A 100 Word Challenge and Crafting Your Thesis

What happened 'as they turned the corner' in this week's 100 Word Challenge?

 Today's Learning Objectives  * Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences. * 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 arguments to support claims with clear reasoning and relevant evidence. 

Showcase Writer: Natalia (Again)  Many of you continue to get wonderful feedback on your 100 Word Challenge writing from readers all over the world. However, one student in particular just received a very special recognition for the second time for her "... then when I looked out the plane ..." story. Our very own Natalia, from Period 3, was singled out once again as a Showcase winning writer; this time for her imaginative story about a plane trip that begins with frustration but ends with enchantment and wonder. As part of the Week 24 Showcase, her name and story have been published internationally, and she will receive a special showcase badge and certificate for her achievement. If you see Natalia, give her major props for this very special honor! Her original story and new showcase badge are featured below.

A New 100 Word Challenge  This week's intriguing 100 Word Challenge challenges you to make 'turning the corner' a centerpiece of your narrative.    

Questions to consider: Are your characters turning the corner literally or figuratively? To 'turn the corner' can also be an idiom, which can mean to "pass a milestone or critical point, begin to recover." Example: I was really ill on Tuesday and Wednesday but I think I've finally turned the corner. If it's a literal corner, where does your corner take place? Near an alleyway, a busy street, a mountain road, a hallway? Does your story take place in the day or at night? What are your characters doing before and as they 'turn the corner'? What do you they see or experience after they 'turn the corner'? 

You have a lot to consider. Please begin to plan and ultimately draft your story using the document 100 Word Challenge: ... as they turned the corner ... (Week 26), which you can find in your Language Arts folders.   

Argument Essay: Reviewing the Structure and Crafting Your Thesis  As we move from gathering evidence to drafting our argument essay, it's import to review the purpose and structure of an argument essay. Watch the video below. 

The most important component of the argument essay is the thesis statement. A thesis statement is simply an argument that you are going to prove. It is the roadmap to your essay and explains to the reader exactly what you will discuss in your paper. 

Using the document Write an Argument Essay: Steps 1 - 4, let's work on Step 4 and craft the thesis of our argument essay now. 

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 your 100 Word Challenge: ... as they turned the corner ... (Week 26) story. (3.) Complete the assignment Write an Argument Essay: Steps 1 - 4. 

Write an Argument Essay: Getting Started

 Today's Learning Objectives  * Identify textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says. * Write arguments to support claims with clear reasoning and relevant evidence.   

Write an Argument Essay: Getting Started  Over the past week you have read about the issues involved regarding whether or not kids should play football from the Scope Magazine Article "Should Kids Play Football?". You also began to research evidence supporting each side of the debate. Today you will continue to examine evidence about the debate from multiple sources, decide what you think about the issue, and begin to develop your argument. 

To strengthen your argument it's important to gather evidence from multiple sources. First, check out the balanced article "Should You Let Your Kids Play Football?" from U.S. News & World Report (an excerpt can be also found below). 

You can continue to add evidence (while also citing your sources) to your Should Kids Play Football? - Identifying Evidence from Both Sides document.

An excerpt from the article "Should You Let Your Kids Play Football?" from U.S. New & World Report

For another perspective, you may want to check out the article "3 ways your child will benefit from playing youth football," which is decidedly on the side of letting kids play. 

Finally, if you're looking for some more clear evidence against kids playing youth football, read the article "Why Kids Under 14 Should Not Play Tackle Football" from Time Magazine.

Once you've gathered enough initial evidence and decided on your point of view, you can begin to develop your argument and lay the foundation for your essay using the assignment Write an Argument Essay: Steps 1 - 4, which can be found in your Language Arts folders. I will guide you through the initial steps today: 1. Decide what you think. 2. Find your support. 3. Acknowledge the other side. 4. Craft your thesis. 

We will continue working on this next week. 

Homework  (1.) Continue working on the assignment Write an Argument Essay: Steps 1 - 4. (2.) Make sure you read for 30 minutes over the weekend and make another entry 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 16.

Assessments and Identifying the Theme

 Today's Learning Objectives  * Determine a central idea of a text. * Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says. * Determine a theme of a text.    

The Tequila Worm Accelerated Reader Quiz  You've read the book; now it's time to take the quiz. Show me that you understood the novel The Tequila Worm by logging in to Accelerated Reader and taking the Accelerated Reader quiz. The quiz will count both towards your A.R. goal and as an assessment as part of your Language Arts grade. Good luck! 

Identifying the Central Idea and Text Evidence Pre-Test  Recently you took the Language Arts District Benchmark Test, which attempted to measure your understanding of some of the key learning standards we are focused on mastering this year. In analyzing the data, my fellow 6th grade teachers and I determined that two areas that proved particularly challenging for you were: (1.) Determine a central idea of a text and (2.) Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says. To address this challenges, we have developed a pre-test to attempt assess your current understanding of these standards, which will then be followed by targeted lessons, and ultimately a post-test to measure if there has been a growth in understanding. 

Today we will read the news article below about video games below. You will then take the Central Idea/Evidence Pre-Test. 

Theme and The Tequila Worm  As we have studies this year, theme is the meaning or moral of a story. It is a message about life or human nature that the writer shares with the reader. Most themes are unstated. You must figure them out by paying attention to what happens in a story. You can gather clues to the theme of a piece of literature by looking at the characters, the plot, the setting, and the story title. 

What is the theme of The Tequila Worm? What is the life lesson, moral, or message about life that author Viola Canelas wants us to take away from the novel? Share your ideas on your class's Padlet wall (Period 2, Period 3, Period 5). Then review the responses of others, synthesize them with your own, and write down one possible theme for the novel on 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.) Continue working on your  'The Tequila Worm' Reading Guide (Week 4). and Story Plot Chart ('Tequila Worm'), both of which will be due on Friday, March 13. 

The Falling Action and Resolution of 'The Tequila Worm'

 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. 

Mr. McGinty Is Missing  Sorry I couldn't be with you today. I am out sick 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 you do 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! 

The Falling Action and Resolution of The Tequila Worm  Yesterday we finished reading The Tequila Worm, but we still haven't finished analyzing its plot. Today, grab yourself a copy of Tequila Worm, review the stages of plot below, especially pertaining to falling action and resolution, and finally complete your Story Plot Chart ('Tequila Worm') assignment. Save the theme section for another day. Please stack your books neatly or return them to the cart at the end of the period. 

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.) 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 your  'The Tequila Worm' Reading Guide (Week 4). and Story Plot Chart ('Tequila Worm'), both of which will be due on Friday, March 13. 

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.