Two nights ago I watched a fascinating documentary on numeric patterns in nature.
I found this series by Khan Academy (always first rate educational information) that helps make sense of this phenomena.
Don't be put off by its 3rd grade label. :)
Here is the link
DDS library Mill Levy books that were ordered in October are arriving!
About a third have been placed in the library so far. The books are a wonderful mix of diverse and authentic resources that will match many abilities and interests.
Here is a very partial list of titles (with brief annotations) of new arrivals!
Indian no more
By McManis, Charlene Willing
When Regina's Umpqua tribe is legally terminated and her family must relocate from Oregon to Los Angeles, she goes on a quest to understand her identity as an Indian despite being so far from home.
Archimancy (Shadow School, Book1)
By White, J. A
Sixth-graders Cordelia, Agnes, and Benji go on a quest to unravel the secrets of Shadow School.
Beginners welcome
By Baldwin, Cindy
Middle-schooler Annie Lee experiences loss when her father dies, and her friends desert her. She manages to find friendship again, however, but is afraid to let anyone get too close.
Beyond me
By Donwerth-Chikamatsu, Annie
In the aftermath of a major earthquake, eleven-year-old Maya overcomes her own fear to help others at home and in northeast Japan, where a tsunami caused great damage. Includes author's note about the facts behind the story.
The blackbird girls
By Blankman, Anne
On a spring morning, neighbors Valentina Kaplan and Oksana Savchenko wake up to an angry red sky. A reactor at the nuclear power plant where their fathers work-Chernobyl-has exploded. Before they know it, the two girls, who've always been enemies, find themselves on a train bound for Leningrad to stay with Valentina's estranged grandmother, Rita Grigorievna. In their new lives in Leningrad, they begin to learn what it means to trust another person.
Code cracking for kids: secret communications throughout history, with 21 codes and ciphers (For Kids)
By Daigneau, Jean
A hands-on guide to introduce kids to the fascinating world of secret codes and ciphers . . . Explores many aspects of cryptology, including famous people who used and invented codes and ciphers, such as Julius Caesar and Thomas Jefferson; codes used during wars, including the Enigma machine, whose cracking helped the Allies gather critical information on German intelligence in World War II; and work . . . being done by the US government, such as in the National Security Agency.
Lifting as we climb: black women's battle for the ballot box
By Dionne, Evette
For African American women, the fight for the right to vote was only one battle. An eye-opening book that tells the important, overlooked story of black women as a force in the suffrage movement-when fellow suffragists did not accept them as equal partners in the struggle.
Breaking down these steps to students and becoming comfortable with this process will pay huge dividends in their writing.
Although somewhat formulaic, it is a very helpful tool, and will get students past the scary 'deer in the headlights' stage when faced with writing a thesis-based essay. Some of the techniques used here will need to be taught - like "transitions or linking words/phrases". Properly used transitions can act like a life raft for students struggling to join different ideas and thoughts.
Although I've modified this somewhat - it is not my tutorial. This comes from Georgia Department of Education, Smekens Education. Accessed online on 12/9/2020 at https://www.liberty.k12.ga.us/pdf/TandL/ELA_GMAS_BuildingStudentSuccesswithConstructedResponse6_12.pdf
Steps for building a long constructed response
1. Interpreting the prompt
2. Analyzing the text to find evidence
3. Making a plan to organize evidence
4. Writing the response
5. Revising
The Critical Process
•Modeling: I do one, you’ll watch.
•Guided practice: I do one, you’ll help.
•Gradual release: You do one, I’ll help.
•Independent practice: You do one, I’ll watch.
Step 1: Interpreting the Prompt
•Read/underline important words and phrases to determine the type of writing needed: narrative, informational or opinion
•Identify the background information, the task or request (analyze, explain, compare...), and the type of evidence needed (details from text, personal experience, information from multiple texts, etc.)
•Summarize and restate the prompt in your own words
Step 2: Analyzing the Text to Find Evidence
•Skim text to find evidence to support the response
•Refer to close reading notes to find specific words/phrases rather than re-reading entire passage
•Look at text features and structures for evidence
Step 3: Making a Plan to Organize Evidence
•Create a general answer to the question or state the main idea (thesis statement)
–Example …The four professionals in this article were interested in their careers at early ages, faced challenges, and realized their dream jobs.
–The four professionals in this article stuck with their dreams over time.
–The four professionals in this article committed themselves to lifelong journeys in their chosen fields.
Step 3: Making a Plan to Organize Evidence
•Organize evidence by category, chronological order, cause-effect, etc. to match the task
Example –
Four body paragraphs, one for each professional—evidence on their early interest, their challenges, and how they realized their dream will make up the details for each paragraph.
Step 4: Writing the Response
•Opening starts with main idea sentence, the thesis statement which answers the question/prompt
•Use evidence to create sentences/body paragraphs that support the main idea
•Close with a summary or conclusion or solution that answers the question in different words
Opening paragraph
•Main idea and thesis statement for entire piece
•Includes supporting details to introduce main points
Body Sentences or Paragraphs
Three steps for writing the supporting body paragraphs:
•Expand each similarity into one or more sentences.
•Cite by mentioning text.
•Quote by writing exact words in quotation marks.
Closing Paragraph
1. Summarize the main points.
2. Draw a conclusion.
3. Frame your response from the introductory paragraph in terms of your thesis.
Step 5: Revising
Re-read the prompt and your response
•Include transition or linking words/phrases
•Check capitalization, agreement (subj/verb), punctuation, and spelling
