8th grade Commencement Speech: (+2 points on project/quiz grade)
Prepare a commencement speech in order to share your experience, values, and advice with your graduating class. What life lessons have you learned during your journey at Culbreth? What important, fun, or special memories stand out to you? What will you miss the most? The least?
If you are interested in entering the contest, come to Ms. Grinnell's room at lunch next Wednesday to present. You will present your speech in front of a panel of Culbreth teachers. If you win, you will present the winning speech at the practice graduation ceremony.
In order to earn the 2 bonus points, you must take this seriously. Speeches that are irrelevant, unstructured, and full of errors will not get points. +1 more point if you are selected to give the speech.
Here is a cool NPR story about successful commencement speeches: Anatomy of a Great Commencement Speech.
Friday, May 29, 2015
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Tuesday, 5/26
1. Sit with your peer editing partner. (I assigned you a partner.)
2. Read your partner's paper closely. Fill out the form completely. Do not just put random comments. Random comments will not help your partner.
3. Click this link to go to the released EOG test from last year:
EOG Practice
Start on page 20 with the short story "A Poetic City." (Page numbers are on the bottom of the test page.) Answer questions 32-48 on looseleaf paper. Just write the letter choice.
Do not just guess or write random answers. Use the skills you've learned in class to pick the best answer. See Ms. Grinnell when you are finished so you can review the answers.
EOG Test Taking Tips:
1. Look for what the question is asking you: meaning, tone, explanation, analysis, emphasis, connection, impact, etc.
2. Look for the connotation of the words in the questions (positive/negative). Determine whether your answer will most likely have a positive or negative connotation.
3. Look at the connotation of the words in the answers. If you don't know a word's meaning, remember that words with positive connotations usually have soft sounds, while words with negative connotations have hard sounds. (That's not always 100% true, but if you're in a bind, try it.)
Look at the different parts of the word. What do you know about the word based on its prefix, suffix, or root? Does it sound like other words you know?
4. Eliminate distractor words (words or phrases that are exactly the same at the beginning of your answer choices.)
Ex: If these were your answer choices, you'd cross through "They are" and just look at the main answer word.
A. They are happy.
B. They are sad.
C. They are stinky.
D. They are bad.
5. Look for words that stand out to you in the passage and indicate their connotations.
6. Find evidence from the text that might support your answer.
7. Eliminate answer choices that don't match the connotation of the question.
These tips may help you on the EOG, especially if you have problems with reading stamina and have a hard time with the long passages.
2. Read your partner's paper closely. Fill out the form completely. Do not just put random comments. Random comments will not help your partner.
3. Click this link to go to the released EOG test from last year:
EOG Practice
Start on page 20 with the short story "A Poetic City." (Page numbers are on the bottom of the test page.) Answer questions 32-48 on looseleaf paper. Just write the letter choice.
Do not just guess or write random answers. Use the skills you've learned in class to pick the best answer. See Ms. Grinnell when you are finished so you can review the answers.
EOG Test Taking Tips:
1. Look for what the question is asking you: meaning, tone, explanation, analysis, emphasis, connection, impact, etc.
2. Look for the connotation of the words in the questions (positive/negative). Determine whether your answer will most likely have a positive or negative connotation.
3. Look at the connotation of the words in the answers. If you don't know a word's meaning, remember that words with positive connotations usually have soft sounds, while words with negative connotations have hard sounds. (That's not always 100% true, but if you're in a bind, try it.)
Look at the different parts of the word. What do you know about the word based on its prefix, suffix, or root? Does it sound like other words you know?
4. Eliminate distractor words (words or phrases that are exactly the same at the beginning of your answer choices.)
Ex: If these were your answer choices, you'd cross through "They are" and just look at the main answer word.
A. They are happy.
B. They are sad.
C. They are stinky.
D. They are bad.
5. Look for words that stand out to you in the passage and indicate their connotations.
6. Find evidence from the text that might support your answer.
7. Eliminate answer choices that don't match the connotation of the question.
These tips may help you on the EOG, especially if you have problems with reading stamina and have a hard time with the long passages.
Friday, May 22, 2015
Hey! Do you remember how to write topic sentences? What?! No?! Here is a link to review to ensure you know the purpose of a topic sentence: Awesome Topic Sentences.
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Research Paper Rubrics (based on Common Core aligned Smarter Balanced Rubrics)
Yep, this is going to be tough! Awesome, right?!
ELA: ELA Rubric
SS: SS Rubric
Please check out this resource to help build your vocabulary before EOG: Miller Analogies Test Practice
Yep, this is going to be tough! Awesome, right?!
ELA: ELA Rubric
SS: SS Rubric
Please check out this resource to help build your vocabulary before EOG: Miller Analogies Test Practice
Monday, May 18, 2015
First, complete your Cougar Award nomination.
Let's check your vocabulary skills! Take this practice quiz: https://docs.google.com/a/chccs.k12.nc.us/forms/d/1bItYKt19n4aOi9EOR7yYjwQrQNZdoYx-mTyMRx4t0_U/viewform?usp=send_form
I'll call you back one by one to discuss your research paper and any questions you have about formatting and citations. Work quietly on your rough draft and write down any questions you have for me along the way.
Unit #4 hot words study sheet:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByOeg9CkwuCBNF9Ob0dweHNvME16aUh6Rk9YLU4xQkhSU3Y0/view?usp=sharing
Citation information: http://www.lib.usm.edu/legacy/tutorials/mlatutorial/punctuation.html
Let's check your vocabulary skills! Take this practice quiz: https://docs.google.com/a/chccs.k12.nc.us/forms/d/1bItYKt19n4aOi9EOR7yYjwQrQNZdoYx-mTyMRx4t0_U/viewform?usp=send_form
I'll call you back one by one to discuss your research paper and any questions you have about formatting and citations. Work quietly on your rough draft and write down any questions you have for me along the way.
Unit #4 hot words study sheet:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByOeg9CkwuCBNF9Ob0dweHNvME16aUh6Rk9YLU4xQkhSU3Y0/view?usp=sharing
Citation information: http://www.lib.usm.edu/legacy/tutorials/mlatutorial/punctuation.html
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Monday, May 11, 2015
Monday, 5/11
Hi all. Unfortunately, I will not be with you today, but I should be back tomorrow.
For Monday, 5/11
1. Finish your research digital notecards and submit through Google Classroom by the end of the day. (You must turn in the assignment in Google Classroom or else it will be considered late!)
*Mrs. Anderson's students only: Submit your annotated bibliography if complete.
2. If you finish your digital notecards, review this week's vocabulary powerpoint: Unit #4 Vocabulary and start working on some Own the Word graphic organizers. (AIG, I'll give you your HOT words tomorrow.)
Own the Word template: OTW template (Make sure to add in a section for different forms of the word. List at least three different forms of the word with part of speech.
For Monday, 5/11
1. Finish your research digital notecards and submit through Google Classroom by the end of the day. (You must turn in the assignment in Google Classroom or else it will be considered late!)
*Mrs. Anderson's students only: Submit your annotated bibliography if complete.
2. If you finish your digital notecards, review this week's vocabulary powerpoint: Unit #4 Vocabulary and start working on some Own the Word graphic organizers. (AIG, I'll give you your HOT words tomorrow.)
Own the Word template: OTW template (Make sure to add in a section for different forms of the word. List at least three different forms of the word with part of speech.
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Digital Notecards
We are going to use digital notecards to record direct quotations, paraphrased information, and secondary quotations that will be useful when writing our research paper.
Source cards vs information cards
Procedure:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SbMsMCy6cU4xZreWAg10GgVCSpliYAOl2qNVPoqDfk4/edit?usp=sharing
Let's take a look at some secondary quotations: http://articles.latimes.com/2001/aug/26/local/me-38570
Don't like the digital note format? Try this option for your note-taking: https://docs.google.com/a/chccs.k12.nc.us/document/d/1rDMunLwh8IYhE7cIflWFJmsAGktm0Rq2nS3Uw8h2jXc/edit?usp=sharing
Livin' on the Edge!
Source cards vs information cards
Procedure:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SbMsMCy6cU4xZreWAg10GgVCSpliYAOl2qNVPoqDfk4/edit?usp=sharing
Let's take a look at some secondary quotations: http://articles.latimes.com/2001/aug/26/local/me-38570
Don't like the digital note format? Try this option for your note-taking: https://docs.google.com/a/chccs.k12.nc.us/document/d/1rDMunLwh8IYhE7cIflWFJmsAGktm0Rq2nS3Uw8h2jXc/edit?usp=sharing
Livin' on the Edge!
Sunday, May 3, 2015
Research paper
Happy Tuesday! I am at an all-day equity team retreat, so you will not see me today. Please sit where you sat yesterday and work hard on your annotated bibliography. You did one of these for your species project, so this shouldn't be too tough for you.
Check Google Classroom and open the new assignment for the annotated bibliography. Read ALL of the directions on the assignment sheet. Use easybib to create your bibliography. Sign in with your Google account. Once you've found some credible sources (per the instruction sheet), start typing your bibliography in easybib. You will see a button under the citation that says "Add annotation." Make sure to click that so you can add in your annotation.
Here is the instruction sheet I sent you through Google Classroom: Annotated Bibliography READ IT THROUGH COMPLETELY. You will type your annotated bibliography on the document (after the instruction page).
If you have questions about Research Questions or finding reliable sources, visit this link to Mrs. Motta's page: http://msmottaslanguageartsblog.blogspot.com. She has several great resources to help you out with these things. Remember that you need at least 3 primary sources and 2 secondary sources.
Submit a completed bibliography by the end of school on WEDNESDAY at 3:10 PM. Yep, we extended this deadline one day to give you more time. Use your class time wisely! No excuses! Make sure you check out the resources that Giblin has provided you on your project sheet and on the blog. In my absence, be sure to ask Giblin questions if you do not understand something. As you find your sources, keep in mind your Research Questions and Essential Questions. They will help you focus your research and find the appropriate sources.
Research Questions Information
Check Google Classroom and open the new assignment for the annotated bibliography. Read ALL of the directions on the assignment sheet. Use easybib to create your bibliography. Sign in with your Google account. Once you've found some credible sources (per the instruction sheet), start typing your bibliography in easybib. You will see a button under the citation that says "Add annotation." Make sure to click that so you can add in your annotation.
Here is the instruction sheet I sent you through Google Classroom: Annotated Bibliography READ IT THROUGH COMPLETELY. You will type your annotated bibliography on the document (after the instruction page).
If you have questions about Research Questions or finding reliable sources, visit this link to Mrs. Motta's page: http://msmottaslanguageartsblog.blogspot.com. She has several great resources to help you out with these things. Remember that you need at least 3 primary sources and 2 secondary sources.
Submit a completed bibliography by the end of school on WEDNESDAY at 3:10 PM. Yep, we extended this deadline one day to give you more time. Use your class time wisely! No excuses! Make sure you check out the resources that Giblin has provided you on your project sheet and on the blog. In my absence, be sure to ask Giblin questions if you do not understand something. As you find your sources, keep in mind your Research Questions and Essential Questions. They will help you focus your research and find the appropriate sources.
Research Questions Information
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