Ms. Johnson

Wednesday, November 30

We read and discussed "Higher Education No Longer Guarantees Financial Security," an article from the Economist. 

SAT 1-10 Vocabulary list

attached!

Download SAT Vocabulary 1-10

Monday, November 28

Welcome back!  I hope you are rested and refreshed for the last four weeks of quarter 2!  Progress Reports go out on Wednesday.  If you handed work in late, it won' necessarily be reflected on Pinnacle. 

AC--Introduced SAT 10 vocabulary words via the Quack video.  Quiz is on Friday!  Today our second literature circle roles were shared.  Be sure you know what to read and what to do for next Monday.  Unfortunately I do not think I'll get role #2 recorded into Pinnacle by the time progress reports go out.  

8LA--Please study SAT 8 vocabulary.  Flashcards and quiz on Friday!  Today we discussed fragments, subjects, predicates and dependent clauses.  If you do not have these elementary school grammar terms down even after today's discussion, please check out Grammar Girl or School House Rock for assistance.  (or make an appointment for some one on one help with me in the morning.)

 

 

Interactive Grammar Games

You know your strengths and weaknesses.  Challenge yourself to bolster your grammar knowledge with these progressively difficult grammar quizzes.  (Did I say games?  Well, they are kind of like a game!)

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quiz_list.htm

Week of November 14-18

This week we are working on our persuasive letter.  Final copy is due Friday, though you are encouraged to turn it in early!  Please print 2 copies.  One goes to ME.  The other goes to your parent.  Please ask your parent to read the letter and indicate that they've read your argument.  If you are interested in extra credit, encourage your parents to WRITE a response to you in letter format.

We will be having a class spelling bee this week.  The DMS Spelling Bee is coming up in December. 

This week we'll also be working on grammar, specifically the types of clauses.

AC-Continue to read your literature circle book and work on your roles. 

 

I hope everyone has a relaxing and refreshing Thanksgiving week break!

11-11-11

Advanced Content-We read our lit circle books & examined examples of exceeds expectations for our last persuasive piece.

8LA-We read and discussed an current events article. Students turned in 100 thesis statements.  We took SAT 7 quiz.  Flashcards due, too!

SAT 7

8LA: Here's a copy of the SAT 7vocabulary.  Complete your flashcards and study for the quiz!

Austere—adj. stern, as in manner; without excess, as in severely plain and simple

Ornate—adj. elaborately or excessively decorated

Cerebral—adj. of or relating to the brain; intellectual in nature

Incommodious—adj. lacking space; uncomfortable

Noisome—adj. offensive; disgusting

Cacophony—n. harsh sounds; disturbing noise

Veritable—adj. unquestionable; actual; true

Verbatim—adv. using exactly the same words, word for word

Concurrent—adj. at the same time; acting in conjunction

Evade—v. to elude or avoid by cunning; to flee from a pursuer

Impede—v. to obstruct or interfere with; to delay

Askew—adj. to one side; crooked

Queue—v. to form or wait in line;        n. a (waiting) line

Accolade—n. award or honor

Torrid—adj. parched by the sun; hot; burning

Trepidation—adj. fear; state of anxiety or fear that makes you tremble

Fraught—adj. teeming with; laden; full; causing emotional distress

Temerity— n. recklessness; wild; craziness; disregard for danger

Wane—v. to decrease gradually

Oust—v. to eject; to force out

Parent Letter

We've launched our next persuasive writing pieces in MOST of our classes.  (2nd period you are behind due to the Walton assembly and Lit. Circles but pay attention anyway!)  As a hook, we watched a Microsoft commercial and analyzed: speaker, purpose, audience (and sub audience) format & thesis.  We discussed the TYPES of appeals the speaker used. We discussed the effectiveness of the appeals.  We also discussed whether or not it was important to be successful in the argument and emphasized the importance of KNOWING your audience.  (Why isn't the dad successful in his plea? It worked for the boy!) Here's the link for the video if you missed it or just want to watch it again.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/showcase/details.aspx?uuid=0d78d0a2-942f-4a0d-96a4-c94509df0092

1. Craft a thesis statement.  (Jake's current plea:  Please buy a mattress for the top bunk and let me sleep there.  Quinn's current desire:  Please let me take my backpack to school every day. It's empty! Seriously? )

2. Share the parent letter.  Download Halloween candy

3. Ask your mom or dad to list 5-7 objections to your thesis. (I'm working on mine for Jake and Quinn.)

4. Take 5 of the oppositions that you can counter and create a T chart (graphic organizer) with multiple counter arguments/refutes.  Download T Chart for Parental Objections

I think my example is also attached on there.

5. THEN write your rough draft.  I have a graphic organizer to follow for that as well!  This essay is going to follow the concession-refute (or point-counter point) organizational format. Download T Chart for Parental Objections

Download Persuasive organizer_Concession Refute

6. We'll be in the computer lab several days typing this persuasive letter up.  We are going to use the condensed writing test rubric.  Download 8GWA Rubric_Condensed

7.  Peer Edit

8. Revise/edit.

9. Publish!  Share your letter with your parent and ask for a written response.  (That's bonus!  Wow.  Your parents have homework in LA and have the opportunity to get a few extra credit points for you for doing a second assignment!  Maybe now they'll have more empathy for you when you complain about homework!) 

8LA--You have a vocabulary quiz on Friday.  SAT 7.  Flashcards are due, too! 

8AC- Please continue to read your Literature Circle book.  Your first assignment is due on Monday.

Monday & Tuesday

Enjoy your day off today.  8LA-use some time today to work on your 100 thesis statements if you don't have 60 completed already.  Final assignment is due on Friday!  Feel free to type them. Please make sure you share the parent letter with your mom or dad.  Have him/her write their 5-7 objections. This is due on Wednesday.

8AC-Start reading your literature circle book and working on your role.  Role#1 is due on Monday!  P.S.  Vocabulary scores are in Pinnacle.  Y'all did great.  Sorry for the confusion on #40.  I removed it from the quiz.  Only ONE person got a grade lower than an 80.  Study one person!  Come in for retake on Wednesday or Thursday morning.  Peace!

Thursday, November 3

Let me clear up any confusion!  Currently only the 8LA classes are working on the 100 thesis statements.  These are due 11-11-11.  I'm working on the assignment, too.  (If you think that you have a lot to do, step into my shoes...I have to grade over 1,000 thesis statements!)  

AC students...remember BRING YOUR LIT CIRCLE BOOK TOMORROW!  (And your permission slip if you haven't done so already.  You have group members counting on YOU to come through.)  We will have the SAT 8 vocabulary quiz tomorrow AND have our intial Lit Circle Kick Off where you meet with your group members and determine roles for the next 6 weeks. 

 

8LA--today we compiled our collective brainstorming on the Year Round School Calendar issue.  Your task is to write a single body paragraph in the point-counter point (or concession-refute) format.  This means that you will start your paragraph with a concession:  Proponents of ___ believe ___.  Then you will transition to your refute/stronger reasoning.  However...  Make sure you have a variety of appeals: ethical, logical and emotional. You may want to include an anecdote or personal testimony.