My First Free Summer

Bell RingerMonday, September 28, 2015

Use your book (p. 130) to define the following terms:

vowed, repressive, extenuating

During: Quick Review

• Get out your study guide and grammar notes• Quickly review

During: Test

• Put away your study guide and notes• You will answer ALL multiple choice questions.• You will ONLY ANSWER #15 on the written

response questions ON YOUR OWN PAPER• When you finish please turn in your paper on

the table.• Begin silently reading My First Free Summer p.

132

Answers:

1. C2. B3. B4. A5. B6. D

7. A8. C9. D10.B11.A12.B13.C

After: Pronoun Worksheet

• Complete the pronoun worksheet.

My First Free Summer

Bell RingerTuesday, September 29, 2015

Use your book (p. 130) to define the following terms:

diplomats, summoned and contradiction

During: Vocabulary Application

• Complete vocabulary worksheet

During: Whole Group Reading

• Turn your book to page 131• We will read My First Free Summer aloud.• Be sure to follow along.

Vocabulary Mini Project Example:

Vocabulary Picture Dictionary

You will create a vocabulary picture dictionary with the vocabulary words from “My First Free Summer.” The words are found on page 130.This will count as a minor grade. Do your best!

THIS IS DUE FRIDAY!

Your dictionary must include the following details:1) All 6 vocabulary words with definitions.2) A sentence for each word 3) A picture illustrating the sentence.(You may draw, cut out pictures from magazines or print pictures from the internet.)

My First Free Summer

Bell RingerWednesday, September 30, 2015

Latin root word study:The root word -dict- means “to speak” or “to

assert.”List 2 words with this root word.

During: Historical Context

• When a literary work is based on real events, the historical context can help you understand the action.

• Historical context- the actual political and social events and trends of the time- can explain why characters act and think the way they do.

During: Historical Context

• “I didn’t know about my father’s activities. I didn’t know the dictator was bad. All I knew was that my friends who were attending Dominican schools were often on holiday to honor the dictator’s saint day, the day the dictator became the dictator, the day the dictator’s oldest son was born and so on.”

• How does the historical context affect the action?• Because Alvarez does not know the seriousness

of the political situation, she is able to live a carefree existence.

During: Historical Context

• “But the yard replete with cousins and friends that I had dreamed about all year was deserted. Family members were leaving for the United States, using whatever connections they could drum up. The plot had unraveled. Every day there were massive arrests. The United States had closed its embassy and was advising Americans to return home.”

• How does the historical context affect the action?• Now the reality of the political situation affects the

Alvarez’s life: She is lonely, and her family is fearful.

During: Historical Context

• “Next morning, we are standing inside a large, echoing hall as a stern American official reviews our documents. What if he doesn’t let us in? What if we have to go back? I am holding my breath. My parents’ terror has become mine.”

• How does the historical context affect the action?• The political situation has placed the family at the

mercy of the U.S. immigration officials, and Alvarez, sensing her parents’ fear, has become fearful herself.

After: Computer Lab

• We will go to the computer lab to work on our mini project.

• You may print pictures or words.• Use this time wisely. This is the only time we

will utilize the computer lab for this project.• Don’t forget… it is DUE FRIDAY!

My First Free SummerBell Ringer

Thursday, October 1, 2015

The root word -dict- means “to speak” or “to assert.”In the following sentences, think about the meaning of -

dict- in each italicized word.Answer is each statement is true or false.

1. A prediction tells what happened in the past.2. A dictionary contains the roots and definitions of

words.3. A dictator is the democratically elected head of a

country.

During: Exploring the unit question:“What’s the best way to discover the truth?”

• How does Alvarez discover the truth?

During: Individual Writing

• “My First Free Summer” Do you think the term “free” has a double meaning in this title? Explain in 2 paragraphs.

During: Freedom Wall Graffiti

• Freedom Wall Graffiti: What is freedom? • Give your own definition, examples,

synonyms, or graphics to express freedom on our wall.

• After: You may work on you vocabulary project after your freedom wall entry.

My First Free SummerBell Ringer

Friday, October 2, 2015Writing prompt:

Think about how Alvarez’s mom told her and her sisters to pack for America. She didn’t know any specifics, but her mother expected her to follow her directions. Sometimes our parents don’t always give us all the details when they give us an order. Why do you think they leave out the details sometimes?

During: Turn in Project

• Make sure your name is on your project.• Pick out your best entry and be prepared to

show the class.

Possessive Pronouns:Show possession

During: Study Guide

• Individual work: Complete the study guide.• You make use your book .

During: Review

Exit Slip

• Imagine that your parents were diplomats to a foreign country and you were going to move to that country. What country would it be?