Tell-Tale Heart

In class, we are analyzing and imitating the styles of Edgar Allan Poe and Roald Dahl. Students are reading stories, watching videos, and writing their own scenes from a different point of view. Here are three versions of Poe's short story "The Tell-Tale Heart." Next week, students will practice their own fluent oral reading of the story. 

Practice at home. Have others listen to you. 

Get the tone down so you can 

demonstrate your understanding through oration.  

Imagine that you are the old man or the neighbor or a police officer. How would the story be told differently?

Below is the Poe-style writing assignment: 


Next week you will type a minimum one-page story, retelling the incidents of The Tell-Tale Heart from someone else’s perspective (point of view). Imitate the Gothic style of Edgar Allan Poe.

Gothic literary devices:

• Antiquated language/diction
• Gloomy setting
• Intense emotions
• Madness
• Supernatural events

Pick a character from the list below, and brainstorm some notes to get started. Focus on what your character may have seen or heard.

• Old Man
• Neighbor
• Police Officer

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GUEST BLOGGERS

Tamales

My sister, Angelina Barnes, loves tamales. She likes them because they have a good  taste. My sister likes the taste of the meat, dough and black olives that are in a tamales. My sister likes them so much that she likes to make her own with my mom, grandmother, and me sometimes. The first time that she had a tamal her eyes got so big when she took her first bite. After that, we would have to make a couple dozens tamales so that we could have a good amount for each of the people in my house.

Angelina always asks my mom, can we make some tamales?  Although she knows that we only make them during the holidays. My sister is a very picky eater, but when it comes to tamales she doesn't care. The food in her plate is always arranged in separate spaces, never to touch one food from the other. My sister can care less when she eats the tamales that she loves so much. I love my sister a lot and tamales are her favorite type of food.

Marcos B.

Two Truths and One Lie

1. Last summer I went to the mountain because we all wanted to spend time with our family. When we got there, it was dark and we could not see anything so we just went inside. When we woke up the next morning, we went exploring. I went with my brothers and my dad. We saw a couple of things we never see before. It was a lot of fun.

2. A couple months ago, we went to Fort Bragg. The bad thing about going to Fort Bragg was the ride there. Oh did I hate that! It felt like it was taking forever to get there but we got there. When we got there, we had nowhere to sleep, so we had to sleep at a hotel. Boy did I hate sleeping in that hotel. It smelled really bad and for some reason I could not sleep. I went to bed at like 4:00 in the morning.

3. Once I went to Hawaii but when I got there there was this weird sign that said, “You are not allowed to take anything from the island home.” Of course if you buy it from the store then you can take it home. When I got to the hotel, I told my mom that I was going to go check the place out. She said, “That is fine; just be back before it is dark.” I said “ok.” We went swimming and surfing. Of course I do not know how to surf, so it was a lot of practicing. Even my friends got it before I did. But at the end, I got to hand out with my family and my friends. It was a good trip.  

By Erica. R

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone book review

I’ve recently read the first book of JK Rowling's best selling series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. The novel is based around Harry Potter and his first year at Hogwarts. Harry, along with the two friends he made on the way there, are 1st years at the school. Harry learns that the school he and his friends are at holds more secrets than they thought. Harry and his friends go through their first year trying to find what is hidden and pass their classes. With Harry’s new sport Quidditch, a teacher who loathes him, mysterious gifts and items, and the pressure of classes, Harry and his friends are painted with responsibilities. Harry and his friends go through the twists and turns of everyday school problems and intense games. Harry and his friends are left with quite a magical experience. It leaves you wondering what’s next for the golden trio. I would recommend this book if you enjoy coming of age stories with an enchanting twist. This series is for all ages and will leave you spellbound to the story of the boy who lived.

~Lena S.

Two Truths And One Lie

1. My favorite sports is Volleyball and my team was called Spike. We always had a game on every Friday and practice on Thursdays. On the last two weeks, we went and played a tournament versus other people. We were in third place the whole time when playing volleyball until our coach told us to focus and train hard. We play and play to win every single game to show people that we are the best players for the 8th graders.
2. Everytime when I go to my uncle’s house, I always play video games. I get in trouble for no reason. I wanted to go there because they had a little baby and sometimes I want to go there to play with him. I was forced to do chores over at his house and didn’t do anything for an hour.
3. When I was 11 years old, it was Christmas. It was time to open the presents. I shook my present to guess what I got, and when I opened it, guess what? I got an Ipod 5! It was one of my best presents ever because I always wanted one.

Leo L