3.5.08 After the Fire...

So, now that the smoke has cleared and everyone is safe, and some of you helped me come up with creative ways to vanquish my enemies, it's time to refocus.

For next class, we will attempt to start where we left off. We'll complete our literature circles activity, so bring the book you were supposed to bring last week. We'll discuss the lit circle readings too.

We will then discuss the books we've been reading for our #7 and #8 choices.

We will then do work with the NCTE/IRA standards, so have them read and be ready to talk about them (having a physical copy with you will be good).

We will also discuss censorship via the N/D chapters and will discuss Ericson Ch.7. We will then discuss the NCTE/IRA standards I've asked you to read. Bring a copy with you for an activity we'll do with them.

We'll also try to do our Persepolis padeia and will be discussing the Carter article.

Still do read your next YA book and also do the Ch. 4-6,8 from the Ericson.

We'll discuss when your rationales will be due (and what they are) in class as well, and that will be tied to our talk on censorship.

It'll be a busy bit of catch-up, but it will probably put us back on track. Sorry about the fire cutting things short last week, but at least it was a minor inconvenience and no one was hurt.

Launch Pad: New Resource for Your Students?

I just ran across this new website which is marketing itself as a literary and arts magazine for young writers. By "young writers" they seem to mean elementary students and tweens as well. I'm not sure about all the copywrite issues, etc. that need to be worked out, but it might be a neat resource for you all to consider once you're in the classroom. After all, one thing we know about students and writing is that teachers need to offer AUTHENTIC writing experiences that actually lead to publishing or are otherwise shared and experienced. Maybe this site seeks to facilitate that. Here's how the site describes itself:

"Launchpad is a new literary and arts magazine dedicated to publishing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, book reviews, and artwork by children ages 6-12. The magazine will appear six times a year (published online every two months), with the first issue [just debuting in February 2008!]"

Here's the URL: http://www.launchpadmag.com/

Schedule Update 2.6 and 2.13

Hi all! Assignments and reading for 2.6.08 are still as we made them, so please prepare for next Wednesday's class accordingly. A very knowledgable sub whom you have already met will lead you through class. She's very good with reading, diagnostics, and assessment, so do not hesitate to ask her questions.

As for 2.13.08, please do all the asigned readings for that week and have readings for 2.13 and 2.20 read by 2.20.

However, on 2.13.08, you should start class in the International Center, the building right beside LAB, and meet in or outside of room 102. Someone named Amy will give you a 2-hour course on how to make podcasts. Her instruction will be essential for your virtual book talk assignment. Amy has the entire class time to help you; please make sure to ask her questions -- you will share your virtual booktalks with the world and want to make sure you can make them the best they can be. If you all exhaust your questions with time left, you may take that remaining time for yourself. Remember, though each of you must do your own book talk, you may work in teams to help with production, share tech, etc.

I'll see you all again soon.

Best,
Bucky

Below you will find 3 very different examples of book talks on American Born Chinese. Try to note what they do or do not do well.