Traditions assignment is due tomorrow. It needs to include a 3 paragraph paper (intro, main body, conclusion...see yesterday's assignment). Then, they must create drawing that depicts the tradition. Students were given 30 minutes in class today to work on it.

Today in most homerooms, students had about 1 hour to work on this assignment. Then, in writing, they had another 20-30 minutes. This is what was assigned:

Start your multi paragraph paper with the 1st paragraph about generally how your family views traditions…do you have many, few, big part of your family, etc.

In your 2nd paragraph discuss, in detail, one of your traditions you picked. Make sure to define what it is and how your family celebrates the tradition. Show the reader an experience you had with this tradition that would help us to understand it…show us the tradition, don’t tell us about it. Also in the 2nd paragraph, make sure to tell the reader what this means to you and if you plan to continue it and why.

Conclude the paper with a 3rd paragraph about how you think you will view family traditions in the future. Gives us examples why you feel the way you do.

The assignment today was to choose a few of their traditions and answer the following questions about them. Students will work on the writing portion of this assignment for over an hour tomorrow. Today they had about 15 minutes in class to get started.

1. When did it originate?

2. Why do you have the tradition/what’s the significance?

3. What it means to you?

4. Will it be a tradition of yours?

Traditions. Today we talked about something that we all have in common, yet often do differently. Students needed to generate 5 different traditions that their family has and briefly state why they have it, when it started, and the significance.

Conclusions were collected and edited today. For the next 2 days, (Thurs. and Fri.) we will be spending at least 30 minutes each day working on our final drafts of our persuasive essays..finally. They will be due, without exception, on Monday, Dec 12th.

For those students that are choosing type their paper (thank you), here are the requirements as discussed in class:

Use standard margins (.75-1 inch). Your word program should already default to these.

Use a normal font such as Times, Geneva, Helvetica, Arial, Century, etc. Basically, ones that you see on a consistent basis in books.

Use a size from 12-18.

Print in black

Only use one side of the paper

Do not use ALL CAPS or bold.

If you want to adjust your spacing, 1.5 is nice.

Conclusion paragraphs are due tomorrow (Wednesday).

They must use one of the following techniques, as discussed in class:

Call to Action: the writer implores the audience to change.

Offer a Solution: the writer suggests some possibilities to resolve the problem posed.

Make a Prediction: similar to a startling statement, this can be a warning or an encouragement.

We will be starting conclusions tomorrow for our 5 paragraph paper. Today we looked at some examples and I shared a funny "Top 5 Best Toys Of All" that can be found here. Enjoy it.

Assigned in class today:

Students started their first draft of ytheir introduction.

Consider introduction strategies you have learned and pick one that would be a ‘good fit’ for your paper

Tomorrow you will turn in you first draft in your best attempt (quality). You will need to rewrite if it is in rough draft condition.

Remember, you must state your position in your introduction paragraph using ‘for’ or ‘against.’

Here are the 3 introduction strategies that you can choose from:

Scenario/Anecdote: The writer provides hypothetical or personal examples to illustrate the topic.

Inquiry/Questioning: The writer asks thought-provoking, maybe even edgy, questions to capture the reader’s interest.

Preparatory Definition/Explanation: The writer defines or explains the subject before discussing it in detail.

We had rotations #1 and #2 today. Tomorrow will be #3 and #4. Wednesday we will have all 4 rotations which will be short.

There will be a DOL test on Wednesday. Quick and easy.

On Thursday (1/2 day due to conferences) we will have a DOL Test. Also, due tomorrow is the final draft of the letters to parents. These need to be in FINAL DRAFT FORM:

Simply stated:
Blue or black pen...or typed.
On the correct side of paper, and only write on ONE side...not the back.
No tears, wrinkles, scribbles, drawings, etc.
White out is okay, but should not be over 30% of the paper.
DO NOT HEAD this paper.

It can be done as 2 letters, or one.

If your printer breaks, or your ink runs out, email your paper to me: roger.thompson@mead354.org

Today students got their paragraph 2 powerboxes back and they started to change them into paragraphs. Those paragraphs will be due tomorrow. They had ~20 minutes to work on them in class.

Students had 20 minutes to work on the powerboxes for 2 things that have not been going well. They need to have 2 details well supported. This will be due first thing tomorrow.

We took DOL Test #10 today after an amazing Veteran's day assembly.

They had 15+ minutes to work on their assignment which will be due on Monday. That assignment is, taking their power boxes of things that have been going well this year and turning it into a written paragraph.

Tomorrow we will have DOL Test #10.

Also, students were given ~15 minutes to work on their conference letter. Due tomorrow is a complete set of powerboxes (10 in all) focusing on what has been going well this trimester. This is not a traditionally written paragraph...just powerboxes. This will be due when they arrive tomorrow.

Don't forget to wear your Red, White, and Blue to recognize Veteran's Day.

The 3rd body paragraph is due tomorrow in final paragraph form. Students had 15 minutes yesterday (Monday) in class and 30+ minutes today in class, to work on it. When they turn it in at the beginning of the rotation tomorrow (Wednesday), it should be in final draft form...their best effort.

Remember, Brentwood will be closed this Friday to observe Veteran's Day.

Today students got 2 doses of DOL since test #9 will be tomorrow. They also had another 15+ minutes to finalize their 2nd body paragraph (they had ~15 yesterday too). Due tomorrow is a final draft of their 2nd paragraph.

Expectations for today's assignment (along with the other expectations):

nRestate the position in the intro as well as the point of the paragraph.

nRestate the point of the paragraph in each power 2 (detail).

nTransition words in power 2s

nComplete, developed, sentences.

Make any necessary corrections to your first paragraph. This WILL include transitions and the necessary Power 1 and Power 2 adjustments, and your power 3s. DUE THURSDAY.

Today we discussed transition words for Power 1s, 2s, 3s, and 4s. Their assignment is to copy the following paragraph and insert the appropriate transition words from the pink sheet (transition words) that I handed out today. They need to highlight the words that they add. Students had 15 minutes to work on this in class.

"I am for schools having fundraisers. Fundraisers help a school fund activities that they would not normally be able to afford. Our school has 2 fundraisers and they earn over $40,000. Last year we were able to spend some of that money on going to Camp Lutherhaven where we spent 2 days there learning about the wilderness and playing games. I think that fundraisers help kids give back to their school. It takes very little effort to do your part in supporting your school. Last year I raised $800 by myself by calling friends and relatives that all were more than willing to donate. I am definitely for having fundraisers in schools because it allows the students to have programs they normally wouldn’t have as well as the opportunity to give back to the school."

We peer edited the powerboxes that were assigned yesterday. For today's in class/homework assignment, they are to take the 4 complete powerboxes that they have, and polish up the 1 or 2 from today that they are going to work from, and the 1 or 2 from yesterday, so they have 3 that they are excited to use.

In the next few days we will be adding to these so it is important that each of the 3 powerboxes are set and ready to go using mostly complete sentences. This will be due tomorrow. Students had 15 minutes to work on this in class.

Today we had a fire drill...great. Took some time out of rotations. But we were able to get through today's DOL and collect assignments.

Assigned today was to come up with the power 3s for the other 2 sets of powerboxes. Those will be due tomorrow.

Halloween permission slips went home today too. We will be spending Monday, the 31st, at Riverfront Park enjoying some ice skating and watching a movie on the IMAX. We will be taking city buses down there as well. FUN!

Students got their DOL #6 test back today. We went over the 2 powerbox paragraphs. We did some editing, and due tomorrow will be the same 2 powerboxes re written...better.

In writing we discussed the power 3s (examples) and I showed some student examples.

Their assignment is to take two of their four powerboxes that they created last night, and fill in the examples (power 3s). We will share those in class tomorrow and do some more peer editing.

We will also have a DOL test tomorrow.

In class today we peer edited the power 2s we had for the 5 main ideas. Students removed one of the main ideas that they felt was not as strong, so they now have 4 power 1s, and three power 2s for each one. Their assignment today was to clean those up and put them in powerboxes. This will be due tomorrow.

Students used 5 of the 6 main points today. Assigned were three power 2s (details) for each of the five power 1s (main idea). They had ~30 minutes to work on this in class. This assignment will be due tomorrow.

Create a web with a minimum of 6 main points on one of the following topics. You must decide to be for or against the topic as well. Due tomorrow.

Cell phones in school

4 day school week (same total hours, 1 less day)

Transportation to and from school

DOL Test on Friday.

monday, Sept. 26

In writing today we working on descriptive language..a little. The following paragraph needs to be re written using more descriptive language. The words in red are ones that should b changed, at a minimum. This is due tomorrow. Students had some time in class to work on this as well.

You are a high school student. Essay in one hand you go to class. "I'm done!" You smile. The teacher takes the essay out of your hands and throws it away. She says, "It's a day late!" You look at your hard work. The teacher did noit even look at it! The No Late Homework Rule is bad.

Rotation #1 is doing a similar assignment but they are writing to a prompt about persuading a company to give them a free trip to Disney Land. This too should only be a paragraph using descriptive language. This is also due tomorrow.

Sept 20

Hopefully we are up and running for the blogs. As of now I have not adjusted the emails to the teachers on the side bar because I have to access pictures, which I cannot do from school...darn. But if you need to contact one of us right now, and cannot figure out how, here are the emails:

Laurie.rhein@mead354.org
dale.pfiffner@mead354.org
Teresa.buddington@mead354.org
roger.thompson@mead354.org

Hope this helps a bit.

No homework yet...just studying for DOL tests on Thursdays. We hope to start rotations this Wednesday.

First Day

Welcome back! This will be the place to visit to see what is new and what was assigned. Bookmark this page!

April 25th

HOMEROOM:
PE and weekend check in

WRITING:
DOL #30

Today we watch the first video about Ancient Egypt. Part 2 will be tomorrow. The students had 4 questions and need to answer 1 of them for tomorrow. They had 15 minutes in class to start this assignment.

Directions: Answer 1 of the following questions:

1. Write a paragraph giving three ways the Nile River was important and useful to the ancient Egyptians.

2. Write a paragraph describing some of the gods worshipped by the ancient Egyptians.

3. Write a paragraph describing how the tombs of the pharaohs gradually changed during the history of ancient Egypt.

4. Write a paragraph explaining some of the things modern-day people know about the ancient Egyptians, and how these things are known.

*Very tough time to miss right now since these videos are not available to check out.

Homeroom: Music today. Writing: Need to have the first body paragraph done for tomorrow. Students had 25 minutes to work on this in class.

April 12

HOMEROOM: Spelling #27 WRITING: Started DARE Essay. Here are some ideas discussed in class but not limited to: How you will keep your promise to stay drug and violence free? Why staying drug/violence free is important to you? What you learned. How drugs/alcohol have had an impact on your life. You commitment to stay drug free. Health and Fitness Athletics Future Early Death Mind and Brain deterioration Parents trust Losing respect More friends Better jobs…or simply ‘a job’ Against the law You are a role model to others 5 points supported with 2 details are due tomorrow (Wed)

March 23rd

HOMEROOM:
CNN student news and Music today.

WRITING:
DOL Day 3 and we went over some papers that were turned in and discussed the BIG writing test tomorrow.

March 21st

HOMEROOM:
CNN, PE, and weekend in review
5 questions for the DARE role models due WEDNESDAY.

WRITING:
DOL day 1. DOL Tests got returned, final writing assignment due tomorrow. Students had 45 minutes in class to work on this

March 17th

HOMEROOM:
Spelling Test, CNN, and PE

WRITING:
Students did the final day of DOL and will have a test tomorrow. They also wrote notes to their parents that they will get tonight at 7:00pm when they come to the Conference Night! The topic was as follows:


In a multi paragraph essay, explain to your parents what improvements you have made since 1st trimester, and what improvements you will still make.

If, by chance, you think your are perfect, outline in the paragraphs why you are so perfect and what you have been doing to maintain your perfect lifestyle.

This should be ~3 paragraphs. Make sure you use support with personal examples.
This will be due at the end of the rotation

March 16th

HOMEROOM:
Music and News
*Spelling due tomorrow as well as a test

WRITING:
DOL days 2 and 3. Peer edited the introductions from Monday. Started on the conclusions. Went through the 3 styles of conclusions:

Call to Action: the writer implores the audience to change.
Offer a Solution: the writer suggests some possibilities to resolve the problem posed.
Make a Prediction: similar to a startling statement, this can be a warning or an encouragement.

First draft of conclusion will be due tomorrow (Thursday).

March 14 (pi Day)

Homeroom:
PE and CNN and local happs

WRITING:
DOL and started on Introductions. First draft of intro is due tomorrow.

The 3 Styles of Intros we will use are:
Inquiry/Questioning: The writer asks thought-provoking, maybe even edgy, questions to capture the reader’s interest.
Preparatory Definition/Explanation: The writer defines or explains the subject before discussing it in detail. Setting the scene.
Scenario/Anecdote: The writer provides hypothetical or personal examples to illustrate the topic.

HOMEROOM:
Library and CNN. We also celebrated a birthday today.

WRITING:
DOL test #24 and we peer edited the 2 paragraphs that were due. No homework this weekend.

March 10

HOMEROOM:
Spelling Test #24, PE, and CNN current events.

WRITING:
Today I collected the paragraphs and gave feedback on each one and handed them back. Assigned today was to write the next two body paragraphs which will be due tomorrow. Students had 50 minutes to work on the assignment in class.

March 9th

HOMEROOM:
CNN and Music today

WRITING:
Totay we peer edited our 3 body paragraphs in powerwriting format. Tomorrow, 1 written paragraph is due. Students will have time in class tomorrow to work on the other 2.

March 8th

HOMEROOM:
CNN and Spelling. Spelling will be due Thursday. We will also have a test. We also have a new seating arrangement. :)

WRITING:
Today we discussed examples and how to use them appropriately. Students were given the assignment to create 2 examples, using the layering process, for each of their 9 details they created yesterday. This is NOT an easy task. That is why I gave them 45 minutes in class to work on this.

March 7th

HOMEROOM:
PE, CNN, and This Week

WRITING:
Students took 3 of the ideas from their web and started the powerboxes. Due tomorrow is 3 main points that each have 3 sperate details to support. We will then start working on the examples tomorrow.

REMEMBER: the more time that is taken at each step now, makes the rest of the steps that much easier.

March 3rd

HOMEROOM:
Spelling Test and we also had a Charachter Counts assembly too.

WRITING:
DOL Day 4. We will have a test tomorrow.

In class we went over the pros and cons that the students created. For their assignment, they ned to come up with a web, with a minimum of 5 main ideas, for both FOR and AGAINST competitive sports for kids. This is due tomorrow. Here is a smll sample of some of the ideas that they came up with:

PROS:
Forces kids into sports
Makes you the best you can be
Less obese kids
Deal with kids unlike yourself
Keeps kids out of trouble
Less heart disease
Builds character i.e sportsman ship
Strive to do better in all areas
More active in everyday life
Make friends
Learn to work with a team
Prepares you for the real world
Responsibility
Commitment
Stronger
Deal with defeat and disappointment
Healthy
Gives kids something productive to do
Teaches new skills
Enhances new talent
To be humble and graceful
Lifetime skills
Exercise and sleep balance (worn out)
Builds family strength (mom and dad cheering/bonding)
Fun
Look forward to something later in life…create future goals

CONS:
Expensive
May no be on same team as friends
If you only play at recess or neighbors, you will not be as good
Injuries- life in danger
Pressure
Bad influence (negative behavior to win)- steroids
Made fun of
Takes over social life/free time
Emotional issues
Lower grades if they become the focus
Kids can’t handle not winning
Make excuses which become normal/acceptable
Too much of a sport could be bad
Unhealthy if too involved at a young age
Gets too competitive
Only play to impress parents/acceptance
May be forced to participate
Transportation issues
Parents may not be able to support
Not ready for the responsibility
Not enough time for other activities
Bad weather

March 2

HOMEROOM:
Music Specialist and CNN events.

Spelling due tomorrow as well as a Spelling Test.

WRITING:
We discussed the conversations that the students had with their parents about Kids in Competitive Sports. The students that completed the assignment worked in groups of 4 creating a pro and con list. Those students that did not do the assignment, needed to work on their own and come up with a similar list. We will work from this tomorrow.

Feb 28

HOMEROOM:
We took last week's spelling test and watched CNN for the day.

WRITING:
We finished talking about the short story by Jack London, "To Build a Fire." We then started a new writing assignment that will revolve around children in competitve sports. Students were given 2 articles to read and then their HOMEWORK was to talk with their parents about this subject. The 2 readings are posted below:

ARE COMPETITIVE SPORTS GOOD FOR CHILDREN?
There is something striking about children playing competitive sports such as kickball, softball, handball, etc., on a school ground before school, and that is that they don’t seem to really care about winning! At kickball and at softball new teams form and reform every morning that are not really teams at all; at handball there are no real “sides”, merely groups of two, three, or four kids (and often just one kid play by himself!) who hit the ball to their playmates just as often as they hit the ball to make their playmates miss. Scores, if kept at all, are forgotten the moment the bell rings. For to these children, and seemingly to children everywhere, it is the activity—and not the winning—that counts. Even when the structure of a given game is clearly competitive, the overriding spirit of the children playing that is obvious to even the most casual observer—is one not of competitiveness but of harmony! It is only when adults take charge of things that real teams are organized and winning becomes important. And it is precisely at this point that for many kids the fun is over.If nothing else, competitive sports played in earnest produces losers; for one side winning depends on another side losing. And kids don’t want to be losers. In fact, unless they are pushed, kids are not all that fired up about winning either. They just want to have fun. For many boys, for example, happy memories of the local baseball diamond when they are grown are not of Little League with its uniforms and ambitious coaches, but rather of sandlot ball, where a bunch of “the guys” who happened to be hanging around the field got together and just “hit the ball around.”When kids get older there is no denying that there is fun in friendly competition. Everybody likes rooting for the home team! But it is still all done in the spirit of good fun. Everyone growing up in America in the first half of the twentieth century heard that timeless adage a million times: “It’s not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game that counts!”Today that adage has been stood on its head: it’s not how you play the game, but whether you win or lose that counts. In local newspapers supposedly happy scenes of childhood show little boys and girls suited up in uniform on a playing field with parents screaming in the stands. The argument is made that the competitive spirit is natural and even that it is nurturing in a free-market society where adults must compete in a capitalist economy. But this argument reveals a basic misunderstanding even about capitalism itself. And that is that people don’t create their own businesses in order to “win”, they create them in order to be a success! And in America’s miraculous economy there is infinite opportunity for people who want to succeed.Today’s America is sick with over-competitiveness: atheletes destroying their bodies by taking steroids (and corrupting their sport in the process!), neighbors suing one another instead of having backyard barbeques together; children competing not only to win in organized sports but also to “win” even in the classroom with superior grade-point averages beginning in kindergarten! (By the way, isn’t the main goal of going to school to learn?).Now of course all kids need encouragement—and a lot of it. But next time we are about to tell them that they “can all be winners”, maybe we should think about changing the wording.

=====2nd article=====

Overview
Competitive sports are usually organized around the rules and regulations of a sports organization or other entity. The pros of competitive sports include many benefits for children if the sports include child-oriented goals and controls for appropriate expectations, child readiness and safety, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. A shift in focus away from child-centered practices can negate the benefits children get from competitive sports.

Health and Safety
Organized competitive sports provide an environment in which safety rules govern all activities. Sports organizations have criteria for child readiness, matching competing teams, injury prevention and safety accommodations based on the age, size and capabilities. Trained coaches provide another layer of protection. Competitive sports involve your child in regular physical activity that can reduce risk of diabetes, heart disease and other medical conditions linked to sedentary lifestyles. Regular exercise strengthens the heart, lungs, bones, muscles and joints and can help children maintain a healthy weight.

Physical Activity
Involvement in competitive sports is the only chance some children have for physical activity. Families have less time, fewer children run and play in parks and school physical education programs face time and budget constraints. The lack of physical activity puts children at risk for obesity and other health problems. Organized sports provide some of the physical activity children need -- the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends at least 60 minutes a day -- and can encourage your child becoming more physically active in other areas of his life and continuing those habits into adulthood.

Emotional
Parental involvement in competitive sports, and relationships with coaches and other adults, provides children with attention and emotional support. Competitive team sports can give your child a sense of belonging and help him learn to cope with disappointment and develop resiliency. Children involved in sports often have higher self-esteem and are less likely to have depression. Team sports develop social skills such as effective communication, goal-setting, conflict resolution and time management.

Character Development and Social Skills
Sports teams and organizations are social systems, according to the New York University Child Study Center. Within that system, your child learns how to function in the larger world, handle competition and interact with people from diverse backgrounds. Whether your child is involved in track or field, tennis or baseball, he learns to support others and learns about honesty, fairness and good sportsmanship. Competitive sports also help your child learn effective communication, goal-setting, conflict resolution and time management.

Strong Girls
Girls involved in competitive sports enjoy additional benefits, including being less likely to make poor life choices that lead to pregnancy, smoking and unhealthy weight gain. Exercise builds stronger bones and makes girls less likely to develop osteoporosis. Girls involved in sports experience increased confidence and a more positive body image. Being part of a team makes girls more likely to show up and not disappoint those who depend on them.

Tips
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that pre-adolescents who participate in organized sports programs continue to participate in regular free play, or unstructured physical activities. See your pediatrician about a physical check-up before your child begins sports and to make sure your child is physically and emotionally ready for competitive sports.

Feb 23

HOMEROOM:
CNN and Music today.

WRITING:
DARE today.

Feb 18

HOMEROOM:
Library today. Also watched CNN.

WRITING:
DOL Test...that in about all we had time for. In the afternoon we did art. Fun.

Feb 17

HOMEROOM:
Spelling Test and collected Spelling. Also watched CNN.

WRITING:
DOL. There will be a DOL test tomorrow.

Also, started a new short story by Jack London called "To Build a Fire." Students had 40 minutes in class to read. If they did not finish, they can find it HERE. There were questions that students needed to answer as well.

Feb 16

HOMEROOM

Music and CNN today

WRITING

DOL day 3 and turned in the 5 sentnces from "The Last Leaf." We also watched the "The Last Leaf."

Feb 15th

HOMEROOM:
Spelling was collected from last week and a test was given. Also, Spelling 21 was handed out and will be due Thursday.

WRITING:
New short story was distributed in class. "The Last Leaf," by O. Henry can be found on line HERE.

Students are to read the story and find 5 examples of good writing, or what they consider an example of something they like. Then, after each example, explain why it is they like it. This will be due tomorrow.

Feb 10

HOMEROOM:
Spelling #20 was handed out. Test will be tomorrow.

WRITING:
Went thorough all the questions about "David Swan." We also had 2 days of DOL. Test #20 of DOL is tomorrow.

Feb 9

HOMEROOM:
Handed out the Valentine's Day skating permission slip. Due this Friday. $3.75 for skate rental and admission. An additional $2.00 if you want to rent in line skates.

WRITING:
We had our first day of DARE...all rotations.

Feb 7

HOMEROOM:
PE and CNN. Also talked about the Super Bowl a little...VERY little.

DARE starts on Wednesday in Writing.

WRITING:
Handed back DOL tests and started Week 20 of DOL

Read "David Swan," by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Students will then respond to a small group of questions at the end. If you need to find the short story, it can be found HERE.

The short answer question are as follows:
7. In the first and last paragraphs, Hawthorne makes the meaning of the story very clear. Which two or three sentences in these paragraphs best express the meaning?

8. Find the words "old and beautiful idea" in paragraph 4 on page 128 (if on line, do a 'find' for the word sequence). What does the author seem to be referring to?

9. The story contains several suggestions about how David Swan spent the rest of his life. What job did he probably get? Did he ever find his true love?

10. "David Swan" is even older that "The Lady or the Tiger." It dates back to 1837. Suppose you were told to rewrite the story in a modern setting. What changes would you have to make?

Students will have time tomorrow to answer the questions as well.

Feb 3

HOMEROOM:
Took Spelling Test #19

WRITING:
Peer edited conclusions. Final paper on "The Lady or the Tiger?" due tomorrow. Also, DOL Test #19.

Feb 2

HOMEROOM:
Music and CNN

WRITING:
Went over the conclusion paragraph and what needs to be in it:

Title
Author
2 Emotions
What was behind the door
Prediction as to what happens

Conclusion is due tomorrow. We will start working on the final draft tomorrow which will be due on Friday.

Jan 31st

HOMEROOM:
Continued with classroom meeting and watched CNN. We also had PE today.

WRITING:
Discussed the introduction for the short story "The Lady or the Tiger." Students started on this in class and had about 30 minutes to work on it. We also did DOL.

Jan 26th

HOMEROOM:
Specialist today as well as CNN

WRITING:
Looked at a few first draft paragraphs. Assigned for tomorrow is the 2nd paragraph.

Jan 25th

HOMEROOM
Classroom meeting today and CNN

WRITING:
First Draft of the first paragraph due in paragraph form.

Jan 24th

HOMEROOM:
CNN and weekend update

WRITING:
We reviewed some of the papers that were completed and got an idea as to what is expected. Assigned for tomorrow is the 2nd paragraph. Students had 30 minutes to work on this in class.

Jan 21st

HOMEROOM:
We got caught up on some current events.

WRITING:
Took DOL test #17

Discussed the assignment that was due. The new assignment will be for students to make revisions to their first attempts at the Powerboxes. We saw multiple examples in class today. This will be due Monday.

Jan 20th

HOMEROOM:
Took spelling test #18

Writing:
DOL Test tomorrow

The Lady or the Tiger link is HERE

Also, Using your 6, or more, parts from the story that support your decision about which door, now decide how you can group those into 2 or 3 paragraphs as your main details.

Those ‘quotes’ from the story are phenomenal evidence to support you claim. Expand on those by using logic and personal experience.

Example: “Never before had anyone dared to love the daughter of the king!” This shows that the act of dating the king’s daughter was a crime. And in doing so, the man tempted fate. It showed that he loved the princess so much, that he was willing to risk his life.

After you have grouped the quotes together based on a theme, use a powerbox structure to elaborate on them as well as transition words.

Jan. 18th

HOMEROOM:
Spelling was assigned and will be due Thursday. Don't forget to write the sentences.

WRITING:
Using the short Story by Frank Stockton, "The Lady or the Tiger," decide which came out…the lady or the tiger.

You will eventually write a multi paragraph essay citing evidence from the story to support your claims.

This will be written the same way you would write a persuasive essay since you are essentially persuading the reader to side with you.

Focus on details from the story to support your side. You may also use personal experience.

Remember when you use sentences from the short story, to put them in quotes.
Example: In the story, it stated that, "The semi-barbaric king had a daughter…"
The quoted section comes directly from the short story and therefore you need to put it in quotes.

Due Tomorrow, come up with your side/position and 6 details from the story to support your claim.

Jan 12

HOMEROOM:
Spelling due tomorrow...test too.

WRITING:
Final copy of 5 paragraph paper due tomorrow. Can be hand written or typed. Students had 55 minutes in class to work on this. Needs to be written as a complete paper. It can be typed, or written in blue or black pen.

*For the DOL test on Friday, students have the opportunity to get an extra 10 pts if they bring in their own personal hand sanitizer...like Purell.

Jan 5

HOMEROOM:
As a class we had trouble with behavior in the hallway. Therefore we stayed in at recess. I hope this will not happen again :(

WRITING:
We discussed 3 types of introductions today. Students were give 25 minutes to revise their current standard intro and use on of the 3 strategies. This will be due tomorrow.

Jan. 4

HOMEROOM:
Spelling #16 was assigned. Test and assignemnt will be due Thursday

WRITING:
We discussed a standard introduction. Students had 45 minutes to work on this paragrpah in class. It will be due tomorrow.