Carol Welch

Can you believe that it is 2009?

Time for a fresh start with a new semester!  Before we start off with a new area of study though, we need to finish the writing.  MGWA (Middle Grades Writing Assessment) is Wednesday, January 21.  We have only 10 more days to prepare!  For more information on this assessment go to   http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/ 

 

The four domains assessed on MGWA

are ideas, organization, style, and conventions. 

The focus over the next 10 days will be STYLE and ORGANIZATION.

HOMEWORK All classes need to continue their work on Skillstutor which can be found at http://www.myskillstutor.com/login.jsp .  Please refer to agenda or previous blog for sign in information.  Skillstutor is available before school daily.

Skillstutor assignment : Language Arts Writing Paragraphs Practice will be worked on in class and at home.  This Skillstutor block will be due on Friday, January 30.  (The next block to be assigned will be the conventions practice).

All classes will be assigned reading and exercises from the Writing and Grammar text (which should be at home or can be accessed on-line).

Tuesday, January 6 : read & complete exercises 1 & 2 on pages 32-34.

Wednesday, January 7 : read & complete exercise 3 on page 34.

Thursday, January 8 : read & complete exercise 4 on page 35.

Friday, January 9 : read and complete exercise 5 on page 36.    

IN CLASS All classes will continue practicing writing strategies through daily writing assignments.

Students are reminded to bring all materials to class daily, including handouts, notebooks, and homework!

What would Halloween be without Edgar Allan Poe?

This week we have been studying a literature selection by Edgar Allan Poe.  We have asked ourselves the question: how can studying great authors make us better writers?

Our unit includes vocabulary, literary terms,a study of plot, and practice in mood and tone.  Thursday (and Friday for some classes) we will be accessing technology to create a short, 6 frame comic strip based on the plot of one of the selections.

Readers of "The Tell-Tale Heart"

Choose 1 of the following stories to tell in 6 frames:            

1.  Before the events in the story (how did the main characters meet?)

2.  During the events of the story (from the point of view of the old man, the neighbors, or the police)

3.  After the events of the story (what happens to the narrator?)

Readers of "The Black Cat"

Choose 1 of the following storied to tell in 6 frames:

1.  During the exposition and part of the rising action of the plot (from Pluto's point of view, what happened?)

2.  During the rising action to the climax of the plot (from the wife's point of view, what happened?)

3.  During the climax to the falling action of the plot (from the neighbor's point of view, what happened?)

 To acces the internet site to create your comic, click on the following site:

  http://www.readwritethink.org/MATERIALS/COMIC/

 

Research Test Friday, October 24

Presentations are wrapping up.  The formal end-of-unit test for research will be on Friday.  Students are reminded to have their notebooks daily for class so that we can review the information already covered in this unit.  Notes are from previous lessons as well as pages 764-765 and 768-771 in the Writing and Grammar textbook. In addition we will use the pretest and research practice exercise as review.

Terms covered in this unit are: quoting, paraphrasing, plagiarism, summarizing, citation, bias, validity, purpose, audience, primary, and secondary source.  The test will cover the terms and concepts practiced during the research process.

Advanced Content classes will begin studying chapter 3 of the Classical Roots Greek and Latin book on Wednesday.  The quiz for chapter 3 will be on Tuesday next week.  Don't forget your notecards!

AUTHOR STUDY research presentations begin Wednesday!

The final phase of the research project is here!  Students have been working through the research process for the past three weeks.  Emphasis has been on collecting relevant information, making connections between the research process and the research product as well as keeping up with deadlines along the way.  For this assignment, students have received individual grades for each deadline.  Additionaly each product presented or handed in is a grade.  Students have three product requirements: their tribute (either a trophy or  memorial), their written speech essay, and their presentation which will include their powerpoint slides.  Final due date is Wednesday, October 15.

1st quarter has officially ended.  Look for report cards to come home on Friday, October 17. 

The project grades will be the first grades of the 2nd quarter, and we definately want to get off to a fabulous start.  Next week we will review the technical aspects of research.  There will also be a formal test over this material.

First quarter: Week 8

With progress reports in the past, we are looking at the fast-approaching end of the quarter.  For parents watching grades, be on the lookout for deficiency reports to go out on Wednesday, October 1st.  Students given a second chance on projects must adhere to the deadline identified on the deficiency report.  Students enrolled in Advanced Content courses must maintain an 80% to remain in the class.  Deficiency notices will go home to those students in danger of falling below that mark.

RESEARCH UNIT starts today!

Students received an outline of assignments last week along with their author to research.  The media center specialist Mrs. Harris spoke with all classes today to discuss research.  All students may research on their own and are required to read a book-lengths work or collection by or about their author.  Further instructions and rubrics will be handed out and explained as due dates approach.  Students will have reading assignments and quizzes in addition to the research.

Requirements checklist:

minimum 12 fact cards due 10/3

minimum 2 source cards due 10/3

decide & design tribute due 10/6

create lectronic poster due 10/7

written speech due 10/10

created award or grave marker due 10/15

performance of speeches begins 10/15 

Absent students are reminded to check the daily book when absent.  It is the student's responsbility to make up assignments in a timely manner.  Handouts and assignments are also placed in the daily book for students to complete.  At the end of the quarter a missing assignment sheet will not be distributed--missing assignments are missing and will count as a 0 grade.

ITBS testing this week

REMINDER: progress reports went home last week!

To round out the testing begun last week, all 8th grade students will also participate in 4 days of ITBS testing this week.  Students are reminded to be well-rested, come to school on time, eat breakfast, bring a number 2 lead pencil (no mechanical pencils are allowed) and a book for reading each day.  These tests will become a part of the student's file and will be referenced when decisions about high school classes are made early next spring.  It is important for students to show us what they can do!

Parents--be on the look out for high school information meetings.  Check out the county website for magnet school announcements as well as information on Kennesaw Mountain High School.

Because of testing, class schedules will be disrupted again this week.  Each class will meet 3 times over the 5 days this week.  In language arts all classes will quiz over chapter 21 "Effective Sentences" on the last day the class meets.  We will also prepare for the Research Unit which will begin on Monday. 

Focusing on Effective Sentence Writing

CoGAT testing on Wednesday and Thursday of this week will disrupt the class schedule.  Not all classes will meet each day.  Regardless of the schedule, all students should have received PROGRESS REPORTS this week. Please look over the report with your student before signing and having the student return it to me.

As a continuation of last week, students are writing again this week.  We have finally begun work in the Prentice Hall Grammar and Writing textbook that all students should have at home.  Students also have the opportunity to use I-text if they choose.  We registered in class and the information for registration was given in the September 1st blog.  Students were also issued grammar workbooks this week.  The workbooks will be housed in the classroom and students will tear the assigned pages from the books.  Students are responsible for keeping track of the pages which are assigned both in class and as homework.

Chapter 21, "Effective Sentences" is a chapter from which we can review functions of sentences, combining sentences, sentence variety, and avoiding sentence problems.  Notes over this chapter should be in the grammar section of the language arts notebook.  Students should expect to quiz over this information next week.

Advanced content classes will be reviewing the Classic Roots lessons 1 and 2 for a combined test on Friday.  Students will have 2 formal review opportunities.  It is strongly suggested that students begin studying early in the week and take advantage of the review exercises.

 

Grammar and Writing begin this week

A NOTE ON HOMEWORK

Although students are sometimes given multiple nights to complete assignments, students should have an assignment to work on nightly.  Parents are encouraged to check their students' planners daily.  For additional information on daily assignments, please call the Information Center at (770) 795-5720 ext. 8601.

A sneak preview for this week:

The reading portion of the narrative unit will be concluded this week.  We continue to review literary elements. The literary terms defined last week: 7. imagery  8. simile  9. metaphor 10. memoir  11. personification  12. figurative language Advanced students had a few additional words. Vocabulary varies for each class.  If absent, please be sure to see the daily book for the list.

As we wrap up the reading with the identification of literary elements, we will move onto the writing.  Once students have learned to recognize good writing--they need to be able to incorporate these elements into their own writing.  Friday we will begin our first in-class essay.  For this assignment students will be required to write in class.  They will be given the option to hand write or to type on this particular assignment.  Students will be required to have an adult revise their papers.   

The study of grammar begins this week.  All students should have the Writing and Grammar textbook issued to them at home.  Students are not required to carry this textbook because we do have a class set.

For a better understanding of the requirements for 8th grade students the Georgia state writing standards can be found at Georgia Standards.org or www.glc.k12.ga.us

Upcoming quizzes and tests:

Standard classes will test Thursday over the literary elements and the two short stories read in class, "Charles", and the excerpt from I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.  Notes on both pieces should be on the handouts and in the student's spiral notebook.  The second piece can be found on the online text at www.phsuccessnet. com.  Friday in class students registered for the online itext.

Advanced classes will study an additional story this week, "A Retrieved Refortmation", before also testing on Thursday.  Notes on all pieces should be in the student's spiral notebook.  Two literary piees can be found on the online text at www.phsuccessnet. com.  Friday in class students registered for the online itext.

It's A New Year!

Welcome to the 2008-2009 School Year!

A sneak preview for this week:

The Narrative Unit continues with selections from the Prentice Hall Literature book, an excerpt from Maya Angelou's autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.  Advanced students will also have the opportunity to study a short story by O. Henry "A Retrieved Reformation".

At this point we are reviewing literary ideas and themes already covered in previous school years.  The literary terms defined last week: 1. nonfiction 2. fiction 3. narrative 4. character 5. chracterization 6. plot.  Advanced students had a few additional words: 7. point of view 8. first person 9. third person 10. dialogue.  Vocabulary varies for each class.  If absent, please be sure to see the daily book for the list.

Upcoming quizzes and tests:

Standard classes will quiz Wednesday on the literary elements covered up to September 1st.  New words will be added this week.  Students will test on the Maya Angelou piece studied later this week.

Advanced classes will quiz Wednesday on the Classic Roots from lesson 2--this quiz will include the components of the dictionary (see handout given back on Friday to study).  Students will test on the O.Henry piece and Classic Roots lessons 1 and 2 next week.

SIGN UP FOR PRENTICE HALL'S INTERACTIVE TEXT (ITEXT):

Friday students will have the opportunity to register in class.  If you would like to get a jump on registering, please follow the directions given below.

Your username and password will both be -lunch number,last name- lowercase, no space.

1.  Go to www.phsuccessnet.com

2.  Click  register

3. On the first screen, copy and paste the follwing access code into the access code box 

1E1FBF96221C78918047

4.  Follow the istructions to register, and write you username in your agenda exactly as you typed it (lunch number, lastname, no spaces, lower case).

5 Login page appears. Log in  by using your username and password (both are lunch code, and last name ).

A sneak preview for this week:

The Narrative Unit continues with selections from the Prentice Hall Literature book, an excerpt from Maya Angelou's autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.  Advanced students will also have the opportunity to study a short story by O. Henry "A Retrieved Reformation".

At this point we are reviewing literary ideas and themes already covered in previous school years.  The literary terms defined last week: 1. nonfiction 2. fiction 3. narrative 4. character 5. chracterization 6. plot.  Advanced students had a few additional words: 7. point of view 8. first person 9. third person 10. dialogue.  Vocabulary varies for each class.  If absent, please be sure to see the daily book for the list.

Upcoming quizzes and tests:

Standard classes will quiz Wednesday on the literary elements covered up to September 1st.  New words will be added this week.  Students will test on the Maya Angelou piece studied later this week.

Advanced classes will quiz Wednesday on the Classic Roots from lesson 2--this quiz will include the components of the dictionary (see handout given back on Friday to study).  Students will test on the O.Henry piece and Classic Roots lessons 1 and 2 next week.

SIGN UP FOR PRENTICE HALL'S INTERACTIVE TEXT (ITEXT):

Friday students will have the opportunity to register in class.  If you would like to get a jump on registering, please follow the directions given below.

Your username and password will both be -lunch number,last name- lowercase, no space.

1.  Go to www.phsuccessnet.com

2.  Click  register

3. On the first screen, copy and paste the follwing access code into the access code box 

1E1FBF96221C78918047

4.  Follow the istructions to register, and write you username in your agenda exactly as you typed it (lunch number, lastname, no spaces, lower case).

5 Login page appears. Log in  by using your username and password (both are lunch code, and last name ).