HW from Tuesday, 4/4/17

Due on Thursday, 4/6/17

1) If you have not already done so, finish reading The Extraordinary Ordinary Life of Mark Rodriguez. (This was to be completed by the end of Spring Break, but I have extended a "grace deadline" to those of you who have taken longer to read it. You must finish it before class next Tuesday, 4/11.) Send me an email at my regular email address to let me know as soon as you have finished it.

2) Clean out and re-organize your class notebook. Take care of any loose papers that you've neglected to file, make sure your notes are clear and organized, and make sure all parts of your mystery story were turned in (in your manilla envelope). If you find some you missed, bring them to me on Thursday. You will receive a homework grade for your notebook organization.

3) Bring all of your Scripture memory cards to class.  (Bring the three you have already made, but also make a review card for the fourth verse—the one you did not have to memorize.) You will receive a homework grade for having these four memory cards created and present with you in class tomorrow.

4) You should be ready to recite any of the three verses you've memorized at any time. You will recite the third memory verse (whichever one you chose) beginning tomorrow.

5) Choose the next poem you would like to memorize for recitation. You can find one online, of course, but I would recommend a trip to the library (or your family bookshelf!) to look through some books of high-quality poetry. This poem should reflect a nice theme of some sort and be worth the time and energy needed to commit it to memory. (You did a great job with the "fun" poems you memorized earlier, but now you will choose a more serious, meaningful poem.)

The length of the poem you choose to memorize is up to you; however, your highest possible grade will be based on the number of stanzas in your poem. Your recitation grade (the equivalent of a test grade) will be calculated as follows:

[   ] 1 stanza = base grade of 60, max grade of 65

[   ] 2 stanzas = base grade of 70, max grade of 75

[   ] 3 stanzas = base grade of 80, max grade of 85

[   ] 4 stanzas = base grade of 90, max grade of 95

[   ] 5+ stanzas = base grade of 95, max grade of 100

You will start with the "base grade" for your poem, and you will add or lose points from there based on your recitation of your poem, using the guidelines indicated below:

You had an introduction to your poem that included the title and the author.

Your memorization was rock solid and your recitation word-perfect.  

You were bold and confident in your demeanor as you recited.

You used dynamic expression appropriate to the tone and theme of the poem. 

You engaged your entire audience with eye contact. 

Your posture indicated confidence and security in the task at hand. 

Duplicate the poem (type it out or cut and paste it into a document and then print it, make a copy on your printer/scanner, etc.) and bring it with you to class on Thursday, 4/6.

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.