Homework: 10/26

For tomorrow, you should have completed at least three body paragraphs of your Caged Bird essay. Bring these paragraphs in so we can peer review in class.

Tomorrow will be our last day to work on this piece in class. Be prepared to exude brilliance!

Please e-mail me with any questions or concerns.

Work hard! Work smart! See you tomorrow!

Homework: 10/19

DUE TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24th :

Life-Changing Moments Narrative

In I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou discusses how various people, situations, and issues affected the way she viewed life and herself. Now, you will be given the opportunity to reflect on how a person, situation, or issue has affected the way you view your life and yourself.

With the aid of your group members, your task is to choose one moment from your “life mapping” and create a personal narrative which explains this event and connect it to the life-lesson you learned, the possible truth you uncovered, or a reality that was reinforced. You will only discuss this one event in your narrative. You may reflect as openly and personally as you choose, but please be aware that we will be looking for volunteers to share their narratives and that I, as your teacher, am a mandatory reporter of any situation that is potentially harmful to you.

OPTION 1: Write a personal narrative of your life-changing moment with the following criteria:

* A revealing title (Not just simply “My First Halloween”)
* Vivid Sensory Description
* Dialogue
* Reads as a story with a beginning, middle, and end
* Contains a stated or implied (apparent) lesson learned

OPTION 2: Write a poetic representation of your life-changing moment accompanied by a personal reflection with the following criteria:

*A revealing title
* Thorough analysis of how your poem represents your life-changing moment
* Tells a complete story with the beginning, middle, and end
* Contains a stated or implied lesson learned

ON FRIDAY, YOU WILL BE WORKING ON YOUR NARRATIVE IN THE FOLLOWING PLACES:

1st Hour: Computer lab in library

3rd Hour: Literacy Center (2nd floor in world languges hallway)

5th Hour: Literacy Center (2nd floor in world languages hallway)

Homework: 10/19

DUE TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24th :

Life-Changing Moments Narrative

In I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou discusses how various people, situations, and issues affected the way she viewed life and herself. Now, you will be given the opportunity to reflect on how a person, situation, or issue has affected the way you view your life and yourself.

With the aid of your group members, your task is to choose one moment from your “life mapping” and create a personal narrative which explains this event and connect it to the life-lesson you learned, the possible truth you uncovered, or a reality that was reinforced. You will only discuss this one event in your narrative. You may reflect as openly and personally as you choose, but please be aware that we will be looking for volunteers to share their narratives and that I, as your teacher, am a mandatory reporter of any situation that is potentially harmful to you.

OPTION 1: Write a personal narrative of your life-changing moment with the following criteria:

* A revealing title (Not just simply “My First Halloween”)
* Vivid Sensory Description
* Dialogue
* Reads as a story with a beginning, middle, and end
* Contains a stated or implied (apparent) lesson learned

OPTION 2: Write a poetic representation of your life-changing moment accompanied by a personal reflection with the following criteria:

*A revealing title
* Thorough analysis of how your poem represents your life-changing moment
* Tells a complete story with the beginning, middle, and end
* Contains a stated or implied lesson learned

ON FRIDAY, YOU WILL BE WORKING ON YOUR NARRATIVE IN THE FOLLOWING PLACES:

1st Hour: Computer lab in library

3rd Hour: Literacy Center (2nd floor in world languges hallway)

5th Hour: Literacy Center (2nd floor in world languages hallway)

Homework: 10/17

For THURSDAY, please complete the "Life Mapping" activity. The details are as follows:

Life Mapping

Your assignment is to create a visual representation of your life so far. First, you need to select a visual metaphor to show movement through life. Students in the past have visualized road maps, football fields, sailing journeys, game boards, etc. on which they track their experiences.

Your “landmark” experiences – important life-changing moments – also need to be depicted using visual graphics. These graphics could be “snapshots” of the moment, icons, or symbols. Just be sure to explain the significance of your visual graphics.

You need to have a minimum of eight different moments on your life-map. Of these eight, you will choose the five most important life-changing moments to explain in more detail. You may use the sheet of paper you were given in class.

Be sure to focus on specific moments in your life – not entire years, events, etc!

Homework: 10/13

Task Sheet: Friday, October 13th

While I am regretfully missing your class in lieu of attending a rockin’ conference full of English teachers (trust me, it’s cooler than it sounds), please accomplish the following tasks:

1. Read and closely annotate pages 256-263 AND pages 273-289

2. Go back through your book and title each chapter that we have read. Write the title for that chapter at the top of the first page of the chapter (the one with the number on it). Then, jot down a note on that title page that provides a rationale for why that title is appropriate for that chapter. Here is a list of chapters we have read in Caged Bird:
1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 33, 35, 36

3. Prepare to share your response to these tasks on Monday by completing whatever you do not finish in class for homework this weekend.

Have a wonderful, safe weekend! Remember to make good choices!

Homework: 10/12

For homework, please read pages 226-242 in Caged Bird. Be prepared to discuss tomorrow!

Homework: 10/11

For homework, please read pages 214-225. Be prepared to discuss this section of reading in class tomorrow!

Homework: 10/9

For tomorow, please read the portion of pages 176-208 that you did not finish reading in class today.

Be prepared to celebrate your knowledge of these pages in class tomorrow!

Revised Caged Bird Calendar

Due to Homecoming and Columbus Day both falling on this weekend, I have ammended your reading calendar.

For Tuesday, please read pages 133-146. Be prepared to demonstrate your knowledge of these pages when you return to school.

Stay tuned for the new version of your reading assignments as I push back the calendar accordingly.

Have a safe and happy Homecoming -- see you at the game and the dance!

Homework: 10/3

Be sure to keep up with your Caged Bird reading. Tonight, please read chapters 13-14 (through page 92). Be prepared to discuss these pages tomorrow!