Writing students have been focusing on their career research paper. By now, students have found multiple book and web sources with information about their career choice. We've begun using Noodletools.com, a very cool online site that allows students to digitally store their bibliography and notecards. If you remember carrying a stack of index cards for your own research papers, you'll quickly understand why students are loving Noodletools so much. Students are able to create the notecards, link them to their outline and even "pile" all of the relevant cards together. Noodletools is a subscription-based service that students will continue to use through middle school and high school.
We're now entering the drafting stage of the research paper. Students are learning to use facts, cite them with parenthetical citations according to MLA formatting rules, and then explain the factual information in their own words. Students have already written the intro, pros and job duties paragraphs - and will finish the rough draft early this week.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Friday, April 13, 2012
Last AR Project of the Year - Due May 10/11
It seems hard to believe, but this is the last AR project of the year. Students can choose any type of project they'd like as long as they include the three areas that are listed below. These projects are due May 10/11.
Rather than writing a standard book report, you will instead create a book report project that will accurately explain and describe the book that you have read. As always, this project will be equal to a test grade and should be taken seriously.
For this project, you will need to read one book. It can be either fiction or non-fiction. After you finish the book, you have the option of creating a project that demonstrates your knowledge and understanding of the book.
The type of project that you choose is entirely up to you. You can make a video, dress as your character, create a PowerPoint, build a webpage, design a quote collage or create any other interesting project you would like.
While you have absolute freedom, there are a few requirements: You must include information about:
The main characters
The conflict of the novel
The theme or moral that the author is trying to convey.
Be specific, include good details, and completely convince me that you not only read the book but understand every single thing in it! All projects should include the full title of the book and the author’s name somewhere on the project. Please see me if you have any questions on your options. Good luck!
Rather than writing a standard book report, you will instead create a book report project that will accurately explain and describe the book that you have read. As always, this project will be equal to a test grade and should be taken seriously.
For this project, you will need to read one book. It can be either fiction or non-fiction. After you finish the book, you have the option of creating a project that demonstrates your knowledge and understanding of the book.
The type of project that you choose is entirely up to you. You can make a video, dress as your character, create a PowerPoint, build a webpage, design a quote collage or create any other interesting project you would like.
While you have absolute freedom, there are a few requirements: You must include information about:
The main characters
The conflict of the novel
The theme or moral that the author is trying to convey.
Be specific, include good details, and completely convince me that you not only read the book but understand every single thing in it! All projects should include the full title of the book and the author’s name somewhere on the project. Please see me if you have any questions on your options. Good luck!
B Day Reading Classes
Students in B day Reading classes have been busy working on their Literature Circle novels. In Literature Circles, small groups of students gather to read and discuss a novel. Groups have been reading one of six possible novels:
A Mango Shaped Space
The Giver
Esperanza Rising
Among the Hidden
A Wrinkle in Time
The Westing Game
Students have a group packet they complete each day where they are responsible for discussion topics, vocabulary, completing group work, and other important activities. The final project for the Literature Circles unit will not be a traditional test. Instead, students will be asked to create their own wiki.
A wiki (think Wikipedia, for example) is a website that is easily edited by multiple people. Each group is creating their own web pages that will cover the major characters, important themes, interesting vocabulary and pertinent author information. The students are picking up on the tech skills very quickly, so I'm excited to see what they can do. Ask your student to show you the start of their character web page!
A Mango Shaped Space
The Giver
Esperanza Rising
Among the Hidden
A Wrinkle in Time
The Westing Game
Students have a group packet they complete each day where they are responsible for discussion topics, vocabulary, completing group work, and other important activities. The final project for the Literature Circles unit will not be a traditional test. Instead, students will be asked to create their own wiki.
A wiki (think Wikipedia, for example) is a website that is easily edited by multiple people. Each group is creating their own web pages that will cover the major characters, important themes, interesting vocabulary and pertinent author information. The students are picking up on the tech skills very quickly, so I'm excited to see what they can do. Ask your student to show you the start of their character web page!
A Day Reading Classes
My A day Reading classes have been working on the novel, The Watsons Go to Birmingham. Students have studied the 1960s and learned more about the fight for equality during the Civil Rights Movement. Our focus has been on some of the lesser known figures of the movement. Most students recognize Rosa Parks and know a handful of facts about Martin Luther King, Jr. Our goal was to introduce other individuals and groups who contributed to the movement - like the Freedom Riders, Medgar Evers, James Meredith, and the marchers on "Bloody Sunday." Students have been researching these topics and are creating posters with a timeline, pictures, and a summary of the individual's contribution to the overall movement for justice and equality. Students will have time in class today and next Tuesday to put the posters together, before presenting next Thursday. The Watsons unit test will be April 25.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Hunger Games
As you may have heard from your student, the movie version of the very popular YA dystopian novel The Hunger Games premieres in a few weeks. To prepare for the movie's arrival, Ms. Ochs, the MS/HS librarian, is offering several events to celebrate the release including:
* A trivia contest where the top scoring students at the 7th and 8th grade level will compete in a Jeopardy-style competition.
* A t-shirt decorating contest where students are encouraged to interpret the Hunger Games costumes into a t-shirt design. Students will wear their shirts to school on Friday, March 16 and be entered into a drawing for a movie theater gift card.
* A movie poster contest where students will design a new movie poster and be entered into a drawing for a Hunger Games movie poster.
Many students are very excited about these events, so please encourage your student to participate if he/she is a Hunger Games fan!
* A trivia contest where the top scoring students at the 7th and 8th grade level will compete in a Jeopardy-style competition.
* A t-shirt decorating contest where students are encouraged to interpret the Hunger Games costumes into a t-shirt design. Students will wear their shirts to school on Friday, March 16 and be entered into a drawing for a movie theater gift card.
* A movie poster contest where students will design a new movie poster and be entered into a drawing for a Hunger Games movie poster.
Many students are very excited about these events, so please encourage your student to participate if he/she is a Hunger Games fan!
Pasta for Pennies Update
Thanks so much to those of you who helped contribute to our Pasta for Pennies coin drive! This year, students in grades 5-8 raised $1,312.11 to benefit the great work of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Ms. Cheatham's 6th grade AP was the winning classroom.
What's Going on in Writing?
In Writing, students have just finished up their city projects. I was very impressed by the creativity that so many students showed. One of the reasons why I enjoy the city project so much is because it gives students the opportunity to take charge of their own learning, set their own goals and hold themselves accountable to those goals. We will take a break from the longer writing assignments to enjoy several smaller writing opportunities from now through Spring Break.
When we return from break, students will begin a research paper over a future career opportunity. If you have the chance, please take the time to talk to your student about what it is exactly that you do at your job, what training or schooling did you need to attain to get your position, and what type of salary or benefits one could expect from a job in your field. All of this information will help your student have a better real-world perspective as they begin researching their dream job.
When we return from break, students will begin a research paper over a future career opportunity. If you have the chance, please take the time to talk to your student about what it is exactly that you do at your job, what training or schooling did you need to attain to get your position, and what type of salary or benefits one could expect from a job in your field. All of this information will help your student have a better real-world perspective as they begin researching their dream job.
Friday, March 2, 2012
4th Quarter AR Project #1 - Due April 3/4
4th Quarter AR Project #1 - Due April 3/4:
For this project, you will need to read one book. It can be either fiction or non-fiction. After you finish the book, you have the option of completing one of two projects:
1 – Create a “real” newspaper about your book. You’ll need to include all the important parts of a newspaper – articles, advertisements, sports, comics and a letter to the editor. This newspaper should be at least four pages long and exceptionally creative. Your final product needs to be typed and demonstrate your understanding of the book – esp. specific details. You’ll be graded on meeting all requirements, having good details, being neat and legible, using correct grammar and punctuation, and appearing original and interesting.
2 – Write a song that demonstrates your creative response to the book you read. The song should have at least two verses and a chorus. Be sure to include specific details from your book. You will need to perform your song – either in front of the class or on a CD. You’ll be graded on meeting all requirements, having good details, being creative, and presenting a good performance.
All projects should include the full title of the book and the author’s name somewhere on the project. Please see me if you have any questions on your options. Good luck!
For this project, you will need to read one book. It can be either fiction or non-fiction. After you finish the book, you have the option of completing one of two projects:
1 – Create a “real” newspaper about your book. You’ll need to include all the important parts of a newspaper – articles, advertisements, sports, comics and a letter to the editor. This newspaper should be at least four pages long and exceptionally creative. Your final product needs to be typed and demonstrate your understanding of the book – esp. specific details. You’ll be graded on meeting all requirements, having good details, being neat and legible, using correct grammar and punctuation, and appearing original and interesting.
2 – Write a song that demonstrates your creative response to the book you read. The song should have at least two verses and a chorus. Be sure to include specific details from your book. You will need to perform your song – either in front of the class or on a CD. You’ll be graded on meeting all requirements, having good details, being creative, and presenting a good performance.
All projects should include the full title of the book and the author’s name somewhere on the project. Please see me if you have any questions on your options. Good luck!
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
What's Going on in Reading?
As we come to the end of third quarter, our focus in Reading has shifted to preparing for the ISATs. These annual exams are given each spring to students in grades 3-8. As a seventh grader, your student will be testing in math, reading, and science. There are three sections of the reading test which will be given over three class periods. The first test includes only multiple choice questions, while the second and third test include both multiple choice questions and an extended response question. For the extended response, students are given a question about the passage they read and asked to write a short essay response that includes specific details from the text as well as connection to their own lives. Students were taught a T-chart prewriting strategy to help them feel confident and be successful on the extended response portion.
Once we complete the ISAT test, there will be a shift in our reading schedule. Students in A day classes will begin a literature circle novel unit, while students in B day classes will begin reading the historical fiction novel, The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963. I will give more information about both options, but please be sure to check w/ your student whether they are an A day or a B day student to help you know which information to focus on.
The final AR projects for third quarter were just turned in. They look good, and I'll begin grading them tomorrow. The new info for fourth quarter was just passed out and will be posted to the blog as well.
Once we complete the ISAT test, there will be a shift in our reading schedule. Students in A day classes will begin a literature circle novel unit, while students in B day classes will begin reading the historical fiction novel, The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963. I will give more information about both options, but please be sure to check w/ your student whether they are an A day or a B day student to help you know which information to focus on.
The final AR projects for third quarter were just turned in. They look good, and I'll begin grading them tomorrow. The new info for fourth quarter was just passed out and will be posted to the blog as well.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Pasta for Pennies
We're officially 2/3 of the way through our Pasta for Pennies Coin Collection drive. While we've had great support, we've still got some work to do if we're going to make our goal. Would you be able to help us get there?
Pennies for Pasta is a coin collection drive to benefit the work of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to eliminate all blood cancers. Currently, students in grades 5-8 are busy collecting spare change and extra dollars to help the LLS. This year, WLMS is also competing directly against WLHS in a one-on-one challenge to see which group can donate the most funds to the Pasta for Pennies drive.
In addition to the classroom coin collection, we are also inviting parents, teachers, community members and other supporters of WL schools to participate in our online donation page. By visiting the link below, you will be directed to a secure page where you can make a tax deductible donation to benefit our campaign. Once there, you can also receive information if your workplace participates in a matching gifts program. If you are a parent, you can use the online donation tool to give credit to your student's class as well.
http://il.sy.llsevent.org/WarrensburgLathamElemMS
If you feel so inclined, please feel free to share this link with any friends, colleagues or family members who you think would be interested in supporting W-L's efforts to help the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Thanks again for your support.
Sincerely,
Melanie Allen and the members of the WLMS National Junior Honor Society
Pennies for Pasta is a coin collection drive to benefit the work of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to eliminate all blood cancers. Currently, students in grades 5-8 are busy collecting spare change and extra dollars to help the LLS. This year, WLMS is also competing directly against WLHS in a one-on-one challenge to see which group can donate the most funds to the Pasta for Pennies drive.
In addition to the classroom coin collection, we are also inviting parents, teachers, community members and other supporters of WL schools to participate in our online donation page. By visiting the link below, you will be directed to a secure page where you can make a tax deductible donation to benefit our campaign. Once there, you can also receive information if your workplace participates in a matching gifts program. If you are a parent, you can use the online donation tool to give credit to your student's class as well.
http://il.sy.llsevent.org/WarrensburgLathamElemMS
If you feel so inclined, please feel free to share this link with any friends, colleagues or family members who you think would be interested in supporting W-L's efforts to help the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Thanks again for your support.
Sincerely,
Melanie Allen and the members of the WLMS National Junior Honor Society
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)