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Friday, April 25, 2008

Reminders

Poetry project is due Wednesday! Read the directions carefully! (Directions can be found HERE.)

We will spend one more day (Monday) in the library doing research for the research project. if note cards aren't finished by then, you are on your own to do so. We will spend the next three days in the computer lab writing text and gathering images. Remember that care and creativity in completing your poster counts!

Completed projects are dur May 4th!

No spelling next week.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Research Project

Book Projects were due today! I have given a one day extension, after that, grades wil be reduced.

Reminder! Poetry Project is due April 30th! (see 4/9 post for details)

No spelling this week.

Yesterday we started on a Social Studies based research project. Monday and Tuesday, Mrs. Delilli presented instructions on how to write notes and cite sources. The rest of the week, students will work on gather information from their sources by filling out source cards and note cards. Rubric is below:

Research Project
Over the next two weeks we will be working together on research skills. The topics are important events or people in American history. We will have time in the library with Mrs. DeLilli working on necessary research skills along with time to investigate your own topic.

This information will be presented in a poster format to your class. The poster must include:

1. Your topic, in bold, easy to read writing
2. Pictures, graphics- either hand drawn or prints with captions
3. Information from your 3 sources in a well organized, logical, sequenced order. Typed information can be presented in a report format, or it can be separated into sections to coordinate graphics.
4. Reference page of 3 sources used- typed and attached to the back of the poster.

Dates to Remember

April 21, 22- research techniques/ skills
April 23, 24, 25 (maybe 28)research (note taking) in library
April 28, 29, 30 (maybe 31)- computer lab
May 4- projects due, presentations begin

General Rubric

Note cards: 20 pts.
Source cards: 15 pts.
Written Info: 30 pts.
Graphics: 15 pts.
Reference page: 10 pts.
General appearance: 10 pts
This project counts for two grades.

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Poetry

Note: Tomorrow is a spelling test and a quiz on petry terms.

Yesterday we began a poetry unit with a review of terms and the analysis of of two poems from the literature book. The first three stanzas of Jean Little's "Growing Pains" was distributed and read. Students were to write the fourth stanza and a paragraph explaining why they chose to end the poem in the manner they did. The poem, with it's final stanza (which was discussed today) is below:

Growing Pains by Jean Little

Mother got mad at me tonight and bawled me out.
She said I was lazy and self-centered.
She said my room was a pigsty.
She said she was sick and tired of forever nagging
but I gave her no choice.
She went on and on until I began to cry.
I hate crying in front of people. It was horrible.

I got away, though, and went to bed and it was over.
I knew things would be okay in the morning;
Stiff with being sorry, too polite, but okay.
I was glad to be by myself.

Then she came to my room and apologized.
She explained, too.
Things had gone wrong all day at the store.
She hadn't had a letter from my sister and she was worried.
Dad had also done something to hurt her.
She even told me about that.
Then she cried.
I kept saying, "It's all right. Don't worry."
And wishing she'd stop.

I'm just a kid.
I can forgive her getting mad at me. That's easy.
But her sadness . . .
I don't know what to do with her sadness.
I yell at her often, "You don't understand me!"
But I don't want to have to understand her.
That's expecting too much.


Today another poem was read and responses were written in journals.

A Hole in the House by Mr. Lambert

There is a little hole in the house;
Here on the bed,
There on the chair.

There is a little hole in the house;
On the floor’s windowlight;
Before the winter fire.

There is a little hole in the house;
On the stair,
Soft foot thumping.

There is a little hole in the house;
Warm and rumbling,
Near my ear.

There is a little hole in the house;
Where the dogs worry,
And the children sigh.


Responses to yesterday's assignment, "Growing Pains", were read and the final stanza was examined.

Directions for the poetry project were distributed:

1) 5 original pieces of poetry, typed and illustrated.
2)A favorite poem, written either by you or someone else. Typed, with an explanation as to why this is your favorite poem and identifying the poetic devices used.
3) Due date: April 30. This leaves enough room so as to avoid conflict with the book project (due April 22). BUT START CONSIDERING YOUR PEOMS NOW!

Students my use poetry forms introduced in class:

Sense Poem:
EMOTION seems COLOR
LIKE – describe an image or feeling
I SEE…………
I HEAR……….
I SMELL……….
I TOUCH……..
I TASTE……..

Example:

Loneliness seems golden yellow
Like the hazy colors fall days bring
I see the leaves of red
I hear the birds announce themselves
I smell burning leaves that signal the end
I touch no one, for I stand alone
I taste the salt of my tears


Bio Poem:

A bio poem allows the writer to focus on the characteristics of a person or animal, anything or anyone. It requires the writer to put themselves in the subject’s shoes.

Line 1: First Name
Line 2: Four Descriptive Traits
Line 3: Sibling Of…….
Line 4: Lover Of……
Line 5: Who Fears….
Line 6: Who Needs…..
Line 7: Who Gives…..
Line 8: Who Would Like To See
Line 9: Resident Of….
Line 10: Last Name

Ex:

Tom
Tall, tasty, feathery, vicious
Sibling of Clucky Chicken and Big Bird
Lover of vegetarians and ham eaters
Fears Mr.Butterball and Pilgrims
Needs to run around
Gives nourishment and leftovers
Would like to see birds unite and revolt
Resident of Old McDonald’s farm
Turkey


*Students may use other forms, but ONLY ONE OF EACH, or write free verse. other forms may be hiaku:

1) Haiku contain three lines. The first line contains five syllables, the second has seven, and the last has five.

2) Choose a general topic. Haiku usually focus around imagery, namely nature. Haiku do not tell stories and almost never involve people's actions. Haiku simply convey an abstract concept -- usually an emotion or reflective thought.

3) Choose a season. Since virtually all haiku focus on nature, the season is important for coming up with the imagery. With so few words in the poem, simple phrases like "cherry blossoms" or "falling leaves" can create lush scenes, while reflecting the tone of the verse.

Examples;

As the wind does blow
Across the trees, I see the
Buds blooming in May

Falling to the ground,
I watch a leaf settle down
In a bed of brown

Branches stretching out
To grab the sunsets colours
Night is approaching.
-Lisa H., age 11

Extra credit: A song with appropriate lyrics can be brought in and played in class. You will need the lyrics typed, the cd, an explanation of the poetic devices used and why you liked the song. (I must preview the song before presenting it to class.)

Saturday, April 05, 2008

Reminders!

Fridays spelling/vocab test is postponed until Monday. Also, all students should be reading a novel and writing chapter summaries. These summaries need to be well written!

Due date for book projects is April 22.

Friday, April 04, 2008

Anne Frank and Coming Attractions

Finished the play today. Students read their parts extremely well.

Next week I hope to begin a poetry unit, handout a pile of back work and send writing portfolios home. When we get back from spring break we'll start the research unit.

Next week's spelling list:

Spelling Vocabulary #25


1. against – (prep) in opposition to

2. commitment – (n) an obligation or pledge

3. privilege – (n) a special right or advantage granted to one person or group

4. excuse – (v) to overlook or pardon because of circumstances or some other reason
(n) a reason put forth for overlooking a fault

5. individual – (adj.) single, separate; of or for one person

6. thought – (n) the process or power of thinking

7. review – (n) a general survey of past events or of a subject
(v) to survey

8. apostrophe – (n) the sign used to show that letters or numbers have been omitted, to show the possessive case, or to show plurals of letters

9. comma – (n) the punctuation mark indicating a slight pause or break in a sentence

10. adjective – (n) a word added to a noun to describe a quality or modify a meaning