Update...

So apparently the first thing that gets put on the back-burner when time gets tight is keeping up with blog posting.  :)

Here is an update about what has been going on in class.  We are winding up our unit examining the different aspects and levels of setting.  We started with examining setting in visual elements - art work and photos; eventually moving into short excerpts of literature.  This week we read a short story called "The Landlady" bu Roald Dahl (author of James and the Giant Peach, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory among others).  After reading the story, students progressed through a graphic organizer examining all the different aspects and levels of setting.  Eventually they will expand out to doing the same analysis with a novel.

The last couple of days I have been book talking all the options for the literature circles in which all students will be involved.  As the bulk of the discussion will take place in an online environment I am able to form groups across all of my classes.  Students were given the option of 23 different novels from which to choose, and after I complete book talking them all, I will ask for their top 4 selections.  Based on a variety of factors, including the number of copies of each book, the reading level, and the content level (reading level and content level are different for students at times) I will form the groups.  On Monday of next week I will also go through the online environment as well as my expectations for the literature circles.  The length of this unit will be 3 weeks - that means that all students must complete their novel within that time period.

The upcoming post next week will have all the specific due dates as well as some links to help keep parents in the loop.

Have a great week!