"Tis the beating of his hideous heart!" --The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe

Students displayed their hidden dramatic talent today with performances of "The Raven".  Their focus was on creating mood by use of voice, body and gestures, and small musical instruments for effect.   Tomorrow they will read another of Poe's eerie works, "The Tell-Tale Heart".  They will identify characters, setting details, conflict, and mood, including the details that Poe uses to create the mood.  Students will next work in pairs to imagine a movie version of this story, including setting/props, sound effects, lighting, and costumes.  They will then view a film version, and next month will view both of Poe's works performed on stage when we venture to Symphony Hall.

To culminate our work with "The Raven" and "The Tell-Tale Heart", students will engage in a writing activity about the ways in which Poe creates mood.  They will consider both setting details as well as Poe's language, such as word choices, sentence structure, literary elements, and punctuation.  This will be a scaffolded writing activity in which students will write one paragraph, then add another, then add an introduction and finally a conclusion.  They will move through the process of turning the prompt into a topic sentence, paraphrasing text evidence, and ending with a concluding sentence.  As well, they will engage the writing process of organizing ideas, drafting, editing, and revising.  Hence, in the end, they will produce a four-paragraph essay about the development of mood in Poe's work.


Homework: as needed, depending on what is accomplished in class:

Monday:  finish noun packet if needed

Tuesday:  finish class work if needed:  Tell-Tale Heart organizer AND highlighting text for words/phrases that show MOOD

Thursday:  finish paragraph organizer

Friday:  finish paragraph draft (due Monday; no need to print yet)

"The Tell-Tale Heart" story

Reading organizer for "Tell-Tale Heart"

Movie design organizer for "Tell-Tale Heart"

Writing Activity Instructions/Checklist

"Quothe the Raven...Nevermore!"

As we inch closer to All Hallow's Eve, the time is nigh for a little taste of preeminent mystery writer Edgar Allan Poe.  Students will watch a couple of short biographical videos about Poe, considering how events in his life may have influenced his writing.  They will explore the creation of setting and mood in Poe's most famous work, "The Raven", by accessing the text in different mediums. First, they will engage in an interactive read aloud of the book illustrated by Ryan Price; they will then watch and listen to a youtube video of actor Christopher Walken performing the poem; finally, they will work in groups to create a performance of their given stanzas, with a focus on using voice, body movement/gestures, and small musical instruments to enhance the mood of their piece.

While there will most likely be no homework this week, it is a good time to catch up on anything that is overdue and submit it in time for report cards.

In the event of absence, here are links to the videos:

bio of Edgar Allan Poe

Another bio of Poe

Introduction video to "The Raven"

Christopher Walken reads "The Raven"

Writing Up A Storm

Today brings both rain showers and a shower of words as students draft final projects connected to their choice novels.  Some chose to create a poster showing the arc of the story, identifying exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution as well as the major conflict and themes of the story.  Others chose to write an essay on one of five given topics relating to either character, setting, themes, or connections made to the story.  Students will work in class on these projects today, tomorrow and Wednesday; they are to finish up for homework to turn in on Friday.

Later in the week, we will continue to hone writing skills by revising answers to questions on "The Fallen Angel."  Students are focusing on turning the question into the start of an answer; writing in complete sentences; including adequate supporting detail; using accurate capitalization and punctuation.

Homework:

Monday-Thursday:  work on choice book project as needed in order to turn in Friday.

Independent Reading Project

Story With A Twist

Students put their vocabulary words to some "twisted" use today as they wrote group stories using the words.  They then shared out stories so the class could identify any misuses of words.  What twisted tales they wove!  Students should use Quizlet to study their words a few minutes each night, and there will be a quiz on Friday.

Tomorrow we will read another short story with a twist, "After Twenty Years" by O. Henry.  After reading and discussion, students will work in groups to explore the elements of fiction, including character, setting and tone, themes, foreshadowing, and plot line.

Students should be wrapping up their choice novels if they are not already finished.  Tomorrow I will introduce the options for a final project (linked below).  This will be due next Friday, 10/19.

Homework:

Monday:  Reading log #3 due tomorrow; if "Fallen Angel" questions not turned in today, please print and turn in tomorrow.

Tuesday-Thursday:  Use quizlet to study vocab; begin work on choice book project (due Friday 10/19)

Friday:  Work on choice book project:  either draft of plot line or web/organizer for essay, depending on your choice.  Bring this in on Monday!


Independent Book Project

Fallen Angel Questions

Making Meaning While Reading

Aside from a few readers who opted to swap their book for another, most everyone has been engrossed in and enjoying their novels!  During our reading day last week, if you had visited any of my five classes, you would have seen noses buried in books and would have heard a pin drop.  This time was so valued by students that we are engaging another reading day tomorrow; what better way to pass a rainy day than to cozy up with a good book!  Students are employing comprehension strategies as they read, thus facilitating their interaction with their text.  This is evidenced on sticky notes that flutter off of pages as well as their reading logs.  

A note regarding the reading logs:  some students have expressed that they are not able to finish the "chunk" needed for the log.  I am telling everyone that if this is the case, just pause to complete the log to turn in, then continue reading as much as possible for the next log.  If they need extra time after the last log to complete the reading of the book, they can take that time to finish.

Today, students took on their second vocabulary list.  Words range from "jovial" to "morbid", from "sallow" to "a cappella".  Students will be playing with these words in class, but can also access quizlet linked below.

Later in the week, we will read another short story in class and examine the elements of fiction within it.

Homework:

Every night:  read w/sticky notes, practicing comprehension strategies (bookmark!)

Monday:  bring book on Tuesday--reading day!

Wednesday:  Reading Log #2 due tomorrow (Thursday)

Vocab Quizlet