Ms. Keasling's Language Arts Blog

Friday, June 10, 2011

6/10/11

Thank you to everyone for a great 8th grade year. Have a safe and relaxing summer!

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

IN CLASS:
Today all classes did their end of year reflective writing and took a grammar exam. For tomorrow, everyone should review any notes they have from Language Arts in 8th grade (or 7th grade if for some amazing reason they still have them). Tomorrow in class we will be doing a Year In Review. Review in advance will help!

ASSIGNMENT:
Get ready for the last day of school!

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Tuesday 6/7/11

IN CLASS:
Today all students took the vocab exam over lessons 29-32. After the exam (which we were all very happy to have in an air-conditioned room), students had some time to review for their grammar exam tomorrow. Use the links below by class for some review options.

ASSIGNMENT:
Prepare for grammar exam

Monday, June 6, 2011

Post Vocab Exam Grammar Practice

Below are some websites you can visit after the vocab exam to get a little extra practice on the grammar you'll be tested on tomorrow.

Hours 2--
Adjective vs. Adverb Clauses

Simple/Compound/Complex Sentences

Hour 3, 5--
Simple/Compound/Complex/Compound-Complex Sentences

Hour 4--
Adjective vs. Adverb Clauses

Hour 8--
Adjective vs. Adverb Clause

6/6/11

IN CLASS:
Today all classes finished up with some grammar review and practice using the clickers. This week is full of finishing up. Here are the important dates to know:

Tuesday, June 7th--Vocab Exam over lessons 29-32
Wednesday, June 8th--Grammar Exam
Thursday, June 9th--Year in review

ASSIGNMENT:
Prepare for exams

Friday, June 3, 2011

Friday 6/3/11

IN CLASS:
Today in class, all students wrote their two paragraph essays on their Literature Circle books. These were completed in class and turned in before the end of the hour. The only homework for next week is to be sure to review vocab words for the 4th quarter exam on Tuesday. This will cover all words and root words from lesson 29-32.

DOWNLOAD:
SL8 Quarter 4 vocab review sheet

ASSIGNMENT:
Review vocab words from lesson 29-32
Complete and turn in all late or missing work by the end of the day on Monday, June 6th

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Thursday 6/2/11

Today all classes received an outline form to use to prepare for writing their two paragraph mini-essay in class tomorrow. The prompt is below. Click here to download the outline document.

Write a two paragraph mini-essay comparing the protagonist at the beginning of your book to the protagonist at the end. In each body paragraph, use at least 3 DQs (include page numbers) to support your point.

*Your first topic sentence should include the title and author as well as the name of the protagonist.

**The second topic sentence should indicate the catalyst or turning point that initiates the change in the character.

We also worked on grammar in all classes today. Each class will take an exam over the grammar they have studied next week on Wednesday.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Wednesday 6/1/11

IN CLASS:
Today all classes had work time. Students could choose to use this time for gathering DQs for their upcoming mini-essay covering how the protagonist in their book changes from beginning to end. They could choose to finish any reading they haven't yet done, or they could work on their critical response that should have been completed during class. Here is the prompt for the assignment:

Answer the following question for your book using at least 2 DQs. Your first sentence should include the title and author of the book as well as your answer. The rest if for DQs and explanations to back up your answer:

In your book, what is the catalyst that initiates a change in the protagonist? This could be an event, another character, a situation, or realization.

During the class, I met with students individually to go over their critical response, offer suggestions, and make sure they are prepared for the writing assignment on Friday. Grades for critical response are in the grade book, but students are welcome to rewrite using the suggestions we discussed today for a higher grade.

8th Hour Only:
Today 8th Hour watched a video on the bombing of the 16th Street Church in Birmingham, Alabama in September of 1963. This historical event features prominently at the end of The Watsons Go To Birmingham--1963. Click here to watch the video.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Monday 5/23/11

All classes should be keeping up with their reading schedule for their lit circle books. Because block scheduling is irregular, all classes are in slightly different places with the books. This week is a vocab week. Here is the schedule of due dates and quiz dates for all classes:

Vocab Lesson 32 due dates:
Hour 2-Wednesday, May 25
Hour 3-Thursday, May 26
Hour 4-Tuesday, May 24
Hour 5-Wednesday, May 25
Hour 8-Wednesday, May 25

Vocab Quiz 32 dates:
Hour 2-Friday, May 27
Hour 3-Friday, May 27
Hour 4-Friday, May 27
Hour 5-Friday, May 27
Hour 8-Wednesday, May 25

In class today:
Today hours 2, 4, 8 began with time for independent reading. Then students used 5 sentence starters to do some writing about their lit circle books. Here is the list and instructions:

Choose five (5) of the following sentence starters and write a brief reflection for each.

I noticed…
I wonder…
I was reminded of…
I think…
I’m surprised that…
I’d like to know…
I realized…
If I were…
The central issue(s) is/are…
One consequence of________________ could be…
If _________________,then…
I’m not sure…
Although it seems…

Then write a QUESTION about the book (this should NOT be a one word or YES/NO question…it should lead the group to a deeper discussion).

In hour 2 and 8, students then had a discussion with their group members, recording the answers the group gave to their question. This work got turned in at the end of the discussion. In 4th hour, we will have the discussion during the next class meeting time.

Next we went on to continue our grammar work. We've been working on the difference between adjective and adverb clauses. In hour 2, we are now doing mixed practice distinguishing between the two different types. Hours 4 and 8 are still working to correctly find the clause within the sentence and tell what word in the sentence it is modifying.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Cameras for class

A note for parents on camera use:
Some students have asked about bringing personal cameras for use in class tomorrow. Students are welcome to bring their own cameras, but are not in any way required to do so. We have cameras available that are easy to use and produce high quality images. IF students CHOOSE to bring their own cameras, I will not be responsible in any way for the device. Things do occasionally get stolen at the Junior High, so students must be 100% responsible for the camera at school. Additionally, I do not give them permission to use the cameras at all outside of their class period of Language Arts. Let me know if you have any questions:

Ms. Keasling
keasling.anne@slpschools.org
952-928-6374

Thursday 5/5/11

FREE VERSE!
Now that we have learned the strict rules of sonnet writing, we're throwing it all out the window. Yesterday we read three free verse poems to get us in the mood. Free verse means there are no rules except the ones the poet sets for him or herself. While this may sound like a free for all, it can also make the writing process more challenging because there are no guidelines to help direct the writing. Here's how it will all come together:

During the next few days, students will be working on a Picture Poetry Project (Alliteration intended). Students should already be working on a free verse poem (no rhyme or rhythm). This can be on any topic the student chooses, but the poem MUST include at least three of the following poetic devices:

Metaphor, Simile, Personification, Hyperbole, Alliteration, Assonance, Imagery, Irony, Repetition,Oxymoron, Symbolism, Onomatopoeia, Allusion

Then tomorrow, we'll be using digital cameras to add associated images to the poem. Some of this work will need to be done outside of class. I will offer lab time after school Thursday (Today) 5/5, Friday,5/6 Monday 5/9, and Tuesday 5/10.

The final product is due Friday, May 13th.
For complete instructions on the Poetry Picture Project, click here.

Thursday 5/5/11

SONNETS!
In the weeks since the poetry exam, we've been putting our poetry skills to good use. We did a mini unit on Sonnets in which we explored the rules of sonnet writing, read and analyzed Shakespeare's Sonnet 130, wrote a full class sonnet, had a sonnet competition, and finally, students wrote individual sonnets.

Following the class sonnet writing process, students filled out this sonnet reflection.

Before turning in the individual sonnet, students need to fill out this poetic device explanation.

Check out the sonnets that the classes wrote together! Congrats to Hour 5 for their champion sonnet!

Hour 2

Hour 3

Hour 4

Hour 5

Hour 8

Friday, April 15, 2011

Friday 4/15/11

IN CLASS:
Today all classes took the exam for our poetry unit. This took the entire class period.

ASSIGNMENT:
Vocab Quiz 29 is on Monday, April 18

Tuesday, April 12-Thursday, April 14

IN CLASS:
This week in class we spent time reviewing and finishing poetry terms. We practiced with "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost, two songs by Bob Dylan, "Friendship and Love" by Emily Bronte, and "When We Two Parted" by Lord Byron. Term each students should know include the following:

Line
Stanza
Rhyme Scheme
Meter/Rhythm
Metaphor
Simile
Irony
Personification
Hyperbole
Alliteration
Imagery
Tone
Theme

ASSIGNMENT:
Vocab Lesson 29 due Wednesday, April 13
Prepare for Poetry Exam on Friday, April 15

Monday, April 11, 2011

Monday 4/11/11

IN CLASS:
Today we began with the root words for this week.

Zoon=animal (as in zoo, zoologist, Paleozoic)
Verto/Versum=turn (as in reverse, controversial, advertise)
Facio/Factum=make, do (as in factory, manufacture, artifact, magnify)

Then, Hour 2 and 8 took the quiz over Robert Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken" while hours 3, 4, 5 worked on the poetry/song of Bob Dylan.

ASSIGNMENT:
Finish Bob Dylan worksheet (hour 8 excluded)

Friday 4/8/11

IN CLASS:
Today classes began with 20 minutes of independent reading. Then we finished up any notes from yesterday. Then...

Hour 2 had some technical difficulties, so we instead looked at Bob Dylan's poem/song "The Times They Are a-Changin." This worksheet will be due Monday.

Hours 3, 4, 5 took a short quiz on Robert Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken."

Hour 8 finished notes which took the rest of the class period.

ASSIGNMENT:
Hour 2 Only: Finish worksheet on Bob Dylan for Monday

Friday, April 8, 2011

Thursday 4/7/11

IN CLASS:
Today we went through the first stanza of "The Road Not Taken" and paraphrased lines as a class. Then we began some notes looking at the SOUNDS of poetry (we've already worked on structure and meaning including types of figurative language).

ASSIGNMENT:

Finish up "The Road Not Taken" worksheet if not finished.
Bring Independent Reading Book Tomorrow

Wednesday 4/6/11

IN CLASS:
I was unexpectedly out sick today, so students had a sub in class.

Hours 2, 4, 8--
Today students began work on "The Road Not Taken." Given a worksheet, students were asked to paraphrase (or put into their own words) the lines of this famous poem. When that was finished, students picked up vocab lesson 29 and had the rest of the hour to work on that.

Hours 3, 5--
These classes started with a critical response to "The Poison Tree."

William Blake’s poem “A Poison Tree” is often described as didactic (intended for instruction). What is the lesson about the cultivation of anger does Blake give his reader? Use at least 2 DQs to support your answer, and consider the figurative language used in the poem.

When that was finished and turned in, students began work on "The Road Not Taken" (see above for instructions).

ASSIGNMENT:
Hours 2, 4, 8--

"The Road Not Taken" worksheet due tomorrow
Vocab Lesson 29 due Wednesday, April 13

Hours 3, 5--

Critical response due by the end of class
"The Road Not Taken" worksheet due tomorrow

Tuesday 4/5/11

IN CLASS:
In class today students worked on and/or shared their limericks. Then we did some talking about the poem "The Poison Tree" which was assigned before spring break and due today. This should have been turned in at the end of class.

ASSIGNMENT:
none

Monday, April 4, 2011

Monday 4/4/11

IN CLASS:
Today we reviewed poetry terms (particularly the structure of poetry) through limerick writing. Students looked at three examples of limericks and found the specific structural requirements for a poem to qualify as a limerick. Click here to download the document from class today.

After we came up with a definition of a limerick, students began work on their own which is due tomorrow.

Also, remember that the worksheet from before break is due tomorrow in class. Download that document here.

ASSIGNMENT:
Limericks and worksheet on "The Poison Tree" due tomorrow