American Born Chinese - Reader Response Blog Entry

Image Source: http://geneyang.com/american-born-chinese

 
This week in ELA we learned about the medium of the graphic novel (and how to read it) and began reading American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang.  It's safe to say that even though we are only on page 40, this book is already a hit!  We then discussed (and Teacher Lacey modeled) the process for composing reader response blog entries.  Together we decided that there are many strategies that we can use to respond to our reading.  Here is a list of what a Reader Response Blog can do (compiled so far by three sections of 7th grade ELA students).

A Reader Response Blog Entry Can...

• Include your thoughts and opinions on a text
• Make connections to your own feelings and experience
• Introduce and summarize the events in the text you want to write about
• Ask questions
• Include your predictions about the story
• Make inferences about the main character's problem
• Talk about how the main character feels
• Include specific details from the story
• Draw conclusions about the author's purpose and craft

 For this week's blog post, please compose your own Reader Response Blog Entry on your first impressions on the graphic novel American Born Chinese.  For this week you might also choose to focus on what you notice about the graphic novel medium and details from the panels themselves.  Alternatively, you could discuss your predictions and how they may have changed as you began reading the story.  Your blog post should be at least two paragraphs and carefully proofread.  Please include a title and, as always, you're welcome to include relevant images in your post.

Your published blog entry is due Tuesday, November 13, by 8AM.  Please be prepared to share your entry with your peers.

Stereotypes

In the above video, Kevin gives an amusing, but also thought provoking rant, about the stereotypes that he has to deal with on a daily basis.  For this week's blog post, you will reflect on the stereotypes you have to deal with.  

As always, be careful to proofread before posting.

Due: on the blog by 4PM Monday, November 5^th

Minimum: Two MEATY paragraphs

Choose one or more prompts below to reflect on your experience of and beliefs about stereotypes.

1.        Write about a time you witnessed someone being treated according to a stereotype.

2.        Have you ever been mistreated or benefitted from a stereotype that was applied to you?  Describe what happened.

3.        Write about a time that you or someone you know or heard about acted according to a stereotype.

4.        Write about a time you experienced or witnessed a racist act and how it made you feel.

Six Word Memoirs!

Students,

It's finally time to unveil our Six Word Memoir Videos!  After learning about how just six words can tell a story, 7th grade students set out on coming up with their own.  The results are passionate, funny, and heartfelt.  Please watch the following videos from each 7th grade class and feel free to leave a comment.
Thanks for watching!

Here are the commenting stems we like to use in class to keep our remarks polite and useful!


7A's Class Video:
7A Movie from lacey boland on Vimeo.
7B's Class Video:
7B 6WM Video 2012 from lacey boland on Vimeo.
7C's Class Video:
7C 6WM Movie 2012 from lacey boland on Vimeo.
7D's Class Video:
7D Movie 2012 from lacey boland on Vimeo.

Imagine If A Painting Could Speak...

Students,

On Tuesday you visited the Philadelphia Museum of Art and explored ways that both visual art and writing can tell a story.  We examined painting, sculpture, armor, prints, and even a Japanese tea house and noticed the careful details that the artists had included to create an effect on us.

Today you will use your notes to write a narrative about your experience looking at art.  You may choose one of the prompts below, or you may wish to develop one of the writing prompts you began in the museum with your group. If you would like to write about one of the prints in the Brandywine Workshop collection, click here.

For full credit, your blog post must be thorough, thoughtful, creative, and well-proofread using the proofreading strategies we discussed in class (see your handout)!

Choose one prompt and one painting below to get started.  You may wish to include the image of the work of art you choose to write about in your blog post.
__________________________________________________________________

1.  Journal - Write a journal entry from the perspective of someone or something in a work of art.  Write about the events of your day, your current thoughts and feelings, as well as ideas, reflections, and what you wonder about.

2.  Jump into a work of art - Imagine you can jump into a work of art and write a story about your adventure.  How did you get there?  What happened to you as you explored the work of art from the inside?  How will you get back out?

3.  Exploring dialogue - What would they say?  Write a dialogue between two figures in the same work.  What is each one thinking?  What would they want to ask or tell one another?  What would they say in conversation?  Use the dialogue to begin a story about your painting.

Paintings to choose from:


"The Battle of Milvian Bridge" by Audran after Le Brun

"Breaking Home Ties" by Thomas Hovenden

"South Philly (Mattress Flip)" by Zoe Strauss


"Portrait of the Artist's Mother"


"The Bicycle Race" by Antonio Ruiz

How Would You Change Our School Rules?

Image source: http://www.zanebenefits.com/Portals/149308/images/hra%20health%20reimbursement%20arrangement%20rules.jpg

Students,

In honor of the upcoming presidential elections and the debates that we have been watching, this week's blog assignment calls on you to persuade your classmates, teacher, principal and dean about a school rule that you think should be put in place, changed, or eliminated altogether.  This week's post has the potential to make real change.  The best blog entries will be submitted to our principal and dean for their review!

Possible Topics:

• Gum chewing
• Uniforms/Dress Code
• Use of cell phones at school
• Use of Kindle or other electronic reading devices
• Other?

Your Task:

• First Paragraph: Introduce the school rule and state your opinion.  Why do you think this school rule should be eliminated or added to our community?
• Second Paragraph: Support your opinion with lots of evidence and examples.  What would be the potential positive effects of your rule change?  Consider including student and teacher opinion on the matter. 
• Third Paragraph: What are the potential negative effects? Explain how your opponents might react to the rule you are suggesting and offer a rebuttal that proves them wrong.
• Concluding paragraph: Sum up your argument in a thoughtful way.

Check your ICS mail to read an example editorial essay titled: "Let the Kids Choose"

Please post your persuasive editorial on your class blog:
- Give your blog a title - make your title count!
- Proofread for CUPS
- Don't forget to click the blue submit for review button when you are finished!

Your blog post is due: Monday, October 22nd. If you know will have trouble accessing computers or the internet, plan ahead! Write your blog out on loose leaf to type up Monday at school before 4PM for full credit. 

Blogging Away!

 

Image Source: http://chasingriches.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/i_love_blogging1.jpg

The 7th grade students are getting the hang of this blogging business and their first couple of posts are up!

Click on the links below to read some exemplary student blogs from last week!

Denisha tells us why she loves signing.

Arion gives us a taste of why he loves basketball and the story behind his six word memoir.

Jazmine shares the story behind her memoir and her love of reading.

Aaliyah discusses her six word memoir and her love of playing the piano.

Introducing Individual Student Blogs!

 Image Source: http://www.ereleases.com/prfuel/more-guest-blogging-opportunities/

Hello 7th graders,

I am so impressed by your first attempts at blogging last week!  Many of you already seem like old pros!

This week, we will be creating our new individual blogs using the website: http://kidblog.org/home/

To get started on your blog, follow the step by step instructions below:

1.  To create your new blog simply go to your class' blog website and find your name on the drop down menu and then type in your password (this password is the same as your Achieve3000 password).

• http://kidblog.org/7ASevenSpeaks/
• http://kidblog.org/7BSevenSpeaks/
• http://kidblog.org/7CSevenSpeaks/
• http://kidblog.org/7DSevenSpeaks/

2.  Begin exploring on your blog.  Choose a name for your blog that represents who you are as a writer.  The default option is: Your Name's Blog.

3.  Click on your profile at the top of the site once you are logged in to change your blog's theme and add an avatar that will represent you.

4. Now you're ready to write your post!  Click on new post and begin your draft.  Don't forget to give your post a title!

5. Your first step will be to insert your Six Word Memoir slide - simply click on Upload/Insert Media: at the top of your post and then select: "Media Library."  Once you have successfully uploaded your image, it's time to start writing!

Blog Assignment - Submission for review due Tuesday! (Two MEATY paragraphs MINIMUM)

1.  Underneath your memoir, give some background about the assignment. Is there a story behind your Six Word Memoir?  If so, tell it using details and description that support your memoir.  If your memoir is more of a personal motto, explain what the motto means to you.

2.  Write an *I LOVE* paragraph about something that you love.  You could focus on a hobby or activity, or a place that is special to you.  Use the paragraphs we read in class today as models.  Use lots of specific VERBS and NOUNS.

Remember, this is your first blog post so your goal is to share with the world who you are and what is important to you!  Be honest, personal, and creative!  And, as always, proofread for Capitalization, Usage (grammar), Punctuation, and Spelling.