Friday, February 27, 2009

2-27-09: Night p. 63-80 (B Days)

Today we turned in Night p. 63-80 questions and Writer's Notebook #6, so if you missed class get those turned in!

We started with our Punctual Piece: Answer the following questions:
1. List at least 5 things you would do if you could not fail.
2. List at least 5 things you would do if you were not limited by money.
3. What are the 5 things you currently enjoy doing most?

I know that normally you do not need to make up punctual pieces, but this one you do. We will be using this punctual piece again, so you need to make it up!

Then we had reading time and took our quiz on p. 63-80.

For the remaining class time we did a Night Hunt activity in which you were required to complete 3 of 6 tasks. You could do two additional tasks for extra credit. If you were absent, you will need to complete 3 of the tasks to receive your points for today's activities--see the website for details.

For Tuesday:
1. Night p. 81-99 and Reading Questions

Thursday, February 26, 2009

2-26-09: Night p. 45-62 (A Days)

I missed you all today. I'll be back Friday :) But even though I was gone, we still did a lot!

Today we turned in Night p. 45-62 Questions and Writer's Notebook #6. So get those in if you missed class!

We started with our Punctual Piece: Answer the following questions:
1. List at least 5 things you would do if you could not fail.
2. List at least 5 things you would do if you were not limited by money.
3. What are the 5 things you currently enjoy doing most?

I know that normally you do not need to make up punctual pieces, but this one you do. We will be using this punctual piece again, so you need to make it up!

Then we took a reading quiz on p. 45-62.

Next we reviewed our reading in our writing groups by discussing 4 discussion questions. Your groups recorded their responses and turned them in.

Finally, we learned about Poems for Two Voices. We applied our knowledge of the characters and other events of the novel by composing a Two Voice Poem about what we have read so far.

I hope you liked Poems for Two Voices. I think they are so fun! And they sound awesome.

For Monday:
1. Read Night p. 63-80 and complete the Reading Questions.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

2-25-09: Night p.45-62 (B Days)

I missed you all today. I'll be back Friday :) But even though I was gone, we still did a lot!

Today we turned in Night p. 45-62 Questions. So get those in if you missed class!

We started with our Punctual Piece: In 6-8 sentences answer the question: What does Elie mean when he says: "Bread, soup--these were my whole life. I was a body. Perhaps less than that even: a starved stomach" (50).

Then we took a reading quiz on p. 45-62.

Next we reviewed our reading in our writing groups by discussing 4 discussion questions. Your groups recorded their responses and turned them in.

Finally, we learned about Poems for Two Voices. We applied our knowledge of the characters and other events of the novel by composing a Two Voice Poem about what we have read so far.

I hope you liked Poems for Two Voices. I think they are so fun! And they sound awesome.

For Friday:
1. Read Night p. 63-80 and complete the Reading Questions.
2. Writer's Notebook #6

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

2-24-09: Night p. 27-43 (A Days)

Today we turned in Reading Questions for Night p. 27-43.

We started class with our punctual piece: What is the significance of the title? Why did Wiesel title his book Night?

Then we took a reading quiz on p. 27-43.

Next we reviewed our reading by having mini-discussions and then a large class discussion. We ended our discussion by talking about the passage on the top of p. 32 that repeats the phrase "Never shall I forget..." and talking about parallelism. We talked about what parallelism is and completed an exercise with Parallelism.


For Thursday:
1. Read Night p. 45-62 and complete the reading questions.
2. Writer's Notebook #6

Monday, February 23, 2009

2-23-09: Night p. 27-43 (B Days)

Today we turned in our reading questions for Night p. 27-43. So get those in if you weren't here.

For our Punctual Piece we read a short abstract to an article and responded to it.

Then we took a reading quiz on p. 27-43.

We reviewed our reading and then we worked on an exercise with Parallelism.

Finally we watched the first two segments of Frontline: A Class Divided.


For Wednesday:
1. Read Night p. 45-62 and complete the reading questions.

Friday, February 20, 2009

2-20-09: Registration (A Days)

Today we had attended a registration information session with the counseling center.

There was nothing due today.

For Tuesday:
1. You will need to read Night p. 27-43 for Tuesday and complete the reading questions
2. Get Caught Up!!!

Thursday, February 19, 2009

2-19-09: Registration Day (B Days)

Today we had attended a registration information session with the counseling center.

There was nothing due today.

You received a Vocabulary Assignment that has to do with Night.

For Monday:
1. You will need to read Night p. 27-43 for Tuesday and complete the reading questions
2. Get Caught Up!!!

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

2-18-09: Night p. 11-26 ( A Days)

Today we turned in our reading questions for Night p. 11-26 and our Punctual Pieces! So get those in if you weren't here.

For our Punctual Piece we read a short abstract to an article and responded to it.

Then we took a reading quiz on p. 11-26.

We reviewed our reading and then we worked on a Vocabulary Assignment that has to do with Night.

Finally we watched the first three segments of Frontline: A Class Divided.

For Friday:
1. There is nothing due Friday. We will have SEOPs and Registration. So you have lots of time to get caught up on your missing assignments.
2. You will need to read Night p. 27-43 for Tuesday and complete the reading questions

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

2-17-09: Night p. 1-26 & "The Butterfly"

Today we turned in Reading Questions for Night p. 1-26.

Our punctual piece was to answer the following question: If you and your family were kicked out of your house and forced to move to the ghetto, what five (5) items would you take with you and why?

Next we had a quiz on Night p. 1-26.

We discussed what happened in Night p. 1-26, and we talked about Elie Wiesel's reasons for writing Night: "For in the end, it is all about memory, its sources and its magnitude, and, of course, its consequences. For the survivor who chooses to testify, it is clear: his duty is to bear witness for the dead and the living. He has no right to deprive future generations of a past that belongs to our collective memory. To forget would be not only dangerous, but offensive: to forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time. The witness has forced himself to testify. For the youth of today, for the children who will be born tomorrow. He does not want his past to become their future."

We continued to talk about remembering. We read some poems by the children who were in a concentration camp at Terezin. The last poem we read was called "The Butterfly." Then each of us selected a Holocaust ID card. We made a butterfly to symbolize a Holocaust Victim. When we finish Night, you will find out what happened to your person. You will have to get the Butterfly Assignment from me.

For Thursday:
1. Nothing is Due because we will have SEOPs and Registration for next year.
2. USE this time to CATCH UP!
3. Start your reading assignment for Monday: p. 27-43 in Night and complete the reading questions.

Friday, February 13, 2009

2-13-09: Night p. 1-10 & "The Butterfly"

Today we turned in Reading Questions for Night p. 1-10.

Our punctual piece was to answer the following question: If you and your family were kicked out of your house and forced to move to the ghetto, what five (5) items would you take with you and why?

Then we had silent reading time.

Next we had a quiz on Night p. 1-10.

We discussed what happened in Night p. 1-10, and we talked about Elie Wiesel's reasons for writing Night: "For in the end, it is all about memory, its sources and its magnitude, and, of course, its consequences. For the survivor who chooses to testify, it is clear: his duty is to bear witness for the dead and the living. He has no right to deprive future generations of a past that belongs to our collective memory. To forget would be not only dangerous, but offensive: to forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time. The witness has forced himself to testify. For the youth of today, for the children who will be born tomorrow. He does not want his past to become their future."

We continued to talk about remembering. We read some poems by the children who were in a concentration camp at Terezin. The last poem we read was called "The Butterfly." Then each of us selected a Holocaust ID card. We made a butterfly to symbolize a Holocaust Victim. When we finish Night, you will find out what happened to your person. You will have to get the Butterfly Assignment from me.

For Wednesday:
1. Read Night p. 11-26
2. Complete the reading questions

Thursday, February 12, 2009

2-12-09: The Holocaust (B Days)

Today we turned in our book reports. If you missed class, you need to get that in next time!

This week's Writer's Notebook has been canceled. (I know! I'm so nice!)

We went to the library and checked out Night by Elie Wiesel. Again, if you weren't in class, you need to go check out the novel.

Next we took notes on background information about the Holocaust. If you weren't in class you will want to fill in the notes template using the PowerPoint.

Your homework assignment is to read Night p. 1-26 and complete the reading questions. We will have a quiz next class based on the reading questions.

For Tuesday (YES! Long Weekend :)
1. Read Night p. 1-26 and complete the reading questions.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

2-11-09: The Holocaust (A Days)

Today we turned in our book reports. If you missed class, you need to get that in next time!

We went to the library and checked out Night by Elie Wiesel. Again, if you weren't in class, you need to go check out the novel.

Next we took notes on background information about the Holocaust. If you weren't in class you will want to fill in the notes template using the PowerPoint.

Your homework assignment is to read Night p. 1-10 and complete the reading questions. We will have a quiz next class based on the reading questions.

This week's Writer's Notebook has been canceled. (I know! I'm so nice!)

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

2-10-09: Speech Writing (B Days)

Today we turned in our Final Essay. So if you missed class you need to get that in ASAP!

We started class with our punctual piece. We listed at least 5 things one of the characters in the novel we're reading for our outside book report did.

Then we talked about what the purpose of a speech is and what needs to be included in a speech to achieve that purpose. We listened to Bindi Irwin's speech about her father Steve Irwin (the Crocodile hunter).

Next you were given a speech planning sheet and an example outlined speech to model in your speech.

You had the rest of class to write your speech and work on your book report.

For Thursday:
1. Book Report is due!

Monday, February 9, 2009

2-9-09: Speech Writing (A Days)

Today we turned in our Final Essay. So if you missed class you need to get that in ASAP!

We started class with our punctual piece. We listed at least 5 things one of the characters in the novel we're reading for our outside book report did.

Then we talked about what the purpose of a speech is and what needs to be included in a speech to achieve that purpose. We listened to Bindi Irwin's speech about her father Steve Irwin (the Crocodile hunter).

Next you were given a speech planning sheet and an example outlined speech to model in your speech.

You had the rest of class to write your speech and work on your book report.

For Wednesday:
1. Book Report is due!

Friday, February 6, 2009

2-6-09: Conventions (B Days)

Today we turned in Writer's Notebook #5!

We started today with our punctual piece in which we completed a Conventions Practice Packet. (Because this is copyrighted material, I am unable to post it online, sorry! You'll have to get it from me/your folder).

This is more important than just a punctual piece. You also get credit for completing it in its entirety, so be sure to get it done!

Then we had reading time.

Finally we revised our essays for conventions: spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar.

Your final essay is due on Tuesday. You will need to type it (double-spaced) or hand-write it neatly in ink (also double-spaced!). Be sure to attach the blue rubric to the essay.

Have a great weekend!

Thursday, February 5, 2009

2-5-09: Conventions (A Days)

Today we turned in Writer's Notebook #5!

We started today with our punctual piece in which we completed a Conventions Practice Packet. (Because this is copyrighted material, I am unable to post it online, sorry! You'll have to get it from me/your folder).

This is more important than just a punctual piece. You also get credit for completing it in its entirety, so be sure to get it done!

Then we had reading time.

Finally we revised our essays for conventions: spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar.

Your final essay is due on Monday. You will need to type it (double-spaced) or hand-write it neatly in ink (also double-spaced!). Be sure to attach the blue rubric to the essay.

Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

2-4-09: Sentence Fluency (B Days)

For our punctual piece we read two paragraphs and evaluated them for sentence fluency using the sentence fluency rubric.

Remember sentence fluency is not only about flow, but about variety. Good, effective sentences use a variety of sentence constructions--especially at the beginning of the sentence. Because starting sentences in the same way begins to feel monotonous and puts the reader to sleep!

After our punctual piece, just like last time we revised our essays for sentence fluency and completed the sentence fluency revision sheet. We turned in our essays and the sentence fluency revision sheet before the end of class.

For Friday:
1. Don't forget your outside reading book!
2. Writer's Notebook #5 is due.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

2-3-09: Sentence Fluency (A Days)

Today if you were in A1, we turned in our Punctual Pieces!

Next for our punctual piece we read two paragraphs and evaluated them for sentence fluency using the sentence fluency rubric.

Remember sentence fluency is not only about flow, but about variety. Good, effective sentences use a variety of sentence constructions--especially at the beginning of the sentence. Because starting sentences in the same way begins to feel monotonous and puts the reader to sleep!

After our punctual piece, just like last time we revised our essays for sentence fluency and completed the sentence fluency revision sheet. We turned in our essays and the sentence fluency revision sheet before the end of class.

For Thursday:
1. Don't forget your outside reading book!
2. Writer's Notebook #5 is due.