Today in class, we began with 10-or-so minutes of free choice reading for a warm-up. Next, we talked about the first 35 pages of Ella Minnow Pea using your discussion guides. Finally, we took notes on a writing method called PIE, which you will be using very frequently from this point on. Here is that PowerPoint if you would like to review: The PIE Method for Building Paragraphs

Homework for tonight is to either: 1) read your free choice book for 45 minutes, 2) practice using Vocabulary.com for 45 minutes, or 3) do both of those things (each one for 45 minutes) for an extra 10 points. You must bring a signed note from a parent telling me what you did.

Also, I think I mentioned this in all of the classes, but just in case, your printed HUB pages are due on Monday, since we won’t have class on Friday.

Today we took the English (reading and writing) portion of the PSAT, in preparation for the real thing, which you will take on October 15. I told you about a couple of different options that are available to you if you would like to further prepare for that exam: Testmasters (which is very expensive, although I think it can be effective), as well as the free PSAT and SAT offered by Mr. Wolf after school on Monday and Wednesday.

Homework for tonight was just to finish your reading guide for Ella Minnow Pea. I told you that if you did not yet have yours, you can borrow one of the few that I have during lunch.