Self-Directed Book Study

You may choose any book from our classroom library or a different one that interests you. You will be given time to read in class each day and to do some book response assignments.

By the final day of class you must have done 2 of the options below and have them posted to your blog.

1. Write a letter to the main character and the character's reply.
    
2. Write a different ending for the book.
    
3. Pretend you are a talk show host and interview the main character.
    
4. Create a travel brochure for the setting of the story or scrapbook pages about key characters.
    
5. Create a book jacket, including illustrations, an enticing synopsis, author bio, and favorable reviews.
    
6. Summarize the book into a comic or story aimed for younger students or your classmates.
    
7. Write a news article about an important event from the book.
    
8. Write about the decisions you would make if you were the main character in the book.
    
9. Dramatize a scene from the story with other students or using puppets.
    
10. Post a book review on Share What You're Reading.
     
11. Chose two characters from the story and write a conversation they might have.
     
12. Write a letter or email to a close friend recommending the book you have just read.
     
13. Make a list of new, unusual, or interesting words or phrases found in your book.
     
14. Prepare a television commercial about your book. Act out the commercial for your classmates.
     
15. Write ten chat room-style questions that could be used to start an online discussion about the book. Or, write ten questions that test other students' understanding of the story. (Make sure you provide a list of answers.)
     
16. Explain why you think this book will or will not be read 100 years from now. Support your opinion by stating specific events in the story.
     
17. Discuss one particular episode in the story that you remember most. Describe why you think it remains so clear to you.
     
18. Write a letter/email to the author of your book. Address it to the publisher and mail it. Or, see if the author has a Web site and email it.
     
19. Write a ballad or song about the characters and events in your story. Set the words to the music of a popular song and sing it to the class.
     
20. Give a dramatic reading of a scene in the book to your classmates.
     
21. Describe in detail three characters from the story. List reasons why you would or wouldn't want to get to know these people.
     
22. Design a poster or new book cover depicting the climax of the story.
     
23. Write an acrostic poem about the book using the letters in the title of the book or the name of a character or author.
     
24. Draw a classroom mural depicting a major scene(s) from the book.
     
25. After reading an informational book, make a scrapbook about the topics.

Tigers and Goats - Bagchal

Bidya teaches our EAL class how to play a Nepalese strategy game called Tigers and Goats (Bagchal). You can also play the game online at the link below:

http://www.freeonlinepcgames.net/play/tigers-and-goats-you-can-choose-to-lead-tigers-or/flash-game/

Or  Here

http://www.fupa.com/play/Action-free-games/goats-against-tigers.html

My Country, My Culture

Your assignment is to prepare a presentation of no less than 10 minutes to introduce the class to your country of origin and your culture. You should include things like:

- Geographic and Topographic features
- Population and cultural make-up
- Dominant religions and practices
- Foods and Traditions
- Political beliefs and practices
- Language Samples
- Little known facts about your culture or country

Plan for sharing information, but also plan an activity to engage your classmates in your culture.

If you have questions, Mr. Lister has answers...

Time

Thank you Lais for teaching our class on the topic of Time. My homework is below:

After having a chance to speak with my partner (Eric) about what my dreams were when I was a child, I now find myself faced with the challenge of thinking about my future. When I was younger I wanted to be a doctor. I wanted this because I wanted to help people when they needed it. Now that I think about my future, I realize that what we want out of life changes as time passes.

When I imagine where I will be 20 years from now, I see myself as the principal of a school. My two sons will be grown and attending university or college and my wife and I will be close to retirement. We will travel the world each summer together and see one continent at a time. The dreams that I hope to realize before I die are:

1) To help raise funds to find a cure for diabetes.
2) To have grand children
3) To retire from work early enough to enjoy free time with my wife and kids
4) To earn a PHd in education
5) To run a full marathon in an exotic location

Fate... Destiny

The movie we watched in class today (Slumdog Millionaire) begins with a million-dollar question where one of the answers is "It is written". The theme of this movie is fate or destiny.

Fate - The development of events outside a person's control, regarded as determined by a supernatural power.

Destiny - Events that will happen to a particular person or thing in the future

Please create a two part answer:


1) Explain how this theme appears throughout the movie.


2) Explain if you believe in destiny or fate. Why or why not?

Facing Adversity

The movie Glory Road that we watched in class is all about facing adversity.


 Definition: Adversity - Difficulties, Misfortune, Distress, Disaster, hardship.


 Have you ever faced adversity in life?

Discussion
Think of a situation that you have been in where you were faced with a very challenging task. Discuss this with a partner. Tell them the whole story (beginning, middle and end).

Writing
 After you've shared your stories with a partner, write the story for me in a blog post. The more details you include the better I will understand your story.