Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Esperanza Rising: Las Uvas (pgs. 234 - 253)

Required Prediction: Does Esperanza eventually marry Miguel? Why do you think this?

Respond to at least one of the following questions in detail:

Question #1: Josefina tells Esperanza that the peaches will be sorted one piece at a time? How can you apply this to life's problems?

Question #2: How does Esperanza react to hearing English spoken at the bus station? How does this determination differ from her thought about learning English when she first arrived in California?

Question #3: What sign does Abulita see that makes her think things are better for her family? Is this superstition something that you would believe? Why?

Question #4: Why does Esperanza ask Miguel to take her to the plateau? How does this time differ from the two other times she listened for the heartbeat?

Due Date: Thursday, January 26

Thursday, January 19, 2006

Esperanza Rising: Los Duraznos (pgs. 214 - 233)

Required Prediction: Who took the money orders from Esperanza's valise?

Respond in detail to at least one of the following questions:

Question #1: Why does Esperanza feel that Isabel will not be chosen queen?

Question #2: How does Esperanza react to learning that Mexicans get to swim in the Oklahoma camp swimming pool only on Friday afternoons before the pool is cleaned on Saturday morning?

Question #3: Why does Esperanza give the doll to Isabel? What does this reveal about how Esperanza has changed?

Don't forget, we're almost done the book! Go above and beyond to earn extra credit!

Due Date: Tuesday, January 24

Thursday, January 12, 2006

Esperanza Rising: Los Esparragos (pgs. 199 - 213)

Required Prediction: Will Marta find her mother?

Choose at least one question to respond in detail to:

Question #1: What type of surprises do the strikers slip under the asparagus? Do they have the desired effect on the workers?

Quesiton #2: Why doesn't Esperanza tell the others about Marta hiding? What does this say about Esperanza's character?

Question #3:
What is the voluntary deportment? Would you get on the bus if your mother were on it?

New Marking Period!! Get off to the best start by earning some extra credit! Go above and beyond!!

Due Date: Friday, January 20

Esperanza Rising: Los Aguacates (pgs. 179 - 198)


Required Prediction: Esperanza thinks of her mother and grandmother and knows what she must do about the strike. What is it she feels she must do?

Choose one question to respond in detail to:

Question #1: Why is Esperanza barred from seeing her mother? How does she feel about this?

Question #2: Why do the Mexicans shop at Mr. Yakota's store?

Question #3: Why does Marta warn Esperanza and Miguel about the strike?

Don't Forget: You can always earn extra credit by making text connection (text-self, text-world, text-text) or making other observations / predictions about the story and characters!

Due Date: Thursday, January 19

Esperanza Rising: Las Papas (pg. 158 - 178)

Required Prediction: Will Esperanza get what she wants for Christmas?

Choose at least one question to respond in detail to:


Question #1:
Why does Esperanza feel as she does about the mountains and valleys in the blanket?

Question #2:
Why does Esperanza go to work? What would you do in her situation?

Earn Extra Credit! Go above and beyond, make other observations / prediction, connect to the text, etc...

Due Date: Tuesday, January 17

Thursday, January 05, 2006

Esperanza Rising: Las Ciruelas (pgs. 139 - 157)


Required Prediction: Will Mama survive the disease? Defend your answer.

Choose at least one question to respond in detail to:

Question #1: What goes wrong on Esperanza's first day in charge of the babies? Why does she react as she does to these domestic disasters?

Question #2: What conditions forewarn the workers of the dust storm? Why does Esperanza not understand what is coming?

Question #3: What is the goal of those workers who want to strike and those who do not wish to strike? Which side would you be on? Why?

Question #4: What is Valley Fever? (Be specific, what causes it, etc...)

As always, extra credit is given for students who go above and beyond the expectations by making text connections, insights, etc... to the story.

Due Date: Friday, January 13.
Posted 1/5/06

Esperanza Rising: Las Almendras (pages 121 - 138)

Required Prediction: Will the workers strike?

Choose at least one question to respond in detail to:

Question #1:How does Esperanza show Hortensia that she is accepting the change in the bathing routine?

"Question" #2: Describe the Jamaica in detail.

BONUS POINTS
awarded for making detailed text-to-text, text-to-self, or text-to-world connections, or making insightful observations about the characters / situations in the story.

Remember, this discussion is for "Las Almendras" only.
Due Date: Monday, January 9.

Posted 1/5/06

Esperanza Rising: Las Cebollas (pg.100-120)

Required Prediction: Will Esperanza learn to do the chores that Isabel thinks are so easy?

Choose 1 question to respond in detail to:

Question #1: What does the cabin look like and who will be staying in it? How does this contrast from Esperanza's home in Mexico? Is her reaction what you would expect?

Question #2: What does Miguel think is the only thing that Esperanza has learned in Mexico? Do you agree with this?

BONUS POINTS AWARDED FOR: making detailed text-to-text, text-to-self, or text-to-world connections. Remember, this discussion is for Las Cebollas ONLY!


Due Date: Friday, Jan. 6
Posted: 1/5/06

Tuesday, January 03, 2006

Citizenship Award: Leah Hoeferkamp!!

Congratulations Leah!! You earned the Citizenship Award for the second marking period!

Class, here is where you can post all the reasons why you think Leah deserves this prestigious award! Enjoy!

Sunday, January 01, 2006

Calendar Math: January!

Happy New Year!

We have a very interesting calendar this month! Post your observations, predictions, confirmed predictions, or any other comments you have about any of the calendar components for January. Make sure you identify the part of calendar math you are talking about in your post. Be sure to think of strategies that might help you prove your prediction. Use math vocabulary and have fun!

Class Participation Requirement: All homeroom students must post at least once this month.

Calendar Math: February !


Well, it looks like Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow... that means six more weeks of winter for us. Course, it doesn't really seem like winter has really hit us yet... I guess we'll see in the upcoming weeks if Punxsuawney Phil's prediction is correct!

In any case, here is where you can post your Calendar Math predictions and observations for the month of February. Be sure to be specific in your post by identifying which component you are talking about.

Hmmm.... it looks like my animated gif isn't working in our blog. Click on the above picture to see it in action. :) Enjoy.

Class Requirement: All homeroom students should post at least once this month.

Posted: Jan 29, 2006

Creative Writing: Bigfoot!

Complete the story starter below using your imagination. Be sure to use descriptive adjectives and vivid words in your writing.

I used to dislike going to camp, but not because I was afraid of Bigfoot. (It was because I was afraid of snakes.)

Now I love camping, we'd stay in cabins. It wasn't really "roughing it," but it was still very different from living in a house or an apartment. Sometimes, we'd hear things outside the cabin at night. Usually, it was the wind blowing through the trees. But one night, we thought we heard an animal.

My friends and I wanted to see what kind of animal might be making the noise, so we crept outside. At first, we didn't see anything but soon we saw a snake nearby! There were five of us and only one snake, but I was still nervous.

The snake slithered under some leaves.

"Did you see that?" Ian said. "That snake was huge!"
Elliot said, "But it couldn't have made that noise we heard."Before we moved a muscle, something even more huge than the snake came out of the woods, looked at us, and...

posted 2/15/06