Writing Contest Opportunity

Columbia Values Diversity Contest Guidelines

Come see Mrs. Weaver with any questions!  I am only accepting thoughtful, carefully edited submissions. I am happy to work with you on your entry.

Final submissions need to be turned in to Mrs. Weaver by Novemeber 4th, 2011

Journal Prompts Inspired by: The Great Debaters October 3rd-14th

1. What teachers or mentors made a lasting impression upon your life?

2. In what situation have you doubted your ability?

OR In what areas does doubt still have a hold on your life?

3. What battles take place in your mind?

4. When have you been tempted to lose your cool?

5. What types of injustice have you seen in our world and how have you responded?

Film Analysis and DRESS

While I am pulling students 1:1 to adminster the DRESS reading exam, students are analyzing three inspirational films: Finding Forester, Lean on Me and The Great Debaters. These films explore the themes of education, perservance, justice and discrimination, and finding your creativity voice.    Beow are links to our study guides/anaylsis questions of Finding Forester and The Great Debaters.  Students will write a one page paper answering the following questions on Lean on Me:

1. What methods did Principal Clark use to repair Eastside High School?

2. Do you agree or disagree with his methods?

3. Was he successful? Explain.


Questions for Finding Forester

Inspirational Speech from Lean on Me

Study Guide for The Great Debaters

While working through these films and the DRESS, we are continuing our SSR practice and some journal writing. Reading Logs are due, Thursday, September 29th, 2011.

Black Women

Black Women

Black women don’t be afraid of what people say.

Black women hating on each other is an ugly thing to do.

Black women we need to be strong and stick together.

Black women we are pretty with our big hips and our nasty attitude.

 Black women, God made us beautifully, so be proud and twist them hips.

__Shavonna Petty

The Reader Project

Interview with: Mrs. Guest (administrative assistant in the main office)

Interviewer: Maddie Manson

What is a memory you have of being read to?

When I was a kid my grandma used to read to me. I would sit in my grandma’s lap in her rocking chair and she would read to me.

What do you read now?

Right now I am reading The Help by, Kathryn Stockett. I read before bed because I have time to read while my children sleep. I like to read.

What is your favorite book?

Running with Scissors by, Augistine Burroughs

I liked it because it was very interesting and off the wall. I couldn’t put it down.

What advice do you have for students regarding reading?

Choose a book on a subject you are passionate about. When you do choose a book stick with it and don’t quit.

The Reader Project

Interview with: Mrs. Ben-Ayed (ELL teacher)

Interviewer: Hyoeun Kang

What is a memory you have of being read to?

When she was 10 years-old her teacher told her a scary story about a mother who lost her child.  She was really scared. It was a short story and they worked on summarizing.

What do you read now?

She reads mystery books.

How do you find time to read?

She usually reads before going to bed. She also reads while traveling.

What is your favorite book?

The Bridges of Madison County

She liked it because it was very romantic and she liked the ending.

What advice do you have for students regarding reading?

When you are choosing a book to read, choose something easy. When you choose a hard book it can be difficult to understand.

The Reader Project

The Reader Project

Name______________________________________________________

Name of the person you are interviewing ____________________________________________

Interview an adult at RBHS about reading. You might use these questions or write your own.

a.       What is a memory you have of reading or being read to?

b.      What do you read now? How do you find time to read?

c.       What is your favorite book or author? Why?

d.      What advice do you have to students regarding reading?

e.      Additional notes:

Legend of Sleepy Hollow Questions

Legend of Sleepy Hollow Questions

1. How did Tarry Town get its name? How did Sleepy Hollow get its name?

2. What mood does the setting of this story create?

3. Who do the villagers believe the headless horseman is? How did he lose his head?

4. What do the villagers think he is doing out at night? Why is he said to be in such a

hurry?

5. What is Ichabod Crane’s job? What other job did he do to earn a little more money?

6. Where does Ichabod Crane live? Why does he need to be able to have all of his belongings in a small bundle?

7. What subject does Ichabod like to read about? What has increased his interest in this

subject?

Thought Questions

1. Compare the school where Ichabod Crane taught with the school you go to. How is

your school similar to and different from Ichabod’s school?

2. Contrast Ichabod Crane and Brom Bones. How are they different in physical appearance? How are their actions different? What would have made Katrina attracted to each of them?

3. What evidence is there that Ichabod Crane had an active imagination?

You can read this story in our short story reader. To access the reader, click here.

To Build a Fire

To Build a Fire

Reading Questions

Name_____________________________________ Date______________

1. What is the weather like at day break when the story begins?  What do you think this foreshadows for the rest of the story?

2. How are the man and the dog similar?  How are they different?

3. Do you agree or disagree with the man when he sends the dog ahead of himself to aid in his own safety?  What would you do?

4. What happens to the man’s fire and why?

5. What difficulty occurs when the man attempts to relight his fire?

6. What do you think of the man’s idea to “use” his dog for survival?

7. How does the dog know to leave and head to the camp?

You can read this story in our short story reader. To access the reader click here.

Short Story Reader

Right now we are doing some work with short stories.

To access the complete short story reader click here.

Table of Contents

To Build a Fire	Jack London	1
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow	Washington Irvin	13
The Tell Tale Heart	Edgar Allen Poe	33
The Snows of Kilimanjaro	Ernest Hemingway	39
A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings	Gabriel Garcia Marquez	58

Journal Prompts September 12th-23rd

1.       Write a memory you have of reading or being read to.

2.       Interview an adult at RBHS about reading. You might use these questions or write your own.

a.       What is a memory you have of reading or being read to?

b.      What do you read now? How do you find time to read?

c.       What is your favorite book or author?

d.      What advice do you have to students regarding reading?

3.       If there's a book you really want to read but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.  ~Toni Morrison

If you were to write a book what would it be about?

4.       Using Will Smith’s speech as an example, what “keys to success” would you give to other teenagers? Include advice about reading as part of your response.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-08M7JpLpl4&feature=related

Looking for a good news article to read?

Read this article on literacy scholar, T.J. Smith

Still I Rise

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.


--Maya Angelou

Who am I?

Who am I?

I’m that guy

Fresh from head to toe

When the ladies see Gates

You already know

Cool a- - dude when I want to be

Keeping it 100 that just me

Goofy as heck but an  A&B student
Also active in sports

Player in the movement

Always been on the  paper trail
So I stay in my own  lane
Keep a big circle of friends

But I still remain

Gates.  

Lashone Gates

Reading Log Summary

Remember to attach a thoughtful reading log summary every time your reading logs are due.

For another copy of the summary sheet, click here.

Reading Log Summary

Assignments: August and September

Literacy Seminar Assignments

August and September

August 26^th: Journal Writing #1

September 1^st: Reading Log #1

September 8^th: Journal Writing #2

September 16^th: Reading Log #2

September 21^st & 22^nd:  Teacher Conference

September 29^th: Reading Log #3

The Rose that Grew from Concrete

Did you hear about the rose that grew
from a crack in the concrete?
Proving nature's law is wrong it
learned to walk with out having feet.
Funny it seems, but by keeping it's dreams,
it learned to breathe fresh air.
Long live the rose that grew from concrete
when no one else ever cared.

__Tupac Shakur

Theme For English B

THEME FOR 

ENGLISH B                                                                        

By, Langston Hughes    1951 

The instructor said,

Go home and write
a page tonight.
And let that page come out of you---
Then, it will be true.

I wonder if it's that simple?
I am twenty-two, colored, born in Winston-Salem.
I went to school there, then Durham, then here
to this college on the hill above Harlem.
I am the only colored student in my class.
The steps from the hill lead down into Harlem
through a park, then I cross St. Nicholas,
Eighth Avenue, Seventh, and I come to the Y,
the Harlem Branch Y, where I take the elevator
up to my room, sit down, and write this page:

It's not easy to know what is true for you or me
at twenty-two, my age. But I guess I'm what
I feel and see and hear, Harlem, I hear you:
hear you, hear me---we two---you, me, talk on this page.
(I hear New York too.) Me---who?
Well, I like to eat, sleep, drink, and be in love.
I like to work, read, learn, and understand life.
I like a pipe for a Christmas present,
or records---Bessie, bop, or Bach.
I guess being colored doesn't make me NOT like
the same things other folks like who are other races.
So will my page be colored that I write?
Being me, it will not be white.
But it will be
a part of you, instructor.
You are white---
yet a part of me, as I am a part of you.
That's American.
Sometimes perhaps you don't want to be a part of me.
Nor do I often want to be a part of you.
But we are, that's true!
As I learn from you,
I guess you learn from me---
although you're older---and white---
and somewhat more free.

This is my page for English B.  

Journal Prompts: First Three Weeks of School

Guiding Question: What is YOUR story?

2. 1. Dicho (def) 1. A proverb  2. A nugget of wisdom

All families have sayings, mottos, affirmations. Write down a dicho from your family (preferably one

that has been passed down from your grandmother’s generation). Explain the significance of the dicho in

a descriptive narrative.

2.  2. Using Langston Hughes’ poem as a model, write a page and let that page come out of you.

 3 3. What was the happiest (or saddest) moment of your life? 

    4. What is your first memory?

    5. “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”   –Maya Angelou

What is an untold story you have inside of you?