English 7 - The Phantom Tollbooth

Going Beyond Expectations with Milo!

Can it be? Is it that time again? Time to travel BEYOND EXPECTATIONS into the LANDS BEYOND with Milo, Tock, the Humbug, and a cast of extraordinary characters in Norton Juster's novel The Phantom Tollbooth! Filled with puns, idioms, and word play, the essence of this novel is the love of learning, the journey of discovery, and the extended metaphor of the importance of WISDOM. We are going to enjoy all of that AND explicate, analyze, and learn about language and writing!

Milo and my students are beginning their journey together...

"The little car started to go faster and faster as Milo's brain whirled with activity, and down the road they went. In a few minutes they were out of the Doldrums and back on the main highway. All the colors had returned to their original brightness, and as they raced along the road Milo continued to think of all sorts of things; of the many detours and wrong turns that were so easy to take, of how fine it was to be moving along, and, most of all, of how much could be accomplished with just a little thought."

So, let's get those brains whirling with activity so that we can discover with Milo just how much we can accomplish with "just a little thought"!

Oh, and if you've never read The Phantom Tollbooth, I encourage you to pick up a copy and settle in for a great read. While this is a book marketed for children, it is insightful and thought-provoking for readers of all ages!

English 8 - Argument Essays

The month of February was filled with writing! The eighth graders wrote their Argument Essays, choosing from a variety of topics. The students were nine given statements with which to agree or disagree, including:

The school day should start later for teenagers.

All junk food should be banned on school campuses.
Cellphones can be educational tools. 

The most popular essay topic was "the punishment for texting and driving should be the same as it is for drinking and driving."

The students worked through the writing process: pre-writing, researching (including on-line articles), drafting, editing, revising, revising, and more revising! They also had to create an online survey to gather data which they then incorporated into the body of their essay. 

The students exceeded my expectations with their passionate arguments and critical thinking. 

Next up? A journey into the past: Across Five Aprils and the American Civil War.