Thursday, December 1, 2011

Self-Starter:  Prepare for spelling test and, if time, read your book-of-the-month club book.

1. Spelling Test on "extra-" and the words that go with it.  
   
    Prefix to study:   extra- which means beyond or outside
   Words to learn for the spelling test:
   1.    extraterrestrial
   2.    extraordinary
   3.    extravagant
   4.    extrovert                                   
   You are responsible for learning the prefix and the spelling words.
   
   
   Extra Credit:  Learn the underlined parts:
   terra: earth, so extraterrestrial means beyond or outside earth
   ordinem: "order." extra ordinem = "out of order," especially the usual order, so extraordinary means beyond or outside the usual order
   extravagant: vagārī “to wander,” so extravagant means to wander beyond or outside
   vert: turn, so extrovert means to turn beyond or outside
   Just so you know, an extrovert is someone who is turned outside of themselves.
   An introvert is someone who is turned inward. 
   An extrovert is outgoing, and an introvert is shy. 
   

   _____________________________________________

   Our next spelling test:
   

   Vocabulary/Spelling #4              Test on December 9, 2011

   Suffix to study:   -ate which means cause, make, operate upon (This suffix makes verbs.)
   Words to learn for the spelling test:
   1.    separate
   2.    create (on state list)
   3.    segregate
   4.    dominate
   No retakes will be available, so study the words and word parts sets as they come. 

   Extra credit for spelling #4 -ate      Learn the underlined portions below:

   1. The se- in separate means "apart."     So separate means to cause to be apart.

   2. The crea- in create means "to make."  So create means cause or operate on to make.

   3.  The "greg" in segregate means "flock."   So segregate means cause to be apart from the flock.

   4.  The "domin" in dominate means "master or control."   So dominate means operate on as (or to) master or control.

   ___________________
2.  Finish PowerPoint about governments and taking notes.   Learn about types of Governments
   PowerPoint and worksheet   Types of Governments.ppt        FormsofGovernment.doc

 3.   Read chapters 7 and at least part of 8 from The Giver. 

4.   The Ceremony of Twelve. 

Reminders: 
Parent-Teacher Conference today
Book Fair today
Book-of-the-Month Assessment on December 9

You can use this worksheet to make up points when you misspell one of our seventh grade commonly confused words and lose points on an assignment (such as the paragraph post-test):  Commonly Confused Word Make-Up.doc

Parent Teacher Conference and Book Fair

Parent-Teacher Conference December 1
             3:30 to 7:00 or 7:30

For the Book Fair, or for Christmas gifts, you might want to know that our January Book-of-the-Month will be Historical Fiction, and the February Book-of-the-Month will be nonfiction (single-subject, not how-to).

See recommendations for  Historical Fiction
and of  Nonfiction.



Originally Posted November 22.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Self-Starter:  Match up our spelling words.  Find others who have the rest of the word for which you have a part.

The Giver 
Read Chapter 6 on your own and play The Giver Game
More from  The Giver  -- a  taste of the Ceremonies



Learn about types of Governments
PowerPoint and worksheet 
Types of Governments.ppt

FormsofGovernment.doc

A1 finished
A2 got through socialism
A3 got through authoritarianism
A4

Reminders:

• Spelling test on Thursday (next time), December 1.  Prefix extra- and sample words that use that prefix.
• Book Assessment on December 9 -- A week from Friday. 

Should we fence off the river to protect people, or allow them freedom of access to the river?

What Ms. Dorsey is Reading

Crossed by Ally Condie (the sequel to Matched)

Expand your Verb-edge

Extra Credit for Term 2, 2011

Play these games to learn strong verbs for various ways of moving.

Then be able to correctly identify at least five of these words:

Words in This List

1. peregrinate: To travel or journey, especially to walk on foot.
2. traipse: To walk or go aimlessly or idly or without finding or reaching one's goal.
3. sashay: To glide, move, or proceed easily or nonchalantly.
4. dawdle: To move slowly, languidly, or dilatorily.
5. meander: To proceed by or take a winding or indirect course.
6. saunter: To walk with a leisurely gait; stroll.
7. trot: To go at a quick, steady pace; move briskly; hurry.
8. canter: To throw with a sudden jerk.
9. dash: To move with violence; rush.
10. lope: To move or run with bounding steps with a long, easy stride.
11. sprint: To race or move at full speed, especially for a short distance.
12. mosey: To wander or shuffle about leisurely.
13. bolt: To make a sudden, swift dash, run, flight, or escape; spring away suddenly.
14. flee: To run away, as from danger or pursuers; take flight.
15. flit: To move lightly and swiftly; fly, dart, or skim along.
16. gallop: To run rapidly by leaps.
17. skip: To move in a light, springy manner by bounding forward with alternate hops on each foot.
18. skitter: To go, run, or glide lightly or rapidly.
19. veer: To alter the direction or course of; turn.
20. tramp: To tread or walk with a firm, heavy, resounding step.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Self-Starter:

• 5 minutes to finish and highlight your paragraph comparing one aspect of two holidays (begun and perhaps finished last time

Finish and highlight your Holiday Paragraph.
Underline transitions.

• 7 minutes to trade with the person across from you and grade each other's paragraphs using the rubric

Test:

• Paragraph Post-Test

If you wish to prepare for the Paragraph Post-Test, look over these materials:

Example of a Holiday Contrast Paragraph

Paragraph Make-Up Assignment

 

Topic Sentence:
Supporting Details	1.
	2.
	3.
Concluding Sentence:

Sample Paragraph for Candy-Contrast

Model Paragraphs for Starburst/Jolly Rancher Contrast

Paragraphs

Paragraphs -- Let's Make Sure You Understand

Examples of Comparison and Contrast Paragraphs

Transition Words for Comparison/Contrast Paragraphs

More Transition Words I

 ______________________________

Reading: 

• The Giver --Chapter 5 and part of 6

Originally posted 11/15/2011

Illustrations for the Prefix extra-

Extra- means beyond or outside.

1.    extraterrestrial

2.    extraordinary

3.    extravagant

     4.    extrovert   

"Extra-" means beyond or outside.

extravagant

extravagant

extraterrestrial

extraterrestrial