Wednesday, April 30, 2014

The Pearl Final Discussion Questions


1.     What did you notice as you were reading Chapters 5 and 6? What was interesting or thematically important?

2.     Did Kino do the right thing at the end of the novel? Why do you think so?

3.     Who or what is to blame for the tragedy at the end of the book? (This question should have more than one answer. If you can only think of one answer, you could come up with reasons why other possible answers are wrong.)

4.     Was Juana and Kino’s fate unavoidable? Why do you think so?

5.     Steinbeck tells us at the beginning of the novella that this is a parable. What’s the lesson of the parable? How do you know?

6.     Would Steinbeck agree or disagree with each of the following statements? Support your answers with events from the book.

a.     The more we want, the less happy we are.

b.     There is good in all human beings.

c.      Male and female strength is fundamentally different.

d.     The powerful will always try to dominate the less powerful.

e.     Cultures/societies tend to punish nonconformity.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Agenda, April 30

Late: The Song of ...   
Due Tomorrow: Finish The Pearl. 
Coming Tomorrow: 44 term vocab test. Click here to study. 
 
Due Thursday: I'll be collecting everybody's reading journal. Make sure you bring yours with you.        

Today's Learning Targets:  
I can analyze themes and motifs in my independent reading.  
 
I can make my thinking about a book explicit.
I can read for a variety of purposes (What do Steinbeck's motifs mean? How does Steinbeck feel about greed? Goodness? Power?) 

  1. Independent Reading
  2. Chapter Titles
  3. Vocab Study Time

Monday, April 28, 2014

Agenda, April 29

Due Now: Chapter 5  
Due Now: The Song of ... 
Due Thursday: Finish The Pearl. 
Coming Thursday: 44 term vocab test. Click here to study. 

Due Thursday: I'll be collecting everybody's reading journal. Make sure you bring yours with you.        

Today's Learning Targets:  
I can analyze themes and motifs in my independent reading.  
 
I can make my thinking about a book explicit.
I can read for a variety of purposes (What do Steinbeck's motifs mean? How does Steinbeck feel about greed? Goodness? Power?) 

  1. Independent Reading
  2. Chapter 4 Highlights
  3. Chapter 5 Think Aloud

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Agenda, April 28

Due Now: Finish Chapter 4
Due Tomorrow: Finish Chapter 5
Due at the beginning of class tomorrow: The Song of ... 
Coming Thursday: 44 term vocab test. Click here to study.      
 

Today's Learning Targets:  
I can analyze themes and motifs in my independent reading.  
 
I can make my thinking about a book explicit.
I can read for a variety of purposes (What do Steinbeck's motifs mean? How does Steinbeck feel about greed? Goodness? Power?) 

  1. Independent Reading
  2. Chapter 4 Quiz
  3. Finish the Song of ... / Chart Update Time
  4. Chapter 4 Highlights
  5. Begin Chapter 5

Friday, April 25, 2014

Agenda, April 25

Do This Weekend: Read 30 minutes Saturday and Sunday.
Due Now: Finish Chapter 3

Due Monday: Finish Chapter 4 
Coming 5/1: 44 term vocab test. Click here to study.      
  

Late: Chapter 2 Study Questions    

Today's Learning Targets:  
I can analyze themes and motifs in my independent reading.  
 
I can make my thinking about a book explicit.
I can read for a variety of purposes (What do Steinbeck's motifs mean? How does Steinbeck feel about greed? Goodness? Power?) 

  1. Independent Reading
  2. Chapter 3 Quiz
  3. Finish the Song of ...
  4. Small group discussion: 4 important moments in Chapter 3
  5. Begin Chapter 4

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Agenda, April 24

Do Tonight: Read for 15 minutes in your personal reading book.
Do you have I Just Hope It's Lethal?
Coming 5/1: 44 term vocab test. Click here to study.
 
 
 
 
Late: Chapter 2 Study Questions    
Tonight: Finish Chapter 3
Today's Learning Targets:  
I can analyze characters in my independent reading. 
 
I can make my thinking about a book explicit.
I can read for a variety of purposes (What do Steinbeck's motifs mean? How does Steinbeck feel about greed? Goodness? Power?)

  1. Independent Reading
  2. Write the Song of ...
  3. Chapter 3 Think Aloud

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Agenda, April 23

Do Tonight: Read for 15 minutes in your personal reading book.
Coming 5/1: 44 term vocab test. Click here to study.
 
 
 
Due Now: Chapter 2 Study Questions  
Due Thursday: Optional Paragraph Revisions
Today's Learning Targets:  
I can analyze characters in my independent reading. 

I can make my thinking about a book explicit.
I can read for a variety of purposes (What do Steinbeck's motifs mean? How does Steinbeck feel about greed? Goodness? Power?)

  1. Independent Reading
  2. Update your pink sheets
  3. Chapter 3 Think Aloud
  4. Write the Song of ...

Friday, April 18, 2014

Agenda, April 22

Do Tonight: Read for 15 minutes in your personal reading book.
Coming 5/1: 44 term vocab test. Click here to study.
 
 
Due Now: Chapter 2
Due Thursday: Optional Paragraph Revisions

Today's Learning Targets:  
I can analyze characters in my independent reading. 

I can discuss important issues in a literary text. I can use a dictionary and a graphic organizer to develop my vocabulary.
I can read for a variety of purposes. 

  1. Independent Reading
  2. Vocab Time
  3. Chapter 2 Study Questions
  4. Chapter 3 Think Aloud

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Agenda, April 18

Do This Weekend: Read 30 minutes on Saturday and Sunday
Coming 5/1: 44 term vocab test. Click here to study.
 
Due Now: Chapter 1 study questions
Due Tuesday: Finish Chapter 2
 
Today's Learning Targets:
  
I can analyze characters in my independent reading.
I can discuss important issues in a literary text.
I can connect my personal experiences to the experiences of a fictional character.
I can read for a variety of purposes. 

  1. Independent Reading
  2. Chapter 1 Discussion Questions
  3. Journal #2: What would you do if you won $100 million in the lottery?
  4. Chapter 2 Read Aloud

Agenda, April 17

Do Tonight: Read 15 minutes 
Coming 5/1: 44 term vocab test. Click here to study.

Due Tomorrow at the beginning of class: Finish Chapter 1 study questions
 
Today's Learning Targets:
  
I can analyze characters in my independent reading.

I can use a graphic organizer and a dictionary to develop my vocabulary.
I can read for a variety of purposes. 

  1. Independent Reading
  2. Vocabulary Building - Due at the end of Chapter 3
  3. Read aloud
  4. Study Questions

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Agenda, April 16

Do Tonight: Read 15 minutes 
Coming 5/1: 44 term vocab test. Click here to study.

 
Today's Learning Targets:
  
I can support my opinion with evidence. 


I can read for a variety of purposes. 

  1. Opinionaire Paragraph
  2. To the library!
  3. Read aloud

Monday, April 14, 2014

Agenda, April 15

Do Tonight: Read 15 minutes

Today's Learning Targets:

I can analyze characters in my independent reading.

I can analyze a variety of parables for theme. 
I can support my opinion with evidence.
I can actively participate in a whole class discussion as both a listener and a speaker.


  1. Independent Reading
  2. Purposes of Parables
  3. The Pearl Opinionaire
  4. Whole class discussion
  5. To the library!
  6. Read aloud

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Agenda, April 14

Late: Three original poems 
Late: Your Poem Presentation
Do Tonight: Read 15 minutes

Today's Learning Targets:

I can analyze characters in my independent reading.
I can begin to develop my vocabulary.
I can read for a variety of purposes.

I can analyze a variety of parables for theme.
  1. Independent Reading
  2. 44 interesting words
  3. Purposes or Parables
  4. Parables or Purposes

Friday, April 11, 2014

Due Today: Three original poems
Due Today: Your Poem Presentation 

Today's Learning Targets:

I can reflect on my independent reading.
I can prepare for a presentation.
I can create poetry, applying my understanding of poetic forms and devices.

  1. Independent Reading
  2. Presentations.
  3. Working on 3 poems.

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Due Friday: Rough drafts of three original poems
Due Today: Your Poem Presentation 

Today's Learning Targets:

I can reflect on my independent reading.
I can prepare for a presentation.
I can create poetry, applying my understanding of poetic forms and devices.
  1. Independent Reading
  2. Writing/Practice Time 
  3. Presentations.
  4. Working on 3 poems.

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Due Today: Rough drafts of three original poems
Due Today: A poem to analyze 
Due Thursday: Presentations begin

Today's Learning Targets:

I can reflect on my independent reading.
I can create poetry, applying my understanding of poetic forms and devices.
  1. Independent Reading
  2. Writing/Practice Time 

Monday, April 7, 2014

Agenda, April 7

Due Tomorrow: Rough drafts of three original poems
Due Tomorrow: A poem to analyze
Due Thursday: Presentations begin

Today's Learning Targets:
I can reflect on my independent reading.
I can categorize poems.
I can create poetry, applying my understanding of poetic forms and devices.
  1. Independent Reading
  2. Poetry Categorization
  3. Writing Time
Thursday and Friday: Poem Presentations
Due Wednesday: Poem Presentation Rough Draft

Learning Targets:
I can read for fun.
I can classify poetry.
I can mimic poem structures.
  1. Independent reading
  2. Classifying poems.
  3. Poetry Mimicking.

Friday, April 4, 2014

Due Today: Independent Reading Book
Due Today: Literary Tools Cover

Learning Targets:
I can read for fun.
I can identify literary techniques.
I can discuss a poem.
  1. Independent reading
  2. Close Reading.
  3. Review time.

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Due Today: Independent Reading Book
Due Tomorrow: Literary Tools Cover

Learning Targets:
I can read for fun.
I can listen to music. 
I can identify literary techniques.
  1. Independent reading
  2. Music
  3. Review time.

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Due Today: Independent Reading Book
Due Tomorrow: Literary Tools Cover

Learning Targets:
I can read for fun.
I can read poems methodically. 
I can identify literary techniques.
  1. Independent reading
  2. New Response Power Reading.
  3. Review time.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Due Today: Independent Reading Book
Due Friday: Literary Tools Cover

Learning Targets:
I can read for fun.
I can read poems methodically. 
I can identify literary techniques.
  1. Independent reading. 
  2. Power Reading. Independent and otherwise.
  3. Review time.