Book Talks: Graphic Novels

Mrs. Kennedy joined us today to talk graphic novels.
I admit it; when I first started teaching I was a bit snobbish about graphic novels. I looked down on them and didn't appreciate their value in the classroom.
Since then, I've watched as year after year, reluctant readers beome inspired by and hooked on graphic novels.
Here's the list of titles that Mrs. Kennedy presented today:
Explorer: The Mystery Boxes
The Storm in the Barn
The Secret World of Arietty

WildAid: Shark Conservation

"Saving the Great White Monster," an article from our "animals" mini-unit about shark conservation, introduced us to the organization WildAid.
We watched several of WildAid's commercials from their campaign to end the overfishing of sharks (here, here and here).

A Bunch of Animals!

Any glimpse into the life of an animal quickens our own and makes it so much the larger and better in every way. — John Muir

We launched a thematic mini-unit on human/animal interaction by discussing the above quote.
Next, we read a short story by Eliot Schrefer called "Animal Distress Calls" about a teen's life changing encounter with a sick ostrich in a zoo.
It was then on to Gary Paulsen's "Caesar the Giant," in which the well known author tells of his experiences with an adopted Great Dane.
Also on tap is a non fiction article about Great White Sharks and the practice of hunting them for shark fin soup.

We've spent time writing personal narratives and students will be working to turn those into plays, as we participate in Pendragon Theatre's "Young Playwright's Festival."
To gear up for that, we're stretching our "creative muscles" by doing exercises in writing dialogue and creating characters.
Our language arts work continues this month, as we work on editing practice. The students have especially enjoyed the inspirational "editing music" that is played during these exercises...
Independent reading continues and Mrs. Kennedy is scheduled to visit later this month for another round of book talks. The topic this month is graphic novels, and ahead of her visit I've read Smile and Drama by Raina Telgemeir.

Happy New Year!

 

It's great to be back and we're jumping right in by writing "personal narratives" of an important event in our lives this week.
I'll be sharing this strategy (making a timeline) to help students plan their work.
Ultimately, we'll work on turning these narratives into plays for the Pendragon Theatre Young Playwrights Festival.

Just Added: More Links

Here are more links to websites that may be helpful as students work on this week's research assignment:
http://www.biography.com/people/charles-dickens-9274087
http://www.bbc.co.uk/victorianchristmas/history.shtml
http://www.dickenslit.com/christmas-carol/dickenschristmas.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00t6t3r

Dickens/"Christmas Carol" Research

Students will work on this research assignment, related to Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol", this week:

1). Go to the "Team Whiteface HW Page"; open the attachment in the "Mr. Carlisto" section; copy and paste the questions for your assigned topic onto a Word document (be sure to add your name at the top of your document).

2). Research and find the answers to as many of the questions as you can; type your answers onto the word document that you created.

3). Create a works cited page using Noodle Tools.

4). These links may be helpful in your research (you may use others):

http://www.dickensmuseum.com/learning/resources-for-teachers/
http://www.goodmantheatre.org/Documents/Study%20Guides/1011%20Season/ACHRISTMASCAROLStudy%20Guide10-11.pdf
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/victorian_britain/