Ms. Dean's Blog

Getting Around the Airport

MONDAY: After completing today's DGP and taking a few notes pertaining to fragments, the students joined their partners for the final day of our "Vacation" CRCT prep project. Today the students used a map of Hartsfield-Jackson's concourse A to answer questions.

Download 328 warm up

TUESDAY: After completing today's DGP, the students used yesterday's notes to help them answer questions on an interactive website called Big Dog's Grammar. Today we focused on fragments, but we also reinforced what we've been learning about verbals and sentence parts.

Big Dog's Grammar

 

Time to Pack!

THURSDAY: After providing time in class for the students to complete the spelling portion of their DGP sheets, I presented a small packet of CRCT prep work that focused on identifying common organizing structures. After that the students prepared for their "vacations" by reading guidelines pertaining to packing suitcases and carry on bags. EVERYONE SHOULD BRING SOMETHING TO READ TOMORROW.

FRIDAY: Today the students will turn-in DGP #20. After they use CCT and MARTA maps to plan a route to the airport, they will have the rest of the class period to read and work on the independent reading assignment.

Booking Our Flights!

MONDAY: After completing Monday's DGP, we continued reviewing for the CRCT. This week's focus will be aspects of the writing process such as topic sentences, closing sentences, and supporting details. We will continue to reinforce identifying sentence types and sentences parts as well as verbals.

Today was an important step in the planning of our vacations. Most classes were able to book their flights today. If they didn't complete it today, they will complete it tomorrow. Students who were absent today will need to complete this when they return because I'm unable to attach the various parts of this assignment.

TUESDAY: After completing Tuesday's DGP, we will analyze different travel brochures and determine what should be included in each partnership's brochure. If time permits, we will analyze crime reports for our various travel destinations.

We will also continue with our CRCT prep. Download March 21-22 Expository CRCT practice

WEDNESDAY: Today we will go to the Media Center to return materials, check out new materials, and access the computers to gather information and graphics for our travel brochures. The independent reading assignment is due Friday, April 1st. Every student must complete a reading journal Download Reading Journal Reflections. In addition to this, students must do EITHER an AR quiz OR a one page book report.

Quiz and Climate Maps

FRIDAY: After turning in this week's DGP and spelling words, students took a sentence parts quiz using I-respond. This allowed me to monitor their progress and guide them to reviewing questions they got wrong. When the students logged out of I-respond, they received their scores instantly.

After the quiz, the students finished the passport questions and analyzed climate maps to answer questions pertaining to their country's average temps, sunshine, or rainfall. We will continue with the vacation destinations activities next week. The final portion of this project will require the students to work with their partner to create a travel brochure for their destination. They will use Microsoft Publisher for this assignment, and it will be due the last day before Spring Break. All work on the brochure will be done in class; however, if students bring in an actual travel brochure, they can receive a few extra credit points for this project.

Passport Applications

THURSDAY: After defining adverb clause, adjective clause, simple sentence, compound sentence, and complex sentence, the students practiced identifying adjective and adverb clauses. Then the students joined their vacation partners in answering questions regarding applying for a passport. We will finish that activity tomorrow, and then analyze climate maps to determine what the weather will be like at our chosen vacation destinations during our visits.

DGP and spelling work is due tomorrow. Also, there will be a quiz over sentence types, fragments, clauses, run-ons, and participles.

Tourism & School Calendar

WEDNESDAY: After completing Wednesday and Thursday's DGP, the students were assigned a partner to begin the informational and media reading practice we will do with our "Vacation Destinations" unit. Each set of partners was given a copy of a tourism website or a page from a brochure describing their selected destination. They were required to answer CRCT type questions about the web page and the activities offered. They were also required describe the activities they would most like to do and generate ideas to be included in a travel brochure. Finally, the partners had to analyze the CCSD school calendar for the 2011-2012 school year and again answer CRCT type questions as well as select a travel date abiding by certain travel restrictions.

There are too many resources pertaining to this unit to post to the Blog; however, I would be happy to e-mail an attachment to a student who is absent if the student contacts me and tells me to which country he or she is assigned. Those students who were absent today will need to see me to get the name of their country and partner.

Friday we will have a quiz over sentence types, sentences purposes, clauses, fragments, and participles. Also, the DGP and spelling words are due on Friday.

Fragments and Run-ons

TUESDAY: After completing today's DGP, the students reviewed how to identify fragments and run-ons. Worksheets were used to reinforce understanding, and students who were absent today should get these for the make-up work crate in the back of the room.

 

V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N!

MONDAY: After completing Monday's section of the DGP, students discussed the preparation that goes into planning a vacation. They then watched a slide show displaying pictures of five selected vacation destinations (Download Vacation Destinations). Each student selected a first and second choice of destinations, and they were then partnered with someone who also selected those choices. Starting Wednesday, the partners will be doing various reading assignments associated with their selected destination.

Homework: Spelling words are due Friday. Download Spelling Homework wk 18

Research Test

FRIDAY: Today the students will turn-in their research packets and notecards. They will also take a research test.

Students who get an "A" on the attached sheet can use it to replace a low classwork or quiz grade. It is due by Monday. Download Misplaced Modifiers

Organizing Research Notes

WEDNESDAY: After completing today's warm-up (Download Warm-up 3-7), the students worked on categorizing their note cards and comparing a detailed outline (Download Leo frank 2) to a basic outline (Download Leo Frank outline). They must complete their own detailed outline by Friday. At that time, I will collect the research packet and note cards.

There will be a research quiz on Friday covering the parts of citations and recognizing appropriate sources.

THURSDAY: Today the students will go to the media center to return materials and check out new materials. They have  until  April 1st to complete the new independent reading assignment. Download Book Report Format Download Reading Journal Reflections