It’s hard to believe there are only 18 days of school left! The students did very well, as a whole, on their research papers. Writing a thesis statement is so very important in the writing process, and the more practice the students have, the easier this task will be. We have been focused on the grammar unit on sentences, and after a review, the students will have a quiz on sentence terms. I plan on introducing a newspaper unit next week with the ultimate assignment being a project by the students in news article writing. I love these projects, and the students seem to enjoy them as well. I am looking at 2 or 3 weeks for this project. As always, let me know if you have any questions. Happy Spring
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These past two weeks I have introduced the research paper assignment which the students have been working on. Several handouts were given in preparation for the research and writing of this paper. This week will be spent researching the person the students have chosen, and writing notecards. The paper will be written from the notecards themselves. I am looking at Friday, the 27th of April for the due date, but I would like to see the students have plenty of time to finish the paper. I will keep the door open until April 30 for the paper to be handed in. The 27th marks our mid-term; but the research paper will not be corrected by that time. Have a good week!
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The mythology project is finished and due today. Each student is aware that 10% will be taken off the grade each day it is late. This will be the final grade on the 3rd marking period. We are working on run-on sentences and vocabulary in grammar.
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7th Grade Writing and Grammar students have completed their plot diagram for their mythological essay. The rough draft for this essay is due at the end of the day on Monday, March 12. Peer-editing will follow, with students correcting grammatical errors. Students will also comment on whether the myth rubric was followed. The plot diagrams are worth 10 points. The rough draft will not be graded, but the peer-editing sheet will be graded. Final drafts for the mythological essay will be due no later than Friday, March 16. This will be a project grade in Infinite Campus, and will be worth 55 points. I will complete the grading by the end of the 3rd marking period, March 23. The following week, just before Spring Break, I will begin a comma unit, during which I hope to teach the students the correct use of commas in sentences, lists, etc.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
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In 7th Grade Writing and Grammar, we are continuing our Descriptive Essay Project – writing a Greek myth in two double-spaced typed pages. The assignment will ask students to organize their paragraphs, check for vivid verbs and adjectives, and clearly describe the character they are portraying.
Our Grammar goal for March is the use of commas in writing. My goal is to have students clearly understand the use of commas in writing for clarity and coherence.
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This week conferences will be held on Wednesday, February 22. I hope you all can make it. We have finished our Adjective Unit and will begin another grammar unit on Adverbs. I expect to finish a unit or two in the Grammar book each week. I want the students exposed to every part of speech by the end of the year. I continue to work on correct grammar, proofreading, and clear writing. Next week we will begin a god/goddess project that will take approximately two weeks.
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7th Grade Writing and Grammar finished a two-week poster project using the Thesaurus to generate synonyms for words in fairy tales and poems. The purpose of this project is to introduce more colorful language to the students to enhance their writing. Posters are being displayed in the Media Center, and will be graded by this weekend. Students are also completing the Adjective Grammar Unit which will culminate with a quiz on Monday, February 20. Third marking period progress grades will be posted on Monday, February 20. I’m looking forward to seeing you at conferences on Wednesday, February 22.
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All of the short stories are graded and in Infinite Campus. I’m excited about our young, fine writers! Just a quick reminder to parents who see blanks in Infinite Campus. They do not indicate missing work; they are simply assignments that I have not corrected and put into Infinite Campus. The only time that a blank would have meaning is if there was an indication that it was “missing,” “incomplete,” or “turned in.” Otherwise, please do not worry about blanks in Infinite Campus. Please let me know if you have a specific question about a grade.
We are still reviewing verbs and I’m creating worksheets that address common mistakes made in papers. Our next writing assignment will be an Expository Essay, assigned at the beginning of the 3rd marking period.
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I can hardly believe I’m so excited to see my students again. It seemed as though the last few weeks of school just raced by. I am anxious to hear their vacation stories and get started in the new year.
The students did a wonderful job on their short stories; I have several not turned in, and I’m hopeful the students will hand them in the first week of school. I will remind all of them every day! Look for writing awards the first week of school to those whose short stories were excellent!
Next week we’ll be re-visiting verbs to make sure that present, past, and future tenses are understood and used correctly. I will begin with a Diagnostic Test and determine what needs to be worked on. We will study subject verb agreement and do some in-class journal writing.
In the second semester I would like to have the students do a formal research paper. This will take several weeks of work, but it is a valuable exercise for the future. Feel free to email me whenever you feel it necessary.
Happy New Year!!
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I’m looking forward to another marking period with my Writing and
Grammar students. We are progressing through grammar review, parts of
speech exercises, and focusing on removing some of the errors that
plague our writing.
Few quizzes are given, but the students must be prepared for them.
I announce a quiz at least three days before the quiz takes place,
so students who are absent in between do need to take the quiz at the
same time as the rest of the students.
Please review the homework policy which I will enforce more strictly as the year progresses. After two days, any classwork missing or homework that is not turned in will only receive 50% if it is done well.
Please email me with questions or concerns. This is not a difficult class; success comes with putting forth effort and being responsible for work turned in.
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