Final Research Day

Students had the whole day to take Cornell notes on their essay topics. Writing starts Monday, so make sure those notes get done over the weekend!

Research Day

Students spent the whole period researching for their argument essays, mostly using the SIRS database (link and passwords at Google Classroom). Researching at home would put them ahead of the game at this point and is HIGHLY suggested.

Research Day

Students had some time to use the school database to refine and research the issue for their essays. There will be more research and notetaking time tomorrow, but they could certainly be working on this for homework.

The Importance of Credibility

Guest teacher, Ruth Mitchell, reminded students about the importance of evaluating sources today, and the showed them a database full of credible, reliable sources that they may use for their research papers. Login information is in the slideshow Ms. Mitchell shared at Google Classroom today.

Transition to Argument Writing

Today we transitioned from issues in student novels to issues students want to write about. After some free writing about possible issues from last week, students filled out the claim generator below. All handouts are at Google Classroom.

The Book Bento: Presentations

Students had a bit more than half the period to wrap up their projects and then everyone presented what they had in table groups.

If they didn't finish it in class today, students should turn in the URL address of their Book Bento (from ThingLink) and the Annotated Works Cited assignment at Google Classroom ASAP.

Book Bento: Day 3

Students began work on the ThingLink portion of the assignment today. Directions and class codes are at Google Classroom. Students will have 10 to 20 minutes to work tomorrow and then will present their projects to each other.

Book Bento: Day 2

Today students gathered or created images for the Book Bentos, simultaneously working on their annotated works cited pages. Both assignments are at Google Classroom and should be done by tomorrow so they can start the final part of the project in class.

Book Bento: Day 1

Today we started the final art project for the literature circles. The slides from class are below. The rest of the handouts and rubrics are at Google Classroom. Students should finish step one for homework if they need to.

The Last Lit Circle

After a bit of creative writing, groups had their final literature circles and did a final LC reflection.

Peer Evaluations & Work Time

After a quick peer evaluation activity, students had the rest of the period to get ready for their final literature circles tomorrow.

LC #9

Groups had their penultimate literature circle today. The last one is Friday!

Symbolism: A Review

After some discussion of symbolism, students had some time to prepare for tomorrow's literature circles.

LC#8

After some prep work, students had their 8th literature circles and then had some time at the end of the period to work on LC#9, due Wednesday.

NonFiction Friday

Today's nonfiction Friday topic an essay about juvenile incarceration which lead to a lively discussion at the end of class.

WU & Some Reading Time

LC #7 & Reflection 3

Today we had literature circle #7, a bit of reading time, and then students wrapped up the day with their third reflection.

Conflict & Work Time

After some work with conflict, students had the rest of the period to prepare for the next literature circle.

Characters & LC 6

After some work with character motivation, students had literature circle #6.

Nonfiction Friday

Today we read this article and students did a works cited entry and summary (using the LC summary frames) in their writer's notebooks.

Character Focus

Today we began the period with a review of the terms protagonist and antagonist with students applying them to their own novels. Students then had some time to read and prepare for lit circle #6, and we wrapped up the period with a reflective assignment on this week's lit circles (4 & 5).