Language Arts Week of April 1st

The third quarter officially ends April 11th.
This Friday, April 5th is the cut off for any test retakes.  Remember, corrections must be made, obtain a parent signature and schedule a time to come in the morning to retake.

This week.......
Poetry portfolios  (be sure to publish each of your poems -- type or print neatly, illustrate, assemble).

Simple Solutions
Lessons 45, 46, 47, 48
Test on 45-48

Novel completion activities:
Harvard:  To Kill A Mockingbird or Flower for Algernon
Yale:  Nothing but the Truth
Princeton: Thirteen Reasons Why
  You should have completed your novels over the Spring break week. 
Create a graphic organizer planning your essay on the character that you chose.  Be sure to include evidence from the novel.
You will be writing your five-paragraph performance assessment on this character.



Don't forget:
Second Springfield Deposits due by Friday, April 5th

Language Arts Week of 3/11/13 - 3/15/13

Great job on ISATS!
You used the strategies that we have learned and practiced, and put your 100% efforts into the test!


Now until Spring break......

Our focus for the next two weeks until break:
    Genealogy reports -- continue this week;  great job to those who have presented.
    Poetry Portfolio  (you have a list of poems that you are writing;  once you have approval you can begin publishing each one;  submit drafts first;  publish by printing (in ink or sharpie) or typing & illustrating.); preparation of a portfolio of your finished poems.
     Poetry skill assessment  (study your notes each evening!)
    Team poetry assignment -- teams have projects based on a variety of poems that they will have two 45 minute periods to prepare.
    Classic American Writers (Jack London) -- fiction and non-fiction stories;  skill of outlining informational text; continuing to use context clues to determine vocabulary.


Continue with Simple Solutions:
Monday:  Lesson 38
Tuesday: Lesson 39
Wednesday: Lesson 40
Thursday -- Study
Friday -- Test on lessons 37 to 40

Journals will be collected this week; be sure your entries are up-to-date and complete!

RETESTS:
Last week for Figurative Language and Genre test retakes!
Remember, corrections must be done & your parent's signature obtained.

Realistic Fiction Book Report due 3-8-13

Realistic Fiction Book Report Options  (for all, include the name of the book and the author)  Choose One f the following:

1.  Create a journal/diary of the main character.  Write 4 (four), one page, journal entries as if you were the main character in the book.  Each entry should relate to the theme of the book. 

2.  Illustrations – draw 6 illustrations for the book you read.  Each illustration should be ½ size piece of paper.  Each should include two to three sentences explaining the scene you drew.

3. Sell it --  You are a publicist and you are writing a 2 – 2 ½ page essay to persuade your printing company that this book which you just completed reviewing is worth reading and should be printed.  Details and examples from the book should be used.

4. Interview a major character in your book.  Compose 10 to 15 questions to ask a main character (or authority if necessary) in the book.  You will also need to write the character’s response to each question.  The questions and answers should provide information that shows knowledge of the book. 

Language Arts Week of 3/4/13 to 3/8/13

Language Arts
March 4th to March 8th

ISAT WEEK --  remember to
    "Take that test like you own it!"
    Get enough rest each evening; eat breakfast!
    Bring a healthy snack -- no candy, no hot chips....
        recommended: piece of fruit, granola bar
     GO CLASS OF 2013 --- DO YOUR BEST......
   
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
    ISAT Testing for 8th grade in Reading and Math each day from 9:00 to 12:30.

Realistic Fiction Book Report due on Friday, March 8th, 2013
Work on Poetry Unit.  Organize your portfolio.  Doodle 4 Google...."My Best Day Ever...." (participation counts for extra credit in Writing).

Progress Reports go home this week.  Check the portal for your grades. 

Make-up Work -- you have only one week after due dates to hand in missing assignments.
You will receive 78% if they are done correctly.

Test retakes availabe on Skill tests only.
Write out corrections, have a parent sign your original test, and come to school at 7:00 a.m to retake your test.  You have two weeks from the test date to complete this process.
This quarter -- Literary Elements -- no longer available for retakes
                        Figurative Language -- last day -- Friday, March 8th
                        Genres -- last day for retakes: Friday, March 15th.

ISAT TESTING STRATEGIES
  1. Read the instructions.
  2. Read the whole question
  3. underline key words in the question
  4. restate the question in your own words
  5. read all answer choices
  6.  refer back to the text
  7. Eliminate choices that are obviously wrong
  8. Choose the best answer
  9. Double check your work

EXTENDED RESPONSE GUIDELINES
   Should be more than one paragraph.
   Restate the question or be creative in stating the main idea of your response & STOP>
   Begin providing your supports with details in the form of quotes from the text (be sure to use quotation marks and identify the article or the author) & EXPLANATIONS of the quotes.
    Use transition words.
    Connect with other knowledge or life experiences you have had.
    Wrap up with a conclusion.