The Climax and 'The Tequila Worm"

"When we left his side late that night, I reached down, took Papa's beautiful brown and white boots, 

and hugged them. I wanted to die. But Mama smiled and then wove her warm arms 

around Lucy and me and held us for a long time, like a tree giving life to her fruit." 

 Today's Learning Objective  * Describe how a particular story’s plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution. 

Guided Reading: The Tequila Worm  Today we will finish the chapter "The Tequila Worm" (pgs. 182 -194) of Tequila Worm. As we read, we will stop periodically to discuss the text and, if time permits, work on the guiding questions from our 'The Tequila Worm' Reading Guide (Week 4). 

The Climax of The Tequila Worm  Throughout our reading of  The Tequila Worm we have been examining the plot, the series of events, of the story, as well as how the main character Sofia has responded and changed as the story progressed. Today the story reached it's pinnacle moment, known as the climax. Take a moment to review the stages of plot below, with a special focus on what the climax of a story is. 

How were the events of today's chapter a turning point in the story? The emotional high point? In what ways has Sofia, our main character, changed? Record your ideas on the 'Climax or High Point' section of your Story Plot Chart ('Tequila Worm'). 

Homework  (1.) Read your A.R. book at home for at least 30 minutes and make a Digital Reading Log entry using the 3rd Quarter Reading Log. (2.) Complete the activity Should Kids Play Football? - Identifying Evidence from Both Sides State. (3.) Continue working on your  'The Tequila Worm' Reading Guide (Week 4). and Story Plot Chart ('Tequila Worm'). (4.) Book Orders are due Wednesday, March 11. Don't forget that you can order from Scholastic using the online code: FMRJ4. 

'The Tequila Worm' and Argument Writing

Creating the nacimiento is a "gift of sacredness," says Abuelita. Find out how in today's reading from The Tequila Worm.

 Today's Learning Objectives  * Describe how a particular story’s plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution. * Identify textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says. * Write arguments to support claims with clear reasoning and relevant evidence.   

Guided Reading: Tequila Worm  Today we read the chapter "The Christmas Nacimiento" (pgs. 170 -181) of Tequila Worm. As we read, we will stop periodically to discuss the text and, if time permits, work on the guiding questions from our 'The Tequila Worm' Reading Guide (Week 4). We will also continue to add to our Story Plot Chart ('Tequila Worm').

Write an Argument Essay: Decide What You Think  Last week we read the article "Should Kids Play Football?" and identified evidence for each side of the debate. Today we will reexamine evidence from both the 'Yes' and 'No' sides, as well as
consider our own beliefs, in order to decide what we think and take a stand on the issue. You will write your opinion in the space provided within the document Should Kids Play Football? - Identifying Evidence from Both Sides State. This written statement can ultimately become the thesis statement for your argument essay, which we will begin writing this week. 

Homework  (1.) Read your A.R. book at home for at least 30 minutes and make a Digital Reading Log entry using the 3rd Quarter Reading Log. (2.) Complete the activity Should Kids Play Football? - Identifying Evidence from Both Sides State. (3.) Continue working on your  'The Tequila Worm' Reading Guide (Week 4). and Story Plot Chart ('Tequila Worm'). (4.) Book Orders are due Wednesday, March 11. Don't forget that you can order from Scholastic using the online code: FMRJ4. 

Aloha Friday!

Aloha Friday!  Sorry I couldn't be with you today. I expect you to be on your very best behavior and to treat your substitute teacher with courtesy and respect. Also, know that I may be monitoring the work on your Chromebook from home. Students that violate classroom norms and rules will have to deal with me and the prospect of serious consequences upon my return. Be your best self! Do your best work! Make me proud! 

100 Word Challenge: Finishing Touches  Aloha Friday! It's just about time to publish this week's 100 Word Challenge. Please look over your 100 Word Challenge: ... then when I looked out the plane window ... (Week 24) story carefully. Does your story flow naturally from beginning to end? Did you use descriptive words and sensory details? Did you carefully review your spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar? Did you make sure your verb tenses are consistent and that you have employed correct and varied sentence structures? Please make sure your piece of writing is good as it can be. And don't forget my mom's little piece of advice:

100 Word Challenge: Publishing and Commenting  Now it's publishing time! Copy your 100 Word Challenge: ... then when I looked out the plane window ... (Week 24) story from your Google Doc and then login to Kidblog. Make a new post. Give your story an appropriate title; just make sure you put 100 WC: before it. Paste your story. Next, remember to highlight the words from the prompt. Finally, click "Publish."

Next, copy the web address of your posted story and then head over to 100 Word Challenge. Scroll down and paste the web address into the box that says 'Blog Link'. Enter your first name, 6th Grade, Lakeview Middle School, and for location: Watsonville, California, U.S.A. Finally, click 'Submit'. Congratulations! You are an internationally published author! 

If you post early enough and time permits, feel free to leave positive comments and/or constructive feedback for your fellow writers from around the world. 

Sacred Reading Time  If time permits, I offer you the rest of class time to simply read and commune with your books. Since I'm not here today, I'm going to ask you to read at your own desks. Enjoy this time!

Homework  (1.) Make sure you read for 30 minutes at least twice over the long weekend and make a couple more entries on your 3rd Quarter Reading Log. Don't forget to try one of the 100 New Year's Reading Resolutions for 2015 and make note of it on your log. I will be grading this week's Reading Log on Monday, March 9. (2.) Book Orders are due Wednesday, March 11. Don't forget that you can order from Scholastic using the online code: FMRJ4. 

'Tequila Worm' and More

Find out why Mama keeps a dozen frozen tamales in the freezer in today's reading of Tequila Worm. 

 Today's Learning Objectives  * Describe how a particular story’s plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.  * Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.

Guided Reading: Tequila Worm  Today we read the chapter "The Frozen Tamales" (pgs. 158-169) of Tequila Worm. As we read, we will stop periodically to discuss the text and, if time permits, work on the guiding questions from our 'The Tequila Worm' Reading Guide (Week 4). 

Plotting the Key Events in Tequila Worm  We are fast approaching the climax of Tequila Worm. Let's take a moment today to revisit the key events that have been building as part of the rising action. What conflicts and barriers has our main character Sofia had to confront? How has she responded or changed as a result? Please add to your Story Plot Chart ('Tequila Worm').

Writing Time: 100 Word Challenge  If time permits, I would like to offer you some time to work on your 100 Word Challenge: ... then when I looked out the plane window ... (Week 24) story, which we will be publishing tomorrow. If your first draft is complete, consider setting up a peer edit/review session with a partner in class.

Scholastic Book Order  Tired of the books in the school library? Looking to buy a book just for you? Please take a look at the new Scholastic Book Order. If you see something to your liking, consider buying it. By buying books through Scholastic, not only do you find great book at great prices, but you have an opportunity to earn points for your class so we add more books to our classroom library.

You may buy books in several ways. You may bring in your order form with cash or a check made our to Scholastic Reading Club. Or you can simply order books online at scholastic.com/readingclub. Once you get there make sure you enter our class code: FMRJ4. The deadline for ordering books as part of this order will be: Wednesday, March 11. 

Homework  (1.) Read your A.R. book at home for at least 30 minutes and make a Digital Reading Log entry using the 3rd Quarter Reading Log. (2.) Complete the "Should Kids Play Football?" Finding Text Evidence Activity, which is due tomorrow, Friday, March 6. (3.) Complete your 100 Word Challenge: ... then when I looked out the plane window ... (Week 24) story, which we will publish tomorrow, Friday, March 6. 

Finding Evidence for "Should Kids Play Football?"

 Today's Learning Objective  * Identify textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says.

Warm Up: "Should Kids Play Football?" Quiz  Yesterday, we read the Scope Magazine article "Should Kids Play Football?". Now I would like to begin today by having you take a short quiz based on the article so I can gauge your initial understanding of the article's content and key learning objectives. You can find the quiz here and you may refer back to the article during the quiz. 

'Finding Text Evidence' Activity  As we prepare to write our own argument essays on the topic of whether kids should play football or not, it's important that we continue to practice finding and using text evidence. We will continue to closely read the article "Should Kids Play Football?", while using the document "Should Kids Play Football?" Finding Text Evidence Activity. The activity will encourage you to find pieces of text evidence that support various statements, as well as ask you to support your own statement with text evidence. Consider this training and practice for the argument essay writing to come. 

Homework  (1.) Read your A.R. book at home for at least 30 minutes and make a Digital Reading Log entry using the 3rd Quarter Reading Log. (2.) Continue working on the "Should Kids Play Football?" Finding Text Evidence Activity. (3.) Continue working on your 100 Word Challenge: ... then when I looked out the plane window ... (Week 24) story, which we will publish on Friday, March 6. (4.) Book Orders are due Wednesday, March 11. Don't forget that you can order from Scholastic using the online code: FMRJ4. 

Debating Youth Football and Reading 'Tequila Worm'

 Today's Learning Objectives  * Identify textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says. * Describe how a particular story’s plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution. 

Should Kids Play Football?: Exploring Both Sides of the Debate  Football is the most popular sport in America—but is it too dangerous to play? Today we will read arguments on both sides of the debate and take a stand. In the coming days, after we have explored the debate and the issues involved thoroughly, we will develop our own position, gather supporting evidence, and craft an argument essay. 

Today our focus is on reading the article from Scope Magazine "Should Kids Play Football?" and identifying evidence from the article that supports each side of the debate. As we read, we will stop periodically to identify evidence using the document Should Kids Play Football? - Identifying Evidence from Both Sides, which can be found in your Language Arts folder.  

Guided Reading: Tequila Worm  Today we read the chapter "The Panty-Hose Baby" (pgs. 148-157) of Tequila Worm. As we read, we will stop periodically to discuss the text and, if time permits, work on the guiding questions from our 'The Tequila Worm' Reading Guide (Week 4). We will also continue to add to our Story Plot Chart ('Tequila Worm').

Homework  (1.) Read your A.R. book at home for at least 30 minutes and make a Digital Reading Log entry using the 3rd Quarter Reading Log. (2.) Continue working on Should Kids Play Football? - Identifying Evidence from Both Sides  (3.) Continue working on the assignment 'The Tequila Worm' Reading Guide (Week 4). (4.) Continue working on your 100 Word Challenge: ... then when I looked out the plane window ... (Week 24) story, which we will publish on Friday, March 6. (5.) Book Orders are due Tuesday, March 10. Don't forget that you can order from Scholastic using the online code: FMRJ4. 

'Tequila Worm' and a New 100 Word Challenge Prompt

What do you see?

 Today's Learning Objectives  * Describe how a particular story’s plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.  * Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.

  

Preparing the Learner Activity: Tequila Worm  Happy Monday and welcome to a new week of Tequila Worm! You can find your new 'The Tequila Worm' Reading Guide (Week 4) in your Language Arts folders. To help us get "into" the text this week, we will begin with a 'Preparing the Learner Activity,' in which you will be asked to reflect on some of your own experiences relative to topics we will be exploring in this week's reading. As the week progresses, you will compare and/or contrast your experiences with those of Sofia.

Guided Reading: Tequila Worm  Today we read the chapter "Saints at Saint Luke's" (pgs. 136-147) of Tequila Worm. As we read, we will stop periodically to discuss the text and, if time permits, work on the guiding questions from our 'The Tequila Worm' Reading Guide (Week 4). We will also continue to add to our Story Plot Chart ('Tequila Worm').

Introducing a New 100 Word Challenge  The 100 Word Challenge prompt this week requires you to imagine you are on an airplane. What do you see?   

As for the prompt, please notice the ellipses (...) at the beginning and end of the prompt. This indicates that words should come both before and after "then when I looked out the plane window". What were you thinking, feeling, experiencing before you looked out the plane window? After you looked out the plane window, what changes? What do you feel, think, and see now? 

As for what might one see looking out a plane window, check out the link Incredible views out of Airplane windows for a few ideas. If you've never flown on a plane and want a simulation of what it might be like and what you might see looking out the window, check out the video below. 

Thinking of crafting a more terrifying airplane story and want to capture what is seen through the plane window as more sinister and frightening? Consider watching the clip below for inspiration. Warning: You may never want to fly again after watching this.  

                             

As soon as you're ready, you can find the document 100 Word Challenge: ... then when I looked out the plane window ... (Week 24) in your Language Arts folders. I can't wait to see your stories take flight this week! 

Homework  (1.) Read your A.R. book at home for at least 30 minutes and make a Digital Reading Log entry using the 3rd Quarter Reading Log. (2.) Continue working on 'The Tequila Worm' Reading Guide (Week 4). (3.) Continue working on your 100 Word Challenge: ... then when I looked out the plane window ... (Week 24) story, which we will publish on Friday, March 6.