Monday, August 31, 2015

Zondle App

Zondle is a FREE website which enables you to use games to support learning.
Download the app or go to the Zondle website and join my class to help study/review vocabulary and important skills.
Ms. Buck's class code is 43375-106779

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Non Fiction Text Anchor Stations

Station 1: “Forest Fire” by Anais Nin

  1. Read the diary entry titled “Forest Fire” on pages 536-539

While you're reading, think about how the text is organized. Also, think about the author and her character traits.

  1. Copy and Complete the Text Structure graphic organizer in your literacy notebook.

List the key plot points of the diary entry.

  1. Copy and Complete the Inference/Evidence chart in your literacy notebook.
Write inferences in complete sentences.
Make sure to include the page number for text evidence.



Forest Fire” by Anais Nin


Inference
Evidence


The author is a compassionate person.

I thought of the foresters in danger. I made coffee for the weary men who came down occasionally...” pg. 537






The author cares about animals as well as people.
What evidence supports this inference?
What is another inference you can make about the author?
What evidence supports your inference?
What can we infer about the author from this evidence?






It is easy to love nature in its peaceful and consoling moments, but once must love it in its furies too,...” pg. 539



Forest Fire” by Anais Nin


Copy the following chart in your literacy notebook. Then complete and chart the main events of the story in the order that the author tells them:

1. The author can see fires burning in the distance. She makes coffee for her neighbors.
2
3 Firefighters contain the fire before it reaches the back of their houses.
4
5
6 One week later,
7


What text structure does this author use to retell the story of this forest fire?

Answer: ______________________




Station 2: “Why Leaves Turn Color in the Fall” by Diane Ackerman


  1. Read the non-fiction text “Why Leaves Turn Color in the Fall” on pages 540-544

While you read, think about the causes and effects throughout the text.


  1. Copy and Complete the Cause/Effect graphic organizer in your literacy notebook.

Write your answers in complete sentences!


  1. Answer the questions below the graphic organizer in your literacy notebook.

Write your answers in complete sentences!









Why Leaves Turn Color in the Fall” by Diane Ackerman

Cause
Effect
As Summer ends, trees focus their nutrients on their trunk and roots.
Leaves don't get their needed nutrients.
Leaves are under undernourished.
What is the effect?
What is the cause?
Brilliantly colored leaves are produced.
What is the cause?
Leaves fall off of the tree.
List one cause /effect relationship
found on page 544.
What did you about leaves before reading this text?



What are two pieces of new information that you learned?





Station 3: “Forest Fire” and “Why Leaves Turn Color in the Fall”

  1. Think about the similarities and differences between “Forest Fire” and “Why Leaves Turn Color in the Fall”.
  2. With your partners, add information to the Venn Diagram.
    Make sure you have copied and completed the Venn Diagram in your literacy notebook.
  3. Answer the question below the Venn Diagram, using evidence from the story to support your answer.


-Must have 6 total differences and 3 similarities to “Forest Fire” and “Why Leaves Turn Color in the Fall”

-Copy and complete Venn diagram into your literacy notebook!





Station 6: Author's Celebration

  1. Take out your Literary Essays
  2. Taking turns, you will each read your essay aloud to your partners. The person with the next birthday will begin.

Partners must be listening to the author as they read.
  1. After each person reads, EACH PARTNER must ask the author a question or make an observation.
    Discussion stems:
    A question I still have for you is....

I really like how you …

I wonder...

I want to know more about...

4. List at 7 questions/observations in your writing notebook.



Station 5: ALL NON FICTION TEXT
  1. Read “The Season's Curmudgeon” on page 545.
  2. Complete the Text Comparison Chart to “Forest Fire”, The Season's Curmudgeon”, and “Why Leaves Turn Color in the Fall”
    Each group member will have their own worksheet for this station.



    Station 4: Units 4-6 Vocab. Review
  1. Get on Quizlet
  2. The correct webpage should be saved to the desktop of your laptop or already on your screen ready to begin. Please do NOT close out the tab! If for some reason the activity is not displayed in your laptop, type the following link into internet explorer: http://quizlet.com/67590346/vocabulary-workshop-level-c-units-4-6-flash-cards/
  3. You may choose the activity of your choice to help review and prepare for your Units 4-6 Test next week. However, if you are off task at any time during this station, you will be given an alternative assignment. THE ONLY TAB OR WINDOW THAT SHOULD BE OPENED AT ANYTIME IS QUIZLET!!!!!

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Resources

www.writingprompts.tumblr.com

www.flamingtext.com

www.wonderopolis.org

www.pechakucha.org

www.igniteworldwide.org

www.qrstuff.com

www.padlet.com

www.hemingwayapp.com

www.readability.com

www.web.archive.org

www.popplet.com

Popplet is a tool for the iPad and web to capture and organize your ideas.


Online Apps & Tools

Online Tools and Applications 

Monday, January 5, 2015

Back to reality...


Welcome back from the Christmas break!
 
I hope you all had a relaxing and enjoyable holiday with your family and friends. I am looking forward to a superb second semester with each and every one of you. I was fortunate enough to spend the holidays in New York. The 9/11 memorial was certainly a memorable site to see along with the many other museums and tourist attractions such as the Rockefeller Christmas tree, Wall Street, Central Park and ice skating, etc. New York at Christmas time could bring the Christmas spirit out in even the Grinch! Also, if you haven't seen The Phantom of the Opera, I highly recommend it! It's definitely one of the best shows that I have seen in New York! I could go on and on, but it's time to get back to reality.

We will be starting off the third nine weeks with poetry and speeches. We will also continue using the Vocabulary Workbooks. Tuesday, January 6th, we will begin Unit 4 of the Vocabulary Workbook. Pre-AP classes need to have purchased Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson on or before January 12th. We will begin reading this novel on Jan. 12th and will finish on February 13th.

The poetry unit and many of the notes can be found in your textbook on pages 640-645.