Whirligig IX

OM:

Read the following quote from the book. Note the vocabulary definitions. Write for 5 minutes on what this means in terms of Brent’s situation. What is the abscess? How is he working to drain it? Why does it feel good?

From pg. 52: “What he knew without question was that it felt good to be busy toiling in atonement, to direct his feelings outward through his arms and knife , as if draining an abscess.”

Toiling: working

Atonement: satisfaction or reparation for a wrong or injury; amends, making up for, paying back

Abscess: a localized collection of pus in the tissues of the body, often accompanied by swelling and inflammation and frequently caused by bacteria. (used as a metaphor)

1. Above was discussed. Some writing was shared.

2. Letters were collected.

3. Continued reading story independently.

HW:

~Keep up with packet
~Study spelling
~complete question sheet if not done already

Whirligig VIII

1. Classes were given 15-20 minutes to work on the question sheet for the chapter 'The Afterlife'. Sheets need to be handed in by Friday (minor grade).

2. We discussed a passage from this chapter which illustrates the main character's 'rebirth'.

3. Grades close Friday. Journals should contain 10 to 14 entries. Students were told they can make up missing journals. (Journals count for a major grade.)

4. Last nights homework was not collected. Tonight's homework is to respond, as the character written to, to the letter written. Both letters will be collected tomorrow for a major grade.

~ Study spelling
~ Keep up with Whirligig packet

Whirligig VII

Getting back into the groove after such an unexpectedly long break was something of a challenge today!

Okay! We are keeping the spelling list from two weeks ago. (I'll repost them below.) We went over Whirligig packets today and noted what should be filled in by now. Students should have finished through chapter 3 in the book. I will allow who are behind to sign out books to catch up.

There is an assignment tonight:

You've read enough of this work now to meet some characters and see them inaction. Select a character who interests you and write a letter to that character. Writethe letter as yourself, the reader. In your letter, you can ask the character questions,make comments on what the character has done, give advice about what the charactershould do, or anything else you like.

After you finish the letter, take the role of the character. Read the letter the reader wrote to you and decide what to write back. As the character, you can answer questions and respond to comments and advice.

How to set up your letter:

Paragraph 1: Ask your character questions. Why did they do the things they did? What were they thinking during different events?

Paragraph 2 Make comments to the character. Make statements to your character regarding decisions they’ve made

Paragraph 3 Offer advice to your character

Only the first letter, bolded above, is due tomorrow.

Also, a question sheet was started the last day of school before snow got in the way. They need to have that sheet in class tomorrow!

Students were informed that we are almost at the halfway point in the marking period already. Grades close on Friday!

Here's that spelling list:

1. illiterate - (adj.) unable to read or write

2. afford - (v) to have the financial means for

3. difficult - (adj.) hard to do or achieve

4. responsible - (adj.) accountable for the care or welfare of another

5. suffered - (v) felt pain or distress

6. official - (adj.) of or pertaining to an office or post of authority

7. summary - (n) condensed form; concise

8. collapse - (v) to fall down or inward suddenly

9. volunteer - (v) to offer one’s services; give of one’s own free will

10. illegible - (adj.) not readable or decipherable

Whirligig V - VI

We read half of chapter three today and copied spelling words.

Reminder: 10 extra credit points for spelling definitions done by Wednesday. Also, all Whirligig voacabulary must be in notebooks with definitions by the end of the story. I strongly advise doing this as the words are given.

I will be out again tomorrow for assessment scoring. Students will finish chapter three, complete appropriate questions in packet and finish a question sheet on the chapter.

Whirligig IV

Classes read most or all of chapter 2 today. Tomorrow, classes will take the spelling test, finish reading chapter two, work on the "maine" questions in the Whirligig packet and begin working on Chapter 3 vocabulary.

I will be scoring the ELA assessments so will not be in class tomorrow or next Tuesday.

Extra credit assignment! Inspired by the very amusing book, How Angel Peterson Got His Name by Gary Paulsen, students are encouraged to choose an event: fun, adventurous, silly and dangerous (something a 13 year old boy may typically regret doing). This may be a real or imagined event. The story must include all the elements of a short story (setting, characters, problem, climax, conclusion) and dialogue written according to the rules (new speaker, new paragraph and descriptive speaker tags).

Deadline is Friday the 16th.

Whirligig vocabulary list for chapter 3 is:

speculated
eclipsed
turmoil
plumb
confiscated
wince
contested
detrimental
restitution
mediator
exuberantly
ethereal
atone
retribution
penance
mirage
scrutinized
labyrinth
pristine
toil
mete
deliberate
mesmerized


I'm posting next weeks spelling list now:

1. illiterate - (adj.) unable to read or write

2. afford - (v) to have the financial means for

3. difficult - (adj.) hard to do or achieve

4. responsible - (adj.) accountable for the care or welfare of another

5. suffered - (v) felt pain or distress

6. official - (adj.) of or pertaining to an office or post of authority

7. summary - (n) condensed form; concise

8. collapse - (v) to fall down or inward suddenly

9. volunteer - (v) to offer one’s services; give of one’s own free will

10. illegible - (adj.) not readable or decipherable

Whirligig II & III

Yesterday and today we read chapter one in Whirligig. Packets were distributed and will be worked on as we read the story. Also, vocabulary for chapter one was given on Monday, and students should have used a dictionary in class to write the definitions down, however my substitute didn't quite make sure this got done. I've told all students these definitions, and the packets, will be checked for a grade when the book is finished.

I've also changed the policy for spelling/vocab definitions. Instead of mandating this work, I am continuing to offer the 20 points for having them done my Monday morning, and will now award 10 points if they are done by Wednesday morning.

Spelling Quiz & Whirligig I

Friday:

Took spelling quiz and completed a preliminary exercise in preperation for our next novel.

The spelling/vocab routine is being changed. I am no longer requiring students to write definitions. However, 20 extra credit points will still be awarded anyone who does so by accessing the list on this site and copying the definitions over the weekend. 10 points will be awarded those who complete them Wednesday.

Here's next weeks list and definitions:

applicant (n) – a person who applies, especially for a job

district (n) - a part of a country, city, or county having a particular feature or regarded as a unit for a special purpose

assist (v) - to help; give aid to

extract (v) – to take out by force or effort

contract (n) - a formal agreement between people or groups of countries

compass (n) - a device with a needle that points to magnetic north

concentric (adj) - having the same center

ellipse (n) - a regular oval that can be divided into four identical pieces

protractor (n) - an instrument for measuring angles

excerpt (n) - an extract from a book or film or piece of music, etc.


For Monday:
Whirligig

Chapter 1

whirligig
annotated
reconnoitered
caustic
shaman
turret(ed)
discreetly
perennial
commence
sullen
adept
leper

Note: I will not be in class on Monday.

Pay It Forward- Final Activity II

Finished up eulogy presentations today. Spelling test tomorrow.