daily.due Tues Apr 2

Keep reading in In the Time of the Butterflies, according to the schedule on your bookmark.

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agenda. Wed/Thurs Mar 27/8

reading period (in library, unless otherwise announced)

BEFORE reading, start a two-part email, entitled “ITB progress Mar 27/8.”  In the BODY of this email, where (on what page) you are starting today’s reading. Also, briefly explain which character interests you the most, offering one detail that represents your interest.

AFTER reading–with ten minutes left in class–complete the two-part email by (a) identifying the last page of your reading and (b) briefly reflecting on the developments in these pages you have read today.

SEND this email by the end of class

Incidentally, besides giving time needed to advance with the story, this session is based on the idea that novels, partly by virtue of their length, can show a characters’ growth over time.  In this novel, for example, we watch the four sisters grow up; we see their different paths to their becoming activists opposing the Trujillo dictatorship.  Keep this idea of character development in mind, as you move through today’s reading and beyond.

agenda.Fri Mar 22

when ready (having reached reading goal), make entries in ITB character table–on your computer

make at least one entry, preferably more, for each of the four sisters

Q & A Session in last ten minutes of class

 

B block: start with remaining three writing conferences

daily.due Fri Mar 22

By the beginning of Friday’s class, please read as far as page 59 in the novel, In the Time of the Butterflies.  Unless you are involved in a writing conference,  you can use the whole block class to read towards this goal.

agenda. Wed/Thurs Mar 20/1

When not involved in a writing conference, or the conference-summary process, start reading in Alvarez’s novel, In the Time of the Butterflies–towards Friday’s goal (page 59).

If scheduled for a writing conference today, follow this protocol:

proofread your most recent personal blog post (about Night) –in order to identify changes you would make

categorize these changes–on an index card (if necessary, refer to your summary of previous writing conferences this year)

bring card and laptop to conference (with your blog post on the screen)

AFTER conference, email a conference summary and a revised version of your post (subj: “conf. summary 20Mar13”)

daily. due Mar 20

To succeed in this week’s block class, you will need to bring your own copy of Julia Alvarez’s novel, In the Time of the Butterflies.

agenda. Tues Mar 19

review of existing student maps

for those who want, a chance to create a new map (for a new assessment)

for those who chose otherwise, a second assignment from Secretary Kerry

daily. due Tues Mar 19

If you have not completed the two recent blogs (Fri 3/15 & Mon 3/18), do so tonight.

As of Tuesday 3/19, start bringing to class–on a regular basis–our next novel, In the Time of the Butterflies.

agenda. Mon Mar 18

Special assignment designed by the U.S. State Department.  Time sensitive.

daily.due Mon Mar 18 (8am)

Write a new post on your personal blog–by 8am Monday.

Some people wonder about the value of reading a book like Night, in part because it seems extremely “negative” and causes pain in empathetic readers.  Others argue that a work like Mr. Wiesel’s memoir can inspire us by demonstrating the resiliency of the human spirit. These different responses to the book make me wonder what you think.  For example, what should we, students and teachers, look for in a shared reading experience?  What do you think this book offers, and how valuable do you consider these offerings?  Are the risks worth the benefits?  In your post, feel free to compare this book to others we have read together.

p.s. Be sure to proofread your post, before you publish it.