New Quarter Equals New Material

We'll be covering more indepth than in the previous two quarters Grammar and Mechanics. In addtion to those exciting subjects, we'll be switching our focus to Literary Vocabulary adn Poetry Analysis. During the Poetry sections we will be reading and disecting the poems through using the Literary Vocabulary as well as the Grammar and Mechanics :)

Novel Soundtrack homework/extra credit instructions

HOMEWORK- 50pts

Complete the soundtrack information sheet and create a clean version to turn in tomorrow Dec 14^th. Remember that the explanation of why you are using that particular song at that particular point in the story and the specific images that it evokes will gain you more points than just filling out the handout with basic information. You may have to place some of your information on a separate paper due to space constraints on the graphic organizer page.

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson861/SoundtrackChartExample.pdf

EXTRA CREDIT- 20pts

1. Go to this webaddress- http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/cd-dvd/ 

2. Click on the CD Cover link.

3. Click on Color Ink Printer.

4. Then proceed to pick the template for your front cover. INCLUDE- title of novel/author’s name/your name/art work.

5. Next click on the Spine tab and proceed to write the title of the soundtrack.

6. Finally, click on the Back Cover tab and pick out the template and complete.
7. Print or bring in on your flash-drive and I’ll print it before school only!

Nonfiction Novels and schedule

For all parents and students:

We've started our nonfiction novels so homework for the next week or so will only be to read the assigned pages in their designated novel- boys are reading Hiroshima by John Hersey and girls are reading Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston. Both novels are linked to World War II activities. If all goes well on the students' part we should wrap up the novels and the work linked to it by Winter Break :)

Homework and Vocabulary Updated Through Turkey Day :)

Hope everyone is enjoying the wonderful weather this weekend. I've updated the homework and vocabulary lists through Thanksgiving. Please feel free to work ahead, especially with all the family festivities moving closer.

The 8th grade classes have moved into their novel units. Each class is reading a different novel- The Time Machine by HG Wells, I, Robot by Isaac Asimov, and  A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeliene L'Engle. Homework from September 22nd-30th will be for each class to read their assigned chapters.

OOPS!!!

I goofed on typing in the homework so please be aware that changes are coming :)

Welcome back to school and ICMS!

Welcome back to school, everyone :) I will have the homework and vocabulary aspects of this blog up-to-date by August 5th. If you have any questions please feel free to shoot me an email or post it here on the blog.

Summer Links

Hello everyone :)

I hope that your first few dates of vacation have gone well. Below are some links for some summer updates and grammar fun ;) All of these sites are packed with activities that can help remind you of what we covered last year.

Ms. Wright

Grammar-  http://www.chompchomp.com
Writing prompts-  http://www.teachhub.com/news/article/cat/14/item/597
Grammar/Literature- http://www.quia.com/web
Plagiarism-  http://www.cte.usf.edu/plagiarism/plag.html
Purdue University Writing Lab-  http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/677/01/

End of the Year Wrap-up

Parents and Students:

With the end of the year rapidly approaching I wanted to do one last post covering what we'll be doing the last 2 weeks of school. Next week the students will be wrapping up their vocabulary review unit and the parts of speech unit with tests on Wednesday, June 1st and Friday June 3rd. The very last week we'll be doing a general review of the material covered throughout the year and making sure that the students get a glimpse of what standards they'll be facing next year.

Have a fabulous summer and I look forward to seeing you next July! :)

Ms. Wright

Teaming up with Art and Research

We are beginning our Famous Artist Research projects today. While most of the work and research will be done in the class some of the work if not completed in class will need to be finished at home. Below are the important dates for research, typing, and due dates:

Research dates- April 15th and 19th
Note Cards & Rough Draft due- April 29th
Typing Final Draft dates- May 3rd and 5th
Final Draft, Graphic, Rough Draft, & Note Cards due- May 9th

If you have any questions please feel free to comment or email me :)
Ms. Wright

Updates

Homework has been updated for the entire 4th quarter. We'll also be finishing up our Poetry Unit and beginning a Research Unit in conjunction with the Art and Science classes this quarter, so try to be here as much as you possibly can :)

We're not to summer break yet but we're close, so let's keep going and keep those grades sky high!!!!!

Poetry Project Booklet Instructions and Rubric

Below are the instructions and rubric for the project.

Instructions:


1. Select 8 of the 17 format poems to incorporate into your book from those that we have covered in class. You will revise and perfect those 8 poems from your notebook prior to putting them into your poetry book.

- Concrete

- Synonym

- Antonym

- “I am…”

- Diamonte

- Cinquain

- Formula

- Sense

- Contrast

- Image

- Object

- ‘Bull Durham Credo’

- Haiku

- Tanka

- Pantoum

- Sestina

- Performance

2. Choose 4 poems from those that we covered in the class. You must write them into your poetry book and then on the next page list examples (for each poem if applicable) of the following figurative language terms: simile, metaphor, allusion, alliteration, consonance, assonance, personification, onomatopoeia, oxymoron, hyperbole, pun, understatement.

3. Locate and include 2 of the following 5 kinds of poetry: ballad, elegy, ode, lyric, and sonnet. You will write out each poem, then following the directions for #2 you will list the types of figurative language used in the poem, and finally you will in one paragraph summarize why you chose that particular poem for your book.

4. Finally, you will take time to embellish your poetry book. While this is not an art class, throughout our poetry unit embellishments that accompanied each poem enhanced the reader’s understanding and appreciation of what they read. Do not use graphics from the computer or other sources such as magazines and books.

5. This handout with its rubric on the back must accompany your poetry project book for grading purposes.



Poetry Project Book Rubric







Student Name: ________________________________________





CATEGORY 40 30 20 10

Requirements All requirements are met and exceeded. All requirements are met. One requirement was not completely met. More than one requirement was not completely met.

Content Covers topic in-depth with details and examples. Subject knowledge is excellent. Includes essential knowledge about the topic. Subject knowledge appears to be good. Includes essential information about the topic but there are 1-2 factual errors. Content is minimal OR there are several factual errors.

Organization Content is well organized using headings or bulleted lists to group related material. Uses headings or bulleted lists to organize, but the overall organization of topics appears flawed. Content is logically organized for the most part. There was no clear or logical organizational structure, just lots of facts.

Originality Product shows a large amount of original thought. Ideas are creative and inventive. Product shows some original thought. Work shows new ideas and insights. Uses other people's ideas (giving them credit), but there is little evidence of original thinking. Uses other people's ideas, but does not give them credit.

Attractiveness Makes excellent use of font, color, graphics, effects, etc. to enhance the presentation. Makes good use of font, color, graphics, effects, etc. to enhance to presentation. Makes use of font, color, graphics, effects, etc. but occasionally these detract from the presentation content. Use of font, color, graphics, effects etc. but these often distract from the presentation content.



COMMENTS:

EXTRA CREDIT FOR THIRD GRADING PERIOD

1. Check out the book Spy Killer and the packet that goes along with it.
2. There will be two assessments linked with the book- a Post-Mortom of a Protagonist and the 3 Levels of Reading.

You may earn up to 200 extra points if you complete this project and do well on it.

Makeup Tests and Packets and Videos oh my!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We need to close up the missing grades for tests, packet work, and videos by the end of next week. I've already talked to each of you this week so you know who you are. Please make arrangements to meet with me before or after school or during lunch to complete these missing grades. After Thursday, February 17th they will remain zeros in the grade book.

Ms.Wright

Grading Updates

My apologies everyone. I've spent the day outside shoveling ice off the driveway in preparations for what is to fall tonight. Once I regain total feeling in my hands and arms, I'll start grading your vocabulary tests and update PowerSchool.

Be safe and enjoy your time off from the classroom :)