Night

Focus Question: How do Elie's experiences during the Holocaust change him as a person?

Throughout your reading of Night, you have witnessed many significant changes that Wiesel experiences as a result of his time in the concentration camps. I encourage you to delve deeply into his character and focus on important aspects, such as: his personality, morality, beliefs or values.

Your goal is to identify at least two major changes, and 'prove' using textual evidence and interpretation, how Eliezer transforms by the end of his memoir. To do this you will need to show how Eliezer was in the beginning, middle, and end of his memoir. Please use TIQA as your tool for organization.

Blog minimum: 3 paragraphs

The Giver: Characterization & Themes

This blog will include two steps:

1- What type of character is Jonas?

Dynamic characters grow and change during a story and Static characters do not. Determine which type of character Jonas is in the story.  Answer this question using textual evidence to support your answer. 

2- Determine the theme in Lois Lowry's novel, The Giver. Analyze how this theme develops throughout the text, including its relationship to characters, setting, and/or plot. Be sure to use textual evidence to support your analysis of theme.

Gratitude Blog

What are you grateful for this year? Life can be challenging, but expressing gratitude for things we have in life can actually make you a happier person. It's almost Thanksgiving, so take this time to express your gratitude for those in your life, the opportunities you have been given and/or the things you are lucky to have in your life.

1st Quarter Reflections

We have reached the end of 1st Quarter...can you believe it?! Now take a moment to reflect on what you have learned so far. Some questions to consider:

What are your personal struggles in ELA? Successes in ELA?
Where are you in your personal Book Challenge? 
How have your blogs been progressing since August? 
What strategies have benefited you? 
What have you learned about the world? 
How has your writing progressed?
What are your goals for ELA for the next three quarters? 

Make sure to include a topic sentence and supporting details that fully support your main idea. This blog must be at least 3 paragraphs. 

The Giver Chapters 1-4

This week's blog is going to focus on The Giver. Your blog will center on the signposts that you have found in your reading from Chapters 1-4.  You will focus on two of the six signposts which include: Contrasts & Contradictions, Aha! Moment, Tough Questions, Words of the Wiser, Again & Again, or Memory Moment. Each signpost will be its own separate paragraph.

Your objective is use the guiding questions on the Notice & Note rainbow sheet to get you thinking more in depth about the different elements of a story, which include, plot, conflict, theme, foreshadowing, and character development.

Ask yourself... What could the answer to my signpost tell me more about plot, conflict, theme, etc.

Parallels between Mawi's experiences and refugees throughout history

Last week we started reading Of Beetles and Angels by Mawi Asgedom, which starts off by describing Mawi's journey from a refugee camp in Sudan to his relocation in Chicago, Illinois. This week you have picked an article that focuses on some aspect of refugees throughout history, or more specifically the Syrian refugee crisis. 

In your blog you will analyze how Of Beetles and Angels and your AoW make connections or distinctions between individuals, ideas and/or events. You must include at least three paragraphs, two of which will focus on a connection made through individuals, ideas, or events. Your last paragraph will center on the question, 'How does war affect individuals and societies?' Follow the TIQA paragraph format, making sure to include textual evidence from your two sources.

Final Reflection: 9 Questions to really make you THINK

Final Reflection - Please incorporate these nine questions into your final reflective blog for the school year. Keep in mind these questions should be focused on your time in Mrs. Larson's English Language Arts classes.:)

1- What are the three most important things you learned this year?

2- What is something we did this year that you think you will remember for the rest of your life?

3- What was the nicest thing someone in our class did for you this year?

4- What is something you taught your teacher or classmates this year?

5- In what area do you feel you made your biggest improvements? What is something you accomplished this year that you are proud of?

6- What was the most challenging part of this year for you?

7- What was the best piece of writing that you did this year? Why do you think it is your best?

8- Of the books you read this year, which was your favorite? Why?

9- What advice would you give students who will be in this class next year?

Night

Focus Question: How do Elie's experiences during the Holocaust change him as a person?

Throughout your reading of Night, you have witnessed many significant changes that Wiesel experiences as a result of his time in the concentration camps. I encourage you to delve deeply into his character and focus on important aspects, such as: his personality, morality, beliefs or values.

Your goal is to identify at least two major changes, and 'prove' using textual evidence and interpretation, how Eliezer transforms by the end of his memoir. Please use TIQA as your tool for organization.

Blog minimum: 3 paragraphs
You must include your MLA citation and in-text citations as well.

Berlin Memorial Activity

Based on our Berlin Memorial Activity today in class, take a moment to reflect on what you learned about the Jewish decrees established during the Hitler years.

1- What did you learn?
2- Why do you think this monument was built?
3- What did you notice about the number of laws passed in certain years?
4- Which restrictions do you think you would have the most trouble dealing with and why?

3rd Quarter Reflections

We have reached the end of 3rd Quarter...can you believe it?! Now take a moment to reflect on what you have learned so far. Some questions* to consider:

- Of the books you have read this quarter, which was your favorite? Why?
- *In what area do you think you made your biggest improvements in English Language Arts? 
- What is something you have accomplished this quarter that you are proud of?
- Where are you in your Book Challenge? 
- *What has been the most challenging part of 3rd Quarter for you and what did/can you do to help overcome this?
- How have your blogs been progressing since August? 
- What strategies have benefited you? 
- What have you learned about the world? 
- How have your research skills improved?

Make sure to include a topic sentence and supporting details that fully support your main idea.

*Question must be addressed

Poetry Reflection

Based on our study of poetry, please take the time now to reflect and respond to what you have learned.

1~ Poetry can be a vital, real part of everyone's life. What place or importance does poetry have in my own life? Does poetry belong to everyone? How do I know?

2~ How does the life and experiences of a poet affect the poem he/she creates?

3~ Choose two poems (one that you have read and one that you have written yourself) and analyze how a poem's form and structure contribute to its meaning. Also, analyze the impact that words/phrases, rhyme, alliteration, repetition, and figurative language have on the poem.

At the end of your poetry reflection, please attach the links to your poems in the following order:

- Free Choice poem
- Bio-Poem 
- Where I'm From Poem
- Spine Poem
- Found Poem
- Nonsense Poem
- Apology Poem
- Choices Poem
- Any additional poems that you may have written and submitted via Blogger

Slice of Life

Step 1: Write every day in the month of March on your blog.

A Slice is a small moment from your life.

It is not a list of everything you did in your day.

It is not a book review or a recipe.

It's a narrative, focused on a teeny, tiny seed in the watermelon of 

your day.

Step 2: Read the blogs of other kids (or teachers) and leave at least two comments every day.

*For more Slice of Life ideas check out here and here.

**To check out which students are participating in the challenge from Mrs. Larson's class go here.  

***To check all the students that are participating in the challenge go here.

 

Character Development/Structure in Bronx

Analyze how Nikki Grimes developments the point of view of one of her characters in Bronx Masquerade by using textual evidence to show how the character changes throughout the novel.

Also, analyze how elements of a story (plot, setting, conflicts, characters) influence each other.

Choose a character and then compare and contrast the structure of the written portion and their poem. Analyze how the differing structure of each text contributes to its meaning and style.

Bronx Perspectives: Take 1

After being introduced to several characters from Bronx Masquerade, contrast points of view of different characters that you have learned about. 

Harlem Renaissance Icon

Based on what you have learned about the Harlem Renaissance which individual(s) stood out the most to you? What was it about them that you admired? What was their role in the Harlem Renaissance and what impact did it have on society?

Quarter 2 Reflections

We have reached the end of 2nd Quarter...can you believe it?! Now take a moment to reflect on what you have learned so far. Some questions* to consider:

- Of the books you have read this quarter, which was your favorite? Why?
- *In what area do you think you made your biggest improvements in English Language Arts? 
- *What is something you have accomplished since the new year that you are proud of?
- Where are you in your 20 Book Challenge? 
- *What has been the most challenging part of 2nd Quarter for you and what did/can you do to help overcome this?
- How have your blogs been progressing since August? 
- What strategies have benefited you? 
- What have you learned about the world? 
- How have your research skills improved?

Make sure to include a topic sentence and supporting details that fully support your main idea.

*Question must be addressed

Of Mice and Men: The Movie

Choose one section from Section I, II, or III to explore more closely in your blog for this week. Everyone will be completing Section IV.

Section I

There are several directorial choices that Gary Sinise made that differ from the novel. Comment on these choices.

1.  In the film, the director shows us “the incident in Weed” differently from how we find out in the book. What’s different? Why do you think he chose to do it that way? How does it change the story?
2. The book begins with the “stage” set by the pond. In the film, we see George on a train first. Why would the director do this? What is the director telling us about George’s life?
3. What do you think of the director’s choice of Sharilynn Fenn to play Curley’s wife? Does she look the way you imagined her in the book? Whom would you have chosen?

Section II

There are several scenes added to the movie in which Curley’s wife talks to George. These scenes are not in the book, or they appear differently in the book.

4. Briefly describe at least two of these scenes.
5. How do these new scenes change or add to your opinion of Curley’s wife? What do they show the audience about her? Why do you think the director (or screenwriter) chose to add those scenes?

Section III

Although the plot has the same ending in both the book and the movie, the actual ending moments of each piece are different. The movie ends with a flashback; the book ends with dialogue.

6. What does the flashback show?
7. How does the flashback leave the audience feeling at the end of the movie?
8. Does that feeling match the feeling at the end of the book? Why do you think the director chose to use a different ending rather than just showing exactly what’s in the book?
9. What is the line of dialogue that ends the book?
10. What does that line tell us about the speaker?
11. What feeling does that line leave the reader with? How does it make you feel when he says that?

Section IV

What are your general thoughts, feelings, reactions of Of Mice and Men? What had the most profound impact on you or your understanding of the novella? Who would you recommend this  book to and why?