Finish poetry quiz.
Complete EOG practice: EOG
Check answers with answer sheet. Complete assessment questions.
Work on punctuation project.
Annotate "The Cloud" lines 21-44.
Study for spelling quiz with crossword puzzle/flashcards.
Complete Abandoned Farmhouse prompt.
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Released EOG sample test: EOG practice. See how you do and let me know!
Study guide for poetry quiz on Monday: study guide
The updated progress reports will be going home with you on Friday. Please show them to your parents and have them sign and/or add comments. Return the signed progress report to me next Monday.
We have a quiz on Monday. Please review the study guide (see link above) in order to make sure that you are well-prepared for the test.
Please also review the list of spelling words for the spelling assessment next Wednesday. I chose these words because they are frequently used in daily life and they are also frequently misspelled. (I even misspell them!) You need to know the correct spelling and the meaning of each word.
Here's what's happening on Friday:
Affirmation writing assignment - Affirmation:
This is a busy time of year for eighth graders. Students are feeling a lot of emotions with upcoming testing, the 8th grade formal, summer break, and the impending transition to high school. You might feel excited, uncertain, nervous, happy--or maybe all of the above! Now is the time for doing some self-reflection and self-affirmation. This short affirmation exercise might be just what you need finish this school year out strong. We will do this first thing on Friday.
For the rest of class you will work on collecting research online for your small group project. Remember, you are to become a subject matter expert regarding the rules of use for one of the following: dashes, hyphens, parenthesis, commas. You will teach your group members the proper use of your assigned form of punctuation on Tuesday of next week. You have creative freedom for the format of your teaching, but you must explain your topic clearly. You can create a Prezi, write a song, make a wanted ad, write a short story, create a shared Google Doc--anything reasonable is fine with me.
Criteria for each group member:
Remember, you have access to any of my wonderful grammar/writing instructional materials. Please make sure you utilize these valuable resources!
Homework for the weekend: Review your poetry study guide and spelling list. Make flash cards to help you remember the the definitions and correct spelling of your spelling words.
Extra credit opportunities (+3 points on project grade):
Influential Male Role Model Speech Contest:
Write an essay about a positive male role model in your life. Describe the man and his honorable characteristics and experiences. Explain the effect he has had on your life, your decisions, and your actions. Present your essay as a speech to a panel of Culbreth teachers on Wednesday, June 4th during 4th period. If you win the contest, you will present the speech to your peers at the 8th grade practice graduation ceremony.
You will earn points for the quality/content of your speech. You will earn additional points for the following criteria. The student with the highest point count will present at the practice ceremony.
8th grade Commencement Speech: (+3 points on project 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 on Tuesday to start working on your speech. You will present your speech in front of a panel of Culbreth teachers. The winning speech will be presented at the practice graduation ceremony.
Here is a cool NPR story about successful commencement speeches: Anatomy of a Great Commencement Speech.
Study guide for poetry quiz on Monday: study guide
The updated progress reports will be going home with you on Friday. Please show them to your parents and have them sign and/or add comments. Return the signed progress report to me next Monday.
We have a quiz on Monday. Please review the study guide (see link above) in order to make sure that you are well-prepared for the test.
Please also review the list of spelling words for the spelling assessment next Wednesday. I chose these words because they are frequently used in daily life and they are also frequently misspelled. (I even misspell them!) You need to know the correct spelling and the meaning of each word.
Here's what's happening on Friday:
Affirmation writing assignment - Affirmation:
This is a busy time of year for eighth graders. Students are feeling a lot of emotions with upcoming testing, the 8th grade formal, summer break, and the impending transition to high school. You might feel excited, uncertain, nervous, happy--or maybe all of the above! Now is the time for doing some self-reflection and self-affirmation. This short affirmation exercise might be just what you need finish this school year out strong. We will do this first thing on Friday.
For the rest of class you will work on collecting research online for your small group project. Remember, you are to become a subject matter expert regarding the rules of use for one of the following: dashes, hyphens, parenthesis, commas. You will teach your group members the proper use of your assigned form of punctuation on Tuesday of next week. You have creative freedom for the format of your teaching, but you must explain your topic clearly. You can create a Prezi, write a song, make a wanted ad, write a short story, create a shared Google Doc--anything reasonable is fine with me.
Criteria for each group member:
- Clearly identify the topic you are teaching.
- Find a video link that clearly explains your topic. Make sure to share it with your group!
- Identify at least five common rules and uses for your form of punctuation.
- Give at least five examples of the proper use of the punctuation.
- Discuss the most frequent errors in usage; for example, forgetting the closing parenthesis mark, overuse of parenthesis)
- Create a five-question assessment for your group members. Don't forget to make yourself an answer key!
Remember, you have access to any of my wonderful grammar/writing instructional materials. Please make sure you utilize these valuable resources!
Homework for the weekend: Review your poetry study guide and spelling list. Make flash cards to help you remember the the definitions and correct spelling of your spelling words.
Extra credit opportunities (+3 points on project grade):
Influential Male Role Model Speech Contest:
Write an essay about a positive male role model in your life. Describe the man and his honorable characteristics and experiences. Explain the effect he has had on your life, your decisions, and your actions. Present your essay as a speech to a panel of Culbreth teachers on Wednesday, June 4th during 4th period. If you win the contest, you will present the speech to your peers at the 8th grade practice graduation ceremony.
You will earn points for the quality/content of your speech. You will earn additional points for the following criteria. The student with the highest point count will present at the practice ceremony.
Dress:
Were clothes clean?
Was contestant neatly dressed?
Was hair groomed?
Introduction:
Did contestant state name clearly?
Did contestant give age?
Did contestant give name of school?
Did contestant give male role model's name?
Presentation:
Did contestant stand up straight?
Did contestant speak clearly?
Did contestant read his/her essay with conviction?
Was volume appropriate?
8th grade Commencement Speech: (+3 points on project 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 on Tuesday to start working on your speech. You will present your speech in front of a panel of Culbreth teachers. The winning speech will be presented at the practice graduation ceremony.
Here is a cool NPR story about successful commencement speeches: Anatomy of a Great Commencement Speech.
Monday, May 19, 2014
Important!! I noticed that my homework grades were very heavily weighted. I realized that my percentage weights for assignment categories were not weighted the way they have been throughout the year (45% for tests/projects/final drafts, 40% for quizzes and classwork, 5% for participation, and 10% for homework). I've adjusted the categories. This has brought some grades up while bringing some grades drastically down. If your grade went down, come see me to get some extra credit work or get some options to up your grade. I'm sorry about this oversight. We have a few big grades coming up, so don't worry. Just study and do your best!
Important Dates: On Monday, May 26th we will have a quiz on the following:
Literary Elements and Poetic Devices
onomatopoeia
alliteration
puns
metaphor
simile
theme
personification
hyperbole
assonance
imagery
symbolism
rhyme
rhythm
repetition
tone
mood
diction
syntax
Verbals (participles, infinitives, and gerunds) - We will discuss in class starting this Tuesday.
Comma rules - We will discuss in class starting this Wednesday.
Appropriate use of hyphen, dash, and parenthesis - We will discuss in class starting this Thursday.
On Wednesday, May 28th, you will have a brief spelling assessment for the following 25 words. Know the correct spelling and meaning of each word. (These are words from the Spelling Power worksheets.) Create flash cards to study and submit on the day of the test for two bonus points.
accommodate
descend
questionnaire
acknowledgment
mutually
acquaintance
eccentric
adjourn
recommend
appalling
exaggerate
literal
optimism
accomplice
criminal
enhance
mustache
gyrate
disagreeable
sustain
feasible
vaccinate
apparently
embarrass
boycott
Monday, 5/19: In class writing prompt to assess reading and understanding of "Abandoned Farmhouse": Writing prompts
(students have the poems "Abandoned Farmhouse" and "Nothing Gold Can Stay" in their binders.)
Homework: Spelling Power Lesson 3: Double Consonants worksheet, Create flash cards for spelling words and poetry/literary devices.
Tuesday, 5/20: Check spelling power homework for completion and accuracy. Watch video about verbals and take notes: video. If you want to watch it again for review at home, you can use this template to take notes. Complete the online verbals assessment: verbals. Complete writing prompt from Monday. Begin making flashcards/foldables for spelling words and poetic/literary elements.
Tuesday, 5/20: Check spelling power homework for completion and accuracy. Watch video about verbals and take notes: video. If you want to watch it again for review at home, you can use this template to take notes. Complete the online verbals assessment: verbals. Complete writing prompt from Monday. Begin making flashcards/foldables for spelling words and poetic/literary elements.
Monday, April 28, 2014
Historical Fiction Writing Project
Historical Fiction Rubric
Ideas for writing goal focus:
Confidence and Independence: Confer with yourself. Read your writing as an other and decide for yourself what works and what needs more work. Pull through difficulty with more independence, push for closure, finish a draft, then seek others' responses.
Descriptive writing: Tell more in your writing. Provide the details that will help readers see, hear, and feel your vision.
Quantity: Experiment with alternatives--several different leads, passages, conclusions, titles--then choose and work with the best.
Completion: Finish your story by the given deadline. Adhere to all checkpoints.
Embedding context: Weave in the who-what-when-where-and-why amid the dialogue and action
Conciseness: Work on succinctness, or at least deletion after the fact. What don't you need? What doesn't add to the character, plot, tone, theme, idea?
Proofreading: Proofread for sense: for missing words and missing word endings (e.g., s and ed)
Conventions: Punctuate, capitalize, and paragraph correctly, right from the start.
Spelling: Self-edit for spelling by circling, then looking up, every word you're not absolutely sure of. Keep a record of hard-to-spell words.
Homonyms: Get homonyms (your/you're, their/they're/there, and its/it's) under control.
New marks: Try new marks to give your writing greater voice, eg., : ; and --.
Commas: Learn the basic conventions governing commas; delete unnecessary commas. Watch for comma splices.
Verb tense: Recognize and keep a consistent verb tense.
Elimination of qualifiers: Eliminate the qualifiers and diminishes that can clutter writing: so, really, very, sort of, kind of
Historical Fiction Rubric
Ideas for writing goal focus:
Confidence and Independence: Confer with yourself. Read your writing as an other and decide for yourself what works and what needs more work. Pull through difficulty with more independence, push for closure, finish a draft, then seek others' responses.
Descriptive writing: Tell more in your writing. Provide the details that will help readers see, hear, and feel your vision.
Quantity: Experiment with alternatives--several different leads, passages, conclusions, titles--then choose and work with the best.
Completion: Finish your story by the given deadline. Adhere to all checkpoints.
Embedding context: Weave in the who-what-when-where-and-why amid the dialogue and action
Conciseness: Work on succinctness, or at least deletion after the fact. What don't you need? What doesn't add to the character, plot, tone, theme, idea?
Proofreading: Proofread for sense: for missing words and missing word endings (e.g., s and ed)
Conventions: Punctuate, capitalize, and paragraph correctly, right from the start.
Spelling: Self-edit for spelling by circling, then looking up, every word you're not absolutely sure of. Keep a record of hard-to-spell words.
Homonyms: Get homonyms (your/you're, their/they're/there, and its/it's) under control.
New marks: Try new marks to give your writing greater voice, eg., : ; and --.
Commas: Learn the basic conventions governing commas; delete unnecessary commas. Watch for comma splices.
Verb tense: Recognize and keep a consistent verb tense.
Elimination of qualifiers: Eliminate the qualifiers and diminishes that can clutter writing: so, really, very, sort of, kind of
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Tuesday
You will receive a Social Studies/Language Arts project called Be the Historian.
Through independent research, you will complete the hard copy of the work packet. You must express all thoughts and responses in a professional and academic manner. The point of the packet is to conduct independent research in order to gain a higher knowledge of language arts and social studies skills. You have all week to work in my class as well as Giblin's . The packet is due next Monday, April 28th.
A few reminders:
*Annotate all articles using the following format:
-Record your comments and questions in the margins.
-Circle unfamiliar words and find the meaning through context clues or dictionary definition.
-Underline key points.
*Do not rush through this work. Your responses should be thoughtful and show a deep analysis. You
must pay attention to conventions of writing (spelling and grammar).
*Ask questions if you do not understand something.
POETRY CONTEST UPDATE:
Earth Week Haiku Contest
Write your own Haiku about nature and submit it by Thursday, April 24th. The winner gets $15!
Requirements:
1. Poem should be about nature.
2. Poem should follow 5-7-5 as closely as possible - one syllable either way does no break the poem.
3. First two lines should be a complete thought.
4. Third line should surprise or delight.
5. Haikus should be sent to Ms. M. Collins electronically (mcollins@chccs.k12.nc.us) and include the statement I acknowledge that this is my own work, as well as your name and homeroom. Write Haiku in the subject line. Submit by Thursday, April 24th, at 3:10.
Through independent research, you will complete the hard copy of the work packet. You must express all thoughts and responses in a professional and academic manner. The point of the packet is to conduct independent research in order to gain a higher knowledge of language arts and social studies skills. You have all week to work in my class as well as Giblin's . The packet is due next Monday, April 28th.
A few reminders:
*Annotate all articles using the following format:
-Record your comments and questions in the margins.
-Circle unfamiliar words and find the meaning through context clues or dictionary definition.
-Underline key points.
*Do not rush through this work. Your responses should be thoughtful and show a deep analysis. You
must pay attention to conventions of writing (spelling and grammar).
*Ask questions if you do not understand something.
POETRY CONTEST UPDATE:
Earth Week Haiku Contest
Write your own Haiku about nature and submit it by Thursday, April 24th. The winner gets $15!
Requirements:
1. Poem should be about nature.
2. Poem should follow 5-7-5 as closely as possible - one syllable either way does no break the poem.
3. First two lines should be a complete thought.
4. Third line should surprise or delight.
5. Haikus should be sent to Ms. M. Collins electronically (mcollins@chccs.k12.nc.us) and include the statement I acknowledge that this is my own work, as well as your name and homeroom. Write Haiku in the subject line. Submit by Thursday, April 24th, at 3:10.
Monday, April 21, 2014
Friday, April 18, 2014
Friday, April 18th
Friday!!
Journal #4:
Journal #4:
Day 4 - Directions: Comment, Observe, Ask Questions, Make Predictions, Make Self Connections, and Analyze:
- Discuss the ending of the book
- What may be some themes or the “lesson” behind the historical event and/or story?
Remember - Journals 1 through 3 are due Monday. Journal #4 will be due on Tuesday. We will drop your lowest journal grade. Remember to cite specific evidence from the text and it explain its significance. Remember to introduce your quotes with phrases, rather than just plopping the quote. Please ask me if you have any questions!
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