This week in language arts, my students will be creating a book trailer, which is a means for them to promote their favorite books and entice others to read it. Students will use photo story, Audacity or a poster board to create the book trailer. Book trailers provide just enough information to create mystery and interest in the book. They have 4 days this week to finish the project and then will present next week.

I will be putting the final photo stories and podcasts on the HCMS library webpage this summer for future students to listen to when trying to decide on a new book to read.

In tech reading students are working with a partner to create a story using a software called Hollywood High.

All this week students are taking the new state test, the KPREP, and our 8th grade students are testing in reading, math, social studies and on-demand writing. Testing will take place every morning. Some classes will be held each afternoon, but they will alternate each day.

For the test, students may bring an unopened bottle of water the first day and then leave it in the classroom and refill each morning.

Make sure your child gets plenty of rest and arrives on time to school. Once the tardy bell has rung, the back door will be locked and everyone must enter from the front door.

This is our last review week before the new KPREP test. We will finish reviewing our terms related to the past year of language arts and then review some of our on demand writing techniques.

In Tech Reading students are finishing up their research projects and recording their script for their photo story. Anyone who is finished will be working on an Internet Safe Surfing scavenger hunt and another scavenger hunt related to our search engine unit.

Thanks for stopping by. As always, continue to read, write and learn new technology.

This week we will begin our review for the state KPREP test that starts the week of May 7. We will use a variety of testing review methods including online quizzes, paper quizzes, and online and outloud discussion.

On Tuesday we have our last library day. Students will be able to take their reading counts quiz over our play, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and to browse the book fair. If they want to purchase something, they can bring money back later in the week and I will let them go at the beginning or ending of class.

In Tech Reading, we are beginning our research project. Students will choose a person to research, write down information about them, and then find pictures related to the person. Finally they will put it all together in a presentation using Photo Story.

Thanks for visiting my blog. Continue reading, writing and enjoying technology.

Welcome back from spring break. I hope your children had a safe, relaxing break.

This week in Language Arts, we will be finishing up our play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. We still have Acts 4 and 5 to read, and a quiz to take over each Act. We also have to finish our worksheets for each Act. Finally, I will give a unit test over the play.

Tech Reading: We are working on a Google Earth Unit. Students will be starting a new activity in which they will learn how to search using longitude and latitude and how to measure using the ruler tool.

Thanks for visiting my blog. Continue reading, writing, and using new technology. It’s all great fun.

It’s April! Only this month and next til the end of our school year. Meanwhile, we have one week of school and then spring break for the next week. I hope everyone has a nice, restful, safe break. I will be visting my Mom and son and family in TX and am very excited about this. I don’t get to see them very often.

This week in Language Arts, we are continuing to read our play, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” We have a packet that we work through as we finish an act. (There are 5 acts in the play.) We also will be taking quizzes after each Act. Monday we will have a quiz over Acts 1 and 2. Students can use their play. We will read the play the rest of the week and continue working on the assignments.

Tuesday is our next library day. The play is worth 16 points so many students will be able to gain all of the needed 15 points from the play. I know the students are excited about that. First we need to finish the play so students won’t be testing over it until after spring break.

In Tech Reading, students have finished recording their podcasts. I will be listening to those over spring break and uploading to our hosting site, Podbean. Next, students are finishing an assignment where they read through websites and answer questions to familiarize themselves with everything on the Internet. After that, we will begin a short unit on how to use Google Earth.

See you in a couple weeks. Have a great break next week!

Monday we will be rewriting one of our on demand papers in order to add evidence related to the pros and cons of having a 4 day school week. This paper will be added to their writing portfolio.

The rest of the week we will begin our drama unit and begin our study of the play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” I expect to study the play until Spring Break and then if needed, a few days after we get back.

In Tech Reading, students have formed their podcast groups and will begin writing their script on Monday through Wednesday. Thursday they can look for music and practice speaking their script. Friday, if anyone is ready, they can begin recording their podcast.

This week we will be finishing a review packet we started last Thursday and then continue learning about how to write an argumentative piece that includes evidence. We will be doing an exercise in which we examine a picture from a crime scene to determine the evidence and if the suspect is guilty or innocent. Students will use the evidence to write a report on the crime. Finally, we will be rewriting our argumentative letter about whether or not a 4 day school week is a good idea and adding evidence to support our position. These pieces will be going into our writing folders.

Tuesday is library day. It’s a new 9 weeks and a chance for students to earn their 15 points. Many who did not last 9 weeks ended up having their grade in the class lowered by one grade. My grades go into categories in my class and the library category only contains the reading counts points and the library day journal entries so if students shrug off doing the journal on library day or earning their points, getting a low grade in this category can effect their overall grade. I don’t think the students realize this until they see their report card.

In Tech Reading we are starting our podcast unit. Students will learn about podcasts and then form groups to create their own podcasts. This process will take about 2 weeks.

Welcome to another week in Language Arts!
Monday and Tuesday (if needed): Think Link Reading Comp Online Testing
Wednesday and Thursday: Argumentative Writing Discussion: What is evidence, warrant and claim when writing an argumentative piece?
Friday – no school due to KEA Day.

Tech Reading: I am welcoming a new group of students for the 9 weeks. On Monday we won’t get to do much due to spring pictures. The rest of the week, students will be working to complete their ILPs (individual learning plans) that will help them figure out college or work plans for the future.

We’ve been in a testing mode recently in Language Arts. Last week we took our 9 weeks Reading Assessment and our On Demand Assessment. A couple classes still need to finish that test this week due to being released early for the tornado weather.

This week we will be taking our 9 weeks Think Link test, an online test over reading comprehension. I allow 2 days for this and because of Library day Tuesday, we will test Monday and Wednesday.

Then Thursday and Friday I will be at a conference and have Ms. Menard in my room. The students will do some online practice testing towards getting ready for the State testing in May.

Friday is our next Rewards Day.

In Tech Reading it’s our last week together and students are finishing up podcast projects, ILPs and any other thing still unfinished. We will also be listening to podcasts at some point. It’s been a great time with this group of kids and I will miss them as they move on.

Til next week, keep reading, writing, and using technology. Enjoy!