Holiday Homework

Students need to finish editing and revising their Response to Literature Essay using Ratiocination, type their final draft, and finally upload their essay to the eZine under the category "Response to Literature." On Monday, January 4th, students will hand in their rough draft and typed final draft. Their final draft must be uploaded to the eZine by 11:59 p.m. that night for full credit.

Any students who were absent or did not finish writing the essay in class may view directions here (or look under "Homework for 12.22.09") for writing the body paragraphs and see below for directions on writing the introduction and conclusion.

Introduction

This is the order:
1) Title, author, and brief summary of story 1
2) Title, author, and brief summary of story 2
3) Comparison of two stories
4) Theme statement

Example:
The short story, "Thank You M'am," by Langston Hughes is about a poor boy who tries to steal a lady's pocketbook, but is genuinely cared for by his victim in the end. "Thank You Mr. Falker" by Patricia Polacco describes a young girl who wants to read but struggles through school while also being bullied by her peers. In both of these stories, the adults shine through and help the needy characters. The authors, Hughes and Polacco, describe a theme everyone can relate to: sometimes people do the wrong thing when they want something they do not have.

Conclusion

This is the order:
1. Restate theme statement
2. Text-to-self connection
3. Text-to-world connection

Example:
Sometimes jealousy or desires cause people to act selfish and hurt others. I can relate to this, because when I was in high school I wanted to be part of the popular crowd and I spread an awful rumor about a former friend. I felt so horrible afterwards because she had to move away. So, I think we should all remember that we can't always get what we want; we have to be patient and think about how our decisions affect others.

Homework for 12.22.09

My students have been working on a response to literature essay in class, and we wrote the three body paragraphs today. Some students did not finish, so their homework tonight is to finish writing all three. ALL students need to edit the paragraphs using Ratiocination tonight.

Here are the instructions for writing the three body paragraphs:

Order of sentences-
1) Topic Sentence
2) Evidence 1
3) Linking Sentence
4) Evidence 2
5) Closing Sentence

Roger wanted something that he couldn't afford, so he tried to snatch an old lady's pocketbook. While at Ms. Jones house, Roger admitted, "I wanted a pair of blue suede shoes"(3). Instead of the old lady taking Roger to jail, she took him home, fed him, allowed him to wash his face, and even gave him ten dollars. Roger wanted to do something nice for Ms. Jones but was only able to say thank you. The poor boy learned that he should be careful when he wants something, because there are nice people who want to help.

***The third body paragraph is a little different
1) Topic Sentence
2) Evidence for story 1
3) Explain how evidence relates to theme or give more details
4) Evidencec for story 2
5) Explain how evidence relates to theme or give more details

REMINDER: All direct quotes should be introduced!! Don't forget to write the page number!

Homework for 12.15.09-12.21.09

Students received a Reading Project today. It is due Tuesday, December 22nd.

Here are the details:
Write a five paragraph letter to an author of one of the realistic fiction books you read. In your letter, you will make a text-to-self connection to the book’s main character.

Paragraph 1 – INTRODUCTION – Write a theme statement that shows you are personally connected to the author. Share your personal response to the book.

Paragraph 2, 3 and 4 – BODY – Identify your personal story and thoughts about the theme of your letter. Be sure to use details and evidence from the text to support your statements.

* Tell about yourself and how you compare with the book’s main character by using details from the book to support your connection.

* Ask the author a question based on the character. Did the author have a similar experience to the main character’s experience(s)? Use details from the book to support your connection.

Paragraph 5 – CONCLUSION – Tell how the book influenced your life.

Sample Letter

475 Riverside Drive, Suite 1270
New York, NY 10115

Langston Hughes
c/o Harcourt, Inc.
6277 Sea Harbor Drive
Orlando, FL 32887


December 23, 2009


Dear Mr. Hughes,

My grandmother lives in Florida, and I do not see her very often. When she comes to visit my family in New York, my parents do not let me spend time with my friends for the entire length of her visit. I used to roll my eyes and think that I would rather be playing football than hanging out with an old lady. After I read your short story “Thank You, M’am, I have a new view on spending time with my grandmother. Roger was a young boy on the wrong path until he met Mrs. Jones. Your story taught me how important it is for young people like me to have a trusting relationship with an older person.

I noticed that Roger’s relationship with Mrs. Jones had a positive impact on his life. When I started reading “Thank You M’am,” I was very surprised that Mrs. Jones does not take Roger to the police. Why would she want to take home someone who just tries to steal from her? This part made me very curious.

When they get to her apartment, she shares her meal and an important lesson with him. She shows him that even though people are poor, they can make good decisions. Mrs. Jones explains how when she was young she wanted things that she could not have. After describing how she works hard at a hotel beauty shop, she gives him money to buy the blue suede shoes that he wants.

Mrs. Jones also reminds him not to steal other people’s money in the future. At this point, I understood the purpose of her actions. She is really a clever woman. When Roger says, “Thank You, M’am” at the end, I realized that he learned his lesson about stealing. Roger is able to make better decisions now because of the advice he got from an older person.

I now realize how lucky I am to have my grandmother around. She is a wise and caring woman with a lot of life experience, and she can teach me important lessons just like Mrs. Jones teaches Roger. Sometimes it is hard for me to talk to my parents or teachers about things that happen in my life, because I think they will get mad at me. Thank you for reminding me that I can learn so much from older people like my grandmother. Did you have older people in your life that influenced you?


Sincerely,

Homework for 12.14.09

Read your book for 30 minutes and write three questions that you would want to ask the author of the book you are reading.

Homework for 12.11.09

Read your fiction book for 30 minutes and tell me about a big idea that you see in your book and a story we have read in class. Create a theme statement that fits both.

Homework for 12.4.09

Read for 30 minutes and draw a scene that you feel is important.Tell me why it is important (2-3 sentences)

Class 603- Inferencing questions

Students in class 603 who did not complete the inferencing questions for "The Other Side" need to complete them tonight for homework. Here are the questions:

The Other Side
1. Restate the question, 2. Give evidence from the story,
3. Tell me what prior knowledge you used

1. Why doesn't the girl's mom want her to climb over the fence? The girl's mom doesn't want her to climb over the fence because Clover might get hurt by the white people. I know this because the story said that white people lived on one side which means it was segregated. In social studies I learned that segregation separated the white and black people and there would sometimes be violence.

2. What time period is this story written in?

3. Where do you think this story takes place?

4. Why did Clover's friends look at her funny?

5. Why doesn't Clover's mom ask her to get off the fence?

6. When Annie says, "Someday somebody's going to come along and knock this old fence down" it isn't because the fence is old. Explain what she means.

Homework for 12.3.09

Students are completing the same assignment from Wednesday- see "Homework for 12.2.09."

Students need to make a new inference and support it with details from their book and prior knowledge.

Homework for 12.2.09

Read your book for 30 minutes and tell me about an inference you made about a character or event. Make sure you also tell me what makes you think that. (4-5 sentences)

Homework for 12.1.09

Read your book for 30 minutes and make a prediction about something you think the character in your book will do next. Give me two reasons why you think he/she will do this. (4-5 sentences)

CLASS 603 & 622 Homework

Some students did not finish the essay assigned in class. Here are the directions. This is due TOMORROW.

Response to Literature Essay

Introduction: Introduce the story giving me a short summary of what happens. Then, state your big idea and theme statement

1st Body Paragraph: Tell me how this big idea is shown in the story. 4-5 sentences

2nd Body Paragraph: Tell me about your personal connection (just YOUR story, not how it relates to the story you are writing about) 4-5 sentences

3rd Body Paragraph: Write a text-to-self connection about the big idea (How you can relate to what happened in the story- use comparison language)
4-5 sentences

Conclusion: Restate the big idea and theme statement. Tell me how anyone can apply the theme statement in their own lives.

Homework for 11.30.09

Read your book for 30 minutes and write a text-to-self connection about a different big idea you found. (4-5 sentences)

Homework for 11.25.09

Read your book for 30 minutes and identify 4 big ideas. Create a theme statement for each one.

Homework for 11.24.09

Read your book for 30 minutes and write a summary (4-5 sentences).

Online Gradebook

All students have been given directions to log on to my online gradebook. Some have logged on, and some have not. I have also been able to email several parents their own access code with instructions for logging in. If you have not received an email and would like an access code, please email me: ms.smcreynolds@gmail.com.

Homework for 11.20.09

Read your book for 30 minutes and write a text-to-self connection about the big idea you chose. Remember to tell me how you relate to what happened in the story. (Students may look at their notes in their Readers/Writers Notebook for an example)

Homework for 11.19.09

Read your book for 30 minutes and tell me about a connection you have with one of the big ideas you have in your book in 4-5 sentences.

(Use the homework from the night before to choose a big idea. Use the notes in class on the page titled "Connecting with a Theme in Your Life" to help you write the connection. You are only writing the PERSONAL CONNECTION.)

Homework for 11.18.09

Read your book for 30 minutes and find two big ideas. Turn both into theme statements.
***Use your notes to help you!***

SHORT FICTION STORIES ARE DUE TOMORROW!!!!! You are turning in your rough draft (I'm looking for all steps on the Ratiocination used and completely revised and edited) and a typed final copy. The final draft must be uploaded to the eZine by midnight Thursday.

Homework for 11.16.09

Edit and revise short fiction story. Begin typing final draft.

**Response to Literature Syllabus is due tomorrow with parent signature!

Homework for 11.16.09

Edit and revise short story. Read for 30 minutes and write a summary (4-5 sentences)

Short fiction story is due THURSDAY, November 19th. Students will turn in rough draft (I'll be checking to see that it is complete, all steps of Ratiocination were completed, and it is edited and revised) and a typed final draft. Students must also upload to the eZine. Refer to instructions found on this blog.

Response to Literature syllabus is due signed by WEDNESDAY, November 18th.

***Parent/Teacher Conference is tomorrow from 1-2:58 and 6-8:30.***

Want to Know Your Grade in ELA Anytime?

I will be passing out papers to students next week that will give them access to their language arts grade anytime they want to see it.

PARENTS: If I do not have your email, please send it to me! I would like to send you the directions so you have access.

Ratiocination

Before following these directions you will need to fill an index card with sentence #, # of words, first 2 words, and punctuation.

You will need 7 different colors: purple, red, blue, green, black, orange, and yellow.

Directions:

Blue & Orange: Using these two colors, underline every sentence in your story, alternating the colors… blue, orange, blue, orange, and so on. This shows sentence length.

Purple: Place a bracket [ ] around the first 2 words of every sentence. Look at the bracketed words. Try to avoid repetition of first words. If a word begins a sentence two or more times in one paragraph- change it!

Red: Circle all “to be” verbs (am, is, was, were, are, be, being, been, and contractions such as isn’t, aren’t, weren’t, etc). Eliminate half of these. You will be changing sentences from passive to active voice: “He was angry” to “He yelled and screamed at everyone in the room.”

Green: Place a  around all basic words and words that are no longer with us- R.I.P. boring words. Such as really, like, a lot, stuff, thing, big, small, sad, fast, good, bad, etc.

Black: Place a triangle around the word “it.”

Yellow: Place a wavy line under repeated words- even if they are STELLAR words!

Homework for 11.12.09

Edit and revise your story using Ratiocination. (30 minutes to an hour)

The directions for Ratiocination are posted on this blog.

Homework for 11.10.09

Finish Reading Project- due THURSDAY.

Finish writing short fiction story rough draft.

NO SCHOOL WEDNESDAY (November 11, 2009)

Homework for 11.9.09

Work on Reading Project. Due THURSDAY.

Homework for 11.6.09

Work on Reading Project.

***Students need to bring colored pencils and 5 index cards on Monday

Short Fiction Reading Project

Students were given the reading project for the short fiction unit today. Here is the project:

Design a Book Jacket
Due:Thursday, November 12, 2009

Design your own cover for the book (front and back). Include graphics or pictures to make it attractive and appealing. You must also write the blurb on the back briefly summarizing your book.

Include the title, author, characters, and plot (problem/solution).

Your writing should be one page long and the cover should be no bigger than a piece of construction paper.

Type your work!

***Parents need to sign the task sheet! This is 10 points of the grade.

***If you lose the task sheet, email me and I will send you another one!

Homework for 11.5.09

Work on Reading Project.

Homework for 11.4.09

Read for 30 minutes and write 4-5 sentences trying to convince a friend to read it. What are your book's selling points?

Homework for 11.2.09

Read for 30 minutes and focus on the way the author uses dialogue. Tell me what you think is the purpose of the dialogue.

Homework for 11.2.09

Read for 30 minutes and focus on the way the author uses dialogue. Tell me what you think is the purpose of the dialogue.

Homework for 10.30.09

Enjoy your weekend and be safe!

Homework for 10.29.09

Read your book for 30 minutes and write about what you read from a different character's point of view in 3-4 sentences. Tell me how that point of view changes the story.

**STUDY FOR THE SHORT FICTION QUIZ TOMORROW!!!**

Homework for 10.28.09

Read your book for 30 minutes and tell me about the point of view the story is written in. Who is telling the story? Would it be different if someone else was telling it? Explain how.

Shout Out for A's on Readers/Writers Notebook Quiz

The following students know how to keep a very organized notebook and made A's on the quiz!

Class 601
Mohamed M.
Progga D.
Nafis C.
Mandira C.
Mohammed T.
Khadijatut T.
Raymond J.
Connie C.
Jae I.
Kaitlyn S.
Prakash A.
Nicole Z.

Class 603
Sandrine V.
Brandyn R.
Ankit K.
Tricia T.
Cary L.
Karandeep S.
Stephanie T.
Mehwish K.
Alex S.
Alex W.
F. Md A.
XuKai C.
Fabliha H.

Class 622
Jane Z.
Tiffany Y.
Yin Yin S.
Arly A.
Ashley L.
Emily P.
Edgar M.
Catherine C.
Farzana A.
Maria B.
Paola F.
Ishraq K.

Homework for 10.26.09

Read your book for 30 minutes and choose a setting to draw. Write 2-3 sentences describing the setting.

***There will be a Short Fiction Quiz Friday! Start studying your notes!

Homework for 10.23.09

Ms. Mc's birthday is Monday, October 26th, so her gift to you is no homework this weekend! Enjoy the weather!


Reminder: There will be a Readers/Writers Notebook Quiz on Monday, so make sure your notebook is well organized and up to date.

Homework for 10.22.09

Read your fiction book for 30 minutes and predict what will happen next. Give two reasons why you think your prediction will happen.



Friendly Reminder . . . Extra Credit is due tomorrow, Friday, October 23rd. I will not accept extra credit after that date.

Homework for 10.21.09

Read your fiction book for 30 minutes and copy down your favorite sentence that describes either inner or outer traits of a character and tell me what is so incredible about it in 4-5 sentences.

**Short Fiction Syllabus is due TOMORROW. Parents must sign this paper.

Homework for 10.20.09

Read your book for 30 minutes and create a plot diagram for your book. Fill out characters and setting, rising action, and if possible, the climax.


***Students received a syllabus for the short fiction unit we are studying that MUST be signed by parents. It is due by Thursday for a quiz grade.***

EXTRA CREDIT!!!!!!

Ok guys and gals, here is your chance to receive extra credit for the first marking period!

Go to the website: www.wordle.net and click on "create wordle"

Type in your character's name for your short fiction story and all the traits for your character- inner, outer, and anything else into the first box. You will need to place a space between each word. Use single words, not phrases (wordle will break up the phrases- not keep them together). Then click "go"

This will create a spectacular piece of artwork! Print it out and bring it to class by FRIDAY.

In order to receive extra credit, this must be turned in on Friday, no later.

Homework for 10.19.09

Read your book for 30 minutes and choose one conflict to describe. Is it manageable, interesting, and controllable? Why or why not?

Homework for 10.16.09

Read your book for 30 minutes and create a timeline of events occurring so far in your book.

Homework for 10.15.09

Read your book for 30 minutes and identify two types of conflict. What is the character doing to try and solve the conflicts? What do you think he/she should do?

Classes 601 & 603 should use their notes to help them.
Class 622- try your best, we will discuss tomorrow.

Homework for 10.14.09

Read your book for 30 minutes and tell me about a conflict or problem occurring in your book in 4-5 sentences. If there is not a problem yet, what problem do you predict happening?

Homework for 10.13.09

Read your fiction book for 30 minutes and tell me about a character in 4-5 sentences. What is their daily life like? What are his/her routines?

Memoir Unit Quiz Corrections & Shoutouts

Students who received below a 70 on the Memoir Unit Quiz were given back their quizzes Friday to correct and return. The quiz corrections are due Tuesday- no later! Students are to write their corrections on a new piece of paper and title it "Memoir Quiz Corrections." They should correct only the questions they missed and answer them in complete sentences. All quizzes corrected and returned on Tuesday will have their grade raised to a 70. Below is the Memoir Unit Quiz. Students may use their notes to help them answer the questions.

Memoir Unit Quiz

1. What is the definition of a memoir?

2. What are the four parts of a memoir?

3. What point of view is a memoir told in?

4. Name two types of books that are similar to memoirs.

5. How long is a moment? (as short as ___ and as long as ____)

6. What two things make up a reflection?

7. Which one of these sentences is written in the correct point of view for a memoir?
a. She opened the door and screamed
b. I didn't understand why he laughed at me.
c. It was hard, but he kept running.
d. They all had a great time at Disney Land.

8. Which one of the sentences from question 7 is a reflection?

9. Why do people write memoirs?

10. What part of the memoir is the main idea?
__________________________________________________

The following students made A's on the Memoir Unit Quiz. Congratulations!!!

Class 6014: Mandira C., Sharon K., Mohammad T.
Class 6035: Afnan A., Ankit K.
Class 6225: Arly A., Matthew L., Christopher L., Vicki N.

Homework for 10.9.09

Read your book for 30 minutes and make a T-chart of inner and outer traits about a character described in your book.

Homework for 10.8.09

Read your fiction book for 30 minutes and list 10 stellar words found from your reading.

Personal Narrative is due TOMORROW!!!!!!! You are turning in THREE drafts: 1) rough draft, 2) loose leaf final draft, 3) typed final draft. You must also publish your essay to the eZine. Instructions are on my blog under "Publishing Personal Narrative"

Homework for 10.7.09

Find a fiction book to read for the new unit and read it for 30 minutes. Write a 4 sentence summary in your I.R. Notebook.

Your fiction book can be mystery, fantasy, sci-fi, adventure, historical fiction, or any other version of fiction.

Also, the personal narrative is due FRIDAY. You are turning in 3 drafts- rough draft, loose leaf final draft, typed final draft. Part of your grade is also uploading the personal draft to the eZine.

Publishing Personal Narrative

All students will need to publish their Personal Narrative online.
***Remember that the parent letter must be signed and returned in order to get full credit***

Follow these steps to publish:
1) Go to www.216q.org
2) Log in with your username and password created in class
3) Click on "Publish Your Writing" (It's on the right side of the screen in light blue)
4) A new window should pop up, enter your username and password (same as online classroom)
5) Click on "Submit Writing to this eZine" (right side of screen)
6) Enter in your title for your Personal Narrative and select "Personal Narrative" under Section
7) Copy and paste your Personal Narrative from Word into the window ***Make sure your font is no larger than 14pt and is black in color.***
8) Click Submit!

All students must do this as part of their grade! Students are also turning in their rough draft, loose leaf final draft, and typed final draft on FRIDAY.

Burger King Commercial

Ok, so I promised all my students that I would put this up. See if you can spot me!

Memoir Unit Quiz Wednesday

Students will be taking a quiz on Wednesday over the Memoir Unit that we have been studying in class. They should study their notes found in their Readers/Writers Notebook.

Reading Project- Due October 7th

Task: Read a memoir or realistic fiction book told in 1st Person. Construct a well-developed paragraph for each memoir component below. Each component consists of focus questions to guide your writing. Use textual evidence (examples from your book) to support your answers. Use your I.R. Book to help you!

•Recognizing the Author’s Experience
oWhat is happening in the book?
oWhat are the events?
oExplain the author’s or narrator’s experience in dealing with the events

•Connecting with the Author’s Experience
oHave you experienced similar emotions or reactions?
oHow were your experiences the same or different?
oHow does your connection help you understand the book?

•Recognizing the Memoir’s Meaning
oWhy is this experience important to the author or narrator?
oWhat did the author or narrator learn from his/her experience? Other people? The world?

•Connecting to the Memoir’s Meaning
oReflect on your connection. Does the author’s or narrator’s learning apply to your own experience? Explain.
oDo you agree with the conclusion that the author or narrator came to? Why or why not?

Grading Rubric:

Each of the four parts will be worth 20 POINTS
• Recognizing the Author’s Experience- 20 points
• Connecting with the Author’s Experience- 20 points
• Recognizing the Memoir’s Meaning- 20 points
• Connecting to the Memoir’s Meaning- 20 points
-Each part must contain textual evidence-

Parent signature on Task Sheet will be worth 10 POINTS

Correct punctuation, spelling, and grammar will be worth 10 POINTS

Homework for September 30-October 2

Students should continue reading nightly and work on their reading project which was given out today in class.

I will post the handout this afternoon on te website. You may also email me if you want an actual copy.

Online Classroom & Ezine Setup

Classes are setting up their Online Classoom and Ezine accounts. Some students are having problems setting up their accounts, so I wanted to post the setup directions.

***FIRST TIME USERS ONLY***

Online Classroom
1. Go to www.216q.org
2. Your username is your first name and the first two letters of your last name (all lowercase and no spaces) Ex. My username would be stephaniemc
3. Your password is changeme (all lowercase and no spaces)
4. You will directed to change your password when you log in. Change it to something you will remember.
5. Click on "216Q" next to your name in the top left-hand corner
6. Find your class- Ms. McReynolds (your class number) and click on it
7. Your enrollment key is your four-digit class number

Ezine
1. Go to http://text.teachingmatters.org
2. Under the Student section (right side & green) click on "Register for an Account"
3. Type in the same username and password you used for Online Classroom
4. Classroom Enrollment Key is your four digit class number

Once you have followed all of the steps above, write both web addresses, your username, and password on the inside cover of your I.R. Notebook. You need to show them to me ASAP so that I may record it.

Mc. Mc Out Today (Tuesday)

I was not at school today- felt a bit under the weather, but I am already feeling better after a visit to the doc and will be back at school tomorrow!

The Open Book Quiz with your Readers/Writers Notebook will resume tomorrow, as well. Make sure yours is up to date and organized!

Because I was out, lucky you, no homework. However, if you are not close to finishing your memoir or realistic fiction book, I highly suggest reading tonight.

Homework for the weekend (9.25-9.28)

Read your book for 30 minutes and copy a sentence from your book where your author “sketches” a person. Tell me what you like or not like about their description in 4-5 sentences in your I.R. Book.

***FYI- Students will be having an open book quiz on their Readers/Writers Notebook based on organization and keeping up with notes and "Do Now."

Students need to bring in a folder on Tuesday.

Homework for September 24, 2009

Read your book for 30 minutes and respond to these questions in your I.R. Notebook.
Do you like your narrator/author? Why or why not? Does he/she remind you of someone? Explain.

Homework for 9.23.09

Read your book for 30 minutes and create a timeline of information and events in your I.R. Book.

***I mentioned in class that you may not see an hook, background information, moment, and reflection and lesson all from one reading, so just complete a sequence of what you read.***

Homework for 9.22.09

Read your book for 30 minutes and respond to this question in 4-5 sentences in your I.R. Notebook:

Can you relate to your author or narrator? Why or why not?

Homework for 9.21.09

Read your book for 30 minutes and complete a main idea graphic organizer for your reading in your I.R. Notebook.

***Get new syllabus signed! It's due WEDNESDAY for a QUIZ grade!***

Homework for Week of Sept. 14-18

I am posting all the reading homework for this past week. I apologize for not posting this daily. This will change next week, starting Monday. Every day the homework will be posted. This is also a reminder that all reading homework must be written in the I.R. Notebook!

Monday (September 14)
Read your memoir for 30 minutes and respond to this question in 4-5 sentences in your I.R. book:
What makes a memoir different from a biography or an autobiography? Give examples from other books and your memoir.

Tuesday (September 15)
Read your memoir for 30 minutes and respond to this question in 4-5 sentences in your I.R. book: What memory is being described in your book so far? Tell me about it.

Wednesday (September 16)
Read for 30 minutes of your book and respond to this question in your I.R. book: Why do you think this memory is important to the author or character? Do you think there is a lesson the author or character learns from this memory?

Thursday (September 17)
Read for 30 minutes of your book and respond to this question in your I.R. book:
What is your character struggling with so far in your book? Are they doing anything to get better? What advice would you give them?

Friday (September 18)
Read for 30 minutes of your book and respond to this question in your I.R. book: What have you learned so far about the author or narrator? What is his/her wants, needs, fears, or dreams?

***Students were given a syllabus on Thursday that they were supposed to read over with their parents and get it signed. This syllabus was revised and a new one will be going home on Monday. You may throw away the first syllabus***

Homework for 9.14.09

Read your memoir for 30 minutes and respond to this question in 4-5 sentences in your I.R. book:
What makes a memoir different from a biography or an autobiography? Give examples from other books and your memoir.

**If you can't find a memoir you may get a realistic fiction book as long as it's told in the first person. This is when the author uses "I" a lot. For example, "I never understood mean eighth graders" or "I got lost only 5 times today instead of 10."

Homework due Monday (September 14th)

Students need to find a memoir that they would like to read and bring it to class every day. They can check one out from the library, buy one from the bookstore, or find one at home.

I also want my students to decorate the front cover of ONE of their composition books. They can put pictures, stickers, drawings, words, phrases, and anything else that describes them on the cover. I highly suggest taping over it with packing tape or laminate in order to preserve the cover and your amazing artwork.

Students were given two surveys in class today: a reading survey and a writing survey. Both need to be completed.

Have a GREAT weekend! :)

School Supplies

I have gotten a bunch of questions about school supplies. "Do we have to bring all of it with us all of the time?" and "What can stay in the classroom?"

Here is the supply list and I have labeled what can stay home, what can stay in the classroom, and what every student should carry with them.

• 4 hard covered marble notebooks (100 or more pages)- 2 stay at home, the other 2 need to come to class everyday
• Pencil Sharpener with receptacle for shavings- stays in backpack
• Pocket dictionary/thesaurus- stays in backpack
• 10 two pocket folders- 2 stay in backpack, 8 stay at home
• Red or green pen for editing- stays in backpack
• Blue or black pens- stays in backpack
• Post-it notes- stays in backpack
• Crayola markers- stays in backpack
• Pencils- stays in backpack
• 2 highlighters- stays in backpack
• 2 glue sticks- stays in backpack
• Public Library card- stays in backpack
• Colored pencils- stays in backpack
• Mini stapler and staples- stays in backpack
• 1 one inch soft covered loose leaf binder- stays in backpack
• 1 flash drive (1gig)- stays in backpack
• 1 package (25) page protectors- stays in backpack
• 1 package of copy paper- stays at school

Howdy!

I am so excited to be teaching sixth grade this year at George J. Ryan. This is the spot where all my students will be able to check for updates on assignments, tips on writing, suggestions for good books, and shout outs for shining stars. There will also be opportunities for extra credit.

To the right there is a link to my Twitter account, which will be updated daily and/or weekly as a reminder of homework and due dates.