THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12

Hello everyone,

Just a quick update to remind everyone about the Hmong New Year assignment, which is due Tuesday, October 17.  I tried to upload the assignment, but it was not working, so I have copied and pasted the information below. Please contact me with any questions. Here are your options:

Option #1
1. Go to Hmong New Year (Saturday, October 14 and Sunday, October 15 from 8-5 at Veteran’s Memorial Park in
West Salem)
2. Take a picture of you near one of the booths/events
3. Write one strong paragraph about your experience.
4. Entrance charge is $5/person and parking is $15 vehicle per day.

Option #2
1. Attend the Hmong New Year Night Event at the La Crosse Center on October 14 from 6 pm to midnight.
2. Similar to Option #1, take a selfie and write one paragraph about your experience.
3. Cost is $15

Option #3
1. Research the reasons the Hmong people left their original countries to come to the United States.
2. Write at least TWO paragraphs summarizing your research.
3. LIST YOUR SOURCES (tell where you found your information)

Option #4
1. Interview Mr. Lo, Mr. Yang, or Mrs. Duddeck about the Hmong culture.
2. Ask them about important customs and beliefs that are central to the Hmong culture.
3. Write at least two paragraphs describing these customs in your own words.

Option #5
1. If you are part of the Hmong culture and celebrate its heritage, write two paragraphs talking about your favorite
traditional Hmong traditions and activities.
2. Share a photo of you or someone in your family that represent what you write.

Option #6
1. If you are part of the Hmong culture and celebrate its heritage, bring in an artifact related to your culture.
2. Share the artifact with your reading/writing class, telling the history behind the artifact or a related story.

Friday, October 6, 2017

Busy week! We are starting to rev up our research engines, and it will be imperative for everyone to be focused and responsible with their time.  As we continue to launch into the NHD world, expect to spend 20 minutes each day at home working on your research. Please remember to continue to work on your topic approval sheet and your Hmong New Year assignment.  I have emailed you a copy of each of these and will add them to this blog later tonight. Have a GREAT weekend!

Upcoming Events/ Due Dates

Monday, October 9:  

• We are heading to the LMC on this day.  The book fair is in progress, so if you would like to purchase items, please bring money for that purpose.  
• You will also need to get a library book for silent reading purposes, and we will begin our reading logs.

Tuesday, October 10:

• Our goal is to continue narrowing down our NHD topics and finally selecting one.  This will progress into tomorrow, at which point your topic approval sheet is due.
• Parent-Teacher Conferences tonight from 3:15-7:15.

Wednesday, October 11:

• Finish our work from yesterday
• Topic approval sheets due at the end of the period

Thursday, October 12:

• Begin bibliography discussion
• "Working" bibliographies due by the end of the period

Friday, October 13:

• Early Release Day
• Norskadalen field trip

Saturday, October 13 and Sunday, October 14:  
HMONG NEW YEAR!
Click HERE for the Hmong New Year assignment

Monday, October 16:  

• NO SCHOOL
• Parent-Teacher Conferences from 12-8

Tuesday, October 17:

• Hmong New Year assignment due
• Discuss text features

Wednesday, October 18:
LMC DAY
Discuss research strategies
Find at least two sources by the end of the period
  
Thursday, October 19
Update bibliographies
Discuss note-taking strategies

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Today our text structure assignments were due.  It will take me a couple days to grade these. If you were absent or did not get yours in, please get it in as soon as you can. If you have questions, please, please, please come talk to me. Don't let things simmer. :) 

Some of you were done early and some extra credit challenges were offered to you.  Here they are in case you did not grab a list when you were here today.  

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Challenge Assignment--due Friday

*3 points extra credit if done well*

Create a fictitious newspaper from a historical time period, with at least four different “news” articles that highlight different aspects of that time period. Each of the articles you include must be written using at least two different text structures. Include a few different sections of the newspaper (headlines, business, education, sports, obituaries, letters to the editor, your choice), and give your newspaper an appropriate title.

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Wisconsin State Capitol Centennial Essay Contest--due October 5

*2 points extra credit if done well*

Essay theme: one typed or neatly handwritten page describing the importance of the Capitol building and what it means to Wisconsin
Due to ME by Thursday, October 5 by the end of the day

Prize:  Selected essays will be on display on the first floor of the Capitol building from November 9-30

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Patriot’s Pen—VFW Patriotic Essay Writing Contest--due October 20

*3 points extra credit if done well*

Essay theme: “America’s Gift to My Generation”
Due to ME by Friday, October 20 by the end of the day
300-400 words

You are judged on how well you understand, develop, and present the theme. A positive approach is recommended to express your viewpoint.

Knowledge of theme 30 points
Theme development 35 points
Clarity of Ideas 35 points

Do not identify yourself within your essay (no name, school, city, state, race, national origin). We have an entry form for you to fill out and staple to your essay.

Prizes (Nationally):
1st $5000        7th $1750
2nd $4000        8th & 9th $1,500
3rd $3500        10th and 11th $1000
4th $2750        12th, 13th, 14th $1000
5th 2500        15th & 16th $750
6th $2000        17th-54th $500

Again, see me if you have any questions.