All Boys, All Blogged: October 31, 2012

Shortened class: 11:00-11:28

Focus: How does the film version of The Kite Runner alter or heighten (or ruin? Hopefully not) your interpretation of the novel?

Warm-up: Mrs. Makovsky's notes about you.  Also, how was the PSAT?

Finish watching and discussing the film: What is the single most powerful choice you think the director made?  What is the worst choice you think the director made and why?

Overview of the hero's journey essay; start brainstorming using the Joseph Campbell chart.

HW: Complete the first page of the hero's journey chart.  Attempt to fill in each box in specific detail, but you may leave one blank if it simply doesn't apply.  Also, continue working on your speech; prepare to sign up on Friday.  Lastly, start studying for Friday's List 7 vocabulary quiz (we will review briefly in class tomorrow).

All Boys, All Blogged: October 29 and 30, 2012

Focus: How does the film version of The Kite Runner challenge, enhance, or flat-out contradict your understanding of the book?

1. Welcome, Mrs. Makovsky!

2. Overview of blogging during the film:

At least five times throughout the film (and preferably more), please post a comment about the film that responds to one or all of the following:

• What aspects of the film don't match the way you thought about the book?  How are they different?
• What aspects of the film support the way you thought about the book?  How so?
• If you could ask the director questions about the choices he made in this film, what would you ask?  Feel free to respond to other peoples' questions as well.
• If you were directing this film, what would you do differently?

3. 5 minutes: Large group discussion (aloud)

HW: Work on your independent reading book talk; you should finish Step 1 (the brainstorming portion) tonight.  Remember that when I return on Wednesday, we will be starting a challenging essay on The Kite Runner. 

All Boys, All Blogged: October 26, 2012

Focus: Augmenting your vocabularies and drawing your discussion of The Kite Runner to a close

1. SAT List 6 vocabulary quiz

2. Independent reading/speech writing

3.  Kody's lesson?

4. Final thoughts on The Kite Runner:

• What is the purpose of this book?  How do you know?
• Does this book achieve that purpose?  How do you know?
• Why do we read?  Is this a book, in your personal opinion, worth reading?

HW: Finish your independent reading book and begin working on your speech.

All Boys, All Blogged: October 25, 2012

Focus: Did Amir find a way to be good again?  Did he achieve true redemption?

Warm-up: List 6 SAT vocabulary review

The final fishbowl discussion: Chapter 25 of The Kite Runner

Wrap-up: Final take-away's

HW: Study for tomorrow's List 6 SAT vocab quiz; independent reading books due Tuesday; bring your independent reading to class tomorrow.

All Boys, All Blogged: October 24, 2012

Focus: Reading between the lines: Foreshadowing in Chapter 24

Warm-up: Here are two questions posed during yesterday's fantastic fishbowl that deserve a little personal writing: 
         (1) If guilt leads to good, can we achieve redemption?
         (2) What does it take to trust someone?  
Please spend the first 10 minutes of class freewriting on one or both of the following questions.  

Large class discussion: Finding the subtle foreshadowing in Ch. 24 for the disaster at the end of the chapter, as well as hints as to whether Sohrab lives or dies.

My feedback from yesterday's fishbowl discussion.

Time to start reading Chapter 25 together.

HW: Read and annotate the end of The Kite Runner; prepare for our final fishbowl discussion! Start studying for Friday's SAT List 6 quiz; independent reading.

All Boys, All Blogged: October 23, 2012

Welcome to our first daily agenda on the blog!

Focus: Now that Amir has taken "the red pill," is there a way to be good again?  A close look at Chapters 22 and 23 in The Kite Runner

1. Warm-up: Find one phrase or short sentence from Chapter 22 or 23 that illustrates an important moment in Amir's (heroic?) journey.  As you listen to your classmates read their phrases aloud, what new picture do we form of Amir?  How has he changed, and why?

2. Kite Runner Fishbowl Discussion #7: Chapters 22 and 23 (please post your blog responses underneath today's agenda).

3. Wrap-up: Take-away's from today's discussion

Homework: Read and annotate Chapter 24 of The Kite Runner for tomorrow's discussion.  Also, please read the overview of your independent reading project and come in prepared with any questions you have.  Lastly, while SAT vocabulary cards are no longer required, I strongly suggest making them for List 6.

Fishbowl #6: Chapter 21

By this point, you know what to do!  Keep up your strong work with bringing quotations into at least one of your responses, getting into the hotseats, and participating frequently and thoughtfully from the beginning of the discussion to the end.

Enjoy!

Fishbowl #5: Chapters 19 and 20

Hello, fishbowlers!

If you have questions about Afghanistan you'd like our long-distance friend, Rob, to answer, feel free (as always) to post them here.

You have the same two goals today, my friends:
(A) Bring at least one quotation into your responses.
(B) Keep getting into the hotseats.

(C) Remember that you are expected to use your laptop ONLY for blogging; you should be participating frequently from the beginning of the discussion to the end.

Enjoy, and keep up your strong work!

Fishbowl #4: Chapters 17 and 18

Hello, fishbowlers!

If you have questions about Afghanistan you'd like our long-distance friend, Rob, to answer, feel free to post them here, and he will respond to them this week.

Also, I've posted a picture that Rob sent to us two years ago from Afghanistan.

You have the same two goals today, my friends:
(A) Bring at least one quotation into your responses.
(B) Challenge yourself to get into the hotseats today (you're doing a GREAT job so far!).

Enjoy, and keep up your strong work!

Fishbowl #3: Chapters (13), 14, 15 and 16

Welcome back to fishbowl!

You have three goals today, my friends:

(A) Bring at least one quotation into your responses.

(B) As an outer circle, we need to make sure that at least five different people get into the hotseats today.

(C) Explain your thinking carefully and thoroughly (avoid the one-sentence response).

Enjoy

Fishbowl #2: Chapters 11 and 12

Hello, happy fishbowlers! Great job yesterday, by the way.

Here are your three special challenges for today:

(1) Bring a quotation into at least one of your blogs today.

(2) Ask Rob (our special contact) a question.




(3) Please capitalize your "I's" (and maintain all other capitalization rules).

Have fun!

Fishbowl #1: Chapters 9 and 10

Welcome to fishbowl! As you engage in an invigorating conversation on the outer circle, please keep in mind the following:

1. Hit the F5 key to refresh your screen and see new comments.
2. Always address the person (or people) to whom you are responding.
3. Comment consistently throughout the discussion.
4. Proofread for spelling and grammar; avoid using texting language.
5. Bring in examples/quotations from the text when possible.
6. Above all else, keep it professional.