TEAM AFRICA

Ms. Harrison's Language Arts

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November 13 - 20

Wednesday,November 18, is our field trip to the Walker Center for the Mad SciencePresents CSI Live! performance.  Permission slips and $5.00 are due byTuesday a.m.

After checking for friggatriskaidekaphobia on Friday 13, we continued our work on writing compare-contrast structures.  Introductory paragraphs are due on Monday.  We will finish the 1st rough draft of our NC Content-Specific Writing Task in class using our notes and source cards.  This will be a learning experience for most since note-taking is not a well-developed skill at 7th grade level.  I suspect that note-taking will be quite a bit more detailed in the spring when we complete our second content-specific task.

Friday, November 20 we're looking forward to stems quizzes.

Expect a TEST this week in AG.  Defining, labeling, and evaluating compound sentences will be the new skill being tested.  Of course, students will continually be asked to demonstrate learning of all grammar terms and concepts that we have studied.  They all come together eventually.  Also, students will be asked to demonstrate a thorough understanding of effective writing features.

Standard will have a quiz on the same grammar elements and writing concepts.

November 9 - 13

Time magazine is going home with a different class each night.  This week, 1st period - Monday; 3rd period - Tuesday; 4th Period Thursday.  Please read articles of interest.  Share with your student.  Ask which article they chose.  Discuss current events and their impact on your life.

Magazines MUST be returned the next school day.

I still have AG students who have not returned the grammar quiz with a parent signature. 

Foundation Questions, Source Cards, and Note Cards are due Tuesday

We will be working on Compare/Contrast writing this week.

AG should be able to define appositive and write a sentence using an appositive.

Standard should be practicing sentences using the KISS prodedure.

READING, READING, READING!!!!!!!

AG List 6 Flashcards and Standard 4C Flashcards should be completed by Monday

What's on for November 2 - 6?

REPORT CARDS ON NOVEMBER 3

• WRITING: We will be working on  the NC 7th Grade Content-Specific Writing Task
  

• We'll work on evaluating sources for content, intended audience, reliability, and value. (The bold-face type will not go away, and SchoolNotes is doing random font sizes and colors!  My apologies...)
  
• Plagiarism will be a major topic of discussion as we continue to work on summarizing, paraphrasing, and note taking.
• We will go to the Media Center Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to find information.  These will be the only scheduled research days.  Students need to have their 3 x 5 INDEX CARDS at school to use for note taking.
  
• STEMS
  
  • AG will have a WWW TEST on lists 1-5 on Friday.
  • Standard will have the 4B quiz on Friday.
• GRAMMAR
  • AG will learn to define, label, and use appositives and begin on verbals.
    
  • Standard will work on defining, labeling, and using independent clauses in simple and compound sentences.
    

Week of October 26 - 30 in review.

• Students were given 4 options for their NC 7th Grade Content-specific Writing Task.
  • We have looked at how to create source cards using MLA format and how to create note cards.
    
  • We have worked on summarizing and paraphrasing (3rd period did this some time ago).
• Everyone had a grammar quiz.  3rd and 4th period students need to show the quiz to parents/guardians, get a signature, and return the paper on November 2.
• AG had a quiz on WWW List 5 and Standard had a quiz on Stems List 4A.  Standard flashcards for 4B are due on Monday, November 2.
  

SECOND QUARTER - (already)

• I have pasted the daily work expectations up here at the top.  They have gotten pushed down each week as I have added information.  The statement, "I didn't have any homework," NEVER applies in language arts.  Everything we do is cumulative.  That means that students MUST keep up, or they will fall far, far behind.  DAILY/NIGHTLY PRACTICE is essential.  Just looking at the material will not result in learning. 
• Please, please.  If your child is having trouble understanding ANYTHING that we do in class, tell him/her to talk to ME the very next day.  No excuses!!  Parents/guardians should not have to teach the students anything that we are expected to work on in class.  Even if we are VERY busy, we can set up a time to discuss whatever the problem is. 
• WE WILL BE STARTING ON OUR NORTH CAROLINA 7TH GRADE CONTENT-SPECIFIC WRITING TASK DURING THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 26-30.  EVERY STUDENT MUST COMPLETE THIS TASK.  This means that we will be working on finding sources, evaluating sources, documenting sources correctly using MLA format, writing a paper to communicate what has been learned, and entering the writing on the MOODLE for assessment. 

 STUDENTS SHOULD WORK DAILY TO MEET THESE EXPECTATIONS:

• Independent Reading

• Have an independent reading book with you in class each day. 
• Read a minimum of 30 minutes each night.
• Keep a reading response journal and write in it daily (minimum of 3 times per week).
• Read a different book every two weeks. 
• Develop a joy for reading and an appreciation for a variety of genres.  
• Write in your Reading/Writing Log about your reading.  Check "Helpful Hints for Reading Responses" for a nudge.
  

Vocabulary

• AG classes should study Word Within the Word lists each week.  We will complete one list every two weeks.  Tests will be cumulative.  Students should complete flash cards for each list.  Flash cards for the next list are always due the day after the quiz.
  
• Regular Language Arts should study stems using word lists and/or flash cards.  New list each week.  Quizzes and/or tests every Friday - all are cumulative. Flash cards for the next list are always due the day after the quiz.
• The stems PowerPoint can help with studying.  See the link below.

Grammar

• All classes must know the KISS procedure.
• KISS Daily Grammar Practice sentences should be practiced every day.
• You should know how to define, identify, and use all the grammar terms and concepts we have discussed in class.
• Correct standard English is expected in oral and written work.
• Tests and quizzes will be cumulative
• Expect quizzes at any time

Literature Study

• AG - We will focus largely on non-fiction articles and essays in conjunction with our study of argumentative writing.
• LA Regular - We will read a variety of tales and stories as well as non-fiction pieces in conjunction with our study of argumentative writing.

Writing

• Students will complete 4 North Carolina writing tasks during the year: two research papers and two on-demand tasks.
• Students will learn and use research procedures.
  
• Students should be able to discuss writing using common terms: focus, ideas, organization, word choice, sentence fluency, style, voice, conventions
• Argumentative writing
  • Problem/Solution writing
  • Evaluative writing

Research

• One North Carolina research writing task will be completed each semester.
  

Week 8 will be a BUSY week.  Monday, October 12, is the NC 7th Grade Writing Task.  We have spent quite a bit of time during Week 7 working on the evaluative and problem-solution writing processes.  We will have a TEST during Week 8 on these processes.  Students should be able to explain the Thinking Maps and the structures of the two different types of argumentative writing that we have been working on.  In grammar, we will continue studying parts of the sentence, parts of speech, phrases, and clauses.  Standard class has 3B Flashcards due on Tuesday, October 13 (because we'll be in the computer lab on Monday) and the 3B quiz on Friday.  AG's WWW quiz on lists 1-4 will be Friday.

Week 7!  We've been working on our evaluative writing process.  This week, we will work on a process for problem-solution writing.  October 12 is the projected date for our first on-demand NC Writing Test.

Stems - AG classes should have List 4 flashcards in class on 10/5.  Standard LA should have List 3A cards on 10/5.

Grammar - EVERYONE should be practicing the KISS procedure and studying their grammar note pages.  We will need to have a grammar TEST very soon.  Refer to last week's post for basic grammar concepts that ALL students should know inside, outside, upside down, backward, and forward.  Students should not only be able to define, identify, and label, but also must be able to analyze and create sentences using all those items.

Week 6 is a short week.  Friday is a Teacher Workday.  The stems quizzes will be on Thursday. 

We will continue to focus on the traits of effective writing as the first on-demand NC 7th Grade Writing Test is coming up FAST!

However, grammar is our favorite subject.

EVERYONE should already know

• the KISS procedure,
• the auxiliary verbs,
• the coordinating conjunctions,
• the definite and indefinite articles,
• AG classes should be able to diagram the S/V/C and modifiers, including prepositional phrases.

Harrison's and Benesh's homerooms will be going to Camp Harrison on Monday, September 28.  Combs's homeroom will go on Tuesday, September 29.

During Week 5, we will continue working on writing in addition to the grammar, stems, and reading that we have been doing.  We have already done an overview of the 6 Write Traits and how they correlate with the NC features of effective writing.  AG classes have a writing in progress, and the Standard class will write on Monday.

Everyone should have completed stems cards for the next list over the weekend; they're due 9/21. 

I've spent quite a bit of time over the past 3 weeks helping students understand how learning works. 

• Many students just do not know how to study, so I have given them several different strategies to try. 
  
• Unfortunately, getting information through the Short Term Memory (STM) and into the Long Term Memory (LTM) requires effort.  
  
• If students are struggling, have them explain different strategies for learning and have them show you what effort they have made to learn material. 
  
• Looking at information does not constitute studying.
• Here's a link to help with memory
  
  • http://www.mindtools.com/memory.html
• There's a PowerPoint in the Downloads section about studying
  
• We'll continue to work on study skills and strategies.
  

Time is flying by!

Standard Language Arts interims went home on Thursday, September 17, and AG interims went home on Friday, September 18.

Week 2 is done. 

• We had our first quiz on stems in AG classes, and standard class had their second stems quiz. Most students made really terrific grades, but the evidence shows that some students need to work on their study habits.  Parents/Guardians, be sure to ask your child their score.  We graded them in class. 
• We have begun our grammar study.  Everyone has bunches of notes to study. 
• During Week 3, we will examine how our brains work. 
• Thank you to those parents who have contacted me.  A BIG THANK YOU to those who have donated supplies.

Everyone should be reading a minimum of 30 minutes per night in their independent reading book.  Everyone should be writing reading responses in their reading journal about 3 times per week.

We're ready for week 2.  This week we will take the Reading Counts SRI test to check on each student's lexile level. 

Other exciting things planned for the week include beginning our grammar study, thinking about study strategies, sharing good reading, reviewing good team-work skills, and analyzing the traits of effective writing.

Week 1 was filled with "getting acclimated to the new year" stuff.  Students were introduced to independent reading expectations, grammar, and their first list of stems. 

I have already spoken with several parents/guardians.  If I have not contacted you yet, feel free to contact me.  E-mail will probably be fastest since I am in and out of my room for work and meetings before and after school and during planning.  However, feel free to call and leave a message if I do not answer.

The wiki will be up and running soon.   http://shcwms.pbwiki.com/FrontPage  Request access through pbwiki.

Basic Supply List for '09 - '10

• Index cards (3x5) - at least 300 for the year
• Marble composition book w/ sewn binding - NOT glued
• Two two-pocket folders 
• Highlighters [assorted colors (blue, green, pink) other than yellow]
• Pens (dark blue or black)
• 3-ring binder
• Pocket dividers for binder (5)
• Pencils
• Colored pencils
• Notebook paper
• MOST IMPORTANTLY: a book for independent reading

Everyone will need a novel for independent reading (needed 2nd day of school). 

TISSUE DONATIONS ARE WELCOMED & ENCOURAGED (but it's not biological samples we need)

We need boxes of tissues for all three teachers' rooms. 

Homework Checklist for Parents

Studying is much more than reading or looking over the material  Study Strategies PowerPoint: Scroll Down to Attachments > Click on PowerPoint > Open

What are we supposed to be doing?  Here is a link to the NC Standard Course of Study for language arts.                                http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/curriculum/languagearts/scos/2004/

Attendance and Make-up Work

Students with absences (regardless of the circumstances) need to speak with me about their absences and missed work as soon as they return to school.  It is the student's responsibility to follow up on missed work.  I am available before school from 7:15 - 7:30 and after school on most days for students to meet with me about their absences and work.

Independent Reading

• LOOKING FOR A GOOD BOOK TO READ???   THERE'S A LINK TO LOTS OF LISTS in the LINKS list.

• Have an independent reading book with you in class each day. 
• Read a minimum of 30 minutes each night.
• Keep a reading response journal and write in it daily.
• Read a different book every two weeks. 
• Develop a joy for reading and an appreciation for a variety of genres.
• Reading Counts tests are available for many of the books you read.
• Write in your Reading/Writing Log about your reading.  Check "Helpful Hints for Reading Responses" for a nudge.
  

There is a link at the bottom to access CWMS.  Click on Media Center; click on Reading Counts to access a list of Reading Counts quizzes.

Vocabulary

• AG classes should study Word Within the Word lists each week.  We will complete one list every two weeks.  Tests will be cumulative.  Students should complete flash cards for each list.
  
• Regular Language Arts should study stems using word lists and/or flash cards.  New list each week.  Quizzes and/or tests every Friday - all are cumulative.
• The stems PowerPoint can help with studying.  See the link below.

Grammar

• All classes must know the KISS procedure.
• KISS Daily Grammar Practice sentences are due every day.
• You should know how to define, identify, and use all the grammar terms and concepts we have discussed in class.
• Correct standard English is expected in oral and written work.
• Tests and quizzes will be cumulative
• Expect quizzes at any time

Literature Study

• AG - We will focus largely on non-fiction articles and essays in conjunction with our study of argumentative writing.
• LA Regular - We will read a variety of tales and stories as well as non-fiction pieces in conjunction with our study of argumentative writing.

Writing

• Students will complete 4 North Carolina writing tasks during the year: two research papers and two on-demand tasks.
• Students will learn and use research procedures.
  
• Students should be able to discuss writing using common terms: focus, ideas, organization, word choice, sentence fluency, style, voice, conventions
• Argumentative writing
  • Problem/Solution writing
  • Evaluative writing

Research

• One North Carolina research writing task will be completed each semester.
  

Useful Links

Wilkes County Schools