Thursday, April 30, 2009
Marking Period Ending Friday
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Wednesday April 29
- Journal S - Z
- Cumulative Review worksheet
- Mystery novel project
- 2nd draft original poem with 1st draft attached
- Pronoun packet
- Grade report signed by a parent
- Test on capitalization and punctuation SIGNED and corrections made to second page
FYI -- We began our poet research today in the library.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Poem to write, Poem to memorize, Poet to study!
Tonight’s homework is to write a NEAT second draft of your poem. It needs to be about an ordinary event (like mowing the lawn) that becomes extraordinary (exaggerate it!!!). It should have a simile, metaphor, personification, or onomatopoeia. It should rhyme OR have a regular rhythmic pattern. It should be 8 lines minimum. It should have strong verbs and colorful adjectives (“rubbery blubbery macaroni”)
A new set of poems were handed out today (on green paper), and each student needs to memorize ONE of them for a recitation next Monday (May 4). They also still need to be able to recite last week’s poem as well.
A new PROJECT was handed out in class today. We’ll be working on a research project / response to literature paper. We’ll be researching ABOUT a poet and reading and analyzing some of his/her poetry, then writing a paper fusing the biographical information with the poetry analysis. Most of the work will be done in class, and due to the size of the packet, I am requiring students to keep the packet in my classroom. Parents are welcome to see the packets if they stop in at the end of the day, or at School Report Night. The cover sheet for the packet is below:
Poet research project
- Choose a poet from the following:
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- Read 5 of his/her poems
- Complete an analysis sheet for each
- List 10 to 15 words that you think describe his/her poems
- Read about the poet and his / her poetry and take notes using the form I give you
- One to two online sources (websites like biography.com)
- One to two print sources (magazines, encyclopedias, books)
- One article from the GALE DATABASE
- *Optional* CD-ROM source, such as Grolier or Encarta
- Write a first draft of a report on your chosen poet, using your research notes and your analysis of the poems.
- 1st paragraph includes hook, brief biographical information on poet, thesis statement: The three words that I think best describe blank’s poetry are: zing, zang, and zong
- 2nd paragraph all about why you think blank’s poetry is zing.
- 3rd paragraph all about why you think blank’s poetry is zang.
- 4th paragraph all about why you think blank’s poetry is zong.
- 5th paragraph wrapping your report up, summarizing your main points, and encouraging your reader to read this person’s poetry
- Turn first draft in.
- While it is being checked over, create a Works Cited page.
- Type second draft, revising as necessary
- Turn it in
- Proofread, edit, revise as necessary
- Turn in final copy with Works Cited and analysis sheets attached
Monday, April 27, 2009
homework April 27
Marking period independent reading projects are due tomorrow (unless exempted due to NECAP)
Poems that were due today are due tomorrow with a late slip for those who did not turn them in today.
Blocks 2 and 3 have a test on GUM that needs to be signed, as well as corrections to do on section A of the second page. They also need to write out section B as a dialogue, regardless of how well they did on that section. Be sure to start a new line and indent every time the speaker changes. Watch out for titles of chapters (in quotation marks) and titles of web sites (underlined or in italics).
Block 4 has a worksheet on possessives due tomorrow.
Friday, April 24, 2009
poem and greeen sheet
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Test tomorrow
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Review
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
POETRY OUT LOUD!!!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Thursday Homework and Mystery Novel Project
Tonight’s homework is two worksheets for blocks 2 and 3 reviewing semicolons, colons, and general punctuation; homework for block 4 is a worksheet on quotation marks in dialogue.
One more day until vacation!
There will be no new homework over vacation, but mystery books need to be finished ASAP. Projects are due April 28th. Projects are as follows:
BOOK IN A BAG…
1). After reading a book, each student selects a book report container. This container can be a plastic bag, a manila envelope, a can, a shoebox or any other object that can hold items
2) The students decorate the container to convey major details, elements, or themes founding the book.
3). Students will then work on the contents of their container. They will need to include the following:
- Questions-Write ten questions based on the book. Write five “right there” questions and five more questions that require some more thought
- Vocabulary-Create a ten word glossary of unfamiliar words from the book.
- Things-Include five things (objects) that have a connection to the story.
INTERVIEW WITH THE CHARACTER...
1). The student composes eight questions to ask a main character in the book. The students write the character’s response to each question. The questions and responses should indicate the student’s knowledge of the story without giving away the most significant details.
2). On the day the assignment is due, the student will either dress up as the main character or use props to depict what the character has an interest in.
IN THE NEWS…
1). Each student creates a front cover of a newspaper that tells about events and characters in a book just read. The newspaper must include\:
- Title-That is appropriate for the book
- Major Story-This is where the student writes a summary.
- Comic Strip-Illustrating an event from the story.
- Editorial-Students write an opinion about the book.
DEAR DIARY…
1). The students will write at least six diary or journal entries that might have been written by the main character in the book just read. The entries should share details about the story that will prove the students read the book.
2). The students will then make a cover for their character’s diary.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Wednesday homework
Tonight’s homework is only for blocks 2 and 3, since block 4 was unable to meet due to testing.
The homework is two double-sided worksheets of punctuation and capitalization review for an upcoming test (Friday, I hope!)
Many students may have completed part or all of the worksheets during testing time.