For the past three weeks or so, we've been examining fiction in our class. We've looked at all the elements of fiction (such as plot, character, setting, and point of view) and we read short stories.
Today, student have a chance to demonstrate their knowledge on a test. On the fiction unit test, students will read a variety of fiction documents and answer questions about them, such as:
-What type of conflict is in this story?
-In what point of view is this story told?
After the fiction test, students had time to work on their fiction song projects. We will go to the computer lab Thursday and Friday so that students may type these projects. The fiction song project will be due on Tuesday, February 15.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Tuesday, February 8
We started class by discussing the possibility that a giant asteroid may collide with Earth in 2036. Part of English class is being able to read and understand articles on a variety of topics, and I felt this was a good everyday use of those skills.
http://www.670kboi.com/rssItem.asp?feedid=113&itemid=29630815
We also completed a grammar worksheet. On this worksheet, students were given a sentence and asked to demonstrate different skills, such as identifying the parts of speech, correcting the sentence, and diagramming the sentence.
We conducted a review for our Fiction test tomorrow. This review can be found online:
http://www.jeopardylabs.com/play/elements-of-fiction14
Finally, we discussed our upcoming "Fiction Song" project. For this project, students will choose songs that tell stories. These songs can be by popular artists that the student likes, or they could be the sample songs I provided. After looking at the lyrics of these songs, students will identify the literary elements (such as plot, theme, characters, etc). The student will produce several different papers and projects discussing the literary elements of the songs. We will go to the computer lab on Thursday and Friday to type this up, and it will be due on Monday.
http://www.670kboi.com/rssItem.asp?feedid=113&itemid=29630815
We also completed a grammar worksheet. On this worksheet, students were given a sentence and asked to demonstrate different skills, such as identifying the parts of speech, correcting the sentence, and diagramming the sentence.
We conducted a review for our Fiction test tomorrow. This review can be found online:
http://www.jeopardylabs.com/play/elements-of-fiction14
Finally, we discussed our upcoming "Fiction Song" project. For this project, students will choose songs that tell stories. These songs can be by popular artists that the student likes, or they could be the sample songs I provided. After looking at the lyrics of these songs, students will identify the literary elements (such as plot, theme, characters, etc). The student will produce several different papers and projects discussing the literary elements of the songs. We will go to the computer lab on Thursday and Friday to type this up, and it will be due on Monday.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Monday, February 7
We're getting ready for our fiction test (Wednesday)! Today, students read the short story "The Scarlet Ibis" independently and answered a series of 23 questions on the story. We did this independently so that students could assess their skills in reading and understanding, so they would know if they were ready for Wednesday's test.
It's a great short story about the relationship and rivalry that develops between two brothers living in Florida.
It's available for reading online:
http://209.184.141.5/westwood/academ/depts/dpteng/l-coker/virtualenglish/englsih%20i/english%20ia/scarlet_ibis.htm
It's a great short story about the relationship and rivalry that develops between two brothers living in Florida.
It's available for reading online:
http://209.184.141.5/westwood/academ/depts/dpteng/l-coker/virtualenglish/englsih%20i/english%20ia/scarlet_ibis.htm
Friday, February 4, 2011
Friday, February 4
Today, we read "The Cask of Amontillado." Students completed the remainder of the worksheet on the story and turned it in.
Students also took notes on "Setting."
Fiction test on Wednesday.
Students also took notes on "Setting."
Fiction test on Wednesday.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Thursday, February 3
A lot of testing today!
Students started class by taking the benchmark exam. This was the same benchmark exam taken on January 6. We will periodically give this test to check the progress of student learning.
As students were taking this exam, they were called out of the room, one by one, by one of our RESA specialists. Outside the room, each student took an oral reading exam. They were timed as they read a passage.
Finally, students completed a pre-reading worksheet on Edgar Allen Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado". We will read this short story in class tomorrow.
Students started class by taking the benchmark exam. This was the same benchmark exam taken on January 6. We will periodically give this test to check the progress of student learning.
As students were taking this exam, they were called out of the room, one by one, by one of our RESA specialists. Outside the room, each student took an oral reading exam. They were timed as they read a passage.
Finally, students completed a pre-reading worksheet on Edgar Allen Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado". We will read this short story in class tomorrow.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Our focus today was on theme. Theme is the main idea of a literary work.
Students examined the theme of a poem, "Bears", and then we discussed the theme of "The Necklace" (from Monday).
Students then read the short story "The Gift of the Magi" and answered some questions on the story:
1. What are the 5 stages of the story's plot?
2. Choose one of the two main characters. Is this character round, flat, static, or dynamic. What is his or her personality? What is some evidence from the story that shows this personality?
3. What POV is this written in?
4. What is ironic about this story?
5. What is the theme of the story?
Students examined the theme of a poem, "Bears", and then we discussed the theme of "The Necklace" (from Monday).
Students then read the short story "The Gift of the Magi" and answered some questions on the story:
1. What are the 5 stages of the story's plot?
2. Choose one of the two main characters. Is this character round, flat, static, or dynamic. What is his or her personality? What is some evidence from the story that shows this personality?
3. What POV is this written in?
4. What is ironic about this story?
5. What is the theme of the story?
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Tuesday, February 1
Blocks 1 & 3: We worked all block on writing. Specifically, we focused on the skills of writing sentences with variety and organization. We did:
* bell activity where students looked up different strategies for rewriting sentences, in their textbooks
* a SMARTBoard activity where students practiced rearranging sentences into organized paragraphs
* front and backside of a worksheet on paragraph writing.
Everyone worked hard! It was a great day!
Block 4: We worked on Mrs. Morris's writing activity and reading cards all block. See her about work that you need to make up.
* bell activity where students looked up different strategies for rewriting sentences, in their textbooks
* a SMARTBoard activity where students practiced rearranging sentences into organized paragraphs
* front and backside of a worksheet on paragraph writing.
Everyone worked hard! It was a great day!
Block 4: We worked on Mrs. Morris's writing activity and reading cards all block. See her about work that you need to make up.
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