January 18, 2008
We finished the Pronoun/Noun circle book. You need a definition and two examples for each type of pronoun and each type of noun. (See pages 296-306 in our writing and grammar text.)
We watched a video about nouns or pronouns.
Students took a quiz on types of pronouns and nouns, using the circle book and the textbook.
*** Students received the term portfolio assignment.***
Students had a chance to look for portfolio books in the media center.
Students went to the media center to look for a portfolio book.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
January 16, 2008
January 16, 2008
We completed a word sort sheet, and filed it in our binders under "Word Work."*
We finished the "Magical Study Guides" for prefixes and suffixes.
We did a brief pronoun quiz.**
We watched the Grammar Rock segment about pronouns "'cause sayin' those nouns over and over can really wear you down."
Students created a "circle book" to use in studying nouns and pronouns.
The created the "book." Then they copied definitions and example words for common nouns, collective nouns, compound nouns, proper nouns, personal pronouns, indefinite pronouns, interrogative pronouns, and demonstrative pronouns.
*Word Sort Challenge
➢ Sort the words below into four categories.
➢ All the words in each category must have something in common that they don’t have in common with the words in the other categories.
➢ The categories do not need to have equal numbers of words in each.
➢ Be able to explain how you sorted the words. There is more than one right way to do it!
animation
entertainment
builder
collector
banker
digestion
actor
detachment
creator
celebration
advertisement
advisor
education
amazement
boxer
contentment
director
** Above each word, write a pronoun you could use to replace it.
1. Sally sold seventy flashlights to Sally’s sisters, so Sally won twenty minutes of giant Play-Station at lunchtime.
2. Irene said about Irene, “The I-Pod is Irene’s. Irene won it in a drawing.”
3. Don dreamed Don was a doughnut at a doughnut party. In the dream, when Ms. Dorsey tried to eat Don, Don screamed, “Don’t eat Don!”
4. Now, write a definition for pronouns:
[I found the cartoon at http://anthropologynet.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/bizarro-pronoun.jpg]
Monday, January 14, 2008
More Suggested Books for the Portfolio
More Suggested Books for the Portfolio
First a Reminder: Don’t use The Diary of Anne Frank (an eighth grade class book), Getting Away with Murder or Mississippi Trial, 1955, books by Dave Peltzer, books already on your “Do Not Read” list, or books being read in the Reading Literature classes. Make sure the book is approved by a parent and by the teacher. Also, don’t use Words By Heart by Ouida Sebestyen since we will be reading it in class.
Here are some new books I haven't read, but they are recommended by Peggy Sharp, a "book guru" among teachers and librarians:
Mystery Of The Lost Colony (Roanoke) (Hardcover)
by Lee Miller (Author) 112 pages
Chase (Hardcover) by Jessie Haws is set in post-Civil War Pennsylvania. Readers learn about that time period, coal miners, labor disputes, and terrorism. 256 pages
Come Juneteenth (Great Episodes) (Hardcover) by Ann Rinaldi is about slavery and the Emancipation Proclamation. Did you know that Texas slave owners kept the Emancipation secret for two and a half years, until they were forced to reveal it on June 19, 1865?
Elijah Of Buxton (Hardcover) by Christopher Paul Curtis
This is from the author of The Watsons Go to Birmingham -- 1963! and Bud, Not Buddy. I've heard Elijah of Buxton is even better than his other books.
I'll suggest more later.
First a Reminder: Don’t use The Diary of Anne Frank (an eighth grade class book), Getting Away with Murder or Mississippi Trial, 1955, books by Dave Peltzer, books already on your “Do Not Read” list, or books being read in the Reading Literature classes. Make sure the book is approved by a parent and by the teacher. Also, don’t use Words By Heart by Ouida Sebestyen since we will be reading it in class.
Here are some new books I haven't read, but they are recommended by Peggy Sharp, a "book guru" among teachers and librarians:
Mystery Of The Lost Colony (Roanoke) (Hardcover)
by Lee Miller (Author) 112 pages
Chase (Hardcover) by Jessie Haws is set in post-Civil War Pennsylvania. Readers learn about that time period, coal miners, labor disputes, and terrorism. 256 pages
Come Juneteenth (Great Episodes) (Hardcover) by Ann Rinaldi is about slavery and the Emancipation Proclamation. Did you know that Texas slave owners kept the Emancipation secret for two and a half years, until they were forced to reveal it on June 19, 1865?
Elijah Of Buxton (Hardcover) by Christopher Paul Curtis
This is from the author of The Watsons Go to Birmingham -- 1963! and Bud, Not Buddy. I've heard Elijah of Buxton is even better than his other books.
I'll suggest more later.
January 14, 2008
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.
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.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
January 10, 2008
January 10, 2008
Today students continued to review Parts of Speech with activities and packets. The packets should be handed in, filled out and corrected before the end of the term -- by 3:30 tomorrow.
Students also saw their tests on confusing words. For any they still don't know, the students are responsible to learn them so they can recognize them on tests and spell them correctly in their writing. Students, carefully proofread your written work for these errors.
We will work more with the verbs lie and lay.
Grades were posted with everything in except the parts of speech packets.
All students received semester two class schedules today. The schedules were passed out in the their A4 classes.
Today students continued to review Parts of Speech with activities and packets. The packets should be handed in, filled out and corrected before the end of the term -- by 3:30 tomorrow.
Students also saw their tests on confusing words. For any they still don't know, the students are responsible to learn them so they can recognize them on tests and spell them correctly in their writing. Students, carefully proofread your written work for these errors.
We will work more with the verbs lie and lay.
Grades were posted with everything in except the parts of speech packets.
All students received semester two class schedules today. The schedules were passed out in the their A4 classes.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
January 8, 2008
January 8, 2008
Today we took the test on Seventh Grade Confusing Words. If you were absent, arrange with Ms. Dorsey to take the test.
We spent more time reviewing sentence parts and parts of speech.
subject, predicate, simple and complete subject and predicate, simple and compound subject and predicate, nouns, verbs, pronouns, adjectives, and adverbs. Look for the packets in your class absent envelope if you weren't here.
Ms. Dorsey gave a "Heads-Up" introduction to the types of books you will be reading for the Term 3 Novel Portfolio. Acceptable books include these genres:
Nonfiction/factual
biography
autobiography
literary nonfiction
and
Fiction/Made-Up
Historical fiction (novels)
and
Multicultural fiction (novels)
Today we took the test on Seventh Grade Confusing Words. If you were absent, arrange with Ms. Dorsey to take the test.
We spent more time reviewing sentence parts and parts of speech.
subject, predicate, simple and complete subject and predicate, simple and compound subject and predicate, nouns, verbs, pronouns, adjectives, and adverbs. Look for the packets in your class absent envelope if you weren't here.
Ms. Dorsey gave a "Heads-Up" introduction to the types of books you will be reading for the Term 3 Novel Portfolio. Acceptable books include these genres:
Nonfiction/factual
biography
autobiography
literary nonfiction
and
Fiction/Made-Up
Historical fiction (novels)
and
Multicultural fiction (novels)
Thursday, January 3, 2008
January 4, 2008
January 4, 2008
Today is the LAST day to hand in late work for this class --
including the novel portfolio (both parts) and the reading bingo.
It is also the last day to work on the MYAccess essay on The Giver. You may continue to work on it after school or this evening at home, but after today it will not be available.
Next time -- Tuesday, January 8 -- you will take the final test on the Confusing Words.
1. Review for Confusing Words -- We played Sparkle to review, with all students writing down the words.
2. Sentence Parts and Parts of Speech Review!
Students took a pretest on parts of speech. We watched "The Tale of Mr. Morton" (about subjects and predicates) from Grammar Rock. Students also completed or took for homework a packet on sentences, subjects, predicates, and verbs.
Students who needed to had a chance to finish up or revise the Giver essay in the computer lab.
If you were absent you need to do these things:
1. Ask Ms. Dorsey to let you take the Grammar Pre-Test.
2. Complete, check, and hand in the pink grammar packet.
3. Complete and hand in the exit slip.
Today is the LAST day to hand in late work for this class --
including the novel portfolio (both parts) and the reading bingo.
It is also the last day to work on the MYAccess essay on The Giver. You may continue to work on it after school or this evening at home, but after today it will not be available.
Next time -- Tuesday, January 8 -- you will take the final test on the Confusing Words.
1. Review for Confusing Words -- We played Sparkle to review, with all students writing down the words.
2. Sentence Parts and Parts of Speech Review!
Students took a pretest on parts of speech. We watched "The Tale of Mr. Morton" (about subjects and predicates) from Grammar Rock. Students also completed or took for homework a packet on sentences, subjects, predicates, and verbs.
Students who needed to had a chance to finish up or revise the Giver essay in the computer lab.
If you were absent you need to do these things:
1. Ask Ms. Dorsey to let you take the Grammar Pre-Test.
2. Complete, check, and hand in the pink grammar packet.
3. Complete and hand in the exit slip.
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