Mrs. Gray

Week of 5/16-5/17

Last full week of school, but a busy one with a lot of due dates for language arts/reading.  Tuesday is the reading final, Wednesday is the language arts final and the reading log with the connections is due on Friday.  Since we are so close to the end of the marking period, I cannot take late work.  I am grading as quickly as I can and putting the grades on Pinnacle.  I must have all grades submitted by Friday, 5/24.

If you did not pay the $1 for stamps, you can still bring in $1.34 in stamps and take it to the front office.  Otherwise, you will have to come and pick up the report card in the front office. 

7th grade Olympic Day is Thursday, 5/16.  Please make sure that your students have sunscreen, hats, sunglasses and school appropriate shorts/shirts.  According to the connections teachers, if students cut their shirts in any way, they must wear a short sleeved shirt under the Olympic Day shirt, Also, girls may not wear rolled up soffees.  The shorts must be the approved length.  PLEASE REMEMBER TO SEND A WATER BOTTLE WITH THEM BECAUSE THEY WILL BE OUTSIDE MOST OF THE DAY.  They will have water breaks, but it is better that they have something with them.  The weather is supposed to be partly cloudy, but it can still burn.

Tuesday, 5/14 : Both AC and OL took their reading final.  HW:  Study for your language arts final tomorrow and work on your reading log due Friday, 5/17.

Monday, 5/14: AC- Went over any questions students have on language arts/reading topics.  A study list is on my blog from last week. HW:  Study for your reading final tomorrow and language arts on Wednesday.  OL: Corrected the study guide given to them on Friday to do in class and complete for homework.  Went over any topics that students wanted to know more information.  HW: Study for your reading final tomorrow and language arts on Wednesday.

Week of 5/6-5/10

I can't believe how close we are to the end of school.  Please look at my blog daily because I will be adding new end of year information as I learn it.

Here is some important information for you:

• All library books are due on Wednesday, May 8th.  If books are not returned or payment for a lost book is made, report cards and CRCT scores will be held.
• The last two days of school, 5/22 and 5/23, students will be released at 1:30 p.m.
• 7th grade Olympic Day is on Thursday, 5/16.
• Reading Final now on Tuesday, 5/14
• Language Arts final on Wednesday, 5/15
• Reading Logs and Connections due on Friday, 5/17

Deficiency notices went home on Friday, 5/10.

If you are looking for something to do this summer, there are some great writing camps at Kennesaw State University. 

Announcement:  Youth Writing Academy

KMWP is pleased to announce the Youth Writing Academy Summer Sessions for 2013:

June 3 - 7:      Write from the Beginning for rising 9th and 10th grade students
June 24 - 28:  Creative Writing (High School)
July 8 - 12:     Creative Writing (Middle School) - I am teaching this one
July 8 - 12:     Teen Writer's Studio

For descriptions, download the flyer (http://www.kmwp.org/Portals/0/docs/YWAFlyer2013.pdf) or visit the link to the YWA page on the KMWP website

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email Jennifer Knowles @ kmwp@kennesaw.edu or Mary Stillerman @ mary.stillerman@gmail.com ; and feel free to pass along information to parents or students interested in the YWA.

Friday, 5/10 - AC - Students made a poster about one of the themes found in Wall-E and use logos, pathos and ethos to show their theme.  Attached is a copy of the assignment Download Wall-E assignmentcompatible.  I am also attaching a list of topics that will be on the reading and language arts finals next Tuesday and Wednesday. Download Study Topics for AC Language Arts Final2013. HW: Finish posters and paragraphs.  Study for final.  READ OL: Students had a chance to finish any late work or complete their study guide for the finals on Tuesday and Wednesday. If they left it at school or lost it, here it is.Download Language Arts Final Exam Study Guide - 2013.  HW:  Study.

Thursday, 5/9 - AC- Students finished watching the movie Wall-E and completed their questions.  Papers were due today.  Students who did not have their paper had to write a note explaining why a part of their work is missing.  HW: READ                OL: Students explored a real newspaper (USA Today) and answered questions about how to read a newspaper.  It was interesting to see what they don't know about parts of a newspaper or how to find information.  HW:  READ

Wednesday, 5/8-AC-Students were given questions about the movie Wall-E, and we watched it.  There will be a summative assessment on Friday pertaining to theme and pathos, ethos, and logos. Download Wall-e Questions HW:  Finish paper due tomorrow. Need final draft, rough draft with completed revision sheet, rubric. OL: Students watched an episode of  Lost and we discussed the use of suspense, characterization and setting.  HW:  READ

Tuesday, 5/7-AC: Students were given a revision checklist for their paper due on Thursday, 5/9.  I have attached my old blog below with all of the information about the paper and the example. Remember, you must have your works cited as well as internal citations. Also, in Purple class, we read the story "All Summer in a Day." Attached is a copy of the story as well as the revision checklist.  Download All Summer in a Day 
Download Editing sci-fi article.  HW:  Work on your paper due 5/9. OL: Students read and then we discussed surviving on a deserted island and they had to choose four people out of a list of 13 people who they would want to have on the island with him or her. We talked about what would be the setting on the island and then we began to watch the first episode of the TV series Lost where we discussed characterization and setting.  HW: READ.  Reading logs due 5/17. 

Monday, 5/6: AC-Students wrote a creative story about an event on Mars using the information that they learned from the article that they read on terraforming on Mars. This should have been completed in class, but some students got into it and wanted to write a little more.  It is due tomorrow. HW: Work on essay due on 5/9.           OL: We did some stories with holes and then students listened to the story "The Umbrella Man" while I read it.  They listened and then made predictions about the end of the story.  HW: READ

Related articles

Week of 4/22-4/26

Week of 4/29-5/3

Announcement:  Youth Writing Academy

KMWP is pleased to announce the Youth Writing Academy Summer Sessions for 2013:

June 3 - 7:      Write from the Beginning for rising 9th and 10th grade students
June 24 - 28:  Creative Writing (High School)
July 8 - 12:     Creative Writing (Middle School) - I am teaching this one
July 8 - 12:     Teen Writer's Studio

For descriptions, download the flyer (http://www.kmwp.org/Portals/0/docs/YWAFlyer2013.pdf) or visit the link to the YWA page on the KMWP website

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email Jennifer Knowles @ kmwp@kennesaw.edu or Mary Stillerman @ mary.stillerman@gmail.com ; and feel free to pass along information to parents or students interested in the YWA.

Thank you for your continued support!
Mary Ann and the YWA Team

BOOK FAIR BEGINS AT 8:00 MONDAY, 4/29.  MY CLASSES WILL ATTEND ON TUESDAY, 4/30.  COME BROWSE AND BRING YOU MONEY! THE BOOK FAIR WILL BE OPEN IN THE EVENINGS BEFORE THE BAND AND ORCHESTRA CONCERTS.  IT IS IN THE MEDIA CENTER

Students may not take any books out from the media center after Friday.  All books are due back to the media center by next Wednesday, 5/8.  If books are outstanding, students will not receive their grades or CRCT results.

LA/Reading final exam is Wednesday, 5/14.  There will be language arts and reading questions; grades will be divided between the two grade sheets.

 

This week we are mostly back to our regular schedule.  Wednesday, we have Career Day for 7th grade.  Students will have a chance to hear three different speakers with different occupations talk.  Each homeroom will go to different speakers.  It will be interesting to hear what the kids have to say about it.

Friday, 5/3 - AC - Students met in literary circles to discuss their science fiction novels and share them with their peers.  They all needed to write down 4 facts that they shared with their group on their rubric.  It is worth 20 points.  Then read "How Terraforming Mars Will Work." Students are to complete all of the close read strategies in the side bars and then answer the 8 questions on page 104.  Please remember to bring this book to class on Monday.  HW:  Finish up anything you did not complete in class today.  Work on your paper relating your science fiction novel with your article - Due Thursday, 5/9.  OL: Students read an excerpt from The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, answered questions and began writing a short essay (a paragraph) answering the question, "What is the author's (Conan Doyle) attitude toward the character Watson?  The answer must include at least one example form the excerpt to support the answer.  I am attaching the assignment and a copy of the excerpt:  Download The Hound of the Baskervilles writing  and   Download The Hound of the Baskervilles excerpt  For this paragraph, they must follow the writing process which includes pre-writing, rough draft, revise, edit and then final copy (in pen).  This will be due on Monday, 5/6.  HW:  Finish your paragraph following the writing process.  Make sure you follolw directions.

Thursday, 5/2 - AC: Quiz today on Elements of Science Fiction.  Students also had to show me their article for their essay next week.  They also had time to work on their essay, do additonal research, or read after the quiz.  HW:  Continue working on essay due 5/9.  Tomorrow they need to be prepared to discuss their science fiction book with other classmates in literary circles.                       OL: Students had quiz on the elements of mystery and suspense.  We then did some "stories with holes to see if they could figure them out" and then met in groups to discuss their 5 minute mystery they read on Monday.  HW:  Finish any work owed and turn in, including journal due today and the sheet you needed to complete for your 5 minute mystery.  If you are finished, READ!

Wednesday, 5/1 - Career Day- From 9:30-11:00, students traveled to see three speakers on different occupations.  Classes were shortened today due to career day.  All students need to write on a separate sheet of paper the following journal.  It has 4 questions associated with the journal, but should not be answered in questions form but in a paragraph:  "How does learning about different occupations help you better understand the importance of education?"  "What did you like best about the presentations you attended?" "What do you thnk you want to be and why?" and "How could we improve career day?"  AC: Went over elements of science fiction chart to help prepare them for quiz tomorrow.  If time, did research for articles due tomorrow.  HW: Finish journal, study for quiz and bring in printed copy of article for your paper.Download Elementsofsciencefictionpowerpoint  Attached is the example for the paper that you are writing. This is not perfect, but it shows a good thesis and support. Download Science Fiction Novel ProjectEXAMPLE OL: Students worked on journal on a separate sheet of paper and we did some mystery stories. HW:  Study for quiz tomorrow on the elements of mystery and suspense.  It will have matching and fill in the blank with a word bank. To help you study:  Download Important facts to rememberMystery

Tuesday, 4/30-Last day in April.  All classes went to the book fair during class and received a copy of their summer reading assignment.  AC: Finished reading the teleplay "The Monsters are Due on Maple Street" aloud and then watched the Twilight Zone episode.  HW: Quiz on Thursday on the three stories/plays we have read for science fiction.  Remember to complete your chart for each story.  If you need copies of the first two stories, look on last weeks blog.  They are attached.  OL:  Today we had a warm-up with stories with holes where the students had to figure out the missing information to make the story make sense. Then each student was given a 5-minute mystery (5 different ones were dispersed throughout the classroom) and they had to complete a sheet pertaining to mystery and suspense about their story.  They were also supposed to figure out the mystery.  We will work in groups on Thursday to discuss the mysteries and see if we are right.  HW:  READ.  Quiz on Thursday on the elements of mystery and suspense.  Information from the power point given last week.  You should all have notes from class.

Monday, 4/29: AC: Students went on the computers to find a science article that pertains to their science fiction novel that they have been reading.  They also received the rubric and assignment for their "essay" they need to write. Download Science Fiction Novel Project Rubric.  The article is due on Thursday, 5/2 with the paper completion for Thursday, 5/9.  We will have time to work on the paper in class, but it will require work at home.  HW:  READ and look for article.  OL:  Watched the video of the Twilight Zone episode, "The Monsters are Due on Maple Street" and discussed the suspense within the show and how the author uses specific characteristics.  We then went over the power point given last week, and picked out the important information for the quiz on Thursday.  HW:  READ and begin to study for quiz.

Week of 4/22-4/26

Announcement:  Youth Writing Academy

KMWP is pleased to announce the Youth Writing Academy Summer Sessions for 2013:

June 3 - 7:      Write from the Beginning for rising 9th and 10th grade students
June 24 - 28:  Creative Writing (High School)
July 8 - 12:     Creative Writing (Middle School) - I am teaching this one
July 8 - 12:     Teen Writer's Studio

For descriptions, download the flyer (http://www.kmwp.org/Portals/0/docs/YWAFlyer2013.pdf) or visit the link to the YWA page on the KMWP website

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email Jennifer Knowles @ kmwp@kennesaw.edu or Mary Stillerman @ mary.stillerman@gmail.com ; and feel free to pass along information to parents or students interested in the YWA.

Thank you for your continued support!
Mary Ann and the YWA Team

BOOK FAIR BEGINS AT 8:00 MONDAY, 4/29.  MY CLASSES WILL ATTEND ON TUESDAY, 4/30.  COME BROWSE AND BRING YOU MONEY!

What a fun week we will have!  CRCT testing is this week.  Please make sure your child gets enough sleep, eats a healthy, filling breakfast, and comes with number 2 pencils and a book to read.  We test from 9:15-11:45 every morning, so if you could make sure they arrive on time, it will make testing for them easier.  Lunch is later this week, so students may want to bring a small snack to eat after testing if it is not provided in their homeroom class. 

If any parent in my first class (Blue) would like to provide snacks for the class, that would be fabulous.  I have mentioned it to the students, but I did receive any response to this request.

Classes are much shorter due to testing.  This week, we will do small assignments.  I will not give any homework this week unless it is unfinished work from class besides reading.  Remember, there is approximately 4 1/2 weeks until the end of school, and each child has a required number of pages that he/she needs to read.

Progress reports go home Wednesday, 4/24.

Friday, 4/25:  YEAH! We are done with CRCT testing. AC: Began reading teleplay "The Monsters are Due on Maple Street" by Rod Serling in continuation of our Science Fiction unit.  We will finish it on Monday.  HW:  READ! OL: Finished power point on Mystery and Suspense.  There will be a quiz on this information on Thursday, 5/2. HW:  READ

Thursday, 4/25: AC: Students finished reading "The Last Dog" and began reading "Dark They Were and Golden-Eyed" by Ray Bradbury.  Students will need to complete the story and fillin the element chart.  There will be a quiz on these two stories and a tele-play that we will begin tomorrow and complete Monday.  It will not be until the end of next week.Download Dark they were and golden eyed_Corrected version.    Download The Last Dog. HW: Finish reading the stories and completing the element chart.  OL: Continued with the power point on Mystery and discussed different authors and books that students have read.  HW: READ

Wednesday, 4/24: AC: Students read the story "The Last Dog" in our literature book and began filling out the chart on the elements of science fiction.  Attached is the chart, Download Scicnefictionelementchart.  We listened to the story while reading along except for the end.  Students will be allowed to finish in class tomorrow before we start the next story. HW: READ  OL: Began a power point on Mystery.  We will be looking at the different elements and what makes a mystery.  Students will be quizzed on this information sometime next week (TBA).  HW: READ

Tuesday, 4/23: Students have a free day in my class today to read. We may go outside to celebrate finishing both the reading and language arts CRCT tests.  The students have worked extremely hard in these two tests.  Tomorrow, we will get back to business with our Mystery (OL) and Science Fiction (AC) units.  Homework:  READ

Monday, 4/22: First day of CRCT testing which is the reading test.  We talked about how they felt about the test and then did some review on grammar items that they wanted to review.  I am very proud of all of my students.  They took their time, read the passages carefully and answered the questions.  Homework:  READ

Week of 4/1-4/5

Only one more week before Spring break.  I know that I am tired, so I am sure that everyone needs a short break.  We still have a lot to do this week because those CRCT tests are fast approaching.  We have this week and the week after break to review and continue on with our new units. 

I hope everyone has a great break!

 

Here are some websites to practice for CRCT if you have some free time during break.

Verbs: 

http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/g5_picnic/

http://www.ecenglish.com/learnenglish/lessons/irregular-verbs

http://www.studystack.com/flashcard-1661

http://steckvaughn.hmhco.com/HA/correlations/pdf/l/LEf3_partsofverbs.pdf

 Parts of speech/objects/etc.

http://www.wisc-online.com/Objects/ViewObject.aspx?ID=WCN8207

http://www.english-grammar-revolution.com/grammar-games.html

http://www.sta.cathedral.org/lowerschool/form1/Eng1JAVwww/Grammar/Diagramming/

http://www.bcswan.net/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectiondetailid=22773&

 

Wednesday, 4/3-AC: WU: Review of tone with a small formative quiz on the SmartBoard. Got into groups and looked at 3 poems and discussed mood, tone, and figurative language. HW:  Test/quiz tomorrow on mood/tone/indefinite pronouns. OL: WU: Review of tone with a  small formative quiz on the SmartBoard.  Reviewed figurative language and poetry vocabulary.  Aftetr going over the information, went over 2 poems to pick out figurative language within each poem and to make sure they understand the tone/mood of the poems.  HW: Reader's Journey pages 304, 305 and 326 and 327.  Quiz on mood/tone/indefinite pronouns. 

Tuesday, 4/2 - AC: We worked on Tone and Mood and how to figure out the difference.  Students received a mood, and they had to show it through their words.  Students worked with other students to try to convey their mood.  Went over the differences between Tone and Mood.  Students made a T-chart. I have attached a copy of what was discussed. Download Mood and Tone Students then played mad-libs to look at the difference in diction with mood or tone.  There will be a test on Thursday on mood, tone, indefinite pronouns and of course, some sentence structure/clauses.  If you will not be here on Thursday, you must take it before you leave.  HW:  Review mood/tone/indefinite pn's for test.  Finish the two OAS tests and the Skills Tutor assignment.  All of the on-line tests are due on Friday, 4/5.  OL: Students practiced their tone/mood knowledge by getting a mood, and having to say a given line using the mood that they have.  Students then made a T-chart on the differences between tone and mood. We then practiced sentence structure by playing Englishopoly. HW: Work on OAS and Skills Tutor-due 4/5. READ.

Monday, 4/1: All classes took an editing test today.  Homework:  Do the OAS/Skills Tutor tests.

Week of 3/25-3/29

I hope everyone enjoys your holiday this week, whichever one you celebrate.  It seems strange to have such cold week. 

Please remember to sign up for the Husky Hustle:

Hightower Trail Middle School presents…

The 4^th running of the “Hightower Husky 5K Hustle”

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Click here for registration form: http://www.cobbk12.org/HightowerTrail/HuskyHustle2013.pdf

 Click here for the course map: http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/70638420

 We are gearing up for CRCT as well as working on our new units.  For AC, we will be looking at science and science fiction. OL will be exploring Mysteries in this new unit.  We will look at mysteries as in the reading genre, but also explore the mysteries of life, like the Bermuda Triangle.

All students have been assigned two OAS tests, 1 for reading and 1 for language arts as well as a Skills Tutor assignment.  All of these are due by Friday, April 5.  If you will miss any days before the holiday, these assignments are due the last day you are in school.

AC: Touching Spirit Bear test on Thursday, 3/28.

Editing Quiz - Monday, 4/1

Friday, 3/29: AC: Students made a chart to help them remember and study for indefinite pronouns.  We then looked at examples to put inside the chart to help them. Began unit on Science Fiction with a power point to show the elements of Science Fiction and how it differs from Fantasy.  Download Elementsofsciencefictionpowerpoint. Students will be reading science fiction, finding the elements and then writing their own story utilizing science they have researched and the elements of science fiction. HW: Editing quiz on Monday, 4/1.  Have known about it for 1 1/2 weeks. OL: Students made a chart to help them remember and study for indefinite pronouns.  We then looked at examples to put inside the chart to help them. Corrected page 67 in workbook and discussed the pronoun agreement within sentences. HW: Editing quiz Monday.  Complete page 68 in workbook.

Thursday, 3/28: AC: Students took a one question essay test for Touching Spirit Bear where they took one of three quotes/proverbs and related it to the novel.  Students had the entire hour to work on the test. HW: Grammar WB pages 67-68.  OL: Students had time to finish the questions from the reading yesterday and then we went over the questions to make sure those that had trouble understood the mistakes.  Began learning about indefinite pronouns and how to tell if they are singular, plural or both.  HW: page 67 in workbook. Work on OAS and Skills Tutor assignments.

Wednesday, 3/27: AC: WU: Played a review game of Tic-Tac-Toe with students as the pieces to review mood and some of the grammar concepts we have learned this year.  We played a darts game on the SmartBoard to work on indefinite pronouns.  Students then rewrote their tomato paragraph choosing a mood, and presenting the rewrite to see if the class could determine the mood from what was written. HW: Touching Spirit Bear essay test tomorrow. OL: Played a review game either Connect 4 or Tic-Tac-Toe as a review on mood and sentence structure. I then modeled how I would read an article and what type of questions I would ask myself while I was reading. Students were then asked to read an article "Mysterious Balls of Fire" and answer questions on main ideas, recalling facts, making inferences, and using precise words.  This is graded for accuracy.  HW:  READ and continue to work on OAS and Skills Tutor assignment, due Friday 4/5.

Tuesday, 3/26: AC: WU: We played a game called sink or swim to review what we learned about mood yesterday.  It was a fun way to make sure the students understood the concept of mood.  We then progressed to written text instead of pictures and talked about mood from the words that we read.  We then discussed indefinite pronouns and agreement. OL: Students reviewed how to pick out mood from yesterdays lesson and looked at different examples in text.  HW:  READ

Monday, 3/25: AC: WU: Students chose the color he/she felt represented him/her. They then discussed why they felt that way.  Activity: The students worked in groups and did a "gallery walk" with three pictures to decide what room it belonged, how he/she felt, etc.  This allowed them to begin to understand what the idea of mood. HW: READ. OL: WU: Students chose the color he/she felt represented him/her. They then discussed why they felt that way.  Activity: The students worked in groups and did a "gallery walk" with three pictures to decide what room it belonged, how he/she felt, etc.  This allowed them to begin to understand what the idea of mood. HW: READ

Week of 3/18-3/22

Report cards go home on Friday, 3/22.  Students will need to have them signed and bring back to school.  In my homeroom, I will give positives to my students who bring the signed report card back. 

If you haven't already paid the $1 for the mailing of report cards home at the end of the school year, Friday is the last day (3/22).  If you do not send the money, you can pick up the report card on June 7-8. 

Please ask your student to see the registration form for next year.  It is important that you look it over, check if the second person can pick up your child, and sign the back. 

Thursday, 3/21 - AC: Students finished up their warm-up for editing.  They should be prepared for a quiz next week on editing.  They then completed the written student self-evaluation of their writing questions on the Language Arts benchmark taken earlier this month.  We looked at an exemplar, and then they needed to decide how they would fit on the rubric.  After, we looked at theme within the novel, and how to incorporate evidence from the novel.  Students need to write their second symbol of their theme following the format we discussed today. OL: Finished the writing warm-up. They then completed the written student self-evaluation of their writing questions on the Language Arts benchmark taken earlier this month.  We looked at an exemplar, and then they needed to decide how they would fit on the rubric.  HW: NONE

Wednesday, 3/20: AC: WU: Editing. Activity: Touching Spirit Bear Scavenger Hunt. The students were disappointed to see that this is a literary scavenger hunt to help them better understand themes and symbols within the novel.  Students put into groups and they brainstormed their theme, then class discussion.  Began to see how to gather information and use it to write a proper paragraph. HW: Finish the paragraph started in class (Orange), Prepare for writing a paragraph in Purple.  OL: WU: Editing.  After we finished, I showed them video clips from Apollo 13 because our editing is about the "successful failure" of the trip. Activity:  Students worked on writing today in class.  Began discussion of the five senses, and asked them to free write for 3 minutes on a tomato.  We then filled the board with descriptive language and worked on words that are ambiguous and how to hone their writing skills.  Wrote a description of cutting into a tomato. HW: None

Tuesday, 3/19: AC: WU: editing article on Apollo 13.  Activity: Began to review the questions from the CRCTReview test to see what they know, and what needs review.  We did this on the i-Respond, and discussed each question and why certain answers were better than the others.  Talked about test taking skills. HW: NONE  OL: WU: editing article on Apollo 13.  Activity: Began to review the questions from the CRCTReview test to see what they know, and what needs review.  We did this on the i-Respond, and discussed each question and why certain answers were better than the others.  Talked about test taking skills. HW: READ

Monday, 3/18: AC: WU: Began editing on Apollo 13 article.  Activity: Students took a CRCT review test to see where we need to review.  HW: READ  OL:  WU: Began editing on Apollo 13 article.  Activity: Students took a CRCT review test to see where we need to review. HW: READ

Week of 3/11-3/15

This is the last week of the marking period.  I need all work that is missing in by Thursday so that I can get it graded.  I will not accept any work on Friday.  I will not be here on Thursday, but the work must be placed in their in-box on Thursday.  When I come in on Friday morning, I will take all work that is in their boxes, but I will not accept anything else.

Most of the late work has been due for over a month, therefore, I think that I have given them enough time to turn it in.

We will be having a lunch and learn with my Orange class (current homeroom) on Tuesday, 3/19.  Parents will receive an invitation this week.  I hope that you will be able to attend.  Mrs. Montgomery will discuss the CRCT and the OAS system to help students prepare.  Please return your letter whether you are able to attend or not.  Your child will receive positives if it is returned.

Students will also receive an envelope on Thursday to be returned next week to pay for the mailing of report cards at the end of the year.  HTMS is asking for $1 per student to help defray the postage cost.  Look for this information later this week. This is the information about the postage:

We are asking for your help.  Student envelopes containing end of year report cards are mailed each year.  Due to budget cuts and increasing costs we simply do not have the funds to cover the entire cost this year.

We are asking for $1.00 per student to offset the cost.  Student payment envelopes (information is already on the envelope) will be sent home Thursday, March 14.  Simply place $1.00 in the envelope and ask your student to drop it in the school safe next week ONLY (March 18 – March 22).  We regret that we will be unable to mail the report card if we do not receive your contribution.  Report cards that are not mailed may be picked up in the front office, June 3 or June 4 ONLY.  

Buddy Pictures will be taken next Wednesday.  If your child is interested in having a portrait taken with their friends, he or she needs to sign up by Friday.  I have payment envelopes if they are interested.

Thursday, 3/14: AC: WU: editing sheet.  Read articles in Scope Magazine 11/12/12 on The Face of War, the poem and the service dog.  They then answered questions that will go under Reading for this marking period. If time permitted, they continued talking about conflict and the Circle of Justice for the novel.  HW: Finish the novel. OL: WU: editing sheet.  Read articles in Scope Magazine 11/12/12 on The Face of War, the poem and the service dog.  They then answered questions that will go under Reading for this marking period. If time permitted, we discussed Dangling Modifiers. HW: READ

Wednesday, 3/13: AC: WU-editing sheet. Students then had a Circle of Justice like in the novel Touching Spirit Bear to discuss the book and whether Cole should go back to the island or jail.  Each student had a character, and they spoke for it.  We followed the rules of the Circle. HW: Turn in anything late. READ - finish TSB for Friday. OL: WU: editing sheet. Students then presented their Comic Life on their inventions.  HW: Turn in any late work.

Tuesday, 3/12: AC: WU: We are again working on editing with the class.  Students have paragraphs that they are editing to help them find mistakes that are not usually found with spell check to help them better understand grammar and the art of editing their papers.  They then finished their Touching Spirit Bear test that they started yesterday.  I guess it was longer than I thought.  We discussed the different conflicts found in the novel.  HW:  READ and finish the book this week. Turn in all missing work by Thursday. OL: WU: Editing.  Students presented their ComicLife to the class.  It was interesting to listen to all of the presentations about inventions that have become important to us and on which we rely. HW: READ.

Monday, 3/11:  AC: Began editing of paragraphs about duct tape. Took test on Touching Spirit Bear. It was longer than I expected, so I picked them up, and they will be able to finish tomorrow.  I allowed them to use the book, and I think that many of them looked at the book for too many questions. HW: READ. OL: Began editing of paragraphs about duct tape.  Students took quiz on research. HW: READ

Week of 3/4-3/8

This is the second to the last week of the marking period.  Students need to make sure that they have turned in all of the work that is missing and especially the work that is due in teh next week.  There will not be a chance to turn it in late.

AC: Remember we will be reading Touching Spirit Bear.  We will be reading and writing throughout the next two weeks.

OL: Your Comic Life project on your invention is due on Thursday, 3/7 along with your works cited page.

Reading log sheet: Download Reading Log  OL: 940 pages  AC: 1200 pages

Friday, 3/8: Students took the short response and extended response sections of the Benchmark.  This included 2 short response and one extended response.  Students then had time to read.  HW: Reading logs due Monday 3/11. AC: Test/quiz on Touching Spirit Bear Monday.  OL: Quiz on research vocabulary on Monday.

Thursday, 3/7: Students took the Multiple Choice part of the Language Arts Benchmark test.

Wednesday, 3/6: AC: Students fixed some of their work that was not acceptable and read Touching Spirit Bear.  There will be a quiz/test on Monday 3/11 for the first part of the book.  It will be short answer, fill in the blank, and a couple T/F.  I will expect all answers unless they are fill in the blank or T/F to be in complete sentences.  HW: Read Touching Spirit Bear and other books because reading logs are due on Monday, 3/11. OL: Students learned about research vocabulary including primary and secondary sources using a program called Thinglink.  They built a study guide book to help them prepare for a quiz on Monday, 3/11.  HW: Read - remember reading logs are due on Monday, 3/11.

Tuesday, 3/5: AC: Students took a Survival simulation to get them thinking about the book.  It was fun to see what each group placed each item in order.  We then did a free write on predictions for the novel, and began filling out the character chart. HW: Read through chapter 5 of the novel.  OL: Students worked on their projects if they were not finished. Those that were finished with their work, had a good time working on misplaced modifiers.  HW:  Finish the project due Thursday 3/7.

Monday, 3/4: AC: Corrected misplaced modifer work, reviewed works cited and internal citations and then began reading the novel, Touching Spirit Bear. HW: Finish chapter 1. OL: Went to computer lab to work on the projects that are due on Thursday, 3/7.

Week of 2/25-3/1

Deficiency notices go home this Friday.  Any student who has a D or less in my on-level or a C or less in my AC classes will be receiving them.  Unfortunately, I have more than I would like.  Please make sure that students are turning in their work on time.  There is still a lot of work that we will do in the next two weeks. 

AC: Students need to get a copy of Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikealsen by next Monday.  We will begin it this marking period, and finish some of the grades in the next marking period. 

OL: We are working on our inventions project.  It will be due next week.  We have many days in the computer lab or media center, but if you do not get it all done at school, make sure you are working at home.  This project will have 2 primary grades and 1 secondary grade for language arts and 1 secondary grade for reading.

Keep on reading!

Wednesday, 2/27: AC: More commencement speeches today.  The students are doinog a very good job at taking the ideas of their person and putting it into a speech.  Finished up dangling modifiers assignment.  If it is not done, it is homework. OL:  Went over how to make a works cited page.  Attached is my example:Download Works Cited_How To.  I even built a new one on the SmartBoard to show them how to navigate in Word and change the line spacing and find "hanging indent." We then looked at ComicLife.  I showed them how to start with that.  Students have a Quick user guide while they are in class.  The project will be due towards the end of next week.  We will be in the computer lab tomorrow and Monday.  Students must work diligently to get the work done.  I will be glad to sign passes for them to come in early so they can go to the media center and work.  They have already had 3 days in the computer lab.  HW: Prepare to have everything they need to build their ComicLife.  I also think that you can download it free.  If you can't, work on the Works Cited at home.

Tuesday, 2/26: AC: Students continued to give their commencement speeches.  I am really enjoying how they take their person and make the speeches personal.  We also looked at a power point on dqngling modifiers Download Dangling-modifiers.  We will see another one tomorrow.  Students were then given a sentence with a dangling modifier and they are to draw a silly picture of how the sentence is wrong, and then correct it.  We will finish this in class tomorrow.  HW:  READ OL: We went to the computer lab to work on the note cards and source cards which were due at the end of class period.  We will continue to work on the project in class tomorrow.  I will go over how to write a works cited page and explain ComicLife.  HW: Continue to do reasearch if you don't have enough information to answer the questions to be placed in your presentation.

Monday, 2/25: AC: Students began to give their commencement speeches as the person they researched.  I have enjoyed all of them so far.  We also finished discussing the story, "The Cat and the Coffee Drinkers." HW: Make sure you fix your creative/technical piece if you think it needs work. (hint, hint: Many need work). This is due Friday 3/1. OL: Students went to the media center to work on their note and source cards.  The assigned 3 source cards and the 10 note cards are due at the end of the class period tomorrow.  We will be in the computer lab tomorrow.  This will be 3 days doing the research.  We will continue to go to the media center/computer lab to work on the ComicLife presentation and the works cited page.  HW: Continue to work on your source/note cards to insure that you will have the number needed for tomorrow's grade.