Huck Finn Audio Book

Here is the link to the audio book for The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.  We have made a change to the reading routine in class.  You will have a choice of reading the audio version of the book on one of our laptop, or read silently in your Huck Finn book, or participate in a shared read aloud with Ms. Wood. 

Whatever your choice, on Friday we will finish reading chapters 11 and 12 in class, and we will complete a study guide for those two chapters.  Anyone who does not finish should take the book and study guide home for completion before next Tuesday's class.  You can hand the guide in at the end of today's class (Friday) or at the beginning of class Tuesday.  The activities in the booklets we made in class can be finished on your own time or during class time if you read ahead!

Welcome to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Today marks our journey down the Mississippi River with Huck Finn.  Each day we'll read several chapters in class, and most days you'll have some pages to read on your own.  As you read, you'll look for interesting superstitions, colloquialisms, and tricks, which you can chart in your Huck Finn portfolios.  You'll also record questions, identify the characters, and keep a travel journal occasionally (dates on the handout) in the voice of our narrator, Huck.

You now have a book checked out to you for your outside-of-class reading, and you'll be responsible for turning it in at the end of this project.  Don't lose it unless you want to pay for it!  On this home page in the right hand column is a link to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn ebook,.  If that's more convenient, you can read the assigned chapters online.

There you are!  Happy reading!

Finding Articles and Summarizing

Today (2/5)- 

Below is a copy of the activity we will be doing in class. Feel free to print this off if you are ill or miss a day. Once you have completed this assignment, you will do an alphabox summary of today's independent reading. Once this is completed and handed in, then silently read at your computer.

Directions:  Go to the class blog and look at your peers’ interesting facts if you do not have an idea for your research topic.  Look at the additional information found on their blog posts for articles. Use resource links found on the blog, such as NPR, National Geographic, and so forth. The library databases will also have a lot of information on your topic. Print two articles related to your research topic. Read each article carefully, selecting the nine most important words for each, using those words write a paragraph summarizing the information you found. Please staple this sheet on top of your two articles.

Research topic: ________________________________________________________________________

Article Title: ___________________________________________________________________________

9 most important words

Summary (4-5 complete sentences):

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Research topic: ________________________________________________________________________

Article Title: ______________________________________________________________________

9 most important words

Summary (4-5 complete sentences):

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Did you know? You are more likely to get attacked by a cow than a shark!

Monday, February 25 - Your task today is to look up 20 interesting facts (5 from each website listed below) and post them to your blog. The next step is to then take two of the twenty facts and find additional information on the subjects. The main purpose of this exercise is for you to become experienced with search engines and to begin thinking of a possible topic for the research paper. You are to take the two articles and post the URL (website address) to your blog for others to read. Please also include 2 pictures related to the articles and a brief description of each. Here is a step by step guide on how to accomplish these tasks as well as an example of the assignment:

1. Go to the following websites:
http://hookedonfacts.com/
http://www.interestingfacts.net/
http://www.nicefacts.com://
http://www.amusingfacts.com/

2. Write 5 interesting facts from each of the four websites (20 total)

3. Find additional information on two of your facts by searching a website, such as National Geographic, PBS, New York Times (and so forth. 

4. Include these two articles'/websites on your blog with a brief summary/description.

5. Create a link to the websites by copying and pasting the URL (website address) into your blog.      

6. Add two images that relate to the two articles you have linked.

7. Title your blog entry: 20 interesting facts!


Here is an example of the assignment:

                                                                    TWENTY INTERESTING FACTS!

1. In 1938, Time Magazine chose Adolf Hitler for man of the year.
2. Twelve people have walked on the moon.
3.  Kilts are not native to Scotland. They originated in France.
4. During a typical human life span, the human heart will beat approximately 2.5 billion times.
5. Many people who read the word yawn or yawning begin to feel the urge to yawn.
6. Cold weather makes fingernails grow faster.
7. Leonardo da Vinci invented scissors.
8. Walt Disney, the creator of Mickey Mouse, was afraid of mice.
9. Albert Einstein never wore any socks. 
10. More than 2,500 left handed people a year are killed from using products made for right handed people. (That is unfortunate since Ms. Wood is left handed)



Leonardo da Vinci's drawing of an armored car in the year 1487


The article depicts Leonardo da Vinci's inventions including the first armored car. The article gives 12 other interesting inventions such as the helicopter. I find it really fascinating that many know of his artwork but few know that he was also an inventor. I wonder what it would have been like for the citizens of Italy to be driving or even flying 500 years ago! I can only imagine what would have happened with our own technology if society would have progressed at a much faster rate!

The National Geographic website has a ton of interesting and exciting information about Albert Einstein. I was unaware that he was good friends with Edwin Hubble and actually helped with the Hubble Space Telescope. This telescope allowed Edwin Hubble to discover that the universe is much more massive than we had ever imagined. Hubble's work included the discovery of other galaxies and they are constantly expanding. I was even more surprised that Albert Einstein had thought of this five years earlier in 1919 and actually wrote his theory down on the back of an envelope!

I love books! How about you?

Thursday (February 14, 2013)

First off, Happy Valentine's Day!

Today, you will be blogging on the books that you have been reading. Please let Ms. James or Ms. Wood know if you do NOT have a blog yet or are unsure of how to make blog posts.The blog post is worth 40 points and needs to be finished by the end of class! The directions for the reading blog post are as follows:

1. A short summary of the book you are currently reading.

2. A passage or a quote  that is more than two or three words and an  explanation for what it means and why you chose it.

3. A picture that is NOT the cover of the book! It needs to be an image that is related to what is happening in the book or a symbolic representation of a character.

4. Please title your blog post with, "Reading Response #1"

Fifteen minutes before the bell rings we will begin generating possible ideas for the research topic. I want you to write down five things that you are interested in researching and freewrite about one of those things. Please use the sheet provided and hand it in at the end of class!

Monday's Work: Read, Blog and Trivia

Hello and welcome to my first blog post! I wanted to fill you in on a few things that we will be doing today.

TODAY (1/28)- Reading Response blogs. Please look over the scoring guide so that you know how to get an “A” on the blog. You may use this 90 minute class period to read silently and post to your blog.

Some helpful hints: be sure to include a photo that is NOT the cover of a book; have it be related to the author, the theme of the book or even a symbol. Please also include a quote and be sure to put it in quotations. Also, a quote is not merely two words but it is a phrase or a passage. Explain why you included the quote in your post. Once you are done with your reading response blog post, I want you to watch and read the following links about The Crucible. I think that these will be interesting and some of the trivia may be asked on a later test! Hint, Hint.






Movie Trailer

 


 



Interesting Trivia







 With any extra time you may have today, please read more about Ms. Wood! Here are 10 (and counting) things about me!

· I am from a small Dutch inspired town called Pella, Iowa.

· I have a orange tabby cat and he is named after one of my favorite songs, Mr. Bo Jangles.

· Mr. Bo Jangles knows how to come when called and will fetch pens. He rules the apartment.

· I also have a Cuban Havanese dog named Daisy. She knows all of her toys by name.

· I have an older sister, Ashley, in the Air Guard and she recently got back from a tour in Afghanistan.

· My kitchen is done completely in cupcakes. I am obsessed with them.

· I was involved in Choir, Show Choir, and Theater throughout high school.

· My first job was at a Dairy Queen, so I know how to do the "Q" on top of ice cream cones.

· My parents live in Monett, Missouri.

· If I could do anything, I would become a jazz singer.

Second Semester Thoughts...Welcome Back!

Welcome back bloggers.  It has been a while since we posted.  Though we are busy composing our descriptive narratives about home, I am also anxious to read about what you are reading.  I just started a book I was given over Christmas break, A Dog's Journey, which is a sequel to A Dog's Purpose.  I haven't had much time to read, but I am looking forward to starting it this weekend.  By the way, it was given to me by my secret pal here at school...Think she knows me well?

Several of you read A Dog's Purpose, and as you know, it traces a dog's life through many rebirths and poignant stories about a dog's relationships with his families. It is told through the dog's point of view.  Right away I think of Katie, my dog who took it upon herself to babysit my new grandbaby when she lived her first year at my house.  Katie laid under her crib, sat by her high chair, waited by the bathroom door, and stayed as close as she could to her "new baby."

So dive in!  Tell us about the book you are reading independently this quarter, any connections you have, predictions you make, and so on!

More later...I made a video of the two of them and pasted it above!  Indulge me; grandmothers like to show off their pictures!)

Getting Ready for Gatsby: Let's Travel Back in Time!

Before you read on, ask youself if you have posted your reading responses, "10 things About Me," your Poe reflections, and response to "An Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge."  Today in the lab you will have an opportunity to get caught up, read other posts, and then read  and comment below about Gatsby!

Together as a class we are beginning another novel.  I know I say this of many books, but The Great Gatsby really is one of my favorites.  The storyline may seem remote to you, however, if you don't know much about the setting.  Today you have a chance to share what you know about the 1920's, the decline of the American Dream, the morals and values of the upper class, and so on.

This is a picture of the Crick estate

This is a picture of the Gould estate

This is Westbury Gardens

This is Princeton Blair Hall



It is hard for some of us to imagine such wealth as the mansions above or what it might be like to be born into such money that finding a job would never be necessary.  This is a time in our history when the rich were getting richer, World War I had just ended, and business was corrupt.  Any of you watch HBO's Boardwalk Empire?  It provides an interesting view into rum running, crime gangs and police corruption, and very wealthy businessmen.  During this time period, class distinctions seem apparent.  "Old money" blue bloods snub the newly rich, and immigrants must struggle against prejudice and lack of opportunity.

Great Gatsby is not only beautifully written (F. Scott Fitzgerald), it exposes truths about morals and unveils hypocrisy in American classes.

Seen the video trailer?  Here's a link!

Reading Online....

Today we will read Ambrose Bierce online.  There is so much out there that is free to read.  We've been reading Poe in honor of October and mystery and macabre.  Today we will continue the short story unit with another story that takes us to the Civil War era and a popular author of the time who wrote historical fiction.  Here is a link to one of my favorites, "The Occurance at Owl Creek Bridge."

Bierce is clearly one of the prominent voices of the Civil War era.  What do you think  about the sequence of events in this story?  How does that perhaps make a statement about the Civil War?  You can include your thoughts about this piece in today's blog post about your book.

The Point of Blogging: READ EACH OTHER!

Have you taken time to browse through our classroom  sites to learn more about each other?  Today you will be challenged to first proofread your own site, your posts, your pictures.  Review your book responses and check for spelling (there is a spell check button) and sentence structure.  Explain why you posted the picture you did for your book.  Explain the quotation you chose, why you chose it and what it means to the story.  Does your title include the title of your book?  Do you briefly give your readers a summary that will clarify what's going on, who is in your story, and where and when it is taking place without retelling the whole story?  Why did you chose the book?

You are  earning credit for your "10 or more things about me" post and also your comment on the Rules of Safety post (mine), your posts and remarks about Poe and Owl Creek Bridge, and your blog post about your book you are currently reading.

When you are satisfied you have completed the assignments to the best of your ability, your job is to get to know each other by reading all the other blogs in our class.  Last class I included a scavenger hunt for your proof of reading!  However, many of you simply asked each other for answers.  That's NOT the point.  That's not how you were supposed to learn about each other.  Today in the library, you will silently converse with each other by posting appropriate and kind comments regarding the writing.  You have posted information on the blog, and your audience is made up of each other.  Please READ each other's posts and do not talk!

Interesting Facts Scavenger Hunt

How well have you read our classroom blogs?  Here are some facts; see how well you've read and can match up the facts!

l.  This person plays violin and sings bass  tenor!

2. This person has had 3 knee surgeries.

3.  This native of KC wants to be a sports agent or be in sports medicine.

4. This shoe lover is learning ASL.

5.  This basketball player also runs track.

6.  This sports fanatic is a dog person but would love to own a piranah.

7.  Who was born on Ground Hog's Day?

8.  This skaterboarder hates spelling.

9.  This football player throws track.

10. This person has a boss who sprays Gucci and Prada perfume on the cat.

11.  Who has seen all the Twilight movies and has owned 5 vehicles?

Reading, Blogging, and Commenting: Getting the Most Out of Community!

Fellow bloggers,

First, I want to congratulate you on learning a new genre/form of writing, one that I believe will serve you well in the future.  Posting to a blog enables our class to share thoughts while building an academic community.  This is a great place to reflect on your reading, ask questions of each other, and share points of view.  You will gather information about other books and this will help you decide on your next book choice.  You will get practice reading with the eye of a writer, analyzing power passages, storyline, character, and author's purpose.

First thing to remember:  post to your own blog, not this one.  I will reserve this space for posting about what we are doing in class.  If you have questions of me, you can always leave a comment in the comment box below the post.  Next, I hope you'll take time to read everyone's posts and leave thoughtful comments, connections you have with other bloggers,  their posts, or the books they are reading.  There is nothing better than knowing someone has taken the time to think about and respond to your writing.  So finally, always be aware of your audience when you post.  The blog is public AND it is academic, so remember to be respectful and careful in your writing.

Happy reading, blogging, and commenting!

Great Books, Celebrations, and Starting a New Leaf

Here we are in the beginning of a new quarter, and it looks like our reading competition with 6th block is fairly close.  Look at the fall leaves; they are close to the same number.  You can thank some of the avid readers in our class.  From this point, you have an opportunity to blog about those titles you have claimed, and you may start today.

Title today's post by including the title of your current book.  Give us a short summary of what you've read so far.  You can include page numbers if you'd like.  Find and post a picture that somehow connects with the storyline, a character, or something the book reminds you of...If you include a picture of the cover, you still need to find another picture or work of art to post for your visualization.

Next, include a short passage that stood out to you.  Be sure to discuss how the quote fits in, who said it and to whom, and what it all means to you.

Last, you can discuss your reading so far this year, titles of books, book discussions and so forth.  From now on, to claim a new leaf, you must have posted about that book to this blog!

Happy reading, blogging, and TGIF!

Poe on the Web...

As we get the rest of the class linked to our home page, it will be interesting to see the "10 (or more) interesting things about me" posts.  Out of courtesy and community, please read the class posts and leave appropriate comments.  Remember, site is an extension of our classroom and as such should reflect careful and thoughtful reading, writing, and commenting.

Our reading of Poe continues today, and our next activity is a visit to a site called Knowing Poe.  Please visit each of the three areas: the person, the writer, and the Poe library.  You will also find many little known -and interesting- facts about Poe by simply finding the links on the main page.  Enjoy!  Post several (at least three) "little known" facts you learn from this site and explain them.  Please make a note of what you learn and choose a poem or short story to read and reflect on in your own blog post. 

Halloween...Time for Poe

Why is it that so many of us like to read and watch the macabre?  In studying American literature, there are so many beloved authors...from Stephen King to Edgar Allen Poe.  Last week we read The Black Cat, and this week we will read The Masque of the Red Death in our anthology; however, here's a link to an online copy.  Read and compare to last week's story.  As I reread this short story, I'm left wondering why someone would host a party while the rest of the world is desperately trying to escape the plague. 

Think about this as you read the story, and our free writing for today is an answer to that question about Prospero (no accident about the name) and write your answer on the comment box below.

10 Curious Things About My Mistress

Katie's Blog

10 Curious Things About My Owner

by Katie the Blog Dog

*While my mistress was convalescing in a wheel chair with a broken wrist and ankle, I was recovering from knee surgery.

*My mistress and my Aunt Margie love to dress up their dogs in beautiful costumes...stay tuned!

*My mistress's childhood nickname was Barbie and her first boyfriend was Ken.

*We live in a menagerie with our other best friends Riley (the border collie) and our cats Savannah and Simon. Right now we also have the joy of our new grand baby in the house with her mom and dad while they prepare to build a new house. Life is rich! They have two cats as well!

*My mistress is a better driver today than she used to be. She once sideswiped her sister's garage while trying to park her car, but when she backed up to get a better aim, she ran over the water meter!

*My mistress doesn't like heights or snakes.

*She and I both wish that it was stylish to be chubby.

*She has lived in our current home for almost 21 years, the longest she's lived anywhere.

*She doesn't travel much anymore, but if she could, she'd spend the summers wandering the globe. (She'd have to travel like Liz Taylor used to with all of her pets loaded onto a beautiful ship!)

*She enjoys a cup of tea with a good book and the company of family and friends.

Welcome to our online classroom, a place where we can safely discuss our reading, share opinions, ask questions, and make connections with each other, the texts we read, and the world out there. But first, we need to create some expectations of this place and each other so that everyone feels welcome and safe to share. After all, "On the Internet, no one knows you're a dog."

Please take some time to read Shea's article on netiquette (online manners) and post your thoughts in the comment box below. It may seem silly to you who already spend a lot of time online, but there is a huge difference in a social network and an educational website, and this site is part of our classroom!

We'll be embarking (ha!) soon on our yearlong look at how our dreams and desires and the "rags to riches" theme ties into the American dream. We'll be posting next about our favorite characters/ heroes...Mine is Underdog! Who is yours?

Stay tuned!