This year, our theme is fitting in and alienation. The novels we read center on characters who are not accepted at first, and how they and others deal with that. This is a step into next year’s social justice theme. Our novels are as follows: Our Town, by Thornton Wilder, Dicey’s Song by Cynthia Voight, The Giver by Lois Lowry, The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare, and Burning Up by Caroline B. Cooney. We also do vocabulary work in Wordskills, a McDougall- Littell book, and Grammar using The Write Source.
We will do many writing projects over the year, as well as a writing workshop three days a week. The workshop allows the students to write what they want in the formats that I provide. Speeches and presentations are also planned.
Current Events
The school year started out well, and we are moving along! Our class has finished Our Town, and is now involved in a project comparing 1900-1910 and today. They seem shocked by the changes in how things were done then compared to now! The writing workshop is underway, and they are working on an informational essay. We’re working on context clues and word analysis in vocabulary.
We will start Chapter 1 in Vocabulary, and begin Dicey’s Song next. The students projects are due October 5, and they will present their findings to the class. We will continue with a few more essays in writing workshop, so the students can nail down the format they use for all essays required.
And Away We Go!