Friday, February 14, 2014
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.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
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.
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
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| Our red carpet reporter, Justin, asking the tough questions. |
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| 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! :-)
Friday, November 22, 2013
Lit Sets
The students are getting used to leading their own small group discussions, to different levels of success. I am happy to see that all of the students seem engaged in their books and have kept up with their reading assignments. I have enjoyed walking amidst the different groups and listening in to their conversations.
After Thanksgiving break, the students will spend the rest of the quarter on their group project--creating a book trailer. I will put more information up after break.
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| Students from 8A discussing their various books. |
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| Students from 8F finishing their discussion or reading their books. |
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
The Hitchhiker Recordings
Here are The Hitchhiker recordings we did in class. The Hitchhiker was a radio play that we dramatized. Students did a great job, whether they were voice parts, in charge of music, or running and creating the sound effects. Please enjoy.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Lit set books
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 the inner city--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!
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 the inner city--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!
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Some of our Favorite Reads
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| Curtis with Captain Underpants. (Yes, you read that correctly!) |
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| Michaela loves the Hunger Games series and the Michael Vey series. |
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| Natali's current favorite is The Cupcake Queen. |
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| Grace is a big fan of the Divergent series. |
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| Meghan likes Divergent, as well. |
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| Peyton also likes Divergent and the Gallagher Girls series. |
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| Jenna loves Divergent, Mockingjay, and Michael Vey. |
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| Molly's favorite is Catching Fire. |
What is your favorite read?
Thursday, October 10, 2013
The Outsiders Readers' Theater--CCLS style
Both classes acted out a scene from The Outsiders in a Readers' Theater style. Please enjoy this Academy Award caliber acting. :-)
Starring:
Edward as Ponyboy
Lucas as Johnny
Emmett as Bob
Robby as Randy
Deanne as David
Paul as a Soc
Kate as a Soc
Starring:
RJ as Ponyboy
Brock as Johnny
Curtis as Bob
Grace as Randy
Aly as David
Gage as a Soc
Natali as a Soc
Starring:
Edward as Ponyboy
Lucas as Johnny
Emmett as Bob
Robby as Randy
Deanne as David
Paul as a Soc
Kate as a Soc
RJ as Ponyboy
Brock as Johnny
Curtis as Bob
Grace as Randy
Aly as David
Gage as a Soc
Natali as a Soc
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