AC Language Arts

1) If you did not turn in your personal narrative today, you must BRING IT TO ME IN HOMEROOM TOMORROW!

2)  The reason you must bring it to me in homeroom tomorrow is that tomorrow is 7th grade OLYMPICS field events day! Yeah!

3)  If you plan to get your own copy of The House of the Scorpion, please do so ASAP.

4)  Special Reminder:  Tomorrow is the last day to place your orders for the first-ever McClure Cookbook!  They are only $12 and will make a great holiday gift.  AND… you don’t want to miss out on my awesome recipe for Chicken Dorito Casserole! (YUM!)  Click the green tab at the top of my blog to download an order form for the cookbook.

Friday’s Class Work:
Today students were given an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of plot, conflict, and characterization on a test over those literary concepts.  Class time after finishing the exam was devoted to journaling, revising personal narratives, and/or independent reading.  We also enjoyed a puppet show and a “show and tell” book talk from students presenting evidence of their independent reading.

Personal Narratives:
Students should report directly to the PC lab on Monday and Tuesday of next week to type, proofread, and publish their personal narratives.  It would also be wise to bring a flash drive (USB drive) on those days in order to save your work.  I would prefer that your personal narrative (all drafts) be turned in to me before you leave class on Tuesday.  However, you may finish at home if necessary and bring your work to me IN HOMEROOM on WEDNESDAY. (We won’t be meeting on Wednesday due to Olympics.) Any narratives turned in after Wednesday 9/30/09 will be considered late.

The House of the Scorpion:
Please bring your own copy of The House of the Scorpion to class by Thursday, October 1, if at all possible.  I do have a few copies of the book I can loan to students who are unable to bring in their own copy.  Please let me know as soon as possible if you will be borrowing a copy of the book from me.

Million Word Challenge:
On Thursday 9/24, all students were given their status towards the 500-page requirement for independent reading this grading period.  Several students read and logged more than 500 pages during the summer, so they have already accomplished their goal for the first nine weeks.  Friday, October 9, is the ABSOLUTE FINAL DAY to turn in evidence of independent reading for the first marking period.  For a reminder of the Million Word Challenge requirements, click HERE.

“Beauty is…” is the theme for the 2009-10 PTA-sponsored Reflections Program. Reflections is an art program for students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. It is an opportunity for every student to express themselves in any or all of six art categories. These categories are: Visual Arts, Literature, Photography, Musical, Composition, Dance, Choreography, Film/Video Production.

Interested students should submit their artwork that expresses their best interpretation of “Beauty is…” Visit the PTA Reflections website for forms and instructions. There is a list of instructions and rules for each category along with the official entry form.

The entry deadline for McClure is October 1, 2009. All entries must be turned in that morning between 8:45-9:15 AM in the cafeteria. Judging will occur during the next week. For more information for submitting a student as a Georgia Special Artist or to submit a suggested theme, please contact our Reflections Committee Chair, Michelle Strickland at 678-574-5879.

Thursday 9/24:  Finish PQS (if needed); write revised draft of personal narrative; review for test over narrative elements

Friday 9/25:  Test over narrative elements; sharing independent reading response activities (if applicable)

Monday 9/28:  Publishing personal narratives in PC lab

Tuesday 9/29:  Publishing personal narratives in PC lab

Wednesday 9/30:  Beginning The House of the Scorpion novel study

Monday, September 21:  Revising personal narratives; independent reading

Tuesday, September 22:  Independent reading presentations (book talks, puppet shows, etc.) for anyone who is ready to present; review for Wednesday’s test over narrative elements

Wednesday, September 23:  TEST over narrative elements

Thursday, September 24:  Proofreading & publishing personal narratives in PC lab

Friday, September 25:  Proofreading & publishing personal narratives in PC lab; Narrative & all supporting materials will be turned in at end of class

Monday, September 28: Begin The House of the Scorpion novel study!

Let me begin by sending a heartfelt thanks to those who were able to make it to our Open House last night.  Your support is important and truly appreciated.  For those who were unable to attend, you may access the slides for my Open House presentation by clicking here.

Today was the second day of working in our PQS peer revising groups, and overall, I was SO impressed with the conversations I heard!  Anyone who has not gotten feedback for his or her writing will do so tomorrow.

Today periods 3/4, 5, and 7/8 got their first opportunity to work in PQS groups.  (Period 6 finished the big group PQS of Claire’s narrative and will break into small groups tomorrow.) It was so cool to walk around the room and hear the specific, constructive feedback that was being offered to the authors who shared their writing.  We will be working in PQS groups again tomorrow.  The final draft of the personal narrative will be due next Friday, September 25, at the end of class. 

I am looking forward to seeing all parents at Open House tomorrow night (September 17) at 7:00pm!

Today students received training on the PQS (Praise, Question, Suggest) peer revising procedures.  We will use these procedures regularly in language arts this year.  A big thank-you to Chase, Shelby, Claire, and Victor for volunteering to be in the “hot seat” and allow their entire class to “PQS” their narrative draft!  Every student will have the opportunity to gather peer feedback as they work in PQS groups tomorrow and Thursday.  We will be publishing the final draft of the personal narrative in the PC computer lab next Thursday and Friday (September 24 and 25). 

Next Wednesday, September 23, students will take a test over the terms and concepts related to the narrative standards.  This test will cover:  direct and indirect characterization; standard plot line (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution); conflict (including 4 types); & narrative strategies such as flashback, foreshadowing, and figurative langauge.

Students were given the entire class period to work on the rough draft of their personal narrative.  Those who were finished used the time for independent reading and visiting the Media Center.