Congratulations!

You are finished with your first semester at the Academy!  This is something you should definitely celebrate! It has been such a joy to have you first semester and I look forward to seeing you next year in 8th grade English.

Grades are posted on Edline.  There is a grade on the report marked Midterm Grade.  This is the grade you received on your midterm test.  Overall, I was very impressed!

Have a terrific break!

It's A Wonderful Life

We will conclude It's a Wonderful Life tomorrow.  With the remaining time you will have a silent, healthy snack study.

Friday: "It's Not Goodbye, It's See You Next Year" Party.  My party game includes a literary term BINGO!  Make sure you study up to be eligible for FABULOUS PRIZES :)

It's A Wonderful Life!

Today and yesterday we watched "It's a Wonderful Life" and discussed the similarities and differences between it and "A Christmas Carol."

Looking Ahead:
THURSDAY: We will have a study day in class.  You may bring a small NUTRITIOUS snack (NO CHIPS or CANDY).  Acceptable ideas brainstormed: popcorn, pretzels, fruit, drink box, water, pita bread.

FRIDAY: We will celebrate with a "It's not goodbye, it's see you soon" party!  I am sad to leave you, but excited that I will see you next year for 8th grade English!  I got volunteers to bring in various goodies (THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS and parents :)  We will also be playing a party game: "Literary term BINGO!"  Start studying so you can win FABULOUS prizes!!! :)

Could this be the Bitterings at the watering hole before turning completely into Martians?

They look a little tan here!

Today we finished the story.  We also discussed what makes the story have a circular plot.

After reading you completed questions 6 and 7.

6.  The lieutenant likes the Martian landscape.  What could you predict from that information?

7.  What do you think the relationship between the Bitterings and the newcomers will be?  EXPLAIN your answer

You also were given a frame on a piece of paper.  You are to draw (IN COLOR) a picture that may appear in the Bitterings family scrapbook or on their wall of family photos.  Be sure you can explain your photo to the class on Monday!

No Class Today---MASS!

We did not meet for class today.

But do not forget to bring your 

coloring utensils tomorrow!!!

1 MORE DAY FOR BRADBURY

We almost finished the story today!  We read up though 489, middle of the 2nd column.

We discussed a great deal!  You were all excellent; I am super proud!

You answered the following two questions in class:
1) #4 on page 491
2) Which scene in the story can you visualize most?  Go back to the scene and describe it.  How many senses are you using?

TOMORROW we will not meet because we have church at the Big Church.
FRIDAY: We will finish the story.  Also, BRING YOUR COLORING UTENSILS!!!!

Almost finished with "Dark they were...and Golden-eyed"

Today we read up to page 487 end of the second column when Cora is telling Harry they should move to the Villa.

Then you added answers to the following questions on the same sheet you did yesterday's questions on:

1. Why won't Harry eat anything grown from the garden?
2. Why does he eat the sandwich?
3. Events/Actions: a.  advance the plot  b. foreshadow future events  c.  explain characters' actions and motivations.  Find 2 events that help give you the "Aha! Since this has happened, I know what will happen next in the story" OR "Because this happened, I know why a character acted a certain way"
4. Look at the illustration on page 486.  Give 2 interesting details about it that are "hard to see."  How does this illustration relate to our story?  Explain.

Continuing with "Dark they were..." by Bradbury

Today we continued reading the short story by Bradbury.

We read up to page 484, 2nd column when Sam says, "Now look what you've done!  You've broken my mirror."

With 15 minutes remaining you answered 4 questions on a separate sheet of paper:

1. The action of the story are the events that advance the plot (rather than thoughts/ideas).  From pages 479-481 list 3 action events. (FOR EXAMPLE (and the example does not count in the 3): they land in a rocket on Mars.
2. Why is it important to rename the Martian landmarks with human names?
3. Unusual things start to happen!  List at least 4.
4. On page 491, answer question #3

Starting "Dark they were, and golden-eyed"

Today we began Dark they were, and golden-eyed by Ray Bradbury.

We began class  by discussing Mars and about what you learned about science fiction. Next we began reading the story.

We will continue with the story next week.

NO HOMEWORK!! Except perhaps to start studying for mid-term exams. I gave you a review sheet.  This review sheet can also be found on our Edline page!!

Ray Bradbury study

The next story we will read is by Ray Bradbury and is in the genre of SCIENCE FICTION!

You had the entire hour to learn a bit about our new author.  You read 474-478 in your lit. books and answered the following questions:

Ray Bradbury Author Study: Complete answers on another sheet of paper.

“In Love With the Future”

1. What does Bradbury specifically like and what evidence is provided to prove it? 
2. Who admires Bradbury?

“When I was 19, I sold newspapers”

3. Briefly summarize Bradbury’s early years.

“I was literally writing a dime novel”

4. What is a dime novel?
5. What novel of his was a dime novel?  Briefly explain what this novel is about.

“Future Worlds, Present Reality”

6. When you read science fiction, what should you pay attention to?

Page 478

7. In your own words, what is THE RED PLANET?
8. Focus your reading: Describe the two types of plots.  What type of plot will Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed have?
9. What is visualizing; what does visualizing ask the reader to do?

Define the vocabulary words in the story:  amiss, forlorn, recede, dwindle, flimsy

We will begin our new adventure to the planet Mars tomorrow!!! :)