Pay It Forward- Final Activity

Haven't been posting regularly this week...

Students are presenting eulogies to the class based on the movie viewed last week, This will represent the first major grade of the third marking period.

This weeks spelling list is as follows (spelling lists will represent math terms in preperation for the math assessment):

1. absolute value (n) – the distance between a given number and zero, written as /n/

2. additive inverse (n) – the opposite of a given number (the sum of a number and this is zero)

3. associative property (n) – changing the grouping of numbers does not change the sum or product in an addition or multiplication problem

4. commutative property (n) - changing the order of numbers does not change the sum or product in an addition or multiplication problem

5. rhombus (n) – a parallelogram with four congruent sides

6. trapezoid (n) – a quadrilateral with exactly one pair of parallel sides

7. variable expression (n) – an expression that consists of numbers, variables, and operations

8. multiplicative inverse (n) – the reciprocal of a number (the product of a number and this is
1)
9. parallelogram (n) – a quadrilateral with both pairs of opposite sides parallel

10. prime factorization (n) – expressing a whole number as a product of prime numbers

Pay It Forward II

Continued the movie today. I will be absent tomorrow but classes will continue (hopefully finish) the movie with the subsititute.

Grades close this week. All work owed must be in!

Pay It Forward

Last week classes completed the New York State English/Language Arts Assessment. Preliminary results look very encouraging.

This week classes are viewing the movie Pay It Forward. Students are taking notes in preparation for a writing assignment on the movie, which will take at least 3 class periods to view.

The movie is both a reward for the hard work done in preparing for the state assessment, and effort in its completion, and also as an introduction to the following unit in which justice will be a central theme.

No spelling this week.

State Assessment I

Classes took parts one and two of the state assessment. Part three will be taken tomorrow.

Note: I was out yesterday, so last weeks spelling test will be this Friday.

Reading-Writing Assessment Practice II

Students completed the planning page and started writing the essay which will be finished for homeowrk if not done. Students are strongly encouraged to read their writing silently to themselves and make as many corrections as they can.

Study for spelling/vocab test!

Reading-Writing Assessment Practice

Students completed reading the two passages of part 3 of the practice test and are to finish the constructed responses for homework.

Study spelling/vocab!

Listening Activity - Assessment Practice II

Students listened to the passage one more time (for the benefit of those absent yesterday and to freshen memories) and we worked on the constructed responses together.

Then we worked the planning page for the essay, selecting the notes to use and bulleting the most important items that will complete the essay directions.

Students are to write the essay for homework.

Note: The other language arts teachers and i discussed the advisability of having the students 'dress up' for the state assessment next week. People walk a bit taller and feel good about themselves when dressed formally. Indeed, the boy's basketball team has to wear a dress shirt and tie to school on the day of games.

We are considering asking students to voluntarily do this. More tomorrow.

Listening Activity - Assessment Practice II

Students listened to the passage one more time (for the benefit of those absent yesterday and to freshen memories) and we worked on the constructed responses together.

Then we worked the planning page for the essay, selecting the notes to use and bulleting the most important items that will complete the essay directions.

Students are to write the essay for homework.

Note: The other language arts teachers and i discussed the advisability of having the students 'dress up' for the state assessment next week. People walk a bit taller and feel good about themselves when dressed formally. Indeed, the boy's basketball team has to wear a dress shirt and tie to school on the day of games.

We are considering asking students to voluntarily do this. More tomorrow.

Listening Activity - Assessment Practice

Students copied this week's spelling/vocab list.

Classes began a listneing activity in preperation for next week's state assessment. Note taking strategies were reviewed. Passage was read twice: once for main ideas, second time for details. Constructed responses were started and will be finished tomorrow. The essay will also be started tomorrow and finished for homework.

HW: Spelling/vocab definitions

Benchmark IV

Went over the benchmark exam today with special emphasis on reading strategies necessary for particular questions. Questions that posed particular difficulty were discussed in detail.

A Look Ahead:

Next week we will be taking parts 2 and 3 of the benchmark: the listening portion and extended response. Each require an essay.

Next weeks spelling/vocab list:

they’re
there
their
experience
obstacle
beautiful
persecution
difficult
immigration
definite

A Christmas Carol III

Wrote A Christmas Carol essay today. The directions are as follows:

A Christmas Carol is the story of the transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge. Certain events in the story are important in this character’s change. In a well written essay, describe the transformation. In your essay, be sure to:

• Contrast Scrooge’s character with that of the other characters in the story.
• Discuss the importance of each spirit: past, present and future.
• How is Scrooge changed? What is the theme of the story? Explain.
• Include specific details from the story in your essay.

Essays not finished in class must be finished for homework.

Tomorrow we will go over the benchmark exam.

Benchmark III

Took the final benchmark in preperation for the state assessment. The test was given from 8:30 to 9:20, part of 1st and all of 2nd period. The rest of the time students did journal work. They'll all work on the essay tomorrow and go over the benchmark results on Friday.

No homework this evening.

A Christmas Carol II

Hope everyone's holiday break was joyful!

We finished up the movie today, and will write an essay in class tomorrow and Thursday for 2nd period. (Any student who missed any part of the movie should obtain one of its many versions and view it at home.)

Tomorrow is also our last benchmark exam before the state assessment. Please encourage a positive attitude. All students have worked hard preparing for the exams, and all we wish is for them to do their best.

No spelling this week.