Archive for October, 2006
Monday, October 30th, 2006
Friday Computer Lab Agenda:
1. Hand in IRL.
2. Is your Gory Story edited and on the bulletin board? If not, finish up today, she said, imploringly.
3. Web work: You will use the Evaluating Web Pages site to evaluate the “Guys Read” Webpage. Print out when you are done. 5 points for your L. A. grade.
Friday notes: This week has been way busy, with the cognitive test, Pippin, Halloween parties, Healthy Food presentations, and of course, parent teacher conferences. Today we will work in the computer lab with the goal of finishing up our gory stories. We will begin a technology project: Evaluating a web page.
Monday notes: We worked in the computer lab, typing up our detailed stories. In third period, we analyzed Halloween ads with Professor Lewison. Good fun was had by all. See you tomorrow, ye ghouls and goblins.
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Friday, October 27th, 2006
I loved Ms. Richey’s story today. The ending was wild. I also loved the dramatic details in your third person mock news articles. Can’t wait to read through those this weekend. Remember, if you did not turn in your IRL, or your Langston Hughes notes, or your Writing Project Rough Draft, YOU SHOULD DO THIS ON MONDAY! Missed you all yesterday. It was great being back in action today. 
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Monday, October 23rd, 2006
Homework for Week of October 23
As you read texts that focus on your writing theme, jot down notes in the NOTE-TAKING/NOTE-MAKING form. Just one or two sentences each day. I’ll collect this on Friday. Anyone reading anything fascinating?
You should have 4 pages of your writing project by Friday. 4 zine entry rough drafts, 4 pages of your play, 4 pages of your social story. We made some great head way today!
Wednesday: Your “Autumn Thoughts” poems were quite awesome. Tomorrow you’ll learn more about Langston Hughes, the poet who wrote the original, “Autumn Thought.” Be helpful for Mrs. Anderson tomorrow please and I’ll see you all on Friday!
Tuesday: I signed up for some storytelling on Friday morning. Ms. Richey is a professional story teller and will come down to 401 during language arts time to share some scary stories. Get ready! I was impressed with many of the revisions people were already making to their writing today. Thanks for taking revision seriously! It makes the difference between so so writing and superb writing.
Monday Notes: In first period, we read about Spain in Time For Kids. Second period workers had a book bistro, and chatted about their lit. books with pals. Professor Lewison came in during third period and we analyzed headlines. A good start to a cold week.
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Tuesday, October 17th, 2006
We’re all publishing various writing projects in language arts. What are you writing??? What’s your theme? How’s the writing going??? Have you had a writing conference yet??? First period, we learned about “golden lines” today. Did you write one? Second period, we learned about stage directions and dialogue for our plays. What’s your play about?? Third period, we read about “voice” in our writing. Who is your main character and how would you describe him or her???
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Monday, October 16th, 2006
Homework:
Bring in some type of reading material that connects with the theme of your writing project. We will use this material for your independent reading for the coming month. A new independent reading log was passed out Wednesday. We’ll begin filling it out next Monday.
Parent Teacher Conference Forms: Please return a.s.a.p.!
Thursday: I wrote notes about today in the publishing post above. So scroll up to read about our writing projects. We are done with oral presentations in first and second periods. But we have a few more to do in third period. Monday!
Wednesday Notes: It was a writing kind of day!
Tuesday Notes: The oral presentations have been going quite well. I’m impressed!
Monday Notes: We have gotten started with our writing. What did you accomplish today???
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Monday, October 9th, 2006
Homework:
Oral Presentations for Friday: First period is working on YHBA speeches. Second period will present Poems for 2 Voices, beginning Friday. And third period students will report on a news article they’ve found.
Writing Project Letters due tomorrow, FRIDAY: (Due date change!) First period is writing a letter about their zine in which they describe their four zine pieces. Second period is writing a letter about their play, including a 5 W’s and an H. Third period is storyboarding their story and writing a letter about their story, their theme and characters and describing why their theme is important to them.
Thursday Notes: We had a long work time today, and we are finishing off items on our “to do” list. I’m excited to get into the writing projects. Everyone has such great ideas. Tomorrow’s FRIDAY! Yay!
Monday Notes: What did you think of Jane Yolen’s book about the Taino people?
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Friday, October 6th, 2006
On Saturday, there will be musicians and free activities in 3rd Street Park. I may have to hobble over there after I slog in the Hoosiers Outrun Cancer Run.
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Monday, October 2nd, 2006
Homework:
First Period: Bring in news articles that might connect with your zine theme.
Second Period: Look for news articles that focus on technology and science.
Third period: Find news articles that focus on a social justice issue that interests you and bring them to school.
10/6 FRIDAY: We saw 5 book speeches in first period and they were all excellent. In second period, we started a pre-write about our mini play. I also listened in on a fascinating literature circle for the Flying Solo readers. In third period, the Wringer group met and they had a fantastic chat. We also began storyboarding our social narrative stories. Can’t wait to see more of these next week. Have fun this weekend, 400′s!
10/5 THURSDAY: We had LONG language arts classes today and I loved having so much time to work on lit. logs, and portfolio projects. First period worked hard on their book speeches and many of you have creative props. Second period has gotten going on their poem for 2 voices presentations. In third period we watched a short video about reading books about social justice in school. I LOVED all the poems you shared at the end of the period. You are fantastic writers. See you for Friday. LOTUS this weekend. Yay! Anyone going???
10/4 WEDNESDAY: We had a great walk to the cemetery today. Then we worked on our lit. logs in the afternoon. Are you wearing your green bracelet? I am.
10/3 TUESDAY notes: We are trying to get our portfolios packed up. If you have photos of pets for your animal essay, bring them on in. OR, if you have a photo of yourself that you would PREFER to put on your portfolio cover, feel free to bring that in as well.
In first period we finished the biography of Dr. Seuss picture book nominee for YHBA. The books we’re reading in 2nd and 3rd are really heating up. It was a bit chaotic with the portfolio directions. Were there too many steps? Give me feedback! Talk to you tomorrow. I’m crossing my fingers that we can take our afternoon haiku hike tomorrow. I hope it won’t rain.
10/2 Monday Notes: We are beginning our new writing projects: zines, plays and stories. Today we did some talking and pre-writing about these projects.
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