Theme

Theme: January 20, 2015

Choose one of your favorite books that you've ever read. Write about the theme of that story, and what the theme meant to you.

Here is an example:
Book Title: Oh, the Places You'll Go!
Author: By: Dr. Seuss
Theme: Even though life will have its ups and downs, stay persistent and never give up!
What the theme meant to me: The main theme of this book really meant a lot to me; especially, since I just moved to Texas all by myself. Even though I miss my family sometimes, the opportunities moving to this new state are endless. I am so happy I followed my dreams!



*Now pick your own favorite theme from a book!

 

You can do it, Pioneers!

Visualizing what you read

Hello Pioneers,

Tonight, you are going to write 5 sentences explaining what you visualized during a scene in your story. Your sentences should use "Sparkling words", but do not simply list adjectives. Use words that give your peers an idea of what you are seeing as you read.

Here is an example of what I expect:
Title: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Author: Mark Twain
Pages: ___

During the scene in which Huckleberry Finn and Jim are floating down the Mississippi River, I visualized a muddy and wide river. The river is so wide that the trees lining the river look small and far away. Also, the river is so thick with muddy water, that Huck cannot see his feet when standing in the shallow areas of the river. Though the river is not exactly beautiful, I visualized the overall scene to be tranquil because it's in the middle of the summer. Though it's quite warm outside, I am sure the greenery of the leaves on the tress, and the sounds of the wind blowing through the leaves makes floating down the big Mississippi peaceful...until the water picks up speed or a steam boat comes floating by!





Get to work, Pioneers:)

Summarizing

Dear Pioneers,

Tonight, you are going to summarize what you read for 25 minutes at home. Please be sure to remember the key components of a good summary.

1. Include the Title and the Author's name

2. Include important details (5 w's: who, what, when, where, why)

3. Include 3-4 details--in your own words

4. Start with the main idea

5. State the Author's purpose. (Was that chapter written to entertain you, inform you, or persuade you?)

6. Form: What happened in the beginning, middle, and end of what you read?

7. USE TRANSITION WORDS

 

Would you recommend your book?

Dear Pioneers,
 
Today, you are going to write whether you would recommend the book you are reading at home or not and WHY. Please give an answer that explains why or why not you would recommend the book.



 
Here is an example of what I am looking for:
 
Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales: One Dead Spy  
By Marcia on Goodreads.com
 
"A fantastic graphic novel!! A tremendous amount of Revolutionary history presented in a way that is so fun and engaging, I dare you not to be interested. Hale takes all the great parts of Nathan Hales's story: conflict, the heroes, villains, fighting, spies, and daring-do, and offers them up from the gallows on the day he was hung. The hangman and a British regular offer up their commentary as the story unfolds. Henry Knox was an incredibly optimistic dude, who performed an outstanding feat,and he gets his recognition here. We would be a nation of history scholars if history textbooks were written this way! I can't wait for the next book about the iron clads."

YOU CAN DO THIS!

Figurative Language

Hello Pioneers,

Tonight you are going to find two examples of figurative language from the book you are reading at home (after 25 minutes of reading). 

Here is a reminder of what figurative language definitions we have learned in class

 

Information from: http://mrswarnerarlington.weebly.com/figurative-language.html

 

 

Here is an example of what I am looking for in tonight's response.
Hello, I am reading the book "A Nest for Celeste" by Henry Cole. 

1. Page 19 "The first rat, Illiana, had small, narrow-set eyes like a pair of black peppercorns and a tongue like a lancet."  (SIMILE) This means that her eyes were very small and dark like a peppercorn. Also, her tongue was shaped thin with a sharp end.

CONTINUE COMMENTING CAREFULLY AND CONTRIBUTING TO CONVERSATION  :-)

Isn't figurative language fun!

If I could be a character...

November 12, 2014

 

Good evening, Pioneers!

Tonight you will post a blog discussing if you could be any character in your book, who would you be, and why. Make sure your post is at least a paragraph, and that you give your answer some thought. The more details the better. I really want to understand why you would choose to be a certain character.

For example, if I was reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn:

If I could be a character in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, I would be Huckleberry because he isn't afraid to take a chance and go on an adventure. For example in the story....

*Remember explain why you would want to be that character. Do you relate to them? Do you share something in common? Do you wish you were more like them?... etc.



 

Get to it, Pioneers!:)

Reading Log

Today, I want you to write about the book you are currently reading at home. You will write at LEAST a paragraph about what you like or dislike about the book. Keep it school appropriate, and be detailed in your response.

**Remember to say what the book is called and who the Author is!
For example: I am reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.

 

 

Get to it pioneers!!