I am Jumping for Joy Because of YOU!

I am so Proud of You!

Over the past few weeks you have been "playing my silly games" as we laid the foundation for writing argumentative essays, and wow, you wrote amazing essays!

You have taken my lead and participated in every activity. For this, my gratitude runs deep. As you know, every little thing we do in class leads to a higher goal. There is always method to my madness...

although sometimes it seems like chaos. :-) 

Regardless, you step up.




You, yes you, have risen to a new level in your writing skills. Even more impressive, you have taken your critical thinking skills to an entirely new level.

In fact, I am telling anyone within a six foot radius of me, just how proud of you I am. Your ears should be ringing.

You are part of my thoughts throughout the day (not in the creepy way), even after you leave my classroom. No matter where I am, I have access to the work you submitted to DropBox, and as always, it's hard to contain my excitement as I click 'download' and wait for the big reveal.

I open my DropBox app, and before I click on a new file to read, I get a wave of electric anticipation, like receiving a beautifully decorated gift, meaningful and emotionally connected, from a good friend.

Your papers are a gift. I learn from you: your thoughts, insights, and skills. The complexity of your ideas and your ability to convey those ideas with appeal is the result of your willingness to engage in our broad range of activities. 

Each one of you have been rewarded with progress significant progress.

Just know, the state of utter joy you have put me in is the result of your growth. This joy isn't about me. 


It's all about YOU!

As you did with your Information Collection Projects, you knocked my socks off and I am jumping for joy! Congratulations on your effort that has been clearly rewarded.

Okay, this teacher is done gushing like a proud mama. Keep up the amazing 
work.

IMPORTANT... don't have access to a computer?

Don't have access to a computer on a daily basis?

Don't have internet access?

Is it impossible for you to use these resources available to you?

Let's Review Nouns

Look at the graphic orgainzers below. Record them in your English Spiral. You will use these are a reference guide in the future.



Create a chart like the one below. Populate your chart with the various types of nouns in the sentences below.

Today's Argumentative Writing Prompt

Argumentative Writing Topic 

Writing Situation 

Studies have shown that some students learn best when eating or snacking while they
study. Many schools, however, do not allow food in the classroom because they
believe that eating can interfere with class work. The principal has asked for student
opinions about eating in the classroom.

Directions for Writing 

Write a letter to convince your principal to allow students to eat in the classroom or to
keep the ban on eating in class. Support your position with specific reasons and
details.

Important Information for the Week

You Have to Know This Stuff

We are in the Computer Lab (room 118) all week.

Book Fair is Wednesday

PBIS Celebration is on Friday

The Parts of Speech Rap Song

The time is always right to review basic parts of speech.

Watch the video below to review parts of speech. Listen to review...

Friday's Homework: Drop Box Me...

WATCH WRITING TUTORIAL, VIDEOS 3 AND 4

*Take notes for each video in a word document.
*Name the saved document with your first name followed by the assignment.
*Submit to Drop Box
*DUE: Sunday by 9:00 pm

Food for Thought

Book Fair : April 26th, 2014

Homework: DROP BOX ME! :-)

All is well with the writing tutorial videos.

Let's review what you need to do tonight.:

Directions

• Click on the page tab above named : "Writing Tutorial"
• You will watch and take notes on Videos 1 & 2.
• Write your notes in a word document. Be sure to put a heading on your page.
• Save the document. Remember where you saved it.

Drop Box It

1. Click on the link to the right that says "Submit Papers Here"
2. Click on your class.
3. Attached your document.
4. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the button to submit.

Parts of Speech Review

The information below is a review of parts of speech and prepositions. You Have been learning this information for years. By Friday you need to be able to list all 7 parts of speech, be able to identify each type. You will also be required to recall a list of five prepositions and identify them in provided text.

7 Parts of Speech

1. Noun
2. Verb
3. Adjective
4. Adverb
5. Pronoun
6. Preposition
7. Conjunction


Prepositions

about above across after against around at before behind below beneath beside besides between beyond

by down during except for from in inside into like near of off on out

outside over since through throughout till to toward under until up upon with without

according to because of by way of in addition to in front of in place of in regard to in spite of instead of on account of out of

An Essay in 30 Minutes! Really?

Time Boundaries are Your Friend

It's amazing what time boundaries can do for your production. Today in class you constructed a five paragraph essay in 30 minutes.

The focus and energy in the classroom was amazing. I want to commend all of you who made the decision to stay focused.

Just remember, no matter what you're writing or which class you write in each day, use the skills you have learned at every opportunity you get and your writing will continue improving over time!

Good Reads: Here's my latest...

Review of The Lord of Opium

With the death of El Patrón at the end of The House of the Scorpion (rev. 11/02), Matt, the drug lord’s fourteen-year-old clone, has not only been reclassified as a human but has now been declared the Lord of Opium, the drug state carved out of the  borderlands between the United States and Mexico. Opium is under lockdown, and Matt must... (Read the complete review)

Focusing on Fiction

I have been elbow deep in non-fiction lately and decided to enjoy my favorite genre: young adult fiction. <br/>
This is the sequel to Nancy Farmer's book, House of the Scorpion which was amazing!

CLICK HERE to find out more about the prequel to The Lord of Opium, House of the Scorpion.



Check out Good Reads for lists and list of YA novels.

Just an FYI. Enjoy your weekend!

Objective Summary Worksheet: Download it here...

A couple of students requested a copy of the "Objective Summary" graphic organizer. If you want a copy of it,...

CLICK HERE to download it.

Download a graphic organizer for Introductions

Here is the graphic organizer for writing introductions. Sown load it and save it to your hard drive. Then you can type in the document. Or you can print it up and write ON it.

Click here to download the graphic organzier.


Prompt #1:

• Do you feel students should be able to grade their teachers? Do you think student evaluations should be used by principals and district administrators, along with other data such as principal observations and test scores, to make decisions about teacher salary and job tenure?
• Do you think students know what good teaching looks like? Do you think students can tell the difference between a highly effective teacher and a struggling teacher?
• Do you think students can be fair in grading their teachers? Or, will they be overly generous to easy teachers and overly critical of hard teachers?

READ THIS ARTICLE BEFORE PROCEEDING

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE for research to support your position on the issue.

Ethos, Pathos, Logos

Ethos, Pathos, Logos... 

What are they and why do you need to know about them?

Ethos, Pathos, Logos - What do they mean?

Anne Frank the whole story full length

Included in this post is the full length video of Anne Frank. The link is either above or below.

It is three hours long. No one is required to watch this movie. It is just an enhancement to what we'd ping in class.

http://youtu.be/h6_qKcxP7AA


Sent from my iPhone

ISAT... Yes It's Over!!!!

You have completed all ISAT Test today.

I am so proud of your focus and continual application of your attention to your work. Hopefully you feel good about yourself and the rather enjoyed the process.

You know, like Super Bowl.

ENGLISH

In English you know have your Writing Tools and your Power Writing under control. Heck you probably have them mastered!

So now it’s on the next big things: 1) how to structure an introduction 2) how to structure a conclusion, and 3) Including elements for convincing/argumentative papers.

You will be engaged in Writing Workshops in class. Activities will have you joining me in the creation of writing, reading other pieces of writing, and creating pieces of your own.

READING

In reading we are now on the Holocaust unit. This is a mature topic and requires your attention not only to the skills of reading, but also the content. We will be applying reading strategies, looking for literary elements, character change, cause and effect, etc. However, we will be diving deep into some essential questions as well. (You recorded these in your spirals.)

VOCABULARY

As far as vocabulary goes… YOU ROCK!!! You are on the second application of using “My Study Calendar” to map out your study schedule and record the strategies you are using.

Spend Some Time With a Good Book

Get Visual with Vocabulary!

Create new meaning for words and remember them FOREVER! <br><br/>

All you have to do is create and color.

Check out these sample of graphic definitions. Give it a try.

Writing Tool #1: Review - Compound Sentences

SENTENCE REVIEW
Simple and Compound Sentences
Writing Tool #1: Review
Compound Sentences
In order to better understand compound sentences, you must have a clear understanding of sentences.
I know, I know,... you’re probably saying, “Well, duh, I know that!”
Hang with me here, and humor me. Watch the videos below to review the foundational elements of a sentence and watch how Mr. Teacher breaks down each sentence in this video.
VIDEO #1: Identifying Elements of a Sentence
(Then watch the second one!)

VIDEO #2: Identifying Elements of a Compound- Sentence (Writing Tool #1)

SAY WHAT?

What's going in in this picture? Challenge yourself to an 8 Minute Write.

The goal? Create a cohesive piece of writing with a clear organizational structure. Think about the purpose of your piece before you begin.

Challenge on! Start writing.