Monday, November 30, 2009

Homework: Expository Essay is due on December 11.
Your task is to create a short but convincing expository essay about an invention, new discovery or technology that has improved our society. I expect you to spend one hour writing this essay. Please use a thesis statement that introduces the purpose and organization of your essay.

Weekly Homework: Read literature circle assignment and complete role sheet by Thursday December 10 and Thursday December 17.

Monday 30
WNB#16: Possible problems in fiction.
Literature Circle Booktalks.

Tuesday 1
Lit Circle pre-meeting:
decide team name, motto and rules.
Partner read first section.

Wednesday 2
Writing workshop: #17 Creating Character.
Individual Reading Time.

Thursday 3
Literature Circle Meeting #1.
Mini-lesson: run-ons and comma splices.

Friday 4
No School

Monday 7
Read sample fictional narrative.
WNB: #18 Beginning, Middle, End.

Tuesday 8
Reading Day.

Wednesday 9
Writing Workshop: Create draft of Fictional Narrative.

Thursday 10
Literature Circle Meeting #2
Role Sheet #2 Due.

Friday 11
In-class literary response;
please bring your novel to class!
Expository Essay due!

Monday 14
Writing Workshop: Drafting fictional narrative.

Tuesday 15
Writing Workshop: Drafting fictional narrative.

Wednesday 16
Writing Workshop: Polishing fictional narrative.

Thursday 17
Literature Circle Meeting #3
Role Sheet #3 due.

Friday 18
Writing Workshop: Editing fictional narrative. Final copy due.

Monday 21
Complete novel by today!
Create Graphic Novelette

Tuesday 22
Finish Graphic Novelette



Reminder of Reading Expectations:
Between now and January 15th, students are expected to read two books at home and during SSR that are not assigned by a teacher. Research shows clearly that students need to be engaged in reading on regular basis to improve their comprehension. Students are also expected to respond to the the link on the right hand side of this blog page: click on Karla Swiggum's Media Center Blog, then locate 8th grade Hoelscher and post a five to seven sentence paragraph detailing their reaction to the book without giving away the ending. Students are strongly encouraged to appropriately respond to other students. Students must identify the name and title of the novel to earn credit. If any student would prefer to enter the Letters About Literature Contest (also linked on the right side of this page) they are welcome to do so instead of making two blog posts. Prizes for this contest are awarded on the state and national level to the letter that most powerfully states the impact any one book has had on a student's life.

Happy Holidays! See you in 2010!

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Weekly Homework:
Finish novel and review by Thursday.


Monday 5th
Mini-lesson: Punctuating Dialogue
Writing Workshop

Tuesday 6th
Mini-lesson: To Dash or Hyphen?
Writing Workshop

Wednesday 7th
Mini-Lesson: The rule of so what?
Writing Workshop

Thursday 8th
Partner Activity:
Novel Review and Final Conversation.

Friday 9th
Essay Test on Novel

Monday 12th
No school for Students

Tuesday 13th
Class theatre: "What’s The Worst That Could Happen?”
Annotate the story. Look specifically for the author’s use of figurative language, humor, dialogue and active voice.

Wednesday 14th
Practice Quiz: Punctuating Dialogue, To Dash or Hyphen
Print Rough Draft of Narrative and complete editing checklist.

Thursday 15th
EXPLORE TEST

Friday 16th
Writing Conferences

Notes: Final Narrative Essay due on October 23rd.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Week Four

Writing Assignment
In the next three weeks you will be creating a narrative essay.
A narrative essay is a recollection of an experience that provokes reflection. This writing assignment shows how one experience has shaped or formed your character. A good fictional narrative is focused on a meaningful incident or event. The reader should see, smell taste and feel what happened. A fictional narrative has an individual voice that suggests the importance this event has had for the character. Usually a narrative utilizes a first person point of view and uses honest and realistic dialogue where it fits.

Weekly Homework: Forgotten Fire read through page 174.
A
Step from Heaven read through page 116. Prepare six hotseat questions by Thursday, October 1st.

Monday 28th
WNB #5 Writing Territories Map
Read Sample Narrative

Tuesday 29th
Writing Workshop: Creating characters
Read Sample Narrative

Wednesday 30th
Homophone Quiz
Writing Workshop: Creating Dialogue.

Thursday 1st
Hotseating activity. Be ready with six hot seat questions and reading completed.

Friday 2nd
Read Sample Narrative

Final Reading Assignment:
Finish Novel by Thursday 8th and complete Novel Review.
Be prepared for in-class writing test on Thursday 8th.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Outsiders



Monday 23
Introduce PowerPoint Partner Research Presentation.

Tuesday 24
Research selected topic.

Wednesday 25
Create PowerPoint.

Thursday 26
Present Projects.

Friday 27
Present projects.

Monday 2
Pass out the Outsiders.
Read-Aloud opening pages.
HW: Read chapter 1; Character Trait Chart

Tuesday 3
Discuss Main Characters.
Parent Teacher
Conferences
HW: Read chapter 2; Character Trait Chart

Wednesday 4
Hotseat!
Parent Teacher Conferences
HW: Read  chapter 3; Double Column Journal Entry.

Thursday 5
Create Panic Poems: Rough Draft
HW: Read chapter 4; Double Column Journal Entry.

Friday 6
No school.


Monday 9
Panic Poems: Final Draft in class.
HW: Read chapter 5; Double Column Journal Entry.

Tuesday 10
PAWS Prep
HW: Finish novel for 3/24/09; Double Column Journal Entry for each chapter.

Wednesday 11
PAWS Writing Prompt #1 Draft for Periods 3 & 5

Thursday 12
PAWS Writing Prompt #1 Final for Periods 3 & 5

Friday 13
PAWS Writing Prompt #1 Draft for Periods 4 & 7

Monday 16
PAWS Writing Prompt #1 Final for Periods 4 & 7

Tuesday 17
View first half of film version

Wednesday 18
PAWS Writing Prompt #2 Draft for Periods 3 & 5

Thursday 19
PAWS Writing Prompt #2 Final

Friday 20
PAWS Writing Prompt #2 Draft for Periods 4 & 7

Monday 23
PAWS Writing Prompt #2 Final for Periods 4 & 7

Tuesday 24
View second half of film version

Wednesday 25
In-class essay test.

Thursday 26
In-class essay test.

Friday 27
In-class essay test. 

Spring Break!
Classes resume on April 13!





Friday, January 16, 2009

January 19th-23rd


Monday 19
Finish cutting and rearranging Belief Poem with Kati.
Conference on draft of poem.

Tuesday 20
Adhering photos to mat.  Editing shoebox mementos.
Pulling essential words from poem with Molly.

Wednesday 21
Creating a color palette with Molly.

Thursday 22
Final typed revision of poem due at the end of the period.
Podcasting opportunities with Ms. Riley.

Friday 23
Belief Game.
Quarterly Recognition.

Monday, January 12, 2009

January 12th-16th

Monday 12
MAP Reading Test

Weekly Homework: Complete wiki page and hunt by Wednesday, January 21.

Tuesday 13
Poetry Forms 
Focus on Drew Dellinger

Wednesday 14
Poem writing workshop

Thursday 15
Finish belief poem

Friday 16
Rearranging and Cutting  Poems