Saturday, December 25, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Week 18 - Language Arts Assignments
As we approach the end of the semester, students are getting antsy. Please continue to remind them to be on their best behavior in school.
In class this week, we continue Read 180. Last week, students took their Student Reading Inventories (SRI), which counted as their finals. Students then had individual conferences with me in order to review their SRI, as well as the data they have from the Read 180 program.
Today, we turned in our library books, so if you still have a library book out, it needs to be turned in to the library as soon as possible to avoid a late fee.
Due at the end of this week is the Language Arts Weekly Challenge and their sponges.
Also, over the break, for students who need to catch-up with their reading, they may continue to read over the break, turning in their reading log when we return. For a look at what the reading log should look like, check out the following:
Reading Log
In class this week, we continue Read 180. Last week, students took their Student Reading Inventories (SRI), which counted as their finals. Students then had individual conferences with me in order to review their SRI, as well as the data they have from the Read 180 program.
Today, we turned in our library books, so if you still have a library book out, it needs to be turned in to the library as soon as possible to avoid a late fee.
Due at the end of this week is the Language Arts Weekly Challenge and their sponges.
Also, over the break, for students who need to catch-up with their reading, they may continue to read over the break, turning in their reading log when we return. For a look at what the reading log should look like, check out the following:
Reading Log
Language Arts Weekly Challenge 14 - Main Idea
For the final Language Arts Challenge of 2010, the questions are all about main idea. Read the paragraphs and then answer the question about their main idea after each one. This is due by the end of the day on Friday.
Garlic is one of the ingredients that makes pasta sauce taste so good. Now doctors think garlic has healing powers, too. Early tests show that it can kill harmful germs. Garlic also has been found to have a good effect on the blood. Doctors think it can help protect people against heart disease.
1) This story mainly tells
(a) how garlic can help keep people healthy
(b) what goes into pasta sauce
(c) how garlic kills harmful bacteria
(d) how garlic affects the blood
Some college teachers in Michigan have made a small computer that looks like an orange. It will be picked and handled like real fruit. Since much fruit is damaged on its way to market, this machine will measure shaking and temperature changes. The computerized orange will help people find ways to avoid damaging fruits during shipping.
2) This story mainly tells
(a) where the computerized orange came from
(b) how the computer company helped make the machine
(c) what the computerized orange looks like
(d) about the purpose of the computerized orange
Many people in India don't eat beef, but they still find many uses for cattle. Cows provide milk for drinking and for other dairy products. Young cattle are used for plowing fields and carrying big loads.
3) This story mainly tells
(a) how cows are used in India
(b) where some people do not eat beef
(c) which cows plow fields
(d) what milk is used for
Virginia Hamilton started writing at a young age. People in her family were great storytellers. She loved to listen to their tales about her African American heritage. When she grew up, Hamilton brought the tales to life in stories. Now she is a famous writer of books for children.
4) This story mainly tells
(a) when Virginia Hamilton started writing
(b) how Hamilton's family told stories
(c) how family stories led to a writing career
(d) what kind of tales Hamilton's family told
Garlic is one of the ingredients that makes pasta sauce taste so good. Now doctors think garlic has healing powers, too. Early tests show that it can kill harmful germs. Garlic also has been found to have a good effect on the blood. Doctors think it can help protect people against heart disease.
1) This story mainly tells
(a) how garlic can help keep people healthy
(b) what goes into pasta sauce
(c) how garlic kills harmful bacteria
(d) how garlic affects the blood
Some college teachers in Michigan have made a small computer that looks like an orange. It will be picked and handled like real fruit. Since much fruit is damaged on its way to market, this machine will measure shaking and temperature changes. The computerized orange will help people find ways to avoid damaging fruits during shipping.
2) This story mainly tells
(a) where the computerized orange came from
(b) how the computer company helped make the machine
(c) what the computerized orange looks like
(d) about the purpose of the computerized orange
Many people in India don't eat beef, but they still find many uses for cattle. Cows provide milk for drinking and for other dairy products. Young cattle are used for plowing fields and carrying big loads.
3) This story mainly tells
(a) how cows are used in India
(b) where some people do not eat beef
(c) which cows plow fields
(d) what milk is used for
Virginia Hamilton started writing at a young age. People in her family were great storytellers. She loved to listen to their tales about her African American heritage. When she grew up, Hamilton brought the tales to life in stories. Now she is a famous writer of books for children.
4) This story mainly tells
(a) when Virginia Hamilton started writing
(b) how Hamilton's family told stories
(c) how family stories led to a writing career
(d) what kind of tales Hamilton's family told
Monday, December 13, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Week 18 - Spanish Assignments (Midterm Projects)
The Spanish class this semester has been an absolute joy on my end. Almost all of the students have done such an outstanding job with their work, and I cannot wait to see what Part 2 of the subject entails. However, the semester is not quite over with yet.
Monday - Friday
Students will divide into groups and choose one of the following projects to complete in class. This project must be completed and presented by Friday. The chose of projects are as follows:
1. MUSICAL LYRICS (1-2 people)
Find a song sung in Spanish that you can burn to a CD, ipod, or portable storage device so that you can play it for the class. Make a poster that depicts the lyrics in Spanish AND English
2. PHOTOBOOK (1-2 people)
Take pictures that tell a story. Your subject can be anything, but approve it with me first. Write captions that narrate your story IN SPANISH. Include an ENGLISH translation. You will put them into a photo book or paste them into a scrapbook. Be prepared to present them to the class! An alternative would be to make a powerpoint presentation that completes the same assignment. Either way, you will need to include at least 20 pictures with at least one complete sentence for each caption.
3. SPANISH GAME/ACTIVITY (1-2 people)
Design a class game, board game, or class activity that helps reinforce a concept or multiple concepts we have learned in class. You will need to write out a rule booklet that explains how to play the game/ do the activity IN SPANISH with an ENGLISH translation. If the game requires questions you must write them out on cards with questions. Include enough cards to occupy a class period if we were to take a day to play your game. If you create a board game, you must include all the pieces that are required to play the game, and all the pieces must be original and specific for the game.
4. SKIT/ SHORT PLAY (3-4 people)
Perform a short skit or play, lasting at least 5-7 minutes, for the class. You must type out your lines in Spanish and English and English Translation to turn in to me, but perform the play in Spanish. You may have a person narrating in English if you would like, but ALL the actors lines must be in Spanish. You may write your own play or TRANSLATE an existing one.
On Wednesday, there will be an interlude in this project work, where students will complete the Spanish I mid-term, to see how they stack up with what they are teaching in high school.
Monday - Friday
Students will divide into groups and choose one of the following projects to complete in class. This project must be completed and presented by Friday. The chose of projects are as follows:
1. MUSICAL LYRICS (1-2 people)
Find a song sung in Spanish that you can burn to a CD, ipod, or portable storage device so that you can play it for the class. Make a poster that depicts the lyrics in Spanish AND English
2. PHOTOBOOK (1-2 people)
Take pictures that tell a story. Your subject can be anything, but approve it with me first. Write captions that narrate your story IN SPANISH. Include an ENGLISH translation. You will put them into a photo book or paste them into a scrapbook. Be prepared to present them to the class! An alternative would be to make a powerpoint presentation that completes the same assignment. Either way, you will need to include at least 20 pictures with at least one complete sentence for each caption.
3. SPANISH GAME/ACTIVITY (1-2 people)
Design a class game, board game, or class activity that helps reinforce a concept or multiple concepts we have learned in class. You will need to write out a rule booklet that explains how to play the game/ do the activity IN SPANISH with an ENGLISH translation. If the game requires questions you must write them out on cards with questions. Include enough cards to occupy a class period if we were to take a day to play your game. If you create a board game, you must include all the pieces that are required to play the game, and all the pieces must be original and specific for the game.
4. SKIT/ SHORT PLAY (3-4 people)
Perform a short skit or play, lasting at least 5-7 minutes, for the class. You must type out your lines in Spanish and English and English Translation to turn in to me, but perform the play in Spanish. You may have a person narrating in English if you would like, but ALL the actors lines must be in Spanish. You may write your own play or TRANSLATE an existing one.
On Wednesday, there will be an interlude in this project work, where students will complete the Spanish I mid-term, to see how they stack up with what they are teaching in high school.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Spelling Bee Winners
Congratulations to Samara G. and Laura G. for winning the classroom spelling bees today. Good luck as you compete with the rest of the school to become the Spelling Bee Champion!
Band Concert
Just giving a shout out to the 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade band students today. They played an excellent Winter Concert this morning. Can't wait to hear the chorus concert next week.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Christmas Poetry
Santa is Coming!
by Jordan C.
Santa is coming!
I have to do something!
I'll leave milk and cookies out,
So he can eat them on his way out.
Oh Santa, oh Santa!
I'm drinking Orange Fanta.
My family is having a blast.
I wish Christmas will forever last!
Monday, December 6, 2010
Language Arts Weekly Challenge 13 - Sentence Types
The following Language Arts challenge is all about the Sentence types. Simply tell me whether the following sentences are a simple sentence, a compound sentence, or a complex sentence.
Simple Sentence - A sentence with only one independent clause.
Compound Sentence - A sentence with two or more independent clauses.
Complex Sentence - A sentence with one independent clause and one dependent clause.
This challenge is due by Sunday.
1. Pauline and Bruno have a big argument every summer over where they should spend their summer vacation.
2. Pauline loves to go to the beach and spend her days sunbathing.
3. Bruno dislikes sitting on the beach; he always gets a nasty sunburn.
4. Bruno tends to get bored sitting on the beach, watching the waves, getting sand in his swimsuit, and reading detective novels for a week.
5. Although they are 250 miles apart, they keep in constant contact on the internet.
Simple Sentence - A sentence with only one independent clause.
Compound Sentence - A sentence with two or more independent clauses.
Complex Sentence - A sentence with one independent clause and one dependent clause.
This challenge is due by Sunday.
1. Pauline and Bruno have a big argument every summer over where they should spend their summer vacation.
2. Pauline loves to go to the beach and spend her days sunbathing.
3. Bruno dislikes sitting on the beach; he always gets a nasty sunburn.
4. Bruno tends to get bored sitting on the beach, watching the waves, getting sand in his swimsuit, and reading detective novels for a week.
5. Although they are 250 miles apart, they keep in constant contact on the internet.
Language Arts Assignments for the Week
We are just two weeks away from our Winter vacation, but despite our closeness to the holidays, there is still plenty of things in class to be done.
On Tuesday, we will be taking the Language Arts Benchmark for the system. This will be used to see how the students are progressing in class. While it will not be used for a grade, it is important that student do their absolute best on it, to help guide instruction for them in the coming semester.
On Wednesday, all of my students will be taking new Scholastic Reading Inventories! Very similar to the benchmarks, this test will be used strictly for the Read 180 program in order to check students' progress as we work through the year.
On Thursday, each class will be competing for the Classroom Spelling Bee Championship. There will be one winner in each of my classes, and those winners will go on to complete in the school wide Spelling Bee. The study words for the Spelling Bee will be in the picture below.
On Friday, we have the usual assignments due. The Reading Log, with 75+ pages, is due. The final Book Reviews are due on Friday also, although you may turn these in early if you would like. The Language Arts Challenge will be allowed to respond to through Sunday, so make sure you get it in. Finally, as always, get your agendas signed every night.
Here are the Spelling Bee words for you to study.
On Tuesday, we will be taking the Language Arts Benchmark for the system. This will be used to see how the students are progressing in class. While it will not be used for a grade, it is important that student do their absolute best on it, to help guide instruction for them in the coming semester.
On Wednesday, all of my students will be taking new Scholastic Reading Inventories! Very similar to the benchmarks, this test will be used strictly for the Read 180 program in order to check students' progress as we work through the year.
On Thursday, each class will be competing for the Classroom Spelling Bee Championship. There will be one winner in each of my classes, and those winners will go on to complete in the school wide Spelling Bee. The study words for the Spelling Bee will be in the picture below.
On Friday, we have the usual assignments due. The Reading Log, with 75+ pages, is due. The final Book Reviews are due on Friday also, although you may turn these in early if you would like. The Language Arts Challenge will be allowed to respond to through Sunday, so make sure you get it in. Finally, as always, get your agendas signed every night.
Here are the Spelling Bee words for you to study.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Week 17 - Spanish Assignments
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Final Exams open at 12:01 a.m.
Thursday
Final Exams are due by 11:59 p.m.
Friday
Final Exam makeup day
Día de Repaso
Remember your ELLUMINATE CHAT this week according to your teacher's schedule
Tuesday
Día de Repaso
Wednesday
Final Exams open at 12:01 a.m.
Elluminate 16 Assignment due
Thursday
Final Exams are due by 11:59 p.m.
Friday
Final Exam makeup day
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Writing Prompt - This Friday
We will be conducting a school-wide writing prompt with the 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. Please try to make sure your student is here and on time. The testing window is from 8:30-11:00AM. Please remind your student(s) to do the following:
--Get a good night's rest
--Eat a good breakfast
--Bring pencils AND pens to school
--To try his/her best on the prompt
Thank you for your support.javascript:void(0)
--Get a good night's rest
--Eat a good breakfast
--Bring pencils AND pens to school
--To try his/her best on the prompt
Thank you for your support.javascript:void(0)
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