Figurative Language Practice

Hello everyone, I apologize that I cannot be with you today. I fully expect that you will be respectful to the adult in the room who is here in my place!

Today's Goal: Identify and analyze Cisneros' use of figurative devices in The House on Mango Street.





The Plan:

1. Read for 10 minutes quietly.
2. Take your House on Mango Street quiz. (NO books. You have 15 minutes.)
3. Work on the figurative language worksheet. You may work with the people around you to have conversations about the work, but ultimately, you have to write down your own words. You also should not be speaking any louder than necessary to quietly talk to the people at your tables. This is due at the end of the period.
4. Catch yourself up on your English Journal Assignments (See chart to the left). If you are missing any, the instructions should be found on the blogpost from that date. I would also recommend asking a peer to help/explain it to you.

Homework:

• Read House on Mango Street pages 46-52, and flag one thematic concept in each vignette
• "Chanclas"
• "Hips"
• MAL Root Handout Due Tomorrow, Wednesday, December 16
• You will have one more HOMS reading quiz before break. It is on Friday, December 18

Quote Integration (TCE Practice)

Source: How To Empower Your Mind Through Reading

Today's Goal: After we begin reading The House on Mango Street, we will practice using quotations from the novel to support an argument.

The Plan:

1. Read! Yay!
2. Talk about the the Letter to your Future Self
3. Learn about your English Journals
4. House on Mango Street reading!
5. Quote Integration Activity (which you will write in your English Journal!)

Quote Integration Activity:

You will be given a statement that makes an argument about something that has occurred in the book (This is called a Topic Sentence), and a direct quote from the book (This is called Evidence).

Your job is to take that quote and embed it in a sentence that gives context to the evidence you are using. You will also give it a proper MLA Citation. There is no partial credit for this. You will all learn how to do this beautifully.

Helpful transition words that might be useful.

Homework:

1. Read Vignettes 1-4: "The House on Mango Street;" "Hairs;" "Boys and Girls;" "My Name"
2. For every vignette, place one sticky note on a quotation from the book that relates to at least one of the thematic concepts listed on your bookmark (make sure to label the sticky).
3. You're going to have a quiz tomorrow on those vignettes. (This is your fair warning.)

Article of the Week - TED Talk

Today we're going to return to something that we haven't done in a while: Article of the Week!

It's going to be a little different today though. I have a TED Talk for you. We're going to watch a video. Before we get to that though, I have a question for you.

Sometimes we find ourselves in situations where we are wrong. How does that feel? Is it okay?


In your English Journal, write at least two paragraphs:

Paragraph 1: 
According to Kathryn Shulz, what is the value in being wrong? What are her main arguments about being right or wrong?

Paragraph 2:
How have your views about rightness and wrongness changed? What is your overall opinion of this talk? How might it affect you and your peers?


Things to Work on at Home (Homework):

• Continue working on your summary document. You should have your blurb and examples by this point. Work on writing WHY the examples you have are strong.
• Write your NaNoWriMo reflection (Part III).

Welcome Back!

You wrote a novel! 

Congratulations!!!

The first thing we do today?
READ!


First order of business:
 In your English Journal (not your novel!), start a new entry at the top of the document with today's date.

Now that NaNoWriMo is officially over, it is time to reflect on the experience. Write a paragraph or two describing your experience. Don't spend more than ten minutes on this. Just write as much as you can. Some questions to get you started might include:

• What did you like or dislike about NaNoWriMo?
• What did you learn?
• How has your view of writing changed?
• What has changed in your own writing?
• What was difficult and how did you overcome those difficulties?

Second order of business:
Since you finished writing your novel, and probably got a lot of reading done as well, you're welcome to check out new books! (Please make sure you bring back books you've finished or want to abandon so others may read them.)

This week we're going to be spending time working on revision and editing!
This means you're going to take your novel and make it better.
Here are the things that you need to look for today:

1. My story has an ending that includes a resolution. (You can work on this as you need to, but you cannot simply stop when you hit your word count. You need the climax and resolution to complete the novel!)
2. I have divided my novel into sections or chapters in order to give it a structure that makes more sense for the reader.
3. I have divided my writing into paragraphs and have made sure that I have indented properly.
4. I have indented dialogue properly (each time there is a new speaker, there is also a new paragraph).
5. I have made sure that all dialogue is punctuated correctly. (Use of quotations, commas, question marks, etc.)
6. I have capitalized all words at the beginnings of sentences.
7. I have capitalized the word “I” every time I have used it.

Plot Planning, Day 2

So you have a word count goal.

You also have a protagonist, an antagonist, and your conflict.

Now you get to

outline your plot!

Woo! 

1. Copy and paste this document into your English Journal if you did not do it yesterday.
2. Begin outlining your plot by following the directions.
3. When it asks for paragraphs, you should be writing paragraphs.
4. If you need to review any part of plot from what you should have read for homework, here is a link to the NaNoWriMo Handbook

A New Project...

Source: pixabay

Books out.
If you haven't chosen a book that you're planning to finish in the next three weeks, let us help you find one. Right now.






Today, we explore our new project together.

Have you heard of NaNoWriMo?

You get the first few minutes of class to Google it.
Learn as much as you can.
What is it? How does it work? Can you find any good advice?

-------------------------------------------------------

Remember yesterday how you created you ideal novel and wrote a blurb about it?
Today you're going to focus you're attention on your "model novel" (the best book you've read recently).

Copy and paste these nine questions into your English Journal, and answer them using your model novel (this is NOT your ideal novel).

1. What is the title and author of your model novel?
2. Who are the important characters in your model novel?
3. In two sentences, what is the book mostly about?
4. What is the main conflict in the novel?
5. Whose perspective is the novel written from?
6. How does the novel begin?
7. Where is the story set, generally?
8. Name one thing you absolutely love about the author's style of writing (such as "It's hilarious." or "The words flow like poetry." or "I love how the chapters always start with ___.").
9. What is your favorite thing about the novel (such as "The quirky characters." or "The suspenseful plot.")?

What if you could read the PERFECT book for you?

Sit in yesterday's seat!

Get your books out!

Go to the blog!

Be prepared!

Imagine if you could read the most perfect book for you. It would tell the story you want to hear. It would capture your attention in the right ways. You wouldn't be able to put it down.

Today, you'll use the slides below to create that book.

Follow the directions on these slides. They'll guide you.




HOMEWORK. (Yes. You have homework.)

1. Write the book blurb for your ideal novel underneath the chart you made today. Check the end of the slides for more information about what that is. Look at
2. Come to class with a "model novel." A model novel is one of your favorite books. It is a real book that you love and will never forget. If you can bring a physical copy, that's awesome, but you don't have to.
3. Bring in the signed permission slip that Mrs. Roberts gave you last week if you can or want to.

AOW #4

You have some work to do today. Are you ready?

1. Today is Friday. That means you get to read an Article of the Week! You will not be on Newsela today. Instead, open this article called "The 9 Ingredients of Character Development." Make a copy to annotate. In your English Journal, write one paragraph to summarize the article, and one paragraph to share you thoughts and opinions.
2. Have you filled out the form for your book reviews? The link is on the top of the page and it says "Independent Reading/Book Reviews" on it. Make sure you have submitted that form.
3. Go back into Goodreads and edit/finish your book review.
4. Catch up on your English Journal.
5. Check Powerschool. Are you missing anything?

We are collecting your group novels today so you do not have to take them to the library. If you do not have it today, you have until next Friday, October 17 to return it to the library.

Also, on Monday, you will have an assessment to show your understanding of what we have been working on in the past five weeks. If you want to know what to do to prepare, the answer is to practice looking for characterization, setting, mood, sensory details, and conflict in your own independent reading novels. If you can do that, you will be fine.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Conflict Resolution

Source

PROTIP: 

While you're reading (because there is a book out on your desk), OPEN THE BLOG.

#goodhabits

Your first set of directions:

1. Open your English Journal.
2. Log into Goodreads (by clicking the "log in with Google" button")
3. Copy and paste the book review that you wrote on Monday into Goodreads.
4. Go and find the website page that has your book review on it and don't close that tab.
5. Read until further notice.

There is a fancy form you'll need to fill out today. It is a tab at the top of the blog called "Independent Reading/Book Reviews." Take a look at it. It has helpful information, and you can begin to fill it out. You'll need the link to your book review that you wrote, which is why I wanted you to keep that page open.

You spent yesterday exploring conflict in a short story.

Today, you will work with your partner to identify conflict in your group novel.

• You should add the examples from your own group novel to the bottom of yesterday's chart. You can do this by right clicking on the table and clicking "add row."
• Try to find examples of different types of conflict in your novel.

Conflict

Source: Pixabay

Hey! You!

Yes, YOU!

Is there a book on 
your desk?

I need you to fill out another form please!
Thank you!

So far we've taken the time to analyze characters, settings, mood, and sensory details. We are not done yet!

Over the next couple days, we're going to be looking at conflict!

Conflict is a struggle between two opposing forces. (like in chess?)

In literature, there are few types of conflict.

Don't panic! We're going to learn what those are.

When I tell you to, click this link for a view only copy of a document. 
DO NOT MAKE A COPY. 
Instead, listen to my instructions.


Reminder - By Friday you should have:

• Completely finished reading two books.
• Written one book review and posted it on Goodreads
• Updated your English Journal.
• Taken the last Group Novel quiz. (See Ms. Black or Mrs. Roberts if you haven't.)

Sensory Details and AOW #3

READ.

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies," said Jojen. "The man who never reads lives only one.” 

― George R.R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons

Yesterday you made a chart in your English Journal and began reading a passage from your group novel to look for sensory details. We will continue that process today. If you do not know what your passage is, or don't know what the chart could look like, ask a neighbor or scroll down to yesterday's post.


What else are we doing today Ms. Black?

Article of the Week!

I know that we usually do Article of the Week on Fridays, but we're switching it up a little bit. 

There is a new Newsela article in your binder. 

1. Read it.
2. Take the quiz.

You do not have to write a summary. Today, focus on the quiz. Ask questions if you have them. If you are not taking the quizzes, it will affect your grades.


Bonus:
Give Ms. Black a thumb's up if you read all the way to the end!

Sensory Details

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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7yRpkzZKhonnYhPGlzr9ILc0ZpzVQyLRsQi9ApDlif_7XK47k_XFOWYouAXQZ1ctodxbByYtgtEd810SnMl6N3oHLszafM44AjRJh6K4UUsXlmEyUtoHjQDUGVt2WSS7x9-JI7fwg8o/s1600/open-163975_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7yRpkzZKhonnYhPGlzr9ILc0ZpzVQyLRsQi9ApDlif_7XK47k_XFOWYouAXQZ1ctodxbByYtgtEd810SnMl6N3oHLszafM44AjRJh6K4UUsXlmEyUtoHjQDUGVt2WSS7x9-JI7fwg8o/s1600/open-163975_640.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="http://pixabay.com/">pixabay.com</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Hey!<br />
<br />
While you're reading (not talking), you need to get a couple tabs open:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Your highlighted copy of "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez</li>
<li>Socrative! (<a href="http://m.socrative.com/" target="_blank">http://m.socrative.com</a>&nbsp;is the address)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<b>Goal #1:&nbsp;</b><br />
<br />
Yesterday you highlighted sensory details in "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings."<br />
<br />
You're going to choose your favorite, most descriptive sensory detail from what you read yesterday.<br />
<br />
In Socrative, you'll be doing the following:<br />
<br />
Choose the best sensory detail from the story and (1) type it into Socrative, (2) explain which sense it appeals to, and (3) explain how the description affects you as a reader.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Goal #2:</b><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Reread the passage from your group novel listed below.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Find specific instances where the author uses sensory details and copy them into your English Journal.</li>
<li>State which sense each quotation appeals to, and how it affects you as a reader.</li>
</ol>
<div>
<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/szbqgwpl7u4530l/Sensory_Details_Chart.docx?dl=0" target="_blank">(You may want to create a chart like this one in your English Journal if you think it would be helpful.)</a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>Of Mice and Men:</b> pages 99-100 (First two pages of last chapter)<br />
<b>Saint Iggy:</b> Pages 46-48 – A vile description of the apartment building where Freddie<br />
sells drugs and a bunch of addicts hang out all strung out.<br />
<b>Lord of the Flies:</b> Pages 134-135 – the description of the boys slaughtering the sow.<br />
<b>Romiette and Julio:</b> pp. 178 – 180 – the description of Terrell’s gang threatening<br />
Romiette &amp; Julio<br />
<b>Secret Life of Bees: </b>pp. 191-193<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Goal #3:&nbsp;</b><br />
If you read this, Mrs. Roberts and I still want high fives, but you'll need to tell us who your favorite character is in your group novel, as well. **Be careful: We might ask why.<br />
<br />
You have all period to fulfill this goal. I hope you read it.

How Authors Describe...

Source

Monday!



I am sorry I had to miss class last Friday. Hopefully Mrs. Roberts didn't cause too much trouble while I was gone.






Scoring your English Journal:

Today you're going to evaluate your English Journal. You'll need to open it in one tab and this SCORING GUIDE in another tab.

Copy and paste this into your English Journal at the top. and complete the blanks based on the scoring guide.

 I believe I have earned a _________ (enter a number from the scoring guide) on my English Journal because _______________________________(explain why you earned that score based on the scoring guide).

"A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings:"

This week we're going to be looking more at how authors create descriptions. Authors use sensory details to make the setting and characters seem more real. Sensory details refer to how things smell, taste, feel, sound, and look, but show rather than tell.

Today, you'll need to spend some significant time reading "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings." You'll need to open that link and click file/make a copy for your own use. I will explain how we will do this.

Read, Write, Talk!

PUNS!
Source: We Know Memes

"Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them."

-Lemony Snicket, Horseradish

Today we have priorities. Let's get to work.

Priority A:
Fill out this form. (I know. We fill out a lot of forms. Trust me: It's a good thing. It only helps you.)


Priority B:
Continue working on your collaborative Google Document from yesterday on setting and mood. Remember: I can look at your revision history to see if all of you are writing/participating/lending your voice to the group.

One piece of advice: WRITE DOWN THE PAGE NUMBER OF THE QUOTE.

I'm putting that in capital letters because I have to remember to tell you about it. Also, it's important.


Priority C:
Group Discussion Questions and writing! Much like last week, take a look at these discussion questions. Answer them as a group, and pick one to answer in your English Journal individually.

If you cannot answer them well, that means you have some reading to do. You'll still need to write a thoughtful answer. Come back to it to add more detail later.



Priority D:
If you read this: 
4th period: Remind Ms. Black and/or Mrs. Roberts when we put netbooks away that we have some papers to give you. Then find someone in the room to give a high five.
6th period: When you put your netbooks away, give someone in the room a compliment, then a high five. Then go high five Mrs. Roberts and/or Ms. Black.

Group Novel Settings

Source: Chip Kidd

Okay. Yesterday we spent a lot of time looking at a character named Miss Havisham from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.

Today, you can focus your attention on your group novels.

Goal #1: Look closely at the setting in your book. 
Look at the settings described in your group novel.  Select at least three quotes from your novel that describe the setting, but tell you something about the character. Add these quotes to the same chart you were working on yesterday. (This should give you at least four entries on your table in your English Journal. The first one will be about Miss Havisham.)

You may work with the person sitting next to you to find quotes and discuss the characters, but you will all need to write in your own English Journals.


Goal #2: Join Remind
Some of you still haven't joined Remind. If you are one of these people, you have a zero in your gradebook. If you would like to change that, join Remind TODAY. This means you need to click on your period in the sidebar and follow the directions. 


Goal #3: STUDENT DATA FORM
Quite a few of you have still not completed the Student Data Form (linked in the sidebar). This is not optional. If you are one of these people, you have a zero in your gradebook. 

If you suspect you are one of these people, fill out this form.


Goal #4: Update your English Journal
Are you missing any entries or parts of entries? Fix that. This is your chance.


Goal #5: Create a Setting
Choose a character from your group book that doesn't have his or her own setting, or who's setting is not well described.  THINK about what you know about that character. WRITE a descriptive paragraph about the setting for that character (in your English Journal, under today's table). EXPLAIN (in a second paragraph) what you are trying to show about the character with the setting you created. There are some ideas HERE if you need help.

Novel Discussion/Quiz

Hello again! 

Make sure you have your book out! 
We'll be reading.


Today we have four goals.

1. I'd like us to look at a few examples from what you did yesterday. How were these examples successful? How can we improve them?
2. You're going to take a Reading Quiz based on your novel. Click here to access it.
3. Once your are done with your quiz, take a look at these discussion questions. Take some time to discuss the questions that pertain to your novel with your group. It is in your best interest to use evidence from the novel to support your answer.
4. After you feel confident about any or all of the questions, choose your favorite, copy it into your English Journal, and answer the question in writing. This is an individual activity.

Bonus Goal:

This is a survey that I'm asking you to complete because I want to know your opinions about our classroom environment.
Please be honest. Your name is not attached to it, and it should only take a couple minutes. There's less than 10 questions.

Article of the Week #1

Source: YA Book Lover Blog

Let's Read!

Today you will be reading and summarizing your first Article of the Week, or AOW as we like to call them sometimes.

I keep sending you to new websites, and today is not any different. Right now, follow these directions:

Go to b.Socrative.com.

Scroll all the way to the bottom. Do Not Create an Account.

Enter Classroom Number 6867.

Wait for a question on your screen.

Today's Article of the Week is called "Obama announces plan to "degrade and ultimately destroy" ISIL". You will find it in your binder in Newsela.

1. Read the article.
2. Take the quiz
3. Open your English Journal and above yesterday's summary, write today's date and title it.
4. You will write 2 paragraphs here. In the first paragraph, summarize the article. In the second paragraph, write your thoughts about the issue.

  Important Information:
You must bring your ID on Monday. You'll need it.

A list.

Check out this handy dandy list I made for you. Some of this should already be completed. Some of it we will work on today.

The first thing you will do after we read today is fill out the 9th Grade Reading Survey. 

This is your priority. 

When you are finished, these are your next steps:








Join Remind:
I only have a few people who have joined Remind. It may be that you didn't complete all of the steps. That's okay, but here is a link that will help you get it done. It should only take a minute or two.

• 4th Period
• 6th Period

Create an English Journal

1. Create a new document in Google Docs.
2. Name it with your period# Full Name English Journal (i.e. 4 Alyssa Black English Journal)
3. Share it with Ms. Black using her gmail address

Join Newsela and take the quiz on the article you read.

1. Go to Newsela
2. Sign in by clicking "Sign in with Google" (this will make your life so much easier).
3. Use class code NIIJN when it asks.
4. Click on your Binder in the top left corner, read the article that has been assigned to you, and take the quiz.

Summarize the article from Newsela in your new English Journal

1. In your new English Journal, write today's date, and type the summary of the article in this document.

If there is anything else on this list that you have not completed, get it done.

Summarize It!

Make sure you have your books out; we'll be reading.

Today we have four goals. Because we always have goals.

• Create an English Journal in Google Drive.
• Join Newsela.com.
• Read and summarize an article that you will read on Newsela.
• Join Remind. The directions are on your desk.

Creating an English Journal

1. Create a new document in Google Docs.
2. Name it with your period# Full Name English Journal (i.e. 4 Alyssa Black (English Journal)
3. Share it with Ms. Black using her gmail address

Join Newsela

1. Go to Newsela
2. Sign in by clicking "Sign in with Google" (this will make your life so much easier).
3. Use class code NIIJN when it asks.

Read and Summarize the article on Newsela

1. Find the article that has been assigned to you. It's called "Americans flushing much more water than they think."
2. Take the quiz that you will find at the end of the article.
3. Write a summary of the article in your new English Journal. Make sure you label it with today's date.

There is a piece of paper at your tables with directions on how to join Remind. 
Remind allows us to send you important information via text or email.

1. Get your phone out.
2. Follow the directions on the paper.