November is definitely the month to try and have an attitude of gratitude, and so with my 8th grade Language Arts students, many of our journal topics have been about being thankful. The "Joy Dare" is a challenge encouraging people to be thankful for 3 things each day of November. Then by the end of the month you will have written down, listed, or talked about 1,000 things that you are thankful for. I've been doing this with the students with their daily journal entries, giving them the 3 things to be thankful for that comes from the dare. They seem to enjoy this. It has sparked some interesting feedback.
The other thing I've been excited about is some new cool writing "stuff" that I learned at a Common Core workshop I attended a couple of weeks ago. I've been using some of these models and tactics with the 8th graders, and it has made class fun and engaging. Our discussions after my lectures have been good. The kids are seeming to grasp more of these concepts.
Here's this weeks lessons:
Vocab Less. #15--due Friday.
Monday=Discuss PEEC paragraph and use it as we analyze "The Dance" by Garth Brooks.
Tuesday=Discuss the difference between paraphrase and summarize and use the Frayer model graphic organizer to define and chart differences. Wrap up and summarize all of the different charts and models we've been using for Pre-Writing. Make sure kids understand how to use them and what to do once they get a writing prompt.
Wednesday & Thursday=Begin the Thanksgiving online activity=compare/contrast the lifestyles of the Wampanoag Indians and the Pilgrims in a 4-5 paragraph essay. Due next Tuesday before break.
Friday=Grade Vocab Wb Less.#15. Get with paired reading partners and do the Zimbabwe Article of the Week.
Have a Great Week!!!!
