Winter Break Approaches

Students are continuing to meet in the Media Center during Language Arts every day this week. They are expected to have a flashdrive and all research materials with them each day.

Monday - ALL note cards are due. Students will be given a mini-lesson on organizing notecards and outlining using "mywebspiration.com", which can also be accessed through the Internet at home.

Tuesday - Students continue to type Outline in "mywebspiration.com" per directions in class. Examples of an outline are available in the research packets and on the directions for the software.

Wednesday - Typed Outline due and work on rough draft body paragraphs. Information about how to transform the outline into rough draft paragraphs under "handouts".

Thursday and Friday - Continue working on rough drafts - Rough draft of BODY due on Monday, January 4.

In Literacy Skills we will continue to explore Animal Farm and students should have a choice book in class.

May you have a great Winter break full of rest, reading, laughter and peace.

Report Cards are Here!

Report cards are being distributed today. Please sign the envelope and have your student return it to his/her Adviser. If there are any grades missing, a new report card will be printed next week for individual students.

ALL notecards for the research paper are due on Monday. Students should complete all notecards over the weekend, with one note per card as instructed in class. Some students may have as many as 100 note cards. It is possible to have fewer, but students should keep in mind that they need to have all relevant facts and enough information for an enlightening and complete final paper. The final essay length should be about 4-6 typed pages.

A flash drive is mandatory. Students were expected to have 3x5 cards, a two pocket folder, a highlighter and at least 5 sources with source cards at the start of the week.

If you have a question, please check the research schedule, which is listed under "handouts" on my blog.

Thanks for your continued support.
--

Snow and Research - What a Fantastic Combination!

We have completed the first week of research in the Media Center, and students should have all of their research sources in their research folders (photocopied, printed or checked out).

Here is the LA schedule up to Winter Break. Please understand that each student is responsible for meeting all due dates, whether present or not in class that day. Students may find me during lunch or immediately after school if absent from class.

Mon, December 7 Media Center Search for sources, work on source cards

Tues, December 8 Media Center Easybib review, ALL sources + source cards due

Wed, December 9 Media Center Highlighting sources, work on Easybib/Works Cons

Thurs, December 10 Media Center Review note cards, Works Consulted due

Fri, December 11 Media Center Work on highlighting and making note cards

Mon, December 14 Media Center Organizing and Outline info, ALL note cards due

Tues, December 15 Media Center Finish typed outline, work on rough draft body

Wed, December 16 B 207 Outline due, work on rough draft body

Thurs, December 17 B 207 Work on body paragraphs

Fri, December 18 B 207 Work on body paragraphs

Mon, January 4 B 207 First Draft due (body only), type outside of class

In Literacy Skills we will be reading Animal Farm.

Week of December 1

I hope you and your family had a pleasant and warm Thanksgiving holiday with many opportunities to play, read and be renewed.

Monday and Tuesday are two exciting days full of reading activities throughout GBMS. Please remind your student to bring several books of choice to classes for silent sustained reading. There will also be a variety of activities that lead up to the author visit on Tuesday afternoon. Tuesday evening is Family Literacy Night, and we hope to see all of you there.

On Monday in Language Arts, students are revisiting the purpose of a research paper with a fill in the blank activity (located under handouts). By now they should have completed and revised their research topic, found at least one source, and turned in their 3x5 cards and two pocket folder. They also need to bring a flashdrive to class each day for the next month. Student should not rely on typing only at home or at school, so they need the flashdrive to carry the information back and forth. The schedule for the research paper and other research documents are available under handouts.

Thanks for helping your student stay focused through the three weeks before Winter Break.

Update - Monologues and Research Paper

The Thanksgiving monologues are MARVELOUS, and students are enjoying listening to each other in class. I hope your student shared this activity with you at home. Students know they are to attach the rough draft and brainstorm behind the final draft.

The Research Paper is here. (Hooray!) Many handouts from class are also on this blog to the right under "handouts". Students will receive two separate packets about the research project from me. They need to have a 2-pocket folder for ONLY this project and 3x5 cards in a ziplock bag this week. On Thursday the first source and topic proposal sheet were due. Students MUST stay on schedule and need to work on each component as directed in class.

The research project schedule is under "handouts" and will be passed out in class. Here is the schedule for the next three weeks:

Thurs, November 19 B 207 Topic Proposal and one source due

Fri, November 20 B 207 Outline Game

Monday, November 23 B 207 Two pocket folder and 3x5 cards due

Tues, November 24 B 207 Review Topic Proposal, Create Search Terms

Mon, November 30 B 207 Organize materials

Tues, December 1 Author visit, search for sources on your own

Wed, December 2 Media Center Source cards, web evaluation, Boolean symbols

Thurs, December 3 Media Center Search for sources, work on source cards

Fri, December 4 Media Center Search for sources, work on source cards

Mon, December 7 Media Center Search for sources, work on source cards

Tues, December 8 Media Center Easybib review, ALL sources + source cards due

Wed, December 9 Media Center Highlighting sources, work on Easybib/Works Cons

Thurs, December 10 Media Center Review note cards, Works Consulted due

Fri, December 11 Media Center Work on highlighting and making note cards

Week of November 16

This week in Language Arts students will perform their Thanksgiving monologues in class. Props, costumes and silliness are greatly encouraged. Students need not have it memorized, but it helps build their confidence if they have performed it for family several times prior to class.

The Research Paper has reared its head, and students need a two-pocket folder and a pack of 3x5 cards ASAP, and prior to the beginning of December. Research Topic ideas (1750-1870) from Social Studies, Science and Literature are being given out to student. Students must submit a Topic Proposal by Thursday, and they should find at least one reputable source/reference prior to choosing a topic. This is to ensure that they can actually find materials for their paper. The Social Studies textbook does NOT count as a source.

The Language Arts Benchmark testing will take place in all classes Tuesday through Thursday. Students should review their literary terms and parts of an essay. In Literacy Skills student will present their final creative projects on Freak The Mighty. We also will view the film The Mighty in class, so please make sure your student has turned in a permission slip.

The Sledding Hill is the novel being read throughout GBMS in Literacy Skills. After Thanksgiving Break there will be "read-in" activities and an author visit. Please join us at Literacy Night on December 1.

Extra Credit for seeing the school play

Students may receive extra credit for seeing the school play. There are two performances to choose from this weekend, and students have received the extra credit form. Check with the BRAVO office for the schedule. The extra credit must be completed and turned in with an adult signature by November 23.

Please double check with your student that he/she has made up all missing quizzes and turned in all parts of the persuasive essay, as well as other recent activities for LA and LS. The end of the trimester is November 24.

Literacy Skills final creative projects on Freak the Mighty are due on November 17. Many students have not turned in permission skips to see the film. Monologues will be performed in Language Arts starting on November 18.

Week of November 9

The end of the trimester is approaching quickly. The last day of the trimester is Tuesday, November 24, which will be followed by three days off of school. Please make sure to check online for your student's progress for ALL classes. Several teachers, including myself, have printed out progress reports for your student to bring home to you for a signature.

Students turned in their persuasive essays today in Language Arts, which they worked on in class all of last week. The final draft should be stapled in front of the brainstorm, outline and all rough drafts. The grammar packet quiz for pages 9-16 is on Tuesday. After the quiz, students may work on their SS or LS projects, or they may read for pleasure.

In Language Arts students will be writing and performing a monologue about a food served at Thanksgiving or another celebratory meal. Please have your student share and practice this with you this week at home. It will be performed in class next week. Next week students will also take the benchmark assessments for language arts throughout the building.

In Literacy Skills, students are finishing the novel Freak the Mighty and working on a creative, final project, which is due next week. Information about this is available to the right of this blog under "handouts". Students were expected to have finished the first 12 chapters by today and completed the study guide questions for chapters 1-12. They will have quizzes on the novel on Tuesday and Wednesday.

November arrives

This week in Language Arts will be devoted to writing a persuasive essay. The final draft is due on Monday, November 9. Students are expected to work on this project during class each day, as well as to continue it at home. It is important that your student follows the directions and format given. You may access an additional copy of the directions under "handouts".

Students will also finish the current grammar packet (pages 13-16), and will be quizzed on that material next week. Progress reports will also be printed to review, sign and return this week. During the week of November 16, students will be given LA benchmark tests during Language Arts, and they will also be working on a monologue to share with their class. Students also will begin a research project in December, so look for that information soon.

This week GBMS is banding together to raise awareness about the Oak Park Food Pantry. If you are able to make a donation to this organization, it would be greatly appreciated. Each advisory is collecting non-perishable food items in cans or boxes, as well as personal hygiene products. Thank you in advance for sending what you can.

Please continue to review the online gradebook with your student for ALL classes. It is a good idea to do this once a week, allowing for the fact that some activities for some classes may take longer to grade and update.

Thanks for your continued support.

Last week of October

Thank you for making the time for the Portfolio Conferences last week. Please let individual teachers or administrators know if you had any suggestions, compliments or concerns. If you still have the Who Am I Essay and the Vocabulary Rewrite activity, please return them to me to store in the classroom portfolio.

This week in Language Arts students are using prefixes to create a science fiction or fantasy story. They received a handout that lists elements of these genres, hopefully giving them ideas to create something new, in addition to a sample. This week we will also explore a short (SHORT) story and its elements. The vocabulary quiz will be on Thursday, when the writing activity is due. There will be a quiz on Short Story elements on Friday.

Please help and encourage your student by having him/her read written activities out loud to you. You can offer insight and learn a lot about your student. I hope that you have put the Family Literacy Night on your calendar - December 1.

Thanks for your support.

Student Led Portfolio Conferences This Thursday

Student Led Portfolio Conferences are this Thursday. School ends at noon on both Thursday and Friday.

If you are meeting with me as the conference facilitator, you should have received a confirmation of your time slot by email, letter or a phone message. Please email me if you think you are meeting with me but have not heard back. Please let the conference teacher know ASAP if you are unable to attend.

Please remember that the conference is STUDENT led, and it is a wonderful opportunity for your student to reflect upon/share both strengths and weaknesses. Core teachers (Ms. Maionchi, Mr. Gates and myself) are unable to meet with you privately due to our conference schedules, although you are welcome to meet with elective and math teachers in their classrooms as your schedule permits.

Please come at least 15 minutes PRIOR To your conference time so that you may view the contents of your student's portfolio. Then, you and your student will meet in a classroom with a teacher who will help facilitate, but not give a formal report on his/her class.

I appreciate that you are viewing the online gradebook once a week for all classes. Please request a login from Mr. Dennis LeValley in the main office if you have not received one yet by mail.

On Monday students organized their portfolios with work, overview and progress reports from all classes. In Language Arts we are working on an individual activity using suffixes as well as a new grammar packet. It Literacy Skills students are reading from their choice book all week.

Friday update

Today I am thoroughly enjoying receiving the typed, final draft of students' revised vocabulary stories, and I look forward to being entertained by them all weekend. I hope you had a chance to review it with your student before it was turned in today.

In order to ensure that you are receiving information from me by email, please let me know if you are receiving a duplicate email on the same day or if you have NOT received an email from me... Please send me an email directly stating either issue. Please include your student's complete name as well as yours and the correct email address(es) I should use.

Thank you for helping to keep communication lines open to support student success. I hope you and your family have a marvelous holiday on Monday when school is not in session.

Week of October 5

Hello again, (updated 10/6)

Thank you for checking here! Class activities are available to the right of this blog. Click on the week you wish to view (Example: CA 100509 is current).

If you have not had a chance yet, please return the Conferences Night form immediately to your student's specific conference teacher (or adviser if you are unsure). If you no longer have the form, please email that teacher directly to request a spot. Please give three different times you are available between 12:45 and 7:30 PM.

In Language Arts this week students are revising a previous Vocabulary story. The final proofread and polished version is due on Friday, and it must be typed and double-spaced. If your student does not have access to a computer outside of school, he/she can use the ones in the Media Center during lunch or before school. Students will also continue to master the Frequently Misspelled Words list and grammar packet this week.

All students at Brooks will take an ISAT writing assessment on FRIDAY (updated as of 10/6). Students were given two handouts to review about writing a formal essay, and they should read over these on Monday night. Students should report to their advisories at 9 AM, and then they will go to their testing area. They should have two sharpened pencils with them.

To prepare for Family Literacy Night coming up in December, students are filling out a GBMS-O card (to the tune of BING-O). Please encourage your student to fulfill their Literacy Skills activities and to get the sheet signed. You can help your student with one of the requirements by signing the box regarding reading at home and summarizing.

In my Literacy Skills class, students are being given their Independent Reading Goals for the midterm and trimester. These goals are based on the STAR test taken at the beginning of the year. Please review your student's current reading level and goals for AR. Every student should try to read every night for pleasure and at least three times a week at home. Please sign and return the Lit Skills progress report, and ask that your student write down their reading level and goals in the notebook.

Thanks for asking your student to show you his/her work and to read it OUT LOUD to you.

Week of September 28

Picture Day is Thursday! Please make sure to provide a check and the signed form if you wish your student to purchase pictures. All students will have their pictures taken, whether or not they choose to make a purchase.

This week in Language Arts we are creating Character Stories. Students were given a photograph of a person (at random), and then asked to write the story of that person and his/her situation. They were encouraged to be as detailed and creative as possible. This is a class activity, although students were allowed to take home their writing to "tweek and fluff" - revise and edit. They were to include 15 of the frequently misspelled words from letters A-E. The spelling quiz on ONLY letters A-C is on Thursday. We also are working with parts of speech and grammar, in addition to reviewing their first, formal writing project: Who Am I.

In Literacy Skills students are reading the suspenseful "Three Skeleton Key". Please check with your student that he/she continues to read books for pleasure at home and document it in the reading journal. Also, please also ask to see the reading log which should be updated daily.

Next week on Tuesday is a writing assessment for all students at Brooks. Brooks has been chosen to participate in the process by the state. Please refer to the letter sent home for more information. By now hopefully you have received information about how to long on to your student's gradebook. If you have not heard by Monday of next week, please let the office know.

Thanks for your continued support.

Week of September 21

Autumn is stealthily approaching and the leaves are changing on my block. What a pleasant surprise amidst the rain, having grown up in Northern California where there are no seasons...

Thank you for attending Curriculum Night if you were able to join us. I sent a letter about Language Arts and Literacy Skills home with each student whose adults were unable to attend. Please feel free to email me with questions at any time. It was announced that evening that Conferences will be Student-led Portfolio Conferences this year. More information will be available soon from Brooks about this process.

A current progress report for LA and LS will be given out on Tuesday. As always, please review it with your student before signing and returning it to me. I appreciate receiving the hard copy back, although you may write me a note if you wish to keep the original. Students have been given several reminders to make up work from absences and to turn in activities that they may have not turned in. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the gradebook program will be available for you soon so that you can check in with your student's progress in all classes. The progress report is snapshot of current progress, not the final grade in class. Although not all "Who Am I" narrative essays have been graded yet, all other activities have been entered.

Hopefully you have had a chance to look over the school photo order form. School pictures will be taken on October 1. Please make sure to give a filled out form with payment to your student.

The Media Center has been very busy during lunch and 6th period Literacy Skills. Please encourage your student to take AR tests before school if possible. Students may write a book summary in place of an AR test.

This week in Language Arts students are working with prefixes and context clues. As an experiment, they were given all assignments on Monday so that they could plan how to accomplish them. Please refer to the Class Activities information to the right of this blog for more information.

Thanks again for your support.

Week of September 14

Curriculum Night is Thursday from 7 PM to 9 PM. Please attend so you can experience your student's schedule. The evening will begin in Advisory, and teachers look forward to your presence. Please make sure to sign in on the clipboard in my room so that your student may receive extra credit in LA for your attendance.

This week students will be working on a few grammar activities, creating a poem from a personal experience and reflecting on their reading. Please make sure to return the progress report from last week if you have not had a chance to sign it yet. You may check in on the Class Activities by viewing them to the right of this blog.

Thanks for your continued support.

Week of September 7

I look forward to reading the juicy details of our students lives in their "Who Am I" essays, which were collected today in class. This is a great opportunity for me to learn about each student's interests as well as writing style. As your student knows, this assignment was to be typed, double-spaced and turned in with the rough draft and brainstorm in class. If your student had issues with printing or typing, the Media Center is open before school (with an ID) and during lunch (with a pass).

Please review and sign the progress report that was given to your student today. Students and their parents/guardians will be able to access grades online from the internet in the near future, and information will be provided soon about how to log in. Please feel free to email me with a question or write it on the progress report. Please include an email address so that I am able to respond to you quickly.

This week we are reflecting on the "end of summer" and all of its memories. Thanks for helping your student maintain and bring to class the 3-ring LA/LS binder with paper and pens/pencils.

First Essay is Due

Hooray! The "Who Am I" essay, which will be used as a benchmark for the rest of the year, is due. The rough draft is due Friday, and the FINAL draft (typed, double-spaced in 12-point font) is due Tuesday. The rough draft and brainstorm sheet should be stapled to the back of the final draft. Please refer to the handouts that give the directions as well as an example for this activity.

Students have been exploring the format of this "formal" essay in class, so they should not have had to do much more than edit and add additional details at home prior to typing. Please remember that the Media Center is open before school (with an ID) and during lunch (with a pass).

Students also have begun writing a list of their "Writing Territories". This is a list of significant events, objects and memories. We will be referring to this list all year, and your student might talk to you about details from his/her past.

Thanks for your support this year, especially completing and signing all of those forms.

Week of August 31

Students and teachers are eager to follow their regular schedules this week. Thank you for helping your student turn in his/her 2-pocket folder, signed contract, information sheet and survey. It is very important that each student have a 3-ring binder for language arts (with dividers and lined paper) due to the large volume of handouts. It is possible to use this binder for Lit Skills as well. Please refer to the course outline(s) for more information.

Please feel free to email me directly if you have a question or need clarification. Email is the best way to reach me, or you may call the main office to leave a note in my box. In the past, there has been difficulty with retrieving voice mail, and I really would like to respond to you quickly.

This week in LA, students are exploring their first formal essay: "Who Am I". They received directions as well as an example in class. They began by writing the body paragraph first and will continue with the introduction and conclusion. The rough draft is due Friday. The final draft is due next Tuesday (typed, 12 point font, double spaced), with the rough draft and "brainstorm" stapled to the back.

Thank you for supporting your student to keep organized and complete activities on time.
It's going to be a great year.

Welcome to GBMS Team 7.2

Welcome to Language Arts and Literacy Skills with Ms. Pearson. This will be a fabulous year full of many opportunities to expand your writing and reading skills.

Please review the Language Arts and Literacy Skills Course Outlines, including the required materials for class. Please complete and return the Student Parent Contract, the Student Information Form and the Student Survey so that I may get to know you better. These forms will be passed out during the first week of class. Links to the handouts are available for you to view and print.

Please check this blog at least once a week for updates, as well as class activities. From time to time there will be information listed on this blog that students may use to earn privileges or extra credit. Check back often to take a poll and see what is happening in class.

Please make sure that I have email information for each parent/guardian/adult that supports you so that I can stay in contact. The easiest way is to ask your adult(s) to send me an email with their email(s), their full name(s), and your full name. Email me at lpearson followed by @op97.org.

Thanks for the Memories

It was with great pleasure that I reviewed your student's Memoir Booklet. I have encouraged everyone to bring them home to share. I also suggest putting them aside until at least the end of high school, so that your student can enjoy the old perceptions.

 

Thanks again for your support this year. If your student needs anything, please feel free to contact me. I will check my email occasionally over the summer.

Thanks,

Ms. Lisa Pearson

The Memoir Final Project has been assigned. Students have viewed samples of the completed project and are finishing their current writing territory and poems this week. We will be in the Mac Lab next week during class, and the final project is due on Wednesday, May 20. Students may turn in the project earlier if they desire. Please refer to the handout located to the right of this blog for more specific information.

Thank you for continuing to check your student's progress for ALL classes through My Gradebook online.

Congratulations to the students on our team who have won writing awards this year:

Letters About Literature Contest:

Cody H. – Illinois Level 2 Finalist: Letters about Literature: Illinois Center for the Book
Ariana W. – Illinois Level 2 Semi-finalist: Letters about Literature: Illinois Center for the Book Hannah G. – Illinois Level 2 Semi-finalist: Letters about Literature: Illinois Center for the Book
Ariana Z. – Illinois Level 2 Semi-finalist: Letters about Literature: Illinois Center for the Book

District 97 Ethnic Festival Essay Contest

Cayla S.: 1st place (7th Grade)
Rebecca R.: 2nd place (7th Grade)
Charlie H.: 3rd place (7th Grade)

District 97 Writing Celebration:

Emma B. – Award for Excellence – Prose
Katie A. – Certificate of Merit – Prose
Susana T. – Certificate of Merit – Prose
Megan P. – Certificate of Merit – Prose
Erin L. – Certificate of Merit – Prose
Ian S. – Certificate of Merit – Prose
Erik A. – Certificate of Merit – Prose
Nadine P. – Certificate of Merit – Prose
Danielle M. – Certificate of Merit – Poetry
Liberty V. – Certificate of Merit – Poetry

Week of April 6

Students have been working on a variety of writing activities, including the "Pretzel Experiment" and analyzing the parts of speech of a silly poem about dragons. The Vocabulary activity for this week is due Wednesday, and the vocab quiz will be given on Wednesday as well.

Students received a LA progress report to bring home for you to sign and return. On the progress report, a "0" is marked if a student did NOT turn in an activity, and a "?" is marked if the activity was turned in but has not been graded yet. You may check online through MyGradebook for updates.

In Literacy Skills, students should be almost halfway to their trimester AR goal. Official progress reports will be passed out on April 23. They received a progress report from me last week.

Thanks for your continuing support.

Week of March 23

Springfield was a success, and this Thursday many 7-2 students will be visiting the IMAX at Navy Pier. Students may bring a bag lunch or they bring money to purchase food.

Please ask your student about Language Arts writing activities this week. It appeared that everyone felt successful, and their writing has changed dramatically since the beginning of the year.

On Monday they "free" wrote a "Reflection on a Day", specifically about ANY aspect of the day of Friday, March 20.

On Tuesday students took a "Seven Minute Vacation" using pictures of natural and/or fantastic settings. It was amazing to see everyone literally journey into the "writing ZONE". They listened to Herbie Hancock in the background while placing themselves into a new environment, using all of their senses.

On Wednesday students started a story called "Before and After". Using character pictures and plot ideas passed out in class, they created a story where one person is transformed in major way. This project is due on Friday, and students may turn it in earlier if they will be absent.

Students should be encouraged to read and relax during break.

District 97 Diversity Essay due this week

The rough draft of the Diversity Essay is due Tuesday. The requirements are listed on the handout your student received at the beginning of last week, and it is accessible under handouts to the right of this blog. The final drafts (TWO copies, double-spaced, 12 point font, typed - MAXIMUM of 300 words) are due on Thursday.

Friday is the trip to Springfield. Please remind your student to bring a bag lunch and be at school at 5:30 AM. There are no aluminum cans allowed - students must bring beverages in plastic bottles with a lid.

Thanks for your support.

Trimester 3 - a new beginning

This week students are revisiting a previous vocabulary story. The story they have chosen needs to be revised, edited, expanded, proofread and typed. The typed, final draft (double spaced, 12 point font) is due Friday with the original draft stapled behind.

Students may type the story in the Media Center during lunch or before school if they do not have access to a computer after school hours. As always, it is important for each student to keep a copy of his/her work on a flashdrive brought to class.

Students also have begun the District 97 Diversity Essay. This essay is PERSUASIVE in nature, and the rough draft is due on Tuesday, March 17. TWO COPIES of the final, typed draft are due Thursday, March 19. NO LATE ESSAYS WILL BE ACCEPTED. Please refer to the Diversity Essay handout under Handouts to the right of this blog if you need to refer to the assignment.

Friday, March 20, is the 7th grade trip to Springfield.

Rock the ISATs

The ISAT tests are on Tuesday through Friday, starting at 9 AM each day. Please encourage your student to get enough rest, eat some protein each morning, drink a lot of water, and be on time. We are helping our students to be eager about the ISATS, rather than anxious. Please remind your student to bring a calculator, a book to read, sharpened pencils, a highlighter, a healthy snack (for in between tests), and bottled water each day.

Students should continue to review the "reading extended response" packet, the literary terms packet, vocabulary lists and the handout about "test taking strategies". All of these were distributed in language arts, and a few are available on my blog under handouts.

Week of Feb. 23

As a refresher, this week students will be reviewing literary and poetic terms, literature genres and vocabulary. They also will review test taking strategies. It would be a great idea if you encourage your student to review all grammar packets, literary/poetic terms and the test taking strategies. (These are available on my blog under handouts.)

The Read-In was a great success last week. This week there will be an Black History assembly on Thursday. Next week are the ISAT tests on Tuesday through Friday. Please encourage your student to get enough rest, eat some protein each morning, and drink a lot of water. We are helping our students to be eager about the ISATS, rather than anxious. Please remind your student to bring a calculator, a book to read, sharpened pencils, a healthy snack and bottled water each day.

Research Project is Due Thursday

Finally, the research project is due. (Hooray!) On Thursday students are expected to turn in the complete final draft, following the format and order provided. Students are also expected to turn in ALL parts of the essay process in their research folders (including printed sources, note cards, rough drafts, etc.).

Friday will be a "Read-In" day at Brooks. Students should be sure to bring in MANY materials they wish to read for fun that day.

Conferences on Thursday

If you are attending conferences on Thursday, please ask your student to bring his/her Research Project and ALL research materials to our meeting. Students are also expected to bring their Student Handbooks/Assignment Notebooks.

I look forward to meeting with you. If you requested a conference but did not receive a confirmation, please check with Ms. Julianne King.

Please continue to check to the right of the blog for current activities and handouts, such as the research project schedule.

Extra Credit and Research Dates

Students were scheduled to turn in the Rough Draft of the Body paragraphs by today, in addition to their outline with topic sentences. Please ask your student to SHOW you his/her body paragraphs. It would be very helpful if your student read it OUT LOUD to you as well. Students were directed to bring them home to continue revising them. The Introduction and Conclusion are due on Tuesday, and the Title page is due on Wednesday.

Extra credit is available to my language arts students who attend (or perform in) The Music Man, which will run over the 2nd and 3rd weekends of February. Extra credit forms will be available in class next week. Please check the BRAVO website for more information about show dates and ticket pricing.

Please remember that the school schedule is different this week due to conferences.

Technology Issue on Feb. 3

Today while working on the research outline, many students were having great difficulty making any process using Inspiration software.

All students were instructed directly to copy what they had for their outline into a Word document and to COMPLETE it using Word (NOT Inspiration). They were to copy it onto their flashdrives and/or email it home. The due date for the outline has been moved to Wednesday, instead of today, due to this technical problem.

Students must work on the outline at home tonight. They will need to add in the Roman numerals, etc. that are not on the outline, in addition to any note cards not yet entered. After it is completed, they should print TWO copies. On the first copy they need to write their topic sentences, including a transition, for EACH body paragraph. A transition expresses both the contents of the paragraph and works as a transition from the previous paragraph. Only then may they begin the body paragraphs of the rough draft.

Thanks for assisting your student with this. I opened the Mac Lab during lunch and during 8th period to allow more students time and access. The Mac Lab will be open every day at lunch this week under my supervision.

Research Project Update

This week the research outline is due on Tuesday. (Students have been using Inspiration software to complete the outline, and it may not be available anywhere but school.) Students may complete activities outside of class in the Media Center at 8 AM with a student ID or during lunch with a pass. The first draft of the body paragraphs is due on Friday.

Students will work in the Media Center on Monday and Tuesday, and then we move to the Mac Lab for the remainder of this project. Please refer to the schedule. Students should review and use the following documents passed out in class: Parts of an Essay (which includes how to write a thesis statement and other information, Proofreading Reminders, and both Research packets (goldenrod and green).

Students must have note cards with them to be able to use the computers, as well as an outline completed before working on body paragraphs in class. Students are responsible for bringing all research materials to class each day AND A FLASHDRIVE. Leaving research materials at home or in a locker is not an excuse. Students know the schedule and are expected to work on assignments at home in addition to class, especially if absent from class.

Thank you for your continuing support.

Research Project Update

All source cards were due today, January 28. The Works Consulted page (using Easybib.com) is due Thursday. ALL note cards are due Friday. (There is a minimum of 35 cards, yet the general number should be enough to list all of the information your student has acquired. Most students average about 60-70 note cards.)

Students know that they were to work on all of these as homework this week. Thanks for your support.

Language Arts update

Progress Reports are being given out today to be signed and returned. They are accurate as of work turned in through Friday, January 16. The last day for Writing Celebration entries is Thursday. A signed form must be attached.

Students should attempt to have five sources (of at least three types) by Thursday at the end of class for the Research Project. (Wikipedia is not considered a valid source for this project.) Please help your student find a book at the main library if he/she cannot find one at school.

We are in the Media Center this week Wednesday through Friday. Students are working on source cards and note cards in class. Students need to have their required materials and activities each day in class. Please refer to my research information under "handouts" for more information.

Research Project Handouts

Research Project Handouts have been distributed to students. They are keeping them in their research folders in class, rather than bringing them to class each day. Handouts are also available to view or print in the Handouts section of this blog. Students will continue to search for sources in the Media Center next week. Students should refer to the copy of the research project schedule in their three ring binders for due dates and upcoming activities.

Midterm Progress Report Update

Student’s grades have been updated for my classes again. Your student should have shown a printed progress report to you this past week, in addition to one right before Winter Break. These should have been signed and returned for extra credit. Please view the current grades through MyGradebook online.

Research materials were due on Thursday, yet there were many items turned in that had no name. If your student thinks he/she turned them in, but has a zero for the activity, please ask your student to SHOW them to me in class (after writing his/her name on them).

There will be many components that make up the research project. Your student is expected to have ALL assignments in class on the due date. Late work will greatly affect a student’s grade. Please review the Research Basics in addition to the Research Packet I have created, which should be available on my blog next week. Please assist your student in selecting the best topic choice for him or her. Your student needs your approval for the topic as well as mine. Students will be filling out a research Topic Proposal that lists questions he/she has about the topic.

The last day to take AR tests (for most teachers) is Tuesday. The Midterm Progress report that lists grades for ALL classes will go home on Friday. Students in my Lit Skills class had another opportunity to take AR tests on Friday during class in the Mac Lab.

Please encourage your student to enter the District 97 Writing Celebration. Entries with signed permission forms are due by January 21, but it would be best if your student turned them in next week prior to the holiday. They will receive extra credit in my class, and possibly be published if selected.

Thanks for your continued support. Please check my blog often for activities and messages.

Happy New Year

I hope you had some peace, rest and time to reflect over Winter Break.

This week there are several activities taking place. Wednesday is the all-school ISAT practice test. Students should review their grammar and literary terms packets prior to the test. Progress reports will be set home on this day for you to review and sign.

The first parts of the research project are due Thursday: a two pocket folder that will remain in the class, a pack of 3x5 cards in a plastic bag or rubber band, AND a list of five research topic ideas. Your student should choose a topic that interests him/her, yet he/she does NOT know a lot about. Students are expected to work diligently on this topic for a month so it should be a topic that holds their interest. There will be numerous activities during the research process, and students are expected to have each part completed when due. More information will be made available soon.

Please encourage your student to enter District 97's Writing Celebration. Any student may enter his/her prose or poetry for extra credit. There is a specific form available in class that needs to be completed with an adult signature. This piece if writing should be typed and turned in to me with the signed form before January 21. I recommend turning it in BEFORE the holiday weekend. Your student may submit one of many pieces written for class this year, or your student may write something new.

Please view the class activities for the week if your student is not in my class due to illness or an appointment.