Homework Reinforces Classwork

Hi There,

I just want you to know that my total focus is on your learning. There is no way to move forward without reading and writing. You begin by reading and identifying unknown vocabulary words. It makes sense then to learn the meaning of the "new" words This is how you progress and learn to read independently by moving up levels.  I made it simple for you; by setting up this blog and attaching the Quizlet your vocabulary study is very convenient.  If you notice, the definitions are attached, as well as word games. I am requesting that you write the meanings out of each word on loose-leaf paper, include a sentence for each word.


 These words come directly from the New York Times article entitled Jay-Z Deconstructs Himself. On Friday, we will explore the lyrics of two of Jay-Z's songs for literary elements. This will reinforce what you are learning in Ms.Nesbitt's class all week long. Your homework is below. Answer the questions based on the work you were assigned in class on Friday. The answers to the questions are due on Monday, Jan23, 2012.

Thank you for your cooperation
Ms. Abu

Homework-Week end:
Tonight respond to the following questions of loose-leaf
 
Discuss how this applies to the lyrics from “Empire State of Mind or "Pray"” with the following questions:

• What themes does Jay-Z address in this song?

• How does his use of literary elements help bring out these themes?

• Where in the lyrics do you see layers of metaphors?

• What are the effects of his “language tricks” on you as a listener?
• What musical genres seemed to make the most use of literary elements? Why do you think this is?
• Why would musical artists use the same old literary devices we study in class?
• How do these artists keep these devices fresh and avoid cliché?
• What would the lyrics be like without these literary elements?
• Which of these lyrics would you call literary?

 Please be sure to write out each question and answer it fully.
Due: Monday January 23, 2012

Home Work for After Thursday's Lesson-January 19, 2012

Jay-Z Deconstructs Himself:
Questions | For discussion and reading comprehension:

1. As a young man, how did Jay-Z use his notebook to capture ideas for lyrics?
2. How did Jay-Z’s former lifestyle contribute to his development as a writer?
3. How did writing help Jay-Z make sense out of his life?
4. What are some examples of ways in which Jay-Z uses traditional literary devices to help him express street life?
5. What does “postmodern” mean? In what way could Jay-Z’s work be considered postmodern?

Responses to these questions are due on Friday January 20th 2012.
In addition, all the vocabulary words are to be submitted with definitions. (See Quizlet link to your right for vocabulary words and meanings.) 

This assignment must be submitted on loose-leaf. Each word needs to be defined and there must be a sentence for each word. Also, you must complete the words in context worksheets.

Thank you for your cooperation.
Ms. Abu

Word Meaning In Context

Word Meaning in Context--

Is the ELA skill of the week worked on by Ms. Abu in all her classes this week.

We will look at defining vocabulary words in context by way of Jabberwocky (A Nonsense Poem by Lewis Carroll). Next, we will read a New York Times Non-Fiction text dated November 22, 2010, entitled Jay-Z Deconstructs Himself by  Michko Kakutani. There is a tremendous amount of unknown words in this article. Therefore, you will spend time independently  learning these words through the Quizlet site linked on your left, Through dictionary work and sharing with the Ten Most Important Words strategy in class which we will do on Wednesday January 18, 2012 after Tuesday's  classwork.  


In addition, supplemental homework handouts will be given in class to reinforce vocabulary words in context and a word find will also be included to embed the new words, so that they will be retained. All of the words we are learning will be added to the word wall and a test will be added in the future

I want you to be successful. Please do your homework.
Thank you,

Ms. Abu

The Ultimate Jabberwocky Page

http://www.waxdog.com/jabberwocky/
 Hi SHR ELA Students in Ms. Abu's classes
 Tomorrow we will cover Word Meaning in Context

Your homework is to  click on the link above
Look for  the word meanings for the Jabberwocky Poem
1.. Please tell us the meanings given for each of the words.
2.Look at the other links  for the poem and  and share what you noticed.
3. How does this poem help you learn how to explore word meanings in context?
Please do this homework along with the homework given in class.

Thank you,
Ms. Abu

Non Fiction- Home work

Middle School Homework - Ms. Abu

http://jmsalsich.edublogs.org/2010/05/01/nonfiction-text-features/

Please click on the link above and listen to the "voicethread." Your assignment is to reinforce your understanding of non fiction text features.  The audio is student friendly and will help you to remember what you learned in class.  When you watch the presentation,  you will see a cursor clicking on and identifying some very important parts of non-fiction" text. Pick three of the features and  write three short paragraphs for each; explain the parts by naming them and telling the reader what the feature does and the role it plays in non-fiction text.

Remember to pick 3 FEATURES( Play back the video is you needed)

Name each one and then create a paragraph for each feature. Be sure to explain the features telling us the function and role and/or why it should be included in non fiction text.

This assignment is due on Monday January 9th 2012

Also, Please be advised that I placed fun games and literacy resources on the links to your right.  I added them to make learning literacy fun.

6-8 Suggested Reading List/Common Core Standards

Exemplars of Reading Text Complexity and Quality

From the Common Core Standards for English Language Arts with Literacy in History/Social Studies and Science

Stories

Alcott, Louisa May. Little Women

Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

L’Engle, Madeleine. A Wrinkle in Time

Cooper, Susan. The Dark Is Rising

Yep, Laurence. Dragon Wings.

Taylor, Mildred D. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

Hamilton, Virginia. “The People Could Fly.”

Paterson, Katherine. The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks

Cisneros, Sandra. “Eleven.”

Sutcliff, Rosemary. Black Ships Before Troy: The Story of the Iliad.

Drama

Fletcher, Louise. Sorry, Wrong Number

Goodrich, Frances and Albert Hackett. The Diary of Anne Frank: A Play

Poetry

Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth. “Paul Revere’s Ride.”

Whitman, Walt. “O Captain! My Captain!”

Carroll, Lewis. “Jabberwocky.”

Navajo tradition. “Twelfth Song of Thunder.”

Dickinson, Emily. “The Railway Train.”

Yeats, William Butler. “The Song of Wandering Aengus.”.

Frost, Robert. “The Road Not Taken.”

Sandburg, Carl. “Chicago.”

Hughes, Langston. “I, Too, Sing America.”

Neruda, Pablo. “The Book of Questions.”

Soto, Gary. “Oranges”

Giovanni, Nikki. “A Poem for My Librarian, Mrs. Long.”

Informational Texts: English Language Arts

Adams, John. “Letter on Thomas Jefferson.”

Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

an American Slave, Written by Himself

Churchill, Winston. “Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat:

Address to Parliament on May 13th, 1940.”

Petry, Ann. Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad

Steinbeck, John. Travels with Charley: In Search of America


Informational Texts: English Language Arts

Adams, John. “Letter on Thomas Jefferson.”

Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

an American Slave, Written by Himself

Churchill, Winston. “Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat:

Address to Parliament on May 13th, 1940.”

Petry, Ann. Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad

Steinbeck, John. Travels with Charley: In Search of America

Informational Texts: History/Social Studies

United States. Preamble and First Amendment

to the United States Constitution. (1787, 1791)

Lord, Walter. A Night to Remember

Isaacson, Phillip. A Short Walk through the Pyramids

and through the World of Art

Murphy, Jim. The Great Fire

Greenberg, Jan, and Sandra Jordan. Vincent Van Gogh:

Portrait of an Artist

Partridge, Elizabeth. This Land Was Made for You and Me:

The Life and Songs of Woody Guthrie

Monk, Linda R. Words We Live By:

Your Annotated Guide to the Constitution

Freedman, Russell. Freedom Walkers:

The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott

Informational Texts: Science, Mathematics, and Technical Subjects

Macaulay, David. Cathedral: The Story of Its Construction.

Mackay, Donald. The Building of Manhattan

Enzensberger, Hans Magnus. The Number Devil:

A Mathematical Adventure

Peterson, Ivars and Nancy Henderson. Math Trek:

Adventures in the Math Zone

Katz, John. Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet out of Idaho.

Petroski, Henry. “The Evolution of the Grocery Bag.”

“Geology.” U*X*L Encyclopedia of Science

“Space Probe.” Astronomy & Space:From the Big Bang to the Big Crunch