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

WEEK 16 AGENDA: DECEMBER 17-21

Foci: Semicolons & Colons/ Anticipating S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders

Notes:
*Remember to bring new or almost new clothes, gifts and toys for the Wind River Reservation Christmas Drive by December 18
*Have a wonderful winter break! School resumes on January 2nd!
*Homebase - SS gifts and Christmas party on Friday! Remember to wear your Christmas Costume for the contest!

NO HOMEWORK THIS WEEK OR OVER BREAK. ALL MISSING WORK DUE BY FRIDAY.

MONDAY:
WNB #11: Student Prompt
More practice with Homophones
Update Reading Log in WNB and share current book topics and themes

TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY: Semicolons and Colons
Practice and Grammar Derby

THURSDAY:
*Review Short Story comments & reflect on what you did well and what you would like to improve on in your next big piece of writing.
*File writing from Q2: TTT 2 & 3, Short Story
*Interactive Writing - Punctuating Dialogue Review and Practice

FRIDAY
*WNB #12: What are the biggest issues facing teens right now? How can you positively and effectively cope with these pressing problems?
*Guided Fishbowl Discussion

WEEK 15 AGENDA: DECEMBER 10-14

Foci: Mood and Symbolism, Short Story Terminology Review

Notes:
*Winter Break is from December 22nd-January 1st
*Please enjoy photos of kids from frozen tableaux activity in post below.
*Please bring unwrapped gifts, toys, and clothing for the Wind River Reservation Project.

Homework:
*If you haven't spent your hour outside of class on your story, do so before Monday. Stories are due at the end of class on Monday.
*There will be a short story unit test on Friday in completion of our unit. This is an 8th Grade Standard - Literary Terminology.

*Homework for this week is:

1) Spend 1 hour outside of class studying independently or cooperatively with peers for this test.

2) Homophone Worksheet

MONDAY: Finish editing short story. All stories due by the end of class. Remember to use the story checklist, your grading rubric, and title helpers as you finish up.

TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY:
Share stories in Base Groups & do Daybook pp. 78-86 cooperatively

FRIDAY: BRING SSR BOOK TO CLASS!
*Homophone Worksheet due
*SHORT STORY UNIT TEST!!!!

Story Publication Opportunities:

Writing Conference Contest
http://www.writingconference.com/contest.htm
Deadline is January 8th, 2008.

Teen Ink Contest
http://teenink.com/Contests/
Contest is ongoing.

MINI-PHOTO GALLERY FROM FROZEN TABLEAUX

WEEK 13 & 14 AGENDA: NOVEMBER 26-DECEMBER 6

Foci: Drafting Short Stories, Peer Editing, and Understanding Theme

Notes: We will be typing our stories in class this week and next week. If students want to transfer their pieces from home to school, flash drives and email are excellent tools.

NO SCHOOL ON DECEMBER 7 - TEACHER INSERVICE.


STAY TUNED FOR PHOTOS FROM OUR FROZEN TABLEAUX ACTIVITY - Please contact me if you DO NOT WANT your child pictured on this blog.

Homework: Daybook 55-59 due on Friday

Recent WNB's:

WNB #8 - Draft Setting and Conflict
WNB#9 - Short Story Chronology Mapping and Element Lists

MONDAY AND TUESDAY:
Mini-lessons: Point of View, Titles & Story Leads

SHORT STORY ASSIGNMENT LOGISTICS

Things to think about as you write your story:

o What stories stuck out for you that you read in preparation for this? What made them good and memorable?
o What kind of mood do you want to create in your piece?
o Who will be your narrator?
o Will they employ 1st person, 3rd person limited, or 3rd person omniscient technique?
o What does your protagonist want?
o What central conflict will your character face? What complications will occur along the way?
o Who or what stands in the way?
o What order will you sequence your events? Do you need to start at the beginning or not?
o Will your characters be dynamic or static?
o What literary techniques will you use – e.g. personification, irony, dramatic irony, hyperbole, understatement, foreshadowing, suspense, symbolism?
o What tone will you employ as an author?

TIMELINE:
Typing days in class: November 26, 27, 28, 30, 3, 4. 5, 6

Other:
Individual Conferencing throughout process
Peer Editing - November 29
Base Group Sharing – December 10 & 11

ROUGH DRAFT DUE NOVEMBER 30
2 COPIES OF FINAL DRAFT DUE DECEMBER 6

FORMAT:
You need a title, header and footer
Double space, 12-point, Arial font
2-7 pages in length (unless you chose TTT3 Exemption option)

GRADING:
Your piece will be graded according to the rubric distributed, which is based on the 6 Traits for Writing.