7th grade homework week of 1/9

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

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

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.