6th Grade Poetry Assignment

This afternoon you were given an assignment to complete for homework. You are required to:

- Compose a poem of four lines or more.

- Use rhyme scheme and meter, as well as parallelism or repetition to support the feeling and theme of your poem.

- You were given the following subjects to choose from:

1. Homework
2. Music
3. Dreams
4. "Oh No!" (You may do whatever you like with this phrase as long as it is appropriate and you follow the rest of your instructions)

Happy Writing!

Internet Citation Organizer

We are in the middle of building your research paper. By now, most of you should have found or be on your way to finding sources for your research topic. Below I have attached a link to an Internet Citation Organizer. This is a great tool to use as you work towards your bibliography. You can type the information in the blanks and print out the organizer. This keeps your information nice and neat, and makes it easy to transfer to your bibliography.

Internet Citation Organizer

Fact v. Opinion Activity

Good evening sixth graders. Below, I have posted links to two activities on fact versus opinion. One is a multiple choice quiz while the other includes some questions and a video you watch to pick out statements that are either facts and opinions. Please try to work through at both. Have fun!

Fact or Opinion Practice

Binky's Facts and Opinions

Short Story Worksheet

Hello eighth graders. I've posted the worksheet for tonight's homework assignment below.

Short Story Worksheet

In The Poet's Shoes: A WebQuest

Hello seventh grade students! Today in class you were introduced to your latest assignment--a poetry WebQuest. Together, we went over your task as well as the eight steps you will need to take to complete the quest and produce a well done finished presentation. I have posted a link to the WebQuest site below.

IN THE POET'S SHOES

Things to Remember

1. Use only the resources provided for you on the website.

2. Do not forget to fill out your Thinking About Poetry Notes to record the proper bibliographic information.

3. Use the Thinking About Poetry Questions to help you read and interpret the poems you read and complete your chart.

4. Once you choose your favorite poem (the one you will perform), use the Presentation Links to help you prepare for your presentation.

5. Before you begin, review the instructions.

A Sentence as a Poem: Photos and Story

Enjoy transforming these pictures we discussed in class today into descriptive sentences, and then into poems. Remember that each picture has a possible story behind it. Consider that as you construct your sentence and poem. Also, don't forget that your poem may not include words that are not already in your sentence. Feel free to use William Carlos Williams' The Red Wheelbarrow as a model, it is posted below. Have fun and I look forward to hearing your work.

The Red Wheelbarrow

by William Carlos Williams

so much depends

upon

a red wheel

barrow

glazed with rain

water

beside the white

chickens

On Girls Lending Pens by Taylor Mali

Some of you may have had the chance to listen to this poem before. I've posted it here simply for you to enjoy. Enjoy!

Strategies for Reading

Hello seventh graders! In class today we learned about the great American author Langston Hughes, and began reading his short story Thank You Ma'am. Your homework was/is to finish reading the story; as you read, incorporate the strategies for reading that we learned in class. As you work through each strategy, please remember to use the margins to write down your thoughts so that you can share them in class. I have listed the six strategies below.

Happy reading!

PREDICT: Figure out what might happen next. You can even write your predictions in the margins

VISUALIZE: Picture the people, places and events in the story.

CONNECT: Connect personally with what you are reading; think of similarities between the characters of the story and the story of your own life.

QUESTION: Ask questions about events in the story- What happened? Why? How do the people involved feel?

CLARIFY: Review your understanding; summarize, identify main idea and theme(s), come to some conclusions about the characters in the story.

EVALUATE: Form opinions about what you read. Do this while you're reading and after you have finished the story.

Homework Questions: Phoebe and the General

Hello sixth graders! Below I have posted the questions you will need to answer for homework and have ready to hand in tomorrow (Tuesday, 1st period). Please answer each question on a lined piece of loose leaf paper with the proper heading. I have given you an example of what a proper heading looks like below.

Proper Heading:

Name

Class (English)

Assignment

Date

Please write all of your answers in complete, sixth grade sentences.

Homework questions:

1. Phoebe's father owned the Queen's Head, and she worked for him. How would you describe her job?
2. Why is George Washington in danger?
3. What makes a good leader? Name some personal qualities that George Washington may have had.
4. How does Phoebe feel about becoming a spy?
5. Samuel Fraunces expresses his fears to his daughter and asks for her help. What does this say about their relationship?

The Giver Quiz

Hello again students! Summer is winding down and I hope you are all looking forward to getting back to school.

This post is especially for the incoming seventh graders; you should be finishing up The Giver by Lois Lowry. When you return to school we will be talking about the novel and you will be taking a short quiz. I've supplied a link to an online free quiz on The Giver that you can take on your own in preparation for the quiz you will be taking in class.

The Giver Quiz

Summer Reading

Hello students! I hope you are all enjoying your summer vacation, and that this has been a time of rest and refreshment for you. As we approach the end of July most of you should be starting your summer reading assignments in preparation for next school year. If you have already started I would be interested to hear how things are going. Are you enjoying the book(s)? When and where do you find it easiest to get some good reading done? What do your journal entries look like? Do you have any questions?

I look forward to hearing your responses and pray that the remainder of your summer vacation goes well.

Annie's Second Flashback and an Altercation with The Captain

This scene picks up where we left off in our reading today. I would like you to follow along in your books, and pay close and particular attention to Annie's second flashback. What do you think this says about her past? How do you think her past has influenced her growth into adulthood? Has it helped her? Has it hindered her? Why do you think so?

The Miracle Worker (Act II) - The Breakfast Scene

Below is the scene we did not read during class. Keep in mind that the scene is entirely non-verbal, and there are no lines recited by Annie. I would encourage you to read the cooresponding pages before you watch the scene so that you can get a sense of how difficult it must've been for the actors to perform with such intensity, and no dialouge! Enjoy!

Corrie Ten Boom's Hiding Place

As we work our way through Corrie Ten Boom's story I thought it might be helpful to post this video I found of the actual hiding place that was built in the Ten Boom's home. It is only thirty seconds long, but the student who filmed it got a good shot of the tiny little room that saved so many lives. Enjoy!

How Are Your Research Papers Coming?

Many of you are about half way through the process of getting your research paper finished, and should be in the middle of writing your rough drafts. I have already had writing conferences with students from sixth and seventh grade, and have been able to provide good feedback to a few of you. Remember, the writing conferences are for your benefit, to help ensure that you get the best grade possible on your final paper. Please be sure to bring whatever you have completed for your rough draft so that I can help you with it. It does not matter if you have one paragraph complete or are on the last page of your paper--bringing something is the most important thing. I will be doing writing conferences during class tomorrow, and throughout the rest of the week for those that need them.

Please use the blog to respond with questions, comments, or concerns. I'm am usually always able to respond in the evening to any questions or comments you post.

Happy writing!

Holocaust Survivor Presentation

Today in our last period English class I forgot to remind you that this Thursday we will be taking our trip to listen to the Holocaust survivor at St. Dominic School. I don't know what your thoughts are about the upcoming trip, but I am very much looking forward to it, and I hope you are too.

One of the things that we've been asked to do in preparation for the event is bring prepared questions with us. It helps the presenter if he/she has pre-written questions to choose from as opposed to asking for questions at random. It will also help you think through exactly what you would like to ask, and learn so that you can make the most of your time on Thursday.

I am hoping to carve out five minutes at the beginning of class tomorrow and dedicate it specifically to forming questions for the presenter. However, I know that your outlines are due tomorrow and that those five minutes may very well be taken up by something else. So, I've posted a link to some possible questions for you to consider. If you like them, use them. If you have one that you would like to ask and you don't see it then write it down, and hand it to me in class; I will keep for Thursday.

Possible Questions to Ask a Holocaust Survivor (This is a PDF file. You can download it and print it out)

What's In a Good Thesis Statement?

In preparation for your outline (due 4/20) and the drafting of your paper we talked about how to build a well constructed thesis statement. Below I've post the four important things to remember when putting together your thesis statement. Please use these, and the worksheets I've handed out to you in class. If you have any questions you know that I am always available. However, do not wait until the last minute to come to me with questions. For example, the day before the outline is due is not a good day to come to me and say, "Mr. C. I need help on my outline. I haven't started it yet." It will be much more difficult for me to give the help you need if you procrastinate as opposed to coming to me ahead of time.

What's in a good thesis statement?

1) A good thesis statement is no expressed as a question. Your thesis statement provides a one-sentence, declarative answer to your research question.

2) A good thesis statement is a preview of what the paper is about. (Do not begin with "The purpose of my paper is. . ." or " In this paper, I will be writing about. . .")

3) A good thesis statement controls the paper's content. Everything in your paper should provide support for your thesis statement. In other words, if it's not in your thesis statement it shouldn't appear in your paper.

4) A good thesis statement should sound confident. Avoid using words and phrases like probably, might, I think, seems, and it seems to me.

Happy writing!

The Pilgrim's Progress: Discontent and Shame and Talkative

Discontent and Shame and Talkative from Chapter 20 is posted below. Making a video of the audio chapter(s) is the only way I will be able to post the chapters so that you can listen to them. Uploading these is a bit time consuming so here is one for now. Happy reading!

Battle With Apollyon: Something To Think About

In our Monday Literature class we looked at Chapters 16 and 17 of The Pilgrim's Progress, and discussed Christian's battle with Apollyon. While we always have good and healthy discussions surrounding our reading in class I would also like to give you things to think about as you move on in the novel outside of class. Hopefully, this will help you relate to and understand Bunyan's allegorical story; many parts may even apply to your own lives.

1) Apollyon argues that many who start our following the King give up their pilgrimage and return to him. How have you been tempted to give up this week? Did you stand firm? If so, how were you encouraged to stand firm?

2)Looking back on your week, was there a time you used the "sword" that Christian used in his battle? If you did, when did you need it? If you didn't, when do you think you should've or could've used it?

Next class we will be looking at Chapters 19-20, and it would be wise to get a head start on at least Chapter 19 this weekend so that you are well prepared for any class discussion we have, as well as any class work or "Say Something" groups.

Happy reading!

Chapter 6 Writing and Grammar Exam (8th Grade)

There will be a Chapter 6 Writing and Grammar Exam for the 8th grade English class on Thursday April, 15th.

The exam will assess you on the following:

1) Identifying Adverbs in Sentences

2) Identifying the Different Questions Answered by Adverbs

3) Identifying the Word(s) Modified by an Adverb

4) Positive, Comparative, and Superlative Forms of Adverbs

There is also a Chapter 6 Review in the back of your books on p.443. I will go over this review in class, but it would be wise to get a head start on it so that you can bring any questions you might have to class with you.

Due Date for Growing Bibliography #3 Fast Approaching

The due date (4/13/10) for the final two sources of your Growing Bibliography will soon be upon us. All of your sources should be included, and in the proper format (MLA). Remember, having this completed correctly and handed in on time will only make completing your final research paper easier--you'll have one portion of it finished. Below I have posted links to the website I have on my board to make formatting for your bibliography easier, along with a one that gives you the guidelines for proper MLA format.

bibme.org

MLA Format (This is in PDF format and is printable.)

SAT Testing

Stanford Achievement Testing (SAT) will continue until Monday, April, 12th. Be sure to continue to get a good night's rest and eat a decent breakfast so that you are adequately prepared for testing.