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!!! :)

A Christmas Carol Wrap-Up

Today we finished discussing A Christmas Carol. We discussed the plot sequence and labeled the parts together.  You wrote these in your notes.  I also collected the 3 questions from Monday along with the synonyms and antonyms work.

Finally I gave you a crossword puzzle.  There are a few errors.  If you want Cratchit as the answer, spell it "CRACHIT".  Also, 5 across is CHRISTMAS.

Finishing A Christmas Carol

First we discussed the questions you completed last week.

Next we finished A Christmas Carol!  We read scene 6 together.  Afterwards you completed the following questions on page 275: 1, 5, 6 and 7.  On page 276 you completed the synonyms and antonyms exercise.

Tomorrow we go to see A Christmas Carol at Meadowbrook Theatre!  Make sure you have your permission slip in (they were due last week).  Bring money to go out to lunch afterward and dress as you are going to the theatre!  I am looking forward to this trip with you!  It's always a great time!!

We will save watching the movie until just before we break for Christmas.  When we return on Wednesday we will discuss the play a little further.  You will have questions about it again on your midterm.

Continuing with A Christmas Carol

Today you read Scenes 4 and 5 to yourself.

You added odious and charitable to your definitions in your notebook.

You completed the 3 questions on page 270 in complete sentences.

1. What do you think Scrooge felt when he saw Sparsit, the charwoman, and the cook laughing over his corpse and dividing his belongings?  Explain.
2. What thoughts came to mind when you read Scrooge's reaction to news of Tiny Tim's death?
3. Why do you think Tiny Tim's death affects Scrooge so deeply? 

When you finished the reading/work from above you had time to do the following.  Continue thinking about it because tomorrow you will have a short test; we only have 25 minutes of class time so the test will not be too extensive.

Homework:
I would study vocabulary (words from the story as well as your drama/play terms), know characters, and basic parts of the story/plot.

Scrooge and the First Spirit

Scrooge and the Spirit of Christmas Past

Today we reviewed the definitions of a play/drama that you wrote in your notebook yesterday.  Next we read Scene 3 (Scrooge and the First Spirit).  

Homework:

Next Tuesday we will have a 25 minute quiz on the definitions and parts of A Christmas Carol story.  Please begin studying

A Christmas Carol and parts of a play

Today we read through scene 2 of "A Christmas Carol."  After we finished we read pages 245-249 in the literature book and read about parts of a play.  You took down the definitions in your notebook.  It was crucial to take down very good notes as this will help you study for your quiz next week before break.

NO HOMEWORK!

Yesterday and Today

Here is a picture of Fred trying to urge Scrooge to Christmas dinner.

Yesterday we visited the seminary!  I really enjoyed my time with all of you!  I hope  you got a lot out of it.  I learned some new things too :)

Today we continued with A Christmas Carol.  First we recapped what we started reading Monday.  Then we finished the scene.  You also took down two more literary definitions: moon and irony.  We also took down more regular word definitions from the book.  If you were absent today, make sure to borrow someone's notebook.

In addition we answered the two questions on page 257 and added a third: What is ironic about what we as readers know about Scrooge and what the gentleman visitor is asking of Scrooge?

Again, if you need some help, I am here or ask a trusting friend who wrote the answers down.

Beginning A Christmas Carol

Today we discussed the Dickens Webquest further with you.

Then we began reading the play by assigning parts and reading aloud.  We discussed the story along the way.

Nice work today!  No Homework!

Prepare for the field trip to the seminary tomorrow!

A Christmas Carol Webquest

The following assignment is due MONDAY!


Charles Dickens Webquest

You will need to use the links at this website to research Mr. Dickens. http://charlesdickenspage.com/

Please copy and paste the questions into a Word document and type the answers.  If you do not finish in the class period, attach the document to an email and send it to yourself and finish at home.

Have a merry time!

Dickens Fast Facts                           

1.     When was Charles Dickens born?

2.     What were his parents’ names?       

3.     Explain what happened to his father that made an important impact on his life?

Reading Dickens

4.     What makes reading a Dickens novel difficult?

Dickens’ London

5.      What was London like during Dickens’s time?  Use about 6-8 sentences.  Read this page thoroughly; it is quite interesting and different from life here in Michigan 2011.

Dickens’ Map

6.      The map is interactive.  Find Camden Town.  Click on it.  Why is it important to A Christmas Carol?

7.     Why is "The City" important?

8.     Why is the Royal Exchange important?

Dickens and Christmas

9.     There are 8 articles on this link, make sure to read all of them EXCEPT #4 and 7. After you read them, give one or two interesting connections between what you learned and how it is important to A Christmas Carol.

Article 1:

Article 2:

Article 3:

Article 5:

Article 6:

Article 8:

Go Beyond: Charles Dickens and the Industrial Revolution

Find an .edu website that offers information on Charles Dickens and the Industrial Revolution.  Summarize what you learned in at least 3 sentences.  What is the Industrial Revolution and how did it effect Dickens' work?

Movie vs. Book and the Christmas Spirit

Today you worked in groups to produce a Venn Diagram about the similarities and differences between the book and the movie for The Devil's Arithmetic.

Next you had an assignment to help prepare for our next reading of A Christmas Carol.  You wrote an in-class draft about "What the Christmas spirit means to you."

Homework:
TYPE your 8-10 sentence paragraph explaining "what the Christmas Spirit means to you".  You must have a topic sentence, supporting details, and a conclusion.  IT MUST BE TYPED (double spaced).  This is due tomorrow.

Finishing "The Devil's Arithmetic"

Today we finished the movie "The Devil's Arithmetic."

Tomorrow we will discuss the Venn diagram assignment along with another assignment to start getting us in the Christmas Carol spirit!

NO HOMEWORK TONIGHT!