Spring Break is over and we are well into the fourth (and final!) marking period.
634 - we are just about finished reading
Woodsong and will begin
The Crossing by the end of this week. Start thinking about how the setting affects Gary Paulsen's characters and plots.
734 - We are reading more of Virginia Hamilton's stories and are noticing recurring patterns and lessons ('learnings') for the reader. Begin to look for a pattern that is common in your Virginia Hamilton book as well as two of the Hamilton pieces we read in class.
834 - It's time to apply the "journey cycle" to your historical fiction stories. You need to plot out your character's journey to America from his/her country of origin.
Homework is as follows:4/28/06634: Find a snapshot, thoughtshot, and dialogue for your Paulsen character.
734: Write a pargraph for your 3rd Virginia Hamilton piece.
834: Continue writing your historical fiction story in your Writer's Sourcebook.
4/27/06634:Find a 'snapshot', 'thoughtshot', and dialogue for your Paulsen character,
and copy into your Reader's Notebook in the Gary Paulsen Table of Contents.
Make a character trait chart like the one we did in class for that character.
734: Write a paragraph for your second Hamilton piece.
834: Continue writing your HS story.
4/26/06634: Make an entry for
Woodsong in your Annotated Bibliography
734: Retake VH test; write questions you need answered for
your book on post-its.
834: Continue writing your first draft of your HF story. (From "known" through "challenges."
4/25/06634: Make a text-to-text connection with your Paulsen book and
Woodsong.
734: Complete the theme/pattern/learning chart for your VH book. Write a summary
of the VH book you read. Include a pattern you noticed as well as a quote to
support your pattern.
834: Continue to draft your historical fiction story.
4/24/06634: Be a seer for
Woodsong. What do you think will happen next?
734: What was VH's purpose in writing the book you finished? What do you think
she wants the reader to learn?
834: Complete your 'Journey Cycle' outline for your character in your Writer's
Sourcebook.
Posted by Mrs. Varga at 7:11 PM
It's already the middle of April and Spring break is just a few days away. Here's what's been happening in Room 155. 634 is well into the Gary Paulsen Author Study. We are almost done with Woodsong and our first independent Paulsen book. Some of us are on our second independent Paulsen book! 734 is well into the Virginia Hamilton Author Study. We have read her folk tales and stories about slaves running for freedom. We are more than halfway done with our independent Viriginia Hamilton books. 834 is well into the Historical Fiction Genre Study. We are reading historical fiction books as well as beginning to write our own historical fiction stories.Homework is as follows:4/12/06634 -Finish Paulsen book. Make a text-to -text connection. Rewrite and reviseliterary letter on loose leaf.734 - Finish Hamilton book. Be a 'reporter' on loose leaf.834 - Finish reading your historical fiction book. Complete "story cycle" handoutsfor "The Lion King" and for your historical fiction book.
4/11/06634- Finish Paulsen books by 4/24/06. Test on entire book.734- Finish Hamilton books by 4/24/06. Test on entire book. Write a paragraphabout Virginia Hamilton using the printed handouts.834- Write the 'known,' the 'call' and the 'threshold for your historical fiction book.Use the "Star Wars" model to help you.4/10/06634 - Read Chapter 13 in your Paulsen book. Write a 'teacher's question.'734 -Read Chapter 11 in your Hamilton book. Be a reporter.834 -Write your character's possible conflicts on loose leaf paper.
Posted by Mrs. Varga at 4:31 PM
Greetings all you girls & guys in 634, 734 & 834. It's April and we are well into our genre studies. Class 634 is reading, analyzing and reflecting on the works of Gary Paulsen. Class 734 has begun to take a look at Virginia Hamilton's folktales and books. The students in Class 834 are developing their characters and settings for their historical fiction stories. It's an exciting time of the year - both in and out of the classroom! Congratulations to Mark of 634 for being Student of the Month.
Homework is as follows:4/7/07634 -Read Chapters 10 -12 in your Paulsen books. Be a reporter.734 -Read Chapters 8 -20 in your Hamilton books. Be a philosopher and a reporter.834 -Read 30+ pages in your historical fiction book. On post-its, note lifestyle details and character details. Revise your introduction to establish setting. 4/6/06634 -Read Chapter 9 in your Paulsen book. Be a reporter. Nightjohn group - What was Paulsen's purpose in writing this book?734 -Read Chapter 7 in your Hamilton book. Be a reverberator, a reporter, a linecatcher.834 - Read 15+ pages in your historical fiction book. List the character details and the lifestyle details in your book.
4/5/06634 -Read Chapter 8 in your Paulsen book. Be a reporter using the Reporter's Guide in your Paulsen packet.734 - Read Chapter 6 in your Hamilton book. Be a reporter using the Reporter's Guide in your Hamilton packet.834 - Read the first 15 pages in your historical fiction books. Use the post-its to note lifestyle details.
4/4/06634 -Read Chapter 7 in Paulsen book. Describe the tone of chapter. (Serious, sad,humorous, cheerful)734 - Read Chapter 5 in your Virginia Hamilton book. Be a reverberator.834 -Revise introduction to your historical fiction story in your Writer's Sourcebook. Include the lifestyle details we charted in class.4/3/06634- Read Chapter 6 in your Paulsen books. Make a predict/Support Chart for what you think will happen next.734 - Read Chapter 3 in your Virginia Hamilton book. Write a paragraph describing the main character.834 - Write your introduction to your historical fiction in your Writer's Sourcebook in the 'Historical Fiction' table of contents. Be sure to establish the setting and the character.
Posted by Mrs. Varga at 7:35 AM
