We will create a textbook together this year, full of notes on improving your reading and writing. You’ll also complete a weekly word study, collect sample texts of what we write, and file all the drafts you work on in your binder. Here’s how to set it up so you can find what you need when you need it.
You will need a big binder–2 inches works well. You will need five dividers as well. The label for each divider is in bold. Then the pages behind each divider is listed in order. You can also download copies of most of the handouts I give you for your Language Arts binder. Files are in Word format. Please let me know if you can’t open them.
Writing Handbook
Table of Contents (List all the handouts you put in this section on a sheet of notebook paper.
- Individual Proofreading List
- Editing Symbols
- Expectations for Writing Workshop
- Student Writing Record
- Poetry Notes
- Blogging Guidelines
- Questions for Memoirists
- Narrative Leads
- Make a Movie Behind Your Eyelids
- The Rule of Thoughts and Feelings
- Ineffective/Effective Memoir
- List of Sensory and Color Words
- Essay Leads
- Essay Conclusions
- Thank You
- Who’s Your Author?
- Finding Good Sources
- Avoiding Plagiarism
- What Makes a Good ISTEP Essay?
- RUPR
- Fake Writing Day
- Circles of Knowledge
- Different Details
Reading Journal
Table of Contents (List all the handouts you put in this section on a sheet of notebook paper.
- Student Reading Record
- Some Day Books
- Expectations for Reading Workshop
- Characteristics of Genres
- Welcome to My Blog
- Discussion Elements and Rubric
- Reading Difficult Text
- Insert Codes
- Essential Questions for Editorial Readers
- What’s the Big Idea? and Theme
Language Study
Text and Lyrics
High School Drop Outs Costly to American Economy
Sample ISTEP Essays and Prompts
Drafts and Assignments
- Class Rules
- Welcome Letter (2nd & 3 rd periods) or Welcome Letter (5th, 6th, 7th periods)
- Peer Writing Conference Record
August 22, 2012 at 9:47 pm
Mrs.Mcgriff,
i’m very excited that i have you as my teacher.I’ve always enjoyed reading,and so far english is my favorite class.Plus I’ve always wanted to learn more about stuff like poetry and literature more,but I have never understood it until you started explaining it!Thank You!
August 23, 2012 at 11:29 am
I’m glad the way I explain things makes sense to you. I think we’re going to have a great year!
August 22, 2012 at 9:21 am
Mrs.McGriff,
I am excited about this year. I don’t like to read a lot, but I have found plenty of books this year that I like. I enjoy having to read at least two books in each genre, it makes me have to explore stuff outside of what I like to read. I have learned a lot about poems this year, and different genres. I enjoy the fact that you let us read the first 15 minutes of class. That helps us reach out 50 books easier. You are good at explaining books in each genre and it gets me interested in each genre. I would have never thought that i would like books in the poetry genre, but like Reaching Sun it has made me think different.
August 22, 2012 at 11:20 am
I think it’s unfair of teachers to ask students to read and then not give them anytime to actually read in class. I’m excited about reading on Wednesdays, too, in homeroom! If you liked Reaching for Sun, there are many, many novels in verse you can read. All the Broken Pieces is another of my favorites. Not only is it poetry, but it is also historical fiction that focuses on baseball!
August 22, 2012 at 9:04 am
I think we should be able to read books we would like, instead of having to read two books in every genre. Writing is one of my favorite things in school though! I can make up a funny story anytime.
August 22, 2012 at 11:18 am
You can read books you like–and lots of them–but part of my job is to push you to do more. It’s important to understand how different genres work, and the best way to do that is to read in different genres and compare them. I hope you will be surprised to find you enjoy some genres you thought you wouldn’t. I can’t wait to read some of your funny stories!
August 21, 2012 at 9:12 pm
In the couple weeks we have been in school, I have learned so much about poems and about how to tell what a book is! I Cain’t wait to learn more as the year goes on.
August 22, 2012 at 8:34 am
Yeah! I’m glad you’re learning a lot. I hope we keep learning together all year long.
August 17, 2012 at 2:48 pm
mrs.mcgriff is a good teacher
August 17, 2012 at 3:36 pm
Thank you!
August 17, 2012 at 2:47 pm
i think honey is gross now because you told us how it was made.
August 17, 2012 at 3:36 pm
I try not to think about how it is made when I’m eating it.
August 17, 2012 at 10:33 am
I enjoy your class you have tought me alot in just a week. I hope to lern more from you in the near future!!!!!!!
August 17, 2012 at 3:36 pm
I hope we learn a lot together this year!
August 17, 2012 at 10:31 am
comment
August 17, 2012 at 3:37 pm
Ethan, what is your comment–your thoughts or questions about what you’ve read on this page?
December 4, 2011 at 3:19 pm
I love your blog. It’s easy to follow and very informative. How do you get everything done in a period? I have a block and it flies by. Are you a 1:1 school? We are working towards that, and the students will be getting their laptops after holiday break. We’re very excited about that.
Have you ever used Edmodo? There is a language arts group that is wonderful. It contains a lot neat ideas from teachers, and what’s even nicer, if you have a question or need help with an idea, you will receive a lot responses.
I teach 8th grade language arts (which includes reading, writing, speaking, etc.) in Iowa. Thanks for letting me comment.
December 4, 2011 at 8:21 pm
Thanks for stopping by! Our 50 minute periods definitely fly by, too. I never feel like I get it all done, but I keep trying to fit more in and balance that with giving enough time for students to actually absorb what we’re learning. I’m jealous that you are going 1:1. We are a long ways from it, but our principal is very good and increasing our access to technology. The building is going wireless next month, and I basically have a laptop lab (with 32 computers) that I keep in my room. Sometimes I’m forced to share it.
I have not tried Edmodo yet, but am definitley interested. How do you find the language arts group? Do you use Edmodo with students? Do your students blog?
Thanks for reading Sydney’s poem! I’ll be sure to let her know on Monday.
December 4, 2011 at 11:28 pm
Thanks for replying. I’m now following you on twitter. If you register for Edmodo and get started, there will be a variety of groups to join. Language arts is just one of them. Let me know if you join Edmodo and I’ll send you a connection link. I love it. Since I teach in blocks, I only have three classes. On Edmodo I created three classes and the students joined their particular class. They don’t need an email just a user name and password. Then, you can set up questions for them to answer, create a quiz (Edmodo corrects it if it’s true/false, multiple choice, etc.) You can ask essay type questions, but of course you have to grade those. So, yes I do Edmodo with my students.
We do blog. This is my first year blogging. My blog address is http://room507la.blogspot.com/ and my students’ blogs are on the right sidebar. Maybe we could set up a time for our students to view each others’ blogs.
That’s great that you have 32 computers in your room. I hope you don’t have more than 32 students in your classes. Have a good week. When is your holiday break? If you tell me your last day of school before the break is the 16th, I think I’ll cry. Our last day isn’t until the 22nd. BOO HOO
December 5, 2011 at 8:43 am
I found your blog and on twitter. I would love to get our students together on their blogs. Maybe we can plan something for after Christmas break. Don’t cry. Our last day is Dec. 21, and teachers come back Jan. 2.
I started out with more than 32 students in one class, but I do have a few desktops scattered around. I’ve gotten good at begging and borrowing, too.
I tried leaving you a comment, but I’ve had trouble lately leaving comments on any blogger blog. It keeps asking me to sign up for blogspot. Errg! I’ll try commenting as a guest instead.
December 5, 2011 at 10:13 pm
I think after the break would be great for our students to blog. I guess I can’t complain about the length of our break because teachers don’t come back until the 4th and students the 5th. We’re involved in quad blogging right now. It’s great for my students to see what others are doing in the world.
Have a good week.
December 6, 2011 at 1:13 pm
That sounds great. My students are excited about the possibility of “meeting” students from Iowa.
March 12, 2011 at 11:02 pm
Mrs. McGriff,
What a lot you have packed into your blog! I’m curious about the way you have organized your Language Arts class. I see that you have Writing Workshop and Reading Workshop, and it appears that you do not use a published textbook. How do you divide up the week? Do you have one day just for writing? Is reading primarily homework? Do you have class discussions about literature that you have all read together? I’ve taught Language Arts for a few years, and every year, I do something a little different. I’m always looking for new ideas.
March 14, 2011 at 7:36 am
Mrs. Klein-
Thanks for stopping by. Like you, I do something a little different every year. I try to balance writing and reading workshop each week with three or four days for writing and one or two days for reading. Reading is the primary homework I assign. I use a reading log modeled after one from Kelly Gallagher’s Reading Reasons. Most reading is independent. Students reflect on what they’ve read through projects or writing about books on their blogs. I also have students meet in literature circles at times through out the year. We rarely read an entire book together, but we do read and discuss shorter pieces such as poems or editorials/essays.
September 3, 2010 at 11:45 am
I chose the book,”the night of the bats,” because it seemed like a creepy story and it is easy to read.
August 24, 2010 at 12:57 pm
The book I am reading is “A Wrinkle In Time” by Madeleine L’Engle. It is such a wonderful book! The genre is Science Fiction and Fantasy,my favorite. This book has many harder words which give me a challenge and i like that. Meg is kind of an outcast. Her best friend is her 5 year old brother and as if enough hasnt happened her life is about to get a whole lot harder. Meg, Charles(her little brother), and Calvin(her friend) set out on a journey to save her lost father. Will anything else go wrong? I can’t wait to find out!
August 24, 2010 at 5:11 pm
L’Engle is my all time favorite author. Definitely check out the rest of the series. I think each one is better than the one before. My absolute favorite–An Acceptable Time, where the main character is Meg’s daughter Polly.
I almost didn’t find you post. You left it on the language arts binder page rather than the post on the home page.
August 26, 2010 at 12:41 pm
ive read most of them but i am thinking of rereading them and in order. i have yet to read An Acceptable time.
August 23, 2010 at 1:41 pm
Among the free by Marget Petterson Hattiix
Length And Read Some other stuff she wrote
August 24, 2010 at 5:11 pm
Haddix created a popular and compelling series with her Shadow Children books. Which is your favorite?
August 23, 2010 at 12:55 pm
I am reading a book called Her Fearful Symmetry by: Audrey Niffenegger. I already knew what the book was about (Knowledge Prior to Book) before I began reading it. I was very interested in the book after my mother told me what it was about and recommended it to me (High-Interest).
August 24, 2010 at 5:12 pm
This is a new book to me. I look forward to hearing more about it.
August 23, 2010 at 12:05 pm
The book i am reading is the last song by Nicholas Sparks.This is a great book for me because i loove romance stories. This book is the right length for me and i can relate to it.
August 24, 2010 at 5:13 pm
This one is my favorite by Sparks. Have you seen the movie yet? I haven’t.
August 23, 2010 at 12:03 pm
i am reading The Outsiders By:S.E.Hinton
GOODBYE
August 23, 2010 at 10:28 am
The title of the book that i am reading is “The Boy Who Saved Baseball” by John H. Ritter. This book is a good match for me because the genre is related to sports and i love doing sports especially softball. Another reason this book is a good match for me is, i can connect to this book. This book has to do alot with baseball and i can relate to it because i know the game and i play it.
August 24, 2010 at 5:13 pm
IT is a good baseball story. I love it when the underdog team has to come through. Carl Deuker also writes good baseball (and basketball & football) stories.