August 27, 2007

Journal Entry: "What do you think of when you think of “War”?" 

Metaphors and Similes.  Reading "Willow and Gingko" by Eve Merriam and Excerpt from "The Things They Carried," novel by Tim O'Brien.

Practice: Identifying Metaphors and Similes Worksheet

August 28, 2007

Journal Entry: " What should I tell your parents tonight at Open House?  Why do we have Open House?  What effects do your parents have on your academic success?”
Vocabulary: generalize, drudgery, ambush, symmetries, illumination

Word, part of speech, definition, teacher given sentence.

Read Alex, The Talking Parrot to go over synonyms, antonyms.  Do Vocabulary Check, Comprehension Check, and Strategy Check.  Students will also write 10 similes and metaphors about things found in the story.

Homework: Students will write their own sentences for homework.

August 29, 2007

Journal Entry: "What is the scariest thing to ever happen to you?"

Vocabulary: astonish, immense, recognize, aesthetic, proximity

Word, part of speech, definition, teacher given sentence.

DAR, Reading Fluency Assessments

Students complete vocabulary sentences.

Students read "The Silent Storm," completing Building Background, Vocabulary Check, Strategy Check, and Comprehension Check.

After the bookwork is completed, students create their own 3-page scary story, including a complete story map.

August 30, 2007

Journal Entry:  Question paper: "What is a storm?"

DAR, Reading Fluency Assessments

Students continue reading "The Silent Storm," completing Building Background, Vocabulary Check, Strategy Check, and Comprehension Check.

After the bookwork is completed, students create their own 3-page scary story, including a complete story map.

August 31, 2007

Journal Entry: "How will you be safely celebrating the Labor Day Weekend?"

DAR, Reading Fluency Assessments

Students read Tom Tufts' Unfinished Tale "There's a Party Tonight" and create a story map about the beginning of the story.  The students will continue the story map and create their own ending, including whether or not there is a fight, the consequences, what happens at the party, and the effects this night has on the characters' post-high school plans.