Spirit Bear Test

I know some of you will be gone all day Friday. Be prepared for the Touching Spirit Bear test on Monday the 22nd. No exceptions. It was refreshing to hear how fast many of you thought this unit went. That tells me you have enjoyed and gotten into the novel. Yeah for reading!!

Spirit Bear Quiz

I'm sure you are all studying for your quiz tomorrow, chapters 10-18. I hope to see better scores than last time.

Cheap Books

If you're in the market for inexpensive books, there are two places I suggest. One is the website www.half.com. The books tend to be gently used, but really is it a big deal if a novel has been read once before you buy it?! Also, if you're into the Bluford series, go to their website: www.townsendpress.com. Good luck and happy shopping!!!

State Reading

Count down to the State Reading test. Spend a little extra time reading and analyzing nonfiction. Testing will take place on April 6-8.

New Book

For those of you interested, the follow up to Touching Spirit Bear is called Ghost of Spirit Bear. It looks as though it were published only a couple of years ago. I'll look to see if I can find and buy a copy!!

Check out this source for different Graphic Organizers:

www.mywebspiration.com

Pretty handy for organizing any content you have in school!!!

We are in the middle of reading Touching Spirit Bear. To break up the reading lesson, students will be participating in their own versions of Circle Justice. We will review the expectations of Circle Justice based on prior knowledge, the notes we've taken and the excerpts from the novel. As a class we will complete the scenario posted below (the participants, plan of action, time frame, and people were in a grid orginally that didn't transfer). Students will then be placed into groups in order to complete a Circle Justice meeting together. Parts will be assigned, feathers will be given and the Keeper will start the meeting. When the groups are complete in filling in their forms, the Teen will present the content that the Circle has come up with. I have decided the lesson contains three types of ADVANCED ORGANIZERS: Narrative Organizers for recall of novel story, Expository Organizers for setting up and going through the Circle Justice format as a class, and Graphic Organizers for the students as they complete the activity.

Touching Spirit Bear
Circle Justice

Practice Scenario: A 13 year old has been caught violating the school dress code three times. The first time they had to wear P.E. clothes instead. The second time parents were called and had to bring a change of clothes. Have a Circle Justice meeting to determine the consequences and actions each member will do.

Rules:
Keeper = Secretary for the Group (the fill in this sheet with the answers)
Teen = Presenter for the Group (they will share the scenario and goals for the group)

As a group, decide what each member is going to do to help the teen overcome the problem they have been charged with. They will not be sentenced to any probation or juvenile detention time. Each Circle Member needs to have a goal, which means a plan of action and a time frame. Follow the procedures we completed together on the example in class.


Participants Plan of Action Time Frame
Keeper’s Name:




Teen’s Name:

Principal’s Name:

Parent’s Name: