An 8th Grade Journey - LIterature

What's Expected of Me in Literature Class - 2014/2015

8/11/2014

Welcome to Literature with Mrs. Daniels. Here is some information about our Literature class and what is expected of you as a member of this class.

We will be reading and responding to a number of different texts in Literature this year. The material we cover in this class will be used in your Language Arts class, so it will be important to stay current.

We will use the Literature textbook for some of our reading as well as reading class novels. You will be responding to what we read in a variety of ways. Since there will no longer be a grade given for A/R, I am implementing a quarterly "required" book report. You will get more information about that soon.

Grades are weighted in the following way:

Tests/quizzes: 60 percent
Assignments: 40 percent

I expect you to come to class prepared. That means bringing materials needed for class and having any assignments completed as necessary.

Starting a new unit on Anne Frank

2/1/2014

Another month has begun and we begin a new unit of study. We are going to be reading the play version of Anne Frank's diary. We are beginning the unit with a short study of World War II and the Holocaust. We will begin reading the play right after the long weekend. Until then, we will be reading and learning more about the World War II and the Holocaust so we can understand Anne's story.

Back to School - Jan. 8

1/8/2014

It seems like such a long time since we were in school...

One of my resolutions this year is to try to have bell work every day. You should begin the bell work as soon as the bell rings. I am going to be grading this as a daily assignment and anyone not actively working on it will lose points. It will usually consist of a current events article or a short reading. There will be questions to answer. Sometimes you will turn in the answers and other times we will discuss them in class. You will usually find the bell work on Edmodo, so plan to get your iPad every day.

As we prepare for our living museum, you are going to read the short story "The Dog of Pompeii" and compare it to other accounts of what happened.

Stay tu

Thanksgiving Week...

11/23/2013

Wow...I didn't realize I had not kept up with this page. I'm so sorry.

We are very close to the end of the book and will finish it the week after Thanksgiving.

This coming week we will look at the characters of Jonas and Giver. There will be a project involving the characters.

We will also be

Thursday and Friday

11/7/2013

Thursday and Friday information is here because I will be gone for the wedding.

You are going to continue reading The Giver. Your worksheet over Chapters 1-4 will be due on Friday. The assignment for Friday will be a worksheet about Symbols and Symbolism. If you are paying attention while you read and taking notes, you will have no problems. You are also to design a personal symbol. How do you see yourself? What represents you as you are today? Think about those things and design (or make) your personal symbol. Do NOT draw something on a piece of notebook paper!

All the worksheets are available in The Giver folder on Edmodo.

Have fun, enjoy the book, and be good!!

Tuesday...

11/5/2013

The anticipation guide is done... The questions are asked... Tomorrow we start the book!

Monday...a whole new week

11/4/2013

Today we watched the short video 2081 based on Kurt Vonnegut's book, Harrison Bergeron. It was a great segue into our novel, The Giver, by Lois Lowry. Is there such a thing as utopia? Should there be a place like that? Great conversations to ensue based on this book.

Assignment: Complete the worksheet, "Author Biography - Lois Lowry" (front and back) A copy can be found in the folder for The Giver on Edmodo.

Terrific Tuesday

10/29/2013

Steal Away Home final projects are due tomorrow. Only two people turned it in early for extra credit. :-(

We went to the library today. Seven people in the two Literature classes have already met their A/R goal...yippee.

Tomorrow we will be doing some research and writing.

Fantastic Friday

10/25/2013

Book is read, tests taken, and final project given out...I'm on a role. Both classes did well on the tests.

HOMEWORK: The final project is to choose your favorite scene from the book and make a presentation. The presentation must have a three-dimensional aspect. I don't want just a picture. You could choose to do a diorama or triorama or just put popouts on your picture. Make it interesting.

You are also required to write a ONE PARAGRAPH summary of the scene.

For a little more detail on what will be looked for in the project, look at the paper you received today or go to the Literature folder in Edmodo.

The project is due on Wednesday, October 30. Projects turned in bef

Thursday

10/24/2013

We have finished reading Steal Away Home. What a good book!! Tomorrow is the test over the book. The vocabulary worksheet is due tomorrow. It was assigned on Wednesday.

Tomorrow is FRIDAY!!!