Mrs. Simko's Drama, Poetry, Novels, Short Stories
It's the start of a new quarter, so start saving for the big pay-off at the end!!!
Don't forget that your independent reading documentation MUST be completed by participating in book club or taking a test either on Accelerated Reader with Mrs. T. or at www.bookadventure.org and emailing me the results! Your new second quarter deadline is January 15th, so start reading!
"I didn't get it." is NEVER and excuse. DO NOT wait until the last moment to ask for clarification on something we have read or homework that has been assigned. Please come to class prepared and that means taking responsibility and asking for help via e-mail, note, or meeting during study hall or after school!!!!!
Please scroll down to the very BOTTOM for the week in review and special due dates, notices, and information for each grade level.
Fairness: Fairness is NOT equal. Fairness is giving each individual student what he or she needs to meet their full potential. If there is a concern or there is a special need, please do not hesitate to ask. I will help anyone in anyway that I can to succeed in my class.
Simple Survival Suggestions:
o Follow directions carefully as written on study guides or black board.
o Slow down!!! Work seems rushed and done quickly and that may be where the gap in directions is happening.
o Proof read your work using the directions/notes by writing a rough draft if work is not a worksheet.
o Bring home your notebook!!! This is key. Your notebook is basically your text- book. If you don’t finish the notes, tell me and I will get you a copy or come after school for a few minutes to catch up.
o Read notes daily even if there is no assigned homework. This keeps information fresh and cuts down on the time needed to study for quizzes.
o Of course, this means you have to take careful notes. If you need to move closer to see the board better, just let me know or go ahead and move.
o Don’t wait until the night before to study or complete work that has been assigned a few days in advance.
o Don’t forget to ask questions. This can be done in class, after school, or post on my web site. You can access this by clicking on my name in the classroom section of the school web site. I post assignments, quizzes, activities weekly.
o Don’t worry! This causes stress and sometimes we seem to deal with stress by rushing through the work just to get it over with. Remember that there is nothing we can’t get past if we communicate and we are all here to help you.
o Remember that you are capable, intelligent, and loved no matter what, but we will expect your best as well.
If the year's selections are are too challenging for your child due to academic and/or psychological circumstances, please let me know and I can design as well as work with your child using a more amiable selection.
Literature / Independent Reading Guidelines
Due to Standards evaluation, all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students must read a novel independently of school each quarter so start reading!!!
QUARTER 2 ( 6th Grade: Drama, 7th Grade: Drama, 8th Grade: Short Story)
Matrials Needed: Pens (black, blue, and red) and a 5-subject, perforated notebook
For the week of November 9th – November 13th:
(Remember that I update daily if plans change unexpectedly or it takes more or less time to plow through a lesson.)
Please remember to check the WW for Book Club meeting information!
6th:
Monday
Today we will finish our notes with Liturgical Drama on the earliest form of drama and make our way through the ages to 600 CE (a.k.a. AD). I will introduce our Liturgical Drama assignment. Make sure your notes are complete! Make sure you also have your Bibles for class work tomorrow.
Tuesday:
We will have time for a notebook check. After this we will break into our assigned groups a prepare for our Liturgical presentations and group report.
Wednesday - Friday:
We will work on our Liturgical Dramas for the rest of the week and start our performances on Monday!
Long range due dates:
11/16 – Liturgical Drama presentations and group report is due
01/15 - Independent Reading Documentation/Book Club List due
Exit Expectations:
• Summarize, paraphrase, analyze, evaluate, generalize, interpret, reflect, decode
• Understand the need for drama as an integral part of human and historical development
• Understand drama as a natural form of self-expression and communication. – religiously, politically, and socially
• Identify the elements of Liturgical Drama
• Create a dramatic performance using the elements of Liturgical Drama
7th:
Monday:
Essays will be returned today and we will discuss the results and ways to improve our writing of analytical essays using a student model. We will continue to look at options for our Drama Project and a performance choice will be made by the end of class.
Readers Theatre Project Requirements:
This is designed to keep you on track. The dates provided for various sections of the project are target dates and the sections of the project should be finished the week of the assigned target date.
Classroom Production Checklist:
1. Choose play as a group due November 10th
2. Edit Script as a group due November 17th
3. Assign individual group roles/duties due November 24th
4. Work on 3 Commercial endorsements due December 1st
5. Gather and determine sound props due December 8th
6. Props brought to school for performance due December 15th
The Booklet must include:
1. Original Copy of the Script the group has chosen
2. Edited Copy of the Script you will use for your play
a. Narration is edited out and replaced with dialogue
b. Sound effects are added to indicate movement, objects used, and mood
c. Music described to change scenes and create tone/mood
3. Applicable/Appropriate Sponsor Endorsement
a. Opening thanks sponsor and introduces play and actors
b. Half time sponsor break and commercial (30 seconds)
c. Closing thank you to sponsor and preview of next performance and main actor
4. Final Copy of the Script being performed
Project Performance and Booklet Due Date: January 5th
Performance Criteria
________ No Narrator – this part has been substituted by dialogue
________ Effective, appropriate, and expressive voices that stay in character
________ Mood is held throughout the performance an
________ Music changes scenes by fading in and out, appropriate and adds to mood
________ Sound effects give a visual image (help audience read with their ears)
________ Constant dialogue without “dead time” or lapses in sound
________ Sponsor is included into the story and commercials are appropriate
Please keep in mind the following:
Groups must work as a unit. If there are disputes, the group MUST let me know.
One class per week will be spent working on the project and check in with each other. Each group member must contribute and work in a consistent manner.
Tuesday:
Today we will begin editing our scripts after listening to a short radio production from the early 1940’s. A sample editing model will be provided. This activity must be done by the group.
Wednesday:
Today we will begin our study of Stage production. We will take notes on this aspect of drama to include technical production, writing, character performance and types of theatrical drama.
Thursday
Notes will finish and we will take a notebook check. A vocabulary assignment will be due tomorrow for the one-act comedy, “The Governess” by Neil Simon. This will be the first assignment to be included in our stage study portfolio of work.
Friday:
We will correct our vocabulary and do some logical predicting using vocabulary, title, author, and character information. We will also perform this short piece in class if time permits.
Long Range due dates:
11/16 – “The Governess” Portfolio is due
01/15 - Independent Reading Documentation/Book Club List Due
Exit Expectations:
• Develop an appreciation of Reader’s Theatre as the first form of mass distribution of the dramatic arts for consumption of the general public.
• Work as a group to develop and perform a dramatic production in the style of Reader’s Theatre.
• Understand and appreciate the importance of tone and mood for a dramatic production using sound and voice.
• Decode, predict, and acquire information using text
8th:
Monday:
Essays will be returned today and we will discuss the results and ways to improve our writing of analytical essays using a student model. We will also review the elements of the modern short story and begin by analyzing the effects of Mystery and Horror using the short story model. Our focus this year will be a study of the psychological essence of all modern short stories as formulated by the creator of the modern short story – Poe. Mystery (loss of self-control and ways to prevent this is the focus of this effect) and Horror (betrayal and ways to prevent this is the focus of this effect) will be studied.
Tuesday:
We will finish our notes on Mystery and Horror and review for a quiz on Thursday for this material. Your quiz review will be due tomorrow for correction.
Wednesday:
We will correct your quiz reviews and these may be used for extra credit as well as a 10 minute check of the quiz.
Thursday:
Our short story unit quiz is today. A vocabulary assignment for “The Necklace” will be due tomorrow for correction.
Friday:
We will correct the assigned vocabulary.
Long Range due dates:
11/12 – Short Story quiz
01/15 - Independent Reading Documentation/Book Club List Due
Exit Expectations:
• Understand the elements and requirements of the modern short story
• Review and Understand the effects of Horror and Mystery as the focus of all modern short stories
• Review and use the story structure flow chart to document and identify these effects
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Send E-Mail to: simkol@christkingparish.orgCopyright © 2009 Linda M. Simko. All Rights Reserved