Chanukah, Oh Chanukah...

Hi,
I hope you are enjoying your Chanukah and winter vacation! Remember that over break you are to read Ch. 7--24 in Holes. I am glad that that majority of the class is really enjoying this unique novel. Once you have read this far, there will be much more to discuss in class when we get back from break.
Also, remember that when we come back from break you will have the opportunity to write in clay like the ancient Babylonians. First, you must look up your monogram on the website in order to be able to participate in the activity. This will be fun! Here is the address for the website:
www.upennmuseum.com/cuneiform.cgi
Have a great rest of your break!

Yay for Snow Day!

Ladies, your prayers for the snow day have been answered!
Remember, Step 3 of your Personal Narratives is still due MONDAY.

Step 3 includes:

• All self editing changes you have made to your narrative, including 4 exchanges of dialogue.
  
• All peer editing changes you will make to your narrative.

Make all of the changes on the computer. SAVE ON FLASH Drive!! Make sure you have a proper heading labeled Step 3. You may have several versions of Step 3. Bring a clean copy to school.
Enjoy your long weekend and have a great Shabbos!
Remember to think about ensemble choir over the weekend.

Personal Narratives

Ladies, your Personal Narrative Essays are coming along quite nicely! Today in class we discussed how to properly add dialogue (conversation) with correct punctuation to your Narratives.

• You are required to add 4 exchanges of dialogue to your Narratives. (8 lines total.)

• Step 3 of your Narratives (Self and Peer Edits) will be due MONDAY.

• Remember to bring in $$ for Roller Skating.

• Good luck on the NOT-pop quiz tomorrow!!!
  

New Marking Period

I can't believe how fast the school year is flying by! We have already started the new marking period--let's make it a great trimester!

Test Tomorrow

Good luck on the Social Studies Test tomorrow! Be sure to get a good night's sleep so you can feel your best!
Remember that the typed version of your Rough Draft is due Monday. Please see Writers' Workshop Procedures and Expectation for guidelines.

Social Studies Test

The Social Studies Test will be THURSDAY the 11th!

Narrative Beginnings

Today during Writing Workshop we discussed why the beginning of a narrative is so important. The beginning of your narrative should be interesting, grab the readers' attention, and make the reader want to hear about your personal experience.

Currently In Class...

In Language Arts we have been working on brainstorming for our Personal Narratives. The Personal Narrative is the first essay students will write as part of our ongoing Writing Workshop. Students have filled out three graphic organizers (G.O.s) to help them write their narratives. Here is some important info on Personal Narratives:

Personal Narratives...

• are written in first person
• have a clear beginning, middle, and end (follows the Plot Pyramid)
• reveal the writer's feelings
• have a chain of cause and effect (think Rising Action->Climax->Falling Action)
• tell the reader about a valuable/interesting/funny experience

A few Personal Narratives we have read together in class are:

• "Flowers and Freckle Cream" by Elizabeth Hills
• "Father" by Gary Soto
• "Eleven" by Sandra Cisneros
• "Courage in the Water" by Samantha Piwinksi

Stay tuned for Personal Narrative homework assignments.

In Social Studies we are going to start review our Unit on Studying the Past and the Prehistoric Past. Get ready for an upcoming Unit Test!