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Mrs. Smyth/Carpenter
generalsla
WISSAHICKON MIDDLE SCHOOL
AMBLER,   PA   19002
SchoolNotes last updated: Fri Nov 6 10:03:23 PST 2009    Number of Visits: 8115
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8th Grade Generals Language Arts
Mrs. Carpenter, Mrs. Smyth, and Mr. Houghton
____________________________________________________
"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you'll go!                           — Dr. Seuss

LA Class Philosophy:

We value comprehension over memorization. We believe in the integration of the subject areas and feel that learning the skills that allow you to make connections is the most important aspect of Language Arts.   This year our focus will be on going beyond simply reading information. Instead, we hope to help you strengthen your abilities to research and analyze a variety of materials. We will accomplish this by always asking why, by allowing for individuals to develop independent research, and by fine-tuning the basic skills necessary for writing and analysis.

We will do our best to foster an atmosphere of academic excellence that encourages you to challenge yourself to go beyond simply memorizing. For this to happen we need each of you to take charge of your own learning by becoming responsible for your actions. We ask you to take responsibility by showing respect to your teachers and your classmates, by completing your work when asked, and by keeping an open mind so that you can learn something from every activity or experience.

______________________________________________________
Classroom rules:

1.Proper classroom decorum is expected at all times:
         Never speak when another person is speaking
         Be prepared for all classes: book, LA
         binder,  homework, flash drive, and blue/
            black pen
         Never distract any other students
         Adhere to all school rules: carry an agenda
           book, no gum, no bag, etc.

2. Homework will be collected in the beginning of class, all HW turned in after this will be late.

3.    Essays will be due on posted dates. If a student requests that their essay be printed out on due date will be considered late. One grade will be taken off each day that the essay is late.  Additional penalties such as lunch/ after school detentions or rewrites may be assigned until an essay is satisfactorily completed.  

4. Grade updates are available on sapphire, students and parents should make sure that access is established and monitored.

5. It is the responsibility of the student to bring concerns to us well BEFORE a due date. This website will contain long-term assignments to help the students while at home.

6. Extra-credit will not be offered on an individual basis.    Opportunities will be built into required assignments that allow for extra points. In addition, a student may decide to partake in the reading incentive program, which will earn them extra- credit. Directions will be given in class.
_____________________________________________________
Agenda and Assignments:

Monday, August 31,
Welcome and introductions
Syllabus

HW- Get syllabus Signed

Tuesday, September 1
Tolstoy, “The Two Brothers”
   Setting goals and visualizing the perfect year
   Letter to self
Review of classroom expectations

HW- Bring summer reading book and notes

Wednesday, Sept 2
Summer reading Assessment
Letter Collage directions

HW- Start finding pictures/ words that describe you

Thursday, Sept 3
Letter Collage Example
Work session

HW: collect pictures for collage
      Bring your binder/ dividers/ and loose-leaf for
Friday

Friday, Sept 4
Organize binder
Book Chat
    Share favorite recent reads
    Rules/ expectations for classroom library
Work session

HW:  Letter Collage due on Tuesday!!!  
Have a great day off on Monday!

Thursday, Sept 10
Analyzing a quote
What is reader's role?
Annotation (visualizing)
    understanding its purpose/goals
"Sucker"
    beginning annotations
Work Session
Letter Collages

HW: begin annotation of "Sucker" word by word/line by line to the bottom of page 2 for Friday

Friday, Sept 11
Letter Collages
    finish presentations
    make connections with peers
"Sucker" annotations
    Check in - How did we do?
    continue annotations
       - word by word - what do they mean?
       - line by line

HW: continue annotation of "Sucker" word by word/line by line to the bottom of page 4 for Monday

Monday, Sept 14
Current Events
Reading critically using the newspaper:
    recognizing main ideas/best points
    reacting to information/finding importance to you/to the world
Annotation
    independent

HW: annotations of "Sucker" - word by word/line by line
    Wednesday Collection:
      Sept 16 - p. 1-4
      Sept 23 - p. 5-8
      Sept 30 - p. 9-end

Tuesday, Sept 15
Establishing a definition for "memoir"
Read magazine article about memoirs
      - word origin
      - characteristics
      - objectives
Brainstorming - questions for memoirists
      - narrowing down out life experiences
Independent work on Sucker

HW: annotations of "Sucker" - word by word/line by line
    Wednesday Collection:
      Sept 16 - p. 1-4
      Sept 23 - p. 5-8
      Sept 30 - p. 9-end
    **Brainstorm possible memories/narrow to best choice for Wed.
    

Wednesday, Sept 16
Memoir brainstorming
     recalling sensory details
"Show don't tell" review
     building a story with specific details and action verbs
Writing time
     begin drafting your memoir
     must contain all 3 parts

HW: annotations of "Sucker" - word by word/line by line
    Wednesday Collection:
      Sept 16 - p. 1-4 - collected
      Sept 23 - p. 5-8
      Sept 30 - p. 9-end

Thursday, Sept 17
Annotation Chat: How did we do?
Problem Spots/Good Stuff

"Sucker" annotation
     partner pair, p. 5
     word by word/line by line
Rough Draft of Memoir - independent
     3 Parts

HW: Typed rough draft of Memoir for Friday

Friday, Sept 18
How to peer review
    - example and guidelines
The importance of peer reviewing and editing
Peer Review of rough draft
"Sucker" annotations

HW: annotations of "Sucker" - word by word/line by line
    Wednesday Collection:
      Sept 16 - p. 1-4 - collected
      Sept 23 - p. 5-8
      Sept 30 - p. 9-end
    First complete draft due Wednesday.

Wednesday, Sept 23
An Author and his text
Peer Review of Memoir Rough Draft
     - making specific individualized suggestions
     - meeting Mrs. Neduscin
Author Search
     will knowing about Philbrick help with analysis? online search

HW: Discussion questions 2, 3 & 4 for Freak the Mighty for Thursday
Next draft of Memoir for Fri
Final good copy of Memoir for Tues
annotations of "Sucker" - word by word/line by line
    Wednesday Collection:
      Sept 16 - p. 1-4 - collected
      Sept 23 - p. 5-8 - collected
      Sept 30 - p. 9-end

Thursday, Sept 24
personal Responsibility in a book discussion
Establishing expectations/checking out the Rubric
Book Discussion Questions 2, 3 & 4
Read

HW: Next draft of Memoir for Fri
Read Chapters 6, 7 & 8 (Freak the Mighty) for Fri
Final good copy of Memoir for Tues
annotations of "Sucker" - word by word/line by line
    Wednesday Collection:
      Sept 16 - p. 1-4 - collected
      Sept 23 - p. 5-8 - collected
      Sept 30 - p. 9-end

Friday, Sept 25
Warm-up/weekend check-in
Memoir - final read through
consult the rubric - but DO NOT write on it!
read "Freak"/update packets through chapter 12
feel free to start independent projects

HW: Finish reading "Freak" through chapter 12
update "Freak" packet (vocabulary pages, Venn diagram
update "Freak" packet discussion questions through #7 for Tues
Best Copy of Memoir due Wed
   -includes all rough drafts
   -include peer review sheets
   -include rubric

Tuesday, Sept 29
Warm-up: characterization
Bionics
    significance vs. reality?
Book discussion questions 5-7
    -check rubric/grading
    -assessment this time
Work session
    -read through Chapter 14
    -update packet (vocab/venn diagram), projects

HW: best copy of Memoir due Wed
      -includes all rough drafts
      -include peer review sheets
      -include rubric
Read "Freak" through chapter 12
update "Freak" packet (vocabulary pages, Venn diagram
update "Freak" packet discussion questions through #7 for Wed

Wednesday, Sept 30
Warm-up: book discussion expectations
Book disucssion #2 - Assessment points
      -focus on utilizing the book, textual support
      -analysis/questioning/connecting
Work session
      read chapters 15 and 16
      update packet
      consider Tic Tac Toe projects

HW: Read "Freak" through Chapter 16
update your packet
   -discussion Questions, vocabulary, allusion, Venn Diagram
   -work on Tic Tac Toe Choice projects - use the text

Thursday, Oct 1
Warm-up: dictionary entry
    How much do you know
Dictionary use
    -importance/significance of the information
    -using the information effectively
    -define yourself-mimic the dictionary format
Freak the Mighty
    Chapters 17 & 18
    Projects

HW: Read "Freak" through Chapter 18
update your packet
   -discussion Questions, vocabulary, allusion, Venn Diagram
   -work on Tic Tac Toe Choice projects - use the text
"Sucker" annotations p. 9-end for Wed., 10/7

Friday, Oct 2
Warm-up
   annotation exercise for Freak
   Finding significance
Freak - read through chapter 21
    update discussion questions 8-13 for Mon., 10/5
    Tic Tac Toe project
"Sucker" annotations - last 4 pages

HW: Finish reading Freak through chapter 21
    update discussion questions 8-13 for Mon., 10/5
    finish vocabulary, allusion, Venn Diagram'
    work on Tic Tac Toe Choice projects - use the text

Monday, Oct 5
Warm-up: Newspaper
     Selecting main ideas - quotes
     explaining and responding to information
     discussion
Work session
     complete reading "Freak"
     complete packet

HW: Finish reading Freak through the end
    complete Freak packet for wed., 10/7
    complete Sucker packet due Thurs., 10/8
    TIC TAC TOE project due Tues., 10/13

Tuesday, Oct 6
Warm-up
    connecting to the text
    understanding the character
Book discussion #'s 8, 10, 12
    utilizing textual evidence
    going deeper - analysis
work session
    TIC TAC TOE, packet, sucker

HW: Finish reading Freak through the end
    complete Freak packet for wed., 10/7
    complete Sucker packet due Thurs., 10/8
    TIC TAC TOE project due Tues., 10/13

Wednesday, Oct 7
Warm-up
    considering the novel's message
Work session
    TIC TAC TOE, packets
Watch "Freak the Mighty"
    Compare and contrast

HW: completed Sucker packet due Thurs., 10/8
    TIC TAC TOE project due Tues., 10/13

Thursday, Oct 8
Warm-up
    Consider Quiet Riot
    Finish "The Mighty"

HW: TIC TAC TOE project due Tues., 10/13

Monday, Oct 12
Warm-up: check-in
Newspaper write-up
    choosing main ideas and reacting to them
    discuss
Work session/book preview
    -Tic Tac Toe
    -look at Lit circle choices
        pg #s/print size
        vocal/voice
        read back/look at cover

HW: TIC TAC TOE project due Tues., 10/13

Tuesday, Oct 13
Warm-up
    Reflection and project submission
Project Share
    Compare and consider
    Presentations
Journal #1
    Free write - your goal = continuous writing

HW: Make sure all projects are completed
    Read something fun tonight!

Wednesday, Oct 14
Warm-up
    Role of Confidence
Read aloud - 51st Dragon
    Making predictions/recognizing details
Guided Reading
    -assigning meaning to textual evidence

HW: Complete 51st Dragon (writing)
Read something fun tonight!

Friday, Oct 16
Warm-up - Lit Circles
    - participation of individual members
Lit Circle Overviews
    - Google docs - individual grades
        textual evidence -- relationship Big questions
        analysis
Lit Circle Group/books
     begin reading - SSR/marking pages with post-its

HW: Read Lit Circle Books

Monday, Oct 19
Warm-up
     Root words - creating a pathway
Root Words Unit 1
     *connecting new words/new meanings to existing vocabulary
          - must use synonyms in every answer for credit
Review of Lit Circle expectations
     *preparing textual evidence for tomorrow - Post-its
     SSR

HW: Read according to your lit circle agreement
     * post-its
         -vocab/connections
         -characters who show character
         -characters choosing friends
         -examples of choices affecting/effecting others
          

Tuesday, Oct 20
Welcome, Mrs Kosh!
Mrs. Kosh will present a mini-leson about scary stories.
   -What makes a story scary
Book discussions - Googledocs

HW: read according to your lit circle agreement
     * post-its
         -vocab/connections
         -characters who show character
         -characters choosing friends
         -examples of choices affecting/effecting others
think about your fears

Wednesday, Oct 21
Warm-up
    reviewing plot (definition and parts)
"If Cornered Scream"
    -Isolating plot line = details integral to the story
    -watch and compare: How do details change mood
Journal #2
     writing about fear

HW: read according to your lit circle agreement
     * post-its
         -vocab/connections
         -characters who show character
         -characters choosing friends
         -examples of choices affecting/effecting others
Thurs., 10/22 - Lit Circle meeting

Thursday, Oct 22
Warm-up
     -review/recall root words I
     -extend/use words
Lit Circle groups
     running record of discussion
        - goal is variety
SSR

HW: read according to your lit circle agreement
     * post-its
         -vocab/connections
         -characters who show character
         -characters choosing friends
         -examples of choices affecting/effecting others
Tues., 10/27 - Lit Circle meeting

Monday, Oct 26
Check-in
    -paragraphs (5)
    -persuasion
    -organize edit - best copy
Read or write
    lit circle book / scary story

HW: read according to your lit circle agreement
     * post-its
         -vocab/connections
         -characters who show character
         -characters choosing friends
         -examples of choices affecting/effecting others
Tues., 10/27 - Lit Circle meeting

Tuesday, Oct 27
Warm-up
    *infusing details into writing
     - creating a scary feeling
Writing time
     translating 5-W sheet into Rough Draft
Book discussion meeting

HW: read according to your lit circle agreement
     * post-its
         -vocab/connections
         -characters who show character
         -characters choosing friends
         -examples of choices affecting/effecting others
Thurs., 10/29 - Lit Circle meeting
Thurs., 10/29 rough draft of scary story (typed)

Wednesday, Oct 28
Warm-up
     quote significance
The Landlady
     -details that add suspense
     -details that create mood
Video - What's better/what's worse?
Write/Read independently

HW: read according to your lit circle agreement
     * post-its
         -vocab/connections
         -characters who show character
         -characters choosing friends
         -examples of choices affecting/effecting others
Thurs., 10/29 - Lit Circle meeting
Thurs., 10/29 rough draft of scary story (typed)

Thursday, Oct 29

Do Now -
    -judge your scary story
    -rough draft using the writing rubric
    -evaluate and discuss each category: descriptive words, setting, plot, scare factor, and ending. What do you need to change/improve for each section? Best/worst area?
Two peer edits
Lit Circle

HW: read according to your lit circle agreement
     * post-its
         -vocab/connections
         -characters who show character
         -characters choosing friends
         -examples of choices affecting/effecting others
Mon., 11/2 - Lit Circle meeting
start working on changes to scary story.

Friday, Oct 30

Warm-up: relating to personal experience

Tell Take Heart
     -Elements of a short story
     -recognizing details/suspense
     -understanding meaning - is is horror?
Video about Tell Take
Raven

HW: read according to your lit circle agreement
     * post-its
         -vocab/connections
         -characters who show character
         -characters choosing friends
         -examples of choices affecting/effecting others
Mon., 11/2 - Lit Circle meeting (book finished)
Wed., 11/4 - Next Draft of Scary Story
Thurs., 11/5 - Final copy of Scary Story

Monday, Nov 2

Warm-up: Revenge Questionnaire
         How vengeful are we?

Begin Poe's "Cask of Amontillado"
         Listen/Record Notes
         Finish on Wed.

Lit Circle Final Meeting
         Finish up notes/post its, etc.

HW: Wed., 11/4 - Next Draft of Scary Story
    Thurs., 11/5 - Final copy of Scary Story

Wednesday, Nov 4

Warm-up: organize post-its/submit
     check Scary Story Rubric/Reflect

Cast of Amontillado
     finish reading

Guided annotation
     with a partner/submit (in ink legible)

HW: Best copy of Scary Story due Thurs., 11/5
     - proper MLA format
     - Rubric
     - Rough Draft
     - Peer Review Sheet
(all of the above, in that order, then staple it together)

mini-annotation: pg #1 due Friday (page #2 - turn in Friday for extra credit)

Thursday, Nov 5

Warm-up: Critiquing Cask of Amontillado
      Horror? Short Story?
Cast of Amontillado
      mini-annotation
Free choice specifications
      making the right choice for you

HW: mini-annotation: pg #1 due Friday (page #2 - turn in Friday for extra credit)

Friday, Nov 6
Collect annotation

Annabelle Lee
     The romantic side to Poe
     Looking at meaning/lyrical quality

Free choice read
   *remember, you need to finalize on Monday

HW: read your free choice book
    enjoy the beautiful weekend
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