Week of December 8th

*Continure reading from self-selected biography.  Please stick to non fictional reading only until January.  Expected reading time is 30 minutes a night four times a week, so use weekends to catch up if you fall behind.  Record your pages read on your bookmark each reading session
*Complete Reader's Responses #9-13 and submit next Wednesday, 12/17.  Your responses should follow this format:  Give a 3-5 sentenced summary of an incident or a time period of your person's life based on that day's reading.  This section allows me to see that you are reading.  Then finish the page off with your response to what you read.  I want you to put yourself in the person's shoes and think how you would respond if you had similar circumstances.  This allows you to develop higher thinking skills and that 's what I want to see.  Delve into your mind, heart, and soul and see what's there.  Put it down on paper!
*Vocabulary test on 30 words plus 2 spelling words(disappoint and disappear) moved until next week. 
*Make out cue cards on index cards for your role of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.  Number your cards top right hand corner, then write the name of the character who delivered the lines before yours with the last few words or that character written down and then write your lines down on the card> use ink and write large enough that you can read them>  start a new card for each time you reply to a character>
*Bring a copy of The Gift in and your Reflection pieces so we can add them to our classroom files

*Continue reading your biography.  Complete responses 6, 7 and 8 by Friday.

*Look up definition and part of speech for the vocabulary hand-out.  Vocabulary test next Tuesday.

*Bring a copy of The Gift in so you can add it to your personal file.

*Make cue cards for assigned role of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.  Due next Tuesday

Week of November 17th

*The Gift writing project due Tuesday, Nov. 18th.  Double space, 12 size font for rough draft.  5 paragraphs, about one and a half pages in length.  Please do not have this piece editied by parents; keep this one private for now.

*Read "Eleanor Roosevelt" by Jacobs in your Interactive Reader.  (PPages 70-91.  Do all the exercises put forth in the text, including the ones before, during and after the reading piece.  Due Friday

*Read "The Noble Experiment" by Jackie Robinson (PP.156-173).  Do all the exercises before, during and following the piece.  Due Monday.

*The Gift Cover due Friday

*Spelling corrections if you did not do them (50 times) or lose 10 points.

*Find a biography or autobiography for next reading assignment.  Go to the library for some good choices. Pick someone you are interested in learning about.

Week of November 10th

* Have reading stats ready by Wednesday.  How many pages have you read since last Monday night?

* Finish reading both novels, The Outsiders and A Day No Pigs Would Die, by the end of this week.  If finished both, read from self-selected novel.

*Pending writing assignment will be due next Monday.  Details will be given out in class on Wednesday's Block.

Week of November 3rd:

1. Revise alien story.  23/25 or higher, simple fix all errors; 22 or below must fix errors but can also revise story to earn additional points. Due Wednesday.
2. RR's 1-8 due Tuesday
3. Reading Stats due Tuesday. Add up total pages read since beginning of 2nd quarter.
4. Spelling column E test on Tuesday (held over from last week)
5. Read 40 minutes 5x's by next Monday.  Record pages read on book mark.  No reading responses this weel.  Just enjoy reading.

Week of October 27th:

**Complete RR's #5-8.  Each one needs to be a full page of writing that has substance (write around the characters and events)for full credit

#5: Summarize the plot and follow that with comments about it

#6:  React to a character

#7:  React to any message(s) or theme(s) you have drawn from the novel so far

#8:  Open response

** Study Column E Spelling list of confusing words

**Alien narrative due Friday.  Put all verbs in the past tense.  Use dialogue and be sure it is in correct form.  Create and develop tension.  Keep it two pages on length.

Week of October 20th:

Read your assigned book, at least 2 chapters a night. 

Complete 4 RR's. Each response needs to be a full page.  Please do them in the order listed below.  Please use heading form as follows:

Name and Date

RR# ____  and type (Setting, characterization, theme, or letter) Example:  RR#1/Setting   Day 2:   RR#2/Characterization   Day 2:   RR#3/ Theme   etc.      

Title

Author

pages read (for example: Pages read: 22-68

Here are your topics for each response:   

RR#1: Setting.  Describe the time, place and mood, and talk about how this setting does and will affect the plot and characters. 

RR#2: Characterization.  Describe 1-3 characters in the story, evaluating them according to the stated actions.

RR#3: tTheme.  Talk about any message or idea you have drawn from the novel so far.  Show  how the author brings out this idea(what happens) and discuss you own thoughts about the idea(s). RR#

4: Letter to the main character. Talk to the character about what he is facing.  Give your own thoughts or advice.  Make your letter realistic, like you really care what he is going through. 

Think about a story line for your alien story

Correct all spelling errors, 25xs for words from our spelling list; one time for all other  errors.  Correct them on the same paper you made the mistake on, please.

Parents, Your child should have his/her folder and inside are many papers for you to look at, reader's responses, tests, homework and the like. 

Friday, October 17, 2008

Since next week is the last week of the quarter, I am allowing students to do extra credit for those who are working for the grade in hopes of attending Monterey.  Here are your options:                                                                                    (1) Read and complete bonus reader responses in the followong format: a 1-3 sentenced summary followed by a thoughtful discussion of character, plot or theme.  I am looking for critical reading and analysis in your bonus responses.   Dig into the characters plot or theme and talk intelligently about them.  Choose an area and focus; in other words,  talk at length about one thing.  Do not talk a little about a lot of things.  I want understanding, inquiry, insight, and just plain goodthinking!       All RRs due Thursday                                                           (2) Create a WOW piece of literature for Reflections.  I cannot edit those pieces, since they are contest pieces, so make sure they are ready for publication.  No grammatical or spelling errors, and make every word count.  You can choose any genre of literature: short story, essay, personal narrative, poetry, plays, lyrics, even a novel!  You will earn points for creativity, ececution(the quality of the finished  product), and effort. Due Tuesday                                                       (3) Redo one of your essays that came in below an A.  Due Thursdasy

Week of October 13, 2008

Due Wednesday:In preparation for our narrative, design an alien, one that you will use in your narrative.  Draw and color it.  Then write a descriptive paragraph, describing its physical features.  "Show, don't tell" in your writing.  Do not say it is weird looking, because we do not have a clear image of what weird is.  Instead use vivid images, figures of speech like similes and metaphors(simile:  It looked like a telephone pole with feet.  metaphor:  It was a box that breathed; personification: Its black hair danced in the wind), and active verbs, wherever possible.  Be sure to describe the whole creature, from head to toe. You will get a grade for the design and one for the descriptive paragraph.  The design will be graded on creativity and effort, not drawing ability.  The paragraph will be graded on how vivid, thorough and accurate your description is.  The paragraph should be 8-10 sentences in length.

Read a half hour minimum and record, three times this week.  No reading responses.  Just enjoy reading.

Study vocabulry words from Sterling's The Monsters Are Due n Maple Street.  Test on Friday.

Study Spellling, Column D.  Test on Friday.

 

 Wed/Thurs, October 8 and 9

Read one half hour mnimum and record pages read

Complete RR#10 in same format as last ones:  write a pithy summary, skip a line, write a one-paged quick response about some aspect of the plot, characters, theme, or setting.

Reminder:  Turn in essay if you did not already do so by Thursday!

tudy for vocabulary test.  Know definition, part of speech and usage of 30 words on list.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Revise introduction and first body paragraph of characterization essay, and then finish the 2nd and 3rd body paragraphs and write a conclusion.  Be sure to explain your examples; don't just give them.  Please type up essay, double-spaced in 12 font.  If it is impossible to type, please hand in a clean copy (no scratch outs) in ink, front side of paper only.  follow the conclusion formula:  Use transition "In conclusion," followed by a restated thesis;  summarize body paragraphs in one or two pithy sentences each; then finish off with a reflective thought.

Due Friday:  RR #10.  All RR's due Friday during class.  Put them in folder.

Due Friday:  Study for vocabulary test.

Monday October 6, 2008

Read and record pages read

Complete RR#9:  Write a 1-3 sentenced summary, skip a line, then write an open response about a page in length.

Correct spelling errors from Column C test 25x's each on test paper

Finish and type up characterization essay on Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones by Wednesday.  Be sure to include direct quotes with an explanation of it, paraphrases, and summariies as evidence of the traits you are examining.

Study vocabulary list for test on Friday

 

 

Friday, September 26, 2008

Read and record, 30 minutes minimum

Complete Reading Response #4:  (1) Write a 1-3 sentenced summary (2) Ask a higher level question and answer it and (3) Explain what you like about the book so far.

 Review spelling column C and vocabulary words

Write a thesis  for the following writing prompt:   Langston Hughes in his short story "Thank You M'am" creates a very colorful  character named Mrs Luella Bates Washington Jones .  Describe her three strongest characteristics and back them up with (1)direct quotations followed by an explanation of how quote demonstrates that particular characteristic, (2) paraphrases, and (3) summaries of what she said or did.  Use all three methods in your essay.  (You may begin gathering information for the body paragraphs this weekend.  We will write an introduction together in class so only devise the thesis part of introduction this weekend.) 

Tues-Thurs,  September 22-25

Read and record pages for 30 minutes minimum.  (I expect more than 30 minutes since you have 3 days)

Complete Reader Response #3 in this format:  (1) Write a 1-3 sentenced summary of what you just read (2) skip a line and ask a thoughtful question about your reading and then fully answer your question.  You will be scored on the thoughtfulness of the question and answer . (3) Make a connection with some element in th estory: character, plot, setting, or theme and talk about it.

Study spelling Column C

Fix errosrs from spelling test #3(25xs eacg) N.B.  A few students still owe from previous test.

Rewrite dialogue errors. 

 

Wednesday/Thursday, September 17th and 18th

*Study spelling columns A and B for retest.  Perfect scores on last 2 tests will exempt you.

Study Vocabulary words from Old Yeller, "Seventh Grade" and "Thank You, M'am.

Write 10 lines of dialogue that might take place between Travis and Victor if they were to meet.  Do not change their character.  write only dialogue, not plot.  Use correct dialogue form.  Vary the placement of tags.  Put some at the beginning, some in the middle and some at the end of the dialogue.  For example:  Victor said, "Man, you got to work as hard as I do." [Tag is at the beginning] "I don't know for sure," Travis replied,  "but it seems like we both have to work pretty dang hard."[Tag in the middle] "Picking grapes ain't no picnic.  That's for sure," replied Victor bitterly. 

Monday/Tuesday, September 15 and 16, 2008

Read Langston Hughes' short story Thank You, M'am in  your interactive reader.

Complete the workpages on pages 23, 24, and25.

Correct spelling errors from test 2 25x's each.

Study Vocabulary words from Old Yeller, Seventh Grade and Thank You, M'am.

Study Spelling Columns A and B for Friday's test(Anyone who scored 25/25 on both tests are exempt.

Think of a name for your journal.

 

Friday, September 12th

Read Gary Soto's Seventh Grade in your interactive reader workbook and decide if you like the story or not.  Be ready to defend your opinion with reasons.

Highlight details about the setting. 

Underline details that reveal the characterization of the main character.

Complete the vocabulary exercise on page 15.

Wed/Thurs, September 10th and 11th

Type up your essay on the setting of Gipson's Old Yeller using the prompt and given introduction and conclusion.

Study Column B for spelling test.  Be prepared to have words from Column A thrown in the test, as well.

M/T 9/8th and 9th

Finish reading Old Yeller by Fred Gipson.

Write a short short story using the 25 words from Column B on our spelling list.  Incude dialogue, using correct dialogue form

Correct spelling errors from test 1, 25x's each on spelling test itself

Tuesday, 9/2 Assignments:

*Read Old Yeller by Fred Gipson for exactly one-half hour.  (Put timer on your microwave if you need a timing unit.)  Record time on gold bookmark above today's in-class reading session.  Be accurate, as we will use thse numbers for our future reading goals.

*Spelling:  Take column A and write a brief narrative (5-10 sentences only) using all 25 words.  Underline the words and be sure to spell them correctly if you do not want to write them 25 times each.

 

Assignments over Labor Day WeekendK

This is one of those rare no-homework weekends.  Enjoy your 3 days and be ready to go full steam ahead on Tuesday.  The only exception to this is for the few students who did not finish their journal covers.  Please turn them in before 1st period on Tueaday so I can finish laminating.  Thanks.

Assignments due Thursday, August 28th:

The front, back, and inside back covers of your journal must be finished by tomorrow, Thursday.  See yesterday's assignment below if you need directions for inside back cover. 

Please Note:  We do not meet as a class, so drop off the materials in Room 17 during Homeroom or Study Hall tomorrow, or during keyboarding if you have me.

Assignments due Wednesday, August 27th:

* Complete your front cover for your journal if that is not already done

*Do a rough draft of the inside back cover.  Have an image of some sort in the very center and then divide up the page in sections (At least 4).  Some topics could be favorite people, favorite places, favorite things (like phones and i pods, etc.), interests and extra curricula activities, achievements, Dreams, Hopes, and Goals (an important category), Music, Books, Films, TV shows.  You can devise your own categories if you wish.  The goal is to name a lot of things that are important to your life.  Just what is it your life is made up of?  Be creative and dig.

Assignments due Monday, August 25th:

1. Cut out 20+ words  that describe you for your back cover of your journal.  You may include pictures as well, but you must have at least 20 words.

2. Complete first draft of journal cover. Letter large, fat, evenly, and carefully; illustrate title.  Color it but do not spend a lot of time on it since it is only a rough draft.

3.  Write a friendly letter to Mz Byrne describing yourself and your life:  your personality, character, family life, school life, interests, dreams and goals, hardships, and anything else you are comfortable sharing.  Type it, if possible.  Otherwise, use pen and write legibly.  How long should it be???  As long as it takes to give me an idea of who you are!