I've Missed You All!

Hey there my wonderful, fabulous students!

I hate that I've been out for a few days. But I have bad news; I'm going to be out some more. Doctor's orders; and I don't argue with the doctor when he tells me what's best.

So, let's make the most of it, shall we?

I'm going to outline what you should work on this week so we stay on track. I expect you, and not the sub, to ensure that this work gets done. There will be someone with you all week, but you need to be the ones to stay on top of the work. I will inform the sub of what you should be working on.

First off, spend any free time you have in class working on your Commonplace Books.
If you turned it in last week just take it from the box by my desk and keep it until next week. I'll be back on the 10th. I didn't grade them but I did make note of who turned them in.


The second thing you can work on is your vocabulary.

Period 5: This is from the workbooks. You should be studying these words, how they function in a sentence (part of speech, morphology (how they change with prefixes and suffixes), and what words are related to them.

Period 2: These are the words from "The Scarlet Ibis". You should make flash cards using the format we went over in class. Check your notes. You should be able to fit this format on a standard index card. Just omit the word in the middle of the four boxes and put it on the opposite side for study purposes.

The following information is what should be in the four boxes:

definition, syllables, part of speech, related words (the word as changed by adding a prefix or suffix) Example: if the word was retrieve, related words would be retrieving, retriever, retrival
synonyms (same), antonyms (opposite)
an example of the way the word is used in the text (quote)
a sentence that you've written on your own (showing your knowledge of how the word is used)

Period 3/4: You can work on the vocab in your little book for lesson 15 and also those workbook pages you had for homework last week.


Overall, you should work on the following:

Period 2: Finish reading "The Scarlet Ibis". Finish your reader response log and complete the questions that follow. Do these on a seperate sheet of paper and use complete sentences.

Next, prepare to write an essay on this story.
Your essay will answer this question: Is Doodle's brother a good brother to him or not?

You will need to write a thesis statement following the class model.

Then you will need to have two pieces of evidence from the text to support each of your three reasons (as outlined in your thesis statement).

This outline will be due on Monday when I get back.

You should also read the short story "Harrison Bergeron" in the anthology. Fold some paper and complete your reader response log as I modeled in class with "The Scarlet Ibis".

There are a few writing assignments that come before and some questions that follow. Complete all of this work on a seperate sheet of paper. Have all of this complete for Monday as well.

Some things to think/write about for this story: What is a perfect society? Would the world be better if we were all the same? What might be better if we were all the same? What might be worse? Would people be happy if there were no differences?

To recap, I will collect these things Monday: "The Scarlet Ibis" reader response log, textbook questions, and essay outline; "Harrison Bergeron": answers to think/write questions, reader response log, and textbook questions

Period 3/4: Complete all Unit 15 Big Book work on your own or in pairs. Use the teacher's guide located at the podium to check your answers and to complete teacher-led activities for Unit 15. Read the text selections in your Little Book and complete the fluency builders in the back of your Big Book. Someone please pair up with Walter and help him get going on this work. It is tough to start a new class, and even more so when the teacher is out on medical leave.

Once you are done with Unit 15, complete Unit 16 in the same manner. Read your little book if you're struggling with any of the grammar concepts. Everything is outlined there.

You will be taking all Unit 15 and Unit 16 tests when I get back on Monday, Dec. 10th. Be prepared! Don't slack off. I'm expecting good behavior from you guys! And I will be taking points from anyone the sub says gave them problems!


Period 5: You should have read up to chapter 5 in Fast Food Nation. I'd like you to divide into the groups you had for the last summarizing activity. If there are fewer groups than there are chapters left, please divide the appropriate number of groups in half. I trust that you can handle organizing this.

Each group should select one of the remaining chapters and complete the following:
1. Read and discuss the chapter as a group. Do this in class.
2. Summarize main points (in order) and prepare an outline of them. Then complete 2-3 paragraph Mean and Matter sections. This should be detailed and should incorporate your knowledge of how to refer to a text.
3. Create a graphic or visual to represent this chapter. You may do a series of graphics or one that is all encompassing. Do this on a large sheet of construction paper (which is in the back metal cabinet; markers are in the top drawer of the filing cabinet).
4. Write an explanation of your graphic. Explain what it is and how it relates to your reading.
5. Prepare to present this information to the class. Presentations will be Monday, Dec. 10th. No exceptions!

Commonplace Books for ALL PERIODS will be due on Monday, Dec. 10th with 40 entries!