SENIORS: Sorry about not having a blog yesterday.  Fortunately, we aren't starting anything new; we are continuing with the rough draft of your children's book.  I am looking at notebooks today for Notebook Check #2, so get everything in there.  I will stop checking notebooks on Friday, March 2.

SOPHOMORES: Today's CAHSEE practice is titled Why I'd Like to Visit Texas.  Also, we updated our comments on Goodreads and worked the WAR 5 paragraph essay on googledocs.  Your HW is to continue writing your rough draft.  Try to complete it.

SENIORS: We're working on creating the rough draft of your children's book.  Concentrate on the text, but as you write, try to visualize what you want to have for illustrations.

SOPHOMORES:   The CAHSEE practice for today was titled Festival.  We also began working on the rough draft of your 5 paragraph essay about the short story WAR.  We concentrated on the introductory paragraph, working on summarizing the story and creating the thesis.  The homework is to finish the introductory paragraph.

SENIORS: Today begins the rough draft of your children's book.  I recommend that you start with a strong idea of your theme.  If you don't know the theme (i.e., the moral, the message, the meaning), then get that idea solid in your head before you begin.  Theme will drive all the other elements in your story.

SOPHOMORES:  Today's CAHSEE warmup was Dances with Dolphins.  Groups presented their charts from last Thursday to class; we also worked on summarizing War and determining its theme.  Don't forget to bring your notebook and your independent reading book to class every day.

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. 

SENIORS: Today's notebook response is as follows: Pretend you woke up this morning as your favorite animal.  Describe your day from the moment you arise to the time you go to bed, all from the animal's perspective (or point of view--p.o.v.)  Use all 5 of your senses.
     When you finish, pick an opposite type animal and write the same sequence of events.  By opposite I mean, if you wrote about an elephant the first time, change things up and write about an ant or a lion or some other animal that isn't big and slow.  If you wrote about a bunny the first time, try writing from an eagle's perspective or an animal that isn't cute and docile.  Again, use all 5 of your senses.

SOPHOMORES: Today's CAHSEE practice is titled Out of the Woods.  In your notebook, respond to this question: Based on characters in the story, what is Pirandello trying to tell us about human nature in times of despair? (Use the following frame to start your answer: People tend to...)  Also, the class worked in groups of 3 to chart the literary devices of Setting, Characterization, Symbolism, and Irony to determine how these literary devices reveal the theme of WAR.  We did not finish the charting, so that will be completed tomorrow.
     Don't forget that you have homework due on Tues., Feb. 21.  The homework is to create a logograph for each vocabulary word on the Vocabulary Warm-up handout.

SENIORS: "The Love of Your Life." The notebook response for today asks you look at love from two different points of view: 1) a kid's, and 2) yours.  So, on this Valentine's Day, describe the love of your life (real or just pining after).
1. Kid's p.o.v.
      a. what s/he looked like; appearance
      b. what s/he smelled like
      c. what their hair does when they run
      d. favorite possessions/gifts
      e. likes to eat
      f. what s/he does that seems illogical or eccentric
      g. favorite pastimes
      h. fast runner, good ball thrower, dancer, musician
      i. passing notes--what did you say?
2. Who you are now (same as above, but from your older, wiser, more adult perspective).


SOPHOMORES: Today's CAHSEE practice is titled The Santa Lucia Scenic Trail. Also, we concluded the chunking of WAR.  Remember, you have homework that is due Tues., Feb.21.  The homework is completing a logographic for each vocabulary word from the Vocabulary Warm-up handout.

SENIORS:  We started a new notebook response dealing with your first best friend.  Write about the following: What they looked like; what they liked to wear; what was their favorite color; what their family was like; their favorite food or treat; what the two of you did together; favorite activities; shared secrets; what did you envy or emulate about this friend; their way of walking, talking, and/or eating that set them apart.
You can make up missing entries, but I must have them by Thursday, Feb. 16.

SOPHOMORES:  The CAHSEE practice is titled Staff Responsibilities.  We also got into groups of 3 and worked on WAR, chunking, annotating, and identifying confusing words and phrases.