Ms. Dean's Blog

"How To" Rough Drafts

FRIDAY: After taking CRCT Prep Quiz #2, the students used yesterday's pre-write to write a rough draft of their "How To" article. If they are working with a partner, they first identified elements of each pre-write to determine what should be included in the rough draft. Everyone is responsible for a pre-write and a rough draft, even if they are working with a partner. This is to ensure all students have the necessary practice with this particular format. Partners are allowed to collaborate and develop ideas together and may even end up with identical rough drafts. I am okay with this because they are both working with the format and using each others' strengths to move through the writing process. CLASSWORK GRADE TODAY: 1. "How To" Reading Organizer, 2. "How To" Writing Organizer, 3. Warm-up Week 3. TO BE COLLECTED ON MONDAY IF NOT COMPLETED IN CLASS TODAY: "How To" rough draft.

Download How To rough draft

 

Download How To rough draft

"How to..."

THURSDAY: After completing today's warm-up, the students reviewed various "How To" topics and determined whether they were too broad, too boring, or just right. Then they created their own "How To" topic and began filling out the attached graphic organizer. This will be due tomorrow at the beginning of class. We also watched a short video clip that reminded us why precise, detailed instructions are important when teaching someone to do something.

There will be a quiz over this week's warm-up focus tomorrow. I have attached this week's warm-up key as a source of review. I HAVE ALSO ATTACHED THE QUIZ. Yes, that's right. I attached the quiz the students will take tomorrow. This is a test to see how many parents and students actually look at my Blog. If you are reading this before Friday, January 27th, you can download the quiz and help your child study for the quiz. If you sign the quiz and send it in with your child, I will give him or her extra credit for proof that they studied.

Download Week Three Warm Key

Download CRCT PREP Quiz 2

Download How to Writing Outline

Download Selecting the Right Focus for Your

Abbott and Costello 13 x 7

 

 

 

 

 

 

"How To Make a Killer Milkshake"

WEDNESDAY: After completing today's warm-up, the students were told whether or not their topic of choice was approved for the Newspaper Project. Some students were assigned a partner while others will work independently. This was based on their personal preference, their topic selection, and their ability to collaborate.

All students then worked with a friend to try to put sentence strips in a sequential order. The winning team received a prize. This helped reinforce the importance of using logical arrangement and appropriate transitions in "how to" articles.

Next, the students were given a graphic organizer and an article that explained how to make a milkshake. By analyzing the model article, students became aware of what their own articles should look like.

HOMEWORK: On the January 26th box in their agenda, each student should suggest a possible "how to" topic for their newspaper. This must relate to the theme of their newspaper that was approved today in class.

Download How to Reading Organizer

Download How to Make a Killer Strawberry Milkshake_1

How To...

TUESDAY: After completing today's warm-up (see yesterday's post for attachment), the students were given the Newspaper Project Expectations and Rubric. We discussed this before selecting topics for the project. Some students will work with partners, while others have selected to work independently. IF A STUDENT IS ABSENT MORE THAN TWO DAYS DURING THE PROJECT PERIOD, HE OR SHE WILL NO LONGER BE ALLOWED TO WORK WITH A PARTNER. This also applies if a student is assigned ISS or OSS. Please read the project expectations sheet and sign it so that your student can return it by next Monday. Assignments turned in a day late can only earn 50% credit. 

Partnerships were determined based on shared area of interest, ability to collaborate effectively, and writing ability. I reserve the right to disband partnerships at any time if the students in question are not working effectively together.

To prepare us for the formatting of our first piece of writing, the students wrote down the necessary steps to teach me how to send a text message. Through this exercise they recognized the need for precise language and use of transition words. They also learned to NEVER assume the reader knows something.

Download Newspaper Project Information Download Newspaper Final Product Rubric

Download Topic Selection Handout

 

Identifying Experts

MONDAY: Today the students started Week Three Warm-ups which will consist of CRCT prep questions I developed after analyzing the data from last Friday's quiz. This Friday we will take a "mid-point" quiz with a final assessment of the material being done next Friday.

Warm-ups from week one and week two are due tomorrow. Also, students must have their non-fiction reading material in class with them tomorrow. They will also be allowed to use their cell phones for an activity we are doing, so please believe them when they say, "I got to use my cell phone in school!"

As we prepare to write like an expert, it is important that we analyze articles written by experts to establish what sets them apart. Today the students learned that experts include facts (details, examples, history, statistics, etc.), precise vocabulary, and reliable sources in their writing in order to provide evidence of expertise. Students first wrote down what they knew about two topics (rap music and cockroaches), and then they read articles from the Reader's Journey. While reading, they gathered facts, vocabulary, and names of reliable sources and listed them on their two-column chart as evidence of expertise.

In order to access the Reader's Journey on-line, students must click the link below and enter euk 1001 as the access code. They can then click on the 8th grade book. We read a story on page 330 and on 405.

Download Week Three Warm no quiz

Download Two column organizer

http://www.phschool.com/

Download Warmup 1 Week One

Download Week Two Warm ups

Writing Assessment

WEDNESDAY: Today the students took the Eighth Grade Writing Assessment. The results of this assessment will be sent to the school in the spring. During our shortened class periods today, the students discussed what they felt confident about and what they were unsure of. We did a quick warm-up and read a brief passage about how the papercup was invented. Students were asked to identify the main idea of the passage and cite textual evidence to support their answer.

Download Week Two Warm ups

View this photo

Download The Papercup questions

 

 

Practice for Closings

TUESDAY: After completing today's warm-up, the students reviewed the answers to Friday's homework assignment. Students who attended the Behavior Reward dance on Friday have until tomorrow to make-up this assignment.

Next, we analyzed models of ineffective closing paragraphs. Finally, we practiced writing effective closings. CLASSWORK GRADE TODAY: Write one effective closing paragraph

Today in class I collected the following assignments: flow chart, body paragraph, closing practice. If students were at the dance on Friday, they need to turn in the flow chart and one body paragraph developed from it tomorrow.

Tomorrow is the Grade Eight Writing Assessment. Please ensure your child comes to school rested and with appropriate supplies. The essay must be written in blue or black ink.

Download Week Two Warm ups

Download Closing practice with instructions

Download Transition Word REVIEW HW

http://jc-schools.net/write/transition.htm

Download PROMPT FOR FLOW CHART PRACTICE

Download Body Paragraph Assignment

Prewrite Practice

THURSDAY: After completing today's warm-up, the students helped me create an expository flow chart as a prewrite responding to a selected writing prompt. After we discussed the nuts and bolts of the model  prewrite, the students were given 12 minutes to create their own flow chart prewrite using a different prompt.We used ELMO to view several student flow charts.

Download Warmup 1 Week One

Download PROMPT FOR FLOW CHART PRACTICE

Download Expository-flow-chart-1

FRIDAY: Today the students will finish their Week One Warm-ups and begin drafting body paragraphs using Thursday's prewrite. The focus will be on developing a strong topic sentence and using ideas from the prewrite to draft relevant and logically arranged details to support the topic sentence. We will practice revision by focusing on three areas: using specific examples, citing authorities or research, answering the 5W1H questions. CLASSWORK GRADE TODAY: 1 Body paragraph

HOMEWORK: The students are to complete the transitions worksheet as homework. It is due Tuesday.

Download QUESTIONS FOR BODY PARAGRAPH

Download Transition Word REVIEW HW

Help with transition words and phrases

IMPORTANT:

As part of the statewide assessment requirements, the Middle Grades Writing Assessment will be administered Wednesday, January 18 from 9:30 – 11:30.  All students in 8^th grade will take part in this assessment, while students in 6^th and 7^th grade will participate in a local writing assessment during this time.  Students should arrive to school on time and come prepared with sharpened number 2 pencils as well as blue or black ink pens.

IMPORTANT: Your student will be bringing home a parent survey with his or her report card on Friday. Please take a few minutes to complete the paper survey and return it to school through your student, or you may go on-line and complete the survey. Thank you.

Parent School Climate Survey

Identifying Topics/Issues

WEDNESDAY: After completing today's warm-up, the students analyzed ten different writing prompts to identify topics and issues as well as genre types. Next, they used one of the prompts to practice using an effective expository prewriting strategy called a flow chart. Tomorrow we will continue to practice using the flow chart.

Download Warmup 1 Week One

Download Identifying Issue or Topic

Download Expository-flow-chart-1

ELEMENTS OF AN ESSAY REVIEW

TUESDAY: After completing today's warm-up, the students completed a review sheet to help them recall the elements of an essay. We discussed their answers, and then students were assigned a particular element to put on a poster. If the poster was not completed in class, it should be completed as homework.

Download Warmup 1 Week One

Tiered assignments below: Some students received one and some received the other.

Download Elements of an Essay Review Tiered

Download Elements of an Essay Review