Students are going to create a book trailer this week on a favorite book from this school year. They can work alone or with 1-2 people. They can create their book trailer as a photo story, podcast, or poster. Students will present their final product next Monday and Wednesday.
I will be adding the photo stories and podcast book trailers to the HCMS library webpage this summer. They will help future students to decide on a book to read.
All this week students are taking the new state test, the KPREP, and our 8th grade students are testing in reading, math, social studies and on-demand writing. Testing will take place every morning. Some classes will be held each afternoon, but they will alternate each day.
For the test, students may bring an unopened bottle of water the first day and then leave it in the classroom and refill each morning.
Make sure your child gets plenty of rest and arrives on time to school. Once the tardy bell has rung, the back door will be locked and everyone must enter from the front door.
Student Learning Target: I can review for my state test in Language Arts.
We will be continuing our review for the state testing today using an online discussion site. I am able to ask questions online and students can type back their answers to me. It’s a fun and unique way to review for the test.
Bell Ringers are on paper today.
Instructions for today:
1. Go to Quiz Star and take the next “untaken” quiz. The name of the quiz is “Practice Test 1.” This quiz is for a grade so be careful with your answers.
Remember, your user name is your first initial and last name with the number of your class period. Example: rhersel5 (Some of you had to add a th to your class period in the user name.) Your password: read3 or read5 or read6 or read7.
2. Once you complete the test, you can review your answers. They will all be on the same page at this point. If you are happy with all of them, click on submit the test so it will be graded.
3. Next, with the time remaining, you can do these language arts practice/review games in any order. No other choice except if you wish to read. Go to these websites. Mute your speaker or get headphones:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/english/games?page=2
Play these 3 games and please don’t play a game if it’s not on this listing or you will be off the computer:
a. “Put text into sentence game”
b. “Sentence Shooter Game” (choose hard, not easy)
c. “Silent Invaders Game”
http://www.funbrain.com/spell/index.html
Spelling Game
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/grammar/verbs.htm
Verbs in Space (whack a verb)
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/grammar/adjectives.htm
Adjective Adventure (with spiders!)
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/grammar/nouns.htm
Noun Adventure (go fishing with worms)
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/grammar/capitalization.htm
Magic Capitals (with fairies)
This week we will begin our test review for the state KPREP test that will occur in 2 weeks. We will use a variety of methods to review, including paper tests, online discussions, and online quizzes.
For the next 2 weeks, our bell ringers will be completed on paper and turned in at the end of each week for a grade.
Tuesday of this week is our last library day. Students will have a chance to browse the book fair and if they want to purchase something, they can bring money and return later in the week to buy.
We have finished our play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and will be taking the reading counts test on Tuesday in the library. During testing week, we will be watching a G rated version of the movie and then writing a paper to compare it to the paper version of the play.
Thanks for stopping by. This will be the only update this week.
Students are taking the unit test over a Midsummer Night’s Dream today. It is multiple choice, true false, matching and short answer. There are no bell ringers. After the test, students can silent read.
See you Monday when we will begin our state testing review.
Student Learning Target: I can complete my packet through act 5 and I can participate in a review for tomorrow’s test.
Today, after we finish reading the play, you will have most of the class to complete the packet. Turn in if completed. If not, take home and bring back on Friday to turn in. Remember, it’s for 1-2 more grades.
Near the end of class, we will have a test review using a chat room (if I can get it to work). You won’t be able to have a private chat, and everyone can see what you type. So be appropriate on the name you choose and the words you say.
Bell Ringers:
1. What is onomatopoeia and give me an example.
2. In the Road Not Taken, what do the two roads represent to the author?
3. What is symbolism and give me an example.
4. If you are writing a letter to someone and providing information about a topic to them, what do you generally put in the first paragraph?
5. What is the purpose for a narrative?
Student Learning Target: I can read my play and answer the questions in the packet. I can pass a quiz over Act 4.
Today we will take a quiz over Act 4. Remember when you read a question, look for the person’s name in the play to help you find the answer. We will then read more of the play or work on your packet. Remember it’s due Friday and that is also our unit test day. The packet is worth 1 more big grade so if you don’t turn it in, that O will hurt your average.
Bell Ringers:
1. The movie “The Wrath of the Titans” is an example of what type of story?
2. Why do you need a conflict in a short story?
3. Why is the resolution important to a short story?
4. In a poem, define a stanza.
5. Why do we learn how to analyze a poem or the theme of a story?
Student Learning Target: I can complete my packet for Act 4.
Today we will continue reading the play and I will give you the last 15-20 minutes to work on the packet for Act 4. I did not get to grade Act 3 last night so I will check that later this week. And then I may add Act 3 and Act 4 together for a grade, like I did with Act 1 and 2.
There will be a test over the whole play on Friday. You can use the play booklet. It will be a comprehensive test over all Acts. That is all we will be doing that day, so bring your library book in case you finish the test early. It will be multiple choice, short answer and matching.
Today’s Bell Ringers:
1. If you are asked to write a summary of a passage, what does that mean?
2. What is alliteration? Give me an example after you write the definition.
3. What is the purpose for a fable?
4. What are 3 reasons to read nonfiction articles?
5. In an argumentative writing piece, you must have ________ to back up your argument.
Student Learning Target: I can pass a quiz over the 3rd act of MidSummer Night’s Dream (3rd, 5th, 7th). I can complete my packet for the 3rd Act.
Today you will take a quiz over Act 3, and you can use the play. Next you can complete the work for Act 3 in your packet but if most of you already completed that work, we will begin reading Act 4.
I will be taking up your packets today to grade the work for Act 3. If you have not completed Act 3, you can have until Tuesday, but after that, I will put in a O. Remember, mid term reports come out Friday. If you finish the quiz and don’t need to work on your packet, please read your library book until we are ready to read Act 4. If you know you don’t have your book, then get one off my shelf when you turn in your test. Read the book alone, not with the person next to you.
Bell Ringers:
1. Give me a synonym for each word: sad, broken, heavy, small.
2. Correct the spelling errors: sinnister, lovely, cleary, annoyng, allright
3. Give me an antonym for each word: below, crazy, annoying, truthful, relief