Genesis: Students took NWEA tests this week.  After book chats on Stephen Crane’s The Red Badge of Courage, Gary Paulsen’s Soldier’s Heart, and Mary E. Lyons’ Letters from a Slave Girl, students indicated their preferences and were matched in their literature circle groups accordingly.  This list description from the San Diego County Board of Education provides a great introduction and overview:

The Twelve Ingredients of Literature Circles

1) Children choose their own reading material.
2) Small, temporary groups are formed, based on book choice.
3) Different groups read different books.
4) Groups meet on a regular, predictable schedule.
5) Kids use written or drawn notes to guide both their reading and discussion.
6) Discussion topics come from the students.
7) Group meetings aim to be open, natural discussions.
8 ) In newly forming groups, students play a rotating assortment of task roles.
9) The teacher serves as a facilitator.
10) Evaluation is by teacher observation and student self-evaluation.
11) A spirit of playfulness and fun pervades the room.
12) New groups form around new reading choices.

We will continue Civil War Literature Circles next week.

Legacy: We began our study of the science fiction novel Fahrenheit 451 this week with various SMART Board activities to engage prior knowledge before reading.  After an inquiry into definitions of censorship and Ray Bradbury’s essay, “Coda,” we honed a Key Words reading strategy using tough texts by Thomas More (Utopia), George Orwell (1984) as well as an article on McCarthyism.  Discussions of the novel begin next week.

Explorers: Students had additional workshop time this week to develop their social studies papers.  They put incredible effort into their work on this project!  We then began our inquiry into graduation speeches, first considering common themes of the literature and then investigating specific approaches used by commencement speech authors.  Students will begin topic generating and drafting next week.  More information can be found in this week’s Field Notes.

Genesis: Literature Circle #2 discussion today!  Don’t forget to complete your appropriate role sheet before today’s class.

Legacy: Fahrenheit 451 quiz reading check quiz today!  You should have the entire novel read.

Explorers: Continue independent reading for May 20 contract.