WEEK FIVE AGENDA

Foci: Literature and Life & MLA Format

Weekly Homework:

Daybook Pages 15-22 - due Friday
"The Man in the Casket" Responses - Re-do's are due on Friday

NOTES:

We will be MAP testing on October 2nd. Make sure to bring your SSR book to class on these days in case you finish early.

MONDAY:

Review CD, CM, topic and concluding sentences
How to Write a Better Paragraph
Literary Terms, cont.

TUESDAY:

MAP testing
*Bring your SSR book to class*


WEDNESDAY:

Literary Terms Bingo
Vocabulary

THURSDAY:

Expand on definition of narrative
Read sample narratives in Base Groups:
1) Determine what makes them good.
2) Come up with a list of common criteria for strong narratives.

FRIDAY:

Turn in Daybooks
Turn in reworked Casket Responses
MLA Format: Parenthetical References Powerpoint & Thesis Sentence
Narrative Pre-Writing

Nuggets from Miracle Boy Discussion

Scars stay forever…you can’t take them away.

A message could be many things.

The color yellow symbolizes change – maybe that’s why Miracle Boy wears yellow at the end of the story.

I thought of the telephone wire as a timeline for the story.

Miracle Boy seems to become more innocent after his feet are cut off.

The shoes are a symbol of both guilt and forgiveness.

It was interesting that the seasons changed from before the accident to afterward.

You don’t have to relate to the story literally to understand its message.

Guilt and pity have a lot to do with each other.

I think the cigarette hanging from Miracle Boy’s dad’s mouth symbolized his burning hatred for Lizard.

Violence doesn’t solve anything; it just creates more anger.

Maybe the old shoes symbolized Miracle Boy’s old self; cutting them down from the wire revealed his new self.

Sometimes flashbacks interrupt a story.

Miracle Boy seems to be going through a kind of mental puberty.

WEEK FOUR AGENDA

September 24-28

Weekend Homework: Write 10 pieces of commentary on "Miracle Boy." USE YOUR NOTES FROM THE TEXT. You need to write in complete sentences. This is due at the beginning of class on Monday.

Foci: Talking about Literature and Life, Vivid Verbs and Active Voice

Week Three Homework:
Read “The Man In The Casket", a short narrative essay. Create a well-written two-chunk paragraph in response to the following prompt: Describe the narrator’s changing tone in “The Man in the Casket.” (Tone is defined as the author’s attitude towards his or her subject.) You must complete the shaping sheet and a final copy OR a rough draft and final copy. This assignment is due on Friday, September 28th. Type!

Notes

*Thanks for attending Back to School Night!!!

*Each quarter, I expect that you are reading at least three novels or books independently. Record your efforts in the Reading Log in your WNB.

Monday
Turn in 10 pieces of commentary on MB from last Friday.
Explain HW and review "chunks".
Do discussion questions in Base Groups for MB.
Prepare for Graded Discussion on MB.

Tuesday
Graded Discussion on Miracle Boy - double fishbowl
Self Evaluations

Wednesday
Read "Hole". Write 10 CM's as we read. Focus on:
1) use of flashback and memory; 2) The difference between details and confusion vs. the "truth".
WNB#4: Write a letter to Kyle Walker as if you are the main character in “Hole.” Vividly explain exactly what happened that day. Use active verbs.

Thursday
Grammar Mini-Lesson:
Vivid Verbs - Cooking and Sports
Vocabulary Derby - Create and compile VOCABULARY LIST 1.

Friday
Submit "Man in the Casket" Response
WNB#5: (Student written prompt) Write a short biography about the person to your left. Use vivid verbs.
Review Daybooks

WEEK THREE AGENDA

September 17-21

Focus: What is a narrative?

Week Three Homework:
Daybook pp. 9-14 (due Friday)

Notes

*Open House is Tuesday, September 18th 6:30-8:15.

*Each quarter, I expect that you are reading at least three novels or books independently. Record your efforts in the Reading Log in your WNB.

Monday
Finish Sharing Name Jerseys
Active Verbs Quiz
Handout Daybooks
Organize WNB: 3 Appendices - Vocabulary, Mini-Lessons, Reading Log
WNB#3: Sketch and label a time when you witnessed bullying or cruelty. Use details and color.

Daybook: pages 9-14 due Friday. Be neat and complete and annotate all readings.

Tuesday
Read “Miracle Boy”
Make ten insightful CM’s as we read
Literary Terms

Wednesday
8th grade Field Trip to Colter Bay Indian Arts Museum
Bring lunch and warm clothes!

Thursday
Finish reading “Miracle Boy”
WNB #4: Student Drawn Prompt
Vocabulary Bowl

Friday
Collect Daybook homework
Graded Discussion of “Miracle Boy” & Self Evaluation
Elements of a Good Discussion: Participate, listen, refer back to the story, offer fresh responses, and avoid dominating, direct questions to classmates.

WEEK TWO AGENDA

Week Two Agenda

September 10-14

Week Two Weekly Homework:
1) $11 for Day Books due on Friday the 14th
2) Name Essay (Mango Street) with jersey design and color due on Friday the 14th
3) WNB #1 due on Wednesday: One thing I wish my parents/teachers knew about me...
4) WNB #2 due on Friday: My writing territories...

Monday
Media Center: Students will receive their user names and passwords for the school network, and an orientation to the class blog: http://language-link.blogspot.com/

***Students and parents should check the blog regularly for weekly schedules, homework, and updates.***

Tuesday - School Picture Day
7 things about names due (parent interviews)
Begin drafting 'Name Essay' and jerseys Finish WNB #1

Wednesday
WNB #1 due
Base Groups - business cards and label writing portfolios
Notes on Active Verbs and practice
Revise Essay and finish jerseys

Thursday
Complete essay revision and strings on jerseys
WNB #2: My Writing Territories

Friday
$11 due for Day Books
WNB #1 and #2 due - turn in WNB to class shelf
More practice with Active Verbs

Homework: Study Active Verb notes for mini-quiz on Monday

WEEK ONE AGENDA

Week One Agenda

September 4-7

Week One Weekly Homework:
1. Purchase binder, pencils, journal, and a box of tissue and bring to class by Friday.
2. Craft 6 compelling writing prompts for your peers by Friday.
3. Parent Inventory due Friday for bonus.
4. $11 for Day Books due on the 14th!


Tuesday
Welcome and Seats
Student Inventory
Activity and Yarn Game

Wednesday
Writer’s Notebook Rubric
CEF and Parent Inventory
Writers Notebook: What I wish...

Thursday
Homework Reminder
Establish Base Groups: Business Cards, Label Portfolios
Personal Questions PowerPoint
Review of Jane Schaeffer terms

Friday
Collect 6 Journal Prompts
Read “My Name”
Make five CM’s or Comments


Homework: Interview parents about your name.
Create a list of at least seven details or facts you learn from your
conversation in your Writer’s Notebook #1 or WNB. Have ready for Monday's class.

Writer's Notebooks

We will be keeping Writer's Notebooks in 8th Grade this year, which we will refer to as WNB's. These will be used for in-class writing, responses to literature, and vocabulary. Each student should buy a composition book for this purpose. Students are expected to have this notebook ready by the end of the first week, and bring it to class every day. Below you will find a description of WNB's. All students will receive a grading rubric for this ongoing project during the first week of class, and should paste it into their class binders for year-long reference.

• These notebooks are intended to be a place for you to collect and draw inspiration from. They are highly personal, and each outcome will be different than the next. They will be used for pre-writing, in-class writing prompts, and vocabulary. Writer’s Notebooks will be collected regularly. Be creative and show who you are!!!! This rubric should help you gauge your performance and our expectations for your product.

• The top row of the rubric contains questions you should ask yourself before turning in your notebook.

SOME QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF BEFORE EACH GRADING PERIOD:
Is my notebook unique? Does it reflect my personality? Did I experiment with different writing styles and include a variety of artifacts? Do I have all the required entries? Are all my entries complete? Is my notebook presented clearly and creatively?

WNB's will be graded according to the following aspects, which are based on the Six Traits for writing. Student grading rubrics will break this down in detail.

• Ideas and Organization
• Effort and Presentation
• Style and Application
• Voice and Individuality