7th-grade ELA @WJPS

Feature Writing Rubric

2010-05-03T10:53:00.001-07:00

Please print a copy of the rubric. It must be handed in with your final published piece. You can find a link to the rubric on Teacherease. It is located in Term 2 assignments. See me if you have any questions.

Day 2: Listening and Editing

2010-04-26T06:55:00.001-07:00

Remember the tips we learned in class as you prepare for Day #2 of the NYS ELA test:

2 strategies for notetaking; listen plus notes, then listen plus notes OR listen only, then notes.
Don't attempt to take down every word of the listening section; highlight key points (dates, names, places, etc.), main idea, and themes.
The short response questions are 2-part questions - answer both parts! answer them completely!
When the question stem says "give details" use 2 or more text-based pieces of evidence that support your answer.
The editing passage contains NO SPELLING MISTAKES. You have to find and correct each error (in capitalization, grammar, usage or punctuation) to get the maximum number of points.
Each error you introduce negates an error you have found.

Testing Mon. April 26 and Tues. April 27

2010-04-21T18:41:00.000-07:00

Please note:

Make sure to get a good night's sleep on Sunday and to eat a good breakfast Monday morning.
You must bring at least two sharpened #2 pencils and an eraser. You may not use scrap paper or other supplies.
Leave your cell phones in your lockers. If you bring a cell phone into class with you, it will be collected and brought to the main office.
If you are done with the test before time is called, you may not do anything but sit quietly. Don't bring books or notebooks - it is against testing rules to let you read or write.
Good luck!

SEE THE DANCE/SPOKEN WORD TROUPE IN ACTION

2010-04-13T16:32:00.000-07:00

GROOVALOOS

http://www.groovaloos.com/

Test Sophistication

2010-03-22T06:51:00.000-07:00

Tips for taking the ELA test (April 26-27)...

Multiple-choice questions measure how well you comprehend the text (reading passage) and how well you can locate information, identify and define vocabulary words, and think critically about fiction and nonfiction.

"on the page" questions can be answered with information that is literally found in the passage (you can point to the info - either in the very same words, or rephrased).
"off the page" questions require you to think critically to arrive at the answer - to make an inference, come to a conclusion based on what you have read.

TIPS: You have to select the BEST answer, not the first one you see that looks right. Read all answer choices. Eliminate - first the impossible answers then the possible but not totally right answers. Select the choice that most closely answers the question.

Short-response questions measure how well you comprehend the text, can critically think about the text, and are able to find support (text evidence) for your answer.

They are 2-part questions. Part 1 asks you to make an inference; part 2 asks you to support your answer. They are graded on a 2-point rubric. To get the full credit, you have to answer the question (both parts) accurately and clearly.

TIPS: Rephrase the question in your answer. As you answer each part, check the part off in the question stem.

Don't over-generalize or over-specify in your answer. Just simply answer the question that is asked and used text evidence to support your thinking.

ONLY USE INFORMATION FROM THE TEXT. DO NOT USE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ON THIS TEST.

Works Cited

2010-03-02T08:39:00.000-08:00

Use the Son of Citation web site to format your sources in APA Style. The Works Cited page is part of your grade (will be graded in the Factual Support section of the rubric). Please submit the Works Cited page with your final publication.

1. You need to have 3 pages open simultaneously: "Sources" (googledocs), a new page called "Works Cited" (googledocs) and a browser. Please remember that you need a minimum of 3 sources (one must be an interview with an expert).

2. In the browser, follow this link: http://citationmachine.net/

3. Choose "APA" from the left menu.

4. Choose print or non-print format (i.e. web page, electronic book, online media, etc.) from the left menu of the "APA" page. Make sure you are choosing the correct format for the source!

5. Using your "Sources" doc, plug info into the Citation Machine site. If any info, such as author or date is missing, leave the field blank.

6. When all info is plugged in, hit "submit". A grey dialog box with the formatted citation will appear at the top of the page.

7. Copy and paste the info from the gray dialog box into the "Works Cited" doc. Please re-read the citation to make sure there are no errors such as the words "Initials" or "Author" - this means that you did not format it correctly.

8. Once steps #4-#7 are done for each source, put the sources in alphabetical order and number them.

9. Make sure the page is titled, "Works Cited" and share with me via googledocs.

***If you have done any of the steps incorrectly, please go back and revise your work and reshare via googledocs. This is also a classwork grade!***

Will Your Argument Convince Your Audience?

2010-02-23T07:15:00.000-08:00

Checklist:
Did you identify your audience?
Did you state your issue and your position clearly?
Did you show the urgency of your issue with facts, historical background, expert quotes (interview), and other support?
Did you offer the audience solutions/a call to action?

Format for presenting your argument:
WHAT : issue/position
WHY: reasons why issue is urgent
HOW: solutions/call to action

2010-02-22T08:42:00.000-08:00

WJPS news story: media influence on teens.

http://wjpsnews.ning.com/video/the-medias-affect-on-teens

Persuasive Publications Deadline Extended

2010-02-22T07:58:00.000-08:00

...to March 5 (Friday). We will miss significant class time for predictive testing this Thursday and Friday, as well as the entire day on Wed. (advisory trip).

Please work on this project at home as well as in school. Preparation is key. Use the rubric as your guide.

Follow this format for your persuasive publication:

1. Identify your position and the issue.

2. Explain to the select audience WHY the issue is such a problem.

3. Offer solutions.

You must CONVINCE your SELECT AUDIENCE to CHANGE ITS MINDS and TAKE ACTION to solve the problem.

Things to Do Over Break....

2010-02-12T08:56:00.000-08:00

1. Don't leave ePortfolio until the day before portfolio conferences!!! Upload, reflect on the site (find the link and directions to the left, about halfway down the page). It has been updated to include Persuasive Publications (due Feb. 26) and Letter to the Editor (which should have been completed by the end of the day today and shared with me via GoogleDocs.
2. Read and respond. Annotate your bibliography for DIR.
3. Any student who has received an NC for term 1 and who HAS NOT made up work or completed work to grade standards has an extension until the Monday we return to school (Feb. 22). Work that is not complete/revised will result in a term 1 grade of F.
Have a good break!

NYT Article/Letter to the Editor

2010-02-10T16:10:00.000-08:00

"If Your Kids Are Awake, They're Probably Online"

Letter to the Editor Format:

Dear Editor,
Position Statement
Factual Support - 2 facts (cited) + 1 personal connection
Restate Position
Sign
Contact E-mail

Sharing Documents

2010-02-01T08:42:00.001-08:00

When logged into GoogleDocs, hit "share" button at top right corner.
Choose "invite people"
Share your work with your partners and with me (shari.marks@wjps.org)
Make sure that the "to edit" button is selected when you are sharing with me, so I can give you feedback.

What should be shared so far...

1. Your list of sources (2-3 reputable sources with notes/images as needed)

2. An expert to be interviewed + at least 5 open-ended questions (701 due Monday, 702/703 due Tuesday)

GoogleDocs/Research/Citing Sources

2010-01-29T08:35:00.000-08:00

All of the links to your sources and the information you find as a result of your search must be compiled in GoogleDocs.

Login to your WJPS email account
Click "Documents" at the top left toolbar
Once in GoogleDocs, create a new Word document
Highlight link or text in address bar or web page
Command + C to copy information
Put cursor in Word document
Command + V to paste information

Cite all of your sources! You must show where you got your information, whether you copy and paste a link or information directly (word-for-word) from the source, or whether you paraphrase (put in your own words). Any thought that did not come from your own mind (original thoughts) must be cited!!!

Trust only .gov and .edu extensions. Be cautious with any other extension, such as .com, .org, or .net. Read "About Us" page to learn more about the creators/owners of the site. Determine if you can trust it from the information they provide on that page.

RAFTS

2010-01-25T08:58:00.000-08:00

R.A.F.T.S. is an ideal way to organize thinking and plan for research/writing/presentation of persuasive publications.
R-role. what part does speaker/writer play? (counselor, giver of advice, coach, etc.)
A-audience. to whom is speaker/writer sending message? who are you trying to reach?
F-format. how are you sending the message? (the medium you are using, for example, public service announcement, powerpoint, poster, speech, etc.)
T-topic. what are you writing about?
S-strategy. what is your plan for sending your message?

702 ONLY: Homework due Tuesday, Jan. 26

2010-01-22T15:09:00.000-08:00

Do this in on loose-leaf. Turn in at the start of class on Tuesday, Jan. 26

Step 1:
Go to the AdCouncil website's anti-steroids campaign (Asterisk) and listen to the 2 radio spots (rap and metal), view all 3 print ads and the 2 outdoor ads. These links can be found at the right side of the page.
http://www.adcouncil.org/default.aspx?id=520

Step 2: Create a pros and cons chart (in T-chart format) with three columns: rap, metal, print.

Step 3: Analyze the different media in terms of effectiveness. What are the positives about each spot? What are the negatives? Give as much detail as you can.

This work will be graded as classwork and will serve as your first grade for the new term. Any work not completed will be marked zero.

103 Things to Do Before, During and After Reading

2010-01-05T15:49:00.000-08:00

You have tons to choose from for our last response to literature assignment. Every student received a short story today and worked on locating unfamiliar vocabulary words, and predicting/finding defintions. You will complete a characterization chart and identify big ideas supported by text evidence.

Then...you get to choose the response method. Find something that fits your talents and interests.

Here is the link to the Reading Rockets list of 103 response strategies. Print it if you have lost/misplaced your copy.

http://readingrockets.org/article/82?theme=print

Literary Letters

2009-12-14T09:41:00.000-08:00

Literary letters are letters written by readers to fictional characters. They should be written as if you are speaking to the character, so be sure to use conversational tone. Also, remember your audience. If you are writing to a teenage narrator, use language that person would
understand/relate to well. If you are writing to an adult, be professional and courteous.
Letters must include:
1/ greeting
2/ theme statement
3/ text evidence that supports theme statement
4/ closing

Be sure to show your understanding of "The White Umbrella" (701) and "Fortune Cookie" (702/703)!

Theme Statements

2009-12-07T14:02:00.000-08:00

We are moving on from identifying big ideas in literature to turning them into theme statements, complete sentences that:
1/ communicate the author's message
2/ comment about life
3/ impart a lesson

These statements are not specific to the story, but rather general statements that apply to literature and to life.

New Unit: Response to Literature

2009-11-30T15:18:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow we will begin a new unit, Response to Literature, in which we will examine big ideas (themes) in stories. We will use some skills we already have mastered (such as text-to-self connections) and some that are new (such as tracking an "author's craft" and connecting big ideas in literature to the world at large).

We will begin the unit by examining what "big ideas" are, and finding them in a read-aloud, "Rules of the Game" by Amy Tan.

Preparing to Publish

2009-11-18T15:29:00.000-08:00

As we prepare to publish, please keep in mind that there are VERY HIGH expectations for your published work. You must show progress...revision and editing.
Please turn in your work in this manner:

Cover page (optional)
Final piece (error-free writing, with a title, typed or handwritten)
Most recent edited and revised draft (you MUST show progress with handwritten changes - highlighted verbs, insertions, deletions, etc.)
Timeline
Rubric

We will celebrate our writing with a publishing party. 702: Tuesday morning; 703: Tuesday afternoon; 731: to be announced.

After Thanksgiving break, we will reflect on the small moment narrative process and your writing piece, as well as use the laptops to enter our work into ePortfolio.

Editing

2009-11-16T14:23:00.000-08:00

We are in the process of editing draft #2 - finding and fixing errors in:

spelling
punctuation
grammar/tense
capitalization

Please check your work carefully. Besides being 10% of your score on the rubric, mechanics are key for the reader. It's really difficult (and not very enjoyable) to read work with tons of errors.

Publishing dates:

702/703: 11/20 (this Friday at the end of the double period)

701: 11/25 (next Wed. - be prepared to turn in your work at the start of the first workshop - we may not even meet that day with all the Thanksgiving festitivities).

Conference Notes

2009-11-09T14:24:00.000-08:00

Students are now required to take notes during and/or after a conference w/Mrs. Marks, Mrs. Moreno, or a classmate. Conference notes will help you improve your writing.
1/ Take note of the positive aspects of your work (what the reviewer has said was good, or is a "plus"
2/ Jot down areas for improvement (what the reviewer has said needs work, or is a "negative"
3/ Plan/devise next steps.

Notes should be taken in your Sourcebook, which will be collected and graded at least once per term.

PLEASE NOTE: Check Teacherease everyday for assessment and feedback about your work.

Peer Review

2009-11-05T10:56:00.000-08:00

Peer review is an excellent way for students to read each others' work and offer constructive criticism to help each other improve as writers.
Here is the protocol (in other words, the way to do it):
Using the RUBRIC as a guide..
1. swap papers with a classmate.
2. read classmate's writing once SILENTLY (no questions/comments yet)
3. re-read classmate's writing. jot down specific comments/suggestions that will help the writer improve (we will practice using a form, next time you can use post-its)
4. discuss the comments/suggestions with the classmate.
5. clarify (writer asks the reader questions so he/she is clear as to HOW they can improve.

Our written work is due November 25 (the day before Thanksgiving break).

Rubrics

2009-10-30T11:10:00.000-07:00

A rubric (expectations for a written piece) accompanies every published piece you will create in ELA. The small moment narrative rubric was distributed today. Please take time to familiarize yourself with what a "4" (exceeds standards/expectations) looks like. We will continue to listen to examples of 4-type writing.

Standards for the small moment narrative:
W2.1A: Write original literary texts to develop a narrative using an organizational tool such as chronology.
W2.1G: Use language that is creative.

What you will need each day in class:

Your sourcebook (please do not take it out of the classroom unless you are absent and are catching up)
Your timeline - the guide for your writing - revise as necessary
Your drafts
Two colored pens
Post-it-notes (for peer review)
Highlighter
Rubric - the model for success

Word Swap

2009-10-29T10:29:00.001-07:00

During revision, writers make their writing clearer and better by swapping boring words with more interesting ones. In class, 701 started this process. All classes will do the same:
Highlight all verbs (action words) in your narratives.
Replace boring or overused words with more interesting ones (use a thesaurus - but make sure the definitions of the new words fit with what you are trying to say!).
Add adverbs (they modify or change the "feeling" of a verb) - for example "the car swiftly changed lanes."

Revision

2009-10-28T11:23:00.000-07:00

The purpose of revision is to make your writing clearer and better. We do this by:

Deleting/adding info
Adding details
Rearranging sentences/paragraphs/scenes
Swapping low-level or overused words with higher-level vocabulary

To revise:

Use a different color pen from the one that you used to draft.
Use the lines you skipped on the draft for insertion/comments/changes.
DO NOT MAKE A NEW DRAFT - revise on the current draft.
Only create a new draft when revisions made it difficult to read the text.

You will revise small moment narratives to:

Zoom in on the moment
Describe
Paint a picture for the reader
Allow the reader to experience the moment as you did
Make your writing clear
Make your writing enjoyable

Portfolio Selections/Reflections

2009-10-26T13:50:00.001-07:00

Each student must select 3 pieces of work from each class that:

shows learning.
shows what you know.
shows what you can do.

Every selection must be accompanied by a reflection that includes:

state standards that were nearly met, met or exceeded
description of selection
why you chose it (what does it prove?)
planning (next steps. how you will use the skills/work in other classes or life in general).

Reflections should be written in advisory. Ask your advisor for guidance.

Wednesday Workshops

2009-10-21T14:23:00.000-07:00

We have such limited time together (only 4 periods of ELA each week) - so Wed. workshop in room 235 will be dedicated reading and writing work. This is a great time to catch up, move ahead, and conference.
Today we focused on revising timelines and writing scenes.
Scenes deadlines:
702/703: Friday at the end of the double ELA period.
701: Monday at the end of the double ELA period.
Each scene should follow this format (using the labels):
Scene #:
Main Idea:
Setting:
Narrate:

Tomorrow and Friday we will continue to learn drafting strategies, as well as begin to discuss revision.

Scenes

2009-10-19T10:30:00.001-07:00

You are now building scenes. Remember, as an author you must put the reader into your shoes and make them experience the moment as you did.
*Adjectives
*Emotions
*The 5 senses

We will examine a passage tomorrow and each table will work as a group to to rewrite lines to make them more descriptive.

The 7 Habits of a Proficient Reader

2009-10-15T10:33:00.000-07:00

Classes 702 and 703 have gotten through the first three. 701 will be there soon. You should be using these strategies in ALL classes, not just reading fiction books, but while reading textbooks, magazine articles, Internet postings, etc.
1. Activating Schema
2. Questioning
3. Visualizing (or Envisioning)
4. Inferring
5. Determining Importance
6. Synthesizing
7. Monitoring for Meaning

Books - Don't Come to Class Without Them

2009-10-14T14:02:00.000-07:00

Please have an independent reading book with you EVERY ELA class. Why?
1. You use them during reading workshop to try the stratgegies you learned in the mini-lesson
2. Reading is a great thing to do during "downtime" - when you are done with classwork, in between lessons, during breaks, etc.
3. During conferences, I will frequently test reading levels and discuss the books with you.

Timelines...

2009-10-13T18:01:00.000-07:00

...are due Friday (702/703) and Monday (701). Please make sure you include:
Main idea - one sentence main idea includes who + what
3-5 points (in order that they happened)
Brief description - under each point
Detailed description - includes adjectives/adverbs, descriptive language, emotions

NOTE: the timeline is due at the end of the work period. It will be used as your periodic assessment and graded according to how well you demonstrate that you have mastered the small moment narrative skills so far.

Small Moment Timeline

2009-10-08T07:25:00.000-07:00

All classes are engaged in creating and revising small moment narrative timelines - a great way to narrow down a topic and organize thoughts before drafting.
Keys to this timeline:
1. Keep it short (it's a small moment) - 3 to 5 points
2. Start at an interesting point in the story (don't waste time with introductory or concluding info)
3. Add details such as adjectives/adverbs, senses, and emotions
4. It is a work-in-progress that will be added to, deleted from, and possibly even moved around.
5. NEVER throw away drafts of the timeline - your work is a progression and we (and you) want to see each step of the process.

AAAAAHHHH>>>> SPA

2009-10-07T15:26:00.000-07:00

Please remember to bring in supplies for Mrs. Marks' Advisory Spa Day....Here is a link to making natural spa recipes at home. http://www.spaindex.com/HomeSpa/HomeSpa.htm
We can use these for our next spa day. Tomorrow, we will enjoy nail polish, hand massage (instruction led by Kayliegh), good-for-you snacks, and other fun stuff.

Changing and Rearranging

2009-10-07T15:22:00.000-07:00

The workshop model is designed to let students try out strategies they learned in the mini-lesson. Today, during Workshop, classes 702 and 703 got a chance to finish/revise their envisioning classwork. While some of you totally "got it" the first time, others asked for helped and worked hard to make the work better. Still others were done really quickly and did not care to revise. Our class is ALL ABOUT REVISION - working hard to make sure you "get it" (asking for help from your classmates and/or the teacher) and changing, rearranging, and polishing your work to show that you understood and could use what you learned.

Keep revising - nothing is ever perfect the first time around. It's a process!

Post Your Small Moment Narrative Ideas Here...

2009-10-06T16:13:00.000-07:00

...so that your classmates who are struggling with finding ideas may be inspired by yours
...so that you may receive feedback

Today classes 702 and 703 created event timelines. 701 will begin theirs on Thursday. We will use (and revise) these timelines as we begin to draft our stories. Please remember that the workshop model is made for experimenting with ideas, and nothing has to be "perfect" at the end of a period of work. Also, please limit talking to accountable talk.

Seeing While Reading

2009-10-05T17:46:00.000-07:00

Class 701 learned how to envision today (classes 702 and 703 will do the same tomorrow). Check out their sketches on our Readers' Workshop bulletin board.

We will kick the small moment narratives into high gear as we prepare to draft. On Tuesday, classes 702 and 703 will "zoom in" and stretch the moments with details as they create adjective-filled event timelines.

2009-10-05T14:30:00.000-07:00

hi people i like chocalate my crazy level is 8 right now because i am eating chocalate

Supplies

2009-10-03T10:39:00.000-07:00

All students need the following personal supplies:
* 2 composition sourcebooks - one for writing and one for reading. The sourcebooks will be collected and stored in room 235 (plus side: lighter bookbags!).
please bring these with you each day:
* working pens (no pencils, please) in at least 2 different color inks (for revising/editing).
* post-it-notes (for reading response and peer review).
* an independent reading book (borrowed from our classroom library, or a book of your choice from home).

classroom supplies (to share):
* Purell or other hand sanitizers
* tissues
* paper towels
* magic markers
* construction paper
* a healthy supply of lined, white loose-leaf paper. (we do a LOT of drafting).

Blog Post by a favorite author - Libba Bray

2009-09-23T10:59:00.000-07:00

Libba Bray: Why I Love Disney World

Today at 9:00am
In today's guest blog, Libba Bray --- author of the bestselling Gemma Doyle Trilogy --- recalls a surprisingly memorable family vacation that made its way into the plot of her new book, GOING BOVINE (out in stores this week), and shares some of the poignant questions she grappled with while penning this deceptively quirky story. When I was a kid, Sunday nights were all about “The Wonderful World of Disney.” The routine was this: We finished dinner, got in our pajamas, and settled down in front of the TV to see what adventures awaited us in living color. From the moment Tinkerbell zipped across the screen, trailing stardust, and blessed the Cinderella castle with the tip of her wand, I was transfixed. Transported. Transformed. I wished I could live in “the happiest place on earth.”By the time I finally made it to Disney World, I was an adult, a mom, a New Yorker, and, by my reckoning, way too ironic and cool to enjoy the place. No way was I going to get sucked into this cultist, happy-happy-joy-joy theme park business. From the minute we pushed through the turnstiles, it was like I’d been dropped onto another planet --- a very clean, very colorful planet inhabited by smiling mice in polka dot bows and waving chipmunks the size of linebackers. Surreal is the word I’m looking for. I didn’t know quite what to think. I called a friend back in New York. “This is officially the weirdest place I have ever been. It is an alternate reality. Goofy just hugged me. Honestly, it’s going to take a lot of therapy.”“Mmm-hmmm. You sound like you love it.”“Just for that, I’m not going to bring you home any ears with your name on them.”By the afternoon, my husband, son, and I were all wilting from the Florida heat, and so we decided to take refuge on the It’s a Small World Ride, the ultimate Cheese-O-Rama experience, like being beaten to death with the sheet music for ‘Kum-ba-yah.” My inner snark started twitching the moment I heard, “It’s a world of laughter a world of tears…” drifting up from below.I turned to my husband. “Please kill me.”“You’ll live,” he said back.“That’s what I’m afraid of.”When we made it to the ramp and I saw the water, the phrase, “River Styx” drifted through my head. I made up a whole scenario in which cheerful Disney “cast members” were actually readying us for death and the voyage to the Greek underworld. We filed onto a barge and were set afloat on a ten-minute ride through a United Nations of puppet children singing that unbelievably catchy theme song. Oh. My. God, I thought. This is so creepy! And hilarious! And (shhh, don’t tell) kind of awesome. Then I looked over at my six-year-old son. His face was aglow with wonder. Open-mouthed, eyes bright, he took in everything and grinned. And in that moment, I let go. Such joy really can be contagious. I was overcome by a feeling of pure happiness, of being here now and not elsewhere, a feeling of connection. It was the best vacation ever. I guess it really is a small world, after all.Years later, when writing GOING BOVINE, I wanted Cameron to have a connection to Disney. I let that be his favorite vacation ever, and I let Disney World and the Small World ride play a significant part in his story. In a strange moment of kismet, there is a Don Quixote character on the Small World ride. (GOING BOVINE is based, in part, on DON QUIXOTE.) Life is full of weird, magical moments. And not all of them happen at Disney World.So what about you? What’s the best vacation you can remember? What do you feel makes life meaningful? Do you think there are alternate realities in which another you is living out a different existence? What fills you with joy and wonder? What do you think happens to us when we die? And how would you live your life differently today if you knew you didn’t have much time?These are just some of the questions I wrestled with while writing GOING BOVINE. I hope it will give you some things to think about. But mostly, I hope you will enjoy the ride.-- Libba Bray

Teen Ink Contest

2009-09-22T08:29:00.001-07:00

New Teen Ink writing contest. Details on Facebook page. Must be 13 to enter.
Subject: Back to School Contest!"Hey Teen Inkers! Make sure to check out our new contest: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?invites&eid=138728964532

Welcome to Grade 7 ELA

2009-09-15T13:59:00.001-07:00

I am excited to be joining you at WJPS in two weeks. This year will be challenging and exciting. Every student is required to become a member of this blog and check it daily. You will find it to be a great resource - for re-capping daily lessons, for homework and project info, and for tools to help you grow into strong readers and writers.
All students must provide Mrs. Marks (SMarks4@schools.nyc.gov) or Mrs. Moreno (mary.moreno@att.net) with your preferred email address. We can then invite you to join the blog and by accepting the invite, you will be prompted to create a username and password.

Jonathan Samuel

2009-09-01T08:03:00.000-07:00

...was born 8/19 at 9:07 AM...8 days early. As of last week, he had already gained a pound. He is adorable!

Mom and baby are doing well. Big Bro Jake is getting used to having another little one in the house.

Can't wait to bring the new guy to school to show him off...wishing everyone a great first day next Wed.

Unofficial Summer Reading List

2009-07-17T11:54:00.000-07:00

I have not heard back from Mrs. Schneider regarding the summer reading list, but here are the titles I came up with. Read at least two books. Keep a reading log - use the format we used in class, with the date, book title, author, and pages read. You may be required to complete responses, so use post-it notes for reactions, reflections, and use other paper for envisioning and similar longer and more involved responses.
Hope you are having a great summer! I am staying indoors, trying to keep cool. Baby is due in 6 weeks (and wearing me out already).

You can find out more about these books by visiting:
http://www.bn.com/
http://www.amazon.com/
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/booklistsbook.cfm
You are not required to purchase the books you choose, but if you do, bring them with you on the first day of school.

Please do not choose to read books that you have previously read. You may read from any of the bookshelves below, which are categorized by reading level. For example, if you are currently reading on grade level, choose from the proficient bookshelf. If you struggle or have little interest in reading, choose from the high-interest bookshelf.

Accelerated Bookshelf:
Life of Pi (Yann Martell)
The Book Thief (Marcus Zusak)
The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)
Lovely Bones (Alice Siebold)
A Great and Terrible Beauty (Libba Bray)
The Joy Luck Club (Amy Tan)
Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt)
Speak (Laurie Halse Andersen)
Cut (Patricia McCormack)
Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac (Gabrielle Zevin)
The Natural (Bernard Malamud)
The Body of Christopher Creed (Carol Plum-Ucci)
City of Bones (Cassandra Clare)
The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)
Chains (Laurie Halse Andersen)
Wintergirls (Laurie Halse Andersen)
Night (Elie Wiesel)

Proficient Bookshelf:
The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton)
Scorpions (Walter Dean Myers)
The Graveyard Book (Neal Gaiman)
Baseball in April and Other Stories (Gary Soto)
The Chocolate War (Robert Cormier)
The Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants (Anne Brashears)
Milkweed (Jerry Spinelli)
Raven’s Gate (Anthony Horowitz)
145th St. Stories (Walter Dean Myers)
Elsewhere (Gabrielle Zevin)
El Bronx Remembered (Nicholasa Mohr)
Crispin (Avi)
Killing Mr. Griffin (Lois Duncan)
Twilight (Stephenie Meyer)
The Man Who Was Poe (Avi)
Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes (Maureen Johnson)

High-Interest Bookshelf:
Stargirl (Jerry Spinelli)
Holes (Louis Sachar)
Hatchet (Gary Paulsen)
Tiger Eyes (Judy Blume)
Heat (Mike Lupica)
Wanted (Caroline B. Cooney)
Chasing Vermeer (Blue Balliett)
Slam (Walter Dean Myers)
Hoot (Carl Hiaasen)
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle (Avi)
Money Hungry (Sharon G. Flake)
The Shadow Club (Neil Schusterman)
Running Out of Time (Margaret Peterson Haddix)
Esperanza Rising (Pam Munoz)
Maniac McGee (Jerry Spinelli)
Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card)

Share Your Writing

2009-07-03T16:01:00.000-07:00

Very cool way to share your writing with others:
http://galleryofwriting.org/gallery_search_results.php?selection_id=94689&nocache=1246662044
Let us know if you publish.

Summer Reading List

2009-06-27T06:37:00.000-07:00

We will post a middle school summer reading list soon. Students in grades 6-8 will be required to read at least two books from this list (and are encouraged to read many more) this summer. There will be assignments relating to the readings the first week of school.
For now, start enjoying your summer. I already miss you!

Publishing Party Thursday

2009-06-23T13:25:00.001-07:00

We will (finally) have a publishing party on Thursday. Students are encouraged to read original poetry and realistic fiction. If you have brought your hard copy portfolio home with you, be sure to bring back a favorite poem and/or your story.
Schedule:
Periods 2/3: 702 author's chair
Lunch: 702/731 pizza party
Period 7: 731 author's chair

Please bring in pizza money tomorrow (Wed.) Cost: $3=1 slice plus soda.
Snacks (for author's chair) can be brought in beginning tomorrow. Please bring them in a bag labeled with your class name. We also need plates/bowls and napkins.

ePortfolio progress

2009-06-19T16:00:00.001-07:00

The ePortfolio progress charts have been updated. Some of you made really nice progress today. Please continue to upload, reflect and work this weekend.
Remember,,,
9 for ELA
3 each for SS, Sci, and Math

A reminder: completion of ePortfolio is mandatory on your student sign-off sheet. Your advisor must be able to see that you have completely accomplished the task in order for you to receive your report card.

We will be cleaning out lockers Monday through Wed. Please don't leave it all until Wed. Bring bags from home so that you may take some stuff home each day. This is another mandatory task on your student sign-off sheet.

To anyone who still has books from Mrs. Marks' bin: Please bring them in to me by Monday. Thanks!

Have a great weekend.

ePortfolio continues

2009-06-17T16:07:00.000-07:00

If you have taken home your portfolio folder, please remember to bring it with you to class tomorrow. Also, if you have digital files, please transfer them to a thumb drive, or upload to GoogleDocs. We will have the laptop cart all day and will be utilizing the laptops, scanners, and class time to upload work to ePortfolio.

I will also speak with Ms. Schneider about having a publishing party (finally!) next week. We can use this time to read realistic fiction and poetry as well as have class ELA awards. And of course, eat.

Bowne Park Field Trip - Tues. June 16

2009-06-15T15:59:00.001-07:00

Reminder: All students must have a signed and completed field trip permission slip to go on the Bowne Park outing tomorrow.
School uniforms are still in effect, but students may wear shorts. Girls, please be tasteful (if you think the shorts are too short, they are).
You are allowed to bring portable radios and other equipment OKed by Mr. Millman. Do not bring anything not on the "OK" list - it will be taken away.
As always act like ladies and gentlemen on this public trip.

Realistic Fiction; Revised Work Graded; Final Exam Status

2009-06-14T06:27:00.000-07:00

Mostly all realistic fiction stories that were submitted were graded and feedback was given via Teacherease. Please check the site.
If you have submitted work digitally, or have printed work that you have saved on a home laptop, please make corrections/revisions ASAP as our grading deadline is tomorrow.
Thanks to the (small) group of students who dug through their work-in-progress folder, and revised work from as far back as September. Overall, you improved the quality of your work (and your grades!).
For those of you who have not submitted ANY work for realistic fiction, you will receive a zero. Some of you were supposed to email me or Mrs. Moreno early this weekend (not on Sunday evening). If you have not done so yet, please do it immediately.

As for our final exam, we found out that 7th-graders will be singing at the 8th-grade stepping up ceremony on Monday morning, and we are not sure of the timetable. Middle school students are being dismissed at 12. Looks like there is no time to get this final in. If we feel that you need to take it to raise your grades (those of you with NCs or failing grades) we will see you individually tomorrow.

Final Exam (Mon. June 15) Study Guide

2009-06-11T13:52:00.000-07:00

Habits of a Good Reader: Selecting a just-right book; keeping a reading log; responding to literature (inferences such as connections, predictions, envisioning, etc.)
Habits of a Good Writer: The writing process, including pre-writing (brainstorming, outlining, gathering ideas, etc.); drafting;, revising, editing, and publishing
Small Moment Personal Narrative; Zooming in on a small moment; creating a timeline; painting a picture through the five senses, imagery, etc.; active words
Persuasive Writing: How to convince readers to do something or think a certain way; choosing an idea; researching/citing sources; elements of effective persuasive writing (including clear message, attention to audience, effective word choice, factual support, and ethos); avenues of persuasion (PowerPoint, PSAs, speeches, letters, posters, etc.); delivering a persuasive argument to an audience (performance)
Response to Literature: Selecting a big idea; writing a theme statement; using text evidence to back up opinions; structure of a 5-paragraph essay
Response to Film: Akeelah and the Bee/Spellbound; film reviews; changing the ending/adding a scene; communicating with a character; creating magazines/newspapers.
Poetry: Poetic tools (repetition, internal rhyme, end rhyme, onomatopoeia, line breaks, stanza breaks, vivid language; similes/metaphors); Poetry Hides; Self-Portrait; Memory Poem; City Haiku; poetry performance
Literature Circles: planning for discussion; discussion
Realistic Fiction: Characteristics of the genre (life-like, believable plots, situations, characters, conflicts); plot map elements (introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, denouement); scenes; chapters; dynamic characters (characterization: appearance, speech, actions, thoughts/feelings, relationships); hooking the reader; transitions; plot twists; flashback; flash-forward; timestamps; narrators (first-person, third-person); showing not telling (imagery, description, etc.)

Publishing Date; Final Exam

2009-06-10T13:41:00.000-07:00

As planned, we will publish this Friday at the end of the ELA period. Every student received a rubric today and was told to go home and use the field work hours to write...finish your drafts, so that we can focus on last-minute revisions, editing, and comparing work to the rubric tomorrow.
702 has a double period, while 731 has one writing period. Don't waste a minute!

Work will be collected and the end of the ELA period on Friday. Mrs. Moreno and I will try to grade all stories and give feedback by Monday, so that you may take Monday to revise at home.

Our final has been pushed up from Tuesday to Monday. There will be a study list posted on the blog. Everyone will need to check the blog on Thursday so that they may come to us with questions by Friday.

Review the notes in your Readers' and Writers' Sourcebooks. It's not necessary to study, just scan what we have learned.

As we discussed, the final will only count if it helps your term 3 grade. Everyone must take the exam, and is encouraged to do their best.

Plan for Week of 6/8; Final Exam

2009-06-05T14:58:00.003-07:00

We will publish our realistic fiction short stories by the end of ELA period on Friday, June 12. (731 is period 2, 702 is period 3). Please be prepared. If you are planning to type your stories, include all handwritten drafts. You will receive a rubric early next week.

As discussed today, we will have an ELA final exam - tentatively scheduled for Monday, June 15. It will cover many of the skills and strategies we learned all year. It will only count if it helps your term 3 grade. If it does not, then it won't. I suggest that all students study (look through your Sourcebooks), especially if you have received an NC or a grade that did not meet your personal standards at any point this year.

You may continue to revise/make up work from any term this year. We had previously set a deadline of today, until we found out we had more time. All revised/made-up work is to be turned in to Mrs. Marks or Mrs. Moreno (you can email us if it's easier) by Wed. June 10. If you need help before then, see us.

Have a great weekend!

2009-06-05T14:58:00.001-07:00

Plan for Friday

2009-06-03T13:53:00.000-07:00

All students should have completed the drafting process (all chapters written) and have revised at least two of those chapters. We will continue to revise on Friday.

Every student is encouraged to revise/make up unsatisfactory or missing work from any point in the year. Look for your work in your work-in-progress or old work folders. See Mrs. Marks or Mrs. Moreno if you need help.

Have a great day off - your teachers will be planning for the rest of this year and next year...

Drafting/Revising Chapters

2009-06-02T13:27:00.000-07:00

702 misses ELA tomorrow and 731 only has one work period to write.
By the end of class tomorrow: 731 should have drafted most/all of the chapters. As you write, revise by showing rather than telling.
By Friday: 702 and 731 should have drafted all chapters and be ready to revise/work with partners.

As you are writing, ask yourself these questions:
1. Do I hook the reader in the first few lines?
2. Do I take too long to get to the point?
3. Am I showing rather than telling?
4. Am I listing?
5. Do all or most sentences sound the same...do all or most start with "I" or "Then" or "(insert character's name)"?
6. Would I read my story if I didn't write it (will it appeal to others?)

Show, Not Tell

2009-06-01T14:24:00.000-07:00

Though we are storytellers, it's our job to "show" readers what our characters look like, what they do, what they say, how they think/feel, and how they relate to each other. We do this using imagery, descriptive language, similes/metaphors, active words, and adverbs. Today we worked on making our writing come alive.
By tomorrow: Revise Chapter 1 making sure that all language is showing rather than telling. AVOID LISTING!
Draft Chapters 2-4.
702 loses the ELA period on Wed. so it's important we use every moment of writing workshop wisely tomorrow. 731 loses one of the ELA periods, but we still have one to work with on Wed.
No school Thursday (teachers come in, though).
Friday, intensive writing!!!

Third-Person Narrator

2009-05-29T13:20:00.000-07:00

The third-person narrator is a voice that tells the story, but never appears as a character in the story. It can be the author, or an outside narrator. Remember, he/she is all-knowing, meaning that he/she knows everything about all the characters, and lets readers gain insight into the characters by revealing their thoughts/feelings, actions, and speech.

We worked on drafting Chapter 1 using third-person narration. Please finish that Chapter by Monday.
We will begin to draft all chapters on Monday, choosing to narrate in first-person or third-person.

First-Person Narrator

2009-05-28T13:42:00.001-07:00

The first-person narrator tells the story from their own perspective. The narrator MUST be a character in the story, whether they be the protagonist or a secondary character. The writer uses words such as "I", "me", "my" and "mine" when writing in the first-person narrator voice.

All students should complete Chapter 1 of their stories today - written in first-person narration.

A reminder: work time in class is work time, not social time. Please limit your talking and keep it on task. Whatever work is not completed in class must be completed at home.

By now you should have...
1. Devised a plot map that has an introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement.
2. Reordered your plot map so that it is in the sequence (order) you will write the story.
3. Created at least 5 scenes, representing the parts of the plot map.
4. Created Chapter 1 (from Scene 1), using first-person narration.

If any of the above steps are not complete, please complete them at home.

Tomorrow we will learn about another narrative technique - third-person narrator. We will rewrite Chapter 1 using this narrator, and then compare the quality of the chapters.

Building Scenes

2009-05-27T15:58:00.000-07:00

731 should complete all scenes (at least one for each stage of the plot map) according to directions by tomorrow. Please bring your plot maps and scenes to class everyday.

702 should have at least 3 scenes completed. We will complete the rest tomorrow.

Format:
Scene # + Plot Map label
Title of scene
Characters who appear in scene
Summary (main idea) of scene
5 adjectives that describe the mood and/or emotions character(s) are feeling in the scene.

Tomorrow:
We will begin a read-aloud of a very cool realistic fiction (mystery/social issue) book.
We will discuss narrators for your stories. You will try out writing Scene 1 from various narrators' points-of-view.

Preparing for Crafting

2009-05-26T14:11:00.000-07:00

Let's rename the next writing stage "crafting" instead of drafting. We are truly building complicated characters, realistic plots (some with twists), and we will next work on mood, building scenes, and creating realistic settings. As we draft, remember to use your classmates as "sounding boards" for your ideas. As you sit with others who are working in the same sub-genre (social issues, psychological, mystery, or adventure), you can share ideas and give each other guidance/suggestions.

Continue to read realistic fiction books - they are the best models for your writing.

A reminder about ePortfolios - continue to gather all of your digital work using GoogleDocs. Mrs. Marks' advisory will be in the pub lab on Thursday uploading our work/reflections.

Channel One

2009-05-20T19:22:00.000-07:00

Interesting Channel One today...you can watch it online. They did a piece on IS 238 and discuss the death of Assistant Principal Mitchell Wiener.
http://www.channelone.com/onair/

Books I'm Reading This Week...

2009-05-20T13:43:00.000-07:00

I have just finished As Simple As Snow (Gregory Galloway), upon recommendation from Lauren J. - it was terrific. It tracks the relationship between a boy and a very mysterious girl, Anna, whose hobby is to write obituaries for all the people in her town. When she mysteriously disappears, clues pile up and leave the boy - and the town - wondering what happened.

Began reading Project 17 (Laurie Faria Stolarz) last night, couldn't put it down. It's about a teenage filmmaker wannabe who enlists a strange crew of high school classmates to star in his reality short film - to be created over the course of one night at a local mental hospital that's set to shut down soon.

I also happened upon a series that would appeal to boys who like horror/mystery called Darkside (Becker).

Also picked up Wintergirls (Laurie Halse Anderson) and will tackle that next. It examines teen anorexia.

Learn at Home - Grade 7

2009-05-19T13:07:00.000-07:00

Use this link in addition to the work described below to fill your week - and your mind - until we get back.
http://schools.nyc.gov/Academics/learnathome/grade7.htm
This is the same link sent in a Teacherease e-mail from the administration to you and your parents.

Feedback

2009-05-19T07:29:00.000-07:00

Feel free to email your scenes (see directions below) to me or Mrs. Moreno if you'd like feedback. Remember, everyone is expected to have the scenes written by Tuesday, so we can move on in the drafting process and lose as little classroom work time as possible.
You can send your scenes as Word attachments or in the body of the e-mail to:
SMarks4@schools.nyc.gov
or
MMoreno8@schools.nyc.gov

To Do This Week...

2009-05-17T14:05:00.000-07:00

Mrs. Schneider would like everyone to have a productive week at home.

Read....and reflect on your reading each night. Make particular note of how your realistic fiction books conform to the genre. If you don't have a book, visit the library. Consult the list of author web sites and recommended books to the left of the post.

Write: While most of you will have probably left your Writer's Sourcebooks in your lockers, you can still lay out a plan for your stories. Create scenes (like we did for our small moment narratives).
Number each scene and identify the setting and characters involved. Then write a short description of what will happen in each scene. Attach at least 3 descriptive words and/or phrases that describe how the protagonist and/or secondary character feel(s) in each scene.

Example:
Setting: Classroom 884, I.S. 67, Bayside, NY, 11:30 AM, Monday morning.
Characters: Dylan (protagonist) and Johnny (secondary character)
Main idea of the scene: Johnny and Dylan are hard at work on their laptops. While Johnny is dilligently working on the class WebQuest, Dylan is posting a nasty message and picture on a social networking site, The Buzz. The picture shows Johnny crying and has the label "wimp" on it. Giggles emerge from several laptop stations across the room. The news is out. Only Dylan doesn't know it.
Descriptive words for the way Dylan is feeling: oblivious, will be upset/embarrassed soon.
Descriptive words for the way Johnny is feeling: powerful, bullying, vengeful.

Post to the blog with ideas and give each other feedback. When we return to school, we will be drafting from these scenes you have created this week.

School Closed This Week

2009-05-17T14:03:00.001-07:00

NOTE: I.S. 25 (and therefore WJPS) will be closed this week because of some minor reports of swine flu. We are set to return Tuesday (after Memorial Day). The building will be sanitized this week.

Character Study

2009-05-14T13:38:00.000-07:00

Mrs. Moreno and I are impressed with the quality of work you are doing in building characters, but please remember that class work time is for just that - work. Do not waste time chatting unaccountably (off topic)...and any work not completed in class should be completed at home for homework.

A reminder: Please bring loose leaf paper each day with you, or contribute a stack to the class and keep it in the room. We are moving out of our sourcebooks for drafting, but you will still need them each day for the mini-lesson and notes.

Both classes will begin the drafting process tomorrow. We will revisit the plot maps and see if any revisions to our original ideas are necessary. Then, we will figure out the sequence, the order in which we want to unfold the story to the reader. The plot map is an essential tool -- so
please bring this with you to class each day.

Reader's Sourcebooks, Character Building, Submitting work to Teen Ink

2009-05-11T13:26:00.000-07:00

Reader's Sourcebooks will be collected Thursday, May 11 for grading. Mrs. Moreno and I will be looking for evidence of reading, planning, taking notes, and reflecting on lit circles books.

702 did an amazing job of building characters today. 731 will start the process on Wed.
Tomorrow, 702 will look at what we know vs. what we think about people we know. Then we will assign our characters names, speech, and relationships.

Remember, you can post original work (poems, stories, etc.) to Teenink.com. Register on the site and upload. There have been many many great pieces written in room 302 - let's share them.

Recommended Books...

2009-05-09T17:24:00.000-07:00

Hi, it's Rita. Here are some books that you might like to read, some are even on the ULTIMATE TEEN READING LIST.

~THE KITE RUNNER by Khaled Hosseini
~THE TRUE CONFESSIONS OF CHARLOTTE DOYLE by Avi
~TWISTED by Laurie Halse Anderson
~A WRINKLE IN TIME by Madelene L'Engle
~I Was a Non-Blonde Cheerleader by Kieran Scott
~Teen Idol by Meg Cabot
~Girl at Sea by Maureen Johnson
~All-American Girl by Meg Cabot
~Talent by Zoey Dean
~Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
~Saving Juliet by Suzanne Selfors
~The Lacemaker and the Princess by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
~Shakespeare's Secret by Elise Broach
~The Iris House by Joan Fitzgerald
~The Doll in the Garden: A Ghost Story by Mary Downing Hahn (not that scary)
~The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
~Class Favorite by Taylor Morris
~13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
~The Princess and the Hound by Mette Ivie Harrison
~Jinx by Meg Cabot
~Art Geeks and Prom Queens: A Novel by Alyson Noel
~Avalon High by Meg Cabot
~Princess Ben by Catherine Murdock
~Bella at Midnight by Diane Stanley
~I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter
~Daughter of Venice by Donna Jo Napoli
~The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

If there is a title that interests you, I can tell you a brief description of that book. Also, i own some of these books, just ask me, and i will tell you if i have it or not, so you can borrow it.

~RITA =)

WebQuest Complete....On to Writing!

2009-05-08T15:00:00.000-07:00

We have successfully finished the WebQuest. 731 must complete any work that did not get done in class, at home over the weekend.

702 began to map out their plots today. 731 will begin the process on Monday.

Next week's activities:
Creating a cast of characters that are realistic in terms of how they look (we will "sketch" them); how they act (we will load their "backpacks"); what they say; what they feel/think; and their relationships (we will create a character "network").

Mrs. Moreno and I are still working to find a date for our Poetry Slam next week. More info to come soon.

Have a great weekend!

WebQuest, Day 2

2009-05-07T13:34:00.001-07:00

Today 702 completed all tasks (if you didn't, please complete for homework, as we will not have laptops tomorrow).
731 will use the laptops for one more period tomorrow. Whatever is not completed should be done over the weekend.

Tasks we worked on today:
#2: Visit http://www.teachersnetwork.org/dcs/cyberenglish/outdoorpath3.htm
Read, modify and copy prompts into writer's sourcebook. Complete prompts. Generate a list of story ideas that you gathered from completing the prompts

#3: Read at least two published realistic fiction pieces from one or both of the following sites:
http://www.teachingmatters.org/ezine/category?cat=Realistic%20Fiction
and/or
http://www.teenink.com/Fiction

Read two stories that interest you. Record the titles, authors, brief summary (main idea of the story) and the ways in which the stories fit the realistic fiction genre.

#4: Reflect on a realistic fiction book you've read recently. Write a short summary of the book, including the author and title.
Visit either http://amazon.com or http://www.bn.com or http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/teenreading/trw/trw2005/fiction.cfm
and search for teen fiction. Find three realistic fiction titles that you have not read, but want to. Record the titles, authors, and a brief summary of the books. If visiting the ALA website, you will not get a detailed book summary. You will need to then visit Amazon or BN to obtain this info.

#5: Select an idea for your story.

#6: Write a 1- to 2-paragraph summary of your story idea that reflects your understanding of the genre and the task.

WebQuest, Day 1

2009-05-06T07:17:00.000-07:00

Today we embarked on an interesting journey...through the Internet....to learn more about realistic fiction writing, generate story ideas, and read model stories written by students just like you around country.

Our first stop: http://www.southernct.edu/~brownm/Grea.html
We identified various sub-genres in realistic fiction, took notes in writer's sourcebooks, and created a list of story ideas.

Since you worked at your own pace and comfort level, some students proceeded to the second stop: http://teachersnetwork.org/dcs/cyberenglish/outdoorpath3.htm
At this stop, you answered (making changes when necessary) several prompts. These helped you generate story ideas based on your interests, experiences, relationships, etc.

We will continue our WebQuest tomorrow.

Please note: Our Poetry Slam will be rescheduled from this Friday to a day next week. The auditorium is being used all day Friday for high school testing. More details to come.

Tuesday's Lineup

2009-05-04T16:21:00.001-07:00

702 has completed performances and will begin the short fiction writing unit. We will begin with a pre-unit assessment, as I will ask you to reflect on what you know about fiction in your sourcebooks. We will then have a short lesson on realistic fiction (the first genre) as well as some components of the style. On Thursday, you will hunt for clues and learn more about the genre through a WebQuest that I designed during my time in graduate school. Should be a lot of fun.

731 will perform their poems tomorrow. Please practice. You will be assessed on a variety of levels, including eye contact with your audience, volume of your voice, and emotion/feeling during reading.

Wed. is our 7th-grade class trip. Please do not forget to bring in signed permission slips!

Poets Perform

2009-05-03T16:16:00.000-07:00

Poetry performances are beginning tomorrow. Please memorize your poems and practice your public speaking. This will count as its own grade.

Mrs. Moreno and I are thinking Friday for our Poetry Slam party. Details to follow.

On Tuesday, we will begin writing short fiction. We have a really fun WebQuest planned for you....to introduce the first genre, realistic fiction. The other choices are fantasy and mystery. These will be decided by a class vote.

Reminder - Materials, Publication Dates

2009-04-29T15:57:00.000-07:00

Please bring in materials to create and bind your poetry books Friday. All four final drafts plus any rough drafts and brainstorms are due on Friday at the close of ELA class. There are no extensions.

A note about writing memory poems: Remember poets show rather than tell. Though your memory poem is narrative (you are telling a story) you have to paint a picture and use poetic tools.

We look forward to reading and hearing you perform these amazing poems we've watched you create and revise.

Lit Cricles....Haikus....Publication Dates

2009-04-27T13:32:00.000-07:00

702 had some great lit circle discussions today. I liked "listening in" on your conversations about themes and characters. I want to remind you all that lit circles are a group effort. Everyone must read the assigned pages and plan so that ALL discussions can be successful.
731 will discuss tomorrow.
Upcoming lit circle discussions:
702 - Thurs. 4/30, Mon. 5/4, Thurs. 5/8
731: Tues. 4/28, Fri. 5/1, Tues. 5/5

Haikus
Both classes began writing City Haikus today. These are sensory poems that express the poet's perspective on the city (can be NYC or antother big city you've visited). 17 total syllables and usually three lines of 5, 7, 5 syllables each. Don't waste words...avoid using "the", "a" and words such as those, and replace them with colorful, vivid adjectives and adverbs.

Poetry Publication
Poems will be due at the end of the ELA period on Friday, May 1. We will continue to revise all week. No poems are "published" yet....you will return to the four genres you've created so far and revise for word choice and edit for grammar, line breaks, etc. You may type your poems Thursday evening if you wish. We will create poetry books on Friday during class.
Materials needed:
Loose leaf paper
Construction paper
Printer paper (white, unlined)
Markers
Ribbon
Yarn
Glitter
Stickers
Any other interesting decorations

Please begin to bring in supplies tomorrow. Thanks!

The week ahead

2009-04-23T14:05:00.000-07:00

731 - please take time tonight to reflect on the feedback Mrs. Moreno and I gave you today regarding your self-portrait poems. Review the strategies we have learned and use them when they work.
Please bring your lit circle books with you. We will discuss/read tomorrow.
702: We will discuss lit circle books on Monday. Please be prepared. If your group needs a new book, please let me know by tomorrow.

Next week we will:
1. Revisit Memory poem genre by analyzing poems and revising our own
2. Begin City Haiku genre
3. Discuss lit circle books
4. Publish and create poetry books

A look ahead to May:
We will write short fiction!

Uncovering hidden poetry

2009-04-21T14:05:00.001-07:00

Both classes did excellent work today - delving into what makes items, places, and people mysterious, beautiful, baffling, and enticing. We used imagery, the senses, and detailed writing to "show" the reader our thoughts and feelings.
Tomorrow we will begin to revise poems we've written - self-portrait, memory, and poetry hides -- using line and stanza breaks.

You can use the blog to post drafts of various poems....and get online feedback.

Poetry Hides

2009-04-20T13:44:00.000-07:00

We are officially into our third genre of poetry - Poetry Hides - in which we as poets explore beauty in unexpected places. This genre prompts us to look deeply into things, people, and places, and find the beauty within (intrinsic), rather than focus on the beauty without (extrinsic).
We brainstormed places in which poetry may hide, and tomorrow we will begin drafting.

Lit Circles will continue as some groups finish dicsussions on current books and some move on to new books.

Remember, school trip to see The Iliad is on Thursday. No student will be allowed on the trip without a permission slip. If you need a slip, please see Mrs. Marks.

Teen Ink Fiction Contest

2009-04-08T06:51:00.000-07:00

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=76094094771

Check this out! If you can't access the link (I got an invite through Facebook), you can either join the group on Facebook (search "Teen Ink") or visit the web site at www.teenink.com.
Budding writers, take a chance. You could win a subscription the magazine and be considered for publication! You must be 13 to enter. Deadline is May 8.

Miserable @ Home

2009-04-07T08:47:00.000-07:00

I miss everyone. I am home with a really bad sinus infection, and will probably be out tomorrow (Wed.) as well.

I heard both classes were very productive with Mrs. Moreno yesterday. I am glad 702 began the lit circle discussions, and shared what was easy and tough about the process. Remember to read over the break. Our next dicussions for 702 will be the Monday we return from break; 731 will discuss for a second time the Tuesday we return.

You are working on memory poems. These poems are sensory - meaning that they use the five senses to show the reader the story, rather than use common words to tell the story. SHOW NOT TELL!
Experiment with using all the strategies we have learned so far. Use them where they apply. Don't force them.

If you have any questions about the poetry or the lit circle reading, you can email me @ SMarks4@schools.nyc.gov.

Speak with you soon!

Lit Circles....Self-Portrait Poems

2009-04-02T16:14:00.000-07:00

Lit circles are in full swing. Every student received a book to read with a partner or with a group. Please remember to read and prepare for the first lit circle discussions.
The schedule:
702 will discuss, then plan and read each Monday and Thursday. First discussion is Monday, April 6.
731 will discuss, then plan and read each Tuesday and Friday. First discussion is Tuesday, April
7.
Refer to your reader's sourcebook for ways in which you can prepare for discussion. EVERY group member is responsible for coming up with one solid and detailed discussion topic. Please read carefully and critically (not just literally -- think about what you are reading).
If you or your group members have author suggestions for the second round of reading, please see Mrs. Marks or Mrs. Moreno.
Once the first round of reading is complete, each student will write a review of the book they have just finished. You can use all of your persuasive techniques to either recommend other students read (or stay away from) the title.

POETRY: Students in 702 and 731 will complete (for now) one version of the self-portrait poem Friday. On Monday, we will move on to memory poems (details to follow).

We Are Poets

2009-03-31T14:05:00.000-07:00

In preparation for Poetry Month in April, we have started to craft self-portrait poems, in which we as poets look deep inside ourselves and use similes, metaphors, symbolism and other literary language to express ourselves.

So far, we have experimented with...
* Free verse
* End rhyme
* Internal rhyme

We "publish" at least two versions of the self-portrait poem Friday. We will continue to revise all month, ultimately creating our own poetry books containing at least four different genres. We will perform our poems at a poetry slam. Details to come.

Ally Carter, Well known author!!!

2009-03-27T15:37:00.001-07:00

Guess What!?!?! Ally Carter, author of the Gallagher Girls series is coming to NYC! =] May 28-31 at the Book Expo America! I think that we should go on a trip there. I mean it is a convention for books. What better way to explore new authors and create a wider range of reading, then meeting the authors and viewing JUST RELEASED books?

I think it is a GREAT IDEA. May 28th is a Thursday, so it could be a trip date. Also, it is about 1 month away, so it will be enough time to plan a trip.

Ally Carter's Website is allycarter.com

~RITA =)

Print/Send Blogs, PowerPoints, etc.

2009-03-23T14:11:00.000-07:00

REMINDER: Please print and send your PowerPoint and blog presentations to Mrs. Moreno @ mary.moreno@att.net ASAP. We are still constructing our bulletin board, as well as selecting work to showcase in the portfolios.
Please post blog links here or send the links to Mrs. Moreno at the e-mail listed above or to Mrs. Marks @ SMarks4@schools.nyc.gov

Congrats to Mrs. Moreno and her debate team - particulary Sal Pitino and Rita Cinquemani, who took home medals for their efforts this Saturday. You guys were obviously very persuasive. Cheers!

Book Partnerships

2009-03-18T13:45:00.000-07:00

We are getting ready to move into book partnerships next week. You will be reading the same text as one or two classmates who are on or near your reading level. The entire grade will be reading the realistic fiction genre. See the list of author sites to the left of this post.

Print electronic presentations; Pub Party

2009-03-16T13:04:00.000-07:00

Electronic presentations such as blogs and PowerPoints should be printed (print each screen) for your portfolios and for us to hang on the hallway and interior bulletin boards. PSAs and other video presentations should be stored on CDs. should be printed...we will hang them for display on the hallway and classroom bulletin boards. Please submit all printed materials to Mrs. Moreno or Mrs. Marks by Wednesday.

702 presentations will continue Tuesday and if necessary, Wed.

We are planning publishing celebrations/gallery walks for Thursday. Details to follow. Every student should bring in a snack, drink, cups, etc. We will circulate a list the day before the party.

Thanks...

2009-03-12T14:56:00.000-07:00

A big thank you to Mrs. Marks' advisory (plus the girls from Mrs. Moreno's advisory) for coming up with a great title (actually 2 titles) for this month's bulletin board. Thanks especially to April, Eilina, Woo Young, and Crystal for sweating in the hallway as they dissembled and put up the new board background.
Thanks to John D. for being an excellent "tech guy" during 731's presentations.

Presentations a Success So Far...

2009-03-12T14:54:00.000-07:00

I was really impressed with the presentations today.
Presenters spoke clearly, maintained good eye contact, used visuals and narration to persuade the audience, and accepted and answered constructive criticism and questions.
Audience participants were respectful, attentive, and came up with excellent feedback.
Tomorrow, we will continue the presentations.
We will celebrate our work with a gallery walk and publishing party some time next week. Details to follow.

Presenting....

2009-03-11T10:23:00.000-07:00

We will begin presentations tomorrow. Be prepared to not only share your work, but add commentary and answer questions so that your audience is engaged, informed, and of course, convinced to jump to your side of the issue.

Ahead in the next few days: We will begin to discuss and start in-class book clubs.

Reminder: Please return signed portfolio conference slips to your advisor.

Homework: Read/Respond March #7.

NEW DUE DATE for persuasive writing...

2009-03-06T14:14:00.001-08:00

Writing due Tuesday. On Monday, everyone will get a copy of the rubric you so expertly crafted. Monday will also cover editing and citing sources. Please bring all of your work to class on Monday.

Homework: Read/Respond March #4.

Alexander Mildener - Speaking Up For the Aquarium!

2009-03-05T14:00:00.000-08:00

Our very own Alexander Mildener is being featured in a NY Times article this Sunday. He was interviewed because he is a frequent visitor to the Aquarium at Coney Island (a very cool place). Apparently, NY's governor is considering cutting some of the city's most treasured natural attractions, including the Aquarium and The Bronx Zoo. What a shame.
Alexander and my advisory are starting up a letter-writing campaign in which the entire 7th-grade will participate. We will persuade the Gov. that this is wrong.
More info to come from Alexander.

WRONG!

2009-03-05T06:41:00.000-08:00

Ms. Marks has informed 702 that the projects are due on Monday, not Friday. So we have some extra time. Horray!

Revision - Day 2 Wrap-Up; Portfolio Selection

2009-03-04T14:58:00.000-08:00

731 did an amazing job of revising work today - independently and with others.
We reviewed the revision process - and students used what they knew and what they learned to make their persuasive arguments even more convincing. They changed language, organization, eliminated unnecessary information, and generally improved the quality of their work.

We will begin to present our work next week.

Term 2 Portfolio Selection
Term 2 is coming to an end soon (it's gone by quickly). Advisory conferences are coming up soon, too. Students will begin to select three pieces of work that demonstrates that they are meeting or exceeding the ELA standards, and reflect upon the process and the product. We will review portfolio selection criteria, ELA standards, and practice "justifying" our work and learning before conferences roll around. We've done some amazing work - now it's your turn to show off.

Homework: Read/Respond March #2

Revision - Day 2

2009-03-03T15:14:00.000-08:00

It looks as if the Town Hall Meeting will run into period 2 ELA with 702 and one of the ELA periods with 731. This means we need to focus, focus, focus, to meet our goal of publishing persuasive writing by Friday. Many of you did great work today, keep it up.

Homework: Read/Respond March #1.

Reminder - Send electronic files to Mrs. Moreno

2009-02-27T17:04:00.001-08:00

...at mary.moreno@att.net
All PowerPoint, Animation, and other technological drafts should be sent before Sunday.
Great work this week!

Reading logs due Monday at the start of ELA class. Please be sure that all columns (including reading strategies used) are filled in.

Last day of persuasive drafting

2009-02-26T10:32:00.001-08:00

Reminder: All students are expected to complete drafts of two DIFFERENT forms of persuasive writing by the end of ELA class tomorrow. Monday will begin a week of revision.
731 will use the laptops in class period 2. 702 is NOT scheduled to use the laptops, so please be prepared to draft without technology. You can always print your material so you can work on it in class.
If you are producing a poster or other artwork, please begin to bring in your supplies.

Reading logs are due Monday, March 2. Please have these ready for collection at the start of ELA class.

Homework: Read/Respond Feb. #14

Plan for the rest of this week....

2009-02-25T15:49:00.002-08:00

We were impressed with the focus and amount of work completed using the laptops today. Tomorrow, 702 will use them period 3.

Remember, we are set to have two pieces ready for revision by the end of the school day on Friday. Next week is reserved for making things clearer and better.

For those doing posters/other artwork: Bring all art supplies by Monday, including oaktag, markers, and other things you may need.

For those working on PowerPoint and/or Word (speeches, letters, editorials, etc.): Please make sure to create and use Google Docs. There should be no one who says "I left my work at home" or my "thumb drive broke".

We will publish by the end of next week and start presenting the week of March 9 (which is MATH test week).

See you tomorrow.