Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Tonight’s Homework…

1.)    MUGS Week #5: “Using the Right Word”

2.)    Essay #5: My Goal

Every student should be at least starting their outline. For specific details on this essay assigned yesterday, see yesterday's blog post. Evidence of all work is due Monday. Remember: Your work will be evaluated using the MCAS scoring guide. In other words, you will receive a 1-6 for TODL/S and a 1-4 for MUGS. You will also receive codes that help to explain your scores.

 3.)    Revision: “American Dream?” Conclusion

Please re-write the conclusion on the "American Dream?" essay. Be sure your new conclusion restates the thesis in different words, reviews the main points, then…ADD SIZZLE with a CHEESY COMMENT or QUESTION!

 

A BIG SHOUT-OUT to…
... Everyone who has been working so hard to improve as writers since September. Your growth over time has been truly impressive. Keep challenging yourself.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Tonight's Homework...

1.) MUGS Week #5: "Misplaced Modifiers A"

2.) MUG Art: Misplaced modifier poster

• Use 8.5" by 11" computer paper
• Write somewhere on the poster the erroneous sentence (on thin slip of paper) you were assigned in class today.
• "Illustrate the insanity" of your misplaced modifier sentence. Use color, be creative! Have fun.
• Revise the erroneous sentence for clarity and write your corrected sentence somewhere on your poster. Feel free to rearrange words (maybe even add one or two) to enhance the sentence's clarity.

We'll have a gallery of our MUG Art tomorrow, so be ready to share.

3.) Essay #5: "My Goal"
Think about a goal that you would like to achieve. In a well-developed composition, explain your goal. Describe three qualities you will need to reach your goal and explain why each quality is important to be successful.

Due Monday, November 5, 2012

• Topic: My personal goal
• Thesis: (Identify your goal and include the THREE personal qualities needed to achieve the goal!)
• Evidence of brainstorm
• Evidence of outline (remember to label TOPIC and THESIS up top)
• Evidence of drafts (at least two)
• Introduction technique
• Properly placed thesis statement (the roof!)
• Topic sentences (load-bearing walls!)
• Supporting Details (support studs!)
• Specific Examples (nails, screws, bolts!)
• Transitions (carpenter glue!)
• Conclusion technique
• All-star title (use strategies we've practiced)
• Flawless MUGS

4.) Twenty-Minute Habit, Log.


Are YOU reading this blog? If so, prove it!
Please post a note on the door to our classroom identifying your favorite number and explaining its significance. Your favorite number can be ANY number, but it must be personally meaningful to you in some way. For example, I would pick the number 9984 because it is the sum of...

   My birth year = 1975
+ My husband's birth year = 1976
+ My first daughter's birth year = 2010
+ My second daughter's birth year = 2010
+ My soon-to-be son's birth year = 2013
------------------------------------------------
Total = 9984

So what's YOUR number? Use an index card to identify and explain your number. Don't forget to sign your name!

Friday, October 26, 2012

Tonight's Homework...

1.) Margin Note Practice: "Medical Use of Marijuana"
Please use your margin noting skills to read this informative text that voters are using to become educated on this ballot question. Some of the information presented in the text will probably sound familiar from lectures in health education class.

"Question 3: Medical Use of Marijuana"

Remember: Mrs. Smith is not asking you to agree one way or the other; you are simply using your reading skills to explore an argument that many Massachusetts voters will consider on Election day.
I appreciate the feedback from kids and parents who report this week's margin noting assignments have sparked valuable conversations around the dinner table. :)

2.) Word Attack: Quiz Monday

3.) Twenty-Minute Habit, Log. 

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Tonight’s Homework…

1.) Margin Note Practice: Massachusetts Ballot Question 2: “Prescribing Medication to End Life". If you lost the article, visit:
Question 2: "Prescribing Medication to End Life"


2.) Word Attack: Quiz Monday
Co-Com-Contra-Counter-

3.) Twenty-Minute Habit, Log.

To further our class discussion of COINCIDENCE versus IRONY, I present to you... Canadian singer Alanis Morissette's  1995 hit song "Ironic." Enjoy her examples of irony:

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Tonight's Homewoork...

1. Margin Note Practice: "Voting" and "How to Register to Vote"
This double-sided informational text was issued in class today. If you need a review on margin noting, revisit Mrs. Smith's "What is Margin Noting?" handout.

"How to Register to Vote"
"Voting"


2.) Word Attack: Co-Com-Contra- Counter-
Quiz Monday. The percentage of students who could prove they studied increased in all classes today but is still less than 100 percent.

3.) Twenty-Minute Habit, Log.
Superior athletes practice every day; the same is true of superior readers.

4.) Continue becoming familiar with the MCAS Scoring Guide issued in class.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Tonight's Homework...

1.) Word Attack: Co- Com- Contra- Counter-
Quiz Monday

2.) Twenty-Minute Habit, Log.

Coming Attractions:

• Tomorrow we will be examining a very, very valuable document. Stay tuned.
• Formal assessments on introductions, transitions, outlining are on the horizon. Stay tuned.

You receive many pieces of paper in this class. Throw nothing away. Ever.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Tonight's Homework...

1.) Essay #4: "Wealthy Donor"
All evidence of vomit, outline, drafting due tomorrow.

2.) Word Attack: Co- Com- Contra- Counter-
Quiz Monday

3.) Twenty-Minute Habit. Log.

4.) Class-Specfic Tasks:
A and F Block: Rewrite the title for "Capital Punishment" using one technique assigned in class. [Use the "Tips for Writing All-Star Titles" handout.]

Curious to know what Mrs. Smith read in L.L.M. today? I actually explored three separate articles, but here's one of them:

http://firsttoknow.com/5-words-that-make-you-sound-stupid/?did=1179&utm_source=outbrain&utm_campaign=fivewordng

Do YOU often use any of these words?

Friday, October 19, 2012

Tonight's Homework...

1.) Essay #4: "Wealthy Donor"
All evidence (vomit, outline, drafts) due on Tuesday, October 23, 2012

2.) If you have not finished all introduction paragraphs for "bullying," complete them for Monday.

3.) Twenty-Minute Habit, Log.

Enjoy the weekend!

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Tonight's Homework...

1.) Essay #4: "Wealthy Donor"
You should be beginning the outlining stage. See yesterday's blog post for complete details on this assignment due Tuesday, October 23.

2.) MUGS Week #4: Finish your entire study guide in order to participate in tomorrow's quiz.

3.) Class-specific tasks:
D block -- "Bullying" introduction using the analogy technique
F block --  "Bullying" introduction using the anecdote technique
A block --  "Bullying" introduction using the analogy technique
C block --  "Bullying" introduction using the analogy technique

We will have eventually "faced off" to critique each of our five introductions, so save everything and be ready to share.

4.) Twenty-Minute Habit, Log.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Tonight's Homework...

1.) Essay #4: "Wealthy Donor"
A wealthy donor has decided to donate $1,000,000 to Ipswich Middle School. You have been appointed by students and staff to decide how these monies should be spent. The donor's only request is that the monies be used to improve the lives of students at I.M.S. The possibilities are endless. Your decision will affect thousands of kids. How will you spend these precious dollars?

Due Tuesday, October 23, 2012

• Topic: $1,000,000 donation
• Thesis: (Include your three main points!)
• Evidence of brainstorm/vomit
• Evidence of outline (remember to label TOPIC and THESIS up top)
• Evidence of drafts (at least two)
• Introduction technique (use one of the five we've practiced)
• Properly placed thesis statement (the roof!)
• Topic sentences (load-bearing walls!)
• Supporting Details (support studs!)
• Specific Examples (nails, screws, bolts!)
• Transitions (carpenter glue! At least three per body!)
• Conclusion technique
• All-star title (Title:Subtitle?)
• Flawless MUGS

2.) MUGS Week #4: "Revising Stringy Sentences"
Quiz Friday

3.) Twenty-Minute Habit, Log.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Tonight's Homework...

1.) MUGS Week #4: "Revising Wordy Sentences"
Quiz Friday

2.) Outlining -- Continued practice
Please read the essay titled "The Gentle Way" and prepare an outline on white-lined paper to show how the information in the essay is organized.
Remember...

• - Identify the TOPIC at the top of your outline
• - Copy the THESIS STATEMENT
• - Roman numerals (I, II, III) represent TOPIC SENTENCES
• - Letters (A, B, C, etc.) represent SUPPORTING DETAILS
• - Numbers (1,2,3, etc) represent SPECIFIC EXAMPLES

3.) Twenty-Minute Habit, Log. By the way: Your reading logs looked excellent today. Keep up the super work!

Other Thoughts:

• Hopefully you are at this point seeing some improvement in your essay writing abilities. If you do not feel like your essays are improving, please see me.
• Must-see T.V. tonight: The Second 2012 Presidential Debate (town hall format). 9-10:30 p.m.Watch how Governor Romney and President Obama present arguments and defend them with supporting details and specific examples.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Tonight's Homework...

1.) Reading logs are due tomorrow. Please have hard-copy evidence (paper)  on your desks tomorrow.

2.) MUGS Week #4:
- Subject Verb Agreement G
- Ten sentences with singular subjects

3.) Twenty-Minute Habit, Log

4.) Please make sure you still have your "bullying" introduction paragraphs. We still have two more techniques to practice.



Looking for some WORD FUN?
Are the words in your "20th century influential person" essay too repetitive? Visit this website, cut and paste your essay into the box, and let the computer tell you how REPETITIVE you might be:
http://www.wordcounter.com/

Friday, October 12, 2012

Tonight's Homework...

1.) Essay #3: "Most Influential Person of the 20th Century"
All evidence (vomit, outline, drafts) due on Monday. Be prepared to go through the 12-step "Guided Reflection" process with highlighters.

2.) Word Attack Quiz (Tri- Quad-) on Monday.

3.) Please bring evidence of your reading log for TUESDAY. Stay current on your twenty-minute habit.

4.) Please keep your "bullying" introduction paragraphs in the writing section of your red binder; we will continue practicing introduction writing next week, specifically "anecdote" and "analogy" techniques.

How would YOU answer this question:
Q: What was the goal of our transition skit activity?

Here's Mrs. Smith's answer:
A: The goal was for students to develop an in-depth understanding of the words and phrases excellent writers use to unify (glue together!) the supporting details and specific examples in their body paragraphs.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Tonight's Homework...

1.) Please write another introduction paragraph to open our imaginary essay on bullying. Use the "powerful fact" technique tonight. Remember to end your introduction paragraph with our class thesis statement. By tomorrow, you should have original examples of these three introduction techniques:
- Thought-provoking question
- Quotation or proverb
- Powerful fact

2.) Essay #3: "Most Influential Person of the 20th Century"
You should be at the drafting stage tonight.
All evidence (vomit, outline, drafts) due Monday.

3.) Word Attack: Tri- Quad-
Please study for Monday's quiz. Mrs. Smith was disappointed by student performance on today's spot-check. If you do not raise your hand to participate during the spot-check, your behavior is telling Mrs. Smith that you are not studying. Remember: last-minute cramming does not result in long-term mastery.

4.) Twenty-Minute Habit, Log.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Tonight's Homework...

1.) Continue today's practice on writing introduction paragraphs that SPARKLE! Tonight, every student should be writing an introduction that begins with a QUOTATION to defend our class thesis on bullying. You will be expected to share your introduction tomorrow.

2.) Essay #3: "Most Influential 20th Century Person" (Due Monday 10/15)
If you have not finished vomiting, you are behind.
Everyone should be in the process of beginning their outline.
See yesterday's blog post for specifics on this assignment.

3.) Transition skits due tomorrow! Be prepared.

4.) Word Attack: Tri- Quad- quiz Monday.

5.) Twenty-Minute Habit, Log.

Complete these statements:

• "Thought-provoking questions are not ____ or _____ questions!"
• "A healthy paragraph consists of  ____ (insert #) sentences."

Mrs. Smith's current mood = confused
Why would students put forth superb effort to create amazing work and then... FAIL to put their name on the amazing work and receive NO CREDIT? Please, stop the insanity!

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Tonight's Homework...

1.) Essay #3: "Most influential person of the 20th century"
Time magazine is seeking nominations for "the most influential person of the 20th century." In a well-developed composition, persuade the nominating committee that the individual you choose is the most deserving. Tell what contributions and accomplishments this person has made to humankind and the world.

Due Monday, October 15, 2012

• Topic: Most influential person of the 20th century
• Thesis: (Identify your candidate! Include your three main points!)
• Evidence of brainstorm
• Evidence of outline (remember to label TOPIC and THESIS up top)
• Evidence of drafts (at least two)
• Introduction technique
• Properly placed thesis statement (the roof!)
• Topic sentences (load-bearing walls!)
• Supporting Details (support studs!)
• Specific Examples (nails, screws, bolts!)
• Transitions (carpenter glue!)
• Conclusion technique
• All-star title
• Flawless MUGS

In case you are interested, follow this link to see the complete collection of "persons of the year" from the years 1927-2011:
http://www.time.com/time/interactive/0,31813,1681791,00.html

2.) Word Attack: Tri- Quad-
Quiz Monday

3.) Transitions skits: due Thursday

• Your goal is to use the transitional words and phrases in action.
• The audience needs to HEAR YOU USE THE WORDS/PHRASES!
• Prove to us that you rehearsed.
• Props, costumes, action!

4.) Twenty-Minute Habit, Log. (Logs to be checked this week!)

Friday, October 5, 2012

Tonight's Homework...

1.) Twenty-Minute Habit, Log. Be prepared to present your log to Mrs. Smith sometime next week.

2.) F Block only: Transitions skits due Wednesday. Your job is to correctly show the transitional words and phrases in action. The best skits include props, appear rehearsed, and are under five minutes in length.

That's all, folks. Mr. Hurley and I keep you quite busy during the school week, so do enjoy this weekend of freedom.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Tonight's Homework...

1.) MUGS Week #3: "Hyphens" due tomorrow
Quiz Friday. Study guide is your ticket to the quiz.

2.) Essay: "Great Pets" due Friday.
Be prepared to share all vomit, outline, drafts. Review the checklist from last Friday's blog post to make certain you are meeting all requirements.

3.) Essay Dissection: "The American Dream?"
Highlight the parts -- due tomorrow.
Construct an outline -- try your best at this.

4.) Twenty-Minute Habit, Log.

Are you watching the Obama vs. Romney debate tonight?

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Tonight's Homework...

1.) You should be drafting and revising your "Great Pets" typed essay. Keep your vomit and outline in a safe place because you need to bring both to class on Friday. All essay work due Friday.

2.) MUGS Week #3: "Commas H"
Quiz Friday!

3.) Twenty-Minute Habit, Log.

4.) Finish sorting your vomit to design a "batting order" in defense of your thesis "Mrs. Smith is the worst teacher at Ipswich Middle School." Use the outline template Mrs. Smith gave in class today. Tomorrow I will expect you to share your complete outline with the class, so arrive prepared.

Are you reading this blog? PROVE IT! Please approach Mrs. Smith tomorrow and share your least favorite word or phrase in our English language. For example, I do not like the word "moist". It can be tough to pronounce, and it just plain sounds gross. Another example: I become annoyed when people use the phrase "par for the course." My mom uses that phrase often. Why can't she just say, "that's typical"??? I find it aggravating. What word or phrase makes you cringe?

Monday, October 1, 2012

Tonight's Homework...

1.) You should be at the "outlining" stage of your "___ make great pets" essay. All evidence due Friday.

2.) MUGS Week #3: "Apostrophes A" and "Using the Right Word"

3.) Twenty-Minute Habit, Log.

Did you vomit enough details to defend the thesis "Mrs. Smith is the worst teacher at Ipswich Middle School"? If not, keep vomiting. More on that in class tomorrow.