Biopoems

Today, students were asked to select their top three choices for Literature Circles.  I shared seven different options with the class, and students listed their favourites.  I will let you know which book you have been paired with on Friday.

Then, students spent the remainder of class creating biopoems.  Many students are using words and letters cut from magazines to make their poem.  Here is the framework, if you need a reminder....

First name
Three words to describe you
Relative of ...
Lover of (3 things)
Who needs (3 things)
Who feels (3 things)
Who fears (3 things)
Resident of (place)
Age
Last Name

I would like to collect these and put them up in the classroom.  If you could complete it by Wednesday next week, that would be ideal.

Is George a courageous hero? You decide....

Students were asked to make a judgment about the protagonist in "Act of a Hero", and then to support the judgment with sound, logical reasoning.  These assignments should be submitted on Monday, if they were not already handed in to me.  We are moving on to a new unit on Monday!

Goodbye block 6!  You have been wonderful to work with!

Writing a Persuasive Paragraph

Today, we concluded our discussion of the story, "Riding with Rosa."  We then pondered the following question: Does the narrator make a smart decision when he sits next to Stephen on the bus?  Students collected evidence to support both sides of this question, and we decided to write our model paragraph answering yes, that it was a smart idea.

We worked through a model persuasive paragraph as a class, copying the sample off the overhead, and labeling the parts.  As it turns out, writing a persuasive paragraph is very much like writing an expository paragraph: same structure, organization and use of transitions!  Students are reminded that a powerful topic sentence will contain a clear argument - don't be wishy-washy!

Happy New Year!

Today, we worked to make a judgment about Al's decision to not take the job at the hardware store, and to defend our judgment with sound reasoning.  Students filled in one side of a chart, depending on whether they thought Al was a fool for turning down the job or not.

Students are reminded that your QUEST (this is neither a test, nor a quiz... but a little of both) on the elements of fiction is tomorrow, or Wednesday, depending on your block.

Tuesday January 15th - block 6
Wednesday January 16th - block 7

If you are away for the quest, please see me as soon as you return so we can schedule a time to make it up.