Every week students demonstrate their comprehension of vocabulary words by using five of them in original sentences. At the same time the students practice applying specific stylistic devices. This month I asked them to use strong verbs. Instead of said or asked or answered or replied, students are using verbs like shouted or whispered or screeched or bellowed. Instead of walked or ran or went, students are using verbs like slithered or leaped or ambled or sprang. It's fun seeing them be creative in their writing!
Students are learning literary terms and using the terms to analyze multiple short stories that we are reading in class. Parents, you can see some of the terms we have discussed by going to Teacher Resources and opening the file called "elements of literature graphic displays."
Book project due dates and directions
Parents, I told your children that they should have the rough draft of their papers finished a week BEFORE the due date so they can get readers to help them revise and edit their work before they turn in their final draft to me. I told them to ask you to read their papers and to listen to your advice. Feel free to remind them of what I said!
Students can find a list of recommended books in Middle School Materials. They can also download the directions for each project as well as the information on how I will grade them. It is OK for a student to use a book they have read earlier, like something they read over the summer. They may need to reread a few sections to refresh their memory. It is not OK to write more than one book project on the same book.
7th graders--final draft plot and setting projects are due to me on Sept. 27.
6th graders--final draft plot and setting projects are due to me on Oct. 4.
7th graders--final draft character and theme projects are due to me on Nov. 1.
6th graders--final draft character and theme projects are due to me on Nov. 8.
7th graders--final draft images, sound, and figures of speech projects are due to me on Dec. 6.
6th graders--final draft images, sound, and figures of speech projects are due to me on Dec. 13.
Students are learning literary terms and using the terms to analyze multiple short stories that we are reading in class. Parents, you can see some of the terms we have discussed by going to Teacher Resources and opening the file called "elements of literature graphic displays."
Book project due dates and directions
Parents, I told your children that they should have the rough draft of their papers finished a week BEFORE the due date so they can get readers to help them revise and edit their work before they turn in their final draft to me. I told them to ask you to read their papers and to listen to your advice. Feel free to remind them of what I said!
Students can find a list of recommended books in Middle School Materials. They can also download the directions for each project as well as the information on how I will grade them. It is OK for a student to use a book they have read earlier, like something they read over the summer. They may need to reread a few sections to refresh their memory. It is not OK to write more than one book project on the same book.
7th graders--final draft plot and setting projects are due to me on Sept. 27.
6th graders--final draft plot and setting projects are due to me on Oct. 4.
7th graders--final draft character and theme projects are due to me on Nov. 1.
6th graders--final draft character and theme projects are due to me on Nov. 8.
7th graders--final draft images, sound, and figures of speech projects are due to me on Dec. 6.
6th graders--final draft images, sound, and figures of speech projects are due to me on Dec. 13.
