Create a go animate video

Today you are going to use the storyboard you created last night to make a video.  Click the title above to go to the Go Animate web site.  You can view my first attempt at a video about Scrooge in A Christmas Carol below.  When your video is done, remember to embed it on your blog page in a new post so we can all view it.  Have fun!
GoAnimate.com: A Christmas Carol by scasassa

Like it? Create your own at GoAnimate.com. It's free and fun!

Comment on a friend's Reader Response Blog

This week you will read and respond to a classmate’s blog post.  You will be graded on the quality of your response.  In your response, do the following

1.     Comment on at least one interesting thing you learned about their book through reading their letter.

2.     Make a connection—it can be text to self, text to text or text to world—about their book or letter.

3.     Ask them a question about their book.  Maybe something you want to know more about after reading their letter.

4.     Compliment them on something they did really well in their post—(explained their book choice, gave specific details to describe the conflict, made the book sound so interesting that you want to read it, etc.)

5.    Sign your name at the end of you comment.

To complete this assignment, you need to:

1.     Sign into your blog—you cannot post a comment without signing in!

2.     Find their Reader Response Letter blog

3.     Go to the end of their post and click word “0 comments”

4.     A box will appear on the screen that says “Post a Comment”

5.     Write your comment—it should be a long paragraph with at least two sentences on each required topic.

6.     Click your name on the comment as button

7.     Preview your comment—checking for G.U.M.S. and appropriate language and content

8.     Click “Publish”

Example of a comment:

POST A COMMENT

Dear Ms. Casassa,      I enjoyed reading your blog post on The Blackhope Enigma.  I thought it was really interesting that the story takes place inside a painting.  I have never read a book like that.  The Balckhope Enigma doesn’t really remind me of any chapter book I’ve read, but when my daughter was little we used to read a series called Katie and the Impressionist.  When Katie visited the museum with her grandmother she would step into the painting and have all sorts of adventures.  She would play in Monet’s fields and gardens.  So I guess I have a text-to-text connection with your book.  How did the kids finally get out of the painting?  What happened to the bad guy, Angus?  Did he get what he wanted from the kids?  I really enjoyed reading your letter.  You made the book sound very exciting.  Although I don’t usually read books like that I’d like to try it.  Happy Reading! Ms. Casassa

"The Most Dangerous Game"

We will begin reading Richard Connell's famous short story "The Most Dangerous Game" today.  Before we begin you will be familiarizing yourself with the vocabulary in the story.  Complete the vocabulary worksheet by going to "The Most Dangerous Game" vocabulary link.  After you have completed the worksheet, play some of the games on Quizlet.  Click on the Blog title to go to Quizlet to practice vocabulary.  You will have a quiz on these vocabulary words on Thursday.

"A Christmas Carol"

“No space of regret can make amends for one life's opportunity misused”

“Bah," said Scrooge, "Humbug.” 

“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach!”

― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

 

Click here to watch a biography on Charles Dickens.
Biography of Charles Dickens
View a copy of the first edition of A Christmas Carol
Learn about A Christmas Carol

Create a magazine cover featuring your hobby

 

Click Magazine Cover to go to Big Huge Labs

to create your own magazine cover. 

Click here to get a copy of the instructions.

Blogging about your Independent Reading Book

Blogging your Reader Response Letter
For this next book you are going to try something new. You are going to blog about your book instead of writing a traditional Reader Response Letter. What does it mean to “blog about your book”? Well, you will be given a writing topic and you will post your response online on your student blog. Each week you will add more to the post. You will have a chance to read other students’ blogs and respond to their book and writing as well. This assignment will require access to a computer with Internet. You have a week to complete it so if using the computer at home is tricky, make time during flex, recess or after school to complete this assignment. You can not use the excuse that you don’t have internet at home. You have more than enough time to complete this assignment at school if you need to.
Remember when you blog you have broader audience than me. Be sure to reread your writing, correct spelling mistakes and typos. Think deeply and critically about your book. Impress your friends and teachers with your insight and observations. Most of all-- have fun!
How to write a post on your blog
1. Sign in to your blog
2. Click on “New Post.” You can find this on your dashboard or the right side of your blog.
3. Create a title for your post. Your title can be the title of the book you are reading, or Reader Response letter.
4. Write your post (comments) in the text box below the title. You can make text bigger or bolder with the controls above the box.
5. When you finish writing your post preview it, checking for spelling and typos, and appropriate content. You are being graded for this!
6. Once you’ve determined that it is wonderful, click “publish post.”
7. Congratulations! You have written a blog post.