Mrs. Wald's Class & Homework Blog

7th grade project

2012-02-08T16:54:00.001-05:00

Students should finish reading their fantasy or science fiction novels by about the 22nd of February, so they have plenty of time to do a quality job on their three-dimensional object, due on Feb 29.

Essay prep AND letter

2012-02-03T20:13:00.001-05:00

7th graders:

Please be sure you are in good shape for writing the "in class" essay on the Pearl on Monday. You should already have a completed chart (graphic organizer) and the first paragraph finished, as we've spent a total of over an hour on these in class time. If you missed class time or didn't use class time well, you should work on this over the weekend.

Also, please do not forget to be reading your fantasy novel and get your letter written to turn in on the 8th. You should have read about half the book before writing the letter.

~Mrs. Wald

8th grade recitation

2012-01-31T11:09:00.003-05:00

8th graders need to memorize and recite the Gettysburg Address for Friday, February 3. They will earn a 65% for even just memorizing and reciting the first sentence, but should try to memorize more, and preferably ALL of the speech. Each sentence after the first one will garner 5 additional points.

7th grade homework Thursday night

2012-01-26T13:30:00.001-05:00

7^th graders had time in class today to answer 11 questions about The Pearl. Some finished, but some barely started. All are expected to complete the work for homework tonight if they did not turn it in before the end of the period. It was certainly possible to complete the assignment, as several students did, but I agreed to allow it to be finished as homework.

Due date

2012-01-26T11:23:00.001-05:00

8^th grade:

My earlier post and email didn’t include the due date for the essay. Monday, January 30^th, please.

Mrs. Wald

homework for 8th grade

2012-01-26T10:50:00.001-05:00

8^th graders are to finish the personal essays we’ve been working on in class. I will be looking for a first and second draft, with the expectation that the second is an obvious improvement over the first. I’d prefer the second draft typed, if possible.

7th and 8th grade homework 1/23

2012-01-24T09:56:00.001-05:00

Sorry this was not posted last night....

7th graders: Please show your midterm to your parents and ask them to sign it. This is a five point homework grade. Also, please show your parents your blue handout about the new reading project, and read it yourself. There will be no penalty for turning the midterm signature in late, but please do it ASAP.

8th graders: A new vocab worksheet packet was given in class today, and will be weeklong homework. There are pages assigned to be done each night from Monday to Thursday nights, and there will be a vocabulary test on Friday.

Mrs. Wald

New Independent Reading Project Information -- Grade 7

2012-01-17T11:14:00.000-05:00

Independent Reading Project # 4 -- FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION

Characteristics of Fantasy:

· Imaginary, highly detailed societies that are mostly outside of the realm of possibility

· Visually descriptive writing

· May include a struggle of Good versus Evil

· Magical, mythological, unusual, or supernatural creatures and races of beings

· Hero (often an underdog) goes on a Quest to save someone, something, or entire world

· Magical, mythological, unusual, or supernatural objects / foods / transportation / tools / powers

· Talking animals or talking objects

Characteristics of Science Fiction:

· Futuristic society that is often idealistic (may comment on our current society’s ills)

· Involves detailed descriptions of technology and scientific advances (cool gadgets!)

· Daily tools of the society are above and beyond our current tools, but believable

· Often involves a “good versus evil” plot line

· Often involves people “playing God” or shows the results of “playing God”

· Time travel or travel to other worlds

· Themes may relate to manipulation, power, and control

· Hero may go on a quest, mission, voyage, or journey to “save the world”

Your Quest (what you need to do to get a good grade):

1. Pick a fantasy or sci-fi novel of your choice, at your reading level and of at least 150 pages on January 13^th.

2. When half through, or by February 8^th at the latest, write a letter to Mrs. Wald about your book. Your letter must be at least 350 words, and may be hand-written, typed, or emailed to awald@arsu.org. Be sure to include: SUMMARY (see class notes!) and EVALUATION of the novel. About half of the letter should be summary, and the other half should be evaluation – your thoughts, opinions, predictions, and specific examples of the characteristics of the genre.

3. When finished, or by February 29^th at the latest, create a THREE DIMENSIONAL OBJECT REPRESENTING THE BOOK. This is NOT a diorama of a scene from the book. It is a symbolic representation of the book as a whole. For example, you could make a cube and decorate all six sides. Criteria:

§ It is 3-dimensional

§ It is colorful or at least done in ink – not pencil

§ It is neatly put together (words, illustrations, cutting, gluing)

§ It includes an original, written summary of the novel (see notes!)

§ It shows and describes main character(s)

§ It shows and describes the “world” of the book

§ It names the genre and gives at least three specific examples of the characteristics of the genre as found in the book (quotes and page numbers)

§ It makes sense on its own (ie: people should “get it” if you aren’t there to explain it to them)

7th grade homework week of 1/9

2012-01-09T15:17:00.001-05:00

7^th graders are reminded to keep making three flashcards per night this week. They are graded every day, so this “small” assignment does add up.

Also, 7^th graders are reminded of the essay due on Wednesday – 5 paragraphs on their outside reading book (historical fiction). The essay structure is in all students’ notebooks and was reviewed again on Friday. The thesis statement needs to be about three things the author did well when writing the book, with at least ONE of these three things being an attempt at historical accuracy.

Late passes will not be accepted for the essay, as relayed to the students on January 3^rd, and reiterated daily. Every day late will be 10 points off.

The essay is part of the mid-term exam grade.

Unusual Homework for 8th grade

2012-01-03T15:05:00.001-05:00

8^th graders: please make a 3-column chart with these headings:

Item ----- Description ---- Inference

Leave the inference column blank, but fill the other two columns with items you typically carry during an average day. Be sure your description would help a classmate “see” your item clearly enough to make an inference about you.

7th grade homework 1/3 and through midterms

2012-01-03T12:03:00.001-05:00

With MIDTERMS fast approaching (third week of January), homework will focus on exam prep. For 7^th graders, this means TWO THINGS:

1. Every night we have school (so, yes, even Friday), students are to review their notes and glean topics, concepts, ideas, definitions, and facts that are likely to be on the exam. They will make THREE FLASH CARDS each night, and bring them to class the next day to share and use during exam review time. This will be graded.

2. Between now and January 11, students are to write a five paragraph essay on their historical fiction novels. This essay will form a sizeable portion of their exam. It is due a week prior to the exam to give me time to read and assess it fairly. I will reduce late essays by 10 points per day, with the three day weekend counting as 30 points.

In early December, we had a library lesson on the genre of historical fiction, and students were given note-taking bookmarks to use as they read. These novels were picked in early December and reminders have been given to read them. The five paragraph essay is to focus on “author’s craft”, which is a term used in language arts class to mean the tools the writer uses to tell the story well. Author’s craft may include similes, metaphors, flashbacks, sensory description, point of view shifts, and more. One specific craft in a historical fiction novel is the use of historically accuracy – the items of everyday life, the news and famous personalities of the time, the ideas and prejudices of the time, et cetera. The five paragraph essay will focus on THREE aspects of the author’s craft, as evidenced in the novel, with a requirement that ONE of these be historical accuracy. A sample thesis statement is: The writer of Lyddie, Katherine Paterson, creates a well-written novel by incorporating a believable character, using figurative language, and maintaining historical accuracy throughout. Another sample: The novel, Lyddie, by Katherine Paterson, is a well-written historical fiction novel because it uses a believable character, figurative language, and historically accurate details.

Between now and midterms I will be available most days after school to help students with reviewing topics they are struggling to master and to provide tools (such as revising guides) and guidance for working on their essays. We’ll also be dedicating homework time to learning one review strategy (note cards) and about ten minutes per day of class time on drilling and reviewing.

7th grade paragraphs

2011-12-15T13:35:00.001-05:00

Many 7^th graders have paragraphs to finish from class time. A half hour was given, but many students did not finish in that time. The paragraphs are due tomorrow.

new dates

2011-12-09T09:27:00.001-05:00

Due to my absence on Thursday, I'm extending the due dates.

Project and quiz now due Monday, Essay now due Tuesday

This week for 7th grade, part 2

2011-12-06T09:56:00.001-05:00

Project week is in full swing!
Wednesday, we will have one full 80 minute period for working on the projects. I remind students and parents that this is not likely to be enough time to complete the work unless they spend time outside of class as well. I urge students to utilize after school study and morning madness. The FINAL project and the Google quiz are both due on Friday.

This week for 7th grade, part one

2011-12-06T09:46:00.001-05:00

In class today, we began persuasive letters to Mr. Cooke, taking a position on either homework or cell phones. This will be due in FIRST DRAFT (Rough draft) form on Monday, December 12th. The notes from class are below for your/their reference:

Tips/Techniques for persuasion:
Trick / Manipulate / Plead / Nag
Make promises
Provide logical evidence:
    Statistics
    If, then
    Expert opinion / testimonial
    Precedent (who has done it before?)
Repeat
Use authority
Build trust (who ARE you anyway?)
Butter them up (why would someone as kind/smart as him/her want to do this?)

Format for the letter:
Letter format -- date, addresses, salutation, sincerely

Para 1: Introduction and thesis statement -- who you are, why you are writing (concern to share), acknowledge (admit) what is good in the school and what HE does well. THEN share your request. Then 3 part thesis statement.

Para 2: transition, why this is good/necessary/important/imperative/educational, statistics, articles, expert opinions, polls, promises, MANY persuasive techniques.

Para 3 and 4: exactly as above

Para 5: conclusion -- transition, remind Mr. Cooke of how wonderful he is (butter, butter, butter), acknowledge that not everyone agrees with you (there is controversy or other opinions but why you are right, final push/carrot/promise. Repeat your thesis statement with request added.

7th grade homework

2011-12-01T17:06:00.001-05:00

Finish the papers from Wednesday's class, please.

Sent from my iPod

Homework Pile Up for 7th grade

2011-11-28T10:45:00.001-05:00

Before class tomorrow, November 29, 2011, 7^th graders should have the following COMPLETED (yes, they’ve been aware of this for some time):

The “Lather and Nothing Else” essay

The “Boy and a Man” questions, which includes #6 – a first draft quality essay

The nonfiction book totally read AND notes and glossary completed (6 main ideas with supporting details and 20 vocab words)

It was never my intention for students to complete all of this work in one evening. Unfortunately, some students have apparently chosen to do so. It’s going to be a long night for those kiddos.

This week ends with an “eligibility report”, and these assignments will be part of that grade.

7th grade project update and upcoming test

2011-11-15T10:47:00.001-05:00

Parents and Students:

I have changed the due dates of the nonfiction reading projects to give students a little more time to complete the work. I have also added a few class times to work on the project.

Books need to be read in full and the 6 main ideas and 20 glossary words completed by NOVEMBER 29

I will give a FULL 80 minute period as a “work day” for the projects on NOVEMBER 29

Projects will be checked and graded with an expectation of being “half done” on NOVEMBER 30

I will give a HALF class (40 minutes total) for explanation and work on the Google Forms Quiz on DECEMBER 2

I will give a FULL 80 minute period as a “work day” on DECEMBER 7

Completed projects and quizzes need to be brought to class for assessment and presenting on DECEMBER 9

All details of the projects and quiz are on a bright yellow sheet in your child’s binder.

The amount of time necessary for kids to do a high quality job on this project is much more than the time they will be given in class. Please encourage your child to take advantage of after school study and the available work time in the evenings at our FHGS library.

Thanks!

ADDITIONALLY, please be aware that we have come to the end of our third set of vocabulary. There will be reviews in class (possibly homework as well), but students will need to STUDY outside of class as well. The test will be on Monday the 21^st.

Abigail P. Wald

Fair Haven Grade School

Middle Level Language Arts and Co-Team Leader

802-265-3883, extension 249

8th grade homework

2011-11-03T15:25:00.001-04:00

8^th graders need to finish the essay/letter they began in class. After 40 minutes, several students DID turn theirs in, but most needed more time. I will collect tomorrow at class time. Also, remember to be prepared for literature circles.

Constructed Response for grade 7

2011-11-01T13:45:00.001-04:00

7^th graders are to write a constructed response tonight, answering the following question about “Lather and Nothing Else:”

How does Hernando Tellez use monologue and dialogue effectively in “Lather and Nothing Else?”

Homework

2011-10-31T15:46:00.001-04:00

7^th – Be ready to show your in-process notes on your independent reading book. I want to see at least one main idea with supporting details. Also, have at least 5 vocabulary words identified, along with the sentences and definitions.

8^th - Read and prepare your role for literacy circles. Boar group is to read the next chapter. Maniac group is to read to page 40.

TEST

2011-10-24T20:18:00.001-04:00

TEST on Word Whiz on Tuesday for 7th graders.

BCP due on Tuesday for 8th graders.

7th and 8th grade info

2011-10-20T17:42:00.001-04:00

7^th grade had a “catch up” day today, working on LOTS of review activities for Word Whiz 2 Test. Any work not completed in class time should be done over the long weekend. TEST will be Tuesday.

7^th grade was given a new independent reading project handout describing the expectations and due dates for their out-of-class books. I can provide electronic or paper copies at parent request. Email me if you’d like a copy for home.

8^th grade should have turned in their BCP vocabulary today (but many did not). The remainder of the BCP is due next week.

Now that NECAPs are finished, I look forward to uninterrupted teaching!

homework and parent conferences

2011-10-18T11:10:00.001-04:00

Homework for grade 7 tonight: Prepare a 1 – 2 minute book talk for Wednesday. This is a short talk in which you share the title, author, setting, conflict, basic plot, characters, and theme of your outside reading book. You also need to have a visual component; ie: you bring in something that relates to your book – an object the character had with him, a copy of the book, et cetera. You are not expected to spend hours making a poster or anything like that. Keep it simple.

Also, as an FYI – parent teacher conference handouts were sent home with your children on either Friday or Monday. Call the office to set up a conference, if you are interested.

7th and 8th grade homework

2011-10-13T10:07:00.001-04:00

7^th: Letter #3 due tomorrow. Book talk due next Wednesday the 19^th. Study for vocabulary test on Thursday the 20^th.

8^th: Wrap up classic novel. Vocab section due 10/20; entire BCP due 10/25.

Reading Projects

2011-10-06T12:56:00.001-04:00

7^th graders are reading “adventure novels”. They have completed two-thirds of their reading and written their first two letters. To know: their novels should be finished in the next five or six days so they have enough time to do a good job on letter #3. Letter # 3 is due on October 14, 2011.

8^th graders are reading “classic novels”. I’ve extended the deadline for finishing the novel until the last Friday of NECAPS – October 14. They will need to do a BCP (Book Club Project) after they finish the novel. There will be some time spent in class modeling how to do this, using the book we are reading together. I have not finalized a due date for their classic novel BCP, but I am leaning towards the 25^th of October.

TEST

2011-10-04T17:34:00.001-04:00

Students in 7^th grade are asked to have their parents review and sign their recent vocabulary test. If the student chooses, corrections can be made to increase the score on the test. One class had the tests returned today, but the other will have the tests returned tomorrow.

7 and 8 news and homework

2011-09-28T17:41:00.001-04:00

7 – Write the other constructed response tonight. Letter #2 is due on Friday. I will not plan any additional homework for Thursday night. Please utilize after school study and morning madness if you are feeling swamped.

8 – Time has been extended to finish reading your classic novel. The novel and vocabulary portion of the BCP should be finished by Friday the 14^th. At that time, I will set a due date for the completed BCP. It will probably be about two weeks later – the 28^th, perhaps. It is KEY that you pace yourself to complete this work. It will be a GIANT part of your grade. Some time will be given in class, so bring your book every day.

ALL – Open House at 6:30 on Thursday.

ALL -- NECAP testing begins next week. Please come to school well rested and with breakfast under your belt. These two simple factors make a huge difference in your ability to sustain focus on the test and access your knowledge to do well. Be sure to bring in your novels so that you will have something productive to do if you finish a section early.

Homework 7 and 8

2011-09-26T16:07:00.001-04:00

7^th grade:

Multiple choice questions on 2010 NECAP
Finish middle third of your novel by Friday
Write second letter by Friday

8^th grade:

Finish constructed response begun in class on Habits of Mind of a famous American
READ your classic novel --- try to be finished by Friday or Monday at the latest

Grades posted today on Edline

2011-09-22T16:06:00.001-04:00

Parents and students:

Please check Edline tonight to see your current English grade.

The report is labeled “Eligibility Report September 22, 2011”

Homework 7 and 8

2011-09-19T12:02:00.001-04:00

7^th are to finish the constructed response we began in class.

8^th are to finish the 5 paragraph essay we began in class.

OOOPS

2011-09-14T22:05:00.001-04:00

A parent reminded me tonight that I hadn't posted homework for today for 7th graders. So sorry about that! The homework was to finish the constructed response we worked on in class. Students should have had two to three more sentences to write on the purposes of a "Burlese Funnel," and a conclusion sentence.

Don't forget the letter due on Friday, as well.

7th Grade Homework

2011-09-13T11:21:00.001-04:00

7^th graders should answer the 8 multiple choice questions on the reading we did in class today. Save the constructed responses (# 7 and # 12) for doing together in class.

READ!!! WRITE!!!!

2011-09-12T20:54:00.001-04:00

7th graders need to read the first third of their books AND write a 200 word letter to me about it for Friday. Students were given a handout last week that details the letter's requirements. They have had their books since September 1st.

8th grade homework

2011-09-08T15:23:00.000-04:00

8th graders were given a copy of a handout called "Habits of Mind." Please read through, and consult the working definitions you and your partner came up with in class. Tweak definitions as you see fit based on the reading. Be ready to share definitions on Monday.

ANNOUNCEMENT for ALL

2011-09-07T15:38:00.001-04:00

NEW rafting permission forms have been sent home. This is due to a change in LOCATION. These new forms MUST be turned in on THURSDAY, or students will not be allowed to go on the trip, even if earlier forms have been received.

7th grade homework

2011-09-07T15:37:00.001-04:00

Personary due on Thursday, September 8^th.

8th grade homework 9/6

2011-09-06T16:40:00.001-04:00

Create and illustrate a metaphor for the homework rubric we’ve been working on in class.

Examples:

Homework Mountain – a 5 is Everest, a 4 is Kilimanjaro, a 3 is the Rockies, a 2 is Mount Independence, a 1 is Casey’s Hill.

Homework Shapes – a 5 is a star, a 4 is a square, a 3 is a triangle, a 2 is a line, a 1 is a point

Homework Homers – a 5 is a grand slam, a 4 is a homerun, a 3 is an RBI, a 2 is a base hit, a 1 is a walk.

Off to a great start!

2011-09-02T15:11:00.001-04:00

We have finished our first week of Language Arts. The first homework is tonight:

Read the class information handout WITH your parents, and ask your parents to sign it at the end. Bring the signed paper back to school on Tuesday.

Begin reading your out-of-class novel (7^th is “Adventure,” 8^th is “Classic”).

Remember to bring in your rafting permission forms and money if you have not yet done so.

Another non-DCF book

2011-08-23T22:18:00.001-04:00

I borrowed The Big Book of Team Building Games by Newstrom and Scannell from a colleague of mine a few weeks back. In reading it, I found about a dozen useful activities and games to break the ice, build teamwork, and increase cooperation in different group settings. I chose a few to use with my team of middle school teachers, and ten or so to use with my TA kids. Despite finding a dozen promising tools, I was largely disappointed in the book. The title is quite misleading; I don't think there are more than half a dozen actual games in the book. It is mostly activities like filling out a worksheet with a peer or a small group, then processing the answers in a reflective group conversation.

DCF # 6

2011-08-23T22:09:00.001-04:00

I just finished Half Brother by Kenneth Oppel. This book is about a middle school boy named Ben Tomlin, who is going through lots of typical middle school stuff: liking girls, tangling with neighborhood menaces, moving across the country to be the new kid, struggling with making good marks, fighting with his dad, and learning to live with a baby chimpanzee as a brother. Well, most of his life is typical except that last part! It is 1973, and Ben's parents are Canadian scientists interested in studying chimps to see if they can acquire human language when "cross fostered" into a human home. Pretty interesting stuff. So, Ben has to get used to pretending this little chimp, Zan, is his baby brother. Eventually, Ben comes to accept Zan as his brother, and by the end must take great leaps of faith to protect him from those who would hurt him.

This book held my interest, and I quite enjoyed following the changes in both Ben and Zan as a result of Ben's parents' experiment. The fast-paced, honest, first person narrative helped me to feel what Ben was feeling throughout the novel. I do think the designation of YA (or Young Adult) is appropriate for this novel, as it does get a little deep into the realm of Ben's dating life and his fantasy love life. Because of some of the mature themes, I wouldn't think the book would be appropriate for many students younger than 7th grade, and for that reason alone, I highly doubt this book will win the DCF award.

Another non-DCF book

2011-08-21T18:35:00.000-04:00

Despite having taught for over a decade, I always feel I can learn more in the area of classroom management. I just read a book that has given me some great ideas ( and reminded me if old ones ) to implement this coming year. "Classroom Management Simplified" by Elizabeth Breaux is full of both time-honored and unique ideas for effectively managing a classroom. She offers solutions for everything from failure to complete homework to constant leaving of the seat to sharpen pencils. Whether you are a newbie or an old fart like me, there will be something in this book for you!

DCF number 5

2011-08-13T20:45:00.001-04:00

> I have finally finished Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine. This book won the
> National Book Award and has been nominated for the DCF as well. It is easy to see why the book won the NBA-- it is well written and gives compelling insight into the mind of a child with Asperger's Syndrome. I would be surprised, however, if the book won the DCF, since it may not be as appealing to young readers as others in the running. As an adult who has worked with children like the protagonist, Caitlin, I was very intrigued by the internal monologue that dominated the book. I was also interested in the overall premise: that of coming to a sense of closure after a devastating school shooting. It was easy to put down for days on end, though, because it lacked the fast paced narrative I have become accustomed to, and was inherently predictable. That being said, it is worth the read, especially if you know someone with Asperger's.
>
>

DCF number 4

2011-07-16T22:15:00.000-04:00

"One CrazySummer" by Rita Williams-Garcia is a great book! It has already won or been nominated for three awards-- King, National Book, and Newberry -- and it is certainly worthy of all of that acclaim. I would not be surprised if it won the DCF as well, though I am not sure kids in Vermont in the current era would be able to relate to the topic and the characters very well.

The protagonist is an eleven year old African American girl who has grown up without the mother who abandoned her and her sisters. Now, after many years filled with only vague memories, Delphine is spending the summer of 1968 with her mother in Oakland, California. Her mother, Cecile, lives a life that Delphine considers "crazy," and most readers would probably agree. The most "crazy" aspect of Cecile's life is her involvement in the Black Panther movement. As Delphine explains it, "I was marching my sisters into a boiling pot of trouble cooking in Oakland" (128).

As Delphine's summer comes to a close, she realizes much about the world, herself, and her estranged mother, and comes to understand that not everything is as it seems.

This is a sweet and sorrowful coming of age novel that is beautifully written.

DCF number three

2011-07-11T20:42:00.000-04:00

This evening I finished Stuart Gibbs' first novel, Belly Up. This book was surprisingly well written for a maiden novelist. Gibbs is obviously in his element as a writer, and particularly when writing about zoos and animals. The storyline is quick-paced, and the main character, Teddy, is a bright and lovable boy who has had an enviable life with globetrotting parents. Teddy inadvertently gets involved in investigating the murder of the hippo mascot of the zoo he lives at with his parents. The adults in the novel seem unable or unwilling to help, but at least one if them is willing to do anything to stop Teddy from finding out the truth. He finds himself in grave danger on several occassions. Teddy's mother tries to discourage him from investigating the murder. She points out on page 139, "This is different, Theodore. I knew you could handle yourself in Africa because animals aren't really that dangerous... But humans are different... What you've gotten yourself into isn't a game. This is dangerous and you need to behave accordingly." I strongly encourage my students to read this novel. It is great for both animal lovers and mystery fans.

Sent from my iPod

Third non-DCF

2011-07-10T10:12:00.001-04:00

I just finished Janet Evanovich's latest. Smokin' Seventeen was, as expected, a hilariously sensational read. The story included large doses of intrigue, donuts, romance, death, vampires, spandex, and explosions. Oh, and a dancing bear. The car count wasn't too high this time, however Stephanie did get to drive a Shelby GTO. I'm sure you can imagine that it wasn't long for this world! The book ends with a discovery that I had already pretty well figured out on my own, but it was a fun ride getting there. We are, unfortunately, left hanging on which of her suitors Stephanie will choose. Oh well, that just means we have to read the 18th book when it comes out in November!

Second DCF book

2011-07-05T15:25:00.001-04:00

> Today I finished reading "Jake" by Audrey Couloumbis. Jake is an endearing young man who lives with his mother. A few days before Christmas, she is injured, and Jake must rely on his neighbor and family friend, Mrs. Buttermark, and his estranged grandfather to care for him while his mother is in the hospital. Over the course of his mother's hospitalization, Jake learns to love and respect his grandfather. I liked this book a great deal, and found myself drawn to Jake's compassion, intelligence, and even his naïveté. A good example of the latter is this remark: "I learned Mrs. Buttermark had been a rocket. That made me sit up. She and Granddad talked about it a little and I realized it was some kind of dancer." Sweet.
>

Second non-DCF book

2011-07-05T15:23:00.001-04:00

To prepare for humanities camp last week, I started to read Time magazine's "100 Photographs that Changed the World." This was a very intriguing look at world history, science, nature, and humanity through the camera lens. I found myself reacting in a myriad of ways to the collection of photos: hypnotized, shocked, incensed, brought to tears, and more. The photos were accompanied by short descriptive paragraphs, which provided a wealth of information and clarity. This is a book I will return to over and over again.

First NON-DCF book of the summer

2011-06-29T22:16:00.000-04:00

I finished Shooting the Moon by Frances O'Roark Dowell last weekend. I really enjoyed it, and found it to be a quick and absorbing read. The main character, Jamie Dexter, is an Army brat living at Fort Hood in 1969. Her father has raised her and her older brother TJ to believe that "the Army way is the right way," and that serving in the US Army, especially during war time, is a great honor. Things get a bit shaken up, though, when TJ takes Colonel Dexter (Dad) at his word, and forgoes college to enlist right out of high school. Somehow his own son risking his life feels different to the Colonel. Or is it this particular war that makes it different? Or is it not really the Colonel, but his wife who doesn't want TJ to serve? These concerns linger for the reader right up until the very last few pages. While Jamie is trying to sort through all of these confusing thoughts, TJ complicates things by sending her rolls of film to develop in the rec center on base. Over the course of the next several months, she absorbs the horror of war through her brother's powerful photographs, and begins to question everything she thought she knew about war. I think this is a great read with a lot of possibilities for thought and discussion.

First DCF book finished

2011-06-22T21:49:00.002-04:00

I finished The Year of Goodbyes by Debbie Levy tonight. It was a good read, and a quick one. I found the format particularly interesting, since the writer used photocopies of her mother's journal and "poesiealbum" to start each chapter. As these were written in German, the writer translated them. After each translation, there was an original poem that revealed some of what her mother was feeling at the time and gave a bit more explanation of what was happening as well. Debbie Levy's mother was a young girl at the time the Nazis were in power in Germany. Her mother escaped Germany and came to America just six hours before her home was raided by the Nazis. Had her family not left, she would not have lived to tell this story. This is an amazing story of luck, persistence, and incredible loss, and it is told in an intriguing way. I would recommend this book to any of my students who like poetry and have an interest in World War Two or The Holocaust. A fantastic and poignant line from the early part of the novel is the following: "But then, many things are happening, / and many things are being spoken of, / that never have happened / and were never spoken of / before. "

Sweet Reads Summer Reading Challenge

2011-06-15T07:10:00.001-04:00

Mrs. Wald's summer mission is to read the entire DCF nominee list. The DCF books are chosen as exemplary books for middle grades students, and students in Vermont have the opportunity to engage in blog discussions with other readers as well as VOTE on their favorite book to receive the award. The DCF contest and award honors Dorothy Canfield Fisher. Lists of the DCF nominees can be found online or in any Vermont library.

Mrs. Wald's challenge to her incoming and outgoing students is the following: READ MORE OF THE DCF BOOKS THAN SHE DOES, AND SHE WILL TREAT YOU TO AN ICE CREAM SUNDAE ONE DAY IN THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. One eensie teensie requirement is that you must write a short (5 sentences or so) response/reaction to each book, including title and author, telling what you liked about it and why. Please do not simply summarize the plot. Your response is the key. Keep all the responses in a small notebook, or staple separate pages together. Hand in this reading journal on the first day of school, and Mrs. Wald will show you hers. If you've read more than she has, you will be invited to the sundae celebration!

project reminder

2011-05-31T16:50:00.000-04:00

For those who had to do the project: I will be closing access to the reader response journals as of tomorrow. Be sure you have done your 4 + 4 requirement.

Also, to the 3 students in block 2 (you know who you are) who must do the presentation: I have set aside about 25 minutes tomorrow for your presentation.

Memorial Day Weekend

2011-05-27T12:48:00.001-04:00

Over the weekend, please complete your graphic organizer in preparation for Tuesday’s essay.

If you are required to do the book project, please do your final entries in the online reader response journal, and be sure you are working on the presentation and vocabulary requirements. Both are due on June 1.

homework

2011-05-26T14:21:00.001-04:00

Study for word whiz 7 test

Finish Asian novel (see handouts for due dates of project components – vocabulary, presentations, online journals)

Block 4 finish poems

Abigail P. Wald

Fair Haven Grade School

Middle Level Language Arts and Co-Team Leader

802-265-3883, extension 249

Homework All and Block 4

2011-05-23T14:58:00.001-04:00

All: Recitation # 2 due Wednesday…. Students need to learn a poem from list 2, and recite it along with the first poem they recited.

Block 4: Take the list you brainstormed (10 things I’ll never understand, 10 things that scare me to death, et cetera), and turn it into a POEM. The poem should have several poetic elements – such as rhyme, alliteration, repetition, simile, metaphor, et cetera….

New Poems to Recite

2011-05-19T21:45:00.001-04:00

A second set of poems was handed out in class today. One poem in this set needs to be recited next Wednesday, May 25th. Students will be required to recite their OLD poem first, then their NEW poem, so be sure to practice doing both. Get these poems into the long term memory!

homework and announcement

2011-05-18T15:09:00.001-04:00

Students were given a sheet with their current average and list of owed work.

Homework for all: Finish Asian novel by May 27. If doing project, be sure to be working on response journals, vocabulary, presentation, et cetera.

Homework for Block 2: Finish new poem based on ONE idea from your list poem

Homework for Block 4: Finish funny poem; Memorize poem from first set to recite on Thursday

Homework

2011-05-17T13:30:00.001-04:00

Block 2, 3, 4: Asian novel books – keep reading, and be finished by the end of May.

Block 3: Write a new poem, based on ONE of the ideas from your list poem that we worked on today. For example, your list poem was about things that scare you. One of the things was snakes that lunge. Now write a poem that focuses on snakes.

Homework & Asian Novel Project

2011-05-06T11:07:00.001-04:00

1. A handful of students are bringing home a worksheet on punctuation, but most are not.

2. Students who are doing the Asian Novel PROJECT* will need to complete their first online reflection this weekend. We will go through the steps in class, and they will need to complete it over the weekend.

3. All students should be reading their Asian Novels, even if they aren’t required to do the project. All students must do #4 (below), even if they aren’t doing the full project.

*Project details: Block 2 and 3

Your steps:

To independently read your assigned novel, pacing yourself so as to finish the novel in four weeks.
To thoughtfully complete an online entry of 100 words in response to a question of your choice each week, recording this entry on a group GoogleDoc. (80 points)
To thoughtfully respond in at least 25 words to the entry of one other person on your group GoogleDoc each week. (20 points)
To independently prepare for and write, in an on-demand setting, a 5 paragraph Response to Text on your novel. (100 points)
To collaborate with your group members to create a multimedia presentation* that you will deliver to your class in order to teach your peers about your book. You will be able to decide what is the best program to use to accomplish this. Some suggestions are GooglePresentation, PhotoStory, creation of a video using appropriate props, or any other appropriate format. Keep in mind, though, that you will be collaborating outside of school to plan, create, and finalize this presentation. (100 points)
Finally, to quiz your classmates on their knowledge of your book (based solely on your presentation), and gather their feedback on your presentation. You will do this with a GoogleForm. (30 points as part of the presentation)
Optional Bonus Points -- Keep a record of difficult vocabulary as you read. Record the word, copy the sentence it was found in, and give the page number. Then use an online or paper dictionary to look up the meaning. Decide which meaning fits best in the context of the novel, and record that meaning in your record. This record can be kept on paper or online. (Maximum 50 points)

100 points: Novel, four entries, and four responses must be done by: May 27

Optional 50 points: Vocabulary record due: May 31

100 points: Presentation to class is: June 1 (come with GoogleForms “quiz” for your audience)

100 points: In-class on-demand writing date is: May 31 (come with graphic organizers completed in advance)

*Presentation Information
All slides / posters must be neat, accurate, creative, and colorful. Speech on recordings must be slow, loud, clear, and well-planned. Videos must be well-rehearsed and edited to avoid unnecessary wait time. If doing a PowerPoint or GooglePresentation, do not do anything fancy with transitions, sounds, or other gizmos! Fluff will not cover up a weak presentation. Let your ideas speak for themselves. Regardless of the format chosen, be sure your presentation covers the following:

Title and author of book
50 – 100 word MAXIMUM summary of the plot of the novel (in your own words!).
Names and 10 word MAXIMUM description of all major characters.
Theme or themes of the book. (Statements, not just single words, which are true about life and are expressed, taught, or implied by the novel).
Three quotations, with page numbers, that support the theme(s) you have stated
Correctly formatted Works Cited Page to go with novel quotations
Names of members of your group, in alphabetical order

*Project Details, Block 4 ONLY:

Your steps:

To independently read your assigned novel, pacing yourself so as to finish the novel in four weeks.
To thoughtfully complete an online entry of 100 words in response to a question of your choice each week, recording this entry on a group GoogleDoc. (80 points)
To thoughtfully respond in at least 25 words to the entry of one other person on your group GoogleDoc each week. (20 points)
To independently prepare for and write, in an on-demand setting, a 5 paragraph Response to Text on your novel. (100 points)
Keep a record of difficult vocabulary as you read. Record the word, copy the sentence it was found in, and give the page number. Then use an online or paper dictionary to look up the meaning. Decide which meaning fits best in the context of the novel, and record that meaning in your record. This record can be kept on paper or online. You must identify at least 25 words (100 points)
OPTIONAL PROJECT: Alone, or with a partner, create a multimedia presentation* that you will deliver to your class in order to teach your peers about your book. You will be able to decide what is the best program to use to accomplish this. Some suggestions are GooglePresentation, PhotoStory, creation of a video using appropriate props, or any other appropriate format. Keep in mind, though, that you will be collaborating outside of school to plan, create, and finalize this presentation. (100 points)

100 points: Novel, four entries, and four responses must be done by: May 27

100 points: Vocabulary record due: May 31

Optional 100 points: Presentation to class is: June 1

100 points: In-class on-demand writing date is: May 31 (come with graphic organizers completed in advance)

different homework in each class tonight

2011-05-03T15:26:00.001-04:00

Homework for Block 2: finish the “Artist to Artist” packet

Homework for Block 3: complete BOTH found poems – online at readwritethink.org (word mover in search field) and your paper one from words in the hallway

Homework for Block 4: finish the constructed response paragraph on Sadako and Hiroshima novels – What are three possible reasons that we read both books together?

Homework

2011-05-02T15:22:00.001-04:00

Some students have poetry questions to finish.

All students should have their vocab test signed by a parent or guardian and make corrections.

homework

2011-04-27T09:45:00.001-04:00

Test tomorrow on ALL vocabulary so far. Also, there will be some recent grammar thrown in (pronoun usage).

Block 2 worked on “desert” paragraphs in class today. If they did not finish, the paragraph became homework.

homework block 3

2011-04-26T13:44:00.001-04:00

Block three only: Finish the paragraph we began in class on deserts and desertification.

REMINDER

2011-04-20T16:40:00.001-04:00

Outside Reading Projects are due TUESDAY, APRIL 26^th.

There has been NO homework this week so that students can focus on finishing up their reading if necessary.

There are only TWO remaining after school study afternoons before the due date.

Long Term Project Reminder

2011-04-04T15:24:00.001-04:00

Reminder that the marking period independent reading project is due APRIL 26^th. Students should utilize any available evening (without other pressing homework or family obligations) to read the mystery novel and begin the project. Project details were posted on this blog about 3 weeks ago.

Cinderella Tales Map

2011-04-04T09:47:00.001-04:00

The students are finished with their Cinderella Tales of the World Map. To see this map, go to:

http://tinyurl.com/cinderellamap

Enjoy!

A question to ponder and respond to

2011-04-03T21:35:00.002-04:00

What are some of the "universal themes" you are seeing as we read folktales from around the world? (Example: all the Cinderella tales had a universal theme of "Those who are nice reap great rewards.")

Final Drafts Due Monday

2011-04-01T09:10:00.001-04:00

As expressed to students on Wednesday, Final Drafts of original Cinderella stories are due on Monday. Final drafts are single spaced and reflect all corrections made in class. Finals must have all other drafts attached behind.

Homework 3/28 and 3/29

2011-03-28T12:09:00.001-04:00

Please complete a second draft of your Cinderella story. Remember that second drafts:

Are an IMPROVEMENT over the first draft

add dialogue
beef up sensory details
be sure all the elements are there for the Cinderella storyline
address coherence (ie: it has to make sense throughout)

Are typed, double spaced, so there is room for proofreading and editing

Get TEST signed / Cinderella

2011-03-25T11:08:00.001-04:00

Homework:

Get test signed. Make corrections if you wish to raise your grade.

Complete first draft of original Cinderella story.

Cinderella stories due March 28

2011-03-24T12:03:00.001-04:00

Students had lots of time to work on their original Cinderella stories today in class. Ideas are shaping up and students seem excited about writing. Please complete full first drafts, either typed or handwritten, by Monday.

Review Homework

2011-03-23T11:01:00.001-04:00

Homework tonight is to study for tomorrow’s test. PART of that means students will complete a review worksheet for word parts, but they should also do other studying such as reviewing flashcards, creating sentences, looking over notes, et cetera.

Also, begin to think about what details could be used to make the “traditional” Cinderella story unique when students write their own tomorrow.

homework 3/21

2011-03-21T15:43:00.000-04:00

Tonight there is no “homework,” per se. It would be wise to get started on studying for the test on Thursday, however. Fun and Useful Words, L/A Terms, and Prefixes/Suffixes/Roots.

Help Kino and Juana!

2011-03-16T15:20:00.001-04:00

Tonight’s homework is to prep/plan/organize/list/brainstorm for the essay you will be writing in class tomorrow. I don’t want students to come to class with the essay already written, but they should have thought about it and preferably jotted down some notes and ideas to help them through tomorrow. A graphic organizer would be a great idea. Each class was given at least 10 minutes to get started today.

Ridiculous Rules

2011-03-15T15:07:00.001-04:00

Tonight’s homework is to finish the letter begun in class today, if it was not finished by the end of the period. The letter must be three paragraphs (intro, body, conclusion), and address reasons why the city council SHOULD enact one of the ridiculous rules/laws/ordinances we listed in class. Some of the crazy laws are:

Wearing shoes indoors is prohibited

No citizen may watch TV on Fridays

Walking will require a license

If you miss one day of school, you must serve one day in prison (I like this one!)

School will be held 7 days a week

Only electric cars will be permitted

If a citizen allows his/her toenails to grow too long, those toes will be severed

Some are even crazier than these. The point is to, in a tongue-in-cheek manner, practice the variety of persuasive techniques we have been working on in class. Some of these techniques (some more ethical than others) are:

Lying

Bribery

Precedent

Facts

Emotional appeal

Statistics

Have fun!

Marking Period 5 Independent Reading Project

2011-03-09T12:02:00.000-05:00

Independent Reading Project 5 – Mystery / Crime / Detective novel

Choose a MYSTERY, CRIME, or DETECTIVE novel. This is a work of fiction in which the main character(s), sometimes a detective by trade, is involved in trying to solve a riddle, crime, or mystery. The character(s) is on a search – sometimes for the “truth”, but more often than not, for the perpetrator of a crime. The main action of the novel is focused on turning up clues, following leads, investigating possibilities, and interviewing suspects. As the novel unfolds, the reader is invited to consider the solutions and even possibly solve the mystery before the “detective”. The novel does not end until the mystery, riddle, or crime is solved.

The first “detective” story, “Murders in the Rue Morgue” was written by Edgar Allen Poe in 1841. The first writer of mystery / crime / detective novels was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who wrote the Sherlock Holmes books. Popular detective novels for young adult readers include the Nancy Drew series, the Hardy Boys series, The Westing Game, and From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. There is also a well-written series of mysteries in the National Parks.

Read the novel, and complete one of the projects below by APRIL 26^TH. All projects need to be clearly labeled with your name and the title of your book. The project will be worth 100 points, with 10 points off per day late (you may buy one day with a late pass).

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 found in 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 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, and a written explanation of each connection.

INTERVIEW WITH THE CHARACTER:

1). The student composes eight questions to ask a main character in the book. The students write the questions and 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, and will pose as he character for an “interview”.

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, but not simply a copy of the title
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 100-word-minimum 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. (Note: the easiest way to do this is to write the entries as you are reading!)

2). The students will then make a cover for their character’s diary, and include all entries.

Homework Block 3 ONLY

2011-03-03T17:42:00.001-05:00

Tonight’s homework for block three only:

Come up with a list of 10 ways to persuade a _______ to _________. This is meant to be a little silly, but do be creative and try to use the multitude of techniques we talked about in class today. Our model was 10 ways to get our 5 year old brother to eat dirt. Your list has to be different from our model, obviously. Try something like 10 ways to get a librarian to tear a book, 10 ways to get my father to root for the Yankees, 10 ways to make my grandmother serve ice cream for dinner, et cetera.

This week's assignments

2011-02-28T15:52:00.000-05:00

Three assignments for this week:

1. Make corrections and have a parent sign your Word Whiz Four test.
2. Final draft of personal essay due on Wednesday, March 2. This is an extension from the original due date of today (Feb 28).
3. Outside of class reading book (fantasy or sci fi) needs to be finished and letter #2 written by Thursday, March 3.

Personal Essay due date extended and

2011-02-24T14:59:00.001-05:00

Due to lots of absence and in order to give kids two more days to access after school study for typing time, the final drafts of the personal essays are now due on Wednesday, March 2.

The last letter for the independent reading project is still due on March 3. This letter may be typed or handwritten.

Homework Tonight and through Weekend

2011-02-23T16:09:00.001-05:00

Homework DUE MONDAY is to create a final draft of the Personal Essay on the Interdisciplinary Unit on the Civil Rights Movement. Students will not likely have class time to complete this, so arrangements should be made to spend lunch time with me, study hall time, or after school study time working on the essay.

homework tonight and Tuesday

2011-02-21T18:24:00.001-05:00

Homework tonight is to create a 40 question/point quiz using Fun and Useful Words, Word Parts, and Language Arts Words. You may not simply list words and ask that they be defined. You should do matching, multiple choice, fill in the blank, et cetera. This quiz may be done online, may be handwritten, or may be typed. It is due Wednesday.

homework

2011-02-08T11:49:00.001-05:00

Block 2 students need to finish the chapter 3 questions for The Pearl.

ALL students need to read to the halfway point in their fantasy books and write a 350 word letter to me. The letter must summarize the text as read so far, and then write a detailed reaction/response to the reading. Things to consider when reacting/responding:

Do I like the book so far? Why? Why not?
What is my opinion of the main character?
What is the world of the book like? How is it similar to my world? How is it different? Would I like to live there?
Who or what in the book is GOOD? Who or what is EVIL?
What do I think is likely to happen next? On what do I base this prediction?
If there are different races of creatures in my book, what are the characteristics of each? Which is most like me? Which is most unlike me?

Weekend and Assignment due 2/10

2011-02-04T15:09:00.001-05:00

This weekend, there is no specific assignment. However, students should be reading in their fantasy / science fiction novels so they can be HALF FINISHED and write a 350 word letter to me by 2/10. The first half of the letter should be summary of what they read in the first half of the book. The second half of the letter should be reaction, response, prediction, and other thoughts about the book.

Impending Storm

2011-02-01T13:01:00.001-05:00

If there is a snow storm and we miss school on Wednesday, I will still be expecting typed second drafts from students. If the storm knocks out power for the day, obviously I will give an extension until Friday.

As always, work is accepted a day late with a pass.

Homework due Thursday, Feb 3

2011-01-31T15:05:00.001-05:00

Second drafts of “Personal Essay 1” are due on Thursday. These drafts must be typed, so please allow students without internet access to stay for afterschool study or make arrangements to work at a friend’s house after school.

First Draft Personal Essay Due Friday 8:15 AM

2011-01-26T11:53:00.001-05:00

Students should turn their first drafts of their personal essays in during TA on Friday.

The first draft should be a reflection on the interdisciplinary unit on the Civil Rights Movement from exam week.

Paragraph one: Describes the experience of the interdisciplinary unit – what students did, who they were with, what topics they covered, et cetera, and END WITH a thesis statement such as…. I took three big ideas away from this unit.

Paragraphs two, three, four: Explain one big idea in each paragraph – what topic and teacher led you to this big idea, what facts were presented, what you thought about them, how you came to that conclusion.

Paragraph five: Conclude with what the experience overall meant to you. Consider some of these questions: Have you had previous ideas challenged? Have you thought about things you had never thought of before? What was good and bad about the interdisciplinary experience? Would you like to do it again? What topics might be good to study in this way? What does the Civil Rights Movement have to do with your life today?

grades and homework

2011-01-13T14:17:00.001-05:00

Parents,

Please ask your son or daughter to show you the progress report I sent home. One class got them on Tuesday, two classes got them today. They do NOT reflect book talks, parts of speech test, or final draft essays, as they have not been input yet.

Homework is to study and to complete a "help card" before Tuesday. Midterms for my class will be on Thursday.

Abigail P. Wald
Fair Haven Grade School
Grade 7 English Language Arts
802-265-3883, ext 249

Homework and preview of the week

2011-01-10T15:39:00.001-05:00

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings, students should work on the following:

1. Completing final draft of Response to Text #2 (I took home Monday and will return Tuesday)

2. Preparing Book Talk (1 – 2 minutes with visual component)

3. Studying parts of speech

Classwork on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday will focus on preparing for parts of speech test, reviewing vocabulary for midterm exam, proofreading 2^nd drafts, an “item bank assessment,” and more.

Class on Thursday will include a parts of speech test and book talks. I’ll also be sending home a list of topics that will be covered on the midterm and Thursday’s homework will be to begin to create a “help card” that will be used during the exam, but is due to be checked before the exam.

On Friday we’ll continue with book talks and exam prep. We’ll also be going to the library for an introduction to fantasy and science fiction, which are the genres for the next marking period’s independent reading project.

We have off on Monday for Martin Luther King Day.

Tuesday’s class will continue with review. The “help cards” will be due on that day. If I get it completed and photocopied in time, students will be given a chance to preview the midterm on Tuesday. I’ll also take a Q and A time to go over topics the students identify they need help on.

weekend

2011-01-07T15:35:00.001-05:00

This weekend, students should complete their second draft. Some students began their visuals for their book talks next Thursday, and may continue working on them. Next week will be a whirlwind of proofreading and finalizing essays, doing book talks, taking a test on all parts of speech, reviewing for exams, and more.

Essay

2011-01-06T12:20:00.001-05:00

Second draft of response to text essays (typed) are due on MONDAY. There was some class time available today for typing, and some MAY be available tomorrow.

A parts of speech test is coming up early next week, so students were given review sheets yesterday and today. Though the sheets will not be collected and graded, I strongly urge them to complete them as preparation/review for the test.

Essay

2011-01-05T23:31:00.001-05:00

We are in full swing of writing about our historical fiction novels. Complete FIRST DRAFT of Response to Text is due on Thursday. We will have some class time on Thursday and Friday to work on conferencing and getting the essay typed. The SECOND DRAFT is due on Monday. Second draft needs to be typed, and should show evidence of improvement over the first draft.

On the horizon: Next week we'll work on improving and proofreading second draft and creating a final draft. Also, students will give book talks beginning on Wednesday or Thursday. These book talks must include a visual component.

Homework -- WRITING

2011-01-04T13:43:00.001-05:00

All students should be working on their new Response to Text on the historical fiction novels read this marking period.

Blocks 2 and 3 were given some work time in class (12 and 17 minutes, respectively) to begin paragraphs 2, 3, and 4. They should complete a first draft of these tonight.

Block 4 was given work time as well, and should complete AT LEAST the first paragraph of their essay by tomorrow.

Writing Assignment

2011-01-03T15:38:00.001-05:00

All blocks will be starting the writing assignment associated with the independent reading project for this marking period. This will be a response to text on the historical fiction novel. Blocks 2 and 3 have been assigned to write the FIRST paragraph ONLY of this essay as homework tonight.

The thesis statement should be something like: This is a good historical fiction novel because it is historically accurate, ______, and ______. They can pick 2 elements that make the book good, and they must also talk about its historical accuracy (artifacts, events, clothing, people, et cetera that are accurate for the time period).

Reminder that there is a tutorial PowerPoint on Responses to Text posted on this blog.... back in October, I believe.

Tests signed

2010-12-13T10:29:00.001-05:00

Homework tonight is to show parents the Verbs / Adverbs Post Test and the Word Whiz 3 Test. Both will need to be signed and returned. Those who did poorly on the V/A test can look forward to more independent work in that area (I can help out on Thursday PM at Afterschool Study). Those who did poorly on the Word Whiz Test are encouraged to make corrections to aid their learning.

Green Sheet (reading record) is due tomorrow, and a reminder that books need to be completed by the day we come back from December Recess, as we will be writing essays on the books.

EXTRA CREDIT option for marking period 3 is to memorize all 60 prepositions. Sheets are available in my room and online (Google “60 prepositions”).

I will be out on Tuesday, doing Supervisory Union literacy work. Students will have LOTS to do in class, and may bring home what they did not complete. So, possible homework Tuesday is the completion of GUM work or questions on The Pearl, if not completed in class.

homework and EXTRA CREDIT

2010-12-09T11:19:00.001-05:00

Tonight’s homework is to study for the test tomorrow, and to complete the review worksheet given in class today.

EXTRA CREDIT

We are working on prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections, so….

Any student who MEMORIZES all 60 prepositions, any time this marking period, will earn 60 extra points added to their total points for the marking period.

Lists will be available in my room, but they can also be found online.

Review Worksheet

2010-12-08T14:25:00.000-05:00

Homework tonight is a worksheet reviewing language arts terms for the test on Friday.

Students should also keep reading in their books.

Homework: Upcoming Test

2010-12-07T10:51:00.001-05:00

In class, students began a review chart of prefixes, suffixes, and roots. They are to finish this chart for homework as a way of studying for the vocabulary test on Friday.

Independent Reading Project M Pd 3

2010-12-06T12:24:00.000-05:00

Independent Reading Project for Marking Period Three -- Details and Due Dates

Overview: Students are to read a historical fiction novel on their own and complete a Response to Literary Text following the 5 paragraph structure and expectations given in class. Each student has a copy of this information in his or her binder and on my blog (mrswaldsclass.blogspot.com see posting from November 3, 2010). Students will have one half hour of class time per week for reading and/or writing workshop on their books. Students will be expected to spend an hour of their own time at home every week on the same. Students will be held accountable through “Green Sheet” checks and informal one-minute book shares.

November 19: Library time to select book (or select over weekend, but have one by Monday)

November 23: Green sheet* and one-minute book talk due

November 30: Green sheet* and one-minute book talk due

December 7: Green sheet* and one-minute book talk due

December 14: Green sheet* and one-minute book talk due

December 21: Green sheet* and one-minute book talk due

**** Finish book over December Break, if not done before then****

January 3: Writing Workshop in class -- first draft Response to Text

January 5: First draft due and peer conferences in class

January 10: Second draft Response to Text due (double spaced). Peer editing in class

January 13: Final draft of Response to Text due. Response to Text must be typed or in cursive and

single spaced. All drafts and feedback need to be attached behind final.

January 13 &14: Formal Book Talks in class. Book Talk should be one to two minutes long, include a

visual component, and address: title, author, main characters and description, historical

aspects, basic plot, setting, theme, conflict and resolution.

*Green Sheet is a log of pages read with a brief summary. Students will keep their green sheet in their binder or use it as a book mark, and will present it at the start of class on “due dates”. It will be checked and immediately returned. Parents: Please ask to see it occasionally to help your child stay on target for completion of book in the allotted time.

Thanksgiving Vacation

2010-11-23T09:41:00.001-05:00

Have a blessed and restful Thanksgiving! Please read a little further in your historical fiction book -- perhaps 20 - 30 more pages. No other assignments.

Homework Tonight

2010-11-22T16:24:00.001-05:00

Please read enough of your historical fiction book that you would be comfortable if called on to talk about what is happening so far, who the characters are, the setting, et cetera. 10 - 15 pages should be plenty.