BLOG ASSIGNMENT #8 - 'TOUCHING SPIRIT BEAR'

What is your interpretation of the title of this novel?  Is it appropriate?  Why or why not?  

Explain your thoughts clearly in a short paragraph and be sure to include as much detail using examples that we discussed in class today.  

Blog Assignment #7 - Evaluation Report (Ch.13)

You may think that Cole’s banishment has been a complete success, or a total failure. Do you see it as being a form of punishment or rehabilitation?  Examine Cole’s behaviour and the events that have taken place on the island since his arrival. Use these events to write an evaluation that you you could submit to Cole’s Circle. Your report should outline the successes and the failures of Cole’s banishment, and conclude with a summary of who is to blame for Cole’s fate. Thoughts to consider...

•           Is Cole’s starting to own up or take more responsibility for his actions?

•           Is the Circle responsible for Cole being put in harms way?

•           Is Garvey to blame for putting too much trust in Cole?

•           Is anybody or anything else responsible for the outcome?

•           Should Cole be sent back to the island to complete his sentence?

Assignment #6 - Deep Meaning

You have been working on creating deep/meaningful questions in class over the past few weeks.  You will answer one of these for your assignment today.

What is your interpretation of why Cole felt 'TRUST' when he encountered and touched the Spirit Bear in today's reading.  Think long and hard about this question because it requires some deep thought.

If your answer resembles this ---> "Cole felt trust when he encountered and touched the Spirit Bear because he was no longer angry."   I will ask you to redo your work.

Your answers must pay attention and include the following:
- logic
- details
- paragraph form
- your honest opinion
- proper grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, etc
- support your opinion with proof/examples from the story

Assignment#5 - Questioning (Simple vs Deep)

As discussed in class, we are focusing on 2 different types of questions.

1.) Simple Questions - These are questions that can be answered very quickly, simply by reading a chapter or line of text.

Eg. Question: What did Cole receive from Garvey?
Answer: Cole received a special blanket, called an, "Atoow!"

2.) Deep Questions - These are questions that cannot be answered simply by reading a chapter and looking for the answer.  These types of questions require deep thought and usually require INFERENCING skills to answer them.  As review, INFERENCING is the process of drawing a conclusion based on what you already know.

Eg. Why do you think Cole behaves so poorly?
What do you think the atoow represents and why?
Do you think Cole will recover from being mauled by the bear?

Your assignment today, is to write out 2 simple questions and 2 deep questions based on what we read in class today.  (If you were away today, base it on previous readings).  Remember to use some of the phrases that we went over in class today.

INSTRUCTIONS:
1.) Write in your LA notebook, your 4 different questions.  
2.) Edit your work in a red pen.
3.) Blog all your questions in a neat, organized, and easy to read manner.

Assignment #4 - Exploring Characters and their Behaviour

***This assignment requires:
1.)  Complete your rough work in your notebook.
2.)  Edit your work with a red pen. 
3.)  Post your work to this blog ***

Exploring Characters and their Behaviour

Behavior is a major theme in this novel. For example, when Cole is offered an opportunity to take responsibility for his behavior, and heal both himself and the community through a Healing/Justice Circle, he grabs it, but for all the wrong reasons.

Although it appears to everyone who is trying to help Cole that he sincerely wants to change, in reality, he only agreed to go to the island, because he had every intention of escaping from it.  He had no intention of healing himself, or helping Peter heal (emotionally/physically). 

Cole’s character is a particularly good example of how a person’s behavior shapes who they become.

QUESTIONS

1.) How do our behaviours shape who we are and who we become?  (For example: How did Cole’s past behaviour affect the type of person that he has become?)

2.) Does our behaviour matter?

3.) Why is it important?

4.)Does the way in which other people see us ever cause us to change our

behavior? Give an example.

Assignment #3 - Q.W.I.L. (Chapter 3&4)

After completing your rough drafts in your notebooks, proofread and edit your Q.W.I.L.s using a red pen.  Feel free to add to your work as you see fit.  You may choose 1 Q.W.I.L. and you will post your 'REVISED' work on this blog.  Remember, I will be checking your rough copies tomorrow morning.

Everyone should have their notes and examples from class, but as a review:
Q - Choose one place that confuses you and create a question.
W - Choose a place where you said, "Oh wow!"
I - Choose one phrase/part of the story where a clear image was created.
L - choose an example of exquisite or interesting language.

***Remember to draw upon the details that we discussed in class***

Assignment #2 - Chapter 1 & 2 Connections

All students are familiar with the different types of connections that you have been making with novels/readings that you have done in the past.  The 3 main ones include: text to text, text to self, and text to world.  Choose one of the connections that you wrote about in class today work on it until you feel you have a deep/meaningful connection with it.  Remember, simple connections will not be accepted.  

Examples:

(TOO SIMPLE)

- When the author mentioned that the spirit bear was from British Columbia, it reminded me that I am live in British Columbia.  (PLEASE NOTE THAT

(DEEP AND MEANINGFUL)

- When the author wrote about an aluminum boat and how they were traveling across rough waters, it reminded me of my grandfather.  He is no longer with us, but when my grandfather was around, he often took me boating along the west coast to go bird watching.  I have many wonderful memories of him.  We often saw bald eagles and even saw different types of bears on the shore.  I think that I may have even seen a 'SPIRIT BEAR'!

Once you feel your connection meets the criteria that we discussed in class today, post it here.  Remember to indicate which type of connection you made.

Assignment #1 - PREDICTION

Your assignment today is to write a short prediction about the cover of the novel shown above.  You must include the following information in your prediction:

a.) Title

b.) What do you think will happen in the story (beginning, middle, and end)

*****Pay attention to your spelling, capitals, punctuation, sentence structure, vocabulary, etc*****