SENIORS: Today's notebook response deals with a kid's ability to make an ordinary world magical.  As we get older, that ability gets beaten out of us.  So here's what you need to write: Pretend you've been transported to a world exactly like your own neighborhood with one crucial difference: the world is magical.  Pretend you go outside to take your first 15-minute walk in the magical world, writing down everything you see, using familiar landmarks as markers.  What is happening with the trees? the sidewalks? the street signs? etc.
     Also, we need to get started on ideas for your own children's book, so think and write about the following: Who is the protagonist?  Who is the antagonist? What is the conflict? What is the setting?  Will there be any dialogue? Do you know what the climax will be?  Most importantly, what is the theme?  If you can articulate your theme, everything else should start to fall into place.  Have this ready for Tuesday when we return from holiday.

SOPHOMORES: We finished charting literary devices for WAR.  The homework is to do a logographic for each word from the Vocabulary Warm-up handout.  The homework is due Tuesday, the day we get back from our Presidents' Day break.