Reading Contract Questions

This is a cut and paste from an email correspondence I had with a parent this week. I have had similar questions from several people re: the reading goal/ reports that we just started. I am posting them here as a FAQ list, hopefully everyone will benefit :)

1. My student has read 3 Maude Heart Lovelace books. Does she write a report on each one? or pick one book and write one report?
Yes, she should write a report on each one. The system is not perfect, but for now, I am going to keep track of the MHL on that discussion board and they will be given a grade for that in 3rd quarter. She can also use those as reports toward the reading goal for this quarter. Once I see the reading log (pink sheet) I will know what she was reading and will look at that report for Q1.

2. My student is finishing a non Maude Heart Lovelace book. Does she write a report on each "general selection" book? or pick one book and write a report?
It is great if she writes a report on all the books she reads, but she at least needs to do enough to reach the page number goal. These go under the "reading report" discussion.

3. Can you email us an example of a well written book report?
This is the first time I have used this format for the reports, so I don't have a great example yet. She is welcome to read the comments I post under other students reports as they come in on Shelfari. After this quarter I will have an example to post on the blog.

4. If she submits one report first, do you have time to respond? so that the next reports are better?
I try to respond within a few days, so yes, I should have time to get get back to her this week. Remember, I don't have internet at home though, so I won't respond over a weekend.

5. Do you mind if students adds books in other languages to their shelves as well?
I welcome the kids to do books in any language, even toward their reading goal. I would like to see at least one English book per quarter though.

Gusty End of the Quarter!

Hello Families, on this blustery Tuesday!

As I look over my grades I see several missing assignments, which are hurting the kids grades for the quarter. I will be handing out grade slips tomorrow, but would love some support on your end. Please take a moment to check PowerSchool to see how your student is doing and if there is anything they still need to hand in. I also want to remind everyone that the kids have a reading contract and log that will be due at the end of the quarter. As they finish books they should be writing a report on Shelfari. I will give them some time to finish the report this quarter because it's the first time, but they need to complete one report by the first week of 2nd quarter or it will have an impact on their first quarter grade.

I will accept late work until Wednesday, November 3rd.

November 3rd will also be the day of the quarter 1 comprehensive vocab exam. They will need to prepare by reviewing all the words they have learned this quarter. The test is in a multiple choice format.

Please let me know if you have questions or concerns,

Thanks!

Out Of Class Reading!

Hello-

I have finally put together the expectations for out of class reading. Participation in the reading program, as it is set up, will be dependent on having a Shelfari account. Students will need an email address to set this up. They do not need to have their own, simply one that they can use to register; they may use yours if you are o.k. with that. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how that works. For first quarter, since we only have 3 weeks left, I am giving very low reading minimums, HL = 150 and SL = 100. Kids are encouraged to set reading goals that are appropriate for themselves. I am including the links for all reading log material at the right side bar. Please be sure to look at the following:
1. The Reading Contract
2. The Shelfari Information
3. Reading Log

Reading contracts with a parent signature were due today. Very few kids handed them in, so please ask them about it.

Reading Logs will be due on Wednesday, 11/ 3/10.

ALSO!! Today in class we began writing a formal paragraph on the end of TSB. The directions are here: Cole's Transformation Paragraph

I have handed out Vocab 4 and it is due next Tuesday. Unfortunately, I have not been able to get it loaded here. Perhaps later today or over break I will get that done. There is currently a formatting issue that needs to be overcome.

Kids To Do:
Vocab Lesson 4
Reading Contract
Get reading!!!
Fill out your Shelfari Reports!

Adults To Do:
Discuss the Reading Contract with your student
Find out more from your student about Shelfari and let Ms. Z know if you have questions/ concerns

Have a great break!!

Week So Far...

Not much to post on this week as we are basically just trying to finish up the reading of TSB and get ready to write our first practice essay. I will be rolling out the out of class reading expectations, hopefully by Monday. Look for that info to com :)

FACIAL TISSUE and Class

Cold season has hit and while I provide hand sanitizer and lotion, I can't keep up with the Kleenex demands. Please send a box or two with your student so we can all keep the colds from spreading even more!

Today we continued to work on TSB.

SL classes began work on gathering evidence for their Total Person comparison paragraph. They filled out the top space in each category with evidence of how Cole was in that area prior to the bear attack. As they continue to read they will fill in the second space with how Cole is different in each area following his return to the island. Ultimately we will use this to write a paragraph.

HL classes have finished the first part of the Total Person worksheet, and most are nearly done with the evidence on Cole post-attack. Today HL classes worked on comparing the poem "Chippewa Creation" by Michaeljohn Reszler with TSB. We are looking for similar themes between the two. They did a short piece of writing on this topic in their notebook and we will return to this conversation when the book is finished.

Kids To Do: All classes have Vocab Lesson 3 due tomorrow, Tuesday.

Adults To Do: If possible for your budget, please send a box or 2 of Kleenex.

Thanks!

NEW VOCAB PACKET

Here is the correct vocab packet for SL Lesson 3. My 2nd hour still does not have this correct packet, so if you know someone in that hour, please give them the correct info.

** VOCAB LESSON 3


Have a great weekend every one!!

Vocab Snaffu

Some SL classes were given a vocab packet today that has an error. Kids should not begin working on that packet until they see me on Thursday. All classes have vocab due on 10/12, and a quiz on 10/15.

Also, HL classes are flying ahead with TSB and they will be starting a focus paragraph next week. SL classes will be following up soon, they are just handing in the sparrow worksheet today.

A New Week

Hello,

Here we are, back at it again :) Monday there was not much to report; we corrected vocab and figured out our average class scores for the first two assignments and quizzes.

SL kids are finishing their reading of Part I of "Touching Spirit Bear". As they finish they will begin to work on the blue "Sparrow" worksheet. I don't have a version of that on here yet as it is something I drew by hand and I need to scan it in. I will try to have that available later today. In the meantime, hopefully those students who are here can hang on to the copy they get. No one in hour 2 picked up this sheet yet and only about half of the kids in 6th and 8th hour have gotten it.

HL kids have finished Part I and their "Sparrow" worksheet was due in class today. In the second half of class they completed their first "Critical Response". Click on the the title for a link to the assignment. This was due in class today.