Happy Holidays to all!

Window Design Assignment

Winter Window Display

You have been given the opportunity to design 2 window displays during the winter season (think State Street Chicago at Macy's)
Develop a theme that encompasses the ideas of both windows.
Design 2 windows that showcase your theme on paper – window much be in color.
Write a total of 2 paragraphs explaining each window and how it fits into the “overall” theme.

Example – Overall Theme – Fairy Wonderland

Window 1 – Fairy who protects the gem Ruby. Everything in this window would be red so the ruby is hidden. Red poinsettias, big red packages, holly berries, the ferry would be dressed in red.

Window 2 – Fairy who protects the gem Emerald. Everything in this window would be green – pine trees, wreaths, etc. so the emerald is hidden.

Debate Info.

Bibliography Requirements

1. Alphabetical by first letter in entry

2. First line of entry should be at margin, second line needs to be indented

3. Make sure all appropriate items are capitalized as well as having correct punctuation

4. Each entry needs to end with a period

Day of the Debate...

The day of the debate - all classes EXCEPT first go directly to bathroom and change if you need to. If you are debating in first hour come to school wearing what you will need to for your debate.

Debates will last 25-30 minutes.

The next day you will receive your grade and find out who the "winner" of the debate was.

Moderators

- It is suggested to develop 50 questions for your debate - remember you do not need to supply answers to your questions.

- Remember to follow the instructions from the sheets given to you when you received your assigned role. This also has your rubric that you will need to turn into me.

Characters

- 3 minute introduction before debate begins - you can find the requirements for this on the handout that was given to you the day you got your character role.

- This also has your rubric that you will need to turn into me.

- You will turn in your fact note cards after your debate

Reporters

- You are required to turn in a set of Questions & Possible Answers to me BEFORE the debate - therefore make sure to print 2 copies of Q&A before the debate.

- You are required to come up with 6 questions per character (12 total) for a minimum grade of a C.

- Remember moderators are supposed to develop 50 questions for their role in the debate - you do the math to determine what you think would be an ample amount of questions for an A!!!!

- During the debate you need write down 2 spontaneous questions.

- During the debate you are required to ask 3 questions per character as well as 1 spontaneous question - 7 questions total!!!!!

ALL STUDENTS...

Remember to look at the sheets I provided to you in class about what you should wear as well as having the rubric to turn in the day of the debate.

See me if you have any other questions!

This Week...

A busy week ahead in LA/Rdg. I know it has been a long weekend, but it is time to clear out the cobwebs and get ready.

1. 1960's video test on Thursday - review all 3 video worksheets to prepare for the test

2. Persuasive Essay - due on Thursday
Don't forget:
title
minimum 5 paragraphs
minimum 2 pages typed
double spaced
final draft on top of rough draft and stapled BEFORE you come to class

3. AR Book Report due Thursday (for periods 3 & 8)

Have a great week!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Have a safe and happy break!

What's new for Trimester 2!

As I return from my maternity leave I feel very fortunate to be working in such a great school district! Everyone has been very welcoming and the kids have been so great to see again and to meet some for the first time! I'm looking forward to a great year with the eighth graders.

This week we are kicking off our 1960's unit and will begin reading The Outsiders. For those of you that don't know or remember, The Outsiders takes place during the 1960's which will be a nice tie-in to the 60's debates. This week students began watching an overview video showing some highlights from the 60's and we will be discussing the historical events in more detail. Next week students will learn about the 60's debates and will be assigned their roles/debate topics!

This is a great unit and the students always have a great time researching and learning about an era they know little or nothing about!

Happy Halloween!

Harvest Time

Happy Fall to all of you! Here is Charlotte at the pumpkim patch. I will be back at school in about one month. I'm looking forward to getting to know all of my students this year!

Charlotte is 3 months old!

Bath Time!

Welcome Back!

Welcome back to Lakeview. As you know I am currently on maternity leave, but I will see you all in November. In the meantime, I hope you are enjoying Mrs. Johnson as your sub.

It's a GIRL!

Okay for all of my students and parents that have been waiting a guessing...It's a GIRL!!!!!!!!!

Charlotte Veronica was born on June 30 and weighed 8lbs. 5 oz. and was 20 1/2 inches long!

Charlotte is keeping Mom and Dad busy.

Week 36

This week begins week 36 of pregnancy (Week 36 picture is on the right side of the blog). I am ready to be DONE - well except before I wash the clothes and finish up the nursery. As most of you know - I want this baby early, but Grandma Trader hopes that baby will be patient until after the 22nd since she will be in the UK until then. Personally, I think June 14th sounds like a nice day to have a baby! All that matters is that we have a little one who is healthy.

The race begins...we will see who has the first grandchild on the Hayes side. If I go late and Jennifer goes early she could be bringing her little man into the world while I'm still cooking! Any bets????

I hope you have enjoyed the pictures during these last nine months - especially those of you who haven't been able to see me live and moving in big slow motions!

Hopefully the next time you check out the blog you will see Baby Hayes!

To all of my 8th graders - best of luck to you in your latest endeavors - high school will be a wonderful experience. I'll be back at Lakeview in November and I know how many of you like to stop by on your shortened days so please remember to visit. I promise I will update the blog in the summer so you finally know what "Kermit" is! Congratulations on your graduation this week - you have all been a wonderful group of students and I will miss you all.

Gerunds & Phrases

Verbals & Phrases

Participal Phrase – can be lifted out of the sentence. Participal is an
adjective.

Gerund – Can be used as a subject - Reading is my favorite activity.
Can be used as a direct object - I enjoy reading.
Can be used as an object of a preposition – Today is a good day for
reading.
Can be used as a predicate noun – My favorite activity is reading.

Gerund Phrase – noun ending in – ing + one of the following:
an Adj.
Adv.
Direct Object
Prepositional Phrase

Infinitive – to + base form of a verb. An infinitive is either a noun, adjective or adverb.

Paul wants to leave. Is this the road to take?

Infinitive Phrase – to + base form of a verb and any of the following:
direct object, predicate noun, predicate adj.,
prepositional phrase, modifiers

1. First find the phrase
2. Take out to and the verb
3. Look at the rest of the phrase to determine if it is being uses as a noun, adj. or adverb.

Busy Week!!!!

As we are approaching the end of the school year it is going to be a busy few weeks! Please check with your parents if you are not going to be in school on Friday due to the Memorial Day Holiday next Monday. The schedule this week is as follows:

ALL Classes - Phrases Test Friday (Prepositions)
- If you will not be here Friday, it is in your best interest to take your test before you leave
for the weekend!

ALL Classes - AR Quiz due Friday

Reading Classes - Periods 3 & 8
- Act 4 quiz Tuesday
- Act 5 quiz next Wed. 5/28

Advanced Reading - Period 6
- Pi Final Project Due Thursday 5/22

Verbals: Notes

Verbals

Verbal – word that is formed from a verb but is used as an adjective, a noun, or an adverb.

Participle – adjective
Gerund – noun
Infinitive – adverb

Participle – verb form used as an adjective.

Use the present participle (-ing) and past participle (-ed) to form verbals.

Climb climbing climbed

Since participles act as adjectives they ALWAYS modify NOUNS!

A participle can come before or after the noun or pronoun it modifies.

Gerunds – the present participle of a verb (-ing) used as a noun.

- A gerund can be a subject, direct object, object of preposition and a predicate noun.

ALWAYS locate the simple subject and simple predicate in a sentence to determine if a the word is a gerund.

Running is both a fun and healthful exercise. (Running is the subject in this sentence therefore it is a gerund)

Infinitives – made up of the word to and the base form of the verb.

Infinitives can be used as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs.

Be careful not to confuse infinitives with prepositional phrases that begin with to.

Preposition Notes

Prepositional Phrases

Preposition – a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and another word in a sentence.

Sometimes the preposition are made up of more than one word.

A preposition is always followed by an object or object of the preposition.

- Music Man Jr. will be performed on a large stage.

There can be more than one object this is called a compound object of the preposition.

Between Mr. Safranski and Mrs. Myers, is Miss Lepley's room.

The preposition, its object(s), and any other words in between form the prepositional phrase.
Mason ran from the bear.

Many sentences have MORE THAN ONE prepositional phrase. Each phrase include a preposition and object(s) along with any other accompanying words.

During the performance, we sat in the back row.

When the object of the preposition is a pronoun, BE CAREFUL – ALWAYS use the OBJECTIVE CASE! Me, him, her, us...

Rachel attended the play with them and me.

Life of Pi - final project

Life of Pi – end of book activity

Project #1

Narration and description work together to create a realistic account of an unrealistic event.

In 2-3 paragraphs, describe 3 ways in which Pi alters his story to be more 'believable' for the Japanese Ministry representatives.

You will get your Tiger Symbolism journal back and you must first outline 3 ways in which you can alter the journal to be more believable. For instance, if you thought that Richard Parker was real you must now change and try and get me to believe that Richard Parker is a figment of Pi's imagination.

Re-Write your journal in 2-3 paragraphs.

All in all – this is a 4-6 paragraph essay – it must be in final draft form and will be worth 100 points.

You will need to turn in your original Tiger Symbolism Journal, your outline and final draft of re-written journal and the 3 ways Pi alters his story to be more 'believable'.

Project #2

Select a scene that you found to be the most powerful, thought-provoking, or relevant to a theme you liked in the book.

- You will represent the scene in an image and a poem.

- Create this on a tri-fold poster board where the image will go in the middle of the board; the poem will go one side, and an explanation of why you believe your scene is important will go on the other side.

- All in all – this is a 4-6 paragraph essay – it must be in final draft form and will be worth 100 points.

Themes Include:

“The Better Story” - the predominant theme is the concept of the “better story”, in other words, the importance of telling a good story. Life itself is a story and one can choose his own story. The “better story” is the more imaginative one and , according to Pi, the one God would choose as well. One must have faith in something beyond bare logic.

“Science and Religion” - A minor theme is the reconciliation of science and religion as ways to understand the world. Pi meshes the two in order to survive 227 days on the lifeboat. He ends up majoring in both zoology and religious studies.

“Religious Syncretism” - Another minor theme is the syncretism, or union of the seemingly opposing principals, of religions. As different as Pi's three religions are, they all involve a personal relationship with God. They are blended into Pi's own unique spirituality and remain with him as an adult.

FOR ALL INCOMING FRESHMAN - DGS INFO.!!!!

Below is the summer reading list from DGS - ALL of you are expected to select at least ONE of these books to read before the school year begins. You are more than welcome to read more than one of these books! You will be required to do this every summer during your high school career!

Summer Reading, Grade 9
Downers Grove South High School
May, 2008

Author Title

Bray, Libba A Great and Terrible Beauty
Sixteen-year-old Gemma moves from India to a London boarding school after her mother's surprising murder. While trying to find ways to fit in with her peers and deal with her loss, Gemma discovers her supernatural powers and uses them to explore the mystery of her mother's death. A page-turner set in Victorian England, this gothic mystery deals with issues still relevant today: female roles, parenting styles and family expectations.

Card, Orson Scott Ender’s Game
Imagine a brilliant young child, ripped from his family at a young age and forced to train for battle against an alien monster. Filled with surprises, this novel charts the growth of a deeply complicated young man as he prepares for inter-galactic battle. The ending will surprise you.

Giles, Gail Shattering Glass
The first sentence of this book tells of Simon Glass’ death. From there, we see how Rob, the most popular guy in school, who is also a new transfer, takes it upon himself to make this school geek win the school’s most prestigious popularity award. Despite all effort, Rob’s friends continue to hate Simon, but follow Rob’s requests, as outrageous as they may seem. Simon is hardly the innocent, all-good geek we see in the movies, and the standoff between Rob, Rob’s clique, and him will keep even those who avoid reading flipping the pages quickly.

Grogan, John Marley & Me
When John Grogan and his new wife pick Marley out of a litter of pups, they do not realize how their lives will change forever. An energetic, mischievous puppy, Marley is more than the couple can handle at first. He has a love of life and a fear of thunder, which causes chaos in the Grogans’ lives. Over time, however, Marley becomes one of the family. He grows into a calmer dog that is loving, loyal, and the best friend the Grogans could ever have. This book helps readers remember why dogs truly are “man’s best friends.”

Haddon, Mark The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Fifteen-year-old Christopher John Francis Boone loves the mysteries of Sherlock Holmes so when he discovers the body of the neighbor's dog, he is determined to solve the mystery of " who dunnit?" This decision leads this remarkable boy on an exciting, often funny, and sometimes heartbreaking adventure. An autistic child, Christopher faces serious challenges. He hates to be touched. He eats only particular foods, hates noises and crowds, and has some startling ways to determine Good and Bad Days. Despite the obstacles, Christopher uses his intelligence and determination to solve the mystery. His discoveries, however, force him and his parents to confront new truths and changes in their lives.

Hautman, Pete Invisible
Andy Morrow and Doug Hanson are an unlikely pair. Andy is a popular football player while Doug is unpopular and spends his free time working on a model railroad set. Despite their differences, they are best friends. Every time Doug has a problem or gets into trouble, Andy is there to support him. And like many friends, Doug and Andy also share many secrets, and secrets are tearing Doug apart. As Doug becomes more and more detached from reality, he looks to Andy for help, but will his friendship with Andy be enough to overcome the secrets he is hiding?

Kluger, Steve Last Days of Summer
Joey Margolis has a dilemma. He has bragged so much about his best friend, New York Giants’ baseball player Charlie Banks, that his school mates want proof. But Joey doesn’t really know Charlie – and so he has to find a way to make him his friend. Thus begins the story of a very unlikely relationship between a national sports hero and a 12 year old boy. A series of letters, notes, report cards, telegrams, baseball scorecards and newspaper clippings tell this funny and touching story as it spans the years before and during World War II.

Tashjian, Janet The Gospel According to Larry
Josh Swensen wants to save the world, but is too shy to speak out – so he creates a web site under the pen name Larry, where he posts his sermons about the flaws in our society – everything from consumerism to celebrity worship. His Web site quickly becomes a national phenomenon and "Larry" becomes a celebrity. Even his best friend Beth, with whom he is secretly in love, has become a fan. Josh is torn about whether to admit being Larry or keep his identity secret – until an obsessed fan makes the decision for him.

Woodson, Jacqueline If You Come Softly
Two students are new at Percy Academy, a private school in Manhattan. Jeremiah is a black boy from Brooklyn. Ellie is a white girl from New York City. Their first meeting in the halls at school is brief but powerful – and neither can stop thinking about the other. When they finally meet again, their connection is immediate, and a relationship begins. Walking in Central Park, Ellie looks down at her hand in Jeremiah’s and likes how it looks contrasted against his. They feel they belong together, but they are not prepared for the views of the rest of the world.

Zevin, Gabrielle Elsewhere
When 15 year-old Lizzie Hall wakes up on a ship cruising to Elsewhere, she does not know she is already dead. Anger, resentment, and longing for her life temporarily block her progress toward - hard as it is to believe - reincarnation. Joy, sadness, and ultimately acceptance fill Lizzie's journey "back" to her new and future roles.

Life of Pi - Chapter 92 - Chimera

Some of you may have been curious about Pi's island he found during yesterday's reading. We will hear more about the island in class today...

CHIMAERA

This Greek dish (probably 7th century bc) is one of the most ancient existing images of the Chimera myth. The subdivision in two sections, air on top and sea at the bottom, may be a hint of the true nature of the myth in its original form: the Chimera as a creature of the sky, possibly linked to storm and thunder. (Louvre Museum)

The Chimaera - or Chimera - was said to be made out of three different creatures: lion, goat and serpent. A savage beast, sprouting fire from its mouth, it devastated the land until it was killed by the hero Bellerophon who flew over it riding his winged horse Pegasus. Although simple in its basic lines, this story is among the most ancient ones of Occidental mythology and it hides some deep and still not completely known meaning. This site is an attempt to collect data and material about the Chimaera seen in its various aspects: myth, legend, art expression, and as a probe of the human mind.

Information found from the following site:
http://www.unifi.it/unifi/surfchem/solid/bardi/chimera/

Band Trip

It is looking sad in the 8th grade hallway as many of our Lakeview Band students have left early this morning for the annual band trip. Below is what is taking place in my class over the next few days. Parents if you have any questions feel free to contact me. Students also saw this on my board over the last few days. Good luck Lakeview Band!!!

Thursday
LA - finish presentations
Reading - Book Report presentations

Friday (Mrs. Hayes out)
LA - SCOPE Magazine
Reading - Book Check Out - next BR due 5/23 - Free Choice AR

Monday (Mrs. Hayes out)
LA - Wordskills Unit 15 due Thursday
Reading 3, 8 - Read Act 3 scene 2 from Romeo & Juliet and complete worksheets
Reading 6 - silent reading time

Baby Hayes Update

Update on Baby Hayes

Baby Hayes is getting bigger!! He/she has now learned that it can elbow me in my side. You all may get a chuckle at this, but it hurts!!!! I've been waking up a lot lately and I'm starting to understand this phrase, "You'll wake up a lot during your third trimester - don't worry it is your body getting you ready for all of those sleepless night to come once the baby arrives." I would just like baby and bladder to let me get a whole 8 hours of sleep one night! This is dreaming I know, and it will never happen. Oh well!

Enough complaining - I have had a very easy pregnancy and have been blessed. Jason (to my students - Mr. Hayes) and I are going to get an ultra-sound done this Saturday and are really excited. It will be a 3D and 4D ultra-sound and I will post pictures sometime next week!

Included are some pictures of Jennifer (Mrs. Russotiesi), Jen (Miss Casey) and I from my school baby shower that they were gracious enough to host.

The second photo is Jason's family. All of the ladies are expecting babies!!! Kathy (Jason's sister) on the left is due in early October and Jennifer (in the middle) is due 3 weeks after me July 21.

The picture below is of all the girls expecting from school.


Left to Right:

Mrs. Myers - due any day now - May 1!!!!! She's having a girl
Mrs. Schuyler - due around May 11 Having a boy
Mrs. Whelan - due May 25 - It's a surprise!
Mrs. Hayes - due June 29 - It's a surprise!


Hopefully this updates everyone in the right circles!

Period 6 - Life of Pi - Animal Symbolism Activity IMC

Use the following links to help you with Wednesday's Animal Symbolism Activity. Remember you are researching to find symbolic connections to your assigned animal - this isn't a research report about a tiger.

Animal Symbolism Source - http://ww2.netnitco.net/users/legend01/beast.htm

Buddhist Jakata Tales - http://www.jatakkatha.com/about.htm

Tiger in Hinduism - http://www.sanatansociety.org/hindu_gods_and_goddesses/shiva.htm

Hyenas in Popular Culture - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyena

Tigers in Popular Culture and Literature - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tigers

Story Board Book Report Period 3,8

Story Board Book Report - Romeo & Juliet

***The overall purpose of this assignment is to tell the plot of your book through pictures.

1. Number 1 - 10 on a piece of paper. Write down, in order of occurrence, the 8, 9 or 10 most important events that take place in your book.

2. Leaving space for the title of your book and the author's name, (which you will need to include somewhere on your poster board), divide your poster board into 8, 9 or 10 squares, to match the number of important events you've chosen to share.

3. Now draw your story's plot, using the squares to tell your story. ****Under each picture, write a brief explanation of your picture. (Explain what's happening in your picture)

4. Since you won't be able to tell your entire story through your poster board, (you will just be focusing on the main events from beginning to end) you also need to write ( in final draft form) a complete one page summary of your book, which you will give me the day you present your book report.

5. On Thursday, May 1, we will begin oral presentations of the poster boards. Your grade will also include your speaking skills. Remember to speak clearly, loudly enough for all to hear, and slowly enough so we can follow along and understand what you are saying. Eye contact is also very important! Please practice your presentation before class

RUBRIC

NAME _______________________

POSTER BOARD - STORY BOARD BOOK REPORT FICTION

1. PLOT EXPLANATION - (DETAIL, CLARITY) 10pts ______

2. DELIVERY - (EYE CONTACT, VOICE LEVEL, SMOOTHNESS) 10pts _________

3. STORY BOARD ( EFFORT, COLOR, NEATNESS, REQUIRED 8-10 SQUARES)
10pts _________

Total points = +
______________
30

COMMENTS:

Period 6 - Life of Pi Book Report - Survival

SURVIVOR BOOK REPORT

You are to read a book about survival. You may choose any type of book you like –non-fiction, fiction ,biography, or autobiography. The book should be about 200 pages long, and this must be the first time you have read the book.

Assignment: Advertisement

Front: An advertisement for your book. Include the title, the author, an illustration, and a paragraph designed to entice your friends to read the book.

Back:

1. Characters: list and describe three main characters. You must include their name, age, physical appearance, character traits. Also include what happens to your character.

2. Plot: a brief (4-5) sentence summary of the plot of your book.

3. Setting: where and when your book took place.

4. A connection between your book and Life of Pi.

5. Your response to the book. How you feel about the book. What you learned from
reading this book (the insights you gained. . . how you are different from having
read the book.)

Oral Presentation: You will introduce your book to a small group of your peers. In this presentation, you will introduce the setting, characters, and the plot. You will also make a connection to Life of Pi and will tell your response to the book.

Due date: May 1, 2008

Persuasive Speech Requirements

PERSUASIVE SPEECH REQUIREMENTS

1. The speech must be 4-5 minutes long(15 second “break” either way). YOUR GRADE WILL DROP A FULL GRADE IF YOU DO NOT STAY WITHIN THE DESIGNATED TIME FRAME.

2. You must use your OUTLINE, placed on NOTECARDS, to deliver your speech.

3. Eye contact is crucial for persuasion. Do not read from your note cards. Use them as a guide only. Reading your speech will result in a grade NO HIGHER than a D.

4. You must have a catchy introduction and a solid conclusion. DO NOT use the words "My speech is on..." or "I'm going to try to persuade you..." in your introduction, nor "I have just given you..." or "I have just told you..." in your conclusion.

5. Your persuasive purpose or intent must be CLEAR. It should be stated in your thesis statement, which is the last sentence in your introduction. Take a stand on an issue and convince your audience to side with you.

6. Be prepared to go on the day you are assigned. Failure to present your speech at that time will result in a ZERO.

7. You will be graded (100points) on delivery, length of speech, and
persuasiveness.

8. Give me your final draft outline (20 points) and bibliography (10 points) on the day you deliver your speech, right before you begin speaking. You will need 2 copies of your outline. One typed to give to me, and one placed on note cards to use during your speech.

9. You must use at least five sources for your speech. You may not use two of the same source. For example, you may not use two Newsweek magazines.

10. You should use approximately 10 pieces of borrowed information in your speech, citing your source for each borrowed piece of information.

11. You will have approximately 5 class periods to do research. Any additional research must be done on your own time.

12. Speeches will begin on Mon day, April 28th. Good luck!!!!!!

Romeo & Juliet - Periods 3,8

Today we are beginning our Romeo and Juliet unit. Students will be reading the play solely in class and taking quizzes over each Act. This Wed. students have their first quiz which will be open note. This way students can become familiar with the quiz format but not all quizzes will be open note.

The text we use in class is a "parallel text" - this means that on the left side of the page is the original Shakespearean play and on the right is the modern version that has a more updated English version of the play.

Auschwitz Video

You will be responsible for the following information for the test on Thursday:

1. People killed during the Holocaust

- 6 million Jews
- 5 million non-Jews

2. Where was Auschwitz located?

- Poland

3. What year did the Holocaust take place?

- 1939- 1945

4. Where did the tell the Jews they were going?

- Hungarian Prairie

5. What does the phrase, "Arbeit macht frei" mean?

- Work Means Free

6. If you _____ you _______.

- If you cried you died.

Week 24

To those of you who haven't seen me lately - here is my most recent picture. I am starting my 25th week on Saturday, and I take a picture weekly. I'll try to update every couple of weeks, but I am currently putting together a "Belly Book" that my friend Jen gave to me. The book includes a picture every week of my pregnancy - It's pretty funny to see how I have changed over the past few months! The updated picture will always be to the right of the most current post!

ISAT's This Week

RISE AND SHINE SLEEPYHEADS!

ISAT TESTING IS THIS WEEK

DON'T FORGET TO...

TO EAT BREAKFAST!!!!!!!!!

Holocaust...more

A follow up article to my last blog about the Holocaust story being false!

http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/2008-02-29-defonseca_N.htm?csp=34&POE=click-refer

Author of best-selling Holocaust book admits falsehood

BOSTON (AP) — Almost nothing Misha Defonseca wrote about herself or her horrific childhood during the Holocaust was true.

She didn't live with a pack of wolves to escape the Nazis. She didn't trek 1,900 miles across Europe in search of her deported parents, nor kill a German soldier in self-defense. She's not even Jewish.

Defonseca, a Belgian writer now living in Massachusetts, admitted through her lawyers this week that her best-selling book, Misha: A Memoire of the Holocaust Years, was an elaborate fantasy she kept repeating, even as the book was translated into 18 languages and made into a feature film in France.

"This story is mine. It is not actually reality, but my reality, my way of surviving," Defonseca said in a statement given by her lawyers to The Associated Press.
"I ask forgiveness to all who felt betrayed. I beg you to put yourself in my place, of a 4-year-old girl who was very lost," the statement said.

Holocaust Information

http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/2008-02-29-defonseca_N.htm?csp=34&POE=click-refer

The following was reported through USA Today...There have been many Holocaust links since we have begun Anne Frank!

Author of best-selling Holocaust book admits falsehood

BOSTON (AP) — Almost nothing Misha Defonseca wrote about herself or her horrific childhood during the Holocaust was true.
She didn't live with a pack of wolves to escape the Nazis. She didn't trek 1,900 miles across Europe in search of her deported parents, nor kill a German soldier in self-defense. She's not even Jewish.
Defonseca, a Belgian writer now living in Massachusetts, admitted through her lawyers this week that her best-selling book, Misha: A Memoire of the Holocaust Years, was an elaborate fantasy she kept repeating, even as the book was translated into 18 languages and made into a feature film in France.
"This story is mine. It is not actually reality, but my reality, my way of surviving," Defonseca said in a statement given by her lawyers to The Associated Press.
"I ask forgiveness to all who felt betrayed. I beg you to put yourself in my place, of a 4-year-old girl who was very lost," the statement said.

Defonseca, 71, has an unlisted number in Dudley, about 50 miles southwest of Boston. Her husband, Maurice, told The Boston Globe on Thursday that she would not comment.
Defonseca wrote in her book that Nazis seized her parents when she was a child, forcing her to wander the forests and villages of Europe alone for four years. She claimed she found herself trapped in the Warsaw ghetto and was adopted by a pack of wolves that protected her.
Her two Brussels-based lawyers said the author acknowledged her story was not autobiographical. In the statement, Defonseca said she never fled her home in Brussels during the war to find her parents.

Defonseca says her real name is Monique De Wael and that her parents were arrested and killed by Nazis as Belgian resistance fighters.
The statement said her parents were arrested when she was 4 and she was taken care of by her grandfather and uncle. She said she was poorly treated by her adopted family, called a "daughter of a traitor" because of her parents' role in the resistance, which she said led her to "feel Jewish."
She said there were moments when she "found it difficult to differentiate between what was real and what was part of my imagination."

Pressure on the author to defend the accuracy of her book had grown in recent weeks, after the release of evidence found by Sharon Sergeant, a genealogical researcher in Waltham. Sergeant said she found clues in the unpublished U.S. version of the book, including Defonseca's maiden name "De Wael" — which was changed in the French version — and photos.
After a few months of research, she found Defonseca's Belgian baptismal certificate and school record, as well as information that showed her parents were members of the Belgian resistance.
"Each piece was plausible, but the difficulty was when you put it all together," Sergeant said.
Others also had doubts.

"I'm not an expert on relations between humans and wolves, but I am a specialist of the persecution of Jews, and they (Defonseca's family) can't be found in the archives," Belgian historian Maxime Steinberg told RTL television. "The De Wael family is not Jewish nor were they registered as Jewish."
Defonseca's attorneys, siblings Nathalie and Marc Uyttendaele, contacted the author last weekend to show her evidence published in the Belgian daily Le Soir, which also questioned her story.
"We gave her this information and it was very difficult. She was confronted with a reality that is different from what she has been living for 70 years," Nathalie Uyttendaele said.
Defonseca's admission is just the latest controversy surrounding her 1997 book, which also spawned a multimillion dollar legal battle between the woman, her co-author and the book's U.S. publisher.

Defonseca had been asked to write the book by publisher Jane Daniel in the 1990s, after Daniel heard the writer tell the story in a Massachusetts synagogue.
Daniel and Defonseca fell out over profits received from the best-selling book, which led to a lawsuit. In 2005, a Boston court ordered Daniel to pay Defonseca and her ghost writer Vera Lee $22.5 million. Defonseca's lawyers said Daniel has not yet paid the court-ordered sum.
Daniel said Friday she felt vindicated by Defonseca's admission and would try to get the judgment overturned. She said she could not fully research Defonseca's story before it was published because the woman claimed she did not know her parents' names, her birthday or where she was born.

"There was nothing to go on to research," she said.
Lee, of Newton, muttered "Oh my God" when told Defonseca made up her childhood and was not Jewish. She said she always believed the stories the woman told her as they prepared to write the book, and no research she did gave her a reason not to.
"She always maintained that this was truth as she recalled it, and I trusted that that was the case," Lee said. "I was just totally bowled over by the news."

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Anne Frank info.

The following information comes from this link: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-annefrankfeb29,1,1332686.story

Anne Frank photo exhibit coming to suburb
Otto Frank captured everyday moments in his daughters' lives before they went into hiding and, later, to Nazi camps, where both died.

In case you haven't noticed...

If you haven't seen me around school recently - parents - you should know I am growing in size DAILY! Just ask your son or daughter.

I'm trying to keep people up to date on my pregnancy and the most recent picture I posted is from last week - week 21.

I am currently 22 weeks pregnant or 5 1/2 months!

Something interesting to also note: baby Hayes estimated time of arrival is June 29, 2008 - which also the same day as my birthday! Not to mention my 30th birthday!

The chance of this happening is probably slim to none, but I think it would be neat to share my birthday with my first born!

We do not know what we are having, but feel free to take a guess by submitting your guess on the poll provided.

Hopefully we have seen the last of winter with this most recent storm. I don't know about you, but I could use some shine and WARMTH!

Holocaust Book Report - Due 3/11

Holocaust Book Report

Using the Holocaust Reading List, read a Holocaust related non-fiction or fiction book and write a 2 page, typed, double-spaced report explaining:

Task: How did this book confirm (or not confirm) your previously-held concept of events during the Holocaust?

A. Books must be approved by the Mrs. Hayes.

B. It is strongly recommended you use outside sources other than the book itself to validate your opinion.

- Outside sources must be cited and a bibliography must accompany the report.

- Failure to use outside sources will result in a minimum grade of a C.

C. This is not a standard book report. You are not being asked to give details of the story or background of the characters. Your task is to place this book’s message in the historical context of the Holocaust.

- The characters are merely vehicles to acquire the facts.
- How do the characters interact with history?
- Don't be overly concerned with character and story development, but concentrate on the history that you learn from this book.

Under no circumstances are you to read and report on a book that you have already read.

The book report is worth 50 points.

Due Dates:
Book selection: Friday, February 15, 2008
Complete book by: March 3, 2008
Book report due: Tuesday, March 11, 2008

** All points in the Rubric will be affected by mistakes in academically acceptable writing, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.

Failure to hand in any aspect of the assignment will result in a late grade. There is no excuse for late assignments.

Late assignments will be penalized 10 points for each day late.

Plagiarism from any source [Internet, student(s), parent(s), sibling(s), textbooks, library books, or periodicals] is strictly prohibited! Penalties include: immediate failure on the plagiarized assignment and a phone call home to your parents.

Baby Hayes

Baby Hayes

1960's Book Report Due 02/08

All Students went to the IMC today to check out a book for their next book report. Book Reports will be due on Friday, February 8, 2008. Students are required to read a book that was written in the 1960's. Students will then create a compare/contrast chart using the 1960's book read for class and a recently read book - published 2004 - 2008. Below is the assignment sheet that was handed out in class today 01/14/08.

Book Report
1960’s literature compare/contrast

Over the next weeks you will read a piece of fiction written in the 1960’s. While you are reading you should take notes, write down examples and pay close attention to the language/style of the writing.

Once you are finished with your book you will create a compare and contrast chart similar to the one I provide as an example. You will be comparing the writing style in the 1960’s to a current piece of realistic fiction.

You must:
List the title of each book and the author
Pick 5 main points to compare
Make sure to use examples from the text to show the comparisons and/or differences

Example:

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

1. Reference to trends
   greasers – black leather jackets, greasy
   hair, short skirts, “bad boys/girls”
   socs – long skirts, preppy style, an “innocent look”
2. Vocabulary
   Hinton incorporates vocabulary that was prominent to the 1960’s
   swell, sore, tuff, tough, boys would swear or say things inappropriate to girls
3. Popularity
   Hinton’s book is still popular among adolescent boys and girls even though it is over 50 years old.
4. Movie
   Both books were made into movies
   Movie followed plotline and was accurate to story

The Nanny Diaries by Nicola Kraus and Emma McLaughlin

1. Reference to trends
   - No different groups like socs and greasers, but different classes are focused on.
   - Nannies – middle class can’t afford high fashion
   -may wear Gap, American Eagle
   - Employers (parents of children the nannies watch)
   - wear designer labels i.e. Gucci, Prada, etc.
2. Vocabulary
   Employers
   Well-educated – sophisticated language.
   Nannies
   More casual, use slang that is common today
3. Popularity
   this book was written in 2004 and was on The New York Times best seller list.
   It will not be considered a “classic” though like The Outsiders. It is popular now for this generation and will then probably just be another piece of “Chick Lit”
4. Movies
   - Movie unlike the book – a huge disappointment
   
   

Spelling Bee Class Winners!

Congratulations to the in class spelling bee winners and runners-up!

Period 1 - Ericka Laviste, Arianna Tonietto

Period 4 - Matt Glad, Steven Birch

Period 7 - Jamei Borges, Noelle Gancerro

8th grade = Friday, February 1st during study A (rm 101- Miss Coppoletta's room)

Hayes 1/25

1963 study guide
wordskills next week
spelling bee next week
review debate role info. by Monday
test corrections due Tuesday
need notecards for research on Monday

The 60's Unit

1960's

We are well into the 8th grade 1960's unit.

Students received their roles for debates today, and they will begin researching next week. This has been a fun week of discussion seeing what students know, or think they know, about the 60's. Many students believe that disco was a big part of the 60's! They are all confident about their knowledge of Hippies as well. I can't wait to see the discoveries they make in the next few weeks.

Langston Hughes & Gwendolyn Brooks

I found it astonishing when talking to two of my classes today about poetry. Students had never heard of Langston Hughes or Gwendolyn Brooks. Is poetry escaping our youth? Considering how significant both of these poets are to literature, African-American culture and Illinois. I thought it would be helpful to include some information on both of these profound poets.

Langston Hughes

James Langston Hughes was born February 1, 1902, in Joplin, Missouri.

His parents divorced when he was a small child, and his father moved to Mexico. He was raised by his grandmother until he was thirteen, when he moved to Lincoln, Illinois, to live with his mother and her husband, before the family eventually settled in Cleveland, Ohio. It was in Lincoln, Illinois, that Hughes began writing poetry.


Following graduation, he spent a year in Mexico and a year at Columbia University. During these years, he held odd jobs as an assistant cook, launderer, and a busboy, and travelled to Africa and Europe working as a seaman.


In November 1924, he moved to Washington, D.C. Hughes's first book of poetry, The Weary Blues, was published by Alfred A. Knopf in 1926. He finished his college education at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania three years later. In 1930 his first novel, Not Without Laughter, won the Harmon gold medal for literature.

Hughes, who claimed Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Carl Sandburg, and Walt Whitman as his primary influences, is particularly known for his insightful, colorful portrayals of black life in America from the twenties through the sixties. He wrote novels, short stories and plays, as well as poetry, and is also known for his engagement with the world of jazz and the influence it had on his writing, as in "Montage of a Dream Deferred." His life and work were enormously important in shaping the artistic contributions of the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s. Unlike other notable black poets of the period—Claude McKay, Jean Toomer, and Countee Cullen—Hughes refused to differentiate between his personal experience and the common experience of black America. He wanted to tell the stories of his people in ways that reflected their actual culture, including both their suffering and their love of music, laughter, and language itself.
Langston Hughes died of complications from prostate cancer in May 22, 1967, in New York. In his memory, his residence at 20 East 127th Street in Harlem, New York City, has been given landmark status by the New York City Preservation Commission, and East 127th Street has been renamed "Langston Hughes Place."

In addition to leaving us a large body of poetic work, Hughes wrote eleven plays and countless works of prose, including the well-known “Simple” books: Simple Speaks His Mind, Simple Stakes a Claim,Simple Takes a Wife, and Simple's Uncle Sam. He edited the anthologies The Poetry of the Negro and The Book of Negro Folklore, wrote an acclaimed autobiography (The Big Sea) and co-wrote the play Mule Bone with Zora Neale Hurston.

Gwendolyn Brooks

Gwendolyn Brooks was born in Topeka, Kansas, in 1917 and raised in Chicago.

She is the author of more than twenty books of poetry, including Children Coming Home (The David Co., 1991); Blacks (1987); To Disembark (1981); The Near-Johannesburg Boy and Other Poems (1986); Riot (1969); In the Mecca (1968); The Bean Eaters (1960); Annie Allen (1949), for which she received the Pulitzer Prize; and A Street in Bronzeville (1945).

She also wrote numerous other books including a novel, Maud Martha (1953), and Report from Part One: An Autobiography (1972), and edited Jump Bad: A New Chicago Anthology (1971).

In 1968 she was named Poet Laureate for the state of Illinois, and from 1985-86 she was Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress. She also received an American Academy of Arts and Letters award, the Frost Medal, a National Endowment for the Arts award, the Shelley Memorial Award, and fellowships from The Academy of American Poets and the Guggenheim Foundation.

She lived in Chicago until her death on December 3, 2000.

information provided by: www.poets.org