The Children's Homer Reading Plan +

Right now, this is the reading plan for Part One of The Children's Homer.  I will add dates for the rest of the book and assignments after Thanksgiving.  We will read each day in class, but anything we don't finish in class each day is homework.


You need to read these chapters and do the
questions for those chapters by B.O.C. on...                      ...this day

Chapters 1-6 (I-VI)                                                         Tue. 11/13

Chapters 7-12 (VII-XII)                                                  Wed. 11/14

Chapters 13-19  (XIII-XIX)                                            Thu.  11/15

Chapters 20-23  (XX-XXIII)                                           Fri. 11/16         Wed. 11/28, EOC               

Major Dates for the Second Nine Weeks

This post will be a regularly updated list of major grades and events for the second nine weeks.    I will revise and add to the list as dates firm up. 😀

Thur., 11/1 - First Independent Reading Book Due, BOC - free choice
Mon., 11/5 - Start Reading The Children's Homer - if you want a book to write in, bring it. Otherwise, I have copies you may borrow.
Between Nov. 7 and 16, we will have the first draft of their original stories due, group revising, and a writing conference.
November 19-23 - Thanksgiving Holiday
The week of Nov. 26-29, we will do the final edit and turn in the final copy of their original stories. -FINAL COPY due Nov. 28, BOC
The Children's Homer test
Part One - Tuesday, 12/4 over god and goddesses and the "Iliad"
Part Two -  Thursday, 12/13, EOC over the "Odyssey"
Thur., 12/6 - Second Independent Reading Book Due, BOC - free choice
Tues. - Fri., Dec. 18-21 - Fall Semester Exams  - We will take the exam for LA during the 8th period exam time on Tuesday.  During the 7th period exam time, we will go over the graded exams and update portfolios.  They will not take two exams for my LA class.

Membean:

• For the first second weeks, the kids will have three daily grades for Membean.  That will be the 90 minutes of practice with 80% accuracy over the course of 3 instructional weeks.
• We will have a quiz towards the end of each window. Each quiz grade will go into an average so that there is one Membean quizz grade for the 2nd Nine Weeks.    
• Practice windows for the rest of the semester are: 10/1 - 10/21, 10/22 - 11/11, and 11/12 - 12/9. Each window is 3 instructional weeks.  
• A week runs from 12:01 am on Monday to 12 midnight the following Sunday.

Conflict Practice 10-10-18

https://docs.google.com/document/d/15dnlM_qLsAvnn0TYwODdX_hkNGtSsCjgaBWsDESs9h0/edit?ts=5ba16759

Click on the link.  Read and follow the directions when you get there! 😊

Nine Week Test OverREview 10/11/18

Test OverREview

• The test will have 25 questions.  Most are multiple choice, but a few are short answer. 
• There is one, (probably) new (to you), fairy tale to read and answer questions about.  Then, there are some stand-alone literary devices to identify and analyze.
• If the term is on your Literary Lexicon, it might be on the test with the following exceptions: symbol, motif, epiphany, suspense, idiom, and oxymoron.  (We’ll add those in before the semester exam J.)
• We are reviewing in class by applying and practicing all these terms to stories in class.  I suggest looking back over the Literary Devices and Story Elements Quiz, making sure you know all the terms on your Literary Lexicon, and READING CAREFULLY on the test. J

Writing Contests and Information

Look here for more information about the three writing opportunities we are discussing this week and next in LA class.

PTA Reflections - Final date for entry is October 31.  Please follow this link for details:

http://mmspta.com/files/2018/09/reflections_20182019_heroes_around_me_flyer_8.5x11.pdf



Do the Write Thing - This is a national contest that publishes student writing yearly.  We've had students from the district as national winners before.  The entry process is multi-level and has firm dates starting in March.

http://www.dtwt.org/the-challenge/instructions




NANOWRIMO - National Novel Writing Month - this is for my serious authors!  Ms. Smith is administering this opportunity to write the first draft of your novel during the month of November! If you are interested, see me and I will send you to Ms. Smith during Activity to get signed up!

My Name Means Poem

“What My Name Means”

By Jennifer Dignan 

Published in “Scope” September 2018

My sister thinks my name means

“sharer of back seats and secrets.”

My mom thinks my name means

“needs a lot of rides to gymnastics” and

“loves comic books, like me.”

My dad thinks my name means

“weirdly obsessed with that band Imagine Dragons” and

“loves corny jokes like me.”

My cat thinks my name means “always good for a snuggle.”

My best friend thinks my name means

“tells me the truth no matter what; best giggle in the world.”

My art teacher thinks my name means “gifted.”

My music teacher thinks my name means

“definitely tries hard.”

My neighbor thinks my name means

“kid who cuts the grass.”

My dentist thinks my name means

“kid who needs to floss.”

I think

There’s some stuff that they left out, like

“dreams of life in a big city” and

“lies awake at night sometimes,

Worrying about the whales” and

“having doubts about gymnastics” and

“loves nothing more than to close her eyes

And listen to the rain.”

Independent Reading and Classically Inspired List

Independent Reading:  While we will read and analyze lots of texts in class, you are expected to have an independent reading book going at all times.  For most of you this is your normal state of being. J The vast majority of the time, I want this to be completely a book of your choice – fiction, non-fiction, manga, hieroglyphics – whatever you love.  Just read and bring it to class every day. 

A few times this year, I’m going to ask you to choose a book from a list or genre to read independently. Every week or so, I’m going to ask to see your independent reading book and ask you do something with it.  If you are reading the book, it should be no problem!  Yes, this will count as a grade. And, of COURSE, feel free to read MORE!

1^st Nine Weeks: Open Choice due 9/11; Classically Inspired due 10/4*

2^nd Nine Weeks: 2 Open Choice

3^rd Nine Weeks: 1 Bio Book; 1 Open Choice

4^th Nine Weeks: 1 Classic; 1 Open Choice

*Below is a list of suggested reads for your Classically Inspired, but I will be happy to approve other books if it is classically inspired!  What do I mean by “classically inspired’?  The book is either inspired by or a retelling of a classical and traditional story such as a fairy tale, myth, legend, tall tale or folk tale.

• I want you to read something you have NEVER read – something new and interesting!  
• MOST of the books on this list are the first book in a series, or one of a collection of books with a similar theme by the same author.  You are welcome to read ANY book from these series/collections if you have already started the series.
•  All books on this list are recommended for 6^th grade, 10-12 year olds, but I always encourage kids and parents to check out books on Amazon and Common Sense Media to get more detailed reviews to make sure it’s a good book for YOU.  See footnotes below.
• I have copies of many of these, and our library has even more!  You will need a copy in class by Monday, Sept. 17. (I can be a little flexible on this date if you are not getting from me or the library.)  You will need to bring the book to class each day.  You will need to finish reading the book by Thursday, October 4.
• I will get assignments to you soon.  Right now, just procure a book!

Anything by Rick Riordan ! ^

Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles) by Marrisa Meyer + ! ^

Fairest by Gail Carson Levine * 

The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman ^

Just Ella  by Margaret Haddix ^

Flunked (Fairy Tale Reform School)  by Jen Calonita +

Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer + ! !

Red Rider’s Hood (Dark Fusion Series #2) by Neil Schusterman *

A Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy +

A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz *

Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin (or Jack or Red) by Liesl Shurtliff *

The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer +

Breadcrumbs   by Anne Ursu and Erin McGuire

Cronus Chronicles by Anne Ursu +

The Tail of Emily Windsnap by L Kessler + (in second book ^)

The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp by Rick Yancey + ! !

Loki’s Wolves by  K.L. Armstrong and M.A. Marr  +

Middle World (The Jaguar Stones Series) by J & P Voelkel +

Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs ^ +

Book of the Dead (TombQuest, Book 1) by  Michael Northrop +

+ first in a series

*part of a set of related books that don’t necessarily need to be read in order

! violent

^ smoochies alert