Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Chapter 8




Learning Intentions

•I understand that books have the ability to change the way I think about myself and about my world.
 

•I am able to look for and identify things in a book that matter the most to me.  There are examples of this in my writing.
 


Questions

Olemaun's father regretted letting her go to residential school before. Now all three daughters had to go back.
 

What would you do in this situation? Go along with your siblings or run like Agnes, knowing what you know?
 

How is this time going to be different? What will Olemaun teach her sisters?


Friday, December 6, 2013

Chapter 7




Learning Intentions

•I understand that books have the ability to change the way I think about myself and about my world.
 
•I am able to look for and identify things in a book that matter the most to me. There are examples of this in my writing.

 

Questions

1.     Olemaun's language slowly came back to her. How did her father help her with this? Why is it important for her to reconnect with her language?

2.    Her father had her manage the dog sled on her own and told the family about her accomplishments. She felt "Olemaun grow large inside her". What does this mean? Why is it happening?

3.    What made Olemaun's 'best day of her life!' so special? Why do you think that would be?

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Chapter 6


Learning Intentions

•I understand the story and can use the information to imagine what the characters are thinking and feeling beyond what is written.

•I can imagine what the characters' hopes and fears are based on what I have read.



Questions

How is Olemaun feeling now? She says, "And I only had to remember how to be Olemaun Pokiak, an Inuvialuit girl."  What does she mean by that? Why is that important?

Why do you think Olemaun thinks so much about the Dubilak? What do they have in common?

When the outsider's boat came to collect the children, Agnes disappeared. She faced great danger out in the tundra alone. Did she make the right decision? Explain.

Interesting fact: Dubilak comes from a traditional word for a terrible spirit that brings misfortune. A variation of the name "tupilak" is widely recognized amongst distant Inuit groups.



Monday, December 2, 2013

Chapter 5





 
 
 
 
Learning Intentions

•I can use the words in the text to create pictures in my mind while reading. I show this through my writing and drawn responses.

•I can imagine others senses in the images in my mind, such as the smell and feel of something.

•I understand the difference between a fact (something found in the book) and an inference (reading between the lines, which is something that is implied).
 

Questions

1.       Olemaun had a strange nightmare that she was back at residential school. What do you think parts of the dream meant?

2.       Olemaun feels the pain of her tender feet through her soft Kamiks. She feels the pain of not knowing her language and making mistakes. What do you think it means when she says, "The first time I had put my feet in outsiders' shoes they had pinched and felt awkward. Now they were a barrier, protection against the hard earth."

Friday, November 29, 2013

Chapter 4



Learning Intention
  • I understand the story and can use the information to  imagine what the characters are thinking and feeling beyond what is written.
  • I can imagine what the character's hopes and fears are based on what I 've read.

  1. "My tears fell in the ocean, and I wished my spirit was in those tears, because then I could follow the current back to a place where I belonged." Where does Olemaun  belong? What would belonging look like and feel for her?
  2. Why do you think Olemaun is not as afraid of Dubilak as everyone else is? What does she think of him? What does he represent to her?

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Chapter 3



 

 

Learning Intentions

 

I can use my background knowledge to explain the importance of key events in the story.
 
  1. Why is it upsetting to Olemaun when she has trouble fishing? Why is this skill important to her?
  2. Why do you think she begins to talk about herself as two different people - Olemaun and Margaret?
  3. "See? I told you, when she is hungry enough she will eat," my father said to my mother in Inuvialuktun on his way out the door to find out what was going on with dark stranger. Somehow, I understood every word. What is important about this?

Chapter 2


1.       Do you think the residential school was effective in educating Olemaun? (Recall the purpose of these schools).


2.       Why would Agnes's mother forbid her to speak English and play with Olemaun?


3.       How was Olemaun beginning to see herself? Why?


Monday, November 18, 2013

Lesson 1: Picture Detectives

Today you will receive a secret password to open one of the documents below. The documents have pictures from the book we will be reading in class. The pictures will give you clues about the book, but they will also leave you with many questions. Your job is share your predictions about the book based on the pictures you see and also share your questions.
 
Here is your first picture, the rest you will find in your group’s secret document.

Question Words:
Who, What, When, Where, Why, How
I wonder...                       What if...
Is / Isn't                            Do/Don't
Should / Shouldn't           Are/Aren't
Can/Can't                         Will/Won't
Does/Doesn't                   Have, Haven't
 
Group 1             Group 2
Group 3             Group 4
 

Blogging (and Commenting) Guidelines

Blogging (and Commenting) Guidelines
As a student blogger representing Prince Rupert Middle School, you are expected to follow these blogging guidelines.  Use the questions in italics to help you decide what is appropriate to post on the blog.
 
1. Only post things that you would want everyone (in school, at home, in other countries) to know.
Ask yourself: Is this something I want everyone to see? Is there anything in my post that should be private? Is this my story to tell?
 
2. Do not share personal information.
Ask yourself: Could someone find where I live based on this information?
 
3. Think before you post.
Ask yourself: What could be the consequences of this post? Is anyone harmed in any way by this post?
 
4. Know who you’re communicating with - people all over the world.
Ask yourself: Who is going to look at this, and how will they interpret my words?
 
5. Consider your audience and that you’re representing CWA.
Ask yourself: Do I have a good reason/purpose to write this?
 
6. Know how to give constructive feedback.
Ask yourself: What will I cause by writing this comment? Is my comment helpful, or just criticism?
 
7. Treat other people the way you want to be treated.
Ask yourself: Would I want someone to say this to me?
 
8. Use appropriate language and proper grammar and spelling.
note: style for blogging is more familiar, conversational, narrative, etc.; less formal than academic writing, but you should still use correct spelling and grammar.
Ask yourself: Would I want this post to be graded for grammar and spelling?
 
9. Only post information that you can verify is true (no gossiping).
Ask yourself: Is this inappropriate, immature or bullying?
 
10. Anytime you use media from another source, properly cite the creator of the original work.
Ask yourself: Who is the original creator of this work? Can my reader tell who should get credit?
 
Commenting Guidelines
As a blogger, you will be commenting on other people’s work regularly.
Good comments:
  • are constructive, but not hurtful;
  • consider the author and the purpose of the post;
  • are always related to the content of the post;
  • include personal connections to what the author wrote;
  • answer a question, or add meaningful information to the content topic;
  • follow the writing process.