Thursday, March 31, 2016

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Friday, April 1, 2016


Announcements and Reminders:
                                                                 


Have a wonderful spring break next week! 

If you have not signed up for your book of the month -- do it today! 

You will have tests on commas and word parts on April 14 or 15.



Targets for Today:
I can analyze the interactions between individuals, events, and ideas in a text (e.g., how ideas influence individuals or events, or how individuals influence ideas or events). -- Reading: Informational Text Standard 3 

I can use commas correctly as I write sentences. 

I can learn from reading historical/multicultural fiction.


I can analyze how particular elements of a story or drama interact (e.g., how setting shapes the characters or plot). -- Reading: Literature Standard 3



Today’s  Agenda:

Poetry -- Today's Poems

This poem shared by Mrs. Mace --

After Zeno
"For my Father"

When he was
I was.
But I still am
and he is still.

Where is is
when is is was?
I have an is
but where is his?

Now here--
no where:
such a little
fatal pause.

There's no sense
in past tense.

-- by Kay Ryan

This poem shared by Ms. Dorsey --

April - Poem by Sara Teasdale


The roofs are shining from the rain. 
The sparrows tritter as they fly, 
And with a windy April grace 
The little clouds go by.

Yet the back-yards are bare and brown 
With only one unchanging tree-- 
I could not be so sure of Spring 
Save that it sings in me. 


  • What is the theme (the big idea that the poet is trying to express)?
  • Is there rhyme?
  • Is there a rhythm? 

__________________________________________________

1. Individual Reading Time:  Read your nonfiction book, and work on your book of the month assignment.

2.  Commas!

  1. Pick up the first worksheet.
  2. Add commas where needed.
  3. Correct your work.
  4. Ask for the second worksheet.
  5. Add commas where needed.
  6. Correct your work.
  7. And so on. . . .
You will have tests on commas and word parts on April 14 or 15.

3.  Practice your word parts!  (Use your chart or magical study guide.  Quiz a classmate.)

4.  A Long Walk to Water  -- read from the novel and discuss (especially how setting and circumstances influence the characters and how characters influence each other). 



A barn in Sudan might look like this. 

Building a Barn 


Dinka Home

Homes in Sudan

gourd, hollowed out for use


Women in Sudan, carrying water




If You Were Absent:
See above.





Testing
A1 -- Megan H.
     

Thursday, March 31, 2016


Announcements and Reminders:
                                                                 
Have a wonderful spring break next week!

If you have not signed up for your book of the month -- do it today! 

You will have tests on commas and word parts on April 14 or 15.

Today cavetime will be held in Lab 224. Those of you who have been specially invited know who you are.



Targets for Today:
I can analyze the interactions between individuals, events, and ideas in a text (e.g., how ideas influence individuals or events, or how individuals influence ideas or events). -- Reading: Informational Text Standard 3

I can use commas correctly as I write sentences. 

I can learn from reading historical/multicultural fiction.


I can analyze how particular elements of a story or drama interact (e.g., how setting shapes the characters or plot). -- Reading: Literature Standard 3



Today’s  Agenda:

1. Individual Reading Time:  Read your nonfiction book, and work on your book of the month assignment.

2.  Commas!

  1. Pick up the first worksheet.
  2. Add commas where needed.
  3. Correct your work.
  4. Ask for the second worksheet.
  5. Add commas where needed.
  6. Correct your work.
  7. And so on. . . .
You will have tests on commas and word parts on April 14 or 15.

3.  Practice your word parts!  (Use your chart or magical study guide.  Quiz a classmate.)

4.  A Long Walk to Water  -- read from the novel and discuss (especially how setting and circumstances influence the characters and how characters influence each other). 



A barn in Sudan might look like this. 

Building a Barn 


Dinka Home

Homes in Sudan

gourd, hollowed out for use


Women in Sudan, carrying water





If You Were Absent:

See above 




Testing:
B5
Scott B -- absent 3-31
Cody B  -- Finished
Michael S.  

B6
Daniel A 
Chloe P  -- Finished 
Fisher C 


B7
Miriam Z 
Ellie G

WednesdayMarch 30, 2016

Funny    

Thursday Cavetime will be for students who need to make up term 3 essays. Meet at lab 224.  


Third/last day of SAGE Testing for A-Day classes -- 
If you missed a day, you will have more time made available to finish your test. 

Bring your pencil.
Bring your nonfiction book and your book of the month assignment -- just in case you finish. 


Important announcement:  You now have up to 90 minutes for EACH of the two essays. 




Yeah, it's funny, but DON'T be a Calvin on the test!




Sage Testing:  ELA Writing Test
March 23 through March 30. 
B-Day Classes test: March 23, March 25, and March 29.
A-Day Classes test: March 24, March 28, March 30. 


In the classroom:
 Book of the Month Assignment:

Click on the link then click on the Download tab to access it. 




When you are done with SAGE Testing:

  • Read your nonfiction book and work on your book assignment.
  • Prepare to be a class expert for Long Walk to Water.
  • Practice your word parts (on your magical study guide). 

Will March go out like a lion or like a lamb?

Monday, March 28, 2016

Punctuation


My attitude toward punctuation is that it ought to be as conventional as possible. The game of golf would lose a good deal if croquet mallets and billiard cues were allowed on the putting green. You ought to be able to show that you can do it a good deal better than anyone else with the regular tools before you have a license to bring in your own improvements.
  • Letter (15 May 1925); published in Ernest Hemingway: Selected Letters 1917–1961(1981) edited by Carlos Baker

Friday, March 25, 2016

Monday/Tuesday, March 28/29


Cavetime today (Tuesday):  
REQUEST DAY ONLY


Funny      


Second day of SAGE Testing for A1
Third/last day of SAGE Testing for B-Day classes -- 
If you missed a day, you will have more time made available to finish your test. 

Bring your pencil.
Being your nonfiction book and your book of the month assignment -- just in case your finish. 


Important announcement:  You now have up to 90 minutes for EACH of the two essays. 




Yeah, it's funny, but DON'T be a Calvin on the test!




Sage Testing:  ELA Writing Test
March 23 through March 30. 
B-Day Classes test: March 23, March 25, and March 29.
A-Day Classes test: March 24, March 28, March 30. 


In the classroom:
B-Day Classes,  receive the Book of the Month Assignment:

Click on the link then click on the Download tab to access it. 

B6 still needs to  receive your hall passes for 4th Term.


When you are done with SAGE Testing:

  • Read your nonfiction book and work on your book assignment.
  • Complete comma rules practices and check them off. 
  • Prepare to be a class expert for Long Walk to Water.
  • Practice your word parts (on your magical study guide). 

Will March go out like a lion or like a lamb?



Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Thesis Statement



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCzuAMVmIZ8


Topic:  My parents buying me a pair of new shoes
Question: Should my parents buy me a pair of new shoes __________________?

Reasons:
 I'm running out of summer shoes
newer shoes are more comfortable
my shoes are too small
my shoes are worn out
new shoes are healthier for my feet
I'm running track

Thesis Statement: My parents should buy me a pair of new shoes because my old shoes are worn out,  they're too small, and I'm running track.



Topic:  AF Junior dress code about  hats
Question: Should American Fork Junior High get rid of the part of the dress code about hats?

Reasons:  sometimes your hair is embarrassing
you should have the freedom to wear what  you want
to protect you from heat or cold



Thesis Statement:  American Fork Junior High should let students wear hats because you should have the freedom to wear what you want, sometimes your hair is embarrassing, and hats protect you from heat or cold.







Topic:  American Fork Junior High
Question: Why is American Fork Junior High a good place to go to school?

American Fork Junior High is a good place to go to school.

Reasons:
we are proud of being cavemen



Thesis Statement:






sample essay to write together

     topic: choosing which sort of dog to get as a family pet

What I want to say about it:  There are several important things to consider when matching a type of dog with an individual or family.

1.  How adorable they are
2. How intelligent they are
3. How big they are going to grow
4 what their personality is like
5. how much attention they need
6. how much it cost to keep
7. do you need a dog that can put up with little children

There are several important things to consider when matching a type of dog with an individual or family including how much time can you spend caring for the dog, how big a dog do you have room for,  do you have little children or other special circumstances in your family, and how much cost can you afford.


support each point
What details could you add?
     







Thursday/Friday, March 24/25, 2016




Caveman Spirit Day!   



Have a Happy Easter!


Sage Testing:  ELA Writing Test
March 23 through March 30. 
B-Day Classes test: March 23, March 25, and March 29.
A-Day Classes test: March 24, March 28, March 30. 

Important announcement:  You now have up to 90 minutes for EACH of the two essays. 

Jokes



In the classroom:
 Book of the Month Assignment:

Has your class received your hall passes for 4th Term?




In Lab 205:

Open the Utah Secure Browser.

To login, you will use your FIRST name and your SSID number (found on your ticket).

Also use the test session ID which I will give you.

Then click the SIGN IN button.

You will look for the WRITING TEST to select.

Stop and listen for the directions I will give you.



Reminders about the SAGE Testing Platform 
(examples from a training test)

Your passages are on the left and your prompt is on the right. 

  • Read the prompt carefully! 
  • Also read the passages, but don't take a lot of time doing that before you begin writing. 




You can expand the passages for easier reading:   
 Notice the arrows to expand and collapse.


If you are typing along,  and you lose what you have written, 
first try the "undo" button."  

If that doesn't work. . . . 

If the "undo" button doesn't work. . . . 
click on the three lines at the top right, and try 
"Select Previous Version."


You have a notepad available.  Open it using the icon to the right.  
SAVE if you want to save what you have written on it. 


You can also highlight text in a passage.  Select the part you want to highlight, then click on the three lines at the upper right, and select "Highlight."  If you click on it when it says "Reset Highlight," it will delete your highlighting. 


Notice that you have a dictionary/thesaurus.  
Open it using the icon found at the right. 



  • As far as we know you cannot use copy and paste from the passages to your essay.
  • Last year the indent for paragraphs did not work. You can space in at the beginning of a paragraph and/or leave an extra line between paragraphs. 
  • If you have not finished both essays, click "Pause." Then click "Log Out."