I hope everyone had a wonderful first day of Winter Break!

Please check the grade portal to see updated grades.  Remember the huge stack of papers that was on the corner of my desk?  I finally finished grading them!  If you have a 0 on any assignment, that means you did not do the assignment (or did not turn the assignment in).  If you still have a "no grade," it means I do not have a grade for you because I either know you still have your assignment (such as those that have make-up work), or I know I did not give you the assignment yet (such as the one or two of you that somehow missed a quiz).  If you have below a 73 C right now, you have a scholarship warning for the second quarter.  Let's make sure we stay up to date with assignments in order to avoid these low grades in the future!  See below for Winter Break assignment instructions.

6th Grade A day:  No Winter Break homework except to finish the classwork from before.  2A, 3A, and 4A should all finish the "make yourself a character" activity.  Remember, color the figure to resemble yourself (physical appearance), put thoughts that represent you in the thought bubble, things that you might say in the speech bubble, actions that you do (hobbies, daily routines, etc.) in the starburst bubble, and emotions you frequently experience, desires, or loves in the heart bubble.  Don't forget to answer the two questions on the back of the paper, as well!  2A should also finish the "Tuesday of the Other June" character chart, if not already turned in.  Don't forget to complete the paragraphs on the back.  Remember, you need actual quotes from the story to support your thoughts.  3A and 4A should finish the character paragraphs for "Life Doesn't Frighten Me" and "On Turning Ten."

6th Grade B day:  No Winter Break homework except to finish the character chart for "Tuesday of the Other June," if not already.

8th Grade:  No Winter Break homework except to finish the character chart for "The Gift of the Magi."

Everyone:  Remember to read over the break!  Also, if you are looking for something to do, check out the district's Winter Break packets on the DCPS homepage.  I am not requiring the packet, but it might give you something to do if you get bored (lol).

Have a safe and restful break!  Happy Holidays!

6th Grade students - Remember to finish the characterization chart for "Tuesday of the Other June."  I will collect it next class, if we have time before or after the CGA.  2A only- we will finish the story and work on the chart next Wednesday.  If you are not going to be here on Wednesday, you need to finish the chart over the break.

8th Grade - you do not have homework because the CGA is today.  Make sure you bring your books next class.

I will have grades updated by the end of the weekend, or at the latest, right before the break.  I don't like to put in grades until I have all of an assignment graded for every class, so I have been trying to catch up on the grades.  There will be an extra credit assignment offered at some point after the break.

A day 6th graders - Today you received hyperbole homework.  This is due next class (except 2A - your assignment is due on Tuesday).

B day 6th graders - This is a reminder to work on the homework you received for similes/metaphors/personification.  This is due on Monday.

8th Graders - DO NOT FORGET TO BRING YOUR BOOKS TO CLASS TOMORROW!!!  THIS WILL COUNT AS A GRADE!!!

B day 6th Graders - Today, you should have finished your similes and metaphors chart for "All Summer in a Day."  If you did not finish the chart, it is your homework to complete it over the break.  Otherwise, there is no homework.

A day 6th Graders - Tomorrow, you will receive some homework on similes, metaphors, and personification.  There will be time for you to work on this assignment in class.  What you don't finish will be your homework for the break.

8th Graders - Over the break, you need to finish revising your DTW #1, if not already finished.  Everyone should type the revised version of the essay, making sure to proofread and revise as you go.  This is due Tuesday, December 3rd.  We will also have a practice writing test so that I can see what we still need to work on as we move closer to the FCAT writes.


Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

My apologies to my 5B and 6B classes.  I entered grades in last week after grading a bunch of assignments.  However, I must have gotten sidetracked and forgot to enter the grades for those two classes!  Oops!  Grades are now entered.

6th Grade:
Just a reminder that the text features quiz is tomorrow and Friday (except for 5B - due to the Spelling Bee, your quiz will be next Tuesday).  If you took your text features project home to complete, make sure you turn it in to me tomorrow (A day) or Friday (B day).  2A did not have a project to take home.  Bring your Literature book tomorrow - the quiz will probably not take the entire time.

8th Grade:
You need to finish breaking apart your old essay by filling in the planning sheet.  This way, you can see what you were missing and what you still need. Next class we will work on your planning some more (you will re-do your planning), so make sure you don't write on the back of the handout I gave you when you do tonight's work.

If you did not finish writing the engaging beginnings (see previous post), you need to make sure those are completed and turned in to me next class. 

6th Grade:  The text features quiz will be next Thursday and Friday.

8th Grade:  Your homework is to finish rewriting your introductions, if you haven't already.  Then you are to choose three of the following prompts and write an introduction for each of those.  You should include an engaging beginning, a transition to your thesis, and your thesis.  This is due on Wednesday.

1.      We all have people that are important to our lives.  Write an essay explaining why someone you care about is important to you.

2.      Everyone has an activity he or she enjoys. Think about an activity you enjoy. Now write to explain why you enjoy the activity.

3.      Being friends with someone takes more than just sitting next to him or her in class.  Write an essay to explain why honesty is important in a friendship.

4.      Through the years, new inventions have changed the way we live. Think about one invention that has had an impact on the way you live. Now write to explain how this invention has changed your life.

5.   Most of us like something found in nature. Think about something from nature that you like. Now write to explain why you like that something from nature.

6th Grade:  We are continuing to work with text features.  We will work on the text features projects some more next class, so the Text Features Quiz will be on Thursday and Friday of next week.  Use your Literature book to study.

8th Grade:  Please come to class each day ready to participate and cooperate.  We will continue to work on revising your original expository essays, with a focus on the introduction.

6th graders - Don't forget that you have a quiz tomorrow and Wednesday on text structures and main idea.

Your homework (due tomorrow - A day and Wednesday - B day) is as follows:

•Find an article in a newspaper, magazine, or online resource.  It must be an article and not an advertisement!  Make sure it is appropriate!

•Read the article.

•On a separate piece of paper, identify the topic, the main idea, and supporting details in a web form, like the one below.

•Attach the article to your paper.

 

8th Grade - DO NOT FORGET TO BRING YOUR LITERATURE BOOK NEXT CLASS.  THIS WILL COUNT AS A GRADE!!!