Archive of ‘3rd Period’ category

What’s in a name–your turn

In the second day of No Name Calling Week, what power does a name have?  Think about all the names you are called.  What do they say about you?  You might answer one of the questions below:

  • How did your parents choose your name?  What do you like–or not–about your names?
  • Do you have a nickname?  How did you get it?  Who calls you by that name?  What do you like–or not–about it?
  • You may have heard the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”  I don’t think that statement’s true.  Words–especially insulting names–do hurt.  How can you stop the hurt caused by name-calling?  What can we as a school do?  Have you ever been hurt by name calling?

Remember, your need to write about 150 words.  Elaborate on your idea by giving examples, explaining your thinking, adding sensory detail, making comparisons with figurative language.

You don’t have to write on this topic.  You can write about anything you want (at least 150 words) and leave a link to share your writing.

Here are the three easy steps to follow:

  1. Write a blog post:  You can write about the suggested writing for the week, or write about any topic of your choice.
  2. Share your blog post by leaving a link in the comments for this post.  To find the URL or address for your post, click on the post title you want to share.  If you are in the right spot, you should see only your post (and a place to leave comments) on the page.  Then COPY the URL from the address bar at the top of the screen.  Come back to this post and PASTE the URL in the comments.  You may want to briefly tell what your post is about as an invitation.  If you’ve copied the URL correctly, you should see your blog post title at the end.  Click the POST COMMENT button when you are done.  Your comment then goes to the top.
  3. Read the blog posts of at least three others who leave a link in the comments.  Leave a thoughtful comment that asks a question, shares more information, or points out something specific the writer did well.

A Day with Dain

Would you like for an Olympic athlete to come to our school?  You can enter our school in a contest by writing an essay (or a blog post) explaining how our school would benefit from a day with Dain.  Getting the the Gold is sponsoring a Facebook essay contest to win a day with Dain Blanton.  All you have to do is to write an essay explaining “How would my school benefit from ‘A Day with Dain?'”

Here’s what you need to know, including links:

  • Essays must be written by students in grades 6-12 (check).
  • Essays must be 2-3 paragraphs, up to 500 words, written legibly or typed. (If you type it as a blog post, I will copy it to the correct format to send).
  • Each school (who has not worked with Dain before) can submit two essays. (I’ll check with other Language Arts teachers who might be interested, and we will select the two essays to send from our school.)
  • Submissions have to be sent by January 30.  That means you have to submit it to me (on paper or on your blog) by January 24–that’s Friday.
  • Click here for complete contest rules.
  • Click here to learn more about Dain, and here to learn more about Dain’s program:  A Day with Dain.
  • Once Getting to Gold selects the Top 10 Essays, vote for your favorite on the Dain Blanton for Students Facebook page.  (You have to vote from home, if your parents allow you on Facebook.)

If you write this essay, it does count as one of your writings for this week.  Please leave a link to the blog post with your essay in the comments.

You don’t have to write on this topic.  You can write about anything you want (at least 150 words) and leave a link to share your writing.

Here are the three easy steps to follow:

  1. Write a blog post:  You can write about the suggested writing for the week, or write about any topic of your choice.
  2. Share your blog post by leaving a link in the comments for this post.  To find the URL for your post, click on the post title you want to share.  If you are in the right spot, you should see only your post (and a place to leave comments) on the pate.  Then COPY the URL from the address bar.  Come back to this post and PASTE the URL in the comments.  You may want to briefly tell what your post is about as an invitation.  If you’ve copied the URL correctly, you should see your blog post title at the end.
  3. Read the blog posts of at least three others who leave a link in the comments.  Leave a thoughtful comment that asks a question, shares more information, or points out something specific the writer did well.

Spread a Little Sunshine

January 20 – 24 is No Name Calling Week.  I’ll have a series of posts this week reflecting on the effects of name calling (probably the most common form of bullying I see) and suggesting ways you can stand up to make a difference.

It is much easier to make fun of someone you don’t know, someone who seems different from you.  How well do you know your classmates?  Do you know which things you have in common?  Do you know what unique interests and knowledge and experiences set you apart?  I know I’ve learned a lot about you from reading your blogs.  Now it’s your turn.

Across the blogosphere, bloggers have been nominating other bloggers for a Sunshine Award.  Since I commented on Elsie’s blog Elsie Tries Writing, I’m nominated, too.  I’m taking that idea (and changing it to fit us) and nominating some excellent student bloggers.  If you’re nominated, you get to introduce yourself and nominate more of your classmates.  Here’s what you need to do if nominated.

  1. Acknowledge the blogger who nominated you.
  2. Share 7 random facts about yourself.
  3. Answer 7 questions asked by the blogger who nominated you.
  4. Write 7 questions to be answered by the bloggers you nominate.
  5. Nominate 7 student bloggers (look for those who haven’t been nominated yet if you can.). You’ll have to tell the person you nominated them.  Check the categories on each blog for a list of students in a each class.
  6. Copy these directions in your post.

I’ll start off with 7 random facts about me.

  1. I was born and grew up in eastern North Carolina.
  2. My first real job was barning tobacco for two summers.  After that I will never put that stuff in my mouth.  It’s disgusting!
  3. I met my husband at the East Kentucky Regional Airport in Hazard, KY.
  4. My second job in high school was shelving books in the local library and helping with the summer reading program.  It was the perfect job for me.
  5. I have my private pilot’s license.  Even though I don’t fly anymore, I am glad I have “slipped the bonds of earth” at least a few times.
  6. I started doing sprint triathlons several years ago.  I’m old and slow, but I take pride in the fact I can finish a .2 mile swim, 9.5 mile bike ride, and a 3.1 mile run.
  7. I grew up being told, “You’re just like your grandma.”  Sometimes that was a good thing, and sometimes it was said in frustration as I burned dinner because I was reading.

I’m answering the questions posed by Elsie, who nominated anyone who commented on her post a few weeks ago.

  1.  Where were you born?  I was born in Fayetteville, NC.
  2. What’s one thing at the top of your bucket list?  Taking a vacation where I can travel across the prairie (for a short journey) in a covered wagon.
  3. What makes you smile?  Lots of things–my dog, blue skies and sunshine, my family, seeing my students light up when they get it.
  4. What is your favorite time of day?  I love morning, especially when I am the first one up and the house is quiet.
  5. If you won the lottery, what would be your first big purchase?  First, I would pay off the mortgages on our house and farm.  Then I would purchase a plane ticket to somewhere exotic.
  6. Do you know anyone famous?  Who?  I still get a thrill when real, live authors interact with me on Twitter!  When I was in high school, I got to interview Herve Villachez from Fantasy Island.
  7. What is something you’d like to do this year that you’ve not done before?  I want to do a Color Run!

Now here are 7 questions for you to answer.

  1.  What would be your dream job?
  2. Where would you like to visit?
  3. What do you like to do on the weekends?
  4. What did you do on our last snow day?
  5. What is your favorite picture book from your childhood?
  6. What are you good at doing?
  7. Who would you like to meet?

Drumroll, please!  Here are the 7 student bloggers I nominate to get us started!

  1.  Mrs. Baxter 
  2. Alexia M (1st period)
  3. Anthony W (2nd period)
  4. Abbigail T (3rd period)
  5. Alexxis S (4th period)
  6. Aaron C (6th period)
  7. Abrianna J (7th period)

If you are nominated, leave a comment with a link to your post and tell us who you nominated.

A New Year: A Reading Roadmap or One Little Word

Welcome back!  As the calendar flips to a new year and we start a new semester,  many people take time to reflect on what the past year brought and what they hope the new year will bring.  Here are two choices–one focused on the past and one focused on the future–for you to reflect on.  Write a post of at least 150 words on one of these topics.  Then follow the steps below to  share your writing and connect with other writers.

  • Reading Road Map:  Look at what you have read during 2013.  What trends do you notice about yourself as a reader?  What genres have you read more of?  What has changed–or remained the same–about when and where and how much you read?  What are you most proud of accomplishing as a reader?  How many books did you read last year (or last semester)?  What are your goals for yourself as a reader for the coming year?  Check out my post on Reading Reflections and Resolutions for an idea.
  • One Little Word (OLW):  You may have heard people talking about this twist on New Year’s Resolutions.  Instead of making a list of things you “should” do (and probably breaking them by February), you choose a word to focus on throughout the year.  Many of my blogging friends who take part in the Slice of Life sponsored by Two Writing Teachers take part in OLW.  This year I decided to try it, too.  Is there a word you would like to focus on throughout the year?  A good word is not too specific and not too broad.  It needs to be just right–a word that will guide and inspire you through the year.  What word will you choose?  How will you look for or use this word in the coming year?  What do you hope to learn by focusing on this word?  How did you decide on this word?  Read my post Looking Forward to Joy to learn about my word and what I hope to learn from it this year.

Here are the three easy steps to follow:

  1. Write a blog post:  You can write about the suggested writing for the week, or write about any topic of your choice.
  2. Share your blog post by leaving a link in the comments for this post.  To find the URL for your post, click on the post title you want to share.  If you are in the right spot, you should see only your post (and a place to leave comments) on the pate.  Then COPY the URL from the address bar.  Come back to this post and PASTE the URL in the comments.  You may want to briefly tell what your post is about as an invitation.  If you’ve copied the URL correctly, you should see your blog post title at the end.
  3. Read the blog posts of at least three others who leave a link in the comments.  Leave a thoughtful comment that asks a question, shares more information, or points out something specific the writer did well.

Week at a Glance: January 13 – 20

Monday

Objectives:

  • Set goals for the new semester and write a blog post explaining your goal.

Daily Grammar Practice Week  11 (Monday – parts of speech).  For the first of this week’s journal/blog writing, you do need to write a blog post on our class blog.  Check out the post I wrote, A New Year:  A Reading Roadmap or One Little Word for the writing prompt.  Yes, you have to pick one of these topics to write about today.  For your second writing this week, you may write about a topic of your choice.  Your post needs to be at least 150 words.  Check the bottom of the text box when you are writing it, and it gives you a word count.  Remember you need to write twice this week either in your Notebook or on the class blog
Homework:  Read 15-30 minutes in a book of your choice.  1st period will turn in Writer’s Notebooks for a writing check.  Writing on the blog counts, too!  You should have six entries for December.

Tuesday

Objectives:

  • Write a quality comment on at least three blogs.

Daily Grammar Practice Week 11 (Tuesday – sentence parts).  Follow the directions to under the top Student Blogging Connection post to leave a link to your blog post in the comments.  Then click on the link for at least three classmates and leave a quality comment for them.  A quality comment continues the conversation.  First, read the blog post and think about what the writer shares.  Ask a question for further information.  Share a similar experience or more information about the topic.  Point out something specific that the writer has done well.  Remember to use correct capitalization and punctuation!
Homework: Read a book of your choice for 15-30 minutes.   2nd period will turn in Writer’s Notebooks for a writing check.  Writing on the blog counts, too!  You should have six entries for December.

Wednesday

Objectives:

  • Complete benchmark assessment.

Daily Grammar Practice Week 11 (Wednesday – clauses, sentence type and purpose).  Go to my.hrw.com and log in with your username and password (on the narrow strip of paper you fastened to your binder).  Complete Assessment Practice Unit 4.
Homework: Read a book of your choice for 15 -30 minutes.   3rd period will turn in Writer’s Notebooks for a writing check.  Writing on the blog counts, too!  You should have six entries for December.

Thursday

Objectives:

  • Use participles to give detail to writing.

Daily Grammar Practice Week 11 (Thursday – Correct capitalization and punctuation).  A participle is a verb ending in -ing (or -ed/past tense) that is used as an adjective.  We will look at several pictures and brainstorm participles and participle phrases that describe the action of the picture.  Then write a sentence using your favorite participle to describe the picture.  
Homework: Read 15-30 minutes in a book of your choice.   4th period will turn in Writer’s Notebooks for a writing check.  Writing on the blog counts, too!  You should have six entries for December.

Friday

Objectives:

  • Set reading goals for the week.

Daily Grammar Practice Week 11 (Friday – Sentence diagramming).    Fill out the reading goal slip with the title and author of your book and write down what page you begin on.  Read for 10 minutes and write down what page you end on.  Subtract the beginning page from the ending page to find out how many pages you read in 10 minutes.  Multiply that number by 6 to discover how many pages you should be able to read in 1 hour.  Double that answer to find out how many pages you should be able to read in 2 hours.  That is your reading goal for the week.  If you finish or switch to a book that has a very different reading rate, you will need to redo your goal and let me know the new one.
Homework:  Read 15-30 minutes in a book of your choice.   6th and 7th periods will turn in Writer’s Notebooks for a writing check.  Writing on the blog counts, too!  You should have six entries for December.

Week at a Glance: January 9-10

Monday

Objectives:

  • .

Daily Grammar Practice Week (Monday – parts of speech).
Homework:  Read 15-30 minutes in a book of your choice.

Tuesday

Objectives:

  • .

Daily Grammar Practice Week (Tuesday – sentence parts).
Homework: Read a book of your choice for 15-30 minutes.

Wednesday

Objectives:

  • .

Daily Grammar Practice Week (Wednesday – clauses, sentence type and purpose).

Thursday

Objectives:

  • Write a thank you note.

Daily Grammar Practice Week (Thursday – Correct capitalization and punctuation).  Many times in life, you will be expected to write a thank you note:  when you receive a gift, when someone provides exceptional service, when you interview for a job.  The good news is that thank you notes are easy to write and make a powerful impact.  Use the format for a friendly letter.  Thank the person for the specific gift or service.  Mention how you will use or enjoy the gift.  
Homework: Read 15-30 minutes in a book of your choice.

Friday

Objectives:

  • Set reading goals for the week and semester.

Daily Grammar Practice Week (Friday – Sentence diagramming).  We’ll share good reads from over the holiday break.  How did you do with your reading challenge?  Once everyone has a good book to read, we will do a timed reading to set your reading goal for the week.  Remember to read at a comfortable rate for understanding.   Fill out the reading goal slip with the title and author of your book and write down what page you begin on.  Read for 10 minutes and write down what page you end on.  Subtract the beginning page from the ending page to find out how many pages you read in 10 minutes.  Multiply that number by 6 to discover how many pages you should be able to read in 1 hour.  Double that answer to find out how many pages you should be able to read in 2 hours.  That is your reading goal for the week.  If you finish or switch to a book that has a very different reading rate, you will need to redo your goal and let me know the new one.
Homework:  Read 15-30 minutes in a book of your choice.

Student Blogging Connection

Now is your chance to write (a post), share (the link below), and give (comments to others).

You can write about anything you find interesting, but if you’re stuck for an idea, try writing about your favorite holiday tradition.  Do you enjoy decorating the Christmas tree, baking cookies, shopping for or wrapping presents, lighting candles?  Elaborate on your idea.  Imagine telling the story to someone.  What questions might they ask?  Answer them in your story.  Give us the sensory details–what you see, hear and feel–that make it come to life.  Tell us what you were thinking and feeling so we know why it matters.

Here are the three easy steps to follow:

  1. Write a blog post:  You can write about the suggested writing for the week, or write about any topic of your choice.
  2. Share your blog post by leaving a link in the comments for this post.  To find the URL for your post, click on the post title you want to share.  If you are in the right spot, you should see only your post (and a place to leave comments) on the pate.  Then COPY the URL from the address bar.  Come back to this post and PASTE the URL in the comments.  You may want to briefly tell what your post is about as an invitation.
  3. Read the blog posts of at least three others who leave a link in the comments.  Leave a thoughtful comment that asks a question, shares more information, or points out something specific the writer did well.

Week at a Glance: December 16 – 20

Monday

Objectives:

  • Draft body paragraphs of comparison/contrast essay.

Daily Grammar Practice Week (Monday – parts of speech).  Use the plan you made to draft the two body paragraphs for your comparison/contrast essay.  The first paragraph should explain how you and the main character are alike.  The second paragraph should explain how you and the main character are different.
Homework:  Read 15-30 minutes in a book of your choice.

Tuesday

Objectives:

  • Craft a lead.

Daily Grammar Practice Week (Tuesday – sentence parts).   Use one of the suggestions from your notes to craft a lead for your comparison essay.  Your lead should hook the reader and state what your essay is about in a thesis.
Homework: Read a book of your choice for 15-30 minutes.

Wednesday

Objectives:

  • Craft a conclusion for your essay.

Daily Grammar Practice Week (Wednesday – clauses, sentence type and purpose).  Use your notes to craft a conclusion for your essay.
Homework:  Read 15-30 minutes in a book of your choice.

Thursday

Objectives:

  • Choose a book to read.

Daily Grammar Practice Week (Thursday – Correct capitalization and punctuation).   Once you have finished typing your essay, we will go to the library to choose books.  Think about what you would like to read over the break.  Don’t let yourself have a book emergency!
Homework: Read 15-30 minutes in a book of your choice.

Friday

Objectives:

  • Celebrate the end of first semester.

Daily Grammar Practice Week (Friday – Sentence diagramming). We’ve made it halfway through the school year.  In the morning we will go the gym for the Operation Spirit Convocation.  Homerooms will present the canned good collected for the Coordinating Council and different groups will perform.  Fourth period will be as normal.  In the afternoon, students may choose an activity of their choice for the Winter Carnival.
Homework:  Enjoy your Winter Break.  Make time to read!

Week at a Glance: December 9 – 13

Monday

Objectives:

  • Write a quality comment
  • Express ideas through writing:  join the Nerdlution!
  • Choose your next books to read.

Daily Grammar Practice Week 11 (Monday – parts of speech).  Today is library day!  While we are in the library, renew and return library books, check out new books.  You may also check your blog and write one of your posts this week.  If you would like to give and receive more comments, link up with others on the Student Blog Connection.  Leave a link to your post in the comments.  The read and respond to at least three of your classmates posts that have been linked.  You may write on the suggested topic or a topic of your choice.  I enjoyed reading posts by Corbin, Deacon, Rachel, Ashley, and Kristian over the snowy weekend.
Homework:  Read 15-30 minutes in a book of your choice.  Vocabulary Quiz over Groups 1 – 6.   Write two entries (for the week) in your notebook or on our blogs.

Tuesday

Objectives:

  • Analyze a writing prompt for a comparison/contrast essay using RUPR.

Daily Grammar Practice Week 11 (Tuesday – sentence parts).   Use RUPR to read and analyze the writing prompt for the essay part of the Paper Bag Book Project.  You may use your notes from the project to create your plan.  Make sure your plan includes a way to organize your ideas as well as details to support them.

Homework: Read a book of your choice for 15-30 minutes.  Vocabulary Quiz over Groups 1 – 6.  Write two entries (for the week) in your notebook or on our blogs.

Wednesday

Objectives:

  • Write a lead for your comparison/contrast paper.

Daily Grammar Practice Week 11 (Wednesday – clauses, sentence type and purpose).   Now that your plan is done, craft a lead for your essay.  A strong lead will find a way to interest or hook your reader as well as introduce your topic:  How are you like and different from the main character in your book?
Homework:  Read 15-30 minutes in a book of your choice.   Vocabulary Quiz over Groups 1 – 6.  Write two entries (for the week) in your notebook or on our blogs.

Thursday

Objectives:

  • Write the two body paragraphs of your comparison/contrast paper.

Daily Grammar Practice Week 11 (Thursday – Correct capitalization and punctuation).    Write the two body paragraphs for you essay.  One paragraph should explain how you and the main character from your book are alike.  The other paragraph should explain how you are different.  You should give at least three examples for both you and the main character.
Homework: Read 15-30 minutes in a book of your choice.  Vocabulary Quiz over Groups 1 – 6.   Write two entries (for the week) in your notebook or on your blog.

Friday

Objectives:

  • Set reading goal.
  • Define vocabulary roots.

Daily Grammar Practice Week 11 (Friday – Sentence diagramming).  Fill out the reading goal slip with the title and author of your book and write down what page you begin on.  Read for 10 minutes and write down what page you end on.  Subtract the beginning page from the ending page to find out how many pages you read in 10 minutes.  Multiply that number by 6 to discover how many pages you should be able to read in 1 hour.  Double that answer to find out how many pages you should be able to read in 2 hours.  That is your reading goal for the week.  If you finish or switch to a book that has a very different reading rate, you will need to redo your goal and let me know the new one.  Take vocabulary quiz over Groups 1 – 6.
Homework:  Read 15-30 minutes in a book of your choice.  Vocabulary Quiz over Groups 1 – 6.  Write two entries (for the week) in your notebook or on our blogs.

Student Blog Connection

One of the most exciting and the most powerful parts of blogging for me has been connecting with other writers.  I’d like for you to experience that as well with your blogging.  I’m modeling the Student Blog Connection after the Slice of Life Challenge sponsored by Two Writing Teachers.  Each week I will invite you to write, share, and comment on each other’s blog posts.  Here are the three simple steps you need to follow.

  1. Write a blog post:  You can write about the suggested writing for the week, or write about any topic of your choice.
  2. Share your blog post by leaving a link in the comments for this post.  To find the URL for your post, click on the post title you want to share.  If you are in the right spot, you should see only your post (and a place to leave comments) on the pate.  Then COPY the URL from the address bar.  Come back to this post and PASTE the URL in the comments.  You may want to briefly tell what your post is about as an invitation.
  3. Read the blog posts of at least three others who leave a link in the comments.  Leave a thoughtful comment that asks a question, shares more information, or points out something specific the writer did well.

You can check out this week’s writing invitation on each of our class blogs.  Will you join the Nerdlution?  If so, write a post describing what you want to do more of in your life and how you will commit to doing it for the next 50 days.  You can check out my Nerdlution post here.  You can also write a Slice of Life post describing a sneak attack of kindness.  Remember to write the short version of sneak attacks of kindness on an ornament to decorate the trees on the bulletin boards.

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