Homework for 6.16.10

Research a NORSE god or goddess. List 5 interesting facts about them. Do you see similarities with one of the Greek gods or goddesses we took notes on Monday?

Homework for 6.14.10

Name a myth (movie, book, or cartoon) and identify elements using your notes.

Homework for 6.11.10

Enjoy your weekend :)

Homework for 6.9.10

Students can do ONE of the following:

1) Name a fable and identify fable traits using notes

2) Sketch an important scene from a fable. Make sure it's detailed!!!

***Class 601 may see their final exam grade on engrade. All other classes will see their grades Friday afternoon***

Homework for 6.7.10

Find a fable and identify fable elements using your folklore notes. ***You may NOT use a fable we discussed or took notes on in class***

Also, students are taking a final on Wednesday. We are reviewing tomorrow in class. They should study the following units:

- Mystery
- Feature Article
- Short Fiction (point of view, types of conflict, characterization)
- Test Prep (poetry elements, main idea, details, sequence)

Homework for 6.1.10

Name a fairy tale (movie, book, or cartoon) and identify the elements in it by using your notes.

Super Spellers???

My students took a Spelling Skills Test last Friday (while I attended my brother's college graduation in Texas) and today we graded them. The results? A bit scary. So, I'm sharing a few fun links.

Don't trust spellchecker! Here's why: http://www.randyshomestead.com/jokebook/spell_check_poem.htm

Spelling Games:
- http://funschool.kaboose.com/fun-blaster/super-speller/
- http://msnbc.com/modules/DL_spelling_bee/game/
- http://www.spellingbeethegame.com/

I'll post more sites here later.

Homework for 5.7.10

Read the assigned amount of pages for your book and take notes on characters, settings, and important events.

Homework for 5.4.10

Class 601: Read the assigned amount of pages in your literature circle book. Take notes on character, events, and questions you have in your I.R. Notebooks. You can include pictures with your notes (like we practiced today)

**Classes 603 & 622 do not have homework***

Homework for 5.3.10

Class 601: Read 5 pages in your literature book tonight and complete the assigned reading role given in class in your I.R. Notebook.

Classes 603 & 622: Read your literature book and complete the assigned reading role give by your group in your I.R. Notebook.

Homework for 4.28.10

Tomorrow my students will start a new unit called Literature Circles. Over the past two weeks, students were responsible for purchasing (highly suggested) or borrowing their book from a library.

These books will be read both and inside and outside of the classroom and all students should bring their book with them to class tomorrow.

Homework for 4.23.10

1) Review notes and test prep materials for ELA State Test Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

2) Buy book for Literature Circle Unit (see below)

3) Get good rest and eat breakfast for Monday's Test.

Literature Circle Books

The following students still need to purchase their book. You may go to Barnes and Noble or used book stores to find these. If you are having trouble getting the book, email me!!!

-Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen: Dowoan K

-The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan: Dylan C., Brandyn R., Tricia T.

-Girl in the Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland: Liz W., Sadia A.

-Loser by Jerry Spinelli: Marvick E., Isaiah M., Prakash A., Manuel V., Farrah K., Isaiah G., Lyzelly R.

-Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan: Rasmia A., Natalie D.

-Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick: Kanwal B., Raymond E., Mohamed R., Sandrine V., Yoselin T., Jangho L.

-The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin: Kaitlyn S., Suha K., Ethan J., Archie A., Alnina L., Faisal M.

-Frindle by Andrew Clements: Ankit K., Karandeep S., Alex S., Alex W.

-The Watsons Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis: Mahtab U., Cary L., F Md A.

-Tales of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo: Connie X., Kimberly M., Ayesha S., Kaitlin M., Ishraq K., Matthew L., Darius S.

-The Uglies by Scott Westerfeld: Tiffany Y.

-Pendragon Book 1 by DJ MacHale: Farren C., Edgar M.

-Breathe by Cliff McNish: Angelica H., Paola F., Jakia J., Tasia C.

-Avalon by Anya Seton: Arly A.

-The Giver by Lois Lowry: Moet E., Jeanny L.

Homework for 4.21.10

Students received another worksheet with Test Prep Questions. They need to answer the multiple choice questions and for each question, highlight or underline proof. This is due tomorrow.

Homework for 4.20.10

Students received another worksheet with Test Prep Questions. They need to answer the multiple choice questions and for each question, highlight or underline proof. This is due tomorrow.

Homework for 4.19.10

Complete Test Prep Questions (just multiple choice). For each question, highlight or underline proof. This is due tomorrow.

Homework for 4.16.10

Studennts need to answer question 3 in the "Practice with Shorter Passages #2" packet. Students should label the question's purpose and underline key words/phrases. They should also create a graphic organizer before writing the essay. This is due Monday for a grade.

Homework for 4.15.10

Students received a packet called "Practice with Shorter Passages #2." They are to complete questions 1 & 2 ONLY and label each question's purpose and underline key words/phrases. This is due tomorrow.

Homework for 4.13.10

Answer question 3 on "Practice with Shorter Responses #1." Remember to create a graphic organizer and you may use your own loose leaf to answer the prompt. Due Thursday.

Homework for 4.12.10

Students received a test prep packet titled, "Practice with Shorter Passages: Part 1." Students should label each question with the purpose and underline the word(s) or phrase(s) that indicate that purpose. Students should also answer the questions. ONLY COMPLETE QUESTIONS 1 & 2!!!

This will be graded in class tomorrow!

Homework for 4.9.10

Students were given a Test Prep Packet titled, "A Breathtaking Vacation." They are to label each question with a purpose and underline the word(s) or phrase(s) that indicate that purpose. They are also to answer the questions. This is due and will graded in class on Monday

Homework for 4.8.10

Complete Test Question Practice Worksheet given in class. We will go over them tomorrow.

Typing Feature Article

I showed my students how to type their Feature Article in class today using columns and inserting features.

Here are the directions:

To create columns:

1) Select all your text
2) Go to Format and select columns- choose 2

To insert features (pictures, graphs, charts)

1) Click on the location where you want to place the feature
2) Copy and paste the feature to that location
3) Select the feature with the mouse
4) Go to Format and select Picture
5) Go to Layout and select either "square" or "tight"
6) Move your feature around so that the text fits nicely around it.

***REMEMBER: The rough draft (using Ratiocination= 50 points of the grade is revising) and the typed final draft is due TOMORROW!!!!!

Homework for 3.24.10 & 3.25.10

The Feature Article Rough Draft (using Ratiocination to edit & REVISE)and typed Final Draft is due Friday, March 26th.

Students who are going on Spring Break early (i.e. they will not be at school on Friday) may turn in their work the day after Spring Break- April 7th.

Spring Break Homework

Many of my students and their parents have been asking me if there will be homework over Spring Break. My answer?


No!


However, there is a great extra credit assignment that will be posted on the Ryan website. It is a practice ELA NYS Exam. Students can turn it in the Friday we return back from Spring Break and the extra credit will go towards the 4th Marking Period.

Homework for 3.22.10

Choose two of the following features to use for your article (photos, graphics, graphs, charts, polls, captions). Create or gather those features and bring to class Wednesday.

Also, the Book Group Wish paper is due tomorrow! Parents must sign the paper.

Homework for 3.19.10

Students need to complete the outline for their Feature Article. We started it in class and they used their graphic organizer to help them write their outline. This is due MONDAY!

IMPORTANT: Each detail for the sections should be written in complete sentences! You must tell me where you got the information. Use your Research Notes and Interview papers to help you fill in the details.

Here is my example:

FA Outline
I. Intro
A. Lead
B. Main Idea Statement: Most people consider Sea World one of the best theme parks because of the brilliant shows and education about animals it provides. However, after the recent fatal attack during a killer whale show, it seems as if this park is no longer safe.

II. Background information about killer whales and attacks in captivity
A. Killer Whales are part of the dolphin family (encyclopedia)
B. Jordan quote: ""I swam with dolphins in Mexico. It was scary because they are really smart and you have no control over what they do."
C. National Geographic: There are more attacks recorded about mammals in captivity versus in the wild.
D. New York Times: A pet chimp attacked a woman last year.

III. Tilikum Incident
A. San Diego News: Tilikum was in the middle of performing a show in front of families and grabbed the trainer's pony tail, yanking her underwater. The trainer died.
B. San Diego News: Tilikum was transferred to the San Diego Sea Work after killing a man who wandered in a Canadian park.

IV. Sea World's Decision to Keep Tilikum
A. Quote from Sea World Owner: "This is really a wonderful animal. His participation in our shows, his engagement in our interactions, it's very important to his overall health and husbandry. He will remain an active, contributing member of the team despite what's happened."
B. Sea World website: They are continuing to run shows
C. Jenn Quote, "I am afraid to bring my daughter there. What is something happens again, and she sees it? That's traumatizing for a little kid- that's traumatizing for me!"
V. Conclusion

Homework for 3.18.10

Current Feature article is due tomorrow- please see "Homework for 3.17.10" for directions.

Also, extra credit is due tomorrow- I will NOT accept any extra credit late.

Homework for 3.17.10

Finish interviewing people for article- DUE TOMORROW!

Find a recent feature article (no older than March 12, 2010) with sections or subtitles- can be about anything. Tape it into your I.R. Book. Outline the article just like we did in class today for "I Heart Nerds." This is due FRIDAY.

Homework for 3.15.10

Begin interviewing people for your article. Record responses just like we practiced in class. This will be checked on Thursday.

***EXTRA CREDIT***

Ok, here it is! Here is the extra credit opportunity for the 3rd Marking Period.

Because of the amount of points given on this opportunity, I will only accept extra credit from students who are currently holding a grade of 89 or below. This is meant to push those students who have been struggling to a passing grade or the next letter grade.

Students who turn the completed assignment in ON TIME will receive 5 points on their LOWEST MAJOR GRADE! **The assignment must be done correctly**


Go to: http://chompchomp.com/handouts.htm
Print out any ten handouts and complete them.


This is due FRIDAY, March 19th.

Homework for 3.12.10

Complete Feature Article Notes Sheet ***Due MONDAY for a grade***

Write ten interview questions for each person you chose to interview (3-5 people). Use the notes taken in class today to help you write the questions. You may not use the same ten questions for every interview!!

Each person should have their questions written on a separate sheet of paper set up as follows:

Name:
Experience:
Date Interviewed:

Questions (10):

Homework for 3.10.10

Find a current event feature article about a recent discovery (medicine, space, historical, etc) and tape it into your I.R. book. (Article must not be older than March 5, 2010). Rate the article based on the Credibility Rubric we created this week and write 3-4 sentences telling me about your thoughts on the topic. **DO NOT write a summary)

This is due Friday.

Homework for 3.9.10

Continue researching your topic. Collect all research in your feature article folder. All research should be brought to class tomorrow, as it will be used for an activity.

Homework for 3.8.10

Continue researching your topic. ***Only the FACT box of your "Evidence Planner"*** Print out any articles, websites, or copies from books and place them in your Feature Article folder.

Homework for 3.5.10

Begin researching your topic. **Use the Evidence Planner completed in class today to help you** Print out or copy any information you find and put it in your Feature Article Folder.

STUDY FOR MIDTERM MONDAY!!!!

ELA Midterm is MONDAY!

Students will be taking a Midterm on Monday. It will cover three units we've already done this year. Most questions will be multiple choice, but there will be a few short response questions.

Students need to study the following units:

-Poetry
-Response the Literature
-Short Fiction

All notes cam be found in the students' Readers/Writers Notebook.

Testing Your Angle

Some students did not finish the questions given in class today, so I am posting them here so they can finish. All questions should be completed by tomorrow (Thursday).

Testing Your Angle

What is your angle?

Answer is COMPLETE SENTENCES!

1. Why is this topic interesting to me?

2. Will I be able to find information about the topic? How?

3. What personal knowledge or experience do I have related to this topic?

4. Is this topic specific enough or it is too general and the same as other topics I have seen?

5. What might be the purpose of this article be?

6. What do I want people to understand or feel about this topic?

7. Who would read this?

Homework for 3.3.10

Find a current event feature article that would appeal to people your age and tape it into your I.R. Book. Answer these questions:

What is the angle of the article?

What does the author want the readers to think about this topic?

What do YOU think about the topic?

Due FRIDAY.

**Remember this counts as a MAJOR grade as part of your reading project.

Feature Article Unit Reading Project

Students were informed of the reading project for the Feature Article Unit yesterday. Every week, students will be expected to find two feature articles. One will be due on Wednesdays, the other will be due on Fridays. Each article will be assigned a series of questions; therefore, I do NOT encourage students to find all the articles ahead of time.

Each article assignment will be averaged into a major grade- it does NOT count as a homework grade.

Students are able to locate articles in a variety of ways: newspaper, magazine, and online publications. Also, each article must be a FEATURE article- not just any article. Students may use their notes to determine the type of article they have chosen.

Homework for 3.1.10

Find a current event feature article about an interest you have (sports, movies, music, hobbies, etc) Tape it into your I.R. Book and write 4-5 sentences about your thoughts on the article (do NOT write a summary). Due Wednesday.

Homework for 2.25.10

Mystery Story is due TOMORROW- Students will turn in their Mystery folder, which should include the "Mapping the Story" worksheet, Mystery Story rough draft, and Mystery Story final draft (all are three separate grades).

Students also need to find one or two nonfiction books about something or someone they are interested in by Monday.

Homework for 2.23.10

Continue to edit and revise your mystery story using Ratiocination.

The mystery story is due FRIDAY, February 26, 2010. Students will turn in their entire mystery folder, which should include: "Mapping the Story," rough draft, and typed final final draft. Each of these items will be a grade.

**Students will NOT upload these stories to the eZine.

Homework for 2.22.10

Edit and revise your mystery story using Ratiocination for 30-45 minutes. **You do not have to edit and revise your entire story tonight. I don't want you to get a headache :)

Mid-Winter Break Homework

Students need to choose one of the following projects from the selection below to complete using one of the mystery books they have read for the mystery unit. This will be due the Monday students return, February 22nd. Students should print out the project they want to complete to turn in with the project. Note: Parents must sign the project paper.

Book Advertisement

Design a poster advertising the book. Using poster board, create a colorful, attractive poster for the book. You must also include a half page written/typed advertisement.

Book Title and author
_____ out of 10 points

Summary or intro to the book (at least 4 sentences)
_____ out of 20 points

Poster describes the book’s mystery
_____ out of 10 points

Main characters are displayed with a short description for each (sleuth, suspects, victim, red herring)
_____ out of 10 points

Illustrations or pictures (at least 5)
_____ out of 10 points

Poster writing is clear and easy to understand
_____ out of 10 points

Creative and colorful
_____ out of 10 points

Correct punctuation, grammar, spelling
_____ out of 10 points

Parent Signature ___________________________ 10 points

Total: _____ out of 100 points

--------------------------------------------------------------

Character Journal

Write a journal entry from one of the characters about a specific event that happened in the book. Write a journal entry from one of the characters about a specific event that happened in the book. This should be at least 1 full page. You may also include illustrations.

Journal is one page in length (either neatly written or typed)
_____ out of 20 points


Journal uses descriptive vocabulary and allows the reader to gain knowledge about both the character and the book
_____ out of 20 points


Journal reflects correct character traits and events in the book- it should be clear whether the character is a sleuth, victim, or suspect
_____ out of 30 points


Journal is creative and shows genuine effort
_____ out of 10 points

Journal has no more than 5 spelling, punctuation or capitalization errors
_____ out of 10 points

Parent Signature _________________________________ 10 points

Total: _____ out of 100 points

-------------------------------------------------------------

Diorama

Construct a diorama (three-dimensional scene which includes models of people, buildings, plants, and/or animals) of one of the main events of the book. Include a written description of the scene- should be at least half a page.

Half page written description- accurate and detailed (either neatly written or typed)
____ out of 25 points


Diorama reflects actual setting, mystery, and characters from the book (sleuth, victim, suspects)
____ out of 35 points


Diorama is creative and colorful
____ out of 15 points


Presentation of project is neat- no stray marks, evidence of glue or tape, etc.
____ out of 15 points

Parent Signature _________________________________ 10 points


Total: _____ out of 100 points

---------------------------------------------------------------

Book Review

Write a book review as it would be done for a newspaper. (Be sure you read a few before writing your own.) This should be at least one page.


Book Review is at least 1 page- either neatly written or typed
____ out of 10 points


Title of the book is the title of the review, with the reviewer’s name (you) underneath
____ out of 10 points


Review discusses the mystery’s setting, problem, and characters (sleuth, victim, suspects, red herring)
____ out of 30 points


Review includes YOUR opinion of the book and explains it well (give reasons for your opinion)
____ out of 30 points


Review has no more than 5 spelling, punctuation or capitalization errors
____ out of 10 points

Parent Signature ________________________________ 10 points


Total: _____ out of 100 points

--------------------------------------------------------------

Rap/Poem

Write a rap or a poem. This should be at least one page.


Rap/Poem is at least 1 page- either neatly written or typed
____ out of 20 points

Rap/Poem should retell the story (basically a summary)
____ out of 10 points


Rap/Poem discusses the mystery’s setting, characters (sleuth, victim, suspects, red herring), and plot
____ out of 30 points


Rap/Poem should be creative and show genuine effort
____ out of 20 points


Rap/Poem has no more than 5 spelling, punctuation or capitalization errors
____ out of 10 points

Parent Signature ___________________________________ 10 points

Total: _____ out of 100 points

Homework for 2.11.10

Work on rough draft ***DO NOT write climax (final clue)***

Homework for 2.9.10

Read your mystery book for 30 minutes. Create a timeline of what happened in your book today. Underline words that show time passing.

Homework for 2.8.10

Read your book for 30 minutes. Focus on the suspect(s) in your book. What are the motives for the suspect(s) to commit the crime?

Homework for 2.4.10

Read your mystery book for 30 minutes and answer these questions:

After you have read more of your book, does your prediction change?

Why ir why not?

If yes, what is your new prediction?

Homework for 2.3.10

Read your mystery book for 30 minutes and choose one of the setting descriptions completed in class to draw. Write 2-3 sentences explaining how this setting affects the mystery plot. (You may NOT use the descriptions for Untrue Confessions)

Homework for 2.2.10

Read your mystery book for 30 minutes and answer these two questions:

What do you think will happen next in your book? Why do you think that will happen?

Homework for 2.1.10

Read your mystery book for 30 minutes and add any extra information to your mystery elements chart.

Homework for 1.29.10

Read your mystery book for 30 minutes and create a chart of mystery elements. Fill in the elements that you have found so far in your book.


The following elements should be included in your chart:

sleuth, suspects, alibi, clue, evidence, witnesses, red herring, and deduction.

Homework for 1.28.10

Write your own definition for each mystery element we discussed today. Explain how each element was present in the mystery you solved today. Read your mystery book for 30 minutes.

Homework for 1.27.10

Students need to find a mystery book by tomorrow, as they will begin receiving homework about it after tomorrow's lesson. The mystery syllabus will be checked tomorrow to see if there is a parent signature and the growth contract is completed (except "end of unit" questions).


If students lost their syllabus, they may print one here: http://ryan216.org/newela_6.mht

Homework for 1.25.10

Work on Poetry Anthology- DUE WEDNESDAY. Find a mystery book ASAP. Get Mystery Syllabus signed by THURSDAY.

Poetry Anthology

Students received a task sheet about the Poetry Anthology on Friday, January 22nd. This is what it looks like:

Poetry Anthology
Due WEDNESDAY, January 27, 2010

Your task is to put together an anthology, or collection, or the poems written during our Poetry Unit. The anthology should have a cover, a table of contents, and all poems should be typed. Each poem should also include pictures (hand-drawn or copied from internet). This counts as a MAJOR GRADE.

The following poems must be in your anthology:

* “I am what I am” Poem
* Concept Poem
* 4 haikus (1 written in class and 3 done for homework)
* Memory Poem
* Messy Room Poem
_____________________________________________
Your anthology will be graded as follows:

• Anthology has a cover, table of contents, and all poems are typed _____/10

• Poems are accompanied with pictures _____/10

• Poems:
o “I am what I am” _____/10

o Concept Poem _____/10

o 4 Haikus ______/ 10 (2.5 pts each)

o Memory Poem _____/10

o Messy Room _____/10

• Poems are creative & descriptive _____/10

• Correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar ____/10

Parent Signature ______________________________/10

Homework for 1.21.10

Find five lines of amazing description in your poetry book. Copy the lines into your I.R. book. They do not have to all come from the same poem.

Class 601 Homework

This is ONLY for Class 601!!!

SStudents need to finish the memory poem started in class. Below are instructions:

Memory Poem

Step 1: Make a list of important details about a memory. Use the five senses!

Step 2: Identify 3 ideas, objects, or animals to add personification

Step 3: Create three onomatopoeias to use in your poem

Step 4: Write your poem!

It must include . . .

-3 to 4 stanzas
-Must rhyme! (either every other line or every two lines)
-Include 3 examples of personification
-Include 3 onomatopoeias

Homework for 1.20.10

Find 5 examples of personification in your poetry book. Copy them into your I.R. Notebook.

**Use your notes to help you!**

Homework for 1.19.10

Write three haikus on loose leaf about a memory, a friend, or a dream. This will need to go on your Poetry folder and will be included in your final project grade for the unit.

**Use your notes on haikus to help you!**

Homework for 1.11.10-1.18.10

Work on Post Holiday Project. The due date has changed!!!! It is now due Tuesday, January 19th. If students complete it and turn it in before that date, they will receive 5 extra points.

Also, all students need a folder for the poetry unit we are starting in class.

Homework for 1.8.10

Work on Post holiday Project- just creating multiple choice questions and short response questions. For those that lost their sheet, here is the link: http://ryan216.org/holidayhw.mht Just remember that the date due is January 15th.

Also, if you want to look at some old tests, here is a site that has them. Make sure you look at sixth grade: http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/osa/english/home.html#ei

Homework for 1.7.10

Find a poetry book and bring to class TOMORROW. Continue writing multiple choice questions for Post Holiday Homework. Bring back Poetry Syllabus signed TOMORROW (QUIZ grade).

Homework for 1.6.10

Find a poetry book and bring to class Friday. Begin writing multiple choice questions for Post Holiday Homework. Bring back Poetry Syllabus signed by Friday (QUIZ grade).

**Class 603 should not write questions tonight because we did not finish the lesson in class- they will start tomorrow.

Post Holiday Homework- Step 1

Students received a paper describing Post Holiday Homework. I am teaching them how to do each part step-by-step.

Today they learned how to write multiple choice questions. Here is what was covered in the lesson.

ELA reading strategies: main idea, details, cause/effect, compare/contrast, inferencing, and organization/sequencing.

How are questions worded/ what words or phrases are used? mainly, most, most likely, best, what do you think . . , according to . . , what happened after . . ., why does . . , how does . . , etc.

We also talked about how the choices for the questions are written:

-One choice is the correct answer

-One choice is the distractor- which means that is partially correct, but not the BEST answer

-Two choices are incorrect.

**Sometimes text creators will include a silly choice that doesn't make any sense at all!

Example: What do you think Roger does after Ms. Jones gives him ten dollars?
A. Takes the money and runs.
B. Keeps stealing
C. Buys the shoes he wanted and never steals again
D. Refuses to accept the money because he's allergic to it.

The correct answer is C.

Homework for 1.5.10

Find a poetry book that you would like to read for this unit. It needs to be on your reading level- so no Dr. Suess or Shel Silverstein! Try to find two, just in case you don't like one or finish it quickly. They can be by one other or a collection by several different authors.

This is due by Friday for a homework grade.

REMINDER: This marking period ends JANUARY 22, 2010.