Another Good Day

Essays are due at the end of the period tomorrow. We will take our benchmark exams on Friday.... then SPRING BREAK!!!

Excellent Work

Excellent work by all students today. We got a lot accomplished! Thank you for your hard work. Keep it up!

Essays Due Thursday

I am so excited about the pieces of the essays that have been turned in to me so far. The writing is strong and the evidence and quote choice is aligned. Your set ups and explanations support your quotes well.

At this point, I have seen at least the character paragraph from almost all of you. If you have not shown me this piece yet, please make sure that you have something to show me tomorrow, so that you have the opportunity for feedback that could improve your writing and your grade.

Here is the Essay Checklist that I gave you in class today.

Vocab Quiz and Events Essay

Final Characterization Essays are due April 1st. After today, you should have completed the following paragraphs:


Character Paragraph #1
Character Paragraph #2
Event Paragraph Describing the two characters responses to a shared event

On Monday and Tuesday, we will work on the introduction and conclusion.
Wednesday, we will be peer editing and revising.

Again, FINAL DRAFTS are due on 4/1/10!!!

Characterization Essay

I am excited for you all to continue working on your characterization essays. By the time you finish this assignment, you will have an essay that demonstrates your ability to use evidence to support your ideas, incorporate quotes into your writing, think about and describe the traits of a character, compare and contrast two characters' responses to a given situation, and use sentence variety in your writing. I can't wait to read the final drafts next week!

CHARACTERIZATION ESSAY OVERVIEW
EVENT GRAPHIC ORGANIZER
SAMPLE CHARACTER PARAGRAPH AND INSTRUCTIONS
CHARACTER PARAGRAPH GRAPHIC ORGANIZER

Complete your Word Work Tonight

Be ready to write tomorrow!!!!

Literature Circles- Focus on Event Mapping

Today in literature circles, students worked together to map out the main events for the story. Tomorrow, we will have word wizard presentations and work on the next stage of their Characterization Essays.

As a preview, the final Characterization Essay which will be due prior to spring break will include the following:

Introduction
Body Paragraph #1- Character 1 (3 traits, 3 quotes with set up and explanations) - This was due on 03/22 (draft).
Body Paragraph #2- Character 1 (3 traits, 3 quotes with set up and explanations) - This will be due by 03/25 (draft).
Body Paragraph #3- Significant Event and Characters' Response - Due date to be announced.
Conclusion

Catch Up Day

Today, we caught up on our work and prepared for conferences next week. Students had the opportunity to complete their character paragraphs which were due at the end of the period today.
They also worked on their reading (BOOKS SHOULD BE FINISHED BY TOMORROW!!!!!) and their roles for tomorrow's literature circle.
Finally, they had the opportunity to prepare for their conferences next week by pulling work to share at their conferences.

Vocab/Sentence Quiz Work on Paragraph Essay

Tomorrow, we will have a quiz on sentence types and vocabulary words from our word wizards.
Your word work and any revisions are due to me as well.
Your character paragraph with 3 traits and 3 pieces of evidence will be due at the end of period.
Remember, set-up, quote, explanation.

Bring Completed Character Evidence Charts

Make sure to bring your completed Character Evidence Chart to class tomorrow. It should have specific quotes and page numbers.

Character Essay

We will begin writing character essays on Thursday. As you read your books, please continue to gather evidence about your character to use in your essay.

Literature Circles- Focus on Characterization

Tomorrow, we will be meeting in literature circles as we do each Tuesday. Please make sure you have your reading and roles completed when you arrive to class. Also, make sure that you have your book with you! We will begin to chart our characters and evidence tomorrow, so think about which character you are interested in tracking.

Sentence Types:
Remember to revise your sentence type quiz.
Sentence Type Quiz Revision
For each sentence that you did not correctly identify or construct:
Look back at what you wrote. Why is your answer incorrect? Write a four sentence explanation answering the following questions:
o Which parts of your sentences are Independent and Dependent clauses?
o What makes a sentence compound or complex?
o What type of sentence did you originally write?
o Rewrite this sentence on the same topic, but in using clauses appropriately.

For example, if you wrote the following as a compound sentence:
I play soccer and basketball during Fit for Life.
You could explain:
This sentence is not a compound sentence because it does not join two independent clauses. In order for this to be compound, the words before and after the conjoining conjunction would need to be independent clauses. “I play soccer” is an independent clause, but the phrase after the conjunction “basketball during Fit for Life” is not because it is missing a verb. In order for this sentence to be compound, I could have written:
I play soccer during Fit for Life, but sometimes we play basketball.
If you need some more practice with sentence types"
More practice with sentence types.

Sentence Type and Vocab Quiz Tomorrow

Tomorrow is a half day. Dismissal is at noon.
We will have a quiz on sentence types and the word wizard words for the week.
Make sure that you have your reading and your role completed for Tuesday's literature circle meetings!

Words for 8A:
Last Week: coachmen weather skiff dulce petulant
This Week: glumly atheist paregoric surrey parched

Words for 8B:
Last Week: chateaux gingerly prodigious strife photostated
This Week: pilfering probed glint etymologies deathly

ITBS Week...

Due to ITBS testing this week, our schedule will be altered slightly, so we only get to meet as a class on Monday, Tuesday and 1/2 hour on Friday.
On Monday, we are working some more on independent and dependent clauses and compond and complex sentences. See some websites for review and practice below. We will also get our new vocabulary words from our word wizards for the week.
On Tuesday, we will work with our literature circle groups, so make sure that you have your reading and your role completed.
On Friday, we will have a quiz on the vocabulary for the week and sentence types.

Sentence Types Review
More Review
Interactive Quiz on Sentence Types
Interactive Sentence Type Quiz #2
Reminder of Roles:
Summarizer/Questioner: Think about the major events in the reading and write a minimum of six sentences describing those events in your Reading Response Log. Come up with at least 3 DEEP questions that would lead to interesting conversation among your group on the literature circle meeting day. On literature circle meeting days, your role will be to keep the conversation flowing. The better questions are, the easier this will be.


- Evaluator: Think about the actions and decisions the characters in your text made. Choose a passage from the text in which you think a character made an important decision. Be prepared to read this aloud during the week's literature circle meeting and to lead a discussion this character's choice. In your Reading Response Log, write about 3 alternatives to the decision that the character made. Minimum of 6 sentences.


-Illustrator/Quote: Choose a quote from the week's reading, write it in your RRL and draw an illustration to go with it. Write 3 sentences to explain why you choose that quote and how the drawing relates to the quote. Be prepared to share your quote and drawing at the meeting.


-Word Wizard: Choose six words from the text that are either new to you, used in an interesting way, or repeated often throughout this week's reading. In your Reading Response Log: define the word (including the part of speech), note the page where you found it, use it in a sentence, and explain why you chose this word. Additionally, on the Monday before your weekly meeting, you will be required to present ONE word to the class that they will be quizzed on at the end of the week. Present your word on a poster including the definition. Present the class with a strategy for remembering this word.

ITBS Next Week

We will have ITBS next week. Make sure you are well-rested and that you eat a good breakfast!

Humanities Night is TOMORROW

Make sure the bring everything that you need for your presentation! Tomorrow, we will be working on your prediction essays, if you have not turned yours in you must have it by tomorrow, so that you can participate in class.

Humanities Night is THURSDAY

We will be working on your presentations for Humanities Night tomorrow. Please make sure to bring your artifact and ideas about how you might present it to our visitors.

First Literature Circle Meeting Tomorrow

Tomorrow, we will have our first literature circle meetings tomorrow. Please make sure that you have completed your role responsibilities for tomorrow, so that you can have a productive and interesting conversation about your books.