The Book Thief Survey

Please click on the link below and complete the survey.  You will receive points in the grade book for completing this thoughtfully.

The Book Thief Survey

Theater Videos

First video: Characterization  Notes Handout

Second Video: Theatrical Conventions

Third Video: Acting Wants

Fourth Video: Rehearsals

Blocking for Actors and Directors

Watch the following video.  Directors, this will help you "set your stage" for your Director Day 1 assignment. Actors, this will help you understand how to set up your scenes.

Wordmaster PowerPoint

We're going to switch things up a bit!  This time for your WM definitions, you will be creating a PowerPoint.  Here are the rules:

• 1 slide per word
• definitions in own words
• other forms of the word
• picture/visual representation for each definition

This assignment is worth 25 points.
Save your PowerPoint as your first and last name followed by wm2
Example:

• meganmcdermottwm2

This is due Monday! 

Visual Aides

Print of copy of the guided notes sheet found here.  

Please watch this video and use the information in it to fill out the front of your guided notes sheet.  The back of the sheet can be completed by viewing this PowerPoint on visual aides.  Remember, any images you use on your VA must be cited in your working bibliography! 

Organizing Your Speech

Watch this video!  It will help you use your speech organizer!  Get started!  This assignment will take quite a while to complete, as you have to read, highlight, address, and organize your work!  Don't wait until Sunday night!

Picking an Informative Topic

Hey y'all!  Make sure you know how to pick (10) great informative topics by watching this video.  Remember, you need 10 possible topics by Thursday.
- No sports
- No "boring" people
- Nothing too technical
Make it fun and interesting!

Contest Commitment Assignment

Today, you will need to "firm up" and finalize your decision in which contest you will participate.  By the end of the hour (and preferably before that), you must type up and submit to me a commitment sheet formatted as the example below:

Your Name: 
Class Hour:
Contest:
Deadline:
Parameters or guidelines:  (topics, word limits, style, etc)

Your personal due date: (A date before the actual deadline when your work will be presented to me)

An explanation of why this contest interests you:

This should only take a half of a page, single spaced.  When you've completed the commitment, highlight it, copy it, and paste another copy on the bottom half of the page.  Then print it.  Fold it in half neatly, and tear the sheet in half.  Give me one half today.  The other is yours to keep as a reminder.

This writing assignment can be put into your portfolio in place of the "Philosophy Slam" assignment, unless, of course, you are choosing to compete in the Philosophy Slam.

When you've given me your commitment sheet, you may begin your work researching or drafting.  The room should be silent.  Happy competition writing!
-Mrs. McDermott

One more contest... Let me know if you want to enter!

Don’t miss your chance to register for the Fall 2012 YES! National Student Writing Competition! The deadline is next Friday, October 19.

This competition is a great way to push your students’ writing—and also meet Common Core Standards. Teachers who submit essays will be entered into a drawing to win a complete set of 18 YES! Posters for the classroom, valued at $54.

Essays are due no later than November 21. Register your class for the competition today! Click here for contest details and sign up.

Students will read Dee Williams’ YES! story, “Living Large in a Tiny House,” about a woman who downsized to an 84-square-foot house, and will write essays on what size and kind of house they would like to live in.

The contest is under way, but it’s not too late to join. Teachers are telling me that this story has nudged their students to think about whether they can live with less and be happy—and to dream a little, too.

Hope you’ll join us.

Best,


Jing Fong
Education Outreach Manager
YES! Magazine
206.842.5009 ext. 225

80's Day! The best day of the year!

1988

 If you need any ideas for what to wear tomorrow on 80's day, take a few pointers from your totally rad English teacher!  Hairspray, curling irons, and blow dryers are the way to go!  No flat irons allowed! 

1989

1989

Check out these stirrup pants!  (No, this isn't me!)

 Boys, make sure you use a lot of hair product, too!  Gel and hairspray! 

Preppy looks with popped collars are the way to go!  

 Mullets were all the rage in the 80's!

Here's a blog dedicated to the decade.  Maybe you can catch a few pointers!
http://www.liketotally80s.com/80s-culture.html

Here's a commercial to show you how to get an 80's eye!

One more contest- Dear Mr. President!

Check out the link below for yet another contest you can enter!

http://education.randmcnally.com/digital-learning/dear-mr-president/

New contest... But time's a tickin'!

Month of the Young Adolescent Writing Contest

Who can enter: Any Minnesota middle school student.
What to enter: Each school may submit three entries. The theme this year is “Full Steam Ahead”. Students may enter original compositions answering “Tell the story of a time you faced a challenge and you overcame it by giving it your all.” Each entry must be 200 words or less.  Two copies of each entry should be submitted. One of the copies should be headed with the student’s name, age, and school name and address, and the teacher contact information including e-mail address. The other should contain no identifying information.
Judging: There will be a blind review of all entries. The judging team will be made up of MMSA Board members.  The decision of the judges is final.
Prize: The winning student will receive $100.00. The winning essay will be published in this year’s Minnesota Middle School’s Conference Program.
Deadline for entry: All entries must be postmarked by October 22, 2012.
Submissions should be emailed or sent to:

Annette.strom@duluth.k12.mn.us

Annette Strom
Ordean East Middle School
2900 E. 4^th St
Duluth, MN  55812

Fish "HOOK"

In the comments section, leave your best "hook" from the "Little Red Riding/Fish Hooks" lesson.  You can comment on others' hooks if you like them, too! DO NOT JUST TELL ME WHICH TYPE OF "HOOK" YOU LIKE... I want to see what you've written!   If you've forgotten how to post, click on the "How to Blog" tab above for a reminder of what to do and how to do it!

Pick a Writing Contest, Any Writing Contest!

As writers, we need to challenge ourselves every once in a while.  Here's your chance!  There are two local writing contests happening right now, the Patriot's Pen, and the Optimist Club Essay contest.  Please click on the links below and choose a contest you'd like to enter.  Leave a comment telling me in which contest you're  going to participate and why.  We'll talk more about these contests in class next week!

Patriot's Pen- http://www.vfw.org/Community/Patriot-s-Pen/  This essay is due November 1, 2012.
Optimist Club Essay Contest- http://www.optimist.org/e/member/scholarships3.cfm  This essay is due December 10, 2012

The Philosophy Slam is also an option.  The topic will be announced October 8, 2012.  Essays are due the end of January.  See www.philosophyslam.org for more details.



P.S.  If you find another writing contest you'd like to enter, attach the link in your comment and I'll check it out!

Here's a list of some contests at which you might want to take a look!  http://www.nassp.org/Content/158/2012_2013_National_Advisory_List_0912.pdf

Book Log- Summer of 2012

Please add your information to the Google Doc by clicking on the link below.  Do NOT write The Outsiders down... I know you all read that!  Also, try not to give away the endings of any books.  If you didn't read anything other than the required novel, simply type in your name and leave the rest of the columns empty so I know you visited.  After you've added to the doc, it should automatically save if you let it sit for just a few seconds!  You should see the words "All changes saved" up at the top.  Once you see that your changes have been saved, you can leave the document. 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1su-WNfh19Zq7tNjKAg8fhc_QDaMnQ02imMdJNyaHEWU/edit

Summer Reading

Welcome back!  I hope you had the summer of your dreams!  Did you sleep in?  Did you go on a vacation? Did you read any books (besides The Outsiders?)  What?  Read?  Yes!  I'd like to get to know you a bit, so in the comments below, tell me about your summer, and what you read.  What does your book log look like?  Make sure you mention one book, article, or even a menu you read (please tell me you read something else!)  Give me a short summary of your favorite piece, whatever it was and tell me if you liked it... or not...

In your second paragraph, tell me your thoughts about your required summer reading, The Ousiders.