A great way to encourage you child to read is by providing a variety of books that match your child’s interests. In addition to regular visits to the school library, I will send home Scholastic Book orders each month. You may order by sending back the order form in the brochure with payment, or you can now place your order online while helping our classroom earn FREE books and other resources. Here’s how it works:
Here is a clip of Laurie Halse Anderson talking about her book Wintergirls:
Here is the official book trailer put out by Penguin Books (the publisher). I haven’t read this one yet, but it looks even more intense than Speak and Twisted. Anderson has gotten a lot of criticism for this book. What do you think? Is it something teenagers should read? Would it do more to help or to hurt them?
Welcome to our blog. Our class blogs are up and running. You can check out the reading blogs at https://kaymcgriff.edublogs.org. Each student has their own blog, accessed by a username and password given to them in class. You can find your child’s blog by clicking on the links listed on mine. Students may use these blogs to publish their writing, share what they think about the books they read, and respond to each other’s ideas. Students are free to personalize their blogs and respond the each other’s posts as long as content remains school appropriate. Any inappropriate content will be dealt with as a discipline issue.
Monday – Book Trailer
Book Reviews. I apologize for the delay in returning book review, but I finally got them all graded and ready to return. Please correct your book reviews. You need to print out a clean copy to file in your portfolio with all the rough drafts. Remember to list it on your Writing Record and put it in the prongs behind your last writing. The post your book review on your blog. Enjoy reading about other good books your classmates read.
Homework: Choose five words Word Study. Read 30 minutes and record on Reading Log.
Tuesday –
Editorial Leads. You should have posted one or more leads for your editorial on your blog before Spring Break. If you didn’t get that done, catch up NOW! Please use your Check Your Essay Lead checklist to comment on at least three classmates’ leads. I will also be leaving comments. These count as your pages of writing this week.
Homework: Read 30 minutes and record on Reading Log. Complete Word Study.
Wednesday- Book Trailer
LIBRARY. Due to a scheduling conflict, we will have our library day today. You should return or renew library books and find something to read during class.
Homework: Three to five pages of writing due. Read 30 minutes and record on Reading Log. Complete Word Study.
Thursday- Book Trailer
Draft editorial. Begin drafting your editorial. You may draft on the computer or paper, but editorials must be typed before you turn them in. Remember to double space your rough drafts!
Homework: Word Study due. Read 30 minutes and record on Reading Log. Get Reading Log signed.
Friday–Book Trailer
Draft editorial. Continue drafting your editorial. By today you should have completed these tasks: 1) Correct you book review. File in your portfolio and post on your blog. 2) Post your editorial leads on your blog and comment on three of your classmates’ leads. 3) Draft your editorial.
Reading Log due!
Homework: Read 30 minutes and record on Reading Log.
In case you don’t remember, I’m writing my editorial about uniforms for students and teachers at Jennings County Schools. Yes, I think it’s a good idea! Here are a couple of different leads I’m considering. Which do you think is most effective in grabbing the reader’s attention and setting up the issue? Use your Essay Leads Checklist to evaluate my lead and three of your classmates’ leads.
Lead 1
“I would drop out of school before I would wear a uniform!” I hear this complaint from students whenever I bring up the subject of school uniforms, but they are wrong. Most students who attend schools that require uniforms end up liking them better than no uniforms.
Lead 2
Preps, jocks, goths, geeks–what defines these different groups more than anything else? Their clothes. Take away the “uniform” of each group and students–as well as teachers–won’t be able to make stereotypical judgments based on outward appearance. Requiring everyone in school to wear the same uniform would prevent many problems schools face.
Lead 3
Student, parents, and teachers have many different opinions about school uniforms. I want to tell you what I think about them. There are some good reasons for and against them.
A high school teacher shared this book trailer with me. What do you think of it? Is it too intense for eighth graders? Should it be one we request for the library?