Here's what we did today:
Journals
There is a specific format I would like to you follow when making journal entries. I would like to you write the date at the top of the entry. On the very next line you should respond to the prompt on the white board. To receive full credit, you should write from margin to margin (the red lines on the sides of the paper) from the first hole to the second hole. This is one half of the page. I require a half page entry for all prompts. You may start the next entry at the half-way mark (the second hole) of the paper. If you have written more than a half page on the previous entry, turn the page and start your next entry at the top of the paper. You may write on the fronts and backs of your paper. If a journal entry I require is shorter than a half page (DLAs), you should skip to the half-way mark to start your next entry. I only want entries to start at the tops and middles of your paper.
If you are absent on a journal day (Tuesdays and Thursdays), you should make up the journal entry by writing a half page about any topic you choose. Journal entries will be worth five points each. That means 24 entries will be worth 120 by the time we finish the trimester. Please keep up with your journal entries. It is far easier to keep up than to catch up.
Tuesday Teaser
I read a Tuesday Teaser from No More Dead Dogs by Gordan Korman today. I will be reading a few pages from books of different genres most Tuesdays. Your job is to listen and consider whether you'd enjoy trying a book from that genre.
The Writing Process
We continued our work with our writing assignment, following the steps of The Writing Process. We finished our prewriting yesterday, so today we progressed to the second step--drafting. Drafting is organizing your ideas into sentences and paragraphs. The first draft is not supposed to be perfect. It is supposed to be something you will rework to make better. We we draft, the best thing to do is to write as many of your ideas as you can into sentences as quickly as you can. When all your sentences are written, it is time to move on to the next step--revising.
To revise, you should look closely at what you have written and make changes to your draft to make it better. Look at the ideas. Do they flow, one to another? Do your sentences make sense? Do you need to add details to clarify your ideas? To you need to take out some unnecessary details? These are the questions you should ask yourself during the revision step of The Writing Process.
Today we traded our paragraphs with our partners, and we helped each other revise. The job of the partner was to write some notes on the paragraph to help the writer improve his/her work. We had enough time to read each others' paragraphs, but we didn't have enough time to finish the revision step of The Writing Process. We will continue with this project on Thursday.
Coming Attraction
Tomorrow we will be in the computer lab doing reading inventories. We will also have some time in the library for checking out a good reading book. We will probably have some time to read tomorrow. Our regular reading time will begin the first fifteen minutes of class on Friday.
Thanks for another great day!
It turns out we DID do something while you were gone ;)
Email Mrs. Cheney
shannon.cheney@besd.net
If you send me an email to my district address, please put your name in the subject bar. Emails from unrecognized sources are filtered to a spam folder in my school district's system. I look through my spam folder every day, and if your name is in the subject bar, it is easier for me to retrieve your email. Thanks.
Hope to hear from you soon!
If you send me an email to my district address, please put your name in the subject bar. Emails from unrecognized sources are filtered to a spam folder in my school district's system. I look through my spam folder every day, and if your name is in the subject bar, it is easier for me to retrieve your email. Thanks.
Hope to hear from you soon!
When is this due?
January 21
Journal--12 entries
Glossary--16 words
Book report
Journal--12 entries
Glossary--16 words
Book report
Spelling/Vocabulary list, 8th
- omen
- banishment
- elder
- smirk
- feigned
- cowering
- depositions
- skiff
- sparse
- shrouded
- moseyed
- brandished
- moron
- sullenly
- corny
- smoldering
- barrage
- spewing
- defiant
- inferno
Links
8th grade disclosure document
I am looking forward to spending this trimester with your student in 8th grade language arts. We will be enjoying our time together through reading, writing, and learning to use the English language effectively.
Reading
We will be reading one novel and one play as a class this trimester. I also encourage students to discover the joy of reading good books on their own. We will go to the library once every two weeks to check out books, and I will give class time (15 minutes) every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for reading. Each student is expected to bring a book to class on these days. The students will earn a reading grade based on their participation and behavior during reading time.
Writing
We will be following the writing process to complete several writing assignments this trimester. The writing process requires students to complete multiple steps before they turn in a finished project. I will generally require students to have an adult read and evaluate their drafts based on criteria I provide. Your feedback will help your student see how they can improve their writing.
Plagiarism will not be tolerated. If a student plagiarizes any work, he/she will earn a zero on the assignment and a referral to the office. Plagiarism means “the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own original work.” (http://www.dictionary.com/) Close imitations most often happen when a student cuts and pastes from an internet source and then changes a word or two here and there while claiming it as his/her own work. When students are assigned to write, they must write their own sentences and paragraphs; they must form their own ideas. If I suspect a paper is cut and pasted, it is easy for me to search the internet to find evidence. Please do not allow your student to plagiarize.
Language
I teach the correct use of written and oral language in my class. Students will be expected to use correct grammar in their writing as well as during oral presentations. Students will be required to give at least one oral presentation during the trimester.
Materials
Students are to come to class prepared. Students should have a spiral notebook for a daily journal/glossary. We will write every day, and it is best if students have a spiral notebook used ONLY for their journal/glossary. Students are also to bring a pencil or pen to class as well as the book they are currently reading. Students who come unprepared will receive a reduction in their citizenship grades.
Makeup/Late Work
You will be given two late-work vouchers to use during the trimester. I will only accept late work if it is accompanied by a voucher. If you use them all up the first two weeks of the trimester, you will not receive additional vouchers. Use them wisely. You may turn unused vouchers in at the end of the trimester for extra credit.
For your convenience, I am now on the internet: http://mrscheney.blogspot.com/. I do my very best to post every day. I post assignments, resources, notes, helpful hints, and upcoming due dates on my webpage. There is also a link to the SIS student login page, so students can easily check their grades. I encourage all students and parents to check my blog when there is an absence, as there will be far more detailed descriptions of what you missed there than I can provide in the minute or so before or after class.
Grading Scale
I will grade on the following scale:
93-100% = A 90-93% = A- 87-89%= B+
84-86% = B 80-83% = B- 77-79% = C+
74-76% = C 70-73% = C- 67-69% =D+
64-66% =D 60-63% = D- 0 –59% = F
Class Rules
My class rules are posted in my room. We have gone over the rules in class. If you have any questions about the rules or any of my policies, please contact me. I do my best to answer all emails within 24 hours. You are welcome to visit my classroom at any time.