Ms. Anderson’s Language Arts Class

If you are reading this blog, then you just finished with Karen Hesse’s Out of the Dust. You have completed a lot of assignments by now and hopefully read the last chapter. For your last part of the assignment, I would like you to write a review on the novel. I want you to be honest and follow the examples and guidelines I have provided for you. Check your Google Docs for the assignments and guidelines. You will post your final review, after it has been revised, here on the blog. Have Fun!!

Some examples: Written by teens at http://www.teenink.com/Books/article/17848/Uprising-by-Margaret-Peterson-Haddix/

1. Uprising is a tale woven from tendrils of smoky memories from times long past and emotions still strong. This novel is a winding puzzle of life and loss, and the heart-wrenching tale of death, sacrifice, and devotion to one’s cause.

The theme “never give up” is found throughout Uprising in the three main characters’ commitment to a cause and their refusal to stop trying, despite dangerous circumstances. Even when death looms, they fight for their rights and the rights of all workers in the shirtwaist factories of the 1900s.

This book was impossible to put down. The prose sucks the reader in, and the story, with flowing details, keeps the reader hypnotized in the amazing tale of three young women caught in the fire that shocked America, changing it forever.

I definitely recommend Uprising to anyone who loves history and wishes they could have been there to experience it. If you read this book, I guarantee that you’ll never look at history the same way again

2.
“I believe my argument is valid. It is entirely possible, even likely, that dinosaurs still exist.”

In The Lost World, Michael Crichton’s sequel to Jurassic Park, a young, rich, and stubborn part-time middle school teacher and part-time explorer, Richard Levine, sticks to his belief that dinosaurs still roam the earth. Fueled by reports of huge, unidentified carcasses in Costa Rica, Levine sets out on a quest to prove his claim.

Two of his student assistants, Arby and Kelly, social outcasts with gifted academic abilities, somehow end up stowing away in Levine’s RV as it’s flown to an island off Costa Rica. The two soon realize that the island has many dangers and they must find a way to the mainland.

I couldn’t get enough of The Lost World. I felt definite ups and downs while reading this science-fiction novel. Crichton’s character portrayals allowed me to understand their emotions. I enjoyed reading in great detail about the dinosaur-infested island and the people trapped on it. He writes a multitude of breath-taking scenarios.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes a challenging plot and a good adventure story. I also recommend it to anyone who enjoys books like Dune, Eragon, or even any of the Harry Potter series.

All in all, I like The Lost World because it’s the kind of book whose ending is not predictable after reading the first 40 pages. Crichton did a splendid job of writing the second book in this two-part series.

Monday: No School

Tuesday: Writing Workshop: working on Story Starter pieces

Wednesday: “Out of the Dust” Reading Groups

Thursday: Writing Workshop: working on story Starter pieces

Friday: “Out of the Dust” Reading Groups

Homework:

Wednesday: Homework for Groups 1 & 2

Friday: Homework for Groups 3 & 4

This past weekend, the Kennett High School Dance Team competed in the Olympic Miss Dance Competition. The hip hop routine received a high gold and the jazz routine won a gold! I had to share the news with all of you since I am one of the coaches and am so proud of them but also to talk up our showcase this coming weekend! If any of you are interested in dance, you could join this team next year as my sister will be the coach. If you like to dance or would like to learn, you should come and check out our show this weekend. The dance team, Tina Titzer’s Dance Company as well as the KHS dance classes will be performing a variety of dances including tap, jazz, lyrical, modern and hip hop. The shows are this Friday and Saturday at 7p.m. in the High School auditorium. Hope to see some of you there!

Monday and Thursday:

Writing Workshop:

Rough Draft

Story Starter Sheet/notes

Revision Sheet

Revision Questions

Conference w/me

Wednesday and Friday:

Reading Workshop:

Working in groups on reading strategies.

Homework:

Wednesday: Groups: “Green Killer”, “Last Bullet” reading strategies

Friday: “Trick of Trade”, “The Cage”, “The Gun” reading strategies

This week we are finishing up the NWEA testing and focusing on reading and writing! On Tuesday and Thursday we will be conintueing with Writer’s Workshop and writing our story starter pieces. On Wednesday and Friday we will be focusing on reading strategies with short stories! The goals for the week are:

1) To think independently about our writing and the writing of our peers.

2) To use the reading strategies effectively to interpret the meaning behind a story.

We are looking to build our classroom libraries next year throughout the school. If you have books at home that you are no longer reading, we would love to have them. Bring them into school and donate them to future Middle School students! Let’s keep everyone reading!

This week we are working on a magazine assignment which focuses on the 6 comprehension strategies as well as author’s craft.  The magazine project is due on Wednesday.

Thursday and Friday we will be taking the NWEA test in reading.

Reminder: 

All “Night” work is due no later than Friday. If you have work circled on the pink sheets I gave you, you need to have it in no later than Friday or the zeros will remain for the trimester. If you need a novel, see me to sign one out! 

    I had to go to get ready for Florida so I didn’t go to school. When I woke up I had to get ready, pack and had to get some things that I was missing. It was a long stressful day. I also had to organize my suit case and had to get some things for my carry-on. I had to leave home at 4:00pm to go to the Manchester Airport. I had the group tickets my mom had bought. I went with the Fryeburg lacrosse team boys. I didn’t land in Orlando, Florida till 12:00. It was a long three hour flight. All I did on the plane was listen to my Mp3 player and do Sudoku puzzles. When my sister and I got off the plane I lead the way to the subway. When we arrived to the baggage claim we met up with my grandparents. The four of us grabbed the luggage and went to the hotel. That is were I was knocked out cold I was so tied.

    The next day we drove to West Palm Beach where my grand parents lived. My grand father had to work. It is not fun when he had to work. I hardly spent time with him because he was working. I went swimming and did board games. The only time I really got to spend time with him was at the Up Country and at the mall. I also went to a Chines Buffet.

    The buffet had a hole bunch of Chinese food and some American desserts. Not much though. I had a lot of the Chines food. For dessert I had Orange Sherbet, Chocolate chip, and chocolate ice cream. I had a fun time at the buffet. The buffet was a lovely place. The had a tranquility with fishes and a really cute turtle. People threw coins in the water for good luck.

    The Up Country was an out doors mall with a lot of night clubs. I didn’t go in the clubs. We walked around, went to some of the Outlets, got an ice scream, and listen to a band that plays every Saturday. The bath room at the ice scream shop was really cool. If you did not lock the door people could watch you go. I’m not joking. If you could see the people on the other side of the window then they could see you. If you can’t see them then they can’t see you. The bath room was on the Top Ten Baths show.

    The leaving to come back home was the hardest part. I loved being down there with my grandparents and my sister. All though my sister and I didn’t fight. The plane ride back was not fun. I had slept most of the way back, then got stuck in front of a little girl who had kept screaming and yelling. Then when I was on the way to Manchester before we toke off the pilot gave us unwanted to need to know info.

By Kelo

Washington D.C. Reflection

On Monday when I woke up at 4:00am, I was so excited about the trip. When I got to school I waited at least ten minutes outside with my mom. I was ready for the buses when they arrived at 5:45am. The Buses were so big. Approximately at 6:00am we were on our way. It was about the fifth hour when I started to get bored. I loved it when we would stop at the truck stops because I could get fresh air stretch and get something to eat. Finally after the 12^th hour of traveling we had arrived in Chevy Chase Maryland.

I was so happy. When we finally got our card keys and were set to roam the halls to find our rooms. This was so much greater than sitting on the stuffy bus for 12 hours. Once we found our rooms we were told to head over to the other building to have a dinner dance party. We had pizza, soda, salad and cookies. After I got bored at the party I went into the rec- room and played some games and watched some T.V. At ten o’clock we were sent to our rooms for the night.

It was Tuesday and we were woken up at 6:00am. We were told to wait in our rooms until breakfast at 7:00. We got to go down at 7:00 and we got in line. When we got inside and got our silverware and told the people what we wanted. We had a choice of bacon, eggs, biscuits, gravy, sausage patties and sausage links. When we went outside we had a choice of fruit and any kind of drink even slushes.

After breakfast I went back to my room to get ready for a fun long day. After I got ready we boarded the bus. Our first stop was the Arlington National Cemetery. Once we got there we met our tour guide Gordon. He was very nice. When we got there we walked right to the Wreath laying and the changing of the guard. After we walked to the Kennedy grave sites where we saw Kennedy’s grave and the eternal flame. After we saw the eternal flame we walked to the buses and headed to the Iwo Jima. At Iwo Jima we sat on the field and ate lunch. After lunch we went to the FDR memorial and the Jefferson memorial. At the Jefferson memorial Mr. Richard, Mrs. Starkey and Mr. Littlefield saved a woman’s life, she was having a diabetic attack. After we went to the memorials we went to Capital Hill to meet the senator and get a tour of the capital building. After the tour we went outside and waited for the buses. When the buses arrived we boarded them and went to the Lincoln memorial there were much stairs to climb to reach the top. One inside the memorial there was a big statue of Lincoln, and around the walls were sayings. After we went to the Lincoln Memorial we walked to the Vietnam Veterans memorial and had a look around. Once we looked at the wall we walked to the Womans memorial. After we went to the two memorials we boarded the buses and headed to the ESPN ZONE. At the ESPN ZONE we had a buffet and played arcade games. We were there for maybe two hours. After we left the ESPN ZONE we drove to the World War II Memorial it was so nice in the dark. After spending some time there we walked to the Washington monument it was so nice at nighttime especially because you could see Capital Hill. After we sat down for a while we boarded the buses and headed back to the 4-H center. Once we arrived we went to our rooms took showers and went to bed.

Wednesday, It was finally Wednesday we were woken up at 6:30am and were told to wait in our rooms until breakfast at 7:00. We went to breakfast then we boarded the buses and headed to the National Archives . At the National Archives we waited for 45 minutes to get inside. Once inside we were told not to take any pictures that had flashes. At the national archives we saw the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and a bunch more documents. After we left the National Archives we went to the ZOO. At the zoo we saw so much animals including Pandas. Towards the end of our visit I was sitting drinking my smoothie when a bird flew over me and pooped on my leg. After we left the zoo we went to the National Cathedral. It was so big and beautiful. After we got a tour there we went back to the 4-H Center and prepared for our cruse on the Patomic river. At the 4-H center we were required to take a showered after I took my shower I got dressed up and went to the Rec room to do some shopping and use the computer. After words I went outside and got a picture with my group then we went to the cruise. It was wicked nice. The sunset was beautiful. After the cruise we went back to the 4-H center we were so late we got hollered at.

Thursday, It was Thursday we woke at at 6:45. We packed our stuff. Then we went to breakfast and brought our luggage to the bus. Then we went to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. It was big and a great way to learn about our country’s past aviation history. After the Air And Space Museum we walked to the Holocaust Museum. It was scary and very sad. After the Holocaust we walked to the museum of Natural history. There we had lunch. After lunch we were allowed to roam the museum I was racing in the Glass elevators. After we left the museum we walked to the Art museum. There I played on the concourse half the time. Then we went outside to the field across the street. After sitting there for a few minutes a few of us walked to the White House. After we walked to the White House we walked to the Pavilion Post Office where we had dinner and shopped. After we went shopping we went outside to the buses and we were off. It was about 11:00 before I fell asleep. I only got 4 hours of sleep the hole night. Once we reached Ossipee Mrs. Gertz woke me up and told me to call my mom. I told her we were going to be there early. We arrived at the school at 5:45 am on Friday.

By: Macb

At my first sight of the WWII memorial I knew it was my favorite memorial. It was gorgeous. Every view from standing there was like opening a present. The whole architect of the memorial was perfect as could be.

Going to the Washington Monument was probably my highlight of my trip. Besides hearing all of my peers laughing and screaming it felt as though it was one of the most peaceful places I have ever been. Just the visual display of the city and monuments lit up set the whole mood. I could have spent three more hours just admiring the beauty of all the sights and lit up memorials my eyes were privileged to see. All the memorials I saw in the day were beautiful, but when I was standing at the Washington monument I could see all of those sights but they were all lit up. Which made them even more beautiful.

By: Broos