Literature Sets begin this week!

We will be starting literature sets in class this week and the readings/discussion and the group project will take us basically to the end of the semester...which is not as far away as it seems!

There are many different book options you will choose from. If you want to research them beforehand, go ahead. I have linked each title with amazon.com so you can read a synopsis. (I will also be going over them in class this week.) Not all of these books will be offered to both classes, just as a note. If you have previously read the book OR seen a movie version (three of these books have also been made into movies) then you will not be allowed to read it for class. Step out of the box and choose something else. :-)

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Septys
Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes
Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac
Schooled by Gordon Korman
Out of my Mind by Sharon Draper
Nothing but the Truth by Avi
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

NOTE TO PARENTS:
When choosing quality young adult literature that will be engaging, yet thought provoking and educational, the task becomes difficult but fulfilling. Obviously, not all young adult books are written for the same reading level, interest level, or maturity level. I have tried to amass a group of books that will offer students choice.

I would like to make you aware of a few of these titles that will require a more mature reader. If you feel your child will not be able to handle this material, then please speak with me personally or email me. Although the students rate their choices, I ultimately decide what books each student reads.

Between Shades of Gray is a beautifully written book about the sufferings of Lithuanians under Stalin's rule. It is a part of history that is often overshadowed by the Holocaust and yet it is also a story that needs to be told. The author of this book collected memoirs and spoke with many Lithuanian survivors to create an authentic reading experience. Because it is authentic, however, there is mature content. Nothing is described in too much detail but just as there actually was violence and suffering during this time, there also is in the book.

Bronx Masquerade is a book that deals with a high school English classroom in the Bronx. As their teacher opens up "Poetry Fridays," these inner-city students begin sharing their problems. Ultimately, it is a book about identity and stereotyping told in an interesting way, as each short chapter is narrated by a different character and includes their poems. Again, keeping the book realistic, these students deal with issues normal for teens dealing with difficult home lives--friends or family members who do drugs, teen pregnancy, single parent homes, etc. As each chapter's narrative is short there is not excessive detail.

Ender's Game has recently been released in film and is considered by many people to be one of the best science fiction novels written. The reading level is not difficult but the themes and concepts are complex. The book will bring up questions about the ends justifying the means and blindly following authority. There is some violence in the novel (as they are fighting aliens and also between students) and there is some mild cursing (mostly in just a few pages and mainly by the main character's brother, which I may be cutting out of the book anyway.) There is also some potty humor, as you might expect would happen in a school full of young and adolescent boys.

Hunger Games series is quite popular, of course. We may be at the point where so many students have read the novels or seen the movie that these choices will not be possible. Either way, the books are violent. However, this violence is not there just to tantalize kids into reading but has a real purpose to the theme of the novels.

Also, as a point of reference, all of these books were given a target age of 12 on the website Common Sense Media. (Bronx Masquerade is not reviewed on their website.)

Thanks for reading!

Hitchhiker Recordings

All music used written by Kevin MacLoed and located at incompetech.com
8F Radio Play recording of "The Hitchhiker"

 Starring:

 Orson Welles: Taylor
Ronald Adams: Joe
Mrs. Adams: Lauren
Hitchhiker: Thomas
Mechanic: Grant
Henry: Jack
Henry's Wife: Rachel
Girl: Bridget
Operator: Wyatt
Long Distance Operator: Keir
Albuquerque Operator: Joey
New York Operator: Camden
Mrs. Whitney: Avery
 Sound Effects: Elise, Grace, Alison
 Music: Julia, Nicole 8A Radio Play recording of "The Hitchhiker"
 (Bloopers at the end)

 Starring:

 Orson Welles: Lucas
 Ronald Adams: Ari
Mrs. Adams: Elizabeth
Hitchhiker: Sam
 Mechanic: Joel
Henry: Zach
Henry's Wife: Suzy
Girl: Joy
Operator: Maddie
Long Distance Operator: Evie
Albuquerque Operator: Abby
New York Operator: Gabriel
Mrs. Whitney: Elise
 Sound Effects: Paul, Marc, Nick, Grant
Music: Olivia, Yuria, Abby, Evan

Outsiders Writing Assignment

The link for the writing assignment has been posted up in Assignment Links. After we review for the test today, I will put those notes up under Novel Discussion.

The Outsiders

We have started The Outsiders. As we read, there will be two bigger projects, plus daily work and discussion. The first project has been posted above in the "Assignment Links" tab. This particular assignment is due on October 20th.

1960s research

Here are a few links you can use to direct your research today on the 1960s. You may find your own sites, as well.

Music

Music

Television

Television

1960s movies list
(Be sure to focus on the movies of the early 1960s).

Pop Culture

1960s timeline

1960s History

Historical Events, Music, Entertainment

Welcome!

Please use this blog to get a first-hand view of what the 8th graders are reading and discussing in literature class this year. I plan to post pictures/videos of activities and projects throughout the year so please check back frequently. I may also use the blog to give some reading recommendations and review different young adult books (assuming I have time to read any during the school year!)

Please also note the tabs at the top of the page. As the year continues, I will be using them as a gathering place of any important links and student work.

Don't hesitate to contact me with any questions. Also, I love getting reading requests so if you've read a great book lately, let me know!

Championship Voting!

Here we go...for the win!

Hope is the Thing with Feathers

vs.

The Daffodils

Final Four Voting

If I Were in Charge of the World  vs.  The Daffodils

Sympathy  vs. Hope is the Thing with Feathers

Poetry Voting 4/29

Harriet Tubman vs. If I were in Charge of the World

The Daffodils vs. Annabel Lee

Sympathy vs. Speech to the Young

Theme for English B vs. Hope is the Thing with Feathers

Poetry Voting 4/25

Use the links to vote on each digital poem. Remember that you will only be watching a segment since we have seen them before. If you would like to watch one in its entirety because it has only been seen once, please ask.

Match up 1

i carry your heart
Annabel Lee

Match up 2

Hope is the thing with Feathers
If I could Stop One Heart from Breaking

Match up 3

Daffodils
Will V Day be Me Day, Too?

Match up 4

Theme for English B
When You are Old

Match up 5

Mother to Son
If I were in Charge of the World

Match up 6

Speech to the Young
Song for an April Dusk

Match up 7

It's All I Have to Bring Today
Harriet Tubman

Match up 8

One Perfect Rose
Sympathy

Poetry Voting 4/23

Click on the links to vote when we are ready to watch the digital poems.

She Dwelt among the Untrodden Ways

It's All I have to Bring Today

Loveliest of Trees

One Perfect Rose

Voting 4/15 (8F) and 4/17 (8A)

Mother to Son

Grass

St. Crispin's Day Speech

Harriet Tubman

Sympathy

We Wear the Mask

Speech to the Young

The Lamb

There will be two other match ups you will watch on your own. I will not post them on here until after 8A has had class this week. It will be your homework over the weekend.

Voting 4/10

If I Were in Charge of the World

Identity

Theme for English B

If Thou Must Love Me

A Red, Red Rose

Song for an April Dusk

Voting (for homework)

Please remember that if you are watching on your iPad and make the videos full screen, they are a bit blurry. I tried sharing the videos directly to the blog but then you can't even see the video at all on the iPad. Please don't take off points because of blurriness.

Hope is the Thing with Feathers

Nothing Gold Can Stay

Dreams and The Dreamkeeper

When You are Old

Poetry Voting 4/9

These should open on a new web page. If they don't, please do not hit back and then submit your voting more than once. Once it has said your answers were submitted, you should not vote again. Thank you!

To an Athlete Dying Young

The Daffodils

Success is Counted Sweetest

Will V-Day be Me Day, Too?

Poetry Madness Voting 4/7

I am going to use links instead of embedding the voting forms. Hopefully this will help with some of the issues people were having! You will be voting in class.

  I, Too, Sing America

 i carry your heart with me

Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night

Annabel Lee

Remember--keep your voting and your poem a secret!

Voting 4/3/14

Poetry Madness Prelims

FIRST MATCH UP: "Banks of Doon" and "She Dwelt among the Untrodden Ways".

SECOND MATCH UP: "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" and "Harriet Tubman"

THIRD MATCH UP: "Mother to Son" and "A Psalm of Life"

FOURTH MATCH UP: "Identity" and "One More Round"

Lit test next Wednesday

The test on Which Way Freedom is next Wednesday. I have loaded the notes and the links to the padlet pages to help you study. Check them out in the novel discussion link locatd above.

Book Trailer Premiere Day!

Yesterday, the 8th graders had the chance to walk the red carpet and win awards for their book trailers. We have been working on these book trailers for quite a while and it was great to watch everyone's efforts and hard work...and eat popcorn, of course.

Here are some pictures of the event and also the award winning trailers.

Winners for Best Documentary Style

Winner for Best Direction

Winner for Best Acting (tie)

Winner for Best Acting (tie)

not pictured

Winner for Best Script

Winner for Best Film Score/Music Editing

Winner for Best Special Effects

Our red carpet reporter, Justin, asking the tough questions.

Justin: What are you wearing today?
Paul: A CCLS uniform.

Winner for Best Special Effects

Winner for Best Acting (tie)

Winner for Best Script

Winner for Best Film Score/Music Editing

Winner for Best Acting (tie)

Winner for Best Direction

Congratulations to all the winners! :-)