HW from Thursday, 3/30/17

Due on Tuesday, 4/4/17

1) I will email you the graded Markup copy of your mystery story sometime before Monday. Please make any corrections needed for your final, beautiful draft and then print it and bring it to class on Tuesday. Please also email the beautiful draft to my regular email address (after you've made all the corrections) so that I can post your story on our class writing blog for your classmates to read. 

2) Choose one of the two Scripture memory verses on the handout I gave you today. Make a memory card, and then double-check with someone else to be sure you have the verse transcribed correctly, word for word. Begin to memorize the verse, which will be due for recitation by next Thursday, 4/6.

3) Send me a text (or an email if you don't have access to any texting functions) to let me know if you are comfortable enough to be willing to go on the "opening" schedule for opening our class with a short devotional about a verse that is meaningful to you in some way during the fourth quarter. Bear in mind that you will receive a zero on the assignment if you decide not to participate in the assignment.

4) Carefully read the following web pages about the 2017 HSLDA Poetry Contest. You will be writing a poem according to the guidelines for Category 2 (ages 11-14). (In addition to reading the guidelines and rules, please click the additional link to "view the themes" and also click in to read the sample poem for your age group.) Notice that they ask for a consistent rhyme pattern (which we know if officially called a "rhyme scheme") and a poem of no longer than six "quatrains." 

NOTE: Since you know that "cinquains" are 5-line poems, I trust that you can guess what "quatrains" are! (HINT: Think of the root "quat," and think of English words like "quarter" and "quadrilateral." Think also of counting to five in Spanish or French. How many lines are in a quatrain?)

Here is the web page: https://hslda.org/Contests/Poetry_rules.aspx

Your entry for this poetry contest is due on Tuesday. You are to prepare it and turn it in to me—for a grade—NOT submit it to the contest according to the guidelines posted. You are NOT required to actually submit the poem to the contest unless you want to, though you are encouraged to consider it! Please follow the guidelines carefully, either way.

5) Finish reading The Extraordinary Ordinary Life of Mark Rodriguez as soon as possible and send me an email at my regular email address to let me know as soon as you have done so.

Also, daily:

+ Read your (approved) reading log book for pleasure, aiming for at least 30 minutes daily. Mark the number of minutes on your Reading Log calendar (in multiples of five, rounded down) as you go along.

+ Write in your gratitude journal daily, aiming for three things but listing at least one thing you are thankful for each day. When you have done so, place a small check mark in the top corner of your Reading Log calendar for that day.

+ Review one of your Scripture memory verses each day, such that you keep all of them fresh in your memory at all times and each verse gets reviewed at least once per week.

NOTE: The April Reading Log will be due, signed by a parent, on Thursday, 4/27/17.

HW from Tuesday, 3/28/17

Due on Thursday, 3/30/17

1) Your March Reading Log is due, signed by a parent, on Thursday.

2) Be sure you have finished your mystery story and sent the finished, proofread copy to my Markup address for grading.

3) Be ready to recite both of your Scripture memory verses in class on Thursday.

4) Be ready to recite your "easy poem" for a grade on Thursday. Practice reciting it well. (If it's silly, be a little silly. If it's serious, be serious.) Make it interesting and recite it slowly, with boldness and confidence.

5) Finish reading The Extraordinary Ordinary Life of Mark Rodriguez as soon as possible and send me an email at my regular email address to let me know as soon as you have done so.


Also, daily:

+ Read your (approved) reading log book for pleasure, aiming for at least 30 minutes daily. Mark the number of minutes on your Reading Log calendar (in multiples of five, rounded down) as you go along.

+ Write in your gratitude journal daily, aiming for three things but listing at least one thing you are thankful for each day. When you have done so, place a small check mark in the top corner of your Reading Log calendar for that day.

+ Review one of your Scripture memory verses each day, such that you keep all of them fresh in your memory at all times and each verse gets reviewed at least once per week.

NOTE: The April Reading Log will be due, signed by a parent, on Thursday, 4/27/17.

HW from Thursday, 3/16/17

Spring Break is next week! 

Enjoy your break, but make sure you've completed the following:

1) Finish reading The Extraordinary Ordinary Life of Mark Rodriguez. Please send me an email at my regular email address to let me know when you have finished the book. You must have completed the book by the time we return from Spring Break, on Tuesday, 3/28.

2) Finish writing your mystery story. Be sure you are continuing suspense, using descriptive language (including figurative language), and crafting a careful, satisfying ending. Guidelines:

* Finish writing your story without rushing the conclusion.
* Carefully proofread your story, then have someone else proofread it, too.
* Email your story to me (as at attachment to my MarkUp address) when it is finished.
* Do not send a paper that has not been carefully proofread several times by you and an adult! (Proofread AGAIN, since last time, because you've changed it, fixed it, and added some stuff; it is not the same paper they proofread before!)
* Text me whenever you send a document to MarkUp so I can check to make sure it has been received.

3) Be ready to recite your new Scripture memory verse on the Tuesday after Spring Break. 

4) Memorize your "easy poem" for your first poem recitation, which will take place on the first Thursday after Spring Break, 3/30. Practice reciting it out loud with a good, slow, loud, bold voice.

Also, daily:

+ Read your (approved) reading log book for pleasure, aiming for at least 30 minutes daily. Mark the number of minutes on your Reading Log calendar (in multiples of five, rounded down) as you go along.

+ Write in your gratitude journal daily, aiming for three things but listing at least one thing you are thankful for each day. When you have done so, place a small check mark in the top corner of your Reading Log calendar for that day.

+ Review one of your Scripture memory verses each day, such that you keep all of them fresh in your memory at all times and each verse gets reviewed at least once per week.
NOTE: The March Reading Log will be due, signed by a parent, on Thursday, 3/30/17.

HW from Tuesday, 3/14/17

Due on Thursday, 3/16/17

1) You should be ready to recite your second Scripture memory verse tomorrow. Also continue reviewing the verse you've already memorized, keeping it in your memory through daily review (as we discussed in class). You will be required to be able to recite it at any time you're called on, for the rest of the year.

2) Continue writing your mystery story. Be sure you are continuing suspense, using descriptive language (including figurative language), and crafting a careful, satisfying ending. The goal is to finish as quickly as possible without just giving up and rushing the conclusion.

* Add at least 3-4 pages per day until you are done. 
* Carefully proofread your story, then have someone else proofread it, too.
* Email your story to me (as at attachment to my MarkUp address) when it is finished, if it is shorter than 15 pages, or when you have 15 pages complete.
* Do not send a paper that has not been carefully proofread several times by you and an adult! (AGAIN, since last time, because you've changed it, fixed it, and added some stuff; it is not the same paper they proofread before!)
* Text me whenever you send a document to MarkUp so I can check to make sure it has been received.

3) Continue reading The Extraordinary Ordinary Life of Mark Rodriguez. Your goal is to finish reading the book as soon as possible. Please send me an email at my regular email address to let me know when you have finished the book. You must have completed the book by the time we return from Spring Break, on Tuesday, 3/28.

4) Begin memorizing your "easy poem" for your first poem recitation, which will take place on the first Thursday after Spring Break, 3/30. 

Also, daily:

+ Read your (approved) reading log book for pleasure, aiming for at least 30 minutes daily. Mark the number of minutes on your Reading Log calendar (in multiples of five, rounded down) as you go along.

+ Write in your gratitude journal, aiming for three things but listing at least one thing you are thankful for daily. When you have done so, place a small check mark in the top corner of your Reading Log calendar for that day.

NOTE: The March Reading Log will be due, signed by a parent, on Thursday, 3/30/17.

HW from Thursday, 3/9/17

Due BEFORE Tuesday, 3/14/17

1) Make a new memory card for the other verse on the handout and begin to commit it to memory, too. You should be ready to recite the verse by next Thursday, 3/16/17. Continue reviewing the verse you've already memorized, keeping it in your memory through daily review (as we discussed in class). You will be required to be able to recite it at any time you're called on, for the rest of the year.

2) Search for and find the "easy poem" that you would like to memorize for your first poem recitation. 

Guidelines:
* Your poem should have eight lines or more.
* Your poem must contain a discernible rhyme scheme.
* You must memorize the entire poem, not only eight lines of a longer poem.
* You must choose a poem where the title of the poem and the name of the author are given
* You must choose a "real" poem, not a song.
* Do not choose something you already have memorized. (And especially no nursery rhymes!)
* Choose something that is worth having in your memory, and worth going through the trouble of memorizing.

NOTE: Shorter poems are not always easier to memorize! Consider the following two examples:

~

Be Glad Your Nose Is on Your Face
by Jack Prelutsky

Be glad your nose is on your face,
not pasted on some other place,
for if it were where it is not,
you might dislike your nose a lot.

Imagine if your precious nose
were sandwiched in between your toes,
that clearly would not be a treat,
for you'd be forced to smell your feet.

Your nose would be a source of dread
were it attached atop your head,
it soon would drive you to despair,
forever tickled by your hair.

Within your ear, your nose would be
an absolute catastrophe,
for when you were obliged to sneeze,
your brain would rattle from the breeze.

Your nose, instead, through thick and thin,
remains between your eyes and chin,
not pasted on some other place--
be glad your nose is on your face!

~

Much Madness Is Divinest Sense
by Emily Dickinson

Much Madness is divinest Sense -
To a discerning Eye -
Much Sense - the starkest Madness -
’Tis the Majority
In this, as all, prevail -
Assent - and you are sane -
Demur - you’re straightway dangerous -
And handled with a Chain -

~

Once you have chosen your poem, type it up into a Word document exactly as it was originally written. (Make our usual header!) Give the title of the poem, the author, and each line of the poem organized in stanzas as the original was. (In other words, skip lines in the right places!) At the bottom, identify what you believe the rhyme scheme of the poem to be. Send the document to me as an attachment—to my regular email, not MarkUp—ASAP on Friday.

DO NOT BEGIN MEMORIZING YOUR POEM until you hear back from me via email that your poem choice has been approved! I will email it back to you as soon as I receive it and have a chance to look over it on Friday.

3) Continue working on your mystery story. Be sure you are continuing suspense, using descriptive language (including figurative language), and crafting a careful, satisfying ending. Don't rush the conclusion!

Procedure:
* Start by making all corrections and suggested revisions from the red-copy D2 I returned yesterday.
* Continue writing your story. Add at least 3-4 pages per day until you are done.
* Carefully proofread your story, and have someone else to proofread it for you as well.
* You are to email your story to me (as at attachment to my MarkUp address) when it is finished, iif it is shorter than 15 pages, or when you have 15 pages complete.
* DO NOT SEND IT UNTIL it has been carefully proofread by you and a parent and is as error-free as you can make it.
* Text me whenever you send a document to MarkUp so I can check and make sure it has been received.

4) Continue reading The Extraordinary Ordinary Life of Mark Rodriguez. Your goal is to finish reading the book as soon as possible. Please send me an email at my regular email address to let me know when you have finished the book.

Also, daily:

+ Read your (approved) reading log book for pleasure, aiming for at least 30 minutes daily. Mark the number of minutes on your Reading Log calendar (in multiples of five, rounded down) as you go along.

+ Write in your gratitude journal, aiming for three things but listing at least one thing you are thankful for daily. When you have done so, place a small check mark in the top corner of your Reading Log calendar for that day.

NOTE: The March Reading Log will be due, signed by a parent, on Thursday, 3/30/17.

HW from Tuesday, 3/7/17

Due on Thursday, 3/9/17

1)  Continue memorizing the verse you chose, preparing to recite it in front of the class. You must be ready to recite the verse, should I call on you, by Thursday.

2) Read over the handout about cinquain poetry I sent you via email this afternoon. Follow the directions on the handout and have your poems ready to turn in at the beginning of class on Thursday.

3) Continue working on your mystery story. I will return your D2s on Thursday, but you should continue writing your story, adding at least 2-3 pages each day, until you are finished. Be sure you are continuing suspense, using descriptive language (including figurative language), and crafting a careful, satisfying ending. Don't rush the conclusion!

4) Continue reading The Extraordinary Ordinary Life of Mark Rodriguez. Your goal is to finish reading the book as soon as possible. Please send me an email to let me know when you have finished the book.

Also, daily:

+ Read your (approved) reading log book for pleasure, aiming for at least 30 minutes daily. Mark the number of minutes on your Reading Log calendar (in multiples of five, rounded down) as you go along.

+ Write in your gratitude journal, aiming for three things but listing at least one thing you are thankful for daily. When you have done so, place a small check mark in the top corner of your Reading Log calendar for that day.

NOTE: The March Reading Log will be due, signed by a parent, on Thursday, 3/30/17.

HW from Thursday, 3/2/17

Due on Tuesday, 3/7/17

1) Finish your third stanza of "My Evening Prayer" (in your writer's notebook) if you didn't finish it yesterday. Do not forget to bring your writer's notebook back to KEYS with you on Tuesday!

2) Read over the handout about Scripture memory I sent you via email this morning. We will be memorizing verses to recite in front of the class over the next few weeks, in preparation for future poetry recitation. Choose one of the two verses and begin memorizing it according to the directions and suggestions in the handout. You must be ready to begin reciting your verse by next Thursday.

3) Continue working on your mystery story. I will be grading your D2s this weekend, but you should continue writing your story this weekend as well. Add at least four pages, and more if you are able. Be sure you are continuing suspense, using descriptive language (including figurative language), and crafting a careful, satisfying ending. Don't rush it!

4) Continue reading The Extraordinary Ordinary Life of Mark Rodriguez. Your goal is to finish reading the book as soon as possible. Please send me an email to let me know when you have finished the book.

Also, daily:

+ Read your (approved) reading log book for pleasure, aiming for at least 30 minutes daily. Mark the number of minutes on your Reading Log calendar (in multiples of five, rounded down) as you go along.

+ Write in your gratitude journal, aiming for three things but listing at least one thing you are thankful for daily. When you have done so, place a small check mark in the top corner of your Reading Log calendar for that day.

NOTE: The March Reading Log will be due, signed by a parent, on Thursday, 3/30/17.