JUNE

6/11: We are looking for read through chapter 6 in The Other Wes Moore and get 4 paragraphs down on paper for the essay. If you are looking for something supplemental to the book, try listening to this podcast called "Ghetto Life 101" or watch this episode of Poetry in America which explores Gwendolyn Brooks' poem "To Prisoners." Here's Wes Moore's TED Talk

6/4: We worked on the "This I Believe" essays.

6/1: We finished the drawings from the novel and the explanations about what that section of the book reveals about one of the thematic ideas that the novel (family, friends, community; choice vs luck/opportunity;violence and discipline; injustice + race.) GRADE Then, read for 25 minutes. After reading, on the back of the pink notecard for earlier in the week, summarize what you read today (note the page number as well). Then, write about something in the book that allows you to understand how some of the difficult or dangerous decisions get made. (here's my example: For me, one of the things that this book helps me to understand is how easily a teenager can stop going to school. I am someone whose parents made school a priority, so it's always be hard for me to understand how/why kids take school less seriously. I really understand the other Wes's decisions because Mary (his mom) is too busy trying to keep a roof over their heads to watch him and she has very little help. I think as a kid, without an adult pushing all th time, it might be very easy to stay home, have the run of the house and the neighborhood, etc. GRADE

We also got started on the essay drafts.