Tuesday, January 10, 201

Announcements and Reminders: Today is the last day of the term, and the last day of our class.  😢   Best wishes with all you do in the future!!!!                         January 10, 2017 -- Class Party  Bring treats!!!!!! We voted to watch selections from Harry Potter I.  Our experts will help us compare the movie to the book.   If you didn't complete the response to "Stubby Pringle" and hand it in to the wire basket, do that RIGHT AWAY, please! If you didn't read and evaluate 3 short stories from the four available in class, you could do that during the movie today. All late work needed to come in by  Friday, January 6, 2017.

Targets for Today: Reading: Literature Standard 10  By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, in the grades 6–8 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range. Speaking and Listening Standard 1  Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 7 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

Today’s  Agenda: 1. Individual Reading 2. Return books to depository, please.  2. Watch selections from the video of a book -- This has educational value because it is based on a book and we will be comparing watching the video with the reading experience.   😊 IF YOU ARE MISSING the short story assignments, complete them on January 10!  Show them to Ms. D. There was a rumour that Nagini was the snake Harry released from the zoo in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. This was proven false, as Nagini is some type of viper while the snake in the zoo was a boa constrictor. Furthermore, the snake was given a male voice in the film, while Nagini is female.  -- fanpop.com https://www.theodysseyonline.com/20-differences-between-harry-potter-books-movies Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Book vs Movie Add A Difference  In the Book In the Movie    The Sorting hat sings a song while deciding which House to put each child into. The hat simply makes a comment before deciding where they will go.    Harry's summer is discussed at length prior to going to Hogwarts. This doesn't happen.    Harry talks to a Boa Constrictor from Brazil in parsel tongue. The snake is a Burmese Python.    Peeves the Poltergeist is constantly causing trouble. The ghost does not appear.    Hagrid's Dragon, Norbert is taken by Harry and Hermione to a friend of Charlie Weasley for care. Dumbledore removes the dragon. If you are  Imissing the Id

If You Were Absent: See above.  The links for the survey and websites are in your email message from me.

Vocabulary: Short story:  A short story is a brief work of fiction, usually written in prose and running 1,600 to 20,000 words in length.  -- study.com/academy/lesson/short-stories-definition-characteristics-examples.html      A short story is fictional work of prose that is shorter in length than a novel. Edgar Allan Poe, in his essay "The Philosophy of Composition," said that a short story should be read in one sitting, anywhere from a half hour to two hours. In contemporary fiction, a short story can range from 1,000 to 20,000 words.       Because of the shorter length, a short story usually focuses on one plot, one main character (with a few additional minor characters), and one central theme, whereas a novel can tackle multiple plots and themes, with a variety of prominent characters. Short stories also lend themselves more to experimentation — that is, using uncommon prose styles or literary devices to tell the story.  -- https://www.cliffsnotes.com/cliffsnotes/subjects/literature/what-is-a-definition-of-short-story

Friday, January 6, 2017

Announcements and Reminders:                           January 10, 2017 -- Class Party  Hugo The Jungle Book -- new Nancy Drew The Little Prince The Last Unicorn Harry Potter 1 or 2  Spirited Away Howl's Moving Castle If you didn't complete the response to "Stubby Pringle" and hand it in to the wire basket, do that RIGHT AWAY, please!  You could finish your author website assignment at home BY FRIDAY and hand it in to the wire basket. All late work needs to come in today! Friday, January 6, 2017.

Targets for Today: Reading: Literature Standard 10  By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, in the grades 6–8 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range. Speaking and Listening Standard 1  Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 7 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

Today’s  Agenda: 1. Individual Reading 2. Reading Short Stories:  "Hansel's Eyes" is a short story by Garth Nix.  It is based on a familiar fairy tale, but Mr. Nix does something very different with the tale.  "The Christmas Hatchet" is a story by Patrick McManus.  The author is known for his humor. "All Summer in a Day" is by the famous science fiction writer, Ray Bradbury, and is set on a planet where the sun shines for only two hours once every seven years.  "UnSchooled" is the beginning of a book by Neal Shusterman titled Unbound.  His Unwind series is placed in a future where the disagreements between pro-life and pro-abortion supporters led to a terrible civil war.  To settle the war, both sides have agreed to outlaw abortion, but replace it with "unwinding." Select a short story to read in a group of three or four. After you have read it. . .     Evaluate the story:     In your composition book,      Write the title and author.     Rate the story from one to five stars.       Write one thing you liked about the story and,   if you wish, one thing you did not like about the story. Rating system:     ★    Don’t bother reading; it’s a sleeper.    ★★  Read with caution; the story has one good part.    ★★★  Read it; it’s worth it.   ★★★★  Read without reservation; it’s great!!   ★★★★★  Throw caution to the wind; find a comfy chair and some snacks because you won’t be able to put it down. If you are missing the short story assignments, complete them on January 10! Show them to Ms. D.

If You Were Absent: See above.  The links for the survey and websites are in your email message from me.

Vocabulary: Short story:  A short story is a brief work of fiction, usually written in prose and running 1,600 to 20,000 words in length.  -- study.com/academy/lesson/short-stories-definition-characteristics-examples.html      A short story is fictional work of prose that is shorter in length than a novel. Edgar Allan Poe, in his essay "The Philosophy of Composition," said that a short story should be read in one sitting, anywhere from a half hour to two hours. In contemporary fiction, a short story can range from 1,000 to 20,000 words.       Because of the shorter length, a short story usually focuses on one plot, one main character (with a few additional minor characters), and one central theme, whereas a novel can tackle multiple plots and themes, with a variety of prominent characters. Short stories also lend themselves more to experimentation — that is, using uncommon prose styles or literary devices to tell the story.  -- https://www.cliffsnotes.com/cliffsnotes/subjects/literature/what-is-a-definition-of-short-story

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Announcements and Reminders:                           January 10, 2017 -- Class Party  Hugo The Jungle Book -- new Nancy Drew The Little Prince The Last Unicorn Harry Potter 1 or 2  Spirited Away Any other suggestions?  If you didn't complete the response to "Stubby Pringle" and hand it in to the wire basket, do that RIGHT AWAY, please!  You could finish your author website assignment at home BY FRIDAY and hand it in to the wire basket.

Targets for Today: Reading: Literature Standard 10  By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, in the grades 6–8 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range. Speaking and Listening Standard 1  Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 7 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

Today’s  Agenda: 1. Individual Reading 2. Computer lab to take exit survey and then to look up author's websites. Open your gmail, and find the message with a link to the survey. First, take the exit survey Then you can spend any time you have left finding these author websites, and in your composition book, writing down two thing you learn about each author.  Pick from  Garth Nix    http://www.garthnix.com/ Ray Bradbury    http://www.raybradbury.com/ Ben Mikaelsen   http://www.benmikaelsen.com/ Cameron Dokey  http://camerondokey.com/ Suzanne Collins   http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/ Marie Lu    http://marielubooks.tumblr.com/ Jerry Spinelli   http://www.jerryspinelli.com/newbery_001.htm 3. Reading Short Stories:  "Hansel's Eyes" is a short story by Garth Nix.  It is based on a familiar fairy tale, but Mr. Nix does something very different with the tale.  "The Christmas Hatchet" is a story by Patrick McManus.  The author is known for his humor. "All Summer in a Day" is by the famous science fiction writer, Ray Bradbury, and is set on a planet where the sun shines for only two hours once every seven years.  "UnSchooled" is the beginning of a book by Neal Shusterman titled Unbound.  His Unwind series is placed in a future where the disagreements between pro-life and pro-abortion supporters led to a terrible civil war.  To settle the war, both sides have agreed to outlaw abortion, but replace it with "unwinding." Select a short story to read in a group of three or four. After you have read it. . .     Evaluate the story:     In your composition book,      Write the title and author.     Rate the story from one to five stars.       Write one thing you liked about the story and,   if you wish, one thing you did not like about the story. Rating system:     ★    Don’t bother reading; it’s a sleeper.    ★★  Read with caution; the story has one good part.    ★★★  Read it; it’s worth it.   ★★★★  Read without reservation; it’s great!!   ★★★★★  Throw caution to the wind; find a comfy chair and some snacks because you won’t be able to put it down.

If You Were Absent: See above.  The links for the survey and websites are in your email message from me.  We will work on the short stories again next time.

Vocabulary: Short story:  A short story is a brief work of fiction, usually written in prose and running 1,600 to 20,000 words in length.  -- study.com/academy/lesson/short-stories-definition-characteristics-examples.html      A short story is fictional work of prose that is shorter in length than a novel. Edgar Allan Poe, in his essay "The Philosophy of Composition," said that a short story should be read in one sitting, anywhere from a half hour to two hours. In contemporary fiction, a short story can range from 1,000 to 20,000 words.       Because of the shorter length, a short story usually focuses on one plot, one main character (with a few additional minor characters), and one central theme, whereas a novel can tackle multiple plots and themes, with a variety of prominent characters. Short stories also lend themselves more to experimentation — that is, using uncommon prose styles or literary devices to tell the story.  -- https://www.cliffsnotes.com/cliffsnotes/subjects/literature/what-is-a-definition-of-short-story