March 2011 archive

No fooling…fun on a Friday

First fun item for Friday is news of another student being published.  You guys ROCK this year!

Chase S wrote a memoir about shooting his first turkey.  It is up on an outdoor/hunting/fishing blog.  Check it out at Bill Howard’s Outdoors.  Not only is it published on this blog, it will also run in two newspapers:  The Wilson Times and The Yancey County News. 

Now, for a history lesson.  You may have missed the first broadcast in 1957, but it’s not too late to learn all about the spaghetti harvest in Switzerland.  Besides, enjoy the cool English accents in this BBC broadcast.

 

What is your favorite April Fool’s joke–whether you pulled it or had it pulled on you?

Writing your lead…and then the rest of your research paper

You should have created your lead and turned it in at the end of class.  Underline or highlight the different parts of your lead in these colors:  Blue for the hook (ooh fact), green for the citation (website where you found the fact), purple for the transition (to connect your hook and thesis statement), and red for your thesis statement (one sentence that sums up what you think is most important about your writer).  It should look like my example:   

     Amelia Atwater-Rhodes does her best writing on the floor of her closet. If the closet is unavailable, she has also been known to write in the back seat of her car or sprawled across her bed (Teen Reads Past Interview). Even though she writes in some very strange places, Atwater-Rhodes creates popular young adult fantasy novels that will take you into a world of vampires and shape shifters.

Once you have written your lead, you are ready to write the rest of your paper.  The good news–you did most of the hard work when you took your notes.  Get out those notes.  Each category will become a different paragraph in your paper.  (If you did not take notes on the types of books and the types of awards, you will need to get that information.)  Decide what order would be best for your paper.  For each paragraph, write a topic sentence.  The topic sentence should state what the paragraph is about and relate back to your thesis statement. Then tell the facts that you learned about your writer that support your topic sentence.  Give a citation for each fact you include from your research.

      Rhodes got an early start creating these fantastical worlds in her books.  She loved the spooky stories her mom shared with her growing up.  Atwater-Rhodes says, “She pretty much raised me on Stephen King and Dracula and aliens” (Contemporary Authors Online).  Sharing those stories with her mom gave her the inspiration to write her own.  She started writing a science fiction novel in the second grade (Contemporary Authors Online).  When she was thirteeen, she began to dream of publication.  She got her lucky break when a teacher turned out to be a literary agent as well.  He offered to read and then represent her first book, In the Forests of the Night.  He called on her fourteenth birthday to tell her her novel had been accepted for publication (Random House).  That phone call would top all the other presents.

Congratulations! Let your Voice Be Heard

Congratulations to the following students who submitted their editorials to the essay contest Sponsored by Creative Communications!  Their essays were selected for publication in an anthology (book of short writings by  different authors).  Click on the links below to read their editorials. 

Carleesa B, Ashton B, Blake C, Dylan D, Adam Do, Monica E, Ryan H, Devin K, Emily S, Brianna S, and Audrey W 

The editorials are posted.  See what your classmates think.  Be sure to drop by and let your voice be heard as well. 

 Congratulations to Keenan C, whose editorial on serving soda in the cafeteria was published as a letter to the editor. 

Other students who wrote about improving nutrition in schools are Megan M, Baylee W, and Mistina H.  While we’re on the topic of nutrition, should fast food restaurants include toys in their kids’ meals?  Check out what Emily R And Adam Dr have to say. 

Quite a few students have something to say about the dress code, from facial piercings to hair color to short length:  Charity A, Andy S, Shania Si, Taylor W, Adi G, Patience E, Michelle F, Kayla M

Would allowing cell phones in school engage more students in learning, or would they cause more distractions?  These students may not all agree, but they do have something to say:  Dalton C, Kyle H, Justin W, Shanai Sp, Alicia H, Emma W, and Austin MaBrittany H says that schools should make better use of technology such as iPads.  I’ll volunteer to give one a test run!

Alan D and Anthony E argue in favor of fewer restrictions on PDA.  Sara V would like to have a few more chances before experiencing this year’s new Accountability Lunch.  Alyssa D would like to see more prayer in school. 

Zach T and Baylee K have suggestions for school schedules, from year round school to block 8 scheduling at the high school.

Vyran P and Wyatt D think schools should offer more PE classes.  Katelyn P and Dariyn C would like to see some changes to the swimming unit.  Wyatt C would like to see boxing offered in the county. 

Sports offered many topics for editorials, from making sports safer to making them fairer.  Check out what these students have to say: Harrison F, Adam G, Ali B, Hunter S, Kate E, Sydney K, Courtney H, Blake C.

Abortion was the most popular choice of topics:  Brooklyn M, Dakota R, Scarlett S, Shelbi N, Mickey B, Cheynne H, Shelby G, Maia K, Emily S, Ashton B, Monica E, Amber D, and Carleesa B

These students tackle the topic of teen pregnancy:  Audrey W, Brooke S, Brianna S, Emily P, Tequila L

Karlie R, Maddy H, and Jessi R give their views on gay marriage and gay rights. 

Courtney B and Marissa W offer suggestions for dealing with teen suicide.

Are you worried about the environment?  Check out what Devin K and Adam Do have to say.

Kassidy F and Mike C both write about animal rights.  Lexi E writes about legalizing marijuana.  Tara T reconsiders the driving age.  Cole  B writes about the effects of illegal immigration.  Austin Mu would like to see less government control.  Evan P wants to keep 2-stroke engines around. 

You did a great job expressing your opinion.  Now, if our political leaders could learn to disagree this respectfully!

Rubrics for Author Research Projects

You had good ideas for what to include in the writing and poster for your author research project. 

Here is the rubric for the poster.  Enter this number (2035051) in the search box under “Go to Saved Rubric.”  Then click the VIEW button.   You may choose to do a traditional poster on posterboard or create an online poster using GlogsterEdu. 

Here is the rubric for the research report. Enter this number (2035053) in the search box under “Go to Saved Rubric.”  Then click the VIEW button.

The required information includes the author’s name, book information, awards and accomplishments, and at least five of the following topics:  family, education, career (other jobs), hobbies, childhood, hometown, inspiration for writing, influences on writing, writing process, interesting facts/favorites.

What do you think needs to be added or clarified (explained more)?  Leave me a comment to let me know.

Week at a Glance: March 28 – April 1

Monday
The rest of the research project:  A poster and writing to present what you have learned about your author.  What should be included on a poster and paper about a writer?  We will develop a rubric for these projects as a class.  If you did not turn in your research notes before Spring Break, you must turn them in today for late credit.  You cannot complete the rest of the research project if you haven’t completed the notes.
HOMEWORK: Read 30 minutes. Choose five words for Weekly Word Study.

Tuesday
Crafting a hook to begin your writing.  Start with one of the most interesting facts you learned about your writer to begin with.  We will look at several examples of strong and weak beginnings.
HOMEWORK: Read 30 minutes.

Wednesday
Finish writing you research report.
Homework: Read 30 minutes. Word Study due tomorrow.

Thursday
Contine working on research report.
HOMEWORK: Word Study due today. Read 30 minutes. Get your reading log signed.

Friday
Read.
HOMEWORK: Reading Log due TODAY. Read over the weekend.

Radiance by Alyson Noel

radiance-200Alyson Noel paints a very different view of the afterlife in Radiance (Scholastic, 2010).   Riley finds herself in the Here and Now.  It’s not a bad place.  All she has to do is think of something, and it appears.  She lives in a house just like hers on Earth.  She even lives with her Mom and Dad and faithful dog Buttercup.

Now matter how good things are Here, Riley does not want to let go of the places and people she loves on Earth.  Once she is called before the Council, she is sent back to Earth.  This time she has a mission.  She is to be a Soul Catcher.  Her first assignment is the Radiant Boy, a ghost who has haunted an English castle for centuries.  No one has convinced him yet to cross the bridge.

He may have met his match with Riley.  There is no one quite as bossy as a twelve year old girl, still mad that life was ripped away from her before she grew up–even before she could become a teenager like her adored older sister, Ever. Riley tells her own story, and her voice is at once sassy and fearful, especially as she tries to work with her guide, Bodhi (aka, the dorky guy).  I have to like a girl who wants to fly as much as Riley does. 

Riley’s story continues with the newly released Shimmer.

(Image from http://www.alysonnoel.com/)

Goddess Boot Camp by Tera Lynn Childs

goddess boot campSPOILER ALERT:  Don’t read if you haven’t read Oh.My.Gods. yet.  If you have and want to keep reading, highlight the space below to reveal the text.  Tera Lynn Childs creates a fun follow-up to Nicole’s story with Goddess Boot Camp (Dutton Books, 2008).

Nicole is still on the island of Serfopoula, but now she’s glad to be there.  She spends her time training for the Pythian Games (bigger than the Olympics for the descendents of the gods) with her wonderful boyfriend Blake Griffin.  She’s still reeling from the news that she is descended from Nike–the goddess, not the shoe. 

And that’s causing a few problems.  Because Nike is her great-grandmother, Nicole’s powers are stronger–and harder to control–than most.  To help her prepare for the upcoming test designed by the gods themselves, she is enrolled in Dynamotheos Development Camp, aka Goddess Boot Camp. 

How bad can it be?  Well, start with counselors Stella (evil stepsister) and Adara (Blake’s ex-girlfriend) and a gaggle of 10-year-old girl campers.  Stir in a mystery and missing book dealing with the death of Nicole’s father (smote by the gods for using his powers to succeed in football).  Then add secret meetings between Blake and Adara.  Sprinkle with attitude from bad boy Xandar Katara.  It will take very bit of Nicole’s moxie to survive the summer with her love life and sanity intact.

(image from http://teralynnchilds.blogspot.com/)

XVI by Julia Karr

XVI_CVRJulia Karr imagines a terrifying future world in XVI (SPEAK, 2011).  It is a world where constant “verts” (advertisments) blare out of every store front and through your PAV.  It is a world where the Governing Council tracks your every move with an implanted GPS tracker.  It is a world where girls and women are viewed as sex objects.  It is a world where innocence is stripped away at 16.  It is a world where the GC lies and it can be deadly to speak the truth.

Nina is about to turn 16 in this world–set in Chicago of the future.  Unlike most of her friends, she is not at all excited about turning 16 and getting the tattoo that signifies she is available.  If that were all she had to worry about, it might be enough to live a normal life, but just before her birthday, her life is shattered. 

As Nina tries to pick up the pieces, she enters an underworld of lies and treachery.  She must quickly decide who she can trust because some secrets are too big to deal with alone.

I have been hearing about this book all year, but wasn’t sure what I would think of it.  Once I started reading, I was caught up in this world and its characters.  Even though this world is very different from our present one, I have no problem believing the possibility of it.  (Especially since just yesterday I read a blog post protesting bikinis with push-up bras for eight year olds–really?  Who would buy such?) 

Get to a book store or library and pick up a copy of XVI.  Read it.  You won’t be sorry.

(image from http://juliakarr.com/)

Everwild by Neal Shusterman

everwildThe battle for Everlost is heating up in Book 2 of the Skinjacker Trilogy by Neal Shusterman.  The battle lines are drawn as the opposing forces line up against each other in Everwild (Simon and Shuster, 2009).  On one side are Mary and her allies, hoping to keep children in Everlost forever.  Opposing her are the legendary figures of the Chocolate Ogre and Allie the Outcast.  Who will win the epic battle for the souls (or Afterlights) found in this place between life and death?

  • Meet Mary Hightower:  Mary claims to be Queen of Everlost.  Her sweet demeanor creates trust and love in her loyal subjects.  She writes many guides to help Afterlights find their proper place in her world.  However, she is ruthless to those who oppose her.
  • Jackin’ Jill puts her skinjacking (the ability to possess living humans) skills in first Pugsy’s, then Mary’s service.  She is determined to get her revenge on Milo.
  • Milo teaches Allie the finer points of skinjacking, but does not tell her the secret behind their abilities.  He switches loyalties as often as he switches bodies while skinjacking, but his true loyalty is to himself.
  • Pugsy rules over a vapor of Afterlights in Chicago–or at least he does until Mary comes along.  Unfortunately for Pugsy, his brawn is no match for Mary’s brain.
  • Allie the Outcast travels through Everlost with Mikey (formally the McGill) looking for answers about her family. She learns to accept her skinjacking abilities but is devastated when she learns the secret that gives her this skill. 
  • Mikey follows Allie until he can’t take it anymore. Is he human or monster?  Which part of his nature will take control as he searches for Allie and creates his own army of Picassoids.
  • Nick, known as the Chocolate Ogre, travels through Everlost on a train with Charlie and Johnnie-O.  At first he passes out the coins that will enable the Afterlights to complete their journey, but then he begins amassing an army to take on Mary once and for all.
  • Zin, or Zach the Ripper becomes the secret weapon in Nick’s army. A former Confederate soldier, she has the ability to rip things from the living world into Everlost, and more. 

I never saw it coming as I sped through the twists and turns on every page.  By the time every important character made it to Memphis and Graceland, I had no idea what would come from the confrontation between Mary and Nick.  I still have no idea what they will find across the river in book 3.  The only good news is that I only have to wait a 36 days to find out in Everfound.   

(picture from http://www.storyman.com/books/)

Eleven by Patricia Reilly Giff

elevenSam is haunted by the number eleven which keeps showing up in his dreams and in the wisps of memory that haunt his conciousness.  He finds another clue on a newspaper clipping sticking out of a locked box in the attic.  He can make out the word “missing” over a photo of himself, but he is unable to read the rest.

Sam can’t read words on the page, but he can read the feel of wood as he works with his grandfather in his furniture shop.  So Sam recruits the new girl, Caroline, to read the pages for him.  They piece together clues as well as a castle they build together before Caroline is moving on again.  She never stays anywhere long enough to make friends outside of the books she constantly reading.

I enjoyed the suspense that builds on Sam’s frustration with reading–or rather his lack of reading as the letters squirm across the page like spiders.  I also liked the growing friendship between Sam and Caroline as they piece together the puzzle of Sam’s past.  This would be a good book for those fans of Caroline Cooney’s Face on the Milk Carton series.  With Eleven (Scholastic, 2008),  Patricia Reilly Giff has created a mystery that explores frienship and the power of words.

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