GOOD DAY! (On Friday, the end of one full week of our new world.) 

Here are a couple of cuties. Annie is looking for her food because we all got up soooooo early today at 5 am. Yikes. 

Thanks, too, for a few more of you who have sent me writing from the week. It is so great to "hear" your voices even if I can't actually see you. Your writing shows me a lot!  Another one of you just showed up in my inbox. Thank you. 

TODAY'S PROMPT: 
Write out the lyrics to your favorite song, at least the first few sets--maybe 10 "sentences" or so, or maybe just the chorus.  Consider the message in those lyrics. Consider the sound or beat of the music. Play it if you can.  You can find lyrics here: https://www.azlyrics.com/
Then for at least 10 minutes, respond in your notebook or your online journal. 
Visual component: Sketch what you think the protagonist is "singing" about. Protagonist is the main character or narrator in your song "story." 

Example: Lyrics from "My Shot"  from Broadway musical Hamilton. 
I am not throwing away my shot!
I am not throwing away my shot!
Hey yo, I'm just like my countryI'm young, scrappy and hungry
And I'm not throwing away my shot!
I'm 'a get a scholarship to King's CollegeI probably shouldn't brag, but dag, I amaze and astonish
The problem is I got a lot of brains but no polishI gotta holler just to be heard
With every word, I drop knowledge!I'm a diamond in the rough, a shiny piece of coal
Tryin' to reach my goal. 
My power of speech: unimpeachable
Only nineteen but my mind is older...


Sample Response: 
Shots are something I was always told about but took a long time to learn. I was passive for a while. I let things happen to me. I didn't look ahead. I was too scared about what others would think. But one time, just this one time, I thought, yeah, I am going to take my best shot. I set off for California, headed out to college, maybe, but mostly to see what else was out there. I was a clear-headed East Coast girl, pinned to NYC and Philly-bred. I was 19. I had a dear family friend advising me--"Go," she said. "Go find your world and not anyone else's." I took my shot and though I can't say I never looked back, I can say it was the most important step I took at that age. 



SEVENTH-GRADE LONG DISTANCE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS WEEK:

Can finish your novel, The Call of the Wild. If you can find any version of the movie online, watch that.
Consider writing a book/movie comparison, like you  did for The Giver.

If you can find other books by Jack London, in particular, White Fang, consider reading that book, too. 

Other possibilities:  

* Read your SSR novel, or any novel. Summarize it in five paragraphs,  taking note of the five stops
on the plot line. 

1- In literature textbooks, which students should have at home, the following are options that will keep students
keeping up with 7th grade ELA (English Language Arts) curriculum.

 2- - Comparing literary works, memoirs and autobiographies. Read the introduction on p. 552-553
and then the story, No Gumption by Russell Baker on p. 555. Answer the questions at the end of the story,
p. 561.

3- Next Read An American Childhood by Annie Dillard. Answer the questions at the end of the story, p. 566.
Next comparing the two stories, on p. 567, answer questions 1 through 9. Complete vocabulary and grammar work, p. 568.
Next, compare the two pieces of writing, completing the comparison and contrast essay work on p. 569,
under the heading Writing Lesson.


EIGHTH-GRADE LONG DISTANCE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS WEEK:

* Read your SSR novel, or any novel. Summarize it in five paragraphs,  taking note of the five stops on the plot line.  Consider putting on a plot diagram before you summarize it.

In literature textbooks:

1- Read the teleplay, “Flowers For Algernon,” pgs. 180-210. Respond to all the questions on p. 210.

For vocabulary and grammar development, complete the grammar and vocabulary work on  p. 212.

Next, complete the writing lesson on p. 213.