Announcements

THIS WEEK IN CLASS...

Please note the Georgia Performance Standards we will be working on this week:
2/1 - 2/5/2010

ELA8R1 The student demonstrates comprehension and shows evidence of a
warranted and responsible explanation of a variety of literary and 
informational
texts.
For literary texts, the student identifies the characteristics of various 
genres
and produces evidence of reading that:
a. Identifies the difference between the concepts of theme in a literary work 
and
author’s purpose in an expository text.
b. Compares and contrasts genre characteristics from two or more selections of
literature.
c. Analyzes a character’s traits, emotions, or motivations and gives 
supporting
evidence from the text(s).
d. Compares and contrasts motivations and reactions of literary characters 
from
different historical eras confronting similar situations or conflicts.
e. Evaluates recurring or similar themes across a variety of selections, 
distinguishing
theme from topic.
f. Evaluates the structural elements of the plot (e.g., subplots, climax), 
the plot’s
development, and the way in which conflicts are (or are not) addressed and 
resolved.
g. Analyzes and evaluates the effects of sound, form, figurative language, and
graphics in order to uncover meaning in literature:
i. Sound (e.g., alliteration, onomatopoeia, internal rhyme, rhyme
scheme, meter)

ii. Figurative language (e.g., simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole,
symbolism, imagery).
h. Analyzes and evaluates how an author’s use of words creates tone and mood
and provides supporting details from text.ELA8W1 The student produces writing 
that establishes an appropriate 
organizational structure, sets a context and engages the reader, maintains a 
coherent focus throughout, and signals a satisfying closure.

ELA8R2 The student understands and acquires new vocabulary and uses it
correctly in reading and writing.

ELA7LSV1 The student participates in student-to-teacher, student-to-student, 
and group verbal interactions. 

ELA7RC1 The student reads a minimum of 25 grade-level appropriate books or 
book equivalents (approximately 1,000,000 words) per year from a variety of 
subject disciplines. The student reads both informational and fictional 
texts in a variety of genres and modes of discourse, including technical 
texts related to various subject areas. 

WtK for the week of February 1st - 5th:

SUSPENSE: apprehension about what is going to happen; a state or condition of 
mental uncertainty or excitement, as in awaiting a decision or outcome, 
usually accompanied by a degree of apprehension or anxiety.

FORESHADOWING: verbal and dramatic hints or clues that suggest what is to 
come later in a piece of literature, play, or movie

FLASHBACK:a transition (in literary or theatrical works or films) to an 
earlier event or scene that interrupts the normal chronological development 
of the ...

FABLE: a type of traditional literature (a short story), written in verse or 
prose; The characters are usually animals or Inanimate objects. Fables 
attempt to teach a moral or lesson. Ex: The Tortoise and the Hare, The Ant 
and the Grasshopper

FAIRY TALE: a type of traditional literature filled with magical settings, 
events, and/or transformations.  Their structure includes a “happy ever 
after” ending, where good is rewarded and evil is punished.  Ex: Cinderella, 
Shrek
 

WRITING: Students will be writing various assignments to go along with the 
novel SPEAK.
  
SPELLING: Please see the link to the entire list of spelling words for the 
year on my "Important Documents" page.  Students are given the list of words 
on Mondays, and they are tested on the words each Friday in homeroom.  The 
quiz is counted as a language arts grade.  Students who fail the quiz will be 
given daily spelling homework the following week to help them learn the 
following week's words.  Spelling homework is due on Fridays. 

READING: Students have new AR goal for the third nine weeks. Every student 
knows how many points he /she is required to earn. AR is worth 10% of 
students' grades. REMEMBER: Students should be reading their AR books on a 
daily basis!

NOVEL STUDY: We are reading the novel "Speak" by Laurie Halse 
Anderson.  Please be advised that I only have a class set of the novels, so 
students will not be allowed to take the books home with them.  If you feel 
your child would benefit from having a personal copy of the book, please feel 
free to check the public libraries or a book store, such as Barnes & Noble, 
to obtain a copy to keep at home.  (You can also look on Ebay or Half.com to 
find the book at a more reasonable price.) Students will have various writing 
assignments and a culmination project once we finish.

REMINDER:  Students should be reading a MINIMUM of 100 minutes per week.  
One of the Georgia Performance Standards dictates that each student should 
read 25 GRADE LEVEL books each year (or a million words!!)

FYI: SCHOOL IS IN SESSION.  PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD IS BRINGING 
PAPER, PENCILS, PENS, AND BOOKS TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY!!!! Thanks.

FYI: If you are not receiving progress reports from me, I most 
likely do not have your email address or have an incorrect email address.  
Please provide me your email and you will begin receiving progress 
reports.  Be sure to include your personal email address when you contact me 
through my website.  The site does not allow me to reply unless you include 
it.  Thanks!