December 21st

I hope everyone has a wonderful winter Break! Here are few things to think about and work on over before classes resume on the 5th.

All students should finish their Holocaust Literature Circle books over the break.

Due Tuesday, January 5th (each number counts as one homework grade)

1) Summarize your Holocaust Literature Book.

2) Identify the exposition, climax, and resolution.

3) Describe the setting (time and place).

4) Describe how the setting influenced the story.

5) Describe the character traits of the protagonist. Support your answer with details explaining what he or she said or did that led you to believe those were his or her character traits.

Friday, January 8^th (assessment grade)

Vocabulary #3 Quiz

Due Monday, January 11^th (project grade)

Begin thinking about 4 things that you would use to make connections to the book. This is similar to what you did for the last multimedia text set project. You should try to use your Hispanic Literature Circle Book as one of the connections to the Holocaust Literature Circle Book. This time you will need to do a Power Point presentation and the explanation paragraphs will need to be typed. This will be due the Monday after we return from the winter break. Please remember that if you use a book or movie as a connection, you must have actually read the book or seen the movie.

Suggested Movies for Holocaust Connections:

The Rape of Europa: Documentary about art stolen, lost, or destroyed during World War II

Schindler’s List: Movie based on a true story about a Czech business man who tried to save Jews during the Holocaust

Jacob the Liar: Story of a man surviving in the ghetto during the Holocaust

Life is Beautiful: Fictional story about a family in Italy during the Holocaust

The Pianist: Based on the memoirs of a survivor

November 23rd

Students should bring an artifact related to the setting of their literature circle books to class on Tuesday. The artifact could be anything that will help them describe the setting of the book and give more information about how the setting may have influenced the story. Examples: newspaper articles, photographs, biographies of political leaders, a short history of the country, etc. The artifact will count as a homework grade and contribute to a small group project grade.

Students were also given the rubric for their individual project related to the literature circle books. This project will be presented in class on Tuesday, December 1st for periods 1, 2, and 4, and on Wednesday, December 2nd for periods 6 and 7.

Individual Project:
A multimedia text set is a collection of books, films, photographs, art, music, etc., focused on a common theme or idea. For this project students will create a multimedia text set for the book you are reading in your literature circle (Parrot in the Oven, Before We Were Free, When I Was Puerto Rican, Esperanza Rising, How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents, etc). You should choose a theme from the book and find other texts and media that relate to this theme. You might include a song, poem, or photograph that reminds you of the book. You may create a PowerPoint presentation or a collage of images and representations of the texts you are using. Each student must submit a one page written explanation of why he or she chose the texts and media which were included in the text set, and give a 2-4 minute presentation to the class. You will be graded according to the rubric below.

Rubric:
Creativity
1 completed with no creativity
2 completed with very little creativity
3 completed with some creativity
4 completed with creativity
5 completed with a great deal of creativity

Media/Text Connections
1 included no other resources
2 included one other resource
3 included two other resources
4 included three other resources
5 included four other resources

Explanation of Connections
1 gives no explanation
2 gives little explanation
3 gives some explanation
4 gives adequate explanation
5 gives complete/thorough explanation

Write-up (Mechanics)
1 filled with mistakes, no editing
2 many mistakes, little editing
3 few mistakes, some editing
4 adequate grammar/spelling/organization
5 perfect grammar/spelling/organization

Write-up (Length)
1 less than one paragraph
2 less than one page, only one paragraph
3 less than one page, only 2 paragraphs
4 one page, 3 paragraphs
5 one page, 4 paragraphs

Presentation
1 unclear, no preparation, less than 2 minutes
2 very little information/preparation, less than 2 min.
3 some information and preparation, 2-4 minutes long
4 interesting/clear/well-prepared, 2-4 minutes long
5 very interesting/clear, obvious preparation, 2-4 min.

30 points total

Monday, November 11th

The first round of DC-BAS testing will be Tuesday and Thursday, and there is no school on Wednesday.

6th and 7th periods should be prepared to meet with their literature circles on Tuesday.

1st, 2nd, and 4th periods should be prepared to meet on Thursday.

October 20th

We will have a vocabulary quiz for list #2 on Friday.

The advisory exam will be on Monday, October 26th.

The final draft of the personal narrative project is also due on October 26th.

**We will be reviewing all week in class, but I am available every day after school for extra tutoring.

October 16th

Students should complete the 2nd draft of their personal narratives for Monday.

Exposition one paragraph

Inciting Incident one paragraph

Rising Action two paragraphs

Climax one paragraph

Falling Action and Resolution one paragraph

Paragraphs do not have to be 5 sentences each, but students should try to make them as long as possible.

October 9th

Assessment: There will be a subject/predicate quiz on Tuesday. Students should review their class notes and the two relevant worksheets.

Homework: On Thursday our 2nd vocabulary list was introduced. Students should use each of the words on the list in sentences that demonstrate their understanding of the words. This assignment is due on Tuesday. (Words: antebellum, belligerent, rebellion, credible, incredulous, credence, amiable, amicable, enamored, concede, recede, proceed.)

Independent Reading: All students should have an independent reading book. They should read for at least 30 minutes a day. They should also remember to bring their books to my class every day. This advisory the goal was to read five books. In the second advisory they will be required to read 4 books.

Friday, September 25th

2nd period will have the vocabulary list #1 quiz on Monday.

All other periods will have the quiz on Tuesday.

Monday is the last day to make up a missed summer reading test or retake it a student failed it the first time.

1st period should complete a plot outline for "Akeelah and the Bee", due Monday.

Thursday, September 24th

Homework
Today we finished watching "Akeelah and the Bee". Students should complete a plot outline for the film. (exposition, inciting incident, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution) Students should be able to identify each of these elements from the film in about one sentence.

Note: First period did not finish the film today. We will finish it tomorrow and the plot outline will be due on Monday.



Vocabulary Quiz Monday!!!
Words: benign, beneficial, invert, divert, revert, convert, predict, diction, dictate, and contradict

Students should make flashcards and study for the quiz on Monday. The words are all derived from one of three roots:

• ben/bene (good)
• vert (to turn)
• dict (to say)

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Welcome to Mrs. Heister's 8th grade English class! I will post daily homework assignments by 3:30pm each day, as well as descriptions for larger projects, assessment reminders, and links to websites containing information relevant to our lessons. Students will be required to post comments from time to time, and I hope that everyone will use this resource to stay informed!

Extra Credit Question for Tuesday: The Giver

A “Utopia” is a perfect world or society while a “Dystopia” is a world that is supposed to be perfect but turns horribly wrong. Is the world described in the Giver a utopia or a dystopia? Give 2 examples to support your answer.

Extra Credit Question for Wednesday: The Giver

In the Bible the angel Gabriel is a divine messenger. What does the choice of this name for the newchild suggest about Gabe’s importance in the novel?

Critical Literacy Idea Exchange, April 7th

I went to hear a presentation at American University last night, given by Vivian Vasquez and Jerome Harste. The title was "What Should Literacy Look Like in the 21st Century?" We discussed literacy and curriculum, and a quote from the lecture really struck me: "We view curriculum as a metaphor for the lives we want to live and the people we want to be." I strive to create a socially relevant curriculum, one which reflects who I want my students to be. What do you think literacy and curriculum should look like in the 21st Century?

Homework for April 7th

1st, 2nd, 5th, & 6th periods:
Create a 2-3 sentence summary for each chapter, 1-12

4th period:
Finish The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Tuesday's Extra Credit Question: The Giver

The name Jonas is a variation of the name Jonah. In the Bible, the prophet Jonah was commissioned by the Lord to proclaim judgment upon a sinful city. Why might Lois Lowry have chosen Jonas a the name of her main character?

Thursday's Extra Credit Question: The Autobiography of Malcolm X

The Autobiography of Malcolm X raises the question, can blacks and whites be equals in America? Also, is non-violence better than violence when fighting against racism? Think about how Malcolm's views on race and religion did or did not change over the course of the book.

Thursday's Extra Credit Question: The Giver

As you read The Giver, think about symbolism. In class today we discussed the apple in Ch.3 and what it might symbolize. The most famous apple that comes to mind is the apple from the story of Adam and Eve. We discussed what the apple in that story represents and the class came up with some great ideas:

• knowledge
• change
• sin
• temptation
• humiliation
• fate
• love

The highlighted words represent the concepts we decided were the most relevant or important. Look for further references to the apple as you continue reading, and think about what it symbolizes and how that relates to the story as a whole. Are there any other instances of symbolism in the story?

Homework for April 2nd

1st, 2nd, 5th, & 6th periods:

• Finish the vocabulary worksheet for Friday
• Read Ch.5-6 of The Giver and prepare for a discussion on Friday
  

4th period:

• Prepare for the "salon" on Friday. Bring an artifact to share.
• Read Ch.18 of The Autobiography of Malcolm X for Monday
• Read Ch. 19 for Wednesday

March 17th

4th period:
Create 5 possible exam questions
Quiz Thursday on Ch.11-14 of The Autobiography of Malcolm X

1st, 2nd, & 6th periods:
Compare/contrast 2 stories that we have read this advisory in a Ven Diagram or BCR

5th period:
Write a BCR comparing the Irish-American immigrant experience in the 19th century to that of another group (Jews, African-Americans, etc.)

March 6th

I will be out of town next week and my classes will be covered by a substitute. Here are the assignments for the week!

4th period:
Read Ch.12 for Tuesday, March 10th
Read Ch.13 for Thursday, March 12th
Vocabulary Quiz on Friday, March 13th
Read Ch.14 for Monday, March 16th

1st, 2nd, 5th, & 6th periods:
Students will be given DC-CAS style questions for homework every night.

March 4th

1st & 2nd periods:
Quiz on tone & mood and the 4 organizational structures Thursday

4th period:
Quiz Thursday (Ch.5-10)
Read Ch.11 for Friday, March 6th
Read Ch.12 for Tuesday, March 10
Read Ch.13 for Thursday, March 12th
Read Ch.14 for Monday, March 16th

6th period:
Finish reading Flowers for Algernon
6 element plot outline for Flowers for Algernon due Friday

February 27th

4th period: Make sure to finish reading Ch.10 of The Autobiography of Malcolm X for Monday.

All other periods: Quiz Monday (tone & mood, cause & effect, compare & contrast, sequential order, and descriptive writing)

February 25th

4th period: Read Ch.10 of The Autobiography of Malcolm X for Thursday. Complete the vocabulary worksheet for Friday.

All other classes: Fill in 20 events on your sequential order worksheet for Flowers for Algeron.

February 23rd

4th period: Prepare 2-3 questions each for Ch.6, 7, & 8 (6-9 total)
Read Ch.9 for Wednesday
Read Ch.10 for Thursday
Complete Vocabulary Worksheet for Friday

1st period: Fill in 16 "events" on your sequential order worksheet

2nd, 5th, & 6th periods: Fill in 14 "events" on your sequential order worksheet

February 20th

4th period should read chapters 7 & 8 for Monday.

All other periods should fill in 3 or 4 more events on their sequential order worksheets.

February 18th

4th period: Be prepared to discuss Ch.6 in class tomorrow. Complete the vocabulary worksheet for Thursday.

1st, 2nd, 5th, & 6th: Complete the "sequential order" worksheet for Thursday.

February 13th

4th period: Read the first half of Ch.6, p.87-99, for the class discussion on Tuesday. You should plan on finishing the chapter, p.99-110, for class on Wednesday. Please make sure to catch up with your reading over the long weekend. A few of you are falling behind!

1st, 2nd, 5th, & 6th: No homework

February 11th

4th period: Quiz Thursday on Ch.1-4 of The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Read Ch.5 (p.73-86) for class on Friday.

1st, 2nd, 5th, & 6th: Vocabulary Quiz on Friday.

February 10th

4th period: Read Ch.4 for Wednesday and Ch.5 for Friday. There will be a quiz on Ch.1-4 on Thursday

1st, 2nd, 5th, & 6th periods: Tone and mood worksheet due Wednesday

February 9th

4th period: Read pg. 59-72 (Ch.4) for Wednesday

1st, 2nd, 5th, & 6th periods: No homework this evening

February 6th

4th period: Read Ch. 3 for Monday, create a timeline for Ch.1-3

1st & 2nd periods: Complete the reading comprehension questions for The Million-Pound Bank Note

February 5th

4th period: Read Ch. 2 (p.24-40) of The Autobiography of Malcolm X for tomorrow

5th & 6th periods: Complete the reading comprehension questions for The Million-Pound Bank Note

1st, 2nd, 5th, & 6th periods: Fantasy Fiction Projects due Friday!!!!

February 4th

4th period: Finish Ch.1 of The Autobiography of Malcolm X

6th period: Complete the vocabulary worksheet
Finish reading the cause and effect example article and fill in the Ven diagram

Periods 1, 2, 5, & 6: Fantasy Fiction Projects are due Friday!!!!!

February 3rd

Periods 1, 2, 5: Vocabulary Worksheet due tomorrow, Wednesday

Period 6: Describe 3 cause and effect relationships and the mood and tone in The Million Pound Bank Note

Period 4: Read the first half of chapter one of The Autobiography of Malcolm X for tomorrow (pg. 1-12)

Homework for Monday, February 2nd

Periods 1,2, 5, &6: Identify three cause and effect relationships in The Million Pound Bank Note. Describe the tone and mood of the play.

Period 4: Fantasy Fiction Project due tomorrow (Tuesday, February 3rd)

Reading schedule for The Autobiography of Malcolm X:
Read pg. 1-12 (1st half of ch.1) for class on Wednesday
Read pg. 12-23 (2nd half of ch.1) for class on Thursday
Read pg. 24-40 (ch. 2) for class on Friday
Read pg. 41-58 (ch.3) for class on Monday

Students will need to answer a few questions about the reading every day, so they should make sure to keep up with the assigned pages. I gave the reading assignment for the week, so students should keep up with the reading even if there is a snow day. For example, if there is no school on Thursday, they still need to have completed chapter two for the class discussion on Friday.

Students who had a low homework average for the second advisory have been given a homework log and a letter to be signed by their parents or guardians. If you would like to work with me to improve your student's homework average, please have your student submit the signed portion of the letter to me by Friday, February 6th.

Fantasy Fiction Project

Part I
Identify the six elements of plot structure in your book (exposition, inciting incident, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution). Write 2-3 sentences for each.

Part II
Describe the author’s tone in 2-3 sentences.
Describe the mood of your book in 2-3 sentences
Describe the organizational structure of your book in 2-3 sentences.

Part III
Write a personal response to the book. Did you like the book? Why or why not? Choose 2 or 3 points that you would like to make and write a minimum of one paragraph in 5 sentence format.

*Points will be taken off for grammar and spelling*

Homework

Periods 1,2, 5 & 6: Bring an outline or rough draft of the Fantasy Fiction Project to class on Monday (for a homework grade). The project is due Friday, February 6th.

Period 4: Read the foreword and introduction (The Autobiography of Malcolm X). Reminder, your independent reading projects are due Tuesday, February 3rd.

January 23rd

Complete the tone and mood worksheet for Monday.

4th period: (BCR) "Who was Malcolm X?"

January 12th

The English exam is this Wednesday, January 14th. All work for this advisory must be submitted by Friday, January 16th.

January 8th

Write 5 questions you think might appear on the exam (covers both 1st and 2nd advisories)

January 6th

Define the 6 elements of plot structure and create a 6 element plot outline for the short story Raymond's Run. Due tomorrow, Wednesday.

January 5th

Welcome back!

Students need to write a summary of the independent reading book they hopefully finished over the break. If they haven't finished, they should write a summary for what they have read so far and finish the book ASAP! The summary should be a minimum of 5 sentences and is due tomorrow, Tuesday.