a view from the back row

Vocabulary definitions, sentences and answers to questions are due Wednesday April 9. 
Vocabulary words are; melody, procession, mischievous, envious, suspicious, spectators, eager, bragged, deserted, uncertain, chauffeur, trance, confidence, embers. 

#1  Why was Lisa & Todd’s house targeted?
#2  What are your predictions for the next chapter?

Remember, your vocabulary definitions can be typed or printed but your sentences and answers to the two questions must be handwritten.

Tags: Novel

Chapter 8 Vocabulary words are; capture, volatile, clever, apparent, modify, catwalk, assemble.  Write interesting sentence for each, and use a dictionary to define them.
No question for this chapter, I want you to hand in your notes instead.

Tags: LA, Novel

Vocabulary words – be sure to write down the definitions and write sentences (interesting ones) for each word.  Your vocabulary words are…. impatient, confidence, vacant, sentry, sympathy, awkward, conglomeration, cruel, comrades, peculiar.
Lisa and Jill have an in-depth conversation about what the children are capable of doing.  Is Lisa expecting too much of such young children or is she giving them an opportunity to become a part of something that will make them stronger and better equipped to deal with a more challenging world?  Explain your position clearly and in detail. 

Tags: LA, Novel

The writing assignment from class today gives you many different choices, I caution you to not get lost in the assignment.  Create a clear plan and stick to it, revise as necessary but do not recreate the project every other day.  Choose your format for communication, either a poem, song, short story (fiction or non fiction) or a news article.  Then, create an ideas page, maybe a web, chart or picture to show your thinking about this assignment and how you organize your written work.  After step 1 & 2 are complete, it is time for your first draft.  This is due on Monday, March3.  Be prepared for a homework check and edit on Monday.  We will complete this assignment before parent teacher conferences on March 6 & 7. 

Tags: LA

Vocabulary words for chapter 6 include.. curious, secure, venture, reassure, vigorously, potential, recite, indestructible, security, and luxury.  Define each word and write a sentence for each of them. 

Questions
1. What were the two things that Craig promised Lisa?
2. What is their plan for the supplies?
3. Lisa and Craig have two different views of the future.  Explain each of their views and why they believe this way.  Which do you agree with?  What would you want for the “new world?” Explain your decision. 

Tags: LA, Novel

Chapter 5 – The Girl Who Owned A City
In today’s class we split into two groups, those who would join the militia and those who would not.  We met to discuss and explain the reasons why.  The vocabulary words for this chapter are; harried, acquiring, confidence, identity, dictator, solarium, unanimous, criticism, strategy, obvious, deceive, and society.   

What did Lisa do to gain the trust of the children and persuade them to join the militia?  Answer this question by responding to this post.

Tags: LA, Novel

People make important choices that affect not only themselves but others.  Charlie felt like he was making the only choice he could to help his family.  Charlie tried to explain to Lisa that “he didn’t have a choice.”  Did he?  What does his choice tell about his character?  What could Charlie have done differently?

When answering this question, begin with explaining Charlie’s thoughts about what his life is like now and what challenges he personally faces.  You want to put a lot of thought into this answer, as it is the only one for chapter 4.  Definitions and handwritten sentences are due by Friday the 15th. 

Tags: Novel LA

We have started reading our new novel, “The Girl Who Owned A City,” by O.T. Nelson.  It fits in very nicely with our theme this year on surviving life’s challenges.  We will finish reading chapter three this week.  Don’t forget to hand in your answers to the 3 questions (also posted here), vocabulary work and your journal on Friday. 

1. In Lisa’s previous life before the Plague, she felt a belonging to certain things like Girl Guides, school, family, friends and sports teams.  How has the new world changed Lisa and her thoughts about who and what she “belongs” to?  

2. Did Lisa accomplish what she wanted to at the farm?  What were the unknown surprises she encountered with this trip?

3. Lisa and Todd are learning a lot about self preservation and survival.  What are some of their strategies?  Have they been successful to this point?  What is working for them?  What is working against them?

Tags: LA Assignment Novel

You have a choice of writing prompts today.  Choose only one to write about for today’s class.  Complete this assignment using Microsoft Word and attach it using email and send your story to me at the end of class.  Watch the clock and manage your time wisely!  I look forward to reading your stories.

Here are your choices
1. Imagine you had a hundred dollars, but you couldn’t keep it.  You had to give it away to a person or charity.  Who would you give it to?  What would you want them to do with it?

2. If you could cook any meal for your family, what would you cook?  Describe the meal and tell how you would make it. 

3. If you could have lunch with any famous person who would it be?  What would you talk about with this person?

Tags: Email, LA, Writing

This week we started sketching our self portraits.  The art that was shown in class was created by Tim Needles .  Check out his sketchbook for more inspiration. 

Tags: art, LA, TimNeedles