Language+Arts+Teachers+Sharing

Ida wanted me to create this as a place for language arts teachers to share cool things that happen in their classes. All you have to do to add your ideas and questions is click Edit Page, put your cursor where you want it, and begin typing. Matthew and Robert (and I think Jim Rose) can even show you how to add links to web pages. Remember to save your changes when you finish.

Please share!

March 6, 2007, Ida says: So, I decided to use the advance readers that John Valentie gave me as an incentive to geet kids in the Write On classes to take on extra challenge assignments in the //Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry// unit. Below is the challenge assignments handout I'm giving out tomorrow:


 * Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry Name ______________________**
 * Challenge Assignments**

Design a new cover for ROTHMC that implies a happier ending. Your cover should be of //final draft quality// with color and neat work. On the back should be a brief description of the alternate ending to the story, also of final draft quality. || Ida’s comments: || Write a story about a child your age having to deal with some kind of injustice. It can be set in the past like ROTHMC or set in the present. It can be about racial injustice like in ROTHMC or some other form of injustice Remember that your main character will need a problem, will need to figure out how to resolve the problem, and will likely need some kind of help. The end should clearly offer some kind of resolution. || Ida’s comments: || Choose at least ten challenging vocabulary words from one chapter and create a crossword puzzle using the definitions of the words. The website, puzzlemaker.com might be helpful. || Ida’s comments: || Write a Mildred Taylor-like description of your family’s holiday dinner. In ROTHMC, it’s Christmas, but yours can be any holiday with lots of family gathered and specific sensory details. The goal is to try to mimic Mildred Taylor’s writing style. || Ida’s comments: || Keep a reading response journal. Make at least five entries (3-5 paragraphs each) about your reactions to the reading. For an extra bonus, make a cover. || Ida’s comments: || The Logans are a farming family. Try growing some of your own vegetables. Start from seed and track their progress either with photos or a journal that you write documenting the growing process. Toward the end of the term, present your work to the class. I have lots of gardening books if you want some resources. This one is kind of like a science experiment. It will take some time and you will have to keep going beck to it throughout the unit. But just think, if you have a sunny spot in your yard, you could really end up with a vegetable garden. || Ida’s comments: || Do some research about Mildred Taylor. Prepare and present to the class a one page report about her life and achievements. My expectation is that your report will have very well structured (sandwich) paragraphs. || Ida’s comments: || Do some research about The Great Depression. Prepare and present to the class a one page report sharing what you learn. My expectation is that your report will have very well structured (sandwich) paragraphs. || Ida’s comments: || Create a civil rights timeline starting with the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation and continuing to present times. Include at least ten notable events like Congress passing the Civil Rights Act and the founding of the NAACP. || Ida’s comments: ||
 * Date**
 * Completed** ||
 * Challenge Activity** ||
 * Challenge Activity** ||