Welcome to Mrs. Hamrick's seventh grade gifted language arts class.  I am so excited about having you as a part of my thirtieth year of teaching.  It is no longer a job for me, but now it is a passion.  Please let me know of anything that I can do to enhance your learning experience.  I will be sending home email progress reports each Friday.  Please make sure that we have your current email address so that you can receive these and other valuable updates.  Remember that if you are absent from my class, you can get the missed work by checking the lesson plan folders in my room when you return.  You are expected to make up any missed work within three school days after your return.

Week of March 1, 2010

Congratulations to all the students for successfully completing your research papers.  I am currently reading these now.  This week, we will continue with our review for the CRCT.  Please take the time to go to the websites, complete the practice, and print it.  This will count as extra credit.  We are continuing with our SAT words. We are on word number 35.  Please study these each night.  Don't forget your Friday spelling test.  All make up work is due to me by this Firday, March 5.  You also need to have 30 AR points by this Friday.  We are continuing to read Dear Mrs. Dunphrey.  I hope that you are enjoying the book as much as I am.  Thanks for working so hard for me.  Remember that I send home email progress reports every Friday.  If you are not receiving these, please make sure that we have your email address on file.

Week of February 8, 2010

This week our Warm Ups will involve synonyms and antonyms.  Please continue these from last week.  We will turn them in on Wednesday and they will count as one weekly grade.  We will also be reviewing pronouns this week. Please look at your research paper.  You should have turned in your topic, thesis statement, six sources, ten notecards by now.  Your rough draft is due today, but no later than Wednesday.  Your slideshow and paper are due Tuesday, February 16 by 4:00.  I have given you handouts on all parts of this paper.  Please make sure that you have read these and are following the directions.  After this week, you will not be allowed to work on this paper during class.  We will start our novel when you return on Tuesday.  You will have your SAT test this week on Wednesday.  Please make sure that you know the definitions, parts of speech, synonym and antonym, as well as use the word correctly in a sentence.  Your test this week is over words 1--25.  You will get the next five words on .Wednesday.  Please don't forget to study for this week's spelling test which is also on Wednesday.  We will devote most of our class time this week to fine tuning our research papers.  I gave out missing task reports on Monday.  Please make sure that you complete these and turn them in.  Remember that my grading scale is as follows:  daily--25% (Take all of your daily grades and average them.  This score counts for 25% of your grade.) weekly--35% (Use the same process), Major--40%.   

Weeks of January 5--15, 2010

Make sure that you complete the daily warm ups and essential questions.  Your warm ups should be turned in each Friday.

You should have your new (yellow) hall pass for this nine weeks.  If you did not receive a new hall pass, see Mrs. Hamrick ASAP.

Reading logs, SAT words, and AR points started over this week.  You are required to have at least AR points.  This does not include any previously earned points.

Your SAT words are hypocrite, innate, lethargic, melancholy, opaque.  You should be able to define, give a synonym and antonym, write the part of speech, and use each word correctly in a sentence.

If you have not brought a composition book to leave in my classroom, you need to do so now.  We started our journals on Monday, January 11.  This counts as a weekly grade.

Don't forget to study for your weekly spelling test.

Complete and turn in pg. 162-163 Rev. A  and Rev. B pg. 166 of the Holt Handbook.  These will be graded.

We began working on our research projects.  This counts as 50% of your grade for this nine weeks.  I gave a handout to you.  Please make sure that your parents have seen it and have signed and returned the bottom portion.  We will be using MLA style.  You received a large envelope to keep your notes, etc. for this project.  Keep it with you at all times.

Each Friday for the remainder of the year has been designated as "Gifted Advanced Research Day."  Make sure that you complete the items on the checklist for this day.  If you have extra time, work on your reseach project.

Our first SAT test is this Thursday, January 14.  Please make sure that you studied.

Week of November 16-20, 2009.

Monday: Warm ups: On a clean sheet of paper, copy the following sentences and correct all errors.

1. i will sit your books on the shelf untill its time to leave

2. james had been sitting so long that his foot had fell asleep

Essential Question 26: What are the degress of comparison? Agenda 1: Your new homeroom spelling words are : nice, kind, gentle, considerate, sweet, thoughtful, congenial, agreeable, pleasant. Don't forget to study these for your test on Friday. Open your HOLT HANDBOOK to pg. 241. We will review the DEGREES of COMPARISON. How do regular adjectives form the comparative degree? How do regular adjectives form the superlative degree? Read pgs. 241-246. How do we show decreasing comparison? How do we show irregular comparison? Agenda 2: Complete Review B on page 246- boyes even, girls odd. This will be checked. Take out your SAT words. We will review these for your test on Thursday. Take out your notes on LTCBU. We will discurss chapters 4,5,6 today. You should read chapters 6,7,8 ASAP. We will finish this novel and have our final test on Friday. Homework: Read your AR books. Update your reading logs. Study notes for test on Friday.

Week of Nov. 9-13, 2009

Monday-Warm Up:  On a clean sheet of paper, copy the following sentences and correct all errors.  1. ceres the roman goddess of the harvest was warshiped by farmers  2.  in the play peasent women lied offerings at the goddess feet  Essential Question:  What are interjections?  Don't forget your spelling test on Friday and your vocabulary test on Thursday.  This week, you will have a quiz over the eight parts of speech on Friday.  Your final test over LTCBU will be Monday.  Please bring all of your handouts, notes, etc. to class on Friday so that we can have a good review. Agend 2:  Take out your GUM workbook.  Complete pgs. 55 and 57.  This will be checked.  We will not have school on Wednesday.  Interim Progress Reports will be sent out Thursday.  Agenda 4:  Take out your notes from Friday.  Because of the short time left, please read and update your notes.  Homework:  Study.  Read.

Tuesday- Warm up: On the sheet of paper taht you started yesterday, copy the following sentences and correct all errors. 3. greta plays music as good as the mithical Orpheus did 4. she rised from her throne on mount olympus Essential Question #21: What is the relationship between an interjection and the rest of the sentence? Agenda 1: Reminder: if you have been in ISS for any reason, you can not attend our BIG CELEBRATIONS. Are there any questions about prepositions, conjunctions, interjections? Take out your HOLT HANDBOOK pgs.w 75-77 Ex. A (follow the directions), B (follow the directions), C ( follow the directions). You must complete 1-40. This will be graded as a test grade. You may use your book. when you are finished, put your name on the paper and turn it in. Agenda 2: Stand up. Clap your hands four times. Sit dow. Take out your LET THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN notes. We will work toward finishing the book and preparing for your final test and activities SOOn. Remainder of time will be spent completing make up work. HOMEWORK: DON'T FORGET THAT THERE IS NO SCHOOL TOMORROW DUE TO VETERANS DAY. ENJOY! BE SAFE! READ!

Thursday: Warm up: Write sentences with your new SAT words. Essential Question #22: Write a tribute to a Veteran. Agenda 1: You will have your SAT test today over words 1-25. you will have ten minutes to study. Take out two clean sheets of paper. Mrs.Hamrick will tell you what to do next. When you are finished with your test, copy the next five words from the board. You should start studying these today. We will discuss chapter 4 of LTCBU. Please read through chapter 6 before class tomorrow. Homework: Read. Update your reading log. Study your SAT words. Don't forget your homeroom spelling test tomorrow.

Friday: Warm up: Do you suffer from triskaidekaphobia? What is it? Why am I asking you this today? There is a connection. Write one paragraph about what you know about Friday the Thirteenth. your paragraph should be at least five sentences long. When you are finished, put your name on your warm ups and turn them in. Essential Question #23: What are two types of conjunctions? Agenda 1: Take out a sheet of paper and get ready for your homeroom spelling test. Make sure that you have a G.U.M. workbook- if not, you have a problem that you need to solve quickly! Open your HOLT HANDBOOk to pg. 241. Read pages 241-245. We will discuss degree of comparison. You should know the charts on page 242-245 for a quiz next week. Complete Ex. 4 on pg. 244-245. Follow the directions. This will be checked.  be spent reading, taking AR tests, updating your reading log, going to the media center.

Week of November 10-13

Tuesday-Warm Up:  On the sheet of paper that you started yesterday, copy the following sentences and the correct all errors. 3. greta plays music as good as the mithical Orpheus did  4.  she rised from her throne on mount olympus   Essential Question:  What is the relationship between an interjection and the rest of the sentence?  Agenda 1:  Reminder: If you have been in ISS for any reason, you can not attend our BIG CELEBRATIONS. Are there any questions about prepositions, conjunctions, interjections? Take out your HOLT HANDBOOK pgs. 75-77  Ex. A (follow the directions), B (follow the directions), C (follow the directions). You must complete 1-40. This will be graded as a test grade.  You may use your book. When you are finished, put your name on the paper and turn it in.  Agends 2:  Stand up.  Clap your hands four times.  Sit down.  Take out alll of your LET THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN notes.  We will work toward finishing the book and preparing your final test and activities SOON. Remainder of time will be spent completing make up work.  Homework:  DON'T FORGET THAT THERE IS NO SCHOOL TOMORROW DUE TO VETERANS DAY.  ENJOY! BE SAFE! READ!

Week of November 2-6, 2009.

Friday-Monday.Warm Up; Friday-Monday: On a clean sheet of paper, copy the following sentences and correct all errors.-9. patricia lauber has wrote more than 60 book-10. there was a majer earthquake near to where the city of Los Angeles is at-Monday- We will not have a warm up for Monday. Please make sure that you completed and turned in last week's warm ups.Essential Question #14What was one conflict in Let The Circle Be Unborken? Your answer must inclue Who?What?When?Where?Why?Agenda 1- Due to the pizza party on Friday, we will complete Friday's assignments today.- We will now take our weekly spelling quiz.- Spelling words for the week of 11/3 - surprised, astonished, shocked, amazed, astounded, bewildered, stunned.- You will have 10 minutes to review for your Weekly Quiz 3.- You will write on your paper.- Questions 16-20 ( the vocablulary) are bonus. You must try these.- When you are finished, study for your SAT test 1-15. You will need to copy the next five definitions from the board when you finish.- Remember that the SAT words are cumulative. You will add five words each week to the list.- New SAT words for the week of 11/3- engender, innocuous, insipid, lament, laud. Homework-Read AR book, update reading log. 

Tuesday;Warm up;On a clean sheet of paper, copy the following sentences and correct all errors.1. Janna and me think it would have been fun to spend 38 days at see2. i dont i could it without the write toolsEssential Question #16What is the difference between a reflexive and intensive pronoun?Agenda 1; Anyone who wants extra credit needs to see Mrs.Hamrick about the essay that is available.Take out your SAT words. Remember that you will have a test over 1-20 on Thursday and a homeroom spelling test Friday.Take out your notes. Let's review.- What do personal pronouns refer to?- What do refexive and intensive pronouns refer to?- What is a demonstrative pronoun?- What is an interrogative pronoun?- What is an indefinite pronoun?- What is a relative pronoun?Agenda 3;
Open your GUM workbook to pg.31. Tear this page out and complete it. It will be checked.Agenda 4; Stand beside your seat and do 10 JUMPING JACKS ( aka. Side straddle hops) .Sit back downTake out your notes from LET THE CIRCLE bE UNBROKEN.We will review chapters 1-4. you will have time to read through chapter 6. We will go over this tomorrow.Due to the fact that the media center has been closed for a few days, I will be sending groups of five to check out/return books. Please listen as i call your name. If you need to go, fill out a pass. Please be mindful of the time as there are others who want to go as well.Remaining time will be spent reading, taking AR tests, going to the media center, and completing missing tasks.HOMEWORK;Review your notes.Read/update reading logs.

Wednesday;  Warm up; On the same sheet of paper that you have been using all week, copy the following sentences and correct all errors.3. t.j. and the other boys gets along good4. the city kids quick except him into theyre groupEssential Question #17Cassie lived in a different time and place in history than you are living. Explain the difference in ther life and yours. Your answers should be in at least three sentences.Agenda 1;Do not forget your homeroom spelling test on Friday.Take out your SAT words. We will review these for your quiz tomorrow.We wil spend the remainder of our class period on LET THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN.We will make sure that we clear up any questions that you are all reading.Take our your notes and let's get started.When we are all caught up, we will update reading logs, complete missing tasks, go to the media center, take AR tests. This is not a time for you to socialize. Please use this time productively.HOMEWORK;Study for SAT test.Read.
Update reading logs.

Thursday-Warm up- On the sheet of paper that you have used all week, copy the following sentences and correct all errors.5. each of the worlds cultures have their own myths 6. we'll read abou the earths structure Essential Question #18: What is a preposition? Agenda 1: Mrs.Hamrick will distribute missing task reports today. Please make sure that you complete any missing tasks. INTERIM PROGRESS REPORTS go home next Thursday. Open your Holt Handbook and read pages 66-69. This will be discussed. In your notes complete Ex. 11- boys even, girls odd. This will be checked.Complete Ex.12 68- boys odd, girls even-- in your notes.This will be checked. We will have a graded assignment over prepositions tomorrow. Agenda 2: Take out your SAT words. You will have ten minutes to study for your test. Your next five SAT words are revere, serene, subtle, superfluous, taciturn. Take out a clean sheet of paper.We will now take the SAT test.Stand up. Shake hands with someone sitting close to you. Do not leave the area around your seat!!!!! We will complete chaper 4 of LET THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN.Chaper 5-7 will be completed on Monday. The final test over the book will be SOON. Remaining time will be spent completing missing tasks, reading AR books, taking AR tests, going to the media center.Homework-- Review all notes. Read, update your reading log!!

Friday- Warm up-On the same sheet of paper that you have been using all week, copy the following sentences and correct all errors. When you are finished, put your name on your paper and turn it in. 7. gogisgi is the cherokee name of carroll arnett which is a poet. 8. which of the two name do he use more often Essential Question #19- What is the job of a conjunction? Agenda 1; We will take our spelliong test shortly.Get ready. Take out your SAT words. We will review these for your test next Thursday. Open your HOLT HANDBOOK to pg.69.Read pages 69-71. Remember that the coordinating conjuctions are FANBOYS.Complete Ex. 14- boys odd, girls even in your notes. Instead of one graded assignment, we will have a test over the parts of speech next week. Take out your lit. notes from yesterday. We will continue our reading/discussion of LET THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN. Remaining time will be spent reading, taking AR tests, completeing make up work.

Week of September 8--11, 2009

Homeroom spelling words:  Excited, thrilled, exhilarated, exuberant, moved, roused, avid, stimulated, euphoric, enthusiastic.  Please make sure that you study these for the test on Friday.  I will be giving out missing task reports on Thursday.  Please make sure that you get all missing tasks turned in ASAP.  Interim Progress reports went home Tuesday.  Please check with your child about this.  We took our first MAP test on Tuesday.  These are used to check student progress through out the year.  On Wednesday we discussed the steps in the writing process and reviewed the parts of speech--focusing on nouns, pronouns, and adjectives.  We are reading THE SMALLEST DRAGONBOY.  We are discussing context clues.  Please make sure that your child keeps his/her reading log up to date.  These are checked randomly and count as major test grades.  There will be  no weekly quiz this Friday due to the short week. 

Week of August 31--September 4, 2009

Homeroom spelling words:  Sad, glum, miserable, gloomy, depressed, unhappy, somber, grim, wretched, poignant, sorrowful.  Make sure that your child reviews these for the test on Friday.  Seventh graders must have thirty-five AR points this nine weeks.  We discussed protagonist, antagonist.  On Monday, we took our STAR reading tests.  These scores will be used to plan for the rest of the year.  This Friday will be our first CURRENT EVENTS FRIDAY.  Please make sure that your student brings in a newspaper article, summary of a news report or television show, or internet article.  These will be discussed and assignments completed on them.  We discussed prewriting techniques.  We also worked ont the kinds of nouns.  We reviewed connotation and denotation.  Students read "The Smallest Dragonboy" and discussed the underdog. Please make sure that your student reads each night and updates the reading log. These should be brought to class every day.  They are taken up randomly and graded.  We will have a graded assignment on the kinds of nouns on Thursday.  Students should read "THe Smallest Dragonboy," and complete the READING CHECK on pg. 61. 

Week of August 24--28, 2009

We are reviewing the parts of speech.  Students need to focus on the types of pronouns.  Students received a study sheet on these.  We discussed plot, conflict, complications, resolution, theme.  We read "Song of the Trees."  Students were assigned the READING CHECK on pg. 42.  They also prepared a story map for this story.  Ask them about their first WOW Wednesday.  We discussed connotation and denotation.  They took their weekly test. 

Week of August 17--21, 2009

Ask your student about the homeroom assignments that are being done school wide.

This week we reviewed concrete and abstract nouns.  Our quiz over the first ten literary terms is Tuesday.  We discussed dialogue and conflict.  Why is the narrator so important in literature?  Don't forget the writing assignment that is due this Friday.  We reviewed the steps in the writing process.  Warm ups are due on Friday.  Make sure that your reading log is current.  It will be taken up this week.

Week of August 10--14, 2009

This week we went to the media center for orientation and to check out books.  We also organized our folders.  Reading logs were also distributed.  You must log in at least four nights a week, reading a minimum of ten pages.  These will be taken up randomly and graded, so please make sure yours is current.  They are cumulative.  Students received LITERARY TERMS TO MASTER sheets.  They had to identify, define, and/or give examples of these.  They were due Friday.  We did a quick review of the parts of speech.  We also read RIKKI TIKKI TAVI in our literature books.  Conflict was discussed using this story.   Don't forget to study for your quiz over the first ten literary terms and parts of speech.  This quiz will be next Tuesday.  Students also received their first writing assignments.  These are due next Friday.