Novel Unit and Timed Writing

In class today and tomorrow we will test the skills we refined on planning a quality essay. We will see how our students do with the second timed writing prompt.

On Friday we continue learning about reading and discussing reading strategies and literature with our novel, The Skin I'm In. For the third section of the book we will be focusing on using active reading strategies, and the discussion sheet we will use for this section asks students to be reflective readers. For a copy of this sheet you will find a link here.

Next week will will have workdays to complete the reading and discussions of section three.

Vocabulary Quiz for Research Class

It's that time again! We've learned so many more words! The vocabulary quiz will be next Tuesday, November 2.

Definitions should be in the composition books. Also, we made a study guide in class.  If any are missing, try Dictionary.com!

Tragedy

Lugubrious
Exultant
Encountered
Meager
Plethora
Misers
Dispersed
Noisome
Exuberant

Trekked
Perky
Blaring
Amphitheater
Dapper
Besotted
Visage
Oscillate
AbodeComely
Beauteous
Rapscallion
Tractable
Adverse
Materialize

Skin I'm In - Section 1 CHARACTER

In class on October 15 and October 18 we will complete section one of the novel. Students will then complete their character discussion sheets in anticipation of the discussion groups that will meet on the 19th and 20th.* I look forward to some animate discussions of character traits, as Sharon E. Flake has created some very credible characters in her story. Section two will begin on October 21 and 22 where we will focus on the conflicts presented in the story.





*Failure to complete the discussion sheet means sitting out of discussions.

Novel Study

In class we are beginning the novel study of The Skin I'm In by Sharon Flake. We will be dividing this novel into four sections, using each part for a different literature study or reading strategy. We will use these lessons and the novel for discussion on character, conflict, active reading, and plot.  The novel and most accompanying work will be done in class as we have only a class set of novels, so your attendance and participation are extremely important. The class discussions will also be assessed as a part of the learning.

This novel study will take approximately 4 weeks to complete.

Main Idea - Mapping the Process

Inferring, paraphrasing, summarizing, and identifying relevant details are all part of the process that helps us arrive at main idea. In class we've practiced all of these strategies, separately and in tandem. Now we're putting it together in this homework assignment.


For a blank copy of the organizer, click this link.

Vocabulary Study

We have begun our first root/prefix/suffix study, looking up and determining the meanings of -anti - audi - bio - enni/anni - and -capit/capt. We determined these meanings by doing an investigation.

1. brainstorming words with those roots
2. looking up definitions
3. finding similarities
4. inferring the meaning.

The meaning was reinforced using a Frayer model:

A completed example may look like this:

From time to time throughout the year, students will be asked to complete these investigations. I hope that we will learn some 50+ roots in this way.

Four Square Planning

In class last week we reviewed our first timed writing results and practiced scoring using the FCAT writing rubric. Students learned an effective strategy for planning writing, and then began to revise their essay by rewriting their plan. The Four Square Writing method is an effective way to plan because it helps students to remember the organization, detail, and elaboration needed in strong writing.

The revised plan will be due in class on Wednesday 9/29  (A day students) or Thursday 9/30 (B day students).