Ms. Danowitz

Monday, August 11, 2008

Hello Everybody,

Welcome to a brand new year!  Today was so exciting for me.  I was happy to meet my new students and to see some familiar faces.  This day was a day for catching up, talking about the year ahead, and learning new names and classrooms. To give you an idea of my summer, here is a picture of me climbing on the Great Wall of China and also the "Bird's Nest," the Olympic Stadium in Beijing, China.  Tomorrow I will learn more about your summer break.

Please have your behavior management contracts signed tonight and returned tomorrow. I also have a blog thought for your response.____________________________has recently made me very happy.  You can change the statement around if you wish, but tell about something that has made you very happy.  You can email me or write your response on paper in a complete sentence or paragraph.

In addition, when you come to class tomorrow, I want you to tell me (at least) one thing that you want the class to know about you.

See you soon! 

Mrs. Danowitz  janis.danowitz@cobbk12.org

See you on Monday, August 11th

I love receiving your emails.   janis.danowitz@cobbk12.org

Hello Everybody!

Has the summer already passed by?  Wow! It seems that just last week I was saying good-bye, and now I am saying hello again. I'm looking forward to seeing some new faces this year as well as seeing my oldy goldies.  I had a terrific summer (YES, I went to Korea!)  I cannot wait to hear about your summer. 

I hope you all have finished your summer reading (and MORE!)  Just as a reminder, here is the link to the required reading: http://www.cobbk12.org/~dickerson/summer1.htm

So set those alarms and get to school...and don't forget to bring a one inch binder, paper, and pencil to ESOL class on Monday.   

See you Monday morning, all in your places with bright shiny faces!

                                   Mrs. Danowitz

Online grammar quizzes

Hello Everybody!

As you know, I will be out of school from April 23 until May 21. (sniff! sniff! I'm sad)  However, I will be talking to your substitute often and following your progress.  (NO! I don't know who is the substitute yet.)  Please do your best and make me proud. 

During the CRCT testing you will meet in the E4 lab and work on English grammar quizzes.

You will find some fun English grammar quizzes here.  You will be working on these from April 23-29, 2008.  On April 30 you will meet back in our classroom. 

Download grammar_quizzes_for_crct_and_perftests.doc

                     

                              

Friday, April 18, 2008

Hello Everybody,

This has been another good week here in the ESOL world (our classroom.)  It is amazing how much English language you have all acquired since last August.  I wish I could learn Korean as fast you all learn English.

All grades visited the media center today to check out a book for the weekend.  Keep in mind that you have only 12 more days before all AR tests are due.  In addition to going to the media center, 6th and 7th grades had a spelling test and 8th grade reviewed direct and indirect objects.

Next week 6th and 8th grades will begin a new spelling unit and 7th grade will begin a new story unit.

Here is a thought for the weekend:  Why is a boxing ring square? Really, why isn't a boxing ring round?  Remember my admonition about silly answers.  Look up the word admonition...(candy)

                    Enjoy the beautiful spring weekend.  Plant a garden. 

                                                                                                                                                                            

Thursday, April 17, 2008

                                   Get those reading logs signed!

Hello Everybody,

As you prepare to head into the CRCT testing next week, you must remember to ask yourself questions, or write them down if you don't understand.  I am available to answer and review information relating to language arts and reading.  Thank you, 8th graders, for your grammar questions.  This shows me your willingness to understand and learn.  We will continue tomorrow with more grammar.

7th graders will have a homonym quiz and begin a new story unit.

6th graders will have a spelling quiz and begin a new spelling unit.

Here's a thoughtful question:  How much money do you want to make in your future job?  What will that job be?   Answer in a thoughtful, reasonable, meaningful sentence or paragraph. Silly answers will earn NO blog points.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Hello Everybody!

All classes went to the E-4 computer lab to take the Performance Series Tests in reading.  It was hard to finish in one sitting so you will return to the computer on Monday it finish the test.

Tomorrow 7th grade will present their homophones to the class and you will review the homphone spelling words.  6th grade will begin the introductory lesson from Every Day Spelling p. 11-14.  8th grade has been studying the three cases of personal pronouns.

Here is an interesting question for all of you:  Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?  Answer in a thoughtful, reasonable, meaningful sentence or paragraph. Silly answers will earn NO blog points.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Hello Everybody!  Long time--no blog!

It doesn't feel like spring right now, but it is.  Is this spring season making you sneeze?  We have a lot of pollen floating around. 

6th grade is continuing to work with vowels sounds.  Find 6 words that have the same vowel sound as  sail.

7th grade is continuing to work on their homophone projects.  What is the difference between homonym and homophone?  This is hard, so I'll ask you another: what is the difference between does and does?

8th grade is working on grammar, pronoun case.  What is the only purpose for the possessive case?  List the possessive case pronouns.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Hello Everybody!

                      Get your reading logs signed tonight. 

Also remember to record your reading minutes during Spring Break.  Yes, you are to read during your vacation.  No, I am not mean.

6th graders continued studying the vound sounds of long e,i and short e, i, u.  You will continue it tomorrow, too. How many words can you think of that have a short e (egg) vowel sound?  How many words can you think of that have a short i (kitten) vowel sound?

7th graders began a new spelling unit using Homophones. What are homophones?  Write a list of many homophones. (In English, please.)

8th graders had a crazy 2nd period.  First, we had a CODE RED drill, then immediately afterward, there was a fire drill.  Of course, we are all happy they were just drills.  Find a synonym for drill.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Hello Everybody!

How many days until Spring Break?

You can check the I-Parent today.  I entered all the grades this morning.  If you have missing assignments, see me immediately

I missed you 8th graders today.  Did you enjoy the performance this morning?  I understand it was very moving.  What does that mean, very moving?

6th graders are working on a spelling/vowel sound activity.  We will continue with it tomorrow.

7th graders are working on the story. "Into the Unknown."  You will finish it up tomorrow.  Continue to read at home; you all are doing extremely well with reading on your own.  I am proud of your progress with reading and vocabulary.

Here is another interesting question for you to answer: 

What do my parents do in their careers?  Have you ever wondered what exactly do your parents do all day?  Not what is their title, doctor, lawyer, businessman; but what do they do during the course of the day?  Ask them. Find out about their lives apart from you.  If you interview your parents, I will make it a candy question.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Hello Everybody! 

Someone asked me in class today about the origin of "April Fool's Day."  I don't know; I have candy for anyone who finds that information for me.

6th graders had a quiz on "Battling Everest" today and will begin a spelling unit tomorrow.  the spelling words are cycle, swear, rhythm, rely, pleasant, routine, cleanse, shove, reply, meant, sponge, apply, threat, myth, deny, leather, rhyme. thread, meadow, ravine.

7th graders began a prediction chart and guided reading for "Into the Unkown."  Your vocabulary is crew, continent, charted, reef, coral, depth, strait, tide, pumps, voyage.  You will continue to read tomorrow.

8th graders are reading Summer of My German Soldier for language arts.  You had a read day today.

Here is another interesting question for you all: 

How have I performed in school?  This should be your honest opinion.

                                                           Only 3 days until Spring Break!