I always hope that I will be able to keep this more updated... and then actual teaching happens and it slips down the list. Sorry for that!
Here is a brief review of where we are these days:
In quarter 2 we focused on short stories. We read several and took a test on the elements present in short fiction. Next, students worked on writing their own stories. The stories needed to take place in 60 seconds and were based off some pictures I hung in the room. We did planning for these stories and they were checked along the way to be sure they were keeping up with the time-line. For this unit I also implemented some new practices that I learned about during my trip to Indianapolis in November, namely, having students create the criteria on which they would be assessed. Kids determined what should be present in their stories and then used this criteria to reflect on their own writing as well as the writing of a peer. Many kids reported that the peer edit process and criteria setting helped improve their writing, making this new practice worthwhile in my opinion!
Those stories were due on Jan 13th. Only about 10% of kids have not handed them in yet. You can check on your student by looking at powerschool; missing short stories are reflected by an NTI in that column.
This week we are beginning and ending our first grammar unit. We will be working primarily on the 8 parts of speech. There will be a final exam on this either Friday, or Monday, depending on the readiness of the students as determined by some quick assessments.
Here are the important dates for the end of the quarter:
High Level:
Vocab Lesson 7 due 1/19/12 (No quiz on lessons 5-8)
Grammar Test 1/20/12 (If ready)
Vocab Lesson 8 due 1/24/12
Final Vocab Exam 1/26/12
Shelfari report due (Minimum of 1 MHL book reported on this quarter) 1/26/12 by midnight.
Standard Level:
Grammar Test 1/20/12 (If ready)
Final Vocab Exam 1/26/12 (We will do the necessary lessons in class to prepare for this)
Shelfari report due (Minimum of 1 MHL book reported on this quarter) 1/26/12 by midnight.
