Class of 2019 Student Blogs: 2016

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Learning about Infographics

What is an Infographic? Watch this presentation to learn more!

Student Directions: Look for an infographic that you find "appealing" using the links below. Read and interpret the infographic.

Top Tweeters

Halloween by the Numbers

Why Australia

Zombie Proof
Video Games
The Color of Snot

More places to view infographics
Daily Infographic
The Anatomy of an Infographic
Overview of Infographic Design
Infographic Directory

Choose one infographic to analyze and discuss. With a partner complete the form below.

Look at this Infographic and then do a quick write in your Writing Notebook about what you notice. What is said? What has been left out? How does the creator use information, design, color to convey the information?
Click here to view the infographgic on The Cold Outdoors.

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

My Reading Life

Dear . Class,
I am really excited to begin talking about reading with all of you! I love to read. I always have a book that I am reading. I belong to a book group and meet monthly to talk about a book we have all read. I am a person who will read many different types of books-fiction and nonfiction, but I like fiction the best. I read for a wide variety of purposes. I spend a lot of my day reading for work and pleasure. I read emails, text messages, the newspaper, social media, novels, student writing and professional writing. I also read directions, grocery lists, messages and notes from family.
I can't remember exactly when I learned to read but I know I have always loved reading. When I was little I read The Cat in the Hat and other Dr. Seuss books. I loved to spend hours looking at The Busy Town books by Richard Scary. I think my favorite chapter book when I was little was Charlotte's Web. I liked all of E.B. White's books, especially The Trumpet of the Swan and Stuart Little. My mom taught me how to read and I was reading before I went to kindergarten. I think she taught me mainly by reading to me a lot, but I also had a lot of easy readers that I practiced with.
It's hard to remember now what book got me "hooked" on reading. There were many books that got me started down one path or genre or author. I read all The Little House on the Prairie books, I loved The Earth Sea Trilogy by Ursula LeGuin which then led me to read Mary Stewart's novels about Merlin the Magician. But I also liked reading mystery and read as many Agatha Christie novels I could find the summer after seventh grade! I loved reading Judy Bloom and Katharine Paterson in middle school. As I child I played sports, spent time with friends and my large family and spent hours outside in the summer, but also spent a lot of time reading. I think not having technology to distract me gave me more time to read than kids have today.
My reading habits have changed. I mainly read for pleasure at the end of the day and on the weekends. It takes me much longer to finish books. I usually have one book a month I have to read for my book group. I love the summer when I have more time to read.
I think my biggest challenge is finding time to read (and not falling asleep when I start reading!). As a goal this year, I'd like to read more Young Adult fiction. You all recommend so many great books to me and I never get to read many of them. I want to make reading student recommended books a priority. I am most proud of the wide variety of books I have read and how many books I have read. I also am proud of the way I have made connections with so many people because of my love of reading. I am also proud that I chose a job that allowed me to share something I feel so strongly about and get such satisfaction from with other people.
I am looking forward to talking about reading with all of you this year. Happy Reading!
Sincerely,
Ms. Casassa

Friday, September 16, 2016

Reader Response Blog Assignment-write about the lead and setting of your book

6^th Grade Reader Response Blog Entry

Due Thursday, September 22nd

You are creating a new post for your new book. Be sure to put the title of your new book in the title box! I have included student examples for you to use a guide.

In the first paragraph include:

· Title and author of book

· Explanation about why you chose the book

· Discuss the lead—how does the author pull you into the story? Does the author use dialogue, have action or is a character thinking. Why do you think the author chose to start the story this why? Use specific examples when you talk about the lead.

· Make two predictions about the story so far.

In the second paragraph:

Write about the setting:

· Where does this story take place? Describe it in a couple sentences.

· When did this story take place? How do you know?

· Have you ever been to a place like this? If so, tell about it. If not, would you like to go to a place like this? Why or why not.

· Which part of the story best describes the setting? Share a quote that shows the setting. Explain why you chose it.

Talk about whether you like the book so far. Why or why not.

Student Models:

The book that I am reading right now is called Monster and Walter Dean Myers wrote it. I chose this book because I asked Mr. Szeliga for a book recommendation, and I wanted the book to be realistic fiction. He gave me Monster and so far this has been a really enjoying book. One thing that I really like about this book is that it's written like it was supposed to be a movie. The lead of my book started of with Steve Harmon in jail and he says,” the best time to cry is at night, when the lights are out and someone is being beaten up and screaming for help."(Pg.1) I thought that this was an interesting way to start the book, and I started generating questions instantly. Shortly after he explained himself he went into how he was writing this book as if it was going to be a movie.

The book takes place in New York City. Harlem New York to be exact. The book mainly takes place in two areas. Monster takes place in a courtroom and in a jail, but they didn't specify what jail the book takes place in. I can tell that this book is taking place in modern times because the technology is similar to what we use as of right now. The only time I was at a jail was to look at it from the outside and I never actually went in. We just stopped to look at the jail and then we left. I noticed that once we got next to the jail our phones stopped working. The jail was pretty intimidating, but I think it would be cool to go and see another jail and actually get a tour the next time I go. My story is being told in a couple of different ways. A majority of the book is written just like a movie would be written. There is a lot if dialog, and there are places when they have fade out and closeups. They write all of those things, even sensory details. Occasionally there would be times when Steve would write letters. I think that this was a very interesting twist and I've never read a book that is written like this.

I am reading Finding Alaska by John Green. I chose to read this book because I read The Fault In Our Stars also by John Green and I loved it. I figured I would give another on of his books a try. The story starts out with Miles/Pudge talking about going away to Culver Creek boarding school in Alabama. I think that the author chose to start the book with the character thinking because he wanted to set up for the rest of the story and we get to know Pudge a little. What pulls you into the story is the strong voice that John Green seems to use in his books to captivate the reader. The lead itself was not particularly interesting but the laid back voice of Pudge shines through nicely. "To say that that I had low expectations would be to understate the matter dramatically. I was more or less forced to invite all my "school friends," i.e., the ragtag bunch of drama people and English geeks I sat with by social necessity in the cavernous cafeteria of my public school, I knew they wouldn't come."(pg.3) I think that they with get caught after doing the prank and that something bad will happen to Alaska.
The story takes place at Culver Creek Boarding School in Alabama. It a normal high school with not very luxurious dorms and a lot of outdoor space for the students. The story takes place in present time because the ways of life seem to be very similar to present day. I have never been to boarding school and do not plan to go away for high school. Pudge tells the story. I think that is is was a good choice by John Green because he tells you his thoughts and emotions, which makes the story more interesting. I am really enjoying the book because I like the characters and really want to find out what happens.