QUIZ TOMORROW!

Your quiz tomorrow is on clauses (independent and dependent) and simple, compound, and complex sentences.

You will use the first 10 minutes of lab time to practice and review before starting your Web quest. Visit these links to practice more at home tonight.

*These exercises are for study purposes only - DO NOT PRINT ANY OF YOUR RESULTS.

Visit the following sites to practice and play review games:

Rags to Riches

Independent vs. Dependent Clause Practice Quiz

Sentence Types Practice Quiz

Identifying Simple, Compound, and Complex Sentences

Sentence Sorting

GOOD LUCK!

The Devil's Arithmetic Web quest

Today in class, you will embark on a journey into a part of history that will expose you to both the best and worst of humanity.  You will explore different aspects of Jewish culture, the Holocaust, and World War II, as this is the context of The Devil's Arithmetic.   

It should be clear in your responses that you read the resources and articles you were directed to during the Quest and that you put thought and effort into your responses.

This assignment will count for a CLASSWORK grade in READING.

Good luck!





Visit the following links to complete your Web Quest:

To complete step 1, follow this link and read the Power Point presentation.

To complete step 2, follow this link

To complete step 3, follow this link

To complete step 4, follow this link

To complete step 5, follow this link

To complete step 6, follow this link

Calling all jurors!!

Attention Jurors!! 

CLICK HERE to play a game that will help you prepare for Wednesday's trial.

 

Mock Trial: Class Role Assignments

**Click HERE to access a copy of the mock trial script we read together in class today.

Ms. Green's homeroom:

Defense Attorneys
Jaylin H.
Joshua H.
Madison G.
Carrie S.
Devoria M.
Prosecution Attorneys
Mira T.
Christina M.
Khiara B.
Saudia L.
Deunte W.

Jury
Amari Q.
Kennedy S.
Zharria P.
Keanna H.
Camille D.
Lyric B.
Jada R.
Braxton W.

Witnesses
Ponyboy – Caleb H.
Johnny – Justin B.
Dally – Nathan O.
Darry – Duane H.
Sodapop – Demetrius L.
Cherry – Dariana W.
Randy – Cyncere C.

Ms. Hardin's homeroom

Defense Attorneys
Michael M.
Kyla H.
Cynthia D.
Ashley T.
Alana B.

Prosecution Attorneys
Dominique L.
Trinity P.
Michael H.
Devaun J.
Autumn W.

Jury
Kristlyn B.
Cameron G.
Mallory B.
Nikieyah M.
Isis R.
Arielle R.
Desiree W.
Gabrielle G.

Witnesses
Ponyboy – Semaj H.
Johnny – Joseph T.
Dally – Joshua D.
Darry - Camron W.
Sodapop - Kelan R.
Cherry – Talil L.
Randy – Isaiah B.

Mr. Edwards' homeroom

Defense Attorneys
Indya A.
Tyler B.
Falonne T.
Lanya L.
Edward C.

Prosecution Attorneys
Daunte D.
Kenya G.
Dasia P.
Lauren R.
Essence W.

Jury
Jada P.
Wesley H.
Jasmine R.
Yeraldin S.
Amaya S.
Adam W.
Amber W.
Davonna W.

Witnesses
Ponyboy – Elijah J.
Johnny – Korei W.
Dally – Dejour S.
Darry – Brian S.
Sodapop – Sheridan H.
Cherry – Kayla B.
Randy – Byron W.

Ms. McKell's homeroom
 

Defense Attorneys
Clarisa H.
Jayla P.
Devin H.
Faith A.
Kierstan B.

Prosecution Attorneys
Kionna F.
Tyra S.
Jordan C.
Walter G.
Kamaya L.

Jury
Amaiya W.
Edgar M.
Ashlyn M.
Morgan S.
Curtis W.
Sade H.
Carmen L.
Takira T.
Michele B.

Witnesses
Ponyboy – Darian S.
Johnny – Brandon W.
Dally – Keenan I.
Darry – Justin D.
Sodapop – Jonathan F.
Cherry – Tazmyn M.
Randy – Parker B.

We're going to court!

Students finished reading The Outsiders, and now it's time for our culminating project for the novel. Instead of a final written assessment, we will be holding a mock trial for Johnny and Ponyboy based on the novel.

Students have been divided up and assigned specific roles for the trial. Below are the roles, along with the assignments and rubrics for each.

Prosecution Attorneys:

Assignment
Rubric
Argument

Defense Attorneys:

Assignment
Rubric
Argument

Witnesses:

Assignment
Rubric


Jury:

Assignment
Rubric

For your research, visit this site and click on the appropriate link for your role. Explore the articles and other information/resources available to you, but for the assignments, stick to the sheet I gave you IN CLASS.

All assignments are due on the day of the trial (Wednesday, February 27, 2013) and will be graded twice - once for Reading and once for Language Arts.

Extra credit opportunity!

Tomorrow on NPR (90.3 FM), a special is airing on SE Hinton's The Outsiders as an American icon.  The segment will be between 20-30 minutes and will air at 1:00 p.m.

For 10 bonus points in Reading (will be automatically added to your lowest grade), you may listen to the segment and then write a summary of what you heard.  Summary must be at least half a page (typed or hand-written) to receive credit.

Click here, if you want to listen!  :)

The Outsiders - Wanted Ads

This week, we have been discussing the concept of identity as we read chapters 3-5 of The Outsiders.  What IS identity?  What are the things that make up who we are?  What are the things that impact who we are becoming? How is individual identity different from group identity?

Students will be creating "Wanted Ads" for a character from the book to represent two identities of that character - the one that the Greasers see, and the identity that the public sees.

Here are the instructions students received in class today:

Your task:  Create two “wanted ads” for either Johnny or Ponyboy (choose one or the other) on poster board or a sheet of solid white copy paper.  You may cut a sheet of poster board in half and use them for your two ads, or you can use two sheets of copy paper.

Your ads must represent two different identities of the character: The identity that their friends the Greasers see (poster A), and the identity that the public sees (poster B).

For each ad, decide whether Johnny or Ponyboy would be wanted for acts of VIOLENCE/RIVALRY or wanted for acts of LOYALTY (include a list of things the character is wanted for on each ad).

Include page number citations for details from the text that support what you include on your ad (at least three citations for each ad).

Follow the rubric below.  This assignment will be graded as a Reading CLASSWORK grade.
Here is an example of a Wanted Ad that would receive an A (although you'd need to add citations form the text!):  http://msvertullo.cmswiki.wikispaces.net/file/view/WANTED+Poster.pdf

WANTED AD – RUBRIC
DUE DATE: TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2013

Each ad should include:

·        Character name

·        Hand drawn or printed visual of character, detailed and in color

·        Accusations

·        Physical description

·        Personality traits

·        Specific acts committed (minimum three) and any consequences—a paragraph that contains quotes from the novel that support one trait or the other (violence and rivalry or loyalty)

·        Known hangouts and nicknames (if any)

·        What to do if found

Remember – both ads should include each of these elements, but should reflect the identity of the character as viewed by the GREASERS on poster A, and the character’s identity as viewed by the PUBLIC on poster B.

Required Elements are present on each ad: ________/40 pts

Information is accurate and supported with details from the text ________/40 pts

Appearance of ads is neat, colorful, creative and with very few spelling and grammar mistakes __________/20 pts

 

Final Grade __________/100 pts

 

*Please note that late projects will be deducted one letter grade per day that they are late. After a project is four or more days late, the max grade a project will receive is a 50/F.

The Outsiders Web Quest

Students,

Today we will embark on a Web Quest to learn about the setting, culture, and background info for The Outsiders. Follow the link below, and you will find step-by-step instructions for your Web Quest. Your findings will be pasted onto a Word document and printed (NOT SAVED) at the end of the period.

http://www.zunal.com/webquest.php?w=51190

Your Web Quest results will be one CLASSWORK grade for Reading.

Character Analysis - Final Drafts

Final drafts are due on FRIDAY, 11-9-12.  You must turn in a hard copy.

As you revise, consider the questions on your revision form and make the necessary changes to your paper.  You will be graded based on the organization and content of your paper as well as whether or not you use MLA format.

 You need to submit the following with your final draft, stapled together in this order (top to bottom):

1.    Final draft

2.    Revision sheet

3.    Rough draft

4.    Planning guide

You will receive a Language Arts CLASSWORK grade for the submission of your planning sheet, rough draft, and revision sheet.

You will receive a Language Arts TEST grade for your final draft.

Character analysis essays

Students have been working very hard on character analysis the last couple of weeks.  After writing along with me for an essay on "Rikki tikki tavi" and taking apart a sample essay on "Thank You Ma'am," students are now writing their own essays to analyze Roger's character in Hughes short story.

Students received planning sheets today.  Completed planning sheets are due on Monday, 11-5-12.  This deadline is VERY IMPORTANT, as without a completed planning sheet, students will not be able to begin drafting and will fall behind (and earn zeros) on subsequent assignments.

With our planning sheets on Monday, we will move to drafting and revising.  The final draft will be a test grade in Language Arts, and drafts will be counted as classwork grades.

To access the full text of "Thank You Ma'am," please click here.

Email me at clairehardin@hotmail.com with any questions!

IB Learner Profile...for Rikki tikki!

This week, students are working on a mini-project (meaning it is a classwork grade and not a test grade) for "Rikki tikki tavi."

The Task:  Re-examine the IB learner traits that we went over before reading “Rikki tikki tavi” (review the Power Point below).  Decide on the FOUR TRAITS that you think Rikki exhibits most in the story, and create an IB profile for him (think Facebook profile!) on a half sheet of poster board.

For each trait you choose, you must provide TWO specific examples from the story along with your explanation of how he demonstrates the trait in that part of the story.

For each example from the text, you must cite the author’s last name and the page number in parenthesis.

Include a photo of Rikki (either hand-drawn or printed from an online source) and make your profile colorful (but please, no glitter).

The Rubric: Four IB traits are included on the profile – 25 pts

Two examples from text are included with each trait – 25 pts

Explanations of how each example shows Rikki tikki demonstrating the trait– 25 pts

Profile is neat and colorful – 25 pts

Projects are due on Friday, October 19, 2012

Ib Learner Profile from shinojosa37

Greeting Card Project

Greeting Card Project

DUE: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012

Today, students were assigned a final project on A Wrinkle in Time, our summer reading selection. Students will complete the following book report, in two parts:

Think about the characters and situations in this novel. Imagine that one character is sending a card to another character. What kind of card would that character send and why?

Task: There are TWO parts to this project.

1. Create a card from one character in this novel to another character (50 points)

*Your card must be handmade by YOU. You may create your card on the computer, as long as it is your original work.

*Your card may NOT be created on notebook paper. Use white or colored printer paper, construction paper, cardstock, a piece of cut-out poster board, or anything else you like – as long as it is NOT on notebook paper!!

*You may create any kind of card EXCEPT a birthday card (sympathy, get well, miss you, thinking of you, apology, anniversary, friendship, love, congratulations, etc.)

*Be as creative as you like – use markers, glitter, magazine cutouts, poetry, anything you like!

GREETING CARD RUBRIC

Card displays an understanding of the characters/plot of the novel:30 pts
Followed directions: 10 pts
Neatness/Creativity: 10 pts

2. On a separate sheet of paper, include the following (50 points):

*In one paragraph (6-8 sentences), explain why you created the card you did.

*In another paragraph, explain the importance of this choice and how the novel would be different if the card had actually been sent.

WRITTEN PORTION RUBRIC

Paragraphs meet length standard (6-8 sentences) and address topics: 20 pts
Paragraphs reflect a thorough understanding of characters and plot: 30 pts

THIS ASSIGNMENT WILL BE ONE 100 POINT PROJECT/TEST GRADE in READING.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome back!!

Welcome back, 7th grade students and parents of Phillips Academy! 

Week one is under our belt, and I can honestly say that this is one of the dearest, sweetest, most pleasant and intelligent groups of 7th graders I have had the pleasure of meeting.  I am so excited to continue to get to know each child as we work and grow together this year.

The first test for my class is on Wednesday, August 29, 2012.  Students are memorizing "Attitude" by Charles Swindoll - a passage that I believe is worth knowing by heart.  In a world where so many things are beyond our control, it is important to remember that the thing that has the greatest impact on our success is 100% within our control.   I try to remind myself of this every day, and I encourage each of my students to do the same.

Students were given this assignment on Tuesday the 21st, and on the 29th they will write the passage from memory for their first test grade. 

Don't wait until the last minute to study!!  I have encouraged students to break it into manageable chunks to memorize a little at a time.  Practice writing it from memory, since that is what you'll do for the test.

 

Writing a novel is not impossible!

Don't miss the two final workshops in Writing a Novel is not Impossible, author Nadria Tucker's amazing series that breaks down the novel-writing process. Added bonus: These workshops will be the first in DISCO's brand new headquarters on the ground floor of Woodrow Hall, in Woodlawn.

 

As always, the workshops are free to attend, but space is limited and registration is required.

 

Landscape and SettingAges 13-18 | Saturday, June 16, 2-3:30 p.m. | Limit 12 students | Woodrow Hall

Sometimes the setting of a novel is just where the action takes place. In other novels, the setting operates more like a separate character. In this workshop, Nadria will guide discussion of all the ways to use landscape and setting in your own novel. 

[Register for Landscape and Setting] 

 

He Said, She Said

Ages 13-18 | Saturday, June 30, 2-3:30 p.m. | Limit 12 students | Woodrow Hall

In the first installment of Writing a Novel is not Impossible, Nadria and the workshop participants talked about drawing rich, believable characters. In this final workshop, we'll come full circle and discuss the importance of rich, believable dialogue between characters. 

[Register for He Said, She Said] 

Happy Summer!

Congratulations to all seventh graders (and their parents!!!) on a great year.  I hope your summer break is restful and a lot of fun.  

See you in August!!

Student summer writing idea:  Snap a photo a day and comment on it any way you like!

Also, a cool perspective on conflict.

"The Monkey's Paw" final paper

For the past week, we have been studying "The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs.  Our focus has been on how the author creates suspense in his writing.

Students are now beginning their final papers for the year - this essay will count as a test grade in Language Arts.  Since there will only be two test grades in Language Arts this 9 weeks and tests are weighted at 40%, this paper will make up 20% of the final grade for Language Arts this term.

To access the full text of the story online, click here.

Here is the timeline and rubric for the paper:

Timeline
Thesis Statement due:
Thursday, May 3
Planning Sheet/Outline due:
Friday, May 4
Color-Coded Rough Draft due: Tuesday, May 8
Final Paper due:  Friday, May 11

Rubric/Checklist
You will be graded in three areas for a 100 point TEST GRADE: 
Content (50 points)
*Does your thesis statement contain both a subject and an opinion?
*Do you support your 3 claims with adequate and relevant details from the text (two per claim)?
*Do you provide insightful commentary for each example from the text, and is your commentary relevant to your thesis?
*Is the content of each body paragraph directly related to how the author creates suspense in the story?

Organization (35 points)
*Does the content of your paper follow the structure of your planning sheet?
*Is your introductory paragraph shaped like a funnel (not literally…remember…go from GENERAL to SPECIFIC)?
*Do you have a clear pattern of blue, green, yellow in each body paragraph (claim, evidence, commentary)?  You will not color-code your final paper – highlight on your rough draft only
*Do you begin each of your three body paragraphs with a strong topic sentence that introduces your claim?

Mechanics (15 points)
*Are all of your verbs in the present tense?
*Are your direct quotes from the story in quotation marks?
*Is your paper free of spelling mistakes?
*Have you used complete sentences throughout your paper?
*Have you used appropriate punctuation and capitalization throughout your paper?
*Is your paper typed in Times New Roman, size 12 font (including your title?)
*Is your paper double spaced throughout?

 If you can answer YES to all of these questions, CONGRATULATIONS!!  You’ve earned an A+!!!!

DISCO extra credit opportunity!!

Birmingham's DISCO (Desert Island Supply Company) has two GREAT workshops coming up, and I'd like to invite any and all of my students to attend!!  The workshops are free, but you have to register in advance, as slots are limited (see links below each workshop description).

1. Writing a Novel is not Impossible: ConflictAges 13-18 | Friday, March 30, 4-5:30 p.m. | Limit 12 students | Woodrow Hall

Without conflict, a story cannot move forward. In this workshop, we will discuss the different forms conflict can take and what each can do for your characters and your novel. (Note: This standalone workshop is the second of five in a series about writing a novel.) - Led by Nadria Tucker

Register HERE.


2.  Ekphrasis! Poems about Paintings
Ages 12-15 | Saturday, April 14, 2-3:30 p.m. | Limit 12 students | Woodrow Hall

Ekphrasis is a fancy Greek word for using one type of art form to talk about another type of art form. In this National Poetry Month workshop, we are going to write poems about paintings, photographs, comic strips and other visual arts. – Led by Elizabeth Hughey

Register HERE.

**If you attend either of these workshops, bring me your piece of writing from the workshop, along with a note signed by the instructor stating that you were in attendance for an extra credit classwork grade of 100!!

Spring Break Practice Probe

2012 SPRING BREAK PRACTICE PROBE
7^TH Grade Reading
Due Date:  Monday, March 26, 2012

Instructions for taking the probe:

1.    Go to http://assignments.discoveryeducation.com/

2.    Enter this code:  PZPCQ331460

3.    Enter your first AND last name

4.    Click “Login” to begin the probe

If you have trouble with the pass code, you can go directly to this URL:

http://assignments.discoveryeducation.com/?cdPasscode=PZPCQ331460

**This practice probe is mandatory (it will count as one classwork grade in Reading) and must be completed BEFORE you get to school on Monday, March 26^th.

Enjoy your break!!!

This week

This week, we are continuing on with The Devil's Arithmetic.  Please note the following:  for tomorrow, 2-21-2012, students need to have read through chapter 13 (chapters 12 and 13 are assigned for homework tonight).

We will discuss these two chapters tomorrow and complete a classwork assignment on literary irony to analyze these chapters.  Then, we will read chapter 14 together in class.

Your test on chapters 8-14 will be either Thursday or Friday of this week, depending on when your class goes to Jones Valley Urban Farm with Ms. Curry. 

Thursday test:  Hardin/Green homerooms
Friday test: Edwards/Curry homerooms


We also began Vocabulary for the College Bound Lesson 4 words today, so be reviewing those words, definitions, synonyms & antonyms a little each night.

Here is the Power Point presentation we viewed and took notes on this past Friday.  My homeroom and Ms. Green's homeroom will need to go back and read through this presentation, taking notes on the types of literary irony.  It would not be a bad idea to print the slides and keep them in your binder!!

Authorsstyle

View more presentations from ach819.

Status reports

Status reports for both Reading and Language Arts are being sent home today for my homeroom and Ms. Curry's homeroom only.

Tomorrow (Thursday, 2-2-12) reports will go home for Mr. Edwards and Ms. Green's homerooms.

Remember, these reports are not just for you, but for YOUR PARENTS!!!  Make SURE they receive your report.