November 2010 archive
86) The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns – a strong follow-up to Max Lucado’s Outlive Your Life
87) Who Was First? Discovering the Americas by Russell Freedman – a fascinating look at different theories about early explorers of America and even earlier settlers during prehistoric times
88) Hope Rising by Kim Meeder – inspiring stories of hope and healing for both horses and children
89) Fever Crumb by Phillip Reeve – I have discovered steam punk, and I like it.
90) Bodies from the Ice: Melting Glaciers and the Recovery of the Past by James M. Deem – not bad for nonfiction.
Monday
Correct your memoir. Once you have finished corrections, post it on your blog. Before you post, you will need to change the spacing to single space. Use the “paste from Word” button and “Control-V” to paste your memoir into a new post. Once you have published yours, enjoy reading your teammates memoirs. Be sure to leave encouraging comments.
HOMEWORK: Read 30 minutes–memoir first. Choose five words for Weekly Word Study.
Tuesday
We are starting our study of editorials. This is your chance to change the world. We will spend time this week exploring controversial topics. We’ll start local and write our way out. You will have a written conversation with your writer’s group today. Think about problems our school faces or things you would like to see changed. Choose one issue and write for two minutes. Give your opinion and explain why. When I call time, pass your papers to the person on your right. Read what they have written, and then add your opinion to the conversation. We will repeat this process for issues facing our community and state.
HOMEWORK: Read 30 minutes
Wednesday
People have opinions on all kinds of issues. You will look at headlines, political cartoons and more to generate a list of issues that people feel strongly about. Pay attention–ideas are everywhere! What issues were raised on Channel 1 this week? What issues have you encountered in the books you are reading? What are there issues you feel strongly about? What action do you want people to take. Choose one topic to complete a free write about.
Homework: Read 30 minutes. Word Study due tomorrow.
Thursday
Now it’s time to read what other people think. Go to my blog and click on the link for the New York Times Upfront. If you click on the “Debate” tab on the left, you will get a list of past topics. Quickly scroll through and choose one that sounds interesting to you. Read both sides of the issue. Which do you agree with? Write your response to the issue in a new blog post on your blog.
HOMEWORK: Word Study due today. Three-five pages of writing due today! Read 30 minutes. Get your reading log signed.
Friday
READ! You should have chosen a new book to read. If not, choose one from my shelves. Spend the rest of class happily lost in your book.
HOMEWORK: Reading Log due TODAY. Read over the weekend.
Here is your introduction to technical writing. It is probably the most practical reading you will ever do!
Ingredients:
- Oreo cookie
- Candy corn
- Hershey Kiss
- OPTIONAL: Green icing
- OPTIONAL: Red icing or small piece of red licorice
Directions:
- Divide Oreo cookie into two pieces.
- Place four or five pieces of candy corn (or Reece’s pieces) around the top of the Oreo cookie that has the icing.
- Place the flat part of the Kiss in the icing at the bottom of the Oreo.
- OPTIONAL: Add green icing to the other half of the Oreo so the turkey will ‘stand up.”
- OPTIONAL: Add a touch of red icing or a small string of red licorice to make the waddle.
- OPTIONAL: Eyes can be added using small pieces of icing or by ‘stealing’ a little bit of frosting with a toothpick.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Here’s the deal. You can order great books through Scholastic. Sometimes they even give you a great deal. (Always check out the $1 book in the top right corner.) An even better deal, the more books you order, the more free books I can get for our classroom library. There are two ways to order:
1) Fill out the paper form and bring it with your money (checks made out to Scholastic) by Frida.
2) Order online at Scholastic (for parents only). On the parent page, click the “REGISTER” button under “First time here,” then register for your own user name and password. When prompted, enter the one-time activation code code (GPBPV). This code ensures that your orders are sent to me. Select the books you want from over 500 titles. Take advantage of on-line only discounts and specials. SEND your order to me on-line. I will deliver the books in class.
Here are my picks from these:
November
- Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson – I’ve been waiting for this one since finishing Chains. Curzon, a runaway slave joins Washington’s army at Vally Forge. Will he and Isabelle find their freedom at last?
- Firehorse by Diane Lee Wilson – Rachel breaks all the rules to care for her horse and others in the Boston Fire Department.
- Chasing Lincoln’s Killer by James Swanson – Read a historical thriller about the massive manhunt for the man who shot Lincoln.
- Scumble and Savvy by Ingrid Law – What will the latest savvy be for this talented family?
- Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson and Cut by Patricia McCormick – both are stories about young women who search within themselves for the courage to say what is in their hearts and minds.
December
- Stones into Schools by Greg Mortenson – learn what Greg has done to bring schools and peace to Pakistan and Afghanistan
- How to Write Your Life Story by Ralph Fletcher – write the story of your life from blogging to journals
- The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti – based on the true story of a boy who dared to tell the truth about Hitler
- Closed for the Season and Deep, Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn – eerie ghost stories
- Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements – What would you do if you woke up invisible one morning?
Yes, the public library wants you–your opinion that is. What would you like to see offered for teens at our local library? Do you want your own book club? more volunteer opportunities? scrapbooking sessions? computer/blogging lessons? Wii game time? All these and more have been offered in the past.
Let the library know what you want by filling out a survey. If you complete the survey, you will be entered into a drawing for a Wal-Mart gift card. You can pick up a copy of the survey from the library’s circulation desk or right here at our school library. You must include your name and either your email or phone number to win the drawing.
If you want to know more about what the library can do for you, contact Kate Conklin at the library, 346-2091.
Yes, I waited until Sunday afternoon, but I did get to see the latest installment of the Harry Potter movies. I knew the directors/producers had decided to split the final book into two movies, so my question going in was, “Where in the world do you stop the action in the middle of the story?” I was pleased with the ending–dramatic and definitely leaves you panting for more, but it also providid a logical stopping point. At least it did for me, who had read the book. My friend, who saw the movie with me and had not read the book and did not know the book was split into two movies, was not as pleased with the ending. She does not want to wait till June to see how it goes from there.
Translating a story from printed word to images on the screen is never an exact science, but I thought this movie did better than most at remaining true to the sense of the book. The overwhelming mood of this movie is dark and sinister. Evil is no longer threatening; it has arrived.
What are my favorite parts? Here they are in no particular order:
- The stark, barren landscapes provide a chilling backdrop to Harry, Hermione, and Ron’s search for Horcruxes.
- To me, the most chilling scene was at the Malfoy’s long table. Voldemort is in search of another want with which to fight Harry, and the Death Eaters have two conflicting stories about when and how Harry Potter will leave the Dursley’s.
- The animated retelling of “The Tale of Three Brothers” tranforms it from a cautionary children’s story to a dire prediction of the horrors to come. It is beautifully and chillingly portrayed.
- Some things are more hinted at in the movie–all the wand lore, Dumbledore’s murky past–than they are explained. Since I know the rest of the story, I didn’t need to get bogged down in the details.
- The beginning sequences are truly frightening in how alone the three are–Hermione obliviates her parents’ memories and watches as her images disappear from all the family photos. Ron stands alone in the yard of the Burrow, waiting. Harry goes through the Dursley’s empty house, picking up pieces from his childhood.
As always, there are a few scenes I missed: where Dudley gets a glimmer and thanks Harry for saving his life; Kreacher’s transformation of Sirius’s home while Harry, Ron, and Hermione plan their raid on the Ministry of Magic.
If you’ve seen the movie, what do you think?
Miracles do happen every day at the Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon. Kim Meeder retells story after story of the miracles that happen when love finds a way. Kim first found comfort and healing on the back of a horse as she dealt with the murder-suicide of her parents. Grown up now, Kim shares that healing power of horses with children of all ages for no charge.
The ranch is funded by love–the love of volunteers and donors who give of their time and money. Kim and the rest of the staff rescue neglected, abandoned, and abused horses from the surrounding area. They then match each horse with a child and leader. Then get out of the way. Often the horses are able to reach in to children who shut everyone and everything else out.
I first heard of this book from a student who was reading it. It’s been sitting on my TBR pile for way too long. I wish I had dived into it much sooner. If you love horses or inspiring stories of hope, you will want to rush to the bookshelf to grab this title. While you are waiting, you, too, can get involved with the healing power of horses. We have our very own therapetuic riding center, Reins to Recovery. Check out the volunteer opportunities available, from grooming and tacking horses to taking pictures. I volunteer once a week with their program, and it is the highlight of my week. Something about brushing a horse’s mane and coat melts the stress away.
Do you know who really “discovered” the New World of America? I thought I did, but Imight be wrong. Russell Freedman starts with Christopher Columbus, the first European given credit for discovering America for the King and Queen of Spain. It turns out Columbus was a little late to the New World party. I had heard the theories of Leif Erikson and the Viking voyages to the New World. I had no idea, though, that Chinese sailors may have been here even earlier. Much of those voyages are still debated by historians, but the evidence so far is enough to get me wondering.
Of course, how can someone “discover” a new land that already has millions of people living in it? Did the very first “Americans” cross over from Siberia on a land bridge across the Bering Straight during an Ice Age? I thought so, but the latest discoveries say probably not. The very earliest settlers probably arrived by boat from a variety of locations–Asia, certainly, but also possibly Europe, Australia, and Africa.
Rather than being something old and never-changing, history–or rather or undertstanding of it–changes with each new discovery.
Monday and Tuesday
Book talks! Today you will be presenting your book talks to the class. Use the rubric I gave you in class to prepare your talk. I will grade your presentation as you give it. While you are listening to your classmates, have your binder open to the Someday Books page. Be sure to write down any titles that sound interesting to you.
There are special presentations brought to you by the Guidance Office on Monday for 8th grade girls during third period and 8th grade boys during 6th period. That means boys will be presenting on Monday during third period and girls during 6th period. Be ready!
Wednesday
Periods 2 – 4 will get to practice reading and following directions to make a Thanksgiving treat. During 5th, 6th, and 7th periods, all Pioneers will be in the auditorium to watch a movie.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
No Word Study or Reading Log due this week. If you missed a week for your reading log, I have a deal for you. If you read during Thanksgiving week, I will replace your grade for a missing reading log with whatever you read this week.
I have finally finished reading and grading all you memoirs. Now I can dive into all those books stacked on the corner of my desk. It’s a good thing Thanksgiving break is coming up!
I am impressed with how much all of you are reading. Here are the totals from your reading reflections.
- Third period (with 24 students) has finished 74 books. Megan M and Adam Do tie for most books read with 10 a piece. Click on their names to see which titles they’ve read.
- Fifth period (with 23 students) is close behind. They’ve finished 67 books. These guys spread out the reading work. Everybody (everybody who posted this blog assignment anyway) read at least two books. Kayli P tops the list with 6 books.
- Next comes 2nd period (with 21 students) with a total of 64 books. (Do you notice there are fewer students, here?) Charity A has read 13 books, and Zach T has devoured 11.
- Sixth period (with just 19 students) has read 56 books. Kayla M (10 books) and Ariel G (8 books) lead the way for this class.
- Fourth period (with 26 students) has read 53 books. Trinaty H gets top honors for completing 7 books.
That means we have read a total of….(drumroll, please–just not on your desks)…314 books! Way to go Pioneers! That means we need to read 866 more books to reach our goal of 1200 for Scholastic’s Classroom Cares. Can we do it? YES, WE CAN!
I can’t wait to hear about the books you will book talk next week. If you’re still looking for a good book to read, browse the titles on your classmates’ blogs. There are some excellent suggestions. Pay attention to the book talks to see what else sounds good.
I’ve heard of so many good books coming out soon that I want to read. Here’s a science fiction one you don’t want to miss. You can check out the first chapter of Across the Universe by Beth Revis on her blog. Seventeen-year-old Amy agrees to follow her parents and be frozen for a 300 year journey in a spaceship to a new planet. After reading the description of the freezing process in Chapter 1, I can’t believe Amy didn’t just walk away. OUCH! Anyway, she wakes up 50 years too soon only to discover that someone on the spaceship is trying to kill her. If she can’t figure out who, her parents are next. Who wants to buy me this for Christmas?
So what book are you eager to pick up next? Keep on reading!
