We Give Thanks...

What are you GRATEFUL for? 

 
Make a list. What are you thankful for?
Take this with you. Place it on your Thanksgiving table.
Think about your life and what opportunities you have been given.
What people have helped you?
What resources you have.
Write this list from your heart. 
 

Flash Fiction

This lesson is taken from "Teaching and Learning with The New York Times"

Flash Fiction Link

Overview | What are the essential elements of a story? How can writing flash fiction help us become better writers? In this lesson, students will consider the nature of stories and learn to write more concisely by reading and writing flash fiction.

Writing Plan and Creating a Hook

 PLAN AND HOOK

Your Writing Plan Template   

1. Introduction -  
2. __________________________ (chose a topic include detail)
3. ___________________________ (chose the next topic with details)
4. Conclusion - restate your thesis and summarize your main points

YOU WRITE YOUR PLAN …

Paragraph 1 - Mary, Sarah and Gertrude.  All Delaware women who influenced the Signers of the Declaration of Independence (hook). These women were married to Delawareans and were able to make their significant ideas about freedom and independence become part of this important document (thesis statement)

Paragraph 2 – Describe each woman

Paragraph 3 – All about the beliefs of the family

Paragraph 4 – Conclusion

(hook – captures the reader’s attention – can be a question, definition, exclamation, a series of GREAT words or a fact of interest)

Hayley’s Question: Who were the wives of the Delaware signers and what did they contribute to their husband’s efforts?

Mary, Sarah and Gertrude:  all Delaware women who influenced the Signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Three men with a pen who signed a document that changed the world: who were they?

Thesis Statement Lesson

Thesis Statement

A specific Subject

+ a particular stand, feeling or feature

= an effective thesis statement

EXAMPLE #1

(Subject )The geese at the pond in Milton

(Stand) are making a mess of our community.

EXAMPLE #2

Mariner Middle School would be a better place

if …..

EXAMPLE #3

Most of the students in the 8^th grade would benefit from

….

EXAMPLE #4

John Dickinson

was an outstanding Patriot from Delaware who signed the Declaration of Independence and helped to launch a Nation.

Lesson Plans Nov 18 - 26

HOMEWORK - LA Students must read 3 AR books per grading period and take 3 AR tests which count toward your grade. Plan to read 35 minutes every night. The next AR Test will be Nov 26.

• 100 point each = 300 points per grading period - next deadline is Nov 26 
• Your score on the AR test is your grade.

• LA Homework: Read your choice of AR book on your level for at least 30 minutes each night. Finish Warm-ups. Do FLOCABULARY worksheets.  Quiz on Vocabulary when unit is complete.
• SS Homework: Read and watch the news. Read about American History.

 

Language Art Lessons: Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening

Warmups - none this week

• Monday - freewrite
• Tuesday - poem and literary terms
• Wednesday - vocabulary and skills
• Thursday - review 
• Friday - test 

Poem

 

Because I Could Not Stop For Death

Because Video English Class Version  

Emily Dickinson

Because I could not stop for Death,
He kindly stopped for me;
The carriage held but just ourselves
And Immortality.

We slowly drove, he knew no haste,
And I had put away
My labor, and my leisure too,
For his civility.

We passed the school where children played,
Their lessons scarcely done;
We passed the fields of gazing grain,
We passed the setting sun.

We paused before a house that seemed
A swelling of the ground;
The roof was scarcely visible.
The cornice but a mound.

Since then 'tis centuries but each
Feels shorter than the day
I first surmised the horses' heads
Were toward eternity.

Because I could not stop for Death (712)

  by Emily Dickinson

Because I could not stop for Death – 
He kindly stopped for me –  
The Carriage held but just Ourselves –  
And Immortality.

We slowly drove – He knew no haste
And I had put away
My labor and my leisure too,
For His Civility – 

We passed the School, where Children strove
At Recess – in the Ring –  
We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain –  
We passed the Setting Sun – 

Or rather – He passed us – 
The Dews drew quivering and chill – 
For only Gossamer, my Gown – 
My Tippet – only Tulle – 

We paused before a House that seemed
A Swelling of the Ground – 
The Roof was scarcely visible – 
The Cornice – in the Ground – 

Since then – 'tis Centuries – and yet
Feels shorter than the Day
I first surmised the Horses' Heads 
Were toward Eternity – 

- See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15395#sthash.DoqQ8sP0.dpuf

Because I could not stop for Death (712)

  by Emily Dickinson

Because I could not stop for Death – 
He kindly stopped for me –  
The Carriage held but just Ourselves –  
And Immortality.

We slowly drove – He knew no haste
And I had put away
My labor and my leisure too,
For His Civility – 

We passed the School, where Children strove
At Recess – in the Ring –  
We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain –  
We passed the Setting Sun – 

Or rather – He passed us – 
The Dews drew quivering and chill – 
For only Gossamer, my Gown – 
My Tippet – only Tulle – 

We paused before a House that seemed
A Swelling of the Ground – 
The Roof was scarcely visible – 
The Cornice – in the Ground – 

Since then – 'tis Centuries – and yet
Feels shorter than the Day
I first surmised the Horses' Heads 
Were toward Eternity – 

- See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15395#sthash.DoqQ8sP0.dpuf

Reflection

1. Underline the rhyme and/or rhythm in the poem.
2. What is the BIG metaphor in this poem?
3. Your reaction and thoughts? 

• Poetry Terms: pg 242-243 in Writers Inc. 
• Literary Terms -extended metaphor -
• Extended Metaphor –  A comparison between two unlike things that continues throughout a series of sentences in a paragraph or lines in a poem.

Explanation of extended metaphor - Death=Gentleman Caller

Emily Dickinson Bio in Pictures and Words
 

 Language Arts 

Core 1

Vocabulary - Power Plus Lesson 3

Readings

• Personal Memoir by Phoebe Low, "Daddy" 2013 Scholastic Award Winning Essay. Read at home and be prepared to discuss this genre and this award winning essay 
• Paired Reading from National Constitution Center website  "First Public Printing of the Constitution and Signers of the Declaration of Independence" 

Writing

• Research - see below
• Personal Memoir 

Essential Questions 

• What is the relationship between information, data and research?
• What Reading Strategies do we use with non-fiction vocab? 

Cores 2,3

Vocabulary - Flocabulary "The Battle of Brooklyn"
Words, definitions, usage, sentences.  

Writing Research - from a question based on Constitution readings

Writing Essential Questions

• How do Award Winning Writers from the Scholastic Awards 2013, convey ideas about writing basic elements in fiction, non-fiction, drama, journalism and microfiction? 
• What are the elements of each genre? 

  Concepts- Reference Writers Inc text

• Good sources
• Taking notes
• Writing Plan 251
• Plagiarism - 255-258
• Citing Sources 264
• MLA Style 259
• 
  

  In Google Docs you will have  

  1. Notes
  2. Writing Plan
  3. Draft
  4. Revised
  5. Final with Sources

Technology Integration

• Create a blog using Google Blogger
• Use Drive for peer revisions
• Use of tabs for taking notes
• Collaborate to collect data using these tools

RTI - Reading 

• New Schedule - Reading on Wed, Thur and Friday
• Skills to practice
• SSR (Silent Sustained Reading) on Friday

Social Studies 

CNN Student News

Watch this special broadcast and take notes on the organizer. Discuss the news of the day in small groups and whole class.

History Alive! (brown text) 86-101

Chapter 7: The American Revolution

• The War Begins
• The Siege of Boston
• Toward Independence
• Thomas Jefferson Drafts a Declaration
• The Final Break

Essential Questions

• EQ: What evnets led the Colonists to declare independence?
• EQ: What document changed the world?          

Cornell Notes, chapter summary 
CNN Student News for events, and geography
Discussion of world news, reflection and commentary.