Grade 8 Reflections

Looking back on your final year as an elementary student, what are some of the most important things you have learned and what experiences will you take with you as you graduate?

MOVIE TRAILER VOTING

Now is the time to place your vote for the books you would like to see as trailers. You may submit your first, second and third choices, giving reasons for each choice. Place your vote by writing your blog response here. Of course, you must be willing to read or reread any of the books you vote for . (Choose titles from the list in the previous post with any additions suggested by our class in their blog responses.)

Happy voting!

Novel Suggestions for Trailer Project

What novels do you recommend as choices for our trailer project? Let’s discuss some titles here before the actual voting starts.

Listed below are the titles from class so far. Feel free to add to the list. I have made some suggestions too.
The Hunger Games
Safe as Houses
The Uglies
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
You Can Run
Point Blank
Sketches
Crackback
Gemini Summer
Peak

Pets

Our pet guinea pig had to go to the doctor today. Believe it or not, she has a cold and is running a temperature of 103º. She had to have 3 shots and we have to feed her special food and medicine using a syringe. Hopefully, she will be better by Monday.

I know many of you have pets. It’s easy to get attached to a pet and difficult when they get ill or pass away. What have been your experiences caring for pets? Does anyone have any funny stories about things your pets may have done?

I thought it might be fun to share our pet stories here. Feel free to post a comment.

JOURNAL ENTRY – WEEK OF APRIL 20th, due April 27th

How much do you personally agree or disagree with the way various characters think and act, and the kinds of beliefs and values they hold? Where do you differ and why?

For this question, start by choosing a couple of characters for your entry. Find examples in the text of how they think or act or of any beliefs or values that they demonstrate through what they say or do. Choose a couple of quotations to support your answer. You may want to use a web or chart to record your observations before writing your entry. Check our class wiki for charts you can print to help you.

Do you have different beliefs or values than either of these characters? How do you differ?  Explain by making connections and reflecting on your views and beliefs.

Every book you read has characters, so everyone will be able to answer this question. Make sure to record your observations as you read. This avoids extra searching for your answer.

Save the Words

This is a website that allows you to adopt a word that is in danger of becoming extinct – in other words, it is being taken out of the dictionary.

I adopted the word hirquitalliency, promising to use it in everyday conversation and correspondence. You may hear me using it next week at school.

Let’s all try to adopt a word. The website is funny because the words call out to you, “Pick me, pick me” when you point to them.

Here is the website address:  http://savethewords.org/

Just a pointer…write down the meaning so you don’t forget it.

Boy in the Striped Pajamas – Discussion Question 1

From the discussion guide at the back of the book:

A pun is most often seen as humorous. But in this novel, the narrator uses dark, solemn puns like “Out-With” and “Fury” to convey certain meanings. Bruno is simply mispronouncing the real words, but the author is clearly asking the reader to consider a double meaning to these words. Discuss the use of this wordplay as a literary device. What is the narrator trying to convey to the reader? How do these puns further communicate the horror of the situation?

March Break

What are you doing over March Break? Some people are traveling while others are spending time at home with their friends and family. Please let us know what you are up to, even if it isn’t a major trip or an exciting event. Feel free to ask questions or comment on what you read here.

I hope everyone will meet the goal of reading for one hour each day so that we can all make it to the Mount Everest reading party. Don’t forget to record your reading and get it signed. Think about making a note about a section that you could use for a response journal. If you are behind on your responses, make sure to have them all completed by the time you get back to school.

Have a great time!

Tori’s Experiences as a Page in Toronto

Tori will soon be going to Toronto to serve as a page in the legislature. If you have any questions for Tori or would like to comment on her experiences, please write them here.

Tori will post updates if and when she gets a chance. Apparently, some days are quite long and grueling.

Let us know if you meet any famous politicians or other government officials.

The Holocaust – The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Questions from the Discussion Guide to “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” by John Boyne.

Today in class, we discussed our prior knowledge of the Holocaust and World War II. What do you think causes people to treat others in such horrific ways as was done during the Holocaust? Are there people being treated like this anywhere in the world today? What can be done to stop it?

Have you ever been in a situation where a person was mistreated? What actions did you take? How did you feel after acting or not acting?

Prejudice is an attitude while discrimination is a behavior. Explain what you think this means.

Have you ever been discriminated against? When have you witnessed discrimination against other people or discriminated against someone else?

What is a stereotype? Why do people stereotype groups that are different from them?

Feel free to share your ideas about some or all of these questions.