January 25-28

Monday
No school

Tuesday
Periods 2, 5
FOUND poem due today
Problem-solution essay
Brainstorm
Hw:  Introduction due tomorrow
FOUND poem due tomorrow

Periods3, 4, and 7
Lit circle #3 due today
analogies
Hw:  read for Lit circle #4 due Friday (ch 15-17)
Problem-Solution essay due Friday

Wednesday
Periods 2, and 5
Blue Diamond
check Blue Diamond
Work on problem solution essay outline

Periods 3, 4, and 7
Blue Diamond
check Blue Diamond
flat/round/foil charcters
Maslow's H of needs
Hw:  Maslow task; lit circle; online post due Thursday

Thursday
READING QUIZ FOR ALL
ANALOGIES FOR ALL

Hw:  create THOTS analogies (periods 3, 4, and 7)
Finish problem solution essay outline (see PINK sheet for guidelines) 

Friday
PROBLEM SOLUTION FRIDAY

Lit circle #4 duet today (3, 4, and 7)
Maslow's H of needs due (3,4, and 7)
Problem solution essay due (3, 4, and 7)
problem solution outline due (2 and 5)

January 18-21

(Periods 2 and 5)

Tuesday

1.       Agree or Disagree

2.       Lit cirlcel #1 due

3.       Flat and round characters

Hw:  lit circle #2 Friday 

Periods 3, 4, and 7

1.        Literature Circle #2 due

2.       Work on scientific invention

Wednesday

(periods 2 and 5)

1.        Write a response to Andy’s poem about hope ababab rhyme scheme

2.       What is the tone of his poem, imagery,

3.        internal and external conflict

(periods 3, 4, and 7)

1.      “The Discovery” by Wislawa

2.      SOAPStone

2.       Flat and round character

3.       Present scientific experiment

4.  I.R. #2 assigned; parent signature due 1/26 parent signature due

Thursday

(periods 2 and 5)

1.     Internal and external conflict

2.    Read in text

3.    Reading quiz

4.    Problem solution

5.    Grammar

(periods 3, 4, and 7)

1.     Internal and external conflict

2.    Reading quiz

3.    Grammar

Friday

(periods 2 and 5)

Lit circle #2 due

Read in text

Problem solution

(periods 3, 4, and 7)

Problem solution assigned (rough draft due Tuesday)

Week of January 10-14

January 10-14 Language Arts

Hi there,
We are going to use this site, since you all cannot post on “blogspot” while at school.  I want to make sure every student has an opportunity to post on my blog, whether you have computer access at home or not.

Monday
January 10
(Periods 3, 4, and 7)
Due Today
-Literature Circle #1 is due (Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5)
-Vocabulary is due
Class time:
-Share Literature circle work
-Discuss text
Hw:  discussion Questions for chapters 1-9 are due Friday
Literature Circle #2 due Friday, January 13


Periods 2 and 5
Due Today:
-Rob’s Eulogy
Class Time:
-share speeches for Rob’s funeral
-Discuss author’s style more
-Read in novel TOAT
-Vocabulary discovery (Select 10 words from the reading that you wouldn’t normally use in your writing or speech.  Write the page number where the word is located.  Define the word.  Then, you’ll have to write a descriptive story using the words correctly)  Due Friday

Hw:  Read in your I.R. novel
Lit circle #1 due Wednesday
vocabulary story due Friday


Tuesday
January 11, 2011
periods 3, 4, 7
Class Time:
-quiz on chapters 1-5
-Whole-Class Discussion
-Online Blog
-Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

 Hw:  Finish Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs; write online blog post; read in novel; Lit circle #2 due Friday; Study guide questions due Friday

Periods 2 and 5
Class Time-Whole class discussion
Hw:  vocabulary; literature circle #2 due TOMORROW!
Read in your I.R. book


Wednesday
Periods 3, 4, and 7
-Blue Diamond
-Read Silently in THOTS
Hw:  Read in THOTS
Literature Circle #2 due Friday
Discussion questions pgs 1-91 Friday
Online Blog due Thursday

Periods 2, and 5
-Literature Circle #1
-Blue Diamond
-Read TOAT
Hw:  vocabulary due Friday!!  read in your I.R. book


Thursday
-Grammar (ALL)
-Grammar Blue Diamond (ALL)


Friday
periods 3, 4, and 7
Due today:
Literature Circle job #2
Discussion questions pgs 1-91
-Literature Circle #2 due
(Share in Lit Circle Groups_
-author’s style
Periods 2 and 5
Due today:
vocabulary writing pieces
I.R. reading (30 pgs min.)
-Webquest (Media Center)
-I.R. blog #2 (next 30 pgs due)
Hw:  read I.R. book

Period 7 Blog Post will be due THURSDAY, Jan. 13

Hi again,

I am big on quotations and finding pieces of text that speak to you as you read.  Your task between now and Thursday is:

Find at least 3 quotes from the text that either tell about Matt, his outlook, that of society, or ones that evoke some sort of emotion in you.  Record the quote or summarize each, include a page number, then explain the significance of each. 

For instance, if it made you laugh, tell me why you laughed.  If if made you sad, then explain the sadness.

This is due on THURSDAY!

Period 4 Blog Post will be due Thursday, January 13

Hi again,

I am big on quotations and finding pieces of text that speak to you as you read.  Your task between now and Thursday is:

Find at least 3 quotes from the text that either tell about Matt, his outlook, that of society, or ones that evoke some sort of emotion in you.  Record the quote or summarize each, include a page number, then explain the significance of each. 

For instance, if it made you laugh, tell me why you laughed.  If if made you sad, then explain the sadness.

This is due on THURSDAY!

Period 3 THOTS BLOG POST WILL BE DUE THURSDAY! January 13

Hi again,

I am big on quotations and finding pieces of text that speak to you as you read.  Your task between now and Thursday is:

Find at least 3 quotes from the text that either tell about Matt, his outlook, that of society, or ones that evoke some sort of emotion in you.  Record the quote or summarize each, include a page number, then explain the significance of each. 

For instance, if it made you laugh, tell me why you laughed.  If if made you sad, then explain the sadness.

This is due on THURSDAY!

I'll stick with blogspot!

Hi guys!

I was having a more difficult time navigating through tumblr.  So, I think I'll just stick with blogspot for right now.  Thank you James for trying to help me along in my technology journey.

blog UPDATE!!!

I've moved sites because as you all know, we cannot add comments in the comments section while at school.  Since, I wanted the website to be accessible by all my students, I had to find a place that allows comments while at school.  The new site that James Morton, your classmate, set up for us to use, allows us to make comments while at school.  Please follow me at



http://languageartsmrsgreene.tumblr.com/

TOAT blog post period 5

Hi there,

Use this blog to respond to the following:  Tears of a Tiger begins with a tragic accident- a fatal car crash caused by drinking and driving. The story is then told from the points of view of the group of friends involved, with no narrator present.
a.How does this method of telling the story affect the reader’s experience and response? Give specific sections of the book that are especially affected.
b.What advantages and disadvantages does this method of narration offer?
c.Think about Draper’s purpose in writing this book. How does her choice to leave out a narrator accomplish this purpose? Was it an effective choice?

TOAT blog post period 2

Hi there,

Use this blog to respond to the following:  Tears of a Tiger begins with a tragic accident- a fatal car crash caused by drinking and driving. The story is then told from the points of view of the group of friends involved, with no narrator present.
a.How does this method of telling the story affect the reader’s experience and response? Give specific sections of the book that are especially affected.
b.What advantages and disadvantages does this method of narration offer?
c.Think about Draper’s purpose in writing this book. How does her choice to leave out a narrator accomplish this purpose? Was it an effective choice?

THOTS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS PGS 1-91

Vocabulary pgs 1-91 (vocabulary due Friday)

Eejit p20               Clone p26                            Bandido               Disconsolate                      Vain                       Taunt

Sullen                    Trundle                                                Solitude               Cache’                                  Rummage           Bristly

Dung                     Contemplated                   Instinctively        Disarray                                Wail                 Intrusion

Delusion              Bury                                       Typhoid                Fortress                               Revulsion      Excursions

Impassively        Guileless                              Tentatively         Theoretically                      Capitalist      Ravenously

Pustule

Chapters 1-9  Put each response in a complete sentence.

1.       Why do you think the author included “Cast of characters” in the beginning?

2.       What do you think scorpions have to do with the story?

3.       Do you think it was a good idea for Emilia to bring Maria back to see Matt, after Emilia’s first encounter with him?

4.       Judge Matt’s decision to jump out of the window onto the broken glass.

5.       What is an eejit?

6.       What do you think about the scorpion in the doorway that Matt spied upon arriving to the Big House?

7.       Determine why Emilia believed she was the best person to take care of Matt before the doctor arrived.

8.       Why was Matt different from the other kids?

9.       Select at least two things that Matt and Maria have in common with each other.

10.   Why aren’t charms needed in the Big House?

11.   Describe a chupacabra.

12.   Choose one reason why Matt liked Maria so well.

13.   Determine the reason behind the story of La Llorona.

14.   Predict El Patron’s role in the story.

15.   What event(s) led Rosa to loathe Matt?

16.   Is Matt in some ways forced to behave like an animal?  Defend your answer.

17.   What changes did Rosa make to Matt’s cage as a form of punishment? 

18.   Judge her decision to make those changes.

19.   Do you think luring the bugs and insects was a good thing or a bad thing?  Explain.

20.   How would you feel if you were placed into Matt’s position?  What did he do to deserve such treatment?  (answer this based on your reading)

21.   Do you believe the feather from the dove was a sign?  What did it signify to Matt?

22.   What do you think about Matt referring to his cage as the “kingdom?”

23.   Why are people in Durango called “scorpions?”

24.   How would you have handled being thrust into society after months of isolation?

25.   How does Matt react to his sudden societal change?

26.   Why is Matt the most important person to El Patron?

27.   Do you think El Patron’s decision to choose bodyguards from another country is a wise decision?

28.   What is different about Matt’s teacher versus other teachers?

29.   Determine Matt’s reason behind wanting to excel in school.

30.   Make a prediction about why El Patrol was cloned.

Cloning Webquest- -Wednesday and Friday

Cloning Webquest

Cloning is a major topic in THOTS.  I want you to conduct some independent research of your own on cloning before we get into the text.  Before you participate in a later "You Be the Scientist" activity, you will need to explore the topic to gain more insight.  There are some links below that will be helpful to you.  You are encouraged to find websites of your own to help in your research.  Please use caution when surfing the web.  Your task is to find answers to the following questions and type your responses: 

• What is cloning?
• How has cloning started?
• How is cloning done?
• Are there different kinds of cloning?  If so, what are they?
• Which animals have been cloned so far?
• What are the potential benefits of cloning?
• What are the potential risks of cloning?

You can use the following links to help start your research:

http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/cloning.shtml

http://www.genome.gov/10004765

http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/cloning/whatiscloning/

http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/cloning/whyclone/

http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/cloning/clonezone/

http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/cloning/cloningrisks/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/flash/0,5860,534450,00.html

http://science.howstuffworks.com/genetic-science/cloning.htm

I.R. Blog post period 5

In the comment section below, respond to one of the bullets on your rubric.  You will create a minimum of 4 posts of the course of 4 weeks.  If you complete more than 4, you'll receive extra credit.

Thanks!

I.R. blog post Period 2

In the comment section below, respond to one of the bullets on your rubric.  You will create a minimum of 4 posts of the course of 4 weeks.  If you complete more than 4, you'll receive extra credit.

Thanks!

Period 7 Cloning

Hi there!

Respond to the following questions in your discussion about the two articles that you've just finished reading.


What are some ethical issues with cloning?  What is the difference between the two articles?  Why would anyone want to clone?  How should it be regulated if it were legal to clone others?

Respond to at least of one of your classmates.

Period 4 Cloning

Hi there!

Respond to the following questions in your discussion about the two articles that you've just finished reading.


What are some ethical issues with cloning?  What is the difference between the two articles?  Why would anyone want to clone?  How should it be regulated if it were legal to clone others?

Respond to at leasts one of your classmates.

Period 3 Cloning

Hi there!

Respond to the following questions in your discussion about the two articles that you've just finished reading.


What are some ethical issues with cloning?  What is the difference between the two articles?  Why would anyone want to clone?  How should it be regulated if it were legal to clone others?

Respond to at least one of your classmates.

Week of January 3-7, 2011

Hi there,

I hope you had a restful break; I didn't.  I was stuck in an airport most of last week.  Ugh!

I am excited about the new year and having a fresh start.  We will begin reading The House of the Scorpion this week in periods 3, 4, and 7.  Tears of a Tiger will be read in periods 2 and 5.  Please get a copy of the text on your own to read.  I hope you were able to get it over the break, but if you weren't, you still have time.

Monday
Class time (3, 4, 7)
-go over I.R. expectations
-go over issues raised in the text (THOTS)- -whole class discussion
Hw:  finish I.R. due 1/6/11 and intention wall brick

Class Time (2, and 5)
-Go over I.R. blog expectations
-go over issues raised in the text (TOAT)- whole class discussion
Hw:  finish intention wall brick; get I.R. book and read 30 pages by Thursday

Tuesday
Class time (3, 4, 7)
-drawing conclusions
-lit circle distribution
-finish whole class discussion
-sparknotes review of text
-brain pop video on cloning

hw:  read clone articles and respond to blog question by Thursday
ARTICLE 1 -  http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,979522,00.html

ARTICLE 2 - http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,999233,00.htm
What are some ethical issues with cloning?  How should it be regulated if it were legal to clone humans?

vocabulary boxes for pages 1-91 due Friday
Class time (2, and 5)
-finish whole class discussion
-begin reading text (TOAT)
-read "The Spotless Mind" article

Hw:  find an article related to one of our whole class discussion topics.  Due Thursday

Wednesday
Class time (3, 4, and 7)

-60 second Shakespeare due TODAY!!
-(THOTS) vocabulary due Friday
-Begin reading text
-Literature Circles meet to plan
-Media center to work on webquest (?) not definite yet.

Hw:  vocabulary due Friday and I.R. due Thursday

Class time (2, and 5)
-Read (TOAT)
-distribute literature circle packet
-Distribute Discussion questions packet
-author's style

Hw:  I.R. blog post tomorrow in media center; article on textual issue in (TOAT)
Write Rob's eulogy in the voice of BJ, in Sharon Draper's style


Thursday
Class time (3, 4, 7)
-Grammar
-Discuss cloning article and blog posts
-overarching question:  What are some ethical issues in cloning?
-I.R. due (oral presentations to share)


Class time (2, and 5)
-Grammar
--Literature circle #1 due Monday

Hw:  Lit circle #1 due Monday.

Friday
Class time (3, 4, 7)
-Media Center to finish webquest  (This is up in the air right now.)
-Hw:  Lit circle #1 due Monday
(chapters 1-5 due Monday)
Hw: reading quiz Tuesday


Class time (2, and 5)
-Media center for blog post on I.R. book (bring I.R. sheet)
-blog post on TOAT 

Use this blog to respond to the following:  Tears of a Tiger begins with a tragic accident- a fatal car crash caused by drinking and driving. The story is then told from the points of view of the group of friends involved, with no narrator present.
a.How does this method of telling the story affect the reader’s experience and response? Give specific sections of the book that are especially affected.
b.What advantages and disadvantages does this method of narration offer?
c.Think about Draper’s purpose in writing this book. How does her choice to leave out a narrator accomplish this purpose? Was it an effective choice?

Hw:  Lit circle #1 due Monday
Reading quiz:  Tuesday