While You Read - Guided Reading Questions - answer the following questions:
1. What is a prodigy and why does the mother want the main character to become one?

2. How does the mother prepare her daughter for fame?

3. What talents does the girl have?

4. Why does she start the piano lessons and how is the mother going to pay for them?

5. Describe the piano teacher.

6. What do Auntie Lindo and Jing-Mei's mother have in common?

7. In your own words, relate the events of the recital.

8. What does the author mean when she says, "I didn't have to do what my mother said anymore... This wasn't China"? page 97

9. What words does the author use to describe her mother's disappointment in her?

10. Why does Jing-mei come back to play the piano after her mother's death?

After Your Read - research online about the topics below. Find an article and a picture. Next to the picture provide a caption (5-6 sentences) that summarizes each article. Cite your sources properly.

The Ed Sullivan show
Beethoven
Schumann
the Japanese invasion of China.

Before You Read - Personal Narrative -  Think about the expectations your parent/guardian has for you. What do they think of your talents? How are you living up to the expectations? Do you have your own plans? Record your thoughts as a journal entry in a separate post.

Information Essay and Class Presentation.
We are reading a story about one parent's dream of making her daughter into a child prodigy.  Research the topic and pick a boy or a girl whose talents brought them fame or fortune.  Click here for a suggested list of children with exceptional abilities.
You may want to look into these kids' profiles

Coming soon ... task & guidelines

Happy Thanksgiving!

We give thanks that those who traveled to celebrate Thanksgiving with us had the freedom to do so.

We give thanks that we can say what we want to say, without looking over our shoulder to see if we are being reported.

We give thanks that we can vote so that each one of us has a voice in America.

On this day of Thanksgiving we thank those who founded our country with the documents full of values that continue to inspire us.

We give thanks for the bounty and blessings in our lives and for the privilege, responsibility and honor of being Americans.

The Most Dangerous Game

Watch the movie (1932)

Guided Reading Questions for pp. 56-57

1.     How deep was the pit?

2.     Why does the author use the phrase “with flying fingers”?

3.     Someone died in the pit.  Who? How?

4.     What happened to Ivan?

5.     How did Rainsford escape from the dogs?

6.     How did the General spend his evening?

7.     Who won the game?

8.     Rainsford said “I am still the beast at bay”.  Explain what he meant.

9.     Why did the general bow to Rainsford.

10.  What happened to Zaroff at the end?

November 19-20
Task - Write an essay comparing and contrasting Rainsford and Zaroff.

Guidelines - Be sure to

1.  Introduce both characters - background, appearance, lifestyles, occupations, etc.
   
2. Describe the many similarities and differences the characters have.
   
3. Using your answers from Guided Reading Questions explain how the conflict gets resolved.
   
4. Discuss what you think Rainsford is going to do after the story ends and if he is going to turn into another Zaroff.
   
5. Remember to use quotes if you copy from the text.
   
6. Use proper writing conventions - spelling, punctuation, fonts, and format.
   

November 11th is Veteran's Day

Regents Review

    Have you ever wondered why we celebrate Veteran's Day? Wars are a part of every nation's history, but it has only been in the last 100 years that an official day was set aside to honor those who fought for their country.

     In 1921, an unidentified American soldier from World War I was buried in a special place in Arlington National Cemetery. A memorial ceremony was established to give honor to all the soldiers who had fought in that war at the date and time World War I had officially ended, November 11, 1918 at 11:00 a.m. It became officially known as Armistice Day in 1926. It was not until 12 years later that it became a national holiday.

     In 1956 following World War II and the Korean War, a decision was made to change the name of the holiday. It was to reflect the honor due all veterans that the name was changed to Veteran's Day.

     In 1958, two more unknown soldiers, one from the Second World War and the other from the Korean War, were buried at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. In 1984, a final soldier was interred from the Viet Nam War, bringing the total of unidentified soldiers buried there to four.

     Today an Army honor guard, The 3rd U.S. Infantry, watches there day and night. On Veteran's Day every year, a ceremony is held at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers with a color guard and taps being played.

Response to Literature - The Necklace

Why was Madame Loisel upset when her husband gave her the invitation to the party?

What seems to be the main conflict in the story?

What are some universal status symbols?

Can money buy happiness?

Answers should be justified with examples from the story.  Be sure to use quotes.  Do not end your response with the quote.  Use your own words to answer the questions.  Quote the text only to support the answer.

Questions for Review

Turkish version

Writing Workshop Introduction

Types of Writing:

• Descriptive - to tell how something looks, tastes, feels; to desribe someone.
• Narrative - to tell about something that happened.
• Expository - to explain facts to the reader.
• Persuasive - to convince the reader to do something.
• Technical - to explain a process or a procedure.
• Letter - to write a message to someone.
• Response to Literature - to write about something you read.

Good writers think about...

Form
Audience
Topic
Purpose

Third MP Assignments

We only have three weeks left in the semester. The following is the list of reading and writing assignments you are expected to complete IN CLASS.  It is a good review of the types of questions that usually follow the readings. You can copy the questions. Writing assignments should be completed on your blog. Good luck!

Non-Fiction Level I

Non-Fiction Level II

Non-Fiction Level III

Non-Fiction Level IV


ALL WORK GOES ON BLOGS DUE MAY 17TH.

Poetry Unit

NYSESLAT Writing Prep

I am at a loss of words. All my posts mysteriously disappeared. What an unfortunate and untimely thing to have happened. If you have done this, then come clean, apologize profusely, and I'll let it go. However, if I have to look for you (and I will find you), my wrath will circumvent the protocol and supersede common sense.

We are in the middle on preparing for the NYSESLAT - Writing, which involves writing essays. Here are some questions you may have:

Q. How do you learn how to write well?
A. You learn how to write by writing. It is the same for every other skill: you learn to do something by doing it.

Q. So, what do I have to write?
A. Click here to find Essay #1, which was due on Friday but I'll take because I am a sucker and a softie.

Q. How will Ms. Sakhno know whether or not I wrote anything?
A. She will spend her weekend reading your blog posts to come in on Monday ready to discuss our level of preparedness for the actual test.

Q. I'm done with #1. Now what?
A. If you're done with your first essay, move on to making an outline for either #2 or #3. After you're done with the outline, continue with essay #4 and its pre-writing questions. Click here for the assignment.

Q. My writing loooks good to me. How do I know it's a 4?
A. Look at the Rubric and give yourself a grade.

Why don't you practice grading these:
Sample A
Sample B
Sample C
Sample D
Sample E
Sample F
Sample G
Sample H
Sample I

Take a look at the list of writing assignments that were (and still are) due:

Intermediate Students - Two essays - #1 and #4

Advanced students -

1. Persuasive Letter
2. Essay #1 see sample of an outline that we did in class
3. Outline of an Essay #2 or #3 See sample essay #2
4. Essay #4

All work is to be posted on your blogs no later than Saturday, April 12th, at 8 p.m.