The 12 Olympians Introduction

The 12 Olympians Introduction

How the 12 Olympians became 13 Olympians, and then became 12 again although, really, they could have been 14....confusing? Not if you click on the link above...

The untold story.... Plot diagram explained.... English

I am trying out yet another IPad app.... here is a video I made using "ShowMe"... by the time I find and figure out how to use the hundreds of tech-helps out there you will have a VERY thorough knowledge of the elements of the short story.... hmm....I see a potential story conflict within the information I just wrote  - can you guess what it is?

MIDDLE EARTH GUIDEBOOK - Grade 9 English

I know you are all working to help the rest of the population survive, should they find themselves suddenly in the middle of Middle Earth... your information about the characters they encounter could mean the difference between life and... finding themselves tangled in a spider's web while hanging upside down in a tree... 

You will present all of the background information on each type of character either by creating a paper book or through a powerpoint presentation. Remember to include specific examples as you explain the many elements of each character.... knowing the specifics about Gollum's environment would be most helpful, especially should one be inclined to go splunking... providing a quote showing that Gollum lives deep within a complex cave system reminds the splunker to bring their invisibility shield along with their night-vision goggles....

The information you create and present could serve to be of great help to many who navigate the world of Tolkien...

Paper books will be passed in to Mrs. Palmer, while powerpoint presentations will be emailed to my school's email address...  if possible, it is wise to save your presentation in a 1997-2003 compatible format rather than 2010 although I think I can open all formats.

 Keep on the trek...do not stop at Rivendell...keeping moving forward.... it is due Wednesday, November 21st... no extensions will be given...

boring book report

Each year in literature 7 and 8, I assign a very straightforward book report. When I first show the students what I want to see in it they always have wonderful reactions to it like, "oh, no...not another one", or "why can't we do something fun"....etc. etc. etc. I have thus given it the name " The Boring Book Report".

I remember doing book reports as a young student and thought they were kind of fun. Then again, I was also the child who had at least three books on the go and if I ran out of books I would just re-read what I had. Books transported me to different places and cultures and I liked sharing about them.

This book report is meant to show me a student's writing style and their strenths and weaknesses in comprehending and then transferring that comprehension into writing. I gave a very thorough outline to help them with writing it. Hopefully they won't find it boring but will enjoy sharing each of their stories to me. I love to hear about a good new book after all!

What is your favourite book...

I was the kind of child who always had my nose in a book. If I finished a book and had nothing else to read I would just go back to the first page and read it again. I travelled to different countries, got to be different people, solved important mysteries and even managed to go back in time - all through reading books. It is difficult to pick a "favourite" book, but if pressed, I would have to say that Anne of Green Gables, is the one I remember the best.

I first read it at around 10 years of age and re-read it every five years or so. Each time I get something new and different out of it. I could relate more to Anne's best friend, Diana because of my personality and need to do the right thing, but secretly wished I could be as spunky as Anne. We do however, both share a love of books and how one could get easily lost within its pages. How beautiful  it must have been to have cherry trees blossoming outside of your window and I could understand why Anne would have such a difficult time with the Pye sisters - Josie could be quite snobby at times.

To have been able to wear the big satin ribbons in my hair (as Diana of course because as Anne I would have been stuck with horrible straight hair stuck in braids that would allow rotten boys like Gilbert yank on) and pretty dresses with calico prints seems so girly and sweet. Even though Anne had many of the same issues as we do today, Green Gables and Avonlea was set in a simpler time when one could explore the forest and have picnics in a meadow. Unlike Anne's first teacher, Mr. Philips, who refused to spell her name with an "e" at the end, I always thought that Miss Stacey would have been my favourite teacher - she was exceptionally encouraging while still requiring all of her students to work to the best of their potential.

As an adult I have many books that I have enjoyed and authors that I am drawn to but I think it is Anne that I will always turn to when I need a break from the craziness of technology and our busy society.

And so what is your favourite book? Students in our school have been asked this question and to respond in an essay of approx 250 words (no more). In addition to getting some great ideas for books to recommend for book reports, their essays will be submitted to a contest that the Chronicle Herald is running. They could win a book and a family set of tickets to a Moosehead game. I can't wait to see how they describe and explain why they like the books they do. And what about you? Make sure to share your favourite book with your child - maybe they will pick it up and like it as much as you do!