6/7 L.A. We are really focusing on being organized. Students are earning 2 points for writing assignments in their planner and getting a parent to look at the assignment and initial it. I hope this will improve homework return, if parents are aware of the homework assignment.
Students are currently writing in their planner everyday, so the couple points they could earn each day could make a huge difference in their grade.
Today we worked on ideas for creating an introduction paragraph and then outlined the paragraph. This is due Tuesday.
8th L.A. Today the 8th graders took home the blog note to parents, it is worth 5 points for a parent to sign it saying they received the note. Students also had the opportunity to log onto the blog and follow the link to Mr. Baribaults blog. The link is on this page.
We also discussed the film, "October Sky" and the three possible heros. Students chose their character, they will write an essay and then participate in a debate. We talked about how the paper and debate should be graded.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Welcome
I have been practicing blogging for one week and finally inviting parents to visit my blog. To read the true welcome and introduction please scroll down and read last Monday's post. I passed out notices to all students inviting the parents to visit my blog. I am asking for a signature, not obligating you to visit the blog, but only sign that you know about it. I have parents who are great about communicating by email; feel free to c0ntact me by email anytime!
- 6/7 We are working on an autobiographical memory
- Homework:
- brief outline on an index card, we will work on this more Tuesday
- Signature idicating you received the handout on this blog
- Signature on the planner. This is to teach students organizational skills and parents will be aware of any homework.
8th Language Arts:
Students are studying how novels are similar to movies. Tomorrow they will be analyzing three characaters in the movie, "October Sky," for heroic traits.
Today they worked in Literature circles. Students are working in groups of their choice or doing individual reading of a novel. You might want to ask them what they are reading.
Monday, September 22, 2008
It's Monday
REMINDER: Picture day tomorrow.
On Monday the schedule is a little different than T - F. First we have Navigatin 101 which is grade level groups who meet with a teacher and develop a portfolio of student learning. I meet with the 6th graders and will follow them the next 3 years. Today we talked about what a portfolio is, what is in it and how we will use it. You will see your child's portfolio when you attend student led conferences! http://www.k12.wa.us/navigation101/default.aspx Next week each student is bringing a photo of themself to photo copy and create a class poster.
8th grade Language Arts: We are studying how to analyze song lyrics. Today your child used the Internet to download song lyrics of their favorite songs. http://www.songlyrics.com/ They should have at least 2 songs printed off for tomorrows class. Some of the strategies we are using are: Soapstone, marking text, close reading and using a visual/auditory prompt. We are focusing on Word Choice and connotations to become better writers and readers.
6/7 grade Language Arts: We are also studying Word Choice and writing with details. We learned about words that we do not want to use, we call those dead words. We want to replace those words with lively words. Today we focused on replacing the word nice. We also worked on using our senses to write and describe details. We are continuting to work on using words with connotation. If a student did not finish the in class work, they will have homework: Enter the word nice into their language arts notebook, including the table of contents and index. Finish the response questions on page 1 and the top of page 2.
On Monday the schedule is a little different than T - F. First we have Navigatin 101 which is grade level groups who meet with a teacher and develop a portfolio of student learning. I meet with the 6th graders and will follow them the next 3 years. Today we talked about what a portfolio is, what is in it and how we will use it. You will see your child's portfolio when you attend student led conferences! http://www.k12.wa.us/navigation101/default.aspx Next week each student is bringing a photo of themself to photo copy and create a class poster.
8th grade Language Arts: We are studying how to analyze song lyrics. Today your child used the Internet to download song lyrics of their favorite songs. http://www.songlyrics.com/ They should have at least 2 songs printed off for tomorrows class. Some of the strategies we are using are: Soapstone, marking text, close reading and using a visual/auditory prompt. We are focusing on Word Choice and connotations to become better writers and readers.
6/7 grade Language Arts: We are also studying Word Choice and writing with details. We learned about words that we do not want to use, we call those dead words. We want to replace those words with lively words. Today we focused on replacing the word nice. We also worked on using our senses to write and describe details. We are continuting to work on using words with connotation. If a student did not finish the in class work, they will have homework: Enter the word nice into their language arts notebook, including the table of contents and index. Finish the response questions on page 1 and the top of page 2.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Fall is here and school has started
School has started and I am trying to find ways to better communicate with parents, so I decided to learn to blog! This blog is for parents of 6/7/8th graders at Northport Middle School in Language Arts. As often as possible, I will post updates for the class. These updates will include a brief summary of what we did in class that day and any assignments we worked on. This will not be a detailed account of all assignments, for that you will need to check your child's planner. 
You may also post comments, but for personal contact and responses please email or call me at the school. I hope this blog will answer the question, "what did you do in school today?" You will no longer have to be satisfied with the response, "nothing." Instead you will be able to have a discusison about the class. Please give me suggestions and let me know what information would be helpful to you. Soon you will see links to places of interest, such as homework help.
6/7th graders: The theme this year for Language Arts is Choices. We are learning a method for analyzing poetry.
8th grade: The theme for the year is Challenges. You may want to ask your child what quote they picked to respresent themself.
You may also post comments, but for personal contact and responses please email or call me at the school. I hope this blog will answer the question, "what did you do in school today?" You will no longer have to be satisfied with the response, "nothing." Instead you will be able to have a discusison about the class. Please give me suggestions and let me know what information would be helpful to you. Soon you will see links to places of interest, such as homework help.6/7th graders: The theme this year for Language Arts is Choices. We are learning a method for analyzing poetry.
8th grade: The theme for the year is Challenges. You may want to ask your child what quote they picked to respresent themself.
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