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!