Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Wednesday OCT 31



Today we watched the second part of the Princess Bride and you turned in chapter 8 questions!

Tonight, have fun and be safe if you are trick-or-treating.

You have the optional extra credit that I gave you in class today. If you are choosing to do it, it must be handed in tomorrow!

We will finish watching the Princess Bride tomorrow in class. You may bring a small snack with you if you wish.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Tuesday OCT 30th

Today we began watching The Princess Bride.

Don't forget that you have to finish the last Princess Bride worksheet this evening and turn it in tomorrow!!

P.S. if you would like, you may bring in a small snack to eat as we continue watching the movie tomorrow.

Monday, October 29, 2007

Monday OCT 29th

Today we discussed the questions from Chapters 6 & 7 of the Princess Bride.

We also shared some roller coaster paragraphs that you wrote this weekend.

Class/Homework
You now have the final worksheet to finish the book! Make sure this worksheet is ready to hand in on Wednesday (in other words, the worksheet is DUE ON WEDNESDAY)!

Also, we are going to begin to watch the movie tomorrow! If you would like, you may bring in a small personal treat to eat so you can have it while we watch the movie!

Friday, October 26, 2007

Friday OCT 26th

Today we reviewed what it means to be a "good paragraph". We discussed the elaboration worksheet and reviewed what you read about with the "Show Don't Tell" information.

Next you read a horrible paragraph about a roller coaster. Here it is below:

Roller coasters are really fun. They are usually very tall and go very fast. My favorite roller coaster is the Millennium Force at Cedar Point. It is so scary. I think that is the loudest I have ever screamed in my entire life. When I go back to Cedar Point I will probably ride that ride 10 times in a row. I just hope I don’t throw up.

Taking on the role as editors, you offered ways we could improve this paragraph.

Next you began writing a revised version. Finally I shared a new-improved version. You pointed out many things you liked about it.

Homework
In addition to the Chapter 6/7 Princess Bride questions, you must write a paragraph describing a roller coaster experience. Your paragraph should be at least 250 words. This should be a final draft (you may type it or hand write it).

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Thursday OCT 25

Today I explained a few items to you and let you get to work.

DUE ON FRIDAY:
Elaboration Worksheet
In addition, read pages 262-264 on "Show Don't Tell"

DUE ON MONDAY:
Chapter 6 and Chapter 7 questions of the Princess Bride. Make sure to include page numbers. We will discuss everything from these worksheets on Monday

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Tuesday OCT 23rd

Today we reviewed the paragraph assignment you finished the other day from page 250. Many of you still weren't grasping the concept of "good topic sentences"....so we did a little review together. If you have any further questions, please feel free to set up a quiet time when we can discuss.

Class/Homework
Next I gave you an assignment on Elaboration. It begins with reading pages 254-257 & 258-259. Then you are to follow the directions on the handout that I gave you. This assignment is due at the beginning of the hour on Friday.

You also had a small amount of time to finish the questions for Chapter 6 of the Princess Bride. This is due at the beginning of the hour on Thursday.

Monday, October 22, 2007

Monday OCT 22

Today I collected your homework assignment from Friday.

Next I gave you the next set of questions for Chapters 6 and 7 of The Princess Bride. The questions for Chapter 6 must be completed by the time you come to class on Thursday. Remember that we do not meet as a class on Wednesday due to retreat.

Class/Homework
Chapter 6 questions for the Princess Bride due on Thursday

Friday, October 19, 2007

Friday OCT 19th

Today we discussed the test you took yesterday and reviewed the terms "unity" and "cohesion". Next we read about another term relating to paragraphs: " elaboration". Through our discussion and examples given, you should all now have a good understanding of the three main components of a good paragraph. I expect you to start using these techniques in your writing!

Class/Homework:
Page 250
Part A #1-4
Part B (read the directions and follow ALL of them)
Part C---choose # 1 OR #3 to write about

MAKE SURE WHAT YOU WRITE HAS UNITY, COHESION, and ELABORATION!

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Wednesday OCT 17

Today with our shortened class time, you were able to continue working on Princess Bride worksheet #5 that is due at the beginning of the hour on Friday.


STUDY FOR YOUR QUIZ TOMORROW!
Tomorrow you will need to be ready to take your quiz! This is the last grade I am entering for the marking period! Bring your grammar book with you!

If I were you, I would make sure to study the following things:
  • exaggeration--what is it and how is it used in The Princess Bride
  • unity and coherence of paragraphs
  • know the characters of The Princess Bride and be able to describe them
  • know a few vocabulary words from The Princess Bride (vulpine, deduce, diabolical, unfathomable, lethal, smitten, hovel)
  • from our discussions, understand that good authors make characters in their novels relatable to our lives. If asked, do you know and can you explain a character in The Princess Bride that you relate to?

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Tuesday Oct 16th

Today we discussed the questions and portions of the Princess Bride from Worksheet 4.

Next I handed out Princess Bride Worksheet 5 which will be due at the beginning of the hour on Friday.

Tomorrow in class you will have the shortened period to continue working on Worksheet 5 (remember that we have a 1/2 day tomorrow!).

On Thursday you will have a quiz covering pages 1-149 in the Princess Bride. Also know what "unity" and "coherence" are from our discussion on Friday. Also know these vocabulary terms from the Princess Bride worksheets: vulpine, diabolical, deduce, lethal, smitten, unfathomable, hovel.

Monday, October 15, 2007

Monday OCT 15

Today we discussed the paragraph assignment assigned to you on Friday. I collected these along with Princess Bride Worksheet 3.

Next I gave you the remaining time to complete Princess Bride Worksheet 4--the Fezzik questions.

Homework:
We will be discussing and I will be collecting Princess Bride Worksheet 4 tomorrow! Make sure it is complete!

Friday, October 12, 2007

Friday OCT 12

Today we took a look at paragraphs on page 243. We read and discussed as a class about the components of good paragraphs: unity and cohesion. Make sure you know what "unity" and "cohesion" means (you may need to know later on a test :)

Classwork/Homework
Next you began to complete the paragraph exercise on page 245/246. Make sure you read and follow the directions. This is due Monday.

On Monday I will also collect Princess Bride wkst. 3. I also expect that you will have completed Princess Bride wkst. 4 up through Inigo (you do not have to read/answer questions for the Fezzik portion yet).

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Thursday OCT 11

We did not meet today due to Theatre Thursday. Please see Wednesday for homework.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Wednesday OCT 10

Today we began by acting out a short scene in class of the Princess Bride. Thank you to those who participated with speaking parts and those of you who participated in discussion and with your thoughtful questions.

The worksheet I handed out yesterday (Princess Bride Wkst. 3) will be due at the beginning of the hour on MONDAY because tomorrow we are not meeting. (Instead you will be at your "Theatre Thursday" movie for Spirit Week).

Today I handed out Princess Bride Wkst. 4. On this worksheet, all the work for the questions about the Announcement and Inigo are due at the beginning of the hour on Monday.

Have a great evening! See you tomorrow at Theatre Thursday!

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Tuesday OCT 9th

Today you had the hour to read pages 63-81. You were also given a new worksheet to follow these pages.

Tomorrow in class we will be discussing up thru page 77 and doing some reading aloud as class.

Your worksheet is due at the beginning of the hour on Thursday. An extra copy of the worksheet can be found on EdLine.

Monday, October 8, 2007

Monday October 8

Today we did a little bit of reading aloud with The Princess Bride! We had a chance to discuss the certain parts and motivations for certain characters behaving as they do.

There will be NO HOMEWORK (don't cheer too loud) tonight.

Come in tomorrow ready to continue reading!

Friday, October 5, 2007

FRIDAY October 5


Today you had the class period to read. Thank you all for enduring the heat so well; I am really hoping next week we will actually see signs of FALL! :) Fall = Mrs. Ehle's favorite time of year!

Homework:
Make sure you finish the Princess Bride worksheet that covers pages 33-59 (indicated at the top). We will be discussing these pages on Monday to make sure everyone knows what is going on! I will also collect the worksheet.

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Thursday OCT 4

Today students came to class and continued to read the Princess Bride. Worksheet covering pages 1-30 is due tomorrow by the end of class.

I also passed out a second worksheet today covering pgs. 33-59. This worksheet is due on Monday.

Copies of both worksheets are posted to EdLine.

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Wednesday OCT 3

Today we went through the rest of the Introduction section of the Princess Bride.

By your reaction and discussion with me today in class, I think we are all on "the same page" and we all understand what is happening.

Now it is time to read "the good parts" of the story :)

Homework for tonight:
DUE THUR. 10/4:
Read to page 39. Stop at the interesting graphic on the page
DUE FRI 10/5: make sure the worksheet is completed for class. We will open discussing the answers.

**On the left hand side of the page, under "HELPFUL WEBSITES" is a link to DICTIONARY.COM. This will be a helpful link to finish the defintions portion of your worksheet.

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

TUESDAY Oct 2

Today we began by talking about the Princess Bride in class.

Next we did some reading and discussing together. I know the first portion of the book is "hard to get into"...but I promise it gets much more fun here on out!

NO HOMEWORK THIS EVENING!

Monday, October 1, 2007

MONDAY October 1

Today we used our class time to look at a section of the IOWA test that many students have trouble on: the MAPS and DIAGRAMS section.

Everyone took part in answering questions from this section and then we picked apart those questions that the majority of you had trouble on.

Classwork/Homework:
In order to begin tomorrow with The Princess Bride, I would like you to come in to class knowing answers to a few questions. I would suggest googling these names to help you find the answers.

1) Who is S. Morgenstern and what else has he authored?
2) Who is William Goldman and what else has he authored?
3) Read the Introduction to The Princess Bride. I warn you, it may be a bit confusing. But just try your best and I will help make more sense out of it tomorrow in our discussion!