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!!!