:::Arndt English:::

ELA 10–Today was our last class before holidays.  We began class by reading our library books.  Then we read the “Epilogue” and “Diary” sections of Dying to be Thin.  We ended class by adding to our lists of interesting items of information from the play.  Students are asked to please remember to think of someone that they would like to profile for the power-point presentation on a person facing a challenge.  We will start this assignment when we return from holidays.

Have a Merry Christmas!!!

ELA 10–Today we finished reading the play Dying to be Thin.  Students made a list of things they found interesting about Amanda and about eating disorders in general.  This list will be used for a “friendly letter” assignment later in the semester. 

ELA 9–Today we began by discussing the following proverbs:  “Thoughts are like arrows: once released, they strike their mark.  Guard them well or one day you may be your own victim. “(Navajo)  As well, “Let no one speak ill of the absent.” (Hopi)  Following this discussion we discussed where stories come from and what stories are.  Then we read “The Gift of Stories, the Gift of Breath” by Joseph Bruchac.  As we read, students made idea webs.  Then, we reread the story and students drew a picture of the images that came to mind as they listened to the selection.  Then we shared some of these pictures.  Students are asked to keep their webs and their pictures as these will be handed in at a later date. 

Today was our last regular class before the holidays.

Have a Merry Christmas!!!

ELA 10–Today we began reading Dying to be Thin.  We reached page twenty-seven of the play. We will do the following assignment as we read the book and discuss eating disorders:  As you read the play and watch and listen to other stories about people with eating disorders, write down information which you find unusual, interesting, and/or enlightening.  This information will be used later for a “friendly letter” assignment.

ELA 9–We began today’s class by reading our library books.  Then we began our mythology unit.  We discussed folk tales and read “Little Red Riding Hood.”  Following this we played the generation game.  Finally, we discussed the following questions: 1.Why do people tell stories and tales?  (They tell stories to teach lessons, to entertain, to give people an outline for how to live, and to provide a social history).  2. What are the limitations of an oral history?  (There are inaccuracies, and important elements of a story can be lost).  3.  What are the strengths of an oral history?  (The messages come from relatives and others in the community and thus are more meaningful).

ELA 10–Today we began by discussing the things that students did well on their descriptive paragraphs.  Then, we began the short play entitled Dying to Be Thin.  We began by discussing eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.  Tomorrow we will start reading the play.

Run-on Sentence Exercise

ELA 9–Today we began class by reading our library books.  Then, we went over last week’s novel exam and essay.  Following this, we did an exercise on run-on sentences.  For a copy of this exercise, click on “Run-on Sentence Exercise.”  Finally, we began the “Indigenous and Norse Mythology” unit.  We started by discussing the things that Indigenous cultures value, and we got ready for the “generations game” (similar to the “telephone game”) by writing short stories (five sentences) that we will pass down the generations tomorrow.

ELA 10–Today we finished the descriptive paragraph assignment.

Have a great weekend.

ELA 9–Today we had a “catch up” day.  All those students who did not quite finish their essays yesterday were given time to get the assignment done. 

Have a great weekend.

Descriptive Paragraph Rubric 

ELA 10–Today we learned how to do descriptive paragraphs.  The following parts of the descriptive paragraph are due tomorrow: The opening sentence, the list of seven descriptive details, and the closing sentence.  For a copy of the rubric which illustrates how you will be marked, click on the words “Descriptive Paragraph Rubric.”