Friday, May 29, 2009

weekend homework

1. Get test signed
2. Letter #3 due June 3
3. Block 4 final works cited (if possible)
4. Green sheet
5. All library books returned to Mrs. Clifford Monday
6. It's never too early to begin studying for that Final Exam!!!
 
 

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Homework Block 2 / General Announcement

Tonight, Block 2 students need to complete their Works Cited page.  Online help can be found at

 

www.oslis.org

 

Lots of examples and time were given in class.

 

New due date for Letter #3:  June 3, 2009

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Final Exam Information

 

Before exam, but counting as part of the grade:

  • Persuasive essay (on demand with graphic organizer):  I will show it to students on Friday, June 5, and they will write it Monday, June 8.
  • Completed portfolio: All must be present in the folder!
    • Response to text – “Lather and Nothing Else”
    • Response to text – Historical Fiction
    • Persuasive – “Is Man Good?”
    • Narrative – Cinderella tale
    • Persuasive – 180 School Hours
    • Response to text – Asian novel
    • Report/Response to texts – Poet of choice
    • Poem – Fun, Season, or other of choice

 

On the exam:

 

1.  All Fun and Useful Words (Sets 1 – 7)

 

2.  All Language Arts Terms

 

3.  All Word Parts (prefixes, suffixes, roots)

 

4.  Analysis of a NEW poem (Multiple choice, fill in, or true/false)

 

5.  Reading Comprehension questions on a NEW text (non-fiction or fiction)

 

6.  Punctuation rules and application:

·         Apostrophes

·         Commas

·         Semi-colons

·         Colons

·         End Marks

·         Quotation Marks

·         Italics  (or underlining if not typed)

 

7.  Capitalization Rules

 

8.  Basic grammar

·         Subjects/Predicates

·         Types of sentences (complex, compound, simple)

·         Kinds of sentences (interrogative, imperative, declarative, exclamatory)

·         Types of verbs (action or state of being)

·         Pronouns (types as well as clear pronoun referent)

·         Run-ons and fragments

9.  Short Story Structure and definitions (ex:  exposition, climax)

 

10.  Poetic terms (ex:  structure terms, craft terms)

 

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

homework tonight

Letter # 2 due Thursday.

 

Poet reports have been typed and (I hope) completed in class.  We have spent 160 minutes of total typing time, which certainly should have been sufficient if students had utilized research time and first draft writing time well. 

 

Journals will be collected on FRIDAY and 5 entries will be assessed – full page entries on topics beginning with E, F, G, H, I.  PLEASE do NOT simply write a list of words that start with that letter.  An entry that is simply a list of words will NOT earn full credit. 

 

Thanks!

 

 

Monday, May 18, 2009

Homework

No new homework tonight, but students should be thinking about their poet reports.
 
2nd book project letter is due Thursday the 21st. 

Friday, May 15, 2009

weekend work

An hour was given in class today to work on full first drafts of the poet report/response.  Sadly, many students have not used their time well and were unable to write during this time due to not having enough research completed from previous work sessions.  We are obviously at “crunch time” now, with the year ending and exams around the corner.  Many students have opted to (and will NEED to) do their first drafts over the weekend.  We’ll have class time for typing on Monday, but my observation has been that for most students it is inefficient to type and think at the same time.  Therefore, they will use their computer time better if they have their handwritten drafts completed.  I know families have a lot going on at this time of the year, too, and that is why I have given many hours of class time for this project in school.  Please ask your student if he or she finished the essay today, and if not, help him or her find time this weekend to get it done.  Thanks.

 

Green sheets are also due Monday, and second letters for projects are due Thursday the 21st.

 

 

Thursday, May 14, 2009

the report begins

We spent quite a bit of time in class today beginning our poet reports.  I showed and discussed a model of the first paragraph, and gave 20 - 30 minutes to write, following the model.  Students who did not finish will need to do so tonight.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Monday and Tuesday

Monday night's homework (as announced by my sub):
 
  • memorize poem for Wednesday
  • turn in first letter for project on Tuesday
  • write one page in your journal on a topic starting with E
  • green sheet if not turned in on Monday

Tuesday night's homework:

  • memorize poem for tomorrow

Thursday, May 7, 2009

New Poems and Independent Reading Project dates

New poems need to be memorized by Wednesday, May 13.
 
Green sheets are due on Monday.
 
1st letter (after reading 10 - 20 pages) for independent project is due May 12.
 
2nd letter (half way done book) is due May 21.
 
3rd letter (after finishing book) is due June 9.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Homework

Journal one page on a topic beginning with D.
 
Block 4:  Get your test signed by a parent and memorize a second poem from set # 2 (the one on green paper).  You will recite it on WEDNESDAY MAY 13th, and will be responsible for remembering the two previous poems as well. 
 
Other blocks will be getting a new set of poems tomorrow and will choose a new poem from the new set.  It will be labeled "set three" and will be on yellow paper. 

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Tuesday and Portfolio announcement

Students spent time today organizing portfolios.  Most students are in good shape; however, if pieces are missing, the final grade (part of final exam) will be affected.  If any pieces are missing, students will need to find or re-create the piece before June 9.

 

Tonight’s homework is to prepare for the poetry recitation tomorrow AND to write one full page in their journals on a topic that starts with C.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Homework

Apparently I mis-communicated about the due date for the poetry recitations.  I had “Monday” as the due date in one place, but “May 6” as the due date in another.  Mea culpa.

 

As a result, I had some students who chose to recite today, and some who are waiting until Wednesday.  No penalty for waiting until Wednesday, since it was apparently my error.

 

Students should be bringing home their Word Whiz 6 tests to get signed for credit.

 

Students should be writing one full page in their journals on a topic that starts with B.

 

Students who did not recite today must keep working on memorizing their poem for Wednesday.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Weekend

Weekend homework is to MEMORIZE your new poem for Monday.  You need to remember the first poem as well.
 
Also, read and complete green sheet.
 
Everyone gets a fresh start on Monday when the new marking period begins.  Let's make it great!!!!
 
I will post due dates and details for next marking period's independent reading project next week.