Week of June 7th, Do you want to be an activist?

Hi everyone,

This week I want you to learn about a special human rights class I teach here at Newcomers.

• Please visit the website to learn about the human rights class.
  
• When you are there, watch the videos on that website, using the links to Teacher Tube (the You tube links will be blocked). There is a video about the class, and six videos made by students in the class. All have Teacher Tube links.
• Open the book made by the students.
  
• Answer the questions below in Google Docs.

1. How do you feel about the film and book? Why?
2. Are you interested in participating in a class like this next year? Why?
3. Please type a paragraph with the sentence starter..."If I could help change a problem in society, I would change..."
   

• Finally, post your responses to our class blog as a comment.

Thank you!

Week of May 16th, POV writing on The Scarlet Ibis

Hi everyone,

• This week we are going to write POV pieces with a new ending for The Scarlet Ibis.
  


• Please look at the assignment and begin typing your piece. Save it in Google Docs as "Scarlet Ibis POV"
• Then post it in our blog.
• I will grade it as a test, make sure you do a really good job.

HW#29: Finish blog (for grade)

Week of May 2, Writing about "Elsewhere"

Hi everyone, This week we will write an epilogue to The Giver, and find out what happens to Jonas and Gabriel. This is a part II, how the story continues. Be sure to include a conflict to make your story interesting, be creative, and continue the story the way you hope it continues.

1. What happen to Jonas and Gabriel as they enter "Elsewhere".


2. Do Jonas and Gabriel survive?


3. Are they happy?


4. What is their life like?


5. What is "Elsewhere" like?


6. What happens to Jonas' society?


7. What happens to the Giver and Jonas' family he left behind?
   

• Write the story as if you are the narrator.




• Then post your story to our comments area for this blog.

Week of April 18-25, vacation HW, performance of The Giver

Hi everyone,

• Please reflect on the performance of the Giver.


• Please visit the American Place Theatre's backstage wall.


• Click on "Go backstage"


• Post your comments about the show and write 3 good questions for the actors.

Your other HW is to:

1. Complete the Regents Practice (controlling idea and literary analysis paragraphs)


2. Reread The Giver Chapters 17-23.

Thanks, Enjoy your break, Ms Mann

Week of March 14-18

Hi everyone,


Today we are going to talk about Coming of Age ceremonies.

Jonas is going through the change from being a boy to being a man. He participates in a special ceremony to honor that event. In English we call this "Coming of Age".

1. In MS Word, write a description of this kind of ceremony in your native country. What is it called, what do you do, how do you dress, is there a party, what is done? Be detailed and specific.
2. Please find websites that show how this ceremony is practiced in your native country. Paste in links to these websites.
3. Read 3 other students' posts and write about what you learned from each one.
4. How are the ceremonies similar and different?

Here is my example:

I am Jewish and in my religion, when a child turns 13, he or she is given a bar mitzvah (boy) or a bat mitzvah (girl). This ceremony first takes place in a synagogue which is a house of worship for the Jewish people. During the ceremony, the boy or girl reads from the Jewish Bible, called the Torah, in Hebrew. He or she sings songs and is joined by members of his or her family. Candles are lit, prayers are read, songs are sung, and many people are there to watch and participate. After the religious ceremony, there is a big party with food, dancing and more celebrating. It is very exciting and fun.

Here are links to websites with information about the ceremony:

• http://judaism.about.com/od/lifeevents/a/whatisabarmitzvah.htm
• http://www.aish.com/jl/l/bm/48956006.html
• http://www.watchdoit.com/how-to-videos/Bar-Bat-Mitzvah-Rabbi-Jonathan-Ginsburg-wwwJewuinfo-3225

Week Four, March 7 - March 11

Hi everyone,

Today we will learn about our new novel, The Giver

by Lois Lowry.

I. One important feature of this novel are the characters' names which are loaded with meaning. Please visit this website and scroll down to page 14 where they discuss the meaning of the different names. Read this page very carefully. You will have to answer questions about it below.

II. Please visit this website to hear Lois Lowry talk about her childhood, her work, and about our novel. There are several video clips here. Please listen to all of them.

III. In Microsoft Word, please answer the questions below. Then post them into our blog.

1. Why do you think the author chose names with such important meaning?



2. Please make a list of each name and write a one sentence summary of what it means. (there are four)



3. After watching all of the video clips, what is your impression of Lois Lowry and why?



4. How does it feel to listen to an author talk about her work and why?



5. How do you feel about reading The Giver now that you have heard her talk about it and the controversy around it?



6. What is one piece of advice you learned from her about being a writer?

IV. After you post your answers, please read another students' post and respond to it.

Week Three, February 28-March 4

Hi everyone,

Today we are thinking about the short story, "Old Glory" by Bruce Coville.

1. Please visit Bruce Coville's website and check out its features.



2. Listen to the audio sample of "Old Glory". Click on the button that says "audio sample" and wait for it to load. Then listen to the story.



3. In Microsoft Word, answer these questions. Then post your answers to our blog and respond to the post of another student:

• How does this story make you feel and why?



• Who are the S.O.S.? What do they do?



• Write an ending to the story, based on the piece of the story you just listened to.