Coulombe’s Corner

This week we will finishing up our notes, reviewing outling skills, and writing our rough draft for our Persuasive Research paper.  It is due Feb 22,23.

Homework:

1. Be sure you have handed in your outline for me to check your thesis and 3 reasons.

2. Now is the time to fill out your Million Word Challenge sheets for your Sci-fi/Fantasy books that you recently completed.  Get ahead of the game!  Pick out your next book- you will need 4 more before the end of the marking period.  I have some great, new books on my bookshelf.  Check them out:)

We are in the library all week gathering information for our Persuasive Research papers.  Students are choosing a wide variety of topics- it’s exciting to see them energized by their topics.

Homework:

1. Science Fiction/Fantasy Index Card Summaries due Tuesday (A Day) and Wed (B Day).

2. Spelling Unforgivables Test- A Day- Thursday, B Day- Wednesday. Study!

3.  All Tree Poems due by end of week- many of you have handed them in already:)

4.  If you did not complete the Select-A Quote (A Day only) please do so. Practice Writing Prompts and Select-a Quote

I ‘ve enjoyed meeting your parents this week.  I think they really enjoyed looking through your writing folders and I had a few parents tear up when they read your awesome Where I’m From poems and the letters you wrote to them.  We’re staring our persuasive writing projects this week.  If you are unsure of a topic, go the the Media Center website, click on Cobb Virtual Library, and scroll down to SIRS Researcher site and Opposing Viewpoints site.  Both have excellent topics for a persuasive paper.

Homework:

1. A Day classes- a. Be sure you are set on your research paper topic.

b. Tree poems will not be due until next week.  If you need to meet with me during class on Friday, be sure you have a rough draft with you.  Rubrics will be given to you on Friday.  Your tree must be a metaphor for something, and include an illustration or picture.

2. B Day Classes- a. Choose a persuasive research topic (see above).

                                        b. Work on spelling words

                                        c. Tree  poems will be due next week.  If you need to meet with me on Monday,   be

 sure you have your rough draft with you.

3. All classes- Sci-fi/Fantasy Index Card Summaries due next week. A Day- due Feb 2, Tuesday, and B Day due Feb. 3, Wenesday.  Be sure to hand in rubric (on goldenrod paper) with your card.

4.  All A Day classes- Select A Quote Forms attached.  be sure to hand in.  I will accept it no later than next Tuesday. Practice Writing Prompts and Select-a Quote

Homework:

1. Pick a persuasive writing topic for your research paper.  Two things to consider: Can I write an effective thesis statement with this topic?  Can I find research (aticles, websites ) to get my supporting details?

2. (A and B DAY)- Tree poem- rough drafts due.

3. Sci-fi/Fantasy Index cards due Feb. 2 (B) and Feb. 3 (A).

On Wednesday all eighth graders will be taking the State Writing Test.  I feel confident that YOU ARE READY!  You can do it:)  Get a good night’s sleep on Tuesday evening and eat breakfast before you come to school.  Don’t forget you will need #2 pencils and blue or black pens.

Homework:

1. Prepare for the writing test and a class quiz by studying the following: The outline for an essay ( should be in your mini-lesson section), examples of essay leads (5), and your transitions paper.  Look at the Power point for an example of thesis, supporting details and explanations, counter arguments, and conclusion. Three Little Pigs Final 2

2.  Read your sci-fi-fantasy book and bring it to class daily.  Complete your Select-A-Quote paper.Practice Writing Prompts and Select-a Quote

3.  Your Index Card project for this book is due Feb 2- I will be giving you the instructions next class.

…ended in a snow day.  I hope you are all rested and relaxed and ready to concentrate- we have 3 more classes until the State Writing test.  This coming week we will continue to practice thesis statements, practice organizing our thoughts for our essays, and look at past writing prompts and examples.  Please come ready to write!  Also- don’t forget to bring your sci-fi fantasy book to class daily- you will be writing a response to reading this week and will need your book.

Homework;

1. Complete your DGP Sentence 6- all days

2. Bring your Sci-fi- fantasy book to class daily. ( Be sure you have checked your title with me)

3.  Hand in your emotion poems to me.

4. B Day Dialogue comic strips due Wed. (A day will be due Thursday)

5. B Day- Complete your outline for teen curfews, and rewite the short paragraph I gave you about a food fight.  Use strong nouns and vivid verbs.

1.We will be selling gourmet lollipops on Friday from 8:50-9:15 AM in the Grand Atrium.

1.. Million Word Challenge- Fill in Bingo Card (5 books read) in library with correct information (must have call numbers!) and complete Non-Fiction Poster. Non-fiction book report  Due Dec 10 (B) and 11 (A).

2. A Day- write a rough draft of your emotion poem.

3.  Bring in baby pictures for yearbook.

1. DGP Sentence 5, complete all days for the next class-quiz grade.

2. Million Word Challenge- Fill in Bingo Card (5 books read) in library with correct information (must have call numbers!) and complete Non-Fiction Poster. Non-fiction book report  Due Dec 10 (B) and 11 (A).

3. Comma quiz next week. Comma Chameleon (A day- next Wed., B Day- Tuesday) (This is your last grade in your Conventions category for this marking period-Study!)

 The fllowing link will help you convert the above files in you don’t have Microsoft  Windows 7.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=941b3470-3ae9-4aee-8f43-c6bb74cd1466&displayLang=en

Homework:

1. DGP Sentence 5, Mon. and Tuesday’s work

2. Million Word Challenge- Fill in Bingo Card (5 books read) in library with correct information (must have call numbers!) and complete Non-Fiction Poster.