Unit 2 Vocab/Spelling Review test and Test Dates

Unit 2 Vocab/Spelling Review test- October 28th
Unit 2 Vocab/Spelling Test- November 1st

Change to October 22nd's homework

There was a change made to October 22nd's homework. It is not only the handout pages 31-32, but also the writing of the 5 words that each individual student feels that they will have trouble remember spelling 20x each. This additional assignment is worth 40pts. and should be recorded onto the class grade sheet.

New Quarter

Hello everyone and welcome to the 2nd quarter. Just a quick update as far what we'll be covering this grading period. We'll be wrapping up our writing review and begin working more with paragraphs and essays. Our vocabulary/spelling unit will continue throughout the year. We'll be incorporating a few short stories and at least one historical nonfiction to use as a basis for our writing prompts.

Students- if you did not end up with the grade that you wanted then I would encourage you to think back about the frequency in which you turned in your work and how complete if was when you did turn it in. Take a moment and be honest with yourself about where the responsibility falls for your grades. Your parents and teachers can only do so much to encourage you, but you have to take the steps to do better.

Parents- if you have any concerns about your student's performance please feel free to email/call the school/send a note and I will get back with you as quickly as possible.

Vocabulary Test Dates

Morning everyone! There will be two vocabulary tests per unit- one a practice and the other a final. If you (the student) get an A on the practice you have the option of not taking the final test for that unit. You may choose to retake the test for a higher score if you would like. For those of you that will take the test twice, the higher of the two test scores will be the score recorded into the gradebook.

I hope that this sets those of you with test anxiety a little at ease since you have multiple chances here to do well. Please, please, please remember that the test is not only over being able to use the vocabulary word correctly, but to also spell it.

EXTRA CREDIT FOR FIRST GRADING PERIOD

Extra Credit Option:
Due: September 30, 2010
What: Write a compare and contrast essay between a movie and the novel it was based upon. The movie/novel must be school appropriate (G or PG rating).
Points: 100

Essay Format: 5-paragraph minimum, typed, 12pt Times New Roman font, standard margins

Have you ever wanted to be in the funny papers?

Well here's your chance to be in the funny papers- check out this website and create your own comic strip!This site is great for students who hate to write long drawn out pages of storylines, but need to demonstrate that they know what they are doing with punctuation, capitalization, spelling, mood, symbolism, and other fun language arts terms.http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Comix/

First Round of NWEA is Over!!

The first round of NWEA testing is over...wooohoooo!!!! The students did a great job with taking their time and doing the best that they could without too much bribing or threatening from this language arts teacher ;) I'm looking forward to conferencing with each student on how they did and what goals they want to set for the winter round of testing.

Midterm reports will be going out this week, so please be looking for them in the mail. Have a great Labor Day; be safe and enjoy the time off.

Tests coming up next week :)

7th graders have NWEA Language Arts testing next Tuesday- be prepared to try your best. That's all I ask of you :) And on Thursday, September 2 they have a Suffix and Prefix Test; so hopefully you students are using your 'study-tellers' to study.

Have a great and safe weekend!!!

Grades :)

For any parents out there :)

Since I'm not sure how many parents have been able to get into PowerSchool since it seems to continually go up and down, so I am writing grades for 7th grade Language Arts into the students' agendas. I sent home parent letters last week and very few of them came back so hopefully this will help. If you have any questions concerning your student's grade please email me and I will respond as quickly as possible.

As always, thank you for your time and have a great day :)

Ms. Wright

My 8th grade Homeroom's Nickname

Alright, I want to say right here and now that I had nothing to do with this vote. Let me present to you "The Hungry Happy Hippos" or otherwise known as H(cubed).

Heads up about Parent Letter

I'm starting to see a few holes in my gradebook where assignments are not being turned in. And since it is way too early in the year and the assignments are extremely easy right now; no one should have anything less than an A. Letters are going home Tuesday, August 17th to let parents know where their child sits gradewise in their Language Arts class. So those of you students that have not been keeping up with these simple assignments are running out of time before the letters go home and I start assigning academic detentions :)

Fun Videos to Check Out

Here are some fabulous videos that help teach lessons and that are fun for one and all to watch! Enjoy :)
http://www.stupidvideos.com/video/animals/fish_or_not/#12491
http://www.stupidvideos.com/video/just_plain_stupid/Cement_Man/
http://www.stupidvideos.com/video/commercials/Bird_And_Car/#857
http://www.stupidvideos.com/video/science_technology/Penguin_Stress/#40535