WEEK 21 AGENDA: JANUARY 28-FEBRUARY 1

Focus: PERSONAL BELIEFS, VALUES, and GOALS
As we continue to work on the pARTners Project, students will begin to explore in depth their personal beliefs, values, and goals for the future. Major steps of this project -- led by Molly Armour (visual artist) and Kati Standefer (writer) -- include:

1) Dream Board Generation
2) Belief Poems
3) 3-Dimensional Inside Out Portrait
4) Expository Essay
5) Podcasting

Notes:

-Homework Help is this Tuesday after school

-Quarter 2 Reflections due on Tuesday -- questions are on blog 1 post down

-By February 11, students need to have a digital image imported to classroom computer, and a shoebox of personal memorabilia ready


Weekly Homework:

Click on the hyperlink to the right: NPR - This I Believe Essays

Task:

1) Listen to TWO "This I Believe" essays.

2) Complete a T-Chart of concrete details and commentary

Monday:
Finish Dream Boards and share with the class

Tuesday:
***QUARTER 2 REFLECTION DUE!!!***
Belief Poem Generation with Kati

Wednesday:
Draft poem

Thursday:
Belief Poem Workshop with Kati

Friday:
Revise and print Belief Poems - due at the end of class

QUARTER 2 REFLECTION

Please type your answers to the following questions. This is due next Tuesday, January 29. Think carefully about your answers, remembering that we are halfway through the school year, and you are on your way to high school!!!

REFLECTION ON QUARTER 2 PERFORMANCE: Describe the following. Be as specific as possible.

1) Describe one thing you think I don't know about you.

2) What did you improve on this quarter? Look back to your first quarter reflection.

3) Describe one activity that you enjoyed and WHY!

4) Describe one activity you disliked and WHY!

5) Set some concrete goals for third quarter. Ideas: personal, academic, social, athletic.

It's 3rd Quarter at JHMS!!! WEEK 20: JANUARY21-25

Focus: Beliefs and Values

Notes:

*Young Authors submissions are due on March 3rd. Guidelines are posted in classroom. Students who revise their latest short story or create a new one will be given enrichment credit.

*Book Bistro is enrolling new members. Consider joining as a great way to talk about books and earn enrichment credit for this class. See Mrs. Brumsted.

*All students should be reading at least three books outside of class per quarter and maintain a detailed Reading Log in WNB.

*Greg Mortensen, author of Three Cups of Tea will be addressing JHMS students on January 28th at 1:45 at the High School.

*Spelling Bee is February 6th and is a late arrival day--classes begin at 9:40.

*Parent Teacher Conferences are March 4th and 5th.

Weekly Homework:
Bring items that reflect your "CONCEPT OF SELF" for Belief Project. Some ideas include: special photographs, plane tickets, concert tickets, game tickets, awards, found objects, memorabilia, magazines.

Monday:
Finish Outsiders Movie and reflect on film vs. book

Tuesday: Partners Belief Project Begins with writer Katie Stanfeder and artist Molly Armour introducing Dream Boards. The Belief Poject will result in several finished products: an expository essay, a dream board, a belief poem and an inside-out protrait. The Project will culminate in a Community Panel that parents are welcome to attend on February 25th.

Wednesday & Thursday: Work on Dream Boards

Friday: Winter Carnival. We will be on an early release schedule.

OUTSIDERS ESSAY QUESTIONS

Directions:

Choose one question to answer (worth 30 points). You can answer two questions for your second quarter extra credit opportunity (worth 15 points extra). REMEMBER TO RESPOND DIRECTLY TO THE PROMPT. Do not include unnecessary information. Be specific and focused as you write. It is a good idea to create a short list or outline before you begin. Length should be 3-5 paragraphs (about one page - DOUBLE SPACED).

Use these materials to help you: Outsiders novel, your notes and previous quizzes, reading packets, essay grading rubrics. Remember to use concrete details and commentary, topic and concluding sentences, and organize your essay. Make sure to proofread for spelling and grammatical errors when you finish. Finally, refine your word choice and sentence variation before you turn it in.

QUESTIONS:

1. Compare and contrast the Socs and the Greasers. Which gang is portrayed more favorably and how?

2. Compare and contrast Soda and Darry. Why are they both important to Ponyboy's development?

3. Is The Outsiders still relevant today? Why are students across the nation still reading this book? How do its themes span across time?

4. Do you think it is obvious that this novel is the first effort of a sixteen-year-old author? Support your answer with details from the book.

5. Comment on the novel's resolution. Is it complete? Does it satisfy the reader? Is anything missing?

6. What would you change about the novel and why? Be specific.

7. Analyze the symbolism in the novel. Ideas to focus on: Greasers' long hair, names of characters and gangs, Robert Frost poem, Gone With the Wind novel.

WEEK 19 AGENDA: JANUARY 14-18

Focus: The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

Notes:

*Friday is the end of second quarter. It is an Early Release Day. All missing work is due on Tuesday.

*MAP testing on Monday, January 21st. Students will take three 20 minutes MAP exams.

*Belief Project with PARTNERS will begin next Tuesday and span until February 19th. IT will culminate with a community forum on February 25th from 8:45-10:45.

*Spelling Bee is on February 6th.

*Winter Carnival and Early Release Day on Friday January 25th.

Homework:

Bring 1-2 QUALITY magazines to class by Friday to use for next week's belief collages.

MONDAY:
*Vocab. Story Due
*Quiz on Chapters 8-12
*Perceptions of Social Isolation - Who are the outsiders in your world? Describe and discuss a group of people wo are marginalized or left out of your world.

TUESDAY:
*OUTSIDERS READING PACKETS DUE!!!*
*Watch dramatic skits
*Closing Discussion - Novel Resolution, Symbolism, Lasting Impact

WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY:
OUTSIDERS MOVIE/POPCORN PARTY!!!

WEEK 18 AGENDA: JANUARY 7-11

Focus: The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

Notes:

*Students are expected to stay up to date with the reading schedule and reading packet assignments, and be prepared for unannounced reading quizzes.

*Homework Help resumes this Tuesday after school from 2:45-3:45.

Weekly Homework:
*Read Chapters 5-12 by Friday
*Panic Poem

MONDAY:
*Discuss developments of Chapters 3&4: Emerging themes and character dynamics
*Open Mind Activity
*Read Chapter 5 and complete "Panic Poem" in Reading Packet for tomorrow.

TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY:
BASE GROUPS: Share Panic Poems
Read Chapters 6 & 7 and plan skits with props

THURSDAY:
Performance Drama - Scene Re-enactments

FRIDAY:
Read 9-12 and begin Vocabulary Story

HOMEWORK FOR WEEKEND:
FINISH THE NOVEL!!!
Vocabulary Story due on Monday
***COMPLETED READING PACKETS DUE ON TUESDAY!!!***

WEEK 17 AGENDA: JANUARY 2-4

Focus: The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

Notes:

*Welcome Back!!! Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season!!!

*Remember to complete WNB #12: Reflections on Short Stories - What you did well and what you would like to improve on in your next big piece of writing ; and WNB #13: What are the biggest issues facing teens today?

*We will be reading The Outsiders over the next few weeks. Students are responsible for checking a copy out from the Media Center and returning it upon completion of the unit.

*A suggested reading schedule will be provided. Students are welcome to read ahead in the novel. Audio versions of the novel available upon request.

Homework:
1) Find one piece of information on the author and bring to class on Thursday for discussion.

2) DUE FRIDAY:
Chapters 1-2 completed &
HOTSEAT QUESTIONS

WEDNESDAY:
*Check out books from Media Center
*Read author info. and introduction together
*Silent reading

THURSDAY:
*Share info. on S.E. Hinton - WORD MURAL!!!
*Predict plot of novel
*Web Graffiti Discussion - Mood and Symbolism

FRIDAY:
*Chapters 1-2 due - ENTRY TICKET
*Open Mind Activity
*HOTSEAT QUESTIONS
*Silent reading - Chapters 3 and 4 due for Monday