Hello Everyone!
Here are the reading lists for in class. Please note that those books with a star are books that I have a class set for, while the other books you will need to get your own copy. It is actually better for students to have their own copy because then they can write directly in the book and take notes. They can also highlight right in the book, whereas with a borrowed book the student cannot do these things. Please let me know if you have any questions. I do have some copies of the other books in class, but I will give these out on a first come first serve basis. There is NO homework tonight or tomorrow night for either grade. I want to read in class and gauge how the kids are doing reading orally and how their general comprehension is. I will put up the homework for the following two weeks on Monday.
Grade 7 has just started reading THE CAY by Theodore Taylor and we have started talking about the main theme of racism. I read the students a poem today called The Cold Within. Please ask your student about this and what it means to them. I also told them to do some people watching and to see what they notice. We will have many discussions on this. I am also going to be asking the students to bring in water color paints in about two weeks. These can be the ones from the dollar store, but I will let you know ahead of time. Below are the books the 7th graders will need this year in class. Book report books are in addition to these, but I will give you a separate syllabus for that.
· * The Cay by Theodore Taylor (October)
· The Midwife’s Apprentice by Karen Cushman (November)
· The Book of Three by Llyod Alexander (December)
· Ajeemah and His Son by James Berry (January)
· A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park (February)
· Fever, 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson (March)
· * When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by Kimberly Willis Holt (April)
· Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko (May)The students will also read another novel during a reader’s workshop.
Grade 8 has started THE GADGET by Paul Zindel. We have talked about the atomic bomb and some of the people involved in its creation. In the coming weeks we will watch a documentary on the destruction the atomic bomb caused. We will use this in a debate. Chat with your students openly about your feelings on war and the use of bombs. It doesn't matter what your opinion is, just that you share it with your kids and support your thoughts so that they can understand why and how you think. This helps them to develop their own thinking skills. Below are the books the 8th graders will be reading this year in class. Book report books are in addition to this list, and I will give you a separate syllabus for those reports.
* The Gadget by Paul Zindel (October)
Red Kayak by Priscilla Cummings (November)
* Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Michaelson (December)
NightJohn by Gary Paulsen (January)
Tangerine by Edward Bloor (February)
Night by Elie Weisel (March) **Non-fiction** (Discussions with parents will be encouraged on a daily basis due to the nature of the historical event – The Holocaust)
Time Enough for Drums by Ann Rinaldi (April)
Novel of choice will be read in a reader’s workshop
We will also be reading a play at the end of the year (if there is time) – Twelve Angry Men to complement our mock trial unit in speech.
OK...I hope this helps everyone. Let me know if you have any questions! Have a great weekend!
-Ms. P
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
Homework Directions for Candy Corn
Hello Everyone!
As promised, here is the information some of you may have forgotten to copy down for your homework to be completed.
For your candy corn:
The top orange piece, also the largest, must include the title and author of your book. It must also include a summary of your book.
The middle yellow piece must include the main characters and setting of the book. Remember that this must be in complete sentences!
The bottom white piece, also the smallest, must include your opinion of the book and your name. The opinion must be in a complete sentence and supported!
Also, remember that you are to tape the back. You don't glue it on to another paper. Just tape the pieces together in the back. Neatness counts! So some of you may choose to type out the information and cut and paste. This is fine! Just do your best work. You do get graded for this assignment and the grade counts for reading. Your oral report counts for speech.
Well enjoy your weekend and remember to practice, practice, practice!!!!
-Ms. P
As promised, here is the information some of you may have forgotten to copy down for your homework to be completed.
For your candy corn:
The top orange piece, also the largest, must include the title and author of your book. It must also include a summary of your book.
The middle yellow piece must include the main characters and setting of the book. Remember that this must be in complete sentences!
The bottom white piece, also the smallest, must include your opinion of the book and your name. The opinion must be in a complete sentence and supported!
Also, remember that you are to tape the back. You don't glue it on to another paper. Just tape the pieces together in the back. Neatness counts! So some of you may choose to type out the information and cut and paste. This is fine! Just do your best work. You do get graded for this assignment and the grade counts for reading. Your oral report counts for speech.
Well enjoy your weekend and remember to practice, practice, practice!!!!
-Ms. P
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Book Orders
Hello Parents and my darling students!!!!
Just a reminder that book orders are due this Friday. I have put them online you as well. The username is MSPREADS and the password is the same. I know it looks crazy but it does mean ms. p reads!!!! If you haven't ordered yet and would like to, please check the site out. It is www.scholastic.com/parentordering
A parent asked about typing and graphic programs at info night...the CLICK order has both of those programs. Please take a look!
Enjoy
-Ms. P
Just a reminder that book orders are due this Friday. I have put them online you as well. The username is MSPREADS and the password is the same. I know it looks crazy but it does mean ms. p reads!!!! If you haven't ordered yet and would like to, please check the site out. It is www.scholastic.com/parentordering
A parent asked about typing and graphic programs at info night...the CLICK order has both of those programs. Please take a look!
Enjoy
-Ms. P
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Update for Sept 9th- 19th
Hello All!!!
Well I have already had to reset my password twice because I couldn't remember what I had initially used, but now I think I am set to go! So this is our first update on our blog!!! Yea!! For those parents and students that are new to my updates, I will post a new update every two weeks or so. The updates allow me to put homework up so you always have access to it. It also gives your parents a chance to see what is going on in class. I will separate information by grade, so make sure that you are looking in the right spot. We are also going to have work on the blog. I will create a new post and it will have a question based on the reading that the students are doing in class. It helps them to meet state requirements of using electronic texts, and it gives me a chance to grade it. But it is also new and fun. Just a note that book orders went home on Friday. I typically have at least three book orders a month. They include Arrow, Tab, Teen Readers Club, and Click. Arrow is for grades 4-6, but sometimes they have great titles for kids to just enjoy. TAB and Teen Readers Club are designed for grades 7 and up. Please go through this with your child and read the information. Some titles are meant for high schoolers. I encourage students to challenge themselves with reading, but only if you approve of their reading choice. I also go through the book orders with the kids in class and recommend books that I have read or that kids have read in the past and loved. Click is a software order. In this order you will find educational titles for the computer and gaming systems. I always encourage the kids to make sure that they have a simple printing program to create covers for reports and such. So take a look! I will ask for the money by Friday of this week. You only need to write one check to scholastic. I will also be putting all future orders online, which I know works out well for many parents.
Grade 7:
9/9 - Complete graphic organizer (front and back) Some students weren't able to get all of the information to complete this. They simply need to complete the graphic organizers with the current information that they have and they will finish the rest tomorrow.
9/10 - Complete Main Idea worksheet (front and back)
9/11 - none
9/12 - Finish classwork, prepare for summer reading presentations on Monday
9/15 - Prepare and practice your speech if you have not presented yet
9/16 - none
9/17 - Study for your Letters From Rifka Test on Friday
9/18 - Newspaper vocab and study for the test
9/19 - none
We will start reading The Cay by Theodore Taylor the week of the 22nd. We have a class set, tho some students like to have their own copy. This I will leave up to you.
GRADE 8:
9/9 - complete both sides of the graphic organizer
9/10 - Main Idea worksheet (both sides)
9/11 - none
9/12 - Finish Classwork and prepare your summer reading oral presentation for Monday.
9/15 - practice your presentation if you did not go today
9/16 - Study for your Joey Pigza Test tomorrow.
9/17 - none
9/18 - Newspaper Vocabulary
9/19 - no homework. We are going to start THE GADGET by Paul Zindel on Monday. You may purchase your own book, or you may use one of our class set.
Well, I hope this helps everyone. Please be patient as we all learn the tricks of working a blog. It is new for almost everyone! If I can help you further, please let me know.
-Ms. P
Well I have already had to reset my password twice because I couldn't remember what I had initially used, but now I think I am set to go! So this is our first update on our blog!!! Yea!! For those parents and students that are new to my updates, I will post a new update every two weeks or so. The updates allow me to put homework up so you always have access to it. It also gives your parents a chance to see what is going on in class. I will separate information by grade, so make sure that you are looking in the right spot. We are also going to have work on the blog. I will create a new post and it will have a question based on the reading that the students are doing in class. It helps them to meet state requirements of using electronic texts, and it gives me a chance to grade it. But it is also new and fun. Just a note that book orders went home on Friday. I typically have at least three book orders a month. They include Arrow, Tab, Teen Readers Club, and Click. Arrow is for grades 4-6, but sometimes they have great titles for kids to just enjoy. TAB and Teen Readers Club are designed for grades 7 and up. Please go through this with your child and read the information. Some titles are meant for high schoolers. I encourage students to challenge themselves with reading, but only if you approve of their reading choice. I also go through the book orders with the kids in class and recommend books that I have read or that kids have read in the past and loved. Click is a software order. In this order you will find educational titles for the computer and gaming systems. I always encourage the kids to make sure that they have a simple printing program to create covers for reports and such. So take a look! I will ask for the money by Friday of this week. You only need to write one check to scholastic. I will also be putting all future orders online, which I know works out well for many parents.
Grade 7:
9/9 - Complete graphic organizer (front and back) Some students weren't able to get all of the information to complete this. They simply need to complete the graphic organizers with the current information that they have and they will finish the rest tomorrow.
9/10 - Complete Main Idea worksheet (front and back)
9/11 - none
9/12 - Finish classwork, prepare for summer reading presentations on Monday
9/15 - Prepare and practice your speech if you have not presented yet
9/16 - none
9/17 - Study for your Letters From Rifka Test on Friday
9/18 - Newspaper vocab and study for the test
9/19 - none
We will start reading The Cay by Theodore Taylor the week of the 22nd. We have a class set, tho some students like to have their own copy. This I will leave up to you.
GRADE 8:
9/9 - complete both sides of the graphic organizer
9/10 - Main Idea worksheet (both sides)
9/11 - none
9/12 - Finish Classwork and prepare your summer reading oral presentation for Monday.
9/15 - practice your presentation if you did not go today
9/16 - Study for your Joey Pigza Test tomorrow.
9/17 - none
9/18 - Newspaper Vocabulary
9/19 - no homework. We are going to start THE GADGET by Paul Zindel on Monday. You may purchase your own book, or you may use one of our class set.
Well, I hope this helps everyone. Please be patient as we all learn the tricks of working a blog. It is new for almost everyone! If I can help you further, please let me know.
-Ms. P
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Our 1st Post!!!
Hello Everyone!
Can you believe it....I am blogging! This is our official Reading and Public Speaking Info Page. On this page I will write my updates that used to be on teacherease. You will also be able to post comments or questions. This may help everyone communicate more. Let me know what you think!
Can you believe it....I am blogging! This is our official Reading and Public Speaking Info Page. On this page I will write my updates that used to be on teacherease. You will also be able to post comments or questions. This may help everyone communicate more. Let me know what you think!
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