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Language Arts - Ms. LeichtVFL: Actually, the winners for period 5 are the boys!! I'm sorry, ladies! I re-did the math!
This Week in Language Arts (Nov. 23 - 25) Monday: Today, we went over journal-writing (one worksheet) and editing (one worksheet). Monday HW: Did everyone finish writing their experimental introductions for their 5-paragraph essays? (They were due last Friday. Did you show it to me?) Note: 5-paragraph essays are due, typed, Thursday, Dec. 4th. Be proactive! You will need: plenty of paper; plenty of ink; a thumb drive; four pens (blue, black, red, green). If you KNOW you're going to have a problem with any of these items or you're anticipating any computer problems, then please work on creating a solution NOW (AND, bring me a note from home by Monday, November 30th). Tuesday: Outlining. Tuesday HW: Please finish writing your outlines for your 5-paragraph essays, and hand them in tomorrow. Remember NOT to use these superfluous words or phrases: - introduction - conclusion - what I will write about is - the purpose of this paragraph will be - talk about - summarize Wednesday: Introduction to punctuation! Last Week in Language Arts (Nov. 16 - 20) Monday: Today, we went over journal-writing, and self-evaluated our strengths and weaknesses. Monday HW: Study for tomorrow's vocabulary test. VFL Units 1-3. Tuesday: Vocabulary test 1-3. Tues. HW: (1) Bring in money for book fair? (2) Bring in canned goods. Wednesday: Today, we discussed how every PARAGRAPH always has a clear point. We learned that we can organize an outline, not just by section or content, but BY PARAGRAPH. We read: "The Midnight Pumpkin" and outlined it. Then we went to the Book Fair at the library. {One additional handout: vocabulary sentences for hot words #4). Wed. HW: (1) Please read and outline "My Best Holiday." Thursday: Writing leads. Today, we went to the library to "read like a writer" and look for good leads (fiction and non-fiction). Students filled out both top and bottom (fiction and non-fiction) of a worksheet. Thursday HW: First, review your 5-paragraph essay focus statement. What do you think might make for a good introductory paragraph for this essay? To hook the reader? Try all four kinds of leads (anecdote; quote; question; fact/background information). Try writing (experiment with) one or two sentences for each type of lead, for your 5-paragraph essay. Eventually, you will choose the lead that works best. And remember.... I will not only be checking your 5-paragraph essay, but I will be checking all of your drafting, as well! Please do not skip any steps. I may even decide to check this tomorrow, so be thorough (and don't forget a proper heading)! Here's an example for anecdote: Focus statement: Something interesting always happens to us when we go on vacation. Anecdote: My parents and I loaded the car. We drove for two and a half days. We finally got to Florida, our destination. But when we reached the hotel, we discovered it had burned down in a terrible fire. We ended up finding another hotel, an even better one! Right on the beach! Of course, something interesting like that always happens to us when we go on vacation! Friday: Editing skills (class notes, plus one handout). Fri HW: (1) Finish the Golden Gate Bridge handout. Edit the paragraph. Rewrite any sentences that need improving. (2) If you got a 77 or below on the vocab. test, please bring me a parent signature. Last Week in Language Arts (Nov. 9-13): Monday: Today, we reviewed what makes a sentence a sentence, and talked about how to apply that to our 5-paragraph essay FOCUS STATEMENTS. Monday HW: (1) Start getting ready for the upcoming vocabulary test (units 1-3). The test is NEXT Tuesday. (2) Write three possible focus statements for your 5-paragraph essay. Pick a topic that is non-fiction (real), and about something of interest to your OWN life. Pick something you already like to talk about, and HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY (make a statement). Some examples: I'll never forget the time I got lost on a ski slope. My first camping trip was a disaster. Baseball is my life. I have been playing soccer since I was four. My family and I go to the Jersey shore every summer. Juvenile diabetes is a formidable opponent, but I enjoy my life despite it. My grandfather and I were always very close. Tuesday: Today, we continued focusing on sentences, and worked from the textbook (500, 502) to identify subjects and predicates. (If you are absent today, you will need to get a copy.) We also went over the vocab. review sheet for hot words #4. We put our focus statements into our "works in progress" folders. Tuesday HW: Study for vocabulary test units 1-3. We will have a competition game on Friday for reinforcement. Wednesday: Making subjects and verbs agree. Textbook pages: 508 and 509. Wednesday HW: Make sure you have, by tomorrow, a rock solid focus statement for your 5-paragraph essay. You should be in LOVE with this focus statement! Thursday: Today, we did an exercise to help us better learn how to build (and order) our sentences, so that our paragraphs are CLEAR and LOGICAL. A paragraph should always have a very clear POINT to it, and that point should be obvious. The ORDER of the sentences should make sense. Thursday HW: Study for vocabulary test: units 1-3. Competition tomorrow! Be ready! Friday: Vocabulary competition. The real test is next Tuesday. |
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