Monday, Wednesday, Friday 5:30-7:00

To access your writer’s notebook, click on your name below.

Raymond
Joshua
Kayden
Amber
Sheryl
Abby
Return to the Classroom Page (IK2W World, the Bank and the Mercantile)

To join your Zoom class meeting, please click the button below.

The passcode is: 888626

Zoom Meeting Link

To access the novel for your class, click the button to the right. In order to be able to annotate it digitally, you will need to download it to your computer.

The Book Scavenger – PDF

This summer, you will be writing a short story that will be featured in our first ever, Hall of Stories, Collection of Short Stories book!

Your homework MUST be completed by the time your class begins. You are not allowed to work on past homework during class.

Answer these final questions in great detail. Write as much as you need.  Follow PIE.


1.What do you think is Jennifer Chambliss Bertman’s most important message? Explain how the characters, setting, conflicts, and symbols work together to communicate that message.

2.Which moment in the novel do you think is the turning point? Explain why that moment changes the direction of the story and how it affects what happens afterward.

3.Throughout the novel, Emily discovers that books can connect people in unexpected ways. Why do you think Jennifer Chambliss Bertman chose to center the story around books instead of another hobby or game? Support your answer with evidence from the novel.

If you read today, you may make any final adjustments to your story. ALL story final drafts must be done and on your final draft tab by Sunday at 11:00 pm. Whatever is on that tab, will be what I publish.

Class 10 Archives

Finish reading & annotating Book Scavenger

Complete your response to literature questions following PIE:

1.Books appear throughout the novel, but they represent more than stories to the characters. What do you think books symbolize in Book Scavenger? Use at least two examples from the novel to support your answer.

2.Choose one recurring object, place, or activity (such as the Book Scavenger game, ciphers, libraries, maps, or another repeated element). What larger idea does it represent? Support your answer with evidence from the story.

3.Emily’s move to San Francisco is more than just a change of location. How does the setting help symbolize Emily’s personal journey? Use examples from the novel to explain your thinking.

Go through your rough draft using the Revision Roadmap – Final is due Wednesday

Class 9 Archives

Read & annotate chapters 33-35

Don’t forget to keep up your plot tracker & add theme ideas to your annotations as you go. ADD looking for more of the symbolism that we taked about today.

Literature questions:

  • How has Emily become a different person since moving to San Francisco?
  • Which earlier clue has become more important now? Explain.
  • Describe a difficult choice one of the characters makes. Do you agree with the decision? Why or why not?
  • Why do you think the author waited until now to reveal these important clues?
  • What do you predict will happen in the final chapters? Use evidence from the novel to support your answer.

Revise, revise, revise your short story – use the Revision Roadmap above!

Class 8 Archives

Read & annotate chapters 29-32

Don’t forget to keep up your plot tracker & add theme ideas to your annotations as you go.

Literature questions:

  • Which character has changed the most since the beginning of the novel? Explain your answer.
  • How does the author continue building suspense during these chapters?
  • What clue surprised you the most? Why?
  • What theme is beginning to stand out in the story? Support your answer with an example.
  • Why is it important that Emily and James continue working together?

Continue your rough draft focusing on making sure the characters are learning lessons.  Remember:  The rough draft is DUE on Friday!

Class 7 Archives

Read & annotate chapters 25-28

Literature questions:

  1. How do Emily and James depend on one another during these chapters?
  2. What decision made by one of the characters impressed you the most? Explain why.
  3. What obstacle creates the greatest challenge in this section of the story?
  4. If you could ask Emily one question at this point in the novel, what would you ask? Why?
  5. What prediction do you have for the next section of the mystery?

Finish descriptive dialogue piece

Work on rough draft – DUE FRIDAY – how much you do each day is up to you.  Plan accordingly. 

Class 6 Archives

Read and annotate chapters 21-24

Literature Questions:

  1. Describe a challenge Emily faces in these chapters. How does she respond to it?
  2. Which character has grown the most since the beginning of the novel? Support your answer with evidence.
  3. Why do you think the author continues adding new clues instead of solving the mystery quickly?
  4. How has Emily’s confidence changed since Chapter 1?
  5. What lesson is Emily beginning to learn through this adventure?

This week, choose your POV carefully. Rewrite opening if needed. (rough draft tab)

Finish POV switch exercise that we started in class (creative writing class 6 tab)

Finish your blueprint if needed

You have permission to continue on your rough draft this weekend if you want.  It will be due by next Friday, so if you want to lighten up your week, go for it!

Class 5 Archives

Read and annotate chapters 17-20

Literature Questions:

  • Emily refuses to give up, even when the mystery becomes more difficult. What does this reveal about her character?
  • Why is it helpful that Emily and James have different strengths?
  • Which discovery in these chapters do you think will become important later? Explain why.
  • How has the mystery become more complicated since the beginning of the novel?
  • What do you think the characters should do next? Explain your reasoning.

Start tracking the plot (literature – create new sub tab “Story Hill Tracking”)

Write the opening scene of your story focusing on setting the world using show vs. tell / active voice vs. passive voice (Rough Draft tab)

  • Introduce the setting naturally
  • Show how the world affects everyday life
  • Include at least one rule, danger, or opportunity
  • Use active voice
  • Show the setting through action and specific details
  • Avoid stopping the story for a long explanation of the world

Class 4 Archives

Read and annotate chapters 13-16

Answer literature questions below:

  1. How has Emily changed since arriving in San Francisco?
  2. Why is trust becoming more important between Emily and James?
  3. Choose one clue from these chapters. Why do you think the author included it?
  4. How does the author balance moments of mystery with moments of friendship?
  5. Who do you think is connected to the mystery? Explain your thinking using evidence from the reading.

Complete the planning of your world:  Answer the 5 questions on Worlds Shape Stories and add great detail about the culture, locations, and what it looks like – fragments only for this part

Class 3 Archives

Read and annotate chapters 9-12. Please answer the following questions:

  1. Why is teamwork becoming more important as the mystery grows?
  2. Describe one example of suspense from these chapters. How does the author keep you reading?
  3. Which clue do you think is the most important so far? Explain your choice.
  4. Emily and James spend time researching before acting. Why is this an important lesson for solving problems?
  5. What prediction do you have about the mystery? Support your answer with evidence from the story.

Finish “The Setting Switch” prompts B and C that we did not get to in class (Literature class 3 tab)

Choose one passage where the setting plays an important role. (Literature class 3 tab)

In your notebook , explain:

  • What details make the setting memorable?
  • How does the setting influence the mood?
  • How does it affect the characters or conflict?
  • Why couldn’t this scene happen exactly the same way somewhere else?

Write a journal entry from one of your characters perspective – remember to give them a voice (Must be at least one page – 12 pt type, Arial) – (My characters tab) We will read these on Monday to the class.

Continue brainstorming your world – (“My World” tab)

Class 2 Archives

Read and annotate chapters 5-8, and answer the following questions:

  • Emily and James choose to keep the mysterious book a secret. Do you agree with their decision? Explain your reasoning.
  • What strengths does Emily bring to solving the mystery? What strengths does James bring?
  • Why do you think the author uses coded messages instead of giving the characters obvious clues?
  • How is Emily beginning to trust James? Give one example from the reading.
  • If you found the mysterious book instead of Emily, what would you do first? Explain your answer.

Finish the Reading Between the Lines – Discover the Person activity if not done (literature class 2 tab)

Choose one character from your novel and record one example of each of the following (literature class 2 tab):

  • Action
  • Language
  • Thought
  • Body Language
  • How Others React

Make sure to label which of the five are being used to convey the characteristic and how it shows this trait.  Be prepared to explain what each clue reveals about the character.

Finish developing your three characters – protaganist, antogonist, important supporting character – remember to answer the questions (Character tab)

Choose one location from the IK2W World and study it closely. As you read, answer the following questions (CW Class 2 tab):

  1. What rules seem to exist in this place?
  2. What details make this location feel believable?
  3. What kinds of stories or adventures could happen here?
  4. What problems or conflicts might a character face in this location?
  5. What is one idea from this location that inspires you to build your own world?

Class 1 Archives

Your homework MUST be completed by the time your class begins. You are not allowed to work on past homework during class.

Read and annotate chapters 1-4 & answer the following questions: (Literature question tab) Don’t forget about your word bank!

  • Emily has moved many times. How has moving so often shaped her personality? Use at least one example from the reading to support your answer.
  • The setting is San Francisco, a city known for its history and landmarks. Why do you think the author chose this city instead of a small town? How might the setting affect the story?
  • First impressions matter. What is your first impression of James? What details from the story helped you form that opinion?
  • Garrison Griswold is introduced as an important character even though he appears only briefly. Why do you think the author chose to begin the story this way?
  • Every mystery starts with a hook. What event in the first 32 pages makes you most interested in continuing the novel? Explain why you think it is an effective beginning.

Independently brainstorm several possible story ideas using the “Beyond the Obvious” strategy. (My Masterpiece tab)

  1. Start with a simple idea.
  2. Ask multiple “What if…?” questions.
  3. Explore different possibilities.
  4. Select the idea that feels the most exciting.
  5. Record the story premise in the writing notebook.

Now, choose the one that you are compelled to write!

Before next class, spend about 15–20 minutes exploring the IK2W World on the website. (CW Class 1 tab)

Read the following sections on the main IK2W World page:

  • The Story of Flicker
  • The Introduction
  • IK2W Academy
  • Also, read the Firefly path page (click on the button at the bottom of the main page)

Then choose two additional locations that interest you. As you explore, answer the following questions:

  1. Which location was your favorite and why?
  2. What makes each place feel unique?
  3. What questions did these locations make you ask?
  4. If you could visit one location in the IK2W world, which would you choose and why?