The Bueno and Malo in 'Any Small Goodness'

Any Small Goodness has arrived at a turning point. Find out what happens in today's chapter "The Lunch Box."

Reflecting on "The Band"  Before we begin today's reading let's briefly revisit the chapter "The Band" of Any Small Goodness. Look over the assignment Any Small Goodness - The Band (Ch. 6). Do you think Papi has had an experience with troublemakers like this before? What makes you think so?

Now let's take another look at the document Any Small Goodness - Prepare to Read and Character Map. Who is the character from the chapter "The Band" who influences Arturo the most? What lesson does he learn from this person? Might this lesson be a part of the puzzle to ultimately determining the theme of the entire novel?  

Guided Reading of Any Small Goodness: "The Lunch Box"  Today we will continue our reading of Any Small Goodness by reading the chapter "The Lunch Box" together. As we read we will stop periodically to discuss and analyze the text. You will also be using the document Any Small Goodness - The Lunch Box (Ch. 7), which is located in your Language Arts Google Classroom, to reflect on and respond to this chapter.

Homework (1.) Complete the assignment Any Small Goodness - The Lunch Box (Ch. 7), which is due Friday, October 16. (2.) Read your A.R. book at home for at least 30 minutes and, if you choose, make a reading log entry using the Digital Reading Log. (Remember you must have made at least two entries by the end of the week.)

Blogging and Library Visiting

Publshing on Kidblog  Aloha Friday! Earlier this week, each of you joined a specially created blog for your Language Arts class. Today you will have an opportunity to make your first post and begin engaging with your fellow bloggers. To begin, please visit Kidblog and login. Find the draft entitled "About Me" that you hopefully already started. Take a moment to review your writing and make any necessary revisions and/or additions. When you feel ready, go ahead and publish. Make sure you make your post viewable for your classmates.

Commenting on Blog Posts  Today I'm going to encourage you to comment on at least one blog post by another student. Remember your comments should be respectful, specific, and helpful. If you liked something about someone's writing or their story, explain what specific aspect of their writing you appreciated. For example: I loved your use of descriptive details! If you have a tip about how a student could improve their writing, make sure to share in a way that is helpful and not hurtful. For example: I really liked your story, but I thought you could have used a few more sensory details. For more suggestions on how to be a great blog post commenter check out the video below. Have fun!  

Library Visit  Today we head to the library. Make sure you bring your books to either return or renew and your student ID card if you want to check out books. You may look for new books, read quietly, or take AR tests. Remember there are only 7 days left in the quarter and many of you need to earn AR points. Please take advantage of this opportunity and use your library time well. 

Homework  Due to Back to School Night, the deadline for the assignments that were to be due today were changed to Monday, October 12. Please make sure the following assignments are completed and 'turned in' by Monday: Any Small Goodness - Piano Lessons (Ch. 4), Any Small Goodness - The River (Ch. 5), Run-On Sentence Assignment, What is Theme?, and two Digital Reading Log entries.

Being Strong and Gentle in 'Any Small Goodness'

How will Papi and his car Valentín deal with the gang of "meso-heads" in today's chapter?

Reflecting on "Piano Lessons" and "The River"  Before we begin today's reading let's briefly revisit the chapters "Piano Lessons" and "The River of Any Small Goodness. Look over the assignment Any Small Goodness - Piano Lessons (Ch. 4). Does Mama Dulce remind you of someone you know? Tell about that person. What does the person do? How does the person help others? Next look over the assignment Any Small Goodness - The River (Ch. 5). If you were on the school board, would you try to get Ms. Cloud back? Why or why not?

Now let's take another look at the document Any Small Goodness - Prepare to Read and Character Map. Who is the character from the chapter "Piano Lessons" who influences Arturo the most? What lesson does he learn from this person? Who is the character from the chapter "The River" who influences Arturo the most? What lesson does he learn from this person? Might these lessons be a part of the puzzle to ultimately determining the theme of the entire novel?  

Guided Reading of Any Small Goodness: "The Band"  Today we will continue our reading of Any Small Goodness by reading the third chapter "The Coach" together. As we read we will stop periodically to discuss and analyze the text. You will also be using the document Any Small Goodness - Band (Ch. 6), which is located in your Language Arts Google Classroom, to reflect on and respond to this chapter. 

Homework  (1.) Encourage your family to come to Back to School Night tonight! (2.) Due to Back to School Night, the assignments that would have been due tomorrow will now be due on Monday, October 12. 

Quizzing and Blogging

Are you ready to create a blog of your own?

Run-on Sentence Quiz  Happy Wednesday! Let's start the day by demonstrating what we've learned about run-on sentences and how to repair them. You may find your quiz here. If you finish early, you may read and/or take A.R. quizzes. 

KidBlog: Getting Started  Mr. McGinty has a blog. Shouldn't you have a blog of your own? Today each of you will have the opportunity to set up your very own blog using the site Kidblog. 

After arriving at the site, click on "Students" in red, and then enter your class code: 
Period 2 - gg5ixxt, Period 3 - dvnsy5v, and Period 5 - a4gv8xt. 

Next, try signing up by linking your Google account. Once you're logged in and if you have time, try making your first blog post. Entitle it "About Me" and introduce yourself to your community of fellow bloggers. Without using your last name, tell your readers about yourself, your background, your interests, your values, your passions, your dreams, etc. Have fun! 

We will hopefully be using KidBlog a lot this year, as a way to express ourselves, improve our writing, and connect with people from around the world. 

Homework  Read your A.R. book at home for at least 30 minutes and, if you choose, make a reading log entry using the Digital Reading Log. (Remember you must have made at least two by the end of the week.)

Out Sick and 'Any Small Goodness'

Mr. McGinty Out Sick  Class, I'm so sorry I couldn't be with you today. I'm not feeling well and am at home trying to get better. I am confident that you will be on your very best behavior today and treat your substitute teacher(s) with the respect they deserve. I hope to see you tomorrow. Make me proud today! 

Guided Reading of Any Small Goodness: "The River"  Today we will continue our reading of Any Small Goodness by reading the fifth chapter "The River" (pgs. 64 - 77) together. As we read we will stop periodically to discuss and analyze the text. You will also be using the document Any Small Goodness - The River (Ch. 5), which is located in your Language Arts Google Classroom, to reflect on and respond to this chapter. 

Homework  (1.) Complete the assignment Any Small Goodness - The River (Ch. 5), which is due Friday, October 9. (2.) Read your A.R. book at home for at least 30 minutes and, if you choose, make a reading log entry using the Digital Reading Log. (Remember you must have made at least two by the end of the week.)

Reviewing Theme and Repairing Run-On Sentences

Fables can be useful when learning about theme.

Theme Revisited  We have been focused on identifying the theme of various pieces of literature so far this school year. From "Eleven" to "Nadia the Willful" to Any Small Goodness, we have used clues from what we've read to identify the important message about life that is being conveyed, the theme. Let's use today as a theme refresher, so the concept remains clear and at the forefront of our thinking as we read and discuss our various texts. 

Remember: The theme of a story is its big idea. It’s a message, lesson, or universal truth that goes beyond the literal events of the story. In other words, it’s an idea that applies to people in general—not just the characters in the story. An author doesn’t usually come right out and tell you what the theme is; as a reader, you need to infer it. A story can have more than one theme.

Fables can be useful when you are learning about theme. They have a special kind of theme called a moral, which is a short, clear lesson. Unlike other kinds of themes, morals are often directly stated, usually at the end of a story, either by one of the characters or by the narrator. Let's analyze some fables today and try to determine their morals, or themes. 

In your Language Arts Google Classroom, you will find the assignment What is Theme?, which we will use to develop our understanding of theme by examining various fables. 


Introducing Conjunctions and Repairing Run-On Sentences  We have also been focused on identifying dreaded run-on sentences and practicing ways to repair them. One way to do that is to use conjunctions. Allow your friends from Flocabulary to explain the power of conjunctions.

  
Now let's practice the three different strategies we've learned to fix run-on sentences: with a
period, semicolon, comma plus coordinating conjunction. You can find the Run-On Sentence Assignment in your Language Arts Google Classroom. 

Homework (1.) Complete the assignment What is theme? and the Run-On Sentence Assignment, both of which are due Friday, October 9. (2.) Read your A.R. book at home for at least 30 minutes and, if you choose, make a reading log entry using the Digital Reading Log. (Remember you must have made at least two entries by the end of the week.)

 

Happy Thursday!

Finishing Touches and Publishing Our Writing  Happy Thursday! Today is a very special day because not only is it the last day of the school week, but today you also have the opportunity to once again publish your writing! We will be putting the finishing touches on our 100 Word Challenge stories and then publishing our stories to the 100 Word Challenge/Night Zookeeper website. 

To get started, open your 100 Word Challenge: ... As the flashing lights came toward me ... story from your Language Arts Google Classroom. Take the time to review and carefully read over your story. Are you skillfully incorporating the words from this week's prompt? Do you have a clear beginning, middle, and an end? Are you making a point to include precise words and descriptive details? Are you avoiding fragments and run-on sentences? Continue to show the world your best writing! When you're ready, copy your story from the text box. You may then 'turn in' the rough draft of your story, as you will not longer be using this document. 

Now head on over to the 100 Word Challenge/Night Zookeeper website and login (or, if this your first time, register and remind me to give you our class code). Next, click on the '100' icon. Then, click on the yellow "write" button where it asks if you accept this week's challenge. 

Give your story a fitting title and the paste your story into the story space below. Notice that the site provides you with some tips on spelling, punctuation, and word choice. Revise your story and improve your story and make sure it is ready for publishing. When you are satisfied with the quality of your story, click 'save.' Let me know that you are ready to publish and I will open it up for others to read. You will then hopefully begin to receive feedback from readers from around the world. 

Once you have finished your story and saved it on the website, you are welcome comment on other stories. Your comments, however, should be respectful, specific, and helpful. If you liked something about someone's writing, explain what specific aspect of their writing you appreciated. For example: I loved your use of descriptive details! If you have a tip about how a student could improve their writing, make sure to share in a way that is helpful and not hurtful. For example: I really liked your story, but I thought you could have used a few more sensory details.

Sacred Reading Time  Today, if time permits, I offer you uninterrupted class time to simply read and commune with your books. Some of you will invited to read outside, others in a cozy corner of the room, while most of you will hopefully become enraptured by the words on your pages right at your desks. Enjoy this time! 

Join German and dive into a book today!