Monday - October 26th!

Book club questions and meeting due on Friday.  Make sure you are ready in order to meet with your group.

Eric Walters webquest - due Wednesday.

Book Club - Meeting this Friday! Keep up the amazing reading!

I am so amazed at your incredible reading - you can't keep your head out of the books - and we are so pleased with your progress.  We will be meeting this week for your first Book Club!   Here is what is expected:

Reading up a storm! 

Keep up the amazing reading!!!

Task:

As a group students will choose a novel to read and analyze. Three class meetings will be held to discuss their readings.

Prior to each meeting:

• Students are expected to prepare point form notes to answer the assigned questions based on their reading.
• Each student is to create her own 2 questions for discussion, with her answers. (Share with me on Google Drive) 

•  Avoid literal/factual knowledge based questions that involve remembering without understanding, analysis, or evaluation.

Meeting #1 - ___:

1. What scene is the most impactful? Why?
2. Find a quote online (or from a text) that relates to the novel.   What connections can you make between the quote and the novel.
3. Which character is the most interesting? Why?
4. How much does the setting impact the novel?  If you were to live during this time period and place, what is one thing you would like to do or experience?
5. Using the Q-Chart as your guide to higher level thinking questions, create 2 questions for your group. Prepare your answers, but share them only after each member has had a chance to answer the question.

Reading Strategy:  Questioning!   We have been learning about the importance of questioning.  Effective readers ask questions all the time when they are reading.  Asking questions helps you to understand what is happening in the text.
In class, we have been using a “Q Chart”.   This is a grid containing various question starters.   By using these question starters, we have identified which types of questions would be hand-type questions (a question that you can find the answer to right on a page in the text) or a higher level thinking question, or a brain-type of question.  These types of questions require a reader to use information that they find in the text AND their own ideas to develop an effective answer.
Below is a copy of the Q chart.    When you are reading, what are some questions that you can develop about your book?

Tell Tale Heart Culminating Activity!

Homework:  Make sure your culminating activity is finished - either the Tell Tale Heart Police Report or the Prequel/Sequel.  Can't wait to see them - be creative!   Have a great weekend- enjoy these fall colours!

It's Back to the Future Day!

Click on the link to watch a clip from the old movie.  If you have time this weekend - check out the movie!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Tf8mPsvcOs

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/feature/a674237/back-to-the-future-day-october-21-2015-a-definitive-guide-to-hoverboards-chicago-cubs-and-jaws-19.html#~prKwPeoHRFvpKt

What will your future look like?  What will your country look like in 25 years?

Homework:

Work on the creative assignment for the Tell-Tale Heart.  Due on Friday.  

The Tell-Tale Heart!

We are starting to read some "spooky" stories before Hallowe'en - focussing on mood, theme, foreshadowing and conflict.

Our first story is the classic - The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe.

Watch this little video to learn more about Edgar Allan Poe:

http://teacher.scholastic.com/scholasticnews/magazines/assets/scope/poe-video.html

We read a readers theatre version of the story, and will read Poe's works next week.
You can listen to the audio version here:
http://www.manythings.org/listen/The_Tell-Tale_Heart_-_By_Edgar_Allan_Poe.html

Study your vocabulary words, and complete the questions about the play for homework. (Period 2)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today we talked about Thanksgiving and read about the history of Thanksgiving.

Homework:

Period 2:  we will continue working on the Thanksgiving sheets, try these little quizzes
Period 3 and 4:  finish up your opinion essay - Is Technology killing our friendships?  This is due next week.    Period 4 - we will do a "mini-project" on a special holiday/tradition in your country.  Work on this over the weekend!  A few people are missing Newsela marks - please do a few over the weekend if you don't have a mark for the last quiz!

http://www.esolcourses.com/content/topics/thanksgiving/history-of-holidays-pumpkin-pie.html

Learn about the history of pumpkin pie at this link and try the quiz!

Or, watch this little video about American Thanksgiving and try the quiz!
http://www.eslvideo.com/esl_video_quiz_intermediate.php?id=6657

Good luck!  Let me know how you did!

Monday, October 5th

Homework:  Finish your letter to a friend about Terry Fox.

Done?  Read a Newsela article and try a quiz.

Tomorrow in Period 3 and 4, we will continue the essay - body paragraphs.  Make sure that your introduction is polished up.

Terry Fox!

We had a great week!   Sadly, Period 2 has been split in half.  I will miss the students who have moved - you were such a co-operative, spirited group -  but know that you will probably see me again Semester 2!  It was such a pleasure working with you all.  This change will be beneficial for all students, and you will be able to get the attention you deserve with the smaller groups.

Around Ottawa last weekend and this week, you may have heard or seen the Terry Fox Run.   It was 35 years ago that he captured the hearts of all Canadians.   We watched a short video about Terry Fox and are looking at character traits.

Here is a link for the Terry Fox movie.  It is older, but gives you more details about his character and why he is such an important hero for Canada.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPcXMg3E9KQ

Who are the important heroes in your country?

Homework:

Period 2:  We are finishing presentations, finish Terry Fox character trait sheet

Period 3 and 4:  We will be working on the essay :  Is technology killing our friendships?
This is due on Thursday.  We will be working on the body paragraphs and conclusion in class.  Make sure your introduction and thesis are polished up.   Also, finish the Terry Fox character trait sheet.