The Circuit by Francisco Jimenez

Trailers are commonly used for introducing new movies to the public and getting people interested in seeing the movie. Trailers can also be made for books. View the short trailer for The Circuit. In what ways does the trailer engage, or "hook," the viewer?



As we see in the book trailer, life for a migrant family was very difficult. 
As you read and analyze each story in The Circuit, record evidence about the challenges the family faces and what the family members do individually and collectively to overcome these challenges.
You will also be creating a Google map to detail the family's movement along the migrant fieldworker circuit.

1. Go to My Maps. 
2. Marker Locations:
a. Search for Panchito's birthplace: Tlaquepaque, Mexico. Add a marker to this location. 
b. Add a marker at Mexicali, Mexico.
c. Add a marker at Guadalupe, CA. Write a short paragraph about the difficulties the family faced.
3. Title your map: Panchito's Journey.
4. Click on "share" to get a link for your map.

5. Change Link Sharing to:

6. Copy the link. Paste the link in the form below:
(or use the link)
Your map will update automatically as you add to it, so you will not need to submit the link again.

Mrs. Price

(Quiz 4 link)

Analyze a Character:
Rachel's teacher, Mrs. Price, causes part of the conflict in the story "Eleven."
What do you consider to be the qualities or traits of a good teacher? What do you consider to be the possible negative traits?

Group Leaders Only: Please make a copy and then share with your group members.
As a team, discuss each word. Place the word in the appropriate box. You may only move the words that match your color dot assignment.

1. Record your opinion on the form.

2. Now, reread the story on your own. As you read, complete a Report Card for Mrs. Price. Be sure to explain the grades you give her and make suggestions for improvement.

Feedback on Your Personal Narrative

Find the Kidblog comment that includes your grade and suggestions for improvement. (Check the Grading Scale below if you need help.) If you follow the suggestions, I will regrade your writing.  I am available most days before and after school if you would like more help.

Grading Scale

If you did not publish your narrative on Kidblog, you can also find your grade on School Loop. The Kidblog post is worth 5 points, so you might want to take care of that!
The "pinned" posts are excellent examples and should be read in your free moments. What do you notice in the pinned posts that makes the writing effective? 

What Does it Mean to be Eleven?

Good Luck on Roots Quiz 3!

"Eleven" by Sandra Cisneros

Author Sandra Cisneros

Today you will complete a first reading of "Eleven" by Sandra Cisneros. 
1.  Before reading, complete the Agree/Disagree statements in your  Language Arts folder.

 2. Read along with the audiobook. As you read the short literary work, use the text evidence, along with your own knowledge, to draw a conclusion about a possible  theme. 

3. What point is Sandra Cisneros trying to make about life or human nature? Share your idea in the Google classroom stream.

4. View the short presentation on theme. Take notes on your Note-taking Guide in your folder. 

5. What is the point that Sandra Cisneros is trying to make about growing up? Find the Prompt and Evidence Chart in your folder. Reread the story. As you read, collect evidence to use later for your writing about theme.

Making an Inference

1. Pretest: Theme
After reading along with the story, write a detailed paragraph about a possible theme. Be sure to include evidence and details from the story that support the theme.

Read along: All Summer in a Day by Ray Bradbury



2. When we combine what we read with what what we know, we are making an inference.
     Author's don't usually state their theme directly. Authors often give clues about, or imply, their message to the reader.  The reader then uses these clues, along with their own understanding of the world, to infer the message, or theme.
     Literary analysis is the process of making inferences and drawing conclusions from these clues in order to find the deeper wisdom of the story.
a.  Open the document Making an Inference in your Language Arts folder. What inferences can you make about the setting and characters of the short scene?  What theme, or wisdom, does the scene reveal?
b.  Work together as a class to complete the Concept Map for the verb  to infer.

Revision: Transitions

    .... OF THESE WORDS:         

         AND      THEN

Using and or then repeatedly at the beginning of a sentence can kill your narrative!

Defend your narrative from a vicious  attack of and and then! 

a.  Delete the word and.  Start your sentence with the next word!

And I was hungry too.                I was hungry too.

b. Delete the word then. Replace it with a more specific transition for showing the passage of time or the sequence of events. You have a great list here!

Roots Flashcards

How are you doing on your weekly Roots Quiz? Now there is a new way to study! Use the flashcards under Student Resources. Each week, five new roots will be added to the flashcards. 

Editing Your Personal Narrative

Magical Editing Glasses

Paragraphing
1.   It is perfectly natural that while drafting your narrative you are not going to be concerned about paragraphing.  It is important, though, that before publishing, you put on your editor's eyeglasses and correct these types of errors. 
     Indenting to show the start of a new paragraph will help the reader because it will let the reader know a change is coming.  In a narrative, that change might involve:

• Time
• Place
• Situation
• Topic
• Speaker in a dialogue.

2.  Drafting in your favorite color is fine. However, crazy colors, sizes and font styles can distract from your ideas. Please change your text to:

Black

Size 14

Times New Roman

3. Titles are important. The title is your first opportunity to engage the reader and get them interested in your story.  Here are a few ideas for coming up with an engaging title. 

 Need an idea? View titles from last year. When you have a good one, POST YOUR TITLE HERE.

Roots Quiz 2

Good luck on your quiz! Remember: no notes or "cheat sheets."