It was good to see the students again after our Fall Break. I hope they all had a chance to relax a bit. They came back and were ready to learn!
Quick Write
Students responded to an excerpt about intelligent octopuses (yes, that is a legitimate pluralization of that word!)
Words of the Day
Today’s Words of the Day are seasonal in nature. Students are continuing to compile these words with definitions, etymology and examples and sketches to “make them stick.”
macabre (adj)–ghastly; having weird, uncanny or exotic features; from Latin “chorea Machabaeorum” or “Dance of the Maccabees” a medieval stylized representation of the slaughter of the Maccabees; French “danse macabre” denoted a figure representing death who enticed people to dance with him until they dropped dead.
confection (n,v)--a sweet preparation of fruit, a preserve, a candy; the process of compounding, preparing, making something; something made up or confected. Latin “confectionem”--a preparation, a medicament” the making by means of ingredients, act of compounding different substances into one preparation; in late 14C. Also “something prepared or made with sugar or syrup.”
masquerade (n,v)--A costume party at which masks are worn; a masked ball. A disguise or outward show; a pretense. From “mask”--1530’s “a cover for the face; a false face from French “masque”; medieval Latin masca “specter, nightmare.”
Homework Check
We did a brief check in on homework. It can be challenging to have several assignments going at once–part of being a student in this style of classroom–and also as they move ahead academically. We talked about due dates. I hope to send out grade reports after I have graded the Rough Drafts this week which will be helpful.
Literature
I introduced our next novel A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. We watched a brief video about the author and discussed how our Christmas celebrations have evolved over the years. Interestingly,
Dickens has named each of the five chapters of his book “staves”--like the lines on a music staff. There are five lines/staves in musical notation, and there are five chapters. It is a carol (song) afterall!
I have assigned some introductory material and a quiz over that material on Google Classroom (due next week.) I also assigned a Vocabulary Sheet students should be using as they work their way through the book.
Last, we did a very brief review of the characters in Animal Farm, the novel we just finished. Students signed up for a character and next week, they’ll work together to write campaign speeches for each character if time permits.
Writing
The Biography Essay Rough Draft and Prewrite were due today. The final is due November 11.
Grammar
This week we had a lot of Grammar work! There were two presentations: Interjections and Conjunctions. They both presented a video, a short teaching, and the Conjunctions group had an activity. Next week, the Adverbs group will present. Be ready!
They were given homework from the groups AND from me. Those are due next week.
They also have a review of the four parts of speech that have been covered so far: IVAN. The IVAN Review is posted on Google Classroom–also due next week..
Students should complete evaluations of the groups’ presentations. If you presented, fill out the Self-Evaluation.
Homework
Introduction to A Christmas Carol
Quiz on Introduction to
Parts of Speech Self-Evaluation
Links for This Week
Quick Write (10/27)
Charles Dickens YouTube video
Interjections & Conjunctions videos
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