Welcome back students and families.

I hope your Easter break was a wonderful and relaxing time spent with family and friends.

Now it’s time to get back into the swing of things.

Monday, April 20 I’m providing students with assignment description print outs of their progress report. Many students have not made provisions to make-up work when they’ve been absent despite my reminders and announcements for make-up test days at recess hours. I’ll be working individually with students throughout the week to work out their make-up assignments.

6^th and 7^th graders will be bringing home portfolio work with a cover letter to be signed by a parent. Save All Work!

7^th grade has started reading The Giver, by Lois Lowry. They should have a journal reflection for chapters 1 and 2 for Monday, April 20. Each reflection should begin with a quote from the text, followed by their synopsis of that. Students should have this same type of journal reflection for each chapter of the novel.

6^th grade has finished reading A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle. They should bring their composition books/journal reflections to class on Monday, April 20 as I will be collecting this. The following is their final project description:

6^th Grade Final Project for A Wrinkle in Time

Due Date is April 29

Students will create a book cover and an essay for the novel A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle.

Book Cover Requirements:

Students should look at other book covers/jackets for guidance on this project. Students should approach this project as if they were a publisher and wanted to make millions selling this book. 

Cover a cereal box with the following items:

• The name of the book and author
• Original artwork that is relevant somehow to the plot that will best sell this book
• On the cover include a one sentence synopsis of the story’s theme
• On the cover also include a one sentence plea for why the consumer should buy/read the book
• On the back include a brief paragraph, or a series of small paragraphs, that detail some plot description without giving too much away
• On the back include at least four strong quotes from book critics that express their interest in this book. This requires students to be imaginative and creative. Critics must write to four literary devices: One critic will write using descriptive adjectives; another critic will write using sensory details; another will discuss the tone of the book using a tone word and an example from the plot to prove his/her theory; and the last critic will comment on the author’s purpose for writing this story. Make sure to make up a name for each critic example = New York Times

• Students should also incorporate at least two new words they have learned from this novel anywhere on the book cover

Essay Requirements:

The purpose of this essay is to develop the student’s interpretation or argument of whether or not the novel is a work of science fiction.

In this four paragraph essay students will take a stance on this question and provide three reasons that support their view. Students should use textual evidence to support their view; plot examples and quotes. Students might use a comparative literature approach when answering this question; this novel is a work of science fiction because it reminds me of . . .  Or it isn’t a work of science fiction because it doesn’t have typical features of science fiction such as . . . .

The essay must be turned in inside of the cereal box on the due date for full credit.

Essay must be formatted per my requirements for typed work as prescribed earlier this year. Have Fun Working on this Project!