January 14, 2008
Today students received their Portfolio Book Approvals. They were instructed to write the due dates in their planners. See the information below. See also another recent post listing suggested books. The post with lots of books listed was posted on December 19th.
Each student should choose a book on a subject he or she is interested in learning more about.
Students viewed a PowerPoint about the History of the English Language. Did you know that only about 1/5th of our words come from Anglo-Saxon (the more or less original English language), and over half of them come from the Romance Languages. That's one reason why it's a good idea to study Latin, or at least to study Latin prefixes, suffixes, and word roots.
This term we'll work on learning the Seventh Grade State Core Prefixes and Suffixes.
Today students received a chart showing those word parts, their meanings, and examples. The chart should be filed in the student binder under "Word Work."
Students started making a "Magical Study Guide" for learning the prefixes and suffixes.
Portfolio Book Approval
Dear Parents,
During each of the remaining terms of this school year, your student will be doing an assignment called the book portfolio. For Term 3, your student needs to choose one of the following types of books: literary nonfiction (including biography or autobiography), historical fiction, or multicultural fiction. It should have at least 100 pages, be a book that he/she has NOT read before, that is at his/her own reading level, and that is not on our department list of books not allowed for the portfolio. (See the back of the Reading Bingo card or the English department website.)
Once the book is chosen, please sign this paper to indicate your approval. Your student must have his/her novel in class with the signed portion of this paper by January 25, in order to receive full points plus extra credit points. Sooner is better. This form will not be accepted for points after February 15.
Encourage your student to read his/her book whenever and wherever possible.
This term's portfolio assignment will be passed out by January 18. (Sooner, if possible.) I recommend that your student be well into his or her book at least a week before the first project due date: February 15. That way he/she will have time to get the project done. The second part of the project will be due by March 6. After March 14th, no late or revised work on the portfolio will be accepted for points. This will be an interesting assignment that requires understanding of the book and additional research. Quality work handed in early is welcome!
Thanks for your help!
Genres for the Third Term Portfolio Book:
Appropriate nonfiction books include biography, autobiography, and literary nonfiction. Literary nonfiction tells about real subjects in a story format. Examples: Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World, and Invisible Enemies (about terrible diseases).
Multicultural Fiction is based on situations that you won’t experience because of where you live or because of your cultural background. Example: Habibi (about an American girl whose Palestinian father takes his family to live in the West Bank -- Israel).
Historical Fiction: The setting is based in real places and events from the past. The characters may be based on people who really existed. The author could also make up characters who go through the experiences or interact with famous people of that time and place. Examples: Midwife’s Apprentice, Numbering the Stars, Soldier X, Jimmy Spoon and the Pony Express.
