Tuesday 10.31.17: Homework

Block A:
Work on your dialogue project, inspired by one of the scenarios or texts we looked at this week. Your completed project will be due on Friday.

Block B:
Write a Reading  Response on the film Big Fish and upload it to our google classroom by tomorrow. We'll have a spider web discussion to debrief the film.

Block C:
Work on your comparative essay and your 12 key moment activity for Room. A full essay draft is due on Friday in the Google classroom. You'll have writing time on Thursday, and I'm around after school on Wednesday if you need help.

Monday 10.30.17: Homework

Block B:
Read your independent reading book. We will finish Big Fish tomorrow.

Block  C:
Be prepared to start writing your Comparative essay tomorrow. We'll spend a few minutes looking at the form of the mentor text and then you'll be on your way! You will have a draft due on Wednesday.

Block E:
Read your independent reading book. We will start a new film tomorrow.

Block F:
Write a 3 paragraph reading response to Big Fish, due in Google classroom on Wednesday!

Friday 10.27.17: Homework

Block E:
Study for your vocabulary quiz on Monday!

Block F:
Study for your vocabulary quiz on Monday!

Block A: 
Read over the assignment sheet with all the scenario options. We'll start writing one of them on Monday!

Thursday 10.26.17: Homework

Block F:
Go to our Google classroom and write a response on the first part of Big Fish. Follow the prompts and upload your response when you are finished.

Block A:
Revise or embellish your snail dialogue from today's class. Bring it to class to share tomorrow!

Block B:
Study for your vocabulary quiz on Monday! See the google classroom for links to our Nearpod collaboration.

Block C:
Read over the Comparative essay assignment that I handed out today. Read and mark up the model attached to the assignment, and start considering how ideas for your response. We'll begin the process on Monday.

Also, study for Monday's vocabulary quiz!

Wednesday 10.25.17: Homework

Block E:
Today in class we watched a brief interview with Sherman Alexie. If you were absent, you should watch it here:

Take note of the connections between Alexie's life and that of his fictional character, Arnold.

We also worked on the second side of Arnold's "highlight" chart. You should finish up both sides of the chart and be ready to turn it in for credit on FRIDAY.

Study for the test on True Diary on Friday.

Tuesday 10.24.17: Homework

Block F:
Study your new vocabulary and complete the SAT practice questions. Be sure to consider what each question is asking and be ready to explain your choices.

Block A:

1. Read the excerpts from “On Writing” by Stephen King (especially chapter 4)

2. Fatten up your 4 line dialogue from today’s class. Use beats and tags to make it colorful and clear! 

Block B:
Write a reading response on Google classroom for Part 1 of Big Fish. Upload your work before the start of class.
Also, study your new vocabulary words!

Block C:
Go to Goodreads.com and start looking for a new independent reading book to start later this week!

Monday 10.23.17: Homework

Block A:
Find a good example of a passage of dialogue that you really enjoy. Type it up and upload it to the google classroom, along with an explanation of why you like it.

Block B:
Study your new vocabulary words and complete the practice SAT passage questions for tomorrow. Be ready to share your reasons for each choice you made.

Block C:
Write a reflection on  today's  Socratic seminars. You'll find the  prompts in our google classroom. Upload your reflection by tomorrow.

Block E:
Finish your green 'highlights' sheet for the second half of the book True Diary. Begin to prepare for Friday's test on the novel.
Study your new vocabulary words.

Friday 10.20.17: Homework

Block C:
Prepare for our Socratic seminars on Room by reading and annotating the two poems I gave you on Friday. Mark up the poems and consider the questions that we will explore.


Block E:
Study your new vocabulary words and be sure you are caught up with reading in True Diary. We will have a test on the novel next week, so start to prepare!

Block F:
Work on finding examples of your vocabulary words in the wild! See the instructions in our google classroom. Upload your work to the classroom by the start of class on Tuesday.

Thursday 10.19.17

Block E:
Complete both sides of the handout titled "Responding to  True Diary." Use details from the final chapter in your response.

Block F:
Read your independent reading book tonight. We''ll resume Big Fish tomorrow.

Block A:
Work on finishing your 4-part character project, due at the end of class on Monday.

Block B:
Find a real-world example of each of your new vocabulary words this weekend. Use the handout to guide you, and upload your work to the Google classroom for Monday at the start of class (8:45 am). All of the instructions and the vocabulary word list are in the Google classroom for your reference.

Tuesday 10.17.17: Homework

Block B:
Read your independent reading book tonight!

Block C:
Visit our google classroom and complete the "Collaborative Vocabulary Quiz" reflection assignment by Wednesday.
Finish reading Room by Wednesday! We will do some mind mapping on Wednesday.

Block E:

Read to page 213 in True Diary and complete  2 new sticky notes for this section.

Block F:
Read your independent reading book tonight!

Monday 10.16.17: Homework

Block E:
Study for tomorrow's weekly check-in. Be sure that you are up-to-date with the reading in True Diary. We will do a quick vocabulary activity at the start of class to get ready.

Block F:
Finish your theme essays and upload it to our Google classroom by the start of class tomorrow.
Study for your vocabulary quiz too!

Block A:
Continue to work on your character projects! Parts 1-3 should be finished by the end of the block on Wednesday! We will have the mobile lab in class on Wednesday.

Friday 10.13.17: Homework

Block F:
Work on your essay, due in Google classroom on Tuesday!
Study for your vocabulary quiz, also on Tuesday.

Block A:
Using the character chart you filled out, write a detailed description of your character in about 250 words. Incorporate sensory details to bring your character to life. Save your work in a Google document, as you will build each part of this project and put it all together at the end.

Block B:
Work on your essay, due in Google classroom on Tuesday!
Study for your vocabulary quiz, also on Tuesday.

Block C:
Complete the individual component for this week's group vocabulary quiz. See the instructions in our Google classroom. Upload your response to the Google classroom by 8:40 am on Tuesday 10/17.

Finish reading Room by Wednesday 10/18. We will have some discussion about the ending and begin mapping the connections between all of the introductory texts.

Thursday 10.12.17

Block A:
Read over the pink 4-part character assignment sheet to generate ideas. We will finish the film tomorrow (promise!) and begin developing your character.

Block B:
Keep working on your essay due next Tuesday!
Study your new vocabulary words

Block C:
Finish your reflection on today's one-pager discussion. See the prompts in yesterday's post to guide your response.
Also, finish reading Room!

Block E:
Read pages 179-196 in True Diary for Monday and fill out two sticky notes with a question, comment, or observation for two moments in the chapter.
Also, study your new vocabulary words. The quiz is on Tuesday!

Wednesday 10.11.17: Homework

Block C:
Begin to reflect on what your heard today from your classmates. Use the following questions to guide you. We will continue the process tomorrow, so you will have more to add to your reflection by the end of tomorrow's class:

1. What idea surprised you or made you think differently about the film? Explain.
2. What connections did you or a classmate make between the film and other texts?
3. Reflect on the one-pager process. What worked well? What adjustments would you suggest?

Keep reading Room! You will need to finish the book by Wednesday 10/18.

Block E:
If you were not prepared for class today, be sure that you are ready tomorrow. You will need to bring your completed "Highlights" chart to class, as well as be up-to-date with the reading for tomorrow. You should be up to page 177.

Block F:
Keep working on your essay. Print out a working draft and bring it with you to class on Friday. We will finish the "charette" protocol and you will have some time to write. Your final draft will be due in the google classroom on Tuesday 10/17/17!

Friday 10.6.17: Homework

Block E:
Work on your "Highlight film" on True Diary. Remember that you are selecting the 8 most important moments from the text thus far (to page 177). Each square on your chart needs  to include your description of the moment, along with a relevant quotation from that part of the story. You can earn extra credit by including a visual in a few of the boxes to accompany your "highlight."

Block F:
Work on writing your theme essay due in the Google classroom on Thursday 10/12.
Study your new vocabulary words.

Block A:
Read and annotate the work of nonfiction titled "The Imposter."

Block B:
Work on writing your theme essay due in the Google classroom on Thursday 10/12.
Study your new vocabulary words.

Thursday 10.5.17: Homework

Block A:
Write a one page character sketch on the subject of your "field" observation earlier this week. Use the model we listened to by David Sedaris to guide you and upload your finished sketch to the Google classroom.

Block B:
Work on planning your essay. We'll have time in the lab tomorrow to work as well.
Read your independent reading book tonight as well!

Block C:
Write a one-pager on Pleasantville, using the guidelines on the handout and the planning sheet as you prepare to write. Print it out before you arrive to class on Wednesday 10/11.
Keep reading Room!

Smoke Signals Transcript

Here's a link to the transcript of the film: It is not an official screenplay, but it is a start!

Wednesday 10.4.17: Homework

Block B and F:

Continue to work on your essay planning and theme development. If you want to revisit the video clip I showed you in class on theme, you can watch it below. We watched the first few minutes, but feel free to watch the whole clip if you find it helpful.

Block C:

Study for tomorrow's vocabulary quiz.
Keep reading Room! The next section "After" is due on Thursday 10/12.

Block E:

Read True Diary to page 177 for Friday.

Tuesday 10.3.17: Homework

Block E:
Study for tomorrow's vocabulary quiz. Be sure you are up-to-date in True Diary

Block F:
Work on your essay plan and bring your ideas to class tomorrow. We'll start the writing process.
Study for the vocabulary quiz tomorrow as well.

Block A:
Go out into the world and find someone to study. Pay close attention to detail as you make your observations. You will write a character sketch with your notes in class on Thursday!

Monday 10/2/17

Block F and Block B:

Start mapping your ideas for your analytical essay. Choose the text you want to examine and begin to collect your ideas on your mind map. 

Also, study for Wednesday's vocabulary quiz.

Block A:

Work on filling out your character development chart. 

Block C:

Prepare for the discussion on Room by writing a readers response. Use the guidelines on the handout I gave you in class today. 

Study vocabulary! Quiz on Thursday.