Day: December 12, 2011

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Students

End of the Semester

This week’s assignments:

Short Story: This week we will be finishing our “Flowers for Algernon” unit in class. The test will be Thursday, 12/15. A big chunk of it is the 15 vocabulary words. If you needs to read or re-read parts of the story, it is on page 347 of the (online and hardcover) textbook. Visit http://PHLitOnline.com for the online textbook. Questions: Class Set one. Class Set two.

Personal Dictionary: You are also completing 12 words in your personal dictionary, due Thursday, 12/15. These words can come from the story, personal reading, TV, magazines, or lyrics. Each page of the dictionary has a space for a previously unknown word and the date, the source, the original sentence, the definition, related words and a picture. You were given the option to carry the dictionary or leave it in my room each day. During the second semester, you will be required to bring the personal dictionary to each class.

Next Six Weeks:

During the fourth six-weeks, you will be reading a novel in a literature circle. You will choose a novel which is written at an appropriate Lexile level for them. You will have the opportunity to preview and rank your top choices. I will use this ranking and your Lexile information to create groups of four. This means not every book listed will be selected.

Here are the novels we are offering:

  • Across Five Aprils
  • Code Talkers
  • The Contender
  • Flip Flop Girl
  • Frankenstein
  • Girl in Hyacinth Blue
  • Glory Field
  • The Hobbit
  • My Side of the Mountain
  • Shakespeare’s Scribe
  • Stormbreaker
  • Taking Sides
  • Things Not Seen
  • The Watsons Go to Birmingham
  • The Witch of Blackbird Pond

You will get to look through the books on 12/19. You will receive a confirmation of your assigned book on 12/20. I will be checking out a copy of the books to students during the 4th Six Weeks. However, you are encouraged to purchase your own copy so that you may practice the important skills of highlighting and annotation. Students may also request a book be added to the list of choices if I am told by Wednesday, 12/14.