Grades are now updated!  You will notice that I put in your Unit 1 Baseline grade, but I saved it as "uncalculated."  This means that it should show up when you look at your grades, but it is not factored into your grade.  The post test WILL be factored in.  I also added two points to anyone who turned in BOTH the essay and the book in a bag within the first two days of school.  You will see those two points added to the book in a bag grade (52/50 points).

Over the past two days, we have begun studying similes and metaphors by reading "All Summer in a Day," by Ray Bradbury.  We also began our exploratory journals with the poem, "How to Eat a Poem," by Eve Merriam.  A-day students received homework today, as follows.  B-day students will receive this homework tomorrow (A-day: due Monday, B-day: due Tuesday):

1.  Finish your extended response reflection for "All Summer in a Day."  The prompt is as follows...

What do you think Margot will do once the other children let her out of the closet?  How will she feel?  Be specific!  How would you feel if you had waited for something for so long – and you wanted it so much that your life nearly depends on it – only to have that thing taken away from you?

Your papers should NOT look like this:

Margot will be sad and mad.  I would be sad and mad because that would not be fun.

2.  Complete the Similes and Metaphors handout that you received in class.
3.  As always, add to your reading logs by reading every day.

Here is a copy of the reading log, via scribd.com:

Reading Log for Mrs. Fifield
http://www.scribd.com/doc/105141162

Paperwork, etc.

Parents:  The following items were sent out for your review over the past four days:
---My curriculum paper (please sign and send back with your student)
---Important Information (a white piece of paper)
---The Million Word essay

Please make sure you read over all of those items to ensure that your child has the correct supplies and knows the procedures.  Please email me the million word essay whenever you get a chance.  These are very helpful for me while getting to know the students.

All classes except my 7th period have also received the Reading Logs and should start working on those this weekend to get a head start on the thousand page requirement.

Summer reading assignments, if they have not been turned in already, are due the Tuesday (A day) and Wednesday (B day) after Labor Day.

Tomorrow and Monday, we will take the first baseline assessment of the year for Unit 1.

Summer Reading Assignment and Books

All students should have been working on their summer reading assignments over the summer break.  The requirements are on the JLCP website if you have not seen them yet.  The summer reading assignment may be turned in on the first day of school (A and B days). There may be a bit of a reward for turning the assignment in on the first two days because that shows that you were proactive!  However, it is officially due no later than September 4th (A day) and September 5th (B day).  I will NOT take any after those days.

On another note, I have a class set of Literature books this year, so you do not need to bring the copy you received at orientation back to school.  If you left the book in your locker, you may go ahead and take it home after the first day.

Please see the previous post to ensure you have all of the necessary supplies!  I look forward to seeing everyone bright and early on Monday!

Supply List 2012-2013

Attention new students and parents:  Please use the following supply list when purchasing new school supplies.  This is also listed on the JLCP website.   Have fun shopping!

Fifield Supply List 2012

Final Grades are posted! Please note that extra credit is marked under each of your assignments. You may also notice that I gave everyone the four points for the hall passes, even if you already used them, because I forgot my attendance sheet (where I keep up with hall passes) at school. So, my gift to you is that you all get those four points. After everything was added in, I also went ahead and dropped one of your low grades IF you had below a B. Final exam grades are also posted.

It has been a wonderful year teaching everyone! I hope you have a safe and exciting summer vacation! See you next year...

Reading Logs

Since we have had less time for the fourth quarter and we have been so busy with other things, I am only requiring 750 pages to be read. The assignment will be worth 75 points in the gradebook, so if you have only read 600 pages, for example, your grade will be a 60/75. I will collect your logs next Tuesday and Wednesday (the 29th and 30th), so don't forget them.

Also, all classroom library books must be turned in by these days. There are many of you who still have books out...most of which are overdue. Do not forget that when you signed the syllabus at the beginning of the year, you agreed to be held responsible for any books that are lost or stolen. If you know you lost the book, go ahead and purchase a new copy of the book (or a similar book of equal value) and give it to me to make up for the one you lost. There have been quite a few items that have been broken or stolen from my room over the year --- do not let my books be one of those things! You go to a school of leadership; please show that with your actions. Parents, all of my books have "Fifield" or "Hollo" written on the edges. If you see a book with this on it, please send it with your student.

Don't forget, the FOCUS extra credit work is due this Thursday and Friday!

Parents: Progress reports go home today, so make sure you ask for them!

Students: I have told A day (and will tell B day tomorrow) about the homework assignments and extra credit. The assignments are as follows:

Go to www.florida-achieves.com and you will see FCAT Explorer on the left and FOCUS on the right. Log on to FOCUS using your FCAT explorer information.

In the middle of the screen, you will see activities to complete for Reading/Language Arts. You are to read the passages and answer the questions by clicking on the bubbles. Additionally, you must turn in your answers on notebook paper, along with a SPECIFIC explanation as to where you found your answer. For example, if a question asks "Which word best describes the mood of the story?" and you choose A: Gloomy, your explanation might look like this:

The answer is "gloomy" because line 3 states that the weather is "dark, with giant stormclouds on the horizon." Additionally, line 12 describes the character as having a "tear-streaked, gray face" because of the discovery that her best friend has died.

In class: You will work with a partner to complete CAUSE AND EFFECT, TEXT STRUCTURES / ORGANIZATIONAL PATTERNS, ANALYZE WORDS IN TEXT, AND FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE. Please remember that since you will be logged into only one person's account to complete the assignment, the other person will need to log in separately and fill in his or her answers.

For homework: You will individually complete AUTHOR'S PERSPECTIVE, AUTHOR'S PURPOSE, CONTEXT CLUES, MAIN IDEA, AND PLOT DEVELOPMENT. This is due on May 18 (A day) and May 21 (B day).

For extra credit: You may complete any of the other assessments for 10 points extra credit each. I will accept up to 100 points (so, 10 extra assignments), to be added into your grade where needed. If you only turn in one, you will receive 10 points; turn in 2, 20 points, etc. This is due no later than May 24 (A day) and May 25 (B day).