Skateistan

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Push to the Finish of The Kite Runner

1) Silent Reading - (up to 317 was assigned)

2) Reading out loud - Chapter 23 cont'd

3) Creative and Visual Project

4) Upcoming - Review class, Test Day, Movie Days and new unit...  poetry and independent novel study!

Are you genuine?

1) You are an iceburg. Look at the image. What do you notice? How is this like you?

2) Groups - what does this quote mean to you? How does it relate to the novel? "There is something in every one of you that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in yourself. It is the only true guide you will ever have. And if you cannot hear it, you will all of your life spend your days on the ends of strings that somebody else pulls." ~Howard Thurman

3) Read the rest of Chapter 20. Discuss.

4) Winter Tales entries - our own contest... winner gets 100% on the story and a GIANT chocolate bar.

5) Time to work on journal entries, comprehension questions.

Homework: cry for me while you have a day off... and finish the next two sets of comprehension questions. You should have at least 13 journal entries by now too.

Who are the Hazaras in Canada?

1) Silent Reading? Did you finish Chapter 19

2) Who are the Hazaras in Canada? Why?

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/charlie-angus/attawapiskat-emergency_b_1104370.html#s487212

3) Reading out loud... discussion.

4) Time for journals and comprehension questions.

5) Tomorrow: I will share our best Winter Tales! :) Email yours today if you have not yet.

Comma Sense!

Complete the sentences below by correctly inserting commas and semi-colons. 1. Andrew Mark and Eric all play on the varsity basketball team. 2. Monica was very disappointed in her performance she was never the less a gracious loser. 3. Although I have never been to Mexico I have always wanted to travel there. 4. Jason who is the youngest in the family was born August 12 1988. 5. Alisson didn't feel well however she came to school anyway. 6. It was a hot windy day but I still spent the afternoon working in the garden. 7. When she asked if he was hungry Joe replied "I'm starved" 8. I planted shade evergreen and flowering trees short tall and medium shrubs and red yellow and white roses.

Kite Runner Cont'd and Winter Tales

1) Silent Reading - assigned chapter
2) Read aloud and discuss
3) More journal entries available...
4) A Winter Interlude. I have been enchanted by a writing contest called The True Winter Tales Challenge. I think you would all enjoy the contest too. Let's have our own contest and aim to submit our best creations to the contest. You can win $1000!

400-500 words
Assessed on two criteria. Engaging story. ___/12 Punctuation ___/12 (punctuation lessons tomorrow)
Library time - half day tomorrow and most of class on Thursday.

Let's take a look... read some samples... start brainstorming.

Webquest To Do

1) Begin by understanding your task - to persuade a Taliban (they are coming in the novel...) that Kite Running is vital to Afghanistan. You can use your understanding of the history, customs, religion, education and struggles of the country to make your argument effective.

2) Decide on whether you want to do a newspaper (think a few different stories and images) or a powerpoint presentation.

3) Use the links on the webquest to do some research and collect some notes. Remember you are searching for information that can be used to be persuasive.

4) Transform your notes into your newspaper or powerpoint. Your notes can be combined with your original notes (on becoming an Afghanistan expert). Your notes are to be collected by yourself but you can create the newspaper/powerpoint in a small  group.

5) You will be provided several classes to work on this. Newspapers will be displayed in class. Powerpoints will be uploaded to this blog. Notes will also be handed in for credit.

Kite Runner Webquest

We're going to try something new! I'm dropping the expert handout presentation. Instead we are going to try out a new find: http://sites.google.com/site/kiterunnerwebquest/kiterunnerwebquest2

Announcement: Moved Ch.1 - 9 review to MONDAY

Homework: Chapter 5-9 Questions AND homework check for 4 journal entries

Quiz: Quiz on Tuesday

Still to come: Visual Project

Today: Library to begin webquest...

Who Cares?

1) Silent Reading

2) Discussion and next journal topic

It's just a novel. Right?
Why should we care about the story of Hassan and Amir?
Why should we ask tough questions like "How do we know what is wrong?" (as we did yesterday)
Why should we really assess what it is that we believe?

- Beliefs are a huge part of who we are as a person.. So if you want to be something more than a second hand self who mindlessly repeats the opinions of other people, you need to make sure your beliefs and opinion are genuinely your own.

- Beliefs matter because they affect your ACTIONS, and in some cases, beliefs can literally be a matter of life and death. An example: if you really think that calling someone "gay" or "LG" or whatever.... if you believe that is okay and you are the last person to speak to someone who is suicidal and you use one of these slurs, then your beliefs are having an impact. An everyday hero knows this and takes the higher road.

Journal Topic: Do you think we should respect the beliefs of a racist (like Assef) or a sexist? Name some examples of beliefs that are both misguided and dangerous (many are coming our way in The Kite Runner).

Review: Chapter 8 - best lines overview...everyone pick one... write on board
Read: Chapter 9
Tomorrow: Ch 1-9 Quiz - A few MC and one short paragraph response.

Time to write: You should have four or five journal entries done by now. I will do a homework check on Monday. Those who have nothing done in their journal will have to go to homework club or stay afterschool with me.