Vocab and Report Choices

Welcome to your first set of vocabulary words! The definitions for the terms are found on the page listed in parentheses. During the course of the week you should use one or more of your study skills to learn the spelling AND definitions for each word. Pay close attention to prefixes, suffixes and root meanings as they will be of great help on your high school entrance exam. On Friday we will take a spelling test and vocab quiz using the format discussed in class.

plot (533), naturalist (535), spirited (535), arresting (536), sobers (536), suspense (541), acute (543), dissimulation (543), profound (543), sagacity (543), crevice (544), gesticulations (544), derision (544), dissemble (547), exposition (definition from class notes)

Here is the book list for your Holocaust Report. Please select one of the following novels and inform me of your choice prior to Thursday, October 9.
Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli; The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank; The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne; I Have Lived a Thousand Years by Livia Bitton-Jackson; Malka by Mirjam Pressler; Jacob’s Rescue by Malka Drucker; Night by Elie Wiesel (parent permission required)

Kira-Kira discussion questions

Remember to answer the following questions for class discussions this Wednesday. You can use bullet points or complete sentences to finish the assignment.

A) Create a Venn Diagram for uncle Katsu and the father

B) Uncle K’s name, “Katsu”, means triumph. How does Uncle Katsu live up to his name?

C) Why does Mr. Takeshima (dad) quietly accept the blatant racism demonstrated by the motel clerk in Tennessee en route to Georgia?

D) How does Mr. Lyndon exploit (take advantage of) the workers at the hatchery?

E) Why does Mrs. Takeshima fear the union and feel it is a bad idea?

Week of 9/1

The class of '09 will begin analysis of Kira-Kira this week with a focus on plot and characters.

Be sure to begin reading your Newberry Award selections and plan your time wisely. Remember the book report is due September 30!