Great Deal on Next Novel!

Hello Parents!

I wanted to send home a quick note to let you know about a money-saving opportunity for our next novel, Life of Pi. One of my great frustrations in teaching is having to ask students to spend money on materials for class. In an ideal world I don’t know if it would work this way.

I am saying all of this to let you know that our next book happens to be on sale at Amazon.com right now. I usually recommend the cheapest paperback versions of the books we read, but right now Amazon.com has a hardcover version of our next book on sale for $8.32. The regular price is $29.95 and the paperback is $11.20. This hardcover version is also filled with wonderful illustrations that will add a great dynamic to our experience of the novel.

Students will not “need” the book for more than a month, but this is a great deal.

Trying to help out,

Mike Strong




* Hardcover: 336 pages
* Publisher: Harcourt; Ill edition (October 1, 2007)
* ISBN-10: 0151013837
* ISBN-13: 978-0151013838

SLCs Are Here!

Yesterday we had our go at the new Student-Led Conference format. Overall we received a great response and look forward to modifying the experience to make it meaningful for students. Today we continue with the conferences and we (Mr. Davis and I) continue to be impressed with the abilities of our students when they are given moments of autonomy and freedom.

Chapter Four-The Moon Lady

This is a short video of Daniel and Julianne discussing the importance of "The Moon Lady" chapter in The Joy Luck Club.

SLC's

Today and this weekend student will be preparing for Student Led Conferences. The conferences will be Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. Each student has a "preparation packet" and a letter to give their parents. If you (parents) have not signed up for a time slot please contact Mr. Strong for available times.

Chapter Three-The Red Candle

This is a video of Jack and Natalie discussing the chapter, The Red Candle.

Great Running!

I wanted to say great job! to all of the students on our team. You guys rocked the jog-a-thon.

Chapter Two - Scar

Here are Ariel and Gideon discussing the chapter "Scar" the Joy Luck Club.

Do Your Homework!

Today we all felt a little bit of disappointment because many of you neglected to complete the homework that was due over the weekend. If you have not completed it I encourage you to do so and turn it in at a minor penalty. The assignment was to read the "Rules of the Game" chapter in the novel and complete a full Habits of Mind sheet (SPECS).

Chapter One - The Joy Luck Club

Over the next few weeks students will be uploading short videos about our progress through The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. This video covers the basic ideas of the first chapter, "The Joy Luck Club."

Tuesday's In-Class Work

Today our class has the rare opportunity of having a computer available for each student. During this work time students should be completing as many of the following assignments as possible:

1. Add a Math/Science blog to your blogger account. (use the same account as your book reviews)

2. Link your Humanities blog to your Humanities digital portfolio.

3. Link your Math/Science blog to your Math/Science digital portfolio.

4. Complete your Joy Luck Club blogs.

Happy Friday!

I want to thank you guys for a great week. I will be grading quite a bit of your work this weekend and those of you who turned in late assignments (by Thursday) should see a "bump" in your overall grade in the next couple of days. I will be inputting scores from the reading quiz, the vocab test, and your journals. I hope you all have a great weekend and I will see you on Tuesday.

If you did not finish the the chapter "Rules of the Game" in class, you will need to finish reading it this weekend along with completing the Significance-Evidence work given to you in class.