Mrs. Zana’s Class

Yeah
I know sometimes things may not always make sense to you right now
But hey, what daddy always tell you?
Straighten up little soldier
Stiffen up that upper lip
What you crying about?
You got me

Hailie I know you miss your mom and I know you miss your dad
When I’m gone but I’m trying to give you the life that I never had
I can see you’re sad, even when you smile, even when you laugh
I can see it in your eyes, deep inside you want to cry
Cuz you’re scared, I ain’t there?
Daddy’s with you in your prayers
No more crying, wipe them tears
Daddy’s here, no more nightmares
We gonna pull together through it, we gonna do it
Lainie uncle’s crazy, aint he?
Yeah but he loves you girl and you better know it
We’re all we got in this world
When it spins, when it swirls
When it whirls, when it twirls
Two little beautiful girls
Lookin’ puzzled, in a daze
I know it’s confusing you
Daddy’s always on the move, mamma’s always on the news
I try to keep you sheltered from it but somehow it seems
The harder that I try to do that, the more it backfires on me
All the things growing up as daddy that he had to see
Daddy don’t want you to see but you see just as much as he did
We did not plan it to be this way, your mother and me
But things have got so bad between us
I don’t see us ever being together ever again
Like we used to be when we was teenagers
But then of course everything always happens for a reason
I guess it was never meant to be
But it’s just something we have no control over and that’s what destiny is
But no more worries, rest your head and go to sleep
Maybe one day we’ll wake up and this will all just be a dream

[Chorus]
Now hush little baby, don’t you cry
Everything’s gonna be alright
Stiffen that upperlip up little lady, i told ya
Daddy’s here to hold ya through the night
I know mommy’s not here right now and we don’t know why
We feel how we feel inside
It may seem a little crazy, pretty baby
But i promise momma’s gon’ be alright

It’s funny
I remember back when you and daddy had no money
Mommy wrapped the Christmas presents up
And stuck ‘em under the tree and said some of ‘em were from me
Cuz daddy couldn’t buy ‘em
I’ll never forget that Christmas I sat up the whole night crying
Cuz daddy felt like a bum, see daddy had a job
But his job was to keep the food on the table for you and mom
And at the time every house that we lived in
Either kept getting broken into and robbed
Or shot up on the block and your mom was saving money for you in a jar
Trying to start a piggy bank for you so you could go to college
Almost had a thousand dollars till someone broke in and stole it
And I know it hurt so bad it broke your momma’s heart
And it seemed like everything was just startin’ to fall apart
Mom and dad was arguin’ a lot so momma moved back
Onto Chalmers in a flat one bedroom apartment
And dad moved back to the other side of 8 Mile on Novara
And that’s when daddy went to California with his CD and met Dr. Dre
And flew you and momma out to see me
But daddy had to work, you and momma had to leave me
Then you started seeing daddy on the T.V. and momma didn’t like it
And you and Lainnie were to young to understand it
That Papa was a rollin’ stone, momma developed a habit
And it all happened too fast for either one of us to grab it
I’m just sorry you were there and had to witness it first hand
Cuz all I ever wanted to do was just make you proud
Now I’m sittin in this empty house, just reminiscing
Lookin’ at your baby pictures, it just trips me out
To see how much you both have grown, it’s almost like you’re sisters now
Wow, I guess you pretty much are and daddy’s still here
Lainie I’m talkin’ to you too, daddy’s still here
I like the sound of that, yeah
It’s got a ring to it don’t it?
Shh, momma’s only gone for the moment

[Chorus]

And if you ask me too
Daddy’s gonna buy you a mockingbird
I’mma give you the world
I’mma buy a diamond ring for you
I’mma sing for you
I’ll do anything for you to see you smile
And if that mockingbird don’t sing and that ring don’t shine
I’mma break that birdies neck
I’ll go back to the jeweler who sold it to ya
And make him eat every carat don’t f*** with dad (hahah)

Kelly Clarkson
Breakaway
Grew up in a small town
And when the rain would fall down
I just stared out my window
Dreaming of a could-be
And if I’d end up happy
I would pray (I would pray)
Trying not to reach out
But when I’d try to speak out
Felt like no one could hear me
Wanted to belong here
But something felt so wrong here
So I pray (I would pray)
I could breakaway
[Chorus:]
I’ll spread my wings and I’ll learn how to fly
I’ll do what it takes til’ I touch the sky
I’ll make a wish
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway
Out of the darkness and into the sun
But I won’t forget all the ones that I loved
I’ll take a risk
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway
Wanna feel the warm breeze
Sleep under a palm tree
Feel the rush of the ocean
Get onboard a fast train
Travel on a jet plane, far away (I will)
And breakaway
[Chorus:]
I’ll spread my wings and I’ll learn how to fly
I’ll do what it takes til’ I touch the sky
I’ll make a wish
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway
Out of the darkness and into the sun
But I won’t forget all the ones that I loved
I’ll take a risk
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway
Building with a hundred floors
swinging ’round revolving doors.”
Maybe I don’t know where they’ll take me but
Gotta keep moving on, moving on
Fly away, breakaway
I’ll spread my wings
And I’ll learn how to fly
Though it’s not easy to tell you goodbye
I gotta take a risk
Take chance
Make a change
And breakaway
Out of the darkness and into the sun
But I won’t forget the place I come from
I gotta take a risk
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway, breakaway, breakaway

We are going to write letters to 6th grade students at another school. MMS is going to write the first letters, and then the students at HDS will reply. Here is the list of who is writing to whom:

Ayden: Victor A., Royce, Michelle,

Danielle: Celeste, Jessica C., Genesis

Elizabeth: Jessica A., Fanny,Chris M.

Hanna: Morriah, Ariana, Shanon

Isabelle: Margarita, Joanna, Yvana

Jonah: Cristian Z, Lauren, Juan Ma

Marshall: Joe, Kevin, Andrew, Chris L.,

Natasha: Jocelyne S., Dermot, Michael, Jocelyn V.

Nicole: Mayra, Fabiana, Manuel, Marty

Shaina: Gayane, Juan E. Matthew,

Zach: Jazmine S., Gerardo, Elsie

Instructions:

1. Use Microsoft Word to write your letter. You will be writing a friendly letter. Use the proper salutation.

2. First paragraph Start by introducing yourself. First names only, no addresses, email addresses, or phone numbers. Tell your pen pal something interesting about yourself.

3. Second paragraph Describe a ceremony, celebration, or ritual from your culture that you have either experienced yourself or seen someone else experience. Who participates in the ceremony? What is its purpose or meaning? What happens during the ceremony? What is your opinion about the ceremony?

4. Third paragraph Nicely ask your pen pal to describe a ceremony from his or her culture. All of the students at HDS are Jewish, but their families have a variety of traditions. You may want to ask them about the Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah celebrations.

5. Fourth paragraph Close your letter in a friendly and polite manner.

6. Use the checklist Check the rough draft of your letter yourself. Make sure you have followed the instructions and that you don’t have spelling or grammar mistakes. Have another student in class check your letter. Finally, turn the letter in to your teacher.

7. Correct your letter. If you wish, you may use special paper to print your letter. You can also add pictures, a border, or decorate your letter. Make your letter into something you would enjoy receiving.

Discuss the following two questions with your group. Then, as a group, write your responses. Each question should be answered in one paragraph (two paragraphs total). Then, please comment on at least one other group’s responses (one more paragraph). Your group does not have to agree on their answers; you may write that one person felt one way and another disagreed.

1. How did the setting of “Stray” influence the problem and its resolution?

2. How did the qualities of Mr. Lacey’s character effect the plot and the resolution of the conflict in the story?

Make sure you understand all the words in the questions - use a dictionary if you need to. Also, make sure you answer both parts of each question. I have purposely given you tough questions.

Chapter Two–Ghosts or Worse

1. Describe how Mr. Hoo felt about the grand opening of his restaurant.
2. Who was Sandy McSouthers?
3. What surprised Turtle Wexler about the Westing house?
4. Describe Otis Amber.
5. Relate the story of the two “unfortunate fellows” from Westing town.
6. What does Chris notice through his binoculars?
7 - 13 Define these vocabulary words: tenants, exclusive, stocky, maggots, gruesome, stubble, asylum
Extra Credit: Research the author, Ellen Raskin. Include in your biography a list of other books that she has written.

Answer all questions in sentence form

Chapter One–Sunset Towers

1. What was unusual about Sunset Towers?
2. Why was the delivery boy described as uncommon looking?
3. What was unusual about Barney Northrup?
4. What did Barney Northrup say that caused Jake to wonder?
5. Where was Sydelle Pulaski directing a suspicious stare?
6. How did Barney finally convince Sydelle Pulaski to take the apartment?
7. Explain why Barney Northrup could be described as a very good salesman?
8. List the various types of people that would be the new tenants in Sunset Towers.
9. At the end of the chapter we are told that one of the tenants was a mistake. Which tenant do you think was a mistake? Explain your choice.
10.-17. Define these vocabulary words: tenants, exclusive, plush, stationery, warped, chandeliers, alcove, bookie

We are making a PowerPoint about fables. Post your comments here.

Here is the email I sent Dat yesterday, which he apparently didn’t receive. I’m glad he joined both classes today anyway!
Dat:

Hope you’re feeling O.K. You looked VERY spotted, but didn’t seem too sick. If you stay spotted but otherwise healthy, Mr. Kashman and I would like to try an experiment. We think you can participate in a lot of what’s happening in class from your home computer. For example, tomorrow in my class we are doing a project about Aesop’s fables. You and your partner could email each other, or post your comments on the blog. If you have powerpoint at home, you could even make some of the slides and then send them to him. What do you think?

Obviously, if you are itchy and miserable, you don’t have to do this. But, I know you get pretty bored when you’re at home. Think of all the advantages: you could chew gum, wear jeans, eat snacks, and listen to music and no one could stop you! It would be the perfect learning environment.

Let us know what you think.

Mrs. Zana

It’s an all new CST and you’re going to write the questions! Using this week’s vocabulary words, or any of the words listed on the CST vocabulary page, your job is to write silly questions. Your questions must use the vocabulary correctly and have only one correct answer. They need to be multiple choice, with four possible answer choices. Here’s a sample:

1. Read the passage below and answer the question that follows.

Mr. Kashman needs to choose something for his lunch. The pizza looks cold and greasy. The apples are bruised and shrivled. The salad has a dirty napkin in between its leaves. The warm coffee cake smells of sugar and cinnamon.

What is the best food for Mr. Kashman to choose?
a. the pizza
b. the apple
c. the salad
d. the cake

I used two vocabulary words in the sample above. Do you see them?

You may work with a group of up to four members or by yourself. You need to use all of this week’s vocabulary (so you may want to divide up the task). You can use more than one vocabulary word per question (I actually recommend it). I suggest you type your answers in word and then paste them into one big comment.

Time’s almost up! This Friday is the deadline. Let me know if you’ve read all three books; add a comment below. You will also need to vote on an official ballot. In addition, we want to plan something special for you. If you’d like to give your opinion of the best book, that’s fine too, although some of you already posted on Flashlight Readers.

Please write a reflection saying what you think about the song lyrics activity we just completed. You can answer some or all of the questions below, or come up with your own comments.
Things to deal with in your reflection include (but are not limited to):
Did you like analyzing songs you chose?
Were some songs too hard or didn’t have enough to analyze?
Was your group able to understand the song without having the teacher explain it to the whole class?
Were the questions you had to answer confusing? Did some of them seem to not apply to your song at all?
How did you like posting your answers on the blog? Did it help seeing what other people wrote, or do you feel people were just copying each other’s answers?
Was it useful how Mrs. Zana replied to your comments, or were her comments hard to understand (i.e., it would have been easier to just talk)? Did you ever feel that you wrote a question and Mrs. Zana wasn’t able to answer you back?
Finally, any suggestions for next year?