This Week in Language Arts...

Because we have conferences on Thursday and Friday, this is a short week in language arts.  On Monday, we'll be discussing and analyzing a real life hero in the Springboard Activity "An Everyday Hero."  Then, we'll jump into the first Springboard Embedded Assessment, the culminating writing piece we've been working towards over the last month.  The assessment is a definition essay: each student will write a multi-paragraph essay that defines his or her concept of heroism.
I look forward to meeting everyone at conferences!

This Week in Language Arts...

We'll continue to examine the concept of heroism this week, focusing on Joseph Campbell's hero's journey.
We'll be discussing the differences and similarities between the terms "archetype" and "stereotype" in this springboard activity.  We'll discuss and analyze the various stages in Campbell's hero's journey.  In this activity, students will examine one step in the hero's journey: The Refusal of the Call.  Then we'll read a section of Homer's Odyssey, focusing on the stage in the hero's journey of The Road of Trials and Odysseus's heroic qualities.  (There's a link to the reading and activities in Springboard here.)
Also, we'll prepare for Friday's visit to JDHS for the "Romeo and Juliet in Music" performance.  And, or course, we'll be doing some writing in our writing notebooks.

Vocabulary Quiz Tomorrow!

This is just a reminder that we have a vocabulary quiz tomorrow.  Here's a link to a practice quiz.

Book Recommendations

If you're looking for a new AR book to read, I've compiled a list of some titles I've enjoyed.  THIS LIST includes realistic novels, mysteries, survival stories, fantasies, historical fiction, and more.  I also have hard copies in my classroom.
Enjoy!

This Week in Language Arts...

This week students will be writing Poetry Analysis Paragraphs.  You can take a look at the assignment by clicking HERE.  (Note: Some of the formatting gets a little messed up with the transfer to the website, but you can still get the general idea.)
We'll also be reviewing the key vocabulary terms we've been studying over the first few weeks of the school year.  The list of key vocabulary words can be found HERE, along with some of the review activities.  The first quiz--on the vocabulary words--will take place on Friday.
Looking ahead, on Friday, September 20th, we'll have our first field trip of the year.  I'm excited for the opportunity to attend a performance of "Notes From the Balcony: Romeo and Juliet in Music" by the Boston Brass quintet and the Enso String Quartet.  The concert will take place in the JDHS auditorium, and students will bring home permission slips this week.  You can learn more about the performers here and here.  I'm looking forward to this opportunity for students, a great connection between music and literature!

This Week in Language Arts...

Because we have MAP testing this week, we'll have fewer language arts classes than in a normal week.  During language arts this week, we'll focus on analyzing two poems: "O Captain My Captain" by Walt Whitman and "Frederick Douglas" by Robert Hayden.  Next week, we'll be working on formal analysis paragraphs, pulling together some of the terms and concepts we've been studying as we analyze poetry.
Have a great week!