People in the Novel

1. Go through chapters 1-7 of  Ellen Foster, and jot down the names of all the characters and the animal Ellen tells us about, both past and present. 
2. Once you have done this, write at least one sentence to describe that person.
3. Now look through the novel once more and find lines you can quote from the novel to support your descriptions. Write them down, with the page number they appear on.
4. Now review what you have written for "2" then write more about what you think of the people in Ellen's life.
5. Consider Ellen's judgements about them as well.
        Have a nice weekend.

Chapter 7 Questions

1.Why did Ellen sleep with her coat on in Starletta's house? (Ana)
2.Why does Ellen like Aunt Betsy house? (John)
3.What does Ellen Aunt Betsy tell her on Sunday? Why?(Shaquan)
4.Why does Ellen not give her teacher a number to call?(Unique)

Chapter 6 Questions

1.Why was Ellen's father outside while his friends were in his house sleeping? (Ana)
2.Why does Ellen not eat at Starletta's house? (Unique)
3. How is Starletta's mother exploited by white women? (Balgley)
4.Why does Ellen read so much at home? (Unique)
5.How does Ellen feel about her father and his friends inside the house? (Farid)
6.Why does Ellen hide from her father and his friends? (Farid)
7.What did Ellen tell Starletta before playing with her? (Dianeldis)
8. Why did Ellen stay in her house when she heard her father arrive? (Ana) 
9. Why does Ellen have to tell her father, "I am Ellen?" (Balgley)
10. Why does Missa Bill not know Ellen's age? (Balgley)
11.Why is Ellen's window covered with ice, i.e., frozen? (Balgley)
11. Why did Ellen leave the house? (Taleyia)
12. Why can't Ellen dress in her mother's clothes any more?

Ellen Deals With Winter

CHAPTER 5 Questions

     1. How does Ellen dress for school? Why?

2. Why does Ellen’s father have Rudolph and Ellis come to see him?

3. What does Ellen learn from playing with the catalog?

4. How does Ellen manage by herself?

5. What’s Ellen’s life like now that her mama’s dead?

6. How does Ellen adjust to the cold weather?

7. How does Ellen prepare for Christmas?

8. Why do you think she wanted the Girl Scout badges more than she needed to be honest?

9. How does Ellen spend Christmas day?

10.Describe Starletta’s home.
     (This is from Ellen’s point of view.)

Seeing, Understanding, and Evaluating ELLEN

Look at Ellen Foster as a character from these perspectives: 
a. as her mother's child
b. as her father's child 
c. as a neice, cousin, and granddaughter
d. as a friend 
e. as a student 
f. as she sees herself.

Ellen Foster: a character being developed

Good to see you guys.
GRAMMATICAL MINUTE: Write these two sentences into your notebook. Now provide them with punctuation marks and correct them as required.

1. Everyone watched the news everyone felt a floating anxiety everyone questioned the safety of nuclear plants in the usa
                                                                 2. My brother is working on a multimedia presentation about the following jazz artists Fats Waller Art Tatum Miles Davis and John Coltrane  
> How has Ellen been characterized by the author, Kaye Gibbons? (Chapters 1,2,3, and 4)
       1. Make statements about Ellen based on what you have read so far.
        2. What words describe her character?
        3. Back these statements or adjectives up with specific examples from the novel.
        4. Use quotations from the text to support your thoughts.
        5. Turn this into a two page essay.

ELLEN FOSTER'S LIFE

GRAMMATICAL MINUTE: Write these sentences into your notebook. Carefully read them, now give them the punctuation marks they require.
1.It was no surprise she got an A in English she was always in class on time she always took class notes she always participated in class discussion she always carefully did her writing assignments she always handed them in on time

2. You can expect to do well the teacher said if you regularly come to class participate in lessons and do your written assignments
> Why and how is Ellen Foster's life about to change?

GRAMMATICAL MINUTE: Write these two sentences into your notebook, then correctly punctuate them.
1. Dora smelled of urine Ellens daddy smelled of booze                                        
                                                                                                                                 
2. Ellens mamas mama told Rudolph dont let Ellens daddy bother me therell be money placed in your brothers mailbox every week 

POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS

These are the pronouns mentioned in class today. Since they show possession, or ownership, NEVER ever use them with 
aposthrophes.

mine   (mines is never correct English)
its
hers
his
ours
yours
theirs

Chapter 4: Starletta and Ellen's Grandmother

> Why is Ellen's Grandmother
so important? (Chapter 4)          
YESTERDAY: > Why's Ellen unhappy with her relatives at her mother's funeral?                                                          
GRAMMATICAL MINUTE: Write these two    sentences into your notebook, then  provide them with the punctuation they require.
1. It didnt rain in the morning as forecasted at noon there was a torrential downpour                                                 
                                                               
 2. Its not yours its hers Luis told his classmate as he opened his notebook  

Chapter 3: Ellen's Mother's Funeral

> Why's Ellen unhappy with her relatives at her mother's funeral?
YESTERDAY: GRAMMATICAL MINUTE:  Write these sentences into your notebook, then punctuate them.

1. She thought it was her's but realized it was her classmates when her boyfriend reminded her isnt your's blue and red


2. The teachers grades were due in Ms Ingrams email at the end of the marking period but some teachers didnt send them to her and told her I misplaced your email address

Chapter 2: Ellen's Mama's Death

> How does Ellen feel about the circumstances surrounding her mother's death? (Chapter 2)

YESTERDAY: How does Ellen descibe her father in Chapter One.

GRAMMATICAL MINUTE:  Write these two sentences into your notebook. Now give them the punctuation marks they require.


1. The clown blew his horn his apprentice tripped him                     


2. Charles was late to class and told the teacher its not my fault the train was late 

Grammatical Minute

GRAMMATICAL MINUTE: Write these two sentences into your notebook. Now give them the punctuation marks you think they require.
1. After eating breakfast together her mother asked her please watch your brother while I'm at work today 

2. Ashanti asked her friend have you ever read Fences   

Prereading & Chapter One: ELLEN FOSTER

GRAMMATICAL MINUTE: Write this sentence into your notebook. Now give it the punctuation marks you think it requires.

The kangaroo leaping ever farther and higher was soon out of sight 
PREREADING Written Do Now:
1. Describe three ways a son or daughter could murder his or her father without becoming a suspect?
2. Explain why a child might want to murder his or her father?
3. How guilty is a child who is preoccupied with these thoughts?
4. Why might a father be unaware of his child's preoccupation with murdering him?

>What do we learn about Ellen at the beginning of this novel?

PERSONAL ADJECTIVES

• generous
• easygoing
• ambitious
• cheerful
• hardworking
• trustworthy
• impatient
• optimistic
• sensitive
• moody
• sociable
• indecisive
• reserved
• lazy
• attentive
• anal
• punctual
• humorous
• modest
• bossy
• intelligent
• impulsive
• considerate
• imaginative
• independent
• selfish
• self-confident
• responsible
• talkative

MATCH AN ADJECTIVE THAT DESCRIBES EACH OF THESE PERSONAL QUALITIES ASKED OF YOU IN THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. AFTER YOU FINISH THIS WRITE YOUR OWN QUESTIONS WHICH SHOULD GENERATE ADJECTIVES (DESCRIPTIVE WORDS) YOU HAVE NOT YET LISTED.

1. Is your friend usually in a good mood?
2. Does your friend like to tell jokes?
3. Does your friend do something when he/she says he will?
4. Does your friend like to tell everyone what to do?
5. Is it important for your friend to be successful in whatever he/she does?
6. Does your friend notice your feelings?
7. Does you friend often give presents, or pay for lunch or a coffee?
8. Does your friend work hard?
9. Does your friend become angry or annoyed if he/she has to wait for something or someone?
10. Can you trust your friend with a secret?
11. Does your friend act shy when someone compliments him/her?
12. Can you friend do things alone or does he/she need someone to help him/her?
13. Does your friend listen well when you are speaking?
14. Is your friend creative?
15. Does your friend keep his/her feelings to him/herself?
16. Is your friend usually not worried by things, no matter what happens?
17. Does your friend think the future will be good?
18. Does your friend often change their opinion about things?
19. Does your friend often postpone things he/she has to do?
20. Is your friend happy one moment and then sad the next?
21. Does your friend like to be with people?

AIMS & Do Nows

1. Write about something that you did or happened to  you during President's Week.                                         

2. Why does O. Henry devote most of the beginning of the story only to Della (Jim's wife)?
3. If the story were told  from the husband's point of view rather than from Della's, what additional information would have to be supplied? How would you change the story? (Carefully examine the story to see how O. Henry presents Della as a character.)

> Extra Credit: Rewrite the story making it more contemporary, i.e., up to date.
4. How do women and men differ in the way they think, they feel, and they behave?
Do Now: T-chart or Venn diagram  to list adjectives that apply to the sex.