Reading Project- Due October 7th

Task: Read a memoir or realistic fiction book told in 1st Person. Construct a well-developed paragraph for each memoir component below. Each component consists of focus questions to guide your writing. Use textual evidence (examples from your book) to support your answers. Use your I.R. Book to help you!

•Recognizing the Author’s Experience
oWhat is happening in the book?
oWhat are the events?
oExplain the author’s or narrator’s experience in dealing with the events

•Connecting with the Author’s Experience
oHave you experienced similar emotions or reactions?
oHow were your experiences the same or different?
oHow does your connection help you understand the book?

•Recognizing the Memoir’s Meaning
oWhy is this experience important to the author or narrator?
oWhat did the author or narrator learn from his/her experience? Other people? The world?

•Connecting to the Memoir’s Meaning
oReflect on your connection. Does the author’s or narrator’s learning apply to your own experience? Explain.
oDo you agree with the conclusion that the author or narrator came to? Why or why not?

Grading Rubric:

Each of the four parts will be worth 20 POINTS
• Recognizing the Author’s Experience- 20 points
• Connecting with the Author’s Experience- 20 points
• Recognizing the Memoir’s Meaning- 20 points
• Connecting to the Memoir’s Meaning- 20 points
-Each part must contain textual evidence-

Parent signature on Task Sheet will be worth 10 POINTS

Correct punctuation, spelling, and grammar will be worth 10 POINTS

Homework for September 30-October 2

Students should continue reading nightly and work on their reading project which was given out today in class.

I will post the handout this afternoon on te website. You may also email me if you want an actual copy.

Online Classroom & Ezine Setup

Classes are setting up their Online Classoom and Ezine accounts. Some students are having problems setting up their accounts, so I wanted to post the setup directions.

***FIRST TIME USERS ONLY***

Online Classroom
1. Go to www.216q.org
2. Your username is your first name and the first two letters of your last name (all lowercase and no spaces) Ex. My username would be stephaniemc
3. Your password is changeme (all lowercase and no spaces)
4. You will directed to change your password when you log in. Change it to something you will remember.
5. Click on "216Q" next to your name in the top left-hand corner
6. Find your class- Ms. McReynolds (your class number) and click on it
7. Your enrollment key is your four-digit class number

Ezine
1. Go to http://text.teachingmatters.org
2. Under the Student section (right side & green) click on "Register for an Account"
3. Type in the same username and password you used for Online Classroom
4. Classroom Enrollment Key is your four digit class number

Once you have followed all of the steps above, write both web addresses, your username, and password on the inside cover of your I.R. Notebook. You need to show them to me ASAP so that I may record it.

Mc. Mc Out Today (Tuesday)

I was not at school today- felt a bit under the weather, but I am already feeling better after a visit to the doc and will be back at school tomorrow!

The Open Book Quiz with your Readers/Writers Notebook will resume tomorrow, as well. Make sure yours is up to date and organized!

Because I was out, lucky you, no homework. However, if you are not close to finishing your memoir or realistic fiction book, I highly suggest reading tonight.

Homework for the weekend (9.25-9.28)

Read your book for 30 minutes and copy a sentence from your book where your author “sketches” a person. Tell me what you like or not like about their description in 4-5 sentences in your I.R. Book.

***FYI- Students will be having an open book quiz on their Readers/Writers Notebook based on organization and keeping up with notes and "Do Now."

Students need to bring in a folder on Tuesday.

Homework for September 24, 2009

Read your book for 30 minutes and respond to these questions in your I.R. Notebook.
Do you like your narrator/author? Why or why not? Does he/she remind you of someone? Explain.

Homework for 9.23.09

Read your book for 30 minutes and create a timeline of information and events in your I.R. Book.

***I mentioned in class that you may not see an hook, background information, moment, and reflection and lesson all from one reading, so just complete a sequence of what you read.***

Homework for 9.22.09

Read your book for 30 minutes and respond to this question in 4-5 sentences in your I.R. Notebook:

Can you relate to your author or narrator? Why or why not?

Homework for 9.21.09

Read your book for 30 minutes and complete a main idea graphic organizer for your reading in your I.R. Notebook.

***Get new syllabus signed! It's due WEDNESDAY for a QUIZ grade!***

Homework for Week of Sept. 14-18

I am posting all the reading homework for this past week. I apologize for not posting this daily. This will change next week, starting Monday. Every day the homework will be posted. This is also a reminder that all reading homework must be written in the I.R. Notebook!

Monday (September 14)
Read your memoir for 30 minutes and respond to this question in 4-5 sentences in your I.R. book:
What makes a memoir different from a biography or an autobiography? Give examples from other books and your memoir.

Tuesday (September 15)
Read your memoir for 30 minutes and respond to this question in 4-5 sentences in your I.R. book: What memory is being described in your book so far? Tell me about it.

Wednesday (September 16)
Read for 30 minutes of your book and respond to this question in your I.R. book: Why do you think this memory is important to the author or character? Do you think there is a lesson the author or character learns from this memory?

Thursday (September 17)
Read for 30 minutes of your book and respond to this question in your I.R. book:
What is your character struggling with so far in your book? Are they doing anything to get better? What advice would you give them?

Friday (September 18)
Read for 30 minutes of your book and respond to this question in your I.R. book: What have you learned so far about the author or narrator? What is his/her wants, needs, fears, or dreams?

***Students were given a syllabus on Thursday that they were supposed to read over with their parents and get it signed. This syllabus was revised and a new one will be going home on Monday. You may throw away the first syllabus***

Homework for 9.14.09

Read your memoir for 30 minutes and respond to this question in 4-5 sentences in your I.R. book:
What makes a memoir different from a biography or an autobiography? Give examples from other books and your memoir.

**If you can't find a memoir you may get a realistic fiction book as long as it's told in the first person. This is when the author uses "I" a lot. For example, "I never understood mean eighth graders" or "I got lost only 5 times today instead of 10."

Homework due Monday (September 14th)

Students need to find a memoir that they would like to read and bring it to class every day. They can check one out from the library, buy one from the bookstore, or find one at home.

I also want my students to decorate the front cover of ONE of their composition books. They can put pictures, stickers, drawings, words, phrases, and anything else that describes them on the cover. I highly suggest taping over it with packing tape or laminate in order to preserve the cover and your amazing artwork.

Students were given two surveys in class today: a reading survey and a writing survey. Both need to be completed.

Have a GREAT weekend! :)

School Supplies

I have gotten a bunch of questions about school supplies. "Do we have to bring all of it with us all of the time?" and "What can stay in the classroom?"

Here is the supply list and I have labeled what can stay home, what can stay in the classroom, and what every student should carry with them.

• 4 hard covered marble notebooks (100 or more pages)- 2 stay at home, the other 2 need to come to class everyday
• Pencil Sharpener with receptacle for shavings- stays in backpack
• Pocket dictionary/thesaurus- stays in backpack
• 10 two pocket folders- 2 stay in backpack, 8 stay at home
• Red or green pen for editing- stays in backpack
• Blue or black pens- stays in backpack
• Post-it notes- stays in backpack
• Crayola markers- stays in backpack
• Pencils- stays in backpack
• 2 highlighters- stays in backpack
• 2 glue sticks- stays in backpack
• Public Library card- stays in backpack
• Colored pencils- stays in backpack
• Mini stapler and staples- stays in backpack
• 1 one inch soft covered loose leaf binder- stays in backpack
• 1 flash drive (1gig)- stays in backpack
• 1 package (25) page protectors- stays in backpack
• 1 package of copy paper- stays at school