Lit(erature) Thursdays

Reminders/Homework:

• Please note: your Homeless Bird essays show a lot of growth. I am proud of each and every one of you for the work you have done so far. Even if you have not reached your "perfect" score, that does not mean you have done a bad job. That simply means you have a bit more to do, and I know you are capable. I believe in you.
• If you need to make revisions to your Homeless Bird Essay:
• I have a copy of Homeless Bird you can use at brunch and lunch and before school.
• The Dove Library might have some copies
• You might be able to use Google to find the quotes you're looking for. Sometimes Googling "Homeless Bird PDF" works, or you can search for a particular chapter. I haven't tried it for this book, yet. Don't sign up for things.
• Try to fill in as much as you can of your comparison chart using the PDF on Google Classroom. (If you're absent to watch the video, I can pull you in during advisory sometime this week.)
• READ A BOOK

One More Viewing: What do you notice?

Today's Goal: Gather evidence of setting, character, and tone from video versions of The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket. Compare your chart to a partner's chart and improve your own.

The Plan:

1. Comparison Chart 
2. Use the movie, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004), to fill in the SECOND COLUMN.
3. Use the Netflix episode, The Bad Beginning: Part 1 (2017), to fill in the THIRD COLUMN.
   (Here is a shortened clip if the guest teacher is unable to play it)
4. Work with partners to make sure you have been as detailed as possible! We have some work to do with this tomorrow.
5. Once done, you may work on whatever you need.

TONE: Here's a list of words to describe tone. Which ones apply to each version? Be very careful when choosing your words. Make sure you know the word, and make sure it's the right word.

Note: You have to keep your observations separate. If it happened in one version but not the others, you can only put it in that column. See if you can articulate different things you notice for each

Reminders/Homework:

• Please note: your Homeless Bird essays show a lot of growth. I am proud of each and every one of you for the work you have done so far. Even if you have not reached your "perfect" score, that does not mean you have done a bad job. That simply means you have a bit more to do, and I know you are capable. I believe in you.
• If you need to make revisions to your Homeless Bird Essay:
• I have a copy of Homeless Bird you can use at brunch and lunch and before school.
• The Dove Library might have some copies
• You might be able to use Google to find the quotes you're looking for. Sometimes Googling "Homeless Bird PDF" works, or you can search for a particular chapter. I haven't tried it for this book, yet. Don't sign up for things.
• Try to fill in as much as you can of your comparison chart using the PDF on Google Classroom. (If you're absent to watch the video, I can pull you in during advisory sometime this week.)
• READ A BOOK

Movie and Show: Can you spot the similarities and differences?

It's a Venn diagram! For comparing/contrasting!

Today's Goal: Gather evidence of setting, character, and tone from The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket.Compare your chart to a partner's chart and improve your own.

The Plan:

1. Read
2. The Bad Beginning Count Olaf scene (2004)
3. Comparison Chart 
4. use the movie, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004), to fill in the SECOND COLUMN.
5. Use the Netflix episode, The Bad Beginning: Part 1 (2017), to fill in the THIRD COLUMN.

TONE: Here's a list of words to describe tone. Which ones apply to each version? Be very careful when choosing your words. Make sure you know the word, and make sure it's the right word.

Note: You have to keep your observations separate. If it happened in one version but not the others, you can only put it in that column. See if you can articulate different things you notice for each

Reminders/Homework:

• If you need to make revisions to your Homeless Bird Essay:
• I have a copy of Homeless Bird you can use at brunch and lunch and before school.
• The Dove Library might have some copies
• You might be able to use Google to find the quotes you're looking for. Sometimes Googling "Homeless Bird PDF" works. I haven't tried it for this book, yet. Don't sign up for things.
• Try to fill in as much as you can of your comparison chart using the PDF on Google Classroom. (If you're absent to watch the video, I can pull you in during advisory sometime this week.)
• READ A BOOK

Text Comparisons

"dilapidated"

Today's Goal: Gather evidence of setting, character, and tone from The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket. Compare your chart to a partner's chart and improve your own.

The Plan:

1. Read
2. The Bad Beginning Count Olaf scene
3. Comparison Chart - use the TEXT on Google classroom (10 pages) to fill in the FIRST COLUMN.
4. Work with your partner to compare what you have written and add as much as you can!
5. Watch the scene from the movie if there is time.
   
   Note: If you don't see the description/information in the text, you can't put it in the first column. Anything you write HAS to be information you took directly from the writing itself, not from your memory of the show.

Reminders/Homework:

• Try to fill in as much as you can in the first column of your comparison chart using the PDF on Google Classroom.
• READ A BOOK

Lit(erature) Thursday

Today's Goal: READ

The Plan:

Read

Reminders/Homework:

• Try to fill in as much as you can in the first column of your comparison chart using the PDF on Google Classroom.
• READ A BOOK

Valise Social Studies Project

Period 1/2: You'll be participating in a project in my class or Ms. Momeyer's class today.

Period 5: Please see yesterday's post.

Comparing Text to Movie

Today's Goal: View/Read a few different versions of a story in order to compare and contrast the ways that an author or a director choose to tell a story.

The Plan:

1. Read
2. The Bad Beginning Count Olaf scene
3. Comparison Chart - use the TEXT on Google classroom (10 pages) to fill in the FIRST COLUMN.
   
   Note: If you don't see the description in the text, you can't put it in the first column. Anything you write HAS to be information you took directly from the writing itself, not from your memory of the show.

Reminders/Homework:

• Try to fill in as much as you can in the first column of your comparison chart using the PDF on Google Classroom.
• READ A BOOK

Testing is over!

Today's Goal: Brain Break

The Plan:

1. I'll let you know.

Reminders/Homework:

• FINISH YOUR HOMELESS BIRD ESSAY.
• PRESS TURN IN.
• I HAVE ONLY HALF OF THEM.
• THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.

Open House (Welcome Parents!)

Today's Goal: Visit our Classroom!
Please excuse the rows of desks. We normally sit in groups of six, but due to testing, our set-up looks a bit different.

The Plan: (May be completed in any order)

• Make your kid show you things and tell you about English
• Discuss books and reading!
• Visit any of the computers to listen to personal "This I Believe" narratives written and recorded by your students 
• Please note:
• To view at open house, it requires download. Please let me know if you need any assistance.
• to view at home, your student must sign in with their CarlsbadUSD email account.
• View the research articles that students wrote during our first semester together (Found on desks around the classroom)
• Chat with Ms. Black
• Smile and have fun!

Reminders/Homework:

• Read a book!
• Connect with our classroom on Instagram

Labeled for noncommercial reuse 
under Creative Commons licensing

Testing: Monday, May 14 - Friday, May 18

This week there will be no new blog posts. 

Students are completing CAASPP ELA testing in English and Social Studies. 

PLEASE BRING THE FOLLOWING EVERY DAY:

1. a fully-charged chromebook. If a student does not have their computer charged, they will not be able to test, and they will be behind.
2. headphones. The ELA test has audio portions. They must use headphones or they will not be able to complete their test.
3. an independent reading book. If a student finishes early or cannot move onto the next section until the following day, reading is the only approved activity.
4. a good attitude! It's not fun. I get it. Please do your best and know that you have worked so hard this year. It will be harder than it needs to be if you spend your week being angry about it. I believe in you, but I need you to believe in you.

Write. Revise. KEEP GOING.

Today's Goal: WRITE. DO ALL THE WRITING.

The Plan:

1. Read.
2. Write.
3. Use the resources given to you in the last few blog posts.
4. Revision Checklist (I'm giving you a paper copy of this as well.

Reminders/Homework:

• YOUR ESSAY IS DUE ON MONDAY.
• by midnight
• Press "Turn in" on Google Classroom.
• You need to keep writing your essay.
• Achieve: Two Student Choice (LAST ONES)
• Read! Two MORE books by the end of the year!

Introductions and Conclusions

Today's Goal: Keep. Writing.
I believe in you.
You can do it.

The Plan:

1. Read!
2. Introductions and Conclusions: A crash course.
3. WRITE!

Introductions:

Listen, here's what you need to know about introductions:

• Don't start with a question. It's lazy. I love you, but it's lazy. You're not lazy.
• Frankly, I don't really care if you have a "hook." I really just want you to say something important. If you love "hooks," try this link for some ideas.
• You MUST give some background information for Homeless Bird, meaning you need to summarize what it is and what it's about. 
• Here is an important link for you that has an example of background information.

Conclusions:

Okay, some notes about your final paragraph:

• DO NOT SAY THE WORDS "In conclusion"
• I KNOW it's your conclusion. That's because it's the last paragraph. Please don't announce this to me. Whatever came after those two words is probably JUST FINE.
• In science, the words "in conclusion" are super helpful. 
• This is not science class.
• Your conclusion is where you answer the question: SO WHAT? What should we understand about humans and about life after reading this story and learning about this theme? How does it apply to the real world?
• Here is an important link for you that has an example of a conclusion

Reminders/Homework:

• BRING YOUR Homeless Bird TOMORROW (You have to leave it with me tomorrow. I have to turn it in to the library.)
• You need to keep writing your essay. I will give us today and tomorrow to write two body paragraphs. It will probably take you longer than that, but I want to spend a little time on Thursday talking about introductions and conclusions
• Achieve: Two Student Choice (LAST ONES)
• Read! Two MORE books by the end of the year!

Body Paragraphs (Step by Step)

Today's Goal: Write body paragraphs. Use two pieces of evidence in each paragraph. Make sure your writing is clear and understandable.

The Plan:

1. Read
2. Body Paragraphs! (You need your evidence planner and your new essay document, both in Google Classroom).
3. If you finish your body paragraphs, feel free to visit the "Complete Essay Outline" and begin working on you introduction and conclusion.
   OR you may work on Achieve
   OR you may read. 

Helpful Resources for you:

• Body Paragraph Checklist (If the wall is visually more difficult for you to use)
• Model Essay (to look at structure and try to emulate it)
• Complete Essay Outline (this is extremely detailed and should only be used if you need guidance on a particular part that you are struggling with.)
• Ms. Black is writing an essay, too. You can see her progress here. (She doesn't have a copy of the book, though, so she's trying to do it all from memory. She doesn't recommend this strategy.)

Writing a Body Paragraph:

IMPORTANT: These 7 steps are for writing ONE paragraph. Everything here from step 1 to step 7 will be part of ONE body paragraph. ONE! That means you do all these steps two times for two different paragraphs.

Reminders/Homework:

• You need to keep writing your body paragraphs. I will give us today and tomorrow to write two body paragraphs. It will probably take you longer than that, but I want to spend a little time on Thursday talking about introductions and conclusions
• Achieve: Two Student Choice (LAST ONES)
• Read! Two MORE books by the end of the year!

Body Paragraphs!

Yes. Make sure that happens.

Today's Goal: Write body paragraphs. I have lots of helpful tips for you on the wall! 

The Plan:

1. Read
2. Body Paragraphs! (You need your evidence planner and your new essay document, both in Google Classroom).
3. Body Paragraph Checklist
4. Model Essay
5. Complete Essay Outline
6. Ms. Black is writing an essay, too. You can see her progress here.

I HAVE SENT YOU A NEW DOCUMENT IN GOOGLE CLASSROOM. 

This is where you will work as you write your essay.

Reminders/Homework:

• You need to keep writing your body paragraphs. I will give us today and tomorrow to write two body paragraphs. It will probably take you longer than that, but I want to spend a little time on Thursday talking about introductions and conclusions
• Achieve: Two Student Choice
• Read! Two MORE books by the end of the year!

Finish gathering your evidence.

Today's Goal: Finish collecting evidence for your Homeless Bird essay.

The Plan:

1. Read
2. Ms. Black's example (for reference)
3. Finish gathering evidence to support your theme (Google Classroom)
4. If you finish, do your Achieves. Tomorrow we will jump into writing, so be prepared.

Homeless Bird Essay Prompt

In the book Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan, what theme does the author convey?
Write a FOUR-paragraph argumentative essay that identifies and argues which theme is found in Homeless Bird.
You may, if you choose, go above and beyond and create a five-paragraph essay.

Notes

• You may find that as you write, your evidence isn't quite what you wanted. That's okay! That just means you changed your mind and you realized what you could do to make it stronger! Please don't try to force your evidence to fit if it doesn't. Go find better evidence!
  
• You will have ONE week to write your four paragraphs. Next Monday, after school, I will start scoring them. You will get your final document and rubric tomorrow
• You will NOT have any more time in class after Friday because we will be doing SBAC Testing all week next week.
• Your Homeless Bird books are due back in the library on Friday, so please bring them to school to leave with me. I will turn them in for you so you do not get an overdue notice.

Reminders/Homework:

• GATHER ALL YOUR EVIDENCE as soon as possible
• LAST TWO ACHIEVES OF THE YEAR
• Student Choice #11
• Student Choice #12
• Make sure you are reading your independent reading books! You have six more weeks to read two more books!
• No Lit Thursday this week because of testing and because of our Homeless Bird essays.

Gathering Evidence of Theme

Today's Goal: Figure out what theme you are going to write about and begin to gather evidence

The Plan:

1. Read
2. Homeless Bird Essay evidence planner (On Classroom)
3. Here is Ms. Black's example

Homeless Bird Essay Prompt

In the book Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan, what theme does the author convey?

Write a FOUR-paragraph argumentative essay that identifies and argues why a theme is found in Homeless Bird.

You may, if you choose, go above and beyond and create a five-paragraph essay.

Reminders/Homework:

• Evidence Planner doesn't need complete sentences, but should be COMPLETE at the end of class on Monday.
• TWO Achieves due Friday by midnight
• Teacher Choice: Wonders Worth Visiting
• Student Choice
• INDEPENDENT READING:
• TWO books read by May 3!
• Fill out the form in the sidebar every time you finish a new book!

LAST Lit Thursday of the Mark 5!

Today's Goal: READ.

The Plan:

1. If and when you finish a book, let me know by filling out this form
2. Lit Thursday -  IN GOOGLE CLASSROOM fill out this week's progress tracker and find a thing to do.
3. WHEN YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR TASKS, PRESS TURN IN.

You won't be able to do Lit Thursday things today in class IF:

• You haven't finished your Einstein Jr. Work AND printed it AND turned it in.
• I don't have your Socratic Prep

Reminders/Homework:

• LIT THURSDAY - 
• press "turn in" on Google Classroom AFTER you have completed 4 items. 
• Make sure you highlighted the boxes you completed 
• Make sure you provided any necessary links.
• TWO Achieves due Friday by midnight
• Teacher Choice: Wonders Worth Visiting
• Student Choice
• INDEPENDENT READING:
• TWO books read by May 4!
• If and when you finish a book, let me know by filling out this form

Theme Essay

Today's Goal: Figure out what theme you are going to write about and begin to gather evidence

The Plan:

1. Read
2. Look at brainstorm from yesterday.
3. Homeless Bird Essay! (On Classroom)

Homeless Bird Essay Prompt

In the book Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan, what theme does the author convey?

Write a FOUR-paragraph argumentative essay that identifies and argues why a theme is found in Homeless Bird.

You may, if you choose, go above and beyond and create a five-paragraph essay.

Reminders/Homework:

• TWO Achieves due Friday by midnight
• Teacher Choice: Wonders Worth Visiting
• Student Choice
• INDEPENDENT READING:
• TWO books read by May 3!
• Fill out the form in the sidebar every time you finish a new book!

Learning about THEME (Pt. 2)

Remember: Themes are universal. The can apply to
anyone in the whole wide universe (okay maybe just Earth)

Today's Goal: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.2
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details;

The Plan:

1. Read
2. THEME (We will address the second half of this lesson today)
3. Fill out this form after we finish

Reminders/Homework:

• TWO Achieves
• Teacher Choice: Wonders Worth Visiting
• Student Choice
• INDEPENDENT READING:
• TWO books read by May 3!
• Fill out the form in the sidebar every time you finish a new book!