Though this blog has not been updated for a few weeks, it does not reflect the amount of work we have been doing in our ELA classes. We have been completing A LOT and working very hard (both 801 and 803). As our unit on The Bronx Masquerade winds down, students in both classes are getting ready to turn in their first major assignment in 8th grade ELA.
The assignment consists of multiple parts:
1. A journal entry that is written in the style Nikki Grimes uses in The Bronx Masquerade. It reflects the idea that we all 'wear a mask' at times, and reveals some truth about 'true selves'
2. Multiple poems
3. A compare and contrast essay in which students closely analyze two characters and write an academic paper based on how these characters are similar and different
4. The tree project (this is still a bit of a mystery to students as we are working on this assignment in class this week)
I have received the first draft of all the journal entries in each of my classes, and, as always I am incredibly impressed at the depth with which many students are willing to describe who they really are. I am also impressed with the creativity and beautiful writing of many students. Below is the opening of one student's paper- it is exceptional; it blew me away :)
A
tree is tall, thick headed, open minded, empty minded,strong, weak,
bright, dull and in a way kind of like me. A tree keeps its silence when
it is stepped on and bruised, when it is walked on allover, when people
knock it off of its pedestal and when it is being judged by by passers
still no sound. Yet in its own time it will speak up and give a gentle
whisper, but only when it is caressed by the soft breeze coming from a
far strong wind. With a gentle caring push it can brake out of its
shell. So it will forever wait until that long awaited breeze comes and
gives it a voice.
Thank you to the student who wrote this! You are helping to push your classmates (and myself) further in our writing!
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