In order to cheer up this dreary day, we are going to write nice little notes to each other.  We've done this before, so remember our guidelines--write compliments or notes of encouragement to your classmates.  Try not to send shallow messages ("I like your hair"), but complement genuine things about those people. Write 3-5 notes, depending on how time allows.  Try not to write them to people you normally sit with!

Yay for 15 minute reading days!  Today we will kick off class by reading our life studies books for 15 minutes.  Remember to bring your book on Monday so we can begin working on our synthesis assignment.  It would also be helpful to have any notes or warm-ups you've taken over the other book you've read.

When you finish, take a few moments to write in your notebook about what you've read.  Next week you will be writing about what you learned from these two books that could be applicable in your own lives, so keep that in mind as you record your reading.

First Warm-Up of a new set!  Your notebooks are back in the basket at the front of the room.

Today you will be practicing your vocabulary by visiting stations around the room and determining which words best complete the sentences.

Before we do anything else today, we will wrap up Act II of The Crucible.  As soon as we finish, you will have 15 minutes to read your Life Studies book, which is due next week.  We will forego a writing assignment with today's reading time in order to get to The Crucible.

Today's warm-up will not be in your notebooks (however, if you want to check your grade, I have returned your notebooks to the basket).  You will need to grab a vocabulary sheet for Lesson #12 and go around the room collecting definitions.  

The next step will be to write a sentence using each of the words you have collected.  You should do this on a separate piece of paper because you will be turning them in today.  The vocabulary quiz on Friday will consist of some of the sentences you write today.  Essentially, you are writing your own quiz!  

However, there is a catch... Because I am giving you the definition of each word, I do not want to see any phones out during this process (i.e. you cannot use your phone to look up a sentence!  I want to see your work, not dictionary.com's!)

Congratulations!  You've made it through week 1 of 4 before Winter Break!  Now only 15 days of school stand between you and two weeks of utter joy!  :-)

However, until then, today you need to organize your warm-ups.  Each one should have a number corresponding to the following dates:  


20:  11/29
19:  11/28
18:  11/27
17:  11/26
16:  11/20
15:  11/19
14:  11/15
13:  11/13
12:  11/9
11:  11/8
10:  11/7
9:  11/6
8:  11/5
7:  11/1
6:  10/30
5:  10/29
4:  10/26
3:  10/25
2:  10/22
1:  10/15


When you have correctly numbered your warm-ups, please staple them together, write your name on the upper left corner, and turn them into the basket!  Thanks!

Another reading day!  Hip hip hooray!  :-)  (Also, since this is our 20th warm-up, we will be turning them in tomorrow!  Another yay!)

Today we will read for 15 minutes.  You will have time in class to read next week, but you are expected to finish your second book by December 10, 2012.  We will be completing a synthesis project involving both books at this point.

After we read for 15 minutes, take a moment to reflect back on the first book you read.  How is this book similar or different?  Your responses should be in paragraph form and be as detailed as you can make them.

Today we will practice our vocabulary words in a slightly different manner.

Around the room are several fill in the blank sentences.  It is up to you to determine which words from your vocabulary list fit into each blank.  Write the word and coordinating number in your bellwork.

Today's bellwork is a reading day!  We will read for 15 minutes, and then in the same spirit of The Crucible, we will write about a conflict (or conflicts) the person about whom you are reading has faced.  Ready...set...READ!

P.S.  You only have 3 more in class reading days to finish your books!  :-)  

The Crucible Act I Review:
Think back to everything we have read thus far.  If you had to select the top five most important events or moments, what would they be?  List them here--be as specific as you can!