PBH Due 5.6.13

Hello All,

Look for updates during the week. For now, please do the following assignments:

1. Create a word wall word graphic organizer from the words I provide during our new historical fiction unit this week or from the Holocaust novel you've selected. Due 5.20.13

2. Select a historical fiction book from the library or the list I provide on the blog for your book review that will be due on May 20, 2013. Please go to the following websites to check out some YA Holocaust novels:

• http://www.amazon.com/Young-Adult-novels-Holocaust/lm/2WOA9318OS3ZC
• http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&page=1&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3Aholocaust%20young%20adult%20literature
• http://www.saffrontree.org/2011/01/more-books-on-holocaust-genre.html
• http://faculty.education.ufl.edu/Lamme/HolocaustBooks2007.pdf

If the above websites are not interesting to you, please do your own online search. The book review question is: What risks are you willing to take to survive? This is all based on the characters, plot of the story and, of course, your brilliant explanations. You must use the Hook-3-T, TEC and dynamite conclusion method.

3. Write a letter to Thank You letter to the donors of Donors Choose for the books that they sent our classroom. Please write it in your neatest handwriting. Due 5.3.13.

4. Purchase a notebook (spiral), sketch pad or create your own for your historical fiction poetry portfolio. This does not have to be an expensive notebook. The 99 cents store is fine. :) Your final H.F. poetry portfolio will be due on May  27, 2013 and I will provide you with a detailed outline later. Please note that this will be filled with poems reflecting the Holocaust as well as music analysis using literary devices. Please note that you have enough time to get this, however please don't wait until the last minute. You will add your final poems and other works days before the end of the month.This is one out of two projects for this new unit. However, I may keep it at this alone and give you other assignments.

5. Reading Comprehension Test this Friday.

If you have any questions, please email me at thereadingcafe@aol.com.

Miss. N

PBH Due 4.29.13

Hello All,

Please do the following:

1.) Your final sci-fi project is due on April 29, 2013. Please make sure you type your final drafts of your movie scripts and final drafts of your sci-fi graphic novel from MS Ppt neatly and creatively. Make sure the names of all of your group members are listed on the final project. Your work will be posted on the bulletin board for the month of May.

Be prepared for discussion and student evaluations of projects next week in class. You will comment and score your peers work using the rubric I provided the class in March. Make sure you have the rubrics ready for next week Monday.

2.) Your 4th marking period progress report will be given at the end of the month or on May 3rd the latest. It must be signed by your parents and returned on Monday, May 6, 2013.

If you have any questions, please email me at thereadingcafe@aol.com.

Miss. N

PBH Reminder

Hello All,

Please note that since we're in the throes of the NYS state exams, the following are just reminders about the due dates of assignments for this month.

Sci-fi movie final draft and movie premiere on April 29, 2013.

Sci-fi graphic novel draft # 3 due April 22, 2013.

Sci-fi Final Draft due April 29, 2013.

Try to rest and do your best! : )

Class 401 - Poetry Analysis Essay due 4.22.13.

Check the blogspot for updates.

If you have any questions, please email me at thereadingcafe@aol.com.

Miss. Nicholson :)

Poetry Analysis Essay and Reminders

Hello Geniuses!

Please note that the poetry analysis essay is not due on Monday. You will complete it in class on Monday as I had told you earlier in the week. However, you must bring your flashdrive to work on it in class.

REMINDER
The due date for the final sci-fi movie project is due on April 22 and the sci-fi graphic novel is due on April 29. Make sure you hand in the drafts of your scripts on the due dates specified on earlier blog postings. Scroll down to find out.

Here is the poetry analysis essay as promised. Please note that if the NYS ELA question asks you to identify and analyze the poem for about 2-3 literary devices and its use in effectively conveying a message in an essay, unless the instructions tells you to find the same 2-3 devices in both then only explain the ones you have found. Once again read the directions carefully before you do anything.

Yes, love is blind…however, it is sometimes what you do see that can also hurt you. In “Killing Me Softly” and “Grenade” the lyricists creatively and effectively use repetition, hyperbole and personification to portray strong negative emotions of heartache through anger and sadness.

Hill’s “Killing Me Softly” is a true depiction of the sadness heartache brings.  The repetition of the phrase “killing me softly” in the chorus shows a gradual progression of slow and almost painful loss due to the power and strength “with his song and his words”.  The phrase “strumming my pain with his fingers” beautifully personifies the effect of lightly running his fingers across the strings of her vulnerable heart. Also, the lyricist creatively uses this same phrase as a hyperbole in that “strumming” is an action used on a guitar, thus, a person’s pain cannot be strummed literally. Nonetheless, it is an action, and the action he takes to expose her weaknesses as he continues to kill her softly “telling her whole life with his words”.

Mars’ “Grenade” is a true depiction of the fierce anger heartache produces towards oneself or an individual. The phrase “black, black, black and blue” symbolizes the depth of darkness within his heart and “Mad woman, Bad woman that’s just what you are” represents the emotional scars his ex-girlfriend left on his heart and mind. The repetition of the phrase “…for ya” shows his frustration and anger of all of the things he would do for her love but she fails to reciprocate. Also, this song is full of hyperboles such as “I’d jump right in front of a train”. It is a bit of a stretch of the imagination, however, this once again shows the depths he would go for her but is irate that “she would not do the same”.

To conclude, in order to draw a reader or listener into one’s writing, a writer will strategically use a plethora of effective and creative literary devices to convey an important message or to tell a story. It is definite that these two writers have taught a relatable and sometimes true story about heartache and love.

PBH Sci-fi Project and Poetry Reminder

Hello All,

Please do the following:

Bring your headphones and music devices (i.e. iPods) tomorrow. In addition to the two poems you have responsibly printed for Monday's homework (4.8.13), I would like you to select a famous or well known song from your family's country/culture and one from America. We will examine the cultural aspects found in poetry in class tomorrow.

PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR MUSICAL DEVICES ARE ONLY FOR CLASSROOM PURPOSES. IF YOU USE IT BEFORE OR AFTER MY CLASS FOR RECREATIONAL REASONS, ADMINISTRATION AND THE DEAN ARE AT LIBERTY TO CONFISCATE YOUR DEVICES. PLEASE DON'T LET THAT HAPPEN!

Continue working on your sci-fi project. Class 401 you will have one period working on the sci-fi project and the other working on poetry test prep.Use the guides I handed out to your class last Friday!

Class 421, you are ahead, however you still need to continue working on the sci-fi project. Use the guides I handed out to your class last Friday!

Please scroll down to read the deadlines for your sci-fi project!

Email me if you have any questions at thereadingcafe@aol.com. Call Dial-A-Teacher for other subject areas at 212.777.3380.

Miss. Nicholson

PBH Due 4.8.13 Sci-fi Project and Poetry

Hello All,

I hope you enjoyed your Spring Break!

For the next few Mondays, your homework will be somewhat light, because we will be intensely preparing for the upcoming ELA State Exams in class.

Please do the following:

• Work on your sci-fi movie and your graphic novel. Follow the task description guide and rubric I provided in class today.
• Please remember that the concept of your sci-fi project should come from a big idea from one of Bradbury's works of literature.
• The BIG focus question and new understanding you should walk away with is this: How does fiction follow a scientific thought and create a future that sometimes becomes a reality? 

This is a reminder of the due dates:

• Although I know many of you have been working arduously since the end of February and early March, please adhere to the following dates I mentioned to you a couple of weeks ago.
• Draft #1 of sci-fi movie and sci-fi graphic novel script - April 8. Please note that it does not have to be completed but the reader should have an idea of what you are talking about from the introduction of the topic. Basically, at least 3/4 of it should be completed.
• Draft #2 of sci-fi graphic novel and movie April 15. This entry should be completed to the end with changes that will need to be edited later.
• Final Draft of your sci-fi graphic novel and movie due April 22. All comments discussed in class and made by your peers must be corrected and finalized by this time.

Poetry & Floetry Freestyle

Please do the following:

Since we are wrapping up the science fiction unit in the next few days, we will begin my favorite unit, the Poetry and Floetry Freestyle Unit. Bring in your headphones along with any musical device that has your favorite songs downloaded on it. Since the state tests begin week after next, you will learn how to answer and analyze poetry questions on the state test in the form of multiple choice questions, short answers and extended responses.

Research famous poets from your family's culture and from American culture. Select, print and read one poem from each poet. Mark up the poem by looking for similarities and differences in writing style, use of literary devices, themes and the time period in which it was written. Then answer the BIG question: How does the poets cultural upbringing, environment and historical era (time period) influence what and how they write?

If you have any questions, email me at thereadingcafe@aol.com or call Dial-A-Teacher at 212.777.3380.

Miss. N