Welcome to Ms. MacDonald’s webpage!

 

This is the place where you can increase your skills in English.  Becoming more proficient in English will open so many doors for you in so many ways!  So many people around the world speak English as a second (or third or fourth etc.) language, speaking English means you can communicate with millions of people all over the world.  Imagine the communicative power you possess when you combine this with your knowledge of your mother tongue!

 

I hope that you will be filled with a love for language, for literature, for stories and poetry, for self-expression, for communication, for writing, for meeting the great minds who use English as their vehicle of expression, and with a greater appreciation for your mother tongue as well. 

 

Let us use the joy of learning language as a tool for our own growth, and for building understanding, justice, peace and a way of life in balance with all life.  

 

Finally, may your dedication to proficiency in English open doors of success and opportunity for you and your family in your education and your career!  I believe you have unlimited possibilities to make a difference by sharing your passions, gifts and talents with the world.

 

 

 


September

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

 

Assignment 1 – Due Sept.10

Read Chapters 1-3

Write the answers to the questions on p. 6, 12, 17, 22

 

Assignment 2 – Due Sept. 11

Read chapters 4 – 7

Write the answers to the questions on p. 26, 34, 38, 45

 

Assignment 3 – Due Sept. 12

Read chapters 8 - 11

Write the answers to the questions on p. 51, 54, 58, 68

 

Assignment 4 – Due Sept. 12

Read chapters 9 – the end of the book

Write the answers to the questions on p. 74, 80, 85

 

Assignment 5  - Due Sept. 17

Vocabulary Harvest

Bring in 5 new words you found that you want to share with the rest of the class

 

 

Vocabulary words you are responsible for:

To drown

To chase

To dive

 

To bounce

 

To burst

 

Evil

 

To glow

 

Enjoy exploring the depths of the sea today!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes

Assignment 1 – due September 17

Read pp. 9 – 30

Answer questions p. 22  Questions 1, 2

                              p. 30  Questions 1, 2

Create a circle map of the character: Sherlock Holmes

Frame:  information in The Speckled Band

 

Assignment 2 – due October 9

Read pp. 31 – 46

p. 38, Questions 1 and 2

p. 46  Questions 1 and 2

 

Assignment 3 – due October 10

Read pp. 47 – 65

p. 53   Questions 1 and 2

p. 60   Questions 1 and 2

p. 65   Quesitons 1 and 2

 

 

Have you ever dreamed of being a detective? Explore a career in forensics.

 

 

 

 


Edge Curriculum

September 22

Read “On the Bus”

Focus: Reading strategy of “Plan and Monitor”

To monitor means:

To be aware of whether or not our reading is making sense.

To ask ourselves – “Am I understanding what I read?”

 

How do we monitor?

We pay attention to:

 

 

 

 

 

·        Are there any text features such as graphs, pictures, bolded words, titles or subtitles, which can help me, understand better?

 

 

 

How do we plan?

 

We can plan for reading well by setting a purpose when we read.

 

            We can read the questions we are responsible first before we read.

 

We can relate our reading to any class discussion to see what we should be learning more about.

                       

We can make predictions about what we think is going to happen next, and see if we are right.

 

 

Literary Terms

          Characterization

                   Authors use the tools of characterization to tell us about the people in their story.

Describing words – tell about the person’s appearance  - or what the person looks like.

 

Dialogue – what does the person say?

 

Actions – what does the person do?

 

Reactions of others – how do other people react to the character

 

            Setting

Setting is where and when a story takes place.  The time and place of a story.

 

            Plot

The plot is the sequence of events that take place in the story.  The series of events that make up a story.

 

            You can use this table to keep track of what you are reading and predicting.

                         

I notice

I know

I predict

Yes/no?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


September 26

Read: The Good Samaritan

Genre:  Short Story

Essential Question:  What influences a person’s choices?

 

Vocabulary you are responsible for:

To affect

Conflict

Contribute

Disrespect

Generation

Motivation

Privilege

Responsible

 

Focus on Plot

                             Most plots have the following parts.  Can you recognize them in the stories you read?

 

                                    Exposition – this is where you learn about the setting and the characters of the story.

 

                                    Conflict – most stories involve a conflict which the characters have to work out

 

                                    Complications – as the story unfolds, events occur which make the conflict worse

 

                                    Climax – the climax is the turning point of the story – the most important event

                                   

                             Resolution – after the climax, the story ends, and the problem is solved

 

In your text, please read the bottom half of p. 9 to see a chart you can use to make predictions.

 

September 29
Read “The Good Samaritan”, pp. 12 – 15

Homework:

·        Respond to the Monitor Comprehension box  on p. 15 and summarize:

                                        How have Rey’s feelings about  Mr. Sanchez changed over time?

    Please date Sept. 30 and put in your reading journal

·        Collect 5 vocabulary words to share with the class.

·        Complete pages 1- 4 in the Grammar book

 

October 2

Read “The Good Samaritan”, pp. 16 – 23

 

October 6

 Homework- due October 7

·        Edge interactive Practice Book

Complete p. 10, parts A and B in your reading journal. Be sure to date it October 6

 

·        Vocabulary Harvest – bring 5 new and interesting words to share with the class on October 9

 

Take a look into Rene Saldana's life.  He's just a regular person!

    

 

 

 


October 7

            Genre – Poetry

Read – Don’t Go Gentle Into That Good Expressway by Luis J. Rodriguez

Skill – Paraphrasing – paraphrasing is telling in your own words what the text says.

 

Grammar – Together in class we went over pp. 5-9.  I believe that you already know this material.  You are responsible for the material even though we didn’t do the exercises.   Key concepts:  What is a subject?

                                                    What is a predicate?

                                                    What must a complete sentence have?

 

 

Homework – due October 10

·        Tell in your own words what the author is saying in each of the five sections of this poem.   This will require 2 – 4 sentences for each section (remember to write in complete sentences.  Incomplete sentences will be returned to you for correction.)

·        Vocabulary Harvest – bring 5 new and interesting words to share with the class on October 10

 

Learn more about Luis Rodriquez and watch a video