November 2011 archive

The Watch that Ends the Night by Allan Wolf

Why are we still fascinated with the story of the Titanic?  Nearly a hundred years later, we all know the boat sinks, but no one can seem to get enough of her story–and those of the over two thousand souls on her who sailed unkowingly to their destiny that April night.

Allan Wolf presents twenty-four of those individuals in a series of haunting poems that make up The Watch that Ends the Night.  We hear from everyone from Captain EJ Smith, shipbuilder Thomas Andrews, and businessman Bruce Ismay–those responsible for the Titanic–down to the children in third class and even a ship’s rat.  I found the voices of the iceberg and the undertaker John Snow to be the most chilling.  Many of the voices on the ship are hiding secrets that are slowly revealed or taken to the bottom of the ocean.

I loved getting to know the passengers and crew as they boarded Titanic with hopes and dreams for the future. I found myself dreading what came next as the ship steamed ever closer to the iceberg.  (Yes, the iceberg is lying in wait, hungry for the living, beating hearts on board the ship).  I knew many of the characters I had gotten to know and care for would go down with the ship.  Even the ones that survived, would have their lives changed forever from that night.

If you, too, are eager for one more story about the Titanic, you will want to read The Watch that Ends the Night.

Al Capone Shines My Shoes by Gennifer Choldenko

Moose Flanagan is back, and now he owes Al Capone.  What will he do when Capone wants to collect?  Even though Capone is imprisoned in Alcatraz, the most secure prison in America, he can still threaten Moose and his family.

Moose’s story started in Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko, where Capone helps Moose’s sister get in a special school.  In Al Capone Shines My Shoes, Moose and his friends are trying to figure out how to help America’s most favorite criminal while preventing a planned jailbreak by some of the other inmates.

There’s not quite as much baseball in this sequel (and the one game ends in unqualified disaster for Moose), but the whole gang is back and up to their tricks.  Piper still thinks she rules over all the kids and causes trouble when she doesn’t get her way.  Jimmy is raising thousands of flies and still can’t play ball.  Annie can play ball but refuses to get her glove until Moose figures out what to do about Capone’s request for a favor.  Theresa tags along a won’t get out of their way.  Natalie comes home for a visit and just might save the day.

One of my favorite things about both these books is the glimpse of life on Alcatraz Island for the civilians.  Even though Moose and his friends are entirely fictional, many of the aspects of daily life are accurately portrayed.  An author’s note after the story explains the fact from the fiction.  Now I’m adding another site to my wish list of places to visit–Alcatraz Island off the coast of San Francisco.

Gregor the Overlander series by Suzanne Collins

Have you read and loved The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins?  Are you looking for something else to read?  Look no further than Collins’ first series about Gregor the Overlander.  These five books will take you on a journey far below the streets of New York City when Gregor tumbles down a laundry chute after his two-year-old sister Boots.  There they are hailed as the Warrior and Princess and sent on death-defying quests to save the Underland.

Each book in the series leads you deeper into Underland and its many secrets, but it is not the adventures I love about these books.  What I love are the characters.  Here are my favorites.  I can’t wait for you to meet them, too.

  • Gregor, the reluctant warrior – Gregor is not sure about being the warrior.  He doesn’t even like to fight, but he was born a Rager–someone who excels at fighting.  All through each adventure, he struggles to balance his skill with his belief that war is not the answer to every problem.
  • Boots, the princess – Even though she is only two years old, she shares much wisdom and is even Gregor’s “secret weapon.”  She is quick to reach out to all the creatures of Underland.
  • Luxa, the future Queen of Underland – Luxa can be haughty and proud, but she is loyal to her friends and to her people.
  • Ares, the giant bat – Ares makes a life-changing decision when he gives his loyalty to Gregor.  His incredible size and strength and humor lead them all through many dangers.
  • Temp, the cricket – Most of the Underland regard crickets as dumb and not worthy of allegiance.  Temp’s wisdom, though, can save Gregor and his friends if they would just listen.  Temp would risk his life to save his Princess Boots.
  • Ripred, the Rager rat – Ripred is my absolute favorite.  He is grumpy and cantakerous, but he has a knack for showing up at just the right time.  He may follow his own agenda, but he has wisdom from years of fighting and living.

Week at a Glance: November 28 – December 2

Monday

Library Day!  This will be our last visit to the library as a class in the modular.  We will next go to the brand new library after Christmas break.  You can still check out books before school or during homeroom until the last of the books are packed for the move.  Please turn in books as you finish them.  I will pass out the December book order for a last chance to order books before Christmas.        
Homework: Read.  Choose five words for Weekly Word Study.

Tuesday

Read first 15 minutes of class.  We will brainstorm topics for editorials and practice framing the issues with controversial questions.  You need to decide on a topic!
Homework: Read.  Complete Weekly Word Study.

Wednesday

Read first 15 minutes of class.  Choose a topic for your editorial.  Complete a planning sheet for it.  Put your opinion or position statement in a box in the center.  In each of four boxes around the edges, list an argument or reason why your position is right.  Under each box, list details to support your argument.  If you have time, start writing your first draft.
Homework: Read.  Complete Weekly Word Study. 

Thursday

Finish writing your rough draft of your editorial.  Once you have a rough draft, you need to type it.  Save it on your network folder (16yourname).  If you want to work on it at home, you may copy it to your flash drive as well.
Homework: Read.  Weekly Word Study due.

Friday

Finish typing your rough draft and print out a copy.       
Homework: Read.

Crispin: The End of Time by Avi

Crispin’s story finally comes to an end with Crispin:  The End of Time by Avi.  I have followed Crispin’s story from the beginning, when he fled his village after his mother’s death, wondering why there was a price on his head.  I watched as Bear took him in and together they joined fates and fortunes with Troth.  All along the way, I hoped Crispin would finally find freedom and his place in the world.

This last book in the trilogy opens with Crispin and Troth trudging across the French countryside.  They don’t know anyone and don’t even speak the language.  Now that Bear is dead, they hope to make it to Iceland, if they can figure out where it is.  On the brink of starvation, they find reguge in a convent where one nun speaks English.  Troth finds her place here, and decides to stay where she can be of use.  Her knowledge of healing herbs is greatly needed by the nuns.  Like Crispin, I missed her company on the rest of his journey, but I am glad she found her place.

Crispin next falls in with a gang of thieves.  He is swept up in their crimes before he even realizes what they are.  He is horrified but trapped.  As he journeys with them toward the coast, Crispin must decide whether to flee for freedom on his own or keep a promise to Owen, another boy trapped by the thieves.  Is Crispin ready to step up and be all that Bear showed him he could be.

If you haven’t discovered Crispin’s story, you are missing out.  Avi paints a brilliant picture of Medieval life in England and France.  Against the forces of nature and history, Crispin must make decisions about who he will be and who he will become.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

If you think your life is bad, you should check out the problems Junior faces every day.  Junior was born with a medical condition that left him with an oversized head, a lisp, and seizures.  Now he is a moving target for every bully on the Spokane Indian Reservation where he lives.  His parents, along with most of the other adults, are drunks in a life that seems to have lost all hope.  Junior loses it when he gets his “new” science book (the one that had once been issued to his mother) and throws it at his teacher.  He then decides to leave the rez and attend the all-white school in the neighboring farm town.  His best friend Rowdy–and the rest of the people on the resevation–turn on him for being a traitor, but Junior is determined to create hope out of his desperate life.

Even though this book gives a harsh look at growing up, I laughed my way through it.  No matter what life throws at him, Junior can find a way to make it funny.  Did I mentiong that Junior is also a cartoonist.  His cartoons are scatttered throughout the story?  Yeah, they’re funny, too.

Sherman Alexie has created a masterpiece coming-of-age novel with The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.  It might make a few grownups uncomfortable with its frank look at the life of an adolescent boy who faces more problems than should be allowed in one life, but more than anything else, Junior’s story provides hope.  I can’t wait to share it in class.

5, 6, 7 Week at a Glance: November 21 – 23

Monday

Read first 15 minutes of class.  Correct and publish your memoir.  Open your file on your flashdrive or network folder.  Make the corrections on your draft.  Then highlight the text and change to single spacing and size 12 font.  COPY your text.  Then go to your DASHBOARD and choose ADD NEW POST.  If there is only one row of buttons on top of the text box, click “Show/Hide Kitchen Sink.”  Then on the second row of buttons, click “Copy from Word.”  It looks like a clipboard with a “W.”  In the box that pops up, press CNTR-V.  Then click INSERT.  You have just copied your text into a blog post!  Check that it only copied once.  If it copied multiple times, delete the extras before you click PUBLISH.        
Homework: Read.  Choose five words for Weekly Word Study.

Tuesday

Read first 15 minutes of class.  Check out examples of About Me pages from other students.  Once you decide what to share, create your own About Me page that shares your name (first name and last initial only), grade (8th), location (Indiana) and five “favorites.”  Choose from the categories brainstormed in class. Click here for more directions and links.   Then visit your blog buddies and leave comments.  The two morning classes have created new pages, so make sure to check those out.  The afternoon classes have published their memoirs and would love comments.
Homework: Read.  Complete Weekly Word Study.

Wednesday

Read first 15 minutes of class.  Write a post telling what you are thankful for from this past year.  Once you have published your post, you can create your own turkey.  All you have to do is read and follow directions!.       
Homework: Read.  Complete Weekly Word Study. 

Thursday

Happy Thanksgiving!  What book are you thankful for? 
Homework: Read.  Weekly Word Study due.

Friday

Enjoy your Thanksgiving break.  Don’t forget to relax with a book when you need a break from shopping!       
Homework: Read.

2, 3 Week at a Glance: November 21 – 23

Monday

Read first 15 minutes of class.  Check out examples of About Me pages from other students.  Once you decide what to share, create your own About Me page. Click here for more directions and links.        
Homework: Read.  Choose five words for Weekly Word Study.

Tuesday

Read first 15 minutes of class.   Finish your About Me pages.  Then visit your blog buddies and leave comments.  The two morning classes have created new pages, so make sure to check those out.  The afternoon classes have published their memoirs and would love comments.
Homework: Read.  Complete Weekly Word Study.

Wednesday

Read first 15 minutes of class.  Write a post telling what you are thankful for from this past year.  Once you have published your post, you can create your own turkey.  All you have to do is read and follow directions!.       
Homework: Read.  Complete Weekly Word Study. 

Thursday

Happy Thanksgiving!  What book are you thankful for? 
Homework: Read.  Weekly Word Study due.

Friday

Enjoy your Thanksgiving break.  Don’t forget to relax with a book when you need a break from shopping!       
Homework: Read.

All about me

Do you know the difference between posts and pages on your blog?  Posts are frequently updated and show up on your home page in reverse chronological order.  Pages stay mostly the same, though you can edit them from time to time.  Check out the pages on my blog.  In addition to my home page, I have these pages:  About Me, Language Arts Binder, and Parents Guide to Blogging.  I also have tabs for two categories of posts:  Class Assignments (for assignments by class period) and Mrs. McGriff (for all my posts, mostly book reviews).

Over the next two days, you are going to create an About Me page.  Check out these About Me pages from students around the country.  Decide what you want on your About Me page, and get writing.  Remember not to put information that could identify you too much.

When you are ready to create your About Me page, follow these steps:

  1. Click on PAGES on the left hand side of your dashboard.  Then click on ALL PAGES.
  2. Under “Sample Page,” click on edit.  This will bring up the page for you to edit.
  3. Change the title to “About Me” or something similar.
  4. Write a list or paragraph, telling your readers all about you!
  5. When you are done, proofread and then click UPDATE on the little blue button on the right.
  6. Visit your blog buddies and check out their ABOUT ME pages.  Leave a quality comment!

 

 

Week at a Glance: November 14 – 18

Monday

Read first 15 minutes of class.  Why editorials?  An editorial is a form of writing that shares your opinion and tries to persuade other people to your point of view.  Write a two-minute free write answering the question, “Why is it important to read and write editorials?”  Share your answers in small groups.  What are the issues that you care about?  What are the issues people in our community are debating?  All this week, we will be creating lists of controversial topics.  Finally, we will discuss appropriate ways to share and discuss your opinions–even when you disagree.       
Homework: Read.  Choose five words for Weekly Word Study.

Tuesday

Read first 15 minutes of class.   Today you will meet your editorial study groups.  You will fill out the topics and group members on your membership grid.  Then interview each group member and take notes on the first topic.  As a class, we will read and discuss an editorial.  After reading and discussing, write your opinion on the topic.   
Homework: Read.  Complete Weekly Word Study.

Wednesday

Read first 15 minutes of class.  Interview each member of your group and complete the notes for the second topic on your membership grid.  We will discuss how to use text coding to record your thinking about what you read.  You will read and discuss an editorial in your study groups.       
Homework: Read.  Complete Weekly Word Study. 

Thursday

Read first 15 minutes of class.  Read and discuss an editorial using the essential questions to guide your discussion.  The essential questions are 1)What is the issue? 2) What is the author’s position? 3) What are the arguments that support this position?  4) How does this editorial change how I feel about this issue? 
Homework: Read.  Weekly Word Study due.

Friday

Read first 15 minutes of class.  Blogging Day.  Create an About Me page that introduces you to the blogging world.  Share your interests, hobbies and passions.  Be safe in what you share.       
Homework: Read.

1 2