Giver - Take Home Test / Reading Logs

We have finally finished reading The Giver!  Students received a take home test to work on at home.  The students will also have some time to work on the test at school.  Copies of the novel may be used to complete the test, but most of the test should be easy enough for the students to complete if they paid attention while we read.

There are eight sections to the test, including some writing.  Due to that, students should not only rely on time given in class to complete the assignment, but should be sure to work on the test at home, as well.  Additionally, students will not be able to finish the test if they wait until the last night to complete the test.  There just wouldn't be enough time.  I recommend splitting the sections over a few days.

For my A day students, the test is due on Tuesday, February 5, and it is due Friday, February 8 for my B day students.  7B DID NOT YET RECEIVE THIS ASSIGNMENT, SINCE WE DID NOT FINISH THE NOVEL IN ITS ENTIRETY.

Additionally, everyone should already be working on the reading log for the third quarter.  Copies of the log may be found on my blog under the links tab.  For some reason, the link may ask you to log into Facebook.  I assure you that there should be a way around that since the link is actually not connected to Facebook.  Just keep trying!  If worst comes to worst, the log is simply a Word document (a table with columns for the title, author, genre, number of pages, date, and pages read), and could be easily recreated.

***Parents, we are in desperate need of tissues!  Please consider sending a box with your child to help team 6B get through the flu season.

****We are also running low on printer paper.  An extra ream of paper here and there would help us better facilitate your child's learning.  Thank you in advance!

Extra Credit

Don't forget that the extra credit assignment is due on Wednesday/Thursday!  I will post the assignment below.  Also, the reading logs were due today (A day) and are due tomorrow (B day).  If you did not turn one in and you are an A day student, please do so in the morning (after dismissal from the holding areas).

Extra Credit:

 

Choose one of the following to complete for 50 points added on top of your grade.  Choose two for an additional 25 points:

1.     The Giver hints at the fact that the people in the community may have been genetically altered for different reasons (such as to keep them from seeing color).  Research genetic engineering and write a one page report (12 point font, Times New Roman) in which you explain a little bit about how genetic engineering works and the possibilities there may be in the future (1/2 page).  For the second half of the page, express your thoughts and opinions as to what may have happened in the community to create “Sameness,” as well as your opinion overall (does it make sense? Would you like to live in that community?, etc.).  Cite your sources.

2.      Draw a map of the community in The Giver.  Include locations that are introduced or mentioned in the novel, and feel free to add locations you think might be present.  Think about where certain places might be located if you were creating a community.  For example, would the recreation area be right next to the school?  Would the nurturing center be far away from the river because of dangers?  Use the book as a guide, and make your map colorful!

3.      Research the author of The Giver, Lois Lowry.  Write a one page report on her life (12 point font, Times New Roman).  Cite your sources.

4.      Write what we have read so far in The Giver from another character’s perspective.  In other words, in the novel we only see from Jonas’s point of view.  What might the events look like from someone else’s point of view, such as Asher, Lily, or the Giver?  Write one page in 12 point, Times New Roman font.

This is a reminder that Compass Odyssey is due on December 2nd.  Please make sure you complete this as soon as possible.  There are sometimes instances when the website is unavailable.  If you wait until the very last minute and then the website does not work, I can not be held responsible.  Do a little bit every day and it will not seem like a lot.

We are continuing to work on The Giver and assignments related to the novel in class.  Today, students took a pop quiz on chapters 3-5.  This will not be the last pop quiz, so make sure you are paying attention and completing assignments!

Thanksgiving Break Homework

Don't forget that you may purchase a copy of The Giver if you want to have your own copy.  This might be very helpful to you as we work on assignments (and sometimes don't finish them in class).  It is not required to purchase a copy because we will be reading in class from a set.

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, you were given (B day will be given) a packet that contained instructions to read Chapters 4 and 5.  While reading the two chapters, make sure you annotate the text with interesting observations, comments, or questions you might have.  This "conversation" with the text can help you become a better, more active, reader.  After reading, complete the compare and contrast activity.  You should be able to fill most of this out without the book and simply from memory alone.  Of course, if you have your own copy or go to the library to get the book, there should be no excuse for not doing the work.

Additionally, if you did not finish the questions for Chapters 1 and 2, these should be completed and turned in at the same time you turn in the packet (November 27/28).

Compass Odyssey is due December 2nd!!!!  Don't forget that this will count as two different grades.

Progress Reports will go home next week.  I will be grading papers like crazy over the next few days so that I can update the grades.  Thank you for your patience in this matter : )

Finally, cold season is in full swing, and sniffly noses are running all over the place.  Our tissue supply is low, so we would greatly appreciate donations of tissue (we have enough hand sanitizer, I believe).   We will also always accept donations of copy paper, in any color.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Odyssey assignment

Please check Compass Odyssey for an assignment for November for Language Arts.  When you enter Odyssey, click on "Language Arts" (there will be a yellow circle around it).  You are to complete all of the activities you see in that folder.  You will receive a grade for completion and a grade for accuracy.

Note:  I did not inform my A day classes of this assignment today, nor will my B day class officially find out tomorrow.  Officially, this assignment will be given out next week (Tuesday and Wednesday).  If you see this post before then, feel free to get a head start and begin working on the assignment this weekend.

This should be completed by Sunday, December 2nd at midnight.  I will not accept the work any later than that!

2nd Quarter Beginnings

I hope the second quarter had a great start for everyone!  I apologize for not updating my blog, but there really hasn't been homework : )

I have a few things to grade over the next couple of days, so my grades will be updated soon.  These first few grades will be telling as to which students are keeping up with work and which students need to refocus.  A busy time of the year is approaching for everyone, so now is a great time to really get organized and prioritize your tasks.

Next week, students will take the post test for Unit 2.  Studying notes and work from this unit (compare and contrast, conflict, and character) will most certainly help on test day.

Also next week is the school spelling bee.  Congratulations to my students that made the school bee:
K.B, L.F., J.E., A.F., and S.D.  Good luck next Thursday!

1A and 2A homework and EXTRA CREDIT

1A and 2A - Both classes need to finish the extended response for "Nadia the Willful" and "Tuesday of the Other June."  The response is as follows, if you lost it...

Extended Response – Compare and Contrast Character and Conflict

The characters of Nadia (“Nadia the Willful” pg. 336) and June (“Tuesdays of the Other June” pg.204) both deal with some sort of fear and conflict.  Identify the similarities and differences between the two girls and write to explain how the characters first perceived and then resolved the conflicts they faced.  Then, explain how you would have perceived and resolved one of their conflicts differently, or explain why you would have reacted the same way.

Note:  Unlike typical extended responses, you may write your response in three or more paragraphs that connect to each other (for example, write about Nadia, then June, then yourself).

EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITY: 

Complete the following for 50 extra credit points to be added into the gradebook.  These points will go into the grades wherever you need points.  For example, let’s say you never did one of the summer reading assignments.  The extra credit would go into that grade to make up for it.  If you only have a few points missing here and there, I will insert points until there are no points left that could be made up. 

Choose one of the poets we have read so far (Eve Merriam, Sylvia Plath, Emily Dickinson,    Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, Billy Collins, Pat Mora, or Alice Walker) and find out about the poet.  Write a page that tells about the person and his or her life.  Make sure you cite where you found the information.  Then, find one of his or her other poems (one we have not read).  Print the poem and analyze it, much as we do in class, looking for figurative language, words you don’t know or questions you have, interesting points, vivid images, etc.

You must have both of the above elements in order to receive the extra credit.  In other words, if you just do the biography and not the poetry analysis, you will not receive points.

This is due on  October 22 (A) and October 23 (B), same day the reading logs are due!

Don't forget...Amnesty day is Thursday, October 18 (A) and Friday, October 19 (B).