I’m Everyday People

Reflect on our class discussion of Everyday People today. Include the discussion as well as the poetry activities with the posters and such. Tell me what you think? Expect? Want to see? Would you like to create your own lyrical review? What theme would you use?

Life is a Highway…

Today as we listened to Life is a Highway by Rascal Flatts, we discussed how literature and life connect. Post your 3 questions here to continue our literary discussion on line.
So What?
Now, review the comments posted by your peers and answer 2 different questions can be from the same person or different people. Answer the questions using your book?
MIA…
Reflect on the RDJ 23 process. Would you like to do this on the wiki? What are your ideas for RDJs in the future?

RDJ 22… What would you say?

As we jammed out to “What would you say?” by Dave Matthews, we pumped up for our RDJ literary adventure. Your mission is to write a reflection about that adventure including the other aspects of the Gab Slab. Here are guiding questions that may help you if you find yourself stuck:
~ Which slides or bullets from the RDJ PP and/or update, did your group discuss?
~ Identify some or all of the books being read at your table? Did any of them sound interesting, why or why not?
~ Did you learn something new or did something click of which you struggled with previously? If so, why or why not?
~ How would you rate your understanding on a scale of 1 (not at all) to 10 (definitely got it) on the main idea and supporting detail info using the Science Chapter 8 material?
~ How did sharing and comparing the info from section 1 tool box help you? If it didn’t, why not?
~ How did setting up section 2 with your group work?
~ What would you change about today’s format, participation, other? Why?
~ Any improvements or suggestions for the future?

Book Order View

I’m Movin’ On and Much Ado…

First, you can see the books in a digital format offered in TAB Jan and Feb and well as TRC Jan by clicking on the link below. You can also order books right from this site or you can do it the traditional way by having your parents write a check to Scholastic Tab or pay in cash. Remember, ordering books is completely optional. As we order books, we earn points for our class, which are exchanged for more books for our classroom library. Our user name is starfishteam and our password is starfishshine. I want you to look at the books in the flyers from class or digitally through clicking on the link below and entering the password info and select your top picks (books you like). Here is the link:
(link is not working, refer to Book Order View to see books on-line, you can also order from here if interested)

Second, I just found out about a writing contest entitled Marley and Me. The deadline is Thursday. It is a contest for grades 7-9. The prompt is to write a story from an animal’s point of view. Top prizes include a $2000 gift card to Best Buy. Wowzers! If you are interested, the link for entering your story and finding out more info is below.
http://www.weeklyreader.com/marley

Third, make sure you check out the four new links on the main page. One is an awesome homework/study helper that is absolutely free. It is quality as I checked out some of the language arts links. Thank you Mrs. Haines for sharing it with us!

Film Critique

Language arts covers a wide spectrum when you consider our reading and writing adventures. Critically reviewing films and other media productions falls in our spectrum according the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for seventh grade. On Tuesday, January 6, we will travel to the theatre to view Marley and Me. For this week’s reading dialogue journal entry, we will focus our energy on our film review. We will discuss this in class on Monday, January 5 and Tuesday, January 6.
First, you will rate the film on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being the worst and 10 being the best. You will provide rationale for your rating, which is why you feel the way you do…what supports your opinion. Using specific examples from the film make your rationale stronger.
Second, you will select 3 areas to critique while viewing the film. These areas can range from special effects to themes (life messages) to humor. The sky is wide open. The expectation is that you have 3 specific areas to hone your efforts of critical analysis of the film. You have to cleary identify each area. Explain why you selected the area and it should match your interest as a movie go-er. Rate the area using the same scale 1-10 and provide rationale remembering that specific examples from the film as well as your analysis of those examples and your area make for stronger entries. Questions, comments, post them here. You may opt to do this RDJ digitally using a word program and copy and paste it into a comment. See my example in the comments section.

My Grown Up Christmas List

Thoughts….

RDJ Update: questions, comments, concerns….

Share Love… Characters

Our theme song, “Share Love” by Boys II Men, reminds us of the importance of sharing our love for one another during this holiday time as well as always.  It was appropriate for our theme song because we shared information and reviewed character types and ways to develop characters during Gab Slab today.  Let’s continue reviewing….

• Pick a character from your book, identify the type (may fall into 2 or more catagories), tell us why the character fits the type (s)
• Select 3 ways the author developed the character using the list from Ways to Develop Characters found in the Writing section of your handbook, explain why it is that way
• Vote on whether you prefer 3 separate literary assessments covering Characters, Plot and Conflict, Setting and Theme or if you would just like to have one covering those items.  If we do three, you will have one each week starting this week.  If we do one, it will be on December 16.  Either way, we will study by using prompts like this one on the blog.  Make your vote clear

Good Luck!  I will try to post a comment later in the evening.

Plot Dish

First, please be sure to read the one hour writing clarification on the main page.  Post comments or questions about one hour writing there.

Plot dish…. I’m Everyday People….  I thought this theme song went well with our PBS reminders of our learning community as well as the way Telah unites all of the tribal people to defeat the evil four legged demons (which are really slave traders riding horses)

What did you think about the lesson?  Did the clips help you understand the plot?  Are you struggling with any areas of the plot?  Post comments and questions about our lesson on plot here.

I put a spell on you

And now you’re mine!  My spell consisted of Deal-A-Discussion.  This is our first go round with this type of learning.  How did it go?  What needs to be improved?  What worked, what didn’t?   What did you like/dislike about the discussion?  If you could change anything about the lesson, what would it be and why?

Those of you who got to participate in small group instruction… what did you think?  Did you find it helpful?  Would you make any adjustments?  If so, what and why?

All of you, make sure you re-check the conflict posted comments.  Some have questions from peers they need to answer and some did not complete the blog assignment last evening.  Check it out.

Finally, Happy Birthday Mr. B!  I can’t wait to see your costume