Week of April 18, More quote sandwiches on Shabanu

Quote Sandwiches about Characters

Hi everyone,

This week we are going to continue to analyze the characters in Shabanu by Suzanne Fisher Staples, as we know them in the second section of the novel. We will continue doing this over the next weeks, to see how the characters change.

In Google Docs, create a document called Blog 8: "Shabanu Character Quote Sandwiches"

You will be creating four quote sandwiches, one for 

• Shabanu
• Guluband
• Dadi

Write one full paragraph for each character, as a quote sandwich, following this structure:

•Top slice of bread = your thoughts, beliefs and ideas about the character. "Shabanu is ________________ because __________." This should be about 2-3 sentences long.

•In the middle is the meat = the quote from the story that teaches us about this character. "We can see this in the quote on page ___, "...."".

•Bottom slice of bread = “this quotes shows us that…” Concluding sentences, again proving what you believe about this character. Again about 2-3 sentences long.

When you are finished, post your quote sandwiches to our blog.

Week of April 11, Quote Sandwiches for Shabanu

Quote Sandwiches about Characters

Hi everyone,

This week we are going to analyze the characters in Shabanu by Suzanne Fisher Staples, as we know them in the beginning of the novel. We will continue doing this over the next weeks, to see how the characters change.

In Google Docs, create a document called Blog 7: "Shabanu Character Quote Sandwiches"

You will be creating four quote sandwiches, one for 

• Shabanu
• Phulan
• Mama
• Dadi

Write one full paragraph for each character, as a quote sandwich, following this structure:

•Top slice of bread = your thoughts, beliefs and ideas about the character. "Shabanu is ________________ because __________." This should be about 2-3 sentences long.

•In the middle is the meat = the quote from the story that teaches us about this character. "We can see this in the quote on page ___, "...."".

•Bottom slice of bread = “this quotes shows us that…” Concluding sentences, again proving what you believe about this character. Again about 2-3 sentences long.

When you are finished, post your quote sandwiches to our blog.

Week of March 14, Fighting Bullying

Hi everyone,

This week we are learning about how to fight against bullying.

Please visit this wonderful PBS website.

While you are there, you can find answers to the questions below.

1. What is bullying?
2. Who is a bully?
3. Who is a target?
4. How can you handle it?
5. What are innocent bystanders?
6. What is online bullying?

Please type your answers in Google Docs and then post them to our blog.

Also, please do the following:

1. Play the interactive games on the website to beat the bully!
2. Vote in their poll on the homepage

Finally, please visit these great websites and write a review on your favorite:

1. 121help.me
2. American Learns
3. Beat Bullying
4. Bully Beware
5. Bully Bust
6. Bullying. No Way!
7. BullyingUK
8. Girl Talk
9. KAM Kindness Above Malice
10. Kidpower
11. Make a Difference for Kids
12. One Million Kids
13. Stop Bullying
14. Stop Bullying Now
15. Stop Bullying, Start Empathy
16. The Bully Project

Thanks,

Ms Mann

Week of March 7, Grades for Marking Period 1

Hi everyone,

Today we will think about grades for the first marking period.

• I am using a program called Engrade to calculate your grades. Please go to the Engrade website to register and see your grades. You need your access code to do this, which is on the strip of paper I've given you.

• Now please answer the questions below in Google Docs:

1. What did you enjoy about class this marking period?  Why?  Please refer to specific activities, projects, workshops, etc.
2. What didn't you enjoy and why?  Please be specific.
3. Were there any activities/projects/topics that we didn't cover that you want us to cover?  Which ones? 
4. What can I do to make the class better for you (aside from no homework J )?  Please be specific.
5. Has your English improved since the class began?  If yes, how?  If no, why not? Please think carefully about this.
6. When and where do you usually do your homework?
7. Do you find it difficult to do your homework? Why?
8. How much time do you spend looking at your class notes each week?
9. What can you do to improve your class participation?
10. How do you study for tests and quizzes?
11. Do you feel that the grade you are getting right now is the best you can do? Why?
12. What strategies will you use to get a better grade next marking period?
13. What advice can you give to your classmates to make their experience in this class more meaningful?
14. Fill in the blanks..."From class this marking period, one thing I will take is _______________ and one thing I will give is ________________."

• Now post your answers on our class blog as a comment.

Week of February 29, More quote sandwiches

Quote Sandwiches and Inferences

Hi everyone,

This week we are going to review the characters in "The Man Who Was Almost a Man" by Richard Wright

In Google Docs, create a document called Blog 4: "Character Quote Sandwiches"

You will be creating three quote sandwiches, one for 

• Dave Saunders
• Mother
• Father

Write paragraph for each character, as a quote sandwich, following this structure:

•Top slice of bread = your thoughts, beliefs and ideas about the character. "Dave is ________________ because __________."

•In the middle is the meat = the quote from the story that teaches us about this character. "We can see this in the quote on page ___, "...."".

•Bottom slice of bread = “this quotes shows us that…” Concluding sentences, again proving what you believe about this character.

When you are finished, post your quote sandwiches to our blog.

Week of February 22, Quote Sandwiches

Quote Sandwiches and Inferences

Hi everyone,

This week we are going to review the characters in "The One Who Watches" by Judith Ortiz Cofer

In Google Docs, create a document called Blog 3: "Character Quote Sandwiches"

You will be creating two quote sandwiches, one for 

• Doris
• Yolanda

Write paragraph for each character, as a quote sandwich, following this structure:

•Top slice of bread = your thoughts, beliefs and ideas about the character. "Doris is ________________ because __________."

•In the middle is the meat = the quote from the story that teaches us about this character. "We can see this in the quote on page ___, "...."".

•Bottom slice of bread = “this quotes shows us that…” Concluding sentences, again proving what you believe about this character.

When you are finished, post your quote sandwiches to our blog.

Week of February 11, On Turning Ten

Hi everyone,

This week we are going to reread the poem called "On Turning Ten" by poet laureate Billy Collins.

On Turning Ten by Billy Collins

The whole idea of it makes me feel

like I'm coming down with something,
something worse than any stomach ache
or the headaches I get from reading in bad light--
a kind of measles of the spirit,
a mumps of the psyche,
a disfiguring chicken pox of the soul.

You tell me it is too early to be looking back,
but that is because you have forgotten
the perfect simplicity of being one
and the beautiful complexity introduced by two.
But I can lie on my bed and remember every digit.
At four I was an Arabian wizard.
I could make myself invisible
by drinking a glass of milk a certain way.
At seven I was a soldier, at nine a prince.

But now I am mostly at the window
watching the late afternoon light.
Back then it never fell so solemnly
against the side of my tree house,
and my bicycle never leaned against the garage
as it does today,
all the dark blue speed drained out of it.

This is the beginning of sadness, I say to myself,
as I walk through the universe in my sneakers.
It is time to say good-bye to my imaginary friends,
time to turn the first big number.

It seems only yesterday I used to believe
there was nothing under my skin but light.
If you cut me I could shine.
But now when I fall upon the sidewalks of life,
I skin my knees. I bleed.

Directions Part I: Answer the questions below, in google docs:

1. What is your favorite line in the poem and why?
2. What were your favorite things to do when you were ten?
3. What does the poet feel is the difference between being ten and being younger? Do you agree and why?
4. What do you wish you could still believe or do today that you believed or did when you were younger?

Directions Part II: Write a story about the boy in “On Turning Ten”. You can write about his birthday party, about what happens after he turns 10, about his 11^th birthday, etc. You decide.

Guidelines:

1. Use 10 vocabulary words from the poem (highlighted, underlined or circled)
2. Make sure you include details from the poem and show me that you understand his character.
3. Include the following literary elements and techniques

• Conflict (internal or external)
• At least two examples of figurative language (such as simile, metaphor, personification)

Now post your answers to the questions and your creative story to our blog.

Finally, read the posts of two other classmates and do the following:

1. What do you like about his/her post and why?
2. Answer their question if you can.