers with a question or a comment.

What is your favorite book and why?

Remember, post your first comment early in the week so that everyone has time to post a response!

Grade 8: Tuck Everlasting (Due before class Monday, May 16th)

Read the attached song by Joni Mitchell. Think of it as a poem! Then, answer the following questions:

1. What stages of life does this song include?


2. What kinds of circles does Mitchell talk about for each of the life stages?


3. What is the meaning of the lines, "And they tell him, Take your time it won't be long now / Till you drag your feet to slow the circles down"?


4. In your opinion, is the use of the carousel to represent the circle of life an effective symbol? Why or why not?


5. Which of the characters from Tuck Everlasting could bes relate to this song? Why? Why might other characters find it hard to relate to this song?

Extra Credit! In "The Circle Game," the young man in the last verse is twenty years old. Add additional verses about what the man discovers as he ages. You may wish to write about the experiences he has had by the agse thirty, sixty, and eighty, or any other ages you choose. Be sure to repeat the chorus throughout the verses you create.

Grade 10: Starting a New Book (Due before class Friday, May 6th)

We will be starting a new book next class! Browse and read the following. First, record at least three interesting facts that you learned. Then, based on what you read and see, predict what you think our new book might be about.

http://kclibrary.lonestar.edu/decade50.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AW9KoAwf2K8
http://www.upress.umn.edu/sles/Chapter4/ch4-1.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dd5iDWQWVDw
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/preparatory+school

Grade 8: Webquest (Due before class Tuesday, April 26th)

Browse, explore, and read the following websites and links. First, write a reaction explaining what you found interesting. Then, based on the sites, write a prediction for what the text might be about. Make sure in your prediction you indicate WHY you think what you do. http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/archaeology/fountain-of-youth/ http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/topic.php?nm=frontier_ohio&rec=24 http://www.native-languages.org/ohio.htm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGWgOA-q0KM

Grade 8: Zlata and the War (Due before Monday, March 21st)

First, post at least one question you had while reading the article on the Bosnian war. Then, review others' questions and attempt to answer at least one.

Grade 8: Zlata's Diary (Due before class Monday, March 14th)

Find the golden line! Choose a sentence or passage that stands out to you as very important. In one COMPLETE and WELL-WRITTEN paragraph, explain why it is significant.

Grade 8: Reaction to the preface and introduction (due before class Friday, March 4th)

Zlata wrote her preface as an adult, while her diary was written while she was still a child. How do you think her feelings about the Bosnian War might have changed between those times? Did anything surprise you about the introduction? What can you predict will be included in her diary?

Grade 8: Webquest! (Due before class Wednesday, March 2nd)

Explore the following websites:

http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/news/story/0,28277,56583,00.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jxfUpHLrd4
http://teacher.scholastic.com/scholasticnews/indepth/junior/news_briefs/index.asp?article=051208

After reviewing the websites, write a list of three new things you learned. Feel free to comment to your classmates!

Grade 8: Poetry Review! (Due before class Thursday, February 17th)

Read the two poems "Your World" and "Acquainted with the Night." Either on the paper with the poems or on a separate sheet of paper, answer our three big poetry questions: Who is the speaker? What is going on? What is unusual?

Then, here on the blog, share your analysis with the class! Write a one paragraph analysis explaining your understanding of the poem's meaning and the different figurative or stylistic elements that are present. Remember, when we are referring to figurative or stylistic elements, we are referring to any sound elements (alliteration, assonance, consonance, rhyme), repetition, framing, or comparisons (metaphors, similes, extended metaphors, personification).

Just in case, I am posting the poems here, too. If you lost your paper, make sure you have written your answers to our three big poetry questions (Who's the speaker? What's going on? What is unusual?) for each poem on a separate sheet of paper, as I will be collecting it!

Be sure to check back on the blog frequently to "virtually" study with everyone!

Grade 8: Literature Circle Reflection (Due before class Tuesday, February 15th)

Answer the following:

1. What is the most important conflict in your literature circle book? Why?

2. Is the protagonist in your literature circle book static or dynamic? Explain how!

Grade 8: Poetry Practice (Due before class Friday, February 11th)

Read the following poem. In a properly written, complete paragraph, present an explanation of the poem's meaning. In your explanation, be sure to consider who the speaker is, what is going on, and what is unusual. Pay careful attention to any sound elements, any important repetition, and any metaphors or personification.

Grade 10: Imagery (Due before class Wednesday, February 9th)

Read the following poem and respond in one paragraph. In your response, identify who the speaker is, what is going on, and what is unusual. In noting what is unusual, consider specifically any sound elements, similes or metaphors, and imagery (sensory language!).

Grade 12 IB: Interactive Oral Research

Remember, our interactive oral will be a debate held on Thursday, February 10th. Prepare yourself by reading the following articles/watching the videos! Our debate will be about changing family structures. All of the videos listed are short and so are almost all of the articles (many are about a page long). While I do not expect you to have any of this memorized, I expect you to have enough background knowledge to have an opinion!

Same Sex Marriage
VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73oZ_pe1MZ8&feature=related

VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7addd1-SY8&feature=related

http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_marr.htm

http://couriernews.suntimes.com/news/3656077-418/marriage-elgin-sex-already-gay.html

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-02-06/news/bs-md-senate-gay-marriage-20110206_1_civil-unions-equality-maryland-klausmeier

International Adoption
VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdBuDdloLQA

http://news.adoption.com/uni/frame.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.prnewswire.com%2Fnews-releases%2Fnations-leading-adoption-agency-develops-hivaids-toolkit-to-educate-parents-115004504.html&name=Nation%27s+Leading+Adoption+Agency+Develops+HIV%2FAIDS+Toolkit+to+Educate+Parents+--+GRAND+RAPIDS%2C+Mich.%2C+Feb.+1%2C+2011+%2FPRNewswire%2F+--

http://news.adoption.com/uni/frame.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nwemail.co.uk%2Fnews%2Ftherapists-set-up-service-for-children-1.804688%3FreferrerPath%3Dhome&name=North+West+Evening+Mail+%7C+News+%7C+Therapists+set+up+service+for+children

http://www.internationaladoptionstories.com/guatemala-adoption-news.htm

Grandparents Raising Grandkids
VIDEO:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VpBcY2pWCE

VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0FztEZzp30&feature=related

http://news.adoption.com/uni/frame.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.americanchronicle.com%2Farticles%2Fview%2F215355&name=American+Chronicle+%7C+Grandparent+is+set+to+change+the+laws+governing+the+legal+rights+for+grandparents+within+adoption

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/16876875/ns/today-money/

http://www.grandparentingblog.com/

Same Sex Adoption
VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGhnDOQrq20

VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QygPIIQ-eh4&feature=related

http://gaylife.about.com/od/gayparentingadoption/a/gaycoupleadopt.htm

http://articles.cnn.com/2007-06-25/us/gay.adoption_1_gay-adoption-straight-parents-williams-institute?_s=PM:US

http://articles.cnn.com/2010-06-21/us/samesex.parenting_1_gender-identity-jay-james-father?_s=PM:IREPORT

Divorce Rates
VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Nwm6_QzGhY

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/how-does-divorce-affect-the-family.html

http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2000/06/the-effects-of-divorce-on-america

http://www.mdrc.org/publications/386/testimony.html

Grade 8: The Raven (due before class Monday, February 7th)

Make sure that you have completed your vocabulary homework! Be prepared for our quiz!

Read the poem "The Raven" by Edgar Allen Poe. Please write two paragraphs about the poem. When you write your paragraphs, consider how we have practiced constructing paragraphs (opening sentence with thesis, details and explanation, closing sentence). In your first paragraph, explain the meaning or message (its SENSE) of the poem. In the second paragraph, explain what sound elements you notice in the poem and what effect you think they have.

Grade 10: The Drum (due before class Wednesday, February 2nd)

Read Nikki Giovanni's poem "The Drum." Please explain the meaning of the metaphor present in the poem. Write a proper paragraph like we have been practicing, using quotations from the poem in your explanation. Then, comment on someone else's explanation. Your comment should provide your classmate with several good things about the response and several things to improve.

Grade 8: The Drum (due before class Wednesday, February 2nd)

Read the poem "The Drum" by Nikki Giovanni. Explain how the speaker uses an extended metaphor to communicate the message. Please make sure you write a complete, well-written paragraph like we have been practicing!

After your paragraph, explain whether or not there is a character in your literature circle who reminds you of the speaker in "The Drum." If so, explain why!

Grade 10 and Grade 8: Poetry (Due before Monday, January 31st)

Choose one of the two poems posted here. Explain how the comparison (simile, metaphor, personification, etc.) present in the poem helps express its meaning. Remember that your opening sentence should be like your thesis: it should state your opinion or idea and include the title of the poem and its author.

Then, compose your own poem using similes, metaphors, and/or personification. The topic of the poem is up to you, but the figurative language must be both present and purposeful!

Grade 10: Poetry Response (Due before class Thursday, January 27)

Please go back to our last blog assignment. Remember? Everyone chose a poem and identified the speaker, explained what was going on, and pointed out something unusual or interesting about the poem. The assignment ended with a question posed by the student who posted. Please now go back and respond to at least two different posts. For this response, you may answer someone's question, comment on his or her explanation, or present your own analysis of the poem. Post your response on that blog post, not this one!

Let me know if you have any questions!

Grade 8: Poetry homework (Due before Monday, January 17th)

Browse some poetry sites online. Find a poem that you find interesting. Copy and paste that poem onto the blog (don't forget to include the title and poet's name!). Them, write a brief paragraph explaining who the speaker is, what's going on in the poem, and what you find unusual about the poem. Finally, pose a question to the rest of the class about the poem you found.

Not sure where to start looking? Check out these websites!
http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/
http://www.poetry-online.org/
http://www.poetry.org/
http://www.poetrysoup.com/

Grade 10: Poetry (Due before Monday, January 17th)

Browse some poetry sites online. Find a poem that you find interesting. Copy and paste that poem onto the blog (don't forget to include the title and poet's name!). Then, write a brief paragraph explaining who the speaker is, what's going on in the poem, and what you find unusual about the poem. Finally, pose a question to the rest of the class about the poem you found.

Not sure where to start looking? Check out these websites!
http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/
http://www.poetry-online.org/
http://www.poetry.org/
http://www.poetrysoup.com/