Holiday Traditions

What's your favorite holiday tradition?  How did it start?  Take some time to find the origins of your favorite holiday tradition.  Write about it as a comment to this post.  Then read about other traditions. Reply to others' posts if you have a thought you'd like to share.

Your comment should look like this:
Tradition:  Sending Christmas Cards
How it started:  The tradition started in London, England in 1843.  It had become a lot cheaper to send things in the post office at that time, and Sir Henry Cole hired and illustrator to make cards to send to his friends and family.  He also sold them.  Things have changed a bit since then, but that's where the tradition started.

World War 2 Research Project

Week of December 6th

This week, we're going to be doing a little bit of research about World War Two.  We have several book club options that were written about different aspects of World War Two.  In this assignment, we'll be working on a few skills:
- Learning enough about a topic to decide if you want to read more about it.
- Following directions
- Choose an area to focus your research on - choose subtopics
- Write a summary of your research using Step Up to Writing


Topics:

African Americans in WW2
Japanese Internment Camps
Heroes of the Holocaust
Creating the Atomic Bomb
Finding Nazis after WW2
Franklin Roosevelt

Grading Rubric

Halloween

October 26 and 31

Today we will take some time to explore the holiday of Halloween.  You will create a list of things you are curious about and then research them.  This is meant to be a fun assignment that you can complete in one class period.  When you are done, comment on this blog with the most interesting thing you learned.  You can also reply to others' comments.

Halloween K-W-H-L

Biography Summaries

  

 

October 20 and 21

Due: B Day - October 24, A Day - October 25

You are going to be taking some time to learn more about your choice of one of these four influential people who each have an interesting story to tell.  Click on their names below to begin the process.  

You will then read an article and watch a video about that person.  You will use that information to write a summary of their life.  The summary will be graded with the summary rubric which is a part of the worksheet.  

Why are we doing this?  Biographies of all 4 of these individuals are book club choices.

Emmett Till

Malala Yousafzai

Steve Jobs

Louis Zamperini

Six Word Summary

Today you will be taking some time to learn how to write on the blog.  We will set up our accounts and write our first comments.  You will be reading an article either in a magazine or online and then summing up the main point of the article in 6 words.

When you create your blogger profile, use your first name and last initial as your user name.  We will go over how to do this in class!

Your comment should follow this format:
Magazine/Source:  New York Times
Article Title: From Dung to Brew with no Aftertaste
Summary:  Civet Coffee is kind of gross!

Teacher Surveys

Today we're going to take a little bit of time to take a teacher/student survey.  I know that these surveys aren't super fun.... but I am very grateful that you're taking the time to do this!

Before you start, make sure that you bookmark this blog.  We will be using it a lot in class.

Teacher Survey

May Book Club - Titanic

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.
Blogs will be corrected May 20th.  Remember - No late work on Blog Entries

May Book Club - The President Has Been Shot

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.
Blogs will be corrected May 20th.  Remember - No late work on Blog Entries

May Book Club - Marching for Freedom

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.
Blogs will be corrected May 20th.  Remember - No late work on Blog Entries

May Book Clubs - Imprisoned

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.
Blogs will be corrected May 20th.  Remember - No late work on Blog Entries

May Book Clubs - An American Plague

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.
Blogs will be corrected May 20th.  Remember - No late work on Blog Entries

May Book Clubs - Heroes of the Holocaust

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.
Blogs will be corrected May 20th.  Remember - No late work on Blog Entries

May Book Clubs - Seal Team 6

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.
Blogs will be corrected May 20th.  Remember - No late work on Blog Entries

May Book Clubs - Children of the Great Depression

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.
Blogs will be corrected May 20th.  Remember - No late work on Blog Entries

May Book Clubs - Emmett Till

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.
Blogs will be corrected May 20th.  Remember - No late work on Blog Entries

May Book Clubs - Malala

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.
Blogs will be corrected May 20th.  Remember - No late work on Blog Entries

May Book Clubs - Steve Jobs

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.
Blogs will be corrected May 20th.  Remember - No late work on Blog Entries

May Book Clubs - George Washington Spymaster

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.
Blogs will be corrected May 20th.  Remember - No late work on Blog Entries

May Book Clubs - Nazi Hunters

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.
Blogs will be corrected May 20th.  Remember - No late work on Blog Entries

May Book Clubs - World War One

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.
Blogs will be corrected May 20th.  Remember - No late work on Blog Entries

May Book Clubs - The Warrior's Heart

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.
Blogs will be corrected May 20th.  Remember - No late work on Blog Entries

May Book Clubs - Unbroken

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.
Blogs will be corrected May 20th.  Remember - No late work on Blog Entries

Book Clubs - They Called Themselves the KKK

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.

Book Clubs - Heroes of the Holocaust

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.

Book Clubs - George Washington Spymaster

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.

Book Clubs - Children of the Great Depression

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.

Book Clubs - Children of the Dust Bowl

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.

Book Clubs - Bomb

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.

Book Clubs - Malala

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.

Book Clubs - Unbroken

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.

Book Clubs - Warrior's Heart

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.

Book Clubs - Seal Team 6

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.

Book Clubs - Nazi Hunters

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.

Book Clubs - Imprisoned

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.

Book Clubs - Getting Away With Murder

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.

Book Clubs - An American Plague

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.

Book Clubs - Courage has no Color

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.

Book Clubs - Steve Jobs

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.

Book Clubs - Titanic

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.

Book Clubs - The President Has been Shot

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.

Book Clubs - The Closer

Now's your chance to communicate with other groups that are also reading your book.  What do you want to discuss?  What do you want to hear their thoughts about?

Begin by describing the part of the book that you want to discuss - 2-3 Sentences
Then tell your thoughts about that part - 2-3 Sentences
Finish by asking a question

Then Reply to others' questions about your book.

ROT - Book Ending

What did you think if the ending?  What do you want to talk about?  It's your turn.  Post your thoughts about any aspect of the book.  Remember to explain what you're thinking in detail and then ask your question to the class.  This blog will be graded using the blog post rubric that is linked to the right.

ROT - Chapter 4

Chapter 4 was HUGE in terms of what we learned about the Logans, their community, and one of the main events of the story.  Take some time to think about what you'd like to discuss.  Then create a comment that asks a question.  Reply to others' comments.