Please complete Unit 3 Vocabulary words. Remember each entry must include the word, a practical definition, the part of speech, and a sentence using any form of the word correctly.
*****
A NOTE ABOUT TUTORIALS:
Beginning December 1st, I will be available for afterschool TAKS Writing tutorials on Mondays and Thursdays from 4 to 4:30. Please consider paying a visit if you have scored more than two wrong on any of the TAKS quizzes or common assessments we have taken this semester.
*****
November 24 and 25, 2008
I hope you all have a lovely Thanksgiving. Please remember that if you were unable to complete your poetry anthology in class you MUST turn it in on our first day back in class from break. No anthology = AIP.
Thanks!
*****
November 20 and 21, 2008
Please make sure four poems of quality are ready to go for Monday and Tuesday. We will be creating our anthologies. Your poems should reflect hard work and effort and include examples of the terms we discussed in class: personification, similes, metaphor, imagery, and so on.
I look forward to reading your work!
*****
WISH LIST request:
Parents, I am looking for donations of tissues or Post-it notes (the square cube size, any color is fine).
I would certainly appreciate any donations. Even one Post-it pad helps.
*****
November 18, 2008
So very sorry to be late in updating my Schoolnotes!
On Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th, we will be putting together the poetry anthologies we have been working on in class (and at home).
Students should have four complete and revised poems by those dates. (Purple on the 24th, Gray on the 25th)
These poems should have been worked on both in class and at home and should reflect the concepts we have learned in class (personification, simile, metaphor, imagery, rhyme scheme and meter, etc.) Reflection and effort should be evident in these poems.
Please take the time to revise poems and work to make them the best you can make them (refer back to the revision copy for the Tina poem that we discussed in class).
On Monday and Tuesday of next week we will be copying the poems over in our best handwriting and putting them together in an anthology book. This will be for a major grade.
Upon our return from Thanksgiving Break we will do a mini-unit on short stories and reading in partnership. We will also take a TAKS Writing released test to check our preparedness level for TAKS Writing in early March. This will help guide my instruction for the second semester.
Have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving.
Best,
Ms. Blessington
*****
November 12 and 13, 2008 (Wednesday and Thursday)
We are in the middle of our poetry unit, and I am quite impressed with the writing I am seeing. The metaphors and similes we are working on will serve you well when we transition back to working on our personal essays.
HOMEWORK for ALL CLASSES: Analyze the "For Tina" packet and answer the questions attached completely.
*****
November 5 and 6, 2008 (Wednesday and Thursday)
Today, regular classes began our poetry unit by reading and discussing a variety of poems. As we go through the unit, we will be talking about such ideas as personification, metaphor, simile, open and closed form poetry, and imagery.
The product we create for this unit will be a poetry anthology. I am really excited for this unit, and I think you are too!
GT (5th PERIOD): We have spent the past three lessons analyzing Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail." I've been impressed with your thoughts as we've created a thesis statement and defended it with body paragraphs.
We will begin the poetry unit shortly as well.
GT HOMEWORK (5th period ONLY): On Friday you will take your vocabulary test. You will be expected to write a short story using all five of your words correctly. Remember to use context clues to show me you truly understand the words. You may use any form of the words. Remember the words are: skirmish, contradict, embroil, strife, haggle.
Also due on Tuesday (upon my return from a teachers' conference) is your second body paragraph for the "Letter from Birmigham Jail" essay.
Have a great weekend!
*****
November 3 and 4, 2008 (Monday and Tuesday)
(5th Period/GT)
GT students continued their work analyzing Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Letter from Birmingham Jail" and creating a thesis statement for their analytical paper. On Wednesday, we will learn how to create body paragraphs that defend that thesis statement.
I extended the deadline for final drafts. They are due Wednesday, no exceptions. Please honor my kindness in extending the deadline by making sure your work is in on time. If it is not in by Wednesday, I will assign AIP.
ALL OTHER CLASSES:
Today we took a short vocabulary quiz and a grammar quiz. So far, the results look good! Please remember to see me for extra help if there is a concept you are not understanding. I will be getting your second essays back to you as soon as possible.
We will begin a poetry unit on Wednesday. I am looking forward to it! The final product will be a poetry anthology.
*****
October 30 and 31, 2008
GT (5th period): Please make sure your FINAL DRAFTS are in by Monday.
All other classes: VOCAB QUIZ the next time I see you. Words are:
aloof, amiable, betray, treacherous, enmity
Happy Halloween!
*****
October 28 and 29, 2008 (Tuesday and Wednesday)
Today in class we spent our time working on our final drafts. They are due for homework next time if you were unable to complete the work. We also reviewed those tricky homonyms that trip us up. (There, their, they're, your, you're, its, it's, two, to, too).
Parents, whenever you get an opportunity to mention mistakes you see with homonyms, do so. A good rule of thumb is, if you can break it down and it sounds right/makes sense, use it!
They're nice. = They are nice. Correct!
You're dog bit me. = You are dog bit me. Doesn't sound right, incorrect! Must be your.
It's cold outside. = It is cold outside. Correct!
It's wheels are loose. = It is wheels are loose. Doesn't sound right, incorrect! Must be its.
We also reviewed other tricks to remember two, to, and too.
HOMEWORK:
FIFTH PERIOD (GT ONLY): Please read "The Lottery" and go back and identify foreshadowing. Also, ask yourself why you think Shirley Jackson wrote such a story. It is famous for its ending.
ALL OTHER CLASSES: Your FINAL DRAFT is due the NEXT TIME I see you. Please make sure it is in your best handwriting and there is no writing on the back. No essay on time = AIP.
*****
October 24 and 27, 2008 (Friday and Monday)
HOMEWORK: Please make sure your rough draft is complete and ready for editing for our next class.
It is very important that you remember to bring it back on Tuesday and Wednesday. THANK YOU!
*****
October 20 and 22, 2008
On Wednesday and Thursday, we will be starting our second rough draft. For homework tonight, please select a story idea you would like to write about.
Remember, the story should be about you, and it should be a *story* (we discussed this in class). It needs to have a beginning, middle, and an end that sucks in the reader. For example, instead of just writing about why you love soccer, tell a story about the time you scored your first goal. Instead of telling me how you can't stand your little brother or sister, tell me a story about the time you got stuck babysitting them and everything went wrong.
We also reviewed the TAKS writing packet and discussed direct and indirect characterization.
*****
October 16 and 17, 2008 (Thursday and Friday)
Today we corrected our vocabulary homework, took our first common assessment, and I conferred with students over their reading and writing work.
HOMEWORK: Please complete the TAKS Writing Practice (nine multiple choice questions). This is for a grade, so please take it seriously. We will review it in class on Monday and Tuesday.
Have a great weekend!
*****
October 14th and 15th (Tuesday and Wednesday)
The homework for tonight is to complete the new vocabulary definitions. Please remember each definition must include a definition in your own words (use the dictionary to confirm it, but use the story's context clues to create it), the part of speech, and a sentence using the word in a way that shows you understand its meaning. You may use any form of the word in the sentence.
This week we continued to work on reading actively and making connections to the text by taking notes as we read.
We are also learning how to correctly punctuate dialogue and use it effectively in our writing.
In addition, on Thursday and Friday we will be taking our first common assessment which will cover fragments, simple sentences, and compound sentences.
*****
October 10th and 13th
There is no homework for this evening. However, if you did not turn in your final essay, you were assigned AIP.
Today in class we learned how to document our reading strategy work in our reading notebooks. I will look for evidence of this work when I grade your reading notebooks.
Remember that on evenings when you have no homework, you should read for at least 20 minute and/or write in your writing notebook.
*****
A Note about Writing Notebooks:
Notebooks have been graded and returned. I have graded a little easier this time since it's your first time being evaluated.
As I explained in class, there are ways to transform your writing notebook from good to great. How? Write outside of class...at home, on the bus, anytime you get an itch to write. (Parents, if your son or daughter says he or she doesn't have homework, suggest reading for 20 minutes or writing in their writing notebook for 20 minutes.)
All sorts of things can go inside the notebook. True stories or made up ones. An overhead conversation, a list of possible writing ideas...or perhaps you've discovered a photo or drawing that you want to paste into your notebook and then write about.
It's not just about volume but thoughtfulness. Your writing should reflect time and effort. Also, remember the notebook is not a diary, but it is a place to practice writing on all sorts of topics.
Finally, remember that the rubric does look at grammar and conventions. Are you attempting to use the grammar rules we discuss and practice in class, or are you ignoring them? As we learn more, I expect to see your grammar improve in your freewriting.
:-)
Ms. Blessington
*****
October 7 and 8, 2008
HOMEWORK: PLEASE make sure your final drafts are complete and stapled to your rough drafts (final drafts on top). These are due the next time I see you. Most of you were able to finish these in class, but just in case, please make sure you get them done or I will have to assign AIP.
GT (5th Period only): Please complete the green connotation exercise.
*****
October 3 and 6, 2008
Additional reminder: GT students (5th period), please note that you have additional homework in the form of answering the multiple choice questions associated with the "Fear" poem that we read and discussed in class. These answers are due on Tuesday. Thank you.
*****
October 3 and 6, 2008
Thank you to all the parents and guardians who came out for Open House! I truly appreciate you taking the time to come and meet me and learn a little bit more about my classroom.
If you did not get a chance to visit, please ask your son or daughter to pick up some of my handouts to take home. I have plenty.
HOMEWORK: Please make sure your rough drafts are ready for one final editing on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. If you did not finish your final draft in class, you must finish it for homework.
I collected writing notebooks and will be grading them. I will review the rubric with your son and daughter, so they know how they will be assessed.
*****
October 1 and 2, 2008
Hello! Here's what's going on in class today.
We are:
Taking our vocabulary quiz
Learning how to make paragraphs
Working on our rough drafts
Silent reading
The GT class also took time to analyze a poem for mood, setting, and figurative language. (I heard some very interesting thoughts in our discussion!)
On Friday and Monday, we will be finishing up our rough drafts (those who do not finish will finish them for homework). On Tuesday and Thursday we will edit and write our final drafts.
IMPORTANT: Also on Friday and Monday, I will be COLLECTING your WRITER'S NOTEBOOKS. Please make sure you bring your notebook to class and have all your notes dated and included. I will be sharing with you a rubric I will use to grade the notebooks. As long as you've been taking your notes and freewriting as asked, you should be just fine.
*****
September 29 and 30, 2008
This week we are working on drafts of our first personal narrative essay. We will be focusing specifically on:
1) Creating a great lead
2) Making proper paragraphs
3) Injecting thoughts and feelings (voice!) into our writing
Next week, we will be editing and writing our final drafts.
For Wednesday and Thursday, please be prepared for a short vocabulary quiz. If you've been paying attention in class as we've reviewed the words, you should be just fine.
All other classes: sluggish, dormant, industrious, loiter, vigor
In addition, we have been identifying and practicing strategies for improving reading comprehension as we read our selections from the classroom library.
Parents, I hope to see you at Open House this Thursday!
*****
September 25 and 26, 2008
It was so nice to see your smiling faces this week. I am pleased to announce I do finally have power at my house, and my heart goes out to any of you still struggling to get power into your homes!
Please know that JMS has decided to hold off on assigning any homework for at least another week. Hopefully at that point everyone will have power, so they can work at home.
I will also wait until next week to collect and grade writing notebooks.
We have jumped right back into work. The lesson this week focused on how to create a compound sentence. We also reviewed our vocabulary words and read examples of commended TAKS essays from real students.
Next week we will begin working on our first rough draft, and we will also get back to our silent reading. Please come prepared with a story idea for your first rough draft. Remember, we are writing personal essays about ourselves, so the story should be about you!
*****
September 23, 2008
As I type this, I can hear the hum of the generator in my backyard. Yes, I do not have power at home. I am truly looking forward to heading back to school, not just to see your lovely faces, but so that I can at least enjoy some AC during the day!
Students and parents, I hope you came through Ike safely! As much as it pains me to not have power (still!), my husband and I (and our animals!) are grateful that our home was spared and we are all in one piece.
I have missed you all. After three weeks of school, I really felt like we were finally getting into the groove. However, I have faith that we will be just fine if we work together.
Students, I am going to ask you to really take our work very seriously starting Thursday morning! I know you can do it! It is going to take a bit of time to get back on track, but we can accomplish what we need if we buckle down and work together.
Please come to school on Thursday with a ready-to-work attitude. I am adjusting my lesson plans and will let you know what homework will be as soon as I can.
I can't wait to see you!
Love,
Ms. Blessington
*****
September 10 and 11, 2008
This week we are working on showing (not just telling) writing. We are also reviewing parts of a sentence and beginning to build compound sentences. All students have started choosing independent novels to read in class. GT students have also done some literary analysis work with a poem.
HOMEWORK: Please have a good idea of what you would like your first personal essay to be about. After our next class period, I will be asking you to write your first rough draft. I will also be sending home with you a packet of outstanding student essays, so you have an idea of what kind of work we will be aiming for!
IMPORTANT: During our next class period (Friday for Purple Days, Monday for Gray Days), I will be collecting your writing notebooks, so I can grade them. This will be your first notebook check of the year, and it is very important that you have all your notes completed and your freewriting is dated. Any freewriting and notes that you took on separate pieces of paper should be copied into your notebook or neatly taped in.
*****
September 8 and 9, 2008
HOMEWORK: Please start thinking about an idea for your first personal essay. It could be a story about the time you scored your first goal. It could be about the time someone close to you passed away. As long as you are the star of the story, it's a good idea.
Parents, if your child says he or she "has no homework" suggest to them that they read 30 minutes each evening. This reading can include a book, a newspaper, magazines, just about anything! I will discuss this with them in class.
*****
September 5, 2008
Students, I forgot to mention something regarding your homework. When it comes to writing sentences using your vocabulary words, please know you can use *any* form of the word. Meaning, for example, that you could use "loitered," or "loitering" or "loiters." For my GT class, you could use "chaotic" or "chaos." The choice is yours. Forgive me for not making this clearer in the instructions.
*****
September 4 and 5, 2008
HOMEWORK:
Please make sure you have completed your five vocabulary definitions. Remember, each definition must have 1) a definition of the word IN YOUR OWN WORDS (not copied from a dictionary...use context clues from the story!), 2) the part of speech, and 3) a sentence using the word correctly.
Have a great weekend!
*****
September 2 and 3, 2008
HOMEWORK:
Students, please make sure you complete the Writing Territories and Questions for Memoirists assignment in your Writng Notebooks. Remember, you do not have to have an example for each category or an answer for each question. I simply want to see that you have a good number of potential topics for future writing assignments.
*****
August 28 and 29, 2008
Today in class we took reading and writing surveys, and I was impressed with how seriously you took the assignment. These surveys will help me understand how to best work with you, and I hope they also helped you realize your strengths and opportunities for growth.
We also reviewed for our summer reading assessment which will be given on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.
Regular/Pre-AP students, you will have a multiple choice, matching test on "Wolf Rider." If you read the book and paid attention to my notes, you should do just fine.
GT: Your assessment on "Warriors" will be a short answer essay test. Please remember to bring your copy of the book with you as the test is open book. I will be looking for depth and thoughtfulness in your responses. This is not just a simple recall test.
Next week we will begin exploring the classroom library, reviewing the parts of a sentence, and working on vocabulary. We will also start brainstorming potential writing topics.
Have a great Labor Day Weekend!
*****
August 26 and 27, 2008
Wow! I am already impressed with some of the writing I am seeing. I just know we are going to have an awesome year together.
Homework: Make sure you have your supplies by next week. Two composition notebooks are critical! See me if you are having trouble finding them.
Regular and Pre-AP classes: Make sure you have read "Wolf Rider." You will have a quick quiz on Tuesday of next week.
5th Period (GT): Make sure you have read "Warriors Don't Cry." You will have a written assessment on Wednesday of next week, and we will spend time discussing the book.
*****
August 25th, 2008 (En Ingles y Espanol)
Hello, and welcome to the 2008-09 school year at Johnston! I truly enjoy being a teacher, and I am looking forward to working with your son or daughter. My number one goal is for your child to experience success and growth in my classroom.
This year we are focusing the majority of our time on improving our writing, reading, and critical thinking skills. I believe these are skills that will serve your child well throughout his or her school years and beyond.
The following sections provide a brief overview of my class policies and requirements. Please feel free to contact me if you ever have any questions or concerns. (See back for contact information.)
Grading Policy
My grading system is comprised of four categories with the following weightings:
•Reading and Writing Notebook grades: 40%
•Final writing products/tests: 30%
•Vocabulary work: 20%
•Homework/classwork: 10%
Progress reports are sent out in the middle of each nine week grading period. Reading and Writing Notebooks are checked and graded every two to three weeks. It is critical that students carefully maintain these notebooks as they represent a significant portion of the final grade.
Homework Policy
Assignments are posted on the classroom board and can also be viewed at my Schoolnotes website via the Johnston website (www.johnstonmiddleschool.org). For work that has a due date, students will lose ten points if it is turned in one class period late. If they still fail to turn in the assignment, the student will receive a zero.
Tardy Policy
My classes follow Johnston’s “Zero Tolerance Tardy Policy.” (Please see student handbook for details.)
Class Rules
•Respect for everyone in the classroom.
•Personal business (bathroom breaks, getting items out of locker, etc.) should be taken care of before class unless it is a true emergency. Please come to class prepared and ready to work.
•Do your best and turn in your work on time.
•I believe it is important for students to practice reading, discussing, and communicating out loud. For this reason we do not eat, drink, or chew gum in my classroom.
Consequences
•Formal warning
•Call to parent
•Student-teacher conference/detention
•Referral to house principal **
**An extremely serious offense will result in immediate referral to house principal
Independent Reading/My Classroom Library
As reading is both a necessary life skill and a major focus in my classroom, students will be doing a lot of it this year. Research tells us that availability of books and having the opportunity to choose books are major factors in motivating teens to read. In that spirit, I have worked hard to develop a diverse classroom library that reflects students’ different ability levels and interests. Later in the year, students will have the opportunity to “check out” books and take them home to read. I want you to know that I am sensitive to having appropriate reading material in my room. That said, what is considered “appropriate” may vary from one parent to another. I ask you to remain aware throughout the year to the books your child has chosen to read and assist me in gauging appropriateness.
Make Up Work
Students with excused absences should check with a friend or with me to find out what he or she has missed. Students will need to copy any notebook notes they missed. With regard to final writing products or other work that has a due date, students will have five days from the day they missed to make up work for full credit. Students are responsible for making sure they have made up all missing work.
Supplies
The following supplies are needed by Monday, September 1st:
•Two composition books (the black and white marble type although I will accept other colors – just make sure it is not a spiral)
•Wide-ruled loose-leaf paper
•A pocket folder for collecting handouts and papers
•A blue or black pen
Wish List
These are certainly not a requirement, but I would surely appreciate any donations of:
•Tissues
•Hand sanitizer
•Dry erase markers (EXPO brand)
•Wide-ruled loose-leaf paper
•Post-it notes (any color or size!)
Once again, please contact me if you ever have any concerns or questions.
I can be reached in the following ways:
•You can call Johnston’s main line at (713) 726-3616 and leave a message for me.
•You can E-mail me at jblessin@houstonisd.org. (This is the best way to reach me!)
•All parent teacher conferences occur with the entire 7J team. Please feel free to contact me at any time to set up a conference. We are available during our conference periods (1st and 6th periods).
Thank you for reading this letter, and I look forward to a great school year!
Sincerely,
Ms. Jennifer Mathieu Blessington
*****
Saludos y bienvenidos al año escolar 2008-2009 en Johnston! A mi me gusta mucho ser profesora, y estoy muy contenta de tener a su hijo o hija en mi clase.
Este año vamos a concentrar la mayoria de nuestro tiempo en mejorar nuestras habilidades de escritura, lectura, y conceptos críticos.
Las siguientes secciones le darán una idea de los requisitos y prácticas de mi clase.
Guia de Calificaciones
Mi sistema de calificaciones está dividido en cuatro categorias y cada una tiene un porcentaje.
Cuaderno de lectura y escritura 40%
Proyectos y exámenes finales de escritura 30%
Trabajo de vocabulario 20%
Tarea/trabajo en clase 10%
Reportes sobre el progreso de los estudiantes se envian a casa al medio de las nueve semanas de cada periodo de calificaciones. Los cuadernos de lectura y escritura son chequeados cada dos o tres semanas y reciben una nota. Es muy importante que los estudiantes mantengan con mucho cuidado estos cuadernos porque significan una gran parte del grado final.
Guia de Tarea
Información sobre las tareas se pueden encontrar en la pizarra en la clase y también en mi
Schoolnotes Website: www.johnstonmiddleschool.org. Los estudiantes perderán 10 puntos si entregan la tarea atrazada mas de una clase y si después de esto todavia no la entregan recibirán un zero.
Regla Sobre el Atrazo a Clase
Mis clases practican la regla de la escuela de Johnston que dice Cero Tolerancia a llegar tarde
Reglas de Clase
*Respetar a todos
*Necesidades personales (baño, cosas en el locker, etc.) deben de tomar lugar antes de clase con excepción de una emergencia. Por favor vengan a clase preparados y listos para trabajar.
*Hagan su major trabajo y entréguenlo a tiempo.
*Yo creo que es importante que los estudiantes practiquen lectura, comunicación y discusión. Por esta razón no será permitido comer, tomar, o masticar chicle en clase.
Consecuencias
*Aviso formal
*Llamada a los padres
*Conferencia de profesora y estudiante – detención
*Referencia a la directora **
** Una ofensa extremademente seria resultará en una referencia immediata a la directora
Lectura Independiente/Mi Biblioteca en la Clase
La lectura es algo muy importante en la vida y en mi clase, asi que los estudiantes van a leer mucho este año. Yo he trabajado muy duro para asegurar que mi biblioteca refleje las abilidades e intereses de mis estudiantes. Yo quiero que ustedes sepan que yo trato de tener libros apropiados para mis estudiantes. Pero yo se que lo que es apropiado para algunos padres, no es para otros. Yo quisiera que este año ustedes estén al tanto de los libros que sus hijos leen, y que me asistan en que esos libros sean apropiados.
Tareas Que Han Perdido
Estudiantes con ausencias excusadas necesitan chequear con un amigo o conmigo para averiguar que tareas han perdido. Los estudiantes tienen que copiar las notas que han perdido en su cuaderno. En cuanto a trabajos de escritura que tienen fecha de vencimiento, los estudiantes tienen cinco dias desde la fecha que faltaron para entregar la tarea y recibir credito completo. Los estudiantes son responsables por entregar toda la tarea que han perdido.
Materiales
Los estudiantes necesitan los siguientes materiales el Lunes, 1 de Septiembre.
* Dos cuadernos de composición (el tipo blanco/negro)
* Papel de hojas con lineas (wide-ruled)
* Carpeta con bolsillos para guardar papeles
* Bolígrafo con tinta negra o azul
Si necesita ponerse en contacto conmigo puede:
* Llamar a Johnston (713-726-3616) y dejar un mensaje
* Escribirme un e-mail (jblessin@houstonisd.org.). Esta es la manera que yo prefiero.
* Las conferencias con los padres/profesores son con todo el grupo de 7J. Usted puede tener una conferencia cuando usted quiera. Nosotros estamos libres durante el primer y sexto periodo.
Muchas gracias por leer esta carta y estoy muy entusiasmada por este año escolar.
Sinceramente,
Sra. Jennifer Mathieu Blessington
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