Friday, February 25, 2011

February 25, 2011. (Early dismissal and report cards)


1. Mini-workshop on semicolons and commas, independent clauses and their proper punctuation.

2. Revising and Editing: "A World Apart" benchmark. Classwork grade.

3. Peer revision/sharing of essays.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Thursday, February 24, 2011.

1. Discussed VOICE in essay writing. Voice is the way your writing "sounds" on the page. We read different examples of writing to discover voice as well as methods for adding voice to writing: dialogue, description, reflection, emotion, etc. (Handout)

2. Analyzed RUBRIC LIST: (Handout) We read examples of each of the scores 5, 3, and 1 on the rubric. This is a self-analysis handout. Use it anytime you write a paper.

1. Idea Development
2. Organization
3. Voice
4. Word Choice
5. Conventions
6. Sentence Fluency

Use this RUBRIC to revise your essays: "Surroundings" and "Important Choice". Bring essays to class tomorrow.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Wednesday, February 23, 2011.

1. Students who were absent or did not finish the "Revising and Editing" section of the test completed it today(Per. 5: Lauren and Carly)

2. Peer grading of final draft of "Special Place" essay: two/three graders if there is discrepancy.

3. With the essay and scantron in hand, students analyzed the breakdown of the TAKS test on the Tally Sheet and tallied their scantron and essay scores: 44 to meet minimum expectations with at least a 2 on the essay to pass the WHOLE TEST, and a total of 64 points for Commended Performance.

3. Viewed and discussed samples in "Explode a Moment" handout. If you were absent you need to ask for handout. Samples include the following moments "exploded" by student writers:

a) I rode my horse and jumped a fence. (The Jump) Notice how the writer adds similes, metaphors, and personification to enhance her writing.
b) I saw my dad leave for good. (Dad)
c) I was jealous of my little sister. (Powder)
d) I walked into the water but was at first afraid. (The Beach)
e) I twirled my yo-yo and hit my brother. (The Yo-Yo)

See handout "Explode a Moment" to see the passages above which have been developed by student writers.


4. HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT: Complete the following and bring to class tomorrow:

"IMPORTANT CHOICE" Essay

Write an essay about a time you made an important choice.

Include at least :

2 snapshots
2 thoughtshots
1 metaphor
1 simile
1 example of personification

Bring to class tomorrow. It is important that you come to class prepared.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Tuesday, February 22, 2011.

1. Peer revision of "Special Place" essay. Two students will revise each essay with a printed rubric. The rubrics will be then stapled onto the top of the essay and given back to the writer.
The writer will then take the essay home and rewrite the final draft on a sheet provided.

2. Complete "Revising and Editing" part of TAKS test: 32-51 on scantron. 51 will be hand-written on the bottom of scantron.

3. Begin rough draft of "Surroundings Essay" :

Write an essay explaining how your surroundings can affect your life. One sheet, front and back. Include at least two snapshots, two thoughtshots, one metaphor, one simile, and one example of personification.

Bring final "Special Place" essay written on lined sheet to class tomorrow.
Bring completed "Surroundings" essay (first draft) to class tomorrow.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Monday, February 21, 2011.

1. Review examples of snapshots and thoughtshots.

2. Examine essay samples of score 4 essays.

3. Examine sensory details and elaboration with "grandmother" essays by L. Hansberry and Maya Angelou.

4. Box or highlight two examples of snapshots and two of thoughtshots in your essay. Add one example of each:

1 simile
1 metaphor
1 personification

Rewrite your essay and bring tomorrow.

Make sure you note:

Thoughtshots involve the following:

Think, wonder, evaluate, make judgments, criticize, ponder, reminisce, express feelings in writing.

Do not use "YOU" use "I"

Be sure to write a personal narrative, write about what you know, and write from your heart.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Thursday, February 17, 2011.

1. Complete the open-ended short response questions: 29, 30, 31.
2. Begin writing the essay.

Write an essay explaining how a person can feel connected to a special place.

You should:

Write about the assigned topic.

Make your writing thoughtful and interestingMake sure that each sentence you write contributes to your compositon as a whole.

Make sure that your ideas are clear and easy for the reader to follow.

Write about your ideas in depth so that the reader is able to develop a good understanding of what you are saying.

Proofread your writing to correct any errors in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, grammar, and sentence structure.

Write on one sheet, front and back.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Wednesday, February 16, 2011.

The assignment for Tuesday, 2/15 was to read pp. 510-517 in literature textbook. If you were absent, you may do this at home. Answer questions 1-23 and 1-6 on page 521 on a sheet of paper.

1. "My Father Sits...TAKS practice test. We will go through a complete test in parts and keep a tally of your individual scores to help you identify your strengths and weaknesses. Today you will complete reading and 1-28 and if time allows, 29-31.

Details for NOVEL PROJECT: DUE TOMORROW!!!

Project must be typed, neatly arranged in this order:

1) Cover sheet decorated (optional) with the name of the book, author, and your name, date, period, and teacher.

2) Assignments 1, 11, 14, 15, and 18---in this order.

Your test MUST have a key separate from the test as well as the essay questions answered.

3) The last page will be your log sheet.

4) Staple all the pages neatly. Please do not place project in a plastic folder, binder, etc.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Monday, February 14, 2011.

1. Read "Long Walk to Forever" Respond to question on a sheet of paper using ACE. This is your rough draft.

2. Farewell to Manzanar Ch. 12-22 TEST.

3. Finish "Long Walk..." response.

REMINDER: Be prepared to take Vocabulary Lesson 19 quiz tomorrow.
REMINDER: Novel project due: Thursday, 2/17

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Wednesday, February 9, 2011.

1. Read Farewell to Manzanar ch. 18, 19, 20 (to page 139--did not finish 20).

2. Discuss and complete questions for these chapters on Farewell Ch. 18-22 handout.


REMINDER: Voc. Lesson 19 and sentences+ definitions due tomorrow.

REMINDER: NOVEL PROJECT DUE FEBRUARY 17, 2011. See blog for 2/8 for details.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Tuesday, February 8, 2011.

1. Read silently Ch. 17-22, or wherever you left off yesterday.

2. Question handout for Ch. 18-22 were passed out today.

3. Last chance to turn in Voc. Lesson 18 for a late quiz grade.

REMINDER: Vocabulary Lesson 19 XIX is due Thursday, 2/10.

REMINDER: Novel project due February 17.

Details for NOVEL PROJECT:

Project must be typed, neatly arranged in this order:

1) Cover sheet decorated (optional) with the name of the book, author, and your name, date, period, and teacher.

2) Assignments 1, 11, 14, 15, and 18---in this order. Your test MUST have a key separate from the test as well as the essay questions answered.

3) The last page will be your log sheet.

4) Staple all the pages neatly. Please do not place project in a plastic folder, binder, etc.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Monday, February 7, 2011.

Vocabulary Review: Lesson 18 will be counted for a quiz grade.

1. Parts of speech review on the board. Label the following sentence with the corresponding parts of speech:

Wow! The talented girl skated skillfully across the ice in the stadium, but she fell terribly hard and lost first place in the competition because she made this mistake.

2. Parts of Speech test.

3. Read Farewell...Ch. 16- Answer question handout for Ch. 12-17.

REMINDERS:

Novel project due February 17, 2011.

Vocabulary Lesson 19 due Thursday, February 10.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Thursday, February 3, 2011.
Take notes on ch. 12-13. Quiz on these chapters.


Wednesday, February 2, 2011.

1. Take Benchmark TEST. "The Bracelet."

2. Complete Farewell... TEST Essay questions.

3. Read Farewell...Chapters 12-13. Quiz tomorrow.

HOMEWORK REMINDER: Bring Lesson 18 (Review) completed in PEN.

NOTE: Novel Project due: February 17.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011

1. Farewell to Manzanar Ch. 1-11 TEST 1-50 + essay questions.

Per. 5 students received the novel project handout.