October 27, 2008

Navigation 101 Today students starting preparing for their student led fall conference, which takes place on November 7. Mark your calendars, each student worked really hard today to give you a presentation!



Believe it or not, grades for the first quarter will be posted by the weekend. The year is passing quickly!



6/7 Language Arts: We have been studying, "The Road Not Taken," by Robert Frost. Students have the opportunity to earn extra credit by memorizing all or part of the poem. Also, students will need a parent signature on their planner this evening and students need to complete the homework that they have written in their planner. Thanks for helping your child develop the organizational skill of using a daily planner.



8th grade Language Arts: Last year's class read the novel, "Tangarine." We have two new students who have volunteered to read the novel and talk about what they are reading so we can see the strategies readers take when reading. We will hear them predict and ask questions that are crucial to the reading. It is a fun activity that often only a teacher experiences in a novel study.

Tuesday we will continue to study historical heros by comparing and contrasting poetry.

October 22, 2008

6/7 L.A. Today we finalized turning in our assessment. Students also talked about making choices and realizing the consequences of making choices. Students also wrote about two big choices or decisions they have made, why and how it will impact their lives. I think you will love hearing what your child wrote.



8th L.A. Students did research on the computer to prepare for analyzing two poems. They also found a poem about autumn they will analyze and present to the class.



Neither class had home work.

October 17, 2008

6/7 L.A. Students continued to work on their assessment. Today they completed their rough draft and had a peer edit it. If they were absent one day or have not completed their paper they will have time to complete it on Monday. Students will type their paper on Tuesday.

8th L.A. Students studied poetry and practiced the skill of answering questions based on text support. No homework, unless it is novel reading.

October 16, 2008

6/7 L.A. Today started their assessment that will take several days. It is important that students keep on track and follow the steps. This is an assessment and will be completed in class. Today students did two pre-write activities and wrote an outline. Friday they will write a rough draft and have a peer edit it. Monday or Tuesday they will type their final draft in the computer lab.



8th L.A. Everyone completed their presentations today. Each group taught us something different about commas. No Homework.

10-15-08

8th L.A. Today students presented their lessons on how to use commas. More students will present tomorrow. No homework, unless they are still working on their presentation.



6/7 L.A. Today we reviewed the writing assessment the students will start tomorrow. The final copy will be typed. I anticipate this assessment taking several days in the classroom and the lab.

There is no homework, but you may want to brainstorm with your child choices they have made and any consequences to themself or others that may have resulted from that choice. This may help your child plan the paper they will be writing.

October 14, 2008

I hope everyone had a great 3 day weekend!

8th L.A. Students are completing their group presentation on comma use. They will present Wednesday and Thursday.

6/7 L.A. Today they wrote about their pet peeve. This writing brought together some of the lessons we have been working on the past week. They will be using root words and homophones from previous lessons. The writing is due on Wednesday.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

6/7 Language Arts
Due tomorrow:
Assignment written in planner
Parent signature on planner
P. 22 Completed Table
Sentences written on a seperate piece of paper

8th Language Arts
We studies Poetry today and how to cope with difficulties.
We also looked at the process of grieving.
No Homework!

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Reminder: No school on October 13.
6/7 Language Arts finished a huge project today. They completed typing and printing out their final draft of the paper on a childhood memory. The assignment included many parts that all needed to be turned in today.
Tomorrow we will study root words and word choice, page 22 of their student book.

8th Language Arts had a debate today on who was the real hero in October Sky. The 6th grade class had the chance to observe and vote. According to the 6th grade class, the group presenting Ms. Riley won!

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Both classes spent their time in the computer lab writing papers. They will continue working on their papers tomorrow. It is important that if they spend time working on their papers at home, they email them to the school. I do the editing and commenting electronically.

October 1, 2008

6/7 L.A. Today students had class time to create their outlines for the paper they are writing. Tomorrow we will go to the computer lab where they will write their papers.
H.W. Complete outline and rough draft & be ready to type your paper on Thursday.



8th L.A. Today students wrote the outline of their Hero Paper. Tomorrow they will type the paper and make revisions in the computer lab.
H.W. Be ready to type your Hero paper