Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Tuesdays with Morrie writing prompt:

Compare Mitch's culture with Morrie's culture. Explain which culture is more similar to your own.
Remember to include supporting details and specific examples in your writing.

As always...
- showcase your very best writing ability
- your response must be typed

Other Reminders:
- Always bring your T.W.M. research notes to our reading session. You will be expected to "teach" the class about your topic. No advance notice will be given, so be ready.
- Have you been participating in class discussion on T.W.M? Mr. Hurley and I are looking to see which students are all-stars. Raise your hand. Advance the conversation.
- Be sure to arrive Friday with material for independent reading. Mr. Hurley and I will be in English department meetings all day.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Tuesdays with Morrie Writing Prompt:  

Morrie's colleague’s funeral has a powerful effect on Morrie. Morrie comments about what a waste a funeral is because a person is already dead and cannot hear the nice stories and comments people are sharing. As an alternative, Morrie throws himself a “living funeral.” He invites friends and family over one day so they can pay tribute to him while he is still alive to appreciate it.

What is your opinion on Morrie's idea of a "living funeral"? If you were to someday have a “living funeral” like Morrie, what would you want people to say about you and your life?

• Your response should be one page in length, single-spaced typed.
• Showcase your best writing ability at this point in grade seven.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Please store your Tuesdays with Morrie research notes in your red ELA binder. You will want to have them on hand as we continue reading the memoir. Your topic may surface in the story during our enxt class session, so be prepared to teach the group at any moment.

Reminder:
Mrs. Smith and Mr. Hurley will be meeting all day on Friday with the grades six and eight ELA staff. We will be in the building but not in classes.

Friday, March 23, 2012

As mentioned in class today, we will begin our study of the 1997 memoir Tuesdays With Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life’s Greatest Lessons.

Please become expert (at least 20 significant, necessary nuggets) on your Tuesdays with Morrie research topic for Monday:

1.        The life and literature of author Mitch Albom

2.        Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

3.        The Vietnam War (especially the ending)

4.        The Watergate Scandal

5.        The O.J. Simpson trial

6.        The Oklahoma City Bombing

7.        Erich Fromm (philosopher)

8.        Martin Buber (philosopher)

9.        Erik Erikson (philosopher)

10.           Abbie Hoffman

11.           Jerry Rubin

12.           Angela Davis

13.           Malcolm X

14.           W.H. Auden

15.           Kübler-Ross’s five stages of grief

16.           Buddhism: Religious beliefs on death

17.           Eastern Orthodox: Religious beliefs on death

18.           Islam: Religious beliefs on death

19.           Judaism: Religious beliefs on death

20.           Mormonism: Religious beliefs on death

21.           President Jimmy Carter’s decision to pardon roughly 10,000 draft    

          evaders from the Vietnam War

22.           Public reaction to Morrie Scwartz’s appearance on “Nightline”

23.           Public reaction to the book Tuesdays With Morrie: An Old Man, a

                  Young Man, and Life’s Greatest Lessons.

Confidential to...
Lucas Filosa: We assigned you #7 and #8
Katie Maidment: We assigned you #1
Tommy Ginolfi: We assigned you #22
Hunter Goodwin: We assigned you #14

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Deeply impressed with the level of effort I am seeing from River students on ELA MCAS 2012.
You appear comfortable, fully prepared, and clearly take your work very seriously.
You're almost there... remain focused and aggressive!
Bravo to all!

Monday, March 19, 2012

The day we have long waited for has arrived.
March 20: MCAS Long Composition
You have vomited.
You have outlined.
You have practiced techniques to make an introduction sizzle.
You know what a thesis statement does and where it belongs.
You know how to craft solid topic sentences.
You present supporting details and specific examples.
You have a master's degree in transitional word/phrases.
You know techniques for concluding your essay with a pretty ribbon.
You are an all-star title writer.
You are a MUG master.

Be extraordinary.
Swing for the fences.

~ Mrs. Smith

Thursday, March 15, 2012

1. MUG Week #18 quiz tomorrow

2. This is it!  Be prepared to work tomorrow in class on our last-chance MCAS long composition practice! Please finish through "Step #5" tomorrow in class and have the entire assignment ready for Monday's class.

3. Read for Twenty!

4. Review your MCAS Scoring Guide, Transitions Bible, all old MUG study guides, etc., to prepare for Tuesday!

Get rested!
Eat well!
Arrive prepared!

Can you believe I, your fearless MUG leader Mrs. Smith, am actually using exclamation points?!?!
Yes, I am THAT excited for you!

You are sooooo ready!

Tuesday, March 12, 2012

1.) Teach today's MUG skills to any adult.

2.) No Word Attack this week.

3.) MCAS Long Composition is next Tuesday, March 20; open-responses begin March 21-22. What can you do between now and then to improve your ability to perform well? These exam days are critically important.

4.) A, C, D blocks will have Literature Circle on Hemingway's "A Day's Wait." Are you prepared to be called into the center?

If you are reading this blog, please approach me tomorrow with proper handshake and tell me your greatest phobia.

Friday, March 9, 2012

1. Getting ready for March 20, 21, 22... are you prepared?
2. READ FOR 20!
3. Word Attack quiz can come at any moment.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

1.) MUGS Week 17: Using pronouns "WHO" and "THAT" correctly

• Write two sentences (not questions) using WHO to replace or rename a noun.
• Write two sentences (not questions) using THAT to replace or rename a noun.
• Quiz Friday

2.) Word Attack
- phobia    and  -ology

3.) Three I P of S statements for "The Lottery" due on Friday

4.) Read for Twenty

5.) Answer yourself the question:
"What message does my behavior in classrooms and around our school send to teachers?"

Are you satisfied with this message?

 

** MCAS Long Composition on Tuesday, March 20 **

** MCAS Reading Comprehension test on March 21-22 **

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Bravo to all students who participated in today's literature circles...

• Madi Holtz
• Andrew Monroe
• Griffin Wilson
• Nora Hughes
• Chloe Rogers
• Jess Laddin
• Sam Blizard
• Stephen Solimeno
• Reed Dolan
• Christian O'Brien
• Rebecca Ripley
• Nicole Senechal
• Nick Piotrowski
• Ellis Roessler
• Chloe Bilo
• Harry Bertera

1.) MUGS Week 17: Reflexive  Pronouns

2.) Word Attack: -phobia    -ology

3.) Are you reading 20 minutes each day?

Thursday, March 1, 2012

1.) MUGS Week #16 -- quiz tomorrow

2.) We will finish our Expert Team presentations on "The Necklace":
Be sure to address every question or bullet on your team's instruction sheet. As you know, your job is to focus on ONE of the following literary elements...
- Plot and Conflict Analysis
- Characterization
- Point of View
- Looking at Language
- Symbolism

Remember: the goal of our Expert Team presentations is to learn what types of observations, comments, or questions we can contribute to the conversation when we discuss literature in the real world.

3.) Long Composition due Tuesday, March 6, 2012:
After-school activities give students an opportunity to do something they enjoy outside the classroom. Some students play sports, while others might enjoy acting or other activities. Imagine your school wants to add some new after-school activities and is taking suggestions from students. In a well-developed composition, suggest a new afterschool activity and explain why students might enjoy it.

Remember to ...
- Vomit
- Outline
- Use an introduction technique
- Present a strong thesis statement
- Use transition words and phrases
- End the essay with a conclusion technique
- Include an appealing, appropriate title

4.) Author Nuggets: Shirley Jackson (due Friday)